a Rafflecopter giveaway
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
RELEASE DAY LAUNCH WITH GIVEAWAY: Chasing Midnight by Courtney King Walker
I'm so excited to be participating in Courtney King Walker's Release Day Launch (hosted by Jen Halligan PR) for CHASING MIDNIGHT! Check out the book and excerpt below, and be sure to enter the amazing giveaway!
Chasing Midnight
by Courtney King Walker
Publisher: Cedar Fort Publishing
Publication Date: January 12, 2016
WISH LIST
- The biggest, fanciest house on Sea View Drive.
- Nike Flyknits.
- A ski-jump nose.
- My own car. A new BMW.
- Be a total pro at the piano.
- James Odera to like me. Be James Odera’s girlfriend.
- Get Spencer’s lungs fixed.
Mackenzie Love dreams of being a “lucky one”—someone who has the perfect life. Someone who doesn’t have to worry about money, a sick brother, or her high school status. So when a mysterious visitor offers to make all her wishes come true, Mackenzie jumps at the chance. But the royal lifestyle may cost more than Mackenzie is willing to pay in this modern twist on the classic Cinderella story.
“Chasing Midnight is a beautiful, magical story about wishes, hard choices, and the joy of finding happiness in our heart’s own truth.”
— Francisco X. Stork, author of Marcello in the Real World
Excerpt from CHASING MIDNIGHT
I only make it as far as the nearest bathroom, where the scent of hazelnuts and cinnamon seemed to be brewing somewhere inside. When I’m positive nobody has followed me, I push in through the bathroom door and face the graffitied mirror in silence, staring blankly at my reflection. “The first day is usually a shock.” A voice, to the side of me. I jerk my head up and step backward. “Holy . . . how did you get in here?” I ask, staring directly into the black eyes of Bird Lady. It seems like she just appears and disappears at will, each time even more striking, more beautiful than the last—despite the flood of buzzing fluorescent bulbs above us, bathing her in gaudy light. I feel hypnotized in her image, at her ebony skin swirling gold against an overflowing blue sundress, the aura of hazelnuts saturating the air. But then I realize I’m gaping at her, and turn away, embarrassed. “I come and go when I need to,” she says with a slight shrug of her shoulders, as if everything about her showing up in this grimy bathroom is completely normal. “So this is a ‘need-to’ kind of situation?” I ask, staring at her image in the greasy mirror, rather than straight on. It feels less intimidating that way. “Yes,” she says, dipping her head slowly. “I’ve come to enlighten you, child.” “Great. I could use some enlightening,” I say, still trying to recover from Brecke’s odd accusations at whatever she seems to be implying about my supposed disappearance last night. “So what’s the deal?” “You’ve been Struck,” she says simply, the intonation in her voice intoxicating. “Struck? What does that even mean?” A smile ignites her entire face when she chuckles a little, the tip of her finger touching the clock pendant at my neck. “It means you are now a lucky one. How about that, Mackenzie Love?” “But, I mean . . . how does it all work?” I ask, trying to snap out of this trance I feel myself falling into. Her very essence seems to hold me hostage, and the longer my eyes linger on her face, the heavier they feel. “The how is unimportant, my dear. All you need to know for the time being is that this is your life right now,” she says, touching my neck with a long, shiny black fingernail. “For reals?” I say, clutching my clock charm like a lifeline, the ticking inside, the pulse of its own heartbeat. “For how long? Forever? A day? A year?” My vision blurs as the writing on the mirror splits in two, the double letters overlapping each other, my head whirring. “That is entirely up to you,” Bird Lady says, drawing backward into the shadows, away from the light. I turn around, not wanting her to leave. Not yet. “Wait . . .” “No need to trouble yourself about it now. You’ll recognize the signs when it’s time,” she says, as if I should understand what she’s talking about. “You will know what to do then.” “I will?” “You have my word.” She dips her head at me and moves effortlessly toward the door. I blink, and then she’s gone.
About the Author
Courtney King Walker grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area building rocket ships and rafts out of cardboard, hoping to make it the moon or at least Niagara Falls. But a trip across the border to Tijuana was as exciting as it ever got, so she decided writing about adventure was the next best thing. She now lives in the Rocky Mountains with her husband and four children, and still dreams of flying to the moon. She is the author of the young adult novel, ON THE FRINGE, and middle grade novel MOLLY PEPPER AND THE NIGHT TRAIN. Her lastest YA novel, CHASING MIDNIGHT, releases January 12, 2016 by Cedar Fort Publishing & Media.
