BLOG TOUR & AUTHOR INTERVIEW with Amy Braun for "Storm of the Gods (An Areios Brothers Novel)"

Storm of the Gods 
(An Areios Brothers Novel)
by Amy Braun
Publication date: August 27th, 2018
Genres: Adult, Urban Fantasy

The first in a brand new urban fantasy series where gods roam and mortals fight, STORM OF THE GODS follows two brothers who are caught in a conspiracy revolving around ancient artifacts, and find themselves siding with their supposed enemies rather than the Olympian who demands their loyalty… 

Thirty years ago, the gods of Greek legend returned to the world. Their return restored their powers, which had been spent in a cataclysmic battle with the Titans. With the ancient deities imprisoned in Tartarus, the Olympians now reside in Néo Vasíleio, formerly known as California. 

Twenty-four-year-old Derek Aerios is a war scion, a descendent of Ares, the God of War. He and his brother, eighteen-year-old Liam, capture mythological creatures and rogue scions as part of Ares’s elite military force. As he struggles to cope with his violent powers and the scars of a traumatic childhood, Derek tries to keep the two vows he has made: protect his brother, and never kill a human again. 

But when Ares forces him to hunt and kill four rogue scions under Athena’s control — by threatening Liam’s life — Derek chooses to go after the scions in order to save his brother and keep his promise to himself. 

Yet the closer Derek gets to the scions, the more he realizes that his orders are part of a deeper conspiracy that put him at odds with his mission and his conscience. Athena may not be the enemy, a traitor could be in their midst, and the Titans could be closer to freedom than ever before.

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~AUTHOR INTERVIEW with Amy Braun~

1)   What gave you the inspiration for the storyline?

I’ve always had a deep love and fascination with Greek mythology and history, and one of my favorite genres to read is urban fantasy, so it was inevitable that those two loves would cross paths. The actual story line and world have changed since the idea cropped up, but Dere, Liam, and Selena (the main characters) have been staples since the beginning.

2)   Are there any hidden themes in the book that you hope readers will discover?

Loyalty, trust, and consequence are the largest themes. Throughout the story, Derek and Liam butt heads about Derek’s reckless behavior, and Liam’s seeming resentment towards it, out of fear that such actions will get him killed. There is a lot of drama in Storm of the Gods, and I hope that readers enjoy the tumult as much as I did writing it.

3)   Are any of the characters based on real people you know?

Nope! They’re all complete fictions. Derek, the main character, is very loosely based on Captain America (mostly in physical appearance), but unfortunately I haven’t met any thickly muscled monster slayers. Yet.

4)   Who has influenced you most as a writer?

It’s a tough call, because I have so many favorite authors, but I would have to go with Michael J. Sullivan. His writing style is stunning, his stories are compelling, his worlds are rich with lore, his characters are unforgettable and fun, and at least two of his books have made me cry. More than that, he actually helped me promote one of my books, completely out of the blue, and offered me advice and support that I needed to hear. He’s also proof that you don’t need to be an NYT bestseller to be a massive international success (though how he hasn’t gotten to that list yet completely confounds me!).

5)   If you could have any three literary characters over to your place for game night, who would you invite, what would you play, what would you serve, and why?

Rhysand from A Court of Thorns and Roses, because he’s smoking hot and always out for a good time, Atticus from The Iron Druid Chronicles because he’d have hundreds of stories and would likely bring his adorable wolfhound Oberon along, and Gin Blanco from the Elemental Assassin series because if things went sideways, she’d be able to sort out the bad guys. We’d likely play Tales of the Arabian Nights, one of my favorite board games, because it would be hilarious to watch all these strong, badass characters get their lives turned upside down once they’re cursed or––gods help us all––grief-stricken. I would leave the cooking up to Gin, who would make up some mouth-watering Southern comfort food. Sounds like fun to me!

     6) Do you feel that you can ever have too many books?

There is no such thing as too many books! I read about two hundred a year, and my only concern is how I will fit them all on my bookshelves.

