Book Blitz: The Scarecrow & George C by Mia Kerick

The Scarecrow & George C
Mia Kerick
Publication date: June 3rd 2019
Genres: Contemporary, LGBTQ+, New Adult, Romance

High school senior Van Liss is barely human. He thinks of himself as a scarecrow—ragged and unnerving, stuck, and destined to spend his life cold and alone. If he ever had feelings, they were stomped out long ago by his selfish mother and her lecherous boyfriend. All he’s been left with is bitter contempt, to which he clings.

With a rough exterior long used to keep the world at bay, Van spooks George Curaco, the handsome new frycook at the diner where he works. But George C senses there is more to the untouchable Van and refuses to stop staring, fascinated by his eccentricity. When Van learns that George C is even more cold, alone, and frightened than himself, Van welcomes him to his empty home. And ends up finding his heart.

Their road to trust is rocky and, at times, even dangerous. And looming evil threatens to keep them apart forever.

Fair warning: You may want to strap in. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.

—

*All proceeds of this book go to charity: True Colors United.
“True Colors United implements innovative solutions to youth homelessness that focus on the unique experiences of LGBTQ young people.”

Goodreads / Amazon / iBooks

—

EXCERPT:

At least I don’t have to worry about my bosses wanting to get busy with me. They’re too passionately busy with each other. How fucking sweet. “Sounds like a blast. Have fun.”

This is about the extent of small talk I’m capable of. I hurry to my locker, where I pull out my messenger bag, lift the flap, and after untying my apron, I pour in the cash that’s weighing me down. Not that I’m complaining. Then, I pull on my flannel coat and oversized top hat, change into my boots, sling my messenger bag over my shoulder, and head back through the restaurant to the front door.

I hate that I have to come and go through the restaurant. That I have to be the real me—not food server me—in a place where I have a well-defined role. Not a role I’m exactly comfortable with, but one I can deal with. And I can “fake nice” when I’m working, but beyond that, it’s too much of an effort. And when I finally step onto the street and pull in a long-awaited breath of cool air that doesn’t stink of greasy food, he’s beside me.

“Hey, Donovan.”

“Van,” I say and sigh.

“I’m George…George Curaco.”

“Whatever.” I pull the flannel shirt around me tightly and turn away from him. But I have a job to do before I storm off. “You need to leave me the fuck alone, George C…or find a new job.”

I wonder if he steps back or gasps or covers his mouth with his probably greasy hand in response to my rudeness, but there’s no sound of movement.

“You can’t stop me from looking at you. Or asking you if I can carry your bag…to wherever it is you’re going tonight.”

I grit my teeth—it’s a trick I learned when I was a kid. To prevent me from screaming.

“Can I carry your bag?”

My jaw still clamped, I shake my head.

“May I carry your bag?”

“Leave me the fuck alone.” Since I’ve voiced everything necessary on the subject of him and me, I brave a final glance. I need evidence that the puppy is down on the sidewalk, writhing in pain, having been kicked by the lying little bitch. But he doesn’t appear even slightly pathetic. The kid is studying me—his eyes seem serious, even sad, as usual, but he’s wearing a smirk. It hits me that George C isn’t sad at all. “It’s just your eyes…they look sad, but they’re not.”

“Just like your words. They make you seem mean…but you’re not.”

Oh, yes, I am!

George C pulls my bag from my shoulder by the long strap. “So where are we going?”

I snatch it back with a hiss. It’s louder than I intended. “I have no clue where you are going, but I am going home. Alone.” George C has succeeded in getting under my weathered, burlap scarecrow skin. This surprises me, as it hasn’t happened in years. I don’t curse at him again or spit on his shoes, which I’ve been known to do. I just storm down Depot Street in the direction of our duplex. To the second-floor suite I claim as mine. The Batcave. My safe space.

“I enjoyed our chat, Van. Really, I did.” His voice is soft and raspy, yet it carries all the way to me, and I’m at least ten steps away already.

It must be the direction of the wind.

Author Bio:

Mia Kerick is the mother of four exceptional children—one in law school, another a professional dancer, a third studying at Mia’s alma mater, Boston College, and her lone son, heading off to college. (Yes, the nest is finally empty.) She has published more than twenty books of LGBTQ romance when not editing National Honor Society essays, offering opinions on college and law school applications, helping to create dance bios, and reviewing scholarship essays. Her husband of twenty-five years has been told by many that he has the patience of Job, but don’t ask Mia about this, as it’s a sensitive subject.

Mia focuses her stories on the emotional growth of troubled people in complex relationships. She has a great affinity for the tortured hero in literature, and as a teen, Mia filled spiral-bound notebooks with tales of tortured heroes and stuffed them under her mattress for safekeeping. She is thankful to her wonderful publishers for providing her with an alternate place to stash her stories.

Her books have been featured in Kirkus Reviews magazine, and have won Rainbow Awards for Best Transgender Contemporary Romance and Best YA Lesbian Fiction, a Reader Views’ Book by Book Publicity Literary Award, the Jack Eadon Award for Best Book in Contemporary Drama, an Indie Fab Award, and a Royal Dragonfly Award for Cultural Diversity, a Story Monsters Purple Dragonfly Award for Young Adult e-book Fiction, among other awards.

Mia Kerick is a social liberal and cheers for each and every victory made in the name of human rights. Her only major regret: never having taken typing or computer class in school, destining her to a life consumed with two-fingered pecking and constant prayer to the Gods of Technology. Contact Mia at miakerick@gmail.com or visit at http://www.miakerickya.com to see what is going on in Mia’s world.

