Showing posts with label teen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label teen. Show all posts

Monday, May 5, 2025

Unlocking the Magic: A Sneak Peek at Isaac and the Prince of Fae


Before the Embrace series begins––before Madison Riley discovers that magic is real and that she must embrace her powers to save her friend––there's a story that chronicles a pivotal week in Isaac's past. 

Isaac and the Prince of Fae isn't just a prequel––it's a gateway into the world of magic and fae. Available now on Kindle Unlimited, this novella offers a glimpse into the wonders and dangers that lie ahead.

And I have a sneak peek for you.

Happy reading!



Peek between the pages...

”Breathe!” I screamed as I administered CPR to my friend James. Our boat bobbed like a forgotten inner tube off the Massachusetts coast, making it difficult for me to keep the chest compressions even. The frantic screams coming from nearby boats faded. I wiped rain from my eyes and blew into James’ mouth.

“Try a locator spell to find Serpie,” he had said a few minutes earlier. “Use sonar the way whales and dolphins do.”

Only, I hadn’t been focused. Hadn’t taken the time to draw upon positive emotions to fuel my powers before casting the spell. Magic had exploded out of me, resulting in waves that swelled to heights of five feet. I panicked, cast another spell hoping to counter the first, and inadvertently conjured a storm that darkened the skies and roiled the waters to rival Hurricane Katrina. James was thrown over‐ board. Thankfully, I had been able to scoop him out of the water with a rescue pole.

Son of a bitch! He can’t die. Not like this.

I breathed into his mouth. Waited a second. Went back to chest compressions, our conversation from the day before streaming in my mind.

“Come on, Isaac,” James had said, begging me to go with him on his insane hunt for the infamous sea serpent believed to haunt Gloucester Harbor. “With your magic, my knowl‐ edge of the area, and my uncle’s boat, we’ll be the ones to find old Serpie. We’ll prove to the world she exists. It’ll be fun.”

This was anything but.

The boat pitched, slamming me backward into the star‐ board side. Anger at the weather, at myself for causing it, and at James for not waking the hell up gripped me. I threw my hands up and screamed in frustration. “Enough already!”

For the third time, uncensored magic exploded out of me. Threads of power pierced the sky, traveling through the clouds like wildfire. Blood-orange and purple streaks devoured the gray cover, leaving behind a blue palette so pale it was almost void of color. The water calmed. The scent of burnt steel caught in my throat. My powers had never smelled this vile, but I’d never used fear and fury to fuel them, until now.

About the Book


Isaac and the Prince of Fae
Genre: YA Fantasy, Adventure
Book length: Novella

Blurb:
Isaac knows the importance of fueling his magical powers with positive emotions. It’s been the simplest of rules to follow until now.

When Heather, a fellow witch, begs Isaac to help her reverse a spell that brought a vindictive faerie into the human realm, Isaac has no choice but to assist. He’s sure there’s a peaceful compromise to her prince of a problem. Only Heather hasn’t been entirely truthful about why this dangerous faerie refuses to leave. He’s even more powerful than Isaac. That is, if Isaac doesn’t tap into dark magic. When the faerie threatens to harm the people Isaac cares about, he abandons civility. He’ll burn down the faerie realm to protect his loved ones—if the faerie doesn’t kill him first.

Grab your copy

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Peek Between the Pages of Isaac & the Prince of Fae



Isaac and the Prince of Fae starts before Embrace and before Isaac meets Madison Riley, the heroine in the series. It chronicles an important week in Isaac’s past. The hunt for the legendary sea creature and the events that followed are briefly mentioned in Hold Tight. These events shaped Isaac in a major way and are the reason he preaches control and the use of positive emotions to fuel magic.

Happy reading!


Peek between the pages...

”Breathe!” I screamed as I administered CPR to my friend James. Our boat bobbed like a forgotten inner tube off the Massachusetts coast, making it difficult for me to keep the chest compressions even. The frantic screams coming from nearby boats faded. I wiped rain from my eyes and blew into James’ mouth.

“Try a locator spell to find Serpie,” he had said a few minutes earlier. “Use sonar the way whales and dolphins do.”

Only, I hadn’t been focused. Hadn’t taken the time to draw upon positive emotions to fuel my powers before casting the spell. Magic had exploded out of me, resulting in waves that swelled to heights of five feet. I panicked, cast another spell hoping to counter the first, and inadvertently conjured a storm that darkened the skies and roiled the waters to rival Hurricane Katrina. James was thrown over‐ board. Thankfully, I had been able to scoop him out of the water with a rescue pole.

Son of a bitch! He can’t die. Not like this.

I breathed into his mouth. Waited a second. Went back to chest compressions, our conversation from the day before streaming in my mind.

“Come on, Isaac,” James had said, begging me to go with him on his insane hunt for the infamous sea serpent believed to haunt Gloucester Harbor. “With your magic, my knowl‐ edge of the area, and my uncle’s boat, we’ll be the ones to find old Serpie. We’ll prove to the world she exists. It’ll be fun.”

This was anything but.

The boat pitched, slamming me backward into the star‐ board side. Anger at the weather, at myself for causing it, and at James for not waking the hell up gripped me. I threw my hands up and screamed in frustration. “Enough already!”

For the third time, uncensored magic exploded out of me. Threads of power pierced the sky, traveling through the clouds like wildfire. Blood-orange and purple streaks devoured the gray cover, leaving behind a blue palette so pale it was almost void of color. The water calmed. The scent of burnt steel caught in my throat. My powers had never smelled this vile, but I’d never used fear and fury to fuel them, until now.

About the Book


Isaac and the Prince of Fae
Genre: YA Fantasy, Adventure
Book length: Novella

Blurb:
Isaac knows the importance of fueling his magical powers with positive emotions. It’s been the simplest of rules to follow until now.

