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HOSTED BY WORDS TURN ME ON

New Release

Title: Between the Trees

Author: Kathy Moczerniak

Genre: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Coming-of-age

350 pages

Publication Date: December 3rd, 2018

#WTMOBTT

Beyond Kathryn Lucas’ first memory of her father’s tree lay a dysfunctional path of violence, heartbreak, and secrets within a family severely entrenched in the vicious cycle of abuse. A lifetime of fear drives her from her home, and the teenage girl finds refuge with an aunt and uncle determined to protect their niece.

Distressing flashbacks unravel in Kathryn’s fragile mind among the turmoil encircling her as she struggles through adolescence and descends into her pain-ridden past. When the summation of her unsettling memories allows the darkness to overtake her, she becomes desperate to unearth the light.

Inspired by a true story, Kathryn must hold on tightly to those who love her, searching for her place in a world threatening to break her as she fights to overcome life’s betrayals before she is deprived of her future.

Amazon Universal Link: http://geni.us/A5OT6M

"Between the Trees" is an excellent novel that's full of characters I continued to miss long after I finished the last page. Kathy Moczerniak's writing is a joy to read with vivid imagery from beginning to end. It truly makes you feel like you're right there within the story. I found it especially compelling that it's inspired by a true story, reminding us how important it is to remember that you never truly know what someone else is going through; a little kindness can go a long way. Even more important is its powerful message of hope and healing. I wholeheartedly recommend this book.”

- Amazon Reviewer

“I definitely recommend Between the Trees by Kathy Moczerniak! I loved it so much! I laughed, cried, felt angry and in shock. I am not much of a reader, but I had to read every day and I had to force myself to put it down to go to sleep. I found myself longing for more and didn't want it to end. I felt a connection to Kathryn and the characters in the book. I can't wait to buy it and read it again!! You will not be disappointed!!”

- Amazon Customer

“Kathy Moczerniak is a wonderful author who has a way with her writing to hold the attention of her reader! Between the Trees has so much emotion that it’s hard to put it down! Highly recommend the amazing book!!”

- Amazon Customer

“Between the Trees by Kathy Moczerniak is an insightfully written story of a dysfunctional family in crisis. The characters are well developed as each family member struggles to find their way through the chaos. The tale is told through the eyes of the main character, Kathryn Lucas. She grapples with the tribulations of growing through her teenage years in a pained family dealing with divorce, alcoholism, and violence. Kathy Moczerniak's metaphorical writing style adds a sweet, sad, yet hopeful feeling throughout Kathryn's healing to wholeness.” - Goodreads Reviewer

Kathy Moczerniak is a lifelong Buffalo, New York native, where she has built a life with her husband and their four children. Originally turning to writing seeking catharsis, her love of the written word quickly grew into a passion. Kathy’s determination to study her craft led her to graduate summa cum laude from Southern New Hampshire University with a BA in English and Creative Writing. On her path to becoming an author, she began as an editor, her love of literature increasing with each experience. Life as an author, editor, and autism mom keeps Kathy quite busy, and she is eternally grateful for her family and the opportunity to do what she loves.

Follow Kathy Moczerniak at:

Website:www.KathyMoczerniak.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKathyMoczerniak/

Twitter:https://twitter.com/KathyMoczerniak

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_kathy_moczerniak/

BookBub:https://goo.gl/B9tUEY

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Sugar Lane Series Volume 1 by Harlow Hayes Blog Tour & Giveaway

12/5/2018

Women’s fiction/Suspense

Date Published: November 19, 2018

Publisher: Harlow Hayes Books

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The night of Christmas Eve changes everything for Rhema Clark, a 36-year-old housewife living on quiet Sugar Lane. One day she is hosting a birthday party for her 9-year-old son, Julian, the next she is watching her neighborhood become the backdrop for the perfect murder.

To gain power, Rhema inserts herself into the lives of the residents of Sugar Lane. She knows they have secrets, but none of them run deeper than her own. On the outside she is a kind and caring neighbor, but on the inside, something sinister lurks beneath. The media storm surrounding this murder could destroy her secret life and expose her for what she is.

But will her lust for power override her desire to keep her secrets?

About the Author

Harlow Hayes was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana and is the author of fiction and non-fiction books. She has always had a passion for writing and storytelling in its many forms. When she’s not immersed in her writing, she enjoys reading both fiction and non-fiction, watching classic movies, and listening to jazz with her dad. She is the author of 27 Revelations and You Got to Believe: A Guide to Managing Negative Influences and Expectations As You Prepare to Self-publish Your Book.

She currently lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

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His Magic Touch by Debby Grahl Release Blitz & Giveaway

12/5/2018

Paranormal Romance

Date Published: December 5, 2018

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

The night before his wedding, Jared Dupre discovers the demonic witch, Adam Montief, has kidnapped his brother, threatening to kill him, along with Jared’s fiancée, Kendra O'Connell, for a centuries-old vendetta Jared knows nothing about. A powerful witch himself, Jared tracks Adam from New Orleans to a remote island off the coast of Connecticut. A swordfight ensues where a final thrust of Jared's blade sends Adam over the cliff into the sea below.

When Jared returns to New Orleans, he finds a triumphant Adam alive and declaring his love for Kendra.

Kendra, not knowing Jared was forced to break off their engagement to save her life, turns to a new man, unaware he’s the same man who vows to kill the man she loves.

