Friday, January 29, 2016

Blog Tour: Ascenders: High School for the Recently Departed by C.L. Gaber + Giveaway!

Welcome to the blog tour for Ascenders: High School for the Recently Departed by C.L. Gaber!
Today is my stop on the tour and I have for you all a great promo post and giveaway. Enjoy!



Ascenders: High School for the Recently Departed
by C.L. Gaber
Release Date: April 20th 2015

Genre: YA > Paranormal Romance


Walker Callaghan doesn't know what happened to her. One minute she was living her teenage life in suburban Chicago...and the next minute, she was in a strange place and in a brand new school with absolutely no homework, no rules, and no consequences. 

Walker Callaghan, 17, is dead.

She doesn't go to heaven or hell. She lands at The Academy, a middle realm where teenagers have one thing in common: They were the morning announcement at their high schools because they died young.

These high school kids are now caught in a strange “in-between” zone where life hasn’t changed very much. In fact, this special teen limbo looks a lot like life in a quaint Michigan town complete with jocks, popular girls and cliques. "There are even cheerleaders in death," Walker observes. It's not a coincidence that the music teacher is a guy named Kurt who "used to have this band." The drama teacher, Heath, is crush worthy because back in his life, he starred in some superhero movie.

Principal King explains the rules -- there are none. Why? You can't die twice.

There is no homework.
No tests.
No SATS.
You're just there to learn because the human brain isn't fully formed until you're 24.

By the way, you can't get hurt physically, so race your Harley off that hillside. But falling in love is the most dangerous thing you can do ...because no one knows how long you'll stay in this realm or what's next.

"Losing someone you love would be like dying twice," Walker says.

* * * * * *

Walker Callaghan has just arrived at the Academy after a tragic car accident. “Is this heaven or is this high school?” she asks.

She finds out her new life is a bit of both as she falls in love with tat-covered, bad boy Daniel Reid who is about to break the only sacred rule of this place. He's looking for a portal to return back to the living realm.

He needs just one hour to retrieve his younger brother who strangely never arrived at The Academy. Bobby is an Earth Bound Spirit, stuck at a plane crash site that took both of their lives as their rich father piloted his private jet nose-first into a cornfield on Christmas Eve.

Walker loves Daniel and risks it all to go with him.

Have they learned enough to outsmart dangerous forces while transporting a young child with them? Can their love survive the fragmented evil parts of themselves that are now hunting them down as they try to find a way back to the middle?

At the Academy, you learn the lessons of an after-lifetime. 

Buy Links: Amazon / Kindle / iTunes






C.L. Gaber is the author of the ASCENDERS SAGA and co author of Jex Malone. A well known entertainment journalist, she lives in Nevada with her husband Ron, bonus daughter Sabrina and two unruly dogs. ASCENDERS 2 is due out in early 2016. 

Author Links: WebsiteGoodreadsTwitterFacebook



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Thursday, January 28, 2016

Book Blitz: The Prophecy of Shadows by Michelle Madow + Giveaway!

Welcome everyone to the book blitz for The Prophecy of Shadows by Michelle Madow! Who's excited about a new book series by Michelle Madow? I know I am! I've had the pleasure of working with Michelle many times and years ago and I must say her books keep getting better and better! 

Enjoy this post and be sure to enter the giveaway below before you leave. :)

The Prophecy of Shadows
by Michelle Madow
Series: Elementals #1
Published by: Dreamscape Publishing
Publication Date: January 26th 2016
Genres: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult



Filled with magic, thrilling adventure, and sweet romance, Elementals is the first in a new series that fans of Percy Jackson and The Secret Circle will love!

When Nicole Cassidy moves from sunny Georgia to gloomy New England, the last thing she expects is to learn that her homeroom is a cover for a secret coven of witches. Even more surprisingly … she’s apparently a witch herself. Despite doubts about her newfound abilities, Nicole is welcomed into this ancient circle of witches and is bedazzled by their powers–and, to her dismay, by Blake–the school’s notorious bad-boy.