When Heather, a fellow witch, begs Isaac to help her reverse a spell that brought a vindictive faerie into the human realm, Isaac has no choice but to assist. He’s sure there’s a peaceful compromise to her prince of a problem. Only Heather hasn’t been entirely truthful about why this dangerous faerie refuses to leave. He’s even more powerful than Isaac. That is, if Isaac doesn’t tap into dark magic. When the faerie threatens to harm the people Isaac cares about, he abandons civility. He’ll burn down the faerie realm to protect his loved ones—if the faerie doesn’t kill him first.

Grab your copy


Tuesday, February 27, 2024

Peek between the pages of Damned When I Didn't


Imagine waking up one day and finding out you’re a succubus. A female demon who feeds on human intimacy. And you’re a virgin. That’s the nightmare that Avery Williams faces in my YA paranormal romance, Damned When I Didn’t, a unique coming of age story about family, friendship, and living with the consequences of one’s choices.


Peek between the pages...

     It wasn’t the things I remembered that scared the crap out of me. It was the things I didn’t.

     Take that night, for instance. I knew I’d been at the same party as my fifteen-year-old sister. She’d been laughing at something her friend had said. Caleb Higgins, the guy I’d been crushing on senior year, had come over to talk to me. I remembered feeling panicked at some point during the party and hearing my friends’ heart-stopping screams. But my strongest memory—the one that haunts me even now as I run my hand over the smooth skin on my stomach—was of the sharp pain that had pierced my body just below my rib cage. I’d thought I’d died. Thought I’d glimpsed the Bright Light. But soon after, I wasn’t sure of anything. Like how I’d ended up at the hospital. There was no mistaking that’s where I was. I recognized the curved wooden reception desk in the waiting room from the time my sister had broken her arm.

     I stood near the closed double doors leading into the emergency room, wearing dirty jeans, baby-blue flip-flops, and a too-thin, pale-rose tank top, freezing my butt off. Why were hospitals always so cold? Seriously, there were sick people there. A little heat might have done them wonders.

     A disbelieving giggle bubbled up my throat. The temperature in the waiting room was the least of my worries.



I’m delighted with the feedback I’ve received.

Winner Best Paranormal Romance 2021

"Damned When I Didn’t is such a fun paranormal romance, I loved every minute of it. ... If you’re looking for a paranormal romance with a fresh take and snarky dialogue, pick up Damned When I Didn’t. Highly recommend!" - N.N. Light Book Heaven

"This novel serves up a unique story that brings many different characters together in a breathtaking read." - InD'Tale Magazine

"Damned If I Didn't is the perfect mix of romance, drama, and friendship. You won't be disappointed!" - Goodreads Reviewer


Damned When I Didn’t is a YA novel that will make you laugh, cry, and swoon. It’s a story of love, friendship, and self-discovery that will keep you on the edge or your seat. If you’re looking for a fresh and fun paranormal romance, you won’t regret giving it a try. You can find it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or your favorite online bookstore. And if you do read it, please let me know what your think. I’d love to hear from you!


Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Book Tour: Of Light and Shadow by Tanaz Bhathena

I'm excited to participate in the OF LIGHT AND SHADOW by Tanaz Bhathena virtual book tour organized by Xpresso Tours. Below you'll find the playlist for this book. And Tanaz Bhathena will be awarding a print copy of the book to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. 

Of Light and Shadow
Tanaz Bhathena
Publication date: May 23rd 2023
Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult

When they don’t give us our birthright, we steal it.

Roshan Chaya is out for justice. Abandoned by her parents at birth and adopted by the kingdom of Jwala’s most notorious bandit before his brutal murder, she is now leader of the Shadow Clan, a gang of farmers-turned-bandits impoverished by the provincial governor’s atrocities and corruption. Roshan’s goal: to avenge her adoptive father and earn back rights and dignity for her people.

Prince Navin has always felt like an outcast. Second in line for the throne, he has never been close to his grandmother, Queen Bhairavi of Jwala. When a night out drinking with friends leads to his capture by the infamous Shadow Clan, Navin schemes to befriend Roshan and use her as a means to escape. His ploy, however, brings Navin closer to the corruption and poverty at the heart of Roshan’s province, raising questions about its governor and Navin’s own family.

To further complicate things, the closer Roshan and Navin get, the harder it becomes to fight their growing attraction. But how can they trust each other when the world as they know it starts to fall apart?

Set in a magical world inspired by the badlands of 17th century India, this standalone epic fantasy novel by Tanaz Bhathena is packed with political tensions, dangerous schemes, and swoon-worthy romance that asks the age old question: can love conquer all?

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play


OF LIGHT AND SHADOW Playlist:

 

Sholay theme - RD Burman

Enemy - Imagine Dragons

Heart of Courage - Thomas Bergersen

Monster - Shawn Mendes & Justin Bieber

Garaj Garaj - Pt. Ajoy Chakraborty

Demons - Imagine Dragons

A Fistful of Dollars - Ennio Morricone

Sayonee - Junoon 

The Good, The Bad and the Ugly theme - Ennio Morricone

Set Fire to the Rain - Adele

Bella Ciao - Manu Pilas

Mehbooba Mehbooba - RD Burman

Alvida reprise - James

Warriors - Imagine Dragons


Author Bio:

Tanaz Bhathena is an award-winning Zoroastrian author of contemporary and fantasy fiction. Her books include Of Light and Shadow, Hunted by the Sky which won the Ontario Library Association’s White Pine Award and the Bapsi Sidhwa Literary Prize, and The Beauty of the Moment which won the Nautilus Award for Young Adult Fiction. Her acclaimed debut, A Girl Like That, was named a Best Book of the Year by numerous outlets including The Globe and Mail, Seventeen, and The Times of India. Born in India and raised in Saudi Arabia and Canada, Tanaz lives in Mississauga, Ontario, with her family.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram


GIVEAWAY!
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Thursday, May 4, 2023

In honor of Throwback Thursday: Embrace

 

Hi! And welcome to my blog. In honor of Throwback Thursday, I have an excerpt from my debut novel EMBRACE. This was my first book baby, the one that took me from aspiring author to published author. Madison Riley and her friends are still some of my favorite characters. The magic in this book inspires the magic in my later books. 

