What Are Friends For? by Sarah Sutton Genre: YA Romance
FALLING IN LOVE ISN’T COMPLICATED…UNLESS IT’S WITH YOUR BEST FRIEND.
A close, easygoing friendship can all change with just one kiss. Seventeen-year-old Remi Beaufort learns this the hard way when she plays a blindfolded kissing game at a party.
She thinks she’s kissing Jeremy, the totally hot basketball player she’s been crushing on. And the kiss…it’s amazing. Heart-stopping, world-changing, toe-curling. The kiss makes her forget about her overbearing mother, the next-door neighbor’s drama, and the probability that she’ll fail her senior year. The best kiss of her life makes all that fall away.
Until her blindfold falls off, and she realizes that instead of kissing her crush, she’s kissing Elijah, her best friend since third grade.
Though she manages to convince Elijah that he was kissing his girlfriend, Remi can’t get the thought of his lips on hers out of her head. As things between them grow more and more complicated—because it turns out her fantasizing about his mouth is more of a problem than it sounds—Remi has to make a choice: does she live the rest of her life loving her best friend in secret? Or does she tell the truth and risk ruining their friendship forever?
Heart-melting and romantic, What Are Friends For? is a swoon-worthy best-friends-to-lovers story that will leave you crushing hard.
Sarah Sutton is a YA Romance author, bringing you stories about teenagers falling in love (sometimes with magic)✨She spends her days dreaming up ideas with her two adorable puppies by her side being cheerleaders (and mega distractions).
There are so many scenes in WHAT ARE FRIENDS FOR? that just make me smile when I think of them. So many that I think about from time to time and just grin like a fool. Which is an awesome thing, because I was so afraid I’d never want to go back and look at anything I published—ever again. There’s that constant fear of finding something that you want to go back and fix, right? But this scene? This scene I will love until the end of time.
Without giving too much away, it’s the inciting incident. Between Chapter Four and Chapter Five, I swoon every time. I don’t think there’s ever been a time that I reread that scene and I didn’t squeal a little. Hands down, my favorite scene. If you want to see it, you’ve got to go check it out. *wink*
But as for a scene I can talk about—there’s a scene between Remi and Elijah where they’re looking at each other. Remi is lost in her thoughts about how amazing of a guy Eli is—totally unaware she’s totally staring and he’s totally staring—and just when you think something is about to happen, Elijah laughs. “You blinked,” he says. “I win.”
While Remi was in her own la-la land about him, he thought they were playing a staring contest. I. Love. It.
There were times between us that felt totally normal—like, almost the entire time we’d been cutting out snowflakes, things had felt normal. I hadn’t been staring at his mouth or imagining his body heat enveloping me into a hug. We joked like normal, laughed like normal. But the quiet moments between us had my heart aching, wanting. “See you tomorrow,” Elijah said, and I saw from the corner of my eye the shadow of him rising to his feet. He pressed his hand once against the spot between my shoulder blades before walking off, his socks silent on the wooden floors. I counted each of my breaths as I waited for the sound of the door to open.
It took seven slow inhales and exhales and then Elijah was gone, leaving me with a torrent of thoughts and a hurting heart.
I’m excited to be one of the many tour hosts sharing information about ‘What Are Friends For‘ by Sarah Sutton. If you are as excited about this book as I am, order your copy HERE!
The Final Act (The Straton Trilogy Book 1) by F.R. Merrill Genre: Suspense
Bright lights. Curtain calls. A cruel and unsuspected murder
What is the price of success, and are you willing to pay that price? These are questions F.R. Merrill poses in her debut novel, The Final Act, a thrilling work of suspense set in Broadway.
F.R. Merrill takes us into the life of an assistant producer, Faith Straton who is just one step from bringing her Native American production to Broadway. As she inches closer to her dream, however, things start falling apart. A friend is lost forever, and Faith Straton discovers she is a target for murder.
A professional storyteller and short story writer of more than 15 years, F.R. Merrill’s first novel promises to be a gripping page-turner that’ll not only entertain and thrill readers, but also enthrall them with fascinating insights into Native American culture. The author’s mastery and understanding of human nature and motivations arms the book with all the necessary elements to be a memorable and touching read with valuable life lessons that we can apply to our own lives. The Final Act will have you confronting many of the most difficult questions that plague our times – from the value of financial success and popularity to the importance of other people in our lives. It’s certain to earn a spot as one of the most meaningful and most enriching books to be published this year.
Crossroads (The Straton Trilogy Book 2) by F.R. Merrill Genre: Suspense
Mountain ranges, Ocean Breezes, And Revenge
Seven women come together to journey across Spain. Unsuspected, one member arrives with hatred in her heart and revenge is her only mission.
Lives are threatened, emotions peaked, and miracles abound on this physically demanding hike over 550 miles of Spain’s most beautiful countryside.
This story will appeal to ages 16 to 70 who enjoy stories of determination, travel, history, and suspense.
