Wednesday, May 22, 2019

"Neliem" by Clare DiLiscia


GUEST POST and GIVEAWAY
Neliem
by Clare DiLiscia

Neliem by Clare DiLiscia

Neliem by Clare DiLiscia is currently on tour with Chapter by Chapter Blog Tours. The tour stops here today for a guest post by the author, an excerpt, and a giveaway. Please be sure to visit the other tour stops as well.


Description
Half the population of the island of Madera are dead, killed by an unforgiving and indiscriminate plague. Oriana dreams of escaping her life of ruthless cruelty from the people who now rule over those who remain. No telling whom the plague will strike next, Oriana means to find freedom for herself and her people. Drawing strength from ancient tales of her enemy, young Oriana transforms herself from victim to warrior with the help of a mysterious and powerful dagger given to her by a kind and dying boy.
Years later, during her enemy’s betrothal ritual, Ezra, a boy she has never before seen, selects her as his mate. With servitude her only option, Oriana accepts the offer. Whisked away to a seemingly perfect world, Oriana discovers sinister secrets at every turn, including the identity of Tristan, a boy with whom she shares an undeniable but impossible connection.
Why would a boy she doesn’t know wish her to be his betrothed? Why does she feel such a strong pull toward a stranger? Someone in Ezra’s family not only knows the answer to both those questions, but also about the dagger Oriana possesses. He will do anything to stop the union. Now, with everything on the line, Oriana turns inward to find the strength she needs to seize the full power of the dagger so that she may protect herself and save her people.

Excerpt

Praise for the Book
“Great debut! Fascinating world and Oriana is a great character to explore it with. I look forward to more from this author!” ~ HouseofRosen
“Great debut - excited to see more.” ~ Liza Felissig
“Best fantasy I’ve read in years!” ~ Vincenzo
“I'm so glad I got to read this book. First as a boy, I wondered if it was for me. It's a girl empowerment in a fantasy world that reads from like the early 1900's. […] I really loved this book. It opened my eyes to so many injustices in not only the world in the book, but our own world. And it showed me how very different people can come together and find something good and lasting. Reading this book made me think outside the box, and I really hope you all get a chance to read it as well.” ~Oliver Baird
“I was so involved in the story that I couldn't put it down! What an intriguing book.” ~ Eve Rubell

Guest Post by the Author
Deleted Scene from Neliem
This scene was cut from the ending of Neliem. A precursor to Neliem II. It shows the story isn’t quite over for Oriana.
As the tide rose in the waters of Cortos, a beautiful brown haired boy, washed to shore. Or rather, appeared. One moment, the beach was empty. The other, the most beautiful boy with a ruffled shirt and what appeared to be a sawed off handcuff on his wrist materialized as if by magic.
Moaning, Tristan lifted his head, wiping the sand off his face, only to spy some curious children who’d wandered to the beach to collect seashells that morning.
His dazzling smile broke, his eyes twinkling merriment. “This is not the Capital.”
Climbing to his feet, he recognized the small dagger he’d gifted his brother in what seemed a lifetime ago, stabbing the sand right where he stood. Retrieving it, he sauntered ahead, laughing as an eagle fluttered alarmingly close, before widening its wingspan and flying away into the horizon.

About the Author
Born in Queens, New York, Clare DiLiscia moved to California as a small child and grew up in the hills by Dodger Stadium. Constantly roaming the woods, she took to embellishing on the stories of Peter Rabbit and Jemima Puddle Duck to fill her imagination. To her horror she soon realized there was no way to fit a miniature tuxedo on a frog. Fortunately, in sixth grade, Clare won a short story contest with the grand prize of fifteen happy meals. She would like to point out that two of those meal tickets were missing by the time her mother handed over her prize.
After traveling extensively throughout South America and the Caribbean, Clare attended KU Leuven, in Belgium for University where she studied Dutch and French. Clare graduated from Cal State Northridge Film School, earning Dean’s List recognition with a BA in TV/Film. In 2006 she placed in the prestigious Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting, beating out 4700 other applicants. After joining SCBWI, Clare won 1st place HM in the Sue Alexander for her YA novel, now entitled Neliem.

