Book Blitz: Nocturne by Heather McKenzie (Excerpt, Q&A and Giveaway) Hey! I know, I'm back again with a book blitz - I think I've posted around 4 (including this one) within the space of a week. Don't worry as posting should be going back to normal soon enough and you'll get to see some different posts. Anyway this book blitz is for Nocturne, the second book in the YA Mystery/Suspense series, Nightmusic Trilogy. Nocturne was released a couple of days ago, on the 20th March. As part of the blitz, I'll be posting an excerpt, a Q&A with Heather as well as an international giveaway. Carry on reading! Nocturne by Heather McKenzie (Nightmusic Trilogy, #2) Published by: Clean Teen Publishing Publication date: March 20th 2018 Genres: Mystery, Suspense, Young Adult Synopsis:I am hunted. A pawn in a vicious game. The only way I can protect the ones I love… …is to disappear. Finally free of her father, Kaya has the one thing that keeps her heart beating—Luke. Blissfully content in his arms, everything seems perfect…until their world is shattered by a deadly invasion. When an old ally comes to the rescue, Kaya wants none of it. She is devastated to learn the identity of her attacker, and that she must do something truly heartbreaking if she wants to save the ones she loves. Sacrificing everything and sinking into bottomless sorrow, Kaya finds solace in an unlikely friend—one who shows her a different kind of love, and helps her discover an inner strength she never thought possible. A heart-pounding journey of self-discovery, Nocturne is the transformative second installment of The Nightmusic Trilogy by Heather McKenzie. Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38202939-nocturne?ac=1&from_search=true Purchase: Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Nocturne-Nightmusic-Trilogy-Book-2-ebook/dp/B079B5ZRJY/ B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/nocturne-heather-mckenzie/1127884054?ean=9781634223065 iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/nocturne/id1340065393?mt=11 Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/nocturne-67 Grab book 1 - Serenade - for FREE: Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Serenade-Heather-McKenzie-ebook/dp/B01N5XBFEK/ B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/serenade-heather-mckenzie/1124707456?ean=9781634222204 iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/serenade/id1159333488?mt=11 Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/serenade-16 Heather McKenzie is the Canadian author of The Nightmusic Trilogy. Also a professional singer/songwriter with five albums to date, she told stories through music for years before falling in love with novel writing. Heather pulls from her extraordinary experiences as a musician to fuel her passion for creating Young Adult fiction. She is a rocker at heart, a mom of three and an aspiring painter. Author links: https://twitter.com/heather_mckenzi http://www.heathermckenzie.com/ https://www.facebook.com/heathermckenzieofficial/ https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15860960.Heather_McKenzie Excerpt:I flew out the door into the cool night, took four steps, then stopped—the latest enlightening news about my father had sent me over the edge. Tears burst from my eyes. The last shred of hope I’d been hanging onto that Henry wasn’t all bad had been completely obliterated; he was an actual monster. I dropped to the curb and put my head in my hands. The rain started falling, lightly dusting my shoulders at first, then becoming a downpour just to add to my misery. I became soaked head to toe, but I didn’t care. I stayed where I was, wishing the rain would melt me into a puddle that would drain into the gutter and then just disappear into the earth… “You left something in my truck,” said a voice from out of nowhere. At the edge of my vision was Ben, rain coming down even harder now and pouring off his cowboy hat in rivers. He was holding out a paper bag, which was now soaked. It was the muffin I hadn’t eaten. “I didn’t want it to go to waste,” he added, eyeing me with concern, then glancing at the café window where I could feel many sets of eyes on my back. I dropped my gaze back to the gutter. My body didn’t want to move, and I still held out hope that the rain might just wash me away. Ben said something, and then he hauled me up and turned me to face him. He lifted my chin, and I had no choice but to meet his eyes. The rain plastered my hair to my face, mixing with the tears that were spilling out of me with blinding force. He gave me a weak smile. “I tried to leave. Got in my truck and was ten minutes out of town, but then I realized…” He paused, fumbling for the right words. “I could really use some help at my ranch. Now, the job doesn’t pay much, but you’ll have your own room and all the food you can eat. You’ll be dry.” He waited patiently for an answer, but I was so grateful that all my words caught in my throat. He tossed the paper bag with the muffin into the garbage. After a quick glance at the internet café and the white-haired waiter watching from the doorway, his hand firmly latched onto mine. I had the sense I wasn’t being given a choice, I was going wherever this cowboy wanted me to. “I’m taking you home now,” he said over the downpour. Home. Home was in Luke’s arms…. The rain was falling in sheets. Since I wasn’t about to turn into a puddle and dissolve, I let the cowboy lead the way. Interview with Heather McKenzie, by Dwight Bueckert What genre/category is NOCTURNE? YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Romance Thriller and Suspense Release date? March 20, 2018 in digital and July 10, 2018 in print Please describe what the story is about in one sentence. This