A DUKE CHANGES EVERYTHING (The Duke’s Den #1) by Christy Carlyle #Excerpt #Giveaway #Tour

Perfect for fans of Lorraine Heath and Tessa Dare. The first book in the new Victorian romance series The Duke’s Den, A DUKE CHANGES EVERYTHING, by Christy Carlyle has the romance and brooding hero that readers will fall in love with.

A DUKE CHANGES EVERYTHING (The Duke’s Den #1) 

by Christy Carlyle 

Release Date: November 27, 2018  

Format: Digital/Paperback; 384 Pages

Victorian Romance

About the book:

In the first novel in Christy Carlyle’s sizzling Duke’s Den series, three men, intent on making a fortune, discover irresistible opportunities . . . 

Nicholas Lyon gambled his way into a fortune and ownership of the most opulent, notorious gentlemen’s club in England. But when Nick’s cruel brother dies, he inherits a title he never wanted. The sooner Nick is rid of the estate that has always haunted him, the sooner he can return to the life he’s built in London. But there’s one obstacle—the exquisite Thomasina Thorne. 

When the new heir to the Tremayne dukedom suddenly appears in Mina Thorne’s life, she’s flustered. Not only is he breathtakingly handsome, but he’s also determined to take away her home and position as steward of the Enderley estate. If Mina learns what makes the enigmatic duke tick, perhaps she can change his mind—as long as she doesn’t get too close to him. 

With each day Nick spends with Mina, his resolve weakens as their colliding wills lead to explosive desire. Could she be the one woman who can help him finally bury the ghosts of his past?

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EXCERPT:

“Your sleep was troubled?” she asked softly. 

“It always is.” 

“I heard you call out. I thought you said my name.” Mina swallowed hard after the admission. She’d probably misheard him, but some rationale felt necessary to explain her presence in his room. 

“Did I? Perhaps you’re haunting me in my sleep.” He did that thing with his thumb again, a seductive slide against her skin. His touch rippled out to spark goose bumps along her arm and heat between her thighs. 

“You don’t remember your dreams?” she asked, her voice trembling like her insides. 

“I try not to.” 

“What troubles you?” 

“Everything.” He let out a low chuckle, like the rusty creak of a door hinge. Lowering his chin, he assessed her. “Especially you.” “I never intended to.” She pulled her hand from the duke’s, ignoring the shiver that spiked up her spine from the friction of his skin sliding against hers. “I’ll leave you so that you can get back to sleep.” 

“Mina, wait.” He reached out, caught the edge of her arm, and a few strands of unpinned hair tangled between his fingers. “There’s something I must say before you go.” 

She moved closer. He was utter temptation, all blazing heat and forest scents, and she felt an odd comfort being near him. She knew she should be scandalized. To be alone with him, a duke of the realm. A gambling club owner. Especially while he wore nothing but trousers and a half-buttoned shirt.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Fueled by Pacific Northwest coffee and inspired by multiple viewings of every British costume drama she can get her hands on, USA Today bestselling author Christy Carlyle writes sensual historical romance set in the Victorian era. She loves heroes who struggle against all odds and heroines who are ahead of their time. A former teacher with a degree in history, she finds there's nothing better than being able to combine her love of the past with a die-hard belief in happy endings. 

Follow the author:   Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Tumblr | Amazon

GIVEAWAY:

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Tour organized by:
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PAPER GIRL by Cindy R. Wilson #Blitz #ReleaseWeek #Giveaway

PAPER GIRL

by Cindy R. Wilson

Release Date:  December 4, 2018; Entangled Teen

About the book:

I haven’t left my house in over a year. My doctor says it’s social anxiety, but I know the only things that are safe are made of paper. My room is paper. My world is paper. Everything outside is fire. All it would take is one spark for me to burst into flames. So I stay inside. Where nothing can touch me.

