Friday, October 31, 2014

Book Blitz & Giveaway ~ Kate Triumph by Shari Arnold

Kate Triumph

by Shari Arnold
Publication date: October 16th 2014
Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult

Synopsis

Normal is so overrated. At least that’s what seventeen-year-old Kate Triumph tells herself everyday. But the truth is she lives in constant fear that someone will discover how not normal she really is. With her startling speed and her unusual ability to heal, Kate believes she’s something of a freak.

Then Andrew Shore arrives.

He claims he’s her father, sticks around for a few days and leaves her a plane ticket. “Come to Mercer Island,” he says. “Give me a chance to get to know you.” Soon Kate is floundering in a world of new: new address, new car, new high school and, of course, new father. Not to mention Zack, her intriguing new neighbor, who makes her want to abandon her steadfast rule of never allowing anyone to get too close. But when she discovers someone is trying to kill her, life for Kate gets a bit more complicated. And a lot less normal.

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Excerpt

I’m not used to the wetness of the road, the slick gravel under my feet. I concentrate on the neighborhood around me, memorizing each street sign I pass so I can find my way back to Andrew’s house. But soon the fog moves in, swallowing first the houses and then each and every last street sign. It closes in on me like a cocoon of white and my chest tightens with alarm.

I have no idea where I am. Or how to get home.

I pull my cell phone out of my pocket but it’s dead. I forgot to charge it last night.

I’m cursing my stupidity when just off in the distance I hear it.

Footsteps.

I turn around and wait for a figure to arrive — hopefully someone who might know where Andrew lives — but the footsteps stop.

All I can hear is my breathing and a bird chirping somewhere in the neighborhood.

I take a few more steps and when I hear them echo back I pause again.

Tiny tingles of unease trickle down my back but the fog continues to keep its secrets.

I wait for the footsteps to catch up, still convinced they’re helpful rather than dangerous. They’re moving slowly, almost hesitant, as they close the gap between us.

I have to admit as much as I want to see whoever is out there, the idea of someone breaking out of the fog so close to me kind of freaks me out.

I start walking faster this time, almost a jog, but with each step I take, the footsteps echo back twice. Finally, when our steps are in sync I stop and peer through the fog.

“Hello? Is anyone there?” I call out. I grip my arms around me, suddenly cold.

But no one answers me.

I imagined it. That’s the only explanation. I shake it off and start running again, my pace much slower than normal. Then I stop. Nothing. I take four more steps. Silence. A couple more. More silence.

I take a deep breath and relax. This was a stupid idea, running in fog. Next time I’ll know better.

Something sharp is poking my foot from inside my shoe and when I bend down to investigate I find a small white pebble has wedged itself between my shoe and sock. It only takes a second to dig it out and toss it into the road, but when I straighten up I hear it again.

Footsteps. Slow at first and then they quicken to a run.

Are these footsteps new? Or are they the same ones from before? I decide to wait it out before I start moving again.

A twig snaps directly behind me and then the footsteps stop.

I spin around. Nothing. No face, no motion in the fog.

I open my mouth to call out once more but something tells me to stay silent.

A low guttural laugh breaks through the fog directly behind my right ear and my heart stops altogether.

Purchase Links

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

AUTHOR BIO

Shari Arnold grew up in California and Utah but now resides in Connecticut, with her husband and two kids, where she finds it difficult to trust a beach without waves. She writes Young Adult fiction because it's her favorite. And occasionally she takes photographs.

Author links

Goodreads * Blog * Twitter

Giveaway

The author is giving away one (1) ebook copy of Kate Triumph.

Open internationally.

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★★ COVER REVEAL & GIVEAWAY ★★ Reminiscence by Sara V. Zook

Reminiscence

by Sara V. Zook

Genre: Paranormal YA

Release Date: November 14th, 2014

Hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions (http://bookenthusiastpromotions.com)

Abuse. Torment.

Saint’s undying love for her.

A witch—or four. The world’s most powerful spell. The creation of the unnatural.

Her undying love for Draco.

A war is brewing between the Light, the Dark and the Unknown.

