Empire Betrayed in review

Empire Betrayed

The Fall of Sejanus

In 29 A.D., Emperor Tiberius Caesar, living in self-imposed exile on the Isle of Capri, entrusts his Praetorian Prefect, Lucius Aelius Sejanus, with the administration of the vast Roman Empire. Under Sejanus’ iron fist, and unbeknownst to Tiberius, the ranks of the Senate and equites are subsequently purged of the Praetorian’s enemies. Treason trials, once prohibited in Rome, have become commonplace as Sejanus relentlessly punishes any who would defy him in his quest for power.

After many years of commanding the cavalry of the Army of the Rhine, Tribune Aulus Nautius Cursor at last returns to Rome, amidst the turmoil. Two years later is elected as a Tribune of the Plebs; the representatives of the people who hold the power of veto over the Senate. It is Cursor who discovers Sejanus’ sinister plans; that he seeks to overthrow Tiberius and name himself Emperor.

Duty bound to save the Empire from falling further under a tyrannical usurper, Cursor resolves to unravel the conspiracy and bring the perpetrators to justice. Aiding him is an old friend; a retired Master Centurion named Gaius Calvinus. Regrettably, they know that if successful, Tiberius’ retribution will be swift and brutal, sparing neither the innocent nor the guilty. This leaves only two dark paths for Cursor and Calvinus; either allow the pending reign of terror under a ruthless usurper, or unleash the unholy vengeance of an Emperor betrayed.

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BIO: 
Born in Edmonds, Washington, author James Mace is currently a resident of Meridian, Idaho. He enlisted in the United States Air Force out of high school; three years later transferring over to the U.S. Army. After a career as a Soldier that included deploying to Iraq, in 2011 he left his full-time position with the Army National Guard to devote himself to writing.
His well-received series, "Soldier of Rome - The Artorian Chronicles," is a perennial best-seller in ancient history on Amazon. In his latest endeavors, he also branched into writing about the Napoleonic Wars. After he finishes the last of The Artorian Chronicles in 2013, he looks to expand into a series about the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879.

ONLINE LINKS:

·        Website   http://legionarybooks.net/

·        Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/legionarybooks

·        Twitter  https://twitter.com/LegionaryBooks

·        Goodreads  https://www.goodreads.com/LegionaryBooks

·        Author Amazon Page  http://www.amazon.com/James-Mace/e/B002BMES4O/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Bill's REVIEW:
This is a story of a man who tries to rise in the social system of ancient Rome through the Army. Of course being set in that time period there is corruption, struggles for power, and a tyrannical Emperor.  This is an interesting mixture of history and fiction  The book has an interesting concept and has the potential to be a hit if the characters are developed a bit more and  the arc of the story is developed and fleshed out more.  
It was an entertaining enough read and quick so I think people who love this era of historical fiction will enjoy it.   

Moonlight Serenade by Kate Hinderer Release Day Blitz

Today is the Release Day for Moonlight Serenade (Fascination Island #2) by Kate Hinderer!

Title: Moonlight Serenade (Fascination Island #2)

Author: Kate Hinderer

Description:

 Determined to someday sing on the stage in New York City, Collette takes an internship at the luxury resort on Fascination Island. While she plans to hone her craft by singing nightly on the stage of the Moonlight Serenade restaurant, she never expected to be pushed outside her comfort zone. Shy and reserved, she is challenged to step outside herself and release the inner diva. When Falcon comes along, sparks fly and secrets are revealed. Before long Collette is forced to make life-changing decisions that will impact her future in ways she never even imagined.  

Excerpt
 
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“Honestly Falcon. What is it that gives you the right to go around kissing any unsuspecting girl you want?”

I didn’t like the sound of that. Part of me had hoped that his instant reaction had been something that struck him as strongly as it had me. I didn’t like the idea he went around kissing any girl that happened to look at him long enough for him to make his move. I didn’t like that at all.

“I don’t kiss every girl,” Falcon argued, but it sounded weak even to me. Tristan cleared his throat in disbelief. “Ok, so I kissed you, Audyn, that first day. But it was more about punishing Tristan than you.”

“Glad we finally cleared that up.”

At this point I was beginning to think faking my continued faint wasn’t such a good idea. My romantic bubble had been thoroughly burst by the strange, impulsive boy who had given me my first kiss. The boy of my dreams had kissed my roommate to get even with Tristan. I already knew what that meant—this couldn’t end well. But as I was about to rouse myself, Falcon said something that nearly had me fainting all over again.

“I swear to you. This was different. She’s different.” His voice sounded closer now, as if he felt drawn to be near me.

“Why? Is she the first one to melt at your touch?” Audyn queried, her words still laced with cynicism.

“Not everyone breaks my toe like you did. But she’s different in a way I can’t explain. I’m sure you, of anyone, should understand that.”

Audyn scoffed at Falcon’s response while my heart began beating quicker. “Get out of here,” she commanded.