Jared must look to the past to discover the truth behind the Montief’s vengeance against the Dupres while he fights to win back Kendra and bring about Adam's final destruction before Kendra is seduced into Adam's world of revenge and sadistic evil.

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Excerpt

In the stifling heat, Angelique Montief flicked her wrist and set the bamboo ceiling fan spinning. Kneeling on a woven mat with sweat coating her body, she lifted a small wooden brass-bound casket from the bottom of a large trunk, inserted a gold key, and opened the lid. Inside two objects lay wrapped in thick cloth. She carefully unwrapped the smaller bundle to reveal a pentagonal mirror, a gift handed down to her by her grandmother, its ancient oak frame carved with tiny pentacles. She glanced over her shoulder at her locked bedroom door, then stared into the mirror and whispered, “Show him to me.”

When the glass remained blank, fear clutched at her chest. Again, she said the words, and the image of a plantation house engulfed in flames appeared. “No, please, he can’t be dead.” Tears blurred her vision. The fiery image changed to reveal a human form lying beneath flowering bougainvillea.

Hope rising, Angelique peered closer.

“Show me his face.”

She saw his indigo blue eyes blink open.

“I’m coming, my love.”

He couldn’t hear her, but she hoped in his heart that he knew she would find a way to get to him.

As the smoke in the room thickened, she knew her time was running out. She rewrapped the mirror and placed it into the smaller casket among cloth bags of herbs and potion-filled vials. Relocking the lid, she hung the key on a chain around her neck, dropped a jeweled dagger into her pocket, and tucked the casket under her arm.

Crouched beneath the smoke, she considered the quickest way to reach her son and escape.

Augustus had locked her in, placing what he thought would be an impenetrable shield across both doors. Angelique coughed, choked by the smoke. Her husband’s biggest mistake was underestimating her power.

About the Author

photo His Magic Touch Author Debby Grahl_zpswhbrboub.jpg

Debby Grahl lives on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, with her husband, David. Besides writing, she enjoys biking, walking on the beach and a glass of wine at sunset. Her favorite places to visit are New Orleans, New York City, Captiva Island in Florida, the Cotswolds of England, and her home state of Michigan. She is a history buff who also enjoys reading murder mysteries, time travel, and, of course, romance. Visually impaired since childhood by Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), she uses screen-reading software to research and write her books.

Her first published book, The Silver Crescent, won the Paranormal Romance Guild Reviewers’ Choice award. Her second book, Rue Toulouse, a contemporary romance set in New Orleans, was a finalist in the National Excellence in Romantic Fiction Award and was selected as a May, 2016, ‘local read’ by Hilton Head Monthly.

Decorated to Death is a holiday mystery cozy. She also has stories in three anthologies, The Haunted West, Never Fear/Christmas Terrors; and Ebb and Flow from the local Island Writers’ Network.

Debby was featured in the January, 2016, Hilton Head Monthly article ‘Intriguing People of the Lowcountry’. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, Florida Romance Writers, and First Coast Romance Writers.

Her latest book, His Magic Touch, will be released December 5, 2018, by Wild Rose Press.

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Paper Girl by Cindy R. Wilson Book Blitz & Giveaway

12/5/2018

Paper Girl
by Cindy R. Wilson
Genre: YA Contemporary Fiction
Release date: December 4th 2018
Entangled Teen

Summary:

I havenâ€™t left my house in over a year. My doctor says itâ€™s social anxiety, but I know the only things that are safe are made of paper. My room is paper. My world is paper. Everything outside is fire. All it would take is one spark for me to burst into flames. So I stay inside. Where nothing can touch me.

Then my mom hires a tutor. Jackson. This boy I had a crush on before the world became too terrifying to live in. Jacksonâ€™s life is the complete opposite of mine, and I can tell heâ€™s got secrets of his own. But he makes me feel things. Makes me want to try again. Makes me want to be brave. I can almost taste the outside world. But so many things could go wrong, and all it takes is one spark for everything I love to disappear...

Purchase links can be found HERE!

Excerpt

BlackKNIGHT: That wasnâ€™t your best move.

Rogue2015: You wonâ€™t be saying that when itâ€™s checkmate.

BlackKNIGHT: Soâ€¦Rogue? Is that an X-men reference?

Rogue2015: Youâ€™re stalling. Itâ€™s your move.

BlackKNIGHT: You like comics, donâ€™t you?

Rogue2015: Your turn.

BlackKNIGHT: Donâ€™t you?

Rogue2015: Yes.

BlackKNIGHT: Comic lover and chess player. Cool. What other awesome things were you born to be?

Rogue2015: I was born to be a lot of things.

BlackKNIGHT: Like what?

Rogue2015: Maybe I didnâ€™t phrase that right. I meant I was born to be a person who does a lot of things.

BlackKNIGHT: Sounds like you already do.

Rogue2015: I wish that were real life. In real lifeâ€¦Iâ€™m scared of almost everything. The computer is safe. Chess is safe. The real world? Not so much.

BlackKNIGHT: I get that. You can be yourself when youâ€™re anonymous, but in real life you have to answer to who you really are. And sometimes, thatâ€™s the scariest thing of all.

Rogue2015: Exactly. Now, itâ€™s your turn.