Girls who get close to Blake wind up hurt. His girlfriend Danielle will do anything to keep them away, even if she must resort to using dark magic. But the chemistry between Blake and Nicole is undeniable, and despite wanting to protect Nicole from Danielle’s wrath, he finds it impossible to keep his distance.
When the Olympian Comet shoots through the sky for the first time in three thousand years, Nicole, Blake, Danielle, and two others in their homeroom are gifted with mysterious powers. But the comet has another effect–it opens the portal to the prison world that has contained the Titans for centuries. After an ancient monster escapes and attacks Nicole and Blake, it’s up to them and the others to follow the clues from a cryptic prophecy so that they can save their town … and possibly the world.
 Purchase at: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo


“Elementals is going to blow your mind!”
-Crossroad Reviews, ★★★★★

“Five glittery stars for being such a compelling read!”
-Andrea Heltsley, Goodreads Reviewer ★★★★★

“A perfect mixture of magic and mythology. An entrancing story of trust, friendship and well naughty boys. WITCHES are not the only thing walking the earth!”
– BenjaminOfTomes, BookTuber ★★★★★


Everyone stared at me, and I looked to the front of the room, where a tall, lanky man in a tweed suit stood next to a blackboard covered with the morning announcements. His gray hair shined under the light, and his wrinkled skin and warm smile reminded me more of a grandfather than a teacher.

He cleared his throat and rolled a piece of chalk in his palm. “You must be Nicole Cassidy,” he said.

“Yeah.” I nodded and looked around at the other students. There were about thirty of them, and there seemed to be an invisible line going down the middle of the room, dividing them in half. The students near the door wore jeans and sweatshirts, but the ones closer to the wall looked like they were dressed for a fashion show instead of school.

“It’s nice to meet you Nicole.” The teacher sounded sincere, like he was meeting a new friend instead of a student. “Welcome to our homeroom. I’m Mr. Faulkner, but please call me Darius.” He turned to the chalkboard, lifted his hand, and waved it from one side to the other. “You probably weren’t expecting everything to look so normal, but we have to be careful. As I’m sure you know, we can’t risk letting anyone else know what goes on in here.”

Then the board shimmered—like sunlight glimmering off the ocean—and the morning announcements changed into different letters right in front of my eyes.



Michelle Madow grew up in Baltimore, graduated Rollins College in Orlando, and now lives in Boca Raton, Florida. She wrote her first book in her junior year of college, and has been writing novels since. Some of her favorite things are: reading, pizza, traveling, shopping, time travel, Broadway musicals, and spending time with friends and family. Michelle has toured across America to promote her books and to encourage high school students to embrace reading and writing. Someday, she hopes to travel the world for a year on a cruise ship.Visit Michelle online at www.michellemadow.com, and be sure to sign up for her newsletter and follow her on Amazon to get instant updates on her books!

Blitz-wide giveaway (INTL)
$25 gift card for Amazon or B&N
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Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Book Spotlight: Seducing the Darkness by Shiela Stewart || Author Interview + Giveaway!


Hello, everyone! 
Today I have for you all a book spotlight, author interview with Shiela Stewart and a giveaway! If you love adult paranormal romance novels and vampires then you enjoy Seducing the Darkness! 
Enjoy! 


Seducing The Darkness by Shiela Stewart
Series: Darkness #1
Number of Pages: 154 (ebook)
Publisher: Champagne Books; Second Edition edition 
Publication Date: November 2, 2015
Genre: Adult Paranormal Romance

An outcast by her kind, Trinity Ford has learned to live on her own..not an easy thing to do when you’re a vampire.


Trinity was once a fragile girl. Being taken by a powerful vampire prince changed her, Discivering gin in the arms of another  woman changed destiny. Alone, she’s earned fast how to be tough, how to survive, and how to protect the people of her city from the evil that lurks in the dark. She was managing just fine, until Basil walked back into her life.

Basil Hawthorn has been the reigning prince of vampires since banishing his father to the Realm of Dark Mystics decades earlier, When a perfect dream makes him realize Trinity is at risk, he decides the only way to save her is to push her away. Doing so is not easy. Trinity is the only woman he has ever loved, ever will long and he can’t seem to let her go.

