Five Corners: The Marked Ones Virtual Book Tour and Giveaway

Five Corners: The Marked Ones

By

Cathi Shaw

BLURB:  

Growing up in a sleepy village untouched by distant wars and political conflicts, it was easy for Thia, Mina and Kiara to forget such horrors existed in the Five Corners. That is until the dead child is found; a child that bears the same strange birthmark that all three sisters possess. A Mark their mother had always told them was unique to the girls.

Kiara’s suspicions grow as their Inn is soon overrun with outsiders from all walks of life. Strangers, soldiers and Elders who all seem to know more about what is happening than the girls do.

After Mina barely survives an attack in the forest, the sisters are faced with a shattering secret their mother has kept from them for years. As danger closes in around them, the sisters are forced from their home and must put their trust in the hands of strangers.  With more questions than answers, Kiara finds herself separated from everyone she loves and reliant on an Outlander who has spent too much time in army. She doesn’t trust Caedmon but she needs him if she has any hope of being reunited with her sisters and learning what the Mark might mean.

Excerpt 3

As Mina stepped into the forest she paused and took a deep breath filling her lungs with the fresh scents that always raised her spirits. Despite it being the early part of winter, the land was still green and there hadn't been any snow yet.

Mina realized that she hadn't taken the time for her usual wanderings since Brijit had broken the news to them about their origins. She'd missed this place so much. Usually this was her refuge.

Mina let her feet lead her, finding her favorite corners of the forest, places she'd been visiting since she was a little girl. As she began to fill her basket with herbs, roots and bark, she wondered about the Elders. Although no one had come out and said anymore about them, she hadn't forgotten that Brijit had suggested that Mina's birth parents were Elders. She wasn't sure how she felt about that.

Lost in her thoughts, Mina wandered deeper into the forest. She hardly noticed where she was going, as she was so familiar with this part of the wood. But a few minutes later when she knelt to gather some White Pine needles, she suddenly sensed she wasn't alone.

For some reason Mina found herself wandering forward instead of turning back toward the Inn. Soon her herbal collection was forgotten. Vaguely she realized that she was almost being herded toward the centre of the woods where there was a clearing but she couldn’t stop herself. She began walking faster. Eventually she broke into a run and that's when the shadow made itself seen.

It swooped at her and she screamed.

Its hands were outstretched as it lunged at her and grabbed her arms. Then she was overcome by light and pain before darkness enveloped her.

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Cathi Shaw lives in Summerland, BC with her husband and three children.  She is often found wandering around her home, muttering in a seemingly incoherent manner, particularly when her characters have embarked on new adventure. In addition to writing fiction, she teaches rhetoric and professional writing in the Department of Communications at Okanagan College and is the co-author of the textbook Writing Today.

Twitter: @CathiShaw

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMarkedOnesSeries

Tumblr: http://themarkedones.tumblr.com/

Buy links for book:

PUBLISHER:   http://ink-smith.com/product/five-corners-the-marked-one/

AMAZON:   http://www.amazon.com/Five-Corners-The-Marked-Ones/dp/1939156246/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1391810627&sr=8-1&keywords=FIVE+CORNERS+CATHI+SHAW

BARNES AND NOBLE:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/five-corners-cathi-shaw/1117922571?ean=9781939156242

Follow the tour:  http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2014/01/virtual-book-tour-five-corners-marked.html

Win a $50 gift card!

Welcome to Paradise

WELCOME TO PARADISE

JENNIFER MACAIRE
Blurb:  Growing up on an island paradise isn’t as easy as one might think. Sugar is infatuated with the boy next door, worried she won't make the cheerleading squad, and even more worried that she will. She is paranoid that because of the horrendous scar on her face, no one really expects her to succeed at anything. Her sister is smart, her mother is a legendary model, and her father is a famous artist. Her family’s success sets a high bar for her to live up to.

Everything changes for Sugar when a plastic surgeon removes her scar. The surgery makes her beautiful, but she makes the shocking discovery that being beautiful can be awful. When she finally discovers who she is, and what she wants from life, it nearly destroys her tightly knit family. She must confront abuse, an elopement, loss, and a secret her father has kept from her all her life. Sugar is struggling to pull everything together and find her own version of 'Happily Ever After'.

