PLANTATION NATION by Mercedes King: Blog tour

Title:  PLANTATION NATION
Author: Mercedes King
Category/Genre: Historical Fiction

Blurb:

Sixteen year old Emma Cartwright runs away from her family’s South Carolina rice plantation after a slave is beaten to death. Determined to join the fight against slavery, Emma enlists in the Union Army disguised as a young man. Nothing could prepare her for the sacrifices needed—and for falling in love for the first time. 

Amazon † Barnes & Noble

Excerpt:

Emma could no longer raise her head or open her eyes. She tasted her own blood and withered under the sun’s brilliance. Her back and legs throbbed from the lashes with the leather belt. The scent of honeysuckle drifted to her nostrils, but Emma quivered with agony and trepidation. She fought the oblivion that threatened to engulf her fearing it was death.
Her heart searched for a prayer or a plea but nothing came. She wanted to cry out for her father, forgetting he was long dead.
Someone snatched a fistful of Emma’s hair and held up her head.
“Look!” Quinn said through gritted teeth. “Look at what you’ve done.” He touched his mouth to her ear. “Ain’t like he didn’t deserve it, though. Worthless wretch.”
Emma tried again to focus on the scene. At first, through the narrow slits of her swollen eyes, all she saw was a row of brown feet, naked and caked with mud past the ankles, a sure sign that rice planting was underway. She couldn’t find or concentrate on their faces now, but she knew that among the clan of thirteen laborers, Basil’s mother and brother were there watching. Fear reverberated from the mass. Children cried and stirred, but no one moved or averted their eyes. George had insisted.

About The Author

Mercedes King is an Ohio native and founding member of Sisters in Crime Columbus, Ohio (affectionately dubbed SiCCO). With a degree in Criminology from Capital University and a passion for writing, she crafted O! Jackie, a novel focusing on the private life of Jackie Kennedy. She has also written The Kennedy Chronicles, a series of short stories featuring JFK and Jackie before they were married and before 'Camelot'. Mercedes writes in a variety of genres, including historical and mystery / suspense. In fact, she's working on creating a new genre, 'modern historical'.

Her newest release, Plantation Nation, follows the journey of Emma Cartwright, a 16 year old Southern girl who disguises herself as a young man and joins the Union Army.

Visit her sites, OJackiebook.com or Mercedesking.com . Contact her at Mercedes 'at' ojackiebook 'dot' com. You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Author Website † Facebook † Twitter † Blog

a Rafflecopter giveaway

IRRADIATED by S. Elliot Brandis: Blog Tour

Title: IRRADIATED
Author: S. Elliot Brandis
Category/Genre: Sci-Fi (Post-apocalyptic/Dystopian)

Blurb:

A man thrust a baby into Jade’s hands. It trembled in her arms. The man had a message: escape from the tunnels and never return, her parents were already dead. Jade had a sister; she was irradiated.

Thirteen years later, her sister, Pearl, is coming of age. Rows of sucker-caps line her arms and hands. Her skin is coral pink. Each night, her dreams fill with visions of violence, depression, and fear.

On the surface, people have grown wild and dangerous. They scavenge, fight, and steal. Below, in the tunnels, they're controlled by a ruthless leader and an army of beings known only as Shadows. When both groups come searching for Pearl, sensing the power her dreams may hold, only Jade can stand in the way.

Excerpt:

The man thrust a baby into Jade’s hands. It was warm and wet and its cries were muffled. Thick fabric covered its face and body. It trembled in her arms.
“You have to go,” said the man. His voice was urgent and his movements were rapid. Each breath was hot and laboured.
“I don’t understand. Where’s Mum, where’s Dad?” Jade asked.
The tunnel was dark but she could place him by the sound, by the heat, by the air. His panic rushed into her, as though it was her own. He grabbed her with heavy hands and turned her around.
“There’s no time,” he said. “No time, child. They’re coming. The Shadows are coming. You need to get out of here.”
“B-But, what about my parents?” she stammered.
The man squeezed her shoulders tightly, his fingers digging into her muscles and between her bones.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “They’re dead. You have to trust us. This is your only chance. This is your sister’s only chance. You have to keep going and never turn back.”
He pushed her onward, and other hands grabbed her. They grasped her then passed her on to the next set. They all knew what was happening, all knew where she was headed—everybody but her. She clutched the squealing baby in her long, thin arms and yielded herself to their guidance.
Jade had a sister; she was irradiated. 

