Book tour: Shadow of Deception

Today I'm proud to be a part of the 'Shadow of Deception', hosted by Dark World Books. To view other stops on this tour just click on the banner.

SHADOW OF DECEPTION (The Kazumi Chronicles #1)

by Sophia L. Johnson

YA Dystopian/Sci-fi

Published on April 19^th, 2015

2153, Toronto, United Nation of North America (UNNA)

A horrific plane crash kills all five hundred and forty-two passengers except one. Kazumi emerges from the wreckage physically unscathed but has lost all her memories. Her miraculous survival has the whole city buzzing but all she wants is to go home, wherever home is.

After waiting a month in the hospital with no one to claim her, Kazumi is deemed homeless. She is about to be sent to a nearby teenage shelter when the nurse she grew to trust ushers her down a mysterious path, one that promises safety and maybe even the chance to recover her memories. With no better options available, Kazumi takes her chance and finds herself in the headquarters of the Sarcomeres, a secret society of genetically advanced humans hidden deep inside the Rocky Mountains. The Sarc’s heightened physical abilities and high-tech gadgets are not the only things that fascinate Kazumi. Finnegan O’Riley, a fellow Sarc she meets along the way also gets her heart racing. When Kazumi discovers that she possesses the genetic potential of a Sarcomere, she jumps at the chance to train with them, not knowing the death defying tests that are involved.

Meanwhile, a centuries-old nemesis of the Sarcomeres begins to stir in the dark, setting their dark plans in motion. Just when Kazumi thinks she can help protect her new found home, past memories surface to threaten her new identity. She soon realizes that layers of deception run deep and everyone has a secret agenda, including herself.

Who can she trust when she can’t even trust herself? One wrong decision could bring forth consequences worse than death.

Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Indigo – Google Play
Add it to your Goodreads list!

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All royalties made in the first year will go to a charity called Covenant House, to help homeless youth.

Review
This was a unique and inventive story for a sci-fi/dystopian novel. Without giving too much away from the story, it's easy to feel bad for the main character. Kazumi wakes up from a plane crash with no memory of who she is. In the beginning, I did find her character (or Gabi, who she is being called at the beginning) a little bit annoying and making some really dumb choices that have dire consequences, but once her memories start coming back her character really started to grow.

Then there's Finn. Such a badass, and powerful both in his leadership and his fighting. He's the character that really made the story.

As for the plot. I really liked that, for a sci-fi, the technology was explained and the reader got a deeper understanding of the world. Things didn't just happen, they were thought out and explained, such as why the genetically advanced humans are better.

This story did hold my interest from beginning to end, and I would recommend this to anyone who loves a good dystopian or sci-fi story.

About the Author

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With a degree in International Business Management, Sophia has worked in a major marketing firm where she realized the corporate world isn’t one she wants to be in.  She then made the switch into the healthcare industry as a Registered Massage Therapist by day and a writer by night.  She is now a Massage Therapy instructor and a published author living with her husband and daughter in Toronto.  Her go-to genres are science fiction, fantasy, and dystopian; or anything that sweeps her away into a foreign world that promises adventure.

Website – Twitter – Facebook

INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY

PRIZES UP FOR GRABS:

• Two $10 Amazon Gift Cards

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Book Tour: Spinner Tour

Today I'm proud to be a part of the 'Spinner Tour', hosted by Dark World Books. To view other stops on this tour just click on the banner.

SPINNER
by Michael J Bowler
YA Horror/Paranormal
Published on August 5th, 2015 

Fifteen-year-old Alex is a “spinner.” His friends are “dummies.” Two clandestine groups of humans want his power. And an ancient evil is stalking him. If people weren’t being murdered, Alex might laugh at how his life turned into a horror movie overnight.

In a wheelchair since birth, his freakish ability has gotten him kicked out of ten foster homes since the age of four. Now saddled with a sadistic housemother who uses his spinning to heal the kids she physically abuses, Alex and his misfit group of learning disabled classmates are the only ones who can solve the mystery of his birth before more people meet a gruesome end.

