Cover Reveal: Two Truths and One Liar by Deirdre Riordan Hall

Two Truths and One Liar
Deirdre Riordan Hall
Publication date: December 28th 2021
Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Young Adult

Knives Out meets One of Us is Lying with a hint of the Inheritance Games. Like the original whodunnit, Clue, this suspenseful mystery also has three possible endings explaining what could have happened.

They all have secrets. They all have motives. They all tell lies.

Every year, at a prestigious boarding school, Professor Groff hosts the Midnight Masquerade. But this year, before the festivities, he’s discovered dead in his office. Yet six students still receive invitations. The same six students who’re questioned about his murder.

The show must go on. At the Masquerade, two additional students claim to know the truth. The lights go out and when they come back on, one of them is dead. Anyone could’ve been at fault.

Francisca blind in one eye and deadly on the rugby field. Toshi a number ninja and the campus punching bag. Taz who struggles with anxiety and lingers in the shadows. Fish the golden boy hiding wounds and not only in his heart. Caroline the heiress and the image of perfection. Gorgeous George the resident Greek God with nothing to lose.

The six receive anonymous notes, making them question themselves and the assumptions they’ve made about each other. Brought back together, they must prove their innocence before the all-school meeting the next morning, otherwise, they risk humiliation if their secrets are exposed exposed—and worse, if they’re found guilty.

It’s a long night of theft, danger, and threats by a secret society that shows Professor Groff was right during his final lecture.

Everything that can go wrong will.

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Author Bio:

Deirdre Riordan Hall is the author of the contemporary young adult bestsellers Sugar and Pearl as well as the High School Murder Mystery series. She’s in an ongoing pursuit of words, waves, and wonder. Her love language involves a basket of chips, salsa, and guacamole, preferably when shared with her family.

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Book Blitz: What Happened to Coco by VB Furlong

What Happened to Coco
VB Furlong
Publication date: December 4th 2021
Genres: Thriller, Young Adult

When a girl disappears, long-buried secrets resurface…

Coco is missing. Her room’s a mess, and her phone is left behind in her dorm at Lainsbury Hall School

Ella, Coco’s childhood best friend, is desperate for her to return, although she knows that if she ever sees Coco again, there’ll be a lot of explaining to do.

Bea knows that her new group of friends attracts drama, and she thinks she has the last shred of common sense between them all. Only, if that was true, she would leave Genevieve, her toxic ex, well alone.

Conrad is confident that Coco will return safe and well. Only, the way his secrets are unravelling, he’s worried he won’t be when this is all over.

Harrison and Coco are the perfect couple. Everyone knows that. But looks can be misleading. Even the smartest boy in school can make a terrible mistake.

In order to navigate the web of secrets and lies that Coco leaves behind, her circle of friends needs to unravel a few of their own.

But the question remains: What happened to Coco?

Goodreads / Amazon

EXCERPT:

In the misty darkness lit only by a blue streetlamp, Ella knew that she was not alone. She turned and saw the faceless figure far down the drizzly street. It came towards her at speed. It didn’t seem to be moving, but she knew that it was gaining on her. She started to run, but her legs would not move. She was stuck, as though in quicksand.

When she dared check over her shoulder once again, the figure was only about five steps away, and she could see raspy breaths escape the black silhouette in a wispy white cloud. The scene whirred in front of Ella as she pulled on her legs, sobbing, begging them to move. But they would not. All she could hear was the breathing, slow and rattling, as though it was the figure’s very last. Four. Three. Two.

It was the skeletal hand on her shoulder that woke her. In the darkness of her room, she was alone. She turned her alarm off and felt uneasy in the silence. She was soaking wet, her back from sweat, her face from tears.

She washed her face, hardly daring to open her eyes and look into the mirror above the sink. She felt watched, hunted. As she brushed her teeth, she turned on all her lights and opened the dreary brown curtains that Lainsbury Hall School had placed in all the dorms. But even in her bright vanity lamps that took over her dressing table, drowning her in bright white light as she did her make up, her eyes darted around the corners of her mirrors, checking all angles of the room in the reflection for the faceless spectre. She was not herself today. Then again, she hadn’t been herself yesterday, either.

Author Bio:

VB Furlong is a trainee lawyer and writer of young adult novels living in Berkshire, UK. She wrote her first “novel” at aged ten and has not stopped since then. Through her writing she aims to explore many of the issues she faced herself growing up, in the hopes that others facing the same issues feel some solidarity. Her friendships are a huge part of her life and consequently is a major theme in her writing, exploring the way in which we interact with each other, especially in difficult times.