To my disappointment he didn’t argue. He didn’t utter a word. The sound of the door opening and then clicking closed echoed in the hacienda. I fluttered my eyes and moved about restlessly, pulling Audyn’s attention back to me.

“Thank goodness you’re all right. How do you feel?”

Dramatizing the act a little, I slowly sat up, dangling my feet over the bed and sitting up next to Audyn. She wrapped her arm around my waist to help support me. The room didn’t sway, proving beyond a doubt that it was the kiss that felled me instead of anything biological. Still, I pressed a hand to my forehead to verify my charade and make me appear less prone to fainting fits at the sight of a good looking guy. 

“Did I really pass out in some stranger’s arms?” I asked, looking around to find the place empty but for the two of us.

“Yeah. And that stranger happens to be Tristan’s younger brother, Falcon.” She shook her head in disgust. “I told you, meeting them is always an adventure.”

“Thank goodness you came along.”

“Tristan and I got here a minute after you passed out. Falcon had you laid out on the bed and stood over you like some avenging angel waiting to do battle if anyone got in the way.”

“I guess I owe him,” I said, attempting to sound uninterested even if the mental picture of Falcon continued to grow with each passing minute. He must have been so worried about me, fainting dead away and then not coming to immediately.

“He kissed you. Do you remember?”

My face turned red before I had the chance to respond. My fingers came up and touched my lips as the memory remained fresh and alive. “Yeah,” I whispered, sounding breathless, even to my own ears.

About the Author

In a nutshell: Writer. Blogger. Journalist. Marathon runner. Social media enthusiast. Beer drinker. Avid YA reader. Traveler. Chicago native. Milwaukee resident. Music fanatic. Fashion lover. Oldest of nine. Writing has been in my soul from the very beginning. In grade school I started my own local paper for the street I lived on. In middle school I wrote for the school paper and loved any English writing assignment. I started writing novels in high school. At the time my friends were the characters, the setting was almost always Regency England, and I scratched the story into lined notebooks. Now, I have a journalism degree and a dozen various business writing gigs under my belt. I’ve lived in a handful of US cities including Milwaukee, Chicago, Boston, St. Louis and New York. I pen a personal fashion and lifestyle blog, ModlyChic.com, and continue to write about commercial real estate. My first book, Aurora Undefined, was published in 2011. The Emerald Isle, the first Fascination Island book, came out during the summer of 2012, at which time I immediately began writing the second book in the series. Next up . . . stay tuned! I’m working on a new contemporary novel as well as the third book in the Fascination Island series. 

Links

 Purchase on Amazon

Facebook

Kate Hinderer Writes (blog)

ModlyChic (fashion blog)

Twitter: @kate_hinderer

Goodreads

 Amazon profile

Family Magic by Patti Larsen First Chapter

Ever since I was a little girl, I dreamed of being ordinary. That my mom baked cookies instead of brewing spells. That my dad lived with us, not on the demon plane. All I ever wanted was to be like everyone else.

I know what you're thinking. You'd die to live in my world. How cool would it be if magic was real and you could do anything? 

You have no idea. Here I am in another new town, but it's the same old thing. Cheerleader bullies? How original. Friendless again? Who's surprised? I suck at fitting in. Especially when I'm in the middle of saving my family from total destruction.

My name is Sydlynn Hayle, and that's my life.

Trade you.

Chapter 1

Family Magic

Patti Larsen

Chapter One

I batted at the curl of smoke drifting off the tip of my candle and tried not to sneeze. My heavy velvet cloak fell in oppressive, suffocating folds in the closed space of the ceremony chamber, the cowl trapping the annoying bits of puff I missed. I hated the way my eyes burned and teared, an almost constant distraction. Not that I didn’t welcome the distraction, to be honest. Anything to take my mind from what went on around me.

Being part of a demon raising is way less exciting than it sounds.

The bodies of the gathered coven pressed close, shrouded in the same black velvet, the physical weight of their presence making it hard to breathe. I struggled to censor my clichéd thoughts and focus on the task at hand. The glow of other candle flames floated around me, barely lighting faces, enough for a serious case of the creepies. A low hum sounded from every throat, filling the room with an almost physical presence.  I participated half-heartedly, wishing I was anywhere but here, knowing despite my personal preferences I had no choice whatsoever.

The group swayed as one as the hum grew in volume. The first hint of power made its way around the half-circle. I felt my own power being drawn away, connected and shared despite my reflexive attempt to pull free. As much as I suppressed my magic from day to day and refused to use it at all, the draw of the coven and my attachment to it made it impossible to deny.

Totally crappy. Especially since anything to do with magic always made me feel slightly nauseated and off balance.

I wiped a smoke-laced tear from the corner of my eye and blinked at the pentagram etched in the stone at my feet. The lines of the star began to glow faintly blue, the candles at each point flaring as though with the heartbeat of the whole, the breath and life of each and every soul in the room. I wondered if anyone ever checked to see if our hearts really did beat in sync. Wouldn’t that be special?

