Monday, December 30, 2019

RETALIATION (The Oceanstone Initiative Book 2) | by Haley Cavanagh #NewRelease #SciFi #Romance #Giveaway #Excerpt #GoddessFish


Thanks for stopping by my part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will award a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter. You can click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.



Retaliation
(The Oceanstone Initiative Book 2)
by Haley Cavanagh
Published: December 27, 2019
Genre: Science Fiction, Romance

One doctor, one alien lover, one botanist, and one engineer on a desperate mission to save earth from human destruction.
Sakota saved Astraeus and her friends from certain death, but in doing so, she gained the attention of the Oreck, who will stop at nothing to destroy everything in their path. With their ship severely damaged, Sakota and her crew land on a nearby planet and seek sanctuary while they make repairs to return home. But nothing on this perfect planet is as it appears, and Sakota soon learns they've traded one danger for another. Hunted and targeted, will Sakota be able to carry out her mission, or will everyone she cares about be destroyed?

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082MB9VPV/
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/retaliation-haley-cavanagh/1135488266
iTunes: https://books.apple.com/us/book/retaliation/id1491106031
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/retaliation-20




Read an Excerpt

Sakota took a deep breath. “Okay. Let’s do it. We’re not going to survive if we don’t.” Hisoka and Tatiana turned around to man their consoles. She ate the last of her ration piece and slipped her hand into Astraeus’s. The escape pod reached the mouth of the black hole, then without warning, surged forward.

When Sakota was a child, long before Alistair rescued her from the orphanage in the squalid wasteland of London, the other children liked to play a game called Lights Out. In the main room where she bunked with fifteen other girls, a shaft of light streamed in from the hallway, in the same spot every night, like clockwork. The adult on night duty would check in once an hour and perform a headcount as they slept.

A few nights a week, a handful of the girls awakened and killed the hallway lights so they could scare and torture whomever they didn’t like among them. It was a powerful systematic lesson, however cruel. Sakota grew up knowing her place at the bottom rung of life. She’d never fit into the cookie-cutter type molding the upper-class girls had been bred for. She’d proved early on that she’d fight back with a vengeance when provoked, but she wasn’t certain which was worse; being preyed upon or listening to other girls’ pleas for help as she lay in the pitch-black room. The memory had stayed with her well into adulthood, as well as the countless times she could and should have stepped in to help instead of being crippled by primal fear and self-preservation. Children could be cruel. But the fear she’d experienced then was nothing, nothing, compared to being sucked into a black hole.

The escape pod whirled inside the conduit and pitched them around in a circle. They spun, at the mercy of inexhaustible energy along the black hole’s trajectory. Though she’d experienced raw fear when the Oreck had taken over the Sleipnir science vessel and killed everyone, this was different. Before, she at least had an idea what she was up against. Three razor-sharp talons emerging from claws didn’t lie. Being sucked into the black hole was like being an ant in a cyclone.

Astraeus squeezed her palm reassuringly. She turned and looked at him. They were both strapped in, tight.

Astraeus squeezed her hand. “Don’t be afraid.”

The speed of the escape pod amplified. Ribbons of light streamed past the windows like gossamer silk as the ship darted into unknown darkness. Sakota gritted her teeth. Oh, screw not acting afraid. She was terrified.






About the Author:
Haley Cavanagh is a military veteran, wife, and mother. She is an alumna of Columbia College, a musical theater nut, and she loves to dive into any book that crosses her path. Haley resides with her family in the United States and enjoys spending time with her husband and children when she’s not writing. She loves to hear from her readers and encourages you to contact her via her website and social media.

Website: http://www.haleycavanaghbooks.com
Newsletter: https://haleycavanaghbooks.com/vip-readers-group/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/1769243778
Twitter: https://twitter.com/haley_cavanagh
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/haleycavanaghbooks/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/ambitioushales/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42207961-astraeus


The author is also running a separate giveaway to celebrate the release of the book Enter here for a chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card and Autographed Paperback/Swag Bundle (ends January 15):

Saturday, December 28, 2019

STEEL HEART | by RJ Blain #NewRelease #ARC #BookReview #UrbanFantasy #Paranormal #Romance #Giveaway #RABT



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Jesse Alexander, #2
Urban Fantasy/Paranormal
Publisher: Pen & Page Publishing
Date Published: December 25, 2019

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With the Hope Diamond locked around her throat, Jesse Alexander finds herself in the unfortunate position of being a walking national treasure. With the Starfall stone poised to pulse and flood the world with more of its magic, she must figure out how to remove it before she becomes its pawn yet again.

Unfortunately, the stone has a mind—and plans—of its own. Add in a determined tiger, a wolf out for revenge, and an ultimatum to find her clan's missing Starfall stone, and it will take all of Jesse's wit and cunning to survive with her life—and her heart—intact.