Originally from Mumbles, Swansea, VB Furlong enjoys the sun and the sea, and walking her three dogs across the cliffs. These walks have offered her inspiration for many pieces of writing, including What Happened to Coco which she is excited to introduce as a coming of age boarding school thriller.

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Book Blitz & Excerpt: Pretty Savage by T.A. Kunz

Pretty Savage
T.A. Kunz
Publication date: July 13th 2021
Genres: LGBTQ+, Thriller, Young Adult

“An intriguing mystery, Pretty Savage is a tension packed, wild journey with engrossing characters. A true page turner.” – #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout

Bad things never happen in the picturesque town of Haddon Falls … until now.

It all starts with a killer party.

It will end with a savage crime spree.

Seniors Donovan Walsh and Drea Sullivan attend a high school party for very different reasons. But after discovering the body of one of their classmates, they find themselves thrust into the same waking nightmare. From that moment, their lives become intertwined in a search for answers to questions they never should have asked.

As bodies pile high, the unlikely pair dig into Haddon Falls’ past and uncover secrets someone would kill to keep hidden. In a small town where every face is friendly and every door unlocked, Donovan and Drea must unravel who is an ally … and who is willing to bury them-and the truth-six feet under.

“Pretty Savage is a gripping, fast-paced YA thriller featuring a savvy gay male protagonist and his kick-ass female counterpart! Readers who love hints of horror with a blood spatter of romance mixed with page-turning mystery will be left gasping by this wicked masterpiece by T.A. Kunz.” -Bestselling and award winning author Raine Thomas

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EXCERPT:

Donavon

There he is.

Mr. Filthy Chai Tea Latte.

I mean, that’s obviously not his real name. It’s his usual drink order. Chai tea, steamed milk, and two shots of espresso. A rebel’s drink for sure. And since I haven’t gotten up the guts to ask him his name yet, he remains Mr. Filthy Chai Tea Latte.

It’s at times like this I wish we were like most coffee shops and requested a name for each order rather than just the to-gos. But the owner refuses to switch from the ever reliable—his words—order number system. Today, Mr. Filthy is number twenty-one.

My lucky number. Kismet?

At least once a week he meets here at The Pour Over with a group of similarly aged teens and they chat for hours. About what? Beats me. I’ve contemplated lingering by their table, performing menial tasks like restocking the oat milk at the drink prep area or wiping down nearby tables, in order to eavesdrop. But every time, I chicken out.

“A large filthy chai tea latte?” I ask before he has a chance to utter a word.

His eyebrow—pierced by the way—quirks up, and I realize I must’ve sounded like a major creeper for committing his order to memory.

A hint of a smile breaks the corner of his mouth. “Yeah. Thanks, Donovan.”

I die.

I die.

I die.

My name rolls off his tongue like caramel sauce dripping down the side of a hot latte. I’ve clearly been working here too long if I’m making coffee metaphors already … and it’s only my second month.

Wait, he knows my name. How does he know my name? Has he asked about me?

I glance down at my apron and see my name tag resting there. The bright white letters radiate against the dark background. You could probably see it from space. Makes sense.

He pays with his phone and then, just like clockwork, drops a folded five-dollar bill into the tip jar. He’s so intriguing, paying for his drink electronically but also having cash on hand. And when I’m at the register, he leaves five dollars. Every. Single. Time. He might do the same for everyone else, but I enjoy living in the fantasy that I’m his chosen recipient. I imagine them as little love notes he leaves behind for my eyes only.

Okay. Pull it together, man. Composure.

I take in the show as he strolls off to join his group at a table near the back of the café. His tall, dark, and mysterious routine never fails to work on me. I sigh internally, but I’m not convinced a little didn’t seep out by accident.

“Smooth.”

My co-worker Marcus stands there grinning like a fool. A ridiculously gorgeous fool, but a fool nonetheless. His slicked-back chestnut brown hair is perfectly shaped to accentuate his chiseled features. The solitary dimple on his left cheek adds an extra kick to the impish grin he sends my way.

I laugh. “Yeah, definitely not my best work.”

“Nah, you did great. A real pro,” he teases. “Hey, why don’t you go talk to him? We’re slow right now and someone does have to bring him his drink, you know.”

He wriggles his brows at me. I roll my eyes.

Marcus is no stranger to affection. Unlike me, he probably hasn’t been rejected by anyone. He exudes confidence, which comes in handy when he dons a dress and a wig to perform in drag on the weekends at the one and only gay bar in Haddon Falls, Mae’s Lounge. Marcus becomes Miz Markie Marc. And yes, he does have a slight unhealthy obsession with Mark Wahlberg. Hence, the drag name. And he loves to refer to me as Donnie for the same reason.

