Today Julie Reece and Month9Books are revealing the cover and first chapter for THE PALADINS, book 2 in THE ARTISANS Series which releases May 3, 2016! Check out the gorgeous cover and enter to be one of the first readers to receive an eGalley and a eBook of THE ARTISANS!!
Hereâs a message from the author. Book covers are tricky things. My respect for cover artists has grown exponentially after entering the world of publishing. I learned the challenge of a good cover artist is to hint at the story beneath using a single image. They must create a picture that suggests to perspective readers what lies within those hundreds of pagesâusing nothing more than specific font and a few square inches of graphic design. It seems impossible, yet most of us agree that art evokes emotion. And when I saw my cover, I was overwhelmed.
The Paladins is dark. And this cover is dark. The story is a Gothic tale, mysterious and eerie. And while parts of this world are beautiful, beauty is often deceptive. Youâre never quite sure if something lurks in the shadows, where the path you tread is leading, or even if what you see is real ⦠until itâs too late. For me, the cover encompasses all those story elements. I hope you like it as much as I do.
On to the reveal!
Title: THE PALADINS (The Artisans #2)
Author: Julie Reece
Pub. Date: May 3, 2016
Publisher: Month9Books
Format: Paperback & eBook
The Artisan curse is broken. Souls trapped in a mysterious otherworld called The Void are finally released. Now, Raven Weathersby, Gideon Maddox, and Cole Wynter can finally move on with their lives...or so they thought. If the ancient magic is truly dead, then why are mystical fires plaguing Gideon at every turn? What accounts for Ravenâs frightening visions of her dead mother? And who is the beautiful, tortured girl haunting Coleâs dreams?
Last year, a group of lonely teens sacrificed secrets, battled the supernatural, and faced their own demons to set one another free. Yet six months later, the heart of evil still beats within The Void. And the trio is forced to face the horrific truth: that their only way out is to go back in.
The Paladins completes this eerie YA Southern Gothic where loyalties are tested, love is challenged, and evil seeks them on the ultimate battlegroundsâin their minds, their souls, and their hearts.
In case you missed it here's the redesigned cover for THE ARTISANS!
Title: THE ARTISANS
Author: Julie Reece
Pub. Date: May 12, 2015
Publisher: Month9Books
Pages: 300
Find it: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Goodreads
They say death can be beautiful. But after the death of her mother, seventeen-year-old Raven Weathersby gives up her dream of becoming a fashion designer, barely surviving life in the South Carolina lowlands.
To make ends meet, Raven works after school as a seamstress creating stunning works of fashion that often rival the great names of the day. Instead of making things easier on the high school senior, her stepdad's drinking leads to a run in with the highly reclusive heir to the Maddox family fortune, Gideon Maddox. But Raven's stepdad's drying out and in no condition to attend the meeting with Maddox. So Raven volunteers to take his place and offers to repay the debt in order to keep the only father she's ever known out of jail, or worse. Gideon Maddox agrees, outlining an outrageous demand: Raven must live in his home for a year while she designs for Maddox Industries' clothing line, signing over her creative rights. Her handsome young captor is arrogant and infuriating to the nth degree, and Raven can't imagine working for him, let alone sharing the same space for more than five minutes. But nothing is ever as it seems. Is Gideon Maddox the monster the world believes him to be? And can he stand to let the young seamstress see him as he really is?
Excerpt
Prologue
The Before Cole Itâs been four years since I planted the fireworks in Gideon Maddoxâs locker that burned a third of his face. Four years since his father took revenge, trapping me with a spell that kept me prisoner in The Void. Three months since the magic found me again. Two months since my parents put me in therapy. One day since my parents left for Paris on a month long business tour. This morning, a mysterious girl no one else can see beckoned again from The Void. Tonight, Iâm standing on the balcony of my parentâs palatial home, buying an airline ticket back to the statesâback to Maddox mansionâthe heart of my nightmares. People say the more things change the more they stay the same. I hate them for being right. I lived with the monsters in my prison until I thought I might go mad. Repentant of my past, I made peace with my fate, my eternity. Until the day I was freed, because a stranger had the courage to help. This time someone needs me. How can I doom a girl to a fate I barely escaped? Thereâs only one answer. I canât. Chapter One Cole A bottle-green fly hums, rubbing his tiny legs together as though heâs plotting something. The insect seems a dirty ornament on the shiny desk nameplate he sits upon. Gold on gold, the engraved letters read Navin Cahvan M.D. This is the third psychiatrist Iâve met in as many weeks. Part of my motherâs plan to fix me. Jumpy nerves, insomnia, nightmares about demons when I finally do fall sleepâthese are her justifications. Everyone tries to shrink me like a cheap T-shirt in the dryer. The tawny-skinned man across the desk folds his knotted fingers over his belly and stares. Dark eyes track my movements beneath two bushy white eyebrows. âMr. Wynter?â Right. He asked a question. The fly hums again, wings fluttering against his hairy back. My head pounds, my clothes scratch, eyes burn, and my ears are raw with the smallest sounds echoing deep inside. When Dr. Cahvan shifts, the leather seat groans in protest. âI can help you. But you must tell me the truth.â All I hear is Jack Nicholson screaming the line from A Few Good Men: âYou canât handle the truth!â âTrust me, Cole. Tell me your secret thoughts.â Trust you? Sure. I tell you what happened and you lock me away forever on meds that keep me drooling, while I play dominoes with people who see giant, pink rabbits. No thanks. He leans forward. His fingers thread together as his hands rest on the desktop. He taps his thumbs together. âI assure you this is a safe place. I call it ⦠the circle of trust.