They need to find out who murdered their beloved teacher, and why the hot young substitute acts like she’s flirting with them. Then there’s the mysterious medallion that seems to have unleashed something malevolent, and an ancient prophecy suggesting Alex has the power to destroy humanity.

The boys break into homes, dig up graves, elude kidnappers, fight for their lives against feral cats, and ultimately confront an evil as old as humankind. Friendships are tested, secrets uncovered, love spoken, and destiny revealed.

The kid who’s always been a loner will finally learn the value of friends, family, and loyalty.

If he survives…

Amazon

Add it to your Goodreads list!

Review

Alex is a teen in a wheelchair, and he can easily get foster homes, he has a hard time keeping them with his special ability. Alex is a Spinner. He has the ability to take on others' pain and heal them. It was only a matter of time before someone sought to use his powers against him. Alex forms a tight connection with the other misfits from his classmates (all with learning disabilities) as sinister events start happening, starting with the murder of their teacher. 

The blurb is what originally drew me into wanting to read this story - a story with such a diverse cast of characters, especially with a main character with such a challenge from the first page - and I wasn't disappointed. Bowler has created an interesting story that has elements of horror mixed with a strong and diverse cast. Even being in a wheelchair, I was glad that Alex did not let his disability define him, or stop him from doing what needed to be done.

It was a thrilling read from start to end and I would definitely recommend to anyone that loves horror.

About the Author

--> Michael J. Bowler is an award-winning author of eight novels–A Boy and His Dragon, A Matter of Time (Silver Medalist from Reader’s Favorite), and The Knight Cycle, comprised of five books: Children of the Knight (Gold Award Winner in the Wishing Shelf Book Awards), Running Through A Dark Place, There Is No Fear, And The Children Shall Lead, Once Upon A Time In America, and Spinner. His horror screenplay, “Healer,” was a Semi-Finalist, and his urban fantasy script, “Like A Hero,” was a Finalist in the Shriekfest Film Festival and Screenplay Competition. He grew up in San Rafael, California, and majored in English and Theatre at Santa Clara University. He went on to earn a master’s in film production from Loyola Marymount University, a teaching credential in English from LMU, and another master’s in Special Education from Cal State University Dominguez Hills. He partnered with two friends as producer, writer, and/or director on several ultra-low-budget horror films, including “Fatal Images,” “Club Dead,” and “Things II,” the reviews of which are much more fun than the actual movies. He taught high school in Hawthorne, California for twenty-five years, both in general education and to students with learning disabilities, in subjects ranging from English and Strength Training to Algebra, Biology, and Yearbook. He has also been a volunteer Big Brother to eight different boys with the Catholic Big Brothers Big Sisters program and a thirty-year volunteer within the juvenile justice system in Los Angeles. He has been honored as Probation Volunteer of the Year, YMCA Volunteer of the Year, California Big Brother of the Year, and 2000 National Big Brother of the Year. The “National” honor allowed him and three of his Little Brothers to visit the White House and meet the president in the Oval Office. He is currently working on a sequel to Spinner. His goal as a YA author is for teens to experience empowerment and hope; to see themselves in his diverse characters; to read about kids who face real-life challenges; and to see how kids like them can remain decent people in an indecent world.

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The Executioner at the Institute for Contaminated Children Review Tour

Welcome to my stop on the What Gifts She Carried tour hosted by Dark World Books.  Click HERE to see the full blog tour schedule!

The Executioner

at the Institute for Contaminated Children

16 The deciding age of contamination.

30 The number of coin flips it takes to prove that Donna may have subconsciously used her genetically enhanced abilities to excel in school.

24 The number of hours Donna has to board a train to the Institute for Extraordinary Children.

14 The flights of stairs she must climb to get to her room.

700 The number of pages in the rule book that will determine how she eats, sleeps, and…well…smells for the remainder of the school year.

2 The number of members in her squad. Good thing Dan’s there to help get her abilities in shape and avoid Donna’s worst fear—humiliation. Her abilities skyrocket. Until the day she learns exactly what Dan is capable of.

1 The number of bodies that turn up dead.

0 Her chances of getting out alive.

Amazon (Kindle) – Amazon (Paperback) – Barnes & Noble

Add The Executioner at the Institute for Contaminated Children

to your Goodreads list!