“I don’t even know if he’s into guys like that,” I say. “Besides, he’s sort of out of my league. I mean, will you just look at that jawline?”

“With the perfect amount of scruff too,” adds Marcus.

“Exactly. And he has at least four or five inches on me in the height department.”

“What a shame, Donnie.”

“Huh?”

“Oh, nothing.”

I know that’s not all he wants to say. He has more. Marcus loves to give input … and constructive criticism.

“It’s just….”

And there it is.

Author Bio:

T.A. Kunz is the pen name for Adam Kunz, who lives in Orlando, Florida. And unfortunately a lot of the rumors you’ve heard about his state are true. When he’s not writing, Adam spends his time reading, playing video games, watching anime and Korean dramas, and spending time with his partner while cuddling with their two dogs, Nicky and Rusty. Since childhood, he’s had a great fondness for reading and writing. His fiction genres of choice are eclectic, but mainly are in the YA, MG, and NA categories. So, it was no surprise when he decided to write his own books that he’d be a grab bag kind of author in terms of story ideas. And he just loves mashing up genres. As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, Adam advocates strongly for diverse representation in all media. He may or may not have a coffee addiction, the jury’s still out on that one. And his hands-down favorite holiday is Halloween, which holds a very special place in Adam’s heart.

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Cover Reveal: Hold My Place by Cassondra Windwalker

Hold My Place
Cassondra Windwalker
Publication date: January 25th 2022
Genres: Adult, Thriller

Obsession never dies.

When librarian Sigrun falls head-over-heels for the sophisticated and very married Edgar Leyward, she never expects to find herself in his bed—or his heart. Nevertheless, when his enigmatic wife Octavia dies from a sudden illness, Sigrun finds herself caught up in a whirlwind romance worthy of the most lurid novels on her bookshelves.

Sigrun soon discovers Octavia wasn’t Edgar’s first lost love, or even his second. Three women Edgar has loved met early deaths. As she delves into her beloved’s past through a trove of discovered letters, the edges of Sigrun identity begin to disappear, fading into the women of the past. Sigrun tells herself it’s impossible for any dark magic to be at play—that the dead can’t possibly inhabit the bodies of the living—but something shadowy stalks the halls of the Leyward house and the lines between the love of the present and the obsessions of the past become increasingly blurred—and bloody.

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Author Bio:

Cassondra Windwalker is a poet, essayist, and novelist presently writing full-time from the southern Alaskan coast. She enjoys hearing from readers via Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, smoke signals, and interstellar songs.

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Book Birthday Review: Down World by Rebecca Phelps

5/5 Stars 368 pages
Published March 30th 2021 by Wattpad Books

If I had to describe this book in just a few words, they would be an instant hit. With an amazing and super in depth storyline, it’s perfect for anyone fourteen years and up, and quickly became one of my new favourite books even at twenty four. It’s just one of those books where every time I thought the story was coming to a pause or a good place to end, it ended up just being the beginning. And I just couldn’t get enough of it.

Following a young girl named Marina from her viewpoint in first person, she’s about to start grade ten in a small town in the United States. But after losing her brother to a train accident three years ago, her and her parents lives have become very grim and depressing. Blaming her brother’s best friend, they despise him, and Marina lost her only friend because of it. And now she’s starting at a new school. Could things get any worse? She probably would say no, but this is just the beginning of a much bigger and almost unbelievable picture. That is, if she didn’t see it for herself she wouldn’t believe it.

Originally an army base, the school is a labyrinth of twists and turns, and after getting lost on her first day, she meets a senior named Brady. He’s a nice and very cute boy who genuinely just wants to help her out, and even though she doesn’t see him again for about six months after her first day, she can’t stop thinking about him. After all, everyone else that she grew up with acts like they don’t know her. But when she finally sees him again, he’s harbouring a deep secret and a mysteriously hysterical girl. And after following them to the train station where her brother lost his life, she learns that the secret really involves things that she could never imagine were real; parallel universes.

Photo by Trace Hudson on Pexels.com

Not only is the army base turned high school confusing and filled with doors that have been bricked over, but living in it’s basement is an Annihilation-like spiral staircase. And at the bottom are three doors, one each for yesterday, today, and tomorrow. But only the today one is accessible. And when Marina goes inside it, she finds her brother in the flesh, happy and thriving. That can’t be right, though, can it? He died. Little did I know, that this was just barely grazing the surface of what was really going to happen in this book.