Be sure to read to the end, I have exciting news!


Peek between the pages

Ishould have cared what I wore, but I couldn’t quite get there. I didn’t see any point in dressing up just to get knocked down. Now, if my best friend had said, Epic party and we’re going, I would have rushed upstairs and changed out of the cream tank top I’d rescued from the hamper that morning, and I would have put on my new jeans, the ones with the rhinestones on the pockets. But that’s not what Kaylee said.

“Your life’s about to change, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

That’s what she’d blurted into the phone just after she had told me she’d be by in fifteen minutes to pick me up for the party at Wingaersheek Beach. She hadn’t said, I have a great surprise for you, or, You’ll never believe how happy you’re going to be. She hadn’t said anything to hint this change was good, and that bothered me.

For me, change meant major adjustments in my life. It meant learning to live without people I loved. Taking on responsibilities I wasn’t ready for. It meant even a tub of chocolate and peanut butter ice cream and all the lattes in the world wouldn’t make things better.

I called her back several times. She wasn’t answering. Whatever she had to tell me, it had to be bad or she would have told me over the phone.




EMBRACE, Book 1
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance/Thriller

Blurb:
Madison is familiar enough with change, and she hates everything about it. Change took her long-term boyfriend away from her. It caused one of her friends to suddenly hate her. It’s responsible for the death of a local along with a host of other mysterious happenings. But when Madison meets a hot new guy, she thinks her luck is about to improve.

Madison is instantly drawn to the handsome and intriguing Isaac Addington. She quickly realizes he’s a guy harboring a secret, but she’s willing to risk the unknown to be with him.

Her world really spins out of control, however, when her best friend becomes delusional, seeing things that aren’t there and desperately trying to escape their evil. When the doctors can’t find the answers, Madison seeks her own.