In the midst of it all stands Sarenah. Her memories have returned as she rewinds the past in order to move forward with her future so she can reclaim what, or who, belongs only to her, but will she be able to accept the disturbing secrets that go along with the reminiscence?

In the midst of dragging trees, I saw Sarenah sitting on the back porch, her dress hiked up around her thighs from the heat as she was thumbing through a book. She wasn’t even acknowledging the fact that I was there, nor did she care that I could see her bare legs. She was being totally inappropriate and rude at the same time … and I liked it. I felt intrigued to my very core, so much that I had to go over and say something to her.

“Hey,” I mumbled.

Without looking up, she reiterated, “Hey.”

My frustration grew as I clenched my fingers into my palms. “Is that book so interesting that you can’t even talk to me?”

That had gotten her attention. She slammed the book shut and stood up, the dress falling back down around her ankles.

“Are you so interesting that I can’t even read my book?” Her dark eyes were wild and she was glaring at me as if she wanted me to spontaneously combust. “Don’t you have a job to do? Look at this mess.” Her eyes moved to the yard. “All of these branches everywhere. My uncle will have your hide.”

She was so angry. I couldn’t help myself. I wiped the sweat from my brow with the back of my hand and busted out laughing.

Sarenah’s hands moved to her hips. I thought she was about to hit me.

I threw up hands up in defense. “I’m …” The laughter got the best of me again. “I’m sorry, Sarenah.” I flashed her an apologetic grin. “It’s just, I think this is the first time I’ve ever heard you talk so much and you’re spatting off at me like some crazy person.”

Her gaze had softened then. She bit her bottom lip so she wouldn’t crack a smile herself. “A crazy person, huh?”

I nodded, stopping to really get a good look at Sarenah’s face, her stunning features and the way her dark eyes popped out in a terrific way. This was Rebecca’s sister? I had been missing out. Sarenah’s strange ways evaporated into enticement before me.

I spent the rest of the evening listening to Sarenah talk as I took all of it in. The tree branches were still scattered all over the yard, but I doubted her uncle would be back anytime soon to discover the mess. Everyone knew he lived at the saloon. She talked mostly about her parents. She had a deep ache from the loss inside of her. She was in a great deal of pain that I felt my own heart hurting along with hers, for her. I found myself wrapping my arm around her and her actually letting me get away with it, but I wasn’t in it to try to make a move. I found myself wanting to comfort Sarenah, tell her everything was going to be okay. I wanted her to trust me and continue to confide in me. She leaned her head against my shoulder, being content to be there with me. It felt incredible as if I had been able to tame her so easily. She was feisty but now so serene. I could’ve lived in that moment forever and been completely content to just be lucky enough to be near her, to smell the flower fragrance in her hair as it fell down across my arm. I rubbed her shoulder with my fingertips. She started humming, the sound making the chaos within me only increase. It was in that moment that I had leaned over and my lips found hers. It had been brief but magnificent, and I was wondering if my mind was ever going to be the same.

Sara V. Zook is a paranormal/fantasy writer. She is the author of the Strange in Skin Trilogy, Clipped, Evanescent, Book 1 in The Sempiternal Series and A Magic Within. She lives in Pennsylvania with her 3 small children and husband.

Reminiscence (The Sempiternal Series Book 2 Pre-Order links)

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/10qRnn3

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1vUYpx7

Evanescent (The Sempiternal Series Book 1)

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1xexYzz

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1FqpBHa

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Thursday, October 30, 2014

Book Blast & Giveaway ~ Gypsy Hunted by Andrea Drew

Gypsy Hunted

by Andrea Drew

BLURB

Reluctant psychic Gypsy Shields—she prefers the term "intuition consultant"—finds herself in trouble when, on her way home from a blind date, she interrupts a kidnapping in progress. She attempts to intervene, and her heroics are repaid with a collision between the attacker's van and a brick wall. She awakens in the hospital, paralyzed on her left side and unable to speak. This also means she's unable to share her vital information as a witness. Fortunately, she is able to use her telepathic connection with her niece to throw a line out to a police detective she knows: Connor Reardon, her blind date.

