The Earthkeepers by Shawn Underhill

From the author of The Great North Woods Pack series comes a new adventure…

Millions of people talk to animals every day. If you happen to be such a person, there’s nothing terribly unusual about you. But what if animals spoke to you in return? What if you could clearly understand them, while the people around you could not? That would be very unusual, remarkably interesting, and would likely be tremendously fun.

For nine-year-old Ethan Dewfield, talking with his dog is an everyday occurrence. Add to this the fact that he lives not in a regular house but in a sprawling hilltop inn, and what you’ll find is a highly unusual boy with a unique tale to tell. In this personally narrated account he discovers the depths of his abilities, makes new friends, goes for a long walk in the snow, meets a special pack of wolves known as Earthkeepers, uncovers a nasty scheme devised by his even nastier uncle, eats a stack of pancakes, and does all he can to save his beautiful home from the greedy men plotting to destroy it.

*If you’re someone who likes a wide assortment of animals, with funny names and contrasting views of the world, and you like Christmas decorations, happy endings, and you’re open to the possibility of liking boys named Ethan, there’s a good chance you might enjoy this story.

*If you’re someone who admires deceitful, scheming, selfish people who manipulate others, who dislike animals, kids, beautiful buildings, and beautiful scenery, you might enjoy a long career in politics, but will probably not like this story in the least.

*If you’re someone searching for an epic, unrealistic romance between two people resembling Ken and Barbie, you are looking in the wrong place. You are now terribly lost. I’m shocked you’ve read this far. You should probably hit the back arrow now. There’s no telling what could happen if you don’t.

*If you’re someone shopping for affordable health insurance, you might try a different website.

About the Author

The true story of Shawn Underhill may never be fully realized to the world at large. Theories and rumors abound, ranging from the fantastic to the absurd, but none can be entirely trusted.

Most scholars agree that he is certainly a devoted admirer of Jack London, while less credible claims suggest that he is loosely related to the novelist, merely adopting the false name Underhill as a means to anonymity. The most bizarre of all rumors state that Mr. Underhill actually is Jack London reincarnate, that in his spare time he pilots experimental aircraft on dangerous test missions, and is slated to appear on DWTS.

Attempts by this biographer to uncover solid evidence have proven frustrating at best, and dangerous at worst. Establishing contact with Mr. Underhill’s family in the slim hope of acquiring trustworthy information has been, for the most part, an exercise in futility.

The most viable explanation came by a series of mysterious phone calls leading to a secret meeting with an individual claiming to be Shawn’s second cousin. This unnamed source (who only spoke with me under cover of darkness behind a Dunkin Donuts off highway 93 in rural New Hampshire) states that the author was last known to be located within his secret writing cave–a high mountain fortress, heavily defended by steep ledges and rushing waterfalls. The grounds near the secret trail leading to the hidden entrance are said to be patrolled day and night by wolves, watchdogs and bears.

In an interesting side note, UFO’s and Bigfoot sightings have been reported in the general area of Mr. Underhill’s alleged stronghold, but none have been officially confirmed by any reputable organizations.

The author’s Facebook page, Shawn Underhill (Author) is the only known source of contact he has with the outside world.

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Book Blast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 11/30/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Synopsis

The tourist town of South Cove, California, is a lovely place to spend the holidays. But this year, shop owner Jill Gardner discovers there’s no place like home for homicide. . .

As owner of Coffee, Books, and More, Jill Gardner looks forward to the hustle and bustle of holiday shoppers. But when the mayor ropes her into being liaison for a new work program, ’tis the season to be wary. Local businesses are afraid the interns will be delinquents, punks, or worse. For Jill, nothing’s worse than Ted Hendricks–the jerk who runs the program. After a few run-ins, Jill’s ready to kill the guy. That, however, turns out to be unnecessary when she finds Ted in his car–dead as a doornail. Officer Greg assumes it’s a suicide. Jill thinks it’s murder. And if the holidays weren’t stressful enough, a spoiled blonde wants to sue the city for breaking her heel. Jill has to act fast to solve this mess–before the other shoe drops. . .

