Book Tour: Parallax by Dixie Jackson

Title: Parallax
Author: Dixie Jackson

Series: S3 #1

Date Published: 2020

Publisher: Paisley Creek Writers

Format: Kindle

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Source: Goddess Fish Blog Tour

Synopsis:

Six years later, Trent Wayland still isn’t over his spring fling. Probably because he was convinced when he married Captain Leila O’Neil, their fling would go on a lifetime. Leila is his soul mate and Trent knows it. He might not admit it on a regular basis, but that doesn’t negate the raw emotion she draws out of him each and every time he thinks about her. Forget the fact his heart splits in two all over again when he’s afforded the luxury of hearing her voice. That doesn’t happen often, however. Leila only tosses a handful of words his way when she initiates the weekly video calls he’s allowed with the other love of his life, their daughter Lucy.

Once upon a time, Leila O’Neil wanted to be a Marine when she grew up. She worked hard, she landed a seat at the Academy, and she was the head of her class. Then her dream was destroyed and she traded it in for a new one at the nearest Coterie portal. She wears so many faces and so many hats, at some point she lost track of her soul. That didn’t really bother her until Trent Wayland came along and almost peeled her dressing room curtain back nearly exposing her innermost person. The real person, the real Leila, who once upon a time wanted to be a Marine when she grew up.

Leila misses the real person, and realizes it at the worst possible moment. With her daughter’s life on the line and Trent on the scene of the crime, Leila figures out she’s been using her hurt and anger to fuel all the wrong goals. In a daring move, she puts it all on the line, hoping it’s enough to gain her freedom from her handlers and her husband’s forgiveness.

~Living in a Pandemic World~

(Bonus points to anyone who just sang that like they were Madonna.) All kidding aside, a huge thank you to Andra for hosting me today, and may I just say, you posed a very interesting blog topic for me. What type of people would my characters be during the current pandemic situation? (Honestly, I’m working this up a few weeks in advance, so I’m hopeful when this goes live we’re over the hump with this situation.)

But I digress. Back to the topic at hand, how would my characters from Parallax deal with the current pandemic situation. I have to say, Leila and Trent are pretty resourceful people and have a ton of resources at their disposal. Their current situation is this: their daughter has been kidnapped in a foreign country. Trent co-owns S3 with his brother Chase and they run a gamut of missions that otherwise by-the-books agencies won’t touch. Leila is a Marine by day and a black operator by night, unbeknownst to her beloved. Toss in a worldwide pandemic…

They are totally calm, cool, and collected. They already have the best protective gear made, so they’re covered in that area. They own their own planes, so, again, transportation in and out of country is covered and totally off the radar of anyone. With their main concern being Lucy, their daughter, I’m sure Leila may be a bit panicky on the inside worrying about her daughter. I mean, not only is she lost, she’s now in danger of contracting a horrible virus. But Leila is the calm in the storm and never lets her fears show, until she’s behind closed doors where she might allow herself to fall completely apart for a few minutes in a hot shower where no one can hear her scream.

As far as supplies go, they’ve lived in clandestine situations plenty and never fail to have a stash of extra necessities because they’re just those people who are prepared for any situation, even a global virus emergency the likes of which we’ve not seen in years. And, being as their sister agency run by Kyle Montgomery is situated behind a security fence the likes of Fort Knox, they feel confident stashing their daughter there until the mission is complete and danger has passed.

I’d say they rate an A in how they’d deal with the current pandemic situation.

Thanks again so much for having me by today! - Dixie Jackson

~Try an Excerpt!~

“How is it we’re in the middle of the biggest crisis of our lives and I’m so damn mad at you I want to hate you, but can’t?” Trent said, inching closer to her lips. “How is it, I want you so much I’d sell a piece of my soul to the devil to have you?”

“I’ve sold plenty of pieces of mine,” Leila whispered, straining against his hold, trying to bridge the gap between them. “It only hurts for a minute.”

His lips barely brushed hers before a tortured groan rolled out of him and tightened his grip. “Damn it,” he hissed over his teeth.

He turned loose of her so quickly Leila took a bounced step back before finding purchase of her balance again as he threw his hands up and turned his back to her. Running his hands over his head, his breaths were labored and his shoulders shook with what Leila suspected to be the same raw emotions running through her own system.

