The Last Drop

Paperback@Amazon

EBook@Amazon

@Audible

Remotely Unplugged

Paperback@Amazon

EBook@Amazon

Author Andrea Perno

 THE LAST DROP

Synopsis: Jeremy always said Space Academy was Earth’s last hope. People only dream of leaving a dying planet in search of better lives. Avery never expected he would be forced to do just that. On the heels of his brother’s murder, his father’s disappearance and Earth’s dwindling water supply now contaminated with a deadly virus, Avery and his younger brother have no choice but to leave Earth behind and join the survivors migrating the nearest habitable planet. What they don’t know is that the rarity of water extends far beyond Earth and they aren’t the only ones fighting for survival.

REMOTELY UNPLUGGED

Technology is all around us. Humanity is becoming hopelessly bound by it. What if a society were built exclusively with dependence on technology? An existence where all the information you need is literally plugged into your head? Sarah finds herself within this world, craving for change, but all she sees is a mindless compliance to the technology around her. Her unwillingness to follow the status quo has landed her in trouble and there are those who have had enough of her meddling. In an effort to correct Sarah’s mal-compliance issues, she is taken to a remote facility to be “unplugged.” “Reset” in an effort to make her conform to the world around her. But hers is not a simple reset and what she discovers once she arrives will not only put her in mortal danger, but will also unravel a truth far beyond her expectations.

Andrea Perno

In an effort to write a biography that won’t bore people stiff, I’ve kept this one pretty simple.  I, Andrea Perno (and yes it is very strange referring to myself in the third person) write futuristic science fiction. I am a writer, an illustrator, an artist, an outdoor enthusiast and oh yeah, how could I forget the most important one? I’m a middle school inspirational life coach, disciplinarian, stand-in parent, “stop throwing clay at him and for the love of God put your jacket on it’s cold outside”…teacher.

I grew up in Florida and Pennsylvania where my childhood consisted of riding horses, catching lizards, shooting, hiking, building things, and camping literally all over the U.S.A. My parents are keen on experiencing all that life has to offer. That mentality has really shaped who I have become as an adult. I also grew up watching huge doses of science fiction (thanks Mom) and home improvement shows (thanks Dad) Star Trek, Star Wars, Batman, Superman, Bob Vila, Home Improvement, MacGyver…I could go on or I could just say that’s where a ton of my writing inspiration comes from. I love creating worlds for people to escape.

I’m a workaholic with very little free time who’s fueled by chocolate and French Vanilla tea…yes tea, not coffee. I’m allergic to coffee. I will die. Though it may seem like I run all day and have zero time left for anything else, I am savagely loyal and passionate and will drop anything in a heartbeat for friends or family who need me. I, we…are nothing if not for the people around us.

Social Media

Don’t forget to look me up on Facebook, Pinterest, Google+, and follow me on Twitter  

Describe your book/series in 15 words or less!

My books are YA, futuristic science fiction that push the boundaries of reality and imagination.

When did you start writing? How did your first book evolve into what it is now?

I began writing at a very young age. My first grade teacher, Mrs. Hess, made me keep a journal in school. I can’t really read my writing from back then, but I wrote a lot and that spilled into my middle school and high school experiences where I participated in Journalism, debate and newspaper clubs. My senior high school English teacher told me fondly that I was the only student in his 27 years of teaching who needed a page limit for writing papers. (I tend to write prolifically.) I also attribute a lot of my inspiration for writing to my parents. They provided tons of opportunities to love writing on camping trips where my siblings and myself were each charged with writing short stories to share around the evening campfire. My writing dropped off after college while I worked as an Art teacher and then was sparked again after reading The Hunger Games. Suzanne Collins in part inspired the writing of my first novel, The Last Drop.

What made you go with a traditional publisher?

The goal was always to find a traditional publisher. I feel like as an author if you have a traditional publisher to back you, you don’t have to muddle through all of the marketing and editing on your own. I’ve always liked someone to walk me through a process and to have a constant sounding board if I need one. Beau Coup Publishing LLC has been all of that and more for me.

What issues popped up for you through the traditional publishing channel? Formatting, covers, platforms, etc.

The wonderful team at Beau Coup publishing LLC has really helped me through any and all of those issues.

Writing style…what is your writing process like? 

I tend to write in the first person. I like the feel of telling a story step by step as seen through the protagonist’s eyes. My process for writing varies by the day. I try my best to build a schedule and stick to it but sometimes that doesn’t always work. Typically (and this is only over the summers and holiday breaks since I’m a teacher as a second career) I work for about 3-4 hours in the morning. ( Sometimes this equates to doing a lot of research or simply staring at the screen hoping my imaginary characters would like to talk to me that day) I’ll take a break, maybe go for a run, do housework or chores or artwork (I’m also a freelance illustrator, so breaks sometime simply mean switching from creating with words to creating with pictures) When my husband gets home from work we spend some quality time together and then I typically hit the computer hard for one or two more hours before bed. Ironically the best times to write are sometimes right as I climb into bed and call it a night.

How do you develop your characters?

I like to think that I’m a creative genius who develops my own characters but that’s just not how it works. My characters literally “come to me” they tell me how they look, what accent they have, who their brother and sisters are and why they hate the dog in the next door neighbors house. They sort of develop themselves and evolve as the story does. It’s my job as a writer to listen and capture what they are telling me.

Tell us a little bit about your cover art. Who designed it? Why did you go with that particular image/artwork?

Cover art is one of my favorite things about being a writer. I designed both of my covers. The first one was done through a royalty free image website, but the second book I literally painted the image and did all the artwork myself. The wonderful Jennifer Stevens of Beau Coup Publishing LLC took my artwork and created the title fonts that go with it. It’s a team effort, but I really love the fact that I got to have input and better than that, could create the artwork for the covers.

How do you spend your time when you aren’t writing?

When I’m not writing I’m an art teacher, freelance illustrator and outdoor enthusiast. I’m either painting, hiking, running or on the back of a horse enjoying the outdoors with my husband, family and friends.