Author Bio:

Amy is a Canadian urban fantasy and horror author. Her work revolves around monsters, magic, mythology, and mayhem. She started writing in her early teens, and never stopped. She loves building unique worlds filled with fun characters and intense action. 

When she isn’t writing, she’s reading, watching movies, taking photos, gaming, struggling with chocoholism and ice cream addiction, and diving headfirst into danger in Dungeons & Dragons campaigns. 

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BLOG TOUR & AUTHOR INTERVIEW with Rayanne Haines for "Magic Born (The Guardian Series, #2)"

Magic Born 
(The Guardian Series, #2)
by Rayanne Haines
Publication date: June 6th, 2018
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance

Maria Del Voscova is a powerful witch with a past. When she’s asked to become a member of the elite Guardians she knows she can’t risk sharing the truth about her messed-up family. But we don’t always get what we want. Sometimes, we don’t always know what we want. 

Though Mar absolutely knows she doesn’t want Neeren, King of the Parthen. She alone sees the darkness in him and it reminds her too much of the past. She knows better than to fall for his stoic, tortured soul façade. 

She’s training to be a Guardian, a shadow; tasked with keeping the balance between good and evil in the world. It’s what she wants — to be better than her family was. 

But the past has a way of catching up to Mar and the future has a morbid sense of humor. On her first mission, she’s kidnapped by the enemy she’s been running from her entire life. Thankfully the guardians look after their own. As it turns out, so does Neeren. 

As Mar finds herself caught between the past and the future; between blood and bond; between the light and the dark, she realizes her only chance at surviving may be in trusting a man who is the most dangerous of them all.

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~AUTHOR INTERVIEW with Rayanne Haines~

1)    What gave you the inspiration for the storyline? 

Magic Born is book two in my Guardian Series so it does feed off the first. I was inspired by the chemistry I felt between these two characters in book one and knew they needed their own book. I also wanted to play with mixing different magical elements. My hero is a shifter and has control over the water element. My heroine is a kick-ass human witch with no interest in becoming immortal.

2)    Are there any hidden themes in the book that you hope readers will discover?

I think ultimately, I’m hoping I’ve done a good enough job that readers will walk away understanding that even though I’ve written about shifters and other immortals, at the core of the book is the search for our humanity.

3)    Are any of the characters based on real people you know?

Every character is based on bits of pieces of people I know. I can’t say that one person fits one character. Although the bulldog in the book is directly based on my own bulldog J

4)    Who has influenced you most as a writer?

My mom – I know it’s corny but it’s her love of reading and her strength as a woman that has most influenced almost everything I do.

5)    If you could have any three literary characters over to your place for game night, who would you invite, what would you play, what would you serve, and why? 

Margaret Atwood, J.R. Ward and J.K. Rowling, we’d play Clue, I’d serve Rum, Bengal Spice Tea, Lasagna and cheesecake for desert. Because each woman has crafted my favorite books of all time and I want to just be in their presence. Clue because I want to learn more about how their brains work. And the meal because you should always have non-alcohol options and cheesecake.

6)    Do you feel that you can ever have too many books?

Never, ever, ever.

Author Bio:

Rayanne Haines grew up on a small horse ranch in Alberta. She spent most of her youth re-enacting scenes from Anne of Green Gables to attentive audiences that included pygmy goats and roan stallions. The horses were thrilled. Her father could never figure out why it took her three hours to clean the barn.

Her mother is an avid reader and instilled a love of literature in her at a young age. She has always been fascinated with learning people’s stories.

She has a fondness for mountains and rivers and all the creatures that live within them.

She believes in magic and the search for great love. She loves to write about strong women who will accept nothing less. 