Leila stayed the desire to take the few steps between them and drop kick him to the floor where he’d be at her mercy for a tortured few moments. Instead, she jerked her robe over her shoulders, tugged it around her middle, and in one swift motion tied the belt.

~Meet Dixie!~ 

Born and raised in the heart of the Ozarks, Dixie Jackson learned a love of the written word at a young age. She remembers spinning tales before she could even write them down, but it was the encouragement of her sixth-grade creative writing teacher which would plant the idea that just never seemed to go away. She wanted to someday see her works in print.

Dixie makes her home in the Great Smoky Mountains with her retired Marine husband, two rescue dogs, and her beloved chickens. When she’s not writing, you can find her digging in the dirt and nurturing her plants while plotting the next step in one story line or another. She also loves experimenting in her kitchen, embroidering, quilting, crocheting, tracing her family’s twisted tree, and of course reading.

 Dixie will be awarding a $50 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: The Betrayal of Nicholas La Cour

Title: The Betrayal of Nicholas La Cour

Author: J.A. Jackson

Series: Lovers, Players, & Seducers #3 
Pages: 423
Format: Kindle
Genre: Romance

Source: Goddess Fish Blog Tours
Buy Me!

Synopsis:

Nicholas La Cour never expected to be betrayed.

Convicted of a crime he didn’t commit; it is only luck that proves his innocence.
Maëlle has always had a thing for bad boy Nicholas…

…and Nicholas has always had a thing for trouble.

After Nicholas left her at the altar, Maëlle wasn’t sure her heart would ever heal.

The wounds of the past run deep for both of them.
But despite their drama-filled past, their chemistry defies logic and burns hotter than ever.
As sparks fly and Maelle and Nicholas have the chance to reunite, will Nicholas sabotage their chance for happiness with his plans for revenge? Or will he finally focus on what truly matters?

Can they make love grow this time around?
Something both of them aren’t sure they can do…

A Betrayed man, a bride left at the altar, and a plan for revenge.  Dive into the complex world of Nicholas in Book III of J. A. Jackson’s Lovers, Players The Seducer series and discover if  love can transform even the best-laid plans?

~Try an Excerpt!~

Nicholas thought about it. “Yeah, you know those Egyptians knew their stuff. They had spells written in that book that spelled out what they were to do in the afterlife. They even had the information on embalming bodies and stuff.” “Handling dead bodies would gross me out,” Quinn declared. “Just thinking about it makes my skin crawl.” Nicholas gave Quinn a strange look and glanced back at his arm. “Fascinating topic, but dude, we are about to go into a Magickal shop that I’m sure the owner dabbles in Hoodoo or that Voodoo crap, so let’s stop that talk about that Egyptians stuff, and let go of my arm while you at it.”

~Meet J.A.!~ 

J.A. Jackson is the pseudonym for an author, who loves to write deliciously sultry adult romantic, suspenseful, entertaining novels with a unique twist. She lives in an enchanted little house she calls home in the Northern California foothills. Her love for cooking and writing come from her Southern roots of Louisiana and Arkansas. She isa member of South Bay Writers Association, Yosemite Romance Writers and Romance Writers of America (RWA). 

J.A. will be will be awarding a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: Gumbeaux Love by Jax Frey (+$25 Giveaway!)

Title: Gumbeaux Love
Author: Jax Frey

Series: Gumbeaux Sistahs #2

Pages: 236

Date Published: October 1st, 2020

Format: Kindle

Genre: Women's Fiction

Source: Goddess Fish Blog Tours
Buy Me!

Synopsis:

The adventures of the Gumbeaux Sistahs continues. Five, fiery southern women wage wars against their unique problems using their improbable friendships, hilarious evil-genius schemes, strategy sessions with oh-so-many cocktails, and a shared passion for good gumbo.

Single, Southern artist, Judith Lafferty, casually confesses to her Gumbeaux Sistahs that she is occasionally lonely and would like to fall in love again. Seriously - you'd think she would know to keep her mouth shut around these women by now. The sistahs tackle her problem along with their own with their usual unreasonable, extreme plots and schemes, including a kidnapping, a cupid costume, trying out pick-up lines at the cheese counter, and blind dates from hell. In helping out their friend, the sistahs help each other out as well and bring to light the many flavors of love in all of our lives. Be ready for twists, turns, laugh-out-loud times, and heart-wrenching moments. You'll be sure to recognize yourself and your best friends in the unstoppable sistahs.

