Release Blitz: Temptation Trials Rebellion by B. Truly #dystopianromance #fantasy #excerpt & #giveaway from @BrandyTruly & @RABTBookTours

Adult, Dystopian Romance & Urban Fantasy

Date Published: 11/30/2018

Can love defeat the greatest temptation ... lust?

In a post-apocalyptic nation where the land of the free is now run under a dictatorship, there is one factor that holds the key to keeping world order—love. The new Regime controls the emotions of the heart. It’s their most vital law. At the age of twenty-one, every citizen is forced into an arranged marriage. The only way to escape the arrangement is to enter the Temptation Trials—a government-sponsored reality TV show where the loyalties of the contestants are tested by Tempters and Temptresses who are impossible to resist.

Catalina enters the Trials as a Temptress in hopes that she can win the funds to save her brother. Sahara’s been ridiculed in the eyes of the public. By being a Temptress, she’ll be able to have a fresh start. The Regime promises that if she fulfills her role on the show they will wipe her slate clean.

The problem is that the Trials are rigged for failure. In all the prior seasons, love’s rival, lust, has proven to be more powerful. No contestant has ever won the Temptation Trials and be allowed to stay with their chosen partner. Lutheran Eminence, the world’s dictator, has shown that he’s the ultimate matchmaker.

As the Temptation Ball approaches, conflict is at an all-time high. Most couples are too hurt by betrayal to reconcile. With the odds stacked against them, Kincade and Tobias try to mend their relationships, hoping that the greater good will prevail.

Attempting to uncover the true meaning of love may cost the contestants more than they bargained for—it may cost their souls.

Excerpt

Sahara tossed and turned. When she finally fell asleep a reoccurring nightmare consumed her….

            Sahara had been in a funk all day. The last month had been horrible, not talking to Calvin. He’d tried numerous times to reach out to her. Sahara’s only response through text had been, I just think it’s best if we don’t see each other anymore.

            Slowly, his texts and calls lessened, but today Calvin had texted, begging to see her because he would be in town this weekend. Sahara was struggling with giving in, wanting to see him desperately.

            She handed a customer their latte, and then greeted the next in line—a male and female enforcer approached the counter.

            “Hello, what can I get for you guys?” Sahara greeted.

             “Are you Sahara Fenty?” the female officer asked with a stern expression.

            “I am.”

            Sahara’s co-worker, Caren, raised her eyebrows.

            “What is this about?” Sahara asked, her stomach clenching.

            “Sahara Fenty, you’re under arrest for the Floozy charge,” the female enforcer announced, loud enough for the entire cafe to hear.

            A few customers gasped, and her co-worker’s eyes were about to pop from their sockets. She wanted the floor to just suck her up. “What is the meaning of this?” Sahara questioned, having a damn good idea. She would bet money it involved her first love.

            “Calvin Bush’s wife, Bonnie, is pressing charges against you. She has proof that you and her husband are having an affair.”

            More gasps from the cafe. Sahara wanted to die. “What proof does she have?”

            “Please don’t make this harder than it has to be, Ms. Fenty,” the male enforcer intervened, wiping out his hand-cuffs.

            This was the most humiliating moment of Sahara’s life. Not wanting to cause herself further embarrassment, she cooperated and went with them willingly.

About the Author

B. Truly has wanted to be an author since she was fifteen years old and is grateful to have accomplished this dream. She has very vivid dreams and a wild imagination. She likes to read, watch tons of TV shows, and movies. She’s addicted to romance and gets a thrill out of action and sci-fi. She writes New Adult and Adult, Romance. Sci-fi, Dystopian, and Paranormal genres.

B. Truly likes to explore different elements of sci-fi romance, and create various realms of reality. She also loves creating impossible situations for her characters to grow from and try to overcome.

B. Truly has three wonderful children and a husband who defines the person that she is today. She works full-time as an Ultrasound technologist in Houston, Texas.