I stifled a sigh as a tall, elegant form flowed forward from the circle to the center of the pentagram. She swept back the hood of her cloak, her long, thick and perfect black hair a flawless halo around her gorgeous face. Her eyes glowed with joy, cheeks flushed from the rush of energy coming from the coven, her coven. Miriam Hayle was everything every woman wanted to be. Beautiful, graceful, commanding, the perfect witch, the perfect leader, the perfect everything.

My luck? She was my mother.

I blew on the smoke from my candle as subtly as possible while barely managing to still the jiggle starting in my left knee. Somehow I always ended up in exactly the spot where a tiny little breeze pushed the white vapor the wrong way. A part of me was sure it was somehow contrived that way as an extra level of punishment piled on to my particular little corner of hell. And forget the sacrilege of blowing the candle out.  It’s not a whole lot of fun being the center of the displeasure of fifty-odd witches of varying power, so I suffered.

Oh believe me, I suffered. Every day, every moment, every breath. I, Sydlynn Hayle, sixteen-year-old all-American girl, was a witch. My mom was a witch. My grandmother was a witch, if a crazy one. My sister, my mom’s best friend and every single other person in my life, much to my disappointment, fell in that category, with a couple of exceptions. Lucky me. Except I spent my entire life wanting nothing more than to be normal, average, ordinary and just like everyone else.

Hard to do in a family like mine.

So there I was, another Saturday night, no friends, no social life, just the stupid coven and another stupid coven ritual. Could one girl’s life really suck that much?

I glanced down at my little sister as she stared at our Mom, rapt in attention, beaming a smile. Meira glanced up at me, red-tinted skin and amber gaze aglow as the power in the room built, triggering her demon blood. In the ‘real world,’ Meira had to disguise her unusual coloring, her overlarge eyes and cute little horns peeking out of her silky black curls. Within the safety of the family she was free to be herself and I know she loved it.

I always envied my eight-year-old sister her eagerness to embrace her birthright while I simply did everything I could to ignore it. Easier for me, I suppose, with my plain, dark brown hair and ordinary blue eyes, my white skin and handful of freckles. I did what I could not to look the part, to forget our dad was a demon.

Meira grinned at me, her candle’s trail curling perfectly upward toward the ceiling in an endless swirl. I waved at my smoke again, the tickle in the back of my throat and nose getting worse. Meira watched me struggle like she always did. With laughter wrinkling her upturned nose, she waggled her fingers at my candle. I felt her power reach out, the thin film of it forming a delicate tube around the wick. My smoke immediately behaved. She winked before turning back to Mom.

I felt stupid. So that’s how they did it…! Sixteen years of this crap, and it took my little sister taking pity on me to finally get the joke. Of course, if I ever paid attention or agreed to do magic, maybe I’d have known about it a long time ago. But the fact my suspicions were so dead on, that Mom obviously instructed the others to let me figure it out on my own or continue to suffer, made me grind my teeth in frustration. She would do anything to get me to use my talent, short of putting me in danger, and I even wondered about that.

I tried to focus on the stupid ceremony and not my urge to throw the dumb candle in her flawless face.

Yeah, that would go over well.

Mom, either unaware or not caring about my present state of mind, raised her arms, robe falling into a perfect puddle at her feet, revealing her model’s figure in a black satin gown, polished silver jewelry at wrists and throat. She positively glowed with power, vivid blue eyes in rapture. How pathetically stereotypical. I wanted to throw up.

I felt the strength flow out of me in a rush and struggled as I always did to control the weakness in my knees and the slow roll in my stomach. I tried to catch my breath as secretly as possible, furious this always left me on the verge of passing out. Of course, no one else showed any discomfort, just little old me. I guess knowing how to use your magic and being willing to share made the whole transfer easier. That’s me, fight tooth and nail, even to the point of pain.

Sometimes I wondered why I was even invited.

At least I had the diversion of being responsible for my grandmother. She stood next to me, as usual, about as into the whole thing as me, but for different reasons. She hummed softly under her breath, her watery blue eyes crossing and recrossing as she studied the tip of her protruding tongue. She turned to me, wisps of white hair escaping from the edges of her black cloak, fanning back and forth with a life of their own. Her powder white skin fell in crumpled folds, but her expression was pure childishness. She cackled, winning me a silent warning from my mother. I rolled my eyes at Mom before sneaking a caramel out of my pocket and slipping it to Gram. She made a face. Chocolate was her favorite, but I hadn’t time to track some down. Okay, honestly, I forgot and raided the candy dish on the way. I prayed the offering would be sufficient.

Ethpeal Hayle had once been an influential witch. When I was just a baby, an evil coven challenged our family. She stood against them alone, cutting herself off to protect the rest of us. The Purity coven fell thanks to her, but the fight scrambled her sanity. So, I waited for the old woman to make up her mind about the candy and tried to be patient. It wasn’t her fault she was nuts.

I saw the flicker of rejection as her wrinkled old mouth puckered and knew if I didn’t act right then the scene she could create would probably level the house. The fight with the Purities may have left her one fortune cookie short of a combo plate but it did nothing to reduce her power. Knowing I only had one chance, I curled my fingers and started to pull away.

