Sunday, July 31, 2016

July #UpperCaseBox

Once again, I loved the UpperCase Box.

This is one Book subscription that totally ROCKS!

Signed copy of This Savage Song, Booknerd pencils and SUPER cool 
Post its that every booknerd would love!


Can't wait to see what the August surprise will be!

Thursday, July 28, 2016

Spotlight: Pigeon-Blood Red by Ed Duncan


Pigeon-Blood Red is a fast-paced and suspenseful crime thriller by Ed Duncan. It was released in March 2016, published by Zharmae and is available for sale on Amazon.

Duncan says, “It’s always been said that you should write what you know. I am a lawyer - as is a pivotal character in the novel who is being pursued by a hit man - and I'm excited to be able to use my legal training creatively as well as professionally.”

Synopsis

For underworld enforcer Richard "Rico" Sanders, it seemed like an ordinary job. Retrieve his gangster boss's priceless pigeon-blood red ruby necklace and teach the double-dealing cheat who stole it a lesson. A job like a hundred before it. But the chase quickly goes sideways and takes Rico from the mean streets of Chicago to sunny Honolulu, where the hardened hit man finds himself in uncharted territory when a couple of innocent bystanders are accidentally embroiled in the crime.

As Rico pursues his new targets, the hunter and his prey develop an unlikely respect for one another and Rico is faced with a momentous decision: follow his orders to kill the couple whose courage and character have won his admiration, or refuse and endanger the life of the woman he loves?

Praise for Pigeon-Blood Red

“Fast-paced and full of surprises. Will keep you on the edge of your seat!” – Amazon Customer

“Pigeon Blood Red has a dramatic and satisfying conclusion, leaving the reader nodding his head with approval." - Readers' Favorite

“In a novel with as much action as love, it is sure to be a story that will fulfill the desires of readers of all ages, genders, and areas of interest.” – Red City Review



Excerpt from Chapter 1
When Rico knocked on Jean’s door he was happy to hear the sound of footsteps. At least she was there. Maybe it was a good omen. Jean, a stunning redhead with a figure that made the heart leap, looked through the peephole, opened the door, and greeted him wrapped in a towel. She was even more tantalizing than she’d been in the car earlier that day. She wasn’t completely dry, and here and there tiny droplets of water glistened on her arms and shoulders. Rico inhaled the subtle fragrance of her shower gel, but before it could distract him, a voice in his head reminded him, “Point one percent.”

“I wasn’t expecting you back so soon,” she began, a playful, sultry smile on her face.

From the doorway Rico scanned the living room and saw nothing amiss. He walked in and closed the door behind him. Too bad. He only knew how to do this one way. “Jean, how long have you known me?” he asked stoically.

She was baffled. “You know as well as I do. What kind of a question is that?”

“I never tried to hide from you how I make my living, true?” They stood face to face, inches apart, before she took a few halting steps backward. “So you know what happens to people who don’t tell me what I want to know, don’t you?”

“Rico,” she stammered, her voice trembling, “you aren’t making any sense. What’s this all about? I don’t know what you’re accusing me of, but I haven’t done anything, I swear.”

He took a straight razor from his coat pocket and opened it. As he walked toward her, she covered her face with her hands. He stepped behind her, thrust his left arm through the triangle formed by her hands pressing against her face, and grabbed her right shoulder. With his right hand he held the blunt side of the open razor against her right cheek.

“Where is it?”

“Please, Rico,” she sobbed. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He pressed harder and tightened his grip on her shoulder. “Please, please!”

“I don’t believe you.” He turned the sharp side to her cheek.

“Rico, not my face, please! I swear I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Her tears puddled where the razor met her skin.
“Sorry, baby.”

As Jean cried out he let the razor fall from his hand and, in one uninterrupted motion, expertly muzzled her scream with the same hand before the razor hit the floor. She fainted.

When she came to, she was lying on the couch where Rico had carried her. He stood with his back to her, talking to Jerry on the phone. Jerry hadn’t been able to get past lobby security in Robert’s building.

“He palmed it, right?” Jerry asked.

Rico glanced over his shoulder at Jean. “I’ll be there in a few minutes.” He hung up. “I had to be sure,” he said unapologetically.

She shivered in her towel and glared at him, anger roiling in her eyes. He went to the bedroom and returned with a blanket, which she allowed him to drape around her shoulders.

“Sorry, baby. It was just business.”

Still too furious to speak, she defiantly turned her back to him and silently dared him to say anything about it. A small victory but it was something. Ignoring the gesture, Rico walked out and closed the door softly behind him.