About the Author

Cindy lives at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, and loves using Colorado towns and cities as inspiration for settings in her stories. She's the mother of three girls, who provide plenty of fodder for her YA novels. Cindy writes speculative fiction and YA fiction, filled with a healthy dose of romance. You'll often find her hiking or listening to any number of playlists while she comes up with her next story idea.

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Defensive Play by Jamie Deacon Book Blitz & Giveaway

12/5/2018

Title: Defensive Play Series: A Boys on the Brink Novella Author: Jamie Deacon Publisher: Beaten Track Publishing Cover Artist: Natasha Snow Release Date: November 30, 2018 Genre: Gay YA Sports Romance Length: 21,500 words Add to your Goodreads shelves

About the Book

Blurb

One glance is all it takes to bring his defences crashing down… Seventeen-year-old Davey has never made friends easily. Shy, geeky, crippled with social anxiety, he feels isolated from his peers, and only his position as defender for the school football team fills the void of loneliness. On the pitch, his deft footwork has earned him the respect and acceptance of his squad, though at a price. Desperate to hold onto this camaraderie, Davey conceals the truth from everyone, even his own family. Then, during the annual Brookshire football tournament, his eyes meet those of a rival player across the field and a spark flares between them, one neither boy can deny. Adam is everything Davey longs to be—confident, popular, comfortable with his sexuality. Davey aches to explore their connection, to discover where it might lead, but how can he follow his heart and risk rejection by his teammates, the closest thing to friends he has ever known?

Excerpt

The rain has stopped. A soft mist hangs in the air, turning the distant streetlights a hazy orange. After the stuffiness of the clubhouse, the night is bitterly cold and I pull on my sweatshirt against the chill. I sit on the steps overlooking the car park, heedless of the damp that seeps through my jeans. Elbows on knees, I rest my chin in my hands and close my eyes, attempting to clear my mind. I don’t want to think anymore. I just want to sit with nothing but the dark and the quiet for company. I haven’t been hunched there long when the door opens, ejecting a stream of warmth and thumping bass. I glance behind me, although I know who it will be. My body goes still. Adam lets the door swing shut and, just like that, we’re alone. He doesn’t seem surprised to find me on the steps. Perhaps he saw me leave. Has he followed me? My insides clench. What if Adam thinks I did it deliberately, that I meant to lure him out here. Maybe I had. Maybe, deep down, a part of me hoped Adam might come, even while the rest of me prayed he wouldn’t. This time, when our gazes connect, there’s no one to see, no football match to act as a buffer. I drink him in. Even in the faint glow filtering through the frosted pane in the door, his eyes are a vivid blue. “Hey,” Adam says. Such a simple word that expresses so much. There’s recognition there, like we’re childhood friends meeting after years apart, but uncertainty, too. He has a nice voice, I register through my turbulent thoughts—warm and slightly husky. “Hey.” My reply emerges somewhere between a croak and a squeak. Cringing, I stare down at my feet. “It’s Davey, right?” I fling him a startled look. Had this boy—this confident, gorgeous boy—actually gone to the trouble of finding out my name? One side of Adam’s mouth lifts in a crooked smile. “Well, I had to know who the lunatic was who almost took my leg off.” “God.” I bury my face in my hands. Of course Adam was going to ask about me after what happened on the pitch. “I’m so sorry.” He laughs and nudges my thigh with the toe of his trainer. “I’m kidding. Seriously, you did us a favour.” I dare a peep at him, unable to rid myself of the thought that he has pursued me out here to take the piss. That wouldn’t be anything new, after all. “It’s true.” Adam crouches on the step beside me, his expression amused but without malice. “Rob warned me about you. He said the rest of your defence was pretty solid, but probably weren’t quick enough to catch me. You were the real threat.” I grimace. “I’m guessing he wasn’t expecting me to take you out quite so spectacularly, though.” “Funnily enough, that wasn’t included in the pep talk. Still, I should be thanking you. You made our job a whole lot easier.” “Don’t remind me. You should’ve heard the guys after the match. I’ll never hear the end of it.” Adam laughs again, and I can’t hold back a smile. Here I am, having an actual conversation with an amazing-looking boy—a boy who’d caught me checking him out, no less—and I’m not making an ass of myself. The door behind us bursts open and several guys spill out. I tense, guard raised. Will they think it odd us sitting out here alone? I scan their faces, but none are from Farnstead. A moment later, they barrel down the steps without giving either of us a second look and head for one of the cars parked nearby. As they pile in and the engine growls to life, I exhale, shoulders slumping. I can feel Adam studying me and keep my gaze lowered. “You’re not out,” he says, “are you?” “What?” My entire body goes rigid. He knows. I’d already guessed as much, but suspecting it is one thing; being confronted with the indisputable truth sends me spiralling back into panic mode. Why had he really followed me out here? I’d thought…been sure I’d read something in his eyes when they locked with mine, but what if I’m wrong? Do I truly believe someone like Adam, someone popular and self-assured, would have sought me out? Unless… I see again the Brookminster players in their huddle, sniggering, moments after Adam caught me staring. I’d reassured myself they weren’t laughing about me, but perhaps my fears had been well founded. The cold certainty settles like a snowball in my gut. I’d given myself away, and now the other lads have sent Adam out here to chat me up, trick me into an admission I won’t be able to take back. For all I know, his mates are somewhere close by as we speak, listening in. “Hey.” Adam extends his palms in what is probably supposed to be a calming gesture. “It’s all right. I know and it’s all right.” “You don’t know anything,” I snap. The instinct for self-preservation, to keep my protective wall intact at any cost, propels me to my feet. “You hear me? You don’t know anything about me.” Before he can respond, I’m down the steps and sprinting into the darkness, phone already out to call my parents. All I want is to go home, crawl into bed, and forget today ever happened.