About The Author

S. Elliot Brandis is a Speculative Fiction writer from Brisbane, Australia. He writes about societies on the brink of collapse, and civilizations that have long since crumbled. His debut novel, Irradiated, is a dark tale about survival, love, and moral ambiguity.

When he’s not putting his characters through the wringer, he’s actually kind of a nice guy. He keeps literature on the same shelf as comic books, and mixes his beer with tobasco. He invites you to visit him at selliotbrandis.com.

Author Website † Facebook † Mailing List

RANSOM by Faith S. Lynn: Blog Tour

Title: Ransom

Author: Faith S. Lynn

Genre: New Adult / Contemporary Romance

Publication Date: June 30, 2014

Tour Host: Dreams Come True Promotions

What would you do to get it all back?

Lynkin:
Desperate, careless, frantic, hieness, and frenzied. These are just some of the words that could describe my state of being after everything was ripped from under me. I will do anything to get it all back. And I do mean ANYTHING. I just didn't expect what I would get in the process. She changes everything.

Sage:
Carefree pretty much sums up my entire life. My father has made sure that I have never and will never want for anything. I have a fiance on the fast track to business success and a best friend that will always be there for me. My future is set and I couldn't be happier with it. Then it all changed in an instant. He took me away from everything that I thought I wanted, needed. Now nothing will ever be the same.

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1w3z6o2

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1qm0kVe

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/1zqIUwV

I am a New Adult author. From Lies to Promises is my debut novel! I am wife to the best husband of the freaking universe and mother to 3 majorly awesome kids! Reading, Xbox, cooking and WINE just barely scrape the surface of who I am. Everyone who knows me will say I am a nerd... and I would agree. Want to know a secret? I am a super hero. True story!

I have an obsession with anything people consider odd and I think learning is the bees knees. I have an Associates degree in Business Management and was an accountant for 7 years. I know, boooring! But I like having a problem and seeing a solution.

Maybe, just maybe, this is why I enjoy writing so much!

Facebook: www.facebook.com/FaithSLynn 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FaithSLynn 

Author Website: http://faithslynn.blogspot.com/

Author GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7304509.Faith_S_Lynn

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00JFDJAFE

Other: https://booktropoloussocial.com/index.php?do=/profile-3688/

a Rafflecopter giveaway

FALLEN by Laury Falter: Blog Tour

Title: FALLEN
Author: Laury Falter
Category/Genre: Young Adult/ Fantasy

Blurb: 

 Maggie is unaware of the terrifying fate that awaits her. It isn’t until she lands in New Orleans for a full year at a private high school and her unknown enemies find her does she realize that her life is in danger.

As a mystifying stranger repeatedly intervenes and blocks the attempts on her life, she begins to learn that there is more to him than his need to protect her and that he may be the key to understanding why her enemies have just now arrived.

Excerpt:

“You appear and then vanish like a ghost. You aren’t injured from venomous snake bites. You aren’t killed by wayward, incredibly sharp arrows.” Then, I reiterated, “I am the only one who can see you…how is any of this possible?”
“You do pay attention,” he said, sounding almost regretful, though I didn’t understand why.
“Yes, now will you tell me how you are capable of all that?”
He paused, still looking at me, as he collected his thoughts. The muscles throughout his body visibly flexed, tensing as he prepared his answer. “I have certain…gifts…that not many others can claim…gifts of speed, healing, and regeneration, to name a few.”
He paused, waiting for my reaction.
“Don’t worry so much,” I said, teasingly. “I’m not going to run screaming for the door.”
We quietly laughed together for a brief moment.  When I felt like he was comfortable again, I asked my next question.
“So, where did you get these gifts? Did your parents take some sort of special drug?”
“Not exactly. I can’t answer that, as much as I know you’d like me to. Just suffice, Magdalene, to know that without these gifts, you wouldn’t be here right now.”
 