Giveaway
Monday, January 11, 2016
COVER REVEAL: In the After by Elisa Dane
In the After
Published by: Swoon Romance
Publication date: February 2nd 2016
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult
Sadie Reynolds is a liar with secrets. At school, she’s part of the popular crowd known as AE, despite being broken inside. She hides it well. She has to. The slightest bit of imperfection will land her in the same shoes as her Geeky neighbor named Ian.
Ian and his only friend are the object of Sadie’s friends’ ridicule, ire, and entertainment. The AE rule the school with intimidation and retribution against anyone who would dare question their supremacy.
Sadie steers clear of most of it, terrified someone will find out her secret. She isn’t the least bit perfect. In fact, she suffers from PTSD stemming from the murder of her mother right before her eyes when she was a child. She can barely cope from day-to-day, hiding her truth and trying to fit in. But she knows it’s only a matter of time.
Hayden is a “Waverly,” a kid with the misfortune of living in the small farming town of Waverly that borders the very affluent Lexington Parrish. The AE doesn’t mix with “Waverlies.” Ever.
Desperate to get away from her oppressive friends, Sadie crashes into Hayden at a bonfire and the attraction that sparks between them is nothing short of electric. But Hayden’s an outsider and when things heat up, Sadie will be forced to choose between her friends and her new boyfriend.
Only Queen Bee Britt isn’t having it. She will not allow Sadie to cross her. Sadie can either do what Britt wants her to do or she will reveal Sadie for the PTSD freak that she is.
Sadie does some soul searching about who she is and who she wants to be. She can’t live her life like this. Not any more. One fateful night will help her see how much things have to change.
She’s determined to no longer allow the AE to rule her life. She will be strong, stand up for Ian and love who she wants in Hayden. Determined and invigorated, Sadie goes to school feeling hopeful for the first time in forever.
But, the unthinkable happens.
Shooters attack dozens of students before the two eventually take their own lives, leaving the school a decimated shadow of what it once was.
Suddenly who lives where, wears what or loves whom seems like the least of Lexington Parish’s problems as everyone and everything changes forever in the after.
IN THE AFTER by Elisa Dane is a hard-hitting and heart-warming story of tragedy, love, loss and redemption. It is recommended for readers 14+.
Author Bio:
ELISA DANE is a self-proclaimed book junkie. A lover of handbags, chocolate, and reality television, she's a proud mother to three All- Star cheerleaders. Writing is her absolute passion, and it's her mission to create stories that will not only take you on a romantic journey that will warm your heart, but help you find a new respect and interest in the sport of All-Star cheerleading.
Elisa is no stranger to the publishing world. She writes steamy paranormal romance under her real name, Lisa Sanchez. Her adult works include the Hanford Park series (Eve Of Samhain, Pleasures Untold, and Faythe Reclaimed), Obsessed (an erotic suspense), and a paranormal novella, Cursing Athena. Elisa lives in Northern California with her husband, three daughters, and a feisty Chihuahua who stubbornly believes she's human.
Hosted by:
COVER REVEAL WITH GIVEAWAY: Borrowed Magic by Shari Lambert
Borrowed Magic
Shari Lambert
Publication date: February 1st 2016
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
After a three-year siege, Lord Kern, the dark mage, is dead. Magic has left Tredare, and life is almost back to normal.
For everyone except Maren, that is.
Before the siege, an attack by Lord Kern left Maren near death and with a sliver of magic buried deep inside her. Now, for reasons Maren doesn’t understand, that magic has been triggered, giving her the ability to “see” the truth: that her world is nothing more than a magical façade; and that the kingdom’s hero may not be a hero at all.
But this gift of sight comes at a high cost. Maren is in constant pain, and fears her own death is imminent. Plus, no one believes her suspicions that another Dark Mage has risen, and that Tredare may be in just as much danger as it was when Kern was alive.
With the country’s future in the hands of a man who’s vowed revenge on its king, Maren must convince someone else of the truth. Unfortunately, the only person powerful enough to help is also the one man she can’t trust; the man she almost married; the man who abandoned her and disappeared for three years: Kern’s son.