Purchase Your Copy!

About Jamie Deacon

Author Bio

Jamie lives in a tranquil spot close to the River Thames in Berkshire, England, and has always been just a little out of place—the only redhead in a family of brunettes; an introvert far more at ease with dogs than with people; a connoisseur of simple pleasures in a society intent on the quest for wealth and fame. Despite an outward cynicism, Jamie is a romantic at heart, and, when not immersed in a book, can mostly be found writing emotional stories where young men from all walks of life are forced to navigate the sometimes painful reality of growing up, coming out, and falling in love.

Connect with Jamie

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Giveaway

To celebrate the release of Defensive Play, Jamie Deacon is giving away a $10 Amazon Gift Card. For your chance to win, simply enter via the Rafflecopter below. The giveaway is open to entrants world wide, and closes at midnight EST on Friday December 7, 2018. Good luck! a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Mewranters: Attack of the Sea Monsters Blog Tour & Giveaway

12/4/2018

Welcome to my stop on the Mewranters: Attack of the Sea Monster blog tour!

Mewranters: Attack of the Sea Monster
by Kachi Ugo
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release Date: November 6th 2018

Summary:

Mewranters: Attack of the Sea Monster uniquely blends adventure with an engaging fast-paced writing style to present readers with an action-packed story of wits, wisdom, and sheer force of will.

Every Mew in the country is out to kill Perry, and the sea monster is calling him out to the sea. Therefore, he must quickly learn why every Mew is threatened by the existence of an eagle Mew if he is to stand a chance at saving his parents and killing the monster. On the day of his initiation, he shifts into a huge Golden Eagle. However, this is a bad thing since no eagle Mew makes it past the age of twelve. To complicate his life, his shifting into an eagle Mew has reawakened the sea monster. A tentative partnership is formed between the different clans. But when Perry Johnson realizes that this partnership could mean the death of his parents, he has a decision to make.

With every Mew in the country out to kill him, and the sea monster calling him out to the sea, Perry must quickly learn why every Mew is threatened by the existence of an eagle Mew if he is to stand a chance at saving his parents and killing the monster. If he fails, it may very well be the end of his familyâ€¦ and the rest of the world. This fast-paced story, with its intriguing plot and original fantastical world, keeps every zoo-going, animal-loving kid wanting more as they follow Perryâ€™s adventure.

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

CHAPTER 1

THE FALL RITUAL

Perry Johnson awoke with a feeling of dread. He knew his time had come, and he felt he was going to fail. He had never been good at anything. Not sports, not hanging out with friends, not even school. He wasnâ€™t failing in school, but he wasnâ€™t passing either. He was average. In everything. Nothing special. That kind of sucked. But what could he do? It was who he was. It was his destiny.

Even as he sat trembling on his bed, he figured today was going to end badly. Badly for him. He was certain he wasnâ€™t going to be good enough. He had known about the ritual for some time since Richard. He was four then. One week after they had celebrated Richardâ€™s twelfth birthday, the family moved to their cliff house in Nevada. Perry didnâ€™t know what Richard did because he wasnâ€™t allowed to watch, but whatever Richard had done, he had been awesome. Four years later, Jane and Jakeâ€™s turn came. He didnâ€™t watch, again, but he knew they were great. Now his time had come. One week after they had celebrated his twelfth birthday, they had moved here. It was his turn, but Perry already knew what the outcome would be.

Perry knew he wasnâ€™t good enough. Whatever this family ritual was, he was going to fail it. Perry had always gotten by being average. Somehow, he suspected that this time average wouldnâ€™t be good enough. Thatâ€™s why he was afraid. The ritual was importantâ€”like family-tradition important. That much he knew. He loved his sister so much. He couldnâ€™t bear the thought of losing her, but that didnâ€™t stop these thoughts from barraging his mind. Average meant failure, and failure was his one-way ticket out of the family.

â€œPerry!â€ His motherâ€™s voice came to him from somewhere in the cabin. â€œBreakfast is

ready.â€

Perry had already gotten used to his small room. Still, it pressed in on him from all sides. He had no appetite for food. Yet, he knew he must eat. It might very well be his last meal as Perry, son of Johnson.

Perry jumped off the bed. He landed on the floorboards with a crouch, his legs almost giving in. He had on a red shirt and blue jeans. He looked in the mirror on his dresser. All he saw was a small, scrawny preteen. He gulped. His heart was already pounding, though he kept his breathing steady.

The door to his room opened. Lisa, his dear sister, came in. She had a warm smile on her face and a small broom in her hands.

â€œMother told me to do your chores,â€ Lisa said, mild irritation on her face.

â€œShe did?â€ Now his breathing became erratic. â€œWhy?â€

Lisa frowned at the way he breathed. She shrugged and said, â€œDonâ€™t know. Something about a big day for you. I heard her talking with Richard.â€

Perry struggled to calm himself. He swallowed hard. â€œRichieâ€™s here?â€ â€œMmm-Hmm,â€ Lisa replied, already sweeping the floor. She was eleven years old. Perry

might not be here to watch her do the ritual next year, but he knew she would excel. She was unlike him. Success came naturally to her, the same way being average came naturally to him. It was who they were. Maybe, if he could get his parents to understand this, they wouldnâ€™t kick him out of the family when he botched the family ritual.