Amazon † Barnes & Noble

About The Author

Laury Falter is a bestselling author of young adult romantic suspense and urban fantasy. She is also an animal rights activist, a sailor, a one-handed golf putterer, and a Colorado River conqueror.

She has three series out: the Guardian Trilogy, the Residue Series, and the Apocalypse Chronicles.

Website † Facebook † Goodreads † Twitter

HOW TO DATE DEAD GUYS by Ann M Noser: Blog Tour w/ Review

 
Title:  How to Date Dead Guys
Author: Ann M. Noser
Category/Genre: New Adult/Urban Fantasy
Date of Publication: July 15th
Publisher: Curiosity Quills
Cover Artist: Alexandria Thompson

Blurb:

College sophomore Emma Roberts remembers her mother’s sage advice:  “don’t sleep around, don’t burp in public, and don’t tell anyone you see ghosts”.  But when charming Mike Carlson drowns in the campus river under her watch, Emma’s sheltered life shatters.

Blamed for Mike’s death and haunted by nightmares, Emma turns to witchcraft and a mysterious Book of Shadows to bring him back.  Under a Blood Moon, she lights candles, draws a pentacle on the campus bridge, and casts a spell.  The invoked river rages up against her, but she escapes its fury.  As she stumbles back to the dorm, a stranger drags himself from the water and follows her home. And he isn't the only one. 

Instead of raising Mike, Emma assists the others she stole back from the dead—a pre-med student who jumped off the bridge, a desperate victim determined to solve his own murder, and a frat boy Emma can’t stand…at first.  More comfortable with the dead than the living, Emma delves deeper into the seductive Book of Shadows.  Her powers grow, but witchcraft may not be enough to protect her against the vengeful river and the killers that feed it their victims.
Inspired by the controversial Smiley Face Murders, HOW TO DATE DEAD GUYS will ignite the secret powers hidden deep within each of us.

Add How To Date Dead Guys on Goodreads

Amazon US † Amazon UK †  Barnes & Noble

About The Author

My to-do list dictates that I try to cram 48 hours of living into a day instead of the usual 24.  I’ve chosen a life filled with animals.  I train for marathons with my dog, then go to work as a small animal veterinarian, and finish the day by tripping over my pets as I attempt to convince my two unruly children that YES, it really IS time for bed.  But I can’t wait until the house is quiet to write; I have to steal moments throughout the day.  Ten minutes here, a half hour there, I live within my imagination.

Like all busy American mothers, I multi-task.  I work out plot holes during runs.  Instead of meditating, I type madly during yoga stretches.  I find inspiration in everyday things:  a beautiful smile, a heartbreaking song, or a newspaper article on a political theory.  For example, a long drive in the dark listening to an NPR program on the SMILEY FACE MURDERS theory made me ask so many questions that I wrote HOW TO DATE DEAD GUYS to answer them to my satisfaction.

I’d love to have more time to write (and run, read, and sleep), but until I find Hermione Granger’s time turner, I will juggle real life with the half-written stories in my head.  Main characters and plot lines intertwine in my cranium, and I need to let my writing weave the tales on paper so I can find out what happens next.

Author Website 

"Like" on Facebook 

Follow on Twitter

Author's Goodreads

Goodreads Book Giveaway

How To Date Dead Guys

by Ann M. Noser

Giveaway ends August 14, 2014.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/100174-how-to-date-dead-guys

My Review:

**I received a complimentary copy in exchange for a honest review**

My star rating: 4/5

This was a really fun book.  Emma was intelligent, witty, and relateably insecure...even if she is a little odd.  Her personal journey through the story was gripping.  I loved that we never knew who the water was going to send Emma to deal with next.  Abby was my favorite secondary character for sure; she allowed us to really see the depth of Emma's nurturing spirit.  Ms. Noser's writing was clean, though more on the young adult level than new adult.  College life was explored thoroughly, an area typically left lacking in paranormal new adults, which I loved.  I will say there probably could have been a half-dozen or so less chapters.  There was a lot of filler that I found myself skipping over.

