Book Review & Giveaway: What Little Remains by Gabriella Wise

The intriguing aspect of this YA dystopian is it's focus. Rather than completely focused on the main character, Charlie, and her survival in a destroyed world, the author does a lovely job of dealing with young adult/early 20's issues: relationships, grief, death, independence, and becoming an adult (reality sucks and rules, right?)

Charlie is in love (she tells herself) with the leader, Ricky, of the band of survivors that live in an army base/fort. Every day can be a fight for survival as the established group hunts for supplies to replenish their needs. Scavengers are deadly and lurking out to rob innocents and grief eats at the survivors. But sometimes the danger is way, way closer than Charlie will ever realize.

I had a great time learning more about Charlie and the world she lives in. I appreciated her sticking to her guns and morals while she becomes more of a self-assured woman. The post-apocalyptic world and its problems are realistic. Nicole, Charlie's rebel BFF, is an eye brow raising hell raiser but a good side kick to Charlie's steadfast and cautious nature.

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"I had convinced myself that everything beautiful had been destroyed with the rest of the world. Seeing those flowers, a piece of beautiful life in this dark world, was incredible. It was breathtaking. In all the ugliness going on in the world, those flowers had bloomed and kept living.

I am alive. I am living, and I get to choose how I spend this time. For some reason, I am still on this planet. Maybe it is divine or maybe it is just dumb luck. But I am here. I am not going to waste this time anymore. I am not going to be scared anymore."

"What a future I’ll have. The irony is almost laughable. All those nights I stayed up and worried he wouldn’t come back to me. Now I’m worried that he will."

"He pulls me off the ground and leads me to the dance floor. The tempo is slow as he pulls me in close, wrapping his arms around my waist. I put my arms around his neck, resting my head on his chest. Behind my back, he intertwines his fingers and rests his chin on the top of my head.

It’s weird to think that later this month we would have had our senior prom. I don’t know whom I would have gone with, but I’m confident it wouldn’t be the guy holding me. We aren’t the same people we were the summer before our senior year.

I haven’t decided yet if that’s a good thing or not."

Tell us a bit about yourself
I am an avid reader. Once I start reading a book, I can’t put it down until I have finished it. This makes school and life very challenging because there have been quite a few times that I put both on hold to finish a book. I am also a terrible procrastinator, especially when I have access to Wi-Fi. I also love photography and animals. I combine the two often, with my dogs paying the price. I also love movies.

When did you begin writing?
I don’t really remember a time when I wasn’t writing. The very first thing I remember writing is a poem when I was in the second grade. I started with poetry when I was younger and moved to short stories as I grew older.

Have you ever been discouraged in regard to your writing ability and if so, how did you get past it and move forward?
My immediate family has always been super supportive about my writing. I’ve had other family members express to me that they didn’t think it was practical or didn’t see how I could possibly do it. Then there is that look that some people give me that’s like “Oh, you’re a writer” which translates to “You mean you sit on your parents basement couch and mooch off them?” The best way that I have found to deal with them is to just keep going. Every time I accomplish something, I know that I am proving them wrong. I also focus on the really positive things that come from my writing.

What's your favorite thing about writing?
My favorite thing about writing is seeing something that was just an idea turn into an actual tangible product.

What is your writing style? Do you like to outline or just write as you go?
As far as my writing style, I will generally do a basic outline with all my key plot points. I almost always do an outline for longer projects and also include dates so that I get the timeline right. I also do extensive character charts and plan out how the character will develop throughout the story.

Do you have a favorite spot where you like to write?
Where I like to write depends on my mood. Most of the time I’ll just write in my room. I’ve started to get out a lot more and start to write at the closest coffee shop.

What is something you've written that will never see the light of day?
The very first manuscript that I ever wrote (when I was a freshman in high school) will NEVER see the light of day. I look back on it and can’t help but cringe. My writing has progressed so much since then.

What is your writer food?
Umm…food in general.

What's the hardest thing about writing for you?
The hardest thing about writing for me is to remember that I don’t have to be perfect; that what I write doesn’t have to be perfect.

