Never Kiss and Tell by Megan Gaudino (spotlight, excerpt, and GIVEAWAY) BTG promotions

Never Kiss and Tell

Guardian Kiss Book 2

by Megan Gaudino

Romance/Paranormal/Teen

72K/Evernight Teen Publishing

Blurb:  

Sophia Destino has a target on her back.

Someone is determined to make sure 

she doesn’t see tomorrow. 

When Leo takes off on a dangerous mission 

to track down her attacker, Sophia is left to 

deal with a life that’s been turned upside down. 

Then she discovers her importance to guardian legend. She thought she was strong. She thought she could trust Leo. Until she discovers that her biggest fear is Leo’s greatest desire. 

Leo wants to be human again, and Sophia is the key to him doing just that. But should she risk everything for Leo and their happily ever after, or has Leo been tricking her all along to get what he wants?

Buy Links:   Amazon  Evernight Teen  ARe

  

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14+ due to adult situations

Excerpt:

“Don’t be afraid.” Leo’s deep voice wrapped around me like velvet.

I bolted to the light switch and flicked it up. Was my mind playing tricks on me?

“Leo…” It was barely a whisper and held a hint of a question.

“My Sophia.” He stood up and held his arms out to me, just waiting.

Waiting was something I’d done a lot of for Leo. I kept my spot by the door, with hopes so high they could kill me. He looked the same—out-of-this-world hot, and fortunately not injured in any way my eyes could detect. He wore severely distressed light-washed jeans and a plain black V-neck. His flaxen hair curled wildly around his face and his lips were tight.

The look was so good on him I almost couldn’t take it.

The dark look on his face told me he was feeling exactly the same way about me and my dress.

Without knowing who made the first move, I ended up in his arms. Leo held me close to his chest as my feet no longer touched the ground. I clung to him with everything in me, not caring how hot his flesh felt against mine and forgetting to be angry with him for being gone so long.

“I missed you,” he told me as his hand cupped the back of my head while his other supported the entirety of my weight.

“I missed you more, I bet,” I told him, believing my words to be true. There were so many thoughts swirling in my head.

“Impossible.” He sat us down on the edge of the bed and cradled me in his lap since I refused to end our hug.

“Well, you could at least see me.” I had to point out the obvious. I’d had no way of knowing if he was even alive.

Leo gently nudged my head up with his shoulder and tilted my chin with his burning fingers until it was level with his. “I’m sorry I left you.”

Before I answered, his lips caught mine in a crushing kiss. My hands buried themselves in his hair and held his face as close to mine as possible. My heart was beating so loudly I was sure he could hear it and I couldn’t breathe but it didn’t seem to matter.

Leo’s mouth only left mine to kiss my shoulder, then trailed down to my arm. Where his lips met my skin, visible puffs of steam appeared.

“Oh, God.” He groaned and tried to pull away from me.

“No,” I told him as I tried to keep him close.

“I’m hurting you.” He brushed the hair away from my eyes, just barely touching me.

“Stopping would hurt me.”

My words were all it took for his lips to be back on mine. Leo fell back on the bed and pulled me with him. First I was on top of him. Then all of a sudden Leo was on top. My hands pressed into his back with all the strength I had as I pulled him closer to me.

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Books 1 and 2 now available HERE

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About the Author:

Megan Gaudino works in a high school library by day and on her own books by night. She is particularly fond of every show on HBO and writes YA and NA novels full of emotions. Megan lives in Pittsburgh where you can find her reading, writing, and Instagraming.

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Giveaway:

$15 Amazon gift card,

a From the Page Leo's Scent candle,

a Craft'dVan custom magnetic bookmark,

and some healing crystal's used in the book

a Rafflecopter giveaway

a love that Disturbs by Medeia Sharif (spotlight, excerpt and GIVEAWAY)

Note from ELF:  I am reposting this (so, no, you are not experiencing deja vu, lol) because I had a hiccup this weekend when I was supposed to do so...and I wanted to make sure everyone got a chance to see this...

a love that Disturbs

by Medeia Sharif

Evernight Teen Publishing/60k words

Interracial/Romance/YA/Contemp/LGBT(Lesbian)

Maysa Mazari is alarmed by her mother’s talk about arranged marriage. As a hijab-wearing Pakistani-American, she wants to find love on her own. Her judgmental Muslim clique has protected her from racist taunts, although the leader is turning on her as Maysa strays from the group because of her attraction to Haydee.