~Standing Out in a Crowd~

...How to make each heroine unique!

In my case, it was easy because each of the Gumbeaux Sistahs characters are based on a real-life friend of mine. They are a diverse group, who shouldn’t get along at all, but somehow do. And they are fiercely loyal to each other.

Here are the five main characters; you can see how they are unique.

Bea – quietly friendly, educated, obviously the well-respected boss of the group.

Helen – spiritual, crystal-gazing, massage therapist, heavily into nutrition, self-care, health and being ultra-kind in this world.

Dawn – new-money, well-dressed from a say-what-you-think country upbringing. She formidable in her opinion and in her stature. Very unpredictable.

Lola – wiry, activist who is educated in law but works with her hands in the landscaping field. She confident, sexy, and acts as Dawn’s social filter.

Judith - the quiet, talented, wry-humored artist. She anti-social but coming out of her shell, still somewhat dazed at having been newly-adopted by the caring Sistahs.
See what I mean? They are quite unique. I know some real characters!

~Try an Excerpt!~

Judith rinsed her juice glass in the kitchen sink just as the doorbell rang.

“Who in the world at this hour?” she thought, shaking her head and glancing at the clock on the wall. “It’s not even eight o’clock.”

She walked to the front door and started to open it, but before she could swing it open all the way, a hand clutching a paper coffee cup shoved its way inside, barely missing her face.

“What?” she yelped. Then she laughed. “Oh no, are you kidding me?” She opened the door to five Gumbeaux Sistahs, including Bea, Helen, Dawn, Lola, and Trinity who stood on her front stoop holding coffee. It was especially a surprise to see Trinity there since she lived across the lake and had a long way to come. But the most unexpected thing of all was Dawn, who stood there looking embarrassed as all get-out, wearing a big, red Cupid costume.

“Not again!” said Judith, rolling her eyes and remembering that this was exactly the way that the sistahs had originally kidnapped her and become her best friends in the world.

Dawn grimaced and said, “I don’t know why I’m always the one who has to wear a stupid costume.”

~Meet Jax!~ 

Born in New Orleans, Jax came into this world with a sense of celebration of southern culture, food, family and fun. Translating that celebration into her writing and onto canvas is her true calling. Her colorful art depicts everything from her dancing Gumbeaux Sistahs paintings to her popular line of original Mini paintings of southern icons. Because over 25,000 of the mini paintings have been created and sold into art collections worldwide, Jax holds a world’s record for The Most Original Acrylic Paintings on Canvas by One Artist from the World's Record Academy. Jax art and gifts can be seen at www.artbyjax.com.

Jax is also the co-founder of the Women of Infinite Possibilities, an empowering women’s organization started in Covington, LA, where Jax lives today with her loveable, tornado-of-a-pug named Lucy.
The Gumbeaux Sistahs' series of novels is a work of love for Jax After painting the Sistahs for many years, she finally gives voice to these women characters who have something to say and constantly make Jax laugh when she writes about them.

 Jax will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: The New Normal - Resistance

Title: The New Normal - Resistance
Author: Dexter C. Channing

Series: A New Normal #2

Date Published: September 3rd, 2020

Format: Kindle

Genre: Medical Disaster Thriller

Source: Goddess Fish Blog Tours
Buy Me!

Synopsis:

A deadly pandemic is sweeping across the globe. Country after country is disintegrating into a lawless, terrified conclusion as it soon becomes apparent that there is a fate worse than death. Violence and discord stalk the streets; governments are beginning to introduce martial law and curfews in a futile attempt to regain control of a world thrown into disarray by a silent, unseen killer.

Jolyon Jones, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, knows that it is a race against time to find a vaccine for this highly infectious virus before the consequences wipe out humanity. He also knows that the virus is not the only killer. Small pockets of resistance are slowly emerging; survivors ready to fight not only against the virus, but against each other.

In the midst of the battle for survival, the faithful know that their wait for the Second Coming is nearly over. They know that He is here again. But who is He and will He be able to stop the virus before science reaches an apocalyptic solution?

~A Day in the Life of Mei Lau Jones~

I have to laugh whenever I am told that being the Prime Minister’s wife is glamorous and carefree. How I wish it was!