What inspires you to write?
There are two things that really inspire me to write. The first thing is that I love to tell stories. I love being able to express myself through writing and being able to share that with other people. The second reason is that books were such a haven for my growing up. I didn’t have the best experience in grade school and books became my refuge. I read ALL THE TIME. I want my books to be able to do that for other people.

How many books have you written and which is your favorite?
What Little Remains is the first book that I have written and published, so, by default, right now it is my favorite.

What are some of your favorite books?
That is like asking me to choose my favorite child. I won’t admit to a favorite.

What authors do you like to read?
Right now I have Suzanne Collins, Veronica Rossi, Becca Fitzpatrick, Meg Cabot, and Victoria Aveyard on my top bookshelf. But that changes almost weekly.

What inspired you to write What Little Remains?
I remember being in Algebra 1 my freshman year of high school, after a biology class. I started thinking about what would happen and how people would survive if natural disasters wiped out most of the world and our modern conveniences, and my book progressed from that idea.

If you could choose a dream cast for insert title, who would you pick?
Oh wow, I couldn’t possibly cast my characters. I think it is super important to be able to leave that up to the imagination of the reader, so I wouldn’t even say which actors I favor.

Would you say you relate to any of your characters? If so, which one and why?
I think I relate to a little bit to a lot of my characters. Charlie and Daren are definitely a reflection of my sarcastic and sassy side. Nicole is a reflection of the stronger, more resilient side of myself. Even Ricky is a reflection of a side of myself. While he takes it to an extreme, there is defiantly a part of me that would go to great lengths to protect the people that I love.

This or that.
That.
Sweet or Salty?
Salty.
Naughty or nice?
…Little bit of both.
Cats or dogs?
Dogs
Vanilla or chocolate?
Allergic to both.

If you were deserted on an island, which author would you want to be stranded with?
J.K. Rowling. One, because she would tell the best stories. Two, because I know her fans would track her to the ends of the earth now that she’s promised more Harry Potter-related books.

My name is Gabriella Wise. I am a self-published (indie) author, and my first novel, What Little Remains was released in March 2015. I was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky. I have loved to tell stories since I was a little kid, and this passion for storytelling has brought me to this point. With my first full-length novel, What Little Remains, already published, I am looking toward finishing the second book in The Fallout trilogy.

I love reading. Some of my favorite authors include Suzanne Collins, Veronica Rossi, Cassandra Clare, Becca Fitzpatrick, J. K. Rowling, and Meg Cabot. I also enjoy long walks in the rain (especially when I don’t have waterproof shoes on--#collegeprobs), eating chocolate (which I am allergic to), and freaking out about my favorite fandoms.

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  Author Website: www.gabriellawise.com

  
  

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Book Review & New Release: Dismantling Evan by Venessa Kimball

Blurb:
Life is unstable...
…What will be the trigger to dismantle it?
When high school senior Evangeline "Evan" Phillips moves half way across the country with her parents to a quaint town in Texas, it should be a chance to start over.
It should be.
Typical of Evan, she doesn’t share her parents’ optimism. Always the loner, she is prepared to hide behind work at the school newspaper until graduation. That is the seemingly bulletproof plan until she meets her new neighbors, Gavin and Brody Ferguson.
The more Evan gets to know her neighbors, their band of friends, and frenemies, the more unsettling her new high school and community gets in Braxton Springs, Texas.
As Evan unwittingly digs deeper into the lives of those around her, her own skeletons begin to surface leaving her vulnerable and scrambling to keep her own sanity and reputation. Will Evan be able to get control over her spiraling secrets while discovering friendship and love for the first time?
Or will the issues and pressures of life as a band of not-so-average teens in a very typical high school become too much, resulting in the tragic dismantlement of an entire community and Evan herself?
Dismantling Evan is a fresh and edgy work of literary fiction that snapshots how life as a teen in modern society can be unstable and the social issues and pressures revolving around them can tip the fleeting stability of society over the edge.