Are you the driver or a passenger in your book? (Are you in control of where the story goes or does it sort of just happen?)

Definitely I’m the passenger. The characters tell me where they want me to go and I’m along for the ride to capture what they are saying and doing.

What’s next for you?

I’m in the process of continuing The Last Drop series. This is a trilogy that I started over a year ago. It seems to be taking me just about a year to finish each book what with teaching and other side jobs. I hope to have the second book of the trilogy (tentatively being titled: Change of Tides) into editor’s hands at the beginning of August. At which point it will be full steam ahead with the third and final book of the trilogy and onto a few stand alone books that I have in mind. Most of those books are also going to be Sci-fi/fantasy.

Now for the SILLIES

If your book/series was a dessert, what would it be and why?

I don’t know if you would consider spicy hot Cheetos to be a dessert… but I’d imagine my book, The Last Drop would be a bag of spicy hot Cheetos because most of the story takes place in the desert.

 If you were a toy, what would you be and how would people play with you?

I think I’d be a toy soldier. I pretty much grew up playing with toy soldiers with my two brothers. We would create armies (and I mean we had HUNDREDS of these little plastic soldiers) and then use rubber bands to shoot each other’s soldiers down. Which ever army had the last man standing won the war.

What is something about yourself that most of your readers don’t know?

Readers might not know that I competed in western and English horsemanship shows in college. I’m also very good at riflery. I shoot regularly with my father and have even gone deer hunting a few times.

We all need a hero! Tell us about your protagonist(s)? Was there a real-life inspiration behind him or her?

My protagonist for my novel, The Last Drop, is a sixteen year old boy who’s growing up on a military base the controls Earth’s last remaining water. Pretty much everyone works for the army or you don’t survive. Unfortunately for, Avery, his father is also the commanding general. While Avery doesn’t believe it’s right to kill people to survive he pretty much has to do what his father wants him to do.

This story is a lot about growing up and doing what’s right and finding yourself. I think it’s something that everyone can relate to as they’ve grown up. The real life inspiration for my main character is drawn from a number of very strong people in my life who have successfully been able to stand up for what’s right despite the odds being stacked against them.

You’re having a party. What character from your book do you hope attends? Why? What character do you hope doesn’t attend? Why?

I hope Avery attends just because I’d really like to meet him face to face. I spend so much time in his head…or vise versa depending on how you look at it. It would be really neat to meet him in person. The character I hope doesn’t attend is Rustin. He’s the embodiment of every awful person, bully etc. that you’ll ever meet. Just not a nice person.

Who is your favorite “Book Boyfriend”? What series is it from and who wrote it?

Book Boyfriend…I really like Peeta Mellark from the Hunger Games. Written by Suzanne Collins. Admittedly he’s probably a little young for me, though. ; )

If you could have one super power what would it be? Why?

I would want my super power to be controlling time. There’s never ever enough time to do all the things I want to do or plan to do in a day. Especially the fun stuff. I’d speed up time to get through the stuff I don’t want to do…ie cleaning the house. Slow down time so I’d have more of it to spend with family and friends.

What do you think about when you are alone in your car?

BOOKS. I spend typically two hours a day commuting back and forth to work. Half of The Last Drop was written through voice notes on my phone that I later transcribed.

What song best describes you? Why?

hahaha, I couldn’t think of one so I asked my husband what he thought. He immediately said (and I mean took less than a second to respond)
I’ll make a man out of you- from the movie Mulan. I’m not going to even touch why he said that.

ENTER TO WIN 1 OF 5 GIVEAWAYS HERE! 

 

Title: Cloven

Author: Georgeann Swiger

Series: Trinity of Souls

Published by: Georgeann Swiger

Date published: Oct. 21, 2014

Genres: NA Fantasy

Book Length: 267 pg

Steam Rating: Steamy

Main Characters: Anya & Micah

Add to GoodReads

Buy on Amazon

Blog Tour Schedule

 Between Heaven and Hell, lies forbidden love…

“Swiger has a little bit of ‘dark’ in her writing, her visual interpretations are vivid, and I feel the gloom and doom underneath the sticky sweet moments that show her ability to juxtapose emotions.”

~Dylan Quinn

What would you do if the only things standing between you and the angel you love were another angel and the fiery pits of Hell?

When Anya and Micah declare their love for each other, the battle for the souls of the star-crossed angels stretches across the heavens. With Heaven forbidding their love, Micah vows to protect Anya by sentencing himself to Hell.

But Anya won’t let him go without a fight. She goes into Hell after him, only to discover an angel from Micah’s past is willing to do anything to keep Micah in Hell.

With love and lies blinding Micah, Anya fights to get him to face his demons and return to Heaven, even if it means hearts will be broken.

The battle for the angels begins where it left off. Between Heaven and Hell is forbidden love.

By Dylan Quinn

Cloven by Georgeann Swiger is the second book in the Trinity of Souls Series and a follow-up to Adorned, released earlier this year. While the series began as an upper YA novel, it’s crossed over into New Adult.

Cloven begins when Anya is dumped off in hell—yes, dumped. She’s just had her becoming, though nowhere near as glorious as everybody had promised it to be, and she is officially an angel trying to make her way into the Kingdom. Naked and completely clueless, Anya is in ‘no man’s land’ outside of the Kingdom and meets a few new characters, who immediately take advantage of her trusting nature and intentionally mislead her—an unfortunate means to an end.

Sometime later, we FINALLY meet Micah when Anya has made her way into the Kingdom. There was much alluding to Micah’s feelings for Anya in Adorned, but I never saw a lot from either. Swiger definitely remedied that problem in Cloven, though Micah and Anya’s reunion is short-lived. So much drama these two! Still reeling from consequences of actions taken during Anya’s human life, the two are separated again, leaving Anya once again on her own, trying to navigate her world, which now is focused solely on saving Micah from himself.

Cloven felt much more like a love story to me. Adorned established Anya’s role as a human while this follow-up showed her learning to be an angel along with the complexities of the forbidden love between her and Micah. I felt the angst of their separation, which propelled me to read Cloven in one afternoon sitting. I wasn’t even halfway done when Swiger brought me to tears. No exaggeration.