Her hand shot out, dagger-like nails brushing my palm as she snatched the sweet and stuffed it into her face. She grinned at me, nose wrinkling, eyes full of mischief. I tried not to react, knowing yet again we were saved by careful manipulation of my crazy grandmother.

I returned my attention to Mom with some relief as, oblivious to the disaster I averted, she turned slowly, pivoting on manicured toes. I made a face at her fuchsia piggies, just in time to catch her disapproving frown. I could practically hear her whole body screaming at me to pay attention, the little hairs on my arms vibrating from it. I flashed her a half-grimace, half-smile so she would stop. Her expression softened. She turned away. Thankfully. I wasn’t sure how long I could keep up the whole fake happy thing without bursting into flames.

She faced the altar at the back of the room and the life-sized stone effigy of an impossibly perfect and handsome man with large muscles and tiny horns on his smooth forehead. She pushed magical force toward it.

“Haralthazar,” she glided closer to the statue, “we summon you this third night of Power, nine days and nine nights from Samhain Eve, to tighten our bond with you and your realm.” She knelt at the foot of the altar, the picture of the submissive handmaiden. Could she be any more ridiculous? Seriously. “My love, come and be welcome.”

The blinding flash leaping from her to the statue continued to pour out of her in a deep blue rush of light. I turned my head slightly to the side, squinting against the glare, grateful for the edge of the cowl and the shadow it made. The whole room started to thrum, the floor vibrating with condensed magic as Mom used the energy we gave her to make the doorway permitting my father through to this plane.

When it happened we all felt it rather than seeing it. The power swirled around us, drawing us all closer, forming us into one entity, one spirit, a seamless conduit to the other dimension. I always hated this part, the total and utter lack of self that came with the opening of the door. Every time I went through it I tried to pull back, but my own demon blood wouldn’t allow it. Even more so than the other witches in the room, my being was tied completely and without choice to what was happening at the altar. I was always helpless, tapped into, taken, and ended up on my knees behind my mother, Meira at my side, as the effigy of my father came to life.

The blue flared to gold and Haralthazar, Demon Lord of the Seventh Plane of Demonicon, flushed and filled out. Still with the properties of stone but the appearance of flesh, he materialized from a burst of light as the gateway to his plane slammed open. For a heartbeat he stood there, haloed in the back glow of his dimension before the power propelled him the rest of the way forward and he stepped through and into his statue.

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Patti Larsen is an award-winning middle grade and young adult author with a passion for the paranormal. But that sounds so freaking formal, doesn't it? I'm a storyteller who hears teenager's voices so loud I have to write them down. I love sports even though they don't love me. I've dabbled in everything from improv theater to film making and writing TV shows, singing in an all girl band to running my own hair salon. 

But always, always, writing books calls me home.

I've had my sights set on world literary domination for a while now. Which means getting my books out there, to you, my darling readers. It's the coolest thing ever, this job of mine, being able to tell stories I love, only to see them all shiny and happy in your hands... thank you for reading.

As for the rest of it, I'm short (permanent), slightly round (changeable) and blonde (for ever and ever). I love to talk one on one about the deepest topics and can't seem to stop seeing the big picture. I happily live on Prince Edward Island, Canada, home to Anne of Green Gables and the most beautiful red beaches in the world, with my very patient husband and four massive cats.

ONLINE LINKS:

• Website  http://www.pattilarsen.com/

• Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/pattilarsenauthor

• Twitter  https://twitter.com/PattiLarsen

• Goodreads  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4576191.Patti_Larsen

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A Closer Look New Cover Reveal

Title: A Closer Look

Author: Karen DellaCava

A Closer Look book description:

“…and there were these moments—when we laughed on the phone, or met for a kiss-and-run, when I noticed the sweet way he looked at me—well, I felt so good I could almost forget about my secret. But in the back of mind, it was like an invisible fist was lurking, one that followed me around, just waiting for the chance to rip out more hair.”

High school freshman, Cassie Donavan, is a stand-out sprinter about to move up to varsity track. Mom, a former teen model and Robin Lakewood, a competitive teammate are more than enough to handle when Cassie discovers her body is turning against her. On New Year’s morning she awakens to her pillow covered with her long hair. Mom and Dad explain alopecia areata—a secret they’ve kept from Cassie since she was three. And now it’s happening again. Cassie is losing her hair.

Life gets even more complicated when Cassie falls for jazz sax player, Tommy Sweeny.

Every day Cassie battles with her reflection, desperate to keep her hair loss a secret. Only her family and best friend, Tara Speziale, know the truth. With her rapidly changing appearance, relationships with Mom and Tommy are strained, damaged. And when Tara urges Cassie to race at a crowded track meet, Cassie is trapped in her worst nightmare. Shattered, she hides at home embarrassed and ashamed. Does she dare renew her trust in her family and friends? Will Cassie have the courage to take a closer look?