Nothing can prepare her for what she is about to discover.
Dangerous, intoxicating, and darkly romantic, Embrace is a thriller that will leave you spellbound.

~~~


I have a special thank you coming soon to my Book Insiders. Join my mailing list, and you'll receive it too!


QOTD: Do you believe in magic?




Tuesday, April 25, 2023

Book Blitz & Giveaway: Bookworm by Cookie o'Gorman

I'm delighted to be a part of the Bookworm by Cookie O'Gorman book tour, hosted by Xpresso Tours. I have an excerpt from this exciting YA Romance, and the author will be giving away a $20 gift card at the end of the tour.

Bookworm

Cookie O’Gorman
Publication date: April 20th 2023
Genres: Romance, Young Adult

Bookworm (buk-werm): Someone who loves books, reading, and/or studying. For reference, see Charlotte Kent.

Seventeen-year-old Charlotte Kent likes happy endings. Not that she’s looking for one herself. Awkward, never been kissed, and bookish to the core, Lottie would rather read about love than experience it.

But she enjoys helping others find their HEA in books.

Lottie loves working at the library…even if it means running into Bo Stryker.

Broody, athletic, and unfairly attractive when he frowns, Bo works at the flower shop across the street. Lottie is about to get rejected…when surprisingly, Bo steps in, pretends to be her boyfriend, and steals her first kiss.

One viral video later, everyone thinks they’re together.

Bo wants to keep pretending. Lottie wants to make amends—long story short: she was on a ladder; he startled her; the book slap was an accident.

A fake relationship may be the solution. But as they grow closer, Lottie can’t help falling for Bo—which is a disaster because grumpy sunshine only works in fiction…right?

This book features two opposites with undeniable chemistry, one lovable librarian, so many stolen kisses and answers the question:

What happens when a nerd falls for the grump-next-door?

Goodreads / Amazon

EXCERPT:

Rolling my eyes, I reached over, gently grasped his forearm and brought it closer.

“What are you doing?”

“Relax,” I said, trying not to laugh at the alarm I heard in his voice. “If I wanted to hurt you, I would’ve done it by now.”

“Says the girl who gave me a bookcussion” he grumbled.

Biting back a smile, I concentrated on his forearm, running my fingers over his skin to find the correct spot. This took a few moments. When I found it, I leaned closer, using my thumbs to press down, gently at first, then adding a little more pressure. Bo didn’t tense. He didn’t move a muscle. I might’ve thought he’d stopped breathing he was so still. But then I felt his breath against my neck.

The sensation sent shivers down my spine.

I counted the seconds under my breath and then released him.

“What was that, Kent?” he asked softly.

“I looked up how to treat a sprained wrist,” I said with a shrug. “It was nothing, just one of the techniques they recommended.”

“You looked that up?”

Meeting his eyes, I nodded. “Does it feel any better?”

Bo glanced down at his wrist before looking back up, locking me in his intense stare. “Yeah, it does. Thanks, Kent.”

For some reason, I blushed. “No problem.”

I didn’t know what made me say it.

But I added, “Maybe now, you won’t be so opposed to working with me.”

Bo shook his head. “It’s not that.”

“It’s not?”

“No,” he said. “I just don’t like the idea of you taking care of me out of some misplaced sense of guilt.”

Oh.

I hadn’t even considered that possibility.

“I thought you hated having me around,” I admitted.

“I don’t.”

“You even told me how much you hate people.”

“Not you,” he said.

My heart skipped a beat.

“I could never hate you, Kent.”


Author Bio:

Cookie O'Gorman Bio: Cookie O'Gorman writes YA & NA romance to give readers a taste of happily-ever-after. Small towns, quirky characters, and the awkward yet beautiful moments in life make up her books. Cookie also has a soft spot for nerds and ninjas. Her novels ADORKABLE, NINJA GIRL, The Unbelievable, Inconceivable, Unforeseeable Truth About Ethan Wilder, The Good Girl's Guide to Being Bad, The Kissing Challenge (YA novella), WALLFLOWER, CUPCAKE, and FAUXMANCE are out now! She is also the author of NA sports romances The Best Mistake, The Perfect Play, and The Sweetest Game. Her newest release BOOKWORM came out on April 20, 2023!

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Bookbub / Newsletter


GIVEAWAY!
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Wednesday, April 19, 2023

Challenging Destiny

Where has the time gone! My YA paranormal romance/thriller, CHALLENGING DESTINY, is celebrating its 9th birthday this year. This novel and the characters have a special place in my heart. Their story was sparked by a desolate church I had once driven by. The story percolated in my thoughts for months. Writing the first draft went smoothly, and I was delighted when I found a home for it with my amazing publisher, The Wild Rose Press. 

To celebrate, I have an excerpt from the book. 


Excerpt

She put her hands on my waist and rose to her tiptoes. “It’s a sweet thought,” she said, her breath warm on my lips. “But my fate has already been sealed.”

Her perfume seemed to wrap around me, filling me with the urge to pull her closer even though my brain screamed for me to step back. I wondered if this was how the people I made suggestions to felt—compelled to please me—because right then I wanted to sweep Kira up in my arms and kiss her. Although something inside of me clung to the thought that I needed to stay focused on why I was there, every other fiber of my being coaxed me to just let down my guard and enjoy being in a secluded place with a pretty girl.

Kira brushed her lips against mine.

“I’m not what I seem,” she said in a husky whisper.


I hope you enjoyed the sneak peek!


About the book

Title: Challenging Destiny
Genre: YA, Paranormal, Romance, Thriller, Angels, Demons

Blurb:

Logan Ragsdale and his younger sister, Ariana, have been marked, chosen to be unwilling participants in a war between angels and demons.

Logan can sense something's not quite right. Like an unexpected chill on a summer's day, he can feel the unseen closing in. He's had these feelings before and, each time, someone close to him died. He's afraid this time it might just be Ariana.

Logan's fears are soon confirmed when he discovers their new friends aren't human, but rather representatives from Heaven and Hell sent to Earth to ensure he and Ariana accept their roles in an ancient prophecy. Demons want Logan to open the gates of Hell. Ariana has the power to stop them, but if she chooses to side with Heaven to spare the lives of thousands of innocent people, she'll damn her brother for eternity.

Together, they must derail the biblical event if they hope to save themselves and the future of mankind...but what price are they willing to pay to keep the other safe?

Grab you copy on

Add to your Goodreads TBR List


Thanks for stopping by!


Thursday, January 26, 2023

Excerpt from The Warlock's Curse by C.B. Oresky



I'm excited to share an excerpt from C.B. Oresky's creative and imaginative young-adult novel, THE WARLOCK'S CURSE. Enjoy!



Peek between the pages of The Warlock's Curse by C.B. Oresky...

The whales’ frenzied song grew even louder—the electrical atmosphere intensified.

“Now what’s happening? We’re dissolving!” Clara yelled, watching her little hands disappear and then reappear again.