The remainder of the story had Anya chasing after Micah to save him from demons of his past. Micah is a beautiful character who has such a story of his own. I’ve implored Ms. Swiger to write a story from his POV, and I’m hoping she does… seriously girl, throw me a bone here.

The characters in Cloven were well developed. Anya grew tremendously since the first story. The whiny teenager from Adorned is gone and replaced by a brave girl on a mission to save her man. She surprised me tremendously, and I was truly impressed at how much she grew up. I guess being dumped in hell will do that to a girl.

And Micah. I was so happy to see him unafraid to show his feelings for Anya. He kissed her, did sweet things for her and didn’t seem to care if anybody saw, knew, or cared—which surprised me after the chaste kiss on earth threw him. Micah was clearly developing too, though again…girl. I want Micah’s story!

And then we have the supporting characters. Whew. Swiger added a few new faces and brought back a few faves from Adorned. We meet Cole, Dahlia and her entourage and of course, Lucifer. Oh, Dahlia—how I LOVE to hate this woman. She’s the classic bully. Swiger also had me guessing which team the players were on, even in the Kingdom. This alone kept a sense of urgency and ‘who done it,’ propelling me quickly through the story.

Finally—in true Georgeann Swiger fashion, she left me hanging. Okay, not literally—it’s NOT a cliffhanger ending but if you read Adorned, you’ll suspect the subtle whispers will keep us guessing once the final story to this series is released. Why is my stomach in knots?

I completely enjoyed Cloven. Swiger has a little bit of ‘dark’ in her writing, her visual interpretations are vivid, and I feel the gloom and doom underneath the sticky sweet moments that shows her ability to juxtapose emotions. And advice when you read Swiger… look for her dropping hints about her story—characters, clues here and there. She weaves all these in, which is a true mark of an expert storyteller. Bravo.

I predicted from Adorned that once Swiger got her feet wet with writing, she would take off and I believe she has. Cloven was an impressive follow up to her debut and once again, Swiger has left me on the edge, waiting to see how tortured she will leave poor Anya and Micah when they finally get their Happily Ever After.

And for Georgeann, I beg of you… Micah. That is all.

Georgeann Swiger

Georgeann Swiger earned her degree in journalism from West Virginia University, and then spent five years as an anchor/reporter at WBOY-TV in Clarksburg, WV. After having children, she left television news to be a stay at home mom. During that time, she discovered creative writing was more fun than writing about real life tragedy. Imagining interesting character and having them come to life on the page is now her passion. When she’s not writing, she works as a substitute teacher. She lives in Reedsville, West Virginia with her husband, two kids, a beagle dog and a temperamental cat who tries to rule the house

Website  Twitter. Facebook. Pinterest.

“What are you two doing?” The deep voice coming from the hallway sends a happy

tremor through my body. I jump to my feet to run to Micah, but I’m stopped by the

piercing pain of glass going through my foot. I look down to see blood trickling on the

floor. When I sit on the couch to pull out the shard, Kieran and Emory hover around me.

“Why are you in my room?” Micah asks, angrily.

Kieran and Emory move to the side to give Micah a direct line to me. I look up and his gaze grabs mine. We stare at one another, caught in a wordless hello. Small expressions run over his face, telling me he’s relieved, happy, confused.

“Leave us,” he says quietly without looking away from me.

Kieran and Emory hurry out of the room, shutting the door behind them. Micah closes his eyes. He takes a deep breath, bows his head and mutters something under his breath. When he looks up, he stares at me in disbelief. He doesn’t seem to notice the glass crunching under his feet as he steps toward me. His lips quiver, trying to form words that won’t come.

The fire crackles and pops behind him. Micah’s eyes glisten while he studies my shaking hand, reaching for him. My hand finds his, linking our fingers together. The strong beat of his pulse thumps in his trembling fingers. I step cautiously to the floor, avoiding the glass. When I’m eye level with him, his pupils flicker. As soon as I open my mouth to tell him how much I missed him, he pulls me to his body and covers my mouth with his. Every pent up emotion is released the second he kisses me. I don’t know where this Micah came from. His mouth claims mine without reservation or fear of repercussions. I fall into his embrace, enjoying every bit of the intensity of the kiss that tells me he missed me as much as I missed him. The tension in his body falls away as his hands travel through my hair and down my back, over my hips and up my sides like he’s making sure I’m real. I’m real, Micah, I want to say but I don’t want to stop kissing him. The taste of his lips brings to life the forbidden feelings I’m done hiding. I can’t get enough of him.

Giveaway There’s a tour-wide giveaway during the tour too. Participants can win: Digital Copy of Adorned Digital Copy of Cloven $10 Amazon Gift Card a Rafflecopter giveaway

by Kate L. Mary

Post-Apocalyptic/Zombie Series

Kindle │Barnes & Noble │ Kobo│ Google Play

***Warning: Contains Spoilers for Broken World***

Stranded in the middle of the Mojave Desert, surrounded by zombies, Vivian and Axl are sure they’re facing the end. The dead are closing in and the shelter they were promised is sealed tight. Just when they think they’ve run out of time, the doors are thrown open. Five years underground with all the provisions there for the taking. It’s almost too good to be true. With the promise of security, Vivian hopes she’ll finally able to deal with the loss of Emily, her growing feelings for Axl, and the terrifying new world they’re facing.

But their sense of security is soon shattered when they discover the shelter isn’t the utopia they thought it would be. It seems the company that built the shelter decided to solve their financial problems by selling off provisions, which means the group has to find a way to get supplies. Or face starvation.

And Vegas is the closest city.

With her feelings for Axl stronger than ever, Vivian volunteers to accompany him and a few others on a trip into one of the biggest tourist cities in the world. Vegas is overrun with the dead, but there are other survivors as well. Only not everyone they meet is a welcome sight. As the emotional baggage piles up, Vivian and Axl’s bond grows stronger, but it doesn’t take long to realize that zombies aren’t the only thing they have to fear.