“Murder, dirty politics, pirate lore, and a hot police detective: Guidebook to Murder has it all! A cozy lover’s dream come true.” –Susan McBride, author of The Debutante Dropout Mysteries

Excerpt

The holidays were supposed to be a time of goodwill, celebration, and community. You couldn’t tell it from the glares going around the table as Mayor Baylor talked. Earlier, the leader of our little town had the group eating out of his hand. Then all hell broke loose. Focusing on the uproar going on at the Business-to-Business monthly meeting, I wondered if the shop owners gathered around the mismatched tables had even seen the calendar. As South Cove’s council liaison, I volunteered my shop each month for the meeting. I’m Jill Gardner, owner of Coffee, Books, and More, and president of the I-Hate-Mayor-Baylor Club. A red-faced Bill Simmons, chair of the business council and owner of South Cove Bed-and-Breakfast, stood at the front of the table, trying to get the group to quiet down.

Aunt Jackie issued a shrill, earsplitting whistle, two-finger variety. My aunt could make me smile even in the worst situations. She’d been a rock the last year during all the craziness that had been my life. Now I didn’t know what I’d do without her help with Coffee, Books, and More. Or without seeing her on a daily basis.

The room finally quieted. I’d been the city council liaison with the business community in our little coastal California tourist town for the last five years. I’d never heard this kind of uproar over a mayor’s mandate before. Maybe the Honorable Mayor Baylor was losing a bit of his power over the group.

“Look, I know it’s a bad time for many of us to take on a charity project, but think of it this way, you’ll have an extra pair of hands for the season.” Bill pulled out what he’d thought would be his trump card.

“I don’t understand what you’re all so upset about. I got you free help for the busiest season of the year.” Mayor Baylor glared at me, like their reaction was my fault. “These people want to work. We need to be charitable in our attitude.” This time, his scowl was full-on directed at me.

I put on my sweetest smile, the one I saved for the few customers I truly didn’t like. “I’ve already signed up the coffee shop to participate. How about the rest of you?”

“Not all of us have South Cove’s finest working part-time in our shops.” Darla Taylor, owner of the winery and editor of the local news for the South Cove Examiner, sniffed. “I heard he couldn’t place these losers anywhere else so Ted paid the mayor to take on these stragglers.”

“That is totally unfounded speculation,” Mayor Baylor blustered, his face turning a bright shade of scarlet. He turned his stare from me to Darla. “I hope I won’t see anything close to that being reported in the Examiner.”

I turned my head so no one would see my smile widen. As one of the local media, Darla’s nose for rumors was spot-on. Ted Hendricks, program director for Bakerstown’s welfare-to-work program, had come to our tourist town of South Cove with an offer. Ten participants would work for eight weeks with a local business in an intern capacity. South Cove was their last chance.

The mayor’s gaze shifted down the table, landing on Josh Thomas, a strong Mayor Baylor supporter. Except even I could see that His Honor wasn’t winning any points with his friend today.

“Delinquents. You want me to let a delinquent run wild in my store. Talk to my customers and probably scope out my merchandise so they can rob me blind when I turn my back?” Josh owned Antiques by Thomas, the most recent business to open its doors on Main Street. Today, he pounded a chubby finger on the table.

“Of course, you’d have a problem with this. You don’t even know that they are kids, or if they had trouble with the law. Just because someone is down on their luck doesn’t mean they are a bad person,” Sadie Michaels shot back. Sadie, owner of Pies on the Fly, was my main supplier of desserts for the coffee shop. And a strong advocate for the underdog in any fight.

We’d gone down this path before. Josh and Sadie rarely saw eye to eye on any discussion. For my part, I liked the way she called him on his prejudice and narrow-mindedness. Bill tried again to short-circuit the argument he saw developing. “We don’t have time for a political discussion on the topic. This is a done deal. They’re coming today for the initial meet-and-greet with a walk through town.

Review

Another great installment in the Tourist Trap cozy mystery series.  Lynn has a great series going here and the books keep getting better and better.  The town is a place I would like to live (well as long as I am not the one that ends of dead!) with its small town charm and friendly residents.  Although the Mayor leaves a lot to be desired, but you have to have some conflict otherwise the story wouldn’t be as interesting.