***

Author bio:

Karen DelleCava is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and her short stories have appeared in Highlights magazine. When Karen isn't reading, working on her next novel, or playing Scrabble, you can find her at the gym in step aerobics or Zumba classes. A Closer Look is her first young adult novel.

"Like" my website on Facebook www.karendellecava.com

Buy links:

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Emerald Isle (Fascination Island #1) New Cover Reveal

Today is the new cover reveal of Emerald Isle by Kate Hinderer!

Title: Emerald Isle (Fascination Island #1)
Author: Kate Hinderer
Description:

 To escape a bad break-up and fighting parents Audyn takes a job as a lifeguard at Fascination Island. The posh five-star resort lives up to its name in every way, including the strange rules the owner has about entering the water at night. Despite declaring it a boy-free summer, it isn’t long before the shy, endearing Levi and the mysterious, tattooed Tristan begin vying for her attention. When Levi tries to push his advantage and Tristan comes to the rescue, Audyn realizes there is more to both these boys and the island they inhabit. Suddenly, she’s forced to acknowledge a reality she’d never considered and to pick a side in the conflict that has been waging for decades.

 First let's check out the old cover:

   




And now lets take a the new and improved cover:
 

Excerpt

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Beginning of the story…

            I never believed in love at first sight until I stood on the stage in the Moonlight Serenade. The uncomfortable churning of my stomach, that plagued me from the moment I boarded the plane from California, finally settled. The nerves that mocked me for taking this internship moved to the background as I stood looking out over the empty restaurant tables surrounding the stage and bandstand. I closed my eyes, envisioning the warm spotlights causing my skin to glow, the soft timbre of the band playing the melody, all eyes on me as I opened my mouth to sing.

My heart swelled as my body swayed to the music in my head. It was love; I was meant to be here, to sing on this stage.

            “Ah! Collette, my singing song bird,” Jim Riche called, his arms out to embrace me as he walked into the empty restaurant. Minutes before, a Fascination Island staff member dropped me off at my worksite and left me promising to find the resort’s owner.

            Swallowing the fear that threatened to choke me in this moment, I offered the middle-aged millionaire a meek smile. “Mr. Riche. Thank you again for inviting me to sing here this semester.”

            “I should be thanking you. I had the privilege of hearing your mother on the stage three different times in New York. It was close to divine. I heard your demos and had to have you here.”

            I blushed and looked at my feet, embarrassed both by the compliment and the mention of my deceased mother. She’d been dead three years and still even the mere mention of her name or her renowned talent, caused my heart to break again.

            “It’s an honor,” I mumbled feeling the familiar shyness overtake me under his close scrutiny. I had hoped the decision to pack up and move to Fascination Island for five months would alleviate some of the utter fear I felt in a stranger’s presence. But it hadn’t worked any miracles yet.

            “Well, Paul Stein won’t be back until tomorrow afternoon. He took a little, needed vacation after the intense summer months. I’m sure you’re eager to start working with him on your repertoire and routines.”

            I simply nodded. Paul Stein happened to be one of the main reasons I took the job in the first place. Known over the world, Mr. Stein was considered by many to be the pre-eminent vocal coach and mentor for anyone considering a career on the stage. My mother had worked with him for several months at the height of her career and couldn’t say enough about how he had helped her. But now, he had relegated himself to this small five-star resort in the middle of the Fiji Islands and only worked with the select few lucky enough to claim jobs on Mr. Riche’s payroll. I was one such lucky girl.

About The Author

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In a nutshell: Writer. Blogger. Journalist. Marathon runner. Social media enthusiast. Beer drinker. Avid YA reader. Traveler. Chicago native. Milwaukee resident. Music fanatic. Fashion lover. Oldest of nine. 

Writing has been in my soul from the very beginning. In grade school I started my own local paper for the street I lived on. In middle school I wrote for the school paper and loved any English writing assignment. I started writing novels in high school. At the time my friends were the characters, the setting was almost always Regency England, and I scratched the story into lined notebooks.

Now, I have a journalism degree and a dozen various business writing gigs under my belt. I’ve lived in a handful of US cities including Milwaukee, Chicago, Boston, St. Louis and New York. I pen a personal fashion and lifestyle blog, ModlyChic.com, and continue to write about commercial real estate. 

My first book, Aurora Undefined, was published in 2011. The Emerald Isle, the first Fascination Island book, came out during the summer of 2012, at which time I immediately began writing the second book in the series.

Next up . . . stay tuned! I’m working on a new contemporary novel as well as the third book in the Fascination Island series.

Links
Facebook
Kate Hinderer Writes (blog)
ModlyChic (fashion blog)
Twitter: @kate_hinderer
Goodreads
Amazon profile  

4 ways to enter and Win with author Kris Austen Radcliffe

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Join the coolest Street Team around {KAR} Kris Austen Radcliffe Street team, win cool prizes plus read amazing books. http://tinyurl.com/c46msov

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Love Curse by Nadia Kim Blog Tour

Synopsis of Love Curse:

What would you do if you woke up one day and was able to do things you couldn’t explain? Would you think there was something wrong, perhaps that you were crazy? This is the life of Sidney. A teenager in high school, struggling with the adjustment of transferring schools, her life takes a turn for the strange. Fearing the idea of uttering the words to any one, Sidney holds her secret close to her heart. To add  to the drama she struggles like most young women dealing with boys. Will Sidney crumble from the pressure of school? Or check in to a luny bin for thinking she was imagining the weird occurrences around her?