Spurred by impulse and a humongous amount of nervous energy, Perry hugged his sister and left the room. He could never hate his sister. Not even when his parents praised her and derided him. He couldnâ€™t even be jealous of her.

Perry walked the narrow corridor, which opened to the small sitting room. His heart lurched. Richard, Jane, and Jake were all present. Richard sat at the table with Jake, while Jane sat on a couch. Mother wasnâ€™t in the room. But there was food on the table, which Richard and Jake ate. There was an extra plate; his, Perry concluded. He hesitated in the low-light corridor. Usually, when Richard came from Maine, or Jake and Jane, their familyâ€™s inseparable twins, came from school in California, Perry felt exuberant. But now he could feel his heart sink. He didnâ€™t want them to see him fail. He didnâ€™t want to eat, but he knew he must.

A hand touched his shoulder, and he jerked away, frightened. He was in the sitting room now, in the open, exposed. At first, he was startled. Everyone seemed happy to see him. He felt like a spotlight was upon him. Richard, Jake, and Jane talked excitedly, all at the same time, but he couldnâ€™t pick out their words. All he was conscious of was the ferocity with which his heart hammered in his chest. He looked at where he had been. His mother stood in the doorway, staring at him, concerned. The room fell quiet.

His mother pointed at the table. â€œEat,â€ she rumbled.

Perry nodded in submission, sat, and ate. He forced the cheese pie into his mouth, down his throat. Richard watched him, silent, but Jake talked. Talked about the weather. Talked about school. Talked about birds. Richard gave him a sharp look when he mentioned birds, and he quickly changed the topic. Talked about family traditions.

Jake only talked this much when he was antsy. He probably knew Perryâ€™s chances of success were thin and feared for him. Perry felt like crying. Why did he have to be such a loser?

Mother roamed the house. She too was nervous. Jane gave nippy glances at him and his food; they flickered from impatience to anxiety. Father wasnâ€™t in sight. But he too, no doubt, thought he was no good. Perry fought the urge to wail out in distress and continued battling with his cheese pie and milkshake.

The air seemed to thicken as he pushed it through his lungs. Perry didnâ€™t get to the last slice of the crusty cream pie before Father came into the sitting room.

He looked first at Perry. His weathered face carried deep lines on his forehead. In these deep lines, strips of sweat lay. His blue T-shirt had a dark V that reached from his neck. The dark stain was perspiration. Then, his gaze shifted to Mother. â€œThey are ready for him,â€ he said in a solemn tone.

It was as if a giant bell rang in Perryâ€™s mind. He knew he was finished. Why remain there? He jumped out of his chair and was about to run for his room. But his mother stood, akimbo, in his path, with a look of concern on her face. She didnâ€™t seem to have noticed his intentions. He squashed the urge to run and kept hidden those intentions.

Richard, Jake, and Jane rose to their feet, a sudden reverence around their motions. They stood still, allowing Mother to guide him towards the door with one hand on his shoulder. Father gave way, and Perry walked into the hot desert.

Three strange-looking men stood by the metal interlocking fence. One was old and the other two were young. But they both looked like they were from an ancient Indian tribe. The old man sported a white shirt, a white headband, and a white feather sticking up by his left ear. His intense gaze drilled holes into Perryâ€™s eyes. Perry looked away. Beyond the fence, less than ten feet away, was an edge. Father had told him that the edge was fifty stories above the desert floor.

Father had also told him that anyone who fell off the cliff would splatter into a million bloody pieces.

Motherâ€™s grip tightened on Perryâ€™s shoulder. She pushed him gently towards the strange men. Father and the rest followed from behind.

As Perry glanced around the yard, he realized there was only one car beside the house. How had these men, including Richard and the twins, gotten to the cabin? There wasnâ€™t a highway for miles. What was going on?

Perry caught the look in Motherâ€™s side glances to Father. She was uncertain. Unsure. Like she knew this was his last day as her son. But, she couldnâ€™t call off the ritual now that these strange men were involved.

When they were still a distance from the three men, they halted. His mother crouched beside him, held his shoulders with both hands, and fixed him with her most dangerous stare. Whatever she said now, he could never disobey; not if he didnâ€™t want to suffer severe consequences.

â€œThose men are here to test you,â€ his mother said with a brief glance at the old man. â€œHeâ€™s the chief of our clan. Do whatever he tells you, and it will be all right. Fail, and you might lose that which is precious to you.â€

Perryâ€™s dread heightened. Lose Lisa?

â€œMother?â€ Perry croaked. â€œIâ€™m scared.â€

His motherâ€™s fierce gaze melted that instant. She looked at his heaving chest for a moment. Then she turned to face his father. Her knees gave out beneath her.

â€œHeâ€™s not ready,â€ she muttered to him, tears in her eyes.

Father picked up Mother from the ground and held her in his arms. â€œThereâ€™s nothing we can do about that,â€ he whispered back to her. â€œItâ€™s either now or never.â€

â€œWhat if he fails?â€ Mother said, glancing at Perry, who now stood alone.

His fatherâ€™s eyes gripped his. â€œThen itâ€™s over for him.â€ He said this without an iota of emotion.