Once again I never suspected this character as being the killer.  I guess I should start looking at the least likely character but that isn’t always the right choice either!  I enjoyed meeting new characters in the town and hope to see more from them.  I also like the altruistic side of Jill and Jackie.  Hopefully it might also encourage a reader to reach out and donate some time to worthy causes in their own town.

Definitely a fun read and we give it 4 1/2 paws up!  (April and Gracie would like to set up a playdate with Emma – well April anyway, Gracie would just bark at her.)

About the Author

USA Today and New York Times, best-selling author, Lynn Cahoon is an Idaho native. If you’d visit the town where she grew up, you’d understand why her mysteries and romance novels focus around the depth and experience of small town life. Currently, she’s living in a small historic town on the banks of the Mississippi river where her imagination tends to wander. She lives with her husband and four fur babies.

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Blog Tour Schedule

Sebastian and the Hibernauts: Beyond the Gloaming

It is Easter, 1973 and twelve year old Sebastian Duffy has some serious self-esteem issues. He is beaten by his parents, bullied at school, steals from his friends and still mourning the death of his brother. To cap it all, strange things have begun happening around him and he is finding it hard to distinguish dreams from reality. After a nightmarish assault, he wakes in the Gloaming, a shadow world inhabited by ghosts. There to greet him is Porrig, a creature from Hibercadia, a magical realm crafted from Celtic dreams. Inhabited by Fir Bolg, Tuath and Milesians, it has been overthrown by brother gods from another dreamworld. One brother, Phobitor, is a tyrant and even the Tuath, who took to their underground sidhe millennia ago, are concerned. Sebastian discovers that he alone can save Hibercadia by finding an enchanted spear. Teaming up with the Hibernauts—a mercurial sorceress, an orphaned druidess, a taciturn warrior, a snuff-sniffing leprechaun and a lovelorn poet—he embarks on a fantastical quest, but can he succeed when he is yet to find his magical potential or even his courage, and half the realm is bent on his destruction?

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Excerpt

Trailer

Beyond the Gloaming from Kaleb Lechowski on Vimeo.

Praise for Beyond the Gloaming

I cannot say just how much I have enjoyed this book; you are a very accomplished writer with a wonderfully rich imagination. Your use of the English language is amazing and your ability to create the many different speaking styles in the book and to maintain them is remarkable. You have an incredibly inventive mind and readers will come to love the many wonderful creations in this novel, it is jam-packed with the most wonderful and inventive characters; new, exciting and beautifully realised.
~The Oxford Editors

An imaginative epic…an intricate and fully realised fantasy world with a big cast of likeable characters that are charming, well drawn and endearing, with wonderfully apt names. The depth and breadth of your high-voltage imagination, and the richness of the world you create is very impressive.
~Sam Mills, author of Blackout, The Boys Who Saved the World, and The Quiddity of Will Self

Author Brendan Murphy

Brendan Murphy was raised in Sheffield, England, with dreams of becoming a writer, and has written every day since he was nine years old. After reading medicine in London and psychiatry in Manchester, he moved to Australia in 1999. He is an Associate Professor at Monash University and has written widely on youth mental health. His nonfiction work on the development of football in Victorian society, From Sheffield with Love, was published in 2007. He lives with his wife, Katrina, and their children, Sebastian and Violette, in a sprawling property built for the composer, Dorian Le Gallienne. They share their garden with a mob of kangaroos, a wombat, two possums, any number of creepy crawlies, and some very feisty kookaburras. In 2013, he was signed to Assent Publishing for a six-book deal. Beyond the Gloaming, the first Sebastian and the Hibernauts adventure, will be published by Assent imprint, Phantasm Books in 2014.

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Blog Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 11/28/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Synopsis

“Is it any wonder I became a bank robber?”
But she never dreamed she’d fall in love . . .

Wealthy high school student Robin McArthur thinks she has it all figured out when it comes to bilking her work-a-holic dad for guilt money as a substitute for his genuine affection. Until one day he suffers a stroke at his law office, and she learns the brutal truth—
They’re broke.
Her stepmom has skipped the country.
And everyone from bankers to bookies has lined up in her dad’s hospital room to collect on the millions he’s racked up in debt.

Panicked and desperate, Robin figures she has two choices: either surrender to the pestering caseworker and live in a skanky foster home, or take a chance and sneak her dad out of the hospital to make a run for it. Little does she know that stealing a car and hitting the road means that before the day is through, she will rob her first bank.