They forget, very easily, that I had no choice. That Jolyon and I had the roles thrust upon us because the former Prime Minister caught the virus. They, the people that wish they were me, that see me as a spoilt, insipid woman standing in the shadow of her powerful husband – they don’t know what it’s like. They don’t understand.

A few weeks ago, I was kidnapped. Yes, kidnapped, you heard me. Seized from my parent’s apartment in China. I was collateral. They killed my poor mother, but she was ill anyway, and I doubt if she would have ever recovered, so maybe it was a blessing that she went quickly. A gunshot, and then nothing. Better that than a lingering, painful death. 

Glamorous! Being thrown in a tiny, airless room, being given one meal a day and the toilet was in the same room. I imagine that was what being in prison would be like. 

I was released, thankfully, and so now, after an admittedly loving reunion, I am back in the shadow of my Prime Minister husband. The role is a blessing and a curse. We are obviously treated with deference and there are days when all I have to think about is myself, and how I look, and what to wear. Then I sit and wait, in the apartment, for some of the time Jolyon can spare. It isn’t much. I try not to mind, but I do. That’s the bit which is the curse. I hardly ever see him and when I do, he doesn’t see me, I mean, really see me. He wouldn’t be able to tell you what colour dress I’m wearing today, for instance. Then again, does any husband really look at his wife?

Other wives are luckier, I know, because they can tell their husbands how afraid they are – of the virus, of the repercussions. I mean, our son, Luke – he’s a doctor – a doctor of Virology, no less. Luckily, he has a research post, so he’s not on the front line, but for how long? This virus is sweeping the country, people are falling sick, dying, and then – well, then there’s the other things that this virus is causing. How long before Luke has to join a hospital and fight the virus in an intensive care unit? It terrifies me, but I’m not allowed to tell Jolyon and of course, he wouldn’t listen. He is like everyone else in Government at the moment, they are fighting an unseen killer, but the virus isn’t the only thing that isn’t seen.

I’m more or less invisible. I may as well be dead. Would Jolyon even notice? Would anyone? 

I have to go now, there’s some woman coming to see me to talk to me about Jolyon. Her name is Marianne Benjamin. She says she knows Jolyon, but he’s never mentioned her before. I wonder why?

~Try an Excerpt!~

Across the Atlantic, early evening sunlight bathed the White House in an auroral light, shimmering in the gentle breeze which sighed across the velvet green lawns. Inside the Oval Office, nobody cared for the view, despite how peaceful and ordinary it looked. 

The President was wearing his most mulish look as the Secretary of State and the Defence Secretary reeled from his latest revelation. For a moment, only the distant wail of sirens could be heard in the thick silence which surrounded them following the President’s declaration. The sound mingled with the groan of despair from the Defence Secretary, an involuntary reaction to what he had just listened to.

‘Mr President, Sir,’ the Defence Secretary looked at the other man and felt like smashing his fist into the supercilious expression he found staring back at him. Did the President not understand what was happening and how there was a need for unity, not discord within global relationships? Obviously, he did not! ‘Could I ask you if Professor Benjamin did this without coercion?’

Spreading his arms out in a gesture that indicated he did not know or understand, the President replied, ‘All I know is that I have been told of a call made to Beyler School of Medicine from Professor Benjamin’s office. Who instructed him to make the call, I don’t know, but I do know that if there is a second spike, another “mutation”, then Watpharm had better understand it will need Gileath to bail it out of its fucking mess, pissing about with some bloody college students and those yellow skinned freaks!’

‘This has been done as retaliation because what, Watpharm didn’t want to set up shop with an American Company? Jesus fucking Christ!’ The Defence Secretary’s fist came down on the desk, making the other two men jump. ‘We’re in the middle of a fucking world changing crisis, Mr President, Sir! We have the threat of extinction and we have got non-humans running amok on the fucking planet and some idiot professor wants some more business for his company?’

‘This administration gives Gileath a hell of a lot of dollars,’ the President glared at his Defence Secretary, ‘and I don’t want those dollars wasted! Working with Watpharm might also go some way to restoring America’s credibility on the world stage.’

‘I think what the Defence Secretary is trying to say, Mr President, is that if there is a second spike or another mutation of this current outbreak, then the world stage may not have much of an audience left to play to, Sir.’ The Secretary of State intervened.

