HALLOWEEN GUEST POST & GIVEAWAY: The Perils of Growing up Werewolf by Andrew Buckley!

Title: The Perils of Growing Up Werewolf

Author: Andrew Buckley

Publication date: October 3, 2017

Publisher: Tantrum Books

About the Book:

Being a werewolf is no picnic. Colin’s constantly hungry, spends a ton of time shaving, and fights to keep his emotions in
check to avoid turning into a giant, drooling, hairy, smelly, howling wolf. But Colin's not the only creature hanging
around the town of Elkwood. Vampires, zombies, goblins, ogres, and other questionable visitors and their various
shenanigans have got everyone on edge.

Colin just wants to live a normal life, date, and get his homework done on time. But the town of Elkwood needs him. So
when a secret government organization asks for his help, will he be able to control the animal inside, or will he give in to
the perils of growing up werewolf?

Get It Here:

Amazon | TBD | B&N | IndieBound | iBooks | Kobo | Chapters | BAM | Google Play

Guest Post: The Road to Publication

My road to publication was a bit of a twisted and weird one. Though in speaking to other authors, I’ve learned that the road is rarely straight. Sometimes there are sharp drop-offs, occasionally there are short cuts, and on rare occasions you may even find a cow blocking the path entirely.

I completed my first and second novels before I even got a whiff of a publishing contract. I was of the mindset that the only way to publish a book was to get a literary agent first so I dedicated all my query-writing energy to that method. After over a hundred rejections I began to wonder if I was doing the right thing with my life. Yes, it took at least a hundred before I started questioning myself. It was one agent in particular who, in a rather nicely written rejection letter, suggested I build myself an online presence. And why not? Facebook was getting bigger and bigger all the time and the celebrity use of Twitter had turned the micro-blogging platform into the next step in the evolution of social media.

I built a simple website, stating exactly why I’d done so and I started blogging about pretty much anything including writing, book reviews, movie reviews, quirky fiction pieces, and more. I also started using Facebook and Twitter in a rather aggressive manner. I met some amazing people and made friends who I’m still in contact with today. For a while I was part of an entire group who had come together simply because we thought the movie version of ‘Howard the Duck’ was so stupid that it was hilarious. I also started contributing to a writing blog called Curiosity Quills. I’d met the owners, Lisa and Eugene, on Twitter and we shared a similar sense of humour. I lost contact with them for a year or two when I was writing my second novel, and when I re-connected they’d become an indie publishing house. Although I’d started to get bites on my work thanks to switching to sending queries to publishers instead of agents, I still didn’t have anything solid. Curiosity Quills ended up signing both novels, DEATH, THE DEVIL, AND THE GOLDFISH, and STILTSKIN. A year after signing with them, I started working for them as an acquisitions editor, reviewing queries, and shortly thereafter as the Acquisitions Manager (a position I still occupy). I later worked as the VP of Operations and re-structured their production department before returning to the Acquisitions Manager role in 2017.

Through working with the CQ team, I met my amazing literary agent, Mark Gottlieb at Trident Media Group in New York. Mark loves quirky humour (and cats) and in 2014 he signed me as a client for any future works, introduced me to my second publisher (Month9Books), and has represented me ever since. Three more releases later, and a fourth under contract, and I’m honoured, humbled, and happy to be a working author in what’s become an extremely challenging and competitive industry. The HAIR IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES series, published by Month9Books/Tantrum Books (part of the Georgia McBride Media Group), now has two instalments published with the third coming in Fall 2018 and I have two other works in progress.

While it’s been a long road (I started writing novels in 2002, but wasn’t published until 2012) it’s been extremely educational and the only thing I can say is that perseverance in this industry truly pays off. It may not happen today, or tomorrow, or next week, or five years from now, but if you stick to doing what you love and you do it to the best of your ability, you’ll get there in the end. Just be prepared to deal with the occasional cow in the road.

Other Books In the Series:

Follow the tour:

Click here!

About the Author:

Andrew Buckley attended the Vancouver Film School’s Writing for Film and Television program. After pitching and developing several screenplay projects for film and television, he worked in marketing and public relations, before becoming a professional copy and content writer. During this time Andrew began writing his first adult novel, DEATH, THE DEVIL AND THE GOLDFISH, followed closely by his second novel, STILTSKIN. He works as an editor for Curiosity Quills Press.

Andrew also co-hosts a geek movie podcast, is working on his next novel, and has a stunning amount of other ideas. He now lives happily in the Okanagan Valley, BC with three kids, one cat, one needy dog, one beautiful wife, and a multitude of characters that live comfortably inside of his mind. Andrew is represented by Mark Gottlieb at the Trident Media Group.

Goodreads | Website | Twitter | Facebook

Giveaway:

One (1) winner will receive a Werewolves The Pact Game (INT)

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Blog Tour Review, Guest Post, & Giveaway: Into a Million Pieces by Angela V. Cook!

Title: Into a Million Pieces
Author: Angela V. Cook
Release date: January 27 2015
Format: ebook

Book Summary:

Allison McKready is a succubus. So is her twin sister. But while Allison spends her summer

break hiding in the library behind her Goth makeup, Jade fools around as often as she can.