Giveaway
Enter the tour-wide giveaway for a chance to win a Starbucks gift card.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Tuesday, May 21, 2019

"Southern Sass and Killer Cravings" by Kate Young


EXCERPT and GIVEAWAY
Southern Sass and Killer Cravings
(Marygene Brown Mysteries Book 1)
by Kate Young

Southern Sass and Killer Cravings (Marygene Brown Mysteries Book 1) by Kate Young

Southern Sass and Killer Cravings by Kate Young is currently on tour with Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours. The book will be released on 28 May but is available for pre-order now. The tour stops here today for an excerpt and a giveaway. Please be sure to visit the other tour stops as well.


Description
Life has always been sweet on Georgia’s Peach Cove Island, but a case of murder has Marygene Brown down in the pits ...
For generations, the women of the Brown family on Peach Cove Island have been known for their Southern sass and sweet homemade desserts at their beloved Peach Diner. Since their mother's passing two years ago, Marygene has been stuck in Atlanta while her sister Jena Lynn has been running the family business. Now Marygene has left her husband and returned to her hometown, where she can almost feel Mama's presence.
But all is not peachy back home. Marygene has barely tied on an apron when a diner regular drops dead at the counter. When it turns out the old man's been poisoned, Jena Lynn is led away in handcuffs and the family eatery is closed. Now, to save her sister and the diner, Marygene must find the real killer. With some startling assistance from her Mama's spirit, Marygene will be serving up a special order of just desserts ...
Includes Seven Recipes from Marygene’s Kitchen!

Book Video


Excerpt
Read the first chapter here.

Praise for the Book
“Southern Sass and Killer Cravings by Kate Young is absolutely fabulous ... I loved this book so much that I practically finished it in one sitting.” ~ Baroness’ Book Trove
“I loved this book!! ... This is the first book in the Marygene Brown mystery series and I’m already hooked!!” ~ Moonlight Rendezvous
“Southern Sass and Killer Cravings provides a fun mystery while also tackling the tough subjects of family estrangement and domestic abuse ... I thoroughly enjoyed my first trip to Peach Cove Island and look forward to returning!” ~ Cozy Up With Kathy
“The author captures the southernisms and Georgia setting realistically and had me hearing, smelling, and thinking I was right there, visiting Peach Cove.” ~ Cinnamon and Sugar and a little bit of Murder
“You have turns and twists, murder, greed and some abuse to keep the pages turning at a fast pace. A great start to a wonderful series.” ~ Babs Book Bistro

About the Author
Kate Young
Kate Young writes humorous southern mystery novels. She is a member of Sisters in Crime and the Guppy Chapter. Kate lives in a small town in Georgia with her husband, three kids, and Shih Tzu. When she is not writing her own books, she’s reading or cooking.









Giveaway
Enter the author’s pre-order giveaway for a chance to win some great prizes: a Coach Bag with matching wristlet plus a $100 Amazon/B&N gift card OR one of two $10 Amazon B&N gift cards in gift cards plus an autographed copy of Southern Sass and Killer Cravings by Kate Young (ends 27 May).


Links
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BAM
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Monday, May 20, 2019

"No Saving Throw" by Kristin McFarland


EXCERPT and GIVEAWAY
No Saving Throw
(A Ten Again Mystery Book 1)
by Kristin McFarland

No Saving Throw (A Ten Again Mystery Book 1) by Kristin McFarland

No Saving Throw by Kristin McFarland is currently on tour with Silver Dagger Book Tours. The tour stops here today for an excerpt and a giveaway. Please be sure to visit the other tour stops as well.