â Give me a break. You want me to tell you how I was a mean, dangerous kid. Confess that because I tormented a crippled boy, his father used a magic camera to trap me in an alternate universe as punishment. Explain how I lived a half-life in the Maddox mansion for four years until Raven Weathersby rescued me. About how much I miss her and think about going back someday ⦠Maybe I am insane. âLetâs discuss something else.â I find his suggestion amusing since Iâve barely said ten words in the past hour, and our time is almost up. The good doctor shifts again. âInstead of talking about the past, why not speak of the present. How are you adjusting to life at home? I understand your parents had a welcome home party when you first arrived. How did that go?â How do you think? âSwell.â I would have preferred stuffing my hand in a high-speed blender. A hundred people that I hadnât seen since I was fifteenâand couldnât care less to see againâshowed up to shake my hand and recite all theyâd ever read about amnesia, the lie Gideon made up to cover my absence. âI really just need some space.â âAnd you got your wish, did you not? I understand your parents left town yesterday. How does being alone again so soon make you feel?â Incredibly pissed. âTheyâve always been busy people. Iâm used to them traveling.â But I wasnât. I thought with all the time apart, my parents might want to stick around a while. Be a family. Nope. Since appearances mean everything, they threw a party right away to show their friends and colleagues how fine I was. The powerful and highly regarded Mr. and Mrs. Wynter pulled out all the stops to prove their love for their long lost son: fine wine, catered dinner, china, crystal, even a string quartet. Yet, my father couldnât keep the disappointment from his face any more than my mother could drown her misery in vodka. Perhaps to appease their consciences, my folks hooked me up with doctors and provided for my physical needs before bailing. But a new car and an obscenely padded bank account wasnât what I needed. So easily brushed aside again, I couldnât help but wonder if parts of them were relieved when Iâd disappeared four years ago. Dr. Cahvanâs eyes narrow. âSo, you remember your life up until your trip to the States?â âYes.â Iâm lying about my amnesia. I know it. He knows it. So do my parents, but itâs too late to come up with a better story ⦠like being the victim of a cult brainwashing or joining a psychedelic commune. I drank a different brand of Kool-Aid in Sales Hollow, South Carolina, and I can never tell a soul. The fly zings to the window. I flinch as the buzzing is magnified ten times in my head. It takes all my will not to jump up and smash the bug against the glass. The doctor watches me with sharp eyes trained to interpret body language. I hold his gaze, though my skin breaks out in a sweat. A sudden wind rattles the panes, and I startle. Cahvanâs mouth crimps at the corners. âRather breezy today,â he says, glancing out the window at the quiet, blue sky. Who cares about the weather? I have to give the old guy something before I start whining about magic spells, heightened senses, or worse: how my daddy never loved me. I blow out a breath. âLook, some things seem familiar, others are confusing. I donât need a doctor. I need time.â I only meant to throw him a bone so heâd have something to report when my parents call, but my body heats as I talk. Anger, resentment, and fear all claw their way up my throat and charge out of my mouth before I can stop them. âTime I canât get back where I finish school, date hot girls, and grow up like normal kids do. Iâm trying. Doing the best I can, but what I donât need is to sit in rooms with smug strangers who are paid to dissect my brain over things I canât explain, and neither of us will ever understand!â I drag my fingers through my shaggy hair. âThat time is gone. Iâm pissed off, and I guess Iâll be pissed off until Iâm not anymore.â Dr. Cahvan rubs his jaw. âThatâs very interesting, Cole.â My laugh is harsh. Not that any of this is funny. âIs it?â âYes. Thank you for your honesty today.â His bushy eyebrows push together. âThank you for entering the circle of trust and allowing me to help you. Please see my secretary on your way out and make another appointment for next week.â Seriously? I stand and head for the door. Oh, Iâll see your secretary, all right. Iâll nod as I walk right past her. He didnât help me. No one can. There are a lot of things I need. But touchy-feely therapy with Doctor Eyebrows isnât one of them. *** After the awkward âcircle of trustâ episode, I canât decide what to do with myself. I donât want to be around people, but I donât want to go home to an empty house either, so I wind up in the rambling cemetery a couple miles from our house. I like it here and come pretty often just to think. Crumbling grave markers bear witness to Franceâs rich history, even with the chiseled dates worn and fading with time. Moss, ivy, and ancient trees lend beauty and peace to a place that soothes my soul. Iâm not trying to be morbid. I never kept company with the dead. We were the undead, in a non-sparkly kind of way. Iâm not stupid enough to think Iâll discover the meaning of life. Iâm just trying to find meaning in mine. After surviving a half-death, Iâve been given a second chance. Trouble is, I donât know what to do with it. The sun is too hot on my back. No sooner does the thought cross my mind, when a friendly breeze tousles my hair like an old friend. I pull my cell from my pocket and stare at Ravenâs number. She said to call her anytime, and I do. Gideon said to call her if I wanted my arse kicked. Typical. Heâs still that insecure kid deep down. Still trying to prove himself, as he tries to control everyone and everything within his reach, just like his old man taught him. Should have known something was wrong when I first got the invitation to visit Gideon in America all those years ago. My parents were so happy Maddox Senior wasnât pressing charges; they actually thought the gesture was an attempt at friendship. Of course, Mum and Dad sent me packing complete with an olive branch in my mouth. That