She was enraged, as much at herself as at him, because she knew that the next time he called she would answer. She tried to justify her emotions by telling herself that he’d stopped short of actually harming her and that he never would have. But who was she kidding? She could hope but she could never know for sure.

When the cab pulled up in front of Robert’s building, Jerry was standing outside smoking a cigarette. It was an expensive high rise on the city’s Gold Coast along Lake Michigan’s north shore, with a security guard on duty twenty- four hours a day. There was no way around it; if they wanted to get into Robert’s apartment, one way or another they’d have to deal with him. This was admittedly a minor detail, more of an annoyance than anything else.

Jerry knew Rico hated cigarette smoke. An icy stare from him whenever Jerry lit up was as effective a deterrent as a punch in the gut, so he put the fag out as Rico left the cab. Rico kept his body rock solid by lifting weights at a neighborhood gym, jogging regularly, and minimizing his intake of junk food. He didn’t like the idea of second-hand smoke undoing any of his hard work.
“So what happened?” Jerry asked.

“She didn’t have it.”

“I could’ve told you that. She’s good people.”

“Don’t start with me.”

“But—”

“But nothing. Anybody can cross the line.”

“Including me?” Jerry hoped Rico might exempt him
but didn’t expect it.

“Yeah, including you.” The two men stared at each
other for a long moment before Rico smiled. “No, not including you.” The smile vanished as quickly as it had appeared and his eyes narrowed. “You know better.”

The comment stung and Jerry hung his head a little, but it was true and he knew it. It wasn’t easy to get close to Rico and not many people did. He was loyal to a fault, yet distant and brooding. Deadly as a cobra but with a dry, sometimes biting sense of humor. Brutally honest, he lacked guile. Hated hypocrisy. Loathed arrogance. If you were in a fight for your life against hopeless odds and could pick just one person to help even them out, he would be your choice every time. But if you needed a shoulder to cry on or even a pat on the back, you’d have to think long and hard before you settled on Rico.

“Now, about this guy...” Rico said, ignoring Jerry’s reaction.

Jerry snapped out of it. “You have to tell the security guard who you want to see. He rings the apartment. If the person answers, the guard buzzes you in.”

“High-class joint.”

“No wonder he’s always out of money.”

“How much traffic in and out?”

“Not too bad so far.”
Taking in as many details as his eyes could process in one sweep of the area, Rico slowly turned in a circle, looking for anything out of the ordinary, anything that counseled against getting on with the business at hand. Outside, there were pedestrians and cars passing everywhere, but it was a busy street, so there was nothing unusual about that. Inside, the foyer was empty except for the security guard. Nothing looked menacing. Nothing looked out of place. He nodded. “Okay?” Jerry nodded back. “Let’s go and talk to the man.”

They walked briskly to the entrance, donning sunglasses almost in unison, then glanced behind them one last time before opening the door. Rico nodded to a spot inside. Jerry planted himself there. Without slowing, Rico continued toward an oak-paneled counter facing the door, behind which sat an unarmed security guard casually reading a newspaper. He was about forty, with a gaunt face and stringy hair reaching below his collar. He was the kind of guy who went through life trying to keep from stepping on anyone’s toes and hoping everyone would try to avoid stepping on his. He looked up in time to see Rico, advancing quickly in his direction, throw open his coat and jerk a .45 out of a powder-blue shoulder holster. He leaped to his feet and raised his hands above his head. Rico slammed the gun on the counter.

“Put ’em down,” Rico said. Eyes bulging and hands shaking, the guard complied and his face took on the look of a condemned man who had just received word of a reprieve. “That’s right. Relax,” Rico said. “Now buzz Robert McDuffie’s apartment.” There was no answer. “Try again.” Still no answer. “Get the key and take me up there,” he ordered, then nodded in the direction of the .45 resting on the counter under his hand. “This’ll be pointed at the back of your head on the way. Any questions?” The guard shook his head. “Then let’s go.”



 

About Ed Duncan

Ed Duncan is a graduate of Oberlin College and Northwestern University Law School. He was a partner at a national law firm in Cleveland, Ohio for many years. He currently lives outside of Cleveland, OH and is at work on the second installment in the Pigeon-Blood Red trilogy. To learn more, go to http://eduncan.net/

Readers can connect with Ed on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

New Covers for the Something Great Series by Mary Ting

Release Day Blitz: Someone I Used to Know by Tessa Marie

Someone I Used to Know



Someone I Used to Know
A Novella
By Tessa Marie
RELEASE DAY BLITZ
7/27/16

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Charlotte was not looking forward to Spring Break. No technology and a boy she can’t stand. But when she realizes the boy is actually a hot guy now, and wants to hang out with her (!) she cant help but think this break may turn into something pretty awesome. But, is he harboring a secret that will challenge their budding relationship?


