Good Choice Reading

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About the Author

Monique Snyman’s mind is a confusing bedlam of glitter and death, where candy-coated gore is found in abundance and homicidal unicorns thrive. Sorting out the mess in her head is particularly irksome before she’s ingested a specific amount of coffee, which is equal to half the recommended intake of water for humans per day. When she’s not playing referee to her imaginary friends or trying to overdose on caffeine, she’s doing something with words—be it writing, reading, or editing.

Monique Snyman lives in Pretoria, South Africa, with her husband and an adorable Chihuahua. She’s the author of the Bram Stoker Award® nominated novel, THE NIGHT WEAVER, which is the first installment in a dark fantasy series for young adults.

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Review

There is just something about the atmosphere that Snyman creates that just works for this time of year!

I really enjoyed The Bone Carver as a nice companion to The Night Weaver. I will say that I wish the two had been connected more, because it kind of felt like a whole new world with the same characters. However, that's not so much a complaint, because I really like the characters she has created! Rachel, Dougal, and Mrs. Crenshaw were always a fun group to read about, and I loved the addition of Mercia.

I personally really appreciate the way Snyman has woven the fae world into the fictional town of Shadow Grove. I'm not a big fan of fae. As a lover of fantasy I'm probably in the minority on that, but it's just not my thing. However in this case it feels like a compliment to the story, rather than the focal point, and I like that.

Overall, this is the perfect book to read in October, especially during these times. It was a nice escape.

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GIVEAWAY

Release Blast with Giveaway: The Bone Carver by Monique Snyman

2020-10-20T07:00:00.003-04:00

The Bone Carver

by Monique Snyman

Series: The Night Weaver Series #2

Genre: Young Adult, Horror

Publication: October 20th, 2020

For a small New England town, Shadow Grove has an uncanny ability to attract the worst kind of trouble. Not that the residents are too concerned about the various horrors living among them.

As the leaves change color and the weather grows colder, a foul presence is making itself known by leaving peculiar gifts for the students of Ridge Crest High. At first, the presents seem harmless—and a rash of accidents seem coincidental—but when seniors Rachel Cleary and her Scottish cousin, Dougal Mackay, find a boneless body in the boiler room, things take an ominous turn.

Something vicious is on the loose in Shadow Grove, but with Orion Nebulius gone, Rachel has little hope of anyone getting out alive.

Purchase

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About the Author

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Excerpt

Something crunches nearby, like a foot accidentally sliding across the filthy floor. They both look in the direction of the sound, searching for a nonexistent lurker. Ice runs through Rachel’s veins. She grabs Dougal’s arm and stares at the unidentifiable heap lying near the bottom of a metallic container.

“What?” he hisses.

Rachel points to the crumpled heap—Please let it be fabric.

Dougal’s gaze drifts over to the area. His frown becomes more pronounced as he places a hand on her shoulder. She can’t figure out if the gesture is to hold her back or if he wants to use her as a shield. At this point, anything’s possible. She drops her hand to her side and they slowly move together toward the metallic container, hesitant to find out what exactly they’re dealing with.

The closer they dare to move, the more intense the repugnant smell grows. A persistent buzzing becomes louder. Rachel swats a fat fly away from her face. The heap stirs slightly, making a sickly, squelching sound, disturbing the swarm of insects ever so slightly.

She and Dougal halt and wait for any other sudden movements. When nothing else occurs in the brief reprieve, they take another step closer.

Eyes stare up at Rachel from a flat, unrecognizable face that’s haphazardly folded into a neck and torso. Boneless limbs lie every which way, stretched out beyond recognition. A swollen tongue hangs from the mouth, lips pulled into an awkward, ugly gape. It looks like a film prop or a twisted Halloween decoration that’d been left out in the sun. The heap twitches again and a bulge appears in the neck. A thick, serpentine thing slips out of the mouth, protruding from between the lips, slinks across the flattened nose, and whips the chubby cheek. It quickly disappears before a bloody snout becomes visible. Whiskers move and beady eyes stares out from the jawless face, cradled between broken teeth.

Rachel steps back and suppresses a scream, which comes out as a squeak. She stares in abject horror at the scene. Her stomach flips in revulsion. The damage is done, though. The image will forever haunt her nightmares.

“In the name of the Wee Man,” Dougal whispers, aghast.

“I told you,” she says. Anger takes over as she opens her eyes again. She averts her gaze to look directly at Dougal, his face now the shade of ash. “I freaking told you we shouldn’t come down here, didn’t I?”

His eyes fix on the boneless body, his jaw works as if he’s speaking under his breath, but somehow he can’t find his voice.

“Dougal, c’mon.” She nudges his shoulder, pushing his immense form backward so he can snap out of his stupor.

“He’s boneless. Utterly boneless,” he finally utters, unable to prize his gaze away from the heap of human remains. Dougal raises his hand, wipes his palm over his forehead and eyes, and shakes his head. “How’s it even possible?”

“If we stick around here for much longer, I’m pretty sure we’ll find out.”

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GIVEAWAY

Tour Kick-off & Giveaway: The Bone Carver by Monique Snyman!

2020-10-19T07:00:00.002-04:00

The Bone Carver

by Monique Snyman

Series: The Night Weaver Series #2

Genre: Young Adult, Horror

Publication: October 20th, 2020

For a small New England town, Shadow Grove has an uncanny ability to attract the worst kind of trouble. Not that the residents are too concerned about the various horrors living among them.

