Book Highlight & Giveaway: Feudlings in Smoke by Wendy Knight

Title: Feudlings in Smoke
Author: Wendy Knight
Series: Fate on Fire #1.5
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Published: January 14th, 2014

Watching helplessly while your baby sister saves the world alone? It kinda sucks.
Will Delacour is one of the most powerful sorcerers to ever live. He’s Guard to the Edren Prodigy—his sister, Ari. But he walked away from the war, refusing to fight in a cause he didn’t believe in. He was deemed a traitor by the powerful Family, and now there’s a price on his head that leaves him trapped in a prison of his own making. And he can’t even tell the love of his life what she means to him because of the magical war that still controls their lives.
Instead of embracing his destiny, Will is forced to watch as Ari goes into battle over and over again, facing her enemies alone. She might be okay with it, but he’s not. He doesn’t believe in the war, but he does believe in her, and he knows his place is fighting by her side. Somehow, Will has to find a way to be there when Ari needs him , even if it means he forfeits his own life in the process.

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Ari pointed a finger at him, “Don't think I've forgotten that little stunt you pulled today. I'm debating over an adequate punishment.” She shoved herself to her feet, crossing the room and touching a finger to the spark of the doorway she'd left burning. The portal bloomed to life, and he could see the airway hanger, and the sport utility vehicle she'd affectionately named Beep, waiting for her. She stepped through, but paused just on the other side. “Will?”

“Yeah, baby sister?” he asked with a smile. She was going to tell him that he needed to lighten up, or that he wasn't allowed to lecture boys, or that she forgot his pizza, which she had, and now that he thought about it he was mildly annoyed, but she surprised him.

“You always say that you aren't there to protect me like you're supposed to. I think you don't realize something.” She tipped her head sideways, considering him while his mouth hung open. “You trained me, Will. Without that, I would die a thousand times before the Prodigy ever found me. And today, you stopped that e-mail. You don't have to be fighting by my side to protect me.” She cracked the barest hint of a sarcastic smile. “Anyway, I'm an uber-powerful warrior. I don't need a babysitter.” Her sarcastic smile turned sad. “I need a brother who reminds me that I'm not a monster. Who loves me and always has my back. Who reminds me that I still have hope. If not for you, I would be lost. Remember that, Will.”

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Wendy Knight was born and raised in Utah by a wonderful family who spoiled her rotten because she was the baby. Now she spends her time driving her husband crazy with her many eccentricities (no water after five, terror when faced with a live phone call, etcetera, etcetera). She also enjoys chasing her three adorable kids, playing tennis, watching football, reading, and hiking. Camping is also big: her family is slowly working toward a goal of seeing all the National Parks in the U.S.

You can usually find her with at least one Pepsi nearby, wearing ridiculously high heels for whatever the occasion may be. And if everything works out just right, she will also be writing. 

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Book Highlight & Giveaway: Death of the Body by Rick Chiantaretto!

Death of the Body by Rick Chiantaretto

Genre: Young adult fantasy

Series: Crossing Death #1

Published: December 13, 2013 by Orenda Press; 400 pages

I grew up in a world of magic. By the time I was ten I understood nature, talked to the trees, and listened to the wind. When the kingdom of men conquered my town, I was murdered by one of my own—the betrayer of my kind. But I didn't stay dead.

I woke to find myself in a strange new world called Los Angeles. The only keys to the life I remembered were my father’s ring, my unique abilities, and the onslaught of demons that seemed hell-bent on finding me. Now I must find out who I really am, protect my friends, and get back to my beloved hometown of Orenda.

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Before Xia had the chance to answer, an extremely bubbly blond dressed in a Santa hat knocked loudly on our table. I found the gesture not only odd, but unbelievably annoying.

“Hi guys,” she started, without any observance for our former conversation. “I’m Brittany and I’m collecting donations for ‘Change for Jesus.’ Get it?” Her resulting chuckle was so condescending that I had to suppress my desire to punch her.

“Anyway, this year the Christian students have teamed up together to collect money to renovate an old church somewhere in the city. We’ve collected over three thousand dollars just on campus. Will you donate?”

I smiled. “The money is going to renovate a church? Not feed the hungry or clothe the poor?”

A look of complete seriousness fell over her face, “By helping Christians here you help Christians everywhere.”