The President threw his papers down onto his desk and stormed out of the office wearing a truculent expression.

The Secretary of State shook his head. ‘Sometimes, the thought crosses my mind that a couple of cups of disinfectant or bleach wouldn’t go amiss.’

They were both thinking of a disastrous video link press conference which had been held towards the end of April. It had been beamed around the globe, one of the few broadcasts that were made that day and America still hadn’t recovered from the backlash. Both men looked to the door, which the President had just slammed.

‘How much is a bottle of Clorax these days?’ Asked the Defence Secretary and they both burst out laughing, amazed that they still could.

~Meet Dexter!~ 

Dexter C Channing is something of a mystery to the literary world – and indeed, the team at Just Jane Publishing has never actually met this author, having been introduced through another writer during the Covid 19 Lockdown. 

The elusive author prefers to remain an enigma to everyone, simply stating a love of city life as opposed to the country because “it’s easier to disappear in a big city where nobody knows your real self”. That real self is “single, not available” and prefers being alone to the “ruinous pathway of a love affair”. 

Fact, fantasy and science all combine in this author’s often dark writing style, which takes you through conspiracy theories to conclusions you’d rather not reach in the real world. Or maybe, as Dexter says, you’re already there.

Is Dexter C Channing an American? There’s a possibility, but then anything is possible, if you believe what goes on in Channing’s imagination, often taking us to places we’d rather not go. It’s clear at some point that Channing did live in America, and still has some links to Miami and Deerfield Beach. 

More of late, Channing has been residing in England and has actually allowed the team at Just Jane Publishing access to a list of favourite places which include Chesterfield in Derbyshire, Liverpool, and a surprising one, given the penchant for city living – a tiny village called Kettlewell, in Yorkshire.

What does a mysterious author who nobody really knows do when they’re not writing? Channing watches. Things. Events. People. Then they get written about. Is Channing a one trick pony? Far from it. There are links with law, property, and a love of music, which is always in the background when Channing is writing.

 Dexter will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: Big Wishes for Little Feat

Title: Big Wishes for Little Feat
Author: Cheryl Olsten
Pages: 56

Date Published: 2020

Publisher: Fleecydale Press

Genre: Children's

Source: Goddess Fish Blog Tours

Synopsis:

When Ella and Little Feat are brought together, their devotion to each other grows. Their awe and love of the night sky with sparkling stars and constellations takes them on a journey that will change their lives forever. Big Wishes for Little Feat is a wonderful tale that will ignite the imagination with its rich, colorful illustrations by award-winning Italian illustrator Paolo d'Altan. Central to the book's charm is the imagery of stars and constellations to which a little girl and her horse both look for inspiration, confidence, and faith in themselves, as they learn how to turn disappointments into achievements. A quirky aunt adds to the fun of this tale of happy endings and new beginnings. For young girls who love animals with a special fondness for the magic of horses.

~My Thoughts~
When Little Feat is the only horse in his stable to not get a new owner, he loses confidence in himself. Although he's little, he decides to work as hard as he can, and becomes a skilled jumper - with the help of a little magic and positive thinking!

Set in Belgium, I loved the scenery in the stables and when Ella met Little Feat for the first time. It's a very cute, sweet, children's book that has a very positive message of believing in yourself despite your differences and disabilities. 
~Try an Excerpt!~

On the other side of the world lived a little girl named Ella. She wore her hair in a long French braid that fell to the middle of her back. Her eyes were as blue as the midnight sky. She knew a lot about constellations. On summer and winter nights, she and her father would lie in their backyard, looking up at the patterns the stars made.

“Ella,” her father would ask, a twinkle in his voice, “what pattern do you see tonight?”

“I see a horse, a ying horse! Do you?”

“Well, yes I do,” said her father. “That’s Pegasus, the winged horse. He’s one of the largest constellations in the sky.”

“He’s so beautiful,” said Ella. “I would love to have a horse like that—a horse who can carry me to the stars!”

“Maybe one day your wish will come true, Ella, my beloved, brilliant étoile,” said her father in French. “Brilliant means bright, and you pronounce it bree-yant. Étoile means star, and you pronounce it eh-twal. You are my bright star.”

“Your beloved, brilliant étoile,” she softly repeated.

