Pre-Order Blitz - Queen of Ashes by @MalMcCartney & @CleanReads_

Today Mallory McCartney and Rockstar Book Tours are happy to announce that QUEEN TO ASHES, is available for pre-order! Check out all the book info and enter the giveaway!

Title: QUEEN TO ASHES (Black Dawn #2)

Author: Mallory McCartney

Pub. Date: January 8, 2019

Publisher: Clean Reads Publishing

Formats: eBook

Pages: ?

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Amazon Canada

“You lived your entire life feeling like half of you was missing. Fight for the missing part. Fight for this.” 

Emory Fae has abandoned everything she thought she knew about her previous life on Earth. Stepping up to her role as Queen of Kiero she makes a startling sacrifice- feigning her allegiances to Adair Stratton, the man who murdered her parents and casted Kiero into ruin. Emory’s memories slowly piece together, and she soon realizes the Mad King may not be all he seems— and the man who was once best friend, may be fighting beneath the surface. 

With the King’s attention on her, can she buy Black Dawn Rebellion enough time to recuperate their forces? And when the times comes, will she be able to kill Adair, ending his tyranny and rising herself as the rightful Queen? Fighting to hide her secret, Emory navigates the brutal trials of the Mad King, trying not to lose herself in the process. 

Sequel to Black Dawn, now a bestselling series, the sparks are ignited, as Emory learns the cost of freedom, and her title. Will the rebels unite in time? A sinister force has spread across the land, stripping everyone bare- their betrayals, their secrets, their intentions. But above all, what will their decisions cost? By refusing to give in to the darkness, will Emory rise as Queen?

Renegade and Black Dawn will be available in the following #Vancouver area locations : Chapters Burnaby, Indigo Surrey, Chapters Coquitlam, Indigo West Vancouver, Indigo Granville (2505 Granville St) and Indigo Robson (1033 Robson St) in December!

Title: RENEGADE (Black Dawn 0.5)

Author: Mallory McCartney

Pub. Date: July 3, 2018

Publisher: Clean Reads Publishing

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 274

Find it: Amazon, B&N, TBD, Goodreads

“The time for Kiero’s reign in prosperity is over.”

Six years before the Black Dawn Rebellion, Adair Stratton and Emory Fae are following in their parent’s footsteps and living at The Academy, a home for those who are gifted. The pressure to uphold the future of their parent’s dream falls on them. An outcast and feared by most, Adair longs to break away from the expectations dictating his future. Even if Emory tries to make him see differently. An unexpected group of friends keep him there, but as whispers of unexplained disappearances start reaching from the capital, Adair starts to doubt The Academy is all it seems.

An unexpected visit ignites new tensions as the roguish king from across the Black Sea, Tadeas Maher of the Shattered Isles, and his heir, Marquis Maher sail to Kiero. Notorious for their pirating and wrath- for the first time in years, they demand the Fae’s listen to their proposition for a new treaty, holding the news of Nei’s father’s abrupt death over them. Caught in the middle of politics- Adair and Emory, with the help of their best friends Brokk and Memphis search for the one thing that matters most- finding out the truth.

In this gripping prequel to Black Dawn, their world is tipped upside down as unlikely alliances are made. War ravages through Kiero and is torn apart by acclaimed Kings. Through the throes of betrayal, lies, hidden magic and love, Adair is faced with a life changing decision- to fight or to bow to the darkness within him.

Title: BLACK DAWN (Black Dawn #1)

Author: Mallory McCartney

Release Date: February 14, 2017

Publisher: Clean Reads Publishing

Pages: 352

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Find it: Amazon, B&N, TBD, Goodreads

Emory Fae enjoys leading a quiet, normal life. That is until two mysterious, and handsome soldiers show up at her apartment, and the life she knew is instantly whisked away. Memphis Carter and Brokk Foster come from the magical and war ridden world of Kiero, and bringing Emory back she will discover she is the long lost heir to the Royal Line and is thrown into the Black Dawn Rebellion with a dynamic role to ignite the rebels and reclaim her throne.

With both men being darkly woven in her past Emory uncovers hidden secrets, a power held long dormant, and will soon realize there are worse things than supernatural humans, love, loss, betrayal, and a Mad King.

Some things are better left in the shadows.