When rumors arise of a place to raise the king ad blot out the sun, both Trinity and Basil know they must do everything to stop it. Even if it means working together. Despite the betrayal and the threat, they find themselves drawn to each other. Love has no boundaries, especially in the face of danger. But will they be able to stop the ritual before it's too late?
Or will the darkness capture them both.
Purchase at  All Romance | Amazon | B&N | KoboChampagne Books

PG 13:

She watched a group of young girls—and if they were of legal age, she would eat her shoes—stumble from the bar. They separated and two went off towards the street while the last wandered drunkenly down the dark alley.

Oh yeah, like this was going to end well.

“Five, four, three, two, one. Bam!” She shot her hand out just as a vampire jumped from out of the shadows and right beside the stupid young girl. Shaking her head, Trinity moved towards the screaming girl. Idiot.

“I don’t think you want to be doing that.”

The tall, gangly, greasy haired vampire jerked and spun around to face Trinity. His teeth were primed for the kill, his yellow eyes glaring at Trinity as if she were his next meal. The poor girl in his arms was wailing something awful.

“Yeah, says who?”

Trinity lifted a brow, cocked her body to one side and rested her hand on her hip. “Jesus, could you have said anything more lame?

Let the girl go and no one has to get hurt.”

“How ‘bout I keep her and you wait against the wall until I’m done?” He jerked the girl towards him, yanking her head back to expose her neck. He was just about to bite down when Trinity placed a hand on his shoulder. He looked up and his face froze.

“How ‘bout I don’t.” Trinity bared her fanged teeth to show him she was not going to back off. “Beat it kid.” She clamped her hand on the vampire's shoulder, her nails digging into his flesh as she jerked her head at the girl. As she’d suspected, the guy was a wimp.
He released the girl who immediately ran off screaming.

“Now, you wanna take off, or am I going to have to mess up that pretty face of yours?” she asked sarcastically as she glared down at him.
“You couldn’t handle me, bitch.” He slapped her hand free, then curling his fingers in a fist, threw a punch at her face.

She was ready and ducked out of the way. Slicing her hand up, she chopped him in the neck, sending him crumbling on the ground. “You don’t want to mess with me, jerk,” she advised as she planted a booted foot on his jugular. The razor blades she had attached to the toe drew a small amount of dull gray, deoxygenated blood as she pressed it just below his chin.

“Go ahead and dust him, he’s useless.”

Trinity glared over her shoulder at the man she had once been destined for and felt her heart ache. She couldn’t stop herself from admiring the beauty of the man before her. His long dark hair floated in the light breeze sweeping away from a face sculpted of fine bone and delicate skin. He looked so dark and dangerous in that long, black leather coat he always wore. One look into his translucent blue eyes turned her heart to mush.
Then she reminded herself how much she detested him.

To show she wasn’t a push over, Trinity pressed her foot harder, the razor blades cutting into the vampire’s neck. His arms flailed out, trying to yank her foot away from his neck. His legs kicked wildly, but
Trinity had a good ten pounds on the scrawny vamp. Tilting her toe downward, she sliced deep into his neck, finally cutting his head off.

In a whoosh he disintegrated into a pile of dust, his last breaths used to scream his way to death.
She took a deep breath, shook the remnants of a useless life from her boot then turned. “Basil.”
“Trinity.” They stalked each other like the predators they were, neither taking their eyes off the other. “You’re looking good.”

Her breath always caught in her throat when she looked into those icy blue eyes of his. Unlike the rest of her race that had yellow eyes,he had the color of his heritage. He was royal. “So are you, but you already know that. Was he one of yours?”