“Here goes nothin’,” Axl says, echoing my thoughts.

He leans down and fools with the wires under the steering wheel. The dead bang against the car, but even more have surrounded the sedan. I dig my nails into my legs while I wait for Axl to do whatever he has planned. He grunts, and a few sparks fly. My entire body jerks when the deafening sound of the alarm rings through the car.

The world around us explodes. The bodies go crazy and converge on the car, banging on it with their hands, their bodies, their faces. They leave thick smears of black on the windows as they desperately try to get in. The door handle rattles, and some even climb on top of the car.

They’re wild and frantic. It’s so terrifying that for a moment I can’t remember exactly why we decided to do this. My heart pounds and I cover my ears, trying to block out the sounds of the hammering and the alarm. Trying to keep the terror at bay. All I want to do is run, but there’s nowhere to go. The realization that we’re stuck hits me so hard I start to shake.

Then the sedan drives off. It turns the corner with the truck close behind it, and I relax just a little. They’re going to make it. Nathan and his wife, their daughter. Two other little boys who have years ahead of them. Trey can get back to Parvarti and Winston to his daughter. They will have food and safety. That’s why we chose to commit suicide in this horrifying way.

Axl pries my hands away from my ears and pulls me against his chest. He wraps his arms around me as the pounding continues. He doesn’t say anything, and neither do I. All I can do is watch silently as the truck pulls out of sight.

After a few minutes, he turns the alarm off, but the damage is already done. They know we’re in here, and they won’t give up until they’ve broken in. A crack starts at the corner of the windshield and travels across. Then another. A dead man hurls himself against the glass and pounds his fists. Hundreds of cracks fan out across the windshield in a frightening web pattern, and I have to stifle the urge to scream. It’s safety glass, so it doesn’t give. At least not yet.

“I won’t let them get us.” Axl’s lips brush against my head, and strands of hair fall into my face. They tickle my nose, but I can’t find the motivation to move them aside.

I nod and swallow against the lump in my throat. He doesn’t mean he won’t let them get in, because we both know there’s nothing we can do about that now. Surprisingly though, I’m okay with it. A bullet to the brain sounds a lot better than being ripped apart by the undead.

Kate L. Mary is a stay-at-home mother of four and an Air Force wife. She spent most of her life in a small town just north of Dayton, Ohio where she and her husband met at the age of twelve. Since their marriage in 2002, they have lived in Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, and California.

Kate enjoys any post-apocalyptic story – especially if zombies are involved – as long as there is a romantic twist to give the story hope. Kate prefers nerdy, non-traditional heroes that can make you laugh to hunky pieces of man-meat, and her love of wine and chocolate is legendary among her friends and family. She currently resides in Oklahoma with her husband and children.

Website │ Facebook │ Twitter

When a deadly virus sweeps the country, Vivian Thomas sets out for California in hopes of seeing the daughter she gave up for adoption. Then her car breaks down and she’s faced with a choice. Give up, or accept a ride from redneck brothers, Angus and Axl. Vivian knows the offer has more to do with her double D’s than kindness, but she’s prepared to do whatever it takes to reach her daughter.

The virus is spreading, and by the time the group makes it to California, most of the population has been wiped out. When the dead start coming back, Vivian and the others realize that no electricity or running water are the least of their concerns. Now Vivian has to figure out how to be a mother under the most frightening circumstances, cope with Angus’s aggressive mood swings, and sort out her growing attraction to his brooding younger brother, Axl.

While searching for a safe place to go, they pick up a pompous billionaire who may be the answer to all their problems. Trusting him means going into the middle of the Mojave Desert and possibly risking their lives, but with the streets overrun and nowhere else to turn, it seems he might be their only chance for survival.

Amazon │Barnes & Noble │ Kobo│ Google Play

Title: Tro

Author: S.T. Bende

Series: The Elsker Saga

Published by: S.T. Bende

Date published: Aug. 26, 2014

Genres: New Adult PNR

Book Length: 194 pg.

Steam Rating: Sweet

Main Characters: Ull & Kristia

Add to GoodReads

Buy on Amazon

Sometimes you just have to believe…

Sometimes you just have to believe.

Finding her destiny nearly cost her everything. Kristia knows she can handle whatever The Fates throw at her next—including her long-awaited honeymoon with the God of Winter. But as things heat up between Kristia and Ull, a frost settles over Asgard. An unexpected death marks the beginning of the end, much earlier than anyone expected. Kristia’s barely begun to understand what she’s capable of, and controlling her powers seems completely out of her grasp. With her new family fighting for their lives, and Ull fighting for their future, Kristia has to make a devastating choice: preserve the life she loves, or protect the god she can’t live without?

Dylan’s 5-Breaths Review Coming Soon!

S.T. Bende

Before finding domestic bliss in suburbia, ST Bende lived in Manhattan Beach (became overly fond of Peet’s Coffee) and Europe… where she became overly fond of McVities cookies. Her love of Scandinavian culture and a very patient Norwegian teacher inspired the books of The Elsker Saga (Tur, Elsker, Endre and Tro). She hopes her characters make you smile and that one day, pastries will be considered a health food.

Find ST on online! While you’re at it, introduce yourself to @UllMyhr ~ when he’s not saving the cosmos from dark elves, he loves meeting new friends. Especially the human kind.

Social Media:

Blog – ST Bende on Twitter – Ull Myhr on Twitter – Facebook – GoodReads

Title: Induction Day

Author: PK Hrezo

Series: Butterman Travel, Book 2

Published by: PK Hrezo

Date published: Aug. 31, 2014

Genres: New Adult Fantasy

Book Length: 190 pg

Steam Rating: Sweet & Steamy

Main Characters: Bianca & Tristan

Add to GoodReads

Is saving 1500 people from death worth losing the only person you love?