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BLOG TOUR & AUTHOR INTERVIEW with Devon Taylor for "The Soul Keepers"

The Soul Keepers 
by Devon Taylor
Published by: Swoon Reads
Publication date: August 28th, 2018
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

“A fantastic high-stakes adventure on a ghost ship sailing forever into eternity, where every soul is (literally) worth fighting for—what’s not to love? Devon Taylor weaves an endearing tale of friendship and loss with heart-stopping action and a whole lot of terrifying monsters. You’ll root for Rhett and his fellow reapers through every twist and turn!” —Rin Chupeco, author of The Bone Witch and The Girl from the Well 

Full of danger, stormy otherworld seas, ghost ships, and terrifying monsters, this thrilling debut novel is perfect for fans of Taran Matharu and Neal Shusterman. 

Death is just the beginning.

After dying in a terrible car accident, Rhett awakens in the afterlife and is recruited to join the crew of theHarbinger, a colossal seafaring vessel tasked with ferrying the souls of the dead. To where exactly, no one knows. But the crew must get the souls there, and along the way protect them from vicious soul-eating monsters that will stop at nothing to take the ship and all of its occupants. 

Rhett and his new friends have a hard enough time fighting back the monsters that grow bolder and more ferocious every day. But then a new threat emerges, a demon who wants something that Rhett has. And if she gets it, it could mean the end of everything… for both the living and the dead. 

Chosen by readers like you for Macmillan’s young adult imprint Swoon Reads, The Soul Keepers is a pulse-pounding, cinematic adventure by debut author Devon Taylor.

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~AUTHOR INTERVIEW with Devon Taylor~

1)   What gave you the inspiration for the storyline?

The two biggest influences on the story of The Soul Keepers are good ole Greek mythology and the novel The 13 ½ Lives of Captain Bluebear by Walter Moers. I’ve always been super interested in Greek mythology (because how can a person not be??), and I love the story of Charon ferrying the souls of the dead across the River Styx. It’s such a vivid image, and I wondered what that would look like in a modern day setting, with a much bigger population. And Captain Bluebear was a random secondhand store find that my wife thought I’d enjoy—I did! Like, a lot. There’s a ship in that book that very much inspired the Harbinger in my book. Also, Captain Bluebear is one of those books that really shows how limitless the imagination is, and how far outside what we consider to be “normal reality” you can take a story while still keeping your readers invested. It’s the kind of book that gave me the confidence to try and write something that I’d never read before.

2)   Are there any hidden themes in the book that you hope readers will discover?

Absolutely! Although I don’t know how hidden they are. The major theme that I was shooting for with The Soul Keepers (along with its forthcoming sequel) was second chances. The idea that everybody can change and redeem themselves even in the wake of terrible decisions. And of course I hope that every reader will find something in the book that they can relate to and can take with them after they’re finished with it.

3)   Are any of the characters based on real people you know?

I can’t say that any of the characters are too specifically based on people I know in real life. But some of the relationships in the book are definitely inspired by my own personal experiences with family and loved ones. Most of all, the tiny bit of romance that happens in the book is inspired by my relationship with my wife, who’s my real-life partner in crime and without whom the book probably wouldn’t exist at all.

4)   Who has influenced you most as a writer?

In terms of authors that have influenced or inspired me, I’m a gigantic Stephen King fan (kind of a cliché, I know, but what are you gonna do?), along with his son, Joe Hill. Some YA authors whose books have really inspired me include (but are in no way limited to) Claudia Gray, Rick Yancey, Victoria Aveyard, JK Rowling (duh), Victoria Schwab, and many, many others. As far as people I actually know who have inspired me, my parents were always super supportive, along with a slew of creative writing teachers over the years who have been instrumental in buoying my confidence. And my wife and kids inspire me every single day.

5)   If you could have any three literary characters over to your place for game night, who would you invite, what would you play, what would you serve, and why?

This is a GREAT question! I’d have to invite Captain Bluebear (obvs), Carrie White, aaaaaaand because I guess he’s technically a literary character, the Grim Reaper (also obvs). We’d play Connect Four (mostly because I want to see Carrie put the pieces in with her mind). And I’d serve Taco Pasta (my favorite recipe). It would be a weird and delightful time.

