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Thursday, August 31, 2017

Welcome to the Cover Reveal for Savage (Dragonrider Legacy #1) by Nicole Conway

   
Hello readers!  Welcome to the Cover Reveal for
Savage (Dragonrider Legacy #1) by Nicole Conway
Be on the lookout for this upcoming title from  Month9Books!
   
HERE WE GO! WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE COVER?
     
 
Savage begins the Dragonrider Legacy series, a thrilling companion to the international bestselling Dragonrider Chronicles. Never send a hero to do a monster’s job. Forty years have passed since Jaevid Broadfeather brought peace to Maldobar and Luntharda. But that fragile truce will be tested as darkness gathers on the horizon. The vicious armies of the Tibran Empire have crossed the far seas and are threatening to destroy Maldobar completely. Not even the dragonriders can match the Tibran war machines. And after an attempt to awaken Jaevid from his divine sleep fails, the fate of Maldobar is looking grim. Reigh has never known what it means to be a normal human. Raised amongst the gray elves in the wild jungle of Luntharda, he’s tried everything to fit in. But the dark power within him is bursting at the seams—refusing to be silenced. And while his adoptive father, Kiran, insists this power must be kept secret, Reigh knows he’s running out of time. As Maldobar burns, the world is desperate for a new hero. Destiny has called, and one boy will rise to answer.
Savage (Dragonrider Legacy #1) by Nicole Conway Publication Date:  September 26, 2017 Publisher:  Month9Books
Available for Pre-order: Amazon
   
 
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.
Website • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads
   

Monday, August 28, 2017

Welcome to the Cover Reveal for The Perils of Growing Up Werewolf (Hair in all the Wrong Places #2) by Andrew Buckley!

 
Hello readers!  Welcome to the Cover Reveal for
The Perils of Growing Up Werewolf (Hair in all the Wrong Places #2) by Andrew Buckley!
Be on the lookout for this upcoming title from Tantrum Books / Month9Books!
HERE WE GO! WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE COVER?
 
 
Being a werewolf is no picnic. Colin’s constantly hungry, spends a ton of time shaving, and fights to keep his emotions in check to avoid turning into a giant, drooling, hairy, smelly, howling wolf. But Colin's not the only creature hanging around the town of Elkwood. Vampires, zombies, goblins, ogres, and other questionable visitors and their various shenanigans have got everyone on edge.
Colin just wants to live a normal life, date, and get his homework done on time. But the town of Elkwood needs him. So when a secret government organization asks for his help, will he be able to control the animal inside, or will he give in to the perils of growing up werewolf?
The Perils of Growing Up Werewolf (Hair in all the Wrong Places #2) by Andrew Buckley!
Available for Pre-order: Amazon 
 
 
Andrew Buckley attended the Vancouver Film School’s Writing for Film and Television program. After pitching and developing several screenplay projects for film and television, he worked in marketing and public relations, before becoming a professional copy and content writer. During this time Andrew began writing his first adult novel, DEATH, THE DEVIL AND THE GOLDFISH, followed closely by his second novel, STILTSKIN. He works as an editor for Curiosity Quills Press.
Andrew also co-hosts a geek movie podcast, is working on his next novel, and has a stunning amount of other ideas. He now lives happily in the Okanagan Valley, BC with three kids, one cat, one needy dog, one beautiful wife, and a multitude of characters that live comfortably inside of his mind.
Andrew is represented by Mark Gottlieb at the Trident Media Group.
 

Friday, August 25, 2017

The Missing by Jerico Lenk Cover Reveal!!!

 
Hello Readers!  Welcome to the Cover Reveal for
The Missing by Jerico Lenk!
Be on the lookout for this upcoming title from Month9Books!
 
HERE WE GO! WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE COVER?
 