~*~ABOUT TESSA~*~

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Tessa Marie aka Theresa Paolo lives in the same town she grew up in on Long Island, NY with her long time boyfriend and their fish. Her debut novel (NEVER) AGAIN, a NA romance, released in Fall 2013 with Berkley (Penguin). (ONCE) AGAIN will release this summer. She is also the coauthor of the Amazon bestseller KING SIZED BEDS AND HAPPY TRAILS and BEACH SIDE BEDS AND SANDY PATHS, a YA contemporary series. She has a hard time accepting the fact she’s nearing thirty, and uses her characters to relive the best and worst years of her life. She put her love of writing on hold while she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from Dowling College. When she’s not writing, she’s behind a camera, reading, or can be found on Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook.

Friday, July 22, 2016

Cover Reveal: Hear The Wolves by Victoria Scott and Giveaway


 HEAR THE WOLVES, releasing from Scholastic on March 28, 2017

BLURB

It's survival of the strongest in a contemporary, girl-versus-wild middle-grade debut from Fire & Flood author Victoria Scott! 

Sloan is a hunter.

So she shouldn't be afraid of anything. But ever since her mom left the family and she lost hearing in one ear in a blizzard, it's been hard to talk to people, and near-impossible to go anywhere or do anything without her dad or big sister within eyesight -- it makes her too scared to be on her own.

When they leave her home alone for what should only be two nights, she's already panicked. Then the snow starts falling and doesn't stop. One of her neighbors is hurt in an accident. And the few people still left in Rusic need to make it to the river and the boat that's tied there -- their only way to get to a doctor from their isolated Alaska town.

But the woods are icy cold, and the wolves are hungry. Sloan and her group are running out of food, out of energy, and out of time. That's when the wolves start hunting them . . .


Enter for a chance to win one out of ten Galleys!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, July 18, 2016

Thursday, July 14, 2016

Fortune's Favor (HoA #2) Heroes of Arcania Trilogy Release Blitz


FFBanner

Fortune's Favor (HoA #2)
Heroes of Arcania Trilogy
RELEASE DAY BLITZ

July 14th, 2016

Fortunes-Favor-Heroes-of-Arcania-2-by-Liz-Long-e1464194457324

Nova will learn it takes more than sheer strength to be a superhero. Her world implodes when Fortune strikes back for all the trouble she's caused. His dangerous games put everyone around her at risk, especially when he decides to turn Arcania against its precious Heroes. Nova wants to protect Arcania, but how does she save a city that doesn't want her help?

Cole has no idea how to deal with his sister Penelope, especially now that she's learned the truth about their family secret. Thanks to Fortune, she's headed down a dark path, one with no return. Torn between helping Nova and protecting his sister, Cole will be forced to make a choice. Tensions rise as Cole and Nova discover war will come to Arcania if they don't get Fortune off the streets...or preferably six feet under.

Nova and Cole might have each other, but will they lose everything else in their mission to save Arcania?


~*~ABOUT LIZ~*~

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Liz Long is a proud graduate of Longwood University. Her inspiration comes from action and thriller genres and she spends entirely too much time watching superhero movies. Her day job includes writing for a magazine publisher in Roanoke, VA.
The Donovan Circus series has best been described as "X-Men meets the circus." Adult horror story Witch Hearts tells the tale of a serial killer hunting witches for their powers. New Adult PNR A Reaper Made is about a teen Reaper who gets caught between falling in love or saving her sister's soul. All titles are available for paperback or ebook on Amazon. 
To learn more about Liz (including more information on her books, plus writing, marketing, and social media tips), visit her website: http://lizclong.com.

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Chance to win an ARC of Metaltown by Kristen Simmons


YOU GUYS!!  

Yes, I am yelling because time is almost running out to enter this contest for a chance to win an ARC of Metaltown 
by Kristen Simmons.

Don't miss this chance...enter by going to her blog



And don't forget to Pre-order a finished copy of this book!

Monday, July 11, 2016

Spotlight: The Water Road by JD Byrne


Two women are about to expose a terrible secret that will turn their world upside down.

For centuries the great river known as the Water Road separated the Altrerians in the north from the Neldathi in the south. When the Neldathi clans united and struck out across the river, the nations of Altreria formed an alliance, the Triumvirate, to drive them back. For more than a hundred years after, the Triumvirate kept the Neldathi barbarians at bay, fighting amongst themselves across the Water Road.