Allison can’t believe Jade would ignore their mother’s fatal example so recklessly, but

concealing a cursed bloodline and its dangerous effects is far from Allison’s only problem. Mean

girl Julie’s snob mob is determined to ruin her summer, and Aunt Sarah’s Bible thumping is

getting louder. Only her new friend, Ren Fisher, offers safe haven from the chaos of her life.

When one of Jade’s risky dates leads to humiliation and sudden tragedy, Allison reels, and Ren

catches her. But as her feelings for him grow, so does her fear that she’ll hurt him—or worse—in

an unguarded moment. The choice is coming—love him or save him—but Allison might not live

to make it. One way or another, the curse will have its due.

Guest Post:

Do You Offend? Yeah? Awesome!

After I wrote the first draft of INTO A MILLION PIECES, I let it sit for several weeks. I always do this to gain distance from the story before diving into edits. That particular time, I might’ve gained too much distance, because once I started reading over it, there were scenes I couldn’t believe I’d written. We’re talking about the types of scenes that make your face heat up and cause you to giggle like a thirteen-year-old girl. Yep, I’d had forgotten how… umm… steamy some parts of the story were.

Since I write for the young adult audience, I actually wondered if I should tone down the scenes to make them less offensive. Instead of them being PG13, they could just be… PG. Instead of describing the make out session, I could just say they made out. However, it didn’t take long for me to realize that not only were those scenes vital to the storyline, but they had to be hot and steamy. I had to show my characters walking that dangerous, fine line and their temptation to cross it. Changing those scenes, making them less sexy, would've compromised my story.

I don't think anyone should write for the purpose of offending (is there anything worse than a book/movie where the f-bomb gets gratuitously thrown around for shock value?), but I also don't think you should write worrying you might. If what you write doesn't offend someone, then it's probably not worth reading. I know—OUCH! Harsh words, eh? But the truth is, no one wants to read fluff.

The young adult genre is always "offending" people. Cheerleaders get mad because they get portrayed as snobs. The goth community doesn’t like being portrayed as freaks. Atheists hate books about angels, Christians hate books about demons, and blah, blah, blah. My point is, everyone is different; no matter what you write, there's no telling how people will perceive it. Write what feels true to the story and characters, and don't worry about offending people. The worst that can happen is you get people talking, and that's not always a bad thing.

Buy it here: Amazon | BN | Kobo | Apple | Google

About the Author:

Angela V. Cook lives a very unexciting, but never boring, life with her husband and two children just outside of Detroit. Like most writers, she’s been making up stories for as long as she can remember and can’t imagine a life that doesn’t involve creating worlds.

Angela loves to write novels for teens because it’s the best outlet for her sarcastic personality, immature sense of humor, and love of romantic firsts. Her idea of the perfect day involves a quiet house, a good book, and a piece of cheesecake. Or two.

Website | RAP | Twitter

Review:

★★★★

I was really excited when I was asked to be a part of this tour. My favorite genres are that of fantasy and young adult, so I thought this would be right up my alley. And then I saw the cover, which is absolutely gorgeous. I knew I had to read it... And I'm so glad I did!

What really drew me in to this book was the fact that it's a paranormal book that features succubi as the main characters. While I knew fully what that race of creature is, I honestly cannot recall ever reading a book, young adult or otherwise, that centered around a succubus character. Don't get me wrong, I love me some werewolves and vampires, but this was such a refreshing change of pace from the young adult paranormal genre. It's worth reading, honestly, for that little fresh sip of water alone.

The book features twin succubi lead characters that are written with unique, distinct traits. Allison is the bookish, quiet one and Jade is the one who goes out and has reckless fun. I was expecting to like Allison the most because I myself am bookish and goth, but I actually really liked Jade. They compliment each other quite nicely, and I enjoyed reading their story and watching them navigate their lives, as well as learn to handle and come to terms with the succubi curse that they inherited.

I think this book will appeal largely to a teen audience. There's swearing and succubi and cruses and adventure- I mean, what's not to like, really? This is also a clean read, which is another refreshing change of pace for me.

The writing is well done, and Cook does a really good job of blending fantasy into a contemporary story. The descriptions are all all well detailed, and the main characters were all well developed. That being said, there was a pretty big cast of side characters I didn't overly care about too much, but the appeal of Allison, Jade, and Ren more than made up for it. It's a quick read but there's a lot in here, and I think that fans of young adult paranormal fantasy will gobble it up.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Follow the rest of the tour here!

Giveaway:

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Blog Tour: Guest Post & Giveaway- Lucas Mackenzie and the London Midnight Ghost Show by Steve Bryant

Title: Lucas Mackenzie and the London Midnight Ghost Show

Author: Steve Bryant

Publication date: November 18, 2014

Publisher: Month9Books, LLC.

About the Book:

Lucas Mackenzie has got the best job of any 10 year old boy. He travels from city-to-city as part of the London Midnight Ghost Show, scaring unsuspecting show-goers year round. Performing comes naturally to Lucas and the rest of the troupe, who’ve been doing it for as long as Lucas can remember.