Author Bio: Jennifer Macaire lives in France with her husband, three children, & various dogs & horses. She grew up in upstate New York, Samoa, and the Virgin Islands. She graduated from St. Peter and Paul highschool in St. Thomas and moved to NYC where she modelled for five years for Elite. She went to France and met her husband at the polo club. All that is true. But she mostly likes to make up stories.

http://www.jennifermacaire.com/
 

Horse of Wind and Shadows: A Visit with L. B. Shire

Five Fast Facts about L.B. Shire and her writing schedule...

1. I write everyday, no matter what horrible mash of words come out. Those can be deleted later.

2. I love to mix and match genres...As in Horse of Wind and Shadows, it has romance, horses, zombies, and an apocalyptic setting!

3. I write from a laptop, on the couch and have the television on. I need the background noise to concentrate!

4. Most of my book ideas popped into my mind while on my lengthy drive to work. It provides lots of thinking and plotting time.

5. My advice to beginning authors...same as what others have said. You have to write. Get those words that haunt you on paper, and go from there!

Book Blurb:

Evil lurks in the waters off the Oregon coast. A lone girl, a magnificent horse, zombies... Can hope prevail with each hoof beat in the sand? 

All Taryn wanted was to have a horse again.

When she spotted the black steed running through the ocean waves, she knew there must be a way to capture the feral horse. Her best friend, Flyn, said it wasn't possible. Not one to turn away from a challenge, will she risk friendships and love to make her dream come true? 

Flyn has been Taryn's self-proclaimed protector since they were kids. Thrust into a world of unpredictability, he tries his best to keep the strong-willed girl out of trouble. Taryn stumbles upon a horse and decides she wants to make it her own against his growing concerns. Will he be able to keep Taryn safe, or will she be lost to him forever?

Excerpt:

Flyn, her protector and companion. It started from the moment he moved next door to her parent's house. Like her, he was a single child, left to his own devices much of the time.

They'd become fast friends who played together, shared countless secrets, pulled numerous pranks. And now, they'd survived together, when others hadn't. 

"I can't believe there's a horse near here. I can't wait to see it again." Taryn grasped his shoulder and squeezed. "This is so unbelievable." She bounced on the bed next to him. 

"You and those high maintenance hay burners." He threw his hands in the air and gave her a pointed look. "You can't have a horse, Taryn. Where do you plan keep it, anyhow? People in the compound would serve it up for dinner. Peter would be first in line with his knife and fork." 

Taryn cringed at Flyn's words. Peter, the current leader inside the sanctuary, was also her arch enemy Vanessa's father. "Hey now, I can't help it." A pressure built in her chest as her lips formed a pout. His grim words threatened to take the wind out of her sails. 

"The stallion is beautiful, powerful. Free..." She stared off in the distance. "Maybe that's why it calls to me. It represents what we don't have and haven't experienced in a very long time." Her emotions betrayed her and a tear escaped down her cheek before her fingers could erase it. It seemed a lifetime ago she'd even seen one of her beloved equines. 

"Hey now, don't cry." Flyn gathered her into his arms. Her head rested beneath his chin. His scent was familiar and calming to her senses. 

She pondered how he'd changed this past year they'd lived inside the refuge. He's grown into a man. The smattering of facial hair across his jawline proved it. A very handsome man at that. She sighed. He'd be seventeen this year. 

"You know I hate to cry. It's a useless waste of energy." 

"But it makes you feel better," Flyn said, brushing his finger across her cheek, wiping away the evidence.

"Do you remember the things we used to dream about doing? I'd have my license and could work now. Be able to save money for college. I sometimes wonder if I'll ever be able to go to school and become a veterinarian. I hate this life...fearing if the only thing I have to hope for is to dodge zombies in order to make it through another day." Taryn quieted. The bleak outlook she'd spoken of darkened her mood. If I can catch this horse, life will be more tolerable. 