Mother squeezed her eyes shut as tears fell to her cheek. When she opened her eyes, she fixed a cold stare on him. â€œDo as I say.â€

Perry turned away from his family. The three strange men remained passive and silent as he approached them. The sun scorched his head. Baked sand found its way into his jeans. He looked over his shoulder one last time. Mother and Father werenâ€™t looking. They were locked in an embrace. Richard and the twins were farther behind, staring at him with glassy eyes, squinting in the sun. The house stood behind them, the only human structure for as far as the eyes could see. It was small, misshapen, a construction of roofing sheets. It had been his familyâ€™s cabin for years, since before he was born. He was about to lose it. He was about to lose everything.

â€œPerry Johnson,â€ the old man said. His voice was unusually strong considering his age; he had wrinkles all over his face.

Perry stood before the man. â€œYes, Sir,â€ he replied, looking up at the man, into the sun. The man placed a hand on his shoulder and led him towards the gate in the fence. â€œDo

you know what this is all about, Perry?â€ he asked.

Perry shook his head, too scared to talk.

The man made a sound, an amusing sound. â€œSurely, you must have an inkling as to what purpose you have been brought here.â€

â€œA family ritual.â€ Perryâ€™s voice was lost in the wind, but the man must have heard because he nodded contemplatively.

â€œGo on,â€ he said. They were through the gate and headed for the edge of the cliff.

â€œA test to determine if Iâ€™m worthy to be a member of this family,â€ Perry said. A sudden alarm came to his mind as they approached the edge. The desert floor spread from underneath the cliff: a barren, dry land. Great winds moved sand around in disorganized sweeps. â€œSir, why are we going towards the edge of the cliff?â€

â€œDoes it bother you?â€

â€œItâ€™s dangerous, Sir. My father has forbidden me to cross the fence,â€ Perry said, trying to look over his shoulder at his parents. But, the old man prevented him. Perry tried to wriggle himself out of the manâ€™s grip, but the man clamped tighter.

â€œNot to birds, itâ€™s not,â€ the old man said, pausing at the very edge of the cliff.

Perry felt queasy standing fifty stories above the ground. He shut his eyes and craned his neck away from the fall. â€œIâ€™m not a bird, Sir,â€ he cried out in desperation.

â€œNot yet,â€ the man said, and shoved him over the cliff.

Perry fell.

Fell towards his death.

He hurtled.

Hurtled to splatter into a million bloody pieces.

He screamed, flapped, and beat the air. But, he fell on. The floorâ€”his deathâ€”rushed up to meet him. His heart fluttered ferociously. A flame of fear erupted around his body. Ten seconds to his death. A strange feeling came over him, unlike his earlier feeling of apprehension. Feathers sprung from his skin. His legs turned to talons. A different kind of fear overtook his mind. More feathers shot out of his skin.

Five seconds to his death.

Perry flapped his hands faster, as if he could fly. The wind caught on his handsâ€”noâ€”his wings! He flapped again and glided away from the cliff wall. He was no longer falling. He was gliding, two yards above the ground! He cried out, terrified, but what came forth from his sharp beak was a piercing whistle that rang through the desert.

He tried to grab the sand before crashing into the ground. He tried to push his body off the sand with his hands, but they werenâ€™t strong enough because they were wings. Panic stabbed at Perryâ€™s heart. He flapped off the ground, rising five feet into the air. The sand lodged in his skin felt like tiny pinpricks, irritating him. He landed on talons, shaking his body vigorously.

I canâ€™t be a bird! he thought. I CANâ€™T BE A BIRD!

Wait, maybe I succeeded this time! Did I pass the test?!

He looked to the cliff. It was so far away. Yet he could clearly see his parents, Richard, the twins, and the three strange men. He searched their faces for recognition or approval, but it was not happy surprise or awe that he saw. It was terror. His heart sank. He was a failure again. What else was new?

Before his eyes, they turned into huge birds. Huger than normal birds, but not different in other regards. Mother was a white owl. Father was a blue harrier. Richard was a grey hawk. The twins were bright yellow buzzards. The old man that had tried to kill him was a white osprey. Perry blinked, not sure what he was seeing. They soared high above the desert towards him.

When they got to him, they circled, keeping their distance.

He glanced down at his own body. He was a golden eagle. He spread his wings and they each stretched over a yard from his chest. The circling birds scampered away at the revelation of his full form, seemingly terrified. Perry nestled his wings back into his body and sat on the

ground, dropping his head. He felt ashamed of being an eagle. He had failed his parents, his family. He had broken his familyâ€™s tradition. He deserved to be expelled from the fold.

After a while, he heard his mother speak. Her voice was firm in his mind. â€œPerry, rise into the air. Weâ€™re going to teach you to handle your aerial form.â€

Even though he heard her voice in his mind, he knew it was a command, not a request. He leaped into the air, spreading his wings full length. The air seemed to cling to his form, pushing him upwards. He didnâ€™t need to flap. He shot to the clouds, his shame melting into excitement. His family and the osprey followed behind, instructing him.

About the Author

Kachi Ugo's whole life has revolved around writing. When he was twelve, while his friends still flipped through picture books and comics, he took an interest in thick, picture-less â€œstory booksâ€ that opened him up to a whole new world of possibilities and adventures. A decade later, he writes those same books himself. Kachi Ugo is an avid supporter of YA Fantasy. For him, writing is a passion. He relishes the power it gives him to create worlds of his own where anything and everything is possible.