Haydee Gomez is a former gang member and juvenile detention student. Now living with a clean-cut aunt, she wants to turn her life around, even though one person will never let her forget her roots—Rafe, her abusive pimp. Haydee attempts to pull away from a life of prostitution when she develops feelings for Maysa, although Rafe isn’t willing to give her up too easily.

Finding themselves in danger from Maysa’s friends and Haydee’s pimp, it’s apparent their love disturbs everyone around them as they fight to stay together. 

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EXCERPT

At least Rafe wouldn’t bother her for a few hours. He knew it was her first day in a new school. Haydee blew her nose, wiped her eyes, and left the bathroom. She walked into first period English and handed the teacher the pass. Students stared. A few had tattoos peeking from the edges of sleeves and shorts, but nothing like what she had. She felt like The Tattooed Woman and avoided staring back at them. She wasn’t in alternative school anymore, where most students had a nasty attitude about anything related to academics. The students in front of her had their books open and had been reading and writing before she walked in. They weren’t looking to fight her and she wasn’t going to fight them.

“Let me write your name down,” the teacher said. “I’ll make a folder for your work. How do you say your name? Heidi?”

“No, it’s Hay-dee,” she corrected Ms. Tookes. “Haydee Gomez.”

Ms. Tookes wrote her name on a notepad and nodded toward an empty desk, so Haydee sat down in a seat in the back with a textbook. The assignment was on the board, but Haydee had trouble seeing. She had lost or broken so many of her eyeglasses in the past that she stopped wearing them. She was slightly nearsighted and lived with her blurry vision just fine. Tomorrow she’d come to class on time and get a seat in the front.

She continued to receive some stares, but then students went back to work.

Feeling like she was on display, Haydee twirled the drawstrings of her hoodie, chewed the inside of her mouth, and smoothed down the baby hairs on her forehead. The door opened and she was grateful for another distraction. It was Maysa, her pink-and-green silk scarf glistening under the fluorescent lights. Haydee’s vision sharpened, as if she could see Maysa clearly, while everything around her was fuzzy. Maysa caught Haydee’s gaze and smiled before turning to Ms. Tookes. “May I take a few pictures of the students working?”

The teacher smiled back. “Take all the pictures you want.”

Maysa had a sunny, innocent demeanor. Haydee wondered what it would be like to have her life. She must have two parents taking care of her. She probably had brothers and sisters who were as nice as she was. Her parents were strict, if she had to cover her head like that, but they most likely were loving. Haydee’s curiosity intensified. She needed to know more about Maysa, who was walking to the back of the room where she was.

“Can I take a picture of you reading the textbook?” Maysa asked.

“Sure,” Haydee said. Anything. She wanted to please this girl. Haydee opened to a random page. It was a Shakespearean sonnet, which was like another language to her. Haydee liked to read, but not classic works. She enjoyed romance books and read any that she could get her hands on. They helped her escape from her own reality by taking her someplace else for a few hours.

Flashes sparked as Maysa took a few shots of Haydee. “You’re very photogenic.”

“Really?” Haydee looked up. “Let me see.”

Maysa neared her and held the back of the camera to Haydee’s face. Looking at the screen, Haydee saw she didn’t look too bad. Her bun was messy in a stylish way, and her head was tilted down to her book. Her cheekbones were sharp, and her right side was on display—not the left one with the black eye. “It’s a nice shot.”

Maysa smiled, and Haydee blinked, not knowing what else to say or do. She wanted to keep Maysa talking so that she wouldn’t leave right away. Because of the picture taking, a few other students had started talking and sneaked looks at the two of them. Haydee knew they must seem like an odd pair interacting with each other. Maysa showed her the next few pictures, at different angles. “I have to go now and get to the next classroom,” she said.

“Oh, all right.” Her gaze was riveted to Maysa’s slender form as she walked out the door.

Haydee’s phone vibrated again. When the teacher wasn’t looking, she slid it out of her pocket.

Got a nice dress for you tonight

Come to my place later so you can try it on

Red, your perfect color

And just like that, the moment was ruined. She shoved her phone back into her pocket. Like she needed another reminder of everything that was wrong in her life. She gritted her teeth and made fists, then forced herself to loosen her hands. She didn’t want to think about Rafe anymore, but how could she not? He was like a virus in her system and she couldn’t get rid of him. She admitted that he took care of her: he beat up johns who mistreated her, handed over any money he promised her, and challenged anyone who bothered her on the rough streets of Miami. 