gesture of goodwill got my picture taken and a trip to The Void with a bunch of vengeful old guys from the early nineteen hundreds and a hot blond with twisted taste in men. We spent our days trying to escape that hell. The labyrinthâs ghouls, the surreal existence of consciousness without a physical body, and the constant pain of regret all earmarked a life that wasnât. Until her. My fingers comb the grass at my sides. I close my eyes and feel the dayâs warmth on my face, the wind threading through my thin tee. I may look like a freak, but I canât stop touching everything around me. While I was gone, I missed the sensation of air in my lungs, the taste of coffee, the sweet sensation of a kiss ⦠My thumb starts dialing Raeâs number. Cole ⦠Shite. Here we go again. Come to me, Cole ⦠I wonder if I sounded this creepy to Raven when I begged for her help. Veins at my temples pulse. Leaves shake and laugh in the breeze, the echo reverberating in my head. âWho are you? What do you want with me?â I want to stand, but my limbs weigh a hundred pounds each. My lungs deflate under the crushing pressure, and I struggle to breathe. The scenery of oaks and elms surrounding the cemetery blur into a muddy gray-green wall, and I know whatâs happening. Gravestones push up from the ground like gnashing teeth and recede again until the ground transforms into a smooth, stone floor. The world of pedestrians, car horns, and singing birds around the graveyard fade to a quiet worse than death. My body rejects the idea of gravity. The weightlessness of being sucked back into The Void again invades my person like a virus, spreading into my muscles and bones, my very essence. I will the door of my mind closed to shut out the transformation. I place a mental shield before the magic so it wonât consume me, but magic has a will of its own. It snakes under the imaginary door Iâve erected in my head, enveloping me. I thrash, but itâs useless. My soundless screaming and mind-withering despair only seems to feed The Voidâs strength. When I open my eyes, the cemetery is gone. I shift on a cold, damp floor, taking in my new surroundings. Iâve seen this place before, several times. The space is a circular stone room with two tall, skinny windows allowing diffused light inside. A bed sits across from me. Downy quilts worn and faded with use cover the straw mattress. On the wall, a huge, gilt-framed mirror reflects the room where a pretty blond sits in a hardback chair. Watching me. Iâm familiar with strange, but not with sad, soul-eating eyes like hers. When she rises, I feel like I should thank her, because light from the window shows her curves through an ultra-thin nightdress. The sight chokes my airflow for a whole different reason. ThinkofRaventhinkofRaventhinkofRaven. Iâm so not thinking of Raven. For all my faults, Iâm not the cheating type, but I am a guy, and this girl is seriously fit! I want to touch her in the worst way, but I swallow instead. Attempting to be a gentleman, I lift my gaze and focus on the far wall, yet somehowâbecause Iâm still a guyâI end up watching the way her hair hangs in white blond waves to her thighs. Her rosebud mouth opens slightly. Pleading eyes, more silver than blue, threaten to pull me under and drown me. None of this helps curb my impulse to reach for her. Then I think about how she brought me here against my will, and that helps tamp down the hormones. Cole. What do you want? Canât you guess? I can. I pleaded with Raven for the same help not too long ago. Inside The Void, I thought Iâd met everyone. The ones that Maddox had imprisoned, and the indigenous inhabitants of the labyrinth. I hadnât known there were any others. The drip-drop of a leaky faucet is the only sound as I gather my thoughts. âWho are you? Where are you? I donât understand whatâs happening. Where is this place? Did Gideon put you here?â I rattle off my questions not pausing for a response. She doesnât answer. Maybe she canât. Wind picks up, whooshing through the hollow room, though the windows are shut. The sound grows, as though someone dropped a microphone in a washing machine. I grit my teeth against the noise. My mind squeezes in the pressurized vacuum. Cole ⦠She extends a thin, white hand. I remember Raven. How she fell to her knees on the floor of the mill house when we first met. Pain rips into my psyche, claws at my sanity. The same way Iâm sure it did hers. âIâm sorry. Forgive me, Raven. I didnât know.â ⦠My name is Rosamond ⦠Stone walls smear and fade, the beautiful girl along with them. I canât breathe. Then, the faint outline of tree tops bleed back into view. ⦠Rosamond Bryer ⦠My panting rivals an overheated Saint Bernard. Grass pokes my palms. Rough bark scrapes my spine through my T-shirt. Any trace of the castle turret is erased as the same decrepit cemetery I know solidifies, and the garden is as it was before. Almost ⦠Iâm leaning against an old tree, yet my cell and sunglasses still lie next to the rose bushes where I was sitting, almost twenty feet away. I have no memory of moving. How did I get way over here? Both hands plow through my hair with my exhale. What the bloody hell just happened? Am I imagining this? A nightmare left over from the reality of my imprisonment. Or is the girl real? Trapped like I was and waiting for someone with the courage to free her. Is that someone me? Iâve been a lot of things, but brave isnât one of them. To help her means going back to the mansion. No. I definitely do not need this shite. Iâm starting over, leaving that life behind. Yet, the haunted expression on the girlâs face tugs at me. Something about her seems familiar. Iâm gutted over how she reached for me. Raven doubted, too, but not for long. If the blond is real, then sheâs really in trouble. And if sheâs really in trouble, what, if anything, are you prepared to do about it, Cole Wynter?
As a child, Julieâs summers were about horseback riding and fishing, while winter brought sledding and ice-skating on frozen ponds. Most of life was magical, but not all. She struggled with multiple learning disabilities, and spent much of her time gazing out windows and daydreaming. In the fourth grade (with the help of one very nice teacher) she fought dyslexia for her right to read and won.