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Death by Payback by Gary Evans Release Blitz & Giveaway

12/4/2018

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Thriller

Date Published: November 2018

Publisher: AuthorSource

Free With Kindle Unlimited!

After confessing to killing fourteen young men in La Crosse, Wisconsin, sultry serial killer Genevieve Wangen escapes custody for the second time. Aided by her Mafia contacts, she settles in at a remote cabin in the Bitterroot Mountains of Montana. Now, safely hidden behind her new identity as Samantha Walters, she happily continues her deadly work for the Carbones. But Detective Al Rouse and Deputy Charlie Berzinski are bent on locking her away for good. When they finally catch up to her, as she is about to wed her latest debonair lover, Genevieve finds that she must escape more than just the law!

Other Books in the Series

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Thriller

Date Published: July 2017

When Shawn Sorenson drowned in 1987, no one in La Crosse, Wisconsin, took much notice. They thought it was simply another drunken accident. When another student, Tad Schwartz, drowned a year later, the residents began to suspect foul play. Why else would a healthy young man drown? Even so, the police had no leads or clues to suggest anything other than a tragic accident. Were these truly accidental deaths? Suspicion became reality one fateful morning in 2011 when Police Detective Allan Rouse, Sheriff's Deputy Charlie Berzinski, and pathologist Rick Olson pulled the 15th victim from the river. The body had a tale to tell.

Dr. Olson, physician Patricia Grebin, and researcher Sarah Giles discover an obscure piece of evidence. It leads Berzinski and Rouse down a tangled trail of clues before reaching a mind-boggling conclusion. Will Berzinski and Rouse catch the killer before it's too late? Filled with intrigue, betrayal, and gut-twisting suspense, Death by Drowning will draw readers into a Midwestern town full of secrets and clues as breathtaking as the Mississippi River.

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Thriller

Date Published: Spring 2018

Beautiful assassin Genevieve Wangen continues to work on her deadly concoctions from her secret lab in the woods, far from the prying eyes of the law. But just as soon as she has love and a new life in her sights, Genevieve is pulled into a far more dangerous high-stakes game of cat and mouse. She already upended her life and identity once. How far will she need to go this time to stay alive?

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About the Author

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Gary Evans has turned his passion for novel writing into a post-retirement career, with book four soon to be released, and book five already in the works. Evans spent 30 years in Midwest newsrooms as an award-winning writer, editor, and publisher. He spent 12 years as vice president at Winona State University. He ended his career as the president and CEO of Hiawatha Broadband Communication, one of the nation’s first alternative entrant telecommunications firms, after 15 years. Married to Ellen, they have two grown children, Gregory and Natalie.

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Citadel by Jack Remick Blog Tour & Giveaway

12/4/2018

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Women’s literary fiction

Publisher: Quartet Global Books

Irven DeVore, an evolutionary biologist, writes that "Males are a breeding experiment run by females." What if, in fact, women ran everything? What if women rejected the culture of rape and violence to take control of their lives in the safety of the Citadels? What if women could exist without males? CITADEL is a metafictional, apocalyptic story braided into a contemporary post-lesbian novel built on genetics.

Advance Praise

"I loved the book and I'm suggesting it to all the writers, editors and women I know as a must read. You blew me away... the book drew me in completely... great experience!

I'm not sure how you managed to come up with this... let alone research it... a story usually follows one or two Characters... I found myself following the writer, the editor, the publisher, not to mention the Characters in the book... and never got lost, never ended up wondering who someone was or why they did that? I read the book in short spurts and longer chunks depending on opportunity... but never had a problem of falling back into the story... you had me from page one to the end. Great job" -- Wally Lane, filmmaker, screenwriter.

About the Author

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Jack Remick is the author of twenty books—novels, poetry, short stories, screenplays. He co-authored The Weekend Novelist Writes a Mystery with Robert J. Ray. His novel Gabriela and The Widow was a finalist for the Montaigne Medal as well as a finalist in Foreword Magazine’s Book of the Year Award. He reviews for the New York Journal of Books. He is a frequent guest and co-host on Michigan Avenue Media with Marsha Casper Cook. His novel Citadel, was featured in the July issue of the Australian magazine eYs.

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The Risk of Happiness: The Punk Rocker by Catherine Goldstein Cover Reveal

12/4/2018

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The Risk of Happiness: The Punk Rocker (The New York Artist Series #3)

by Cathrine Goldstein

Genre: NA/Adult Contemporary Romance

Release Date: January 21st 2019

The Wild Rose Press

Summary:

Bad boy punk rock star Reale Lynxx never expected to see his ex-girlfriend, Amanda Simmons, again. And after she'd stomped on his heart and walked out on him six years ago, he's not so sure he wants to. Certainly Reale never imagined he would rescue Amanda and her son, Johnny, from drowning. But all it takes is one evening with her and Reale is ready to leave the past behind and try again.

Amanda never meant to hurt Reale and happily jumps heart-first into rebuilding their relationship. But when she confesses she left him to secretly raise their son, Reale grows livid, fighting her and gaining custody of Johnnyâ€¦

When Reale realizes he was wrong for taking Johnny away, he tries to win Amanda back. But can she forgive the man who took her son? And can she ever trust Reale again, no matter how much she loves him?