But there’s something Lucas doesn’t know.

Like the rest of Luca’s friends, he’s dead. And for some reason, Lucas can’t remember his former life, his parents or friends. Did he go to school? Have a dog? Brothers and sisters?

If only he could recall his former life, maybe even reach out to his parents, haunt them.

When a ghost hunter determines to shut the show down, Lucas realizes the life he has might soon be over. And without a connection to his family, he will have nothing. There’s little time and Lucas has much to do. Can he win the love of Columbine, the show’s enchanting fifteen-year-old mystic? Can he outwit the forces of life and death that thwart his efforts to find his family?

Keep the lights on! Lucas Mackenzie’s coming to town.

Get It Here:

Amazon | TBD | B&N | Indigo | IndieBound | Kobo

The Characters:

The principal characters in the novel are members of a traveling midnight theater ghost show.

Professor Ambrose McDuff is a famous European magician, the star of the show and its owner.

Lucas Mackenzie is a ten-year-old radio whiz who designs the show’s electronics network, runs the AV equipment, and directs each evening’s performance from a projection booth.

Oliver is a large, lumbering thespian with a greenish hue. He looks suspiciously like the manservant in the Addams Family cartoons.

Yorick is a floating talking skull who does mindreading turns in the show.

Columbine is a lanky fifteen-year-old mystic in the show and the object of Lucas’s affections.

The Gilbert triplets (Alexandra, Belinda, and Clarice) are aspiring movie stars and magician’s assistants. They take turns on stage with the Professor.

Eddie is the lighting guy, Lucas’s rival in the cast for Columbine.

The McClatter boys are six animated skeletons, a sort of Greek chorus.

Oh, one important thing: everyone mentioned above is dead! Most are ghosts, and Eddie is merely a zombie that the Professor acquired in a poker game.

Lucas must contend with a ghost hunter named Dr. Harlan H. Hull, a difficult telephone operator, a gang of vampires, a delightful young spirit camp ghost named Chloë, a blind medium named Leota Price, a convict named Jake “Scar” Hoffman, and an angry postmaster named Blackadder in his quest to keep the show going, win the girl, and reunite with his family.

Follow the tour:

Click here!

About the Author:

Steve Bryant is a new novelist, but a veteran author of books of card tricks. He founded a 40+ page monthly internet magazine for magicians containing news, reviews, magic tricks, humor, and fiction; and he frequently contributes biographical cover articles to the country’s two leading magic journals (his most recent article was about the séance at Hollywood’s Magic Castle).

Goodreads | Website | Twitter

Giveaway:

Five (5) winners will receive a digital copy of Lucas Mackenzie and the London Midnight Ghost Show by Steve Bryant (INT)

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Blog Tour Guest Post, Review, & Giveaway: The Big Book of Domination by D.L. King!

Title: The Big Book of Domination: Erotic Fantasies
Author: D.L. King
Format: Paperback, 346 pages
Pub. Date: December 9th 2014
Source: Cleis Press


Book Description via Goodreads:

Not every woman likes to submit. An increasing number like to be on top. And their partners love it! D. L. King, editor of 2013's award-winning Under Her Thumb, curates a scintillating collection with The Big Book of Domination. Filled with surprises and unexpected twists (yes, that kind, too!), this book proves that when lust and desire take control, all bets are off.

Dominants and submissives are not so very different — they both crave that frisson of power. The Big Book of Domination brings you erotic stories to get your heart pumping, like the story of a reporter who likes to experience everything first hand. It’s been said that clothes make the man — can putting on the right clothes transform an ordinary man into a charismatic dom? When Glenn finds the leathers in his friend’s closet, his trip to the bars nets him the perfect boy . . .

Dominance and submission is a dance D. L. King knows well, and The Big Book of Domination rocks your world with stories of sensuous games with male dominants, training and discipline by female dominants, and all manner of sensuous games and pairings.

Guest Post with DL King:

During a discussion with Laura Antoniou about people who co-edit anthologies, I once said I would never be able to do that because I don’t like to be dependent on others or have to compromise in my books. I went on to say that I was a little controlling and she said, “Ya think so?”

Yes, I am controlling. I like to be in charge and as a dominant woman, I’ve been practicing kinky sex for more than fifteen years, unlike another author who shall remain nameless, so I guess I know a little about the subject of BDSM and domination. Truly, though, I was super-excited when Cleis Press asked if I’d like to edit The Big Book of Domination. It’s an area of personal interest and I hoped I could do it justice.

Most people think of femdom when they think of me. I wanted this book to be more of an omnibus of domination, though, not just femdom, and I hope I’ve succeeded. But before I talk about the various dominants you’ll meet the pages of this new book, I wanted to talk a little about how dominance and submission are so closely related as to be two sides of the same coin. By rights, every story of submission has a dominant, front and center, and every story about domination has a submissive. And because that’s true, I didn’t just look for stories from the dominant’s point of view; some of the stories in The Big Book of Domination are written from the submissive’s point of view. But make no mistake, all these stories are about domination in all sorts of permutations. You’ll find male/female couples, sometimes with the man on top, sometimes the woman. You’ll find lesbian stories and gay stories. There are loving dominants in long-term relationships and submissives giving themselves to a dom for the first time; there are budding relationships and relationships coming to an end. None of these stories are simple, but all are easy to fall into so I hope you’ll do just that. I’d like to leave you with a quote from Laura Antoniou’s foreword to the book.