Note: Characters from a previous book mature in this book. The title of that book is THE FINAL ACT, From Woodstock to Broadway. It too is a short read.
Murder in Mosaic (The Straton Trilogy Book 3) by F.R. Merrill Genre: Suspense
ROMANCE, THE ART OF MOSAICS, AND BETRAYAL
As an unpublished manuscript, MURDER IN MOSAIC won in the Amsterdam Book Festival. The third in the Straton trilogy, before Amanda Straton entrenches into a new life in Florida, she takes time to visit her parents and a friend in Washington, D.C. Then it’s off to Italy to study mosaics. Unprepared she faces the dark force that pursued her in her youth. Evil returns with a vengeance. At the end, the ultimate question that remains, who will pay evil’s demands?
Would you like a chance to win a $25 Visa gift card? Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
F. R. Merrill, author of the Straton Trilogy) The Final Act, Crossroads, and Murder in Mosaic, and storyteller since 1993 bases her stories on adventures from cycling across the U.S. in several directions, cycling the Almafi Coast, cycling from Vienna to Budapest, cycling the Himalayas in Bhutan, and more. She hiked the Camino Del Norte in Spain in 2006, and since childhood has always painted and sculpted. She’s devoted to studies relating to her Native American heritage, and spiritual understanding.
Merrill is married, lives in Melbourne, Fl., assists The Special Spotlight Theater, (helping the challenged build pride through dance), and is a member of the Florida Historical Society, Brevard Cultural Alliance, and Zonta International (fighting against human trafficking).
If you love Fairies, have an insatiable love for the unseen, enjoy a good riddle shrouded with demon twists and believe in soul mates; hang on for a ride with Meridian through the twists and turns in this paranormal love story.
Notorious leader, Warrick has it out for Meridian and her circle of Spirit Guides and plans to use the Hall of Souls to cast Meridian’s father away for fictitious crimes as a cover for his real agenda. Struggles for the balance of power over humankind and a battle for their existence have the Spirit Guides in a precarious position.
Seeking refuge, the Spirit Guides fall deeper in debt to the mysterious fairy Queen as she capitalizes on the Spirit Guides’ weak position. Answering the dark one’s riddle may be the answer, but the sly queen is no stranger to tricks and riddles. The Queen’s agenda may be Meridian’s downfall.
A love triangle is unfolding in the midst of this epic struggle threatening the unity of the Fairies and the Spirit Guides. Human boy Aiden, son of a fallen spirit guide, unbeknownst to him is in the middle of the love triangle and the source of Meridian’s obsession.
In a race to save her father from the Hall of Souls and a fight for humankind, Meridian is on the horizon to finding her soul mate and taking back her home of Etheria until the Fairy Queen’s deception becomes the ultimate price.
MERIDIAN’S curse has left her in a state all her own of amnesia.
She is on Earth lost and afraid with only fragments to piece together her mysterious circumstance. The curse has taken the unimaginable from her, but that is just scratching the surface. The Black Widow curse will reveal itself through the demon’s riddle, the Coven and the Fairy Nymphs.
A trip back to Salem is just what the psychic ordered, but treachery lurks with an ex coven member who calls on demons. The demon realm offers more riddles than answers, but a stroke of luck from the high demon court, brings in a sophisticated demon, Lahash who has grown tired of the games.
The curse hides Meridian’s identity and her memory will unlock the Universal secret of her twin soul to find her way home. As Meridian finds Aiden so do the impacts of her curse and what it could do to their budding relationship.
Meridian’s soul and fate are in the cross hairs, while the odds rise between the demons, witches and the fairies. Finally having found Aiden, the Fairy Queen comes through to send aid to Meridian, but she still doubts herself and contemplates running away from it all. Who is Meridian’s twin soul? Will she go back to Etheria or will the curse reign down on Meridian?
Find out in this dark and twisted paranormal romance.
“Great sequel to the first book in the series! I loved the introduction of Lahash. Reminds me of one of my favorite characters from an older book I read some years ago. It was great to get more into the minds of the lead characters and see that they have some of the same thoughts and emotions just like we do. Anyone who loves a good paranormal book with some villains you will love to hate or just hate and a great plot with some nice twists then I would definitely recommend this book!”
Meridian, stays with Raina the ex-coven member who uses black magic to keep Meridian at her side. Aiden struggles with Meridian’s absence having no idea why she really left him. The demon court has their own agenda in the fight for human souls by keeping Meridian banished, but the elemental fairy nymphs come back again to help and may be the ultimate undoing in the fight to send Meridian home. Using the demon’s lustful ways against the favorite of the court, Lahash, may throw a kink in their demonic plan that involves the hall of souls. One good witch answers another of the demon’s riddle setting off a battle in the dark realm, but the real answer still eludes everyone. Is Meridian’s twin soul Aiden? Is it Relic or Kieren? Meridian finds her twin soul but it comes with a price. In the third of the four installments of Meridian Chronicles series, hang on for love, treachery and a fight for one unique soul that will take you on a ride to a mind blowing ending you won’t see coming.