About Mallory:

Mallory McCartney is the author of the bestselling Black Dawn series. She currently lives in Sarnia, Ontario with her husband and their three dachshunds Link, Lola and Leonard. When she isn’t working on her next novel or reading, she can be found day dreaming about fantasy worlds and hiking. Other favorite pastimes involve reorganizing perpetually overflowing bookshelves and seeking out new coffee and dessert shops.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

One lucky winner will receive a $10 Amazon Gift Card, International.

Giveaway ends March 15 at midnight, EST!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Book Blitz & Giveaway* Jennifer Estep's NICE GUYS BITE *Urban Fantasy*

Series: Elemental Assassin 15.5
Format: E-Novella, 81 pages
Release Date: December 12, 2016 
Publisher: Pocket Star
Source: Author
Genre: Urban Fantasy

New York Times bestseller Jennifer Estep continues her Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series with a novella starring Silvio Sanchez, the vampire assistant of Gin Blanco, as he goes on a holiday date that turns out to be more deadly than romantic.

Working for Gin Blanco (aka the Spider, the assassin who runs the Ashland underworld) doesn’t leave much time for romance, especially with Gin’s holiday party planning in full swing. But when he catches the eye of a charming gentleman, Silvio finds himself going out for coffee.

All’s fair in love and war, though. Just as Silvio is starting to enjoy himself, he realizes he’s being watched. His nice guy date doesn’t sense the danger, and Silvio wants to keep it that way (and, well, keep the guy alive) so Silvio ends the date early—only to be abducted by some villainous giants. 

Will Silvio survive the night and make it back to the Pork Pit in time for Gin’s holiday party? Only if he decks the hall with bodies...

Jennifer Estep's Nice Guys Bite is a 100 page novella that takes place right after Unraveled. Gin and friends have survived an encounter with a new group called the Circle. Now, it is time to get all festive and party. Which means watching Gin cut decorations into little pig shaped snowflakes, and actually enjoy the holidays doing what she does best outside of killing; cooking! But enough of the food and decorations. Silvio Sanchez is Gin's mister do everything.

He's a vampire, her assistant, and he's got his finger on the pulse of what's going on in the Ashland underground where Gin is supposed to be the Queen. He's Johnny on the spot with his phone, and briefcase, while being diplomatic in dealing with the assassin known as the Spider. But, while you might think that Silvio has his ducks in a row in all aspects of his life, there is one part that he has had trouble. That aspect is finding romance. 

Nice Guys Bite is a novella that is nearly perfect in every way. Silvio has definitely grown on me since he became one of Gin's trusted advisers, and his coffee date will definitely go down in the more twisted and entertaining that we've seen. Nice Guys Bite has a whole lot of what readers have come to expect from the author. There is blood, bodies, betrayal, BBQ, and loved ones who have accepted Silvio into their girl of friends and family. A perfect story for the Holiday season! 

Purchase links:

Amazon Kindle (link: http://amzn.to/2gS5mLq)

Barnes & Noble (link: http://bit.ly/2gqDFJ4)

Books-a-Million (link: http://bit.ly/2fY4Z5n)

Google Play (link: http://bit.ly/2gWRDpt)

iBooks (link: http://apple.co/2gS8Ugz)

Kobo (link: http://bit.ly/2g9DuE8)

About Jennifer Estep:

Jennifer Estep is a New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author prowling the streets of her imagination in search of her next fantasy idea.

Jennifer writes the Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series for Pocket Books. Unwanted, e-novella #14.5 in the series, will be released on July 18. Unraveled, book #15, will be released on Aug. 30.

Jennifer also writes the Mythos Academy young adult urban fantasy series. She is also the author of the Black Blade young adult urban fantasy series and the Bigtime paranormal romance series.

For more information on Jennifer and her books, visit www.jenniferestep.com or follow Jennifer on Facebook, Goodreads, and Twitter.

Giveaway!

Jennifer has a $20 Amazon gift card giveaway for this book blast! Giveaway runs Dec. 12 - 19.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

#Monday Review - A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab (Fantasy)

Series: Shadows of Magic # 2
Format: Hardcover, 512 pages
Release Date: February 23, 2016
Publisher: Tor Books
Source: Library
Genre: Fantasy

Four months have passed since the shadow stone fell into Kell’s possession. Four months since his path crossed with Delilah Bard. Four months since Rhy was wounded and the Dane twins fell, and the stone was cast with Holland’s dying body through the rift, and into Black London.