“Here be dominants. Because not only do they inspire submission – and yes, some by beauty and style – but they also inspire jealousy. Or, they feel it! Deliciously, they feel it and let it wash over them because they have the power to do something about that pesky little feeling. And having the power is only step one. Figuring out how to use it and to what end is the real trick.

And also here you will find familiar tropes like birthdays and role playing, a kidnapping and some public teasing. But while you think you might recognize a standard after-hours office scene, you might be surprised at who winds up where and how flirting can be very fun or very dangerous or both. Parties and music cross paths, but in unexpected ways. Not every party has guests who will appreciate whipping out the chef's naughty bits for some fun, and not all music is played in the background when you can command the musician.

And while some tops in this collection revel in their RKO evil menace persona, (complete with costuming), there are also cozy moments of affection and love, crossing over an assortment of orientation and taste variations. A suitable mélange to tempt the palate for more complex flavors of seduction and coercion and the fine line between the two.

Some of these stories start in texts and via phones and computers. The reality of those stories mingles with the surrealism of an almost noir flavor, hard-edged and defiant and sexy in a way that makes you hesitate before turning the page.

But you'll want to see what happens next. And enjoy the journey as these writers skirt the lazy tops and unimaginative overlords of lesser tales to show you just how deliciously complicated we can be. In our stories and our fantasies. And I'll bet a few of these tales will inspire some real life adventures as well.”

You can find the book everywhere, including the following places like Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Review:

★★★

The Big Book of Domination is a book that has something for everyone, from Dominants to submissives and everyone in between. If you are a lover of BDSM or sex, then this is an anthology that you will definitely want for your collection.

The short erotic stories contained in this master collection (no pun intended) are widely diverse, including all pairings of straight/LGBT couples, femdom, and stories from both the Dom and sub point of view. Different though they may be, they all focus on a central theme in one form or another: Domination. Because each story is distinct in its voice and story, you can read as many or as few stories from this book in one sitting as you'd like.

I'm not going to break down all twenty-something stories down in full detail, but I will highlight my top three favorite stories included in this book, in no particular order. The first story that stood out to me was "Faking It" by Tilly Hunter, which involves a pair of female play partners and a search for a male submissive to join in on the fun. It's well written and manages to pack a lot of actual story (don't worry- there's sex too) into not that many pages. It could easily have been an excerpt from a longer erotic work, and I really enjoyed the detailed writing. The second story on my list is "Prison Bitch" by David Wraith. This story narrates a male submissive who asks for a very special kind of birthday present and gets even more than he bargained for. This story is LGBT inclusive as well and I'll just be blunt about it: the scene was hot. That's all the reason I need to remember this story in the future. The final story on my top spots is "A Hole" by Lillian Douglas, which involves sensory deprivation, a fantasy fulfilled, and more hands than one can keep track of. This story is a personal fantasy of mine, so it hit the spot all the sweeter for me. It'll definitely be revisited in the future.

The stories that I didn't enjoy so much weren't badly written, they just personally weren't my kink or something that I enjoy. Everyone has the things that make them tick the loudest, and no doubt other readers of this will appreciate different stories for different reasons.

This is a solid collection that I'm proud to display on my kink shelf. This is obviously recommended for adults over legal age, and if BDSM isn't your thing this is NOT the book for you. But fans of it, as well as erotica in general, will find something to appreciate in this book.

Thanks so much to Cleis Press for my Copy in exchange for my honest review!

Giveaway:

-This giveaway will run from February 20th to February 27th, 2015
-This giveaway is US & CAN ONLY
-This giveaway is open to those 18+

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Blog Tour: Mini Review & Guest Post: Bound by Blood by Margo Bond Collins

Guest Post- Casting:

I think every author spends some amount of time dreaming of a movie made from his or her books—I suspect that an inordinate amount of time goes in to casting these imaginary films—at least, it does around here!




For this post, I'm casting only the adults in the novella. There are also two children, a five-year-old boy and a twelve-year-old girl, but when I started trying to cast them, I realized that the child actors I had imagined in the roles had all grown up! I finally decided that I would leave child-actor casting to the professionals, instead.

So here are my choices for those actors I did cast. Take a look at them, and then tell me, who would you cast in these roles?

 






Dr. Lili Banta, a doctor from a Filipino-American family

played by Vanessa Hudgens

Until I started writing this novella, I was unaware of just how many Filipina actresses I already knew and loved. Although Hudgens looks a little young for the role of Lili, I think she could definitely pull it off!







 








Dr. Will Manning, a doctor in Houston, Texas, and Lili's ex



played by Patrick Dempsey

. . . because who better to play a handsome doctor?






 









Harry Iverson, a detective from Dallas, Texas


played by Jensen Ackles

. . . because he's Texan, and he's one of my favorite actors. I would cast him in everything, if it were up to me.