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Book Blitz: Returned and Reborn by Therese Park

A Tale of a Korean Orphan Boy

Historical Fiction

Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers

Published: March 2019

More than 200,000 South Korean infants and toddlers left their motherlands in the arms of strangers from the postwar era. “Returned and Reborn: a Tale of A Korean Orphan Boy” is the first novel about such an orphan–a boy fathered by a missionary priest who established the first Catholic Adult Institute in South Korea. This fiction is based on a true story, mixed with Korea’s modern history–Vietnam War in which 300,000 South Korean troops fought (5001 were killed); the unintentional harm the American military caused to the Korean people by disposing millions of gallons of toxic chemicals called “Agent Orange” in the Korean water ways and soil; and the Korean society’s contempt against children of mixed blood, children born of unwed mothers, and those born with birth defects. It’s the story of a young man’s journey of self discovery from an aimless American with no knowledge of himself or his roots who returns to his birth country, reunite with his Korean birth mother dying from cancer caused by consuming toxic water over time, but unexpected accident separate them permanently. Yet, through her and his deceased father’s former co-workers, he learns of his father’s greatness as well as his weakness, as an ambitious American Jesuit who fulfilled his big dreams but caused his birth and troublesome journey as an orphan forced to leave his mother who couldn’t raise him. Still, in a mysterious way, he finds his own path–the path to a mission trip to North Korea.

About the Author

Therese Park came to the United States to be a cellist with the Kansas City Philharmonic (now the Kansas City Symphony) in 1966. After 30 years, she retired and began writing. Her first novel A Gift of the Emperor (published in 1997) is about a Korean schoolgirl forced into military prostitution by the Japanese government during World War II. With this book, Park was one of the featured authors at three national bookfairs in 1998: The Los Angeles Bookfair, The Miami Bookfair, The Heartland Bookfair. A Gift of the Emperor was selected in the reference volumes Reading Groups Choices for 1998 and she was mentioned in Contemporary Authors 2001.  Her second novel: “When a Rooster Crows at Night” is based on her own experience of the Korean War she lived through as a child.  Her third “The Northern Wind: a Forced Journey to North Korea” deals with intense inner war between the two Koreas divided by two extreme ideologies–Communism and Capitalism after WWII. Her recently published “Returned and Reborn: a Tale of a Korean Orphan Boy” published by Austin Macauley Publishers, LLC. in New York, NY.

Park has written more than 400 essays and articles that have been published in The Kansas City Star, The Sun Publication, The Graybeard, the National Korean War Veterans Magazine, The Best Times, and Our Family (Canada), The Beat Magazine and Korea Bridge (South Korea) and more.

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Book Blitz: Dog Still Knows Best by Angie Salisbury

Two Angels Guide Their Human Through Grief, Learning & Love

Non-Fiction, Pets, Dogs, Grief, Spiritual Growth

Publisher: Annibury Publishing

Published: April 2019

“Truly heartwarming and inspirational! Dogs Still Know Best is a story of love, loss, the long road to healing, and the anti-fragility of the human spirit” ~ Jedediah McClure, Best Selling Author, Myths of Christianity: A Five Thousand Year Journey To Find The Son Of God

A must-read for dog lovers and anyone who has loved – and lost – a beloved dog! In this touching sequel to Dogs Know Best: Two Dogs’ Training Guide For Humans, follow one woman’s very personal account of how two German Shorthaired Pointers sparked her spiritual journey, one that allowed her to open her heart, open her mind and in the process, receive amazing gifts, the biggest one of all being her new love, a sweet little Pointer puppy named Minnie. Along the way, there has been a lot of grief, a lot of learning and an infinite amount of love.

The result is a dramatic shift in perspective about life, grief and embracing a new way of thinking. And with all three of her beloved Pointers by her side, every step of the journey is filled with love and support. In fact, there’s a whole cheering section along for the ride!

On the other side, love is everything.

A Readers’ Favorite 5-Star review recipient.

Dogs Know Best

Two Dogs’ Training Guide for Humans

Publisher: Annibury Publishing

Published: April 2015

“Fun and inspiring read for anyone who shares their life with a favorite pet.”

“I so often found myself smiling, laughing, or tearing up as I wrote this book because of the incredible lessons I have learned from my two goofballs. Having a companion – much less two – like the ones that inspired me and taught me the lessons included here has absolutely made my life richer. To everyone who reads this book, I wish the same.” ~Angie Salisbury

Sometimes we forget the simple things we can do in our everyday lives that will make us happier. That’s where two wise German Shorthaired Pointers come in. Follow along as Bimmer and Bertram take you on a journey towards greater happiness. “We’ve seen a lot, listened a lot, taught a lot, and learned a lot. We thought it was about time to share our philosophy and lessons on life with all of you humans so that you could have the same incredible life we do. Think of it as our legacy.” These are simple things that people can start doing immediately to live a happier life – a dog’s life!

“The love just jumps off the pages!”

Along the way, you’ll learn lessons about:

– Accepting Yourself & Others

– Persistence Leads to Happiness

– Building Relationships

– Simple Happiness

– Practical Living

You’ll even learn how you can share the life lessons you’ve learned from your favorite teacher (your pet)!