 
It is 1890, and London has secrets. For sixteen-year-old Will Winchester, born Willow Winchester and raised as a young man, the safety of his own secrets rests one atop the other. Hiding his gender queerness is important. But so is hiding the ghostly voices of the Missing, which Will hears when no one else can … until the Spiritualist Black Cross Order of Occult Occurrences wants him in their service to keep peace between London’s living and dead.
The freedom to be himself may come with a price. Working alongside a patchwork team of misfits and unlikely allies, Will finds he isn't the only one keeping secrets. Someone does not want him to uncover the truth about the ghosts who aren’t just missing from the world of the living, but missing from history itself. Can he find the Missing before he ends up becoming one of them?
The Missing by Jerico Lenk Publication Date:  October 10, 2017 Publisher:  Month9Books
Available for Pre-order: Amazon 
 
Undergraduate studying Creative Writing, Classics, Russian and Western European History. Unabashed weeb probably burning incense and drinking too much coffee at this very moment. Out for queer representation and great sex hair. Beyond ready for the upcoming Vampire Chronicles TV series.
Lenk writes Young Adult/New Adult, spec fiction, poetry, and screenplays. He is currently unagented. His poems have appeared at/in USF Tampa’s Thread Literary Inquiry, biannual 6x6 creative writing showcase, and placed second in National Poetry Month 2015; Tethered By Letters’ F(r)iction Spring 2016 poetry contest finalist; winner of the 2017 Bettye Newman Poetry award.
 

Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Summer Reads Celebration with Swoon Romance!

 
Hello Readers!  
Summer is almost over but there's still time to snuggle up with some romantic summer reads!
Celebrate the last drop of summer with these summer reads from Swoon Romance.
Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!
 
 
Pretend to be from Spain? Act like she can barely speak English? Sure, why not? It wouldn’t be the first time Gabby Vega had agreed to a challenge from her best friend, Kenzie. Besides, it’s only for a week of vacation with Kenzie’s cousins. Gabby will prove to Kenzie she can keep up the fake identity for the whole trip—that she’s not a quitter.
There’s just one major surprise. Noah Jernigan is also staying with Kenzie’s cousins. Noah, the boy she fell in love with at drama camp last summer and the boy she had to dump when it was over. The boy who knows who she really is.
Noah can’t believe it when Gabby appears at the Bryson’s vacation home in the New Mexico mountains. He hasn’t seen her in a year. It practically took that long just to get over her. And now she’s Gabriela from Spain? All he wants is to get as far away as he can. Or maybe the exact opposite. Stick as close to her as possible and find out what the heck happened last summer. And definitely get some payback.
Now Gabby has to keep Noah at arm’s length as she pretends to be Gabriela. She doesn’t want to answer his questions or rehash last summer. Because one thing is clear—the more time she spends with Noah, the more she’s in danger of falling for him all over again.
About Last Summer by Patricia B. Tighe Publication Date: May 30, 2017 Publisher: Swoon Romance
Available for Purchase: Amazon
 
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING:
“This book is ADORABLE!”Brookie Cowles, Author “Cute story with engaging writing!”Shala, Goodreads

   
The mother of two grown sons, Patricia B. Tighe lives in West Texas with her husband and dog. She eats way too much pizza, drinks way too much coffee, and watches way too much NFL football. On the bright side, she also reads and writes teen fiction. She promises to include as much romance, angst, and adventure as possible in her books.
     
 
Seventeen-year-old Autumn Teslow arrives at her father’s job fair knowing she’ll never measure up to the perfect image of daddy’s little girl—her twin sister.
Wearing anger management issues like a second skin won’t help Autumn win her dad’s approval for the big trip she’s been planning—or meet his condition that she successfully complete a summer internship for college.
Autumn’s cool unravels when her sister lectures against disappointing the family again. And when a young, bearded guy steps through the crowd to settle the growing argument between siblings, Autumn lashes out, dubbing him a “Duck Dynasty wannabe.”
At Nineteen, Caden Behr is clueless as to why his man parts are threatened by the fearsome girl before him. He’d only come to find an intern for his recreational equipment company, not break up a girl-fight between two sisters.
Unfortunately, the only candidate left is the girl who just told him off. Without her, he’ll never prove to his CEO mother that he’s ready for more responsibility.
Autumn and Caden agree that if they can keep from killing one another, they can use one another to get what they want and then never have to see each other again. Which is what they want.
Until it isn’t.
Because despite her best efforts to scare him off, and his fading desire to push her into the lake, they’re beginning to enjoy the time they spend together. But pride is a hard habit to break. And if neither will admit their changing feelings, they could lose a whole lot more than one summer.
One Summer with Autumn by Julie Reece Publisher: October 18, 2016 Publisher: Swoon Romance
Available for Purchase: Amazon 
 
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING:
“it’s a story of discovering a new you”Moriah, A Leisure Moment “light and fluffy”Hadassah, Haddie’s Haven   
 