 









Nurse Susan Yee


played by Zhang Ziyi

. . . because she is my favorite Chinese actress!







 








Lili's grandmother, nicknamed Inang


played by Beverly Salviejo

. . . because she looks exactly like I imagined Lili's Inang.












I would love some help casting the children! Who would you cast to play Kenny (a five-year-old boy) and Felicity (a twelve-year-old girl)?




____________________________

 

 

 

 

Sometimes the monsters in the dark are real...



As a child, Lili Banta ignored her grandmother's cryptic warnings to avoid
children outside their Filipino community in Houston. When many of those other
children fell ill, Lili ignored the whispers in her community that a vampiric
aswang walked among them.



Years later, Lili returns to Houston to work for the Quarantine Station of the
Center for Disease Control—but she is plagued by dark, bloody dreams that
consume her nights and haunt her days. When a strange illness attacks the
city's children, Lili is called in to find its source, and maybe even a cure.



But in order to save the city, she must first acknowledge the sinister truth: A
monster stalks the night—closer than she ever expected....

_____________________________________________

Excerpt:

 

Sitting
straight up in bed, I gasped and threw myself back against the headboard, the
thud dying away along with the remaining shreds of my dream.



But
the word still ricocheted through my mind.



Aswang.



Until
yesterday, I hadn't thought of the term in years—not since I'd left Houston for
med school in Maine, determined to get as far away from home as I could.



But
this resurgence of the same, odd illness that had swept my city years before
was apparently also dredging up the old stories from deep in my subconscious:
the aswang, a vampiric woman who
lived a quiet life by day and fed on children in the night, flying back home on
bat-wings just before dawn.



My
unconscious mind had clearly also expanded on the idea, casting me in the role
of aswang and adding schizoid conversations with a chorus of internal voices.



Great. I'm
insane in my dreams.



And I'm a
monster.



Shuddering,
I wiped my hand across my gritty, raw eyelids.

_____________________________________________

Buy Links

Only $.99 via Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Bound-Blood-Night-Shift-Novella-ebook/dp/B00PB3AIGC/

Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Bound-Blood-Night-Shift-Novel/dp/0990743365/




Audiobook, Narrated by Hollie Jackson: http://www.amazon.com/Bound-Blood-Night-Shift-Book/dp/B00QUB5T9U/

_____________________________________________

About the Author 

 

Margo Bond Collins is the author of urban fantasy,
contemporary romance, and paranormal mysteries. She has published a number of
novels, including Bound by Blood, Sanguinary, Taming the Country Star, Legally Undead,
Waking Up Dead, and Fairy, Texas.
She lives in Texas with her husband, their daughter, and several spoiled pets.
Although writing fiction is her first love, she also teaches college-level
English courses online. She enjoys reading romance and paranormal fiction of
any genre and spends
most of her free time daydreaming about heroes, monsters, cowboys, and
villains, and the strong women who love them—and sometimes fight them.

_____________________________________________

Connect with Margo

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/margobondcollins

Email:
MargoBondCollins@gmail.com

Website:
http://www.MargoBondCollins.net

Blog:
http://www.MargoBondCollins.com

Twitter:
https://twitter.com/MargoBondCollin  @MargoBondCollin

Google+:
https://plus.google.com/116484555448104519902

Goodreads
Author Page: http://www.goodreads.com/vampirarchy

Facebook
Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/MargoBondCollins

Pinterest:
http://www.pinterest.com/mbondcollins/

 

_____________________________________________

 

Review:

★★★★

Let me start the review by saying I've never read anything by Margo Bond Collins before Bound by Blood, nor have I read a lot of urban fantasy books at all. Still, I am a sucker for vampire stories still after all these years, and I couldn't resist giving this short story a read.

I'm impressed with how the author managed to drag me into the story and create world building in such a short space, but she did. I was never left confused or wanting more information, which is something to highlight in a novella. I also have to say that I really liked the folklore twist of the "traditional" vampire story by using influence from Filipino culture. This isn't a culture I know too much about, if I'm being honest, and it was really cool to have it featured in a story such as this one.

It is a bit violent and descriptive, but personally I found that to be a plus in the book's favor. It was well detailed and well written, and I would definitely go back to read more of Margo Bond Collins' work in the future. I'd recommend it to urban fantasy fans as well as lovers of vampires and those who are addicted to books about plagues and epidemics.

I was provided a copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Blog Tour, Guest Post, and Giveaway: Skin Of My Teeth by Judith Graves Blog

About The Book:

Title: SKIN OF MY TEETH, Volume 1
Series: Skinned Book 3, Vol 1
Author: Judith Graves
Release Date: December 23rd 2014
Publisher: Leap Books

Synopsis:

HOW TO PLAY

* draw a card from the deck
* kill or be killed
* and if you’re lucky, repeat…

Hidden agendas, deep, dark secrets, and monsters lurking around every locker. It’s business as usual at Redgrave High for Eryn and her crew of paranorm hunters – although the two guys vying for her heart just might have to up their game.