As Tredare crumbles around them, Maren must persuade him to help – before the king is murdered by the very hero he reveres; and before the same magic that gives Maren the gift of sight also takes her life.
Pre-order today on Kobo and Smashwords!
The prequel, Siege, will be available for FREE starting January 18th!
Author Bio:
Shari has always loved to read. "Bookworm" may even be an understatement. But when she discovered Georgette Heyer in high school, her love of reading exploded. Ms. Heyer's books were not only entertaining, witty, and smart, but they saved Shari from the awkward, unromantic teenage years. To this day, Shari's favorite books all have romance in them.
Although Shari spent a good deal of her time at Brigham Young University on the ballroom dance team, she did manage to get a BA in History and English before going on to get a Juris Doctorate. After graduation, she decided her first priority was to be a mom -- a career she's stuck with and loved.
In between cleaning, laundry, and homework, Shari writes. Just like with reading, she wants to get lost in a world, whether imaginary or historical.
She lives just outside of Salt Lake City, Utah with her husband and four children.
GIVEAWAY
Hosted by:
Sunday, January 10, 2016
NO INTERNET RIGHT NOW - IMPORTANT
Hi!
Just wanted to give y'all an update that we are now in our new house, but have no Internet access right now. Internet should be hooked up on Tuesday so, in the meantime, please understand if we do not reply back to emails or participate in any blog tours, blitzes, etc while we have no Internet.
Even our hotspot is not working :(
Please email us with any questions!
Thanks,
5 Girls Book Reviews
Saturday, January 9, 2016
BOOK BLITZ, EXCERPT & 2 GIVEAWAYS: Destroyer Rising by Eric Asher
Destroyer Rising
Eric Asher
((Vesik #5) )
Publication date: December 29th 2015
Genres: Adult, Urban Fantasy
It’s been three years since we failed Vicky, the child once known as Elizabeth Gray. Three years she’s lived as something not quite alive, but far from dead. Her path grows darker, even as she spreads light and hope through a tortured world. The Destroyer has come to claim her, and I can’t fail her again. I won’t. Elizabeth’s fate lies in the Burning Lands, and we will storm the gates.
EXCERPT:
It felt good, right even, to be stocking and straightening the shelves again. I pulled a snow globe, of all things, from the top shelf and frowned at the broken Gateway Arch inside. We’d need to return that to the supplier. I shook the glass orb and watched the silver pieces swirl around the cityscape, clicking and tumbling as they went. A vision flashed through my mind, a torrent of power unleashed by the Old Man and the Fae, sending entire cities into oblivion. I shivered and my knuckles whitened on the base of the globe. Falias had appeared in that maelstrom, before the souls had swarmed Vicky and before I had peeled them off her with my necromancy.
Vicky.
I was sure Happy would have let me know if he’d learned anything new about Vicky, but I closed my eyes and pushed my aura out anyway. The experience didn’t give me a sense of travel like it used to.
The slightest effort told me where the bear was.
“Have you heard anything?” I asked.
The panda raised his head and looked directly at me from his perch inside the birdcage. From Mike?
His voice boomed in his panda form. I have not heard from the Smith in days.

“Do you think he’s okay?”
I can’t fully express the unnerving oddity of having a ghost panda laugh at you. Happy’s skullrattling chuckle faded. He is a fire demon within the Burning Lands. I am certain he is well.
“How’s Vicky?” The question died on my lips and turned to a scream as golden light blinded me.
Damian! Damian, answer me!
The bear’s voice cut through the storm of screams and terror in my head for only a moment, and then chaos reigned. Gold turned to ash, and ash to darkness, as a monstrosity that could not be real blasted my mind. Hunched and looming, with long, silver teeth. Its entire body squirmed and writhed, promising death to all who dared near it.
Light swallowed the awful vision. The nightmare of a thousand dying souls replaced it. The fire, the loss, the light. I didn’t know if it was flames or tears that burned my face, but it felt like my skull was coming apart at the seams. And then the vision was gone. Only darkness remained.
Author Bio:
Eric is a former bookseller, guitarist, and comic seller currently living in Saint Louis, Missouri. A lifelong enthusiast of books, music, toys, and games, he discovered a love for the written word after being dragged to the library by his parents at a young age. When he is not writing, you can usually find him reading, gaming, or buried beneath a small avalanche of Transformers.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)