Afterward, she invented stories where powerful heroines kicked bad-guy butt to win the hearts charismatic heroes. And then she wrote one downâ¦
Writing ever since, Julie weaves southern gothic, contemporary, fantasy, and young adult
romances. She enjoys sweeping tales of mystery and epic adventure⦠which must include a really hot guy. Her writing is proof a dream and some hard work can overcome any obstacle.
Giveaway Details:
1 winner will receive an eBook of THE ARTISANS and an eGalley of THE PALADINS. International.
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About The Book
Author: Melissa Jarvis
Genre: Historical Time Travel Romance A race against time, to save the world. Derek Massey is the enigmatic head of the time travel agency The Lineage. He makes the difficult choices, ones that have isolated him from everyone. Sarah James is an experienced Lineage agent, the one others look to for help. She hides her secrets and past well. Only one man has ever caused her to lose her temper. But when the timeline is betrayed, Sarah will have to work with Derek to solve the biggest anomaly of all, one that threatens to destroy not just the Lineage, but the world itself. Their journey will take them to the last days of Pompeii and to Renaissance Italy, to a familiar traitor and a pocket watch that could be the key to everything. Sarah and Derek also discover each other’s vulnerabilities, behind the confident agent and the inscrutable leader. Danger ignites the passion between them. When the truth is finally revealed, both Sarah and Derek’s secrets, about their past, their families and their own feelings will come to light. Each has to make a terrible decision. Can a new love stand against years of duty? Or will one of them choose the ultimate sacrifice? Only time will tell. Excerpt Slowly, Sarah sat up, muscles sore but able to do duty in a fight or run-for-your-life scenario. Which she was tempted to do just to escape the inquisitive gazes of those little winged monsters. She slid a foot out onto the floor. It was never-seen-the-sun pale and bare. With a start, she realized she was no longer covered in mud, or ash, or grime from the Arno River. In fact, she was barely covered at all. Perhaps it was meant to be a robe, or a nightgown, or undergarment of some sort, but it failed miserably in that it barely covered her bust, stopped at midthigh, and was see-through. Those cherubs did have something to smile about. The wooden floor creaked as she stood up. One of the painted wall panels swung open, revealing a stern-looking man with familiar gray-black hair and storm-raged eyes. Derek was dressed in a long, forest-green brocade robe trimmed with fur that flared out behind him when he started walking toward her. It added grace to his movements, a physical representation of the air of authority he always carried with him. Her mind sifted through emotions, one thought clearer than the rest. Do I remember the kiss? If she feigned ignorance, as her friend Alex had once done with her later husband, it would give him an out, a return to the easy alliance they’d formed in Pompeii. If not…did she want his regrets? Did she want to be kept at arm’s length, recipient of cold stares and uncomfortable silences? No. She needed something solid, something to hang on to. “I thought I’d lost you.” The words came unbidden, as did the emotion behind them. Derek closed his eyes, ever so briefly, before he was across the room, his arms around her in a violent squeeze, pent-up terror and frustration behind it. “I thought the same. Sarah—I.” He broke off, unable to say the words, though she could see them in his face. Despair. Fear. Longing. “I searched the Ponte Vecchio for days, mad, tried every Transport out of this city. But they were all blocked,” Derek grated. “I even attempted Victoria’s trick of using the Transport to move across distances rather than time.” He had not let go of her, she noticed, as her arms went numb. She didn’t care. His heat chased away the last of the river’s icy embrace. “It’s been days?” She paused. Even minutes without him had sent her into a panic. “It was only a moment. Just…I turned around, and you were gone. I remember a body, hell, not even that anymore. Some poor soul who was in the wrong place at the wrong time.” She winced. Derek must have felt it, for he immediately dropped his arms. A flush crept up his cheeks, but he didn’t move away from her. “And you still made the leap. Unbelievable.” Derek shook his head. “You taught me well.” She wanted to say more, needed his arms around her again. “You should be in bed.” At first her befuddled mind took it as an invitation then she saw him pull back, gathering his robe and dignity around him like armor. He still couldn’t let himself go, be vulnerable. She understood, even though she wanted him naked beside her, both figuratively and literally. “Did you stay in bed? Where are we anyway?” The questions put her back in familiar territory as she pushed away the clingy Sarah, the one she’d banished long ago. Not far enough apparently. About the Author
We all have two sides...Melissa Jarvis is a mild-mannered publicist by day, and action-packed writer by night. She writes paranormal romance and urban fantasy, and cites Anne McCaffrey, Robert A. Heinlein and Robert Asprin among her influences. Melissa lives in celebrity-friendly Southern California with her husband and son. A native of Texas, you might hear the word “y’all” a lot from her, and watch out, it’s catching.
For over 15 years, she has also worked in the public relations industry, with clients ranging from the Playboy Jazz Festival to the Los Angeles Mission to JVS, as well as indie film directors and comic writers. She’s won numerous awards from the Public Relations Society of America LA Chapter for her efforts. And she’s survived with most of her mind intact! When not writing or trying to convince her family to let her have a pet dragon, she loves antiquing, crafting, and of course, reading. Links http://www.melissajarvis.net/ http://www.bookstrand.com/book/time-on-her-hands Interview with the Author!