Keepers & The Soul Key (Meridian Chronicles book 4) by M.D. Fryson Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal Romance
What has happened to Aiden after his selfless act of sacrificing his life for Meridian? Where did Meridian go? True love can break the curse, but only an act of true love from a twin soul sets her free. Their epic and sudden departure have left their friends, witches, fairies, and spirits in search of their souls.
While the high court demons strategize their attack of the hall of souls to absorb the angels’ power — the only demoness at court has her secret obsession, and she used Moloch, the dark one’s soul collector, who may have taken more than just one soul of a wicked witch.
Astaroth’s secret obsession and help from Moloch may indirectly help the dark one’s plan. But there is one problem that lingers.
Lahash, the rogue demon of the high court, has been charged to destroy his obsession, Echo, the Earth nymph. After kidnapping her and taking her to the dark realm, she is weakened and cannot fend off the brooding demon’s lust. In a passionate moment, Lahash finally confesses why he is so obsessed with the nymph, and she admits her secret knowledge of human souls.
The search for Meridian and Aiden surfaces a shocking revelation. Aiden is trapped and needs to be saved, but from whom?
The spirit guides demand the return of a spirit guide from the keepers, who remains in the hall of souls. They believe this spirit guide can stop the demons, save the spirit guide realm, find Meridian, and save humankind.
The keepers, known as the angels, have one request that the chosen one must accomplish before Etheria can be saved, and Aiden to be returned. There is only one weapon that can destroy the demons, and it is the angels’ quartz sword hidden on Earth.
Will Etheria’s chosen one of the spirit realm find the sword? Will the demons be destroyed, or will dark one’s plan triumph? Can the fallen finally be freed of their awful fate? Will Lahash kill Echo?
Find out if all is to be in vain or if the chosen one can defeat the demons, connect with her twin soul, and form the powerful soul key that can save all.
The Chosen (SECTOR C Series Book 1) by Nina Soden Genre: Urban Fantasy
Set in a futuristic dystopian where society is governed by a council of vampires and lycanthropes, selection students are sheltered and raised in a deceptively utopian world. Strict rules are imposed to control population growth, education, and even personal interactions with other members of the Sector, all in the name of safety. When ‘A’ comes of age, she like all youth throughout Sector C and her selection classmates aren’t sent out into the world to find jobs, make money and lead happy carefree lives. They are forced to endure the rigorous physical and mental testing of Selection Week before choosing their destiny or being forced into a fate far worse. Those that make it out alive are announced as sector residence, given a position within the society, and allotted all the privileges of their chosen “culture.” However, when your only choices are vampirism, lycanthropy, breeder, blood donor, or banishment to the Wastelands, what choice do you really have? Suspenseful, intense, passionate, and awash in paranormal delights, Sector C captures the enchantment and mysteries of the supernatural world and the power of friendship.
The Hunted (SECTOR C Series Book 2) by Nina Soden Genre: Urban Fantasy
In the future, most of the world is governed by a council of vampires and lycanthropes. Sector residents are offered the freedom to live as they desire provided they stay and abide by the laws handed down. After being jolted awake by the blaring screech of the sector alarm, Zelina is dragged from her bed, gagged, and tied to a chair. Confronted with the brutal murder of one of her former classmates, she realizes that all eyes are on her as the primary suspect. Whether she was involved or not doesn’t matter. In the eyes of most sector residents, and most Council Members, Zelina is already a pariah—feared for the powers she will certainly come to possess. For she is the first human known to have both vampire and lycanthrope blood flowing through her veins. Zelina will find herself on a gripping adventure that will take her beyond the borders she’s known all her life in an attempt to save those she loves—and herself from becoming The Hunted.
The Bridge (SECTOR C Series Book 3) by Nina Soden Genre: Urban Fantasy
Change is happening all around Zelina and with it a prophesy is revealed. Is Zelina the key to unlocking a new way of existing on earth? What will she do when she discovers the true monsters of Sector C – the darkness that feeds off of the fear and the unknowing. Will she be able to suspend her own disbelief about what is possible and secure a new future? With the help of Merick, a motley crew of defectors, and a host of unexpected allies, Zelina bridges space and time in an attempt to bring forth a new future for all sentient beings. Join Zelina, Merick, and the others as they discover the power of the prophesy and their parts in setting their stagnant world free.
I have always been creative, be it art, theatre, film – anything but singing – you don’t want to hear that! I earned her bachelor’s degree in Theatre and Military Science from EMU where I spent most of my time either on stage, rappelling down buildings, or working one of three jobs. After college, I moved to Los Angeles, like so many other want-to-be actors, in pursuit of my dreams. I worked to pay the bills… but my love was acting and I was actually somewhat successful, mostly in commercials and independent films and I had a great time doing it.