On the opposite side of time Joan is immersed in the world of Witchcraft, her powers begin to grow stronger after she is inducted into the coven her maternal line belongs to. But Joan finds herself conflicted when she is ripped from all she knows. Her new environment doesnt lend to her mastering her powers and whats worse, she is forbidden to use them. Joan’s deepest desire goes against what her mother and grandmother have commanded of her. Will Joan make the right decision and abide by their wishes, or will she rip the family apart with the plan she is putting together?

Author Bio:

Nadia grew up in the suburbs of Washington DC. Her childhood was hard and her teenage years even harder. She faced challenges that molded the person she is today and provided good dramatic material for her novels. 

Aside from writing Nadia had one other aspiration, to marry and have children. She is now married with three children. In her spare time she plays with her children, spends time as a family, plays softball and likes to watch movies and TV shows. 

Nadia is of mixed heritage, her mother comes from a long maternal line of women who were born and raised in bondage and children of slave owners. Her father was from an aristocratic family in Syria. Both her parents have enriched her life by surrounding her with people of different diversities, religions, ethnic backgrounds. 

As a child Nadia spent her time aspiring to be a writer and an actor. She took many acting classes and was part of many plays over the years. She also studied Kung Fu for six years during her teens and was a national champion.

Having spent many time writing short stories most of her life, Nadia finnaly realized her dream of becoming a published author earlier this year. Her first novel Reflection was inspired by a series of events where she met someone who seemed to live a parallel life to her own. 

She recently began to study Kabbalah which has had the biggest positive impact in her life. The changes have led her down a path to happiness. Nadia continues to write and has more stories to come. 
Stay tuned

Links:

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The Griffin Cryer by Julia Hughes

 

Title: Griffin Cryer
Author: Julia Hughes
Book Description:
Frankie Shaunessy’s friends are out of this world!
It’s an easy mistake to make – instead of whistling and calling for her dog, fifteen year old Frankie accidentally summons a griffin and his rider from another world. The Rider is tall, blond and extremely rude. On the other hand, Balkind is the sweetest, most lovable griffin Frankie’s ever met, and Frankie is determined to help the Rider and his griffin find a way back to their own world.
Dealing with parallel universes, disgruntled warriors, and hungry griffins is the easier part of Frankie’s life. At school, Frankie learns friends can become enemies, teachers aren’t always right, and the boy of your dreams can be all too human. Told in approximately 53,000 words, suitable for young adults, and all those who’ve ever dreamed of riding a griffin.

Excerpt:

Last night, while calling her dog, Frankie accidentally summonsed a griffin and its rider from another dimension. Dog and griffin flee from each other. This is Frankie's second encounter with the Rider, he has retrieved her missing dog, and wants something in return ….

A man sat outlined against the brow of Six Acre Meadow, a large black dog by his side. Frankie stumbled towards them, clutching at the stitch in her side. By the time she reached the top of the hill and stood over him, all the furious insults she'd rehearsed on the nightmare jog here were useless. Instead she glared down at him, struggling to catch her breath. Bally's tail thumped, but he made no attempt to cease worrying at the mammoth bone he held down with one paw. 

Finally Frankie managed: 'That's my dog.' 

Calmly unscrewing the lid from a bottle of water, the stranger took a couple of swigs, then offered it to Frankie. After a moment's hesitation, she swiped the bottle from him, tipped her head back, and chugged down.

'Where's my griffin?' the man asked.

Frankie clutched the now empty bottle, longing to chuck it at his head and snatch up Bally and run. But somehow she doubted his temper had improved any since last night.

'Please – I don't know your name – but please – let me have my dog back. Please – it'll break my mum's heart.'

'Get me back my griffin and you can have your dog.'

'I'll call the police.'

He shrugged, looking completely unconcerned. 'Call for my griffin, and you can have your dog back.'

Frankie gave a sigh of surrender, and tossed the empty bottle neatly into his opened rucksack.

'If I call your …griffin – and it doesn't come, will that satisfy you?'

He nodded. 'If you call with all your heart, and Balkind doesn't answer, you may have your dog back.'

Call with all your heart. Frankie knew without asking what this meant. Inflating her lungs, and placing her hands either side of her mouth, she summoned up a cry from the heart.

'Balkind!'

The sound flooded the meadow. Frankie sucked in air and called again. 'Baalll-kind.' She could feel two pairs of eyes on her, watching intently, Bally's ears were pricked. Before calling for the third time, Frankie took a couple of steps away from her audience, and focussed on projecting her cry across the village, across the lakes, across the country if needs be.