Now an outlaw, Robin finds a backwoods trailer park to hide her dad from authorities where she encounters Creek, a bad-boy in crime who first steals her money and then steals her heart. The two of them embark on a round of increasingly dangerous heists to provide for their motley trailer park neighbors. But what Robin hadn’t counted on is the way these hardscrabble people begin to embrace her and become the first real family she’s ever known. And along the way, worldly-wise Creek teaches her how to develop a genuine relationship with her dad based on the hard truths of their lives instead of his past lies. As Robin and Creek’s criminal journey forces them to make gut-wrenching choices, they soon begin to discover that people are more precious than pocketbooks, and true love means opening your heart to the kinds of treasures money can’t buy.

Excerpt

First Glimpse

Excerpt from Robin in the Hood by Diane J. Reed

In my young adult romance Robin in the Hood, 15-year-old Robin McArthur finds out her formerly rich family has gone broke, so she runs away from her boarding school and devises a plan to rob banks to provide for her loved ones. When she walks up to a rural savings & loan for her very first hit, she suddenly spies the boy of her dreams. Here’s what happens:

As I scurried up the sidewalk, I had this strange, haunting feeling . . .

Like I was being watched.

I froze in place for a second, mere steps from the bank door.

There it was again . . .

That odd sensation that someone’s eyes were on my back.

Could the bank have hired security to watch over the building?

I swiftly scanned the roof and did a little spin to check the street on either side.

Give me a break, I thought, this is Podunkville! It’s not like they’re gonna have snipers in the bushes.

Sucking up my courage, I pointed my finger beneath my school cardigan like a concealed weapon and prepared to head inside. My heart started to do backflips, and I felt like any second it was going to spring from my chest.

“You can do this,” I barked under my breath, “you’ve got to! Just walk in there like you own the place, head to the nearest teller, and make your demand.”

Aside from the full-blown terror that popped and sizzled through my brain, another sound began to filter into my ears.

Laughter.

I slid my hand to my chest, just to check if it was me. After all, people do weird things in a panic, but I soon discovered that I wasn’t the source of the sound.

Glancing up, I spotted a shadow.

Straight ahead, beside a large sycamore tree. And it moved.

I squinted and inched to the left, peering into a particularly dark patch beside the wide tree trunk.

And that’s when I saw him.

Or I guess I should say, he chose to reveal himself.

A tall guy, maybe a year or two older than me, in a black t-shirt and torn, faded jeans. His tangled, sun-bleached hair looked like it had never seen scissors, yet it framed his tan skin and piercing blue eyes like a rugged surfer’s. To my surprise, he flashed a half-smile, making the jagged scar across his cheek press into a dark, thin line, like a dagger. For a second, I wondered if it was a warning—

“You gotta be kidding me,” he shook his head, folding his tattooed arms. “You honestly think you can take on this place?”

He leaned his tall frame against the tree, appearing amused. Instantly, I could tell from his ripped clothes, sinewy body, and nearly feral gaze that he was pretty much everything my boarding school had been paid so handsomely to keep out of my reach.

Beautiful.

Deadly.

And well within kissing distance—

Without warning, his intense eyes locked on mine as if we were the only two people who’d ever mattered on planet earth.

And all at once, I felt a weight dislodge and explode into a gazillion pieces inside my chest.

This is my heart—

This is my heart on CRACK.

I hyperventilated for a moment, fully acknowledging that I am the most undersexed teen this side of Mississippi.

Get a grip, I snapped at myself. Focus!

Okay, so I know most girls like me are diamond-wise and boy-foolish. So surely the only reason the hottest thing in the known universe is standing in front of me right now is because . . .

Well, um, because . . .

He wants to rob the same bank.

“Dammit!”

The guy laughed like I’d said that out loud.

“Shit!”

Yep, I’m pretty sure he heard that one, too.

I shuffled my feet, heaving a big sigh.

All right Mr. Rugged & Beautiful, I thought, folding my arms across my supremely-dorky school sweater. Think you can psyche me out? Well I’ve just completed a year and a half in mean-girl lockdown, where they make you check in your soul at the door in exchange for verbal switchblades, so don’t even think I’m gonna cave any time soon.