Amazon

About the Author

Angie Salisbury is an author, business writer, editor, speaker, and obsessive dog mom from northeast Ohio. There she shares her life with her German Shorthaired Pointer, Minnie, and husband, Tom. She is an avid reader (no shock there) and loves being outdoors. Angie and Minnie spend countless hours playing ball and doing various scent work activities. Angie is a certified Reiki practitioner, life coach and member of the Dog Writers Association of America.

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Cover & Excerpt Reveal: The Wrong Prince Charming by Holly Renee

Release Date: July 15, 2019

Cover Design: Artist Regina Wamba

Photography: Perrywinkle Photography

Synopsis

Every little girl dreams of being swept off her feet by a charming Prince.

But my life was no fairy tale.

And in this kingdom called college, the rules went out the window.

I’d known golden boy, Theo Hunt, was the one for me since we were kids. My heart was his for the taking, but I had become nothing more than the MVP of the campus king’s friend-zone.

Easton Cole was a storm I couldn’t have predicted. He knocked me off my feet and stole my heart. But he was off limits. Not only was he was Theo’s frat brother, but he was the teacher’s assistant in English 101 and I was acing every test.

My heart was torn, my feelings tangled.

Because as soon as I noticed Easton, Theo finally noticed me.

I was in love with two guys, as different as night and day, but I could only have one.

I only hoped I didn’t choose The Wrong Prince Charming.

Goodreads

Excerpt

The door to the bathroom stuck in a way that only seemed to happen in old houses so I put two hands on the handle and pushed it open with all my strength. It opened on with a loud groan and I ran directly into a wall or I guess a better description would be a wall of muscle.

I pushed against the guy’s chest to keep my skin from touching his just as I noticed he was wearing nothing but a towel. A white, fully towel that barely covered a thing. His hand gripped my elbow trying to steady me, and I tried to calm my racing pulse from the embarrassment of his lack of clothing and mine.

“Oh, sorry.” He fumbled for words and seemed as genuinely shocked as I was.

“It’s okay.” I tugged on the edge of Theo’s t-shirt and tried not to look up at him. His stomach was on full display in front of me, and I let my eyes go there for only a moment before I jerked my gaze away and looked up at his face.

His dark hair was a wild mess and looked like he had been running his fingers through it for most of the night. Or someone else had.  Either way, it had the same effect. His jaw was square and somehow made his beautiful face seem harsh, but his eyes were warm and a deep shade of blue that reminded me of something I couldn’t quite put my finger on. I studied his face for an ounce of recognition, but I didn’t see him at the party last night. I would have remembered him if I had.

His hand that was still pressed against my skin felt like it was burning me in the best possible way, and I knew I should have pulled away from him. But I didn’t.

“I’m Easton.” I watched his full lips as the sleep-filled, husky words slipped past.

“Maddison.” My voice on the other hand sounded squeaky and anxious and far too affected by a guy I didn’t know.

His gaze slowly slid down my body, and the threads of Theo’s shirt felt like they were unraveling under his stare.

I desperately wanted to flee back to Theo’s room. My heart was racing, and I knew my cheeks were flushed with embarrassment. But for some reason, I didn’t.

“You live here?” I asked like a complete and total idiot.

“Mmmmm…” He nodded but didn’t take his eyes off of me. “You don’t.”

“No.” I shook my head. “I’m here with Theo.” The words came out, but I hated the way they sounded. I didn’t know why, but I didn’t want him to think I was here sleeping with Theo.

I didn’t want him to think that I was that girl. 

“Ahh.” He ran he’s fingers through his hair and made a face as if he knew exactly what I was doing with Theo, and I hated it.

“He’s my friend.” I rushed out.

“Theo’s got lots of those.” He chuckled, and the sound pissed me off.

“No.” I crossed my arms and his gaze slid to my thighs that were a bit more exposed. “I’m his best friend. From home.”

“Alright, sweetheart.” His tone was so condescending, so sure that he already knew everything that he needed to know about me.

“Alright, asshole.” I started to push past him, but he smiled at me. A smile that could take your breath away if it wasn’t attached to such a jerk.

His hand touched my elbow again, and I didn’t know why I did it, but I stopped.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I was being an asshole.”

I nodded in agreement. “You were.”

“It’s a little early for our first fight. Don’t you think?” He grinned and I had a feeling that grin got him out of everything. Or into anything he wanted.

“Early in the day or in our relationship?” I cocked an eyebrow at him.

“Both.” His hand moved to the edge of his towel to hold it in place, and I couldn’t help following it’s descent. “How will we explain to our children that we became enemies before we figured out that we were actually in love?”

I actually laughed out loud at his attempt at a joke, and I took my time looking over every ridge of his toned stomach and chest before meeting his eyes again. “It would be heartbreaking. Especially, if they found out you were really never my type.”

His smile was devastating as it lit up his face—devastatingly handsome, devastaingly treacherous.

“We can change that.”

“You seem awfully sure of yourself for a man in nothing but a towel.” I looked toward said towel again with a pointed stare.

“You don’t like my towel? Do you want me to take it off?” His hand tugged on the edge as if he was going to drop it, and I squealed as I covered my eyes.

“No!”

His deep laugh surrounded me, and I peaked through my fingers to see him watching me with a smile.

“Are you decent?”

“I guess it depends on who you’re asking, but I’d say I’m more than decent.”

I pulled my fingers away from my face and pointed at him as I started backing away toward Theo’s door. “You’re too much.”

“I’ve heard that a time or two as well.” He winked at me, and it took everything inside of me to put my hand on Theo’s door handle. I didn’t want to leave him, but I knew how crazy that sounded. I just met the guy and his towel.

And Theo was just behind the door.