Then my mom hires a tutor. Jackson. This boy I had a crush on before the world became too terrifying to live in. Jackson’s life is the complete opposite of mine, and I can tell he’s got secrets of his own. But he makes me feel things. Makes me want to try again. Makes me want to be brave. I can almost taste the outside world. But so many things could go wrong, and all it takes is one spark for everything I love to disappear…

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BUY LINKS:

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Amazon UK 

Amazon Canada

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Cindy lives at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, and loves using Colorado towns and cities as inspiration for settings in her stories. She's the mother of three girls, who provide plenty of fodder for her YA novels. Cindy writes speculative fiction and YA fiction, filled with a healthy dose of romance. You'll often find her hiking or listening to any number of playlists while she comes up with her next story idea.

Author Links:   Website | Twitter | Facebook

GIVEAWAY:
Two (2) winners will receive a copy of Paper Girl by Cindy R. Wilson (US only)

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$20 Amazon GC and Paper Girl themed journal (US only)

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QUEEN OF ZAZZAU by J.S. Emuakpor #BlogTour #Giveaway

QUEEN OF ZAZZAU

by J.S. Emuakpor

Date Published: 11.20.2018

Publisher: Afrocentric Books | Mugwump Press

Historical Fantasy/Mythical Realism

About the book:

Amina is heir apparent to the throne of Zazzau and must prove she is worthy of the crown. As foreign invaders close in on them, she is all that stands between her people and destruction. Caught in a web of prophecies, she must defend Zazzau, but cannot do so if she wants to prevent the future that was foretold. She did not seek war yet it finds her. Unwilling to be the plaything of gods or men and determined to take control of her own destiny, she tracks down the god of war himself. But has her destiny already been written? Can she choose her own fate? And can she protect her kingdom, no matter what price she must ultimately pay? Because, gods always want something in return.

Queen of Zazzau is an Historical Fantasy that takes place in precolonial West Africa.  It chronicles the life of one of the most famous W. African queens, Amina of Zazzau (or Zaria). At 139,000 words, the novel features several W. African historical figures and a pantheon of W. African gods. The story is told in first-person and gives the reader an intimate look at some of the lifestyles and cultures--many of which are still alive today--of medieval W. Africa.

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PURCHASE LINKS:

Amazon

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

J.S. Emuakpor was born and raised in West Africa. She is a married mother of four, a scientist, and owner of Afrocentric Books. She currently lives in North Carolina and is very much allergic to it. Most of her writing draws upon the spiritual beliefs of the ancestors who frequently whisper in her ear and on the superstitions that she refuses to relinquish. 

Author Links:  Website    Facebook     Twitter     Goodreads

GIVEAWAY:

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Blog tour organized by:
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'Can't-Wait' Wednesday: THE WICKED KING (The Folk of the Air #2) by Holly Black

'Can't-Wait' Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Tressa of Wishful Endings. It highlights book/s to be released that readers/bloggers are most excited for. It is based on Jill, from Breaking the Spine's 'Waiting on' Wednesday.

My 'Can't-Wait' Wednesday pick for this week is-

THE WICKED KING (The Folk of the Air #2)
by Holly Black
Amazon  |  Book Depository  |  B&N  |  Kobo  |  Google Play

From Goodreads:
You must be strong enough to strike and strike and strike again without tiring.

The first lesson is to make yourself strong.

After the jaw-dropping revelation that Oak is the heir to Faerie, Jude must keep her younger brother safe. To do so, she has bound the wicked king, Cardan, to her, and made herself the power behind the throne. Navigating the constantly shifting political alliances of Faerie would be difficult enough if Cardan were easy to control. But he does everything in his power to humiliate and undermine her even as his fascination with her remains undiminished.

When it becomes all too clear that someone close to Jude means to betray her, threatening her own life and the lives of everyone she loves, Jude must uncover the traitor and fight her own complicated feelings for Cardan to maintain control as a mortal in a Faerie world.

Add it on Goodreads

PRE-ORDER LINKS:

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Book Depository 

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What about you? What's your 'Can't-Wait' Wednesday pick for this week?

Share your thoughts below! I'd love to hear from you =)

MY LIFE AS A MIXTAPE (My Life as an Album #4) by LJ Evans #Excerpt #Giveaway #Tour

We are so excited that MY LIFE AS A MIXTAPE by LJ Evans is finally here. As the last and final installment in her My Life As An Album series inspired by music and romance., we just know you’ll love Lonnie and Wynn’s story. 

Keep scrolling to read an exclusive excerpt and don’t miss a chance to win the entire My Life As An Album series in print…and signed! 

MY LIFE AS A MIXTAPE (My Life as an Album #4)

by LJ Evans 

Release Date: November 13, 2018; Self-published

 Format: Print and digital 

Print ISBN: B07HLRFZ26 

Digital ISBN: 978-1723958847

Contemporary Romance

About the book:

From award winning author, LJ Evans, comes the last story in the MY LIFE AS AN ALBUM SERIES, inspired by music and romance. 

LONNIE 

I came to Tennessee to help a friend. 

And now, I’m stuck. 

By the Southern charm, 

By the sweet tea and 

By a tall, red-headed "Strawberry Shortcake." 

And when my world crumbles apart, 

Wynn is there to help me pick up the pieces. 

To show me the way. 

WYNN 

My life was a huge disappointment. 

My marriage, 

My job, 

Everything slipped away. 

Coming home seemed like the final failure. 

But then I meet him, 

Lonnie Brennan, the sexy bass player, 

Who adds laughter to my life. 

And now, I realize that I can 

Change my tune, 

Sing a new song.

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PURCHASE LINKS: 

Amazon 

→ FREE in Kindle Unlimited

BOOK EXCERPT:

Copyright © 2018 LJ Evans 

“Okay. But being twenty-five,” she emphasized her age like I should have known it. “And already having a divorce under your belt doesn’t bode well for any future endeavors.” 

I turned back to the sky because looking at her was harder than I could have ever expected. 

“One mistake doesn’t make you a failure,” I replied automatically but truthfully. 

She didn’t respond, and we just laid there watching the stars wink into existence in a way I never got to see in L.A. Here in this part of Tennessee, they were out nightly. And here at the lake, they were stunning. Like her, glimmering...shiny...heart wrenching. 

“Look at it this way,” I told her. “Now you get to have a whole bunch more firsts.” 

“What?” she asked. I could feel her looking at me now, and I risked turning my head to meet her eyes. They were so pale that it was hard to see them in the darkness that had settled over us as the sun disappeared. 

“You know. First time getting drunk...after the divorce. Well, hell, you already did that.” She smiled weakly, and I continued. “How about first date...after the divorce? First kiss...after the divorce. First time making love...after the divorce. It’s like you get a whole shitload of do-overs now but with more experience than you had when you did those things the first time. You can do them better than you did them as a kid.” 

She held her breath at my words and stared at me. 

Then she leaned slightly forward and kissed my cheek. Her lips hit my skin and filled me with a scent of berries and lake and I had to clench my fingers into my fist to prevent myself from pulling her all the way to me and devouring all of her, not just those sweet, full lips. 

“Thank you,” she breathed out as she settled back on the dock and stared at the night. 

“For what?” 

“For trying to make me feel better. For reminding me that there’s more to life than this moment.” 

But as soon as she said it, I was struck with a longing I don’t normally have. A longing to have this particular moment last forever. Because laying on the dock in the dusk with this beautiful creature might be something I could do three hundred and sixty-five days a year. And that was definitely not in any of my plans.

New to the My Life as an Album series? 

Start from the very beginning...

MY LIFE AS A COUNTRY ALBUM, book #1 (Cam and Jake) 

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Book Depository   |    Amazon → FREE on KU

MY LIFE AS A POP ALBUM, book #2 (Mia and Derek) 

Add it on Goodreads

Book Depository   |    Amazon → FREE on KU 

MY LIFE AS A ROCK ALBUM, book #3 (PJ and Seth) 

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Book Depository   |    Amazon → FREE on KU 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Award winning author, LJ Evans, lives in the California Central Valley with her husband, daughter, and the three terrors called cats. She's been writing, almost as a compulsion, since she was a little girl and will often pull the car over to write when a song lyric strikes her. While she currently spends her days teaching 1st grade in a local public school, she spends her free time reading and writing, as well as binge watching original shows like The Crown, Victoria, and Stranger Things. 

If you ask her the one thing she won’t do, it’s pretty much anything that involves dirt—sports, gardening, or otherwise. But she loves to write about all of those things, and her first published heroine was pretty much involved with dirt on a daily basis. Which is exactly what LJ loves about fiction novels—the characters can be everything you’re not and still make their way into your heart.

Author Links: Website    Facebook    Twitter    Goodreads    Newsletter    Amazon    BookBub    Pinterest    Instagram

GIVEAWAY:

Enter to win a complete, signed set of the My Life as an Album series! Plus, nine will win an e-book copy of their choice from the series!

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Tour organized by:

Barclay Publicity

Book Blitz: TOXIC by Lydia Kang Excerpt & Giveaway

TOXIC 

by Lydia Kang 

Release date: November 6th 2018; Entangled Teen 

YA Sci-fi 

About the book:

Cyclo, the first and largest biological ship of its kind, is dying. A small crew of mercenaries have handed over the rights to their life to document the death of the ship, but the abandoned ship is anything but abandoned—one girl has been left behind. 

Hana has known nothing but the isolation of a single room and the secret that has kept her there for seventeen years. When she meets Fennec, the boy assigned to watch her, she realizes that there is a world she has yet to experience but she is doomed to never meet. 

When crew members begin mysteriously dying, Hana and Fenn realize that they are racing against the death of the ship to find a way to survive—unless someone kills them even before Hana’s truly had a chance to live. 

Add it on Goodreads

PURCHASE LINKS: 

Entangled Publishing

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Book Excerpt:

My heart is beating so fast I can barely stay standing. I have clawed my robe until it has holes in the edges. 

It has been six hours now. I am absolutely forbidden to leave my room, a room that does not exist in the consciousness of any crew member except my mother, hidden as it is in the most unused part of Cyclo’s body, the northeast quadrant, alpha ring. 

For the last two hours, I’ve raised my hand countless times, poised a few inches from the door, before dropping it. Even touching the door is strictly forbidden. But I can’t wait here for much longer. Where is Mother? Where could she be? I’d even read the last entry in her diary, looking to see if anything was off, but there was nothing but our last discussion on why hedgehogs are not related to sea urchins. My eyes are full of tears, and I’ve already cried several times out of sheer panic. 

I keep my voice steady and say, “Cyclo. Please open the door.” 

Cyclo, not bothering to speak because the message is too urgent, blanches with white that moves in waves over the door. 

Forbidden. 

“Cyclo. Please open the door,” I say again, this time my voice cracking. I’ll only just peep my head outside, just a little look. I won’t step a foot out there. I know people will be walking the hallways. But if no one is there…maybe I can make my way to her lab and see why she’s delayed. I know exactly where it is. I’ve spent much of my life studying Cyclo’s every detail—the story of her birth, the way she harvests starlight energy, the layout of the ship down to every single storage vacuole and crew member unit. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lydia Kang is an author of young adult fiction, poetry, and narrative non-fiction. She graduated from Columbia University and New York University School of Medicine, completing her residency and chief residency at Bellevue Hospital in New York City. She is a practicing physician who has gained a reputation for helping fellow writers achieve medical accuracy in fiction. Her poetry and non-fiction have been published in JAMA, The Annals of Internal Medicine, Canadian Medical Association Journal, Journal of General Internal Medicine, and Great Weather for Media. She believes in science and knocking on wood, and currently lives in Omaha with her husband and three children. 

Author Links:  Website   Goodreads   Twitter    Facebook

GIVEAWAY:

A signed copy of TOXIC plus a swag bag, including enamel pin, signed print of a hand painted TOXIC artwork, bookmarks, and signed book plates. Open to US residents only (a $20 Amazon e-gift card will be substituted for an international winner)

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Blog Tour: WAR OF STORMS (The Ryogan Chronicles #3) by Erica Cameron ARC Review & Giveaway

WAR OF STORMS (The Ryogan Chronicles #3) 
by Erica Cameron 
Publication Date: November 5, 2018; Entangled Teen

About the book:
The immortal mages have risen, and they’re out for blood.

Khya arrived at the Ryogan coast too late to stop the invasion. Now, cities are falling before the unrelenting march of an enemy army, and Khya’s squad is desperately trying to stay ahead of them. Warning the Ryogans, though, means leaving her brother imprisoned even longer. Time is running out for everyone.

How can her squad of ten stand against an army of ten thousand?

Calling in help from every ally she’s made in Ryogo, Khya tries to build a plan that won’t require sacrificing her friends or her brother. It’s a tough balance to find, especially when the leadership role she thought she wanted sits heavy on her shoulders, and her relationship with Tessen is beginning to crack under the strain.

The immortal mages have risen, and they’re out for blood.

Khya arrived at the Ryogan coast too late to stop the invasion. Now, cities are falling before the unrelenting march of an enemy army, and Khya’s squad is desperately trying to stay ahead of them. Warning the Ryogans, though, means leaving her brother imprisoned even longer. Time is running out for everyone.

The end is coming, and there’s no way to know who’ll be left standing when it hits.

Add it on Goodreads

PURCHASE LINKS:
Amazon

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Amazon UK 

Amazon Canada

B&N 

iBooks 

Kobo

BOOK REVIEW:

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

I can't believe it's done. I wanted this book longer. I NEEDED this book longer. No doubt, The Ryogan Chronicles trilogy has the most unique, extraordinary plot I've come across.

War of Storms is everything you could ask for in a series finale. I barely started the book and so much was already happening. From beginning to end, it was filled with heart-stopping, high stakes adventure and action. I read this in one sitting and my only regret is I didn't make it last longer. What the heck am I supposed to do now?!

I can't remember Khya being this badass but she really stepped into her role leading everyone against Varan. She was constantly questioning herself and doubting her abilities as a leader. Seeing her come to the realization that she's more than capable is one of the highlights of the book for me. Khya is definitely one of the strongest, fiercest and most badass heroine I've met.

I LOVE everything about this! The writing is highly addictive and every page is filled with so much intensity and excitement that kept me in the edge of my seat. Also, although it was a bit hard to keep track of all the characters, I felt like each one of them played crucial, significant roles. I have no idea how to pronounce most of their names much less spell them but I think it's safe to say that not one of them are forgettable. And for those who have been as invested as me with the romance? Asdfghjkl! You will not be disappointed. I swooned so hard, so much.

The only complaint I have and it's a minor one is that the big fight with Varan felt a bit too anticlimactic for me. The whole book was filled with so much fear and anticipation gearing towards that moment and when it finally happened it lasted barely even a page. But like I said it's a minor issue for me. So it had no real effect whatsoever in my love and enjoyment of the book.

The Ryogan Chronicles is without a doubt one of the BEST trilogies I've come across. I did not want this to end but I had the biggest smile on my face after turning the very last page. If the author decided to add ten more books to the series, I'd be the first one clamoring to read them.

I will definitely read this again. I cannot recommend this enough. Must-read!

SPOILER *** The romantic in me wanted to see Khya and Tessen be a sumai pair. I really, really, REALLY did. 

Find out how it all started...

Island of Exiles (The Ryogan Chronicles #1)

ARC Review  |  Add it on Goodreads  |   Amazon  |  Book Depository

Sea of Strangers (The Ryogan Chronicles #2)

ARC Review  |  Add it on Goodreads |  Amazon  |  Book Depository

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Website • Twitter • Facebook • Pinterest • Goodreads

Erica Cameron is the author of books for young adults including the Ryogan Chronicles, the Assassins duology, and The Dream War Saga. She also co-authored the Laguna Tides novels with Lani Woodland. An advocate for asexuality and emotional abuse awareness, Erica has also worked with teens at a residential rehabilitation facility in her hometown of Fort Lauderdale.

GIVEAWAY:

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Blog Tour: FIRST FULL MOON by Michelle Alstead Excerpt & Giveaway

FIRST FULL MOON 
by Michelle Alstead
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release Date: August 28th 2018

About the book: 
More secrets. More lies. I'm going to die. 

She wanted a car for her sixteenth birthday, not magical powers… Candy McGregor is a teenager living in Sequim Falls, a small East Coast town, where the McGregors own just about everything. While her grandmother grooms her to run the family business—a pharmaceutical empire—Candy dreams of a life where she’s known as more than just a last name. When the monthly family dinner turns into a horror show, Candy discovers the McGregors aren’t so much blessed as they are cursed. At midnight on her sixteenth birthday, Candy inherits both the ability to do magic and the destiny to become a wolf on the next full moon. There is hope of a life that doesn’t require being chained up once a month. If Candy can undo the original spell that created the curse, she can rid the world of werewolves and remain a witch. But there’s one really big problem. Not everyone hates being a wolf.

With the next full moon looming, Candy must take on forces that will do anything to stop her. Will she break the curse or surrender to life as a monster?

Add it on Goodreads

PURCHASE LINKS:

Amazon

EXCERPT:

The glass in Grandmother’s hand shatters, cutting her palm. Blood spills down her arm and onto the white table cloth. She grips the table, blood dripping from her ears. “Is this someone’s idea of a joke?” 

My ears ring, making my brain feel as if it’s about to explode. Covering my ears, I survey the room. Bennett, Larkin, and Jasper stare with wide-eyes. They can’t hear the sound. If they could, they’d be in agony like my uncles, grandmother, and me. 

It’s just like the whistle in the woods. 

My grandmother knocks her chair to the floor, doubling over. 

“Grandmother? What’s wrong?” I ask. 

She turns toward me with glowing yellow eyes. Her hands have sprouted hair, and she’s torn her dress at the sides. 

“You have to get out of here,” she growls. 

“I don’t understand,” I say, standing up and putting weight on my injured foot. The pain is gone. 

I scan the room as I back away from the table. My uncles are on the floor, writhing and screaming. They’re blocking the door, the only way out. 

Larkin, Bennett, and Jasper get up from the table. We move to the east corner of the room, huddled against a wall. The noise grows louder, sending vibrations through my skull. My stomach churns, causing cramps that make me double over. “What is that?” I scream. 

“I don’t know,” Larkin says. “But look at the moon.” She points out the window. 

The full moon is at the highest point in the sky. We turn at the sound of a low growl. Uncle Samuel is on the floor. He has paws and a tail. 

And he looks hungry. Really, really hungry. 

Blood spills from my nose. The room swims before my eyes. One-by-one, my uncles scream, howl, and shift into wolves. I drop to my knees, not believing the scene before my eyes. The car accident must have caused a concussion. It’s the only explanation for what’s happening. Maybe if I close my eyes and go to sleep—my head is just so heavy—I’ll wake and everything will be normal again. 

It wasn’t folklore. The wolf curse is real. 

In a heartbeat, everything goes black.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Website   Goodreads   Facebook   Twitter

Michelle Alstead is a single, divorced mom of a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder, who tries to promote autism awareness and advocate for gender equality while raising Sheldon Cooper and searching for some semblance of a love life.

Michelle's novels are frequently available for free on Amazon Kindle. Sign up for her email list to receive notifications.

GIVEAWAY:

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Blog tour organized by:

YA Bound Book Tours 

Blog Tour: THE EDGE RULES (The Rules series #3) by Melanie Hooyenga Exclusive Interview & Giveaway

THE EDGE RULES (The Rules series #3) 
by Melanie Hooyenga

About the book:
Being a bully isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

Sixteen-year old Brianna had everything she wanted: money to ski all over the world, underlings to do her bidding, and parents who gave her every freedom—as long as she played by their rules. But when she’s busted shoplifting and assigned to the Chain Gang, she ditches her shallow ways and realizes being herself is easier than manipulating people.

Forced to partner with kids she’d never dream of befriending, including Xavier, a boy who makes her pulse go into hyperdrive, Brianna vows to be a better person. Breaking Old Brianna’s habits isn’t easy, but her infatuation with Xavier—someone her parents would never approve of—motivates her to keep trying.

Even when he convinces her to trade her swanky skis for a beat-up snowboard.

Brianna lets go of her need to control everything and finally starts to feel free—until her past threatens to jeopardize her first real chance at love. She discovers balancing on the edge is as challenging in life as it is in snowboarding, and when a new friend is in trouble, Brianna must decide between the superficial things that used to be her world and putting her friend’s safety before herself.

Add it on Goodreads

PURCHASE LINKS:
Kobo

Google Play

Amazon

B&N

Angus & Robertson

Mondadori Store

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW:

Hi Melanie! Can I call you Melanie? Or do you prefer something else? =) 

Yes! Melanie is perfect. :)

Anyway thanks so much for being here! Welcome to my small, humble corner of the internet! 