In 2008, after some major life changes, I self-published her first book PRIVATE WORDS UNSPOKEN, a compilation of poetry. Since then, my dreams have gotten bigger and I would like to think my storytelling ability has gotten better. I have done everything from secretarial work to business development to being the Director of a private preschool. I have fired an M16, jumped out of a C130, and given birth – TWICE – but I always return to my art.
Though I’ll forever be a Michigan girl at heart, I now live in the South with my husband and two beautiful children. If I’m not working on my latest story, you can find me lounging with a good book, playing with my kids, or indulging in my unhealthy addiction to Starbucks coffee.
Since I’m participating in my own series blog tour, I thought it might be fun to have a Q&A. So, if you have any questions for me about the books, my writing style, or just being an author, let me know in the comments below. I’d love to start a dialogue.
Bastian Bucco, ghost hunter. Charged with gathering the souls of those chosen to fill the Black Zodiac. A nexus that holds the ultimate power. The souls must be of those who died suddenly. Those whose lives embodied the essence of the Black Zodiac.
The things that motivate people in life, carries over into death. Sex, revenge, power- these are the stories of the chosen ones. The ones to fulfill his duty. But why were they chosen? What, or who has selected these beings?
Find out in the Black Zodiac. Things will never be the same…
Zizi Cole, a born and bred native of Missouri, resides in a small town with her two boys and cat. When she isn’t writing, she likes to spend time with her children and do some reading.
She is a writer of horror, and more recently, has branched out into the realm of fantasy. She’s been an active member in the Indie community- making the best-seller list in her categories, she has also been nominated for several awards including “Best Horror Author”. Zizi’s co-authored fantasy, Afflicted, won second place for “Best Retelling” with Enchanted Anthologies in 2017. Her DAMNED series also took third place for “Best Horror” with Wild Dreams Publishing. She looks forward to meeting her fans at events and connecting with them on social media.
Would you like a chance to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card? Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
Can you, for those who don’t know you already, tell something about yourself and how you became an author?
I’m Zizi Cole. I have been published for almost three years now. My first book Sweet Nightmares came out April 29, 2017. I started writing my first novel because I was bored and laid off from my muggle job. I wrote Sweet Nightmares in a month. Once it was done, I knew I had to publish it. It was a compulsion.
I think realistically I have always been a writer, just haven’t always put pen to paper. I would journal my feelings and thoughts when I was younger and still do when things become too much, but it was something I’ve always done. I would tell stories to my cousins. We would do a round robin type of storytelling.
What is something unique/quirky about you?
I’m shy. People tend to think that I am loud and outgoing, which I am once I get to know you, but I’m innately shy and takes me a while to open up. I was never good at making friends, but the friends I have are ones that I will have for the rest of my life.
Where were you born/grew up at?
I was born and raised in Missouri. I still live in the town I went to high school in. It was only the second town I have ever lived in my entire life. It is a small town, quaint town.
If you knew you’d die tomorrow, how would you spend your last day?
I’d spend it with my kids.
What do you do to unwind and relax?
I watch the Golden Girls or Gilmore Girls. I like the comedy and repetition. I also read or listen to audiobooks.
How to find time to write as a parent?
I find time to write as a parent after work, usually after the boys go to bed. Now that they are older, they give me time to write after I get off work, but I have a hard time concentrating on my books when I can hear them in the other room.
My best time to write is in the morning before everyone gets up. It is calm and peaceful, giving me time to think and let my imagination go wild.
Do you have a favorite movie?
I am a fan of the Hunger Games movies. I’m not sure what it is about them that pull me to them, but I absolutely love it.
Which of your novels can you imagine made into a movie?
I would love all of them to become a move, but I would like to see The DAMNED series to be made into a movie trilogy or Black Zodiac to be made into a Netflix original series. I would also love to see The Missing in a movie. Can I go back to my answer of all of them? 😊
Beverly Ovalle dabbled with writing on and off for years when her best friend finally dared her to submit a story to a writing contest. Beverly decided she had nothing to lose and since she’d always wanted to be an author sent it in and agonized for months waiting to hear back. Contract in hand she has never looked back.
Beverly has been obsessed with dragons and romance since she was a young girl, collecting dragon books and reading everything she could find on them even down to the care of real life dragons. She’s always been slightly panicked that the world as we know it will end, so has prepped for it, haunting survivalist pages and prepper projects she felt she needed in the event SHTF.
An avid fan of all romance, Beverly’s goal is to share her love of the written word and write the hot and erotic romances that she enjoys. She writes what she loves to read and it was only a matter of time before her obsessions crept into her writing for her to share. She hopes you enjoy her tales as much as she loves writing them.
Stealing Hope (A Dragon’s Fated Heart Book 1) by Beverly Ovalle Genre: Paranormal Romance
The apocalypse has come and gone. Those who survived learned to adapt. Dragons awaken to once again reign over the skies.
Upon eruption of a volcano, Ari awakens to a changed world, and a knowing that his dragon’s mate is near. He saves her twice—once as a dragon, and again as a man—and wins her confidence.