'Baaaalllll-kiiiiinnnnnd!'

Frankie glanced behind her. The blond head nodded approval.

'That'll do.'

Of course it would: Any griffin within a hundred miles would have heard that.

About The Author

The London born author of the Celtic Cousins' Adventures: A Raucous Time; A Ripple in Time; and An Explosive Time. The Bridle Path, and her latest title is a young adult/crossover action adventure: The Griffin Cryer.

"I'm an eldest child and walking my younger brother and sister to school and back, I'd tell them stories - a captive audience! On leaving college, I worked at the BBC, helping write stories for their "Schools' Programmes". That was back in the day, before satellite telly made it over to the UK and 'Auntie Beeb' ruled the air waves! I gave it all up for the good life, and moved down to Cornwall, one of the most beautiful counties in England, and often known as 'God's own country.' I think the greatest compliment I received was 'Julia's more Cornish than the Cornish.' I picked daffodils in winter and made pasties for the holidaymakers in the summer. But all good things come to an end: I upped sticks to be closer to my family, and landed in a little village just outside London, and have been here ever since, scribbling away at my stories. "

I don't specifically write in any one genre, an idea will flitter into my mind, and the story develops. My first three titles, "A Raucous Time", "A Ripple in Time" and "An Explosive Time" are action adventures, while "The Bridle Path" is romance. I think I'd overdosed on the testosterone flying around in the previous three books and wanted something a little more feminine and romantic. My latest title "The Griffin Cryer" is an adventure/fantasy. What makes this genre special is the opportunity to really allow imagination to take flight, and even create whole new worlds for readers to explore.

Author Links

 Purchase on Amazon 

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Queen and Commander by Janine A Southard Release Day Blitz

 

  Title: Queen and Commander 

  Author: Janine Southard 

  Summary: On a world where high school test scores determine your future career, six students rebel. A pair of star-crossed lovers plot to stay together, rather than be separated by the system's college plans. A former off-worlder instigates: there's a ship in orbit, he says. We could take it and run away. But to take the ship, the three conspirators need more friends. Enter Rhiannon, the girl who set herself up for the ultimate success on this planet. She made sure her test would give the desired result: Queen. But her best friend begs her to take control of this plan to run away. So she drafts a would-be doctor who believes in following his Queen with all his heart. She finds a genius who can't seem to make the system work for him. And then she gets them qualified for the ship in orbit. The ship to freedom. Now what will they do with it? And was freedom what they really wanted?

  Check out the UK cover!

Excerpt:

Winning a ship means surpassing the competition. The three competing Queens swiveled their heads, hare-quick, to home in on new prey. They’d ignored her until she’d made that noise. Now they had the scent of fresh insecurity and would peck away until they laid her meager confidence bare for the massacre. “What a sweet little girl,” gushed the one in red. “Where’s your mother?” Dead, actually. Well, if this Queen planned to come after her for her age, she’d show her appreciation in the way only a younger person could. She raised her eye­brows and furrowed them down the middle, then pulled her head back onto her neck as though repulsed or doing a proper sit-up. From the way the older woman cringed back, Rhiannon knew she’d succeeded in making the derisive Did you seriously just say that to me? face that she’d seen on her more critical peers. A teenager can out bitch-face you any time, Queenie. Don’t try that tactic with me. The eldest cocked her head, more curious than cruel. Perhaps she found it as difficult to gauge Rhian­non’s age as the other way around. As far as Rhiannon knew, this woman had been one of Dyfed’s first Queens, self-made and just as untrained as herself. “Why do you think you deserve Ceridwen’s Cauldron?”

About the Author

 

 Janine A. Southard writes speculative fiction and videogame dialogue from her home in Seattle, WA. She sings with a Celtic band and is working on the next book in the Hive Queen universe. She’s also been known to read aloud to her cat. The cat appreciates all of these things. Maybe. 

  Website 

Twitter

Goodreads 

Amazon - US UK 

 B&N Nook- US UK 

 iTunes- US UK 

 Kobo- US UK

Stepping into More by Rachel Karu Blog Tour Book Launch :)

Happy Thursday!

It's here! Today is an official book launch day for Stepping Into More by Rachel Karu! To celebrate the launch, the author is organizing a giveaway with awesome prizes!

Stepping into More is FREE!!!

Happy Wednesday!

Stepping Into More by Rachel Karu is free on Kindle from Wednesday, February 27 until Friday March 1.

paper airplane: unique tales from a mile high by Kersten L. Kelly Blog Tour Interview

SYNOPSIS:
In this tumultuous, distinctive memoir, Kersten L. Kelly looks back on the most influential individuals that she encountered while flying through the clouds. Confined in a small vestibule for hours, Kelly identified an opportunity for learning and growth by chatting with the fellow passengers around her. After a few life changing conversations and unforgettable emergencies, she put the in-flight magazines to rest and never looked back.