 

*** 4.5/5 Stars ***

Thanks to the author for letting me beta read! :)

I refuse to be the queen of spoilers, especially in such an explosive book with many trigger friendly, ouchie soft spots (mental illness, bullying, and many others). The author did a fabulous job of having any accurate, flawed, and moody main female character in Evangeline "Evan". Evan drove me a bit batty with her back and forth. But that's explained well by the author and she has her reasons. Brody, her love interest, is an interesting persona spotlighted in all the drama of this realistic book. Their romance is rocky, sweet, and oh so young. Brody's brother's struggles and Evan's with understanding themselves is very honest and a regular struggle we all face. The side stories intertwined with the main characters simply adds to the variety of touchy and real subjects experienced.

Life is not fair and those who are different are treated poorly sometimes. Sometimes services and resources folks need are not available. Being a licensed social worker, I know this personally and well. I hope this book will support those who need it and teach a message to those who might not understand until now.

A powerful and addicting read, I highly recommend it to young, adult, and any where in between. Reader should be aware of emotional triggers in this book and it is not for light reading. Life is not always how we perceive it, people make mistakes, and our actions have untold consequences.

Book/Author  Links:

Youtube channel with all videos/book trailers/ interviews

https://www.youtube.com/user/vkimball7

Pinterest (board for PtF, StR, AtV, TtL, and future projects…visual inspiration)

http://www.pinterest.com/venessakimball/

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/VenessaKimball

Facebook Fan Page :

https://www.facebook.com/VenessaKimballAuthor

Google + :

https://plus.google.com/u/0/+VenessaKimballAuthor/posts

website: VenessaKimball.net (videos, teasers, buy links for books, projects, events, signings,

book trailers, interviews, lots of stuff! )

blog: venessakimballink.blogspot.com (added page for events and signings! 2 set for 2015)

Spotify PtF series playlists by book as well as Dismantling Evan playlist:

https://play.spotify.com/user/1226147569

Having always been passionate about the written word, Venessa Kimball embarked on writing what would become her debut novel, Piercing the Fold: Book 1; a young adult/ adult crossover, paranormal, science fiction, dystopian series. July 2, 2012, Venessa Kimball independently published the first book in the Piercing the Fold series. Book 2, Surfacing the Rim, released March 14, 2013.

In August of 2013, Venessa joined the publishing house, Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly. The Piercing the Fold series has been re-published with CHBB beginning with Piercing the Fold: Book 1 on September 3, 2013. Surfacing the Rim: Book 2 re-published on September 24, 2013 and Ascending the Veil: Book 3 released November 2013. The fourth book in the series, Transcending the Legacy: Book 4 released May 13, 2014. Venessa’s latest project, YA/Teen Contemporary Fiction novel, Dismantling Evan, will release January 13, 2015.

As for the future, Venessa is already filling her Work-In-Progress folder. Two of her future projects are contemporary fiction and will reflect her diversity as a writer in other genres. When Venessa is not writing, she is keeping active with her husband and three children, chauffeuring said children to extracurricular activities, catching a movie with her hubby, and staying up way too late reading.

www.VenessaKimball.net

http://www.facebook.com/venessakimballauthor

http://www.twitter.com/venessakimball7

Smart URL’s for PtF series:

ONE-CLICK LINKS:

Piercing the Fold: Book 1 http://smarturl.it/kbrqd8

Surfacing the Rim: Book2 http://smarturl.it/mrqxg7

Ascending the Veil: Book3 http://smarturl.it/rcztvn

Transcending the Legacy: Book4: http://smarturl.it/px8l95

Book Review Tour: New World: Rising Author by Jennifer Wilson

Title: New World: Rising
Author: Jennifer Wilson
Series: New World (Book 1)
Genre: YA/Dystopian
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: Aug 14 2014
Edition/Format Available In: eBook
Blurb/Synopsis:
Since witnessing her parents’ murders at the age of eleven, Phoenix’s only purpose in life has been to uphold her mother’s dying words- to be strong and survive. But surviving outside of The Walls- outside of The Sanctuary- is more like a drawn-out death sentence. A cruel and ruthless city, Tartarus is run by the Tribes whose motto is simple, “Join or die.”
Refusing to join and determined to live, Phoenix fights to survive in this savage world. Trusting no one, she lives as a rogue, fending only for herself. Then in a moment of rash judgment, she breaks all of her rules to save a child, and in that moment her life is turned upside down. When the rescue mission goes awry, Phoenix is captured by an underground group who claims no allegiance with neither the Tribes nor The Sanctuary. She finds herself in the most dangerous game of survival she has ever played.
In her captivity, only one person- the handsome and oddly sympathetic Triven- shows Phoenix something she has never before experienced: kindness. While warring with unfamiliar emotions and still skeptical of her captors' motives, Phoenix quickly realizes that these people may just hold the key to her lost memories. But who can she trust, when no one can be trusted? Not even herself.

 

Amazon

Goodreads

The New World Series on Facebook

***** 5 Stars *****

This book rocked! I loved the characters, the storyline, and the constant action and kick buttness of the heroine. Set in a polluted and hostile city, Phoenix has lived on her own, surviving, after the brutal deaths of her parents. After she rescues a child from the certain fate of death most people in her city face, she is rescued, body restored, and suddenly a captive of an unknown group. Finding out the group's identity, their purpose, and how they work becomes Phoenix's next tasks. Not realizing she herself will change, she learns to hope, love, and fight for something other than survival. Now faced with protecting those she cares for and going against the "utopia" that she once lived in, her group will try and infiltrate The Sanctuary which lies next to the city and is closed off.

The book ends on a cliffhanger and I immediately looked to see when book two is coming out. WHY, why, why? I have to wait to see what happens! Phoenix rocks my socks as a strong female lead and Triven is an excellent dystopian book boyfriend (that's right, I claimed him first! :) ). Story is fast paced, never being slogged down in boring details or derailed, and has me hungry to continue the series!