The year 2069 is coming to a close, and eighteen-year-old Bianca Butterman’s time-craft license is finally official. She’s ready for the Induction Day she’s waited for since she was a kid—the one that will secure her name on the Butterman family tree of time travelers. But ever since the media discovered Bianca is pop superstar Tristan Helms’ latest new honey, everything Bianca does or says becomes a target of criticism. Having her professional credibility topping the gossip sites across social media is an open invitation for the government to step in and regulate Bianca’s Induction. Now she will have to ask herself if saving 1500 people from drowning is worth losing everything she’s ever worked for, including the Butterman family biz.

Welcome to Butterman Travel, Incorporated; a full service agency designed to meet all your exclusive time travel needs. We’re a family owned and operated business with one hundred years of experience. A place where you can rest assured, safety and reliability always come first.

Anxious to attend some special event from the past? Or for a glimpse of what the future holds? 

You’ve come to the right place. We’re a fully accredited operation, offering an array of services; including, but not limited to: customized travel plans, professionally piloted operations, and personal trip guides. *Terms and conditions do apply

Use our Web conferencing to contact our frontline reservation specialist, Bianca Butterman, who will handle all your inquiries in a professional and efficient manner, offering a tentative itinerary and free fare quote, so you can make the most of your time trip.

We look forward to serving you at Butterman Travel, Inc., where time is always in your hands.

Trailer by DA Botta

PK Hrezo

PK Hrezo is a native Floridian rarely found without her flip flops on. She shares her home with her firefighter husband, their two children, and big dog named Ripley. When not creating characters and their worlds, PK can be found at her other job of rearranging passenger’s itineraries for a major international airline. The only hobbies she loves more than traveling are reading, writing, and music, and when the four are combined she exists in total bliss.

Purchase links are available via my website at http://down-the-rabbithole.com/?page_id=39

It’s not exactly what I was anticipating, but I don’t see any better options dancing out in front of me either. This may just work. And I’m running out of time. If I can find Tristan fast enough, we can still see how long it takes to get to the bridge. I want to be ready for departure through the time-port right after impact with the berg.

Guilt wells up from my guts. Guilt for having a way out, and guilt for knowing it, while Adelaide and so many others will panic and struggle and cling to the hope they’ll make it out of the freezing ocean alive. They will never stand a chance. Not tonight, if I leave and take away the very solution I’ve been waiting the last four years to give them.

Adorned

Book 1 in Trinity of Souls Series

 

by Georgeann Swiger

 

Sweet Upper YA/NA Paranormal Romance

 

Published by Georgeann Swiger on 4/2/2014

 

Main Characters: Micah and Anya

 

Find Adorned Online:

 

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Kobo

 

When seventeen-year-old Anya finds out she’s an angel being trained to protect humanity, she discovers that becoming an angel has nothing to do with wings and haloes. For Anya, becoming an angel has to do with death—her death.

Micah, the angelic soldier ordered to protect her until she transitions from human to angel, promises her death will be a glorious experience as long as she follows his rules. But getting Anya through this life and to the next isn’t as simple as Micah expects. His job becomes even more difficult after he unwittingly performs a miracle that exposes Anya’s hidden angelic light. 

With her secret out, Hell’s legions begin targeting her. Unfortunately, Hell’s minions are the least of Micah’s worries. He’s more concerned about the forbidden human emotions he’s developed toward Anya. Even more troubling, is she seems to love him too. And giving in to those feelings, could mean dire consequences for them both.

Cloven, the 2nd book in the Trinity of Souls Series is coming October 21.

For Dylan’s Review of Adorned, click here!

Georgeann Swiger

Georgeann Swiger earned her degree in journalism from West Virginia University, and then spent five years as an anchor/reporter at WBOY-TV in Clarksburg, WV. After having children, she left television news to be a stay at home mom.  During that time, she discovered creative writing was more fun than writing about real life tragedy. Imagining interesting character and having them come to life on the page is now her passion. When she’s not writing, she works as a substitute teacher. She lives in Reedsville, West Virginia with her husband, two kids, a beagle dog and a temperamental cat who tries to rule the house.

 

 Midnight Kiss: Four New Adult Paranormal Romances 

 

Books by Alyssa Rose Ivy, Jennifer Snyder, Juliana Haygert, & Sarra Cannon

 
Publication date: October 1st 2014

 

Genres: New Adult, Paranormal Romance

 

Add to Goodreads

Cover designed by Once Upon a Time Covers. 

This Halloween, prepare to be haunted by a kiss…

Midnight Kiss is a limited edition collection of four BRAND NEW, NEVER RELEASED novellas, all set in New Orleans on Halloween night.

Author: Kristie Cook

Series: The Book of Phoenix

Published by: Ang’dora Productions, LLC

Date published: July 30, 2014

Genres: NA Paranormal

Book Length: 323 pages

Steam Rating: Steamy

Add to GoodReads

Buy on Amazon

The Space Within was one of few books that made me cry.The climax was beautifully written, and the last page had me in tears. If I wasn’t hooked on Kristie Cook’s writing before, she certainly had me at the Epilogue.

~Dylan Quinn~

When Darkness threatens, what matters most lies in The Space Within 

Completing a mission that reunites Guardian Twin Flames turns devastating when the Book of Phoenix throws Leni and Brock into a Dark world, leaving Jeric and Asia behind. They count on their other halves to rescue them, but when that doesn’t happen, they must fight through the Darkness and find a Gate that will take them home. 
  
Except all of Earth’s Gates are sealed. 
  
Enyxa, ruler of Darkness, and her horde of Dark souls storm the Gates to push their way through to Earth. While Leni and Brock fight Enyxa on their side, Jeric and Asia must figure out how to save their Twin Flames without jeopardizing all of Earth’s souls. Through it all—and with a little help from Enyxa—Brock and Asia begin questioning their relationship and whether they’re truly meant to be together…or if they’re two Lost souls forced to become one. 
  
If the Broken dyads don’t find each other fast, they’ll be lost to the Dark forever. But to reunite means choosing themselves over all of Earth’s souls. Can Jeric make that decision? And will Brock and Asia find the love they both desperately crave? Or are they all doomed to perpetual Darkness?