A little healthy competition soon becomes all-out survival of the fittest as the crew are pitted against a pack of demons trading souls – for keeps. The student population is enamored with a new card game, Boroughs Quest. Kids are desperate to get their hands on gilded cards from a mysterious expansion deck, but when they do…

It’s all fun and games ’til somebody dies.



Buy it here:
Amazon | B&N

Guest Post: Reno Your Fiction

For the last few months my household has been in various stages of absolute chaos as we tackled several large reno projects at once. Sometimes I can’t believe all this started from a simple desire to change our kitchen sink faucet and morphed into: sanding and painting the cupboards, replacing countertops, sink, faucet, busting out old tiles and replacing the backsplash with new ones, new flooring, mouldings, doors…

And then it hit me.

Renos are a lot like the revision process after you complete a first draft. You start tweaking one area only to find a major plot hole, which leads to an in-depth evaluation of character motivation, which leads to changes in the backstory that ultimately impact your neat and tidy ending. So you slash that to bits and build it up again – but better - and in many ways FAR more emotionally satisfying than your initial effort.

Do things get messy along the way? Do you end up eating more takeout and doing less laundry in order to get the beast under control? Sure. But soon all that back-breaking, mind-numbing hard work begins to pay off. You read your newly revised manuscript and are amazed at how things have fallen into place.

Just like me. In my renoed kitchen. As I sit back and savour a cup of coffee, taking in the wonders a bit of elbow grease can accomplish.

Don’t be content with reaching THE END. It really is just the beginning. Now get out there and reno the crap out of your fiction!

About the Author:

Residing in a northern Alberta community, similar to the fictional town of Redgrave, where Under My Skin is set - Judith unhappily endures snow in the winter, and runs away from bees in the summer.

A firm believer that Canadian teen fiction can be sexy, action packed and snarky as hell - Judith writes paranormal stories with attitude.
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Giveaway:

One Winner will get audio book editions of Under My Skin and Second Skin (first two books in the series) plus a $20.00 Amazon gift card.
Ships in US/Canada Only
Must be 13+ To Enter

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Follow the Tour:

January 9th Reese's Reviews REVIEW
January 10th The Cover Contessa EXCERPT
January 11th Donnie Darko Girl REVIEW
January 12th Mom with a Kindle 10 RANDOM THINGS
January 13th The Epitome REVIEW
January 14th Bitches & Prose GUEST POST- that's me!
January 15th CBY Book Club DREAM CAST

Blog Tour, Guest Post & Giveaway: LIFE AD 2: M.I.A.: Missing in Atman By Michelle E. Reed!

Title: M.I.A.: Missing in Atman
Series: Atman City, #2
Author: Michelle E. Reed
Publisher: Month9Books, LLC.
Release Date: December 16, 2014

About the Book
Dez is finally hitting her afterlife stride. She hasn’t missed a meeting or session in forty-two days, and she’s put the adventures and danger of her first days at Atman behind her. Life after death is becoming tolerable, yet nothing is quite what she’d hoped. Confusion over her feelings for Charlie, residual resentment over losing Hannah, and a continuous stream of unwanted assignments leave Dez restless and argumentative.

In a missed encounter with Crosby, her prying gaze lands upon a single entry in the datebook on his unoccupied desk. These few, hastily scribbled words reveal an enormous secret he’s keeping from her. Possessed by a painful sense of betrayal, she once again sneaks off to Atman City, determined to find answers to an unresolved piece of her life.

It begins as all their adventures do, but as light falls into darkness, a stop in an unfamiliar neighborhood sets forth a chaotic series of events. Dez will have to fight for her very existence, and will face painful, irreparable loss in an afterlife teeming with demons wielding ancient powers.

In M.I.A.: Missing in Atman, the second book in the Atman City series, Michelle E. Reed continues the story of Dez Donnelly, pushing her to her limits and surprising readers at every twist and turn of the vast world that is Atman.

Death was only the beginning.

Author Guest Post:

What I Love the Most About My Main Character

Thank you for hosting me during the M.I.A.: Missing in Atman blog tour!

There are so many things I love about Dez, which made me all the more grateful for the opportunity to continue her story in M.I.A.

If I have to pick her one trait I love the most, I would go with her refusal to accept anything at its face value. From the moment she stepped off the train in Life, A.D.—book one of the Atman City series—Dez has questioned everyone and everything about this new world.

Well, that’s not exactly true.

The questions actually began the moment she found herself on the train, and she hasn’t let up since.

While this is a trait that often creates more trouble for her than she knows what to do with, it also shows strength and individuality. Dez never accepts “That’s just the way it is” as an answer. She seeks more; she wants better. I love the way this frustrates and those around her, while at the same time endearing her to them.

The afterlife can be a dangerous place, but it hasn’t stopped her, yet. Everything here is new, and warnings from experienced staff as well as her peers are like water off a duck’s back. Dez isn’t content to be a mere spectator in her afterlife. She wants to be in control, and pushes the staff for explanations, even when they feel none is needed.