Angelica observed different parts of the ship, their cats, their bodies, and the monkey crew all vanishing momentarily. She drew a sharp breath. She was about to say something when the ethereal whale swimming directly before them opened its massive mouth, saltwater pouring down its yawning maw that seemed miles and miles deep.

“This is madness!” Clara shrieked, staring down the vast gaping throat of the beast. “Even a hurricane would be much better than this.

We’re going to die, for sure!” Angelica lost her composure. “Turn the ship!” she demanded. “I don’t wanna die!”

“Impossible!” Claudius cried. “We must go!” “I’m gonna be sick!” Clara cried, her face pasty. She clasped her sister’s scrawny hand in horror. What lay before them was far worse than that scary roller coaster Angelica had once convinced her to try at their town fair.

Catapulted forward by the hurrying tide, Claudius’s ship now sailed upon the phantasm of a massive whale. The sleek vessel hung momentarily on the edge of the watery precipice of white light, then slipped straight down the monster’s wide-open chasm…

About the book

The Warlock’s Curse
Author: C.B. Oresky
Genre: YA Fantasy

Twin Sisters on a perilous journey to remove an ancient curse…

Blurb:

Clara and Angelica Grace have never met ghosts. They’ve never sailed on a tall ship, ridden wild unicorns, or fought with magical weapons. Instead, the teenage twins have a wretched existence, ignored by their troubled parents in a rundown home and tormented by the town’s snobs.

Everything turns topsy-turvy all of a sudden when discovery of an ancestor’s hidden journal with an odd key to an unknown door leads them into an entirely different realm.

The girls go on a thrilling oceanic voyage to search for mysterious whales, train with a seasoned warrior, and are befriended by a wise Master. But all is not a bouquet of lovely lilies…they are hunted by a cunning warlock and must rid themselves of The Warlock’s Curse.

Grab your copy





Learn more about C.B. Oresky and her books



Thanks so much for stopping by!


Tuesday, October 11, 2022

NBM Book Tour & Giveaway: Grady Whill and the Templeton Codex by Carole P. Roman


I'm excited to be hosting a spot on the GRADY WHILL AND THE TEMPLETON CODEX by Carole P. Roman Blog Tour hosted by Goddess Fish Tours. One randomly drawn winner will win a $50 Amazon/BN Gift card. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!


Grady Whill and the Templeton Codex
by Carole P. Roman
Genere: YA Adventure

BLURB:

Templeton Academy- the superhero high school is finally open!

The prestigious academy is recruiting the best of the best to enroll in its student body.

The school is as mysterious as it is exclusive.

Grady Whill thinks there is nothing special about him to make the grade.

However, his best friend, Aarush Patel has been selected and thinks Grady has the right stuff.

Even school bully Elwood Bledsoe is attending.

If Grady is fortunate enough to be picked, his guardian has forbidden him to attend.

Will a family secret prevent Grady from becoming the superhero he was destined to be?


Peek between the pages...

There Whill Be Blood

A barely cooled lump of lava hardened under my feet. One of my sneakers was stuck between two small rocks in the solidifying mess. I stared at my foot in disbelief. Instinct told me I should be a human torch, my legs nothing more than toasted stumps. I glanced up, my heart beating wildly. We were trapped on the side of the mountain facing our school, separated by a burning sea of molten rocks.

The world around me steamed, the lava staining the sky burnt orange. Trees swallowed by molten rock looked like skeletal hands emerging from a grave that glowed beneath the blackened crust. I saw heat waves shimmering from the earth but felt none of its intensity. I pulled fiercely, feeling my ankle twist. Aarush steadied me as I nearly toppled over. He was shirtless, his back slick with sweat and covered with scrapes. His fingers worked feverishly to free my foot.

Overhead two helicopter-sized pterodactyls circled the craggy summit. The wind from their leathery wings buffeted the two of us. I think the air they circulated stopped the patches of lava from cooking us alive, but what do I know?

“We better get moving, Grady. Leave your sneaker. We are risking getting burned by staying too long in one spot.” The ever-practical Aarush reasoned as he pulled the velcro releasing my foot. I wobbled, then fell to one knee.

“Do you think they’re real?” I hollered to my friend over the noise, pointing upward.


About the author:

Carole P. Roman is the award-winning author of over fifty children's books. Whether it's pirates, princesses, spies, or discovering the world around us, her books have enchanted educators, parents, and her diverse audience of children of all ages.

Her best-selling book, The Big Book of Silly Jokes for Kids: 800+ Jokes! has reached number one on Amazon in March of 2020 and has remained in the top 200 books since then.

She published Mindfulness for Kids with J. Robin Albertson-Wren.

Carole has co-authored two self-help books. Navigating Indieworld: A Beginners Guide to Self-Publishing and Marketing with Julie A. Gerber, and Marketing Indieworld with both Julie A. Gerber and Angela Hausman.

Roman is the CEO of a global transportation company, as well as a practicing medium.

She also writes adult fiction under the name Brit Lunden and has created an anthology of the mythical town of Bulwark, Georgia with a group of indie authors.

Writing is her passion and one of her favorite pastimes. Roman reinvents herself frequently, and her family calls her the 'mother of reinvention.' She resides on Long Island, near her children and grandchildren.

Connect with Carole P. Roman

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Thursday, September 29, 2022

Guest Post: Author Dan Rice



I'm delighted to welcome Dan Rice back to my blog. Today, he's sharing his writing process and a sneak peek at his upcoming YA fantasy, The Blood of Faeries. 

~*~

Hi, Cherie! Thank you so much for having me on your awesome blog to dish about The Blood of Faeries! What author doesn't love discussing or writing about their books?

The first thing to know about The Blood of Faeries is that it is the second book in The Allison Lee Chronicles. Its precursor, Dragons Walk Among Us, came out to some positive reviews last summer and even won first place in the National Excellence in Storytelling Contest.

Now, when it comes to my writing, I'm a planner. I create a detailed plot outline that will undergo several revisions before I start writing the rough draft. This makes banging out the rough draft go pretty smoothly and quickly. I wish the same were true for the editing!

So you might wonder how much effort I put into planning The Allison Lee Chronicles as a whole. The answer: probably not as much as you might think. I have a roadmap, so to speak, which tells me where the story will ultimately end. The great thing about roadmaps is that they allow for numerous detours.

Right now, along with buttoning up the final galley—this is what goes to the printers—for The Blood of Faeries, I am sprinting through the rough draft of book three, guided by a painstakingly created outline. How many books will follow number three? One. Maybe two. I'm honestly not sure because it depends on how many detours Allison and I decide to take.

Thank you so much for reading my ramblings. If you find the blurb and excerpt below intriguing, consider purchasing Dragons Walk Among Us, so you'll be ready for The Blood of Faeries when it comes out this winter.