Connor will do anything to protect Gypsy, and he listens to her claims of psychic power willingly, as he's concealing certain powers of his own. Nor are they all he's concealing. Gypsy senses a part of her new ally's mind is closed to her—what she cannot know is that Connor suspects the kidnapper is someone close to him, and the kidnapping victim holds secrets that will tear through Connor's department, putting careers and lives at risk. Including Gypsy, still in hospital and vulnerable as the attacker turns his sights on her once again.

Can she use her powers to track down the perpetrator and prevent her own murder?

Excerpt

As a telepath, I pick up on feelings and instinct more than most. Other people like to call me a psychic medium, but I’m not really comfortable with the label. Apart from the fact that I do it for love, not money, I’m sure once someone learns I’m a telepath they conjure up images of dodgy fraudsters on stage at mass events, feeding grieving families what they desperately need. I’d rather not expose myself to more ridicule than necessary. My abilities happened almost by accident—apparently my grandmother was ‘fey,’ as my mother enjoyed mentioning.

I was sure the pinging, nagging doubt had something to do with Aaron’s home life. “What about you, Gypsy? What do you do?” Connor relaxed his posture, the glass poised before his mouth. He had taken on a different look, probably from the wine, or even better, from unfulfilled lust.

“I write business plans. I’ve also been told I have pretty damn good intuition.”

That seemed to spark Connor’s interest. He pulled at the other earlobe.

“Oh yeah? What does your intuition tell you about me, then?”

“That you seem like a nice enough guy.”

Connor moistened his lips, which quivered with what I suspected was amusement as he sat legs wide apart

“And?”

“And you’re fishing for compliments that I’m not going to give you just yet.”

Connor threw his head back, indulging in a belly laugh. The rich, throaty sound filled me with pleasure. A smile I couldn’t suppress burst through.

“That’s a fair call, Gypsy, fair call.”

The silence was a comfortable one, our shared joke establishing the early threads of friendship.

About the Author

Andrea Drew has been a commercial copy writer and resume writer for over a decade.

She's written for celebrity stylists, assisted business coaches and start-ups, written grants for not for profits, delivered marketing presentations to business owners, and attends Australian writing conventions.

Her self-published book "Pro Resumes Made Easy" has been downloaded over 40,000 times.

Andrea has one husband (more than enough), three kids, a pet rock (her daughters not hers), and a house in the suburbs, where she's hard at work on the second novel in the Gypsy series.

Email her at andrea@andrea-drew.com.

Gypsy Hunted her first fiction novel (her first suspense thriller set in her home town of Melbourne Australia) is available for pre-order on Amazon prior to release on October 28 2014.

Social Media Links

Twitter * Goodreads * Blog

Gypsy Hunted is available to order on Amazon

Giveaway

Andrea will be awarding a $20 amazon gift card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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Book Tour & Giveaway ~ Funeral with a View by Matt Schiariti

Funeral with a View

by Matt Schiariti

Published: September 28th, 2014

Word Count: 101,000

Genre: Romance

Content Warning: Mild sexual content, minor profanity and adult themes

Age Recommendation: 18+

Synopsis

Thirty-two-year-old Richard Franchitti didn’t believe in love at first sight until he met free-spirited Catherine and started a brand new life. A devoted father and husband, Richard fought to keep his family together when it would have been easier to walk away.

Tragedy left him with unfinished business.

Now a disembodied spirit, Richard relives his most important days. From the beginnings of unconditional love, to the joy of his daughter’s birth, and all of the difficult times in between, each treasured moment brings him closer to answering the question:

“Why am I still here?”

He was born Richard Franchitti, but his friends call him Ricky. Welcome to his funeral.

Amazon | Goodreads

About the Author

Matt Schiariti is an Engineer by profession, guitar legend in his own mind, and would-be author, time permitting. When he’s not writing, he’s reading. When he’s not reading, he’s enjoying a beer sporting a fancy name on the label. When he’s not enjoying a fancy-named beer, he’s most likely reading some more. Sometimes he does all three at once, to disastrous effect.

Matt lives in southern New Jersey with his wife, two children, and insane dog. Funeral with a View is his second published novel, but not his last.

You have been warned.