BORN WITH A PEN IN HAND, OR HOW I GOT STARTED WRITING
Melissa Jarvis Ernest Hemingway once said about writers “Let them think you were born that way.” One early May morning, a baby was born with a pen in her hand, and a story about an exciting adventure through a tunnel…just kidding. My journey to becoming a writer started with dragons. It was seventh grade, and I was in love with Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern series. No one had really heard of fan fiction back then, but my friend and I started writing a story based on that world. We had dreams. Big dreams. We’d send it to Anne, she would love it, and it would get published. Looking back, I think she would have had one of her dragons flame it to ashes. And send a cease and desist letter. And lots of lawyers. But that little bastardized story stayed with me, and morphed. I continued to read, fantasy, sci-fi, romance, until I was an adult with a major in Mass Communications. However, I didn’t like reporting the truth. I liked making it up. So, like how many good stories are started, so did mine with the age old question, “What if?” That “what if” that eventually resulted in the Lineage series started with the book The Scarlet Pimpernel. I loved Sir Percy, but wow, Marguerite was an oblivious wimp, to put it nicely. However,most ladies of the time were. I wanted a heroine equal to Sir Percy, and I created one. She kicked ass, literally and figuratively. Yet how could that type of character ever work in that time period? The answer was staring me in the face, and from the beloved pages of sci-fi novels. Time travel. Only I didn’t want it to be a story about a woman who picks up an antique cameo and poof, she’s in Regency England or the Wild West. No, there had to be a plan. A design. Lots of sci-fi jargon I’d have to research. Did I mention I got a “D” in what was affectionately called “math for poets” in college? Thus the Lineage time travel agency was born, and that kick-ass heroine, Alex, got her own book, Past Her Time. Set during the French Revolution, I gave my own twist to the hero, now Lord Gabriel, and someone who could match him in secrecy, swordplay and adventure. Many rejections, tears, and revisions later, it was accepted for publication. Of course I couldn’t just do all this world building and give y’all one book, could I? In His Own Time starred a secondary character from the first, along with a heroine more like myself, new to the Lineage, time travel, and eager to prove herself. I set it mostly during California’s Gold Rush, but from the perspective of the Ranchos and native Californios. My husband’s family, who are Spanish, provided lots of material, and fortunately, most of them haven’t read the book since I’m still invited to family functions. Which brings us to the third Lineage book, Time on Her Hands. You don’t have to have read the other two to enjoy this book. Like a good little author, I gave enough backstory to get anyone caught up on what they need to know. I may not have been born with pen in hand, but I think I disagree a little with old Ernest. I was born to write. Ready for an Awesome Giveaway?Burning Ultimatum
EXCERPT: Trevor puts his hand on my arm, but I shake it away. I’m so frustrated. So angry. Trevor acts like my friend, but he cut Kat. I have no friends. “Bridget, there was no choice. Keeping her wouldn’t have been fair to Kat. And it would have contradicted the purpose of everything we’re trying to do.” I look back at him. I stand. My eyes are wet with fury, but I’m wearing an angry smile. “What?” he says. “They got you. They got all of you.” “Who?” “Kylie. Kat was a threat to her. Do you know about her and Caspian White?” “No. What do you mean?” “I guess we’ll never know, will we? I could tell you. I could even tell Caspian. But something tells me it won’t ring true without Kat to back me up. Something tells me convenient lies and excuses have already been put in place. She’s always ten steps ahead, isn’t she? After all, that’s her fucking superpower, isn’t it?” “Bridget, what are you talking about?” “And Jessica. Because second place wasn’t good enough for her. She wants to win it all. Is that what Kylie promised her? That she could come in first place once Kat was gone?” I give a cynical little smile. “I guess we’ll see what Kylie’s promises are worth with a knife in Jessica’s back.” “You’re making too much of this. Once I learned Kat’s situation, I took care of it. It was just me. Nobody else — not Kylie, not Jessica.” “Oh my God,” I say. “What?” “They’re playing you, too.” “Nobody’s playing me.” I sit back down. I can’t help myself. I grab Trevor by the upper arms and look him right in his sweet, almost innocent eyes. “This is about you, Trevor. Not me, not the contest, not the company. You. Kat was eliminated because you never had a choice. She backed you into it.” “Who?” He’s getting annoyed, his face twisting. “This whole thing is on you. It’s your name. Your company. Everything is being done for Trevor Stone.” “So?” “So if it fails? If it goes horribly wrong? If someone can convince some other people that certain big-name billionaires should be squeezed out?” “You’re being ridiculous.” But I’m not. I see it clear as day. Trevor stands, brushing off with an air of finality, as if these last thirty seconds have made him sorry for coming to see me. “Trevor … ” He meets my eyes with a hard stare — no matter what I say next, our discussion is over. “I came here because I care about you, Bridget. That hasn’t changed.” I don’t know what else to do, so as my shoulders sag, I nod. “Are you leaving today?” That was the plan, yes. But now I’m not so sure. If I leave, it’ll just be Jessica, Kylie, and Daniel versus Trevor. The three against one that’s also leveled against me. But I could stick around. I could keep being a wrench in the machine. The one question that nobody, no matter how honest they are, will answer is the biggest of all: Why am I still here? I survived the first elimination after refusing to play by the rules. I survived the second and third without blinking. And if Trevor is to be believed, I survived a sex-first challenge by being nonsexual while the sluttiest slut got the axe. All by following my gut and doing nothing special. All, it seems, without help of any meaningful kind. “I don’t know,” I say. “You should.” “Why?” “Same reason as before.” “Which is?” “Caspian White.” “Why, Trevor?” “Because he likes you.” “Then I should have no problems.” Trevor doesn’t respond. He looks somehow punched, but I can tell he feels that affection, from Caspian White, probably isn’t a good thing. “I’ll be fine, Trevor. Thank you for your concern, but I’ve made it this far, even without a superpower.” I try to smile at the idea of superpowers, but Trevor stops, on his way to my door, and takes my hand. “Daniel didn’t tell you,” he says. “Tell me what?” “At least on paper, he’s named a talent for you. To our board. And to Mr. White.” I blink back up at Trevor. “He’s been telling people that he’s figured out my superpower?” “Yes. And going to face Caspian White, that’s what scares me.” “What is it?” “Technically it’s restraint, no doubt piggybacking on what the cameras saw between you in the garden, when you resisted his triggers.” Trevor purses his lips. “But Caspian has chosen to interpret your unflappability differently, if not quite literally.” My heart beats faster. Maybe Trevor is right after all, and I should leave while I still can. “‘Purity,’” Trevor says. “As if you were a virgin, waiting to be defiled.”
