Ziggy's Reading Corner: May 2018

Thursday, May 31, 2018

Book Blitz Along With You by Michelle Areaux

Title: Along with You
Author: Michelle Areaux
Publication date: April 6th 2018
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult

Synopsis:

A wonderfully raw new novel by author Michelle Areaux that takes you on an emotional journey as you laugh, cry, and fall in love with the difficult side of being a teenager.

“People leave. People lie. People let go. That is how my world works.”

Sixteen-year-old Blair has never had consistency in her life.
After a traumatic event that Blair’s parents wanted to remain a secret, they began moving her around the country in hopes of starting a fresh, new life.
Only, Blair never stays anywhere long enough to start that new life she keeps expecting. Choosing to rebel instead of conforming to her parents wishes, Blair opts for neon colored hair and a sassy streak that pushes people away before they can hurt her first.

Hunter is your typical southern, small town boy. He’s a good guy with a great heart and a passion for helping others.

When Blair and Hunter meet, sparks begin to fly- but not the way either expected.
As Blair struggles to keep her dark secret hidden, Hunter tries at all costs to win over Blair’s heart and her trust.

Complete opposites come together in this novel that challenges the rules of society and who we are allowed to fall in love with. Sometimes, it takes the wrong person to join along for the ride of your life.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39288270-along-with-you?ac=1&from_search=true

Purchase:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Along-You-Michelle-Areaux-ebook/dp/B079ZPSFJ6/

AUTHOR BIO:

Michelle Areaux is a wife, mother, educator, and young adult author. Her love for coffee helps drive her to create magical, fantasy stories.

Author links:

https://twitter.com/MichelleAreaux

https://www.facebook.com/Author-Michelle-Areaux-Novels-Page-1515918905127542/?ref=br_rs

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13735516.Michelle_Areaux

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/michelle-areaux
Articles about Author- http://www.kentucky.com/news/local/education/article87418002.html

GIVEAWAY

Blitz-wide giveaway (US/CAN)

a copy of Along with You + swag
Enter Giveaway

Book Blitz Renegade by Sharonlee Holder

Title: Renegade
Author: Sharonlee Holder
(Blood Of The Custodians, #2)
Published by: Changing Tides Publishing
Publication date: May 28th 2018
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance

Synopsis:

He’ll risk his heart to save her soul.

As the war between the Fates and the resistance rages on, Colin Murphy—bastard son of Hades—finds himself caught between his loyalty to Eros and a past that threatens to destroy him.

Pursued by Persephone’s bounty hunters, and with a pissed-off daemon to contend with, there is one thing that Murphy knows for sure – Hailey, the human he now shares his mind and body with, is innocent in all of it. She is a firefly flickering in the darkness of his black existence, and he will do anything and everything to protect her.

Hailey was groomed to be a socialite, with her entire future mapped out for her. Nothing could have prepared her for the abrupt ending to that life—or the impact of living in such close, intimate confines with a forsaken son of Hell. He’s powerful, he’s dangerous…and he’s her only hope of escaping the dark forces that pursue her.

Boundaries will be tested, loyalties questioned, and hearts pushed to the limits in this action-packed paranormal romance that continues the epic Blood of the Custodians saga by Sharonlee Holder.

This steamy, fast-paced paranormal romance series by Sharonlee Holder is perfect for fans of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward and Sacrificed to the Dragon by Jessie Donovan.

Excerpt– Chapter 15

Murphy didn’t bother with the door. He came straight through the hearth, travelling through the fiery elements of his heritage. Mayhem was close. Writhing beneath the surface, tearing at the restraints, howling to be set free.

Clamping down on his base self, he swept the small front room of his mind, a red haze gathered behind his eyes and found …

“You’re making a mess,” said the toffee-eyed temptress with hands on her curvy hips and chin jutted at the coals littering the stone flooring.

Murphy glanced down and began to toe aside embers. Wait a fecking minute! This was his house–so to speak.