This book is insanely in depth for how many pages it is. Jam packed with rich backstory, the characters really seem like they could be real people, despite the obvious differences between our world and theirs. Addicting and mysterious, I was pulled in from the second I started it, and I didn’t want to put it down for a second. It’s amazing without gore or romance, and I think that’s something that’s difficult to do sometimes. A perfect story in my eyes, I would be delighted to get this as a present, and it would make a really great addition to my bookshelf, with it’s breathtaking cover. I think even if you’re not super big into scifi, this is a really great story, and everyone should check it out and give it a chance to unravel itself. Even half way through the book I was thinking, this could be the end, right? But it wasn’t there was more, and more, and more. I’ll definitely be thinking about it for a long time.

Photo by Valdemar Trau00e7a on Pexels.com

If you’d like to grab a copy, you can do so here!

And if you’d like to keep up with the author, you can here on Twitter!

Thanks for reading! Hope you’re doing well, and not accidentally stumbling upon any parallel universes.

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Book Birthday Review: Expiration Date by Mardine Perrins

4/5 Stars 281 pages
Published March 9th 2021 by Kat Biggie Press

A fantastic new twist on a futuristic dystopia, Expiration Date is set in a world that still looks very much like our own, but has long moved past it’s population and non-renewable resources problem, as well as the damage that we’ve caused to the planet. It’s moving in an upward direction and back on track to being a healthy world, and it has very slight tech upgrades, such as hover cars and holograms. That being said, it’s all thanks to something that changed the entire world as soon as they started showing up, expiration dates on every single human being born in the last century, telling the exact date when a person will die.

With expiration dates came mass hysteria, mostly because people didn’t know what they were at first. A blessing and a curse, knowing your exact death date can be a huge challenge. But somehow that scared people off from having an over abundance of children. No one knows where they came from or why, but it alone saved the planet from the kind of certain doom that we face in our own world, in real life. People mostly calmed down, and everything has been evolving since then. That being said, is it moral to know exactly when you and everyone around you will die? It won’t save you from genetic problems, and if you end up being sick, or having dementia, you’re still forced to live with those problems until you pass away.

This story follows two sisters, Elisa and Ashlei, and also a man named Claude, as they deep dive into why exactly there are expiration dates, and if there isn’t something disfunctional going on behind them. After  babies start being born with very short dates, I’m talking less than a week of being born, it really kicks into overdrive to really find out what’s going on. And what the three uncover is despicable, and like nothing they could have ever imagined.

Photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich on Pexels.com

I had a good time reading this book. I thought the plot was very original, and even though the viewpoints of the characters bounced around quite a bit, I didn’t have any problems keeping up. I really enjoyed that we got to see a dystopia in the making, because I think that’s something we rarely get to read about in books like these. If the characters didn’t uncover what was going on, what would have happened to the world? I think it would have turned into one of those dystopias where everyone lives under a dome and people are so heavily regulated that they’re not able to really live. And I thought that was very unique and interesting. The characters were realistic, I had no problems believing that they were smart individuals that could exist outside of the book, and even though it’s not my new favourite, I did enjoy reading it. If you’re into scifi in a world like ours, I think you’ll really enjoy it too.

If you’d like to grab a copy, you can do so here.

And if you’d like to keep up with the author, you can here!

Thanks for reading! Hope you’re doing well and staying safe.

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The Other Couple by Cathryn Grant Review

3/5 Stars Edition
Published December 6th 2020

A book full of twists and turns, The Other Couple is a book that’s so mysterious it’s almost creepy. Now I’m into thriller’s and everything, but this book was really slow burn. For most of the plot, the characters really made sense in the world around them, but occasionally acted a lot differently than I expected, very irrationally. Not saying that people don’t act irrationally from time to time, but this was almost too irrational. Not my new favourite, this was a book I still enjoyed reading, and recommend to anyone looking for an interesting thriller to really help them step out of their comfort zone.

It starts off with Skye and Joe staking out their next potential victims. Con artists, they’re amazing at getting people to give them their money, or anything else they desire. That being said, Skye is clearly the brains of the two, and Joe being the threatening brawn. When they find their next endeavor, they’re not exactly what they seem to be, and in fact, marriage councillor Brad and his wife Maggie have some secrets of their own that may just interfere with their plan.

Photo by Enric Cruz Lu00f3pez on Pexels.com

After their vacation takes a turn for the worst, first with Skye and Joe joining their household for the duration of their vacation, and then with Joe falling off of their boat and drowning in Lake Tahoe, the three are confused at what to do next. That’s when Maggie’s past from before the vacation suddenly effects her present life very deeply. But it doesn’t end there. Overall, this book was exciting, but it’s just not my new favourite, and that’s okay. I didn’t really like how some of the characters acted under immense pressure, and although that’s not a big deal, it kind of left a bad taste in my mouth at times.