If it hadn’t been for Rafe, she might have been dead at one point, because one of the johns locked her in a bathroom, threatening to kill her later, and he took care of the situation. There were the existing issues of earning money and a degree of safety, but surely she could find another line of work. How would she tell Rafe that she wanted out without having his temper explode? She had seen him cut a man’s face with a razor. Would he do the same to her?

Buy Links:  

Evernight Teen   Amazon      ARe

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Author Bio:

Medeia Sharif was born in New York City and presently calls Miami her home. She received her master's degree in psychology from Florida Atlantic University. Published through various presses, she writes middle grade and young adult short stories and novels. In addition to being a writer, she's a public school teacher.


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GIVEAWAY:

$25 Amazon Gift Card

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Of Blood & Snow by Danielle Belwater (spotlight, excerpt and GIVEAWAY)

Happy Father's Day to those for whom it is appropriate!

OF BLOOD & Snow

(Erlanis Chronicles, 2)

by Danielle Belwater

Paranormal/Suspense/Romance/Teen


Evernight Teen Publishing/63K

Blood is thicker than water, or so the story goes…

As fast as Cora can run, there is no escaping the blood that ties her to an ancient, evil past.

Amongst the bitter cold and driving snow, Nate must find a way to protect the love of his life, before the darkness falls and Cora is lost to him forever.

 

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 Excerpt:
14+ due to adult situations

Why? Why did I need to go home? Other than for shelter, no one needed me there. Nate was all I had left. He was my reason for breathing and now the sole reason I got up every morning. The thought of harm coming to Nate made my heart hammer in my chest even harder. I jammed my hands deep into my coat pockets and focused on letting oxygen flow into my lungs.

In a single moment of clarity, I knew. I mean, I knew I loved Nate; that was without question. But if I didn’t have him in my life, it would be nothing but vacuous space.

I brushed snow off the fallen tree trunk and sat down. My thinking tree. Nate and I came here often to sit and talk, read, or watch the day simply pass us by. I piled up handful after handful of snow, heaping them on top of each other until a small avalanche rolled off the log and into a heap on the ground.

You are the key.

I leapt off the log landing two feet together, crushing the peak of snow beneath my shoes.

“Who’s there?” I shoved my fists into my hips and squared my shoulders. If there was someone there, they didn’t know who they were messing with.

The rustling of leaves came from above and a sprinkling of disturbed snow flittered down in front of my face. The flapping of beating wings and the call of a solitary bird echoed overhead. I caught sight of white feathers tipped with black before they disappeared above the trees and out of sight.

“Is anyone there?” I called out again, but I had a feeling I wouldn’t get a response.

The softness of the voice rolled around my head as I lingered amongst the tall trees on my way back home.

I am the key. The answer is within my blood. What did that mean?

Buy Links:   Evernight Teen   Amazon  


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About the Author:

Danielle Belwater adores the concept of true love and that everyone has their Prince Charming or Snow White out there somewhere, even if they have to fight demons, ghosts, and wizards to find it.

Danielle has been having a love affair with words since she was young and in primary school, writing some rather imaginative tales. This love has followed her into adulthood. 

She lives in rural South Australia with her husband, young daughters and way too many animals to mention. She spends most of her time dreaming up characters, stories, ghostly tales, and watching Firefly re-runs.  She also cooks the odd meal for her family to avoid them looking like skeletons at official author functions!  

Danielle is passionate about reading and her interests include pretty much anything with words from rolling four volume epics to the daily newspaper. 

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Giveaway:

$20 Amazon Gift Card

a Rafflecopter giveaway


 

Win the Rings by K.D. Van Brunt (interview, spotlight, and GIVEAWAY)

  

It's my pleasure to present an interview with author K.D. Van Brunt


1. What part of the writing process do you dread?

That’s easy.  I hate editing.  I enjoy getting the first draft of a story down, but cringe at having to go back an edit it.  But, you have to do it.


2. What is your favorite Joke?

I used it in my book—
Q:    What did the elephant say to the naked man?
A:    It’s cute, but can you breathe through that thing?
Yeah, I know.  It’s lame.


3. Where do you get your best ideas?

Usually the best ones are something I dreamed about and then fleshed out in the shower the next morning.


4. What do you do to relax?

I like to take long walks and listen to my playlist/audiobook.  I work in Washington, DC, which is a fabulous city for walking.  Lots to see.  I also like to take long drives out into the Maryland countryside.  Maryland is a very scenic state if you know where to go.