“Would I have cared if you dusted him if he was one of mine?” His hand slid to his pocket and he pulled the pack of cigarettes from his pocket. “How have you been?”
 “Better now that I left you.” And wasn’t it odd how acrid a lie could taste?
“I noticed you’ve had your belongings gathered from our home.”
“Your home,” she corrected, keeping her distance from him. She knew perfectly well being close to him would have dire repercussions.
“Have you settled into your apartment, then?”
He was being so nice, so civil. She didn’t like it. “Why are you here, Basil?”
“I might ask the same of you, Trinity.” He lit the cigarette smoothly and the flame showed a devastatingly handsome face, with curves and lines and strength.
“I’m protecting the humans,” she remarked with an edge in her voice. 
“Always the warrior, my fiery princess.” He smiled sweetly as he drew long and hard on his cigarette, then smartly blew a ring of circles in the air. All without taking his eyes from hers.
“Don’t call me that.” She hated when he called her that. Okay, once upon a time hearing him call her that made her hot, but that was then.

This was now.
“It’s what you are and always will be to me.”
“Yeah, I was such a treasure, that’s why you decided to fuck another woman. Leave me alone, Basil.”
In a quick shift that surprised her, he was in front of her, his hand clamped on her chin as he tilted her face to meet his. “Despite my indiscretion, I will always love you.” He dropped his cigarette and ground it out beneath his boot.
She jerked her chin free, snarling, “You have a funny way of showing it.”
Grabbing her chin again, this time he held a little tighter. “Love has many sides to it, my sweet.” He sealed his words with a sharp kiss, his teeth scraping her bottom lip right before he vanished into the night.

Cursing, Trinity spat on the ground, wanting to eliminate his flavour from her tongue. Bastard thought he could come back and act as if nothing had happened. Fuck him! She still remembered all too clearly what it had felt like to walk in on him and the woman crawling over his naked body.

Shaking herself free of him, Trinity walked away. The last thing she needed was the memory of Basil’s kiss or the feel of his touch on her skin. What she needed was a vicious kill. If only she could find one.


1. Tell us a little about yourself, Shiela. How long have you been an author?

I’ve been married for 30 years to a wonderfully supportive man who has stuck with me through the good and the bad. We have three grown children, two daughter in laws and a wonderful little granddaughter. If it wasn’t for my hubby, I wouldn’t be here today as an author. He pushed me to get my work published and for that I am forever grateful. My first book was published in 2006. I love to write, which is obvious, but aside from that I love to create in other forms such as drawing, painting and knitting. I have a wicked sense of humor and love to scare people. My children are never safe. I’m not sure if I should be proud or annoyed that they inherited my sense of humor. LOL

2. Seducing the Darkness is your new PNR novel, what do you feel makes it special?

Actually The Darkness series has been previously published.  My characters are relatable, despite most of them being a vampire. Each one has gone through some sort of trouble or loss. I don't completely focus on the vampire aspect of blood suckers after one thing. Killing, drinking blood and recreating more vampires. The main focus is to stop a ritual to bring on the darkness which will bring the rise of the King, the most ruthless Vampire that even some vampires fear. It's about love, loss and bringing together the forces of friends and strangers. Each book takes up where the last left off.

3. How long did it take you to write your novel and when did the idea for it come about?

Believe it or not, the entire series was written over the course of six months. Originally it was going to be one book here everything is wrapped up nice and pretty. My publisher at the time suggested making it a sequel and before I knew it, there were eight books in the series. My hubby and I were taking a walk one evening and we were discussing how pretty the sunset was. It sort of just popped into my head. Wouldn't that be the perfect life for vampires if there was no sunlight. Boom! Seducing the darkness was born.

4. What was the most difficult part of writing the book? Did you ever have any writers block along the way? 

My brain was on rapid fire popping out one scenario after another to be blocked. I couldn’t write fast enough. The ideas just kept flowing. The most difficult part was finishing Tempting the Darkness, the fifth book in the series. It's about one of the character and his quest to find a cure for cancer before his wife dies from it. I was a quarter of the way into the book when my father passed away suddenly from lung cancer. Returning to the book after that was difficult, but I kept at it.

5. Are there any authors you look up to or go to for inspiration? If so, what one(s)?

I always felt like my books didn’t fit into any category. They had romance in them, but there was a paranormal, horror or suspense theme as well. They weren’t your typical mushy romance. Then, one day my niece lent me a Nora Roberts book and I finally saw that my stories were very similar to hers. At last, I felt they belonged. The horror aspect of my books came from admiring Stephen King. From early on in my youth I was fascinated by suspense and horror so when I saw one of his movies, Cujo, I was hooked and so he became my inspiration to write horror.