Thanks for having me!

1. If you weren't an author what would you be? 

This is easy, because I have a day job doing what I love. My background is in graphic design, and I’m fortunate that I’ve been able to combine that with my writing skills in my current role as the Director of Marketing & Communications at my local community foundation. I love that I get to use my strengths while giving back to my hometown.

2. What do you do when you're not writing? 

I have a hard time sitting still, so I’m either playing sports with my husband, running around outside, or tackling a DIY project around the house. (Next: refinishing a pair of chairs that belonged to his grandmother.) We have a 9-year old miniature schnauzer named Owen who still thinks he’s a puppy, so he’s usually at the center of what we’re doing as well. I live just steps from Lake Michigan, so I try to be outside as much as I can, but when I am inside, I prefer to read or stream a show while playing games on my phone.

3. You've written other books before The Edge Rules, does it get easier after writing so many already? 

Yes and no. I’ve learned a lot about myself as a writer over the years, and my process has become more streamlined, but the act of actually writing a book still takes time, perseverance, and dedication. No one else can do it for you—but I highly recommend close friends to talk you through the rough moments.

4. Which character of The Edge Rules have you had the most fun to write? 

Brianna, for sure, although I always have a soft spot for the best friends in all my books. What I like about Brianna is she says whatever she’s thinking, does what she wants, and doesn’t make excuses for it. Of course, that’s what gets her into so much trouble and makes her want to change, but as a writer, it was fun. I can’t tell you how many times I’d stop myself writing something like “I caught myself from saying…” and said “No! Just say it!” Brianna does not hold back.

5. Please don't hate me. But I've yet to read The Rules series. Can you tell us a little bit about it? 

I don’t hate you! There are so many amazing books out there that I’ve yet to read, so I totally get it. That said, I know you’ll want to read these after I tell you about them. The Rules Series is about three girls in Boulder, Colorado who navigate their struggles with life and love while skiing, biking, and snowboarding in the great outdoors. They’re perfect for fans of outdoor adventure, swoony kisses, and figuring out who you really are. Each book has its own storyline. In The Slope Rules, Cally has to navigate a new school while trying to figure out why the boy she likes lied to her and avoid getting sucked into the mean girl clique—all while doing some amazing tricks on skis. In The Trail Rules, Mike thinks she has everything figured out, but comes to realize that she’s just doing what everyone thinks she should do, so she makes new friends and learns to follow her own trail—and crushes it on a mountain bike. In The Edge Rules, Brianna has always been the resident mean girl, but when life comes crashing down around her, she realizes she needs to change if she doesn’t want to spend the rest of her life alone—and switches from skiing to snowboarding.

6. What's your favorite of any five things (movies, foods, places to visit, songs etc.)? 

Ooh, let’s go with favorite foods. On a basic level, I love cheese and wine. Really can’t go wrong there. But when forced to mush ingredients together for a meal, my favorites are:
• sea scallops with wilted spinach and garlic mashed potatoes (local restaurant)
• almond crusted rainbow trout with parmesan asparagus (we make this every week)
• pesto chicken stuffed with stuffing, served with mashed or cubed and roasted squash (we make this once a month in the winter)
• a perfectly cooked steak (medium-rare for me) with sautéed mushrooms and either roasted brussell sprouts or tomato-mozzarella salad (another monthly indulgence in our house)
• any salad with loads of mixed greens, grilled chicken, tons of veggies, nuts, berries, or cheese that makes sense for that meal.

And now I’m hungry. :)

7. Do you have any advice for aspiring writers? 

Keep writing, and find other writer friends. This is such a solitary endeavor that you have to love it—don’t write simply because someone else thinks “you’re so talented.” That won’t get you through the lonely nights (or mornings, in my case) when you’re actually doing the work. Having like-minded friends to cheer you on and commiserate when your down makes it more bearable.