Growling, he took a step forward. “Where is she?”

Hailey–goddamn her–stood her ground, threw her shoulders back, maximising the swell of luscious breasts, and arched a slender eyebrow. “I’m not sure how things work where you come from, but where I come from, you catch more bees with honey,” she stated with all the hauteur of a tiny hive queen.

No. Not gonna happen. She’d tricked him once, and that was shame on her. He wasn’t about to give her another opportunity to force the fool’s hat onto his head. For all he knew, she was working with Valazhor. Come to think of it …

“What did she offer you?” he asked.

Candy apple lips parted then snapped shut again, a believable impression of affront arranged across her features. “Excuse me?”

She wanted to play it the hard way, did she?

Dainty hands dropped from her hips and tucked into the crooks of her arms when she crossed them under her breasts. Carnal desire hijacked the moment and served up a confused reminder of plush curves undulating against him, open-mouthed kisses along his neck…

“You heard me,” he growled, cursing the throaty throb in his voice. “What was to be your reward for distracting me so that the Medusan hybrid could get close enough to deliver Persephone’s message?”

Anger ignited in her eyes, flaming cognac over toffee, the scent of burnt caramel licking the air. “I don’t appreciate what you’re implying.”

Anger he could do. Anger was safer. Way safer than the alternative.

Closing the gap, Murphy crowded in, using his size to dominate. Again, she refused to back down and craned her head all the way back, daggers in her eyes. Dynamite, as the saying goes, comes in small packages. The masochist in him toyed with the ignition switch.

Lowering his head, he said in her ear, “I’m only going to ask one more time so think carefully before you answer.” This close, her scent was richer, more exotic. Harder to ignore. “What was the deal Valazhor made with you?”

She didn’t move, though her breathing became shallower. “Or what?” Hailey murmured. “You’ll lock me in my room?” She turned her head toward him, her lips millimetres from his, candy scent invading his nostrils.

His mouth watered, and the base of his spine knotted with need. It took greater effort than he wanted to admit to make his brainbox line up the threat he had ready. “Or, I’ll save myself a whole lot of fecking trouble and give you to Persephone myself.”

Thick black lashes, swept upward, revealed the brandy fire in her eyes. Her aura in life had read as human. Nothing about her had suggested hybrid, much less witch. Even the background check Ross had him run before allowing her to visit the penthouse revealed little more than a classic case of daddy’s pampered princess. And yet, her eyes burned with a soul fire that intrigued and disturbed him, agitating something deep inside of him.

“What are you waiting for?” she challenged in a whisper. “Do it. Hand me over.”

Caught in the blaze of her eyes, everything else ceased to exist. In the lull, that thing she had disturbed, rose up. Intensely territorial, fiercely possessive, spiked with a craving so intense… he acted before thought could catch deed.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39664209-renegade

Purchase:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BKS4MLZ/

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/renegade-sharonlee-holder/1128246057?ean=2940155179504

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/renegade-98

iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/no/book/renegade/id1363778247?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

AUTHOR BIO:

South African, born and bred, Sharonlee Holder lives in one of the outer suburbs of Johannesburg in Gauteng, South Africa.

Life is a happy and creative jumble consisting of a husband, three grown daughters, one super cute grand-daughter, three dogs, a cat, and a mouthy African Grey parrot.

Endless hours at the keyboard are supported by copious amounts of frothy coffee and ‘What ifs?’. Writing breaks are a blend of the big outdoors astride a motorbike, reading or watching anything and everything to do with fantasy, romance and the paranormal.

Author links:

https://thescribblespot.wordpress.com/

https://www.facebook.com/authorsharonleeholder

https://twitter.com/SharonleeHolder/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16950670.Sharonlee_Holder

Guest Post:

Have you ever wondered about the kind of research an author does when writing a novel?

It never occurred to me as a reader.

