STING | by Cindy R Wilson #NewRelease #YA #Dystopian #Excerpt #BookReview #Giveaway #YABoundBookTours

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Sting by Cindy R. Wilson! This tour is being hosted by YA Bound Book Tours.

Sting
by Cindy R. Wilson
Genre: YA Dystopian
Release date: March 3rd, 2020
Entangled Teen

They call me the Scorpion because they don’t know who I really am. All they know is that someone is stealing from people with excess to help people with nothing survive another day.

But then a trusted friend reveals who I am―“just” Tessa, “just” a girl―and sends me straight into the arms of the law. All those people I helped…couldn’t help me when I needed it.

In prison, I find an unlikely ally in Pike, who would have been my enemy on the outside. He represents everything I’m against. Luxury. Excess. The world immediately falling for his gorgeous smile. How he ended up in the dirty cell next to mine is a mystery, but he wants out as much as I do. Together, we have a real chance at escape.

With the sting of betrayal still fresh, Pike and I will seek revenge on those who wronged us. But uncovering all their secrets might turn deadly…

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Purchase links can be found HERE!

Excerpt:

His fingers brush mine when he takes the knife, and I fight back a shiver, trying to hold my ground.

“Scorpion,” he says softly.

I brace myself for more Pike wisdom, or maybe even a mention of the kisses we’ve shared that we haven’t mentioned.

Instead, he smiles. “You’ve been a very good teacher. Are you sure you want to do this?”

“Yes.”

“If you say so.”

He takes his stance, gaze zeroed in on the board. He’s wearing a simple blue shirt, cut off at the shoulders, and his muscles flex when he lifts his arm.

I exhale just as he throws and the knife zooms to the board, hitting inside the widest ring, but not in the middle.

His eyes narrow. I smile.

“I’d like to see you do this with a distraction,” he says.

My heart flutters, but I nod. “No problem.”

I step to the line, a whole head shorter than Pike. I feel his eyes on me. In fact, he’s so close, I feel the heat from his body. But I’m focused, and all I can see is the red circle I’m aiming for.

I squeeze the blade between my fingers and hold my breath, preparing to throw.

Pike blows on my neck.

Chills race across my skin even as I fling the knife. The blade hits the board with a thud, straight in the middle.

Pike curses softly and shakes his head. I turn to him, unable to help the smile stretching wide across my face. “See? I know a little something about focus.”

“I’m impressed.”

“Looks like you could use some practice.”

“What about on the mat?” He lifts an eyebrow. “Do you have focus there?”

Uh…no. But Pike doesn’t need to know that. “I have focus anywhere.”

He points. “Mat. Now.”

I lift my chin, toss the last knife at the board, and smirk when it hits the center. Then I walk to the mat. I get into my stance before he joins me. I wouldn’t put it past him to attack right away. Pike’s a big fan of not being caught off guard, and he’s taught me accordingly.

Pike stalks the edge of the mat, knees bent. He feigns a lunge, then laughs when I tense.

“You’re lucky I don’t have a knife,” I say, mock warning in my tone.

He takes a step closer. “Luck has nothing to do with it. It’s all about being prepared. Besides, I don’t want a hole in my side like Mongo.”

“He deserved it.”

Pike gives me his dangerous smile and takes another step. Almost close enough to reach me. “You’re not saying I deserve to be stabbed, are you?”

My chest vibrates with a low laugh, but I’m still on guard. “No, Pike. Not today, anyway.”

His smile lights his eyes. And suddenly he stands fully, shoulders relaxing, and closes the gap between us.

I draw in a sharp breath. “What are you doing?”

“What does it look like?”

His hands skim my arms, making me shiver. I lift my chin to meet his eyes, lips parting slightly.

“Pike,” I say, my voice coming out breathless.

Then he sweeps my legs from beneath me. I hit the mat hard, banging my elbows. I kick out and almost catch Pike’s leg, but he’s too fast. He bends and snags my arm, twisting it behind my back as he pushes me flat on my stomach. My breath whooshes out, but I don’t struggle. Crap. So much for proving I can’t be distracted.

My Review:

As a rule, I am not a big fan of Dystopian stories - too many bad memories of reading ANIMAL FARM in High School. Lol I chose to give Cindy Wilson's book a try after reading that she'd strongly referenced THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO, a fave, and that it was essentially a Robin Hood trope. I am SO glad that I did because this book ROCKS!!

Cindy did a fabulous job with the character development as well as the relationship dynamics.  Her characters are compelling and deal with issues that teens can relate to, such as broken relationships, challenging romances and learning to form new bonds of trust with others. By the end of the book, I felt like I knew them. Her wonderful world-building takes the basics of dystopian sci-fi and puts a fresh spin on it with unique cultural elements, technology, and drama.