Antrey is a woman without a country, the daughter of a Neldathi mother and an Altrerian father. She’s found a role for herself in Tolenor, the headquarters of the Triumvirate, that's given her access to a secret the alliance has kept for generations. When she finds it, she explodes with rage and embarks on a quest to find justice for the Neldathi people.

Strefer is a reporter without a story, desperately working the streets of Tolenor for any kind of lead. When Antrey flees the city, Strefer slips in and discovers her uncovered secret, stained with blood and fury. It’s the story of a lifetime, one powerful forces want to keep her from telling. With the help of a renegade Sentinel, Strefer sets out for a mythical city in hopes she can make the world listen to the truth.

Together, they’ll inflame the passions of a people and set the world alight. The Water Road - first book of The Water Road trilogy.

You can purchase The Water Road HERE on Amazon.

It is also available on Kindle Unlimited

Excerpt
“Antrey, you know how happy it makes me to see you so involved with books,” Alban said, adopting a fatherly tone, “but your grasp of history is rather shallow at this point. Bringing together the Guilders, the Arborians, and the Telebrians has brought out the best in all of us. It has shown that we can work together peacefully in common cause.”
“Can you actually hear yourself, Alban?” Antrey asked. “How can you make that argument, to me of all people, in the face of this enthusiastic embrace of bloodshed? I know you, Alban. You are such a good man. If not, I wouldn’t be here right now. Why would you, of all people, defend this?”
“Because it’s worked, damn you!” Alban shouted, all pretence of respect and calm shattered. “Because in the century since the Neldathi revolt was put down and this alliance was formed the Neldathi have stayed where they belong, in those horrible mountains south of the Water Road. Their nature is base. They seek only conflict and know only strife. Better those urges be turned on themselves than on us.”
Antrey staggered under the weight of his words, unable to respond for a moment. “Is that it, then, Alban? No matter how distasteful the means, so long as your people benefit, the suffering of others is all right? You care nothing for the Neldathi who dies, cold and alone in the falling snow, in the wake of some pointless battle?” Although she spoke calmly and chose her words with care, Antrey’s fury was still present and had begun to focus itself. Her initial reaction to the Triumvirate’s policy had been abstract, a rage against something done long ago by people long since dead. All that had changed, however, the more Alban talked. Now the anger in her was directed at the man in front of her. He was her employer, her mentor, and her savior. Still, she hated him for the secret he kept and the way he kept it.
As she had come around the desk, Antrey had somehow picked up the pikti, the ancient Sentinel fighting staff, that was normally propped in the corner of Alban’s office. It was so light that it felt like barely anything was there. The weight surprised her. She had held a sword once, a small one, and by comparison it was a clumsy weapon, a weight that hung on the end of her arm like a dead limb. Not the pikti. Even when she took it in both bands, it felt like a part of her, an extension of her will. As if it would do whatever she commanded. She held it out in front of her, hands about a foot apart.

“Antrey, put that down,” Alban said, raising his hands again. His tone had softened considerably since he, too, noticed the weapon in her hand. “You have no idea what that can do, and you’re liable to hurt yourself. Neither of us wants anyone to get hurt, right?” He started to back away from her slowly.


About the Author



JD Byrne was born and raised around Charleston, West Virginia, before spending seven years in Morgantown getting degrees in history and law from West Virginia University. He's practiced law for more than 15 years, writing briefs where he has to stick to real facts and real law. In his fiction, he gets to make up the facts, take or leave the law, and let his imagination run wild. He lives outside Charleston with his wife and one-eyed dog. 


Links:
Web: https://jdbyrne.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JDBAuthor
Twitter: @JDBAuthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/JDByrne


Sunday, July 10, 2016

Spotlight: Kingdom's End by Charles D. Blanchard


Kingdom’s End is an adventure story where the main characters are rodents.  The setting is an abandoned motion picture palace from the 1920s that has been closed for thirty years and is set for demolition. It is here where the characters make their massive colony and fight to protect it.
The story deals with their struggle to survive in a dark urban landscape and the threats posed against them from both man and beast. It is exciting and complex and an easy read with strong characters and narrative that makes you feel their plight.
There are many conflicts. Among them, a plot within the colony to overthrow the aged blind leader by an ambitious ruthless soldier and a good deal of the story involves how he goes about it.  Later, the plot is discovered as forces work against the perpetrator.  

Check out Indie Reader's Review HERE


Charles D. Blanchard

I am a native New Yorker, currently living in Mt. Vernon NY. 

2010 saw the publication of my debut novel, Mourning Doves After The Fire. 