My Review


I do love me some Jesse Alexander. Different than any other character we've seen from the indomitable Ms. Blaine, Jesse is one tough, funny and downright crazy chick. It was great to see her again after Water Viper. This book was a nice followup to Book One. We got to see some of the previous characters as well as some new ones. I did feel that there was some repetition in the dialogue that could have been weeded out and thus the 4 instead of a 5. However, Steel Heart still grabbed my attention and I look forward to the next installment with great anticipation. If you liked Water Viper then you'll have fun with this next chapter in Jesse's oh-so-adventuresome life!

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

We received this ARC as a free gift upon our request and I am voluntarily leaving my review. All opinions are my own.


About the Author

RJ Blain suffers from a Moleskine journal obsession, a pen fixation, and a terrible tendency to pun without warning.

In her spare time, she daydreams about being a spy. Her contingency plan involves tying her best of enemies to spinning wheels and quoting James Bond villains until satisfied.


Contact Links



Purchase Links



RABT Book Tours & PR

Sunday, December 22, 2019

QUEEN OF WINGS AND STORMS | #AngelaSanders #TinaGlasneck #ClaireDavon #AdrienneBlake ##KyndraHatch #DCGomez #JennDYoung #KatParrish #AJGala #SusannahShannon #AngelaKulig #Fantasy #UrbanFantasy #Giveaway




Queens of Wings & Storms
A Limited Edition Fantasy & Urban Fantasy Collection
Print Length: 1022 Pages
Publication Date: November 20, 2019
with stories by
Angela Sanders, Tina Glasneck, Claire Davon,
Adrienne Blake, Kyndra Hatch, D. C. Gomez, Jenn D. Young,
Kat Parrish, AJ Gala , Susannah Shannon, Angela Kulig

Searching for myths and magic?



Queens of Wings and Storms in a fiery collection of fantasy and urban fantasy tales from today’s bestselling and the hottest new authors.


Fly with dragons, witches, and burn whole kingdoms to the ground as you explore one new fantastical world after the next. From urban fantasy streets to forgotten lands, our heroines and queens are poised to rule it all.

One click today, before the fire is snuffed out on this limited time offer.

Books by:
Angela Sanders
USA Today Bestselling Author Tina Glasneck
USA Today Bestselling Author Claire Davon
USA Today Bestselling Author Adrienne Blake
USA Today Bestselling Author Kyndra Hatch
USA Today Bestselling Author D. C. Gomez
Jenn D. Young
Kat Parrish
AJ Gala
Susannah Shannon
Angela Kulig





**scroll through the slideshow to find out more about the authors!!**


Follow the tour HERE for exclusive content and a giveaway!





Saturday, December 21, 2019

KINGDOM OF DARKNESS AND LIGHT | #Anthology #FairyTales #Fantasy #NewAdult #NewRelease #Giveaway #XpressoTours



Kingdom of Crowns and Glory
(Kingdom of Darkness and Light, #1)
Publication date: December 18th, 2019
Genres: Fairy Tales, Fantasy, New Adult
Fairytale heroes, but not as you remember them…
The age old tale of Good versus Evil comes to life in this epic boxset featuring only the heroes from your favorite fairytales.
Will light triumph over dark? Will the heroes beat the villains?
Be part of the battle and explore your favourite fairytales from different perspectives, in this one of a kind split fairytale anthology retelling collection.
This set by USA Today and Amazon Best Selling authors is like nothing you have never read before.
Paired up with The Kingdom of Villains and Vengeance boxset, you can now read the story from the perspective of both the heroes and villains. Come on a magical journey to see if good does always triumph over evil.
Stories included are:
The Little Mermaid Vs The Sea Witch
Snow White Vs The Evil Queen
Sleeping Beauty Vs Witch
Robin Hood Vs Sheriff
Alice Vs Queen of Hearts
Princess Vs Rumpelstiltskin
Peter Pan Vs Hook
Little Red Vs Wolf



Kingdom of Villains and Vengeance
(Kingdom of Darkness and Light, #2)
Publication date: December 18th, 2019
Genres: Fairy Tales, Fantasy, New Adult
Fairytale villains, but not as you remember them…
The age old tale of Good versus Evil comes to life in this epic boxset featuring only the evil doers from your favorite fairytales.
Will light triumph over dark? Will the heroes beat the villains?
Be part of the battle and explore your favourite fairytales from different perspectives, in this one of a kind split fairytale anthology retelling collection.
This set by USA Today and Amazon Best Selling authors is like nothing you have never read before.
Paired up with The Kingdom of Crowns and Glory boxset, you can now read the story from the perspective of both the heroes and villains. Come on a magical journey to see if good does always triumph over evil.
Stories included are:
The Sea Witch Vs The Little Mermaid
The Evil Queen VsSnow White
Witch Vs Sleeping Beauty
Sheriff Vs Robin Hood
Queen of Hearts Vs Alice
Rumpelstiltskin Vs Princess
Hook V’s Peter Pan
Wolf Vs Little Red