I think the reader can find in Dez someone who they can root for, even when her behavior drives them a little crazy. She doesn’t always make the best decisions (because what fun would that be, right?), but she always stays true to who she is. Dez questions all authority figures, from train conductors to World War I veterans, and never stops asking why things are the way they are.

Her curiosity and constant need to push the boundaries land her in a whole new world of trouble in M.I.A.: Missing in Atman, and I can’t wait to share it with readers!

Thanks again for having me on your blog!

Buy it here:
Amazon | BN | Kobo | Chapters Indigo! | TBD | IndieBound | iBooks

Be sure to check out the rest of the blog tour stops by clicking here!

About the Author:

Michelle was born in a small Midwestern town, to which she has returned to raise her own family. Her imagination and love of literature were fueled by a childhood of late nights, hidden under the covers and reading by flashlight. She is a passionate adoption advocate who lives in Wisconsin with her husband, son, and their yellow lab, Sully.
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Giveaway:

~Winner will be drawn January 16, 2015
~Five (5) winners will receive a digital copy of Life AD 2: M.I.A.: Missing in Atman by Michelle E. Reed (INT)


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Book Tour, Guest Post, Excerpt & Giveaway: Lunar Passing by Rachel Deagan!

Title: Lunar Passing
Series: Caged Moon #2
Author: Rachel Deagan
Genre: YA/Paranormal Romance

Book Description:
As if in slow motion, the world spun. The front fender of the truck slammed into us from behind, and everything lurched forward. Bags, arms, clothes, sailed by my head. The muffled sound of screams were lost somewhere in a tumultuous roar as the van hit a pothole, and we began to roll. Cold metal crushed in on me, and the splintering sound of gunshots echoed in my ears…

Several months had passed since the murders in the old farmhouse and secrets had been revealed. Too bad a cover up in this day and age, hadn’t been exactly so easy.

Guest Post:

My interest in werewolves has roots as far back in my life as to when I was a child, so it's difficult to really pinpoint and credit only one source of inspiration for "The Caged Moon Series." It truly comes from a lot of places. Some of such sources are movies like "The Howling," and "American Werewolf in London;" books such as "Cycle of the Werewolf" by Stephen King and "Shiver" by Maggie Steifvater. Along with my fascination with werewolves, lycanthropes and shifters, I've also discovered that lunar cycles and mythology have played a part in my inspiration as well.

In Lunar Passing, for example, I found myself delving further into the mythology behind it; stepping away from the norm of what we know of most werewolves today. Charlotte, herself, is a very different kind of werewolf -- with a very different ability. I wanted to expand on the idea that wolves could turn human, rather than the wolf just becoming the human's curse; the brothers were the outcome of that.

This novel is actually set in the Lunar Passing. As discussed within it, it is a very real thing and seemed fitting since it is the one time of year that the moon is closest to the Earth. That fact alone could cause some of the changes, both mentally and physically, within the characters that helped shape and define the story as it progressed. I think readers will be delightfully surprised at the many twists and turns, not only plot wise, but in how the story of The Caged Moon Werewolves progress.

Excerpt:

“What are you doing here?” Aaron asked, standing in the doorway at the side of the room marked Staff Only. I hadn’t heard the main door open behind me, nor had I felt the cold draft of air that would have been pulled in with him. So he was already here, before me. The thought sent goose bumps down my spine. “Liam said for everyone to stay put, so we wouldn’t be seen.”

“I should be asking you the same thing,” I said, trying to front an air of self-confident bravery. “Why are you here then?”

A devious smile rose across his lips. “I don’t take orders from my brother. Apparently, you don’t either. I admire that.”

My stomach felt sick. How could he think that I would ever be on his side about anything, especially in defiance of Liam? “He loves you,” I blurted out, trying to refrain from shaking. I was so upset. “How dare you.”

“Oh, please. Don’t go getting your panties all in a bunch. You really need to learn how to relax.” He shook his head, and closed the staff door behind him. “I was teasing, Charlotte, but that aside, what are you doing out here?”

My wolf wanted to claw and scratch him. He had some nerve. “I don’t need to be telling you anything,” I said, slipping the envelope into my pocket while he closed the staff door behind him.

“Well, good then.” He smiled in a way that made me want to growl. “Then I don’t have to tell you, what I’m doing either.” He winked, moving past me to the main door leading to the curb outside. “We have a truce.”

“Wait,” I said, and he paused, lifting a brow. “What are you talking about? Why were you in the office? That’s staff only.”

“Now, come on, Charlotte. I thought we had a deal.”

“I never agreed to anything, and you don’t exactly have a great track record. Did you do something to the guy who works here? Where is he?”

Aaron shrugged, extending his arms with mocked innocence.

I sighed. “Fine, I was going to mail a letter to my parents to tell them I was okay. I didn’t want them to worry.”

“Thank you,” he said with a smile. “That’s all I wanted to know.” He turned back to the door, swinging it wide. The cool air nipped at my skin, making me shiver.

“Hey,” I said, stomping up to him, “that’s not fair. I told you what I was doing. Now you have to.”

“Why?” he asked with a chuckle. “You really are fun to mess with though,” he teased with a grin. “The look on your face is great.”

