Book Blast, Giveaway and Scavenger Hunt: Dawn of the Apocalypse by E.S.P.

Dawn of the Apocalypse

by E.S.P.

Publisher: Mind Candy Media

Publication Date: Aug 9, 2013

Post-Apocalyptic, YA

January 1, 2000.

May 21, 2011.

December 21, 2012

These are just a few of the days humans prophesied as bringing catastrophic events that would end the world. We predicted nuclear warfare. Drastic climate change. A call from God.

We were wrong. 

Cue the gargoyle invasion—laboratory bred mutants designed to slaughter humans. When the government goes AWOL and gargoyles are swarming by the hundreds, it's up to the citizens of the United States to regroup and save themselves. 

Meet Cliff Matthews, a teenage boy separated from his entire family with the exception of his younger sister, whom he is desperate to keep alive. Along the quest to save their lives, he encounters people who aren't all that they seem. Everyday's a battle, but if he can't trust his own species, where does that leave his family? 

And we can't forget the man who may be willing to sacrifice Cliff's life, if it means world domination.

In terms of doomsday, no one could've seen this coming. The dawn of the apocalypse…

Purchase Links: 

About the author:   Being the daughter of an accomplished author, E.S.P. grew up listening to stories and telling her own to classmates. After writing for several years and even publishing some short works, she finally decided to take the plunge to write (plus finish!) a full length novel. Thus, Dawn of the Apocalypse was born. When she's not writing, she's either reading books, blogging at whoistheserialreader.blogspot.com, or watching eighties movies twitter.com/bloggerESP

Blog for the book

SCAVENGER HUNT WORDS:  I'M  and FORGET

Trailer Reveal Blitz and Giveaway: Deadly Kisses by Kerri Cuevas

From Kerri Cuevas: I’m excited to share with you my new book trailer for Deadly Kisses created by Butch DeLuca Music and Artistry. I hope you love it as much as I do!

And to celebrate the upcoming publication of Deadly Darkness, book 2 in the Deadly Kisses series (WiDo Publishing, 2014), I’m having a signed book giveaway with one original piece of artwork that will be signed by the artist (there are eight pieces to choose from).

BUT that’s not all. Butch agreed to do a FREE BOOK TRAILER for one lucky person interested in having one made for them. The offer will be good for one year. Good luck and see below to enter the Rafflecopter giveaways.

Deadly Kisses

by Kerri Cuevas

Publication Date: March 2013

YA Paranormal Romance

Aiden Grant has a killer kiss.  Literally. And it’s not every reaper who gets to work with the Sixteenth President. Sure, Honest Abe likes to throw out history lessons with reaping assignments, but when you’re favored by the ancients, grim reaper life is pretty sweet for a newly dead seventeen-year-old.

Then things get messy.

Aiden is assigned to reap the soul of Bee, the only girl he has ever loved. When Aiden’s kiss of death fails, intertwining their souls, she is still very much alive and they are both in trouble. The ancients want Bee, who has special powers of her own, and they’ll do anything to get her.

Some rules are meant to be broken, even if that means Aiden must bargain with his own soul to save Bee. Who knew the afterlife could get so complicated?

Purchase Links: 

  WiDo Publishing

About the author: Kerri Cuevas was born and raised in Rhode Island. She moved to New Hampshire in 2005. When she's not writing, she's chasing chickens on her small farm or searching for the ultimate mac-a-cheese recipe.

Kerri went to college for Early Childhood Education but now writes books for young adults full-time. Her storytelling stems from watching too many horror flicks as a teen, but she no longer needs to sleep with the lights on.

Author Links: 

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

Book Trailer Artist Links
Website / Facebook

Giveaway #1 Signed book of Deadly Kisses and one original picture signed by the artist (there are 8 to choose from)
a Rafflecopter giveaway


Giveaway #2 One Book Trailer (Good for one year)
 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway: The Almond Tree by Michelle Cohen Corasanti

The Almond Tree

by Michelle Cohen Corasanti

The Almond Tree is the story about how one Palestinian boy uses his scientific genius to achieve equality in Israel and international acclaim.