I would like to thank the author, the wonderful Melanie Hooyenga for being here! I added your books to my tbr; I'm hoping I'll get to them as soon as I can. 'Til next time =)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

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Multi-award winning young adult author Melanie Hooyenga first started writing as a teenager and finds she still relates best to that age group. She has lived in Washington DC, Chicago, and Mexico, but has finally settled down in her home state of Michigan. When not at her day job as a Communications Director at a nonprofit, you can find Melanie attempting to wrangle her Miniature Schnauzer Owen and playing every sport imaginable with her husband Jeremy.

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Physical Copies of the series (US). Digital copies for international winners. 

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Blog Tour: THE DRAGON TAMER (Alveria Dragon Akademy #1) by Ava Richardson Excerpt

THE DRAGON TAMER (Alveria Dragon Akademy #1)
by Ava Richardson
Date Published: 10.31.18
YA Fantasy

About the book:
In Alveria, humans and dragons have existed side by side for centuries, but old tensions have grown and the kingdom is now divided between human nobles and the dragons that fear for the survival of their species. For the humans who serve the dragons, the future looks bleak: human Tamers outnumber the dragons and no viable eggs have been laid in over two decades.

For seventeen-year-old Kaelan Younger, growing up at the bottom of Alverian society has been hard, made even harder by the fact that she is loyal to the crown and has a habit of opening her mouth when she shouldn’t. But when her mother, dying of a mysterious disease, reveals the secret of her father’s identity, Kaelan is thrust into a world she was never prepared for – the opportunity to train at a prestigious school for those who share a dragon’s bloodline. The Alveria Akademy is a proving ground for humans and dragons alike, and could give Kaelan the chance to change her life forever.

Faced with a new life, and the gradual realization that she is meant for something more, Kaelan must reconcile not only her past, but also the course of her future. When her responsibilities as a Tamer collide with her feelings for Lasaro, Prince of Alveria and a powerful dragon shifter, it will take a strength she has never known to prepare her for the coming danger, and the fate of the dragons she has been sworn to serve.

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BOOK EXCERPT:
Prince Lasaro Afkarr hated arguing with his mother.

On bad days, this was because she ended arguments by turning into a creature a hundred times larger than him, with long, sharp teeth that she would never dream of threatening him with, but still kept in his line of sight all the same. Even on good days, though, the argument never ended up going his way. No one took him seriously—Queen Celede, most of all. But today he was going to change that.

He squared his shoulders, pushed open the door to the throne room, and approached his mother.

Queen Celede, dragon-blooded ruler of all of Alveria, was draped over her throne in her human form. He had no idea how she managed to turn an action so simple as sitting on a chair—albeit an intimidating chair, with long gold spikes emanating from its back—into an act of grace, but it made him feel clumsy and young by comparison. Today, she wore a simple sapphire gown decorated with golden-threaded trim. When she turned to look at him, her slender golden crown shifted atop her mass of brown-and-gray curls. She reached up to secure it with a flick of her wrist, making even that small motion look elegant.

Lasaro bowed. She ignored him.

“Linna!” she called out instead, narrowing her eyes as she peered over his head. “How many times do I have to tell you, no sword practice in the throne room? I’m about to hold court, and if you slice off another nobleman’s finger, there will be Hel to pay.”

He glanced over his shoulder—just in time to duck as Linna, one of his older twin sisters, whirled her sword in a shining arc that would’ve taken his head off. Linge, the other twin, darted in to catch her sister’s blade with her own. Lasaro bit back a frown, stepping well out of the way. One of these days, he’d lob his own sword at their heads and see how they liked it. He wasn’t quite as good at combat as them—they had too much dragon blood, so that it made them warlike and hotheaded, and far more willing to chop people’s heads off than he’d have preferred—but if he was swift enough, maybe he could at least get their attention.

But it wasn’t their attention he was here for today.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Ava Richardson writes epic page-turning Young Adult Fantasy books. She creates lovable characters and drops them into intricate worlds that are barely contained within your eReader. Her current work is the ‘Return of the Darkening Series’, which features Seb, Thea and their shared dragon, Kalax. 

She grew up on a steady diet of fantasy and science fiction books handed down from her two big brothers – and despite being dog-eared and missing pages, she loved escaping into the magical worlds that those authors created. Her favorites were the ones about dragons; where they’d swoop, dive and soar through the skies of these enchanted lands.

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