Thanks, Dan, for taking the time to share your process. I thoroughly enjoyed Dragons Walk Among Us and am looking forward to The Blood of Fairies. 


About the book

The Blood of Faeries
Author: Dan Rice
Genre: YA Fantasy

Blurb

Allison Lee wilts under the bright light of celebrity after being exposed as a shape-shifting monster. She'd rather be behind the camera than in front of it. Being under the tooth and claw of her monstrous mother is even less enjoyable. All she desires is for everything to go back to the way things were before she discovered her true nature. But, after she accidentally kills a mysterious man sent to kidnap her, she realizes piecing her old life back together is one gnarly jigsaw puzzle. When Allison's sometimes boyfriend Haji goes missing, Allison and her squad suspect his unhealthy interest in magic led to his disappearance. Their quest to find Haji brings them face-to-face with beings thought long ago extinct whose agenda remains an enigma.

Read it today!



Peek between the pages...

“I’ll shoot you in the leg.” He adjusts his aim.

“What if you hit my femoral artery? I’ll bleed out.” What did the gunman do to Dad? How in the world did he overcome Mother?

He frowns. “It doesn’t matter where I shoot you as long as it’s not immediately fatal. I know you heal fast. Now, stand up. Hands behind your head.”

I comply. “How do you plan to escape with me as a prisoner? Since you know I can heal quickly from a gunshot wound, you probably know I’m faster and stronger than you. Do you really think you can walk out of here, avoiding the security detail, with me in tow? Take your eyes off me for a second, I’ll disarm you and break your arm in the process.”

Sweat rolls down his brow. “Stifle it. Turn around. Keep your hands behind your head.”

“You’re making a mistake.” I can’t believe he overcame Mother. Taking me by surprise is one thing, but overcoming Mother, a battle-hardened, magic- wielding, full-fledged skaag, is next level.

“We have your parents downstairs. You don’t start doing what you’re told without giving me lip, they’ll get hurt.”

Dad shouts from downstairs, followed by a loud thud, but no gunshot. I drop my hands and dart toward the intruder. Before he can pull the trigger, I’m on him, wrenching the gun up and to the side. Burning pain lacerates my right shoulder, and the crack of the gun is deafening. I’m more surprised than hurt because the sleeper’s prowess courses through my veins.


About the author:
Dan Rice pens the young adult urban fantasy series The Allison Lee Chronicles in the wee hours of the morning. The series kicks off with his award-winning debut, Dragons Walk Among Us, which Kirkus Reviews calls, “An inspirational and socially relevant fantasy.” To discover more about Dan’s writing and keep tabs on his upcoming releases, visit his website: https://www.danscifi.com
and join his newsletter.

Connect with Dan:

Wednesday, September 7, 2022

Damned When I Didn't, a Featured YA Book



Are you a fan of young adult books or do you know someone who is? This is a genre I've always enjoyed, especially paranormal romance. YA books are fast-paced, intriguing, full of emotions, and have some of the best characters. 

N.N. Light's Book Heaven's Middle Grade and Young Adult Bookish Event promises to be a lot of fun, and I'm delighted to have my YA paranormal romance, DAMNED WHEN I DIDN'T, featured in this event. There's a $20 Amazon gift card for grabs, so be sure to check out the event.


Follow this link to N.N. Light's Book Heaven to read why DAMNED WHEN I DIDN'T is a must-read novel for fans of YA, read an excerpt, and enter the giveaway! 

Want to discover more MG & YA books, follow the event here. 


Do you have a favorite YA novel? Or what is your favorite genre? 




Tuesday, August 9, 2022

Blog Tour: JUCHE by Adria Carmichael

 


I'm excited to be hosting a spot on the JUCHE by Adria Carmichael Blog Tour hosted by Goddess Fish  Tours. One randomly drawn winner will win a $50 Amazon/BN Gift card. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!


Juche Part One: The Deamon Yodok
Author: Adria Carmichael
Genre: YA Dystopian

Blurb
Just when Areum - daughter of a privileged family in the totalitarian state of Choson (North Korea) - thought she was free from her personal prison, her world collapses around her as her family is taken away in the middle of the night to a hell-like camp in the mountains where people who have strayed from the righteous path are brutally re-educated through blood, sweat, tears, and starvation.


There she has to fight for survival together with the family she hates and is forced to re-evaluate every aspect of her life until then: her deep resentment toward her twin sister; her view of her father in the face of mounting evidence that he is a traitor with the blood of millions of fellow countrymen on his hands; and even her love and affection for the Great General - the eternal savior and protector of Choson, whom she had always considered her true father.









Note from the author:

Have you ever wondered what the world looks like when seen through an indoctrinated mind?

This is a topic that has intrigued me for as long as I can remember, so when I came up with the idea to write a book many years ago, I decided to create it from the viewpoint of a victim of indoctrination… which in the end became Areum (the protagonist of the story).

What I try to explore in this story is how deep the indoctrination of a 14-year old girl can run and how much “reality” it can be exposed to before breaking… if it will break at all. As a comparison, the defectors from North Korea who arrive in South Korea are isolated for three months in a de-programming facility called Hanawon before they are allowed to join society where they go through this process in a more controlled (and less brutal) way than Areum.

I hope you will enjoy this slightly different take on the dystopian genre!


Peek between the pages...

A loud screech in the sky interrupts me. I look up. A large black crow is circling high above us. Then another crow joins in. The screeching intensifies. Another one joins in, and then another. Before I know it, the whole sky has turned black with a swirling mass of crows, flying in a tornado-like circle right above us. I feel their beady eyes looking down at me.

The mass of crows now forms a funnel, spiraling downward toward us. I scream and put my hands up in defense. But the crows don’t target me. The black moving mass instead completely consumes the living corpse of my dad.

"NOOO!” I scream as I helplessly witness the crows dismembering him piece by piece right before my eyes. They pull his eyeballs out from their sockets. They tear the skin from his arms and legs. I cry and scream. I want to run to him, to help him… but I still can’t move.

Then it’s all over, and the crows disperse and ascend back into the sky, bringing their ear-piercing screech and the pieces of my father’s body with them. What was left of him is now again lying lifelessly on the ground. His face is still turned to me, but he had no more dead eyes to look at me with.

Another screech makes me look up to the sky again. The crows are circling ominously. Faster and faster. The screeching intensifies, cutting painfully into my ears, as they once more swirl down towards me like a tornado. I put my hands up in defense and scream as the first crow brushes against my hair. Another one grabs my arm with its claws. I try to break free, but my feet are still glued to the ground.