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Derek Hyde Knows Spooky When He Sees It | by E. Michael Lunsford #promo #releaseday #newrelease #middlegrade #paranormal #giveaway @INtensePub @lunsfordmichael





Derek Hyde Series, Book 1
Middle-Grade Paranormal
Date Published: 12-21-2019
Publisher: INtense Publications LLC

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Twelve-year-old Derek Hyde isn’t thrilled that the spookiest old mansion in town is about to become the Hyde Funeral Home & Used Coffin Outlet. Especially since he has to live there with his mortician parents, Jack and Formalda.

Of course, being driven in the family hearse to his first day at middle school doesn’t exactly add whipped cream to his broccoli.

As if things couldn't get more horrific, an evil classmate named Nussbaum attacks him in the cafeteria with a plate of beef stroganoff. Seems this kid used to love living in the old mansion himself, but got yanked out after accidentally blowing up his own mom and dad. With his chemistry set. Now his dead parents are stuck as ghosts and Nussbaum is a foster kid stuck on revenge, vowing to get even with Derek’s family for taking over his haunted home.

Derek desperately craves a nice place to live, but a couple of minor details stand in his way—just some blood-curdling apparitions that scare the pants off him and a classmate bent on landing him in his parents’ embalming room. As a client.


About the Author



E. Michael Lunsford is the author of an award-winning play, Scary, Scary Night, and a book of wacky kid’s poems, Sometimes I Get My Shoes on Backwards, winner of the Readers’ Favorite International Book Award. His debut novel is the first of the funny Derek Hyde series of spooky middle grade books published by INtense Publications. Michael is also a musician, composer, inventor, entrepreneur and chief cook & bottle washer who works and lives with his wife and love of his life in San Carlos, California.


Contact Links


Purchase Links



RABT Book Tours & PR

Thursday, December 19, 2019

FATAL MAGIC (Unstable Magic #2) | by Emily Bybee #NewRelease #YA #ParanormalRomance #Excerpt #Giveaway @emily_bybee @yaboundtourspr


Thanks for checking out my stop on the Fatal Magic (Unstable Magic #2) by Emily Bybee blog tour! 

Fatal Magic (Unstable Magic #2)
by Emily Bybee
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Release Date: December 2019
Wild Rose Press

Summary:

Someone wants Sydney dead. Only problem is, she has no idea who. Pushing her off a cliff, thinking the deadly ocean waves will finish their dirty-work, was their first mistake. The near-death experience opens channels of uncontrollable magic, which Sydney is told should have remained dormant. As if finding out magic is real and hit-lists aren't enough, Sydney discovers her family lied to her. They were witches too. But they're all dead. And she's left to fend off the psychos after her blood with only Luke, her childhood crush turned steamy college student, on her side. Turns out being a witch isn't as awesome as you'd think, especially when your magic has fatal consequences.




Purchase Links: 
Book One: 
Fractured Magic (Unstable Magic #1)
Release Date: October 31st 2018

Summary:

As the world’s worst witch, Maddie is mistreated by her own kind. She was born a Defect. Most of her spells blow up in her face, literally. While witches search for the long-lost power of the earth, Maddie spends her time in the science lab. There, she discovers a clue to the lost power. The only other witness is Jax, a smokin’ hot college bad-boy, who Maddie can’t decide if she wants to kiss or kill.

When she fails her magic final, the council orders her magic stripped. Maddie’s only chance to keep her brain intact is to find the power with the hope that it can fix her. Jax is her one true ally on the journey. The two of them must use their smarts to stay ahead of the witches while they follow a two-hundred-year-old trail to the power of the earth and the truth behind Maddie’s defect.