God, I hated him. I tried to stay calm.

“Did you do something to the man who works here?” I demanded through my teeth, barely containing the coiling fury building inside me.

He licked his lip and then leaned in close to me, his breath tickling my ear. “I ate him.”

Buy it here:
Amazon

About the Author:

Rachel grew up in small town Massachusetts where she spent most of her time writing about strange paranormal creatures instead of paying attention in class. She has always been considered the ‘dreamy’ one with her head in the clouds, but it has all been worth it. Rachel, now, is YA Author of both The Caged Moon Series, and The Prophecy.
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Giveaway:

2 paperback copies -US only, and 5 e-copies of Lunar Passing by Rachel Deagan.

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Blog Blitz, Excerpt, & Giveaway: Compulsion by Martina Boone!

Title: COMPULSION
Series: HEIRS OF WATSON ISLAND, BOOK 1
Author: Martina Boone
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, Simon Pulse
Details: Hardcover, 10/28/14 ISBN: 1481411225

Book Description via Goodreads:

Three plantations. Two gifts. One ancient curse.

All her life, Barrie Watson has been a virtual prisoner in the house where she lives with her shut-in mother. When her mother dies, Barrie promises to put some mileage on her stiletto heels. But she finds a new kind of prison at her aunt’s South Carolina plantation instead–a prison guarded by an ancient spirit who long ago cursed one of the three founding families of Watson Island and gave the others magical gifts that became compulsions.

Stuck with the ghosts of a generations-old feud and hunted by forces she cannot see, Barrie must find a way to break free of the family legacy. With the help of sun-kissed Eight Beaufort, who somehow seems to know what Barrie wants before she knows herself, the last Watson heir starts to unravel her family’s twisted secrets. What she finds is dangerous: a love she never expected, a river that turns to fire at midnight, a gorgeous cousin who isn’t what she seems, and very real enemies who want both Eight and Barrie dead.

Dream Cast by Martina Boone:

T h e C O M P U L S I O N D r e a m C a s t
Before I get to the human characters, I have to say that setting is very definitely a
character in the HEIRS OF WATSON ISLAND trilogy. Watson Island is loosely based
on Edisto Island, and I borrowed from actual Charleston area plantation history to create
the three plantations that shaped who the three families became. There was tons of
material to work with-I mean, pirate treasure, ancient spirit witches, blood feuds, lonely,
demented characters, curses, forbidden romance . . . How could I resist?

My dream cast of plantations would include Boone Hall Plantation, with bits of Magnolia
Plantation and Drayton Hall thrown in. For the ruins of Colesworth Place, I’d love to use
part of the columns that are all that’s left of the Windsor Plantation in Port Gibson,
Mississippi. There is a Windsor Plantation on Edisto Island, too, but it doesn’t have the
same level of drama and echoing sadness.

Okay, and now on to the fun part. Human characters.

Barrie.
Barrie first. I’d love to Jennifer Lawrence play Barrie, of course, but basically, I’d like
Jennifer Lawrence to play the main character in every movie, so that may not tell you
much. I might go with Nicola Peltz.

Eight (Charles Robert Beaufort, VIII)
Liam Helmsworth, I think, although Alex Pettyfer is probably the default here for most
readers, and of course I wouldn’t turn him down.

Barrie’s cousin Cassie.
Rooney Mara. This one’s a no-brainer for me. She could do Scarlett/Vivien Leigh, and I
think she’d pull off the various sides of Cassie with the complexity that Cassie needs.

Barrie’s godfather Mark.
Idris Elba. I can picture him ROCKING a pink Chanel suit and heels and shaking his
booty and singing along with Whoopie Goldberg in Sister Act doing “Hail Holy Queen.” I
wonder if he’d be willing to shave?

Barrie’s Aunt Pru.
Hard to believe that Reese Witherspoon is about the right age, but she is. And she
would do a fabulous job.

Eight’s father Seven (Charles Robert Beaufort, VII).
If they cast Patrick Dempsey as Seven, then McDreamy might finally get the girl he
missed in Sweet Home Alabama. Maybe. Eventually. By the end of the series—if I
decide that Seven is truly good enough for Pru.

Buy it here:
Amazon | IndieBound | B&N | Walmart | Target | TBD (free worldwide shipping)

Compulsion is available anywhere books are sold. Signed copies are available from One More Page Books. You can also order with the special “I have a Compulsion for reading” bookplate from Eight Cousins.

About the Author:
Martina Boone was born in Prague and spoke several languages before learning English. She fell in love with words and never stopped delighting in them.

She’s the founder of AdventuresInYAPublishing.com, a Writer’s Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers site, and YASeriesInsiders.com, a Tumblr site devoted to news, giveaways, and insider secrets of much-loved and up-and-coming YA series.

From her home in Virginia, where she lives with her husband, children, and Auggie the wonder dog, she enjoys writing contemporary fantasy set in the kinds of magical places she’d love to visit. When she isn’t writing, she’s addicted to travel, horses, skiing, chocolate flavored tea, and anything with Nutella on it.
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Giveaway:

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Blog Tour Organized by:
YA Bound Book Tours