6. What types of books to do like to read? Name a few of your favorites? 

I like to read similar books for what I write. I still read Nora Roberts/ JD Robb as well as Stephen King. Another of my passions is true life crimes.

7. To close with, is there anything you'd like to say to my blog readers about your book or yourself? 

Several of my books have stemmed from real life incidences as well as several nightmares, such as my Demon series. The humor comes from not only myself, but that of my hubby and kids. We love playing pranks, and there is never a dull moment when we are all together. Food fights are guaranteed to erupt.


About The Author: Shiela Stewart
Connect with at:
Raised on a rural farm in Saskatchewan, Canada, Shiela Stewart relied on her vivid imagination to fill her days. Never did she realize that her need to tell a story would someday lead to becoming a published author. 

In the fall of two thousand and six, Shiela published her very first book and she hasn’t stopped since. 

When not writing, Shiela spends time with the love of her life and biggest supporter, William. She enjoys doting on her children and granddaughter. She has a strong affection for animals which is evident in the five cats, one dog, plenty of fish and one turtle she owns. 

Some of her other passions are home décor, crocheting and knitting.

 Shiela is giving away an ebook copy of Seducing the Darkness to one lucky winner! To enter please use the rafflecopter form below. Good luck!


Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Release Day Launch: BLOOD ON THE BAYOU by Heather Graham!

Blood on the Bayou - RDL banner
We are so excited to bring you the Release Day Launch for BLOOD ON THE BAYOU by Heather Graham! BLOOD ON THE BAYOU is A Cafferty & Quinn Series Novella brought to you by 1001 Dark Nights. Grab your copy of this sexy novella today!


Blood on the Bayou - cover

About BLOOD ON THE BAYOU: A Cafferty & Quinn Novella
  From New York Times bestseller Heather Graham... 

It's winter and a chill has settled over New Orleans, binding a stream of blood that leads a tourist to a dead man, face down in the bayou. 

The man has been done in by a vicious beating, so violent that his skull has been crashed in. 

It's barely a day before a second victim is found . . . once again so badly thrashed that the water runs red. The city becomes riddled with fear. 

An old family friend comes to Danni Cafferty, telling her that he's terrified, he's certain that he's received a message from the Blood Bayou killer--It's your turn to pay, blood on the bayou. 

The two quickly become involved, and--as they all begin to realize that a gruesome local history is being repeated--they find themselves in a fight to save not just a friend, but, perhaps, their very own lives.
Add on Goodreads

Blood on the Bayou - RDL teaser 1 Michael Quinn heard the hysterical crying the minute he entered the police station. The young woman creating the commotion was inside Detective Jake Larue’s office. Someone else was trying to soothe her while not becoming hysterical herself.
“This one is right up your alley,” Larue told him as he approached.
“My alley?”
“That young woman is certain she saw a rougarou. She was on a bayou tour in Honey Swamp last night.”
He smiled. No kid grew up in Southern Louisiana without hearing about the rougarou. Every region of the world had their own particular brand of monster. The rougarou belonged to the Cajun region of Southern Louisiana, stretching right into the city.
“Honey Swamp?” he asked. “Doesn’t a problem in that area go to the Pearl River police?”
“Yep,” Larue said. “But she’s here because she believes the rougarou followed her home, showing up in the window of her hotel last night.”
He arched a brow at the ridiculousness of the statement. “I’m assuming there’s more.”
“A dead man in the swamp. Head bashed in, throat ripped.”
Which grabbed his attention.
“I want you to talk to them,” Larue said. “I told them that you’re a rougarou expert and that you’ll get to the bottom of things. They were out on some night ghost tour in the bayou and their boat came upon the dead man. Right now, she’s so hysterical that she’s not making sense. But you rougarouexperts are used to dealing with that.”
He shook his head at Larue’s sarcasm. He was no more a rougarou expert than someone was a ghost expert. Once upon a time, he’d worked with Larue as partners in the NYPD. Before that, Quinn’s life had been anything but normal. He’d actually been a pretty horrible person, not as in deadly or criminal, but as in vain and egotistical. His prowess in sports had led to excess, which eventually led to him being declared legally dead.
Which changed everything.