I was completely drawn to every page. There was no over-the-top angst, just very powerful characters doing the best they could with what was available. While it was written for teens and young adults, it would appeal to all ages.  Yes, it is a romance but mainly it’s about trust, kindness, and patience. 

Overall this was a great read, able to be something entirely new and different while at the same time giving a nod to one of my all-time favorite classic stories. I recommend this to anyone who likes great characters, terrific world-building, and YA dystopian books. A total knockout!

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I received this complimentary book upon request and am leaving my review voluntarily.  All opinions are my own.

Cindy lives at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and loves using Colorado towns and cities as inspiration for settings in her stories. She’s the mother of three girls, who provide plenty of fodder for her YA novels. Cindy writes speculative fiction and YA fiction, filled with a healthy dose of romance. You’ll often find her hiking or listening to any number of playlists while she comes up with her next story idea.

Author Links:
Website: https://cindyrwilson.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5363846.Cindy_R_Wilson
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CindyRWilson
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCindyRWilson/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cindyrwilson/

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March 2

Brooke Blogs Excerpt
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Blog Tour Organized By:

YA Bound Book Tours

THE SEVENTH BLESSING | by Ricky Baxter #YA #Fantasy #Excerpt #BookReview #Giveaway #YABound

TO PLANT A SINGLE SEED | by Kelsey Ketch #YA #ShortStory #CoverReveal #YABoundBookTours

LIMITED TRUTH | by Kay Bennson #PreOrder #YA #SciFi #SpeculativeFiction #Excerpt #GuestPost #Giveaway #YABound

ICONIC ATTRACTION | by DR Rosensteel #YA #Contemporary #Fiction #NewPublication #EntangledTeen #DRRosensteel #YABoundBookTour

STEEL STRINGS | by Alex Hayes #YA #ContemporaryRomance #Excerpt #DreamCast #Giveaway #AlexHayes #YABoundBookTours

YOU TOO? | by Various Authors, Edited by Janet Gurtler #YA #Self-Help #Giveaway #GuestPost #YABoundBookTours

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: 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B081DQMCWV?notRedirectToSDP=1&ref_=dbs_pwh_calw_1&storeType=ebooks 

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fatal-magic-emily-bybee/1134913673?ean=9781509229833 

Kobo :https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/fatal-magic 

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.

Author Links:

    

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 https://www.emilybybeebooks.com/ 

ALL THE STARS ON FIRE | by Beck Medina #YAFantasy #Pre-Release #Excerpt #beckmedina #YABoundBookTours

Welcome to my stop on the All the Stars on Fire by Beck Medina blog tour!

Author: Beck Medina
Title: All the Stars on Fire
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release Date: December 20th, 2019

Summary

Natalia Morales has a secret...she's kind of a superhero. Natalia dreams of joining the Action Team, the newly banded and young heroes that protect Angel City and just may stop at anything to make it happen.

Alyse Morales knows her sister's secret and wants Natalia to give up on her dangerous dream. When Alyse gets hurt one night while Natalia is crime-fighting, Natalia promises to end her run as a hero. But when the Sorceress appears in Angel City, and Captain Force, the leader of the Action Team, enlists in Natalia's help, she may have to break her promise in order to protect her family and friends.

Will Alyse ever forgive her? Is Natalia actually capable of saving the day? All the Stars on Fire is the story of following your dreams, what it truly takes to be a hero, and leaping into the unknown.

 Amazon | Barnes & Noble

 Chapter Excerpt

I go into my backyard and toward the fence that separates Boston’s house from mine. I lift up a broken piece of wood on the fence and crawl through it effortlessly into Boston’s backyard.

“You made it,” Boston exclaims as soon as I step off the ladder and climb into the treehouse.

Boston is sitting cross-legged, reading a worn-out copy of A New Brain for Lavender Cross by Luke Danielson, a favorite of ours that came out this year. It will be the third time he’s devoured the book. One time more than me.

There’s a plastic coffee cup on the floor beside him and a perfect view of my driveway from here.

“What are you drinking?” I ask.

“An iced mango tea.” He picks it up and holds it out in front of me. The water from the melted ice has already soaked his hand wet. “Do you want to share it with me?”

I accept the cup from his hands and take a sip. When I hand it back to him, I wipe my hand against my joggers.

“Do you think your aunt will let me keep this?” Boston holds up a piece of paper labeled Serum 451 ActiveIngredients List.

I forgot that Boston even that had. Back when Max and I were in Project 451, my parents were mailed a list of the ingredients that were in the serum before we were injected just in case anyone had an allergic reaction to it. A lot of people did. I can’t remember the exact numbers, but at least half of the volunteers got so sick within days after the injection and had to withdraw from training. Even Max caught a bug, but he quickly recovered from it. I don’t know anyone else in Academy that was susceptible to the serum-like me, but Boston and I have had discussions about it. He thinks I may have already built up a tolerance to the ingredients.