is Book Two of the Nightmusic Trilogy. The story continues with Kaya being forced to make a heart-breaking desicion to save the ones she loves. Briefly, what led up to writing The Nightmusic Trilogy? A career in music! I had been telling short stories through songwriting for a very long time and this just seemed to be the natural next step. What inspired you to write The Nightmusic Trilogy? I was in my local bookstore one afternoon with my daughter while she searched the Teen/Young Adult section in frustration. She didn’t want vampires, or witches, or dystopian worlds, she wanted a modern day adventure with characters that felt real. So, being the doting mother that I am, I started writing my first book for her. One month into the process, I dropped everything to focus entirely on learning how to write. I fell head over heels in love with this avenue of storytelling. Being a musician gave me many life experiences to pull from, and my love of teen fiction fueled the passion to forge ahead and get the story on paper. A love triangle, the romantic setting of the rocky mountains, the art of survival and a character whose strength builds with each page... it all began to come to life every time I sat down to write. I realized when I completed the first manuscript, that what I was essentially trying to get across to my daughter –through the magic of reading– was the understanding of true love; what it feels like and how you know when you’ve found it. And, I am happy to say, that my knowledge of that is born of my own, real, experience. Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp? I have tried to touch lightly on the effects of chemicals on our bodies and bring to light the correlation between what we do to the earth, and how it ends up affecting us. We need to care for ourselves and our planet. How much of the book is realistic? I tried to make the book feel like it could actually happen. The characters are completely fictional, but the settings are not. Caves and underground hot springs and the castle in the mountains? All real. The Death Race that takes place every August in Grande Cache? Real. Beautiful one horse towns and yellow fields of flowers? Yup. Real too. What are you reading now? Everything written by Sarah J. Maas. She is amazing. What are your current projects? I have just finished book one of a new series of adult fiction that I am very excited about. It is about to enter the editing process. I am also close to finishing RHAPSODY, the third book in the Nightmusic Trilogy. Where are you from? Edmonton, Alberta, CANADA! I was born in the city, then moved to an acreage just outside it and lived an absolute fairy tale childhood in my own ‘castle’ until I left to join a rock band at and play professionally. Eventually I moved back, got married there, and got to watch my children have the same amount of happiness as I did in my childhood home. Where do you write from? A home office/recording studio with wall to wall books, pianos, and two old dogs sleeping at my feet. What was the hardest part of writing? Sitting for countless hours every day. I gained about fifty pounds and think I broke my butt at one point. But it was worth it. Do you have any advice for other writers? If you love it, it’s good. Take opinions with a grain of salt and trust your gut. What do you do when you aren’t writing? I am still actively involved in music, writing and being loud and aggressive with my band on weekends and recording whenever I can. I also teach classical piano and voice to youngsters one day a week, which is an incredibly rewarding experience. When I need peace and quiet– which is often– I paint. GIVEAWAY - ENDS MARCH 29TH 2018
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Cover Reveal: My Lullaby Of You by Alia Rose Hey! I'm back with my second cover reveal post of the day! This time I get to reveal the cover for My Lullaby Of You by Alia Rose. MLOY is a YA Contemporary book that will be released in June this year. Carry on reading! My Lullaby of You by Alia Rose Publication date: June 2018 Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult Synopsis:AMY It’s the summer after high school. Amy can’t wait to leave her small hometown in North Carolina for the vibrant city of Chicago, where she plans to go to her dream college and hopes to build a stronger relationship with her father. But as she deals with her mother’s resentment over her leaving and an intriguing yet provoking college student, Amy’s reminded of things she’s tried to forget and forced to face emotions she never expected. SETH It’s the summer before the last year of music school. Seth would rather be anywhere else than a small beach town in North Carolina, reopening wounds he thought he’d patched long ago and facing the father he hasn’t seen since his mother’s death. While he’s on his mission for answers, Seth is drawn to an observant and driven local he can’t seem to figure out. Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37881247-my-lullaby-of-you Alia has been writing since she fell in love with reading and now the characters in her head refuse to leave her alone. Her debut novel, My Lullaby of You, comes out in June 2018! When she's not writing, She works full time as an architectural designer and enjoy drinking too much coffee, making to-do lists, and traveling. You can find her rambling about all of the above on Instagram and Twitter. Author links: http://www.aliarosewrites.com/ https://twitter.com/aliarosewrites https://www.instagram.com/aliarosewrites/ https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17587176.Alia_Rose Well, that was the cover for My Lullaby Of You! Make sure to let me know your thoughts on the cover in the comments below.