As the leaves change color and the weather grows colder, a foul presence is making itself known by leaving peculiar gifts for the students of Ridge Crest High. At first, the presents seem harmless—and a rash of accidents seem coincidental—but when seniors Rachel Cleary and her Scottish cousin, Dougal Mackay, find a boneless body in the boiler room, things take an ominous turn.

Something vicious is on the loose in Shadow Grove, but with Orion Nebulius gone, Rachel has little hope of anyone getting out alive.

Purchase

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About the Author

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Tour Schedule

October 19th

Teaser Blast & Giveaway: The Bone Carver by Monique Snyman

2020-10-14T07:00:00.001-04:00

The Bone Carver

by Monique Snyman

Series: The Night Weaver Series #2

Genre: Young Adult, Horror

Publication: October 20th, 2020

For a small New England town, Shadow Grove has an uncanny ability to attract the worst kind of trouble. Not that the residents are too concerned about the various horrors living among them.

As the leaves change color and the weather grows colder, a foul presence is making itself known by leaving peculiar gifts for the students of Ridge Crest High. At first, the presents seem harmless—and a rash of accidents seem coincidental—but when seniors Rachel Cleary and her Scottish cousin, Dougal Mackay, find a boneless body in the boiler room, things take an ominous turn.

Something vicious is on the loose in Shadow Grove, but with Orion Nebulius gone, Rachel has little hope of anyone getting out alive.

Pre-order

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Teaser

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GIVEAWAY

Blog Tour & Promo Events Invitation: Write Christmas by Thommy Hutson!

2020-10-07T11:42:00.003-04:00

Write Christmas

by Thommy Hutson

Publication: December 1st, 2020

PRE-ORDER ON AMAZON

Blurb

Abby Nicholson used to love Christmas. Until she didn’t.

After leaving Winter Glen, the small town famous for its Christmas celebration and her family’s greeting card company, Abby is forced to return to the home she left behind when the unexpected passing of her father thrusts the business into her hands.

Turning her back on the magic of the holiday beloved by her father and the town, she decides to sell the business. Signing the paperwork with the very pen her father used to create it, she is shocked to discover her hometown has become a whole new world.

One where Christmas has vanished!

Now stuck in a place devoid of hope, joy, and the spirit of the season, Abby sees family and friends altered in the most terrible of ways.

Determined to set things right, though unsure how, Abby takes out her father’s pen and begins to draw. When she realizes her art is coming to life, she sets out to recreate the holiday and bring back the most wonderful time of the year.

But some are determined to keep an iron grip on the town and will do anything in their power to stop her.

Teaser Blasts

We will be sharing Teaser Blasts throughout November and December! Teaser graphics will be provided and ready to be shared. A Rafflecopter will be prepared for you to share your links as extra entries, with a new entry option added as each date comes around.

Teaser Blast: November 18th
Teaser Blast: November 25th
Teaser Blast: December 14th
Teaser Blast: December 21st

Release Blast: December 1st

HTML content will be provided for bloggers, but you can share her release on any platform. You will be able to submit your links as extra entries for the giveaway.

Twitter & IG Blast: December 3rd

Teasers will be provided to share on Twitter & Instagram. You will be able to submit your links as extra entries for the giveaway.

Blog Tour: November 30th - December 4th

Promotional and Review spots available!

Teaser Blast & Giveaway: The Bone Carver by Monique Snyman

2020-10-07T07:00:00.001-04:00

The Bone Carver

by Monique Snyman

Series: The Night Weaver Series #2

Genre: Young Adult, Horror

Publication: October 20th, 2020

For a small New England town, Shadow Grove has an uncanny ability to attract the worst kind of trouble. Not that the residents are too concerned about the various horrors living among them.

As the leaves change color and the weather grows colder, a foul presence is making itself known by leaving peculiar gifts for the students of Ridge Crest High. At first, the presents seem harmless—and a rash of accidents seem coincidental—but when seniors Rachel Cleary and her Scottish cousin, Dougal Mackay, find a boneless body in the boiler room, things take an ominous turn.

Something vicious is on the loose in Shadow Grove, but with Orion Nebulius gone, Rachel has little hope of anyone getting out alive.

Pre-order

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Teaser

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GIVEAWAY

Pretty Funny for a Girl by Rebecca Elliott Blog Tour + Giveaway!

2020-10-06T11:37:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the Pretty Funny for a Girl Blog Tour!

To celebrate the release of Pretty Funny for a Girl by Rebecca Elliott on October 1st, blogs across the web are featuring original content from Rebecca, as well as 5 chances to win the hardcover!

Excerpt from Pretty Funny for a Girl

by Rebecca Elliott

CHAPTER SEVEN

The next day at school, Kas and Chloe are all hyper about our pub plans next Friday. They’re already talking about what they’re going to wear and which shoes would look best with Chloe’s new lipstick, but I’m just concentrating on trying not to sound too excited so as not to start up the whole “Pig luurves Leo” thing again.

“You do want to go, don’t you, Pig?” says Kas. “You don’t seem that up for it.”

“Yeah, sure. I’ve just gotta lot of other stuff on at the moment and it’s, well, it’s still a week away. I mean, I’m sure I’ll be excited nearer the time.”