GIVEAWAY! Welcome to the cover reveal for Artifacts by Pete Catalano presented by Tantrum Books! Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post! Be on the look out for this fun upcoming MG title from Tantrum Books!
Artifacts by Pete Catalano Publication Date: May 17, 2016 Publisher: Tantrum Books
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Rock Your Heart Out by Crystal Kaswell
(Sinful Serenade #3) Publication date: March 10th 2016 Genres: New Adult, Romance About the Book
SynopsisThere’s a naked rockstar in my hotel room.
And he’s pierced. Willow Denton needs to get out of town fast. Her only option is joining her brother’s band on tour. Ten weeks with misbehaved men doesn’t sound so bad. Until she walks in on the drummer naked and sporting a spanking new piercing. There’s no way the player rock star will ever think of her as more than his BFF’s little sister. Better to focus on her photography. As soon as she stops thinking about him in her bed, against the wall, in the backseat of his car… Sinful Serenade drummer Tom Steele is a wrecking ball. Bossy. Pushy. Hot as the molten center of the Earth. He’s not afraid to use his body or his fame to get what he wants– a different girl every night of the week (and three on Sunday). The man may be a whore but he can control himself. He’s going to keep an eye on Willow, be her friend. That’s it. Their sizzling sexual chemistry makes this whole platonic things hard. But there’s no way he’ll cross the line with the girl he’s supposed to protect. Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28599719-rock-your-heart-out Purchase: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CRD1XFS Purchase book 1: http://www.amazon.com/Sing-Your-Heart-Out-Serenade-ebook/dp/B01685Y1X2 Purchase book 2: http://www.amazon.com/Strum-Your-Heart-Sinful-Serenade/dp/1942135122 Excerpt
The room is dark except for the yellow light streaming from under the closed bathroom door. Quiet except for the tap-tap-tap of the shower.
Then there's no more tap-tap-tap. The shower is off. I grope the wall for the light switch. Nothing. Still dark. Okay. No big deal. My brother knows I'm coming. I knock just in case my ETA text messages didn't get through. "Drew. It's me. Take your time." No response. Maybe he didn't hear me. I go to knock again but the handle turns. The bathroom door pulls open. Light pours into the main room. It surrounds a muscular man in a soft, yellow glow. That's not Drew. Thank God, because he's naked. Completely and totally naked. There's a strange naked man in Drew's hotel room, and he's between me and the exit. I take a step backwards. There's nowhere to go. I'm against the wall. My heart beat speeds up. This guy doesn’t look menacing but that's not enough to convince the nerves in my stomach to settle. "Hey. Didn't think you were coming," he says. His voice is calm. Not threatening. I take a deep breath. This must be an innocent mistake. The guy at the front desk gave me the wrong key. Please let it be an innocent mistake. "Alice?" he asks. I shake my head. I'm not Alice. Given the way he's standing, tall and proud and utterly naked, she must be a sexual partner. He reaches for something and the room illuminates. He's no longer highlights on hard muscles. Actually, he's really familiar. Green eyes. Dark blond hair hanging wet around his face. Soft lips curled into a welcoming smile. I know him. Know who he is. Relief floods my limbs as I exhale. That's him. Tom Steele, the drummer in my guitarist brother's alternative rock band, Sinful Serenade. He's not dangerous. He's my brother's best friend. Give or take. Drew isn't really the friendly type. "Did you change your hair?" he asks. "Your nose maybe? Don't get me wrong. You look good. Just different." I shake my head. My mouth is too sticky to form words. He's naked. My eyes won't co-operate with me. They trace a line down his body. Strong jaw, soft lips, broad shoulders, sculpted torso. I've seen plenty of men naked in photography classes, but none of them made me feel sweaty and flushed. My gaze goes lower. To his happy trail. Lower. Holy shit. He's pierced. There's a barbell stud going through the top to the bottom of his tip. My jaw drops. "Is that a..." "Prince Albert?" It's impossible to speak. I nod. "It's an apadravya. Like a Prince Albert but on both sides." "Oh." "It's new," he says. "Real new, actually. I'm out of commission for another three weeks. But I still have a mouth and two hands, so hop on the bed." Me... on the bed... with Tom. He steps closer. "You're not Alice, are you?" Finally, I collect some hint of my senses. "No, I'm sorry." I press my back against the wall. Nerves collect in my stomach. Not fear but embarrassment. "Isn't this Drew's room?" "We switched." His eyes fix on mine. "How did you get a key?" It is an honest mistake. That's a relief. How did I get this key? At the desk. Asking for Bruce Wayne. It's hard to think given the circumstances. I say the first thing that makes it to my lips. "You're naked." He laughs. "You're observant." I can't drag my gaze away from his piercing. "Didn't that hurt?" "Not as much as you'd think." "What's the point?" He studies my expression. "If you don't like it stop staring." I press my eyelids together. "Sorry." "You want to tell me what you're doing in my hotel room?" "I thought this was Drew's room." Somehow, I manage to look him in the eyes. That's definitely Tom. We've never met—I was in boarding school when the band was forming—but I’ve seen him in music videos and on the