6)   Do you feel that you can ever have too many books?

As someone who recently moved and packed up about 25-30 boxes of books, I’d have to be a hard no on that one.

Author Bio:

Devon Taylor was born in Las Vegas, Nevada and currently lives in Pennsylvania with his wife and two daughters. His day job consists of sneaking around the house with ninja-like stealth to avoid waking up his kids. When not writing, reading, or tediously typing out text messages with all the correct spelling and punctuation, he spends his time with his family. THE SOUL KEEPERS is his debut novel. 

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BOOK REVIEW for "Ruthless Protector (Lawless Kings, #4)" by Sherilee Gray

****(4) out of 5 Stars!

SYNOPSIS:

The first time I saw my landlord Jude Wayland, with his gentle brown eyes and a body built to do damage, I knew he was trouble. Sure, he has the nice guy routine mastered, but I’m not buying it. In my experience, no one does a good deed for free.

Now that he’s seen me at my lowest, the sexy P.I. with a white knight complex wants to uncover my secrets. He also has me craving more of his sizzling kisses. But I can’t give in to my feelings for him. I promised my sister that I’d raise her daughter without a man, and I won’t let her down again.

Yet as my past catches up with me, bringing danger to our door, I’ll have to make a choice — let Jude in and betray my sister, or run, leaving behind the only man I’ve ever loved.

Ruthless Protector is the fourth book in the Lawless Kings series, but each of these sexy, gritty contemporary romances can be enjoyed as a standalone.

REVIEW:

Jude has got to be one of my favorite book boyfriends EVER.  He's big and gruff and tough... and a total marshmellow inside.  I love how he takes care of Willa and Tilly (or tries to anyway), as well as Faye, and pretty much everyone else around him.

Willa on the other hand, I just wanted to smack upside the head through most of the book.  Oh, my gosh, was she difficult, and just mean to Jude.  Sure, she'd had some bad experiences in the past, from her mother to her ex-boyfriend, and certainly her former brother-in-law, but nothing that seemed nearly bad enough to warrant her horrendous attitude toward people.  It was amazing that she let anyone in at all, even Faye, let alone Jude.  

I was incredibly happy to see these two together finally, although it obviously took all of Jude's patience to keep things going.  (Seriously, the man as written is a virtual saint.)  And even after they'd begun to get close, and Willa knew that she should trust Jude — she still refused to do so.  I could not believe that she was ever even contemplating leaving him.  

Many of the minor characters in this tale were delightful as well.  I totally loved Tilly and also Faye, among others.  The way in which the others the King Agency had Jude's back, both professionally and personally, was amazing and very good to see.  

I was not a huge fan of the strip club venue, but those scenes were handled fairly tastefully.  The love scenes between Willa and Jude were definitely hot!  Especially the one where he discovers that she thinks about him when she's dancing.  

Some of the peripheral plot lines were a bit much for me.  All the drama with that jerk Trent was bad enough, but the convoluted nature of the real situation behind most of that was somewhat hard to follow.  

Overall though it was a really good story, excellently written, very well paced, and with a wonderful Hero.  This is the first book that I've read in the "Lawless Kings" series, but now I'm thinking that I definitely need to read the others as well!

I received a free eBook copy of this title from the author, 

and have willingly provided an honest review.

BOOK BLITZ for "Taxed by Love (St. Fleur, #5)" by A.J. Renee

Taxed by Love 
(St. Fleur, #5) 
by A.J. Renee
Publication date: August 29th, 2018
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Love was in the air and Gabrielle wasn’t interested. Even if she was willing to risk her heart again, which she wasn’t, any man would have to get past her overbearing brother first. 

Andrew was unashamed of his love of women… until he found himself yearning for what his friends had found — love and family. When a gorgeous woman caught his eye at a buddy’s wedding reception, he blindly followed, unable to resist her allure.