By Dylan Quinn

The Space Within by Kristie Cook is the final story in the Book of Phoenix Trilogy that follows three dyads (couples) or rather, Twin Flames, who struggle to both understand their fates and accept their duties as guardians of the gates of earth. While the series begins focusing on Jeric and Leni, the leaders of the Phoenix and Sacred Seven Twin Flames, The Space Within expands to help understand the lives of all three dyads that have survived the wrath of Enyxa, the ruler of darkness who is hell-bent on destroying them and all that they stand for.

The Space Within begins when two of the dyads have been separated while trying to unite a third, Bex and Hayden, after a terrible tragedy. As with the first two books in the series, Cook gives a glimpse into the past so we can understand what they have become and why.

In this book, Jeric and Leni spend most of the story apart. This was a tough pill for me to swallow because I fell in love with them in the first two books. I was hoping to see more of the dynamic chemistry between these two, but instead they were forced apart. Though I still feel they are MFEO, I would have been much happier had they been together. But as with any separation, it made the heart grow fonder for these Twin Flames. I understand why Cook chose to do this—it was essential in their growth as both individuals and as a couple. As leaders of the Phoenix, Jeric and Leni both had to learn how to trust their instincts and each other and in the end, Jeric grew into the leader he was destined to become. I LOVE Jeric, BTW!

If I were to choose which dyad The Space Within belonged to, it would be Brock and Asia. We watch them struggle from their rocky beginning but by the end, they discover much about themselves and are stronger for it, both individually and as a couple.

Finally, Bex finds her true Twin Flame, though I feel Bex and Hayden’s is the least developed relationship of the three. We get to know Bex throughout all three stories, but her HEA comes so late that I almost felt cruelly teased. Hayden was probably one of the flattest characters also, but it was realistic because of the nature of his life, having had no exposure to our society and its quirks, up until that point. We get a taste of how things could have been for these two toward the end, but it comes so little and late that I felt a bit deprived. I would love to see a novella or something, giving me more of their story…(wink).

The supporting cast was awesome! I loved Mat and Kel, and how Cook connected their story as a gay couple. The way she explains their relationship was a wonderful comment on the subject. Bravo! I also loved the villain, Enyxa. I felt all along she had something she was hiding, and I commend Kristie for creating such an evil villain that I still hoped would come to the light. Even bad guys deserve a happily ever after…except for Mason, of course. And thanks to Brock and Asia’s story, another guardian came out of the woodwork to prove that while the dyads felt left to their own devices, they were never truly alone—a little Hope goes a long way.

The Space Within was one of the few books I’ve read that actually made me cry. I cried. The climax was beautifully written, and the last page had me in tears. If I wasn’t hooked on Kristie Cook’s writing before, she certainly had me at the Epilogue.

I completely adored this entire series. Cook took multiple viewpoints and was able to weave past and present into the story without disrupting the pacing. It was a creative, complicated premise, which she fleshed out masterfully. While I enjoyed the first two books more than the final story (only because I desperately missed Jeric and Leni together as an MFEO pick), I still  loved this novel and expect Cook’s upcoming work to be on my TBR list for years to come.

Other books in the series:

1-The Space Between

And is part of the Curses, Fates & Soul Mates: 5 Paranormal New Adult Novels

box set that’s on sale for 99c through 10/14!

When Life Falls to Pieces, Answers Lie in the Space Between 

After a month-long dance tour overseas, Leni returns to Georgia to care for her great-uncle, only to find him gone, their home empty, and any evidence he ever existed wiped out. All that remains is her truck and a leather-bound book she can’t open. Nearly as disturbing, she keeps running into the deaf and dangerously sexy model she’d met in Italy, and no matter how hard she tries to shake him, her soul won’t let her. 

Jeric has traveled the world in search of a piece of his past for over a year, only to reach a dead-end in Georgia … in the exact town where the beautiful dancer from Italy lives. He’s drawn to her like a moth to a flame, but his life as a loner in his silent world allows no room for girlfriends, and he tries to leave her. Except outside forces won’t let him. 

When the same “tattoos” suddenly appear on their arms and the book’s lock falls open, Leni and Jeric realize there’s more between them than physical fascination. They must embark on a journey together to discover their connection to each other and their ties to the Book of Phoenix. 

And they must figure it all out fast. Shadowy forms that are more monsters than men are closing in, while their own existences are falling to pieces around them. 

This first part of The Book of Phoenix takes you on a heart-wrenching ride as you discover the answers that lie in The Space Between.

2-The Space Beyond

Is on sale for only .99 until 9/6!

Hearts break. Souls shatter. Love lies in The Space Beyond.

As members of the Phoenix, Jeric and Leni are thrust into their new lives, expected to lead Earth’s Guardians. But Leni struggles with trusting her own soul, and Jeric is more concerned about keeping Leni safe than meeting others’ demands. When Darkness swarms Lake Haven, they embark on their first mission with little preparation and no idea which soul the Dark hunts.

Born and raised in Lake Haven, Bex hopes to escape her small-town life, ideally in the arms of her soul mate. She knows he exists, and her heart aches with the need to find him. When her long-lost mama calls to announce she’s knockin’ on death’s door, Bex reluctantly makes the trip to see the uncaring bitch (bless her heart), only to be knocked off her feet by the sexy and charming Dr. Mason Hayes. Is he really The One?

Leni’s soul felt an instant connection to Bex, but if Bex found her soul mate, she isn’t their mission. So who is, and why does Leni instinctively feel drawn to her? Can Leni even trust her intuition? And will Jeric step up and lead when the time comes or continue to hold them back?

If they don’t learn to trust themselves and each other quickly, Darkness will claim them all…along with the rest of Earth’s souls.

Kristie Cook

Kristie Cook writes the bestselling, award-winning Soul Savers Series, which will include seven novels, companion novellas and short stories. She also writes The Book of Phoenix series, a trilogy (for now anyway). Both are New Adult paranormal romance/contemporary fantasies. She has many other ideas jotted in notebooks scattered around the house and more in her head, but she’s learned to write for whatever character screams the loudest. It’s kind of hard to hear the others, so may as well make the noisy one happy. She’s often procrastinating on Facebook (way too often) and sometimes even jumps onto Twitter.