In many ways, things have almost returned to normal, though Rhy is more sober, and Kell is now plagued by his guilt. Restless, and having given up smuggling, Kell is visited by dreams of ominous magical events, waking only to think of Lila, who disappeared from the docks like she always meant to do. As Red London finalizes preparations for the Element Games—an extravagant international competition of magic, meant to entertain and keep healthy the ties between neighboring countries—a certain pirate ship draws closer, carrying old friends back into port.

But while Red London is caught up in the pageantry and thrills of the Games, another London is coming back to life, and those who were thought to be forever gone have returned. After all, a shadow that was gone in the night reappears in the morning, and so it seems Black London has risen again—meaning that another London must fall. 

A Gathering of Shadows is the second installment in V.E. Schwab's Shadows of Magic series. The series is set in an alternative reality where there are actually four separate worlds: Red (where magic is healthy), White (a place that is starving for magic), Black (a supposed dead world), and Grey (where there is no magic at all). The series features two main characters in Delilah Bard, originally from Grey London, and Kell, one of the last remaining travelers who are able to travel between worlds by using magic. 

A Gathering of Shadows picks up FOUR months after the end of A Darker Shade of Magic. When last we saw our heroes, Lila (thief, privateer, magician, & possibly traveler) was walking away from Kell on her way to finding her own way in the Red London world. She helped save a world, and held magic the palm of her hands. Now, she wants to explore everything about this new world and its magic. Lila hitches a ride with Captain Alucard Emery and spends the next four months learning about her new found magical abilities and the language and being the best thief around. 

Lila's encounter with Kell and the Dane twins has awakened something in her that will try and test her throughout this story, and leave readers asking a whole lot of questions by the time the last page is turned. The most brilliant part of this novel was Lila's deception after she cons her way into a magical tournament called the Essen Tasch which is held every three years. The tournament consists of participants from the three main kingdoms (Faro, Vesk, & Arnes) in a winner take all contest. 

Back in Red London, Kell is coming to terms with the bond that now entangles him and Prince Rhy together and the fact that he is treated more as property than a person. Kell is a different character than the first book. Kell is afraid that if anything happens to him, then Rhy will also suffer. On top of all of this, Lila is still on his mind. The most interesting part of this story is the Games themselves and the fact that Lila and Kell both participate unaware of the others involvement. I kind of felt a whole lot of emotions for Kell. He tries to do the best he can, but in the end, there are only a few people he can truly trust.

There are several other key characters that one should keep an eye out for. There is Captain Emery who has a very interesting past and history, then Prince Rhy who really doesn't like the fact that he is tied to Kell, and manages to put his food down when Kell starts acting meek and afraid. There are other characters in the White London for which you should definitely pay attention. They are keys to what happens in the next installment, and why I was pulling my hair out when the last chapters were finished. 

I have to say that I respect Schwab for her world building and her sassy, sarcastic, broken characters like Lila and Kell. Lila really grows this time around, and I can't wait to see what happens in the sequel. This is a story that is told via multiple third person narratives. There is a bit of romance, but it doesn't snap the pacing, or the action that takes place in the story. I am all in for the sequel. I dare say that Kell needs a break and a happy ending when all is said and done.

Amazon | Audible | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

#Book Blitz - Xpresso Book Tours Presents - Fractured Memories by Jo Schneider

Series: Jagged Scars # 1
Published by: Just Add Peril
Release Date: May 20, 2015
Genre: Young Adult, Post-apocalyptic

*Synopsis*

Sixteen year old Wendy never knew the world before the Starvation. She’s learned to put her trust in her knives, and her confidence in her fighting ability. When the Skinnies attack her compound, she's the lone survivor.

Injured and near death, Wendy is rescued and nursed back to health by mysterious strangers. Her saviors offer her a place among them, but trust has never been one of Wendy's strengths, and suspicion soon leads to evidence that these people might be the group who killed her family. 

The decision to get her revenge, and take the settlement down from the inside out is easy. Keeping her distance from those she must befriend in order to make it happen proves to be much more difficult.

