Blog Tour: Beautifully Unnatural Collection

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Beautifully Unnatural Book Info:

Box Set Title: Beautifully Unnatural: A Young Adult Paranormal Boxed Set

Book Titles: Forbidden, Shaken, My Wolf’s Bane, Rise From Darkness

Author Names: Amy Miles, Susan Hatler, Veronica Blade, Ciara Knight

Publication Date: September 8^th, 2014

Format: Ebook

Genres: Young Adult Paranormal

Amy Miles

Forbidden Prologue

Romania, 1689

Roseline Dragomir peeks out from her hiding place behind the altar, searching for the man who led her wedding guests to slaughter. From the moment she had been presented to him, she saw evil in her suitor's eyes. His stance was firm, overbearing, and far too possessive for a casual introduction. His skin was frightfully pale, his smile leering, as if she were a meal to savor. She'd tried to warn her father against Vladimir Enescue's marriage proposal, but he was blinded by Vladimir's vast wealth, a castle, and a bloodline to rival any in Romania.     All her father got, in return, was a sword through his chest.     Roseline's gaze darts about the room, flitting high over the lifeless faces that stare at the ceiling. She dares not focus on any of them for fear of her nerve crumbling entirely.     Her fourteen-year-old sister, Adela, trembles in her arms. Tight straw-blonde curls quiver against her face; pink bows sit askew in her hair. Blood and soot smudge the freckles from her heart-shaped face. Roseline must remain strong for her.     Vladimir's older brother, Lucien, blocks their only exit. His maniacal gaze sweeps the aisles, searching for survivors.     The rectory at the front of the church was set ablaze during the massacre and acrid smoke now hangs thick in the air. It coils into Roseline's lungs, grating against her throat. Small wisps of smoke rise from the tips of her loosely curled bronze hair. She beats the embers against her white corset, wincing at the blood that clings to her narrow waist and trails down to bare feet. This blood came from her father.     There is nowhere to go and no one left to help them. She and Adela are the only ones left alive. Roseline's chest rises and falls rapidly, her pulse thumping in her ears as she fights back tears. Her parents are gone. Her beloved brother and friends too. Her new husband has murdered everyone she has ever cared for…except Adela. Roseline vows to do whatever it takes to save her sister.     The wailing cries of the dying faded away a few minutes ago, only to be replaced by an odd slurping noise. Vladimir's giddy laughter ricochets off the church walls as he celebrates with his brother.     Roseline cradles her sister, lifting desperate prayers for protection heavenward. Fear seeps into the marrow of her bones, rooting her in place. Where is Vladimir? Why has he not finished them off yet?     Wide baby-blue eyes stare up at Roseline. Adela's delicate fingers claw at her arms, pleading with Roseline to flee. To make the bad men disappear. Oh, how she wishes this was all just a terrible dream.

SHAKEN

By Susan Hatler

If someone told me twenty-four hours ago that I’d be reading a suspected kidnapper’s mind, I

would’ve told them to stop sniffing glue. But, here Blondie Cop and I were, entering some dinky

room at the police station where a super cute guy was seated in a foldout chair.

What was I so worried about? I mean, if this was the suspect, I couldn’t wait to hold his

hand—er, get the 411 from him. He had deep green eyes, short brown hair spiked up in front,

and looked to be about thirty. He was dressed in a suit and tie. Out of my league, but a girl can

dream, can’t she?

Blondie gestured to the hottie. “Kylie, this is Sam Williams. He’s the detective on the case.”

Ah, so he’s not doing time. Guess that would account for the lack of a striped jumpsuit.

The detective glanced at me, then his face grew hard. “You’ve got to be kidding me, Collins.

This is the psychic you told me about? Some kid?”

I sucked in an outraged breath. “Kid? I just turned sixteen, thank you.” If we were in grade

school, Julie would’ve totally punched him out for me.

“The kid’s a minor. Or did you miss that fact?” He gestured to me even though we’d just

established I wasn’t a kid. “We could get in serious trouble for this.”

“It’s all under the radar, Sam. Nobody will find out. Besides, she’s the daughter of my—of a

trusted friend. If he thinks she can do this, then she can.”

Blondie didn’t look too sure, if you ask me.

It was irritating, them talking about me like I wasn’t there and him doubting what I could do.

Why else would I be here? Certainly not for my health. I’d almost rather be in school. Almost.