My Review:

When I first picked up The Executioner of the Institute for Contaminated Children I had no idea what I was in for, and I wasn't sorry. The idea of children developing powers has always been an interest of mine, and Donna was a fantastic character to follow into this story.

Donna is a smart character, and that is actually her power. She has the ability to always pick the right multiple choice question and she has the ability to predict things in games of chance. That is why Donna is sent to the "special" school.  Soon Donna learns that something is not right, especially since there are no phones, TV or internet at the school. When students start turning up dead, Donna is determined she's going to find out what's going on.

Margaret E. Alexander has written a thrilling story that will keep the reader guessing until the very end about who the executioner is. Donna is a strong character who really develops as the story moves. In the beginning she was very timid and she definitely morphed into the butt-kicking heroine that I love, and she will do anything to stand up for what she believes and protect the ones she loves.

The Executioner of the Institute for Contaminated Children was a thrilling read and I recommend this to anyone who loves superhero stories.

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Margaret E. Alexander

Margaret E. Alexander grew up in Miami, FL. Ten years of frizz and hurricanes chased her away to sunny San Diego, CA. While in college, studying biomedical engineering didn’t stop her from pumping out novel drafts every year. She found her escape in storytelling and others like her who sometimes preferred the world of fiction to the real one. The Executioner at the Institute for Contaminated Children is her first YA novel with Crescent Moon Press. She loves blogging about thrillers with young protagonists and is putting her art minor to good use with a graphic novel project on the side. Her wandering focus is the fault of her cat.

Blog – Twitter – Goodreads

What Gifts She Carried Tour

Welcome to my stop on the What Gifts She Carried tour hosted by Dark World Books.  Click HERE to see the full blog tour schedule!

What Gifts She Carried

(The Grave Winner #2)

Leigh Baxton just wants to pick up the pieces of her life—if you could call it that—but someone keeps resurrecting the dead. These new zombies have a knack for spilling Leigh’s precious blood, something she was warned about by a certain pair of undead sorceresses.

Desperate to find out why they’re here so Leigh can put the nightmares behind her, she must learn more about the gifts she carries. With Tram’s training sessions and clues from her mom’s past, Leigh begins to piece together what she’s capable of.

Too bad there isn’t a Cliff’s Notes version to saving the world.

The zombies have teamed up with followers of the darkest sorceress who ever lived, and they’ll play a wicked game until she’s freed from her prison inside the earth. When the battle to the death begins, Leigh must rely on friends, crushes, and even her enemies to win the war, but not the grave.

Amazon (Kindle) – Amazon (Paperback) – Barnes & Noble

Add What Gifts She Carried to your Goodreads list!

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About The Grave Winner (Book #1)

Leigh Baxton is terrified her mom will come back from the dead — just like the prom queen did.

While the town goes beehive over the news, Leigh bikes to the local cemetery and buries some of her mom’s things in her grave to keep her there. When the hot and mysterious caretaker warns her not to give gifts to the dead, Leigh cranks up her punk music and keeps digging.

She should have listened.

Two dead sorceresses evicted the prom queen from her grave to bury someone who offered certain gifts. Bury them alive, that is, then resurrect them to create a trio of undead powerful enough to free the darkest sorceress ever from her prison inside the earth.

With help from the caretaker and the dead prom queen, Leigh must find out what’s so special about the gifts she gave, and why the sorceresses are stalking her and her little sister. If she doesn’t, she’ll either lose another loved one or have to give the ultimate gift to the dead – herself.

Amazon US – Amazon UK

Buy your copy now at a very special price!

*OFFER VALID FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY*

My Review:

Leigh Braxton cannot catch a break. She just wants to get back to her normal life, but unfortunately that's not going to happen. What Gifts She Carried picks up right after where the Grave Winner left off, plunging Leigh and her friends right in the thick of the action again, facing more nightmarish situations and undead creatures than anyone should have to face. 

 

Lindsey R. Loucks has created another fast-pasted and thrilling read that will leave anyone sitting on the edge of their seats, wondering what is going to happen next. Leigh is a fantastic main character to follow through the story, and it's the fire she has to conquer this evil that makes her a force, as well as her friends who are willing to stand beside her.

 

With plenty of twists and turns, as well as lots of undead fiends out for Leigh's blood, this book is the perfect match for anyone who loves a good horror. Be warned, it might be best to consume this book with the lights on.

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Lindsey R. Loucks

Lindsey R. Loucks works as a school librarian in rural Kansas. When she’s not discussing books with anyone who will listen, she’s dreaming up her own stories. Eventually her brain gives out, and she’ll play hide and seek with her cat, put herself in a chocolate induced coma, or watch scary movies alone in the dark to reenergize. She’s been with her significant other for almost two decades.

Website/Blog – Twitter – Facebook

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The Romeo Club tour

Today I'm proud to be a part of the 'The Romeo Club tour', hosted by YA Bound. You can view the rest of the tour spots by clicking on the banner above. 

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The Romeo Club

by Rebekah L Purdy

Release Date: 03/25/14

YA CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE 

Summary from Goodreads:

THE ROMEO CLUB is Hitch meets The Secret of My Success.

What happens when you agree to help your brother “de-nerdify” so he can catch the attention of the popular Chloe Anders, and to everyone's surprise, he actually lands her?

And what if his equally geeky friends come running with girl wish lists of their own, offering money for your services?

Well, if you’re sixteen-year-old, Delyla Denson, then you start The Romeo Club. A secret club where she’ll teach these guys how talk, act, and be cool around girls. It’s a win-win situation.

She’ll get enough money for the awesome prom dress she’s had her eye on, and the guys, well, they’ll get dates and maybe learn how to do something other than beat the next level on their video games.

There are only two problems with this plan. One, her quarterback/track star boyfriend is getting jealous of how much time she’s spending away from him and decides to try and figure out what’s going on. And two, Delyla is kind of falling for her brother’s BFF, Trey who she’s been hanging out with a lot more. And who thanks to her help, has caught the attention of the beautiful, perfect, and popular, Portia Rickard. With Portia and Trey heating up, Delyla realizes that maybe the person she’s meant to be with has been in front of her all this time.

But falling for Trey means she’ll have to take drastic measures including sabotage, with a capital S.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18866253-the-romeo-club

Buy Links:

Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00INB4FMM/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00INB4FMM&linkCode=as2&tag=bookitreas-20

Amazon UK - http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00INB4FMM/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B00INB4FMM&linkCode=as2&tag=bookitreas-21

My Review

Delya has the looks, popularity and know-how to give her nerdy brother, Drake a makeover to win the girl of his dreams. When the makeover works better than intended, Drake's friends are all eager to get Delya's help too. That's when Delya decides to form the Romeo club - and earn a extra cash for the perfect prom dress as well - a club that will help teach boys how to dress and how to talk to girls. Things become a little bit complicated when Delya realises she's interested in Drake's best friend - and someone she's known practically for all her life - Trey. How can Delya keep giving him advice to win the girl of his dreams? Or will she do anything - even sabotage - to get what she wants?

Rebekah Purdy has created a light and entertaining read with The Romeo Club with bits of romance and tragedy tossed in with the humour, and this author sure knows how to work in the humour without making it see forced. Delya's and Trey's chemistry was pure electricity at times and I just wanted to keep turning the page to find out what was going to happen next.

I would certainly recommend this to anyone who is looking for a light romantic comedy to read, or anyone who loves watching the Big Bang Theory (I could definitely see some of that thrown in the pages). 

 About the Author

Rebekah Purdy

Rebekah Purdy grew up in Michigan, where she spent many late nights armed with a good book and a flashlight. When not hiding at her computer and getting lost in her stories, she enjoys reading, singing, soccer, swimming, football, camping, playing video games and hanging out with her kids. She loves the unexplainable like Bigfoot, the Dogman, and the Loch Ness Monster (lots of good story material)! She admits to still having all the books she bought throughout her childhood and teen years, and she may or may not have an obsession with anything chocolate…

Author Links:

http://rebekahlpurdy.wordpress.com/

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4615084.Rebekah_L_Purdy

https://twitter.com/RebekahLPurdy

https://www.facebook.com/rebekahlpurdyauthor

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Emily's Heart Book Tour

Today I'm proud to be a part of the 'Emily's Heart tour', hosted by YA Bound. You can view the rest of the tour spots by clicking on the banner above. 

