Cover Reveal- Nemesis by SA Huchton

My fabulous friend Starla (aka SA Huchton) is getting ready to release book 2 in 

The Endure Series!! 

Today I have her gorgeous cover to share with you all...

Title: Nemesis (The Endure series, book 2)

Author: S. A. Huchton

Genre: Science Fiction Romance (New Adult)

Release date: August 26th, 2013

Book Description:

"Tech genius Daniel Brewer isn't the only one with a romantic history. Already weighed down with the impossible problem of the Maven Initiative's plans for world domination and disaster, Dr. Lydia Ashley is finding it more and more difficult to keep things in balance. With an old flame reappearing and the schemes of a vindictive new rival thrown into the mix, her hopes for a life with Daniel may be on the brink of annihilation. 

When Lydia's past is brought to light, one big secret could destroy everything."

 Add it to Goodreads HERE

Author Bio:

Starla Huchton released her first novel, The Dreamer's Thread, as a full cast podcast production beginning in August 2009. Her first foray went on to become a double-nominee and finalist for the 2010 Parsec Awards. Since her debut, Starla's voice has appeared in other podcasts including The Dunesteef Audio Fiction Magazine, The Drabblecast, and Erotica a la Carte. She is also a voice talent for Darkfire Productions, and narrates several of their projects, including The Emperor's Edge series, This Path We Share, and others. Her writing has appeared in the Erotica a la Carte podcast, a short story for The Gearheart (earning her a third Parsec nomination), and an episode of the Tales from the Archives podcast (the companion to Tee Morris and Philippa Balantine's Ministry of Peculiar Occurrencesseries), which garnered her a second finalist badge from the 2012 Parsec Awards. Her second novel, a Steampunk adventure entitled Master of Myth, was the first place winner in the Fantasy/Science Fiction category of The Sandy Writing Contest held annually by the Crested Butte Writers Conference. Maven was her third completed novel and the first in a planned series of four, being released under the name S. A. Huchton. Nemesis is the second in the Endure series.

After completing her degree in Graphic Arts, Starla opened up shop as a freelance graphic designer focusing on creating beautiful book covers for independent authors and publishers. She currently lives in Virginia where she trains her three Minions and military husband.

Author Links:

Author website:
http://www.starlahuchton.com

Author Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Starla-Huchton-Author-Page/255657227797465

Twitter:
https://twitter.com/riznphnx

AND just in case you haven't read book 1 yet, Maven, here is that into too...

"How far would you go for love?

Since losing her parents at 14, young prodigy Dr. Lydia Ashley has focused on one thing: an appointment on the Deep Water Research Command Endure. Now 21, she’s about to realize that dream, but nothing is how she imagined it would be. Her transitional sponsor forgets her, her new lab is in complete chaos, and, as if that weren’t enough, she’s about to discover something so horrific it could potentially destroy all life on the planet. 

Daniel Brewer, a noted playboy and genius in his own right, may be exactly what she needs… Or he may make everything worse.

Has she finally found a puzzle she can’t solve?"

Maven on Goodreads (Six Chapter excerpt available for download):
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17883119-maven

Maven 6-Chapter Excerpt on Wattpad:
http://www.wattpad.com/story/6344011-maven-the-endure-series-book-1-six-chapter-excerpt

Print copy:
https://www.createspace.com/4285823

http://amzn.com/148498563X

eBook:
Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D5JOC8O
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/322158
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/maven-s-a-huchton/1115464747?ean=9781484985632

The Island by Jen Minkman *Book Blast*

Book Info-

Title-The Island

By- Jen Minkman

Publication Date-June 1, 2013

*Novella* (80 pages)

Genre- YA Dystopian

Blurb-

‘I walk toward the sea. The endless surface of the water extends to the horizon, whichever way I look.

Our world is small. We are on our own, and we only have ourselves to depend on. We rely on the Force deep within us, as taught to us by our forefathers.

If I were to walk westward from here, I would come across a barrier – the Wall.

Behind it, there are Fools. At least, that’s what everyone says.

I have never seen one.’

Leia lives on the Island, a world in which children leave their parents to take care of themselves when they are ten years old. Across this Island runs a wall that no one has ever crossed. The Fools living behind it are not amenable to reason – they believe in illusions. That’s what The Book says, the only thing left to the Eastern Islanders by their ancestors.

But when a strange man washes ashore and Leia meets a Fool face to face, her life will never be the same. Is what she and her friends believe about the Island really true?

Or is everyone in their world, in fact, a Fool?

Heather Hildenbrand Special Sale

The Awesome Heather Hildenband is having a great sale this weekend starting today... Thursday 25th. You can get 3 of her books all in one pack and it's only $2.99 for all 3 .... Go quit reading this and get it!

Amazon

2.99 sale! Get 3 kindle books by Heather Hildenbrand for the price of 1 this weekend only. 

RELEASE DAY!! Mark of the Dragon by Bill Morgan & M.R. Polish

Mark of the Dragon

By

Bill Morgan and M.R. Polish

In a land of warriors and dragons, 

everything is going to change...

Blurb

Countries are divided and war is raging, but none of that matters to Andra. She knows deep down that she is destined to be a dragon rider. There has never been a woman rider, but that doesn’t matter to Andra either. After her father's death, she trains harder than any man to be a worthy candidate. Even when the Aquastrian leader wants her dead, she fights back. Can she overcome traveling hundreds of miles on foot, surviving hunger, bandits, assassins and wild carnivores?

Liam is just another warrior who hopes he is worthy of the Mark of the Dragon. He must endure the long trek from Aquastra to Santerrian and avoid all people and especially those who may be hired to kill him. Meeting Andra along the way changes everything. He fights to help her and kills to protect her, but will it be enough to get them both to their dragons before it's too late?

Mysts of Santerrian World Map






Mark of the Dragon is available now on:
Kindle
Nook







About the Authors:

M.R. Polish was born in Idaho, a long, long, long, maybe not that long time ago.... Writing has always been there for her. Growing up, her mind was filled with stories, some she shared and others she filed away to write down later in life. It wasn't until 2011 that she decided to publish her stories for everyone to enjoy. Her first award and when writing became more than just an idea was in the 5th grade. She won the scary story contest for the school newspaper. It is one story she still has tucked away for memories. Her teacher told her she could be anything she wanted and that she had a talant for writing, being creative and drawing people into her stories. M.R. took that to heart and continued to write, although mostly in secret until recent years. 

Now you can find her enjoying life with her family - wrangling her four kids, setting traps in the house with toys for unsuspecting victims (aka, her husband) and writing down all her crazy and fun stories. 

"Life is too short to stand by and watch everyone else live your dreams. The bigger the dream, the bigger the adventure!" ~ M.R. Polish

You can find M.R. here:

www.mrpolishauthor.com

Facebook

Twitter @_MRPolish_

Amazon

Bill Morgan is M.R.’s dad, and if she was born that long ago, You all should shudder at how long ago he was born. He has always been creative. As an amateur artist and an avid woodworker, he always could see the hidden beauty in a blank piece of paper or a piece of wood. He joined the U.S. Coast Guard in 1986 and spent twenty years saving lives and serving his country. He always had stories running around in his head, but he never tried to put them onto paper until M.R. convinced him to do this book with her. Now he is actively writing two additional sci-fi/fantasy novels. Hopefully she hasn’t created a monster. Bill’s favorite thing is his family. He has a wonderful wife, two adult daughters, four sisters, and more wonderful nieces and nephews than you can believe. His last count was over one hundred and he loves them all. One of his favorite quotes comes from a movie, but it applies to writing a fictional novel as well:

“Don’t know where we’re going, but there’s no sense in being late.”

You can find Bill here:

www.mystsofsanterrian.com

Facebook

Review - Scapemaker by Steve V. Cypert

Published January 1, 2013

Matthew is the son of Mr. Nicholas Namely, a local high school teacher. What Matthew does not know is that his father is a dreamscaper, whose classroom is connected to the dream-world by a single door. From his classroom, his students enter the halls of Scapemaker, a dream-world high school for young dreamscapers. Following a couple of heartfelt tragic events, Matthew is compelled to investigate the unbelievable mysteries surrounding those events and is propelled into a whole new world. Matthew and his mother, Mae, are soon coerced into moving across the country for his father's strange medical needs. While attending his new school, Matthew comes to know the secrets that Daedree, an annoying girl from his former high school, has locked away. Matthew also meets Amber, a beautiful enigmatic girl who leads him to Mr. Xoner's classroom. While there, he learns the art of dreamscaping (which has been in the Namely bloodline for thousands of years). Matthew will come to know of Nox Celare, otherwise known as The Sandman, who is after a special element called Magineum. Neck deep in skinwalkers, sandsleepers, zombies, soul feeders, ghosts, dream-world criminals known as "night terrors" and more, Matthew learns he is in over his head. Matthew must not only solve the mysteries surrounding those tragic events, but he will also have to protect the Magineum with his life and find a way to be with the one girl of his dreams. Filled with secrecy, mystery and a forbidden tangle of young love, this new life will lead Matthew to unbelievable characters with the most extraordinary abilities he could never have imagined. Scapemaker will keep you grounded in the real world while at the same time make the fantastical world around it that much more possible and enduring. This tale of young adult paranormal fantasy will keep you guessing and wanting more.

About the author:

Steve is the second child of seven born in Los Angeles, California to a wonderful mother and father. Born into the LDS faith, Steve served a 2 year full-time LDS mission at the age of nineteen in the northern half of Ohio. At twenty-four he moved from his parents’ home in Los Angeles to Salt Lake City, Utah to try out life on his own. 2 decades later he still lives in Utah, where he found and married his beautiful wife, Katie. Today they live in South Jordan, Utah with their bald little 6 month old son, Ozzie and their very hairy son, Duke - a three year old Shih Tzu.

Goodreads 

Amazon 

Tanya's Review:

Matthew hasn’t been sleeping well, he’s been having nightmares.  Little does Matthew know he’s a dreamscaper, like his father, Mr. Namely (Matthew’s dad)’s classroom is a doorway to the halls of Scapemaker; a school for future dreamscapers to learn more about their gifts.  After his father is found comatose, Matthew starts to investigate what happened and is thrown into this new world he never knew existed. Along with a few new friends, Matthew sets out to find out what happened to his father and to help change events that have been set in motion.  Through their journey, Matthew encounters the Sandman, zombies, ghosts, sandsleepers and many more.  The question is how much Matthew willing to do to protect the Magineum and to bring his father back from his coma.

This story was interesting to say the least.  It took me awhile to get into the story and see what it was about. At first I thought it moved along rather slowly but I pushed along hoping that things will change and they did.  I was drawn into the world of Scapemaker and all the evil that was hiding there (yes there is evil lurking amongst the dreamscapers.  There were a few twists along the way that compelled me to continue reading to see who/what was behind all of this.

The characters each added their own personal element to the story thus turning the story into something I couldn’t wait to find out more about.  Matthew is a young man that had to learn a lot about things he never knew existed and in such a short time but he never stopped believing that his father was innocent and with that he showed a strong will…I was very proud of Matthew as well as a friends who believed in him and what he was doing.

This isn’t my typical type of book to read lately however I was pleased in the end.

UtopYA 2014... Take Me To Your Reader INFO and GIVEAWAY

So... I didn't get to attend UtopYA this year, we had a family vaca come up and it was not to be missed. I did however sneak down for the day (Thursday) and got to hang out or chit chat with some amazing peeps for a bit.

The Always AwesomeSauce Nancy Straight, M.Leighton, Amy Bartol, Tiffany King, Adam and Carol Kunz, Chelsea Fine, Heather (Uno) Self, Heather (Tres') Hildenbrand, Angeline Kace (although I never would have guessed it was her), Nikki Archer (vampsandstuff blog), and many more...

I DID get to FINALLY meet Addison Moore, Megan Curd, Hope Collier, Elizabeth Isaacs, M.R. Polish, Misty Provencher, on and on :)

OK.... The really SupaDupaCool part I got to see Janet Wallace again ... You know who she is right? She created this whole Amazing Indie Con that has EXPLODED into the stratosphere! It has gotten so big that it will now be held at a NEW and BIGGER location....

The Millennium Maxwell House Hotel - http://bit.ly/utopYA2014hotel reserve your room online now official Partner of the con

You can order tickets now for First Contact Prices … but do it before July 31, 2013!! Tickets will go back on sale in the fall but for higher. http://utopya2014.eventbrite.com/

NEW in 2014:

Friday evening Book Signing event…with a surprise twist!

Saturday night dance party after the Awards!

Sunday afternoon Write-In…with prizes!

Now... I will be at UtopYA 2014 come hell or high water :) That's just all there is to it... You want to go … I know you do SOOOOOO I get the honor of doing a GIVEAWAY!!!

How can you enter?? WELL... Rafflecopter below and has easy peasy options, but I have thrown in a Share The Love option... Share the graphic *post it on your facebook, twitter, pintrest, google +, blog, etc. with a link to this page That will get you a whopping 10 entries! Whooo

DEETS: You will get a Ticket to the Convention and Awards Ceremony (NO hotel or travel expenses included)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Siren's Secret by Heather Ostler

**The cover is what attracted me to this book hands down. After all, I am a proclaimed cover whore, so when all aspects of the cover blend and relate to different aspects of the story...I get REALLY excited. This is an ebook I got in exchange for an honest review and one I will definitely be adding to a hardcover copy to my book shelves. Just so you know. The first book in the series The Shapeshifter's Secret's cover is JUST as gorgeous. Even though I do love The Siren's Secret's a little bit more since green is one of my colors!**

Book Blurb

Julia's life has gone from complicated to nearly impossible! When Julia loses her shapeshifting powers and her appearance changes in alarming ways, she flees to Sirenity, where she learns an incredible secret about her mother. In this thrilling sequel, Julia must take greater risks and make bigger sacrifices as she discovers who she really is and what she can really become.

My Review

4.5 Stars

In the second book The Siren’s Secret, Julia finally discovers who she is at her very core. The Shapeshifter’s Secret took readers on Julia’s journey finding out what she was and some truths about her mother. Heather Ostler made The Siren’s secret follow Julia down the hardest road we’ll ever travel. The road that reveals parts of yourself you never knew existed and it was no different for Julia Levesque. The Siren’s Secret connected beautifully to The Shapeshifter’s Secret and will definitely make reader’s want more. She did a great job building not one, but two completely separate lands and filling each with painstaking details and keeping them unique to Julia's world.

In the beginning of this book on multiple occasions I really wanted to slap Julia for her choices and way of thinking, but I had to consider the multitude of obstacles Julia was facing and how her fear at that point was really in control. Ostler did an amazing job describing things and aspects of Ossai that played into Julia’s fear and showing her personal growth throughout the story. Her imagery throughout the entire book enabled me to see what was happening even though I was just reading and the further I read the more I felt like I was pulled into Julia’s world.

In The Siren’s Secret, you see Julia use the skills she learned in the first book, the truth ring Caleb gave her, and of course Sierra and Gabe standing by her side. Some of my favorite parts were the aftermath of a plot twist that stole my breath and kept me turning the page. I enjoyed how as Julia’s story progressed things became more intense between the characters, the plot lines and the decisions Julia had to make before Ostler wrapped it up with a bang, which left me wanting to know more.

I will be waiting patiently for the next installment because I’m officially hooked on Julia. The way she grows throughout The Siren’s Secret put me on her cheer team and I can’t wait to read her next journey.

An Interview with Heather 

What are you listening to right now? Do you listen to music while you write?

I actually don’t listen to music while I write (I’m weird like that), but I do love hearing the pitter-patter of rain while I’m working.

Would you mind explaining a little about your writing process? (Things you need or like to have with you. Any fun rituals?)

My dogs are always with me when I write, and they’re usually snoozing. I like to have my heater next to me in the winter months (and winter in Utah seems to last from October through May), and in summer I like to write outside. I love having chocolate around me while I’m typing, whether it’s hot chocolate, chocolate ice cream, or chocolate cake bites. Something about writing and chocolate just goes together!

When did you first start writing? Did you always lean toward the paranormal genre?

I started writing in jr. high school, and I always loved creating stories with paranormal creatures. I just thought the hero’s journey was more fascinating when it involved a hidden world or mythical creatures. I think growing up I always wished I was a mermaid, fairy, or something from a magical world. That translated into my writing.

How did you come up with Julia’s story?

Julia’s character was a long time in the making. I started out with the idea of a girl who could shapeshift and would have to learn to control her ability, and from there I started thinking of all the adventures and conflicts she would go through. I realized that she would discover her family’s dark past, she would embrace her paranormal side, and she would fall in love.

Did Julia or her comrades ever take you down a different road then you had planned while writing?

Definitely. So many characters have changed, and one character in particular was going to betray Julia, however I stopped him. Sometimes you have to go with your gut, and your outline goes to the trash. It takes more time, but you have to write the story until you feel good about each scene and each character.

What book are you reading right now?

City Of Bones by Cassandra Clare.

Okay, if I asked you to recommend me three books to read, what would they be?

Oh that’s so hard, I have so many favorites! For Fantasy: Harry Potter, for middle grade: Holes, and for young adult: The Hunger Games.

 I love Ossai and Sirenity. How did you develop those worlds? Did somewhere you visit inspire those worlds?

Thank you so much. Yes, my traveling adventures have definitely inspired the settings for my books. England and Italy helped to shape Ossai, and Sirenity was largely influenced by The Caribbean and The Mexican Rivera.

What was the hardest thing about writing The Siren’s Secret?

Editing. I love free writing and letting an idea run wild, but it’s hard for me to get down to the fine details of grammar and punctuation. I have to take time to write as ideas are coming, and then go back and edit later.

Would you mind sharing about whatever you’re working on right now?

I would love to. I’m working on the third and final book for The Shapeshifter’s Secret series, and I’m also writing a new young adult, paranormal series.

Have you considered ever writing a novella from different character’s perspective to accompany the series?

I’ve thought many times about writing from Alexis’s perspective. I like getting into the villain’s head and seeing what drives them to do the things they do. I like villains that are complex and unpredictable.

Who was your favorite character from the series and why?

I really love Sierra because she’s such a good friend to Julia. She’s kind, sympathetic, and loyal, but she’s also fun and witty. She’s a compilation of a lot of different people in my life, and I love writing her character.

What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not writing?

I love reading, spending time with family, catching up on my favorite shows, and traveling.

Reese Cups or Reese Pieces?

Reese's cups!

And now, before you go back to the writing cave, how about a snippet from your book that is meant to intrigue and tantalize us? Or even a deleted scene?

Yes, definitely! Here’s a snippet from Chapter One:


Julia sat down at the dinner table across from several other soldiers, who were busy conversing about Ossai, Lockham Castle, and the Guild. “This is for you, sir.” She looked up and saw a young soldier with blond hair carrying a messenger bag. He had been coming by once a week to drop off Lancer’s mail and never stayed longer than ten minutes. He reached into his pack, pulled out a stack of envelopes and a brown package, and gave them to Lancer, Julia’s father.
“Thank you, Radley,” Lancer replied. He flipped through the envelopes absentmindedly and divided them into stacks.
“What’s in the package?” Julia asked. Even though she knew it wasn’t for her, her imagination ran away with fun possibilities. What if it was a care package from Terrence? Or maybe Scarlet had sent a box full of sweet treats? Julia’s father glanced at the address on the parcel.
“It’s nothing,” he said. “It’s probably files from the Ossain government.” He picked up a letter opener and cut across the top of the box. Before opening it, however, he paused. “Actually, I should wait for Liam. These might be the papers he requested.”
He picked up the box and tossed it to a smaller table against the wall. The box flew five feet in the air, landed on the table, and then exploded with a deafening boom. Julia watched as the table underneath the package blew apart, sending wood, drywall, and dust out from the explosion.
“Get down!” Lancer yelled, pushing her back. She almost fell out of her chair as she scurried away from the blast.
The room fell silent as the group of soldiers ducked and waited to make sure the explosion was over. After thirty seconds, Lancer glanced around. “Everyone okay?”
As the dust settled, Julia saw that the blast had made a gaping hole in the wall with scorch marks that would forever serve as a reminder of the explosion. Below the hole was a pile of wood, what was once the table. A few soldiers inched near the wood and began looking for any more explosives or dangerous items.
“Radley,” Lancer said, turning to the solider. “Who gave you that package?”
Radley shook his head nervously. “It was just at the Ossain government building waiting for delivery. I promise, sir, I had nothing to do with this.” The color had drained from his face.
Lancer held up a hand. “I know, I know. I’m not blaming you.”
As Julia stood up, she realized that she was shaking. Her father was just about to open that package; if he hadn’t tossed it aside, then it would have blown up in his face. She felt like a brick had hit the pit of her stomach.
“Who was it from then?” she asked in a dry voice.
Lancer wiped some drywall dust from his sleeve. “It was from the Guild,” he answered.
“So they know where we are?” She looked at the hole in the wall and realized she could see through to the living room now.
“No, but they knew I’d take mail from the government. That package was a message from the Guild. They don’t want us to feel safe. They want to make sure we know they’re still in control.”

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