Overall, if you’re looking for something new and exciting to pull you out of your reading funk, or you’re really into books with no supernatural aspects, all thriller between the pages, and lots of marital problems, than this may be something you want to check out. Just be warned, there are some scenes of spousal abuse that may be triggering for some readers, including physical and emotional abuse.

If you’d like to grab a copy, you can do so here.

Thanks for reading! Hope you’re doing well and staying safe.

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Capturing Fate (Fatal Truth #2) by Abbie Roads Book Blitz, Excerpt, & Giveaway

Capturing Fate
Abbie Roads
(Fatal Truth #2)
Publication date: January 28th 2021
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Suspense, Thriller

Can love untangle a web of lies and expose the truth?

A loner with a mysterious childhood…

FBI agent Dolan Watts is no stranger to pain. From his childhood spent in foster care to his daily grind of hunting down hardened criminals, it’s been the one constant through the years. Pain carved out gut feelings he can trust and instincts able to solve cases in record time. Until now. Confronted by a malicious new enemy who revels in mind games, Dolan begins to doubt his own perceptions. Fearing he’s spiraling into insanity, he seeks help from the one woman who can shine light into the darkness consuming him.

A woman haunted by a secret…

Psychologist Daughter Dawson sabotaged her own safety the moment she accepted Dolan as a client. Still, she felt compelled to help him. Dolan’s past mirrored many of the questions about her own, making his torment achingly familiar. Despite their growing attraction, her career demands she keep an ethical distance. Yet when she makes the mistake of confiding in him, both their lives are thrust into unimaginable danger.

Nightmares come to life…

When gruesome tragedy uncovers a serial killer’s twisted agenda, Daughter and Dolan must cling to each other if they hope to survive. Can they stop the body count from rising? Or will they find their only purpose from the start was to be pawns in a reign of evil?

Goodreads / Amazon

EXCERPT:

She wanted more. All of it. Hand-holding and kissing and long, lazy lovemaking. She opened her eyes and hoped he could read her feelings in them. The next two years were going to be torture, and it was all her fault.

His face was naked with longing, desire, deep affection. It was beautiful to see this powerful man baring his emotions to her. Emotions that had everything to do with her, with wanting her. It was a heady drug, one she wanted to overdose on. If she never saw him after today, she’d forever remember the way he looked at her right now, like she was his entire universe.

He slid his hand into her hair, the movement causing a rash of goose bumps to break out all over her body. “I’m sorry for breaking the rules. I take all the blame.”

She opened her mouth to ask him what rule he’d broken, just as his lips landed on hers. The world fell out from under her. She grabbed on to him to keep from falling, latching onto his shirt and yanking him closer. His arms clamped around her, holding her even tighter to him, and the raw male strength of his body against hers was a revelation. Heat radiated off him like he was her own personal sun.

And then his tongue was in her mouth—warm and tasting like a wish. The salt of her tears mingled to make this kiss the one that all other kisses would be measured by.

And then it was over and he was pulling away. She wanted to beg him to keep kissing her, and maybe the world and the two years separating them would disappear.

He looked down at her, his face ravaged by the war raging inside him, the same one inside her—the nearly overwhelming need to be together, the rules be damned.

He stared at her for an endless moment, a muscle in his jaw ticking, then turned and walked to his car.

Tears flowed as she watched him drive away. At the end of the parking lot, he stopped before pulling out onto the road. She couldn’t see inside the car, but knew he was watching her in the rearview mirror. A sob choked in her throat. If she cried any harder, he’d turn around and come back for her, but she couldn’t let him.

He drove out of the parking lot and out of her life. She turned to her car and saw the bouquet he’d given her sitting on the roof.

She mashed her face in the pretty flowers and watered them with her tears.

Author Bio:

Seven Things about Abbie Roads:
1. She loves Snicker Parfaits. Gotta start with what’s most important, right?
2. She writes dark emotional books featuring damaged characters, but always gives her hero and heroine a happy ending… after torturing them for three hundred pages.
3. By day she’s a mental health counselor known for her blunt, honest style of therapy. At night she burns up the keyboard. Well… Burn might be too strong a word. She at least sits with her hands poised over the keyboard, waiting for inspiration to strike. And when it does–the keyboard might get a little warm.
4. She can’t stand it when people drive slowly in the passing lane. Just saying. That’s major annoying. Right?
5. She loves taking pictures of things she thinks are pretty.
6. She lives in Marion, Ohio with her favorite fellow and two fur babies.
7. Being a published author is a dream come true for her.