“Goodbye, Easton.” I still couldn’t stop smiling. I had never found it so easy to smile around someone. So easily pulled in.

“Bye, baby. Wait. Too soon? Maybe I’ll wait until our next meeting for the pet names.” He was leaning against the door frame, and I had never met anyone so shameless.

“Until next time,” I whispered as I slowly turned the handle.

“I can’t wait.” He kept his eyes on me as I disappeared through Theo’s doorway.

The door creaked as I pushed it open, but Theo didn’t move an inch as I closed it behind me and pressed my weight against it. I took a deep breath and tried to calm my racing heart as I stared at him sleeping.

I had been nervous around plenty of guys before. Too many had made my heart race over the years. Heck, Theo made my heart race daily, but this felt different somehow.

I pulled the blanket back and crawled into bed behind Theo one slow movement at a time. The warmth of him surrounded me as my body slid next to his, and as soon as he felt me, he turned in my direction and wrapped his arm around my middle.

I tried to let the comfort of him pull me to sleep as he pulled me tighter against his body, but everytime I closed my eyes all I could see were eyes of blue taunting me.

Wrapping my hand in Theo’s, I let him engulf me- his smell, his warmth, everything that was uniquely him, and I tried to forget the guy from the bathroom who I’d probably never see again.

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About the Author

Holly Renee is a best-selling author of sexy, contemporary romance, a Harry Potter fanatic, a body positive babe, and a boy mom. 

When she’s not writing, you can find her reading all the books, taking long strolls down the aisles of Ulta, or hanging out with her two favorite boys.

Connect with Holly

Newsletter Sign Up: http://bit.ly/2xdLYDu

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BookBub Author Page: http://bit.ly/2xl48CL

Book Blitz: Fractured Sleep Anthology

Fractured Sleep
(Fairy Tale Ink, #4)
Publication date: June 28th 2019
Genres: Adult, Fairy Tales, Fantasy

Fairy Tale Ink is proud to present these four retold stories of the classic, Sleeping Beauty. A story for every reader from best-selling and award-winning authors!

Aurora’s Fight, by Angela Brimhall Five years ago, Aurora was forced to live at Thornhurst Manor, the city insane asylum. Every night she dreads sunset when sleep becomes a wicked game of survival. When Aurora is kidnapped and imprisoned in The Briar, a vision reveals the desperate man in the next cell is her only hope in stopping the plague of her nightmares. Will she find a way to rescue this mysterious man before The Dragon’s death countdown reaches zero?

The Lonely Princess, by Jo Schneider: Everything changed in the 500 years Aurora slept. Now teenagers go to the Academy, where humans and fey live side-by-side and everyone pretends to get along. In her attempts to find her place in this new world, she meets Saru—a mysterious boy who delights in irritating her. Their attraction is instant, but his forgotten past might be their undoing.

Dragon’s Curse, by Adrienne Monson: When her nana is in a near-fatal car accident, Dawn is forced to reconcile her beliefs about magic. Her long-buried powers could save Nana’s life, but at a high price. Accepting magic means that the man Dawn dreamt about her whole life is real and that she’s the only one who can save him from a cursed sleep. To do that, she’ll have to face the terrifying dragon who put him there.

Restless, by Quinn Coleridge: Rory Kingston doesn’t want much. Just a good night’s sleep and a normal life free of magic. Yet Rory’s own royal pedigree keeps getting in the way of achieving these goals, not to mention her preoccupation with a new neighbor. Where the darkly handsome history professor goes, danger and mayhem follow. Has Phillip come to drag Rory back to the magical kingdom she left behind years ago or are his motives even more nefarious?

Goodreads / Amazon

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SNEAK PEEKS:

At the Edge of Dreams
by Angela Brimhall

(Steampunk)

Aurora pressed her back against the clock tower wall, clutching the stolen scroll to her chest. The whine of clicking machinery from the surrounding buildings tapped like a metronome in her head, beating out the rhythmic heartbeat of The Briar. She squeezed her eyes shut listening for the signal she’d been detected. But nothing came. Aurora’s chest fluttered when she peeked around the corner to Main Street.

Steam hissed from arterial pipes and veiny downspouts protruding from faceless citadels. Aurora searched through shadows for yellow-orange eyes. Mist clouded the alleyways wedged between the buildings, cloaking any Huntsman hiding from view, but she couldn’t see any patrolling the street.

Aurora didn’t hesitate. She bounded away from behind the wall and ran, not looking back. Alarms blared as she passed the city limits and met the lip of Spindlewood Forest.

They know.

Her thighs burned. Puffs of strained breath came in uncontrolled spurts, but the dissonant sound drove Aurora harder. She crashed through the threshold of trees and fought her way up the steep hill into the woodland’s heart.

Aurora pulled herself over the summit and crawled to the nearest bush, wheezing through pursed lips, clutching the stitch in her side. A twig snapped. The sound rode on a whisper of dank smoky air from the grove of trees two feet away.

Something was close.

The hair on Aurora’s neck rose, and she narrowed her eyes, peeking around the shrub. She gripped her piecemeal knife in one shaking hand, the scroll in the other, waiting for the metal minion to show himself.

Where are you?

Several cracks echoed in different directions around her. Blood rushed from Aurora’s face into her stomach. She whipped around, her head darting every which way, ears perked. Aurora crouched, knife out, ready to jab anything that came close.

I’m surrounded.