Hope cried out, moaning, “just change me with pleasure?”
Hope is restless and unfulfilled until she meets Ari, the man of her fantasies. The sensual tension between them heightens with every touch. When their passion explodes, Hope gets pulled into the dragon’s mating ritual…and into a world of erotic sensation she never dreamed existed but now cannot live without. The dragon binds his mate to him with a ritual that shows Hope her true nature in this humorous erotic romance.
Finding Faith (A Dragon’s Fated Heart Book 2) by Beverly Ovalle Genre: Paranormal Romance
The apocalypse had been and gone. Those left banded together for survival, creating safety from the chaos. They succeeded.
Faith wanted more, she wanted to live, to love, fly free. More than survival, Faith craved adventure. Leaving home, seeking a new life, all that ceased when she witnessed her sister being abducted-by dragons, creatures shrouded in myth. Determined to rescue her, Faith begins an adventure she never wants to end.
Dragon shifter Crag follows his heart, hunting for his fated mate. Once he finds her, Crag is determined to keep her safe, from all threats. Admitting he is a dragon shifter and involved in her sister’s kidnapping may be the end of them.
Until the interference of a race of dragons desperate for survival grasps their only chance, stealing Faith and drawing Crag along to save her.
Saving Grace (A Dragon’s Fated Heart Book 3) by Beverly Ovalle Genre: Paranormal Romance
The apocalypse had come and gone. Secrets lie buried waiting to be found. Dragons are not the only ones awakening to a new world.
Grace has always felt a bit like an outsider, even in her own family. She preferred to do things on her own, ignoring her loneliness. That all changes when Rog barrels into her life, opening her eyes to so much more.
Dragon shifter Rog has seen what problems hiding your inner dragon from your mate brings. Saving his mate from a precarious situation, he changes in front of her. Her awe and hesitant acceptance have him wrapped around her finger in a heartbeat.
Together they find a hidden, cryogenic facility. Do they awaken the lost souls hidden in the depth of the mountain? Dare they take the chance of possibly bringing back the diseases to once again ravage their world?
Those are easy questions, but how can Rog explain the mating ritual to change Grace into a dragon involving himself and other dragons giving her more pleasure in a once in a lifetime experience?
Are you interested in a chance to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card? Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
Read on as Author Beverly Ovalle shares a little about the world of A Dragon’s Fated Heart and reveals a glimpse into the next book in the series!
I’m a bit of a prepper so writing about a post-apocalyptic world isn’t a surprise to anyone that really knows me. In my kitchen I have my go to bag and necessities ready to go. Better yet, we bought an RV and I was dancing around excited that I have my own vehicle that I prep every year, lol.
Naturally I wanted to write about what would happen, but not during. We all know that will be death, destruction and lawlessness. For Pete’s sake most cities have riots when their sports teams win! Or if there is a natural disaster. Looting is the first thing that happens.
No, I wanted to show what would happen when people realize they need to survive. Stealing from others will only do you good for so long-if you don’t die when someone else defends themselves. So, back to an agricultural society. It will be the only way to eat. Hunting, growing and working together. But every community that survives will probably be different. What would you do?
I’m of the firm belief the Amish will be the ones to survive in America. Gasoline will run out eventually. Electricity will be gone unless you’ve got solar or wind power. They already have that going on.
But then I take it to a fantasy world. Dragons wake up, hidden in the recesses of the world.
Because? Obsessed! So much that at one point I had dragons as pets until they passed away.
Saving Grace is my fourth dip into this world. My dragons started out in Colorado and roam the United States, with Rog and Hark checking out Kentucky. An absolutely beautiful state. What I had planned to be stories about six siblings is expanding a bit. One of the dragons in Saving Grace, Indra, is practically begging for his own story. I’ve already bought the cover! You will also meet the future mate of one of Rog’s sisters. Not that any of them realize that. Not yet at any rate.
So, prepping, dragons and sexy men swirl in my brain and pour out to entertain. Once I start writing one of my stories, it’s hard to stop. I hope you enjoy my Dragon’s Fated Heart Series as much as I like writing them.
I’m excited to be one of many tour hosts sharing information about A Dragon’s Fated Heart Series. If you’re intrigued, make sure you order your copies today, just CLICK HERE!
The Rite of Wands (The Rite of Wands Book 1) by Mackenzie Flohr Genre: YA Fantasy
One boy…one Rite… And a world of deadly secrets that could change the course of history—forever
And so begins the tale of Mierta McKinnon. When a horrible fate reveals itself during his Rite of Wands ceremony, he must find a way to change not only his destiny but also the land of Iverna’s.
Forbidden from revealing the future he foresees to anyone, he is granted a wand and his magical powers, but still must master the realm of magic in order to save himself and those he loves.
But Mierta is not the only one with secrets…especially when it’s impossible to know who to trust.