“It might help you to know that I used my mental telepathy,” figured it sounded better than peek-

a-boo brain, “four times yesterday and it worked like a charm.”

“Gee, now I’m convinced,” he said, flatly.

Blondie gave him an impatient look. “We have nothing else to go on, Sam. What’s it hurt to

try?”

I turned to Blondie, confused. “Aren’t you the one calling the shots here?”

Blondie shook her head. “Sam’s the detective on this case. When your dad contacted me

about your special capabilities,” she cleared her throat, “he made me promise to stay with you

the entire time you were helping on the case.”

So, she was my babysitter. Great.

The detective stood up and shook his head, obviously still skeptical. “I can’t believe I let you

talk me into this.”

“It’ll be fine. I promise.” She drew in an audible breath. “I’ll sneak the suspect in now.”

Suspect? My mind jolted back to the here, now, and danger of the situation. Actually, an

armed babysitter didn’t sound like the worst idea.

My Wolf’s Bane

By Veronica Blade

Excerpt:

I tossed the makeup bag into my backpack, slung it over my shoulder and whipped open the door. Barreling out of the bathroom, I slammed into what felt like a walking boulder. I ricocheted off the human rock and my backpack hit the wall behind me, throwing me off balance and pitching me forward into the hard, linoleum tile.

My palms cushioned my fall, but I winced as pain spiked up my wrists. On all fours, I lifted my chin and peeked through my curtain of dark hair.

He wore a black tee that molded to his wide, muscular shoulders and jeans that fit over powerful legs. Wow. I’d thought my soon-to-be-ex-boyfriend was cute, but this guy…

“You okay?” the hottie asked in a sexy, gravelly voice, stretching a hand toward me. His hand wrapped around mine and effortlessly pulled me up, as if I weighed no more than my calculus book. Maybe it was the throbbing in my limbs or the warmth of his hands on my elbows. Or maybe it was his earthy scent invading my senses, but a wave of dizziness hit me and I tipped forward.

His hands shot to my hips to steady me. “Easy there.”

I stared into his deep, green eyes as my palms rested on his hard biceps for support. Lord, he smelled good, like the forest after rain.

My breath hitched. 

Rise From Darkness

by

Ciara Knight

Chapter One

Seagulls squawked above the endless blue sea and skimmed over the ocean, before landing on the empty beach. Gabby sighed and returned to her work. With her already stained finger, she smudged the gritty edge of the blue charcoal blob on her paper, mixing it with white in an attempt to create the crest of a wave. Nothing helped. It still looked more like a dark alley than a serene ocean. The picture lacked flare. She glanced down at her castoffs, fluttering in the sand around her feet. All the pictures did. Everything she’d created in the last year was flat, devoid of energy or life.     Dejected, she stared down the beach, searching, hoping he’d be there today. She’d only spotted him a few times. The image of his heavenly blue eye winking at her as he jogged by, his light hair framing an arched brow, made the twinge of loneliness disappear. He appeared around her age, sixteen, or maybe seventeen.     Funny, she’d never had much time for boys since they moved so often, but there was something different about him, a little ray of sunshine to brighten her dull day. But hope as she might, the beach remained empty, except for the seagulls.     Curling her toes in the coarse sand, she inhaled salty air. Heat pulsed along her skin and instinctively she rubbed the jagged edges of the circular scar above her knee, a constant reminder of the fatal car accident that had robbed her of her mother when she was only fifteen.     Her father once referred to the scar as her Mitsubishi branding—three diamonds joined at their points. Somehow, the car’s logo had branded her skin, yet to this day, she couldn’t figure out how. Everything had happened so fast, like a blur. But she remembered the pain, and the haunting smell of gasoline and burning rubber. While her injuries had healed, the loss tugging at her heart was still raw.     A tremor shot through. She closed her eyes as a dull burn coursed beneath her skin.     She wouldn’t allow the visions back into her head. She’d already been locked up for telling the doctors strange dark creatures caused their car accident, and she wasn’t going back to a psych ward.     Taking a deep breath, she tossed the charcoal stick into her art box and slammed it shut. Hearing the little green happy pills she stashed amongst her art supplies rattle in their bottle, she reached for the latch then shook her head and pulled away. They didn’t make the world a better place. They only suppressed the sadness, leaving her feeling hollow and empty. She was tired of avoidance. As sad and scary as it was, she had to start facing her past.