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PROMO Blitz: Death By Poison by Gary Evans #thriller #novel with a #giveaway from @TaleTellerEvans & @RABTBookTours

Thriller

Date Published: Spring 2018

Beautiful assassin Genevieve Wangen continues to work on her deadly concoctions from her secret lab in the woods, far from the prying eyes of the law. But just as soon as she has love and a new life in her sights, Genevieve is pulled into a far more dangerous high-stakes game of cat and mouse. She already upended her life and identity once. How far will she need to go this time to stay alive?

Reviews

"Make sure you set aside extra time, cancel any appointments and don't plan on sleeping! Once you start reading this book you will not want to put it down until you have finished it. Gary definitely has a way with words. His writing flows and is filled with great lines and an even greater story. He is a natural storyteller. This second book in the series is even better than the first." - Shelley Olsen, Owner, Paperbacks and Pieces Bookstore

"A major eureka page-turner, Evans has spun an original web of intrigue . . . that will be eagerly shared by murder mystery readers!" - Rollie Wussow has Midwest roots and is a semi-retired healthcare executive in sunny New Mexico

“As a journalist and author (and especially over a glass of wine), Gary has always been a master storyteller with a rich eye for the humorous and the ridiculous. Death by Poison features wonderful characters, rich dialogue, and a compelling tale. Like Gary, it’s great fun.” —Rusty Cunningham, Executive Editor, La Crosse Tribune

Previous in the Series

Thriller

Date Published: July 2017

When Shawn Sorenson drowned in 1987, no one in La Crosse, Wisconsin, took much notice. They thought it was simply another drunken accident. When another student, Tad Schwartz, drowned a year later, the residents began to suspect foul play. Why else would a healthy young man drown? Even so, the police had no leads or clues to suggest anything other than a tragic accident. Were these truly accidental deaths? Suspicion became reality one fateful morning in 2011 when Police Detective Allan Rouse, Sheriff's Deputy Charlie Berzinski, and pathologist Rick Olson pulled the 15th victim from the river. The body had a tale to tell.

Dr. Olson, physician Patricia Grebin, and researcher Sarah Giles discover an obscure piece of evidence. It leads Berzinski and Rouse down a tangled trail of clues before reaching a mind-boggling conclusion. Will Berzinski and Rouse catch the killer before it's too late? Filled with intrigue, betrayal, and gut-twisting suspense, Death by Drowning will draw readers into a Midwestern town full of secrets and clues as breathtaking as the Mississippi River.

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November 2018

After confessing to killing fourteen young men in La Crosse,Wisconsin, sultry serial killer Genevieve Wangen escapes custody for the second time. Aided by her Mafia contacts, she settles in at a remote cabin in the Bitterroot Mountains of Montana. Now, safely hidden behind her new identity as Samantha Walters, she happily continues her deadly work for the Carbones. But Detective Al Rouse and Deputy Charlie Berzinski are bent on locking her away for good. When they finally catch up to her, as she is about to wed her latest debonair lover, Genevieve finds that she must escape more than just the law!

About the Author

Gary Evans has turned his passion for novel writing into a post-retirement career, with book four soon to be released, and book five already in the works. Evans spent 30 years in Midwest newsrooms as an award-winning writer, editor, and publisher. He spent 12 years as vice president at Winona State University. He ended his career as the president and CEO of Hiawatha Broadband Communication, one of the nation’s first alternative entrant telecommunications firms, after 15 years. Married to Ellen, they have two grown children, Gregory and Natalie.

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Release Blitz: Queen of Zazzau

Historical Fantasy/Mythical Realism

Date Published: November 20, 2018

Publisher: Afrocentric Books | Mugwump Press

Amina is heir apparent to the throne of Zazzau and must prove she is worthy of the crown. As foreign invaders close in on them, she is all that stands between her people and destruction. Caught in a web of prophecies, she must defend Zazzau, but cannot do so if she wants to prevent the future that was foretold. She did not seek war yet it finds her. Unwilling to be the plaything of gods or men and determined to take control of her own destiny, she tracks down the god of war himself. But has her destiny already been written? Can she choose her own fate? And can she protect her kingdom, no matter what price she must ultimately pay? Because, gods always want something in return.