Blood on the Bayou - RDL Teaser 2


Heather Graham Headshot

   About The Author: Heather Graham

Connect with at:

New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Heather Graham majored in theater arts at the University of South Florida. After a stint of several years in dinner theater, back-up vocals, and bartending, she stayed home after the birth of her third child and began to write, working on short horror stories and romances. After some trial and error, she sold her first book, WHEN NEXT WE LOVE, in 1982 and since then, she has written over one hundred novels and novellas including category, romantic suspense, historical romance, vampire fiction, time travel, occult, and Christmas holiday fare. She wrote the launch books for the Dell’s Ecstasy Supreme line, Silhouette’s Shadows, and for Harlequin’s mainstream fiction imprint, Mira Books. 

Heather was a founding member of the Florida Romance Writers chapter of RWA and, since 1999, has hosted the Romantic Times Vampire Ball, with all revenues going directly to children’s charity. 

She is pleased to have been published in approximately twenty languages, and to have been honored with awards from Waldenbooks. B. Dalton, Georgia Romance Writers, Affaire de Coeur, Romantic Times, and more. She has had books selected for the Doubleday Book Club and the Literary Guild, and has been quoted, interviewed, or featured in such publications as The Nation, Redbook, People, and USA Today and appeared on many newscasts including local television and Entertainment Tonight.  
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Monday, January 25, 2016

Book Review: The Stepsister's Tale by Tracy Barrett


Title: The Stepsister's Tale
Author: Tracy Barrett
Kindle, 272 pages
Published: June 24th 2014
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Genre: YA - Retelling, Romance, Fantasy
Source: via Netgalley


What really happened after the clock struck midnight?

Jane Montjoy is tired of being a lady. She's tired of pretending to live up to the standards of her mother's noble family-especially now that the family's wealth is gone and their stately mansion has fallen to ruin. It's hard enough that she must tend to the animals and find a way to feed her mother and her little sister each day. Jane's burden only gets worse after her mother returns from a trip to town with a new stepfather and stepsister in tow. Despite the family's struggle to prepare for the long winter ahead, Jane's stepfather remains determined to give his beautiful but spoiled child her every desire. 

When her stepfather suddenly dies, leaving nothing but debts and a bereaved daughter behind, it seems to Jane that her family is destined for eternal unhappiness. But a mysterious boy from the woods and an invitation to a royal ball are certain to change her fate...

From the handsome prince to the evil stepsister, nothing is quite as it seems in Tracy Barrett's stunning retelling of the classic Cinderella tale.
Purchase at: Amazon | B&N | TBD | Kobo

  I received an eARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through Netgalley.

  When I first started reading The Stepsister's Tale, I was actually very invested in the story. As a fan of fairy tale retellings, it's always interesting to be able to read from the villain's perspective. But as I read on, I found the book to be too long because it was full or narratives, which I never seem to enjoy. In addition to that, I actually read Snow, Glass, Apples by Neil Gaiman, which is a Snow White retelling from the Evil Queen's perspective. 

  The main difference of that book and this one is in Snow, Glass, Apples, it showed the misrepresentation of the story, but it also showed that the events were still true. The Evil Queen really tried to poison Snow White, but she had her reasons. In The Stepsister's Tale, the author made it so that the stepsisters were absolutely kind, and everything was Cinderella's fault. In this sense, there was a role reversal. I think I would have liked it more if the characters weren't made to be so absolutely good or so absolutely bad. 

  I would have to admit though, that Tracy Bennett's imagining of the novel is very much commendable. It seems like a simple enough plot, but if I were tasked to think of something like this, I'm pretty sure that I won't be able to do it. The idea is really great, and I always enjoy reading from another perspective, but I think it could still be improved.

I liked it. Would maybe recommend



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