~Meet Cheryl!~ 

Cheryl Olsten was formerly the publisher of two New Jersey Magazines, New Jersey Life and New Jersey Life Health and Beauty.  She resides in Pennsylvania with her husband, while their grown children are living their happy lives on different parts of the globe.

 Cheryl will be awarding a Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: Impeachment (+$25 Giveaway!)

Title: Impeachment
Author: Mark Spivak

Pages: 208

Date Published: October 15th, 2020

Publisher: Blacklight Press

Format: Kindle

Genre: Thriller

Source: Goddess Fish Blog Tours
Buy Me!

Synopsis:
A pair of billionaire brothers with unlimited resources, a secret agenda, and no accountability.

Mysterious “peace-keeping forces” that materialize out of nowhere.

Detention camps on the U.S.-Mexican border.

Bungled assassination attempts with untraceable origins.

A reactive Congress, lobbyists bought and paid for, and upheavals at the highest levels of government.

How was it all engineered, and could it happen tomorrow?

Is it fiction or uncomfortable reality?

~Try an Excerpt!~

“Thanks for coming.” 

“No problem,” said Mendoza. “I always drive twenty miles out to the boondocks to get myself a cappuccino. The journey clears my head.” 

“I figured that neither of us needed to be seen in public with each other. My instinct was it wouldn’t play well with our respective constituencies.”

“I suspect you’re right. So tell me, Mr. Lapham, what have I done to deserve this audience? Have the Haft brothers decided to donate a billion dollars to Criollos Unidos?” 

“We have some areas of mutual interest. I think we might be able to come to an accommodation.” 

“I’m listening.” 

“You’ve been quite outspoken recently in your criticism of Khaleem Atalas.” 

“I think he’s a great man. If he wasn’t holding a hundred thousand of my people in concentration camps along the Mexican border, I’d nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize.” 

“As you can imagine, my employers share your disgust for the President. Although their specific reasons are different, of course.” 

“To be honest, he double-crossed us. And I do not like to be double-crossed.” 

“I think you’re a man of principle, even though I may not agree with many of your convictions. And as I said, we’re not fans of Atalas either. The only difference is that we haven’t been surprised at the way things turned out.” 

“Before we join hands and start singing kumbaya, why don’t you tell me why you dragged me down here?” 

“I could have sworn you came of your own free will.” 

“I have to admit, I was curious.” 

“As I said, we find ourselves on the same side of this problem, but for different reasons. I was thinking there might be some way we could work together.”

~Meet Mark!~ 

Mark Spivak is an award-winning writer specializing in wine, spirits, food, restaurants and culinary travel. He’s the author of Iconic Spirits: An Intoxicating History and Moonshine Nation: The Art of Creating Cornbread in a Bottle. His first novel, Friend of the Devil, tells the story of America’s most celebrated chef who has cut a deal with Satan for fame and fortune.

Mark is also a political junkie who loves turning his fascination with the seamy underbelly of the American political system into taut, page-turning thrillers. The American Crusade, the story of a devastating terrorist attack and the government’s response, was published in April 2019; Impeachment, a tale of two billionaire brothers who manipulate that system for their own ends, is a sequel that also stands alone as an unusual and compelling story.

 Mark will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.a Rafflecopter giveaway

REVIEW: Silent Screams by Marcia Collette

Title: Silent Scream
Author: Marcia Collette

Series: Bittersweet #2

Pages: 227

Date Published: October 30th, 2020

Format: Kindle

Genre: YA Paranormal

Source: Goddess Fish Blog Tours

Synopsis:

Psychokinetic teen Phaedra Thorne is back! Her life consists of balancing her high school and college courses while trying to keep the peace between her older brother Kurt and little sister Nadia. On top of that, their schizophrenic and psychokinetic mom remains locked away in the attic. Believe it or not, things are better than they have ever been.

Those "better times" go up in flames when the only sanctuary the Thornes have ever known--their home--is burnt to the ground. With Kurt severely injured and their mother missing, Phae and Nadia have been left in the hands of the supernatural foster care system. Just as the Thorne sisters start to settle in with her temporary family, a blast from their horrific past comes to their foreboding rescue. Phae has good reason to be apprehensive about the new arrangements, considering many supernaturals want to buy the burnt out husk of a home and have taken a liking to her psychokinesis and Nadia's uncanny prowess. There's only one thing Phae can do. Find their mother.