This is actually the Q&A with the author! 

17. Top five favorite titles (Not just books)

In no particular order:

Star Wars, the original trilogy. It's nostalgic, I can't help it.

Ender's Game. I still love that story so much. It has to be the book, not the sorry excuse of a film they made.

Ever After. I don't know why, but this show never gets old.

The Walking Dead-the TV show. I've never read the comics. Whole. E. Cow. I shouldn't watch it, but I can't stop!

The Elenium series by David Eddings. Not the most spectacular writing, but they drew me into fantasy as a teenager, and his characters are brilliant. It's like going on a road trip with all of your favorite people.

18. When you walk into a book store, where do you head first?

Fantasy and Sci-Fi. Either adult or YA. Whichever I find first. Although if there is a cafe, I might get a snack before I start. Looking at books is both exhilarating and exhausting.

19. Describe yourself in four words.

Evil and easily amused.

20. Top ten snacks while writing.

Soda Stream Cola on ice. I can't get enough

Pretzel Thins, they go great with the cola

Cold Water

Junior Mints

Bananas

Those little Cadbury crack eggs

Rice Cakes-Carmel Corn is preferred

In-N-Out Burger or Pace's Dairy Ann, whichever is closer

Any innocent chocolate that doesn't get hidden

Nothing

In reality, if there are snacks, I'm not writing, so usually I keep water or cola at my desk and that's it. Mostly cold water.

21.When did you first start writing, and when did you finish your first book?

I started writing when I was a young teenager. Maybe 13. If you read the dedication in Fractured Memories, it mentions my dad watching Aliens with me. Once I recovered from being too terrified to move off of my yellow bing bag, I started writing myself into the tale.

Don't judge, many a writer has started with fan fiction.

Those were awful, and after college my writing waned a little. Then a friend wanted to start a writing group and asked me if I would help her. A few months after that a member of the group mentioned something called NanoWriMo. I'd never heard of it, and I was sure anyone who tried to write 50,000 words in a month was completely insane.

Two days before the month started, I scratched a loose plot on a scrap of paper while I was waiting to see the doctor about my knee that I almost took out in my Kempo class. That was the  year I joined the insanity. I finished that novel and have done NanoWriMo for a good 10 years. It took me three years to finish the initial story that I started. After that, I just kept writing. Most of the early stuff is craptastic, but all the suckage has to go somewhere, right?

22. Where do you get your ideas? Where did the idea for this book come from?

My brain is a bizarre place. I've gotten book ideas while driving on the freeway, while in church (and not light, fluffy ideas, which is strange), while at dinner, while trying to work on something else (that's just mean, by the way) and in dreams.

The very first shadow of Fractured Memories that I had was while I was in college. Too many years ago to count. I had this dream. In it I woke up and found myself on a round bed in a cave. I had no idea where I was or who I was. There was a man sitting at a desk trying to do some paperwork by candle light.  He looked like the guy who plays Goose in Top Gun. I said something and scared him half to death. When he turned to look at me, he asked if I was okay.

And that's when I woke up.

The scene isn't in the book. As a matter of fact, the only thing left of the dream in the story is Wendy (who is not me--I'm not nearly that cool or traumatized) waking up and not knowing where she is. The part that remains is the feel of the dream. It was dark and cold and felt so alone. Wendy gets all of that. Poor kid.

23. Do you work with an outline, or just write?

I'm an outliner. The more I wade through the story before I start, the less times I have to rewrite it. I have a whole list of things I go over as I plan, including plot points, a theme, the characters needs and desires, the main conflicts and as many other little things that I can think about before I actually begin writing.

However, things always, always, always change. It's taken me a few years to realize that it's okay to rewrite a story. Six times. It just takes a while. My process is getting better, but I suspect that I will always have a throwaway rough draft that ends up only getting about 20% of it into the final manuscript.

I've tried the "just write" approach, and for me it always ends in a spectacular temper tantrum by me and a shopping spree.

24. Can you tell us about your upcoming book? Why should anyone read it?

Fractured Memories is a kick a**, YA Post-Apocalyptic novel that 's one part action, one part horror, and one part fun. 