Description
A supremely geeky murder mystery perfect for Whovians, gamers, and Muggles alike.
Autumn has everything she could possibly want: Loving friends, a successful business, and a gaggle of gamers in her store every day.
Welcome to Ten Again, a tabletop gaming store that attracts nerds of every kind and fosters a community Autumn’s pretty proud of - a community that also keeps business afloat. And now that Autumn's in the running for a grant, Ten Again’s future is looking bright.
That is, until one of Autumn’s gamers is mysteriously murdered. With everyone in the mall as a suspect and accusations flying, Autumn is going to have to do some sleuthing of her own to save her shop and her gamers from a fate more dangerous than having no saving throw.

Excerpt
“What do you mean, a vampire killed him?”
Outside my office door, a swarm of sugar-rushed, Friday-high kids ran by, squealing like Jawas on scrap-metal discount day at the market. High voices chittered, laughter echoed off the walls, and a hormonal funk of excitement hung in the air. Aggravated, I got up and slammed the door. On the other side, a childish voice said, “Oooooh,” igniting another eruption of giggles.
On the other end of the line, Cody yammered on, something about aliens and guns and not having any wooden stakes, and the unfairness of it all. I stalked around my cluttered desk and collapsed in my chair, but something sharp jabbed through the smooth fabric of my trousers. I jumped up with an outraged squeak.
“I know!” Cody said. “He was completely out of line!”
“No, that’s not—”
“But it’s your job to keep the GM running a fair game,” he said, acting as if I hadn’t spoken. “I put a lot of time and effort into this character, and if he can just erase all that with one lousy night of weak-ass world-building, then he needs to be replaced.”
“I’m sorry you feel that way, but I have no control over the Saturday night games.” I bent, looking for the source of my rump pain—one of them, anyway; the other one was currently whining on the phone. Something shiny poked out from the crease of the seat. “You’ll need to take it up with your troupe if you have a problem.” I thrust my hand into the chair and groped around until I pulled out my new nemesis. It was a tiny pewter figurine of a woman in ridiculous armor. She held a spear as long as her body directly butt-ward. I scowled at her and her proudly exposed boobs, then tossed her into the corner with a pitiful metallic clink. “Coming to me is not going to solve anything. I am not your mommy.”
He sputtered. “But you own the store. You set up these games—”
“I sponsor them. I don’t run them. You’re a big boy. Figure it out.” I hung up, exasperated, and collapsed into my chair. I sat for only half a moment before I shifted, irritated. I still wore the suit I’d resurrected from my closet, the one I’d bought when I graduated from business school and hadn’t replaced in the ensuing decade, and the trousers were giving me terrible wedgies, exactly what I didn’t need when I was already uncomfortable.
Wearing clothes from my twenties was definitely a mistake. Letting a spoiled gamer with a chip on his shoulder get to me was a bigger one.
Outside my office door, I heard a chorus of pubescent voices rising in a symphony of excitement—my employees, Hector and Bailey, must have started forming groups for the Spellcasters draft. The new decks had arrived that afternoon while I was off pretending to be a grown-up, and the die-hard fans had started trickling in more than an hour ago to wait their turn to build random decks and join a tournament.
Meanwhile, I was trying to remember why I’d ever thought it would be a good idea to compete for grant money to green Independence Square Mall, the building that housed my store, Ten Again. “Write a detailed proposal,” they said. “We have money to improve our downtown commercial district, and we want to give it to you!”
It had all seemed so simple back before a proposal had turned into a series of contractor quotes, which in turn became a presentation before the city’s small business committee, and then—well, it was best not to think about the rest of it. I glanced down at my straining blouse just to make sure everything was still neatly buttoned away.
All contained. I heaved a sigh of relief mixed with regret. Sure, now my wardrobe wanted to behave.
A few moments later, I heard a thump against my door and a shout. Next came frantic knocking and Hector’s voice saying, “Autumn, I need you out here.”
I closed my eyes briefly, then pulled the suit jacket off the back of my chair. The cashmere was buttery soft in my hands, the navy lining soothing to my overstimulated nerves. I folded the expensive garment, pressed it to my mouth, and screamed. The jacket successfully muffled the sound, and I sighed, relieved. I shook the jacket out and draped it over the back of my chair. It was time to feed the animals.
I opened the door an inch, peeking out cautiously.
Hector Tran, one of my employees, forced the door open more, thrusting one arm through the crack like a cat shut in a bathroom. I took a wary step back. “What?”
“Help me.” He pressed his face to the door, eyes wide and glassy. “I can’t keep up with them.” I opened the door all the way. “We can do this, Hector. They’re just teenagers.”
“Not all of them.” Hector looked like he wanted to clutch at my shoulders and shake me. “There are grown men out there. One of them is wearing a tie.”
“Well, we can handle him, too.”
[Want more? Click below to read a longer excerpt.]