Queen of Zazzau is an Historical Fantasy that takes place in precolonial West Africa.  It chronicles the life of one of the most famous W. African queens, Amina of Zazzau (or Zaria). At 139,000 words, the novel features several W. African historical figures and a pantheon of W. African gods. The story is told in first-person and gives the reader an intimate look at some of the lifestyles and cultures--many of which are still alive today--of medieval W. Africa.

Excerpt

I dreamed. Not a dream of laughing brooks and water spirits; I dreamed of an empty plain. I stood in the field, yellow-green savanna grass swaying in the wind. As its soft whistle grew to a roar, the grass whipped my legs violently. But it wasn’t the wind roaring; it was men. Hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands suddenly surrounded me. Each man fought the other with murder in his eyes.

My uncle was among them. Sword in hand, he lunged at the nearest half-naked man and brought down his blade, cutting into the other man’s shoulder. His enemy howled in pain but did not fall. The soldier rushed forward, still howling, pushing the sword deeper into his own flesh, and stabbed at Karama with a long-knife. Karama swept the knife away with a braceleted wrist. Then his wrist came down on the howling man’s head, burying the raised, serrated edge of a war bracelet in his skull.

Dislodging his bracelet, my uncle pushed the corpse off his blade. He turned and saw me. Our eyes locked for only a moment before a spear sprouted from his chest. Screaming, I ran to him but was buffeted by a sea of men. The faster I tried to run, the farther away my uncle was.

“Uncle,” I cried. “No!” But the wave of men pushed me to the ground. Curling into a ball, I tucked my head under my arms, closed my eyes, and screamed as the men stampeded over me.

Silence.

I opened my eyes, confused, sweat slick on my brow, tears still damp on my cheeks. The men were gone, but I could hear their cries. Climbing to my feet, I scanned the vast savanna ocean. A mud altar that hadn’t been there before now stood beside me. Blood spilled from the edges of the altar like melting wax. The men’s cries came from the structure. From the thousands of tiny figures piled upon it. At first, I thought they were living dolls, but they were the miniaturized bodies of men suffering myriad violent deaths. These were the casualties of war.

I stared at the mangled bodies, some of which were writhing in pain, and somehow knew these men had died—were dying—in the battle many leagues away. Frantic and nearly petrified by what I might find, I searched for my uncle among the bodies. There were so many Zazzagawa and Kwararafa mingled in the pile; I couldn’t tell one fallen soldier from another.

Wringing my hands, I backed away and reminded myself not to let fear subdue me, but terror pounded in my chest. The stink of death hung over the altar like a horrible fog that choked my lungs. Retreating from it, I came up against something hot and solid.

I froze.

The thing behind me shifted. It spoke.

“Look upon Death, Beloved. And know it for what it is.”

I spun around, stumbling backward, to find myself staring at the chest of a very tall man. Still trying but failing to fully master my fear, I took another backward step and looked up at who stood before me.

Towering over seven feet, the man had skin like polished ebony. He wore a vivid red and gold kilt that hung to just above his knees and a black cloak so long it brushed the ground. Black leather bracers with gold clasps covered his forearms. The open cloak was slung back over his shoulders, exposing a lean, powerful torso that rippled with muscle under smooth, dark skin.

I followed the contours of his chest, his long neck, a proud jawline. Save for the pointed tuft of hair on his chin and the thick, black eyebrows, his face and head were bald. His gaze was not upon me, his chin raised, so I could not see his eyes. I didn’t need to see them. I knew that once he looked at me, I’d be staring into the roiling red eyes of War.

About the Author

J.S. Emuakpor was born and raised in West Africa. She is a married mother of four, a scientist, and owner of Afrocentric Books. She currently lives in North Carolina and is very much allergic to it. Most of her writing draws upon the spiritual beliefs of the ancestors who frequently whisper in her ear and on the superstitions that she refuses to relinquish.