5. Do you write about what turns you on?

Yes.  I try to put myself in a scene and write it the way I would want it to unfold if it were really happening to me.




                                     

Win the Rings

by K.D. Van Brunt

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BLURB:

Jace has been the property of the U.S. Army since they found out about her when she was five, and now she has become one of its most valuable weapons. But Jace is not the only one of her kind. Gray is one too, but with the help of his sister, he has spent most of his sixteen years hiding from the Army.

Now, the Army has found out about Gray and they cannot allow him to roam free. Operating on the theory that it takes one to catch one, Jace is send out with a special ops squad to hunt Gray down. But Jace is not the only one pursuing Gray, and the competition is after her too. What ensues is a desperate chase through city after city as duty and honor collide with love and sacrifice.

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EXCERPT

“I’m Mark,” he says.
           
“Tina,” I blurt out before I know what I’m doing.
           
“Princess Tina from the kingdom of Berwick,” Mark says with a wolfish grin.
           
I can’t help myself.  I shoot him a flirtatious smile.  I’m about to tell him that he looks like Justin Bieber having a bad hair day, in a kind of blended compliment-insult thing, when Nia’s words crash into my head.
           
Gray, I think it’s him.
           
Where?
           
By Au Bon Pain.  He has a dark green trench coat on, but I saw a flash of the hoodie underneath.
         
“Shit,” I say out loud, grabbing the wheel back from Tina.  I toss the paper and bolt for the restaurant.
           
“Hey, wait a sec,” the Biebs shouts to me.
          
As I turn the corner of the newsstand, I hear Nia’s frantic words.
           
He’s pulling something from his coat.
           
I see him now.  He’s standing in front of a plate glass window looking in on a crush of people inside, sitting at tables and queued up behind counters to buy lunch.  He’s pulling back a slide on an automatic assault rifle, preparing to pump the first of a hundred rounds of bullets into the crowded restaurant.  There’s no time to find a policeman.  In seconds loony tunes will be shooting.
           
We have to stop him, I say, and then I see Nia sprinting at him like me.
           
We both slam into him at the same time just as he’s leveling the gun to fire, and all three of us tumble to the hard, icy concrete.  I’m lying on my side facing Peter Eklend and he’s on his side facing me.  I’ve wrenched my shoulder and it’s too painful for me to sit up.  Peter Eklend shoots a glare of such hatred at me that I flinch.  Then I see that he still has the gun in his hands.  Nia is on her feet now, but before she can do anything, Peter pulls the trigger.  The explosion brings a sudden quietness to my ears, as if I’ve just gone deaf, and I feel a stabbing hot pain in my chest, as if I’ve been impaled on a red-hot fireplace poker.  I cough, sending a froth of blood spraying out of my mouth.  I need to breathe, but my lungs aren’t working.
           
Then my ears start working and I hear Nia scream.  Others are now wrestling with Peter.  Another shot goes off.  It doesn’t hit me. 
           
Gray.  Shift.  You have to shift!
           
I’m losing consciousness.  I can’t breathe.  My lungs are filling with blood.  This body is dying.  I can feel it.  I’m seconds away from the last, icy embrace of death.  I have to get out of this body, leave it behind and flee to another body—a healthy, unwounded body.  I need to shift now.  With one last shred of will power, just as awareness winks out, I shift back to me.
           
A crowd has gathered around me by now, and I hear a collective gasp when they see me shimmer and change.  I’m lying on the ground in a sticky, syrupy pool of blood, but I’m back in my own body now—my own bullet-free body.  Nia is immediately at my side pulling me to my feet.   Some of Tina’s blood stains my pants and sweatshirt as I roll away from Peter Eklend.  I’ve shifted away from death in the nick of time.  A strange exhilaration causes my skin to tinkle and a rush of adrenaline floods through me.  I’ve evaded eternity by mere nanoseconds.
           
Run!  Nia says, bringing me back to the moment.

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Publisher

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Bio:    K.D. Van Brunt has been writing professionally his entire career and has published an extensive list of nonfiction works. Win the Rings is his first fiction book. When not writing, he reads and listens to audiobooks during his daily drive through the sea of gridlock that is commuting in and out of Washington, DC. A long time resident of Maryland, he can often be found tromping around the many civil war battle sites in the area. To find out more about K.D. Van Brunt, including bonus content relating to Win the Rings, check out his website--www.kdvanbrunt.com--and follow him on twitter--
@KDVanBrunt.

Twitter:  @kdvanbrunt

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