“What stuff?” Chloe scoffs at me with a grin.

“Just…stuff.”

“Like…?”

“Like…hobbies and stuff. I have a very busy life. It’s not all about you guys!”

“Since when do have you have a hobby?” says Kas.

“I have hobbies…erm…sleeping…eating…toileting…”

Kas laughs. “They’re not hobbies!”

“They’re leisure activities that give me pleasure, so I don’t see why not,” I say grandly, hoping to dismantle the conversation with another laugh.

“I think I know the real hobby you’re into,” says Chloe with a grin that could rival the Joker’s for evilness. “Luurving Mr. Leo Jackson.”

Oh, for frick’s sake.

As the two of them giggle, Mrs. Perkins blasts over the class, “Right, who wants to take the roll back?”

I grab the opportunity for an escape route and shoot my hand into the air.

“Ms. Swinton, I’m impressed! You’re not known for your volunteering,” says Mrs. Perkins.

“It’s one of her new hobbies, miss,” sniggers Kas.

“Is it okay that I hate you both a little bit right now?” I whisper to them as I grab my bag and get up.

“Aww, Pig, we’re only messing about. C’mon, you know that,” says Chloe.

“Yeah, whatever, you evil old hags.” But I say it with a smile.

Then, as I walk between the desks to the front of the class, Dylan puts on a loud camp voice and says, “And coming down the catwalk now we have a glorious outfit from the latest collection by Jean-Paul Porkier…”

I grit my teeth, but I go along with the joke. What else can I do? So I strut down the classroom, my chin raised high, shoulders back, lips pouting, swaying my hips with each step and snapping my body then my head back to the room as I reach Mrs. Perkins. The class falls about in fits of giggles.

Mrs. Perkins is less impressed. “Yes, thank you, Haylah, most amusing, but if you mess around like that again in my classroom it’ll be detention, okay?”

“Sorry, miss,” I say, taking the roll from her.

Dylan’s such a cack-nugget.

I head to the school office, the flush leaving my cheeks with each step. Thinking back to the conversation with Chloe and Kas, I know I should just stop denying it and tell them that yes, I have a little thing for Leo, and yes, I know it’s going nowhere. Try to make a joke out of it. But this feels different. This time the joke is very much on me. I know there’s no hope for this crush. And they know it too. So if I own up to it I go from being the funny, strong one in the group to being the pathetic, heartbroken loser.

I drop the roll off at the office and walk toward the history rooms for my first class of the day. But, as I go past the lockers, I hear a familiar voice booming its big warm laugh.

Leo. He’s leaning up against his locker, talking to a bunch of his friends (mostly girls) all hanging on his every word. My heart begins to pound so loudly I start to think everyone can hear it.

Stupid heart.

I could keep walking. I should keep walking. Look at the ground, attract no attention. Instead, with what seems like no instruction from me, my feet walk into the rows of lockers behind where Leo’s is. My locker isn’t here, I have no reason to be here. So I fiddle with someone else’s locker as I listen to Leo.

For the second day in a row, I’ve turned into creepy stalker girl. Maybe that’s my new hobby.

“So your dad doesn’t mind if we all come down the pub next Friday?” says one of the girls.

“Nah, he’s cool with that, as long as you don’t try to buy any drinks—Jax, I’m looking at you!” says Leo. “And no heckling!”

“I’ll only heckle you if you’re not funny, dude,” says Jax as I continue to fiddle with the lock on my pretend locker.

Oh God, I’m an actual nutter.

Then I look around and realize there’s no one down this aisle to see me anyway, so I stop and just lean up against the locker backing on to Leo’s, willing my heart to stop clanging against my chest so loudly.

“Oh, no pressure then!” says Leo. “Actually, I haven’t got anything new written, and if I can’t bang anything out by next Friday I won’t be getting up at all.”

And now my traitorous heart skips a beat.

What? But he’s got to get up and do his thing! So that I can be there in the audience. Adoring him.

As I flip out at the thought of Leo not performing, his friends give him a hard time, asking, “How difficult can it be to write a few knock-knock jokes!” But what do they know. Bunch of comedic simpletons.

I understand, Leo—I totally get how hard it is to write the funny.

Then they leave, apparently for art class, and as they go Leo puts on a ridiculous high-pitched voice and does an uncanny impression of Mrs. O’Farrell, the art teacher. “Use your inner eye, students. Don’t draw what’s in front of you, draw the spaces between. Don’t draw what you think you can see, draw what you feel in your hearts. UNLEASH the artist within!”

They laugh. I laugh (quietly). He leaves. Then I do something stupid.

I don’t know whether it’s the thought of Leo not performing at the pub, the adrenaline from hiding making me go slightly insane, or the high of being so close to him that makes me do it. But whatever it is, with my blood pumping around my body at lightning speed, I get out a pen and paper from my bag and write down one of the jokes I’d written in my comedy diary last night.

One I could imagine Leo laughing at, but now I can also imagine him telling.

Man, it was hot the other day. So hot. I threw open the freezer, took great handfuls of whatever I could find: frozen peas, Ben & Jerry’s, you name it, and just shoved it all down my shirt. And pants.

Lay face down on the floor just enjoying the cold on my skin.

I mean, I know it’s probably not great for the food or anything, but man, it felt good.

You understand, right? ’Cause the Aldi’s manager sure didn’t.