Before now, my search history has been rather tame consisting of looking up a favourite author’s next release, knitting or crochet patterns, the specs on the fast cars that I adore, accommodation for a trip away etc.

These days, however, my browser history is awash with Greek mythology (who shagged who and which gods had personal feuds going on), anything and everything to do with the craft of writing and publishing, in-depth virtual tours and location shots, as well as topics that would have a nun blushing 😉

And then, there is this:

Yup, while writing Renegade, I had reason to research how long it would take to dig a grave by hand. And it didn’t end there. Due to the setting and nature of Renegade research covered topics such as:

Creepy abandoned hospital –

The location I researched is 12mins away from where I live and listed as one of the top ten haunted places in South Africa. Perfect inspiration for an integral location in Renegade.

Chloroform –

It’s not what film and television make it out to be 😉

Coma awareness –

A subject so fascinating that I fell down a rabbit hole and didn’t emerge until an hour later.

Crucifixion –

Such a savage practise that extends well before and after Christianity’s awareness of it. One that has several differing forms of execution.

Ancient weapons –

The men and women who wielded them were honest-to-gods warriors. No other way of putting it.

Night vision goggles –

Again, what I thought I knew from film and television was a fifty-fifty split of inaccuracy and assumption on my part.

Special forces (extraction teams) –

Fascinating stuff and totally had me wanting to re-watch S.W.A.T. starring the delicious Colin Farrell 😉

Hand grenade damage to structures –

Wow! This was a real eye opener for me as again, it’s not what we perceive it to be in film and television.

Scrying –

Very interesting and offered up a fantastic means to an end in terms of plot.

Sign language –

This is something I’ve always wanted to learn and has gone on my bucket list. I love that in Renegade I was able to feature a character that communicates in this way. What a lovely dance of hands.

The Chicago Bean –

Yes! We get to pay a brief visit to Chicago in Renegade. Having visited the famed Windy City, I was thrilled to no end to have the opportunity to draw on my wintery experience as well as the inclusion of a quaint little house I encountered just off Millennium Mile.

Fractal light –

Another research topic that had me falling down a hole. So many beautiful pieces of digital art out there that have been created using this technique. A technique that lends itself perfectly to what I needed it for in Renegade.

And much, much more.

What is the most unusual thing you’ve Googled?

GIVEAWAY

Blitz-wide giveaway (INTL)

Clean Teen Publishing Mystery Box (Intl winner would get eBook prizes)
Enter Giveaway

Coming Soon Temporary Groom by J.S. Scott

#TemporaryGroomIsComingSoon - Coming June 5th

A brand new, standalone spin-off from The Billionaire's Obsession series, and the first novella in the Left At The Altar series!!! You met Lia and Zeke in Billionaire Unloved, Jett and Ruby's book. Now you can find out what happened to them. Did Lia really marry the wrong guy?

Lia:

I thought I had my life all worked out. My wedding had been meticulously planned. All I had to do was walk down the aisle and get married to the man I'd been engaged to for over a year.
Pretty easy and uncomplicated, right?
Unfortunately, all of my well laid plans go up in smoke when my fiance leaves me at the church alone because he found a woman who was better suited for his snobby world of wealth and privilege.
Problem is, I really have to get married. All of my hopes and dreams are dependent on me tying the knot by my twenty-eighth birthday, and the date is closing in fast.
As usual, my best friend Zeke Conner is there to pick up the pieces when I get jilted by a jerk. He helps me work through the demoralizing event so I can put it behind me and move on. But when he offers to marry me himself, I'm stunned. But it's a bargain I can't really refuse.
As my relationship changes with my best friend, I find myself caught in a web of sensual desire and unending passion that's as terrifying as it is satisfying. Probably because it seems all too real.
But our arrangement was supposed to be temporary. A deal between friends so that we'd both benefit. What will happen when it all ends?
Pre order your copy today
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Not started the series yet? You can get The Billionaire's Obsession - Simon For FREE
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Wednesday, May 30, 2018

Book Blitz Esme's Wish by Elizabeth Foster

Title: ESME'S WISH

Author: Elizabeth Foster

Pub. Date: October 30, 2017

Publisher: Odyssey Books

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages:252

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, iBooks, TBD

“A fresh new fantasy of an enchanting world.” - Wendy Orr, author of Nim’s Island and Dragonfly
Song.