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Release Blitz: Awakening

Romantic Thriller

Date Published: November 17, 2018

Is it possible that the entirety of one's life has been steered by the hand of fate towards a single moment? For Brooklyn French program teacher - and single parent of two- Tess Shapiro, it would certainly seem so. After discovering that her life and her marriage were artificial constructs based on lies and deceit, Tess must undergo the ultimate reality check. She delves deep into her subconscious, venting her frustrations by indulging in a lifelong habit of drawing graphic novels starring her glamorous alter ego, an international spy by the name of Andrea Chambers. Meanwhile, in the real world, anti-French terrorism is taking the world by storm. What, and who, is behind the vile attacks against French-speaking people everywhere from Brooklyn to Burundi? As she suspects that her new lover may not be who she thought he was, Tess's ability to perceive truth through a distorted collage of deception, brings comic book fantasy and real world tragedy crashing together in a whirlwind of romance and political intrigue. When, in a single moment, Tess realizes the totality of the lie she has been fed and believed, and the impossibility of the truth, she makes a staunch decision that will change her life, and how she perceives the world, forever.

 About the Author

Originally from Canada, Jackie Goldman now lives with her two children in Brooklyn, NY. She began writing full time as a passive-aggressive means of enforcing quiet time in the apartment.

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Release Blitz: Our Gift-Giving God

Christianity, Religion

Date Published: November 19, 2018

Publisher: Lucid Books

Has Christmas gotten to be just the same old, same old? Do you feel as if you're simply going through the motions, even though you know this should be a season of celebration and worship? Same tree, same Christmas songs, same baked goods.

Come and refresh your hope in Christmas through Our Gift-Giving God. This devotional will take the reader through the traditions and symbols of Christmastime and uncover the deep, gospel truths woven throughout that God has for each and every one of us. Throughout these chapters, you will discover:

A purposeful, firmly planted life

Friendship

Joy

Protection

A new beginning

Provision

Mercy

Unfettered approval

In this eight-day study, you can unwrap the very best gifts and the best news you'll receive all year. Spend time opening the gifts only our gift-giving God can deliver.

About the Author

Andrea Kim was born and raised in Houston, Texas. She holds an accounting degree, an MBA, and a law degree from the University of Texas at Austin. She also earned a Masters in Biblical Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary. She has spent well over a decade teaching the Bible at church and serving as head of sermon research for her pastor at Houston’s First Baptist Church. Andrea is an attorney of 20 years, but her passion is to open up the world of God’s exciting truths for others the way they were opened up for her. She serves on the Board of Directors for The Seed Company, a Bible translation organization currently translating the Bible into more than 800 languages.

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Virtual Book Tour & Interview with Author @mikeljwilson during the Death Opens a Window Book Tour #giveaway #interview @RABTBookTours

Mourning Dove Mysteries, Book 2

Mystery

Date Published: October 19, 2018

Publisher: Acorn Publishing

Emory Rome is back in DEATH OPENS A WINDOW, Book 2 of the Mourning Dove Mysteries and the follow-up to the national bestseller MURDER ON THE LAKE OF FIRE.

As he struggles with the consequences of his last case, Emory must unravel the inexplicable death of a federal employee in a Knoxville high-rise. But while the reticent investigator is mired in a deep pool of suspects - from an old mountain witch to the powerful Tennessee Valley Authority - he misses a greater danger creeping from the shadows. The man in the ski mask returns to reveal himself, and the shocking crime of someone close is unearthed.

Interview

What is the hardest part of writing your books?

The editing process can be tedious, especially the closer I get to the final version of the book. By then, I just want to be done with that book so I can move on to the next one.

What songs are most played on your Ipod?