Praise for the Book
“A cozy shop, a tricky murder, geek humor, and gaming lore galore - what’s not to love in No Saving Throw? This book is a winner, and I can’t wait to take another turn!” ~ Leigh Perry, author of The Family Skeleton Mysteries
“Enjoyable debut ... Readers will hope to see a lot more of the plucky Autumn.” ~ Publisher's Weekly
“A nat 20! No Saving Throw is a fun, tight mystery that perfectly encapsulates the difficulties gamers face at being taken seriously. Protagonist Autumn Sinclair will stop at nothing to save not only her store, but also the geeky community it fosters.” ~ Alex Erickson, author of the Bookstore Café Mysteries
“A loving tribute to your Friendly Local Gaming Store and the communities that grow up around such places ... If you’re a gamer, you’ll recognize yourself or a friend of yours somewhere in this book.” ~ Marie Brennan, author of the Memoirs of Lady Trent
“A very good cozy! I enjoyed the unusual setting, the cast of characters and the plot. The book is well written, the character fleshed out and the mystery keep you guessing till the end. I look forward to reading other books by this author. Highly recommended!” ~ Annarella

About the Author
Kristin McFarland
Kristin McFarland has a Master of Arts in Journalism from Indiana University, which launched her on a short-lived but very exciting career as a newspaper reporter. After graduate school, she worked for five different newspapers around the country, writing about politics, crime, arts, environmental issues, crack addicts, prostitutes, and parades. She eventually wised up and decided that making up political fights and crime scenes would be a lot more fun than reporting on real ones. Today, she lives in southern Indiana, where she spends most of her time daydreaming about fictional lives and/or thinking about wool.


Giveaway
Enter the tour-wide giveaway for a chance to win a $20 Amazon gift card or a print copy of No Saving Throw by Kristin McFarland.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Links
Add to Goodreads
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Blog
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Instagram @kabang185
Twitter @kaymcfarland

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Saturday, May 18, 2019

"Talent Storm" by Brian Terenna

FREE plus EXCERPT
Talent Storm
by Brian Terenna

Talent Storm by Brian Terenna

Author Brian Terenna stops by to share an excerpt from Talent Storm, which you can get FREE from 18 to 20 May. Don't miss out!

Description
Hundreds of years after the Great World War, America is a distant memory. In the ashes, new civilizations have risen up from the Wilds. Locke’s Coalition and Liberty Kingdom, bitter enemies, have been at peace for seven years. War is never far from politicians’ minds, though, especially when one is the tyrant Archduke Goldwater. For all of human kinds’ positive traits, the character flaws of corruption, greed, anger, and revenge are etched into our DNA.
In the new world, little technology remains and advanced weapons are in short supply, but today’s soldiers fight with innate power. They fight with Talent ... the psionic powers that develop in a random few.
A young Coalition citizen, Jaden Stone, dreams of graduating, having fun, and falling in love. As if his hard-nosed uncle, schoolyard bullies, and exams weren’t hard enough to handle, he discovers that he wields Talent. He’d now be forced to serve in the military, forced to train and fight, all for an organization that killed his parents.
Will Jaden work hard for his people or will his desire for leisure win over? He’s forced to decide when a tragedy shakes his core.