Gifted with a mind that continues to impress the elders in his village, Ichmad Hamid struggles with the knowledge that he can do nothing to save his friends and family. Living on occupied land, his entire village operates in constant fear of losing their homes, jobs, and belongings. But more importantly, they fear losing each other.

On Ichmad’s twelfth birthday, that fear becomes reality. With his father imprisoned, his family’s home and possessions confiscated, and his siblings quickly succumbing to hatred in the face of conflict, Ichmad begins an inspiring journey using his intellect to save his poor and dying family. In doing so he reclaims a love for others that was lost through a childhood rife with violence, and discovers a new hope for the future.

The Almond Tree (Garnet Publishing, 2012) is available in digital and trade paperback editions and has been receiving praise from readers, authors and editors throughout the world.

Writing for The Huffington Post, Guillermo Fesser praised The Almond Tree as “A story that grabs you from the first page and makes your heart go out to the Palestinians without pointing fingers at anyone.”

Kirkus Reviews writes “Corasanti’s accomplished debut novel offers a humanistic look into the Israeli-Palestinian conflict…Sensitive, moving and competently written, a complex novel as necessary as ever.”

About the author: Michelle Cohen Corasanti has a BA from Hebrew University in Jerusalem and a MA from Harvard University, both in Middle Eastern Studies. She also holds a law degree. A Jewish American, she has lived in France, Spain, Egypt, and England, and spent seven years living in Israel. She currently lives in New York with her family. The Almond Tree is her first novel.

Author/book links:

Twitter / Facebook / Reading Guide / Excerpts

Thanks to Authors on the Web, I have 2 copies of The Almond Tree to giveaway.  Just sign up on the rafflecopter below. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Blast: Be Careful What You Wish For by R.K. Avery (with Giveaway)

Be Careful What You Wish For

by R.K. Avery

Bunting Valley, North Dakota—a scenic and picturesque town where nothing dreadful ever happens—is a place where people feel safe leaving their front doors unlocked and their cars running in the driveways. So when beautiful, blue-eyed, three-year-old Maggie Taylor mysteriously vanishes, the Bunting Valley Police Department begins a kidnapping investigation that uncovers unthinkable crimes spanning many years—not only in Bunting Valley, but also in surrounding states and jurisdictions.

 Bea Miller is a penniless widow, living a meager existence among the town’s residents with her four young, rambunctious boys. Her entire life she wished and dreamed of having a little girl of her own. When everything she did to have one of her own failed, Bea takes matters into her own hands and lives by the chilling words of her estranged father, “If you want something, take it.” 

She and the boys visit a local beach and find the little girl of her dreams. She snatches the girl and they disappear in seconds, only to leave the parents bewildered and devastated.

 Through the handwritten journals of Bea Miller, she takes you on a journey into the deranged mind of an individual who believes you can make your own wishes come true—at any expense; and sadly, also at the expense of others.

Purchase your copy:

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author: As a recent graduate of the Institute of Children’s Literature, R. K. Avery has written numerous, unpublished, children’s picture books, but her true passion is writing adult fiction.

“Having the ability to make people laugh or cry, just by using the written language, is a gift so powerful and I hope, one day, my name will be among those who possess it” ~ R.K. Avery

Be Careful What You Wish For is a psychological thriller.  She calls it “works of fiction with truth sprinkled throughout” and is available for sale in both e-Book and paperback or wherever fine books are sold.  Having been kidnapped from a beach as a small child, she has pondered time and time again what her life may have been like if her story didn’t have a happy ending.  Now she wrote her own ending.

R. K. Avery lives in Northeast Ohio with her husband, two kids, and four dogs.  She often jokes instead of a sign that says, "Don't let the dogs out,” she has a sign that says, "Don't let any more dogs in."

Visit her website at www.rkaverybooks.com.

Connect & Socialize with R.K.!