cover of Rolling Stone. Tom pulls a towel around his waist. That makes it easier to think. "I'm Drew's sister. Willow." I dig into my purse and pull out my driver's license. "Here. See." Tom glances at the ID then returns it. "You shoulda told me before I let you gawk." He goes to the bed, digs through an open suitcase, and pulls on a pair of boxers. "I don't mind. I'm not shy. But your brother will kill me if he finds out you saw me naked." There's a tattoo of a lion on his chest. Thick black lines. The pattern continues down his arm, all the way to his wrist. "I know I'm sexy as hell, but you should probably stop staring." God, he's right. I'm being all kinds of rude. There's no excuse. "I'm sorry. It's just—" "Been a while?" "Something like that." My cheeks flush. It's been six years since I've had sex. Six years since I've felt a hint of desire. "I feel you, kid. I'm under strict orders from my piercer: no sex for six weeks." He looks back to me with a playful smile. "Can't even fuck myself." He's casual with that information. Hi, I'm Tom, my cock is pierced, I can't fuck anyone for three more weeks. Not even myself. Tom gets dressed like it doesn't bother him that I'm gawking. Skinny jeans. Converse. V-neck. Tight cotton hoodie. Picture perfect, effortlessly cool rock star. I press my hands against my sides and force myself to stare at the wall. Okay. We've got this mix up settled. Now I have to figure out what the hell I'm going to say to Drew about why I'm here. The truth isn't an option. Tom's voice pulls me out of my thoughts. "Hope I didn't scare you." He smirks and motions to his now clothed crotch. "I know it's a monster." I clear my throat. "I wasn't expecting a naked man in my hotel room." "You look rattled." "Surprised." "Intrigued?" He raises a brow. My cheeks flush. "I've never seen a, uh, piercing like that before." I press my lips together before I shove my foot into my mouth. "I have a lot on my mind. That's all." His eyes pass over me. "If you need something—money a place to stay–I can arrange that." I study his expression for a clue to his intentions. He seems earnest but I don't trust my instincts when it comes to men. "No thanks. It's a family thing." Tom raises an eyebrow. "As you wish." He taps a few numbers into the hotel phone's keypad and brings it to his ear. "Hey. You two finished? I ran into your sister at the front desk. You want me to bring her over?" Tom laughs at whatever Drew says. "I know. I wouldn't. I'm too beautiful to die." He sets the phone back in the receiver. His eyes meet mine. "He's ready. Room 417." I nod. "Thank you. And sorry." "I don't mind." Tom shrugs. "Just keep this between us." "Sure." It's too mortifying to tell anyone. "Good night." I grab my bag, sling it over my shoulder, and reach for the door. "Willow—" "Yeah?" "There are leaked pics of me online. If you need to take another look." About the Author
Crystal Kaswell writes steamy new adult and erotic romance books. She loves when flawed characters fall head over heels for each other. Especially if they fall into bed first. She loves police procedurals, tea, and The Hunger Games series. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband.
Author links: http://www.crystalkaswell.com/ https://twitter.com/CrystalKaswell https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8379758.Crystal_Kaswell https://www.facebook.com/crystalkaswellwriter/?fref=ts And Now.....the Giveaway!
Memories of Ash (The Sunbolt Chronicles #2)
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release Date: May 30th 2016
Summary:
In the year since she cast her sunbolt, Hitomi has recovered only a handful of memories. But the truths of the past have a tendency to come calling, and an isolated mountain fastness can offer only so much shelter. When the High Council of Mages summons Brigit Stormwind to stand trial for treason, Hitomi knows her mentor wonât returnânot with Arch Mage Blackflame behind the charges.
Armed only with her magic and her wits, Hitomi vows to free her mentor from unjust imprisonment. She must traverse spell-cursed lands and barren deserts, facing powerful ancient enchantments and navigating bitter enmities, as she races to reach the High Council. There, she reunites with old friends, planning a rescue equal parts magic and trickery.
If she succeeds, Hitomi will be hunted the rest of her life. If she fails, sheâll face the ultimate punishment: enslavement to the High Council, her magic slowly drained until she dies.
Sunbolt Buy Links ($1.99 Special):
About the Author
Intisar Khanani grew up a nomad and world traveler. Born in Wisconsin, she has lived in five different states as well as in Jeddah on the coast of the Red Sea. She first remembers seeing snow on a wintry street in Zurich, Switzerland, and vaguely recollects having breakfast with the orangutans at the Singapore Zoo when she was five. She currently resides in Cincinnati, Ohio, with her husband and two young daughters. Until recently, Intisar wrote grants and developed projects to address community health with the Cincinnati Health Department, which was as close as she could get to saving the world. Now she focuses her time on her two passions: raising her family and writing fantasy. Intisar's next two projects include a companion trilogy to Thorn, following the heroine introduced in her short story The Bone Knife, and The Sunbolt Chronicles, a novella serial following a young mage with a propensity to play hero, and her nemesis, a dark mage intent on taking over the Eleven Kingdoms.