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Ninja Girl Adventures (Ninja Girl Adventures Series #1) by MG Wilson & Phil Elmore Blog Tour & Excerpt

Ninja Girl Adventures
MG Wilson, Phil Elmore
(Ninja Girl Adventures Series, #1)
Publication date: November 1st 2020
Genres: Thriller, Young Adult

Sister Power at It’s Best

Moira Mackenzie is just 14 years old. Her sister Mindy is 15, and their younger sister Marci is 9. The girls have lived their lives until now believing their father, Scottish billionaire Stephen Mackenzie, is simply a businessman whose KogaTech Consolidated (KTC) is the world’s most successful technology company. Their father was married to a Japanese woman, Kameko, whom the girls are told died in a car accident.

The girls’ idyllic existence in New York, where KTC headquarters is located, is shattered when their father disappears. He is legally declared dead by their Uncle Jiro Akiyama, Kameko’s brother. Uncle Jiro wants to possess the company for himself. What he doesn’t know is that Stephen Mackenzie changed his will so that Moira inherits the entire corporation.

An overwhelmed Moira must contend with the unraveling of her family. She has the help of Morton Gerardi, Stephen Mackenzie’s best friend, but he’s not the girls’ father and there’s only so much he can do. While Mindy rebels and Marci, a child genius, disappears deeper into her computer, Moira is further frightened by an intruder who invades the girl’s Manhattan apartment. Not long after this, Moira is visited by Uncle Jiro himself, who offers to provide for the girls financially as long as Moira signs the company over to him.

Moira considers giving in but doesn’t. Suddenly, out of nowhere, black-clad figures, who can only be the mythical ancient ninja of feudal Japan, attack the Mackenzie sisters. The girls are saved by an elderly Asian woman who heads a ninja clan of her own. That woman removes her face mask to reveal that she is Aiko Akiyama, the girls’ grandmother. Moira immediately has many questions. Why has Aiko only now revealed herself?

Aiko explains that Kameko, as Aiko before her, was a member of a Koga ninja clan of Kunoichi — a female ninja. Aiko was forced to fake her own death because of Jiro’s ambitions. She vows to teach Moira to become a ninja warrior and fulfill her family destiny. As Moira beings to learn the ways of the ninja, Aiko’s Yoda-like lessons give her greater self-confidence as well as physical martial arts skills. She passes these lessons to her sisters… but there’s more. Legends claim the ninja were shape-changing tengu, forest spirits with magical powers. Aiko reveals that these stories are true. If Moira wishes, she can learn these mystical abilities. Jiro himself can become a wolf and other ferocious beasts. Moira can learn these same skills, just as Aiko has.

As Moira trains and learns more about herself, she helps her sisters to grow more confident and more disciplined as well. Soon, Mindy is using her gymnastics skills to have ninja-style adventures of her own, as genius Marci helps both of her sisters using her knowledge of computers.

As they grow in their abilities, the girls uncover a plot by Uncle Jiro to misuse “sleep learning” technology developed by KTC. This is why Jiro wants the company. He believes the technology can be used to control minds, ultimately giving him control over the city — and perhaps, one day, even more than that. As the girls use their new abilities to chase down clues that point them to Jiro’s sinister ambitions, Jiro grows tired of holding back. He instructs his ninja to kidnap Mindy and Marci. He then tells Moira she has no choice but to sign KTC over to him if she ever wants to see her sisters again.

To get her sisters back, Moira will have to face her greatest fears. With only partial training, she must conquer her own doubts and apply the lessons of empowerment and confidence that Aiko has given her. The story climaxes in a battle between the two rival ninja clans wherein Moira must first save her sisters and then defeat Jiro himself. The fate of New York City hangs in the balance, as does the fate of Moira’s family and of her father’s company.

Goodreads / Amazon

Author Bio:

Hello! I’m Melissa G Wilson and my top passions are writing, helping new authors who want to make a difference through their writing, and mentoring women and at-risk youth to become authors.

My company Networlding Publishing, focuses on assisting thought leaders to write, publish, and launch “books that make the world better.”I’ve been growing my company for the last ten years and have helped 120 thought leaders write, publish, and launch their “make-a-difference” books.

I’ve consistently used proceeds from my authors’ book sales to help mentor new adults to help them learn this “new world of publishing.” So far, I’ve mentored more than 30 new adults through an organization called Dream Careers and I can’t wait to help more young people get better starts in their lives. My mentees have gone on to create stellar careers in publishing, marketing, and social media.

