Release Day Giveaway + Excerpt: The Drifter by Jason P. Crawford

Today we are celebrating the release of THE DRIFTER by Jason P. Crawford with a book excerpt and giveaway.

Keep reading for a chance to win an ebook copy of The Drifter by Jason P. Crawford.

Book Excerpt

Then it happened – his Second Birth, the gift of his Nature, his entrance into life as an Essential.

His perceptions expanded to encompass the whole of the encampment – he could feel each and every tent, footstep, and fire pit. He knew where each seed lay and where each animal rested.

There was more, however; each of these things knew him. He was connected to them, was one with them, and they recognized him as their master, lord, and father.

To say it was exhilarating would be an understatement fit for the most modest of maidens, akin to calling Leonardo da Vinci a tinkerer; Oreth’s world was shattered and revealed for the flat, weak construct it was, a mere tablecloth, overlying the true reality: the reality of ideas, of ideas made flesh by joining men and women. He felt the snarl from the one who held the GREEN, all things that grow on the Earth, as he stepped into his power, and the clinical detachment of the master of REASONING at this new development. He was flush with strength and possibility, a man made into a god, and the world was his….in a sense.

My thoughts:  After reading Chains of Prophecy, I was excited to get my hands on this excerpt from The Drifter.  My favorite line is, "Oreth’s world was shattered and revealed for the flat, weak construct it was, a mere tablecloth, overlying the true reality: the reality of ideas, of ideas made flesh by joining men and women."  Do you have a favorite line?  Is there something in the excerpt that resonates with you?

What did you think of the book excerpt?

The Drifter by Jason P. Crawford.

The drifter is a man out of time. Plagued by visions of historic events he never could have witnessed, he struggles to understand the strange abilities that seem so natural.

Then Death comes for him. With no choice but to run, he must find allies who can protect him until he learns why he is being pursued.

The keystone of a terrible plan. A society of demigods buried in the rolls of history. Deadly schemes older than man.

Welcome to the world of The Essentials.

Release Date: July 31, 2014
Genre: Urban Fantasy
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The Drifter Giveaway

We are giving away 5 ebook copies of The Drifter by Jason P. Crawford!

To enter, please leave a comment on this post and include your email address so that we may contact you if you win.  This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL.  Giveaway ends August 15, 2014 midnight EST.

Good luck!

Book Excerpt + Giveaway: Solus Series by Devri Walls

Today we have an excerpt from Wings of Arian, the first novel in the Solus series by Devri Walls.  We are also giving away an ebook copy of any book (winner's choice!) in the Solus series.

Book Excerpt: Wings of Arian

Emane started circling around her. “First things first, you need to protect yourself. I will try to get past your guard. If you block me, you win. If I get past your guard, I win. And,” he drug out. “I will expect to be paid with a kiss.”

“What do I get if I win?” Kiora asked.

Emane took advantage of the question and jabbed in quickly, connecting with her arm. “One kiss for me,” he winked, backing out again.

“That was cheating!” she objected.

Emane swung around the blade, lightly connecting the flat side of the sword between her shoulder blades.

“Two kisses for me.”

“Oohhh,” she growled. “You are an arrogant horse’s ass!” She took a protective stance and blocked the next blow.

“Nice job.” He danced around her and connected with her opposite shoulder. “Three kisses for the horse’s ass,” he gloated. “Come on, Kiora, you have to move your feet.” His eyes glinted mischievously.

She started to move and circle, following his lead. She blocked blow after blow, but missed at least one out of every three. “Come on, Emane,” she complained. “Take it easy on me. It’s my first day.”


“I am taking it easy on you,” he laughed. “You’re terrible!”

“Thanks a lot,” she said, trying to force a glare at him. “You’re not exactly encouraging.” She lifted her sword to block another shot.

Pushing his sword down over hers, he leaned in, “I actually like the fact that you’re terrible, more kisses for me.”

Kiora heard a few snickers from behind her and noticed that the camp was turning up to watch the training session. Pushing back, Emane jabbed in and caught her in the stomach.

“Hey!” she yelled, doubling over.

“That’s at least fifteen kisses, I am losing count.” Spinning in a wide lazy circle, he asked the spectators, “Anyone want to keep track for me?”
“You...are, such a...”

“Uh-uh,” he said, shaking his finger at her, “we have little ears amongst us, watch your language.”

“Jerk” she yelled.

“That’s better.” Emane swung again and she soundly blocked.

It went on like this for longer than she had wanted. The crowd cheered when she blocked a shot and they counted kisses when Emane made it past her guard. And they laughed at every joke he made, which only encouraged him.

“Please,” she gasped. “I am dying, can’t we take a break?”

“Breaks are for girls!” He taunted her, dancing around her with the stupid, albeit gorgeous, grin plastered on his face.

“I am a girl, Emane.” He moved in to take another shot, which she barely blocked. “I mean it, Emane, I am going to cheat if we don't stop.” He raised his sword over his head. With a flick of her wrist she swept his feet out from under him. He reached for his sword, but with another flick of the wrist, the sword slid across the ground out of his reach. She dropped to her knees, putting her sword to his neck, “Do you yield?”

The crowd was in hysterics. Emane stretched his neck looking around. “How many kisses am I owed?” he shouted to the crowd.

“Seventy-two,” the answer came.

“Hmmm, seventy-two kisses,” he put both arms behind his head. “That should be enough. Yes, I yield.”

“Thank heavens!” Kiora collapsed on the ground next to Emane as the crowd cheered and laughed with approval.

Emane rolled over and leaned on his elbow, looking down at her through half-open lids. “I think the Lady should pay up.” He leaned down and kissed her “One down, seventy-one more to go.” Emane jumped to his feet and offered her a hand up. “All right, folks, that’s it for today.” There were some moans and groans as the crowd dispersed.

“You are shameless, you know that?” she said, brushing off her pants.


“So you tell me.” He threw his arm over her shoulder. “Let's go get something to drink.”

My thoughts:  I'd already fallen in love with the covers for this series, so when I got my hands on the book excerpt I was so happy to read about these fun, quirky characters.  I think my favorite quip was, "Three kisses for the horses ass."  LOL!  Do you have a favorite line?

What did you think of the book excerpt?

Wings of Arian (Solus #1) by Devri Walls

Kiora thought she had never heard a lie until she was sixteen. But she was wrong. Her entire existence was based on nothing but. She thought that evil did not exist. Lie. That magic was not real. Lie. And that the land of Meros was all there was. One more lie.

With Aleric telling her that evil is knocking on the door and that she is the only one who can stop them she has a choice to make. Refuse, or start the wildest most painful ride of her life.
She reluctantly dips her toe into her new existence of magic and threads, dragons and shapeshifters, and the person who wants to take control of it all: the evil Dralazar.

However, this journey was never meant to be hers alone. She will be accompanied by a Protector. To her disbelief, and utter irritation they name the hotheaded, stubborn, non -magical, (albeit gorgeous) Prince Emane. They will have to trust each other with their lives, but right now Kiora would settle for a non hostile conversation.

And now it comes down to this, If you had never heard a lie, would you know when you heard one? Is knowing good from evil innate? Kiora finds herself having to decide who lives and who dies on those very questions.

Wings of Tavea (Solus #2) by Devri Walls

Kiora is rapidly learning that evil and lies come in shades of black and white and swirling greys, but nothing could have prepared her for the shock of leaving Meros.

Kiora and her protector Emane step through the pass into a world they never knew existed but were always meant to save, only to find it far worse than they could have ever imagined. Good has been forced into hiding for its own survival, while the rest of the land bows to the Shadow, a force that pushes any remaining thoughts of Dralazar from Kiora’s mind. This land is full of new creatures, each more dangerous than the last. Her visions have taken on a deadly twist, and magic, or what comes of it, was never so real. And then there is Alcander: a Tavean, their guide, and an entirely different kind of trouble.

Wings of Nestor (Solus #3) by Devri Walls

Kiora needs answers. Who is the Shadow? Who is Jasmine? Are they connected? And even more pressing: how can she stop Shadow from using Kiora’s dreams as a map to find them? They have escaped three times, but are living on borrowed time—and everybody knows it.

Her search for help will push her closer to Alcander, send her to the dragon mountain of Toopai, and straight back to Meros—where magic will finally return to the land of no magic. Answers will be uncovered and plans unearthed that have been waiting for thousands of years.

But with the Shadow’s forces gathering, it looks like the land’s path is hurtling towards one outcome: war with the Shadow and death to all rebels. Armed with knowledge and hope, Kiora is determined to change that path. But will fate allow it? Or will it deal her a hard lesson about following ones own destiny?

Wings of Lomay (Solus #4) by Devri Walls

Kiora needs answers. Who is the Shadow? Who is Jasmine? Are they connected? And even more pressing: how can she stop Shadow from using Kiora’s dreams as a map to find them? They have escaped three times, but are living on borrowed time—and everybody knows it.

Her search for help will push her closer to Alcander, send her to the dragon mountain of Toopai, and straight back to Meros—where magic will finally return to the land of no magic. Answers will be uncovered and plans unearthed that have been waiting for thousands of years.

But with the Shadow’s forces gathering, it looks like the land’s path is hurtling towards one outcome: war with the Shadow and death to all rebels. Armed with knowledge and hope, Kiora is determined to change that path. But will fate allow it? Or will it deal her a hard lesson about following ones own destiny?

Solus Series Ebook Giveaway

We are giving away one ebook copy of any book in the Solus series by Devri Walls.  Winner's choice!

To enter, please leave a comment on this post and include your email address so we may contact you if you win.  This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL.  Giveaway ends August 15, 2014 midnight EST.

Good luck!

Playlist + Giveaway: Fractured by Erin Hayes

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Erin Hayes.  Erin is the author of FRACTURED and she'll be sharing a fun playlist.

Keep reading for a chance to win a $75 Amazon Gift Card!

Fractured Playlist

What to do when you want a complete soundtrack for a book that’s Fractured?

Hi there! I’m Erin Hayes and I’m the author of the horror novel Fractured. Fractured crisscrosses over a lot of different horror subgenres. So the playlist for Fractured is quite varied and I had a lot of fun picking out the songs. From Betty Noyes to Imagine Dragons, we’re covering a lot of ground, so put your seatbelts on!

Also, my playlist also features some covers of more famous songs, but I prefer these covers for the context of the book. So it should be interesting, even if you heard the original version before.

Ready? Here it is:
Where is My Mind by Storm Large
Hate Me by Blue October
Somebody that I Used to Know by Walk Off the Earth
The Mother We Share by CHVRCHES
Hide and Seek by Imogen Heap
Buzzcut Season by Lorde
Demons by Imagine Dragons
Haunted by Poe
POWERLESS – Acapella by Linkin Park
Baby Mine (from Dumbo) by Betty Noyes
Never Let Me Go by Florence + the Machine
Runaway by Kanye West featuring Pusha T

I actually have a Spotify playlist of this soundtrack for all of the songs! Check it out here.

My thoughts:  I love, love LOVE reading about author's playlists for their novels and some of the above tracks are personal favorites.  What do you think of the songs in author Erin Hayes' playlist for Fractured?

What songs would be on your Fractured playlist?

Fractured by Erin Hayes.

Blinded by a mysterious seizure when she was three years old, Bash Martin has managed to carve out a normal life for herself as an adult. Yet she still yearns for a deeper connection with her twin sister Lily, who has always been jealous of the attention their parents bestowed upon Bash due to her disability.

A dream vacation seems like the perfect chance to heal their relationship, but Bash soon realizes there is something terribly wrong with Lily and that her sister is hiding a dark secret. And when a supernatural fire engulfs their hotel and corpses come back to life, the sisters are plunged into a nightmarish world that threatens not only their lives, but their very souls.

Release Date: July 8, 2014
Genre: Adult, Horror, Paranormal
Add to Goodreads.

Thank you Erin for joining us here today at From the Shadows!

To learn more about Erin Hayes and her books, please visit her website.

Now for the giveaway!

Fractured Giveaway

The author is giving away a $75 Amazon Gift Card to one lucky winner!

To enter, please use the Rafflecopter form below.  This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL.  Giveaway ends August 12, 2014.

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Good luck!

The Horde Without End: Bonus Scene + Giveaway

Today we have a release day giveaway and a very special bonus scene for our readers from THE HORDE WITHOUT END by Nazarea Andrews.

Keep reading for a chance to win a $50 Gift Card!

Bonus Scene: The Horde Without End

Live Infection.

Leaving is the only option. It took less than three days for that to become expressly clear to Collin Sanders—three days of staring at the canyon walls, eating shitty MREs and listening to Dustin’s breathing slowly change into that wicked rasp.

Collin knew that sound. He’d lived twenty years with ERI-Milan, and four as a Walker. He knew what a contact infection could do to a body, what damage it would inflict.

Dustin would change—not as quickly as if he had been bitten, but staying here and waiting for Finn to return with Ren was no longer an option.

Once he decided that, on that third morning, as the sun rose and zombies screamed on the cliff top, he felt a weight shift off of him. Sitting still wasn’t natural to Collin, and now he has a plan. Forward momentum, and all that shit.

He didn’t give much consideration to the fact that Finn would be furious. If any thought crossed Collin’s mind as he packed their gear and water and food, it was that Nurrin would be terrified to return and find him missing.

He wonders, not for the first time, if he will be forced to kill his sister’s lover.

She would be pissed, if he did. But in the zombie apocalypse, these things did have a way of happening.

Dustin stumbles out of bed that third morning looking a little grey. “You’re packing sht,” he rasps.

“We’re going to find you medicine. You’ll die if we stay,” Collin says bluntly. He’s at the rough wood table, carving something into the wood.

“What about Ren?” Dustin forces out.

Collin hesitates, the only indication that he has doubts about this. His lips thin, and he finishes carving up the table. Dustin sees the design—four lines slashed in half, an i slashed diagonally.
Dustin stumbles toward the table, and Collin can feel the heat rolling off of him. “Can you get to the cliff top?” Collin asks, seriously.

Dustin shrugs. “I don’t have much of a choice do I?”

Collin stares at him, and nods sharply. “Exactly.”

Read the rest of Collin and Dustin’s story during the blog tour!

My thoughts:  I love having the opportunity to read bonus material and the opening line of this bonus scene gave me chills.  "Live Infection."  Those two words made my skin crawl.  Do you have a favorite line from The Horde Without End bonus scene?

What did you think of the bonus scene?

The Horde Without End (The World Without End #2) by Nazarea Andrews.

It was supposed to be over…
 
Returning from Haven 18 was supposed to be the end. But nothing is ever easy—and in a world full of zombies, finding the missing is next to impossible. There are breadcrumbs. Tiny clues. But what are a few tiny clues in a world of the dead?
 
Nurrin is desperate to find her brother, but that will mean trusting Finn O’Malley. A man shrouded in secrets, who kills as easily as breathing. And the more she learns about him, the more questions she has. But she has learned one thing—the zombies are changing. Adapting. And this time, the Haven walls won’t keep them out.

Release Date: July 24, 2014
Genre: Dystopian, New Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy
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Thank you Nazarea for sharing this special bonus scene with out readers!

To learn more about Nazarea Andrews and her books, please visit her website.

The Horde Without End Release Day Giveaway

The author is giving away a $50 Gift Card to winner's choice of Amazon or Barnes and Noble and a Zombie Survival Kit!

To enter, please use the easy peasy Rafflecopter form below.  This is a tour giveaway and the winners will be selected randomly by the author or tour coordinator.

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Good luck!

Christmas in July Giveaway Hop: Win Blood and Mistletoe

Welcome to our stop on the Christmas in July Giveaway Hop!

From the Shadows features paranormal fantasy books and we have a special urban fantasy holiday treat for you!

Win Blood and Mistletoe

Blood and Mistletoe (Ivy Granger #1.5) by E.J. Stevens

Holidays are worse than a full moon for making people crazy. In Harborsmouth, where many of the residents are undead vampires or monstrous fae, the combination may prove deadly.

Ivy Granger, psychic private investigator, returns to the streets of Harborsmouth in this addition to the bestselling urban fantasy series.

Holidays are Hell, a point driven home when a certain demon attorney returns with information regarding a series of bloody murders. Five Harborsmouth residents have been killed and every victim has one thing in common--they are fae. Whoever is killing faeries must be stopped, but they only leave one clue behind--a piece of mistletoe floating in a pool of the victim's blood.

The holidays just got interesting. Too bad this case may drive Ivy mad before the New Year. Heck, she'll be lucky to survive Christmas.

Paranormal Christmas in July Giveaway

We are giving away SIX ebook copies of BLOOD AND MISTLETOE, an Ivy Granger urban fantasy series novella by E.J. Stevens.

To enter, please use the easy peasy Rafflecopter form below.  This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL.  Giveaway ends July 31, 2014 midnight EST.

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Visit tour host I Am A Reader for more chances to win fabulous books.

Good luck and thanks for stopping by!

Q+A with Matthew Pallamary (A Short Walk to the Other Side)

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Matthew Pallamary!  Matthew is the author of A Short Walk to the Other Side, The Small Dark Room of the Soul, and co-author of DreamLand.

Q+A with Matthew Pallamary

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Matthew:  I always had a knack for it. English was my best subject in school. I got serious about writing novels in 1983 when a good friend got killed on his motorcycle, which prompted me to embark on that first (unpublished) novel. Prior to that I was a drummer and vocalist in rock and country/rock bands and I was writing songs and poetry, but the sudden death of my friend hit me hard and set me on my writing path. 

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Matthew:  I grew up in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston and grew up with lots of darkness and violence. That first novel was titled "Afterlife - The Adventures of a Lost Soul" which was about a guy who gets killed on his motorcycle and wakes up outside his body, then gets led astray by demonic spirits who lure him into possessing unsuspecting people - primarily hard core alcoholics. When I started writing short stories, they came out dark. I was a fan of monster movies growing up, loved Stephen King and was enthralled with the Exorcist. (By the way, I see you are also a Maniac like Mr. King.)  (note: I believe there's a correlation between the number of fantasy/horror writers in Maine and the length of our winters. -EJ.)  I have always been drawn to the darkness and have made a lifetime work of pursuing it - that is what drew me to the Amazon and visionary plants that I work with there.

EJ:  If you could be any paranormal or have any one supernatural talent, what would it be? Why?

Matthew:  I think teleportation, but I am greedy and would like the ability to be in multiple places at the same time. I have had this type of experience in my visions in the jungle and see reality as multidimensional. The sensation of being everywhere and nowhere at the same time is exquisite and a glimpse I think of omniscience.

EJ:  Tell us why readers will enjoy your new release.

Matthew:  I have a couple of new releases. Most recently, "A Short Walk to the Other Side" came out, my second short story collection dedicated to my mentor Ray Bradbury who was my writing "Fairy Godfather".

I am tickled to share that it was a Finalist in the International Book Awards. As in my life, my work dances between the boundaries of what is real and imagined. It wasn’t a conscious intention on my part, but in retrospect, I  see and I have been told by many that it carries on the tradition of Ray Bradbury which is an immense honor. Ray was an incredible inspiration and I was blessed to know and be friends with him for over 20 years.

EJ:  A Short Walk to the Other Side has been compared to The Twilight Zone, X-Files, and Amazing Stories.  If your book was being made into a movie or TV show, who would you cast for the leading roles? Why?

Matthew:  Thank you for your kind words of support for “Short Walk”. Though she is not a television actress, I am a big fan of Jennifer Lawrence. Her talent and acting range is amazing. I could also envision Bradley Cooper, Matthew MConaughey, Scarlett Johansson, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Julianne Moore to name a few. There are numerous stories in “Short Walk”, so there is a wide range of roles.

On another note, the characters in DreamLand are modeled after Morgan Freeman, Jack Nicholson, Shirley Maclaine, Penelope Cruz, and Antonio Banderas to name a few.

A Short Walk to the Other Side: A Collection of Short Stories by Matthew Pallamary.

"Bravo! More!" from Ray Bradbury for Matthew J. Pallamary's short stories.

A Short Walk to the Other Side is a second short story collection of supernatural, metaphysical, science fiction, and horror stories following "The Small Dark Room of the Soul" by multiple award winning author Matthew J. Pallamary, which examines the shadow side of human nature.

Genre: Horror, Paranormal, Science Fiction
Add to Goodreads.

Thank you Matthew for joining us here today at From the Shadows!

To learn more about Matthew Pallamary and his books, please visit his website.

The Silver Series Giveaway Winners

Congratulations Jen B. and Piper the winners of our Silver Series Giveaway here at From the Shadows!  Jen and Piper will both receive an entire ebook set of the Silver paranormal series by Cheree Alsop.

Thank you all for entering!

**Giveaway winners selected by From the Shadows using Random.org**

Q+A with Sunniva Dee + Shattering Halos Giveaway

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Sunniva Dee!  Sunniva is the author of Shattering Halos.

Keep reading for a chance to win Kindle WiFi or Amazon Gift Card and Shattering Halos ebooks.

Q+A with Sunniva Dee

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Sunniva:  Hi there! Thanks for hosting this blog tour stop! As most writers, I’ve always loved writing. I used to write to sort my thoughts out—as a teenager, I wrote about all the “exciting things” that happened to me and my friends (insert eye-roll here) and then the fictive stories started taking over. I soon realized that my characters’ fictional lives were even more interesting. ;-)

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Sunniva:  It was actually Twilight. I read it about 5 years after the craze, and my first thought after finishing it was "Aww, I want Stephenie Meyer to write about angels." But then, I thought, "Nah, I'll do it myself!"
When I wrote Shattering Halos, I wanted to create a story that was a little bit more adult than Twilight, though. My angels are sassier, sexier, and maybe a tad more unpredictable? This is a New Adult paranormal, so it allows for more freedom than the YA genre does. In it, I try to make sure the reader has a bit of a thrill ride.

EJ:  If you could be any paranormal or have any one supernatural talent, what would it be? Why?

Sunniva:  Hmm, obviously angels are very close to my heart. I'd like to have two supernatural talents: I'd like to be able to fly so I could visit my family in Norway whenever I wanted, and I'd like to go invisible at will. The latter, because as a writer, to be able to creepily stare at people as much as you want during their interactions would be amazing!

EJ:  Tell us why readers will enjoy your new release.

Sunniva:  Not everyone will love Shattering Halos, but it's aimed at readers with a strong sense of romance, and who are able to detach themselves from reality and DREAM. :) The book is written to create a film in the readers' heads. I want them to be there and feel with my characters—go through what they go through.

EJ:  If your book were being made into a movie, who would you cast for the leading roles? Why?

Sunniva:  I honestly don't know. The female lead would have to be gorgeous and sassy as hell. My main angels, Gabriel and Cassiel… I've been asked this question before, and the only person I've ever seen who comes close to how I picture Gabriel is Travis Fimmel back in his early days as a Calvin Klein model. I'd have to trust the director on that one! :)

Shattering Halos (Halos #1) by Sunniva Dee.

I traded my death for love. I wasn’t given a choice. His decision has caught up with us, so now I am a living, breathing catalyst to war between Heaven and Hell.

The violations he committed saved my life. Since the collision, he’s appeared everywhere. In my hospital room, my school, even my house. He shows up in my paintings, my drawings, in all of my art projects. I can’t stop thinking about him.

He says his name is Gabriel, and he doesn’t understand what’s happening to him. He doesn’t know how I can see him or why he wants me in ways that should be impossible for a Celestial.

My obsession grows. I need him to hold me, kiss me—give all of himself. For every day he protects me, the consequences loom darker and taller. Soon, they’ll crash down on us.

The war is about to begin.

Release Date: February 24, 2014
Genre: New Adult, Paranormal
Add to Goodreads.

Thank you Sunniva for joining us here today at From the Shadows!

To learn more about author Sunniva Dee and her books, please visit her website.

Shattering Halos Giveaway

The author is giving away a Kindle WiFi (US) or $50 Amazon Gift Card (INT) and four ebook copies of Shattering Halos (INT).

To enter, please use the Rafflecopter form below.  This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL.  This is a tour giveaway, therefore the winner will be randomly selected by the author or publisher.

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Good luck!

The Tesla Gate Book Excerpt + Giveaway

Today we have a book excerpt from THE TESLA GATE by John D. Mimms and a giveaway!

Keep reading for a chance to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card.

Book Excerpt

The Tesla Gate: Prologue

The day the storm hit, the world was changed forever.

Its severity would not be measured in property damage or loss of life, although the latter could be argued. This storm’s impact turned man’s beliefs completely upside down; the social upheaval would be worse than the aftermath of any storm in history.

Though this storm did not bring hurricane force winds, driving rain, cyclones or even floods, its effects would be far more subtle … but the impact every bit as palpable. This storm had unique origins and, unlike most weather events, it was not relegated to one geographic area. Indeed it covered the entire planet; no one was left unaffected.

Living or dead.

My thoughts:  I really didn't know what to expect from the cover, but this book excerpt for The Tesla Gate was intriguing.  The author had my full attention at this line, "The day the storm hit, the world was changed forever."  Did you have a favorite line?

What did you think of the book excerpt?

The Tesla Gate by John D. Mimms.

When a cosmic storm enters Earth’s atmosphere, scientists are baffled by its composition and origins, but not nearly as much as they are by the storm’s side effect – anyone who has died and chosen not to cross over is suddenly stranded here, visible, and can interact with the living.

With the world thrown into chaos, Thomas Pendleton is eager to make up for many broken promises to his six-year-old son, Seth. Soon after the storm, they set out on a road trip to the National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC, completely unaware of the social and political maelstrom they’re heading into that will change their lives forever.

Release Date: February 4, 2014
Genre: Paranormal, Science Fiction
Add to Goodreads.

The Tesla Gate Giveaway

The author is giving away a $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash.

To enter, please use this Rafflecopter form.  This is a tour giveaway.  Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the publisher. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.  Ends 8/7/14.

Good luck!

Q+A with RaShelle Workman + Vampire Lies Giveaway

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author RaShelle Workman!  RaShelle is the author of Vampire Lies.

Keep reading for a chance to win a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Card!

Q+A with RaShelle Workman

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

RaShelle:  I started writing in my Holly Hobby journal when I was seven. I decided to write a book in 2003.

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

RaShelle:  I’ve always had a thing for vampires, fairies, and anything strange or magical. It was a natural fit.

EJ:  If you could be any paranormal or have any one supernatural talent, what would it be? Why?

RaShelle:  I’d be a fairy because I love the wings AND I could fly.

EJ:  Tell us why readers will enjoy your new release.

RaShelle:  It’s a fairy tale retelling for young adults/adults. It’s got romance, deception, drama, and kissing. Who doesn’t love kissing? *grins*

EJ:  If your book(s) were being made into a movie, who would you cast for the leading roles? Why?

RaShelle:  Laeedin (male lead): Atesh Salih, Jasmine (female lead): Kaya Scodelario

Vampire Lies (Blood and Snow #1) by RaShelle Workman.

Once upon a time there lived a vampire with wings and the genie who loved her…

Born of the seven magics, Jasmine is different in every way, including the obnoxious wings on her back courtesy of the original Vampires. She wants to be normal, to be a regular teenaged girl.
When a gorgeous dark-haired boy named Laeddin shows up and promises to sneak her away from all her problems and hide her in the human world, she agrees.

But an evil lurks in her nightmares, a man with red eyes. It doesn’t take long for Jasmine to realize that no matter how far she tries to run from who she is, he’s only a dream away. He wants her. He needs her. He acts as though he loves her.

It’s becoming harder and harder to tell the difference between the path that’ll lead to her happily ever after, and the path that’ll lead to her destruction as well as all magic.

Release Date: April 19, 2014
Genre: Fractured Fairytale, YA
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Thank you RaShelle for joining us here today at From the Shadows!

To learn more about author RaShelle Workman and her books, please visit her website.

Vampire Lies Giveaway

The author is giving away a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Card.

To enter, please use the Rafflecopter form below.  This is a tour giveaway, therefore winners will be randomly selected by the author or publisher.  Good luck!

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Coral and Bone Playlist + Giveaway

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Tiffany Daune!  Tiffany is the author of CORAL AND BONE and she'll be sharing her Coral and Bone Epic Playlist.

Keep reading for a chance to win Amazon Gift Cards!

Coral and Bone Epic Playlist

Born to Die ~ Lana Del Rey
Clarity ~ Zedd
Breathing Underwater ~ Metric
Dark Horse ~ Katy Perry
Monster ~ Eminem ft. Rihanna
Light Em Up ~ Fall Out Boys
Burn ~ Ellie Goulding

Read the first 4 chapters of Coral and Bone FREE on Amazon.

My thoughts:  I love it when author's share their playlists.  It's like having magic powers to look inside their brain.  I particularly like this playlist for its inclusion of both Lana Del Ray and Metric.  Do you have a favorite song or music artist on author Tiffany Daune's Coral and Bone playlist?

What songs would be on your Coral and Bone Playlist?

Coral and Bone by Tiffany Daune.

Halen knows the sparks igniting under her fingertips are dangerous. She has spent her entire life trying to quell the tingly feelings that make her destroy things, but now that she is back in Rockaway Beach, where she watched her father drown, the flames have become impossible to tame.

Halen is trying to hold on, but when she is thrust into a mysterious new world, the underwater realm of Elosia, she unravels the secrets of her past and can't help but ignite. As she explores Elosia, she realizes her life has been a lie. And when those who have deceived her come to her for help, Halen must choose—walk away or unleash the magick that could destroy them all.

Release Date:  July 7, 2014
Genre: Paranormal, Young Adult
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Coral and Bone Tour Giveaway

The author is giving away Amazon Gift Cards!

To enter, please use the Rafflecopter form below.  This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL.  This a tour giveaway and the winners will be randomly selected by the author or publisher.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

Q+A with Nikki Jefford + Bad Blood: Aurora Sky Vampire Hunter Giveaway

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Nikki Jefford.  Nikki is the author of BAD BLOOD.

Keep reading for a chance to win Bad Blood swag!

Q+A with Nikki Jefford

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Nikki:  The moment I could hold a pen. My stories got more interesting after I learned the alphabet.

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Nikki:  Early on it was the love of magic in fiction: Diana Wynne Jones (Howl’s Moving Castle) and Roald Dahl (Matilda). Movies and TV shows were a big inspiration. I used to think my daydreams were too outlandish to put into books. Then I watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer and other Joss Whedon creations and realized anything was possible.

EJ:  If you could be any paranormal or have any one supernatural talent, what would it be? Why?

Nikki:  I have always wanted to teleport. Above all else, I value my time with family and friends. What an amazing thing if I could see them whenever I wanted.

EJ:  Tell us why readers will enjoy your new release.

Nikki:  First of all, they have to like dark, slightly morbid humor. If that’s your bag, welcome to the world of Aurora Sky!

EJ:  If your book(s) were being made into a movie, who would you cast for the leading roles? Why?

Nikki:  In the spirit of indie hood, I actually think it would be cool to cast never-before-seen talent. This is the first time my Aurora Sky cover model posed for book covers and I think that is so cool. It’s not like, “Oh, there’s so-and-so.” She’s Aurora Sky, that’s all there is to it. That’s how I feel about actors and actresses. I love seeing someone really good for the first time during that initial stage where they are the character.

Bad Blood (Aurora Sky: Vampire Hunter #3) by Nikki Jefford.

Aurora returns from boot camp to a new assignment, an unwelcome roommate, and the increasingly amorous attentions of a certain vampire hunter.

College is starting, and so is Aurora’s undercover work at a network of swanky parties known as “Tastings” for high rolling vampires who like their blood laced with fine wine. But Aurora’s not the only one on the prowl. An underground investigation is under way to find out who killed one of Anchorage’s most prominent vampires… and Aurora is a prime suspect.

Release Date: June 2, 2014
Genre: Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
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Thank you Nikki for joining us here today at From the Shadows!

To learn more about Nikki Jefford and her books, please visit her website.

Bad Blood Giveaway

The author is giving away a Femme Fatale handmade sterling silver pendant and a "Bite Me" drawstring bag with swag.

To enter, please use the Rafflecopter form below.  This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL.  This is a tour giveaway and winners will be randomly selected by the author or publisher.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Also, Aurora Sky: Vampire Hunter #1 is FREE now on Amazon Kindle!

Q+A with Meradeth Houston + Surrender the Sky Giveaway

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Meradeth Houston!  Meradeth is the author of SURRENDER THE SKY.

Keep reading for a chance to win a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Card!

Q+A with Meradeth Houston

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Meradeth:  I began writing when I was around 11. I was reading a book I really enjoyed (one of Madeline L’Engles’) and couldn’t get the world out of my head. Somehow the whole idea of “wait, I could write about this!” took root, and that got me started. My own stories, very different from what I was writing, came shortly thereafter.

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Meradeth:  I’ve always loved the conflict of the normal world with the “other.” Something different that forces people to take a step back and contemplate what they’re seeing, and why that might be strange to them. Paranormals, with their mix of the real world with supernatural creatures, does this perfectly, and I can’t get enough!

EJ:  If you could be any paranormal or have any one supernatural talent, what would it be? Why?

Meradeth:  Oh, flying, for sure! Growing up in California has forever left me hating traffic, and I’d much rather fly somewhere! Plus, did you see those awesome flying scenes in Maleficent? Who doesn’t want to do that?

EJ:  Tell us why readers will enjoy your new release.

Meradeth:  Because it’s action packed, has some seriously swoon-worthy twins (well, the non-evil one at least!), and has a main character that they will have a great time getting to know. Plus, her best friend is amazing!

EJ:  If your book(s) were being made into a movie, who would you cast for the leading roles? Why?

Meradeth:  Oh, I’m always so terrible at this! Haha! I don’t know actors very well, I hate to admit. Plus, finding real people who look like those who you know perfectly in your head is always tricky! Anyhow, I think I’ll have to go with:

Gabby: Shailene Woodley makes a pretty close match. I love her girl-next-door look, and if her hair was a bit wavier, she’d be close enough!

Jassen: Godfrey Gao. Because he’s some serious kinds of hot!

Beatrice (Bea): a younger Ashley Greene would be great, mainly because she shares the high energy spunk that Bea has.

Nathan: Zack Roerig would make a great former-roommate for Gabby. The two have been at odds for a very long time…until Nathan starts getting interested in Bea, which leads to some interesting situations!

Surrender the Sky by Meradeth Houston.

Gabby lives by two unbreakable rules: don’t expose her kind, the Sary, and don’t fall in love—too bad some rules are made to be broken.

When Gabby’s most difficult charge accidentally shoots her in front of a class full of students, the event exposes her carefully hidden identity. She shifts from looking like a normal teen to her secret Sary form, revealing her wings and the existence of her kind—immortals who try to keep people from committing suicide. Her incident attracts the attention of the next leader of the Sary, Jassen, who offers her an impossible bargain: she can keep her wings if she makes amends with those who know the truth. Things get more complicated when a rebel Sary, intent on exposing them to the world, starts interfering with Gabby’s work. And there’s no denying her attraction to Jassen, who is torn between his duties and his heart. With threats at every turn and her immortality on the line, Gabby has to find a way to save the Sary or surrender the sky forever.

Release Date: May 2, 2014
Genre: Paranormal, Young Adult
Add to Goodreads.

Surrender the Sky Giveaway

The author is giving away a $15 Amazon/Barnes and Noble Gift Card.

To enter, use the Rafflecopter form below.  This is a tour giveaway.  Winners will be randomly selected by the author, tour organizer, or publisher.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

Character Guest Post + Giveaway: The Silver Series by Cheree Alsop

Today we have a special character guest post by Jaze Carso of The Silver series by Cheree Alsop and a HUGE book giveaway.

Keep reading for a chance to win every book in The Silver series by Cheree Alsop!

Character Guest Post

“Werewolves hide among you; it’s a secret we have fought for centuries to keep. We were almost wiped out once, and know better than to let the secret out again. But just like humans, werewolves are impulsive and sometimes uncontrollable. That’s where I come in. My job is to protect the werewolves and help them live full and happy lives. There are Hunters and others who don’t believe werewolves have rights and should be hunted and exterminated like animals. I’ve done what I can to smooth Hunter-werewolf relations, but extremists, fighting rings, and covert agencies feel that the fate of werewolves should be to die, be forced to fight for the entertainment of humans who watch the mutilation and bloodshed like it’s a sport, or be experimented upon to unlock the secrets of our superior strength and increased healing capabilities.

I have seen things that would break me if I didn’t remember what I was fighting for. I found my father hacked apart by Hunters, and have rescued friends and comrades from fates worse than death. I feel a noose closing in as though those I care about are in danger, but I can’t find the source of it quickly enough to save them. There are so many werewolves in trouble, and though my team and the Hunters and werewolves that make up what some consider my private army work night and day to rescue them, it’s not enough. We need to do more, and so I am creating a team strong enough and smart enough to stop the threats hurled against us by ignorant humans who fear what they don’t understand.

I am a high school student, and my attempt to live a normal life is shadowed by the werewolves who need my help. Charts of recent werewolf activity hang from my bedroom walls in place of posters. A computer tracking the rogue packs that intimidate the local wolves and endanger innocent humans sits by my bed. In place of text books, pens, and paper, my backpack is filled with guns, knives, and the occasional bag of beef jerky (you don’t want to mess with a hungry werewolf). Instead of studying for classes, my friends spend their days creating high-tech monitoring devices and tracking down the locations of fighting rings, torture chambers, and laboratories.

I have loved with all of my heart, which is the way of the wolf. I have tracked through fields lit by the light of the full moon as it rested upon my shoulders like a cloak of strength. I have suffered to see the pains other werewolves have gone through, and almost died saving a human girl who stole my heart and gave me my life back. I live in the hopes of avenging my father’s death by saving those in pain, and I give every day-”

A sound reverberated through the room. Jaze Carso set down his pen and a smile spread across his face. The curtains to either side of the open window swayed gently in the breeze to create dancing trails of moonlight across the page. Jaze opened his hand and let it play across his palm. A welcome shudder ran through his body. He stood as the howl sounded again, more persistent this time. He took off his clothes and didn’t fight the phase. His joints shifted, pulling him onto his hands and knees. His ears elongated and moved to higher points on his head while his muzzle grew and sharp canines lengthened. Jet black fur ran up his arms and down his body, covering his shoulders and back in a soft undercoat followed by the thick, longer guard hairs. It felt good to be in wolf form again, like putting on a pair of worn shoes molded by time to fit only the wearer’s feet. Jaze shook to settle into his wolf form, then stretched.

Another howl rose and other voices joined it. The notes took on the warm, rounded tones of his pack ready for a night run beneath the welcome embrace of the full moon. Jaze pushed aside the curtain with his muzzle and the moonlight cast his brown eyes with a golden glow. Stars glittered within the inky blanket of night and the full orb above washed the city in an other-worldly glow. Eyes watched him from below, one pair dark blue, another deep crimson red, one set violet, and the last golden and deep with the secrets of the wild. Jaze gave a wolfish grin and leaped from the window.


Thank you Jaze and Cheree for joining us here today at From the Shadows!

To learn more about Cheree Alsop and her books, please visit her website.

The Silver Series Giveaway

We are giving away an entire ebook set of The Silver series by Cheree Alsop to TWO lucky winners!

To enter, please leave a comment on this blog post and include your email address so we may contact you if you win.  This giveaway is open to anyone who may use Smashwords coupon codes.  Giveaway ends July 18, 2014 midnight EST.

Good luck!

Burning Bright Giveaway Winners

Congratulations to BookLady, Freda, Lisa, Amanda, Maureen, and Lexxie our Burning Bright Release Party Giveaway winners!  All 6 winners will receive ebook copies of BURNING BRIGHT, the third full-length novel in the bestselling Ivy Granger urban fantasy series by E.J. Stevens.

Thank you to all who entered!

**All winners randomly selected using Rafflecopter**

Book Excerpt + Giveaway: Uncovering Cobbogoth by Hannah L. Clark

Today we have a special giveaway and book excerpt for you from UNCOVERING COBBOGOTH by Hannah L. Clark.

Keep reading for a chance to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card!

Uncovering Cobbogoth by Hannah L. Clark.

Norah Lukens needs to uncover the truth about the fabled lost city of Cobbogoth. After her archaeologist uncle’s murder, Norah is asked to translate his old research journal for evidence and discovers that his murder was a cover-up for something far more sinister.

When she turns to neighbor and only friend James Riley for help, she realizes that not only is their bitter-sweet past haunting her every step, but James is keeping dangerous secrets. Can Norah discover what they are before its too late to share her own.

The Legend of the Cobbogothians is really where Uncovering Cobbogoth begins.  For as long as Norah can remember, her Uncle Jack has been obsessed with the mythical people. He became an archeologist and world famous Myth-chaser because of the Cobbogothian legends he heard while visiting his Granddad Aegissida’s farm in Iceland.

Release Date: May 13, 2014
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
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Book Excerpt

The Legend of the Cobbogothians.

Long ago, at the beginning of time, a peculiar race ruled the earth. They found favor in the eyes of the gods and received great gifts of knowledge and power at their hands. These gifts made them elementalists—masters of earth, wind, fire, water, metal, wood and space. The elementalists thenceforth became rulers of the earth and sky.

With this power came corruption, and the elementalists soon forgot their patron gods. Instead, they turned to worshipping themselves and their own creations. This angered the gods, and in their wrath, the vowed to bring an icy end to the prideful race.

Rumors of the looming destruction were heralded throughout the land, and a final invitation was issued to the elementalists to renounce their fallen ways. Yet only a few heard and heeded. Among them was a man named Cobbogoth. Being a wise and humble servant of the gods, he believed the warnings and led all who would listen deep into the bowels of the earth to wait out the approaching storm.

When the day of destruction was come and the wrath of the gods rained down, the race of elementalists was wiped away, and then came the dawning of a violent and frigid ice age.

It is said that Cobbogoth’s posterity still lives beneath our feet, waiting to rise and rule the earth and sky once more.

Sigurd Jorgensson

Icelandic Bard, 1045 AD

My thoughts:  I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was intrigued by this book excerpt from Uncovering Cobbogoth.  This line promises an intriguing story, "It is said that Cobbogoth’s posterity still lives beneath our feet, waiting to rise and rule the earth and sky once more." 

Uncovering Cobbogoth Blast Giveaway

The author is giving away a $50 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal Cash.

To enter, please use this Rafflecopter form.  This is a tour giveaway.  Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the publisher. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. Ends 7/31/14.

What did you think of the book excerpt?

Cover Reveal: Beyond the Sea by Emily Goodwin

It's time for a cover reveal.  Feast your eyes on the new cover for BEYOND THE SEA by Emily Goodwin!

Beyond the Sea (Beyond the Sea #1) by Emily Goodwin.

After the brutal and mysterious murder of her sister, Melia is forced to leave her life as a merrow and live on land, pretending to be human. Feeling very much like a fish out of water, Melia struggles to fit in and to accept that the Pacific Ocean she loves so much may never again be her home.

Melia is unable to hide her fins from outsider Jamie Forester, who possess the gift to see into the Otherworld. Jamie—and everyone she knows—views her ability as a curse, isolating her from the rest of society. Melia sees the curse as a gift…and a way to find out what really happened to her sister.

Eighteen year old Peter Anderson thinks college is the most extraordinary thing that will ever happen to him, until he meets Melia. He is immediately bewitched by her beauty and spirit, sensing but not seeing that there is more to her than meets the eye.

Caught up in Peter’s affection and human affairs, Melia is too distracted to notice the darklings surfacing from the depths of the ocean. It isn’t until a body is found that Melia realizes parts of her old life have come back…with a vengeance.

Release Date: April 1, 2013
Genre: Paranormal, Young Adult
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My thoughts:  Isn't that cover absolutely GORGEOUS?  I love the colors and textures and the intensity of her eyes.    

What do you think of the new cover?