Author Links:
Title: Fated
Series: Forever #2
By: Regan Ure
Publication Date: March 22, 2016
Genre: YA Fantasy
Cover Design: Mayhem Cover Creations
Seventeen-year-old Keri Edwards has led a hard life. She is the daughter of the most ruthless Alpha in the territory. In the shadow of cruelty, he molded her to follow in his footsteps. Her father’s unexpected death has freed her and made her the Alpha of a powerful pack. Forced to lie and deceive the people closest to her has led to the rejection of her mate, Blake Stevens. He walked away instead of claiming her. In his eyes she is the one who betrayed him, her actions unforgivable. There is no time to deal with her heartache as she takes on the biggest task of her life, becoming the Alpha she was trained to be. Settling into her new role has dangers, and when Blake appears out of the blue, wanting her as his mate, she can’t trust his motives.
Amazon US - http://amzn.to/1WiyOrX
Amazon UK - http://goo.gl/s9xDT0
Amazon CA - https://goo.gl/7BRjxn
Kobo - https://goo.gl/rx7Wux
iBooks - https://goo.gl/qJh1il
Forever Series #1
Amazon US - http://amzn.to/1TFsKvC
Amazon UK - http://goo.gl/dPPJCc
Amazon CA - https://goo.gl/9FWjc6
Kobo - https://goo.gl/c1G3Zd
iBooks - https://goo.gl/ekwDVo
Regan is a South African who is married to an IT specialist. She is also mom to a daughter and son. She discovered the joy of writing at the tender age of twelve. Her first two novels were teen fiction romance. She then got sidetracked into the world of computer programming and travelled extensively visiting twenty-seven countries. A few years ago after her son’s birth she stayed home and took another trip into the world of writing. After writing nine stories on a free writing website, winning an award and becoming a featured writer the next step was to publish her stories. If she isn’t writing her next novel you will find her reading soppy romance novels, shopping like an adrenaline junkie or watching too much television.
Social Media Links
I've also reviewed both books in this exciting new series! See my thoughts here:
Alpha (Book One) - http://recipe-fairy.weebly.com/blog/alpha-by-regan-ure
Fated (Book Two)- http://recipe-fairy.weebly.com/blog/fated-by-regan-ure
Today is the cover reveal for She Laughs in Pink by Jessica Calla. This cover reveal is organized by Lola's Blog Tours.
She Laughs in Pink (Sheridan Hall #1) by Jessica Calla Genre: Contemporary Romance Age category: New Adult Release Date: May 2016 Publisher: BookFish Books Blurb: You can find She Laughs in Pink on Goodreads About the Author: Jessica Calla is a lawyer by day and a romance writer by night. Her favorite time is "bedtime," when she's free to open her laptop, battle with her blinking cursor, and pour out the contents of her heart. Jessica is a member of Romance Writers of America and is involved in the Contemporary, Young Adult, and New Jersey Chapters. She is also a member of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association. She lives in central New Jersey with her husband, two sons, and a dog. Besides reading and writing, she enjoys movies, coffee, and chocolate. She considers herself addicted to Diet Coke and Netflix (in a good way). You can find and contact Jessica here: - Website - Goodreads - Amazon There is a cover reveal wide giveaway for the cover reveal of She Laughs in Pink. One winner will win a 25$ amazon gift card. For a chance to win, enter the rafflecopter below: a Rafflecopter giveaway by Julayn Adams Release Date: March 4th 2016 Summary from Goodreads:
In the aftermath of World War III, the world has become a dangerous place. The ruthless dictator, Equis, and his army, Armageddon, are quickly taking over major metropolitan areas on the west coast. The end of humanity is eminent. Their one hope lies in the hands of a 17 year old girl, Alexa. When Almana volunteers to leave Heaven to guide Alexa, she never thought that her own destiny would include falling in love with a human. Now, cursed to remain on Earth forever, Almana finds that her task is much more than she bargained for.
Teaser:
hen in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes,
I alone beweep my outcast state
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,
And look upon myself and curse my fate,
Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,â
-Shakespeare
Sonnet 29
It is my name. It is my curse.
I am Almana.
About the Author
With a diverse background ranging from preschool teacher and professional princess to diagnostic sonographer, Julayn Adams has discovered a new passion and talent for writing. Originally from Massachusetts, she now resides in Australia with her husband and four children, three of whom she home-schools. With her first work, a children's book illustrated by her youngest son, already released, she is excited to introduce her Young Adult novel, Almana, in January of 2016. Julayn is currently working on the second of this three part series, Vision (Almana #2).
Author Links:
Today is the cover reveal for Amanda Lester and the Blue Peacocks’ Secret by Paula Berinstein. This cover reveal is organized by Lola's Blog Tours.
Amanda Lester and the Blue Peacocks’ Secret (Amanda Lester, Detective #4) by Paula Berinstein Genre: Mystery/detective Age category: Young Adult Release Date: March 31, 2016 Blurb: You can find Amanda Lester and the Blue Peacocks’ Secret on Goodreads You can pre-order Amanda Lester and the Blue Peacocks’ Secret here: - Amazon Amanda Lester and the Blue Peacocks’ Secret first Darktower class excerpt: About the Author: Paula Berinstein is nothing like Amanda. For one thing, she’s crazy about Sherlock Holmes. For another, she’s never wanted to be a filmmaker. In addition, compared to Amanda she’s a big chicken! And she wouldn’t mind going to a secret school at all. In fact, she’s hoping that some day she’ll get to build one. You can find and contact Paula here: - Website - Goodreads - Paula's blog on Goodreads - The Writing Show podcasts There is a cover reveal wide giveaway for the cover reveal of Amanda Lester and the Blue Peacocks’ Secret. You can win a 50$ amazon gift card. Open international. For a chance to win, enter the rafflecopter below: a Rafflecopter giveaway |
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