A skeletal metal face peered at Aurora from behind a large tree trunk five feet in front of her. It’s lifeless eyes twisted and whirred, yellow pupils fixating on her location. Aurora froze. The Huntsman stepped out from behind the tree and brandished a long bronze pistol.

—

Dragon’s Curse
by Adrienne Monson

(Paranormal Romance)

I was going to explode. A restless energy had been building inside me for months now. There were times when it felt like my skin was the only thing keeping me from flying apart. There was no good reason for it. Frustration continued to grow and everything I’d done to ignore it and tamp it down seemed to only feed the impotent ire simmering beneath the surface.

When my coworker, Ben, had asked me out for the third time tonight, I’d lost it. I mean, yelled and came pretty close to slapping him. While he may have been annoying, he hadn’t deserved my freak out.

My phone played Sound of Silence to let me know it was ringing. All I wanted was to take a shower and wash the smell of coffee and baked goods off, but when I saw it was Nana, I answered. “Hey.” I put the speaker on so I could grab some water while I spoke. I tossed my keys on the counter and placed my phone next to them.

“What’s wrong?” Her confident voice flitted through my tiny apartment as if she were in the room.

My shoulders tensed and my defenses kicked in. “Why does something have to be wrong?”

“It’s in your tone. I can tell. What are you so mad about?”

That was the question I’d been asking myself for weeks. I glared at the phone as I drank. The cold water felt nice on my throat, but it was not enough to calm me.

“Dawn?” Nana called, her voice louder. “Don’t you give me that look.”

Rolling my eyes, I huffed. “You can’t see my face. You have no idea what look I may or may not be giving you.”

“I know you. You’re glaring a hot laser at the phone right now.”

It was all too easy to imagine her grey eyes meeting mine in challenge, never backing down. I’d bet anything she was folding her arms across her chest and that her lips were pulled into a stubborn line. “It’s a boy, isn’t it?” she asked.

Grinding my teeth, I picked the phone up from the counter and headed to the bathroom. “I don’t date, Nana. Why would you think it’s a boy?”

“What happened?” Her tone had softened and the concern I heard broke through the barrier I’d had up all evening.

My shoulders slumped and I put the phone down again to pull my long, blonde hair out of its ponytail. Nana didn’t say anything. She always knew when to wait. “Ben asked me out again,” I finally admitted.

“Why do you say that like it’s a horrible thing?”

I was positive that her brows were drawn together and that her thin lips were pulled down into a frown that showcased little wrinkles. It’s how she always looked when we approached this topic.

An image of a man with brown hair and brown skin entered my mind. He wasn’t real – just a man from my dreams that no one knew about. I couldn’t tell Nana he was the reason.

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Cover Reveal: Star Child by Petra Landon

Star Child
Petra Landon
(The Zenkoti Fables, #1)
Publication date: August 8th 2019
Genres: Adult, Adventure, Fantasy

On a mining outpost, a young woman dreams of the stars. When fate thrusts her in the company of a motley crew of bounty hunters seeking to avenge an injustice, Novi cannot believe her luck. But nothing is as it seems and what she learns will turn her world upside down.

Led by the only man to bring the mightiest army in the Inner Worlds to its knees, the crew is engaged in a wily cat and mouse game with the powerful Guild Coalition. Under the tutelage of her enigmatic shipmates and the charismatic Captain, Novi dodges space outlaws and greedy corporations, mingles with Synths and settlers, travels the wondrous Star Portal Labyrinth and discovers a mysterious legacy bequeathed by the Gods. But each exhilarating adventure raises terrifying questions about her. When a devastating epiphany shatters her world, Novi is forced to question everything she believes.

Author’s Note : This space western style adventure is set on far away exotic worlds. Adventure, intrigue and action abound in this tale of a feisty young heroine embarking on the quest of a lifetime.

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Author Bio:

An avid reader all her life, only recently has Petra allowed her own imagination to run riot. She loves to travel and reads everything she can get her hands on. Her idea of a good read is one where the story and characters linger, long after the book has been set aside. She strives to write fantasy with vivid characters and elements of adventure, mystery and romance juxtaposed together, since those are the tales she has enjoyed the most over the years. To share the stories swirling in her imagination is a labor of love and a lifelong dream come true for Petra.

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Book Blitz: Ashes of Pride by Tracy Cooper-Posey

Ashes of Pride
Tracy Cooper-Posey
(Scandalous Scions , #10)
Publication date: June 27th 2019
Genres: Adult, Historical, Romance

Married in haste, to the wrong man…

Blanche wed Lieutenant Colonel Seymour in search of a hero to replace the French military father she never knew, only to find herself stranded in Northumberland, in a penniless marriage, with no recourse.

Blanche’s cousin, Neil Williams, now a decorated Major, returns from the colonies to rejoin the Fifth Northumberland Fusiliers. Her husband, as Neil’s superior officer, makes Neil’s life intolerable, as well as her own. Blanche learns that the truly courageous are defined by their actions and that Seymour is not one of them, for what he does to Neil defies imagination…

This book is the tenth book in the Scandalous Scions series, bringing together the members of three great families, to love and play under the gaze of the Victorian era’s moralistic, straight-laced society.

This story is part of the Scandalous Scions series:
0.5 Rose of Ebony
1.0 Soul of Sin
2.0 Valor of Love
3.0 Marriage of Lies
4.0 Mask of Nobility
5.0 Law of Attraction
6.0 Veil of Honor
7.0 Season of Denial
8.0 Rules of Engagement
9.0 Degree of Solitude
10.0 Ashes of Pride

…and more to come!