Author bios:

Amy Miles is the author of Forbidden, Reckoning, Redemption, Defiance Rising and Captivate. When she's not writing, Amy can be found traveling, cuddled up with a good book or beating her husband at Scrabble. 

Email: Amy@AmyMilesBooks.com Twitter: @AmyMilesBooks Facebook: Amy Miles, Author

 

SUSAN HATLER is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, who writes humorous and emotional contemporary romance and young adult novels. Many of Susan's books have been translated into German, Spanish, and Italian. A natural optimist, she believes life is amazing, people are fascinating, and imagination is endless. She loves spending time with her characters and hopes you do, too.

You can reach Susan here:

Facebook: facebook.com/authorsusanhatler
Twitter: twitter.com/susanhatler
Website: susanhatler.com
Blog: susanhatler.com/category/susans-blog

Veronica Blade lives in Southern California with her husband and children. By day she runs the family business, but each night she slips away to spin her tales. She writes stories about young adults to relive her own childhood and to live vicariously through her characters. Except her heroes and heroines lead far more interesting lives — and they are always way hotter.

Author/Buy links:

Thrown to the Wolves buy link:  http://amzn.com/B00B6WUM9U

VeronicaBlade.com   

My Wolf's Bane book trailer

FaceBook, GoodReads, Twitter, Amazon

Ciara Knight writes to 'Defy the Dark' with her young adult speculative fiction books. Her most recent Amazon best-seller, Escapement, book I of The Neuamrian Chronicles, released to acclaimed reviews securing a Night Owl Top Pick and five stars from InD'Tale Magazine.

When not writing, she enjoys reading all types of fiction. Some great literary influences in her life include Edgar Allen Poe, Shakespeare, Francine Rivers and J K Rowling.

Her first love, besides her family, reading, and writing, is travel. She's backpacked through Europe, visited orphanages in China, and landed in a helicopter on a glacier in Alaska.

Ciara is extremely sociable and can be found at Facebook @ciaraknightwrites, Twitter @ciaratknight, Goodreads, Pinterest, and her website ciaraknight.com.

Spotlight: Cryptogram by Michael Tobert

Welcome to the dystopian world of 2050: two men and a woman, lovers haunted by the echoes of a past 800 years before.  A dystopian futuristic fantasy weaving reincarnation and the Cathars of 13^th Century Europe.

Publishing 12^th December 2014 on Cosmic Egg Books (imprint of John Hunt Publishing Ltd)

Cryptogram  …because the past is never past, by Michael Tobert

​

ISBN: 978-1-78279-681-7 (Paperback) £9.99 $16.95

EISBN: 978-1-78279-680-0 (eBook) £4.99 $7.99

It is the near future. In a cold town in northern Europe, the war is over but the streets are still dangerous. Stephen, Suzanna and Rokas live under the shadow of the gun-king Porphyrian, but are driven by their common history and unfinished business during an earlier age of darkness, the Cathar Inquisition of the 13th century.

The settings of the 13th century are the Inquisitorial court, the medieval village, the arid landscape and the society of heretics. In the 21st century, it is the polotti hall, the bullet-riddled café, the armaments factory, the jazz club; while all around is endless forest inhabited by reclusive tribals.

And between past and future?

... Other times and other places, stories and sideways glances.

Because the past is never past.

Lives loop. The direction of travel is circular.

What do we bring with us when we arrive? What is progress? What is death?

Author: MICHAEL TOBERT lives in Scotland and has been writing ever since he stopped imagining he looked good in a suit. Now, he bakes the second best sourdough in the country and spends more time looking in than looking out.

Michael wrote 'Cryptogram' to explore the idea that it is not just nature and nurture that forms us, but also the things we bring with us when we are born; the loves and traumas of lives gone by. He has seen this in people he's known, people who appear to have so much more about them than can be explained by their family or the circumstances of their birth. And he argues that if the idea of reincarnation is true – for which there is more scientific support than may be generally supposed – then it must give our lives a circularity; we must forever be orbiting the pasts we have sprung from. It is this circularity which is overlooked in much of western writing with its assumptions of progress and direction.

Review: Win the Rings

Title: Win the Rings
Author: KD Van Brunt
Page Count: 360
My Rating: 4 TURTLES: A great read, I definitely recommend.

Description:
Jace has been the property of the U.S. Army since they found out about her when she was five, and now she has become one of its most valuable weapons. But Jace is not the only one of her kind. Gray is one too, but with the help of his sister, he has spent most of his sixteen years hiding from the Army. Now, the Army has found out about Gray and they cannot allow him to roam free. Operating on the theory that it takes one to catch one, Jace is send out with a special ops squad to hunt Gray down. But Jace is not the only one pursuing Gray, and the competition is after her too. What ensues is a desperate chase through city after city as duty and honor collide with love and sacrifice.


Review:
First of all, I'd like to thank the author, KD Van Brunt, for sending me my review copy in exchange for an honest review. Win the Rings is a gripping Science Fiction Thriller sure to enthrall readers of all ages, but is perfect for the Young Adult range. It was a page-turning opener to what I am sure will be a gripping series.

Win the Rings is told through the alternating POV's of Gray Price and Jace Moray. I thought these two perspectives each added a really interesting element to the novel, seeing what each side knew, and what remained a mystery to both parties. In some ways Gray and Jace are so different, but they have more in common than they realized. I also really loved how action-packed the story was! There was not much twiddling of thumbs going on, there was constant moving, each thing piling on top of the next. I thought Van Brunt did a really good job setting up this novel as a first book in a series. There was great world-building - setting up a world very similar to ours, but with some very drastic differences - as well as a great story arc while setting up for the main conflict of the series. I also really appreciated that she ended at a place where the book felt complete, yet left me wanting more. She did not rely on some giant cliff-hanger to get me to read the sequel, she wrote a compelling story that left me coming back for seconds.

One things that bugged me a bit was Jace's lack of character development. She is tough, one of the government's best fighters, but wants out, and that is about all that we get to know of her. Perhaps her reluctance to kill Gray was progress, but at the same time it seemed like it could have been in her character all along. I'm betting and hoping that Jace will go through more of a transformation in the following books. I think I got a hint of that towards the end, but I would have liked to see more.

If you are looking for a thrilling next read in the science fiction and or YA genres, I would highly recommend Win the Rings. It had a great premise, an exciting plot, and the beginning of an action-packed new series to burn the midnight oil for!

Check out Win the Rings on Amazon

Author Interview: Rival Gates

Today I'd like to welcome Rival Gates to the blog! He was kind enough to answer some questions about himself and his book.

When did you start writing?
 I started writing as a young teen as a way to escape the difficulties of adolescence and economic trouble at home.  It allowed me to escape into a totally different world of my own creation where things could be as I desired.

How did you get the idea for your book?
 I came up with the idea for "Quest for the Red Sapphire" out of a short story I had created about a special (not magical) sword named Falconfeather formed from the thigh bone of Talana, Queen of the Falcons.  She was shot down by hunters and the one man who came to her aid was told to take the bone and have a sword crafted from it.  Then she would pour her soul into the blade and serve only him and his kin.  Falconfeather would be the lightest, strongest, shapest sword ever seen and it could communicate telepathically with her owner.  The story snowballed form there and soon was a full fledged book.

What other works do you have out?
 The next book in the series is "Sapphire Crucible."  It continues the tale from "Quest for the Red Sapphire" and answers many questions.  It is loaded with action so if that is your cup of tea then this is your book.

Are you currently working on any other projects?
 The 3rd book in the series, "Mandrean Revenge" is ready for publication and should be out in the next 6 months.  I am currently working on the 4th book, "Repercussions Abound."

What are your favorite movies, tv shows, and bands? Do they influence your work?
 I loved progressive rock growing up.  My favorites were Genesis, Yes, Kansas, Rush and Supertramp.  I was also into a lot of classic rock.  A good deal of inspiration came from listening to those albums over and over.  I loved the Narnia movies and Lord of the Rings series.  The interesting thing about the influence of Tolkien was that I found all his work to be so dark and gloomy.  I loved it but that was not why.  It made me endeavor to make my work a little on the brighter side.  I wanted a protagonist you could not only root for but emulate as well.

In three sentences or less, why should people read your book? 
 These are well planned books with clear plots and storylines.  The characters are strong and the main ones grow as the story progresses.  You will keep coming to places where you think, "There's no way they can get out of this one," and then they do. 

About the book:
The book centers around Linvin Grithinshield, a half-elf general called home from the goblin wars to 
run the lucrative family trading business after his father's disappearance. Only after his mother's murder does he discover his destiny is to be the Master of the Red Sapphire, the most powerful magic any mortal can possess. Together with his wise but mysterious Uncle Anvar and his infuriating cousins Bander and Rander, Linvin must flee the would-be assassins and find the gem before the sinister forces from whom he flees find the stone and take it for a dark purpose.