 
As a child, Julie’s summers were about horseback riding and fishing, while winter brought sledding and ice-skating on frozen ponds. Most of life was magical, but not all. She struggled with multiple learning disabilities, and spent much of her time gazing out windows and daydreaming. In the fourth grade (with the help of one very nice teacher) she fought dyslexia for her right to read and won. Afterward, she invented stories where powerful heroines kicked bad-guy butt to win the hearts charismatic heroes. And then she wrote one down… Writing ever since, Julie weaves southern gothic, contemporary, fantasy, and young adult romances. She enjoys sweeping tales of mystery and epic adventure… which must include a really hot guy. Her writing is proof a dream and some hard work can overcome any obstacle.
     
 
School is out and Lucy is ready for the perfect summer: lazy days at the pool, invitations to the most exclusive parties, and romantic dates with her hot new boyfriend. That is, until she lands in trouble one too many times and her parents issue the ultimate punishment: a summer job. Suddenly, the summer can’t end fast enough.
To make matters worse, the job is painting houses with Justin, the most popular, egotistical guy in school. Spending all summer with Justin might be other girls’ dreams, but definitely not Lucy’s. After all, Justin is cocky, annoying, and a jerk. So what if he’s the most beautiful jerk Lucy’s ever seen? Or that his grin makes her forget she’s mad at the world? Or that maybe, just maybe, there’s more to Justin than Lucy realizes. Only one thing is certain: it won’t be the summer she wanted, but it might be exactly the one she needs.
Effortless With You (Effortless With You #1) by Lizzy Charles Publication Date: 2013 Publisher: Swoon Romance
Available for Purchase:
 
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING:

“I most definitely recommend checking out”Ellen, Always YA at Heart “It was refreshing and I adored it”Crystal, Bookiemoji      
Lizzy Charles writes young adult contemporary romance. She’s a tea fanatic, guacamole expert, and sushi lover. When she’s fixing lunches, dressing kids, or wiping pizza sauce off sticky hands, she escapes to La La Land and imagines all sorts of little love stories. Lizzy loves her daily dose of fitness and is also a RN so she can triage any symptom you send her way. Her best friend from high school is also her husband. Oh and she has a little pup named Professor Lupin who is pretty much the glue to the whole writing operation.
 
Complete the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!
 

Sunday, August 20, 2017

Project Pandora (Assassin Fall #1) by Aden Polydoros Blog Tour with Giveaway!


Project Pandora (Assassin Fall #1)
by Aden Polydoros
Publication Date: August 1, 2017
Publisher: Entangled Teen

Tyler Bennett trusts no one. Just another foster kid bounced from home to home, he’s learned that lesson the hard way. Cue world’s tiniest violin. But when strange things start happening—waking up with bloody knuckles and no memory of the night before or the burner phone he can’t let out of his sight— Tyler starts to wonder if he can even trust himself.

Even stranger, the girl he’s falling for has a burner phone just like his. Finding out what’s really happening only leads to more questions…questions that could get them both killed. It’s not like someone’s kidnapping teens lost in the system and brainwashing them to be assassins or anything, right? And what happens to rogue assets who defy control?

In a race against the clock, they’ll have to uncover the truth behind Project Pandora and take it down—before they’re reactivated. Good thing the program spent millions training them to kick ass...