A Sexy Historical Romance

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Google Play

—

EXCERPT:

Neil shifted on his chair, sitting back, drawing attention with his movement. Blanche’s gaze swung to him. Her lips parted. Her eyes widened. Joy spread across her face.

Neil felt a jolt at the pure pleasure in her eyes. Why could she possibly be so glad to see him? Of the five, Neil knew Blanche the least. Her company had always irritated him, for she ran hot and cold in fits and starts, which made her uncomfortable and unpredictable. She was not like Alice, who could be counted upon to be sunny and happy, no matter what.

Yet Blanche was tugging at her husband’s sleeve now with firm insistence. She murmured in his ear.

“Williams, you know Mrs. Seymour?” Edmund Hunter asked.

“Blanche is my cousin.” Neil realized he was smiling, too. He didn’t bother with the convoluted explanations about adoptees and honorary cousins. He got to his feet as Seymour brought his wife over to the table, his gaze on Blanche.

He realized he was just as pleased to see her as she seemed feel about seeing him.

“I had forgotten about that extended family of yours,” Captain Long said, on the other side of the table. “Everyone in William’s family is related to just about everyone who counts,” he added to Lieutenant Roberts, the last man at the table.

“Just about? Make that everyone,” Tom Penny said. “Didn’t you hear? Innesford married the Gainford heiress earlier this year.”

Neil ignored their gossip and watched Blanche, enjoying the sight of a beautiful woman moving. She had the grace and elegance of true European women, who seemed to be born with the knowledge.

“Neil! Oh, Neil!” she breathed, stepping ahead of her husband, her gloved hands coming up. She reached up on her toes and kissed the air by Neil’s cheeks, while Seymour’s eyes bulged. “I heard you were heading back home, but I didn’t think you would arrive for weeks, yet!”

Neil caught at her elbows, steadying her. “Hello, Blanche. It is wonderful to see you. You are the first in the family I have seen since I got back.”

As he spoke, everyone scrambled to their feet to salute the senior officer.

Neil followed suit, while Blanche smiled up at him.

Seymour acknowledged the salute, letting everyone relax.

Blanche turned back to Neil. “You are the first in the family I have seen since before Christmas…oh, Neil!” Her smile trembled and her eyes glittered.

Neil’s chest tightened. Blanche looked as though she was about to cry. The Blanche he knew, the little he did know of her…that woman did not cry. She laughed. She raged. She pouted and stomped her foot. She did not cry. She was too busy sailing through life and sampling all it had to offer to bewail her fate.

Blanche made a soft sound and put her arms around Neil’s neck and hugged him.

For a moment, shock froze his thoughts. He smelled her scent—something spicy that had nothing to do with flowers. Her hair brushed his chin. Heat registered through the slippery satin. Slenderness, too. And a soft roundness he had not enjoyed in far, far too long…

“Oh, dear!” Penny murmured, sounding shocked. Major Hunter smiled indulgently and didn’t bother looking away.

Seymour’s expression grew dark and thunderous.

Neil caught at Blanche’s arms, trying to draw her away from him, good sense returning with a crash.

She stepped back swiftly and put her hand to her mouth. “Oh, please forgive me,” she said to the table. “It has been so long since I saw Neil…I mean, Major Williams.” She gave a small grimace of apology and rested her fingers on Seymour’s arm. “Husband, may I introduce to you my cousin, Major Neil Williams, of Innesford.”

“Cornwall?” Major Hunter said softly. “That Williams?”

“The very one,” Captain Long replied.

Neil saluted. “Lieutenant Colonel.”

“At ease,” Seymour said. “I’ve heard a little about you, Williams.”

Neil let his posture relax. “Sir.” Now the man was closer, he could see he was very young. Possibly younger than Neil. His pale hair was baby-soft. So was his chin.

Seymour’s eyes narrowed. “You’re out of uniform, Williams.”

Neil glanced down at his out-of-date red coat. “I haven’t had time to—”

Seymour glanced at Edmund Hunter. “Major, as Provost Marshall, it is your duty to attend to such slovenliness. Dock the man two shillings a day until he represents the Regiment properly.”

Hunter straightened to attention. “Yes, sir.”

Blanche’s eyes grew larger, as she looked from Neil to her husband.

Two shillings! Neil gritted his teeth. It was an exorbitant sum, especially as the regimental commander was aware of the uniform breech and was willing to tolerate it. Only, Neil could not argue with a senior officer and he was out of uniform.

Seymour glanced around the table of officers, possibly taking note of who dared dine with the slovenly Major. He curled his hand around Blanche’s arm and pulled her away. “Gentlemen,” he said.

Author Bio:

Tracy Cooper-Posey is a #1 Best Selling Author. She writes romantic suspense, historical, paranormal and science fiction romance. She has published over 100 novels since 1999, been nominated for five CAPAs including Favourite Author, and won the Emma Darcy Award.

She turned to indie publishing in 2011. Her indie titles have been nominated four times for Book Of The Year. Tracy won the award in 2012, and an SFR Galaxy Award in 2016 for “Most Intriguing Philosophical/Social Science Questions in Galaxybuilding”. She has been a national magazine editor and for a decade she taught romance writing at MacEwan University.

She is addicted to Irish Breakfast tea and chocolate, sometimes taken together. In her spare time she enjoys history, Sherlock Holmes, science fiction and ignoring her treadmill. An Australian Canadian, she lives in Edmonton, Canada with her husband, a former professional wrestler, where she moved in 1996 after meeting him on-line.