Their encounter was meant to be no-strings fun, but months later, Gabrielle couldn’t get him out of her mind. Andrew regretted never getting her name or number, leaving them both with only memories and unanswered desires. 

An unexpected reunion brought the couple to St. Fleur, where trouble had been stirring for their friends and family. Can Andrew persuade Gabrielle to take a risk on a playboy? Or will tragedy jeopardize their chance at love?

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Only 99¢ for a limited time!

Excerpt:

Andrew stared at her text. He’d given up on his food and his last task at eight o’clock. Memories of their lunch date plagued him, and he wished he’d had more time with her. In a weak moment, he’d texted her again.
Only now he was slack-jawed as he reread her message. Gabrielle didn’t come across like a woman who would sleep with multiple men at one time. Then again, Andrew didn’t know her well. She was a gorgeous woman who could easily command a group of men to worship her body.
A body he wanted to worship. No help required.
He took a deep breath, hoping to calm the storm of emotions raging inside him. Of course, it didn’t help at all.
Gabrielle: Cat got your tongue?
He narrowed his eyes and imagined spanking her firm ass for making him feel out of balance.
Andrew: You’re screwing with me?
Gabrielle: I’m sure you’d know if I was “screwing” with you…
He chuckled and shook his head. His eyes moved the words around and read, “screwing you,” and he hardened.
Andrew: There’s no way I wouldn’t be sure. I can promise you that you’d have my undivided attention.
Gabrielle: I’m glad to hear that.
Andrew smiled like a fool and looked around. At least he was at home with no one to witness his juvenile reaction. He closed his eyes and let his mind drift back to when he’d touched Gabby earlier in the day. It hadn’t been nearly enough.
He wasn’t sure how long he was lost in thought, his hand wrapped around his cock, when the phone next to him dinged and pulled him from his fantasy. If it weren’t from the object of his desire, he would have ignored the text and continued torturing himself with images of Gabby’s perky breasts.
Gabrielle: I’m with Marc and Lindsey. Noah, Sofia, Jaime Lynn, and Jesse are here too. I just met Charlie as well.
Reading Marc’s name was like a bucket of ice water had been dumped on him. Had this been how his buddy felt the entire time he’d fought his attraction to Lindsey? A pull toward a woman he knew was forbidden fruit. The constant fear of losing someone you loved because of a woman.
Andrew: Three men. Aren’t you clever. I’d tell you to say hello but…
Gabrielle: But you’d like not to have your ass handed to you?
Andrew: Pretty much.
Gabrielle: You realize that Marc has no control over who I date right?
Andrew chuckled as he imagined Marc trying to step into Gabby’s love life. He was a stubborn fool, but Andrew was pretty sure Gabby held the trump card every time.
Andrew: If it wasn’t me trying to date you I’d be grabbing popcorn to see him try.
Gabrielle: Is that what you’re trying to do? Date me?
He stared at her words. His initial reaction was to yell yes! What was it about this woman? Andrew didn’t date; he fucked. Beautiful women with their beautiful curves, regardless of their ethnicity, hair color, or occupations. Strictly speaking, he loved taking women to bed. He didn’t date them.
Before he could stop his fingers, he hit Send.
Andrew: Yes…
“What the fuck are you doing, Drew?” he snapped.

Author Bio:

AJ Renee is the author behind the St. Fleur series, Beauty Unmasked, Winter's Surprise, Surviving Paris, and Finding Love at the Falls.... She's a military wife and mother to three young girls. She graduated from the University of Central Florida with her Master of Science in Criminal Justice and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology while working at the library.  She loves to write steamy romance with suspense and a happily ever after. When she isn't writing or interacting with her readers, you can find her spending time with her family or reading. AJ enjoys traveling, researching family history, and all things New Orleans. 

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COVER REVEAL for "Glorious Sinner (Lawless Kings, #4.5)" by Sherilee Gray

Check out this gorgeous cover for... 

Glorious Sinner 

                                                        (Lawless Kings, #4.5)

                                by 

Sherilee Gray 

                                                                                         Publication: Sept 17th, 2018

People say Tomas Mendoza is dangerous.