BYE! Cover Reveal: Lucifer's Pride by G.P. Ching Hey! Today I get to share the cover reveal for Lucifer's Pride by G.P. Ching. Lucifer's Pride is the third book in the YA Paranormal Fantasy series, Soulkeepers Reborn. The book will be released in May this year. The cover has been designed by Deranged Doctor Design. Carry on reading! Lucifer’s Pride by G.P. Ching (Soulkeepers Reborn, #3) Publication date: May 29th 2018 Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Young Adult Synopsis:No one comes between the Devil and his pride. To save his friends, Finn Wager opened a bridge between worlds. But the dark magic he used exacted a terrible price. Unable to remain on the Soulkeeper team, he joins a coven of magicians in New Orleans, vowing to undo the damage he’s caused. But when he tries to save the day, he ends up making everything worse. Numbers dwindling, the Soulkeepers are more vulnerable than ever. The new Healer is reluctant to replace Hope on the team. Even if he decides to try, he’ll have to pass an initiation by the Immortals with life or death consequences. Meanwhile, the Soulkeepers are without the leader they need. Twice, the Soulkeepers have evaded Lucifer’s clutches and injured his pride. Now it’s personal. He’ll stop at nothing to exploit their weaknesses, take back his power, and end the Soulkeepers for good. Unless through courage, loyalty, and self-sacrifice, they can find a way to become a team again. Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39004856-lucifer-s-pride For more information and preorder links visit: https://gpching.com/books/lucifers-pride/ G.P. Ching is a USA Today bestselling author of science fiction and fantasy novels for young adults and not-so-young adults. She bakes wicked cookies, is commonly believed to be raised by wolves, and thinks both the ocean and the North Woods hold magical healing powers. G.P.'s idea of the perfect day involves several cups of coffee and a heavy dose of nature. She splits her time between central Illinois and Hilton Head Island with her husband, two children, and a Brittany spaniel named Jack, who is always ready for the next adventure. Join her VIP list to receive a free story and be eligible for specials and perks! Author links: https://gpching.com/ https://twitter.com/GPChing https://www.instagram.com/authorgpching/ https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4666971.G_P_Ching https://www.facebook.com/groups/450457555307350/ https://www.bookbub.com/authors/g-p-ching Well, that was the cover for Lucifer's Pride, coming out in May this year! Make sure to let me know below your thoughts on the cover and whether you'll be giving this series a go.
BYE! Book Blitz: Reflection by Jessica Roberts (Excerpt & Giveaway) Hey! I'm back once again with another book blitz. I know I've been posting quite a few of these recently, but it'll soon die down. It's just there are so many cool events so I signed up to them all, not really paying attention to how close the dates are. Anyway, todays book blitz is for Reflection, the first book in a new YA Contemporary Romance series. It was released earlier this week on the 20th March, so make sure you go order your copy if you're interested! To celebrate its release I'm able to share an excerpt as well as an international giveaway. Carry on reading! Reflection by Jessica Roberts (Reflection, #1) Publication date: March 20th 2018 Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult Synopsis:Bright, spunky Heather Robbins has escaped her small hometown and is anxiously beginning her freshman year of college. Rising above her rocky childhood, she’s found a place where good things are finally starting to happen: her own private apartment, refreshing college classes, and an intense attachment to a mysterious and rugged classmate, Nick Richards. But when her dreamy college life turns out to be nothing more than a wonderful dream while resting in a coma, questions threaten. Now, Heather must press forward to unlock the real past, and find the answers buried deep in her mind. What she unlocks instead is a roller coaster ride through flashbacks, embellished memories, and a whirlwind romance. And when it’s all over and she comes face to face with the truth, will she lose everything she’s fallen in love with? Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13504524-reflection?ac=1&from_search=true Purchase: Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Reflection-Book-1-Jessica-Roberts/dp/0999876708/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/reflection-jessica-roberts/1108923817?ean=2940013954878 iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/reflection/id512376871?mt=11 Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/reflection-8 Jessica grew up in the San Francisco, California Bay Area where she spent most of her time playing sports alongside her six siblings. She was crowned Miss Teen California her senior year of high school, and went on to Brigham Young University where she graduated in Human Development. She currently resides in Utah with her husband and three children. Author links: https://twitter.com/JRobertsAuthor http://jessicarobertsauthor.blogspot.ca/ https://www.facebook.com/Jessica-Roberts-174139906035619/ https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/688989.Jessica_Roberts Excerpt:He bent down by the fireplace—catching his body with his arms—and did a half push-up to rest beside me. Lying down side by side, our shoulders touching, his face close to mine, I could feel the temperature of our bodies rising, fusing together as one. Did he feel the heat? “Let’s see here,” he huffed, teasing me with his mechanical savvy. “Funny,” I whispered back, watching him examine the guts of the fireplace. “But once you realize it’s unfixable—” “Hand me the matches?” His voice turned businesslike as he studied the wires. I responded with a groan. As I reached across his body for the small box on the floor, the smell of him suddenly caught my senses—musky and male, and much too close. I hesitated, hovering over his back, fascinated that my body was responding in a similar way to when my temper peaked. My eyelids shut, and I drank in the hot adrenalin rush, emotions that were strange, feelings I didn’t understand. I forced myself back, careful not to touch him or move any closer. “I’ll tell you what,” I said, shaking the haze away. I brought the matches forward, lying on my stomach again but with ample space between us. “You fix it, you get a wish. If not, the wish is mine.” He readjusted himself. “Watch and learn, sweetheart,” he said absently, keeping his attention on the project, his head bent low. “Light that for me?” I removed a match, struck it against the strip, and carefully handed him the flame. With a push of a button, a small spark erupted into a bright-blue flare. A muted explosion sounded, and the two-faced fire rushed across the imitation log. “How did you do that?” I hollered. I stared at the mesmerizing flames of blue, deep yellow, and crimson endowing our faces with a warm glow, the heat already radiating through the glass. However, a different sort of heat ignited within me. It was my competitive edge, I reasoned. A few failed attempts from him would have been nice before it burst into a bright, blazing banner of victory. “Ahhh, the sweet smell of methane,” he heckled. Show-off. Even through my poor attitude, I allowed my shoulder to nudge his. I went to my knees and crawled toward the small cabinet to put away the matchbox. I breathed out heavily, releasing all my confusing responses to him. “Next time you want to light it, just—” “I know, I know,” I told him. “I watched you.” I reached up, tugging on the cabinet drawer and telling myself he could explain when I wasn’t so wound up. Like a sudden shift in the weather, a solid wall of warmth pressed into my back as his body covered mine from behind. I stiffened instantly. He reached around my rigid body and gently took the matchbox from my hand, his entire frame as calm as a warm summer breeze, encasing mine. As he leaned forward, putting the matchbox in the bag and placing it in the cabinet, his words teased softly in my ear, “I’m going to have to teach you some manners.” His whispers drifted deep inside me. Every thought left instantly, replaced with a keen awareness of the warm areas where we touched. A soft energy from his body merged with a surge from my own, and with each passing second the energy increased. “Lesson one,” his even voice rolled off my shoulder, terrifyingly close. “What do you say to someone who fixes your fireplace?” I was lost in the emotion, my throat nervously parched, an arid swallow catching at the base of it. “Thanks?” “You’re welcome.” The embrace from behind felt too heavenly to withdraw from, like little angel wings caressing my entire back. My breathing picked up as his fingers softly enveloped my shoulders. My eyes locked shut, but that only amplified the sensation as his fingers glided across the edges of my collarbone, the tips sending little bolts of lightning through my body. I stayed unmoving, gratified and petrified at the same time. He had never touched me so intimately, as if he were getting to know me. To most it was a simple shoulder massage, but to me it was dangerous. And even though I knew this, I longed for the way his hands touched me in such a personal and protective way. GIVEAWAY - ENDS MARCH 29TH 2018
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AuthorHello and welcome to Books With Beth! I'm Beth and on this blog I share a mix of all my bookish thoughts through reviews, book tours and hauls. Have fun! Categories
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