I make a playlist for every new book I start writing, and I fill it with a genre-spanning mix from three categories:

1. The bulk of my playlist is comprised of songs that act as a soundtrack for certain scenes in the book or the overall tone I’m seeking for the book.
   Examples: It Ain’t Me by Kygo & Selena Gomez, Time of Our Lives by Brynn Elliott and Brightly Burst into the Air by Ruston Kelly
2. I was born and raised in Tennessee, where my books are set, so I also populate the list with songs that evoke local visuals. 
   Examples: Tennessee Homesick Blues by Dolly Parton and Southern Gothic by Tyminski (If my books are ever turned into a TV series, this is the song I want for the opening credits.)
3. My main characters are in their early to mid-20s, so I finish the playlist with songs I loved during that time in my life to help elicit the same feelings going through my characters’ heads. 
   Examples: Who’s Behind the Door by Zebra, Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears and You’re My Heart, You’re My Soul by Modern Talking

Do you have critique partners or beta readers?

My publisher has been great at connecting its authors, so I have a pool of colleagues from which to solicit feedback on my work. My best friend is also a meticulous editor and brutally honest, so I rely heavily on his assessment.

What book are you reading now?

I’m reading The Winner by David Baldacci and Ricochet by David A. Kennedy.

How did you start your writing career?

I’ve always written, but my screenplays, books and short stories inevitably ended up in my file cabinet – unread by anyone but me. About three years ago, I went to a writing conference here in San Diego, and I attended a session led by the co-owners of an independent publishing house. I spoke to one of them afterwards and told her about a book I had just finished. She offered to read it, and she signed me up a few weeks later. Since then, I’ve published two books in my series of Mourning Dove Mysteries.

Tell us about your next release.

I’m currently working on the third Mourning Dove Mysteries novel, which will be released next year. It’s been such a fun book to write. It opens with the most bizarre murder yet, and it delves into Jeff Woodard’s past. The fourth book will be the longest one yet because it will finally reveal Emory Rome’s complete backstory, which will have great bearing on a current case. I plan to end the series with the eighth book.

About the Author

Bestselling mystery and science fiction author Mikel J. Wilson draws on his Southern roots for the Mourning Dove Mysteries, a series of novels featuring bizarre murders in the Smoky Mountains region of Tennessee. Building on the success of the first book in the series, Wilson continues his “no guns or knives” philosophy for murder as he delves deeper into the lives of the characters and their evolving dynamics.

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Virtual Book Tour: In the Key of Be by Lena Hubin #interview @RABTBookTours #giveaway

Non-Fiction / Memoir

Date Published: April 2, 2018

Publisher:  Chatnoir Press

Lena Hubin is a straight-A college senior when she lands in a psych ward. After her release, psychotherapy, illicit drugs, and sex distract her from her chronic anxiety--but none yields lasting relief. Despite teaching abroad, marrying, earning a masters and adopting two children, she remains haunted by anxiety. In her fifties, Lena returns with her family to the U.S., anticipating peace of mind. But when her son struggles with alcoholism, she feels her sanity swirling down the drain like the liquor she would dump--if she could find it. In a quest to help him, the author starts a journey that will change her life for good.

Interview

What is the hardest part of writing your books?

Deciding what critiquers’ advice to take and leave, then revising,

and then knowing when to stop revising.

What songs are most played on your iPod?

I have no iPod, but I like listening to international music:

Latin, African, Indian.

Do you have critique partners or beta readers?

I have two skilled and faithful critique partners,

and a few beta readers as well.

What book are you reading now?

I’m reading a dark, droll little novel called The 100-Year-Old Man who Climbed out the Window and Disappeared,

by Swedish author Jonas Jonasson.

How did you start your writing career?

Writing is one of several creative avocations for me. I’ve written since I was very young, winning a contest in 8th grade, then publishing letters and articles in newspapers, journals, and magazines.

Tell us about your next release.

I’m shaping chapters and other short writings

to submit to various venues.