She recalls life lessons from perfect strangers about love, family, perseverance of dreams, and humility through a series of brief anecdotes all taking place on airplanes. Selfless philanthropy was discovered, long-term friendships bonded, and talents unveiled. The book proves the phrase “you never know what you will learn on an airplane” over and over again.

Every chapter will capture the mind and sometimes the heart of anyone who jumps into this collection of humanity at its best. The personalities present in this book assimilate with the intrinsic characteristics all readers can relate to. With a raw authenticity stemming from old notes in a ragged journal, Kelly delivers a personal reflection of unique tales from a mile high.

INTERVIEW:What did you like about writing this book, and books in general? 

I like the ability to compile my ideas in a written publication and have readers be able to communicate with me via my website and through reviews. There has been nothing more rewarding than working for a year to create a publication that people can pick up and read. I like the idea that someone else can read what I wrote and discuss it with others. 

What is the tone of the book? 

The tone is both humorous and heartwarming. I tried to incorporate a lot of funny anecdotes and sarcasm while still conveying the message.

What led you to start your own publishing company? 

I wanted to make a footprint in the publishing industry, and I believe that the way to do that is to pave my own path. I didn’t want to just accept something “normal”. I read a lot of literature on how some of the rights to a book are forfeited if you use ISBN numbers or other identifiers linking you to other companies. By starting Talisman Book Publishing LLC, everything is linked back to me. 

Have you published any other books under this company? 

Yes, the other book is called economics: a simple twist on normalcy.

What is your current job? 

I am a Regional Sales Manager for a private label toaster pastry company in Chicago, Illinois. I manage the western side of the United States.

What do you like about it? 

I get to meet a lot of new people in my current position, and I spend a lot of time traveling to see my customers. Since the country is so diverse, there are ample chances to learn about cultures and environments that are different than mine. You never know what you are going to learn or where you are going to learn it. Every day is something a little bit different. I’m excited about that.
What do you like to do in your free time? 

I like to spend time with my family and friends, run local races, snow ski, write books, read, try new restaurants downtown, and hike at some of the best trails in Indiana at Turkey Run State Park. I try to travel internationally as much as possible to places such as Ireland, England, Wales, The Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Iceland, Canada, and most recently India. I love learning about new cultures, trying various foods, and experiencing life in other countries.

Are you a member of any churches, organizations, or clubs? 

I am an active volunteer at my alma mater, the Kelley School of Business. Every few weeks, I help at the recruiting events both on campus and around the Chicago area. I help to interview perspective students, participate in alumni Q&A panels, and help to inform students about how influential the program is. I am also a career counselor part-time for Indiana University where students can talk to me about transitioning from the college atmosphere to working full-time.

AUTHOR BIO:
Kersten L. Kelly is a self-published author of narrative nonfiction and semi-fiction books. She grew up in Munster, Indiana and currently works in a sales role based out of Chicago, Illinois. She started writing at an early age and graduated from Indiana University with a dual bachelor’s degree in economics and communication and culture. She then went on to earn a master’s in business administration from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. She has a passion for learning, teaching, and writing. In her spare time, she enjoys international travel with her friends and family and training for running events of various distances. She likes the outdoors, social media, pop culture, and any new technologies that draw the people of the world a little bit closer together.

Social Media & Purchase Links:
The link to the website is http://www.talismanbookpublishing.com/books/paper-airplane-unique-tales-from-a-mile-high/

Twitter: @KerstenLKelly

Facebook: facebook.com/KerstenLKelly

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/paper-airplane-unique-tales-mile/dp/0985348720/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1358387541&sr=8-2&keywords=kersten+kelly

Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/paper-airplane-unique-tales-ebook/dp/B00AVBB3QI/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1358392111&sr=8-3&keywords=kersten+kelly

Barnes and Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/paper-airplane-kersten-l-kelly/1114134818?ean=2940015956948

CreateSpace: https://www.createspace.com/4116550

GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/KerstenLKelly

BLOG TOUR STOPS:
2/1/2013 - http://lilifeinberg.blogspot.com/
2/4/2013 - http://fwiwreviews.net
2/5/2013 - http://piecefrompeaces.blogspot.com
2/5/2013 - http://thebookbandit.wordpress.com/
2/7/2013 - http://gimmethescoopreviews.blogspot.com
2/8/2013 - http://www.stephaniesbookshelf.com/
2/13/2013 - http://thestephanieloves.blogspot.com
2/15/2013 - http://www.iamareader.com
2/18/2013 - http://girlseeksplace.wordpress.com/
2/20/2013 - http://www.tracyriva.com
2/21/2013 - http://www.scotzig.com
2/22/2013 - http://bookwormbrandy.blogspot.com/
2/24/2013 - jamiebmusings.webs.com
2/25/2013 - http://thecoverbybrittany.blogspot.com/
2/26/2013 - http://chicklibrarycat.blogspot.com/
2/27/2013 - http://writersandauthors.blogspot.com
2/28/2013 - http://indianajo.com/
3/1/2013 - http://lauriethoughts-review.blogspot.com
3/5/2013 - http://amymetz.com