When fifteen-year-old Esme Silver objects at her father’s wedding, her protest is dismissed as the
action of a stubborn, selfish teenager. Everyone else has accepted the loss of Esme’s mother,
Ariane – so why can’t she?

But Esme is suspicious. She is sure that others are covering up the real reason for her mother’s
disappearance – that ‘lost at sea’ is code for something more terrible, something she has a right
to know.

After Esme is accidentally swept into the enchanted world of Aeolia, the truth begins to unfold.
With her newfound friends, Daniel and Lillian, Esme retraces her mother’s steps in the glittering
canal city of Esperance, untangling the threads of Ariane’s double life. But the more Esme discovers
about her mother, the more she questions whether she really knew her at all.

This fresh, inventive tale is an ideal read for younger teens.

Excerpt:

“Oh no,” cried Lillian, as a rumble came up from the ground below.

It sounded like an enormous subterranean beast, making strange noises in its sleep. The sounds came
intermittently at first, before joining together in a deafening, continuous roar.

An earthquake.

Esme's heart vaulted into her throat as the ground beneath them began to shiver and shake. She stared
down with mounting horror. The cracks in the pavement – how had she not noticed them before? Hairline
cracks, then bigger ruptures, snaked through the square.

Cracks that were now moving.

Her instincts told her to run, but there was nowhere to go. She tried to grab hold of something – anything –
to steady herself, but everything was moving as much as she was. The ground around her rippled like water.
She shrank into herself, willing it to stop. The earth thundered and swayed beneath her.

And then it was over, just as quickly as it had begun.

Esme slid down onto a nearby bench, panting as if she had just run a mile.

“You’ve gone white,” said Lillian, who looked way too calm. “Was that your first quake?”

“That was awful.”

Lillian gave her a thin smile. “You get used to it after a while.”

Unlike most things in Aeolia, this was something Esme didn’t want to get used to. The earth was supposed
to be solid, fixed, immutable. She thought of the lighthouse back home, anchored into the rocky headland.

“You’ve really had tremors like this for years?”

Lillian nodded. “I can hardly remember what it was like before. Usually they’re even worse than that.”

Esme shuddered.

Worse?

About Elizabeth:

I was born in Brisbane, Australia, and now live in Sydney. Apart from writing and reading, which
take up most of my time, I love walking, travelling and playing piano (badly).

As a child, I was called Dizzy Lizzy – which I regarded as an insult all my life, until I started writing!
Now, daydreaming is a central part of what I do. My favourite childhood books included the
Chronicles of Narnia and Enid Blyton’s adventure stories. I was such an avid reader that my
godfather gave me the complete works of Shakespeare when I was ten.
(Still haven’t read them all…) My reading tastes nowadays are eclectic, ranging from classic
authors such as Jane Austen, to the works of modern YA writers, including J.K. Rowling,
Tamora Pierce, Melina Marchetta and Maggie Stiefvater.

I love movies almost as much as books. Dreamlike films – such as the works of Hayao Miyazaki –
hugely appeal to me, as do any clever psychological films and TV series which revolve around
female characters, such as Buffy and Veronica Mars.

I used to enjoy writing as a child, but then I grew up and was sadly waylaid by more serious
pursuits. Reading to my own kids reminded me of how much I missed getting lost in other
worlds, and once I started writing again, I couldn’t stop. I am also fascinated with people’s
motivations and personalities, and now I get to explore them on the page. I am a member
of the SCBWI, the CBCA, and a reviewer for CBCA’s Reading Time.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

Giveaway Details: