Promotional Tour for Survivor Roundup by Angela Scott

Welcome to the release day of Survivor Roundup 

by Angela Scott

Please be sure to join the Facebook event today 

Red always knew she would have to face the man who nearly destroyed her. She just didn't figure it would happen so soon . . 

With the plague sweeping across the nation, destroying many and turning others into walking corpses, survivors head West in search of a chosen land, a place designed to keep the infected out, while sealing survivors inside. In theory, the idea seems the only way to keep humanity alive. In practice, it doesn't matter whether a person is on the inside or the out—there is no humanity. . . . And even though John Gatherum hunted her 

down and instigated their reunion, Red’s no longer the passive girl he once manipulated. This time, she has a hidden agenda of her own.

Kill him. Save her family. Save herself.

Buy it Here   Amazon   

Angela Scott hears voices. Tiny fictional people sit on her shoulders and whisper their stories in her ear. Instead of medicating herself, she decided to pick up a pen, write down everything those voices tell me, and turn it into a book. She's not crazy. She's an author. For the most part, she writes contemporary Young Adult novels. However, through a writing exercise that spiraled out of control, she found herself writing about zombies terrorizing the Wild Wild West--and loving it. Her zombies don't sparkle, and they definitely don't cuddle. At least, she wouldn't suggest it. She lives on the benches of the beautiful Wasatch Mountains with two lovely children, one teenager, and a very patient husband. She graduated from Utah State University with a B.A. degree in English, not because of her love for the written word, but because it was the only major that didn't require math. She can't spell, and grammar is her arch nemesis. But they gave her the degree, and there are no take backs. 

Stalk me (I like it):

Blog - www.angelascottauthor.com

Twitter - @whimsywriting

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/AngelaScottWriter

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13636317-desert-rice

Check out:

WANTED: Dead or Undead 

Survivor Roundup 

Desert Rice 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow the rest of the tour HERE:

11/26 Promo  Kristy Centeno 

11/26   Promo  Andi's Young Adult Books
11/26 Promo  T B R  
11/26 Promo   Kindle Fever 
11/26 Promo  My Cozie Corner  
11/26 Promo  Mom With A Kindle
11/26  Promo  Identity Discovery   
12/14 Review   Hooks and Book  
12/18  Review  Oh, The Books You'll Read!
12/18 Review  My Reading Obsession   
12/19 Review  Lizzy's Dark Fiction 
12/24 Review   Fictional Candy 
12/27  Review   Queen of All She Reads 
12/28  Review   Andi's Young Adult Books
1/3  Review   The Avid Reader 

1/7 Review  My Cozie Corner 

1/7  Review  Rude Mom  

Promotional Tour Post for The Silver Sphere by Michael Dadich

Welcome to the Release Day of The Silver Sphere 

by Michael Dadich 

Please be sure to join the Facebook event today 

Shelby Pardow never imagined killing someone. That's about to change.

While hiding from her troubled father in the local library, Shelby stares at a flashing instant message on her computer: YOU ARE NEEDED. She discovers a portal that opens and teleports her to the planet Azimuth, where soldiers await. Here, she is not a child but a warrior, Kin to one of the six Aulic Assembly members imprisoned by Malefic Cacoethes, the daunting leader of the Nightlanders.

Malefic, the evil spawn of the demon Biskara, razes towns and cities in his quest to rule Azimuth, and yearns to turn his forces against Earth. Yet every time Biskara gets close to achieving his malevolent goals, the Assembly uses the Silver Sphere, a sophisticated armillary device, to thwart him.

With the Assembly deposed, Biskara directing Malefic's conquests, and the Silver Sphere out of reach, Shelby is thrust into an unforgettable quest with her fellow Kin. She must learn to kill and lead an army into battle, or Azimuth—and Earth—will fall.

TRAILER

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Buy it Here

Amazon     Barnes & Noble

Michael Dadich

I've been writing since first setting pencil to steno pad at age 8. A year later, I began developing the world of my current series-in-progress, and even created its title, The Silver Sphere. Now, with the support of years of experience, those early maps and back stories have progressed into what I hope is a fresh and entertaining take on the classic young adult fantasy adventure.

Despite my frequent escapes into parallel worlds, I root myself firmly in my very real family and community. When not pacing the yard maniacally after every few pages of writing, I spend as much time as possible hanging out with my studly 9-year-old son, and my inspirational wife Jenna. I also coach several local youth sports teams in Beverly Hills, and alternate between yelling at my two crazy Corgis and hiking with my trained German Shepherd.

For more, join me in my favorite fantasy worlds, from Lord of the Rings to the creations of C.S. Lewis, Anne McCaffrey and Terry Brooks. Even more importantly, stop by and say hello on my Facebook page at AuthorMichaelDadich, tweet me at @MichaelDadich, and stalk my website at http://www.thesilversphere.org.org.

ONLINE LINKS:

• Website  http://www.thesilversphere.org

• Facebook   AuthorMichaelDadich

• Twitter @MichaelDadich

• Goodreads   http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/5737280?shelf=to-read

Visit the rest of the out Here:

11/26    Promo    Paulette's Papers 11/26    Promo    Blooding Book Reviews 
11/26 Promo   Identity Discovery  
11/26 Promo  A Soul Unsung  
11/26 Promo  The bunny's review  
11/26 Promo   Oh, The Books You'll Read! 
11/26 Promo   Books, Books The Magical Fruit 
11/26 Promo   The Stuff of Success  
11/26 Promo   Rose's Book Corner  
11/26 Promo   Adventures of Frugal Mom 
11/26  Promo   The Cover by Brittany  

11/29   Review    Blooding Book Reviews 
12/3  Review   A Chick Who Read  
12/5    Review   My Cozie Corner 
12/5    Review   Adventures of Frugal Mom
12/5   Review  The Reader's Garden
12/7    Review   Lissette E. Manning 
12/7  Review  Reflections of a Bookworm 
 12/10  Review  Forget About Tv, Grab a Book 

12/10  Review  City Mom raising Country Kids 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Promotional Blog Tour featuring Spirals by Ruby Standing Deer

Welcome to the Release day of Spirals by Ruby Standing Deer

Please be sure to join the Facebook event today 

     A Holy Man, who lives in both this world and the Spirit world, waits hidden in a cave in the canyons, as a newly made woman runs toward him. She flees her would-be suitor, who wants from her more than she can give.

     The Holy Man and his constant companions, a colony of mice, accept the woman within the cave. She worries that he may be crazy, but given her fear of the man who desires her, maybe crazy is not so bad.

     In this sequel to Ruby Standing Deer’s first novel, Circles, the main character of Shining Light is now grown and with family. He dreams of the woman and the Holy Man in the canyons, and knows that, after four seasons of calm and peace in the Forest of Trees, he must go to them.

     He seeks guidance, but the Spirits tell him only that he must rescue these two people. Yet he need not go alone. Ever Shining Light’s faithful companion and Wolf Brother, White Paws senses he must follow his Human Brother. Thus, one Human, one Wolf, and their two families set out for the unknown.

     The adventure exceeds all of Shining Light’s expectations, and he learns more about his place in this world than the Holy Peoples of his band could ever teach him.

BIO

Author of Circles, Spirals and Courage Through Fear, a short story in a book called Evolution Book 1 put out by my publishing Company, Evolved Publishing.

Life is a wondrous mystery that I still explore. I spent my youth "feeling" my way thought it. I traveled throughout the seventies, standing on one highway ramp or another, exploring the many corridors of our country, learning about life and what it had to offer.

In 1979, deep in winter, I settled down. I was lucky enough to become the first woman journeyman pressman of a major newspaper in Colorado. After ten years of working on printing presses, an injury forced me down another path.

I made and sold jewelry, cared (still do) for abandoned animals, volunteered for a horse rescue as well as a no kill shelter. I went to school for so many different careers that ended up combining my credits to get a degree in horticulture. Unfortunately, or so I thought back then, two car accidents during my last semester, my last class, prevented my pursuing it as a living.

I had no idea what my future held, but I was fortunate; my caring and understanding husband allowed me to explore other paths and I found one I knew I belong on--writing.

Back then, I had no idea "someone" was pushing me to become a writer.

I had taken creative writing classes off and on throughout my college years, because I always felt the need to write. Nothing came of it, except satisfying my own desires, until that special dream guided me to write my novel, Circles.

I joined a couple writing groups to improve my skills. I met David Lane (aka Lane Diamond), my editor, in a group. He taught me to keep going, not to get discouraged, to write and never give up. He stuck with me and gave me the confidence I needed in myself, to let go of doubt, to move forward.

My animals taught me about myself through their own lives. They showed me that I had the patience to push onward toward my destiny, that to give up meant the end. They helped me learn that if I willed myself to wade through all the murky waters, eventuality, I would see clearly enough to move forward.

I am currently working on Stones, the third in this series and a book of short stories of the paranormal that will have something for everyone even if you are not sure you believe. I might just change your mind!

My mixed bloodlines have shown me many things in life that I am truly grateful for. Thank you, Great Mystery, for the dreams, for the guidance, for the whispers in my mind.

ONLINE LINKS

Web Site:  www.rubystandingdeer.com

 Author Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/9hs6wh8

Twitter: R_StandingDeer  https://twitter.com/R_StandingDeer

Visit the rest of the tour Here:

11/26   Promo  3Ps in a Pod  
11/26   Promo   A Soul Unsung 
11/26   Promo   The bunny's review 
11/26   Promo   Books, Books The Magical Fruit 
11/26   Promo   The Stuff of Success 
11/26   Promo   Adventures of Frugal Mom 
11/26   Promo   It's About Time Mamaw 
11/26   Promo   Blooding Book Reviews    
11/26   Promo   Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf 
11/26   Promo   Identity Discovery  
11/26   Promo   Hooks and Book  

12/17  Review    Geo Librarian 
12/18 Review    It's About Time Mamaw
12/20 Review    My Cozie Corner  
12/21 Review    Adventures of Frugal Mom 
12/24 Review   The Stuff of Success  

Blog Tour Promotional Post & Giveaway featuring Forbidden Fire by Kimberly Kinrade

Forbidden Fire by Kimberly Kinrade
Published: July 15, 2012
Publisher: Evolved Publishing
Age Demographic: Mature YA & Adult
Pages: 266

She escaped, but she’ll never be free.

“Time held no meaning as my mind darted in and out of memories. Past and present collided to create a full-sensory collage out of my life: playing hide-n-seek with my best friends Luke—who always cheated by walking through walls when he was about to be caught—and Lucy; Mr. Caldrin critiquing my sketches and offering ideas to make them more realistic; targets changing faces, blending into the same person, their thoughts rippling through my mind like waves. Through it all, a demon stalked me from the shadows of my memories, never quite showing its face, but crouching, waiting.

And then I dreamed....”

Sam and Drake may have escaped, but they aren’t free—not with a powerful Seeker after them. As Sam struggles with the ethics of her new powers and embraces a blossoming physical relationship with Drake, Lucy and Luke face challenges of their own.

With forces coalescing inside and outside the Rent-A-Kid dorms, it’s only a matter of time before the fire they started forces each of them to make choices they can’t undo. But will it be enough to save them?

To Purchase Forbidden Fire: Amazon

I am totally thrilled to be sharing with you today, a totally awesome and intriguing paranormal thriller, Forbidden Fire written by the wonderfully talented Kimberly Kinrade. It's definitely a novel that will get your blood pumping, your heart racing, and make you think. I am so super excited and elated to get to be part of this tour and share this wonderfully written and entertaining mature paranormal thriller and inspiring guest post with you.

Why is YA fantasy such a popular genre?

First, let’s look at the YA part. Young Adult novels are popular, in part, because the themes of YA are themes we all resonate with throughout our lives. They are stories that blend archetypal symbolism with coming of age themes that we can all relate to, regardless of age.
In our society, we rarely acknowledge the rites of passage that are present throughout our lives, but as teens we get a small taste of this in sweet 16 parties, graduations, first loves and more. When we–as teens or adults–slip into the world of these characters, we get that camaraderie of shared experience that lives inside us forever.

Teens build a connection to these worlds and characters, finding their current struggles and triumphs brought to life on the page. Adults are brought back to those first moments where everything was new and the world was ready to open up before us.

But more than just taking us to our past, these stories re-cast our current life challenges in a new light. We are allowed, within those thrilling pages, to celebrate ourselves and our choices, to mourn our bitter defeats, to feel the world in all it’s highs and lows beyond the mundanity of paying bills and doing dishes. It’s the best blend of wish-fulfillment and validation.

YA novels are typically not muddled down in themselves, but rather the writing is crisp and exciting, more about the story than trying to impress the massive with heady, weighty prose. (Not that all adult novels do this!)

Adding Magic Makes Everything Better

If YA does all this, YA Fantasy does all this even better! Talk about wish-fulfillment! We all daydream at some point in our lives about being magical, psychic or some kind of paranormal being. There is an allure to the world beyond rationality and science that is impossible to deny.

As a YA fantasy author and avid reader of this genre, I can tell you that we are a group who never stopped believing in magic, fairytales and monsters. We write the worlds we secretly (or not so secretly) know exist somewhere.

Fantasy, as a genre, gives us a chance to escape the moral ambiguity of shades of grey and live in a more black and white reality of good and evil. The bad guys and good guys are clear, and we get to fight and even kill the bad! In modern society, there are few outlets beyond sports and war that allow us to ‘fight’ in this way. Fewer still that give women and girls full power to flex their fury.

As a teen I loved fantasy because it was painted with broad brushstrokes that gave us grand opportunities to engage in an epic way. I could escape into my novels and kick some evil butt with killer super powers or magical abilities. I was no longer under the restraining forces of adults when I read these novels. I was powerful, mighty and alive.

As an adult, the process is slightly different, but not by much. I still escape into these worlds where anything truly is possible and the normal rules no longer apply. There is something so stimulating about the regular societal restraints crashing down to reveal a world of magic, a dystopian future where society has collapsed, or our regular world where there’s more in it than we ever imagined.

I hope this trend never fades, because I will always write in this genre. It started when I first read The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe as a child and will last my whole life!

.details

25 Amazon GC plus signed copy of all three books (Forbidden Mind, Forbidden Fire, Forbidden Life), bookmarks and surprise swag. Also, 2 signed copies of Forbidden Mind with swag.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Kimberly Kinrade was born with ink in her veins and magic in her heart. She writes fantasy and paranormal stories for children, YA and adults and still believes in magic worlds. Check out her YA paranormal novels Forbidden Mind and Forbidden Fire and her illustrated children's fantasy chapter books Lexie World, and Bella World, all on Amazon.

She lives with her three little girls who think they're ninja princesses with super powers, her two dogs who think they're humans and her husband, also known as the sexy Russian Prince, who is the love of her life and writing partner.

Tour Bought To You By:

Innovative Online Book Tours

Blog Tour & Review for Forbidden Mind by Kimberly Kinrade

I am so excited to be a part of the super awesome FORBIDDEN MIND BLOG TOUR! When I got the chance to read this intriguing mind-melding mystery, I was totally beyond thrilled and jumped at the chance to get to see what was all about. I mean, come on, who wouldn't?! It's a little bit of Alias (one of my ALL TIME FAVORITE television shows ever!) and Dark Angel like. It's pretty much got a lot of adventure and interesting mystery going on and there's twists and turns around every corner just waiting to jump out at you. It's part of what made reading this book so much fun!

Kimberly Kindrade definitely brings the suspsense and intrigue full force with this novel. There is so much packed into the pages, that the story just leaps off the pages at you at a dead running start and never stops until the end. The romance will definitely leave you breathless and the world that she builds is incredibly interesting as well as vividly intense and terrying in some aspects. The characters are beautifully developed and the story is strong. It's super edgey and unique, with a flare of originality oozing off the pages.

This is not a book that any paranormal sci-fi fantatic would want to miss out on.

Kimberly Kinrade has generously shared an excerpt from the book to tease and tantalize you guys with. So, definitely check that out!

Will their powers be enough to save them before it's too late?


Here’s the scoop on FORBIDDEN MIND by Kimberly Kinrade!

In FORBIDDEN MIND, She reads minds. He controls minds. Together, they might get out alive.

Sam thinks she's months away from freedom. After spending her life in a secret school, rented out to the rich and powerful as a paranormal spy, she is ready to head to college like any normal eighteen-year-old.

Only Sam isn't normal. She reads minds. And just before her big going-away party, she links to the mind of a young man who changes everything.

Drake wasn't raised as a 'Rent-A-Kid.' He was kidnapped and taken there by force. But his exceptional physical strength and powers of mind control make him very dangerous, especially to Sam.

When they meet, Sam is forced to face the truth of her situation, and to acknowledge that not all is as it seems in her picture-perfect world. For what awaits her on her eighteenth birthday isn't a trip to college, but an unexpected nightmare from which she may not be able to escape.

To survive, they must work together.

But will their powers be enough to save them before it's too late?

Amazon || Barnes&Noble

Right now you can get a digital copy of Forbidden Mind for free on Amazon until November 8th. Totally pick this up, because it's so worth the read and it's all of kinds of amazing, interesting, and fun.

Excerpt From Forbidden Mind

ABOUT KIMBERLY KINRAID

Website || Blog || Twitter || Facebook

Kimberly Kinrade was born with ink in her veins and magic in her heart. She writes fantasy and paranormal stories for children, YA and adults and still believes in magic worlds. Check out her YA paranormal novels Forbidden Mind and Forbidden Fire and her illustrated children's fantasy chapter books Lexie World, and Bella World, all on Amazon.

She lives with her three little girls who think they're ninja princesses with super powers, her two dogs who think they're humans and her husband, also known as the sexy Russian Prince, who is the love of her life and writing partner.

Author information taken from her Goodreads.

The next tour for Kimberly Kinrade is on November 26th, 2012 as a Review Blitz followed by 6 weeks of ongoing tour.

All three Forbidden books plus extra bonus content. November 26th, 2012.

This is its own book, with its own ebook, paperback and eventually hardback. It will include all three forbidden books in it, plus bonus content, interlude scenes between the books and more.

Review Blitz Sign-Up | 6 Week Tour Sign-Up

Blog Tour featuring Wish I Could Have Said Goodbye Excerpt by Shari A. Brady

Wish I Could Have Said Goodbye by Shari A. Brady
Publisher: CreateSpace
Published: June 11, 2012
Age Demographic: YA Contemporary
Pages: 252

Before Carmella D’Agostino’s older sister Francesca died, she worked at the bakery and wrote songs, but now she writes lists. Lists like ten reasons why it's her fault Francesca's dead, or five reasons why she should try and win Howie back, or one reason why she needs to stop lying to everyone, including herself.

Wish I Could Have Said Goodbye is an extraordinary novel about one family’s struggle to make sense of their world after losing a family member to addiction. Through sixteen-year-old Carmella’s eyes, we witness the courage and strength it takes to overcome the consequences of grief, guilt and co-dependency.
With conviction and determination, Carmella shows us what can happen when we’re open to love, feel the pain of our loss, and have the courage to accept the truth of our lives.

Before sixteen-year-old Carmella’s older sister Francesca died, she worked at the bakery and wrote songs, but now she writes lists. Lists like ten reasons why she shouldn’t feel guilty for her sister’s death, or five reasons why she needs to win Howie back, or one reason why she should stop lying to everyone, including herself.

Wish I Could Have said Goodbye is an extraordinary first novel about one family’s struggle to make sense of their world after losing someone they love to addiction. Shari A. Brady skillfully takes the reader on a journey and through Carmella’s eyes we witness the guilt, pain and courage it takes to overcome the consequences of co-dependency. It is truly a heart-breaking novel about what happens when love, loss and truth collide.

Amazon || Barnes&Noble

Wish I Could Have Said Goodbye By Shari A. Brady

Book Excerpt Chapter 1


I hug Francesca’s purse tight against my chest and rest my head against the corner of my closet. This is me since my big sister died four weeks ago. Francesca was six years older than me, and at twenty-three she became one of those people you read about in the tabloids, only she wasn’t an actor in Hollywood. She was my big sister who accidentally overdosed at her own party and now she’s not here to help me get over the fact I let her down, or to give me one reason why I should keep on living since my universe exploded and turned to dust.

I close my eyes and make a list, the kind Francesca and I would make when the lights were out and we were supposed to be sleeping.

Why I should live the rest of my life in my closet?

I don’t have to talk to anyone.
I don’t have to listen to Mom and Dad fight.
I don’t have to face the rest of my life without my big sister.

Francesca and I had a pact to keep the lists just between us and we swore each other to secrecy before we made our first one. When Francesca went to college and was home for a break or a visit, we didn’t make many lists. And then when she graduated, the lists stopped. I forgot all about the lists until I found one in her purse the night she died. It was her Monday to do list.

“Carmella?” My mother taps on the door. “Could you—?”

I slide the closet door open and squint up at my mother.

“We need you to come out. Your father’s got his coat on. He’s waiting.”

“I’m not going.”

“Carmella, don’t do this.” She pushes up the sleeves of her burnt orange pullover and folds her arms in front of her. “We need you.”

I want to tell Mom I can’t reduce my big sister’s life to twelve boxes and stuff them underneath the steps of my parents’ basement. But I won’t say what I’m thinking. I don’t want to make things worse for her and Dad.

My mother’s eyes are a million miles away. They’ve been like that ever since we got the news. “I know this is hard, Carmella, but Father Carlucci says packing up her things and moving her out of the apartment will help us start to heal.”

“What if I don’t want to move her things out of there? I want everything to stay the same.

“Please, I don’t have the energy to fight.” Mom’s hair is tucked behind her ears, all messy, and her make up is rubbed off of her puffy eyes.

“Fine.” I set Francesca’s purse down on top of my red Converse shoes and drag myself towards the steps.

When I get into the kitchen, Mom hands me my coat.

My father’s pacing in front of the sink, crunching on corn chips. The veins in the side of his head pop out while he chews.

Mom grabs her purse from the scratched up wooden kitchen table they’ve been talking about replacing since Francesca started middle school.

“The owners from Lincoln Distributors sent flowers to the office Friday. How did they find out?” Mom asks.

My father stops in front of the door and rubs his forehead with his left hand. “I don’t know. Obviously, someone at the office told them. We never should have let the truth get past the family.”

“What are you talking about?” Mom squeezes the strap of her black leather purse tight

“Yesterday, Mary at Davenport Motor Works asked what happened to Francesca. I told her she died of a fatal arrhythmia. From here on in, if anyone asks, that’s the story. And when you go back to school, you tell everyone the same thing.” He points to me.

“But most of them know what happened.” I zip my jacket.

“Not all of them. Tell Anna and your other friends to keep quiet too.”

Dad doesn’t know I haven’t spoken to anyone but Anna in the last year. My only friends lately were Francesca and Donny. Mom and Dad don’t know much about me at all now. When Francesca started having problems in middle school, I disappeared.

“You lied? You told a customer our daughter died from a fatal heart condition?” Mom swipes her hair behind her ear.

“Gina, our daughter died at a party where kids were doing drugs. People see that as a reflection on us. Since my father passed away and I took over the business two years ago, I’ve been working my ass off. I don’t want anything to jeopardize our reputation and I don’t want all my hard work to go to hell.”

My mother’s eyes glass over, her face drops like all her muscles turned into water and poured out. “Joe, this is our daughter. How can you talk like this? People will understand. It was an accident.”

“This type of shit only happens to kids who are on drugs. Francesca was in the wrong place at the wrong time, that’s all. If she didn’t move in with that asshole Donny, she’d be alive right now.” My father stabs his finger in the air.

“I don’t believe this. So when I talk to people at work, I’m supposed to lie about how my daughter died?” My mother’s eyes glass over.

“Say it was a heart thing and you don’t want to talk about it. People won’t push. And that goes for you too.” My dad plucks his keys out of his coat pocket. “Let’s go.”

The three of us head up the creaky steps to Donny and Francesca’s third floor apartment. We had to walk two blocks struggling to hold onto the flattened boxes and packing tape. Parking on city streets is always a pain, especially on Saturdays when everyone is home from work. Most people work Monday through Friday in this neighborhood, except for Francesca and Donny.

Donny works weekends at the bar down the street. That’s how they got this apartment. A year ago, Donny met a guy who was transferred to China for a four-year assignment and needed to rent out his top floor condo in a cool brownstone building. Francesca was so excited; she thought they got lucky. The place was only a few blocks from the famous Second City Theatre in Chicago. Francesca thought she was going to move in here and get her life back on track.

Francesca worked at different restaurants for a while, but last summer she didn’t work at all. Around middle of August, she stopped returning my calls. When she finally called me back it was the first week in September to ask me to go to an AA meeting with her. It was a week before she died and the last time I ever heard her voice.

Dad sets his stack of boxes down and knocks. Mom starts to cry. She pulls a tissue out of her purse. She hands one to me, but I’m not gonna cry. I’m gonna be strong for Mom and Dad because that’s what families do for each other.

Donny opens the door and we get a whiff of rotten food like moldy cheese. We haven’t seen him since the funeral.

“Hi,” Donny says. He combs his messy dishwater blond hair with his fingers, like he just woke up. His green T-shirt is all wrinkled.

“C’mon in.” He steps back and holds out his hand. “Hey, sis.” He smiles.

“Hi.” I almost walk towards the kitchen, but I stop myself. Francesca loved to cook. I kept her company in the kitchen while she made stuff. They were always broke, so she cooked a lot of pasta.

Everywhere I look I see Francesca. Like her favorite fake painting of a sunrise on the beach she bought from a guy on the street for ten bucks when she first moved in with Donny. Francesca and I dreamed of living near the ocean, where the air is always warm and people are more relaxed. She was sure the painting meant good luck for her. I run my finger along the tacky gold frame.

“We were supposed to be awesome career women, get married, have kids and live next door to each other, two blocks from the beach,” I whisper. “That was our plan.”

I remember thinking how much I liked Donny and was so happy for Francesca. We were both sure her life was going to finally get better.

Donny leads us into the bedroom.

He points to the closet. “I boxed up her shoes, just the hanging stuff needs to be done.

I think I might puke. I push past my parents, who are stiff like statues. I run straight to the bathroom where Francesca and I hung out when we wanted to talk in secret. I close and lock the door, taking my usual seat on the side of the tub, staring at the toilet where Francesca parked her foot as she blew cigarette smoke out the tiny frosted paned window. I rock back and forth and howl into my sleeve.

I bend down and run my fingers across the tiny tiles on the floor. I imagine her lying here, taking her last breaths, all alone. I grab my chest. I wish she hadn’t died in here alone. I wish I could have been with her, to hold her hand or to hug her. I wish I could have said goodbye.

“Carmella.” My mother knocks on the door. “Are you okay?”

I stand up and turn the cold water on full blast. “I’m fine,” my voice cracks. I clear my throat. “I’ll be right out.”

I open the door, and I hear Dad shout. “How can you live with yourself? This is all your fault.”

“Don’t go blaming me. All I did was try and love her,” Donny stomps out of the apartment, the door slamming behind him.

I walk into the bedroom. My father is mumbling over the high-pitched scream of the packing tape as he seals the top of a box.

Mom sniffles as she takes Francesca’s clothes off the hangers, folds them and puts them carefully in the box on the floor next to her.

Dad stands in the middle of the room, staring at the dresser, the tape dispenser dangling from his right hand.

“Where’s Donny?” I ask.

Mom turns towards me. “He left. He shouldn’t be here.” She folds Francesca’s blue and white plaid shirt.

“Wait,” I say. “Can I have that one?”

Mom clutches the shirt. “This old thing? Why would you want this?”

“Because. It was her favorite.”

Mom passes me the shirt. “Okay.” She shakes her head.

Holding it up to my nose, I smell Francesca and for a tiny fraction of a second, I get her back.

I put the shirt down next to my purse on the bed. “What should I do?”

Dad hands me a small box. “Donny says there’s a few things out there.”

I take the box from him and walk into the kitchen, pretending she’ll be standing at the sink, excited to see me as usual, throwing her arms around me in one of her over-the-top hugs.

I turn my head. There’s a small magnet on the side of the fridge in the shape of an old potbelly stove with red letters that say “Francesca’s Kitchen” across the belly. Donny bought it for her and she loved the stupid thing. I shove the magnet into my pocket.

I stretch my red and white tiny-flowered comforter over my crossed legs and try not to look over at Francesca’s empty bed, still made up with the matching bedspread. My guitar sits in the stand and stares at me like an abandoned dog. I haven’t been able to go near it since we got the call. Francesca talked my parents into giving me the guitar for my eighth grade graduation, a gift from all three of them. It’s the same style of acoustic guitar John Lennon had. She knew I’d go ballistic over it. I used a black Sharpie marker to copy his famous character sketch, just like the one he had on the guitar he used during the Bed-In for Peace. My parents had a fit when they saw the drawing. They thought I’d ruined the guitar.

I tried to explain how much I admired John Lennon, how I want to be an artist who changes the world like he did. In the middle of my explanation, the phone rang. The office called with an emergency. We were supposed to finish talking later, but never did.

I was playing “Imagine” when my mother stormed through the door screaming that Francesca was dead. Then she fainted.

I glance over at Francesca’s empty bed and turn out the light. Staring at the moon outside my window, missing Francesca so bad I want to curl up and die, I wonder how Donny’s surviving.

I close my eyes. A replay of the day flashes through my head. I start to drift into the still black waters of the night.

Then I smell cigarette smoke.

I see Francesca in her bathroom, standing with her foot on the toilet, blowing smoke out the window, making fun of all our goofy distant relatives that were at her wake and funeral.

I’m sitting on the side of the tub, laughing.

Francesca smiles at me, taking a long drag from her cigarette. Then she tells me she’s okay.

My eyes fly open.

I sit up.

My heart jumps into my throat. I grab for the lamp and miss. My water glass falls onto the carpet. I reach for the lamp again and turn it on. I stare at the end of my bed. No Francesca. I fly out of bed. I blink, rub my sweaty forehead and look around the room. My legs shake as I crawl back into bed.

The cigarette smoke chokes me.

I scream but nothing comes out.

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ABOUT SHARI A. BRADY

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Shari A. Davenport is a native Chicagoan and previously had so many careers she's lost count. A graduate of Loyola University's Business School and University of Chicago's Creative Writing program, she's finally a full-time writer, a dream she's carried with her since she was twelve. She lives in suburban Chicago with her awesome husband, two of the best kids ever, and their shelter dog, Betty Queen Elizabeth. This is her first novel and her last career.

A portion of the proceeds from Wish I Could Have Said Goodbye will be donated to Families and Adolescents in Recovery, Inc. (F.A.I.R.). If you’d like to make a donation to help in research, education and recovery for kids stricken with addiction, please visit www.fairkids.org.

Blog Tour featuring Wicked Sense by Fabio Bueno

Wicked Sense by Fabio Bueno
Published: August 9, 2012
Publisher: Booklings Publishing
Age Demographic: YA Urban Fantasy
Pages: 580

Witches inhabit our world, organized in covens and hiding behind a shroud of secrecy—the Veil.

Skye’s London coven sends her to Seattle’s Greenwood High to find the Singularity, an unusually gifted witch who may break the Veil and trigger a dangerous new era of witch-hunting. Things get complicated when Skye meets a charming new classmate, Drake. Skye’s job becomes even trickier when she clashes with Jane, an intimidating rival witch.

Drake falls for the mysterious Skye, but odd accidents, potion mix-ups, and the occasional brush with death kind of get in the way of romance. Once he discovers Skye is a witch, he goes to war for her, even though his only weapons are a nice set of abs and a sharp sense of humor.

Fighting off wicked Jane and the other dark forces hell-bent on seizing the Singularity's immense power, Skye and Drake will risk everything to save the covens.

Going on a date has never been harder.

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ABOUT FABIO BUENO

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Fabio Bueno is the author of YA paranormal WICKED SENSE, family man, gamer, “runner,” geek, kindle hugger, coffeeholic, SCBWIer, x-men hopeful, district 3 tribute, hufflepuff, daydreamer.

Fabio writes Young Adult/Urban Fantasy/Paranormal novels. He resides in the Pacific Northwest with his wife and kids. When not writing or reading, he geeks out with family and friends, solidifies his reputation as the world’s slowest runner, and acts very snobbish about movies.

Author information taken from her Goodreads.


Well, what are you waiting for?! Check out this awesome ya paranormal book NOW!!!




Blog Tour Brought To You In Part By:

Guest Post & Excerpt featuring Shadow Visions by Gabriella Hewitt

Today, I'm lucky enough to have Gabriella Hewitt back on the blog today sharing an exerpt of the second novel in her paranormal romance series, Shadow Visions (Shadow Warriors, #1). I'm super excited to have her back, because this looks like it's definitely going to be a stunning series that any paranormal fan would fall for. She's previously been on the blog featured in a guest post talking raving about her obssession with the new show 48 Hours and sharing a little bit of information on the first novel in this sexy paranormal thriller, Shadow Visions (Shadow Warriors, #1).

I really hope you enjoy the guest post and the excerpt today!

A shadow warrior on a mission, Manuel must track down a demon who is sacrificing women marked with hummingbird tattoos. He is in danger of losing his humanity to his eagle spirit until he comes across Ixa Reyes, a beautiful San Diego detective working on the same case, who also bears the mark of the Aztec sun god. She is his salvation and redemption from a past filled with failure. Only she wants nothing to do with him or her heritage.

When a demon kidnaps her grandfather, the wind god, they must work together to save him and all mankind. Manuel has twenty-four hours to help Ixa control her elemental power over wind—that is if he can control his own desires to claim her body and soul. Because if he should fail this time, the god of war will usher in a new era filled with blood and destruction such as the world has never known.

Product Warnings
This story contains an ancient Aztec warrior struggling to control the beast within, a heroine more than able to match his strength, demons out for their very souls, and a battle that may very well determine the fate of all humanity.

Synopsis taken from Goodreads.

Excerpt:

“Don’t come any closer or I’ll shoot.”

Her gun shook in her hands as if she were a damn rookie. She fought to control her emotions but they swirled inside her. If she didn’t pull it together another tornado would manifest, and that frightened her more than the half-naked man with the eagle eyes in front of her.



“Not another step,” she ordered, but he continued to stalk towards her.



She held her stance. Her finger trembled on the trigger.

He reached her. His chest pressed to the muzzle. He easily towered over her. She stared up into his golden eyes. No fear. Instead, she read another emotion in his eyes.



Desire.



It was a very lonely childhood.



She should have felt threatened, and she did, but not because she believed he meant to hurt her—it was much more fundamental than that. Her whole body seemed to come alive in his presence. Her breath shortened and she felt a flush stealing up underneath her tanned cheeks. She lowered her gaze and let her weapon fall to her side. Keeping her fingers tightly wrapped around the grip reminded her to remain grounded. Her reaction to him was so totally unlike her.



Up close, she found herself staring at a broad chest covered with a mantle of feathers. The man was made of solid muscle. Without volition, her gaze traveled upward, noting the powerful shoulders, the hard jaw, the firm lips and the stern expression he wore.



“You’re very brave, but your gun won’t help you against the tzitzimime.”



Ixa swallowed, searching for her voice. “Who are you? What are you?”

His hand came up. Gently, he traced the image of the hummingbird tattooed on her right bicep. Her muscle quivered under his touch. “Just as I thought. You bear the mark,” he murmured.



In the distance she heard the confused shouts of her fellow officers. “They’ll be here soon.” They would have heard the shots. They’d be searching for her.



“I distorted the sound so they check in a different area. They will not be upon us yet.”



“You can do that?”

It didn’t seem possible, except she didn’t have an explanation for anything that had happened. Her brain seemed to be functioning in first gear, unable to catch up to anything that required substantial thought.



“I can do many things, you will find.”



He cupped her chin and tilted her head. His golden eyes came closer until his head blotted out the sky and everything around her. Helpless, she waited for his lips to touch hers.



His lips brushed hers, once, twice. She let out a sigh. He pressed down a third time and she leaned into him, but before she could deepen the kiss, he released her and stepped back.



Her entire body zinged with energy. She stared up at him, bemused.



He chuckled, which snapped her out of her daze. Had she lost her mind?



“Don’t ever do that again.”



He smiled, an incredibly sexy smile that made her nerve endings sing with need. Before she could lash out at him again, he raised his arms up. A breeze passed around them, ruffling the feathers adorning his chest. His image wavered and bent. She heard bones cracking, reshaping. Wave after wave of feathers burst forth in a soft, rippled covering. Where a warrior once stood, now a large eagle spread its wings and gave a loud cry. The eagle flapped its wings and took to the skies.



Ixa gasped. The gods will find a way to convince you. Her abuelo’s words echoed in her mind.

Want to purchase

Shadow Vision (Shadow Warriors, #1)

by Gabriella Hewitt?

You can do so by visiting my Amazon Store and adding them to your shopping cart. While you're there, feel free to look around, you might find something else you want. I hope you enjoyed the guest post and excerpt from Riser by Becca C. Smith. If you haven't read it yet, then I definitely suggest you pick up a copy for yourself or even for someone else if you think they'll like it.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Gabriella Hewitt is the pen name of creative writing talents Sasha Tomaszycki and Patrizia M.J. Hayashi. Together they weave tales of romantic suspense and dangerously sensual paranormals. Check out the website www.gabriellahewitt.com to find out about upcoming releases and events on their blog.

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Author information taken from her Goodreads.

Purchase Shadow Visions: Amazon | B&N

Guest Post: Gabriella Hewitt featuring Shadow Visions

I am super excited to have Gabriella Hewitt on the blog today, sharing a little more information about her recent upcoming release Shadow Visions and a super amazing guest post where she talks about her love of the docudrama 48 Hours on A&E and how it relates to her sexy paranormal thriller series.

"Obsessed With 48 Hours"

I have become obsessed with the show 48 Hours on A&E. The show is a docudrama about real life detectives trying to solve a murder in the first 48 hours. It is crucial to find witnesses and evidence and track down the murderer in the first 48 Hours, otherwise it gets tougher to solve the crime.

I watch the marathons and admire these men and women as they brave the mean streets, forego sleep and put their family lives on hold to help other families find solace and justice.

Although, I have never been a cop or detective, I have been fortunate to have them in my life. Friends, neighbors, and family members who have helped guide me to write realistic scenarios and check my facts. And for this, I am very blessed.

I guess in a way that is why I write romance with suspense. There is something about the injustice and the suspense of tracking down the killer who tries to elude you at every turn. Better yet throw in the emotional stress of dealing with a partner who ties you up in knots and has your libido going out of control. Yes, I like to torture my hero.

I have no idea what makes law enforcement personnel sexy, maybe it’s the fact they run into danger when everyone else is running away, or their big hearts that allow them to care about others before themselves, either way they are the ultimate good guys.

When I wrote SHADOW VISIONS, Manuel appears to be your straightforward hero, the typical FBI profiler stereotype with the suit and glasses to match, but he is something more dangerous and his methods for catching the bad guy are a bit unorthodox. He may have the badge and the gun, but he does not need them because he works under the auspices of a much higher power. He is a fallen Eagle Warrior, given life anew as part of an elite team of Shadow Warriors run by the Aztec Sun god, Huitzilopochtli. His weapons of choice are a pair of deadly eagle claws and a spear, and his uniform of a loin cloth and feathers is a lot more intimidating than you think (and much sexier than a black suit).

SHADOW VISIONS is the second novella in the Shadow Warriors series, Manuel has been tracking down a demon bent on sacrificing women with hummingbird tattoos. He is in danger of losing his humanity to his eagle spirit until he comes across Ixa Reyes, a beautiful San Diego Detective working on the same case, who also bears the mark of Huitzilopochtli. She is his salvation and redemption from a past filled with failure. Only she wants nothing to do with him or her heritage.

When a demon kidnaps her grandfather, the wind god, they must work together to save him and all mankind. He has twenty-four hours to help her control her elemental power over wind that is if he can control his own desires to claim her body and soul. Because if he should fail, then the god of war will bring in a new era filled with blood and destruction.

When the last Shadow Warrior falls, so will humanity.

Read Excerpt & View Trailer: Gabriella Hewitt's Website.

A shadow warrior on a mission, Manuel must track down a demon who is sacrificing women marked with hummingbird tattoos. He is in danger of losing his humanity to his eagle spirit until he comes across Ixa Reyes, a beautiful San Diego detective working on the same case, who also bears the mark of the Aztec sun god. She is his salvation and redemption from a past filled with failure. Only she wants nothing to do with him or her heritage.

When a demon kidnaps her grandfather, the wind god, they must work together to save him and all mankind. Manuel has twenty-four hours to help Ixa control her elemental power over wind—that is if he can control his own desires to claim her body and soul. Because if he should fail this time, the god of war will usher in a new era filled with blood and destruction such as the world has never known.

Product Warnings
This story contains an ancient Aztec warrior struggling to control the beast within, a heroine more than able to match his strength, demons out for their very souls, and a battle that may very well determine the fate of all humanity.

Synopsis taken from Goodreads.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Gabriella Hewitt is the pen name of creative writing talents Sasha Tomaszycki and Patrizia M.J. Hayashi. Together they weave tales of romantic suspense and dangerously sensual paranormals. Check out the website www.gabriellahewitt.com to find out about upcoming releases and events on their blog.

Purchase Shadow Visions: Amazon | B&N

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