They’re right.

But he saved my life.

I owe him, and all I have to repay the ruthless crime boss…is me. I tell myself it’s not pity that burns in his eyes when I dance for him, that my walls are so high he can’t see how broken I am inside.

Now danger stalks me again, and Tomas swoops in, only this time he shows me a different side of himself. Fierce protectiveness. Raw hunger. A tenderness that could sear through the barriers I raised to safeguard my heart and soul.

My past taught me not to trust. But this glorious sinner might be the one man I need to learn to love again.

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Glorious Sinner is a 45,000 word novella and the fifth book in the Lawless Kings series. 

Each of these sexy, gritty contemporary romances can be enjoyed as a standalone.

Author Bio:

Sherilee Gray writes sexy, edgy contemporary and paranormal romance. Stories full of heat and high emotion, following stubborn characters as they fight against the odds… and their happily ever after. She’s a kiwi girl and lives in beautiful NZ with her husband and their two children. When not writing or fueling her voracious book addiction, she can be found dreaming of far off places with a mug of tea in one hand and a bar of Cadburys Rocky Road chocolate in the other. 

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BLOG TOUR & BOOK REVIEW for "Better Together (One Fond Embrace, #1)" by Crista McHugh

Better Together 
(One Fond Embrace, #1)
by Crista McHugh
Publication date: August 20th, 2018
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Hawaiian rancher Alex Kahale needs a temporary wife to close a deal that’s vital to the welfare of his herd. Thankfully, he’s already married to a woman stole his heart in less than a week, even if that same wife filed for divorce a few days after they said their “I dos.” 

Rising country music star Britney Moore had a wild fling with a cowboy in Las Vegas a year ago which ended in a drunken drive-through marriage. Once she returned to Nashville, she filed for divorce to save her squeaky clean image. Besides, spontaneous marriages never last, and she knows better than to risk her heart on Alex. But no matter how many requests she sends him, he refuses to sign the papers. Then he sends her an intriguing offer. Come to his ranch on Kauai and pretend to be his wife for two weeks for business purposes, and he’ll sign the papers. 

As much as Britney tries to resist his charm, Alex manages to tear down her defenses one by one until she falls for him all over again. But when the press finds out about her secret husband, will their revived romance be killed by the tabloids?

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~BOOK REVIEW for "Better Together"~

****(4) out of 5 stars!

Mostly light and fun, with a little bit of angst (but nothing too dark), and quite a bit of heat, this is the perfect beach read!  And it is certainly fitting since the setting is (mostly) Hawaii, including some time at the beach.

Alex and Britney need to convince a potential business partner of his that they are a happily married couple.  What they fear will be a monumental task turns out not to be at all, mostly due to the fact that everyone around them can see how smitten they are with one another.

Britney is irrationally scared about pursuing a real relationship with her husband - something she maybe should have thought about before they got hitched.  And not all of it has to do with fear of what it will do to her country music star image.  But when things do get a bit out of control, they still aren't the incredible disaster that she had envisioned, and actually lead to some unique opportunities.  Also, Alex is an amazing guy, something she remembers and comes to realize even more after spending a little bit of time with him.  Ultimately, he is so anxious to show his love for her that he is willing to let her go.

Of course, there were some things in the tale that seemed a bit unrealistic or blown out of proportion; some of the local Hawaiian slang was kind of annoying and seemed a bit forced; and both the main characters had very extreme reactions to things, sometimes to the extent that it was quite irritating.  But by and large the writing was good, the story was fun, and the main characters were entertaining to watch as their (mega-quick) relationship developed.

Some of the peripheral characters, even though we saw very little of any of them, were also quite enjoyable, including many of Alex’s friends, especially Jordan and Caz, and his sister Leilani.  But my absolute favorite had to be Malu the housekeeper; she was priceless.  Since this is the first book in a series, I am hopeful that we’ll get to see and learn more about many of these individuals.