***********************
EXCERPT:

Shannon!” someone called as she emerged into the sunlight.
She flinched at the sound of her name, only to spot Tyler standing just outside the glass-and-metal canopy that sheltered the metro entrance. With a sigh of relief, she stepped off the escalator and hurried over to him.
I can’t tell you how glad I am to see you,” she said once she reached his side.
It’s mutual.” He grinned, exposing those adorable dimples of his. Compared to Hades, he was all warmth, both in his bronzed complexion and the kindness of his expression. Even his cologne’s citrusy aroma had a far more welcoming effect on her, soothing rather than unsettling her.
Hey, can you tell me if some guy’s following me?” she asked, lowering her voice. “He’s around our age. Black hair, blue eyes. Dressed all in black.”
Tyler’s smile faded, and he looked past her. “You mean the guy who looks like he’s never heard of a comb? The one in the leather jacket?”
Yeah.”
He’s smiling at us.” Tyler’s hands tightened into fists, and his clenched jaw cut hard lines in his face. “Did he do anything to you?”
No, he was just talking weird on the subway,” Shannon muttered. “About flowers and dating and stuff.”
His face paled with anger. “Was he sexually harassing you?”
No. I don’t know.” She shook her head. “It’s probably nothing.”
He’s coming over here,” Tyler said, and his dark, gold-flecked eyes narrowed dangerously. He placed a hand on her wrist. “Let me deal with this.”
She turned to find Hades approaching them. In spite of the boy’s calm gait, every movement of his seemed intentional, almost trained. No unnecessary energy was exerted, and his right arm lingered at his side, steady.
To reduce the time it takes to reach his gun, she thought, surprising herself. Of all the theories she could come up with, why would she assume that?
Hello again,” Hades said warmly, looking from Tyler to her. “Why are you two together? This can’t be a coincidence. Is this a test or something? Are you doing a job?”
Every time his incandescent blue eyes fell on her, her gut squirmed in discomfort. She was almost certain now that she had talked to him before, but she couldn’t remember where.
I heard you were harassing my friend here,” Tyler growled, stepping forward. “Are you stalking her?”
Hades chuckled. “You know, you’re the second person this week who’s accused me of being a stalker.”
Shocking,” he said drily.
I guess this means you’re Tyler Bennett now.”
A hint of confusion showed through Tyler’s scowl. “How do you know my name?”

Hades grinned, visibly amused. “Whoever said that’s your name, Apollo?”

************************

AUTHOR INFO:

Aden Polydoros grew up in Long Grove, Illinois, the youngest of three children. Aden’s family moved to Arizona when he was in second grade. As a kid, he spent much of his time exploring the desert near his home. When he wasn’t searching for snakes and lizards, he was raiding the bookshelves of the local library. As a teenager, Aden decided that he wanted to be a writer. He spent his free time writing short stories. He was encouraged by his English teacher to try his hand at writing a novel, which inspired him to begin PROJECT PANDORA. The YA thriller is set for publication with Entangled Publishing in Summer of 2017. He is represented by Mallory Brown of Triada US.








Giveaway Details:

Project Pandora Prize Pack (US) or a $10 Amazon Gift card (INT)



Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Sarah's Secret : A Western Tale of Betrayal and Forgiveness by Beverly Scott Blog Tour with Personal Review :)

Sarah's Secret: A Western Tale of Betrayal and Forgiveness by Beverly Scott

Publication Date: January 31, 2017 eBook & Paperback; 306 Pages Word Project Press Genre: Fiction/Historical/Western     Follow the paths of Sarah and Will (or Sam) as they tell their stories of trust, secrets, and betrayal on the frontier in the old West. Their pioneer spirit helped to fuel the expansion into the Western territories of the United States. The two are historically on their separate journeys, yet they remain intimately connected. Through the fictionalized Western frontier tale of Sam and Sarah, the author, Beverly Scott, was inspired to reveal rumored secrets from her family history. In 1878, Will is on the run after killing a man in a barroom gunfight. He escapes the Texas Rangers by joining a cattle drive as a cook headed to Dodge City. He struggles with the dilemma of saving his life or attempting to return to his pregnant wife and five children. Just when he thinks he might be able to return home, he is confronted by a bounty hunter who captures him and plans to return him to Fort Worth, Texas to be hanged. Although Will changes his name to Sam, he remains an irresponsible, lonely and untrustworthy man on the dodge from the law who abandons the women he loves. He ultimately seeks redemption and marries Sarah. In 1911, Sarah, a pioneer woman and widow with five children struggles to find the inner strength to overcome betrayal, loneliness, fears, and self-doubt. Her husband, Sam, thirty years her senior, died with a mysterious and defiant declaration, “I won’t answer!”. Despite poverty and a crippling illness, she draws on her pioneer spirit to hold her family together and return to Nebraska to be near her parents and siblings. When Sarah returns to Nebraska she receives staggering news which complicates her efforts to support her children. She is shocked, angry and emotionally devastated. Since she is attempting to establish herself in the community as a teacher, she believes she must keep her secret even from her own family. Will Sarah find forgiveness in her heart and the resolve to accept her new life alone?

Praise for Sarah's Secret

“In the flash of one moment, the trajectory of a man’s life and of those who loved and depended on him changes forever. The developing plot draws the reader in as we wait to see how this one action reaches into and impacts the lives of future generations. Set against the backdrop of a post-Civil War nation, when thousands headed west to escape their past, disappear into the horizon, and remake themselves, this biography is a rich study of pioneer ethos and the risks faced every day. The women touched by this man, who kept his secrets close, are heroines of courage, steadfastness and goodness. Beverly Scott is an author who has a way of painting word pictures that make you feel like you are a part of the story as it unfolds towards the discovery of his devastating secrets.” -Patricia and Craig Neal, co-founders, Heartland Inc. “Using the plain spoken language of the women and men who scratched out life on the hard scrabble plains in the early days of this young country Bev Scott crafts a sharp picture of the violence and the love that shaped the middle of this nation. Every river crossing, each spring planting reveals the conflicts inside the characters and their struggle to survive in contested territories.” -Jewell Gomez, Author, The Gilda Stories

Amazon | IndieBound

***My Personal Review***

I love anything that is set in the wild west or the plains, and this book definitely had that.  The stories of the settlers and their journeys has always fascinated me.  Their struggles and hardships were huge but they never gave up.  And that's what I love about this book - Sarah loses her husband Sam and has to decide what to do with 5 children and how she will raise them.  So they begin a journey across the country to find a better life.  But Sam had a secret and uttered something about it to Sarah on his deathbed, something she has yet to figure out.  Sarah is lucky she has a few older boys who are able to take charge of a lot of things and help protect the family on their journey - but they are still just boys and she knows that she needs to make sure they have what they need to succeed in this wild world.  And without a father figure that is difficult, but even more so when you are facing not only starvation but thieves, wild animals, desperation and other threats.

Okay so enough about all that - as I read this book it completely captivated me. I felt totally immersed in the life and times of Sarah Martin, and throughout the entire book all I could do was wonder what the secret was that her late husband Sam had been keeping from her.  How would it affect her and their children?  And was it something that was SO bad that she would not be able to forgive him?  If you read a lot of literature set in that time period they were very religious, so being able to forgive was something that they were supposed to do. But I still had to wonder if it was bad enough that it would ruin her life.  I won't give away the plot but I honestly loved this book - and of course when I did find out what the secret was I was astonished.  Of course the book began with Sam being sick so we really didn't get to know much about him or his background - something we come to find out in the later chapters of the book.  As it all comes together, Sarah's immense inner and outer strength shines through and she watches her children grow up and continues to do everything she can to take care of them. 


In all honesty I have to give this book 5 stars out of 5 - it was amazing and one of the best historical fiction books set in the West that I have read.  I highly recommend it for anyone from young adult and up because there is no bad language in the book at all that I noticed.  I am definitely going to look for more from Beverly Scott after reading this :)  FIVE STAR READ!


***I received a complimentary book in order to read and review***

About the Author

Bev specialized in serving executives and managers as a leadership coach and organizational consultant for over thirty-five years. She taught organization psychology and founded The 3rd Act, a program whose mission supports positive aging. As she grew into her own third act, she started a genealogical journey to uncover the details of her grandparents’ lives. She concluded that the story needed to be told as fiction using the known facts as her framework. “Sarah’s Secret: A Western Tale of Betrayal and Forgiveness,” Bev’s debut novel, is the culmination of her long-held desire tell the family story and confirm the whispered story about her grandfather. Bev previously focused on publishing non-fiction work, including the second edition of “Consulting on the Inside,” which she co-authored with Kim Barnes, published in 2011. She has written numerous professional articles and contributed to “70 Things to Do When You Turn 70,” edited by Ronnie Sellers and Mark Chimsky. Bev blogs on several sites, including her own, “The Writing Life” on www.bevscott.com. Bev enjoys traveling, visiting with friends, reading and spending time with her grandsons. She lives with her spouse in San Francisco. You can connect with Bev on Facebook, Pinterest, Amazon, and Goodreads.

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, August 14 Kick Off at Passages to the Past Tuesday, August 15 Guest Post at History From a Woman's Perspective Excerpt at Myths, Legends, Books & Coffee Pots Wednesday, August 16 Review at Pursuing Stacie Thursday, August 17 Review at WS Momma Readers Nook Friday, August 18 Excerpt at What Is That Book About Interview at Dianne Ascroft's Blog Monday, August 21 Feature at So Many Books, So Little Time Tuesday, August 22 Review at A Holland Reads Thursday, August 24 Review & Interview at T's Stuff Review & Interview at Books and Benches Monday, August 28 Feature at A Literary Vacation Tuesday, August 29 Review at Book Nerd Feature at Mello & June, It's a Book Thang! Wednesday, August 30 Review at Linda's Book Obsession Friday, September 1 Review at Creating Herstory Monday, September 4 Review at Svetlana's Reads and Views

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour we will be giving away a paperback copy of Sarah's Secret! To enter, please enter via the Gleam form below. Giveaway Rules – Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on September 4th. You must be 18 or older to enter. – Giveaway is open to US residents only. – Only one entry per household. – All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion. – Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen. Sarah's Secret by Beverly Scott



The Rules of Persuasion by Amity Hope Blog Tour with Excerpt and Giveaway :)



The Rules of Persuasion by Amity Hope
Publication Date: August 14, 2017
Publisher: Entangled Teen Crush


1) Take things slow (her rule)
2) Make it believable (his rule)
After tragedy hit her family, Meg Matthews officially crossed the line from “good girl” to “bad girl.” Motorcycle? Check. Graffiti? Check. The only thing Meg hadn’t planned on was blackmail. Too bad now a certain infuriating boy holds Meg’s future in his hands…
When Luke Prescott—star pitcher and town golden boy—catches Meg vandalizing the school, she’s given two choices: face the consequences or enter into a fake relationship with him to get his parents and his ex off his back.
But as Meg and Luke grow closer, they both realize they’ve been keeping secrets from each other. Their fake relationship might be doomed from the start—if they can’t learn to open up to the one person they never thought they’d trust.

Disclaimer: This Entangled Teen Crush book contains late-night graffiti sessions, flirty baseball lessons, and a never-ending list of relationship rules just made to be broken.

Link to Goodreads:

Purchase Links:


***EXCERPT***


I flipped the notebook shut and wrangled it into my backpack. “I guess we’re done here.”
“Finally.” Her smile evaporated again. “I guess I’ll see you later.” She slid out of the booth, not waiting for a good-bye.
I yanked a few bills out of my wallet and tossed them on the table to cover the malts with plenty left for a tip. Grabbing my backpack, I darted out of the restaurant.
I didn’t need girls to be falling at my feet. But I wasn’t used to them acting as if I wasn’t worth their time. Meg’s indifference rattled me. As I watched her head to her Rebel—as if she couldn’t get away from me fast enough—I felt the urge to rattle her right back.
“Meg!”
She twisted around slowly.
I sauntered up to her until there were only inches between us. To her credit, she didn’t back down.
“I thought we were done,” she said. Was it my imagination, or did she sound slightly breathless?
“Not quite.”
She cleared her throat and took a step back. I reached for her hands, tangling my fingers around hers as I reeled her back in. “We forgot to seal the deal.”
“Seal the deal?”
“Seal it with a kiss.” I shrugged. “You’re going to have to kiss me eventually. Personally, I’d rather have our first time be without an audience. Wouldn’t you?”
She winced, clearly knowing that I was right.
“I guess it would be best to get the awkwardness out of the way,” she grumbled.
I decided not to focus on the fact that she sounded less than thrilled. Instead, I took it as a good sign that she didn’t elbow me in the gut and storm away.
I moved in slowly, not convinced she wouldn’t bolt. Her eyes fluttered closed. Her hands slid up my arms, clutching at my biceps. When her lips met mine I swear something ignited between us. My hands gripped her waist and as the kiss lingered, the tension melted away.

She had acted so cold toward me, the last thing I expected was for the kiss to be so hot.


AUTHOR INFO:


Amity lives in beautiful northern Minnesota with her two sons, two cats and their Rottweiler. She has
a degree in elementary education and worked in that field for ten years before deciding to chase her dream. Her debut novel, Twisted, was listed by Amazon as a Top 100 Kids & Teens Kindle Book of 2012. If she's not writing, or spending time with her boys, she's most likely reading.