I awoke with a start, my arms flailing outward, as the scream caught in my throat. It only took seconds to recognize my surroundings, to calm my racing heart. This was how I awoke every morning, every morning since my parents died. After years I managed to restrain the scream, awakening before it escaped my lips. Screaming in the night could get you found, screaming during the daytime would get you killed.
I checked my father’s watch in the green light. It was nearly three in the afternoon. There were still hours until dark. I knew I would have to stock up more food before I left for my next refuge, but scavenging during the daytime wasn’t an option.
Thumbing through my book collections, I felt uninspired and bored, having already read them so many times. I thought about trying to sleep longer but my mind was too awake. After eating a breakfast of dried apples, I made a plan to grow my personal library. Aside from needing something else to distract my mind, books always proved a good source of trade. Those few of us who defied the Tribes kept to ourselves and stayed quiet. We never gathered, nor really ever trusted one another. But when goods ran scarce, trades were not uncommon. It was finding the right recluses to trade with that was key. One wrong choice and you could easily find yourself with empty hands and a knife in your back. A select few of my merchants knew how to read and those that didn’t, never turned down good kindling.
Rifling through my few belongings, I decided to leave my larger backpack behind. It was too heavy and often cumbersome while crawling through the vents. I would only need a small tote big enough to carry books. My revolver lay on the mattress in its holster. I eyed it, speculating if it was needed. I always took it with me outside or to hunt for food, but no one ever came in the library anymore. I had seen a few rats and the occasional wild dogs on the floors below, but none of them ever bothered me. Instead I slid my knife into my hip sheath and climbed up the shelves to the vent.
As always, I moved with great caution, careful to never make a sound and always listening for others. But like usual, the building was empty. After nearly ten minutes of crawling, I saw light shining up through the galvanized steel. Cautiously I pressed my ear to the vent while holding my breath.
Nothing.
I smiled and pushed open the grate before sliding out onto the top of a bookshelf. Before descending I scanned the rows, my keen eyes looking for any trace of movement, foreign color or moved shelving. Nothing had changed since I was here last. Several of the books I had discarded still lay on the floor where I had dumped them, uninterested.
Relaxing a bit, I took a deep breath. The room was massive, filled with rows upon rows of abandoned books. It smelled like aged paper, and earth from the destroyed floors below. I loved that smell. Soundlessly, I climbed down the metal shelf I had perched on and headed for my favorite sections.
First I stopped by the romance section— business first, then pleasure. These were my least favorite kind of book. People fell into whirlwind romance, swept up with sex and passion. I didn’t believe in love, it was a wasted emotion that could get you killed. People did foolish things in the name of love. While I detested these books, they were generally thick and most of my allies didn’t care about the content as long as they burned.
I never made friends, not even with my allies. There were those I could barter with safely, and those I couldn't, I stole from. I never stole from the dead. Rationally it made more sense to take from the dead; after all it wasn’t like they would be using anything anymore. But the thought made me nauseous, reminding me too much of watching my parents’ murders. Instead I traded with a few recluses and targeted the Tribes’ storage facilities for the rest. I never felt guilty stealing from them.
Blindly grabbing a few thick books, I tossed them into my bag and moved on to the educational section. I browsed the titles looking for books on survival and warfare. After skimming their backs I took two of the most promising titles before moving on to the fiction section. I loved this section the most. The books here provided an escape, a place to let my mind wander free and find friends. Not real friends, but friends I could care about without having to commit to. Once I had opened a book and read its pages, those characters could never be taken away from me. Even if the books were burned, they would still live on in my mind. They couldn’t die or betray you, friends on paper proved much more lucrative than real ones.
This section was also the largest, and after years of perusing its shelves I had only just scratched the surface. Leisurely, I moved through the rows looking for authors I recognized or titles that called to me. Upon finding one of interest I would pull it from the shelf and read the back cover or the first few pages. Anything of interest was added to my collection. Everything else got added to the growing pile on the floor. I was so immersed in the pages of a potential gem that I almost didn’t hear them.
Two voices were making their way toward me, speaking in hushed tones.
“Shut up. I swear I heard something up here.”
“If I scaled that damn rope for nothing, I swear I will slit your throat myself.”
Every muscle in my body tensed as the distinctly male voices drifted through the aisles. Careful not to make a sound, I slipped the book into my bag and peeked through a gap in the books. Their backs were turned to me, the black leather of their coats splattered in red. Both men were hulking in size, my head probably even with their chests. The taller one had a red mohawk with feathers dangling from it. The other was bald with deep scars that covered the entire left side of his head like angry red fissures. Both of them had an obscene amount of metal piercings protruding from their skin. My hair rose on end.
Ravagers.
What the hell were they doing here? Panic prickled in the pit of my stomach. The vent leading to safety was nearly five rows over across the aisle; there was no way to make it there without being seen. Why hadn’t I brought my gun? I cursed myself as their eyes scanned the empty rows.
“I smell fear.” One of them taunted, his gruff voice no longer whispering.
They cackled with delight.
I swallowed hard. Even if it was just a farce to scare me, it was working, my pulse accelerating. Punching the other in the shoulder, the one with the mohawk motioned for them to spilt off. My ears began to ring as they moved to either side of my row and progressed towards me. I was trapped. My eyes instantly searched for another route of escape or a place to hide. As their footsteps moved closer, I began to silently climb.

As a child Jennifer loved getting lost in the stories of others, but struggled greatly with reading. A notoriously slow reader who stumbled with words and spelling, Jennifer shied away from books, leaning heavily on musical theater and movies to get her inspirational fix.

It was not until in her mid-teens, when a persistent friend convinced her to read the Harry Potter series, that Jennifer found her love for the written word. J.K. Rowling’s books opened doors not only to the fascinating world of a young wizard, but to a life filled with a multitude of literary friends and fantastical worlds. Once a timid reader, Jennifer now devours books and loves getting lost in a new series.

Jennifer had wanted to write her own novel since her early twenties, but unfortunately inspiration doesn’t always strike on command. Her first book, The Chosen, was completed in 2013. But as most first attempts go, it was a flop. While looking through a multitude of rejection letters, inspiration struck again, putting Grace’s story got on hold as Phoenix’s began.

New World: Rising began to fill Jennifer’s brain, flowing like a fully opened valve from her fingertips. What was once such a struggle in her early years suddenly became a passion.

When Jennifer is not writing, she is enjoying life in Colorado, rock climbing, camping, exploring new foods, playing with her golden retriever, Duke, and sharing her life with her handsome and wonderful husband.
Author Links

Amazon Author Page

Author Facebook Page

Goodreads

Twitter

Website

 

Author’s Other Works

New World Series

New World: Rising

New World: Ashes Coming Soon

The Chosen Series

The Chosen Coming Soon

The Lost Coming Soon

Book Review Tour & Giveaway: Made for You by Melissa Marr

Made for You by Melissa Marr
Published by: HarperCollins
Publication date: September 16th 2014
Genres: Southern Gothic, Young Adult

Synopsis:

Bestselling author of the Wicked Lovely books Melissa Marr’s first contemporary YA novel is a twisted southern gothic tale of obsession, romance, and murder. A killer is obsessed with Eva Tilling. Can she stop him, or will he claim her?

When Eva Tilling wakes up in the hospital, she’s confused—who in her sleepy little North Carolina town could have hit her with their car? And why? But before she can consider the question, she finds that she’s awoken with a strange new skill: the ability to foresee people’s deaths when they touch her. While she is recovering from the hit-and-run, Nate, an old flame, reappears, and the two must traverse their rocky past as they figure out how to use Eva’s power to keep her friends—and themselves—alive. But while Eva and Nate grow closer, the killer grows increasingly frantic in his attempt to get to Eva.

For the first time, New York Times bestselling author Melissa Marr has applied her extraordinary talent to contemporary realism. Chilling twists, unrequited obsession, and high-stakes romance drive this Gothic, racy thriller—a story of small-town oppression and salvation. Melissa’s fans, and every YA reader, will find its wild ride enthralling.

Goodreads
Amazon
B&N
Kobo
iTunes

***** 5 Stars! *****

I was already familiar with this author, having read the majority of the “Wicked Lovely” books, but I have to say I enjoyed this stand alone book even more. Eva is a likeable character and her best friend Grace… well; everyone needs a Grace in their life.

Eva is hit by a car, survives, and is scarred and broken. Her boyfriend, Robert, masquerades as well-bred gentleman but it pretty much an ahole. While in the hospital, long lost best friend and love of her live, Nate, shows up. In between trying to recover and dealing with a new gift/curse that shows her how someone dies, bodies of those close to Eva start piling up. Back home she is in a race to figure out who is the killer obsessed with her, killing for her attention and love.

I wouldn’t call this a southern gothic. It’s an excellent suspense thriller with a bit of paranormal tied in. The book does not have any slumps in action and I was able to guess the killer fairly early on, but the twists kept me wondering. The characters are interesting, the setting is a familiar small town/small social hierarchy (having lived in a small Texas town), and mystery, suspense, and horror are right on par. The viewpoint of the book also goes between Eva, The Judge (what our lovely murderer calls himself), and best friend Grace. I didn’t find it difficult to switch between characters; I found it welcoming and only added to the creepy factor.

Awesome read… would highly recommend it for multiple genre lovers.

Hmm, I’m never good at the bio bit. I used to teach college & bartend, now I write novels. I love to meet new people, to hear their stories, to walk through new streets and see new vistas. I enjoy art in all its guises–graffiti, surrealist paintings, classic sculptures, tattoos, interesting buildings, Renoir, photography . . . Art & nature, they feed my soul & thus my muse.

Author links:
http://www.melissamarrbooks.com/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/175855.Melissa_Marr
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Melissa-Marr/122745987781031
https://twitter.com/melissa_marr

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Book Review & Giveaway (Blog Exclusive- $10 Amazon GC): Bound by Duty (Bound Series Book 1) by Stormy Smith

Not that I wasn’t expecting a fun YA/NA romp when reading this book, but I was surprised by just how sweet it was. The main character, Amelia, and her older brother, Cole, grew up with a slightly unhinged, distant father. Amelia flies the coop as soon as she turns 18 to live near her brother and attend college. Never told why or the magnitude of the powerful magic she contains, Amelia is constantly having to battle her magical outbursts. Also bound to marry a prince of the evil tyrant queen, Amelia is stuck between a trying to be a naïve 18 year old and the hope for her race (to be exposed later).

After falling for Aiden, losing him a couple of times to stupidity then loyalty to her people, Amelia’s heart is at once broken and mended.

The novel follows the time table of Amelia’s discovery of who and what she is to facing her ultimate enemy and having to leave the life she has built with family, friends, and the guy who stole her heart.
I really enjoyed Amelia, Cole, her best friend “B”, Micah, and Aiden. Although her life has been a suck fest, Amelia continually retains her naïve, but absolute teenager nature. I can’t count the number of times I mentally swatted her for going in a multitude of wrong choices, but the fun little twists of the author’s plot lines kept the novel moving. An entertaining YA fantasy read.

Prologue

Her stark white hair fell down around her face. For the first time in one hundred years it wasn’t pulled back in a waist-length braid. Her crimson robes were torn and stained. She bit back a groan, her lips a tight line as the pain ripped through her once again. The invisible knife raked its way up her back as wounds no one could see flayed her skin and weakened her resolve. It had been days of this and she wasn’t sure if she could continue. As she looked up and met the queen’s eyes, Lavignia pushed the anger down and forced compassion to rise yet again.

“What is it you hope to learn, Julia? What is it you think you have to gain from all of this?” she asked weakly as she tugged on the restraints that kept her tethered to the heavy wooden chair. Her power was already weak when the Hunters had found her, and the enchanted chamber had dampened what remained to a tiny flame.

The room was dark, but the sun was slowly rising. An orange and pink glow filtered through the small window above Julia’s head. The colorful rays that should have resembled hope of a new day only shed light on the reality that Lavignia would never leave this room alive.

Julia stepped from the shadows and walked slowly toward Lavignia. She stopped and crouched down, putting herself at eye level.

“Oh, Livvy, dear. Don’t do that,” she said, her tone patronizing as her ice crystal eyes narrowed. “Don’t pretend you can still look down on me from your Elder tower. Don’t pretend you can utter your polite words and suddenly I’ll remember who you are versus who I am. I know exactly who I am. I am the one who rules them all. I am the one they will bow down to and worship. I am the Queen. Not you. Or your sisters. Your time is done.”

She looked back over her shoulder to the Hunter who stood in the still dark corner of the room and nodded. The Hunter’s eyes burned bright orange as Lavignia’s screams echoed off the walls. Julia raised her hand and the screams dropped to whimpers. With that same hand, she reached out and took Lavignia’s.

“Livvy, look at me,” she commanded. Dazed, dim violet eyes struggled to focus and find hers. Julia tightened her grip, digging her scarlet nails into Lavignia’s already tender flesh, making her yelp and their eyes connect.

“Livvy, you need to tell me,” she said. “I know you see it. You knew this day would come and you know I won’t stop until you tell me. I scoured the lands for you. I know there are others left, but they can be saved. You can save them, old friend. You just have to tell me.” Her tone was persuasive and gentle, but the frantic look that passed through her eyes told Lavignia the truth the queen couldn’t hide — she was scared.

“You won’t harm the others? You will let them live out their lives hidden and free? You will swear an oath?” Her words trailed off and Lavignia’s eyes closed, the torture of the last few days taking its toll. She could only hope the oath would keep her people safe.

She didn’t see the triumph that straightened Julia’s posture or the sneer that twisted her thin, painted lips. “Of course, my dear. I swear to you that I will not seek out and harm the remaining Elders. I swear that I will not take their freedom.”

“Your blood,” Lavignia said, her words barely audible.