"Don't feel bad. I have the same worries. In my mind, I try to come up with ways to make our current situation better. There must be a way to get through this, find our families, and feel safe again." Flyn looked her in the eye. 

"I hope you're right," she said. 

Right now, they endured and existed. Food, health, and a ray of sunshine. They considered the simple things in life precious gifts to hold tight to their hearts. 

"From now on, when we leave the compound, I'm not letting you out of my sight. Understood? It'll be over my dead body one of those zombies gets a chance to infect you." He pulled her from his chest and clutched her upper arms. Tension radiated through his fingertips and zinged across her skin. 

"You know I'm able to take care of myself. I've learned how to stay alive. I don't need you babysitting me every second of the day." Her words sounded strong and sure to her own ears. Too bad little nags of doubt crowded her mind. She brushed them away. If I want to capture this horse, I need to be strong.

Links:

http://www.lycaonpress.com/index.php?main_page=product_free_shipping_info&cPath=1&products_id=34&zenid=1ae533c449e7fa6e8d81d7da6b3f0188

http://www.amazon.com/Horse-Wind-Shadows-L-B-Shire-ebook/dp/B00IY40R34/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1395890732&sr=8-4&keywords=l.b.shire

https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-horseofwindandshadows-1447784-143.html

https://www.facebook.com/authorlbshire?ref=hl

http://lbshire.blogspot.com/

Author Bio: L.B.Shire

L.B. Shire has been writing stories for as long as she can remember. A lover of most all genres, her favorites include: Western Romance, YA, Paranormal and Shifter stories, to name a few!

When not writing or researching, L.B. enjoys spending time with family, riding one of her horses, and, of course, reading anything that is set before her! She currently resides on the West Coast in a sleepy little mountain town. There, in the midst of all that beauty, she plans her characters' next adventures.

For more information on L.B. Shire, please visit her blog @ www.lbshire.blogspot.com or visit her Facebook page atwww.facebook.com/authorlbshire.   

Bee Stings

Title: Bee Stings

Author: RosaLinda Diaz

Genre: Chicklit

The decisions we make create and destroy us.  Fourth grade teacher Poppy Rodriguez thinks she has all the answers, and realizes, perhaps too late, that she needs schooling in just about every area, especially love--oh, and baking. 

A novice in the kitchen and the bedroom Poppy samples both, while surrendering to Michael Borchard’s irresistible charm, when she joins his baking class. There are a couple hiccups––it’s a kids’ class, and he’s married. Poppy and Michael improvise a recipe for passion that hits all the right spots. Their honeyed entanglement becomes increasingly sticky as his wife and her past muddy their budding romance. Is love stronger than circumstances, or will Poppy succumb to the sweetest temptation?

Buy a copy of the book:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Bee-Stings-RosaLinda-Diaz-ebook/dp/B00IX6ZB70/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1394664267&sr=1-1&keywords=Bee+Stings

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bee-stings-rosalinda-diaz/1118890955?ean=2940149392063

Astraea Press (publisher) : http://astraeapress.com/#!/~/product/id=34826740

Excerpt #1

I completely forgot to buy pastries this morning. The ominous, glowing, red digital clock on the wall reads eight fourteen. There are exactly eleven minutes for me to go to the supermarket three miles away, fight morning drop-off traffic, and set up the teachers’ lounge. After weighing my options of not providing treats today, versus facing Michael, I take a deep breath, zip my Sunny Vale Elementary hoodie, and start walking.

The little bell tinkles as I step inside the bakery. I’m instantly surrounded by the warm inviting scent of baking bread. There’s no one behind the counter, and I let out the breath I’m holding.

“Hello?” I call to the empty room. “Michael? I need your help.” There is no reply, or noise of any kind from the kitchen. “It’s Fat Friday, right now, and I totally forgot. Help.”

Michael appears, grinning roguishly. He looks incredibly sexy with his bed-head, white T-shirt, faded jeans and red apron; he’s sort of a more domestic, approachable bad boy, but with the same rakish edge. I need to stop coming here.

“So, that’s what it takes. I’ll make a mental note,” he says, and slides two large, bubblegum-pink bakery boxes across the counter.