I sneak around the corner, check no one’s looking, and then post it through the gap at the side of his locker.

And I stride away triumphantly down the hallway.

And with this one truly heroic act she saved humanity from the impending disaster of a Leo-less comedy stage!

Then the full force of my utter dumb-nuttery begins to hit me.

Oh…holy…crapballs.

And I walk to my class on shaky legs, the harsh sting of regret hitting me a little more with each step.

What oh what the hell was I thinking?

*****

Blog Tour Schedule:

10/5 - BookhoundsYA

10/6 - Good Choice Reading

10/7 - Word Spelunking

10/8 - I'm All Booked Up

10/9 - The Fandom

“A feel-good story featuring a narrator who’s likable and genuinely funny, even at her most self-deprecating. Dreams, being true to oneself, body-image issues, single parenting, family dynamics, self-confidence, and a realistic depiction of friendship make this a refreshing coming-of-age read full of optimism, dreams, and plenty of stereotype-smashing laughs. A natural pick for Dumplin’ (2015) fans.”

— Booklist

Buy | Add on Goodreads

Excerpt | Discussion Guide

A candid and laugh-out-loud journey of family, friends, and fierce mistakes.

Haylah Swinton is an ace best friend, a loving daughter, and an incredibly patient sister to a four-year-old nutcase of a brother. Best of all, she’s pretty confident she’s mastered making light of every situation—from her mom’s new boyfriend to unsolicited remarks on her plus-sized figure. Haylah’s learning to embrace all of her curvy parts and, besides, she has a secret: one day, she’ll be a stand-up comedian star.

So when impossibly cool and thirstalicious Leo reveals he’s also into comedy, Haylah jumps at the chance to ghost-write his sets. But is Leo as interested in returning the favor? Even though her friends warn her of Leo’s intentions, Haylah’s not ready to listen—and she might just be digging herself deeper toward heartbreak. If Haylah’s ever going to step into the spotlight, first she’ll need to find the confidence to put herself out there and strut like the boss she really is.

Rebecca Elliott’s hilarious and authentic narrative voice is sure to capture readers’ hearts as her plus-sized, teenage heroine navigates learning to love the body she’s in while dealing with friends, family, and boys.

About the Author: Rebecca Elliott is an author and illustrator. She earned a degree in philosophy and once did a brief stint in a dull office. Now, she enjoys eating angel delight, loudly venting on a drum kit, and spending time in her sunny garden. She lives in England with her family, some chickens, and a cat named Bernard.

Follow Rebecca: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

1 winner will receive a finished copy of Pretty Funny for a Girl
Check out the other tour stops for more chances to win.
US/Canada only
Ends 11:59pm ET on 10/18

Teaser Blast & Giveaway: The Bone Carver by Monique Snyman

2020-09-30T07:00:00.003-04:00

The Bone Carver

by Monique Snyman

Series: The Night Weaver Series #2

Genre: Young Adult, Horror

Publication: October 20th, 2020

For a small New England town, Shadow Grove has an uncanny ability to attract the worst kind of trouble. Not that the residents are too concerned about the various horrors living among them.

As the leaves change color and the weather grows colder, a foul presence is making itself known by leaving peculiar gifts for the students of Ridge Crest High. At first, the presents seem harmless—and a rash of accidents seem coincidental—but when seniors Rachel Cleary and her Scottish cousin, Dougal Mackay, find a boneless body in the boiler room, things take an ominous turn.

Something vicious is on the loose in Shadow Grove, but with Orion Nebulius gone, Rachel has little hope of anyone getting out alive.

Pre-order

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Teaser

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GIVEAWAY

Tour & Promo Events Invitation - The Christmas Spirit by Alexandrea Weis!

2020-09-29T12:08:00.000-04:00

The Christmas Spirit
by Alexandrea Weis
Publication: October 27th

SOMETIMES IT TAKES ONE BROKEN HEART TO HEAL ANOTHER.

Courtney Winston is a writer on a deadline. Eager to finish her book and get over a recent break-up, she ditches Christmas with her family and retreats to a secluded cabin in the mountains.

Appliances rarely work, and cell service is spotty, but Courtney senses there is more to her rustic rental—something dark and haunting.

Then Peter, the attractive Stone Mountain Lodge owner, and a meddling cook, Mrs. Finn, keep coming around, shattering her peace and offering advice on how to fix her heavy heart.

Courtney grows closer to Peter, but Mrs. Finn warns her of his troubled past. Undaunted, Courtney sets out to win him over. But being with the brooding stranger may end up costing her more than she ever imagined.

Teaser Blasts

We will be sharing teasers as a countdown to release day (October 27th) for THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT! They will be sized for Instagram but you can share on any platform. A Rafflecopter will be prepared for you to share your links as extra entries, with a new entry option added as each date comes around.

Teaser Blast: November 19th
Teaser Blast: November 30th
Teaser Blast: December 2nd
Teaser Blast: December 7th

Release Blast: October 27th

HTML content will be provided for bloggers, but you can share her release on any platform. You will be able to submit your links as extra entries for the giveaway.

Twitter & IG Blast: October 29th

Teasers will be provided to share on Twitter & Instagram. You will be able to submit your links as extra entries for the giveaway.

Blog Tour: November 16th - 20th

Promotional and Review spots available!

Teaser Blast with Giveaway: The Bone Carver by Monique Snyman!