I’ve had the honor and pleasure of writing five best-sellers, one that held a #10 on Amazon for year and also had a book on Oprah that turned into an opportunity to travel the country and hold community leadership events with kids, adults, and city leaders. One other major honor was getting to be one of 70 people who helped Seth Godin, one of the best marketing leaders in the world, reinvent publishing through his initiative called “The Domino Street Team.” My goal now is to keep helping new author thought leaders get their important books out to the world and into the hearts of others, especially youth, who can use the insights from these books to make the world better for all.

Phil Elmore is a bestselling author, freelance journalist, and technical writer who lives and works in Upstate New York. He has contributed extensively to “Tactical Knives” and “Survivor’s Edge” magazines as well as several other self-defense and “tactical gear” trade publications. He is the Senior Editor of League Entertainment (an IP development company based in Florida) and the owner of Samurai Press, an independent small-press publisher. Through Samurai Press, Elmore has published a variety of non-fiction and self-help works, including the self-help bestseller “Ten Things Doctors Won’t Tell You About Your CPAP Machine.”

As a ghostwriter, Phil Elmore has been the author behind countless non-fiction and fiction works, including multiple action and science fiction novels, martial arts and fitness publications, survival and “prepper” ebook and print products, and even a survival-themed series of novellas. He has edited numerous novels, magazine articles, and other copy for inclusion in commercially published vehicles, as well as generating hundreds of thousands of words of content for Internet marketers across the Web.

With League Entertainment, Elmore co-created the Duke Manfist parody action series. The publisher of “The Martialist,” the online magazine “for those who fight unfairly,” Phil Elmore is also the author of twenty-one Executioner, Mack Bolan, and Stony Man novels for Gold Eagle/Harlequin Enterprises. His other work includes the “Augment,” “Monsters,” and “Detective Moxley” series, as well as the short story collection “The Thing in the Office and Other Tales of Terror” and the crowdfunded comedy-action novel “Spaceking Superpolice.”

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And now here’s an excerpt for you!

Uncle Jiro was waiting in the lobby. Of course, Moira thought. Who else would it be?

Sally had made herself scarce. Moira was grateful for that. It meant she wouldn’t have to invite Uncle Jiro anywhere else. She didn’t like the thought of Uncle Jiro making himself comfortable in an office here, or setting foot in her father’s private space. 

“Moira,” Uncle Jiro said, his smile too wide and his tone of voice too familiar and easy. He still wore his overcoat on his shoulders like a cape. His suit probably cost more than the car that had brought him here.

“Uncle Jiro,” Moira said formally.

He bristled at that. He didn’t like being called “Uncle.” She could see it in the way he tensed up. He covered it well, though, pretending to smooth the lapels of his suit jacket. “I will not take up much of your time,” he said.

“We both know you are ill equipped to run this company. You expected KogaTech Consolidated to become mine just as I did. Whatever sentimental impulse possessed your father to change his will at the last minute, we will never know. The fact remains that he did—but you and I both know this is a burden. I am prepared to relieve you of that burden.”

“What do you mean?”

“You fear for your well-being, which is understandable,” Uncle Jiro said, almost as if he had not heard her. 

“You may be thinking that you don’t know how you will provide for your sisters, and yourself. There are many expenses. College. Healthcare. Day-to-day living expenses. New York is an expensive place, and only growing more so. But there is no reason for you to live in poverty. 

“I am prepared to establish a fund for you and your sisters. A very generous fund. You and your sisters will want for nothing.”

Moira swallowed. “What do you want to do for us?”

“Why, the company, of course,” said Uncle Jiro. “My attorneys will draw up the paperwork. I will see to everything. You need only sign them. The company will revert to me, as it should have originally. You and your sisters will be properly provided for, and you will have none of the stress of running a company the size of KTC. Let us be honest, Moira. You are not prepared to take the mantle of leadership. Why subject yourself to that sort of stress? There is no need. Your—family—is here to help you.”

“I’ll—I’ll think about it, Uncle Jiro,” she said.

Again, he stiffened, then forced a not-at-all convincing smile. “Do not think too long,” he said. “Business does not wait for young girls who cannot make up their minds. I need a decision so I can begin getting the company into order. Every day wasted is money lost.”

“I’m not sure I want to sell the company,” Moira said. “This was everything my father built. It meant a lot to him. He told me that everything he did here, he did for my mother. And for her memory.”

Uncle Jiro took a step forward, looming over her. “Do not speak of Kameko to me!” He hissed, almost like a large snake. “My sister was a very foolish woman. She made poor decisions. She never should have married Stephen Mackenzie. Had she not, she would be alive today!”

Moira stepped back as if he had slapped her. “How can you say that?” she said. Her voice was so quiet it was almost a whisper.