Amazon Author Page | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Blog

Excerpt

I’d met Catherine Maddox (now the widow Catherine Frachitti) through a friend of mine. My best friend, in point of fact. Bill Henly.
While they were dating.
That tidbit must sound inherently evil. There are rules, especially among guys. The Man Code, to be more specific. Every male on the planet is born with these rules branded into his DNA. Don’t date a friend’s ex, don’t have sex with a friend’s girlfriend, so on and so forth.
Let the record show that I am no home wrecker! Bill and Catherine had been seeing each other when I met her. Nothing serious, and for reasons only known to them, their relationship didn’t last. After Bill did the requisite guy thing (read: talked post-breakup smack about her), I did the right thing and asked him if he’d be okay with me asking her out.
The conversation went something like this:
Me: So, you’re not dating Cat anymore, huh?
Bill: Nope.
Me: Um, would it be cool if I asked her out?
Bill: Yeah, sure.
It was a conversation for the ages. A manly conversation of epic proportions. It may seem flimsy to an outsider, but to guys it was volumes’ worth.
I let the breakup embers fade, and a few weeks later, when I’d mustered up the testicular fortitude, I asked Catherine out. After a moment’s thought, she said yes. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Dating Catherine put no apparent stress on my relationship with Bill. Good looking in an All-American way, he never lacked for female companionship. At six-foot-five and almost as broad, he towered over my meager five-foot-eight. He’d played football in high school and college, earning an athletic scholarship to Princeton University, but blew out his knee in his second year. His spare time no longer filled with practices and games, he hunkered down and focused on his studies which paved the way to his future career as a financial advisor. Still, he remained an ever faithful workout freak. The combination of good looks, muscular build, and his large salary lured many a willing woman into his bed. Catherine was no exception, but that wasn’t entirely Bill’s doing.
The story is a simple one. Back in the day the three of us were nigh inseparable. Catherine and I were always double-dating with Bill and his love du jour. Even if he wasn’t seeing anybody (the exception to the rule), the three of us would go out to eat, see movies, hang out on lawn chairs in the summer drinking concoctions with little umbrellas in them.
It was on one such occasion when things took a change for the pornographic. I’ll never forget that day as long as I live. Or as long as I’m dead.
That day is where this story truly starts.

Giveaway

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Release Blitz & Giveaway ~ Songbird Freed by Lisa Edward

The 3rd and final book in the Songbird Trilogy by Lisa Edward is now LIVE!!!

Blurb

My name is Tara O’Connell, and I’ve always believed we control our own fate. That life is a journey with many roads, and the choices we make can shape our future.

Life has presented me with two paths and I’ve chosen one.

Was it right? Did I make the best decision?

After the uncertainty of the last twelve months, my destiny is now crystal-clear to me. I have a man I love more than words can express, a thriving business, and the best friends anyone could ask for. But just when I thought I could put the turmoil of my past behind me and move on, a life-changing phone call has rocked me to the core and turned my life upside-down once more.

To make matters worse, influences outside my control have taken hold and are shattering my perfect world.

But some things are worth fighting for.

Dreams can come true and I’ll do everything in my power to make them happen. But dreams can also be smashed into tiny pieces, and no matter how hard we fight or how hard we wish for something to be, sometimes with the hand we’ve been dealt, we can never win.

Buy Links

Amazon US - http://amzn.to/1tatsS4

Amazon UK- http://amzn.to/1w9gvKN

Amazon CA- http://amzn.to/1rNAxFl

Amazon AU- http://bit.ly/1tARzL9

Author Bio

While Lisa Edward has called Melbourne Australia home for her entire life, she has lived and worked in England, and travelled through most parts of Europe and the United States. She loves nothing more than spending time with her husband and beautiful daughter, or curling up into the early hours of the morning with a great novel. By day, Lisa works in the analytical IT field, so relishes the opportunity to foster her creative side through writing. Her deep appreciation for literature was nurtured from a young age, being taught to respect books and get lost in their stories. She enjoys reading honest and realistic novels that are relatable, thought provoking and leave a lasting impression. She can’t write without music playing, using the emotions from different songs to invoke that of her characters. Lisa takes inspiration from her own life experiences, the people around her and those she has met in her travels.

www.facebook.com/AuthorLisaEdward

www.goodreads.com/LisaEdward

Other books in the series

Songbird (Book 1)