When Lochlann becomes nervous about his upcoming Rite of Wands ceremony, his brother Mierta McKinnon reassures him everything will be okay. But when Lochlann staggers out of his ceremony and refuses to use magic, Mierta McKinnon is determined to find out what really happened.
Meanwhile, the kingdom of Vandolay is under attack by a dangerous, unidentified creature, and Mierta’s father, Mortain McKinnon, requests his son’s assistance to help aid the injured.
But the people of Vandolay aren’t the only ones Mierta must save when someone he holds dear comes face-to-face with the creature and their life hangs in the balance.
Now Mierta must draw upon his strength and his newly acquired magic skills to defeat a dangerous foe and save everyone from death.
2019 Author Academy Awards: Top 10 Finalist – Fantasy
2018 Literary Classics Awards Gold Medal Winner: Best Young Adult Fantasy Novel
2018 Imadjinn Award for Best Fantasy Novel
2018 International Book Awards Finalist in the Fiction: Fantasy
2017 Foreword INDIES Book of Year Awards Silver Medal Winner: Fantasy
Mackenzie is the award-winning author of the young adult fantasy series The Rite of Wands. A storyteller at heart, she loves to inspire the imagination. Mackenzie makes her home in Michigan, where she is currently penning her next adventure.
Would you like a chance to win a Swag Pack with a bookmark, Rite of Wands poster, and Rite of Wands character cards? Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
I am excited to be one of many hosts sharing information about The Rite of Abnegation by Mackenzie Flohr. If you want to check out the books, you can order your copies HERE!
Keeper of Lost Souls (Keeper Witches: Book 1) by Kristy Centeno Genre: YA Urban Fantasy
Bryn has survived high school bullies.
She’s fought demons and won.
She’s even learned to coexist with the permanent haunt of one of her arch enemies.
But she’s never had to contend with a boy she was attracted too.
Much less one that was dead.
When Johnny Zhao’s name pops up in her list of charges Bryn doesn’t think much of him. Until their first meeting ends in near disaster.
It doesn’t take long for her to realize Johnny isn’t a conventional soul in need. He’s much more powerful than any she’s seen before. He’s a coveted target, one that has much to offer demons.
Protecting him becomes a priority, one she takes very seriously.
Now if only she could convince him that he needs her help before his adversaries return to claim what they failed to collect the first time around.
Would you like a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card? See the reveal HERE for special content and a giveaway!
Kristy Centeno loves to spin tales of creatures that go bump in the night, with a sprinkle of romance to top them off. Her passion for writing stems from a lifelong enjoyment of reading and the pleasure derived from the magical worlds created by authors like her. She prefers her female leads strong, independent, and stubborn who will stop at nothing to save their loved ones and protect those they care for.
Kristy currently resides in Pennsylvania with her five kids, a quartet of noisy parakeets, and a spoiled puppy. When she’s not working or writing, she juggles her free time between raising a handful of minions and pursuing other career goals.
I am excited to be one of the many tour hosts sharing information about Kristy Centeno’s Keeper of Lost Souls. If you’d like to order a copy for yourself, or a friend, CLICK HERE!
Chelsea Falin is the 25 year old independent author of well over ten titles. She began writing with the intent to publish in 2006, at age 16, and finally published in 2009, at age 19. Chelsea writes in a variety of genres, including but not limited to: romance, young adult, comedy, cooking, poetry, and dramatic fiction. Professionally, Chelsea is also a freelance blog/article writer, web designer, and book blogger.
In her personal life, Chelsea is the mother of a six year old daughter. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, fishing, hiking, biking, traveling, and spending time with her friends or family.
Willie and Babette have long, long been shielded from their own culture and heritage by their mother. When circumstances change, the girls are thrown into what they were once shielded from – only to find it is nothing like they once believed.
While Babette adjusts easily, Willie finds herself much more hesitant. While she struggles to find her true self, Willie is forced to learn she is not the only one suffering from “Less Than Humble Beginnings.”
“Try to remember everyone here has their demons, but we put those demons to good use. Make ourselves better, stronger, wiser.” – Jack
Willie, despite a rough start, has become immersed in the culture she should have been born into. As she grows in her own knowledge of her ancestral roots, she also grows in who she is as a person. All things are now within her reach, and all she must do is put forth a little effort. With all of this in mind, Willie has decided to dedicate herself towards her own ‘Personal Growth.’
“Our heritage might be bloody, but that’s no reason not to be proud!” -Spike
‘Personal Growth’ is the second installment in the fairly popular indie series, Growing Roots. It is the sequel to ‘Less Than Humble Beginnings.’ Here is what people have said about the series:
“The characters are believable and realistic.”
“Chelsea used concise descriptions of her characters which made it very easy to imagine their interactions.”
“Chelsea Falin is a great story-teller. With her clear descriptions of the characters, settings and dialogue, it was not difficult for me to imagine the characters and to picture every scene. With her excellent weaving of words, the world of Willie came alive as if I’m watching a movie.”
“Being a teenager is never easy, and Willie’s internal struggles were easy to relate to.”
Great Strides (Growing Roots Book 3) by Chelsea Falin
Willie has finally found her father, and he’s welcomed her with open arms. Now she must forge a relationship with the man she never even knew was alive. It isn’t just him, however, Willie must also find out how she fits in with her step-mother and half-siblings. Left in Alabama with no close-in-age peers, Willie makes great strides in finding out who she is as an individual without a group of close friends to rely on.
Alabama offers many firsts for Willie. The most notable in her own mind is her first relationship. There are other firsts in store, however, and a whole new cast of characters to get to know. How will Willie handle this newest experience? Will she handle it in the mature the way she has always handled change? Or will this be the point in which Willie loses herself?
“Genetics are a tricky business at times, and you just never know what you’re going to get when you throw two ancestry’s together.” -Willie’s Mamaw
Living a “normal” life doesn’t always mean that things will always be good. Bad things happen to even the best of people, and this is a life lesson Willie must now learn when tragedy strikes her close-knit group of friends.
As she continues to grow and change, Willie knows that she is far from the girl who arrived in Oklahoma little over a year ago. She’s growing, changing, and working on putting the pieces together in her life – just as her friends struggle to do the same.
“You never know, Willie. Death doesn’t discriminate by age or gender or social status. It’s one of the few things that doesn’t care. When it comes for you, it comes. It could be today, tomorrow, or a hundred years from now, but when your time is up, it’s up. There’s nothing you can do to change that.”-Dakota
Praise for the ‘Growing Roots Series’:
“a great lesson in the way life can change at any time”
“an eye-opener for teenagers and older adults alike”
“Chelsea Falin is a great story-teller. With her clear descriptions of the characters, settings and dialogue, it was not difficult for me to imagine the characters and to picture every scene.”
Would you like a chance to win a free $10 Amazon Gift Card? Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
My arrival home two days before hadn’t been everything I’d hoped. Oh, everyone was excited to see me, but I felt the void of Jack and Spike tremendously. They hadn’t made it back for my homecoming because they’d had to work. I idly wondered whether they’d always have to work now. With their tech school starting up soon, there wouldn’t be any time for a silly sixteen-year-old girl like me.
I couldn’t let myself drown in self-pity. I knew that statement was wrong. Jack, Spike, and Dakota had purposefully waited for me to arrive home before they threw their big house party. Johnny had told me earlier the party would be this Saturday night, and we (along with Lee) would crash at Jack’s new place. Aunt Janie was okay with that because it meant we wouldn’t drive home drunk. I was certain she trusted the older guys to make sure nothing happened to us.
Buck and Takoda had gotten their own place, which was where I headed now. The new place was only a twenty-minute walk, according to my cousins.
I hadn’t called to tell Buck or Takoda I was coming but was eager to get out of the house for a bit. Tiny baby Levi, while adorable, was what Aunt Janie called a “colicky” baby. All I knew was that he screamed for hours on end, and when he slept, the whole house tiptoed around him. I’d asked Johnny and Lee if they wanted to go, but they’d been working on a car project. They were trying to keep up the shade tree business Jack had started while he was gone at school.
When I reached the right area, filled with small homes on small plots, I began to worry I wouldn’t know which house was the right one. I hadn’t had the forethought to ask Johnny or Lee if they knew the house number. I didn’t have to worry long, however, because I soon saw a long, lean form waving from two houses down. As I walked closer, Takoda hollered “Hey, little one!”
I began walking up a short, cracked walkway leading to the front of the house. “Hi, Takoda.”
“I didn’t know you were back yet.”
I smiled, nodding. “Yeah, I got back two days ago. Things have been kind of crazy at the house since I returned, so I came hunting for your new house.” I paused and looked around. “Is Buck here?”
Takoda shook his head. “No. He’s usually off today, too, but he called in to cover a shift. It’s just me.” He grinned lopsidedly. “You’re not still afraid of being alone with me, are you?”
I laughed and shook my head. “No. I think I’m over that.”
Takoda smiled broadly. “Good, then come up here and have a seat.” He patted beside him. As I moved up the steps I saw it was a cheap metal glider meant to seat two. I sat a little hesitantly, but Takoda didn’t seem to notice. “So, tell me about your summer. How did you get along with your dad and other family, little one?”
I sighed. “Do you have to call me little one? I’m not that little.”
Takoda gave a half-smile. “I think we’ve gone over this before.” I didn’t say anything but noticed his eyes flickered up and down my frame. I felt a little self-conscious, and the feeling increased when he added, “No. I guess you’re not so little anymore. You’ve changed this summer.”
“How so?” I regretted the question almost immediately as I looked at the uncomfortable look on Takoda’s broad, friendly face.
“Ah… well, I couldn’t help notice you’re leaner and curvier. Your hair is a little different, too, and I think you may have grown half an inch.” Takoda sighed. “You’re growing up fast, little one.”