Title: In Between Seasons

Author: Cassandra Giovanni

Series: The Fall Series

Date published: July 28, 2014

Genres: New Adult Post-Apocalyptic Romance

Book Length: 312 pages

Main Characters: Kate and Hunter

Add to GoodReads

Buy on Amazon

“Kate and Hunter tried to be what their families expected but ultimately chose to be true to themselves. In their own way, both did what they were told…until they found each other. ~Dylan

In 2021 the world as we know it changed. The government collapsed, and the worst characteristics of human nature were shown as the world fell into ruins. Years after The Fall, the Tribes that were established are still at war. They still fight to keep what they pillaged, and most of all, they fight to keep their lies a secret. In a world filled with deception, nothing is as it seems.

I was born into this world.

Hunter Marks was molded into this world; a General— a person cold and harsh. A person meant to kill me.

We were told to just believe.

We were taught to never question.

We’re supposed to be robots, and accept our roles in this altered society.

Too bad Hunter and I don’t follow the rules.

And we’re a hell of a lot stronger than they ever thought possible.

They’ve been searching for the world’s deadliest weapon.

It’s me.

And I’m not following the leader any more.

By Dylan Quinn

In Between Seasons by Cassandra Giovanni is set in a dystopian society after The Fall in 2021, which resulted after a government breakdown from the 2012 recession. The government has collapsed and Marshal Law has erupted, leaving the country a disaster. Those who survived the war chose sides by forming tribes and staking claim on land; building compounds in the middle of the country. Now twenty years after The Fall, Kate Ericson, daughter of one tribe leader faces the challenges of what comes next in a world she struggles to understand.

It’s Kate’s last day of school. She’s 18, and it’s time for her to take her place with the rest of the woman in her tribe, doing whatever it is women are supposed to do. The problem: Kate is not like other women. Although indoctrinated by the history books and legends told by her own father, she questions things that don’t quite fit. In a world where girls are taught not to question, Kate finds her voice and breaks the status quo only to find her an outcast in her own family.

Though Kate has been dating Trevor, a boy chosen for her by her family, she feels little for him. With not much of promising future ahead, Kate hopes for more than what happens to lie in front of her and seeks a way out by writing her own books. Since those she is supposed to trust refuse to give her any truthful answers, she spends her spare time filling books with her own conspiracy theory’s as to what happened before and during The Fall, and now what lies outside her tribe’s compounds. As Kate becomes brave, she soon realizes that the theories she thinks to be stories are closer to the truth than she ever imagined.

Within weeks of joining the women in her tribe, Kate finds her way out. When Hunter Marks, a sexy general from an opposing tribe is assigned to kidnap and kill Kate, they soon realize what follows will be the beginning of the rest of their lives.

In Between Seasons focuses on Kate and Hunter’s journey in a post-apocalyptic society, struggling to find where they fit in a world neither of them agree with or completely understand. I liked both of the characters. Both Kate and Hunter tried to be what their families expected but ultimately chose to be true to themselves. In their own way, both did what they were told…until they found each other.

This New Adult romance focuses more on the developing relationship between Kate and Hunter, as well as their individual journey’s of self-discovery rather than the “what happened” part of the story. Finding balance between character development and plot points can often be difficult in character-driven stories, but Giovanni pulled it off with an entertaining story.

Although at times there wasn’t much happening and the ending came and went a bit too quickly for my taste, I enjoyed the story. I thought the premise was intelligent, and the struggles Kate and Hunter faced were realistic and relatable. And the teasers—I couldn’t wait to see how Kate was the weapon they needed to survive. I’m looking forward to seeing what the rest of the characters in this series have in store for them.

Cassandra Giovanni

Cassandra doesn’t remember a time when she wasn’t writing. In fact, the first time she was published was when she was seven years old and won a contest to be published in an American Girl Doll novel. Since then Cassandra has written more novels than she can count and put just as many in the circular bin. Her personal goal with her writing is to show the reader the character’s stories through their dialogue and actions instead of just telling the reader what is happening. Besides being a writer, Cassandra is a professional photographer known for her automotive, nature and architectural shots. She is happily married to the man of her dreams and they live in the rolling hills of New England their dogs, Bubski and Kanga.

Cassandra Giovanni is published by Show n’ot Tell Publishing based out of Connecticut, USA.

Find Cassandra Online

Website  ~  Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Goodreads

A Breathless Tease…

Title: 9th Life

Author: Wendy Beck

Series: The Naming of Legends

Published by: Indie

Date published: April 11, 2014

Genres: Paranormal (Shifters), SCI-FI & Fantasy

Book Length: 274 pages

Steam Rating: Sweet

Main Characters: Bastian and Skyler Ashcraft

Add to GoodReads

Buy on Amazon

“The story is thought provoking, engaging, fun, easy to read and lovable! The extreme depths that this book goes to are mind blowing!” ~Becca

PROCEEDS FROM 9TH LIFE GO TO 
GOOD MEWS NO-KILL CAGE-FREE CAT SHELTER

~ Concerning Zookeepers ~
Working with the wild is a diverse calling. You learn to scale heights and sedate hurts, rate scars and skin rats, celebrate life and suffer loss. Animals are freer with their acceptance and adoration, also fiercer when angered or threatened. All in all, it’s a safe way to live passionately.
So Skyler thought.
Then he came. Lines were blurred.

~ Concerning Shapeshifters ~
Being a shapeshifter is to know life at its depths. The initiated know the truth. It’s all One. Form is an idea. Ideas can be changed. 
But all ideas are not equal.
So Bastian learned.
Then he found her. Lines were crossed.

Skyler Ashcraft never could have guessed the line crossed when she drugged an injured lynx. What Bastian was didn’t even footnote in her zookeeper’s manual. But it did nearly overshadow what he hid.
Secrets are like lines. They divide.
Before and After. Truth or Lie.
Life or Death.

NOTE: New Adult is a diverse genre. 9th Life contains no sex, but the rest of the series does. Mild language throughout. (I get asked about these things a lot so thought I’d share.)