“We aren’t interested,” Xia glared sharply.

“But Thanksgiving is just a few days away,” Brittany pointed to her Santa hat like she was making some sort of coherent statement, “now is the time for giving.”

Her sugary-ness was too sweet to handle.

“We don’t believe in Jesus. Xia’s Wiccan, and I’m not religious,” I said tersely.

Brittany’s eyes grew big, but not in shock or surprise… I was pretty sure it was anger.

“But without Jesus you cannot be saved, for no man can enter the kingdom of God but by him. He performed many miracles, healing the sick and turning water into wine—”

“Here,” I interrupted, reaching for my cup. “Will tea do?” I shook the cup three times, and peeled back the lid. Alcoholic dregs slid slowly back down the sides. “Now it’s wine. See? Nothing special.”

Brittany wasn’t fazed. “It was always wine.”

I reached for Xia’s cup angrily. She graciously traded me for the wine and snickered.

I repeated the trick, this time showing Brittany the tea first. When I showed her the transformed liquid, she glared at me with cougar-like intensity.

“You dare mock God?” she screamed loudly enough that half of the cafeteria stopped to stare, and the other half, wondering why the whole place just went silent, stared too.

“Yup,” I replied, as matter-of-factly as I could. I wasn’t upset or annoyed anymore. This was actually sort of fun.

Brittany took one step backward and pointed a finger at us. “He will judge you,” she said, shaking uncontrollably. She glared at us a moment longer as if trying to leave us with a lasting impression of guilt before she then turned and stormed off.

“Too bad she didn’t cry,” Xia said, chuckling, once Brittany was out of earshot.

“If she would have, I might have felt bad. I don’t mind religious people, it’s the hypocrites I can’t stand.”

Xia took a sip of wine, her eyes deviously questioning.

“Brittany, for example,” I continued, “really, really, enjoys her fornication.”

Xia’s brilliant smile flashed before her mouth burst open into uncontrollable laughter. “How could you possibly know that?” she chided.

I grinned back. “The wind told me.”

Xia hiccupped and then held up the glass of wine. “Just for future reference, I would have preferred a cabernet.”

I've often been accused of having done more in my life than the average person my age but if I were completely honest, I'd have to tell you my secret: I'm really 392.

So after all this time, I'm a pretty crappy writer.

I have two books published and a bunch half written (when you have eternity, where's the reason to rush?). I've been favorably reviewed by horror greats like Nancy Kilpatrick, and my how-to-write-horror articles have been quoted in scholarly (aka community college freshmen's) papers.

I enjoy the occasional Bloody Mary, although a Bloody Kathy or Susan will suffice.

Mostly, I just try to keep a low profile so people don't figure out who I REALLY am.

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The Hardest Part by Heather London Book Highlight & Giveaway!

Title: The Hardest Part
Author: Heather London
Genre: New Adult Romance/Suspense
Publication: January 5, 2014

“I sat there and stared at my new name, still wondering if I would be strong enough to do this—start over and make a new life—knowing in the back of my mind he would always be out there. I knew I was his obsession—his everything—and he would never stop looking for me.”

Emily Anderson and Reed Alexander are living with pasts they cannot escape.

Emily moved to New York City seeking a fresh start, intending to focus on her career and to keep a low profile.

Reed returns home to New York City after two years, haunted by the same things that pushed him away years ago.

When Reed and Emily meet, their connection is undeniable, but Emily keeps her feelings hidden. Falling in love is the last thing on her mind and she knows the danger it may bring not only to her, but to Reed as well. Reed isn’t as reluctant, but he knows that the demons he’s fighting could destroy Emily.

The harder they try to resist one another, the deeper they fall in love, and the more complicated their lives become.

In the end, they realize that truly loving someone may mean letting them go… and that’s the hardest part.

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Good Choice Reading Blog Tours is currently organizing a Review Tour for The Hardest Part from February 17th - 28th! If you would like to take part, you can sign up HERE.

Please only sign up if you can commit to reviewing, and keep in mind you must meet the Tour Host guidelines.

"And here I thought you were ignoring me," a dark yet familiar voice spoke. In a matter of seconds, it felt like the room dropped twenty degrees. My body went rigid and every hair on the back of my neck stood on end. Blood rushed to my ears, causing a ringing sound, and fear pressed on my chest, making it difficult to breathe.

It was Jake. He had found me.

"I have to say, Emily. You are even more beautiful than I remember. You look simply stunning, but I've always said blue was your color."

My stomach turned and I tried to find a breath. He was here. In the restaurant. Close.

I was too scared to speak, breathe, or move. A tiny voice in the back of my head told me to get up and run, to get out of there while I still had the chance, but I knew I couldn't leave without Reed.

My head remained still, but my eyes stretched right and left, sweeping the room. People were happily enjoying their meals. As my eyes moved around, I couldn't spot Reed or Jake.

"All these months I've been looking for you. All these months I've been missing you. I've yearned for the moment when I would be able to touch you again." He spoke in a low, quiet tone, and to most, it would be described as sweet, but I knew better. I could hear the underlying anger in it as well.

My mind went to a dark place, remembering all the scariest moments in the last few years of my life. This was definitely the scariest of them all. I knew the consequences of running away from him. I knew what he would do to me when he got me alone. He would kill me.

"I can't tell you how hard it is right now to be so close and not be able to touch you, to feel your soft skin against my own. It's killing me inside." His voice was still too soft, sweet.

A small whimper finally escaped me and I tried to choke back the tears but failed. They spilled down my cheeks and I quickly wiped them away.

"Don't cry, Emily. Tears have never looked good on you." The softness in his voice had disappeared.

Heather London is a young adult author who loves to write stories full of fantasy, romance, and science fiction. She is a lover of only the finest of coffee and premium craft beer, but will settle for anything chocolate, regardless of its quality. Heather lives with her husband in Dallas, TX where she is currently working hard on her next project.

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Tour Highlight & Giveaway: The One by Lorhainne Eckhart!

Title: The One
Author: Lorhainne Eckhart
Genre: Adult Romance
Publication: December 23, 2013

Margaret Gordon was once a prominent  Seattle surgeon, until a slip of the knife leaves a young boy without a future. Margaret is fired and returns to her hometown, the perfect spot to hide out from everyone and to lick her wounds, with no one around but her horse.

Margaret never considered herself a horse person. In truth, she understands horses better than people. And when the now-widowed Joe Wilde drives in one morning with a teenage boy and a horse with a problem, Margaret turns into that klutzy teenage misfit that silently carried a torch for Joe all through school. But when smooth-talking Joe convinces Margaret into working with the temperamental horse, she grows closer to his son Ryan, and soon learns the horse’s issues have more to do with father and son, and Ryan’s anxiety over the fact his father is now dating a woman who is only interested in the sexy Joe Wilde, and not his misfit of a son.

The only problem is Ryan wants Margaret to be his mother, so he takes matters into his own hands setting Margaret in his father’s path, every chance he gets. Even though sparks fly and sizzle between them Joe believes Margaret has despised him all his life, and decides all his  rebellious son needs is a mother. But when Joe proposes marriage to the wrong woman, his son takes off with a backpack and a feisty horse, into the Backcountry.

Except to Joe’s surprise, it’s Margaret who saddles up her horse,  and heads off alone with him in over a hundred of miles of wilderness in a race against time and the elements to find his son. And with his son's life in jeopardy will that be enough for Joe and Margaret to put aside their differences and realize that the other is, The One?

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TOUR SCHEDULE

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January 13^th

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About Lorhainne

2012 was an amazing year in the publishing world for me, and it started with The Forgotten Child, which landed on the Amazon bestseller list for western romance and romance series. 2013 has seen me posted in the top 100 authors on Amazon for romantic suspense, mystery/thrillers, and police procedurals.

Where did it all begin? In 2008, I published my first novel, The Captain’s Lady, a contemporary military romance, through The Wild Rose Press. I’ve since received the rights back from my publisher, and I rewrote the book and republished it with a brand new title, Saved.

I write edgy romantic suspense (Walk the Right Road Series), western romance (Finding Love ~ The Outsider Series), and young adult mystery, and I warn my readers to expect the unexpected. I’m a mother of three children and we live on a small island in the Pacific Northwest. I encourage you to contact me by email; I do answer every email I receive.

Stay tuned. There is more to come from the Walk the Right Road Series and Finding Love ~ The Outsider Series, as well as a brand new western romance series coming later this fall, The One.

And to my readers and all of you who have shared my stories with your family and friends, a big, heartfelt thank-you.

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