FIRES OF MAN by Dan Levinson: Blog tour w/ excerpt

Title: FIRES OF MAN
Author: Dan Levinson
Genre: Science Fiction

Blurb:

In a world where a gifted few can manipulate reality with their minds, two great nations—Calchis and Orion—employ these psionic powers in a covert war for global superiority.

In the heart of Calchis, a powerful young psion named Aaron Waverly is kidnapped, and forcibly conscripted. To the north, in the capital, a plan is hatched to decimate Orion, to be carried out by the ruthless operative known only as “Agent.”

In Orion, fresh recruit Stockton Finn comes to terms with his incredible new powers, and learns firsthand how dangerous they can be. Meanwhile, officers Nyne Allen and Kay Barrett navigate the aftermath of their shattered love affair, oblivious to the fact that Calchis draws ever closer to destroying the tenuous peace.

Finally, in the arctic land of Zenith, Calchan archaeologist Faith Santia unearths a millennia-old ruin. This lost temple might just hold the hidden history of psionic powers, as well as hints of a deeper mystery . . . that could shake the foundations of all mankind.
 

Amazon † Barnes & Noble

Excerpt:


AGENT

He ran toward the edge of the cliff.
The sun beat down upon him as his limbs pumped. Earth crunched beneath his feet, and a breeze blew across his black-stubbled scalp. His breathing was calm, meticulously measured.
When the ground slipped away, he felt only anticipation.
Plummeting, the man inhaled. Power flooded into him, thrilling, delicious. He reached out with that power, warping reality with an energy born from the depths of his being. Suddenly . . .
He winked out of existence . . .
And then reappeared at the base of the cliff.

About The Author

Born and raised on Long Island, NY, Dan grew up immersing himself in fantastical worlds. While other kids dreamed of being astronauts and cowboys, all he ever wanted was to be a novelist. Now, he’s living his dream.

Website † Facebook † Twitter † Goodreads

a Rafflecopter giveaway

HATE ME TODAY by Katheryn Kiden: Blog tour w/ giveaway

Title: Hate Me Today (#3 Save Me Series)

Author: Katheryn Kiden

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publication Date: June 18th

Tour Host: Dreams Come True Promotions

I hate her but I’d rather make her life a living hell than not play for a crowd anymore. Hate is a four letter word. So is life. So is love. Each one requires passion to make it worth it. Jason Jackson has lived his whole life fueled with hate. Hate for himself. Hate for his family. Hate for the one person he despises but is stuck on tour with. All he wants to do is rock the crowd and keep his head down, but it seems like every time he turns around, she’s doing something else to piss him off. What happens when everything he thought he knew turns out to be wrong? For the first time in my entire life, I’m taking control and not even Jason can get in my way. Vanessa Knox knows all about life being too short. She refuses to let anyone stand in the way of what she wants. That is, until what she wants is something she knows she shouldn’t have. It could break her worse than being sick ever had a chance to. Nothing she ever does seems to be right. However, that doesn’t stop her from doing it. Sometimes the best things are the one you thought would be the worst. Hate leaves you wondering why, love leaves you wanting more and life leaves you waiting.

Katheryn Kiden was born in Boothbay Harbor Maine in 1989 and raised in Newcastle. She was raised with four brothers. Katheryn graduated when she was sixteen and has been writing since she was young. When she isn’t attached to a keyboard you can usually find her with her two younger brothers, friends, or with a camera in her hand.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Katheryn-Kiden-Author/397861730346941

Twitter: @katherynkiden

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1iLDc3E

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1jSs5Rj

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/1rFda22

a Rafflecopter giveaway