Fatal Magic Excerpt
Chapter One

A noxious scent assaulted my nose the moment I stepped into my room. With a hand over my face, I dropped my swim bag by the bed and glared at my roommate, Rowan.
“What did you put in it this time?” I waved at the oil diffuser that continued to pump toxic vapor into the air.
She didn’t lift her attention from the chemistry textbook in her lap. “It’ll help us remember everything for the test tomorrow. It’s eucalyptus, tea tree, patchouli, cypress, a couple of others, and peppermint of course.”
“Of course.” Rowan claimed peppermint would cure everything from headaches to zits. I flopped on my bed and looked at the poster tacked to the ceiling above me. Golden eyes stared back from the cheetahs, my favorite animal.
“You’ll get used to the smell in a few minutes.”
“I’m not studying.” I wrinkled my nose. “I don’t need to remember more chemistry. I have a C.”
“How can you be happy with a C?” she gasped. “Chemistry is like the key to life.”
“I will never need to remember anything in that book.” I waved to the text and met her glare with raised eyebrows. “Come on, let’s do something fun.”
She rolled her eyes. “Some of us have to keep our GPA up.”
Rowan was on a scholarship. She had to keep her Grade Point Average above a three- point-seven five to stay in school. I groaned into my pillow at the thought of trying to cram more useless molecular knowledge into my unwilling brain. “Hand me your book. I’ll quiz you.”
Her face brightened like a puppy who’d been asked if she wanted to go for a walk. “Really? You’re the best-est friend ever.”
The music erupting from my cell phone stopped my response.
Rowan glanced at the display and stuck her tongue out. “Uncle Pete.”
I groaned, but a small seed of hope sprouted—like it always did when he called. I quashed the hope and denied the call before the inevitable disappointment set in. “The token phone call.”
“You aren’t going to answer?”
I got to my feet on legs that were already feeling two hours spent in the pool at swim and dive practice. “No, let’s go for a run.”
“It’s okay, you go ahead.” Rowan hunched her back and smashed her face into the chemistry book. Her long dark hair fell forward and muffled her voice. “I have to figure out these acid-base reactions.”
Slipping on my running shoes, I grabbed her notecards. “We can quiz each other while we run. It’ll be fun.” I waved the cards just out of her grasp. “I seem to remember some smart person telling me about a study saying you learn things better if you’re moving.”
“Fine. I guess getting the blood flow going might help.” She stretched and groaned. “I can’t feel my feet.”
An hour later, I sat at my desk, water bottle in hand. Running outside in the brisk air and brilliant fall leaves calmed my nerves like nothing else. Our boarding school sat on eight-hundred acres of Hudson River Valley heaven near New York City.
My cell phone, which I’d left in our dorm, during our run, spouted its ringtone again.
“It’s probably your uncle. You should answer,” Rowan said.
I waved it off. “I’ll call him tomorrow. You getting an A is more important.”
Shaking her head, she grabbed the phone. Her brow wrinkled. “It’s a weird number.” She smirked and answered. “Sydney’s House of Limp Noodles, how may I direct your call?”
I stifled my laughter.
The smile faded from Rowan’s face.
With a tilt of my head, I mouthed, “What?”
“May I ask who’s calling?” she asked, in a tone I’d only ever heard her use with teachers.
Nausea tightened my stomach, and my left hand went to the ring on my right ring finger, my own personal nervous habit. Some people twirl their hair or bite their nails—I mess with my ring. It’s better than sucking on pens, if you ask me.
With her hand over the mouthpiece, she held the phone away from her face and screeched, “You’re going to want to take this. It’s him.”
I pushed away from my desk. “What? Who?”
She held out her arms and shook her head. “Who have you been talking about for, like, years?”
I threw my hands out in the air. “Edward?”  
 “Seriously?” She scrunched up her nose and blinked a few times. “You think a vampire is on the phone? It’s Luke.”
Every muscle froze. I stared at my cell as if I could see the caller through the minuscule holes in the receiver. I’d decided Luke was the boy I wanted to marry at the age of six. I might have still been harboring a fantasy or three along those lines.
Rowan gave me an encouraging nod and busied herself with dumping something new in the oil diffuser. The toxic fumes mixed with a soothing lavender scent.
“Hello?” I squeaked. Rowan’s brow furrowed, and she motioned for me to breathe. I inhaled the fragrant mist. A calmness spread over me.
“Sydney? It’s Luke. How are you doing?” His voice had changed since we last talked. Deeper now, and more masculine in tone.
“I’m great, awesome. I’m…” I stammered. My gaze searched the room for something more exciting than studying. They settled on the warmer on Rowan’s dresser. “Waxing my armpits.”
I bit my lips and pinched the bridge of my nose.
“Ouch,” he said.
Ripping out sweaty hair. Sexy. My heart thudded against my ribcage. Rowan smacked her own forehead and collapsed onto her bed like a silent movie star. I sent her a glare.
“Syd, there’s something I need to tell you. My mom called you earlier on Pete’s phone. I’m not sure how to say this.” His tone conveyed the message clearly. He definitely hadn’t called to profess his undying love.
My voice sounded hollow, even to my own ears. “Then just say it.”
“Your uncle had a heart attack this morning. I’m sorry Syd. He’s gone.”
I didn’t hear anything else he said. The phone dropped to the floor from my frozen fingers.

About the Author
Emily grew up loving to read and escape into stories. She began writing her own at the age of twelve. In college she focused on science and graduated with a degree in Environmental Biology. After college she began writing again but quickly realized she had failed to take a single writing or grammar class. Luckily, she’s a quick learner. Emily now lives in Colorado with her wonderful husband, three amazing children, and way too many animals. She still enjoys making up stories and can’t seem to leave out the paranormal elements because they are just too much fun.



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