I now have crows all over my body, and as the one on my arm penetrates my skin with its beak, I…


About the author:
Adria Carmichael is a writer of dystopian fiction with a twist. When she is not devouring dystopian and post-apocalyptic content in any format - books, movies, TV-series and PlayStation games - she is crafting the epic and highly-addictive Juche saga, her 2020 debut novel series that takes place in the brutal, totalitarian nation of Choson. When the limit of doom and gloom is reached, a 10K run on a sunny day or binging a silly sitcom on a rainy day is her go-to way to unwind.

Connect with Adria Carmichael
Goodreads  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  Twitter  |  Bookbub


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Tuesday, August 2, 2022

Book Blitz & Giveaway: Storm and Flame by Mallory Wanless

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the STORM AND FLAME by Mallory Wanless Book Blitz hosted by
Xpresso Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

Storm and Flame
Mallory Wanless
(Enchanted, #1)
Publication date: September 22nd 2022
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

Elena has always been a disappointment. Her magic is practically non-existent and now, on her sixteenth birthday, she is expelled from magic school by the strict headmistress–also known as her mother. Cast out into the world of the magically inept with only her familiar for company, Elena feels lost and alone until she meets a strange boy in the woods.

Quinn is a thief, a hunter, and a hothead. His unexpected friendship with Elena awakens a fiery side in him–quite literally–and uncovers new and surprising magical abilities. Except men aren’t supposed to be capable of magic.

With Quinn’s help, Elena carves a safe new life as a barmaid, but when she is attacked, her powers awaken with shocking ferocity. Elena’s explosion of magic creates a power surge that attracts the attention of magical investigators, sent to uncover and contain the source of the power surge.

But the awakening of their powers kickstarts an ancient prophecy. Will they be able to escape those that hunt them? Can they fulfill the prophecy, destroy the turmio and save magic from being destroyed once and for all?

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

EXCERPT:

“Come on. Just work, dammit,” Elena muttered to herself, trying for the millionth time to cast her spell.

Agon had stretched his lithe, weasel-like body across a long, skinny patch of sunlight on the floor of the testing room. He’d spent the morning basking in the warmth of the sun-drenched stone and flicking his fluffy blue-black tail back and forth. As her closest, and arguably only, friend, Agon knew nothing he could say would make her feel better. She was in a mood, and the best thing he could do was to leave her be.

Sparks flared and quickly sputtered out from Elena’s fingertips.

“Dammit. Why can’t I get this stupid spell right?” It was a rhetorical question, but Elena was so frustrated by her own ineptitude that she would have traded everything she owned to successfully complete a spell on the first try.

Elena was easily the worst enchantress in her class, probably the whole school. The other students mocked her mercilessly. It didn’t help that her mother, Madame LaBelle, was the most famous enchantress in the whole country, possibly the world, and the headmistress of their school. She could turn a seed into a centuries-old tree with the flick of her wrist. Elena could grow a seed into a sapling with twenty minutes of chanting, flicking, waving, and praying. Maybe. On a good day.

Madame LaBelle was notorious for her skills with magic as much as her beauty. Unfortunately for Elena, she inherited her looks from her father. At least, she assumed that’s where she got her flat hair and dull brown eyes. She’d never actually met him. In Waverly, as far as enchantresses were concerned, men served one purpose: impregnating women. The men were used and released of all parental rights, whether they liked it or not. Most men didn’t even know the woman they had lain with was an enchantress, much less that they had fathered a child as a result. The women opted to disguise themselves — bar wenches, visitors lost in the big city, damsels in need of aid on the side of the road, etc. — just to get what they needed and be gone before the man even knew her name.

It was crass and cowardly, but Elena had been raised to believe it was for the best. Men weren’t capable of raising children, especially magical ones, and an enchantress always gave birth to another enchantress. Never in the history of the world, had an enchantress given birth to a non-magical child. Or a boy, for that matter. Enchantress beget enchantress. End of story.

Elena dreamed of love and happy endings when she was younger. All the girls did, but their time at Harbor Ridge taught them that magic was their top priority, followed closely by their loyalty to the school and Madame LaBelle. Elena always felt that it was a tad hypocritical how often her mother preached about loyalty to their family — the school and their classmates — when she never paid any attention to her own flesh and blood. What sort of mother neglects her own child to favor those who are more adept at magic? Not a good one, Elena mused glumly.

Agon had been with her since before she was born, like all familiars. They were born together and stayed attached for an “unusually long time,” according to her mother. Typically, familiars disconnected from the baby’s umbilical cord within a few days before settling into their permanent animal form. Agon and Elena stayed connected for two weeks, all the while Agon remained a blob encased in the placenta. Her mother had many specialists, including a Therionology Enchantress, or an animal enchantress, come and inspect Agon and try to coax him into taking any form at all. Nothing worked. Baby Elena just spent her days cuddling “this disgusting blob of goo” and sleeping. Madame LaBelle often liked to remind Elena of how unusual that was, and how that should have been a sign that her daughter was going to be different, and not in a good way.

Agon did eventually develop into an animal; however, he didn’t change into anything anyone had ever seen before. When she was young, Elena overheard one of the scholars reminiscing with another about how they’d managed to identify Agon as a Raju. Madame LaBelle had tasked all of the scholars in the Therionology department to scour all the history books and tomes to identify him. Agon was the only known Raju in ages, and Madame LaBelle hated it. Rajus were blue-furred, weasel-like creatures that had lightning abilities. Another frustrating hiccup, as far as Madame LaBelle was concerned. Familiars weren’t supposed to have magic of their own; they were just meant to be guides to help the enchantress learn to control her powers.


Author Bio:

Mallory lives in Texas with her husband and their two young boys. She spends her days homeschooling and full-time parenting. Her nights, and any free time she manages to carve out during the day, are devoted to reading and writing.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / TikTok


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Tuesday, July 19, 2022

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Sunset Rising Series by S.M. McEachern

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the SUNSET RISING Series by S.M. McEachern Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 About the Books:


Title: SUNSET RISING, WORLDS COLLIDE, NEW WORLD ORDER (Sunset Rising Series)

Author: S.M. McEachern 

Pub. Date: Final book was published in 2015

Publisher: Clownfish Publishing

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 284

Find them: 

Book 1 FREE with a Kindle Unlimited membership: GoodreadsAmazonKindle

Book 2: GoodreadsAmazonKindleB&NiBooksKobo

Book 3: GoodreadsAmazonKindleB&NiBooksKobo 

________________________________________________ 

From Book 1:

“This book has it all—love story, good vs evil, drama, and suspense. Definitely a book you can’t put down!” – Midwest Book Review

"I've seen it compared to The Hunger Games and I'd have to agree. I can already see the movie version becoming a hit!" Amazon Reviewer

2015 Readers Favorite Gold Medal Award for best YA Dystopian

Deep inside a mountain in what used to be North America dwells the last of humanity. Welcome to the Biodome, where steel, rock and armed guards separate the privileged from the slaves.

Born and raised a slave in the Pit, Sunny O’Donnell has always accepted that she'll spend her life working to keep the Dome running and, if she lives long enough, willingly meet her end in the annual Cull when she reaches the age of thirty-five. This was the price her ancestors paid for their place inside the Biodome, the only safe haven from the global nuclear war of 2024. But when Sunny’s mother is killed in the Cull, the hopeless reality of her future becomes painfully clear. 

Bereft and disillusioned, she heads down a reckless path that sets off a deadly riot in the Pit and leaves her accused of treason. Her only way of escaping public execution is to make a truce with her prison mate, who happens to be the heir to the dictatorship and hated enemy of the Pit. Now caught between two worlds on the brink of war, Sunny must weigh her own survival against risking everything to save the Pit. 

S.M. McEachern delivers the action and adventure of The Hunger Games, the intrigue of The City of Ember, and the romantic notes of Les Misérables in her debut novel set in a future that is disturbingly plausible.

G Rating: no foul language, no explicit sex, some mild violence.

________________________________________________ 

What Readers are Saying:

"One of THE BEST dystopian books I've ever read!! If/when this becomes a movie ... I will be the first in line!" - Midwest Book Review

"Romance, intrigue, and action all come together beautifully here to create an experience that will leave anyone asking for more." Readers Favorite Gold Medal Award for best YA Dystopian

“… a romance straight out of a Shakespearean play, with the action of Katniss and Peeta.” - Amazon Reviewer 

"I might even love this more than I loved Hunger Games (and that's saying a lot!)" - Goodreads Reviewer 

"I've seen it compared to The Hunger Games and I'd have to agree. I can already see the movie version becoming a hit!" - Amazon Reviewer

"I was a huge fan of the Hunger Games series and I actually loved Sunset Rising more! I am putting it on my top 10 list of most favorite books." - Amazon/Goodreads Reviewer

"FABULOUS!!! I fricken loved this story! If you love Dystopian YA novels, READ THIS BOOK!" - Goodreads Reviewer 

"This book truly blew my mind. It is pure GENIUS ... (it's) as good, if not BETTER, than the Hunger Games." - Amazon Reviewer

"If you like Veronica Roth, you'll like this. I'm glad I tried a new author!" - Amazon Reviewer

"Let me start off by saying this novel stole hours of my sleep. I could not put it down." - Goodreads Reviewer



Peek between the pages of Sunset Rising (Book One)

I found the rope and gave it a good tug to make sure it was secure. “Here. Use this to rappel down. I’ll go first and guide you along as best I can.” I scrambled over the side and began my descent.

“Wait!” Jack’s face appeared above me, terrified. “Aren’t you going to use the rope too?”

“I don’t need it. I’ve been doing this since I was five. And besides, I don’t think that old rope is going to hold two of us.”

I climbed down about ten feet to give him room. I heard him double- checking the rope. “Come on.”

“I can’t even see!”

I rolled my eyes. At this rate we were going to get caught for sure.

Finally, he lowered himself over the side, tentatively feeling around with one foot. I descended another ten feet and looked up to see if he was following, but he hadn’t made any progress. “Jack, you’re taking too long. Trust the rope.”

“You mean this old rope, Sunny?” he snapped. I bit back a laugh.

I heard him take a deep breath and watched him lean out. He lowered one foot, then the other, and again. He continued to rappel in a slow and steady rhythm. I descended another ten feet, thinking I probably shouldn’t be this close. If he fell, he would take us both down.

We continued on, me staying ten feet below Jack and encouraging him to keep going. He was painfully slow, but I tried not to get frustrated. I remembered it was hard the first time I did it, too.

Finally, we arrived at the sixth level and I pulled myself onto the landing. “Almost there, Jack.”

When his feet dangled just above my head, I gave them a little tug to help him along.

“Stop!” Jack’s voice was edged with panic. “I’ll do it myself.”

I let go of him. I didn’t need him screaming and bringing the guards in here. He lowered himself far enough to reach over to the landing. I grabbed him by the elbow and pulled him in. He hugged the side of the wall, testing to make sure his feet were firmly on the ground.

“That was the scariest thing I’ve ever done in my life.”



Scariest? He had no idea. “Welcome to the Pit, Jack.”







About S.M. McEachern:

S.M. McEachern (who also writes new adult as Susan McEachern) comes from the rocky shores of Canada’s East Coast. She is a graduate of Dalhousie University, with an honors degree in International Development Studies with a focus on ocean development. Throughout her academic studies and early career, Susan had the privilege to study and work with Elizabeth Mann Borgese, daughter of nobel prize winner, Thomas Man). An author in her own right and a political activist for world peace, Mrs. Mann Borgese played a significant influence on Susan’s view of the political world stage.


Visit Susan's website at smmceachern.com for free short stories and updates on new releases.
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Sign up for S.M.’s Newsletter!

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

Giveaway Details:

2 winners will win eBooks of the SUNSET RISING series, International.


Tour Schedule:

Week One:

7/11/2022

ScottBuryAuthor

Excerpt/IG Post

7/11/2022

BookHounds YA

Excerpt/IG Post

7/12/2022

FictionalFey

IG Review

7/12/2022

Lady Hawkeye

Excerpt/IG Post

7/13/2022

Ya Books Central

Excerpt/IG Post

7/13/2022

The Biased Bibliophile

Review/IG Post

7/14/2022

Star-Crossed Book Blog

Review/IG Post

7/14/2022

Red Ink Book Reviews

Review/IG Post

7/15/2022

TakeALookAtMyBookshelf

IG Review

7/15/2022

@books_in.the.clouds0899

IG Review

Week Two:

7/18/2022

@JCMorrows

Review/IG Post

7/18/2022

mulberryreads

IG Review

7/19/2022

Write. Read. Live.

Excerpt/IG Post

7/19/2022

Two Chicks on Books

Excerpt

7/20/2022

GryffindorBookishNerd

IG Review

7/20/2022

@jaimerockstarbooktours

IG Post

7/21/2022

A Bookish Dream

Review/IG Post

7/21/2022

Fire and Ice

Review

7/22/2022

The Momma Spot

Review/IG Post

7/22/2022

More Books Please blog

Review/IG Post