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Book Blitz: High School Queens by Zachary Ryan

High School Queens
Zachary Ryan
(The High School Queens Trilogy, #1)
Published by: Kingston Publishing Company
Publication date: March 21st 2019
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult

They all thought they did a masterful job of keeping their secrets close to their chest. These stupid fools thought they were the high court of this kingdom, but they had no clue who was really pulling the strings. You might wonder to yourself, who would be that heartless to make them backstab their friends, expose other’s secrets, and lose their morals? You don’t need to know who I am, but you better remember my name, The Marked Queen.

Danielle, Andrew, Delilah, Aman, and Jasmine all are now faced with a mysterious villain whose one goal is to ruin each of their lives. They must protect their secrets at all cost, or they’ll be the next victim on Marked Day. They know what’s at stake, and they’ll stop at nothing to continue being: the rich spoiled girl, the normal teenager, the girl who isn’t banging the principal, the straight vlogger, and the girl who isn’t her dad’s punching bag. What happens when The Marked Queen changes up the game just in time for prom? Will each of our favorite puppets survive? Or are they willing to backstab each other just to keep up their personas? The only thing lost at this prom wasn’t going to be their virginity.

Sex, Lies, and High School Queens explores the major theme of self-acceptance. Can they learn to accept all their flaws or pray victim to The Marked Queen? Each chapter continues to fill your sweet tooth until the climactic moment at the prom where you get to have that final bite of the bitch cake you’ve been dying to consume.

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—

EXCERPT:

Danielle, Delilah, and Jasmine on one side while Calvin, Aman, and Eddie were on the other side. “Now, before we announce who will be King and Queen, there is a video montage first.”

The video started off about Danielle with her fashion, Delilah with her writing, Jasmine with her studies, Calvin with baseball, Aman with vlogging, and Eddie with football. The video ended with all six of them in a group shot together.

Principal Grand smiled. “Well, that was something.” People started applauding. “Now it’s time to announce your Prom King and Queen.” Principal Grand opened the envelope. “Prom King and Queen of Johnson Prep 2018 are…” Principal Grand didn’t get to announce, because the projector started displaying another video.

Everyone turned to the screen and saw the new video. Everyone in the royal court except, Eddie’s, heart dropped. It started out with Delilah’s scandal being revealed in the form of a photo. The photo you might ask was a screenshot of Danielle spilling Delilah’s dirty secret to The Marked Queen. Delilah turned to look at Danielle.

“Someone turn this off!” Principal Grand screamed, because he couldn’t believe that this was happening. He was being exposed, and he didn’t know from who.

The next was of Andrew. It was another screenshot of Jasmine’s text to The Marked Queen. Jasmine turned to look at Andrew. She could tell that he was livid. What set him off the most, were the photos in the local newspaper of his mother’s destroyed grave. Andrew was filled with rage, and he didn’t know how to feel.

The next was for Flynn. It was a photo of Delilah’s work next to Flynn’s, exposing that he had taken material from her story to add to his. Delilah was pissed and hurt about Danielle’s betrayal, but she had a moment of gratification.

The next one was of Aman and Calvin. Aman and Calvin turned to each other. It was a photo of them kissing and a screenshot of Calvin telling The Marked Queen about their relationship. “How could you?” Aman felt completely betrayed by Calvin. Calvin wanted to feel remorse, but he felt free that it was finally out.

Then we had Jasmine’s dirty little secret. “I gave you Andrew!” she screamed, as she saw the photo of her father hitting her, and her puking in the bathroom. The caption was our favorite. “Maybe if she lost the weight faster, then her father wouldn’t have hurt her.”

The final one, was for the main Queen herself. It was a photo of Danielle’s real house. “Looks like this bitch was just a knock off.” It also had photos of her sewing her clothes from the window. “She believed she was Cinderella, but she would never fit into the glass slipper.” People laughed at that caption. Danielle felt mortified.

The lights in the room turned off. A spotlight had turned on toward the entrance. They saw her walk into the room, and everyone gasped at who entered. She walked into prom like the perfect villain. She knew the royal court was beneath her. Why have a plastic tiara, when your name would already be infamous? She headed straight toward her favorite subjects. Her dress was as red as the spilled blood of her victims. She knew no one expected her to be The Marked Queen, and that was what made this reveal so juicy. She grabbed a glass of sparkling cider off the table. She toasted to the puppets she had grown so fond of over the past year. “Hello, bitches,”

Author Bio:

Zachary Ryan grew up in a black-and-white box in Maryland, before moving to Chicago to start a new life. There, he found that he was accepted for his misfit status–and learned that it’s perfectly normal to spend your twenties feeling lost and confused.

After a disastrous sexual encounter, Ryan stumbled on a group of true friends, or “soul cluster,” that he connected with. Through his writing, he hopes to help other broken souls out there find comfort amid the chaos.

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Release Blitz: Work in Progress by Michelle Morgan

Release Date: June 27, 2019

Cover Design: Damon Freeman

Synopsis

Publishing-house receptionist and aspiring writer Lindsey Deal spends her days dodging bullets: one insufferable boss, one sinister-looking spider, and, most daunting, a certain romance novel-in-progress that screams to be finished.

The first two are easy enough. The third requires…motivation.

Enter: Rian Harper. Mysterious. Cool. Sexy as sin. The rule-breaking, covered-in-tattoos musician may be just the motivation Lindsey needs to finish her manuscript—and test the limits of her comfort zone. 