Having been kidnapped, assaulted, and sold to the highest bidder, Phae will have to learn how to trust other members of her estranged family, if she has any hopes of saving the immediate one she loves.

~My Thoughts~

There was one thing - it could be good or bad depending on how you feel about it - was that there was SO much information packed into each page. The first page was the most vibrant example (obviously, as it's trying to catch us up to the characters, plot, and setting all at once) but I felt like I was jumping from idea to idea so quickly that sometimes I felt like I wasn't capturing all of them.  - Geriatric station wagon (lol) ! - Melonie wants to get it on with her boyfriend! - Something about soda being sexually suggestive!  - You get it. All on the first page too! In a similar vein...so...many...NAMES! I met 10 people in the first 2 minutes of reading. It really could have been a lot smoother, but I get it, those first few chapters are really tough to get right as you have to get the reader centered in the story and balance the info dumps and the story actually moving forward. 

After some time, I settled down into the story and started putting the characters together and things got good! For whatever reason, I have to tell you that I never once considered the idea of a paranormal foster care system, and my friends, I have read the GAMUT of paranormal YA, adult paranormal, and every spooky or scary sort of story in between. HOW has this never been discussed before? It was such a cool and unique idea and it was really great to explore how Phae and Nadia navigate such a trying experience along with the pressures of an injured brother and missing mom. 

One of the things I really liked about this (setting/story/world?) was how tight-knit the paranormal community was. It reminded me a bit of Halloweentown (obviously a bit more grown up) in that there were kids raised by ghosts and then sorcerers have their own say and culture and mediums also fit into the picture and it's just a unique little world that I enjoyed getting lost in for an hour or two. 

Also, that cover is so nice! Very Halloween-esk with the added femininity of the butterfly/moth. Very pretty and very striking! Thanks Marcia for the fun read and I hope you enjoy your stop here on the tour!
~Try an Excerpt!~

“Phaedra if the house is on fire, you can’t go back inside. Just wait, okay? Wait until the fire department gets there. Hell, wait for me to get there. If nothing else, I heal a lot faster than you.”

“I can’t. The fire looks like it started in the attic and at least a third of the roof is smoldering. One way or another I’ll be blasting my way out of there with my mom and my brother in tow.” I handed the phone to Nadia who was shivering, eyes filled with tears. “Mason’s coming for you. You don’t leave this yard without him, do you understand? If the cops come, don’t scream. Just stay here unless they find you first. I’ll be back. That’s a promise.”

“Phae,” she pleaded. “Don’t go. Stay with me. I’m scared.”

Oh my god. My gut wavered. Why did she have to go there? I pulled her into another tight hug and kissed her head hard enough to leave a mark. Tears filled my eyes until they washed down my cheeks. I hated leaving her. Hated it more than anything else in the world. But there would be at least one guaranteed dead body up there if I didn't get to Kurt before our mother did. She was a rabid animal when she was in crazed-rage mode. Add fire to it and there was no telling how far her psychotic personality would go to rip him apart. My powers were as strong as hers, so I knew I could take her. The only problem was my powers were just as sporadic as her psychosis. Anything was possible, but my family’s chances were non-existent if I did nothing.

~Meet Marcia!~ 

I'm Marcia Colette and I love to write urban fantasy, YA, horror, and paranormal romance. Since I was never a voracious reader until later in life, I try to write stories that I like to read, and for readers who don't have a lot of time in their busy lives.

My first published novel started with Half Breed (formerly known as Stripped) and my fantasy life took off from there. My next novel was a paranormal romance entitled Unstable Environment and I also released Bittersweet (YA), Hazardous Environment (Paranormal Romance), The Spider Inside Her (Urban Fantasy), and Deadlier by the Dozen (Urban Fantasy). I have sold several short stories and novellas to Mocha Memoirs Press and I continued my Alexa York series with Purple Sword Publications.

When I'm not reading or writing, I live my best life in the real world as an IT Manager and enjoy getting into trouble with my manga-loving daughter. I can't draw, so she's out of luck with that one. However, I always write a little piece of her into each of my characters.

And before I forget, I also write science fiction under another pen name.
 Marcia will be awarding a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.a Rafflecopter giveaway