“Please, stop calling me that.” I decided to not remark on how he said I was leaner and curvier. Takoda was always very perceptive, and the statement was made more as an observation than anything harmful. Still, I couldn’t help feeling a little awkward he’d noticed.
Takoda shook his head and chuckled. “Tell me about your summer, Willie.” He stressed my name to make certain I noticed he’d used my real name instead of his nickname for me.
“Well… I got along well with my family. I have a grandma and everything, which I didn’t know until I got there. Oh, and I went running with my brother every morning while I was out there.” I started.
“That explains some things,” Takoda interrupted.
I decided to ignore his comment and continued. “Oh, and…” I paused, blushing. “I also had my first boyfriend.”
Takoda’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh?” He paused. “Does your dear love interest know this?” I couldn’t tell if Takoda was teasing or serious. Sometimes it was hard to tell with him.
“Love interest?” I questioned, confused.
“Spike?” Takoda prompted.
“Oh… uh, no. I guess he doesn’t. But he won’t care. It’s a long story and I don’t want to get into it right now.”
Takoda nodded. “So, are you still dating this mystery guy? Or was it a summer thing?”
“A summer thing,” I answered. “We knew it was from the start. But he was nice.”
“He’d better be.” Takoda’s voice was half-joking and half-serious. “There would be a lot of angry men to face if he weren’t, after all.”
I laughed. “Yeah, that’s true. I feel bad for any guy who thinks about dating me, here.”
Something flickered across Takoda’s face. It was a strange look I didn’t understand, and it was gone so quickly I might have imagined it. “Well, tell me about this boyfriend. What was his name, how old was he, the usual stuff.”
“You’re interested in all that? Isn’t that something guys don’t usually care about?” I teased.
Takoda snorted as he grinned. “Well, I don’t have anything else to do today, and I’m certain you want to spill the details to everyone who will listen.”
I grinned. Without responding to his comment, I began to tell him about Nash. “He’s eighteen. No, wait, he’s nineteen now.”
Takoda raised an eyebrow at me. “Isn’t that a little old for you?”
“You hang out with sixteen-year-old girls, don’t you? And you’re even older.”
Takoda shook his head. “I’m not dating one, though.”
I snorted. “Bet you wish you were.” My eyes grew wide when I realized my mouth had spoken before my brain told it not to. I clasped a hand over my mouth in shock. That was something I wouldn’t have normally said. Maybe Alabama had changed me in some ways.
Takoda arched an eyebrow and stared for a moment before answering. Slowly nodding, he said, “You know, you might be right.” I stopped breathing. Takoda shrugged his shoulders heavily and said, “Then again, maybe you’re not. We’ll never know, will we?” He spread his hands wide to punctuate his statement and then he laughed, his typical grin returning to his face.
I assumed Takoda had been joking, although I was never really certain, and I laughed with him. His eyes twinkled in the sunlight for a moment and caught my attention. They were the most beautiful shade of light brown. Not that I was crushing on Takoda, but I’d learned to pay attention to the beauty around me in all things. Even strange guys who left me constantly confused and feeling I’d been left out of an inside joke.
If you enjoyed that short excerpt, you’ll want to CLICK HERE and order the whole series!!!
I’m excited to be one of many tour hosts sharing information about The Growing Roots Series by Chelsea Falin. Be sure to check out her books on Amazon and order your copies today!
When four college friends formed the Brown Sugarettes Mastermind Group, they had very different goals—but matched each other in ambition. Yet ten years later they can’t help wondering what happened to the hopeful, confident, driven women they used to be—and how to get them back . . .
Radio personality Raina, known as “the black Delilah,” hates the wholesome persona that’s made her a success. Doling out syrupy versions of her grandma’s wisdom feels worlds away from the sarcastic, tell-it-like-it-is woman Raina really is.
Kara Jones was sure she’d be a master sommelier by thirty. Life and loss interfered with that plan. Now she has one more chance—but it’s taking a toll on her self-esteem and her marriage.
Nikki Grayson hardly recognizes the stay-at-home mom she’s become. When her band signed a record deal, she swapped the limelight for a minivan and a sensible ’do. Now she’s wishing she had followed her heart. Instead, she’s drowning her regret in alcohol.
Public defender Sienna Njeri willingly put her city council aspirations aside to support her fiancé’s bid for office—and now she’s wondering if her loyalty is misplaced.
Longing for the support, advice, and tough love they once shared, all four resolve to start meeting up again. After all, their dreams may still be within reach. But are they worth the price they’ll pay to achieve them?
Sharina Harris earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Georgia State University. After college, she pursued a career in digital marketing and public relations. Although her profession required writing, she decided to pursue a career in writing in 2012.
Sharina’s contemporary romance series under the pen name, Rina Gray, was named Book Riot’s 100 Must-Read Romantic Comedies. When Sharina’s not writing, she can be found with her head stuck in a book, rooting for her favorite NBA teams, and spending time with friends and family.
Nina Soden 