 About the Author

Lena Hubin has been writing since she was a young kid growing up on a small Wisconsin dairy farm. She has had essays and articles published in ISS Newslinks, The International Educator, Midwest Living, and The Sun. For four years she wrote quarterly book reviews for In Recovery Magazine. She has a masters degree in Creative Writing from California State University, Fresno. Lena writes, plays piano, teaches, and works for social justice in Prescott, Arizona, where she lives with her husband, dog, and cat.

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Virtual Book Tour: Silent Whispers by @tamiurbanek #review #giveaway #nonfiction

Non-Fiction

Date Published: January 7, 2018

When Tami Urbanek began working with the public as a medium, she never envisioned how her path would change. Moving beyond working with people's spirit guides, deceased children began arriving to share their own shocking experiences. These children revealed the horrific torture and government scientific experiments that ultimately led to their death. With a heavy heart, Tami listened to their stories and helped them to feel loved and safe in order to cross over to the other side. Tami, along with two other women, began traveling to different locations, within the United States, to assist deceased children who were caught in a cycle of pain. Little did they know they would eventually begin attracting the attention of extraterrestrials. It became obvious the ETs were also invested in the experiments and they would attempt to thwart the efforts of these three women. Silent Whispers will challenge readers' belief system and perhaps lead them to question the reality that surrounds them.

Review

I didn't know what to expect going into this one. The most information I had on the subject going was just what I've seen on tv, which as you know, isn't always the most reliable. I will say that I was pleasantly surprised with how much I felt like I learned and understood just from reading Urbanek's words.  This is a subject that is a bit tricky because your belief system is often times set about the subject one way or another, but I think that reading this will help you open your mind to the realm of possibilities out there. Powerful writing that really came through the pages for me. I loved the way she used her words and experiences and highlighted them in a way that I felt like I could picture. 

About the Author

Tami works with the public as a medium. She connects people with their spirit guides for life guidance and deep healing. On the side, she has many different paranormal experiences about which she writes and is working on her third book, a follow-up to Silent Whispers. For fun, Tami enjoys traveling, good food, and good wine. She and her family have lived in Colorado for most of her life.

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Virtual Book Tour: Death O Death by @AuthorEllie #interview #giveaway #horror

Horror

Date Published: 31st October

A collection of ten horror short stories, everything from the macabre to the down right disgusting.

Short Stories Include:

Why aren’t you scared

Infest

Don’t look under the bed

Trick or Treat.

Bogeyman

Siphon

Junkyard

Grounders

Can you Imagine

Point of no return

Each of the stories are unique and filled with terrifying, gruesome tales that are sure to rise your blood pressure. Lovers of monsters, the unexplained, serial killing maniacs and much more. Sink your teeth in and be in for a treat this Halloween.

Interview

What is the hardest part of writing your books?

Time, finding time. Peace and quiet. That for me is the hardest part of writing.

What songs are most played on your Ipod?

Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Sia, Rihanna, Pink, David Guetta, Lindsey Stirling, Dua Lipa, Eminem, Queen, Michael Jackson,

Do you have critique partners or beta readers?

I have beta readers

What book are you reading now?

I’m reading Stephen King’s ‘Outsider’

How did you start your writing career?

It started when I was a very young girl, I had a passion for horror and wanted to write horror stories. I had this need to write stories that held a lot of the great 80’s movie horrors, so I did just that :)

Tell us about your next release.

I haven’t got a new one just yet, but I have many ideas for another book.

About the Author

Born and raised in New Zealand, a mother and wife who donates what spare time she has into volunteer work with Autistic children.

Ellie Douglas is addicted to horror, everything about it she loves. She enjoys creating strong characters that rise to the top from ordinary lives.

Her love affair with horror has seen her produce three award winning horror books.

Ellie is creative in all aspects with several adult coloring books and an online casino slot game under her belt. She is constantly striving to do more. Ellie also makes professional book covers for authors and has helped people with making them a websites, banners, and logos.

Ellie’s ultimate aim is to give back, paying it forward and to constantly better herself. To give the audience amazing entertaining stories that she herself would read.

She would love to scare you…

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