TWITTER | FACEBOOK | YOUTUBE (Preview)

Cover Reveal: The Devil's Tattoo by Nicole R. Taylor

The Devil's Tattoo

by Nicole R. Taylor

Cover designed by Paper and Sage Designs.

Publication Date: Sept 1, 2013

Contemporary Romance 18+

Zoe Granger picked up her first guitar the day her heart was smashed into a billion pieces. It was a way to keep her mind off her inevitable downward spiral, but music soon became her escape. She's been burned too many times to tell and is just happy to coast through life, never putting herself out there. That's until her best friend Dee suggests they start a band and suddenly she finds herself not just a part of it, but fronting the whole outfit.

They call themselves The Devil's Tattoo and when they release their debut EP, it rockets to the top of the charts and it's like an overnight fairytale. Contracts, photo shoots, royalties and interviews are heaped onto the shy Zoe and it's like she's finally found her place. Then comes the phone call that changes everything. They've been asked to co-headline a tour with one of the hottest bands of the moment, The Stabs and Zoe will never be the same again.

Will Strickland is one fourth of the hottest indie rock band to ever grace the airwaves. He's the bass player in The Stabs, hot as hell and could have his pick of any girl that flings herself at him. But he's only got eyes for Zoe and she has no idea why he'd bother. She's got one hell of a trust issue and an attitude to boot and Will seems to be the one who wants to tame her, but is he game enough?

The Devil's Tattoo and The Stabs go on the road and it's either going to be a highway to hell or a stairway to heaven. Only time will tell who will come out on top and Zoe's determined to do it without getting her heart broken… again.

About the author:  Nicole R. Taylor is an Australian born paranormal, fantasy and contemporary fiction author.  She is a graduate of the Univerity of Ballarat Professional Writing and Editing programme and is a former music memorabilia sales person and grocery merchandiser.  She currently lives in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia with a two year old rescue cat named, Burger.  She enjoys reading, writing (of course!), traveling and a little too much chocolate.  One day she hopes to sky dive, but has to work up the courage first.

The first in her new paranormal fantasy series, The Witch Hunter Saga is available in e-edition and print from March 20th, 2013.

Author Links:
Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

15 Minutes by Jill Cooper - Book Review

Title: 15 Minutes
Author: Jill Cooper

About the Book: I have 15 minutes to save my mother’s life….

15 minutes is all the Rewind Agency gives you in the past, but for Lara Crane it’s enough time to race through the city, find her mother, and stop her from being killed in a mugging that happened over ten years ago.

But that’s not how it happened. The story she’s been told all her life is a lie and when Lara takes a bullet meant for her mother, her future changes forever.

The love of her life acts like a stranger. Her simple life is replaced with a giant house, glamorous clothes and a new boyfriend.

Except someone knows her secret. And he will try to stop her at every turn as she races against the clock to unravel a dangerous conspiracy.

15 Minutes is an edgy high octane YA thriller that can be described as Back to the Future meets Inception where the people Lara trusts change in an instant. She is in a timeline she doesn't understand, and is about to make one fatal mistake as she faces an enemy so familiar, he’s family.

Purchase Links:

~Amazon~     ~Barnes and Noble~     ~Kobo Books~     

My thoughts: Talk about trying to wrap your mind around the complexities of time travel and what ifs!   Lara has been told that when she jumps back into time, it is like she will be a hologram.  People will be able to see her, but they will not be able to interact with her.  This truth does not hold true in her case though.  On her first jump she runs into a waitress and knocks her tray out of her hands.  This knowledge sets off a chain of events that quickly escalate out of Lara's hands.  

As the past changes, so does the present and Lara has a new family and a new boyfriend and doesn't know who she can trust.  It is not the present that she wanted when she jumped into the past and now she knows she must jump again.

As you can see from the excerpts below - this book contains both action and romance.  I think Ms. Cooper did a good job of letting you know which reality you were in as it could have gotten very confusing.  It was also interesting to see how Lara's feelings and memories change after she comes back from the past.  How hard would it be to be living one way of life and then 15 minutes later to have a totally new reality and new memories flooding your brain - but still have the old memories as well?  