I once heard an author say that when you tell people about your story, you should look and act as if you are telling them about the first time your baby said "ma ma.". I totally feel this way about Fractured Memories.  Wendy is a character that's been rolling around in my head for a lot of years. Her friends have been lurking as well. They all have hopes, they all have dreams, they all have faced sorrows and horrors that hopefully none of us have to face. They're scarred, but they're still people, and they still care about others.

The world in the book has changed, but the ever-present need for friendship and trust will never die. That's what this book is about. Wendy is alone, on a mission to avenge her family at any cost, when these pesky teenagers befriend her. Hard to plot revenge when someone is trying to make you laugh.

25.Will you have a new book coming out soon?

Oh goodness, I hope so.

Right now I'm writing some short stories that go before my first novel, New Sight. (New Sight is not the same story as Fractured Memories) Those should be out this summer. I'm pretty excited about these, they're origin stories for the characters of that series. Then New Sight 2--oh how I hate finding just the right title--will be out in the fall. Barring a disaster in my life, the second book of Fractured Memories should be out early next year.

26. What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?

Like all good stories, there's a character that's just a jerk. Think Malfory in Harry Potter. In FM, his name is Dennis. Wendy takes him down in a fight the first time they meet, and he's pissed about it. In the middle of the book, he tries to extract his revenge, and what he does to Wendy is pretty terrible. But what Wendy does in return is bad enough to make me both flinch and let out an evil laugh at the same time.

It wasn't in my original version of the story, but all of my beta readers felt as if Dennis had gotten off too easy. That is no longer the case. I honestly didn't know I would get as much glee out of Wendy hurting him as I did.

27. What made you want to write a book about a girl with PTSD?

Okay, so I'd written the story twice before I figured out that Wendy had PTSD.

Let me go back a bit.  A few years ago, I was on my way to a writing retreat with two other writers. We're driving on the freeway, and my sister calls. This is what came out of her mouth.

"I just finished Mocking Jay, and if you ever write a character like that, I will kill you."

"Uh, hi, how's it going?"

"Disown you."

"I haven't read it yet."

"Don't. I hate her. I hate the author. 'l'll disown you then kill you."

"Uh, okay."

After I read the story, I had to agree with her. Suzanne Collins is brilliant, and she totally got her point across, but I didn't like the characters in the last book. This is not the reaction I want from my readers.

Fast-forward a few years, and I'm at a writing retreat. At the same place, coincidently. My friend runs it, and she was short a few people, so I'm pretty much there for moral support and to be a warm body. Plus, she's a chef. Hello, delicious food? Yes, please.

There was an agent from New York there who was going to review whatever we sent her. I sent the first chapter of Fractured Memories, which I wasn't really working on at the time. Not because I cared about what she said or thought about it, but because my friend told me to.

Well, it's a good thing I didn't care, because she ripped it to shreds. Most of her analysis was spot-on, the other part of it was complete B.S. Mostly because she'd skimmed it and missed stuff. I think she took my dispassionate reaction to her rant as offense, so she backpedaled and asked me a few questions about the story.

I told her about Wendy's compound getting completely destroyed and Wendy waking up with strangers, alone and with a memory full of holes. She seemed interested in that, so I went on and told her that Wendy didn't remember the attack and therefore didn't know who betrayed them. She has flashes of memories, but nothing substantial.

This editor, bless her heart, look at me and said, "Have you read the Hunger Games?"

"Uh, yeah."

"I hate the third book."

"Me too."

"Good, then you won't be offended by this. Your character has PTSD. Katniss had PTSD, but the author didn't do a good job of explaining it to the reader. Please don't do that. Do your research and make sure your readers get it, or they'll all think your character is as bad as Katniss."

Noted.

New Sight, my fist series, has undertones of addiction. I don't have a history of mental illness, but lots of people around me do, and I think it's an area that a lot of people deal with. It kind of fascinates me, and that comes out in my books.

AUTHOR Information:

AUTHOR BIO:

Author of Babes in Spyland, New Sight-YA fantasy out April 2014, wearer of a black belt in Kempo and always in search of the next cool place to visit!

Author links:

http://joannschneider.blogspot.ca/

https://www.facebook.com/JoannSchneiderAuthor

https://twitter.com/JoSchneider_1

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7281691.Jo_Schneider

Amazon