I’m speechless.

“It’s not like you haven't been doing this all year, every six weeks right? I just figured you forgot to call in your order last night.” He opens a box to reveal the most delectable pastries imaginable. They look even better than the ones in the display cases.

“You’ve just saved my life,” I say, strongly resisting the urge to vault over the counter. “There’s no telling the wrath that would have been unleashed if I’d shown up empty-handed.”

“My pleasure, and there’s no charge,” he replies, blushing, or maybe it’s just hot in here.

“I can’t let you do that. Please, let me pay,” I say, nudging the credit card along the box edge.

“Why won’t you join my baking class?” he says, pushing the credit card toward me. “Once you master the basic principles, I’ll create an expanded lesson just for you. Then you’ll be learning more and feel like you’re getting your money’s worth. How about it?” he says in practically a whisper... our little secret. He gently grasps my hand.

The bakery door flies open; three of my former students, followed closely by a trendy mom wearing a pink velour track suit, stroll inside. He releases my hand.

“You realize this will give my students reason to mock me for the rest of the year,” I tell him.

“But the year’s half over,” he says, watching as I pick up the pastry boxes. “Is that smile a yes?”

“See you Tuesday,” I reply.

The heat of his gaze follows me to the door, but the brisk spring air slaps me across the face and back to reality. I’m late.

 Author Bio

About the Author: RosaLinda Diaz, was raised in a particularly magical section of Los Angeles; between the original Disney Hyperion Studios and Snow White’s Cottages. The magic in the air and soil gave her already active imagination roots and wings. Wings that took her gypsying around Europe, Australia, and Africa, and roots that brought her back to California to earn her B.A. at Pepperdine University. She makes her home in California’s Central Coast igniting the fire of creativity and sparking imaginations with her endeavors.

Links

Website: www.RosaLindaDiaz.com

Facebook Fanpage for the book: https://www.facebook.com/BeeStingsNovel

Facebook Fanpage for the author: https://www.facebook.com/RosaLindasIdiaz

Twitter: @GitanaRosa

Learning to Swim Blog Tour

Title: Learning to Swim

Author: Annie Cosby

Genre: YA Paranormal Romance

When Cora’s mother whisks the family away for the summer, Cora must decide between forging her future in the glimmering world of second homes where her parents belong, or getting lost in the bewitching world of the locals and the mystery surrounding a lonely old woman who claims to be a selkie creature—and who probably needs Cora more than anyone else.

Through the fantastical tales and anguished stories of the batty Mrs. O’Leary, as well as the company of a particularly gorgeous local boy called Ronan, Cora finds an escape from the reality of planning her life after high school. But will it come at the cost of alienating Cora’s mother, who struggles with her own tragic memories?

As the summer wanes, it becomes apparent that Ronan just may hold the answer to Mrs. O’Leary’s tragic past—and Cora’s future.

Excerpt 3:

“The Irish told each other stories about a sea creature much like the mermaid. Only she’s called the Merrow.” She readjusted the scarf on her head as she nodded knowingly. “They’re sweet, sweet creatures. Capable of real love. Well, human love—if that can be said to be real love.”

“Do you believe in them?” I asked skeptically.

The old woman’s eyes remained fixed on a spot on the horizon. I followed her gaze. There was nothing but boats and seagulls, the normal fare of the ocean. She finally seemed to find herself and her eyes continued to rove.

“They say that love cannot overcome nature,” she finally said. “Supposedly the nature of the Merrow always overcomes whatever love they held for their human man. She will always go back to her people under the sea.”

Sounded to me like a cruel comment on female nature made by a bitter man.

Annie Cosby is a YA author and editor from St. Louis, Mo. She splits her time – and her wardrobe – between St. Louis and Galway, Ireland.

She's currently working on the second Hearts Out of Water novel, Learning to Live, and would absolutely love to hear from some YA readers!

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Sanctuary Book Tour and Giveaway

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Sanctuary

by Pauline Creeden

Release Date: 09/10/13

Summary from Goodreads:

In a heart-racing thriller described as Falling Skies meets The Walking Dead, Jennie struggles to find a safe place for what’s left of her family. But it seems as though there is no place sacred, no place secure. First the aliens attacked the sun, making it dimmer, weaker, and half what it used to be.

Then they attacked the water supply, killing one-third of Earth’s population with a bitter contaminate. And when they unleash a new terror on humankind, the victims will wish for death, but will not find it…When the world shatters to pieces around her, will Jennie find the strength she needs to keep going?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18684843-sanctuary?ac=1

Buy Links:

http://www.amazon.com/Sanctuary-Pauline-Creeden-ebook/dp/B00FI2W6CK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394297623&sr=8-1&keywords=pauline+creeden

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sanctuary-pauline-creeden/1117001506?ean=9781491072066

http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/sanctuary-72

http://www.bookdepository.com/Sanctuary-Pauline-Creeden/9781491072066

About the Author

In simple language, Pauline Creeden creates worlds that are both familiar and strange, often pulling the veil between dimensions. She becomes the main character in each of her stories, and because she has ADD, she will get bored if she pretends to be one person for too long.

Pauline is a horse trainer from Virginia, but writing is her therapy.

Armored Hearts, her joint effort with author Melissa Turner Lee, has been a #1 Bestseller in Christian Fantasy and been awarded the Crowned Heart for Excellence by InDtale Magazine. Her debut novel, Sanctuary is scheduled for release September 30, 2013, and has already been nominated for two awards in YA Science Fiction.

One of Pauline's short stories has won the CCW Short Story contest. Other short stories have been published in Fear & Trembling Magazine, Obsidian River and Avenir Eclectia. An urban fantasy short will appear in The Book of Sylvari: An Anthology of Elves from Port Yonder Press, and a vampire short will appear in Monsters! from Diminished Media Group. 

Author Links:

http://paulinecreeden.com/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5284782.Pauline_Creeden

http://www.twitter.com/P_Creeden

http://www.facebook.com/PaulineCreeden

http://yaboundbooktours.blogspot.com/2014/01/blog-tour-sign-up-sanctuary-by-pauline.html

Giveaway: $25 Gift Card

RULES AND RESTRICTIONS: 

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

Killing Ruby Rose Cover Reveal and Giveaway

About KILLING RUBY ROSE: In sunny southern California, Ruby Rose is known for her killer looks and her killer SAT scores. But ever since her dad, an LAPD SWAT sergeant, died six months ago, she’s also got a few killer secrets.

To cope with her father’s death, Ruby has been trying to stay focused on school (the top spot in her class is on the line) and spending time with friends (her Jimmy Choos and Mahnolo Blahniks are nothing if not loyal), but after months of therapy and more than a few months of pathetic parenting by her mom, District Attorney Jane Rose, Ruby decides to pick up where her dad left off and starts going after the bad guys herself.

But when Ruby ends up killing a murderer in defense of another, she discovers that she’s gone from being the huntress to the hunted. There’s a sick mastermind at play, and he has Ruby in his sights. Ruby must discover who’s using her to implement twisted justice before she ends up changing Valentino red for prison orange.

With a gun named Smith, a talent for martial arts, and a boyfriend with eyes to die for, Ruby is ready to face the worst. And if a girl’s forced to kill, won’t the guilt sit more easily in a pair of Prada peep-toe pumps?

About Jessie Humphries: Jessie Humphries was born and raised in Las Vegas, NV. She received a BA from San Diego State University, where she cultivated her love of the beach, then lived in France, where she cultivated her weakness for shoes, and finally earned a law degree from UNLV, where she cultivated her interest in justice. After practicing law for several years she began writing, and, appropriately, her debut novel Killing Ruby Rose is a thriller about vigilante justice set in sunny southern California with a shoe-obsessed protagonist. Jessie currently writes and practices law in Las Vegas, where she lives with her husband and children.

Social media links:

Website: www.jessiehumphries.com 

Blog: http://jessie-humphries.blogspot.com

Twitter: @JessieHwrites

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JessieHumphriesAuthor

Tumblr: http://www.tumblr.com/blog/jessiehumphries

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7058718.Jessie_Humphries