I look forward to reading more by Jill Cooper.

~I received a complimentary eCopy of 15 Minutes from the author in exchange for my unbiased review.~

Action

Locker 63.

My eyes sweep aisle after aisle until I find the one I’m looking for. It’s blue and unassuming, but it could unlock the secret to everything. I lick my lips as I insert the key, close my eyes, and with a prayer, twist.

Click.

The door opens, and inside I find more than documents. There’s also a pink hoodie, a duffle bag, and a fresh change of clothes.

What was I preparing for? What was I doing? I open the manila envelope on the bottom and flip through the documents—a lot of reports, surveillance photos, old newspaper clippings. I don’t have time to go through all of it now, so I stash them in my duffle bag and throw on some new clothes.

A tight-fitting t-shirt, pink hoodie, and comfortable blue jeans are my new outfit. It’s a weird choice for trendy, sophisticated Lara, but she was up to something big. Real big.

I lift the hidden duffle bag out of the locker, surprised at how hefty it is. I unzip it and find money inside. A lot of money. I touch it. Must be thousands of dollars bound together in neat little stacks.

My heart quickens as I wonder where it came from and what I was planning to do with it. If ever there was a moment for a flashback, it's now. A shining blue cell phone at the bottom of the duffle bag catches my attention. I pull it out and see a note stuck to it. In my handwriting.

Hide in the shower. Move fast.

Wide eyed and with a pounding heart, I slam the locker, grab everything, and run down the hall. I turn into the showers and duck into a stall, the vinyl shower curtain flapping against me. I still it with trembling fingers as I hear heavy steps enter the locker room.

Romance

I cover my head as a set of tires squeal. Donovan’s sports car pulls up on the curb to cover me. I dive into the passenger seat, my head down low and scream, “Go!”

Donovan peels away from the curb in a 180 and drives back the way he came. His eyes stay on the road, but his hand squeezes mine. “You all right?”

I nod and clutch the duffle bag to my chest. “Keep driving.”

“Where?” His eyes flash from the road to me.

“Police station. I need you to drop all this stuff off in case I don’t return.”

Anxiety creeps into his voice. “Return? Return from where?”

“The past.”

“Lara, you’re not making any sense.”

“I know, and I’m sorry.” I bite my lip. “There’s no time to explain. I need to fix all of this so my dad was never framed and Molly was never kidnapped, and there’s only one way to do that. I need to go back to the beginning.”

Donovan drives under an old abandoned bridge. He cuts the engine and turns to me. His eyes study me, and I study him because I’m afraid the next time I see him, he won’t love me at all.

“How do we do that? Do we need to get into Rewind?”

I shake my head and stroke his cheek. “Not anymore.”

The features of his face are drawn together. “You never make things dull, you know that?”

I laugh and lean over. In the background, sirens wail and I hear a rush of footsteps. “Remember me when I’m gone.”

“Don’t talk like this. I could never forget you, Lara.”

When our lips meet, the moment is magical. I feel warm everywhere in the blanket of his love, understanding, and compassion. My mind opens up, and suddenly I remember everything.

Everything.

I wish to stay with him forever. I grip his jacket, and his arms squeeze me tight.

But in my mind, I see an alley. 

About the author: I could write this in the third person. I could tell you what I like, where I was born, and what my favorite things are.

But instead, I'll say I don't want to write like everyone else. I don't want to craft stories you've read a thousand times before. I want my novels to be a cinematic experience, blending themes, genres, and situations unlike any you've ever read.

I want to break the rules. I want you to break out in a cold sweat as you read my books out of fear, love, and excitement. I want my books to be an experience. When you finish, I want you to feel something. Good or bad. If you do, then I'll have succeeded. If not, I'll keep trying.

Author Links:  Jill Cooper, Twitter, Facebook

Blog Tour: The Controlled by Becky Komant

Title: The Controlled
Author: Becky Komant

About the book: Sarah Ruiz thought she had it all – until someone entered her life who was hell-bent on destroying her.

Sarah Ruiz is a business owner, a fitness trainer and a mom.  Married to the ever-so-charming and wealthy Alex Ruiz, Sarah appears to have the perfect life.  But behind closed doors, he revealed a side of himself that destroyed her love for him.  With five beautiful children and unable to leave her situation, Sarah knows she must make changes.

Sarah’s journey to freedom take a turn when a man, Gabe Benoit, promises to help her.  Thus starts a whirlwind of romance, intrigue, seduction, blackmail and manipulation.  No matter which way Sarah turns, she is backed into a corner before she can even realize it.  When she finally has promise of a better future, she must use every ounce of her strength to work her way through the web of lies and find truth on her journey to independence.

About the author: Becky Komant was born and raised in beautiful Kelowna, British Columbia.  Spending most of her childhood years outdoors and playing sports, Becky’s passion for fitness was ignited.  Working at a gym at the age of 16, she then went on to an advertising position at a local newspaper following high school. Soon after, Becky started her family and wanted to be more involved with her children.  It was then that Becky followed her passion and founded a successful private training studio.   Realizing that being a trainer was much more than just helping people physically, this lead her in the direction of becoming a certified life coach.  Because of her fitness and life coaching career, Becky always envisioned writing a book.  Overtime and thought, it evolved into her first novel, The Controlled. With more writing on the horizon, she hopes to inspire others on many levels. Becky continues to reside in Kelowna with her family.

Her latest book is the adult suspense thriller, The Controlled.

Learn more about Becky at www.beckykomant.com.

Cover Reveal: Long Road, Full Speed Ahead by Emily Walker

Long Road, Full Speed Ahead

by Emily Walker

Grace finds herself with a toxic friend and a brand new hobby when she discovers meth. She had a promising future before Grayson came into the picture. A wolf in sheep’s clothing he soon shows his true colors and they are painted with black and blue.

The drugs cause more problems than they fix, but lost in the intoxicating world of numbness she must find herself through abuse, addiction, and abortion. Will she let the drugs take her out of the world, and be forever numb, or will an unlikely love pull her out and make her feel again?

Buy Links:

~Amazon~

Read the first chapter here:

Long Road, Full Speed Ahead

About the author: Emily Walker loves creating worlds and stumbling around in them. She is constantly losing her chap-stick, and has an obsession with the color pink. Currently a resident of the mountains and loving the view she writes mostly paranormal fiction, and horror. Her small family consists of her red bearded other half, a rat terrier named Rebel, and a cat called Mr. Creepy.

Author Links:

Website

Blog

Review Site

Facebook

Twitter

Book Promo: The World Below by Mike Phillips

Virtual Book Tour - May 6 - June 2

May 6 - Reading Addiction Blog Tours - Meet and Greet

May 7 - Logikal Blog - Guest Post/PROMO

May 9 - Kindle Obsessed - Guest Post/PROMO

May 10 - Laurie's Thoughts and Reviews - Interview/PROMO

May 12 - Bunny's Reviews - Interview/PROMO

May 14 -My Reading Addiction - Review

May 16 - Texas Book Nook - Review

May 18- Playing Jokers - Review/Guest Post

May 20 - Bea's Book Nook - Guest Post/PROMO

May 21 - Author Ever Leigh - PROMO

May 22 - Bibliophilia, Please - PROMO

May 24 - Must Read Faster- Guest Post/PROMO

May 26 -Mythical Books - Guest Post/PROMO

May 27 - Books and Needlepoint - PROMO

May 28 - My Cozie Corner- Review

May 30 - Faerie Tale Books - Review/Guest Post

May 31 - Noemi Betancourt- Review/Guest Post

June 2 - RABT Reviews - Review

The World Below

Chronicles of the Goblin King - Book One

by Mike Phillips

Horror/Urban Fantasy

Date Published: 4/1/2013

In ancient times, magical creatures inhabited the earth. They lived on mountaintops, in trees, at  the bottom of lakes and rivers. But that was long ago, before the human race declared war on the creatures they feared and hated. Now the enchanted peoples are all but gone. Those few that remain fear being stretched out on an examination table in some secret, governmental facility. 

The only place they can hide from the ever increasing number of satellites and smart phones is in the World Below.  Mitch Hardy is going through a hard time in his life. In his early twenties, he was working his way through college when he suffered an accident that left him flat broke and physically deformed. When Mitch decides to make a fresh start in a new town, things start looking up. He finds a place to live, a decent job, good friends. He even meets a nice girl. Unknown to Mitch, his new girlfriend is one of the Elder Race, what some call the Faerie Folk. Mitch doesn’t know that Elizabeth is looking for a father she never knew. The key to finding him is somehow tied up with the mysterious Blade of Caro. Desperate, she steals the Blade from its protector, the despotic ruler of the World Below, the Dragon of Worms, Baron Finkbeiner. When Elizabeth is kidnapped by the Baron, Mitch is pulled into a world or magic and monsters he never imagined. 

Purchase Links:

~Amazon~     ~Barnes and Noble~     ~Damnation Books~

Excerpt from The World Below.

Magic sigils were hidden all over the city, but along the Riverwalk powers of earth and water converged. Magic here was strange and unpredictable, but always strong. A star was carved on the nearest of the old cottonwoods. It was ancient magic, made perhaps by the native tribes who once inhabited this place.

Hume could not guess what its purpose was. For all he knew, it would take him away to some desperate corner of the underworld to be forever enslaved. He did nothing to protect himself. He had to let events run their course.

Finding Lady Elizabeth proved impossible. If this stranger had information, then he would surrender himself to free his sister.

A breath of chill air interrupted his thoughts. He shivered.

It was his humanity giving him warning. People who didn’t know any better would attach some old wives’ tale to the feeling, but he was not so blinded by the mundane. No one tread on his future grave. Evil approached.

In the world outside the reach of the cottonwood, the sun escaped below the horizon. Night had come.

Darkness coalesced; growing deeper in this haven below the trees, gathering until the river and the bay and everything beyond the sphere of darkness was lost. A black bird flew to a nearby piling. The crow was mangy and looked only moments from death by old age. It ruffled its ancient feathers and stared at Hume, penetrating his mind.

Unafraid, he stared back, filling his thoughts with a variety of deaths the crow might suffer at his hand. The bird cawed angrily, its harsh voice a show of defiance.

“Let’s get on with it,” he said. “Sunset was an hour ago.”

“Nightfall is now,” snapped the bird.

“Point taken. My mistake.”

The crow’s voice was as harsh as its call. “Patience Hume, your eagerness does you no credit. A lesser being than I might take it as a sign of weakness, but no advantage will I press. I know what it is to have a loved one in danger.”

“Oh? So, is that why you are here? How nice.”

“Yes, I wish to help you, and I have other reasons.”

“What are they?”

“Patience, Hume. Patience” The crow laughed. “We’ll get to that later.”

“Lovely.”

Another crow flew to the piling. Soon the place within the dark was full of crows. They raced to the piling, circling Hume like a cyclone. He stood still, and though the impossibility of safety seemed assured, he wasn’t touch.

The birds fused together, forming something in the shape of a man. The man was covered in black feathers. He had a crow’s head with a sharp beak and beady eyes. A mantle of greater feathers ringed his neck.

“That’s a little much,” Hume said. “Who are you trying to impress?”

“I must admit I’ve always had the knack for the dramatic. As a show of trust I appear to you as my true self.”

“Does that make you a murder or a man?”

“Ha, ha, quite clever,” said the crow man. “I shall have to remember that one. Yes, quite clever indeed.”

Author Bio: Mike Phillips is author of The World Below and Reign of the Nightmare Prince. His short stories have appeared in ParAbnormal Digest, Cemetery Moon, Sinister Tales, Beyond Centauri, the World of Myth, Mystic Signals and many others. Online, his work has appeared in Lorelei Signal, Kzine, Bewildering Stories, Midnight Times, and Fringe. He is best known for his Crow Witch and Patrick Donegal series.

 Website: mikephillipsfantasy.com