Julia removed a small dirk from the folds of her skirts and repeated the words as she slid the blade down her palm. As the deep red drop hit the floor, she sent a small wave of power through to heal the wound, reveling in the knowledge that she had won.

“Now, Livvy, darling, you must tell me.” When Lavignia didn’t respond, Julia whipped back around to the still silent Hunter. “Help her. Give her what she needs. NOW!” she commanded, panic finally breaking through her controlled facade.

The Hunter flicked a wrist at Lavignia and she suddenly straightened, her eyes luminescent and shining at the welcome invasion of power that flooded her system, giving her renewed life for a few precious seconds.

With sudden clarity, she saw the future that had eluded her. She looked down on Julia with authority and pity as the words that would cement the queen’s fate fell from her lips.

“You will have your time, but it will end. She will be born to the one who got away. Inside her, the five families will merge and only a man who is both king and companion will tame the wild and set her free. She will be your undoing. She will lead them all.”

Julia reared back, Lavignia’s words not the ones she expected. Seconds later, her dirk was buried deep in Lavignia’s chest. Lavignia collapsed back against the chair, a content smile mocking the queen from her lifeless face.

Julia’s breath heaved in and out in short bursts as she turned to the Hunter. “I made an oath. You did not. Find them. Kill them all.”

Stormy Smith calls Iowa’s capital home now, but was raised in a tiny town in the Southeast corner of the state. She grew to love books honestly, having a mom that read voraciously and instilled that same love in her. She knew quickly that stories of fantasy were her favorite, and even as an adult gravitates toward paranormal stories in any form.

Writing a book had never been an aspiration, but suddenly the story was there and couldn’t be stopped. When she isn’t working on, or thinking about, her books, Stormy’s favorite places include bar patios, live music shows, her yoga mat or anywhere she can relax with her husband or girlfriends.

Website: http://www.stormysmith.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorStormySmith

Twitter: https://twitter.com/stormysmith

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8159417.Stormy_Smith

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Book Review: Secrets and Lies (Cassie Scot Book 2) by Christine Amsden

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“Secret and Lies” introduces readers to a more mature, but slightly bitter Cassie. After being cast aside for her family for some pretty shoddy reasons and bound to a powerful, broody dude (Evan) by a life debt… well, she has plenty of reasons to be a little prickly. Out of a job and living with a friend, Cassie eventually tries out a waitress gig while supporting her buddies through some rather surprising news, and trying to avoid Evan. So, maybe waitressing isn’t our unmagical heroine’s cup of tea, but she is suddenly thrust into a magical underground world of women from magical bloodlines sold and traded like chattel.

Hired by Evan to help him find a teenage family member who disappeared with a buddy at summer camp, Cassie and Evan are constantly fighting for their lives and their hots for each other. Explosive events of the magical and personal kind keep the fire sizzling between the pair, but a foretold heart breaking event is just on the horizon. Family pasts and secrets will be exposed.

The story revolves mostly around Cassie, her family, and Evan, but touches on supporting characters and their struggles and lives.

A fun paranormal mystery. From book one to book two, I felt the author's style of writing and her characters themselves matured. The multiple story lines might be a little distracting sometimes and rabbit trail from the original story, but that might lead to some side stories in this series. Easy read for a summer afternoon. I listened to the audio book kindly provided by the author for review and the narrator was excellent.

Christine Amsden has been writing fantasy and science fiction for as long as she can remember. She loves to write and it is her dream that others will be inspired by this love and by her stories. Speculative fiction is fun, magical, and imaginative but great speculative fiction is about real people defining themselves through extraordinary situations. Christine writes primarily about people and relationships, and it is in this way that she strives to make science fiction and fantasy meaningful for everyone.

At the age of 16, Christine was diagnosed with Stargardt’s Disease, a condition that effects the retina and causes a loss of central vision. She is now legally blind, but has not let this slow her down or get in the way of her dreams.

In addition to writing, Christine teaches workshops on writing at Savvy Authors. She also does some freelance editing work.

Christine currently lives in the Kansas City area with her husband, Austin, who has been her biggest fan and the key to her success. They have two beautiful children.

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