Author Bio:

Crista McHugh is a NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY BESTSELLING author of fantasy and romance with heroines who are smart, sexy, and anything but ordinary. She also writes fantasy with a little less kissing and bit more action (outside the bedroom) as C. A. McHugh. 

Growing up in small town Alabama, Crista relied on story-telling as a natural way for her to pass the time and keep her two younger sisters entertained. 

She currently lives in the Audi-filled suburbs of Seattle with her husband and two children, maintaining her alter ego of mild-mannered physician by day while she continues to pursue writing on nights and weekends. 

Just for laughs, here are some of the jobs she's had in the past to pay the bills: barista, bartender, sommelier, stagehand, actress, morgue attendant, and autopsy assistant. 

And she's also a recovering LARPer. (She blames it on her crazy college days). 

To be the first to know about her latest releases or to be entered into exclusive contests, please sign up for her newsletter using the contact form on her webpage, www.cristamchugh.com. 

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BLOG TOUR & AUTHOR INTERVIEW with Jessica Redmerski for "Everything Under The Sun"

Everything Under The Sun
by Jessica Redmerski
Publication date: August 28th, 2017
Genres: Adult, Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic, Romance, Suspense

Thais Fenwick was eleven-years-old when civilization fell, devastated by a virus that killed off the majority of the world’s population. For seven years, Thais and her family lived in a community of survivors deep in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains. But when her town is attacked by raiders, she and her blind sister are taken away to the East-Central Territory where she is destined to live the cruel and unjust kind of life her late mother warned her about. 

Atticus Hunt is a troubled soldier in Lexington City who has spent the past seven years trying to conform to the vicious nature of men in a post-apocalyptic society. He knows that in order to survive, he must abandon his morals and his conscience and become like those he is surrounded by. But when he meets Thais, morals and conscience win out over conformity, and he risks his rank and his life to help her. They escape the city and set out together on a long and perilous journey to find safety in Shreveport, Louisiana. 

Struggling to survive in a world without electricity, food, shelter, and clean water, Atticus and Thais shed their fear of growing too close, and they fall hopelessly in love. But can love survive in such dark times, or is it fated to die with them?

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~AUTHOR INTERVIEW with Jessica Redmerski~

1) What gave you the inspiration for the storyline? 

EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN was inspired by the relationship between Beth and Daryl on AMC’s The Walking Dead.

2)   Are there any hidden themes in the book that you hope readers will discover?

There are references to today’s political dumpster fire without actually naming any names. But I think they are more obvious than hidden.

3)   Are any of the characters based on real people you know?

No, I never base a character on a real person (though I will in the future with my husband) but I have taken bits and pieces from people I’ve met or seen and incorporated them into characters. But I think every writer does that.

4)   Who has influenced you most as a writer?

Anne Rice and Neil Gaiman

5) Do you feel that you can ever have too many books?

There’s no such thing!

Author Bio:

Jessica Redmerski is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author and award winner who juggles several genres of fiction.  

She also writes as J.A. Redmerski. 

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BOOK BLITZ for "Somewhere Out There: Indie Authors in Support of Immigrant Families: A Charity Anthology"

Somewhere Out There: 
Indie Authors in Support 
of Immigrant Families: 
A Charity Anthology
Publication date: August 21st, 2018
Genres: Adult, Contemporary

The more than 150 independent authors, editors, artists, and promoters involved in this charity volume series are donating 100% of all net proceeds to non-profit organizations supporting immigrant families detained at the United States borders, particularly charities working to reunite children separated from parents and organizations working to provide legal and humanitarian aid. Our goal is to help keep immigrant families together and unincarcerated. (Watch this space for information about specific charities!) 

The stories included range from contemporary romance to urban fantasy to paranormal romance to horror to comedy, and beyond – they’re as varied as the families and people whose dreams we want to support. The contributors come from all over the world, highlighting the international scope of this issue. 

The stories we tell can help define who we are. Help us tell one of an international author and reader community coming together to support immigrant families. 

Get your copy today!

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BLOG TOUR & BOOK REVIEW for "Dating The Prince (What If Series, #1)" by Alina Snow

Dating The Prince 
(What If Series, #1)
by Alina Snow
Publication date: May 7th, 2018
Genres: Comedy, New Adult, Romance

Small-town girl, Katie O’Connor has always dreamed of seeing her name in lights. Check the box for fame, a movie deal, the perfect leading role that comes with a gorgeous leading man! Katie moved to Hollywood, elbows her way into auditions, lives on a shoestring budget — whatever is required to land a deal, she throws her heart into… until she’s involved in a royal kidnapping. 

As the future king, Prince Alexander refuses to rule from an ivory tower. Duty-bound, he intends to relate to his future subjects, regardless of their walk of life. Before his coronation, he needs a foolproof plan to outrun his security team and go temporarily AWOL. While visiting L.A., all it takes is a sound stage collision and Alex is blindsided by a headstrong woman who is simply irresistible. So much so, he calls in a favor in order to secure her help… as his pretend girlfriend. 

Their worlds are oceans apart, but their immediate attraction is impossible to put aside, especially their nonstop banter. Miffed at being wrangled into a situation that might blow up in her face, Katie comes up with her own plan. If The Prince is serious about walking the walk of the common folk, she’s only too happy to oblige as his pretend girlfriend. Through an ice storm, a road trip, kitchen duty, and a Texas pig race, Alex captures the hearts of the locals as well as Ms. O’Connor’s. 

What starts out as a deal Katie can’t refuse becomes the acting role of a lifetime… letting Prince Alexander go without a fight. 

A delightfully funny retelling of The Prince and The Pauper that romance readers of all ages will enjoy. On a two-week 1,500-mile road trip, Katie and Alex discover the end of the road might just be the beginning of their ‘Happy Ever After’ together.

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~BOOK REVIEW for "Dating the Prince"~

***(3) out of 5 Stars!

I found this story a bit hard to believe.  Alexander's accent didn't strike me as particularly British, nor Katie's as especially Texan.  And it really bothered me that Alex was supposedly next in line for the throne, with so many blatant similarities to many recent members of the royal family, and yet he is so obviously not an actual person.  That nobody through all the places they visited recognized this apparently world-famous prince, even with a dye job and some new clothes, struck me as rather unlikely.  Their overuse of Mr this and Mrs that, especially Alexander calling Katie Ms. O'Connor, made me wonder if I were in the early 1950's rather than the late 2010's.  The change of scenery from California to Texas to England were rather abrupt transitions and somewhat disconcerting.  And one of the most annoying things to me was how there were a lot of different people, scenarios, various things hinted at — and then not followed up on at all.  Also, that Katie and Alex fell in love to the extent that they wanted to be married, when they'd practically barely even held hands, seemed absurd. 

Still, despite the many things that I found bothersome about the plot in particular and the book in general, there was just something about it...  The characters, if not exactly believeable, were still enjoyable and pleasant.  I found myself rooting for Katie and Alex through the entire book, especially at the end.  Their romance was sweet and clean (a definite plus for those who like that sort of thing).  Some of the peripheral characters were just as endearing; Jeffrey and Rudolph were a couple of my most favorite!

I understand that this the debut novel for this author, and I'm interested to see what her future works might entail, as I think there is as lot of promise in her writing.  Basically, if you want something with a plot that can hold water, this is maybe not the right choice for you.  But if you are looking for a light, fun, clean romance, with a definite happily ever after, this book has got you covered!  


Author Bio:

Southern gal at heart. Alina is a librarian who adores her job. She has a degree in anthropology from Vanderbilt and loves writing offbeat romance comedy. To refuel, Alina sings karaoke, bakes sweet treats, and can be found at the Y, kickboxing. She lives in Knoxville with her husband and Callie, their doxie mix. 

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