2020-09-24T07:00:00.003-04:00

The Bone Carver

by Monique Snyman

Series: The Night Weaver Series #2

Genre: Young Adult, Horror

Publication: October 20th, 2020

For a small New England town, Shadow Grove has an uncanny ability to attract the worst kind of trouble. Not that the residents are too concerned about the various horrors living among them.

As the leaves change color and the weather grows colder, a foul presence is making itself known by leaving peculiar gifts for the students of Ridge Crest High. At first, the presents seem harmless—and a rash of accidents seem coincidental—but when seniors Rachel Cleary and her Scottish cousin, Dougal Mackay, find a boneless body in the boiler room, things take an ominous turn.

Something vicious is on the loose in Shadow Grove, but with Orion Nebulius gone, Rachel has little hope of anyone getting out alive.

Pre-order

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Teaser

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GIVEAWAY

Teaser Blast & Giveaway: In the Shadow of a Valiant Moon by Stu Jones & Gareth Worthington!

2020-09-23T07:00:00.001-04:00

[Cover Variations with original artwork by Justin Paul (Sony, Lionsgate)]

It Takes Death to Reach a Star

Publication: May 22nd, 2018

THE WORLD YOU KNOW IS DEAD. WE DID THIS TO OURSELVES.

The epidemic struck at the end of the Third World War. Fighting over oil, power, and religion, governments ignored the rise of an anti-bacterial-resistant plague. In just five years, the Earth was annihilated. Only one city survived—Etyom—a frozen hell-hole in northern Siberia, engulfed in endless conflict.

The year is 2251.

Two groups emerged from the ashes of the old world. Within the walled city of Lower Etyom dwell the Robusts—descendants of the poor who were immune to the New Black Death. Above them, in a metropolis of pristine platforms called Lillipads, live the Graciles—the progeny of the super-rich, bio-engineered to resist the plague.

Mila Solokoff is a Robust who trades information in a world where knowing too much can get you killed. Caught in a deal-gone-bad, she’s forced to take a high-risk job for a clandestine organization hell-bent on revolution.

Demitri Stasevich is a Gracile with a dark secret—a sickness that, if discovered, will get him Ax’d. His only relief is an illegal narcotic produced by the Robusts, and his only means of obtaining it is a journey to the arctic hell far below New Etyom.

Thrust together in the midst of a sinister plot that threatens all life above and below the cloud line, Mila and Demitri must master their demons and make a choice—one that will either salvage what’s left of the human race or doom it to extinction...

In the Shadow of a Valiant Moon

Publication: August 25th, 2020

DESTINY HAS NO ALLEGIANCE.

Four years have passed since the lillipads fell and Etyom slipped into darkness.

The New Black Death has mutated again, spreading to near epidemic proportions. What little order existed in Earth’s last city has disintegrated into chaos. Rippers roam the Vapid, robbing and leaving their victims butchered. The Robusts have spilled out of their broken enclaves and hide in any dark corner that will conceal them. Meanwhile, the elite Graciles, fallen from their pristine towers in the sky, have all mysteriously disappeared.

Demitri is a prisoner in his own mind. His demon, Vedmak—now known as the Vardøger—is manipulating Demitri’s body and knowledge to execute a secret plan far more disastrous than even the Gracile Leader dared.

Mila, her status among the fractured resistance elevated to that of Paladyn—a protector of the people—leads the fight against zealots intent on destroying what little remains of Etyom. It is a responsibility she never wanted, a calling that prevents her from doing what she truly desires.

Yet, Mila should be careful for what she longs. Caught between annihilation and loyalties that refuse to die, she must reconcile a single immutable truth: following your heart comes at a price.

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GIVEAWAY

Release Blast & Giveaway: Sisters of the Moon by Alexandrea Weis!

2020-09-22T07:00:00.001-04:00

Sisters of the Moon

by Alexandrea Weis

Release date: September 22nd

A monstrous fate will turn a girl into a legend.

On an island in Lake Obersee, where The Sisters of St. Gertrude abide, a destitute Moor named Durra arrives. Sold for taxes, she and her two companions tend to the nuns and their collection of cats. At night, she combs the library for details on the order, the remote island, and the beasts howling outside her window.

But when a prank reveals the sisters’ gruesome secret, Durra is forced to accept a new fate. Bestowed an unearthly power, she must choose between life as a nun or living among the monsters beyond the convent walls.

Her path is about to change the tide in the ultimate war. The war between good and evil.

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About the Author

Alexandrea Weis, RN-CS, CRRN, ONC, PhD, is a multi-award-winning author of over twenty-seven novels, a screenwriter, ICU Nurse, and historian who was born and raised in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Having grown up in the motion picture industry as the daughter of a director, she learned to tell stories from a different perspective and began writing at the age of eight.

Infusing the rich tapestry of her hometown into her novels, she believes that creating vivid characters makes a story moving and memorable.

A permitted/certified wildlife rehabber with the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries, Weis rescues orphaned and injured animals. She lives with her husband and pets in New Orleans. Weis writes mysteries, suspense, thrillers, horror, crime fiction, action, historical, and romance.

Alexandrea Weis is a member of the Horror Writers Association and the International Thriller Writers Association.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

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Excerpt

A pair of dark oak doors, masterfully carved with six different panels, came into view. Winged creatures, with horns and pointed tail, appeared in every panel terrorizing humans who fought against them with pitchforks and fire. The tale was of a fierce battle set in a field not far from a village. Large snarling dogs assisted the humans in fighting off the agents of the Devil. The carnage recreated in painstaking detail had dead men and dogs with gashes across their middle, spilling their guts onto the blood-soaked ground. The bottom panel showed the forces of good overtaking the fiends and driving them from the battlefield. But it was the last panel that unsettled Durra.

This carving depicted the dogs that survived the fight. They gathered around a fiery pit and pushed the dead monsters into a vast hole, returning them to hell.

Durra touched the carved figures. “What story is this?”

Monica put her hand on a door pull of a wolf’s face with a brass ring through its mouth.

“The Battle of Cadizia. It’s where man and his faithful dogs first drove back the agents of the Devil.”

“Cadizia?” Durra furrowed her brow. “I never read about that in the Bible.”

Monica pulled the heavy doors open. “Nor will you.”

“But what—?”

Monica nodded inside the doors. “It’s time to pray.” She walked beneath a stone lintel and entered the abbey.

Durra followed, a million questions running through her head, but when she stepped inside the abbey, all her apprehensions faded away.

Thick columns with capitals of more winged creatures, their pointy tails directed at the altar, complemented the mural painted on the panels of the ceiling.

The story was the same as on the door, but the details emphasized the role of the dogs. Silver-backed, with thick dark coats and bright glowing eyes, the beasts appeared like magical beings while confronting the demons. They stood, surrounding a gaping pit filled with a lake of fire, snarling and driving the winged creatures back to hell. “That’s scary.”

Leida stood next to Durra, gaping up at the ceiling.

Sister Monica appeared in front of them and took their hands. Her face contorted in an angry scowl as she whisked them to the back of the abbey.

Monica pointed at a bench, “Stay.”

Durra took her seat while scouring the six stained-glass windows, eager for more on the strange

dogs, but all she found were images of a woman in a black nun’s habit, carrying a large wooden staff. The figure had different animals gathered at her feet, and the kindness of St. Gertrude contrasted sharply with the violence of the painting on the ceiling. But the windows had no portraits of dogs, only squirrels, birds, and, of course, cats.

Emily nudged her and then pointed to a white linen altar, sitting before a carved figure of Christ on the cross. The odd-shaped skull atop the altar struck her as grotesque. “What is that?” Emily asked.

“Wolf,” Leida whispered. “You can tell by the flat part from the top of the skull to the tip of the nose. A dog’s head has a steeper angle.”

Durra regarded the girl with a newfound appreciation. “How do you know that?”

Leida demurely folded her hands in her lap. “I told you—I grew up with them. My family used to hunt them.”

“A wolf hunter in our midst.” Emily nodded. “That might come in handy.”

“Shh.” Monica stood in front of their bench, her cheeks red with anger. “Have you no respect for the house of God?”

Durra eyed the skull once more. If this is a house of God, what’s a wolf’s skull doing here?

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Giveaway

Tour Kick-off with Giveaway: Sisters of the Moon by Alexandrea Weis!

2020-09-21T07:00:00.020-04:00

Sisters of the Moon

by Alexandrea Weis

Release date: September 22nd

A monstrous fate will turn a girl into a legend.

On an island in Lake Obersee, where The Sisters of St. Gertrude abide, a destitute Moor named Durra arrives. Sold for taxes, she and her two companions tend to the nuns and their collection of cats. At night, she combs the library for details on the order, the remote island, and the beasts howling outside her window.

But when a prank reveals the sisters’ gruesome secret, Durra is forced to accept a new fate. Bestowed an unearthly power, she must choose between life as a nun or living among the monsters beyond the convent walls.

Her path is about to change the tide in the ultimate war. The war between good and evil.

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Praise for Sisters of the Moon

“Alexandrea Weis does an outstanding job of painting succinct, hard-hitting scenes that carry Durra from a new role in a convent to a more active position confronting supernatural forces and long-hidden truths that could change not just her life, but the world. A superior blend of action and mystery. Highly recommended for those who like their supernatural mystery stories to embrace a sense of character growth where the fine line between good and evil proves more mercurial than most.” ~Midwest Book Review

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About the Author

Infusing the rich tapestry of her hometown into her novels, she believes that creating vivid characters makes a story moving and memorable.

Alexandrea Weis is a member of the Horror Writers Association and the International Thriller Writers Association.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

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Follow the Tour

September 21st

Good Choice Reading, http://www.goodchoicereading.com | Promotional

September 22nd

Mahkjchi's Not-So-Secret Books, https://www.mahkjchisnotsosecretbooks.com | Review

September 23rd

Ashley J Reads, https://www.instagram.com/ashleyjreads/?hl=en | Review

Black Words White Page, blackwords-whitepages1977.blogspot.com | Promotional

September 24th

2 Girls & A Book, https://www.2girlsandabook.com/ | Review

September 25th

Movies, Shows, & Books, http://moviesshowsnbooks.blogspot.com | Review

Melissa’s Book Nook, melissasbooknook.home.blog | Review

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Giveaway

MY LIFE IN THE FISH TANK by Barbara Dee Blog Tour + Giveaway!

2020-09-16T10:00:00.004-04:00

Welcome to the My Life in the Fish Tank Blog Tour!

To celebrate the release of My Life in the Fish Tank by Barbara Dee on September 15th, blogs across the web are featuring original guest posts from Barbara, plus 5 chances to win My Life in the Fish Tank and swag!

Author Buddies by Barbara Dee

I've seen many authors joke on social media that life under quarantine is really not so different from business as usual. Authors are introverts who crave uninterrupted solitude. Our favorite hangout is our computer desks. We dread in-person appearances, and any type of shmoozing.

To some extent, all that's true. I know a few authors who consider themselves extroverts, but many more who land on the "I" end of the Myers-Briggs scale. And a surprising number who, like me, identify as INFJ --a notable phenomenon, given that INFJs are rare in the population as a whole.

But I think it's wrong to call authors antisocial loners. Authors socialize with other authors all the time, engaging in the same sort of water-cooler conversation you find in any office, virtual or not. We compare notes. We offer advice and support. We share challenges and frustrations.

Because being an author is a privilege, a dream job, a joy--but also not an easy gig. Some days the challenges seem overwhelming. It's not just about writing and revising (a zillion times). You also have to sell and position your work in a chaotic, super-competitive and possibly shrinking market. You have to deal with rejection and criticism-- without responding. And you have to make peace with self-promotion, forcing your introverted self into some extremely uncomfortable terrain, especially these days, when we're all on camera. And who better to commiserate with about all this than another author?

So one piece of advice I'd give to new and not-yet-published authors: find your pack. Even if you're an introvert, look for other authors to hang with. Don't think of them as mentors who'll take you under their wings because (to mix metaphors) authors have enough on their own plates. Think of them as colleagues.

And then: be a good colleague. Listen to other authors' experiences. Don't betray confidences. Cheer them on when they have success, and try to avoid comparing yourself. Promote their books every chance you get. Include them when you're proposing book giveaways and panels. Recommend their work to educators, booksellers and librarians. Celebrate their #bookbirthdays.

Here's my most important advice: never, ever snipe or spread negative gossip about another author, online or in person. The publishing world is small, and subcategories like kidlit make it even smaller. When you say or post something negative, it gets around, just like it would in any bricks-and-mortar office setting. You never know when you'll be asking authors for a blurb, or sitting across from them on a panel. If you can't say something nice...well, you remember what your mom told you. (But you're good with words, right? So go ahead, say something nice.)

A long time ago I realized that life in the book world could be tough. If I was going to make a career out of it, I couldn't do it alone. So I decided to try to surround myself in positivity-- at least, as much as I could from my solitary computer desk. Now I have a few author buddies who aren't just colleagues--they're cherished friends. We may not hang around actual water coolers, but we're always there for each other.

Especially when we need to procrastinate. Because even if we're working in a virtual office, coffee breaks are definitely more fun with buddies.

Buy: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Bookshop | Indiebound

Add on Goodreads

From acclaimed author of Maybe He Just Likes You and Halfway Normal comes a powerful and moving story of learning how to grow, change, and survive.

When twelve-year-old Zinnia Manning’s older brother Gabriel is diagnosed with a mental illness, the family’s world is turned upside down. Mom and Dad want Zinny, her sixteen-year-old sister, Scarlett, and her eight-year-old brother, Aiden, to keep Gabriel’s condition “private”—and to Zinny that sounds the same as “secret.” Which means she can’t talk about it to her two best friends, who don’t understand why Zinny keeps pushing them away, turning everything into a joke.

It also means she can’t talk about it during Lunch Club, a group run by the school guidance counselor. How did Zinny get stuck in this weird club, anyway? She certainly doesn’t have anything in common with these kids—and even if she did, she’d never betray her family’s secret.

The only good thing about school is science class, where cool teacher Ms. Molina has them doing experiments on crayfish. And when Zinny has the chance to attend a dream marine biology camp for the summer, she doesn’t know what to do. How can Zinny move forward when Gabriel—and, really, her whole family—still needs her help?

About the Author: Barbara Dee is the author of eleven middle grade novels published by Simon & Schuster, including My Life in the Fish Tank, Maybe He Just Likes You, Everything I Know About You, Halfway Normal, and Star-Crossed. Her books have earned several starred reviews and have been named to many best-of lists, including the The Washington Post’s Best Children’s Books, the ALA Notable Children’s Books, the ALA Rise: A Feminist Book Project List, the NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, and the ALA Rainbow List Top Ten. Barbara lives with her family, including a naughty cat named Luna and a sweet rescue hound named Ripley, in Westchester County, New York.

Follow Barbara: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

One winner will receive a hardcover copy of My Life in the Fish Tank, bookmark, and button
Check out the rest of the stops on the tour for 4 more chances to win!
US/Can only
Ends 9/27 at 11:59pm ET

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Teaser Blast & Giveaway: It Takes a Death to Reach a Star & In the Shadow of a Valiant Moon by Stu Jones & Gareth Worthington!

2020-09-16T07:00:00.004-04:00

[Cover Variations with original artwork by Justin Paul (Sony, Lionsgate)]

It Takes Death to Reach a Star

Publication: May 22nd, 2018

THE WORLD YOU KNOW IS DEAD. WE DID THIS TO OURSELVES.

The year is 2251.

In the Shadow of a Valiant Moon

Publication: August 25th, 2020

DESTINY HAS NO ALLEGIANCE.