I’m not huge on shifter books, if I am being 100% honest I can’t even really explain why I don’t care for them but I think it has something to do with the romance in them sometimes blurring that line between human and animal and bestiality… So when I got the chance to review 9th Life I was a little bit hesitant. I went over to GoodReads and checked the blurb, I read a few reviews and then I realized that I was hooked already! I simply HAD to read this book!

To put it mildly, 9th Life is NOT simply another shape-shifter romance! Wendy Beck takes this book to an entirely new level with her writing style. The dialog is just so real, if not a bit witty and well “smart-assy” (what it’s a word…okay so it’s totally not a word, but it should be!) especially if you take the internal-dialog into account! It is easy to see how Wendy’s zookeeper background helps to shape the story into something unique and amazing! The descriptions of animals and the world-building are so complex and charming that you will find yourself often forgetting that this is not a true story and you are not really there! The story is thought provoking, engaging, fun, easy to read and lovable! The extreme depths that this book goes to are mind blowing! It makes you think about how life exists, how our physical bodies are affected by matter and energy, and most of all how we can impact our destiny, or fate, with our thoughts and actions. Wendy manages not only all of that, but also works in one amaze-balls romance!

Bastian and Sklyer definitely deserve the MFEO stamp of approval!

Skyler and Bastian are such realistic and deep characters that you will find yourself lost and longing to know more! The chemistry between these two literally left me breathless!

Skyler is a zookeeper…whose life is about to change in ways that she never could have imagined! It’s hard to explain a lot about Skyler and Bastian without spoilers so honestly this part of the review may be shorter than you are used to. When Skyler rescues a lynx that rescued her from a hunter (confusing I know…) her life is thrown upside down in the best of ways!

Bastian is our hero, our shape-shifter, and the amount of details and build up for him is extraordinary! I adore the fact that Wendy went with cats, it’s just a new and un-tapped market on the shifter side of things. I mean a Lynx is a beautiful creature and the way she describes him is just so in depth and perfect that you can’t help but fall in love with him! Watching his reactions to Skyler’s world and culture is just precious and endearing and his honesty and forwardness brings the relationship to a new level.

The romance flows so smoothly and slowly that it is easy to fall in love yourself! I would compare the pace and romance style to that of Ull and Kristia in S.T. Bende’s Elsker Saga! The friendship and bond that Bastian and Skyler form is precious and daunting. As the book moves forward into the second half, the romance gets a little more steamy and we learn of true feelings and breaking hearts. Just like with Ull and Kristia, there are things that hold Bastian back from pursuing Skyler fully. As these revelations came about, I found myself reeling, spinning, and biting my lip as I waited for the next page to reveal something that would fix things. 

I will admit that the first few chapters of this book were a bit difficult to read. Wendy’s writing style is very unique and real and it took me a bit to get used to. Oh, but once I was used to it…the story bloomed into this amazing world! As I read more and more, so much became clear to me and still more questions would pop up! What a way to write and keep your reader wanting more! I still cannot get over how wonderful this book is! It gets you thinking about the world around you, the possibilities for change, the uselessness of the material things that we have in excess…it is a real eye opener!

9th Life left me with a happy and yet heavy heart, willing to give up my “9th Life” to get my hands on the next book in the series, and crossing my fingers that things go smoothly for Bastian and Skyler because they deserve a happily ever after!

If you are looking for a wonderful, fun and steamy shifter romance that is intense, filled to exploding with action, and emotional conflict then this is definitely the book for you!

Zookeeper-turned-author Wendy Beck is more accustomed to wrestling gators than grammar. She has a conservation biology degree from Oglethorpe University and learned a whole lot of hands-on studying killer whales in Puget Sound, loggerhead sea turtles on Cumberland Island, and everything else at Noah’s Ark in Locust Grove. She went on to serve as the animal caretaker for Bear Hollow Wildlife Trail in Athens for four years before moving back to the Atlanta area to care for the wildest animal of all—her son.

She lives with the love of her life and personal hero, Mike, and can be found reading, writing, practicing kriya yoga, or creating whimsy out of fondant… out of the Lego collection… or sometimes out of both.
Member of the RWA and serves as Membership Chair of the Georgia Romance Writers

What is this extra time you speak of? Because I’m indie published, there’s a mind-numbing amount to do and learn and relearn. I read when I can and hope to find a better balance of time once the learning curves aren’t quite so all-consuming.

I’m almost finished with a novella that overlaps The Naming of Legends trilogy. It’s called Rebound, and it has had the most incredible response from the beta readers. I think I may have given Sky & Bastian a challenge for role of favorite couple. Sky and Bastian’s story plays a huge role in the novella since Rebound is about a couple you don’t realize that you’ve already met.  

Beyond Bastian, of course. He’s my perfect (and inspired by my incredible husband). I’d have to say Dean Holder from Colleen Hoover’sHopeless. 

He was kneeling before me, sliding his hands over my calves, effectively shutting me up. One by one, he pulled my shoes and socks off. I couldn’t suppress a moan at how good it felt to be free after being confined for so long.

“Please don’t make me put those back on.”

“Do I have the ability to make you do anything?”

“I’m scared to answer that.”

“Kiss me.” I leaned in, but an inch away, he said, “Wait.” I went to lean back and he whispered, “Don’t move.”

He placed my hand on his chest, and it felt as if he were running… or terrified.

“Feel that? That’s what you do to me. This moment here, the breath before you touch me. That’s what’s undeniable. I’m beyond confidence, beyond honesty, and far too tempted to slip beyond respecting you.”

I swallowed before whispering, “Respect is overrated.”

“Kiss me quick, Sky.”

“Make me.”

His grip on my wrist snapped forward, yanking me off the bed to land on top of him, the other hand in my hair forcing our lips that last inch. He was heat and cinnamon, the breath you thought you couldn’t take. He gentled quick enough, too quick, but not before I knew the truth.

He could make me do anything.

The amazing Wendy Beck is giving away a signed promo card, earrings & an e-book of 9th Life!

If you could shape-shift into an animal what would it be?