“You are a child,” Uncle Jiro said. He was very angry now. “You have no idea the matters in which you are interfering. Do not let your father’s misguided affection make your life more difficult, child. There is a time for sentiment and there is a time for good sense. See that you understand the difference.”

“But —”

“I will have my attorneys call you to make arrangements,” said Uncle Jiro. “I trust you will make the correct decision.” With that, he swept his coat about him and stormed out of the room. Moira watched him go. 

“I never liked him,” Sally said sadly as the elevator doors closed on Uncle Jiro. She had been in the adjoining conference room. She closed the door behind her. 

“Don’t you let him bully you, Moira,” she said. “This is your father’s company. It’s your company. It’s your family’s legacy. He can’t take it away from you. I know that, no matter what, you’ll do the right thing.”

Moira could only nod. She wished she felt as confident as Sally sounded.

Overland by Ramcy Diek Blog Tour & Excerpt

Overland
Ramcy Diek
Published by: Acorn Publishing
Publication date: November 10th 2020
Genres: Adult, Romance, Thriller

Skyla Overland is proud to work for Overland Insurance, the company founded by her grandfather. She enjoys sharing an apartment with her best friend, Pauline, and is in love with Edmond. Besides one nerve-wracking insurance fraud case in the past, her sheltered life is uneventful and just the way she likes it.

Until one day, everything changes…

Skyla and Troy, the manager at Overland Insurance, are the last ones to leave the office. In the empty parking lot, Troy takes her in his arms. Why would he ruin their easy-going friendship by kissing her, especially since he knows she’s dating Edmond?

Left alone, Skyla hurries to her car, puts on her seatbelt, and glances in her rearview mirror.

The face of a stranger grins at her from the backseat. “How nice to see you again,” he hisses close to her ear.

Regaining consciousness, Skyla finds herself on the backseat of her own car, with her hands tied behind her back.

Is she getting kidnapped? Who is he? And where is he taking her?

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

 

 

Author Bio:

A long time ago, I fell in love with the United States while traveling around in an Oldsmobile station-wagon with my husband. We are both born and raised in the Netherlands.
Together, we eventually found our way to the Pacific Northwest, built up a business, and raised our two boys into amazing young adults with their own careers. During this time, I also made a slow transition from reader to writer of many different stories.

My multiple award winning debut novel “Storm at Keizer Manor” sets the bar high for my second novel, Eagles in Flight.
All my books are stand alone novels in different genres. You might be in for a surprise, or a disappointment.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Newsletter / Bookbub

 

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And now, here’s an excerpt of the book!

SKYLA HAD NO IDEA how long she’d been unconscious. When she woke up, immediate panic constricted her throat. She was lying on the backseat of her own moving car. She was being kidnapped. 

The car’s heater ran at full blast, the air suffocating. Despite the heat, she shivered convulsively. Her teeth chattered as horrible images of her discarded mutilated body, raped and beaten, flooded her mind. Drenched in cold sweat, her long hair half covered her face and blocked her vision. She wiggled her arms. They were numb, bound behind her back at the wrists.

She lowered her legs to the floor of the car. A sharp pain shot through her right temple as she tried to push herself up into a sitting position. Overcome by a wave of nausea, she gasped and almost burst into tears. With her eyes squeezed tightly, she waited until her dizziness subsided. Don’t panic, keep your head together, she ordered herself. As long as your heart is beating, you’ll have a chance. You can do this.

She reopened her eyes and caught a glimpse of the man behind the steering wheel. He was wearing a baseball cap and a dark coat, and his hair was shoulder length. She couldn’t see much else and had no idea who he was. She shifted her gaze to look outside. The windshield wipers swished back and forth, and all she could detect was that he was driving in complete darkness. Other than the raindrops in the beams of the headlights, she couldn’t see anything. Realizing every second brought her further away from home, she moved her attention to her tied wrists. He’d used thin rope. If she could get her hands free, perhaps she could find something to hit him over the head with? 

The man shifted position and glanced over his shoulder. “Did sleeping beauty wake up?”

She half-leaned against the backdoor, her attention more focused on the rope than on him. As long as he was behind the wheel, he wouldn’t be able to see what she did. This was her best chance.

“Who are you?” she spat at him, trying to free one of her hands, but the harder she pulled the deeper the rope cut into her skin.  “What do you want from me?”

He emitted a harsh bark of laughter. “I’m the prince who’s rescuing the princess.”

Was this guy crazy? What the hell was he talking about? “Where are you taking me?” she demanded.

He laughed even louder. “I’m taking you to your new home. Isn’t that what happens in fairy tales? Prince Charming and his white horse taking the princess to her castle.” 

She tried to make sense out of what he was saying. This wasn’t a fairy tale. It was a nightmare.