Book Video


Excerpt
Ben turned away from me before picking up a few small rocks. “Let’s see if you’re any stronger from lifting all those weights. Maybe you’ll beat me for once.”
Nodding and smiling, I pointed at him. “You first.”
Ben stood, then stretched, his back popping as he rotated his torso. Hefting a rock, he wound up and then threw it. The projectile crossed the wide creek and bounced in the distance before skidding to a halt. Lips pressed in a straight line, I shook my head, annoyed. He topped his last week’s throw by a yard; he always beat me. He turned and smiled, stretching his long toned arms above his body.
I shrugged. “Eh, an all right throw,” I said with a wry smile.
Ben faced me, his eyes crinkling. “Riiiiight,” he said, while slowly bobbing his head. “Okay… beat me then.”
Images of my uncle’s flushed-face appeared before me, fueling my strength. I gritted my teeth while drawing back my arm. In a flash, I whipped my arm forward, releasing the rock. It sailed over the creek, whizzing through the air. With a loud crack, it slammed into a birch tree, punching a hole through the trunk. My jaw dropped halfway to the ground.
Out of the corner of my eye, Ben wavered, looking like he’d topple over. He shook his head, his hazel eyes wide. “Wowww… how did you do that?”
What had just happened? I lowered my head to stare at my hands, turning them over repeatedly.
“Jaden?”
I slowly raised my eyes to fixate on the hole again.
“Jaden? Hello… Jaden.”
“What?” I asked, just realizing Ben was speaking to me.
Ben patted my arm quickly, conferring a sense of urgency. Reluctantly, I tore my eyes away from the hole to face Ben.
He leaned in close, shaking. He spoke in a low voice, eyes darting side to side. “I think it was green.”
“What?” I shook my head, attempting to re-ground myself in the world. What was going on?
Now, he spoke louder, emphasizing with his hands in rapid motion. “The rock… it was green. It glowed green. Don’t you see? You’re one of the Talented.”
[Want more? Click below to read a longer excerpt.]


Praise for the Book
"I have to say that Talent Storm was a fantastic read. I thought that the story and plot were original and well developed, and the characters had a great deal of depth and accurately depicted the complexity and at times ugly side of human nature. Once I started reading Talent Storm, I had a difficult time putting it down. I was really able to visualize myself fighting for survival in the post-apocalyptic world created by the author. The novel also touched on many of the contemporary social, political, educational, and military issues facing our world today which kept me engrossed from beginning to end. I would recommend this book to anyone." ~ Ken
"I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in SciFi/Fantasy, especially ones dealing with post-apocalyptic power struggles. I can't wait to read more from author Brian Terenna." ~ Matthew T.
"There were some exotic plot twists that kept me engaged to the very end of the book. In particular, the ending was satisfying. Fight scenes abound in the book and the action is endless, although there was plenty of romantic elements as well. The science part of the fiction was accurate and the fiction part of the science, a real possibility in a future world. Good job, Mr. Terenna." ~ B. James Hobbs
"Talent Storm made me wish I had talent for reading faster. I couldn't put it down. The battle scenes were so well written I'm already watching the movie (which surely some smart Hollywood producer will snap this up) in my head. It's like the Hunger Games and Harry Potter got together and had a baby that goes around and bullies Twilight. Adult readers especially will appreciate a mature fantasy read. Please write another book Brian!" ~ JScramo
"In a word amazing. I could not put this book down. It had all my favorite things; action, adventure, romance. The changes in Jaden from boy to man, from selfish to putting others ahead of himself came naturally. I won't give away the story. READ IT! This book needs to be a movie. Brian Terenna, I cannot wait for your next book." ~ Isabel book girl

About the Author
Brian Terenna grew up in Doylestown, Pennsylvannia, reading fantasy and science fiction. He is now a fantasy, science fiction, and paranormal romance writer. Talent Storm is a dystopian post-apocalyptic fantasy. His second novel, Kissing the Intern, is a multicultural romance.
Brian runs a book review blog and a Youtube meditation site. He is an avid chess player, a vegetable gardener, and he meditates regularly.


Links
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