Giveaway Details:
  • $20 Amazon Gift Card (INT)


Thursday, August 10, 2017

Traitor's Knot by Cryssa Bazos Blog Tour with Personal Review :)

Traitor's Knot by Cryssa Bazos

Publication Date: May 9, 2017 Endeavor Press eBook; 394 Pages Genre: Fiction/Historical/Romance

       

England 1650: Civil War has given way to an uneasy peace in the year since Parliament executed King Charles I. Royalist officer James Hart refuses to accept the tyranny of the new government, and to raise funds for the restoration of the king’s son, he takes to the road as a highwayman. Elizabeth Seton has long been shunned for being a traitor’s daughter. In the midst of the new order, she risks her life by sheltering fugitives from Parliament in a garrison town. But her attempts to rebuild her life are threatened, first by her own sense of injustice, then by falling in love with the dashing Hart. The lovers’ loyalty is tested through war, defeat and separation. James must fight his way back to the woman he loves, while Elizabeth will do anything to save him, even if it means sacrificing herself. Traitor’s Knot is a sweeping tale of love and conflicted loyalties set against the turmoil of the English Civil War.


“A hugely satisfying read that will appeal to historical fiction fans who demand authenticity, and who enjoy a combination of suspense, action, and a very believable love story.” - Elizabeth St. John, author of The Lady of the Tower
“A thrilling historical adventure expertly told.” - Carol McGrath, author of The Handfasted Wife

Traitor's Knot is available in eBook & Paperback at Amazon

***PERSONAL REVIEW***

I am a huge fan of historical fiction books and this one definitely captivated me.  I love the setting which is during the mid 1600's in England.  Elizabeth Seton is an amazingly strong and well-written character - she boldly stands up to a highwayman who could kill her, and yet she also abides by the "rules" of her times regarding ladies.  I love that she was once part of a very important family until her father became a traitor and everyone shunned her.  You can feel how she is feeling about her life and I think that is what makes her a great character - she is relatable.  Interesting and full of life, she immediately captures the attention of Ostler James and he presses for a courtship but she keeps him at bay for a while.  I love the way their story is told, how they are ripped apart and have to find their way back together.  All of the characters are richly designed and even if we don't get to see a lot of them in the book they somehow stick with us - like the highwayman.  I love how James and Elizabeth are both very stubborn and fall in love in spite of that.  But she is quite the firecracker and would definitely be too much for some men to handle (I believe at one point Isabel uses the word "insolent"), especially during that time period.  And of course I like the fact that Elizabeth is strong and proud of her ties to her father even after being thrown away for his actions that had nothing to do with her.  She overcomes and goes on and I like strong female leads who can show us that no matter what occurs, we can always keep going and not let it ruin you.  

Overall I loved this book and I loved the complexity of each character, seeing their backgrounds helped me understand who they were.  A true love story with some serious struggles along the way to get back together.

With historical novels I find they are much more interesting when the author uses phrases and words from that specific time period, and this book had that.  "A pox on your family" meaning curse your family was probably my favorite from this book.  When you read a historical fiction book you should be transported back to the time and place in every way, and this book did that for me - I was amused and saddened and finally ... well I won't give away the ending!  But if you love historical fiction and an English setting then this is a great book to read!  And of course this will be a series so I can't wait to read the other books.  

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About the Author

Cryssa Bazos is a historical fiction writer and 17th Century enthusiast, with a particular interest in the English Civil War (ECW). She blogs about English history and storytelling at her blog, the 17th Century Enthusiast, and is an editor of the English Historical Fiction Authors blog site. Cryssa's debut novel, Traitor’s Knot, a romantic tale of adventure set during the English Civil War. Traitor’s Knot is the first in a series of adventures spanning from the ECW to the Restoration and is now available from Endeavour Press. For more information visit Cryssa's website. You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Blog Tour Schedule

Tuesday, August 1 Kick Off at Passages to the Past Wednesday, August 2 Review at Romantic Historical Reviews Thursday, August 3 Review & Excerpt at Locks, Hooks and Books Monday, August 7 Interview at Aurora B's Book Blog Thursday, August 10 Review & Excerpt at Books of All Kinds Friday, August 11 Review at WS Momma Readers Nook Tuesday, August 15 Review at A Chick Who Reads Interview at T's Stuff Friday, August 18 Interview at Let Them Read Books

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour we will be giving away a signed paperback copy of Traitor's Knot! To enter, please enter via the Gleam form below. Giveaway Rules – Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on August 18th. You must be 18 or older to enter. – Giveaway is open to residents in the US & Canada only. – Only one entry per household. – All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion. – Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.