My second novel, Kingdom's End, an adventure about city dwelling rats, is now published.

Writing is what I do. I am currently working on my third novel.

You can follow Charles on FB HERE

Visit Website Here

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

International Event: Manchester Author Event & Gig




Manchester Author Event & Gig
2016
#MAE2016


The signing and gig will take place in a large marquee measuring 21 x 15 metres, with a smaller marquee accommodating the beer tent & refreshments.

Afternoon tea of sandwiches and cakes will be available to purchase, through the day. An ice-cream van is also going to be onsite.
All day tickets and the evening gig tickets include a burger, hot dog, and side dishes at the evening event. Additional food may be bought
The signing will take place on Saturday the 13th of August 2016, at the Red Rose Steam Society Ltd. Mining Museum in Astley Green, Manchester, M29 7JB.
Through the day an author book signing will take place, with morning and afternoon sessions available.

Join our group on Facebook to keep up to date with this years event and plans for 2017


Morning session will run 11 am - 1.30 pm, afternoon 2.30 pm - 5 pm, or an option for an all-day ticket.
There will be a break between 1.30 - 2.30 pm for dinner, to enable attendees, helpers and authors alike to have a break.
LUNCH BREAK  1.30 - 2.30 pm (All readers will be requested to leave the signing marquee and return after)

ALL TICKETS WILL BE SCANNED FOR ENTRY AND YOU WILL BE GIVEN A COLOUR CODES WRIST BAND. DUPLICATES/PHOTOCOPIES OF TICKETS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AND ANYONE TRYING TO ENTER WITH A PHOTOCOPIED TICKET WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE EVENT.

The Saturday evening event is in the form of a gig, which will begin at 7 pm and run through to 11.30 pm. Alongside the music we will have a spoken word artist reading to the audience.




On site there will be food and drink available.
More details on the Facebook page & website.
We are also going to be hosting a raffle on the day of the signing, and all winners will be announced on the evening. Raffle prizes will include signed paperbacks, a specially commissioned painting, scrapbook signed by authors that attended the Leeds signing in 2016, a kindle cover signed by authors at the Liverpool pop-up signing event, Kindle HD, eBooks, Amazon vouchers, superstore vouchers, t-shirts, vouchers for meals at local venue, and more prizes will be announced closer to the event.
All monies raised from the raffle will be donated to the local Scout & Guide Troop.
Two charities will benefit from a percentage of the profits for this event. Part to the Mining Museum itself, and the other to MIND.

Morning admission £12.50

Afternoon Admission £12.50

Standard all day ticket £22,00

All day, Gig, Goody bag, BBQ (Hot dog, burger and side dishes) £35.00

Evening ticket BBQ (burger, hotdog and side dishes) £15.00

This exciting event is going to be taking place at The Red Rose Steam Society Ltd. mining museum, on the outskirts of Manchester, just off the A580/East Lancs Road. This is the main trunk road between Manchester and Liverpool.

Tickets are available to purchase now via Eventbrite.

We have seven models booked already to add to the fun.

Models attending are:
Matt Stobbs
Alex Jordan
Erin Urban
Jay Woolaway
Stefan Northfield

Martin Nelson







Authors confirmed for the event are:


Alice Raine
Bella Settarra
C.L. Bentham
Christoph Fischer
Claire C. Riley
D.A Lascelles
D.M. Midgley
D.M. Wolfenden
Dawn A Keane
Elena Matthews
Elisabeth Marrion
Gary Edward Gedall
Glenn Haigh
Hayley Oakes
Helen Bright
H J Daly
Holly J Gill
Iain Parke
Ian Jackson
Isobelle Cate
J F Holland
J.L. Ostle
John Lynch
Julia Ibbotson
K A Hobbs
K L Shandwick
Karen Frances
Kitty Mulholland 
Laura Morgan / L.C Morgan
Lavinia Urban
Lisa J Hobman
Lynn Gerrard / The Grumbling Gargoyle
Martin Tracey
Mina Carter
Miriam Khan
Morton Morelli
Neil Winnington
Olga Núñez Miret
Samantha Harrington
S.E.Marley-Walton
Scarlett Flame
Simon Parker
Stevie Turner
T L Wainwright 
Victoria Blisse
Victoria Howard
Victoria L. James
Zak Jane Keir



An eclectic mix of genre will be at this event.



Artists confirmed to play are;


 Joe Symes And The Loving Kind




The Reveurs




Mog Stanley




 Officer




Vicki Wood







will be with us all day on the day


Love to see you there

Love N Stuff

Scarlett

xXx