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Emily's Heart

by Natalie Wright

Release Date: 11/26/13

Summary from Goodreads:

**The long-awaited final book in this popular magickal, action-packed teen series! Seventeen-year-old Emily Adams unintentionally unleashed a shadow god's dark energy power into the world and started an Apocalypse. But Emily is also the only one that can end the dark god's reign. Though the powerful faerie magic of the golden torc is still coiled around her arm, self-doubt threatens to undo her.

Emily wants nothing more than to feel the soft kiss of her one true love, but he won't even speak to her. Her first crush is still quite dead and her best friend remains a prisoner in the dark god's house of nightmares. A growing legion of black-eyed shadow people, devoid of conscience, roam the streets. Emily needs help now more than ever, but redemption seems far off indeed as she faces the expanding darkness alone. Emily will need an army of her own if she is to save the world from being taken over by pure evil.

But will a small band of Lucent geeks and freaks be enough to send the dark god packing? Amidst chaos and ruin, will love blossom in Emily's Heart?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19134349-emily-s-heart?from_search=true

Links to books in this series:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13057436-emily-s-house

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16061046-emily-s-trial

Buy Links:

Amazon U.S.:

e-book: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I2U3DWW

Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Emilys-Heart-Natalie-Wright/dp/1493697587/ref=tmm_pap_title_0

Amazon U.K.: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00I2U3DWW

Barnes & Noble:

e-book: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/emilys-heart-natalie-wright/1117529273?ean=2940045480314

Paperback: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/emilys-heart-natalie-wright/1117529273?ean=9781493697588

Apple iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/emilys-heart/id775369037?mt=11&uo=4

Smashwords: *Please use discount code WX85L for 25% off Cover Price!

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/384756

 

My Review

Natalie Wright has created a fantastic end to an exciting trilogy. Emily, now seventeen, has been isolated from all of her friends as the apocalypse has been unleashed. People are losing their souls, turning away from the light and being consumed by the darkness. Emily knows she needs to fight to end the darkness, but with only a small group of Lucents to help, she has her doubts whether she'll be strong enough. Will it be enough?

The one thing I really liked about this story was Emily. She's a strong heroine to follow through the series. She has really grown and evolved through the three books, and throw her into a daring situation and she is not afraid to do what needs to be done.

The strong action scenes, mixed in with teen angst and a hint of romance makes this story a thrilling page-turner with lots of twists and turns. 

I thoroughly enjoyed Emily's Heart, and would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a good apocalyptic action.

 About the Author

Natalie Wright

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Natalie is the author of The Akasha Chronicles, a young adult paranormal fantasy trilogy. When not

writing, blogging, Facebooking, Tweeting, Wattpadding or eating chocolate, Natalie nurtures her young daughter, plays with her two young cats, and feeds her dog too many treats.

Natalie enjoys walking in the high desert, snorkeling in warm waters, travel, and excellent food shared with family and friends. She was raised an Ohio farm girl, now lives in the desert Southwest, and dreams of living in a big city high rise.

Natalie enjoys chatting with readers, so stop by and say hi:

Blog: http://www.NatalieWrightsYA.blogspot.com

Twitter: http://www.Twitter.com.NatalieWright_

Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com.NatalieWright.Author

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/468945.Natalie_Wright

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/WritesKidsBooks

Wattpad: http://www.wattpad.com/user/NatalieWright_

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/natwrites/

***GIVEAWAY***

$20 Amazon gift card + winner’s choice of ebook or audiobook of Emily’s Trial (book 2)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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RULES AND RESTRICTIONS: 

Contest is void where prohibited. Entrants must be 13 or else have parent or guardian’s permission to enter. Winners will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to respond  or another winner’s name will be selected. Winning entries will be verified for authenticity.