Four years have passed since the lillipads fell and Etyom slipped into darkness.

Yet, Mila should be careful for what she longs. Caught between annihilation and loyalties that refuse to die, she must reconcile a single immutable truth: following your heart comes at a price.

___________________________________________

GIVEAWAY

Teaser Blast & Giveaway: SISTERS OF THE MOON by Alexandrea Weis!

2020-09-15T07:00:00.003-04:00

Sisters of the Moon

by Alexandrea Weis

Release date: September 22nd

A monstrous fate will turn a girl into a legend.

On an island in Lake Obersee, where The Sisters of St. Gertrude abide, a destitute Moor named Durra arrives. Sold for taxes, she and her two companions tend to the nuns and their collection of cats. At night, she combs the library for details on the order, the remote island, and the beasts howling outside her window.

But when a prank reveals the sisters’ gruesome secret, Durra is forced to accept a new fate. Bestowed an unearthly power, she must choose between life as a nun or living among the monsters beyond the convent walls.

Her path is about to change the tide in the ultimate war. The war between good and evil.

Giveaway

Teaser Blast & Giveaway: In the Shadow of a Valiant Moon by Stu Jones & Gareth Worthington!

2020-09-09T07:00:00.001-04:00

[Cover Variations with original artwork by Justin Paul (Sony, Lionsgate)]

It Takes Death to Reach a Star

Publication: May 22nd, 2018

THE WORLD YOU KNOW IS DEAD. WE DID THIS TO OURSELVES.

The year is 2251.

In the Shadow of a Valiant Moon

Publication: August 25th, 2020

DESTINY HAS NO ALLEGIANCE.

Four years have passed since the lillipads fell and Etyom slipped into darkness.

Yet, Mila should be careful for what she longs. Caught between annihilation and loyalties that refuse to die, she must reconcile a single immutable truth: following your heart comes at a price.

___________________________________________

GIVEAWAY

Teaser Blast & Giveaway: Sisters of the Moon by Alexandrea Weis!

2020-09-08T07:30:00.001-04:00

Sisters of the Moon

by Alexandrea Weis

Release date: September 22nd

A monstrous fate will turn a girl into a legend.

On an island in Lake Obersee, where The Sisters of St. Gertrude abide, a destitute Moor named Durra arrives. Sold for taxes, she and her two companions tend to the nuns and their collection of cats. At night, she combs the library for details on the order, the remote island, and the beasts howling outside her window.

But when a prank reveals the sisters’ gruesome secret, Durra is forced to accept a new fate. Bestowed an unearthly power, she must choose between life as a nun or living among the monsters beyond the convent walls.

Her path is about to change the tide in the ultimate war. The war between good and evil.

Giveaway

Blog Tour & Promotional Events Invitation: WHEN THE WIND CHIMES by Mary Ting!

2020-09-03T16:11:00.000-04:00

When the Wind Chimes

by Mary Ting

Expected publication: November 17th by Rosewind Books

Kaitlyn Summers is heartbroken.

When she receives an invitation to spend Christmas with her family on the Hawaiian island of Kauai, she feels it may be the perfect medicine.

She throws herself into helping her sister’s struggling art gallery, even taking a temporary job for extra money by looking after a little girl from her nephew’s school. She also begins to paint again, something she’s been unable to do since her breakup. It’s tempting to stay on Kauai, but she has obligations back in Los Angeles.

Life gets more complicated when circumstances keep putting her close to Leonardo Medici. Not only is he drop-dead gorgeous, he’s a local celebrity. But Kaitlyn can’t shake the feeling he’s hiding something.

Should she believe the rumors that he’s romancing half the island’s single women?

Or is the random sound of wind chimes when he’s close-by a sign that an angel is near and the secret to her happily ever after?

PROMOTIONAL EVENTS

Teaser Blasts

We will be sharing teasers as a countdown to release day (November 17th) for WHEN THE WIND CHIMES! They will be sized for Instagram but you can share on any platform. A Rafflecopter will be prepared for you to share your links as extra entries, with a new entry option added as each date comes around.

Teaser Blast: December 2nd
Teaser Blast: December 9th
Teaser Blast: December 16th
Teaser Blast: December 23rd

Release Blast: November 17th

HTML content will be provided for bloggers, but you can share her release on any platform. You will be able to submit your links as extra entries for the giveaway.

Twitter & IG Blast: November 19th

Teasers will be provided to share on Twitter & Instagram. You will be able to submit your links as extra entries for the giveaway.

Blog Tour: November 16th - 20th

Promotional and Review spots available!

Teaser Blast & Giveaway: In the Shadow of a Valiant Moon by Stu Jones & Gareth Worthington

2020-09-02T07:00:00.001-04:00

[Cover Variations with original artwork by Justin Paul (Sony, Lionsgate)]

It Takes Death to Reach a Star

Publication: May 22nd, 2018

THE WORLD YOU KNOW IS DEAD. WE DID THIS TO OURSELVES.

The year is 2251.

In the Shadow of a Valiant Moon

Publication: August 25th, 2020

DESTINY HAS NO ALLEGIANCE.

Four years have passed since the lillipads fell and Etyom slipped into darkness.

Yet, Mila should be careful for what she longs. Caught between annihilation and loyalties that refuse to die, she must reconcile a single immutable truth: following your heart comes at a price.

___________________________________________

GIVEAWAY