About Rival:
I was born in the USA and moved to Canada when I was 5. My mother was American and my father was originally Canadian before trading his citizenship. I lived in Canada until I graduated highschool. I returned to the United States where I graduated from Michigan State University. While I was there I met the most wonderful woman on this earth and amazingly she agreed to be my wife. We have been married well over 20 years and have three beautiful children.

I began work on my series of books at age thirteen during a difficult time in my family's and my life. Instead of wollowing in self-pitty, I decided to escape to another world...one of my own creation where I could create the characters. What started as a short story turned into a novel and then a series. 

I sat on my work for years, sharing it only with my immediate family. Then my mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer. The longest supporter of my writing made me promiss to publish my work and finish the series. This is my attempt to keep that pledge. Enjoy the ride!

Blog Tour Stop: The Violet Fox

Author: Clare C. Marshall

Pub date: October 13, 2012

Page count: 288

Publisher: Faery Ink Press

Series: The Violet Fox 

The Guest Post:

My Favourite Things About Being A Writer

A lot of people ask me how long I’ve been writing, and the answer is simple: ever since I could hold a pencil! There are a lot of good things about being a writer. Here are some of my favourite things! *cue Sound of Music soundtrack!*

1. I create worlds

Sometimes I don’t so much create them as they brew within my mind and sort of pop out one day. Even so, I work hard to suss out the details so that my characters are acting in a world that is believable.

2. Pride

I take a lot of pride in my work. The pride bit comes in at the end of a project, or near the end, when I look back at what I’ve written and think, Wow, how in the hell did all those words get on the screen? When did I find the time to do all this? Oh, that bit is especially clever. This also means that sometimes I spend a lot of time agonizing over certain chapters or passages to make sure the tone is correct, and that I’m clear on the meaning (or intentionally unclear, to create an air of mystery, ooooo!)

3. The excitement of a new project

I’m a big ideas lady. I always have lots of ideas. But sometimes one idea in particular grabs me and takes me for a little ride. That’s exciting. And writing thousands of words in one day because of that one intoxicating idea? More exciting. The downside to this is that excitement simmers down, and is replaced by a sense of duty--which helps to carry me to the end of the project.

My favourite thing about being a publisher is that I can control the entire publishing process. But it’s nice to get some help every once and a while! You can help make The Silver Spear (The Violet Fox #2) possible by contributing to the Indiegogo campaign here: http://igg.me/at/silverspear

BUY LINKS:

Amazon

B&N

Kobo

Smashwords

Direct from Publisher

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

Facebook

Twitter: http://twitter.com/claremarshall13

Goodreads Author page

Goodreads Book Page

Website

About the Book:

Run.
That’s what instinct told me.
But in order to save the secrets of my people
and to protect my brother
I have to become the enemy.

There are two kinds of people in the land of Marlenia.

The Marlenians, who live on the surface,

and the Freetors, who are forced to live underground.

The war between them ended two hundred years ago, but the Freetors still fight for the right to live under the sun. Fifteen-year-old Kiera Driscoll embodies the Freetors’ hopes as the Violet Fox. In a violet cape and mask, she sneaks around Marlenia City stealing food and freeing her people from slavery.

Then the Elders task her with a secret mission: retrieve a stolen tome that contains the secrets of Freetor magic, something the Marlenians both fear and covet. Kiera must disguise herself as a noblewoman and infiltrate the Marlenian castle before the Freetor-hating Advisor finds out her real identity, before her brother is imprisoned because of the secrets he hides, and before she falls any more in love with the prince she’s supposed to hate.

More is happening in the castle than she realizes, and Kiera is faced with a difficult choice. Will she be loyal to her people and their fight for freedom, or will she be loyal to her heart?

AUTHOR INFO

Clare C. Marshall grew up in rural Nova Scotia with very little television and dial up internet, and yet, she turned out okay. She has a combined honours degree in journalism and psychology from the University of King’s College, and is a graduate from Humber College’s Creative Book Publishing Program. She is a full-time freelance editor, book designer, and web manager. She enjoys publishing books through her publishing imprint, Faery Ink Press. When she’s not writing, she enjoys playing the fiddle and making silly noises at cats.