Previous Books in the Series:

Buy Links:

Summer of Irreverence: The Rock Star

Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Wild Rose Press

To Be or Not To Be: The Actors

Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Wild Rose Press

About the Author
I am a bestselling author, and a NYC girl at heart. I write â€œgritty romance,â€ in the genres of YA, NA; womenâ€™s fiction; and romance. Iâ€™m also the author of The Letting and The Coupling, books 1 and 2 of The Letting series. I began my career as an award-winning playwright, and I am a proud member of RWA, PAN. I have my BA in English and my MA in Theatre.

I am a fan of Luna Bars, decaf coffee, yoga, Hemingway, and Bukowskiâ€”and the loves of my life are my husband and my two young girls.

To find out more about me; Summer of Irreverence, the first book in The New York Artists Seriesâ€”standalone novels about strong, artistic men, and the smart, unexpected women they fall for; The Letting series; and whatâ€™s coming soon, please visit:www.CathrineGoldstein.com

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Conduits by J. Ryan Sommers Release Blitz

12/3/2018

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Magical Realism

Date Published: December 3, 2018

Publisher: Transmudane Press, LLC

It exists in a long-forgotten corner of the American dream.

Green Valley County is home to murders and heroes, ghosts and jinxes, gods, devils, and even a pygmy Big Foot.

But the biggest menace is Jinx Jenkins and the string of bad luck he bestows upon the townsfolk.

Can the good people of Green Valley overcome this one man’s curse?

If you love the classic comic and magical realism, you’ll lose yourself in this piece of Americana.

Become a citizen of the City by the Shore and see how seemingly random occurrences come to shape an entire civilization.

Excerpt

MILLENNIAL

Once, a poor, old woman lived in the foothills of Green Valley. Made old by the circumstances of her life. Mary Foster was known the county over as The Human Incubator, as she had been pregnant for the last 257 months.

Her pregnancy went as any pregnancy might. She received regular ultrasounds, took vitamins, and kept away from cigarettes and alcohol—save the occasional glass of wine.

Everything appeared to be right on schedule until her due date. Yet the baby never came. The doctors told her to be patient because these things sometimes happen.

So, she waited.

But the baby never came. When seven days passed without any change, the doctors decided to induce. To their surprise, the child held tight. The only course of action was to retrieve the child through C-section. The doctors put Mary under and sliced her open. The lead surgeon put his hands inside and was shocked to feel a bite.

A tiny hand came out and extended a middle finger.

The doctors had a single option: sew Mary back up. The child did not wish to be born. And so, the baby never came.

Holidays passed, children grew tall and strong, and Mary remained pregnant. Her life was thrown out of whack. And as the months and years ticked by and the child inside her grew, she found herself incapacitated. Soon, the burden grew too large for her to walk, and she needed to be wheeled around. Her diet changed, as did her bathroom schedule. She sold all of her normal clothes and spent a fortune on muumuus—the only thing that fit her belly. But worst of all, consumed with pain, she hardly attained a few hours of broken sleep each night. Mary was forced to move in to a nursing home where they tended to her needs.

The father was a one-night stand, a passing traveler on his way out west. She’d never got his name, let alone a number to reach him, but he might as well have not existed at all. Nonetheless, Mary habitually pictured and cursed his face. After a while, though, even his face faded, and she was left with a melting pot of emotions. Hatred and fear and anxiety and discomfort and frustration and happiness and love and lots and lots of pain.

At first, she referred to the baby as It. But after a while, Mary saw fit to give the child a name, so she called him Junior.

Junior aged within Mary, siphoning away her youth. Middle age brought her liver spots and wrinkles. Her skin grew thin and her eyes weary.

Hope had left her.

When the last drop of life was suckled and nothing was left for Junior to reap, the baby finally came. Fully grown with teeth and hair and a beard, Mary awoke one morning to find Junior at the foot of her bed. Despite his appearance, he had the mental capacity of an infant.

Mary spoon-fed him, scooping up the spittle and shoveling it back into his man-sized mouth. She changed his diapers and clothes and even gave him baths. And in spite of all her newfound hardship, Mary had never been so happy.

At last, she was able to stand and walk on her own—a thing she’d dreamt of whenever she did sleep. She could drink alcohol again. And although she never smoked cigarettes before, she started up, just because she could.

She had her body back.

Junior relied on his mother for everything. She cooked and cleaned and earned the money despite his fully capable body. For he was naïve to the ways of the world and, like any child, assumed all the world to be his juvenile right.

One day, old and withered and drained, Mary grew ill. She needed Junior to take care of her.

The man pouted and kicked and cried and cursed.

Dishes piled high, and clothes grew in heaps, soiled and stained. An odor fell about the place so foul, not even Junior could deny it.

At last, he realized the weight he must bear, so Junior picked up a spoon and fed his mother the way she once did for him.

He ventured out into the world and discovered, ever so harshly, that the world was not immediately his. Rather, it was up to him to earn his way and stake his claim. He found work, and in time, an appreciation for his mother took hold. Resentment gone, he realized Mary, with all her hardship, always did the best she could. And wasn’t that all anyone could ever ask?

The day came when Mary finally died, old and gray with a smile on her face and Junior at her side.

About the Author

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J. Ryan Sommers has an MFA in creative writing from Columbia College Chicago. He and his wife recently left the windy city and relocated to Houston where Sommers teaches and continues to write. Sommers has been writing stories since he was a kid. He found it to be an escape at one of the most difficult times of his life, his childhood.

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