Boston found the list while we were rummaging through the old filing cabinet that Aunt Rosa keeps all of our 451documents in. We weren’t looking for anything in particular. Boston is obsessed with Project 451 and I’m always willing to feed into it. I let Boston borrow the list over the summer as long as he gave it back before I left. He knows everything about Project 451 even though I‘m technically not allowed to talk about it with anyone. I signed an agreement, but Boston is my best friend, and it's not like he has anyone else to share our secrets.

The aspect we talk about most is the451 Serum. The 451 Serum alters our DNA so that we can alter people’s emotions. He couldn’t believe it and begged me to alter his emotions despite my being prohibited from doing it outside of training. I made him feel the excitement, nothing harmful. Then I forced him to promise me that he’d never ask me to do it again. I don’t like being in control like that. Max is the one who wanted to become a Peace Officer, but I knew during our very first field lesson that I wouldn't be taking my final exam. I just didn't know how I would be getting myself out of it. Thankfully the project got shut down before I had to come up with a way.

“You’re not going to try to make your own serum, are you?” I joke.

Boston huffs. “Yeah right, that would be so expensive.” Boston looks over the ingredient list for--most likely--the hundredth time. I know he has it memorized by now. “Most of the equipment used isn’t easily accessible, you know. Except in labs. I just thought it would be a cool thing to hold onto. Like I have a little piece of actual history with me.”

I smile. Boston’s intentions are always sweet. It’s his best quality. “You can keep it,” I say. “But maybe we should photocopy it in case Aunt Rosa needs it for whatever reason.”

Boston nods, his excitement radiating off his face as he holds the list close to his chest.

“Hey, I have something for you,” I just remembered that I hid Boston’s birthday present in his old toy chest.

I go to the toy chest and take out his present, wrapped in blue flannel wrapping paper from our party pantry. Boston accepts the present with bright eyes and places it on the floor in front of him so he can open it. He unwraps it with care, and I can tell he really loves to milk the process. Like savoring a delicious meal.

When he sees what it is, he practically screams. “Whoa! You did not get this for me!” He tears what’s left of the wrapping paper like a rabid animal and holds up the microscope. He admires the display picture on the box, which will be more difficult to take apart. He’ll have to open it up at home.

I didn’t think it would touch me this much to see how happy he is with his gift. I saved up all summer for it. He already had a microscope for kids, but I thought he needed a real one now that he was turning seventeen.

“Thank you,” he tells me, a little awkwardly. Boston’s shy about showing gratitude. I think it embarrasses him. He peers at the ground, then back up at me.

Then, impulsively, I hug him, burying my head into his chest. “Send me a letter as soon as you get settled at Crystal Lake.”

“Okay.”

“And you can visit my grandma anytime. She’s only a five-minute walk from your guys’ cabin. I googled it. She said she’ll make tamales for you if you give her a heads up.”

Boston bobs his head, and I feel him start to pull away from me. “I can’t breathe, Natalia. You’re really strong.” He pulls his knees to his chest. “Good to know that serum is still working.”

“Natalia!” I hear Aunt Rosa calls from the car. “It’s time to go!”

I turn back to Boston. “I guess Saturday family breakfast is starting earlier than expected.”

“It’s cool.”

“And if your dad forgets to cook dinner and you're ever hungry, just go to my grandma’s house. She keeps the most amazing food stocked in the freezer.”

“Okay,” he says again, annoyed this time. Boston is all okays. I hardly know what he means by them anymore.“Natalia, don’t worry about me. I can survive two weeks without you.”

“Right,” I nod, realizing that I must be smothering him.

“I didn’t mean it like that. I just mean, don’t feel sorry for me, okay?”

I nod. I know I’m being especially maternal, but Boston’s mom left his dad just a few months ago, and his sister Shannon moved to New York to start her first year at Syracuse last week. Boston doesn't have anyone to look out for him anymore. The problem is Boston’s dad is a total workaholic. He’s so focused on work that he remembers the things he's forgotten to do well after he should have done them. “Damnit! I forgot the milk,” he would say out of nowhere in the middle of watching TV. Or, “The sink! Your mom told me to call a plumber about the sink!”

About the Author

Beck Medina is a California born and raised author and podcast host. Beck's work includes 2016's A Fantastic Mess of Everything, 2017's Or Best Offer, and her highly anticipated fantasy novel All the Stars on Fire (December 2019).
 
When Beck isn't writing, she's the host of the My Best Life Podcast, a health, wellness, and business podcast for creative entrepreneurs. A few of Beck's favorite things include pop music, iced coffee, teen dramas, and her two cats, Olivia and Dupree.

Website  Goodreads  Twitter