But he’s too old for her. Too afraid to open up. Too much her new boss.

Single dad, brooding artist, corrupter of women. What Rian Harper needs is a business partner, maybe a creative partner. Someone who can have his back. He doesn’t need her tempting him to fall in love. It could ruin them both—especially when the too-sweet, too-pure, too-young woman discovers his longest-held secret. 

Goodreads

Purchase Link

Amazon Universal: https://geni.us/f8hqUi

Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card

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About the Author

Michelle Morgan lives in Dallas, Texas with her husband and two sons. She is a 2018 RITA Finalist Editor for the romance novella, “In His Arms” by Jules Dixon, and has edited more than 100 novels since 2013.

Nothing ignites Michelle’s passion for editing like working on her own fiction. She published After Henry, her first novel, in 2014. Alongside Jeremy Morgan–fellow writer, IT genius, and Michelle’s real-life hero–she spent the next four years growing their two small businesses and starting a family. The muse took a back seat but never left. As of June 2018, Michelle has been writing again–a lot! She’s excited to release her romantic fiction, “Work in Progress” and “No Turning Back,” in the summer and fall of 2019. 

Michelle is a member of Romance Writers of America and the Editorial Freelancers Association.

Connect with Michelle

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Book Blitz: Vampire Detective Midnight by JC Andrijeski

Vampire Detective Midnight
JC Andrijeski
(Vampire Detective Midnight, #1)
Publication date: June 27th 2019
Genres: Adult, Urban Fantasy

Vampire with a past and homicide detective, Naoko “Nick” Tanaka just got transferred to the NYPD, where he works as a “Midnight,” or vampire in the employ of the human police. Like all state-registered vamps, he gets his food delivered to his door, lives in government housing, and basically can’t sneeze without the U.S. government knowing about it.

Still, he’s determined to play by the rules. More than anything, he just wants to be left alone, to finish out his immortality in peace… but he’s barely there two weeks when things already start to go sideways.

It starts with a weird case involving inexplicable paintings that predict murders before they happen.

Between his mystery painter, a bunch of dead hybrid-humans, a conspiracy involving the richest families in New York, and a school principal who has an unsettling effect on him, Nick finds he can’t get personally uninvolved with any of it.

Instead, he gets sucked in even deeper, until he’s pretty sure he’ll end up forcibly reprogrammed by his human masters — assuming they don’t just rip his heart out of his chest and be done with it.

VAMPIRE DETECTIVE MIDNIGHT is book #1 of a gritty, romantic new series set in a futuristic, dystopian New York, involving vampires, humans and psychics trying to rebuild their world after a devastating race war that nearly obliterated all of them.

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—

EXCERPT:

He needed to feed.

It was putting him in a foul mood.

That, and all this fucking blood…

Nick frowned, staring around at the alley floor.

It hit him again.

There was something wrong with this blood.

It smelled too fucking good.

It smelled way too fucking good.

That couldn’t all be Nick’s hunger.

“Anyway, that’s what I can tell you so far,” he said, making his voice deliberately casual. “Without knowing who the victims are, or what brought them to this alley, it’s pretty hard to speculate on motive, but…”

Nick hesitated then, realizing something.

Frowning, he stepped closer to the pools of blood.

Nose wrinkling, he crouched down so he could smell it from closer, even though the scent was overpowering, even from a lot further away. Taking a few full whiffs, he felt his fangs begin to extend in earnest.

That time, he couldn’t pull it back.

A flush of heat hit his gut and chest, burning in his throat. It was intense enough, he almost got hard, but he’d gotten pretty good at squelching that reaction, too.

He stood up at once.

Really, he lurched back.

It happened so fast, that smell and his reaction to it, Nick forgot to modulate his body’s natural reflexes to accommodate the people around him. He was up and moving in a heartbeat, darting back in pure instinct, without slowing his movements at all.

He moved fast enough to make the humans around him freeze.

Instantly, they turned into prey.

Ignoring them, and ignoring their deer-in-headlights reactions to how he’d just moved, Nick backed away from the pool of blood with a scowl.

He backed away from the human detectives and tech team, too.

“They’re hybrids,” he said, emotion reaching his voice.

He turned around, staring at the humans sharing the alley with him.

The stared back at him, faces blank, eyes holding flickers of fear.

Frustrated, wanting to smash through that frozen prey look, Nick let his voice turn into a harder growl.

“Jesus fucking Christ,” Nick said. “Did you hear me? They’re all fucking hybrids.”

When they still didn’t speak, he averted his gaze with a scowl. His eyes returned to the alley. Staring around at all of that blood, it sank in what it really represented.

Once it had, he couldn’t help but feel sick.

Author Bio:

JC Andrijeski is a USA TODAY and WALL STREET JOURNAL bestselling author who writes paranormal mysteries and apocalyptic fiction, often with a sexy, romantic and metaphysical bent. JC has a background in journalism, history and politics, and loves martial arts, yoga, meditation, hiking, swimming, horseback riding, painting… and of course reading and writing. She grew up in the Bay Area of California, but travels extensively and has lived abroad in Europe, Australia and Asia, and from coast to coast in the continental United States. She currently lives and writes full-time in Bangkok, Thailand.
Current series include: Vampire Detective Midnight, the Bridge & Sword series, the Quentin Black Mystery series, The Morph series, and the Alien Apocalypse series. She’s also written a number of standalone novels, novellas and short stories, as well as nonfiction articles and essays.

To learn more about JC and her writing, please visit jcandrijeski.com.

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