No fear.

I lifted my chin and gave him my iciest stare.

“First one inside hits the jackpot!” I said, darting into the bank’s front door before he could blink.

About the Author

Diane J. Reed is a multi-award winning author who writes novels that are infused with enchantment, where characters dare to break through boundaries & believe in true love. She has a soft spot for artisans & outlaws of the heart, those of us who burn brightly to live each day as a gift–because it is! Along with her passion for books, she enjoys hiking, painting, chocolate & spending time with her family in the Rocky Mountains.

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Synopsis

**This story was first published in the All I Want holiday romance anthology**

When a postcard meant for Kenzie winds up in Ty’s mailbox, Ty’s faced with a decision. Should he tell her that her fiancé is breaking up with her and let it ruin her favorite holiday, or should he do what he’s wanted to do since he met her – make a move and hope that he can win her over before she discovers there won’t be a wedding after all?

Review

Twist of Fate is a very enjoyable romance novella….but then I can’t think of anything I didn’t like by Rachael Anderson!

I thought it was an interesting twist to give the two main characters the same name but in reverse. It made for a great twist as to how they met and the fun times they probably had getting to know each other, especially with the mix up in their mail.

Even though it is a novella, the story is well written and does not leave you wondering if anything more could have been included.

We give it 4 paws up

About the Author

A USA Today bestselling author, Rachael Anderson is the mother of four and is pretty good at breaking up fights, or at least sending guilty parties to their rooms. She can’t sing, doesn’t dance, and despises tragedies. But she recently figured out how yeast works and can now make homemade bread, which she is really good at eating.

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By Cook or by Crook (A Five-Ingredient Mystery)
New Cozy Series
Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Kensington (November 4, 2014)
ISBN-13: 978-1617731389

Synopsis

Take one burned-out city girl. Add a crusty codger, a pinch of gossip, and a dash of romance. Stir in a generous helping of murder and you’ve got the ingredients for one truly delicious mystery…

Haunted by the car accident that ended her career as a cookbook publicist, Val Deniston has traded in the chaos of New York City for a quieter life near the Chesapeake Bay. Living with her curmudgeonly grandfather in the tourist town of Bayport is hardly glamorous, but she enjoys working at the Cool Down Café at the local fitness club, and she finally has time to work on her long-planned cookbook. But when one of the club’s patrons is found dead, she’ll have to cook up a scheme to find the killer.

Includes 8 five-ingredient recipes!

Review

I enjoyed this first book in a new series with recipes that only have 5 ingredients…my kind of recipe!  Not that I can’t handle recipes with more ingredients, but sometimes simplicity is best.

I liked all of the characters and have to say the author throws out some great red herrings because I was going down another path on who the killer might be…honestly never guessed who it was.  There are some other characters that I wonder how they factor into future books.  And of course there is Grandpa – the crusty codger.  He adds a lot of character to Val’s life that is for sure especially with the job he is hired for with the newspaper.  There is even a potential love interest for Val….have to have a love interest!

I think this will be another great cozy series, so check it out.

We give this 5 paws up

About The Author

Maya Corrigan lives near Washington, D.C., within easy driving distance of Maryland’s Eastern Shore, the setting for this series. She has taught courses in writing, detective fiction, and American literature at Georgetown University and NOVA community college. A winner of the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery and Suspense, she has published essays on drama and short stories under her full name of Mary Ann Corrigan.

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Tour Participants

November 4 – fuonlyknew – Review, Giveaway

November 5 – The Bookwyrm’s Hoard – Review, Guest Post, Giveaway

November 6 – Melina’s Book Blog – Review, Giveaway

November 7 – Mochas, Mysteries and Meows – Review, Guest Post, Giveaway

November 8 – StoreyBook Reviews – Review

November 9 – Chloe Gets A Clue – Interview

November 10 – Brooke Blogs – Review, Giveaway

The Soul Ajar by Kiana Davenport

From bestselling Hawaiian author, Kiana Davenport, comes ‘The Soul Ajar,’ a riveting political thriller and love story. Set primarily in contemporary Russia and the United States, here is a novel that brilliantly knits together four seemingly unconnected lives: Adam, a CIA intelligence operative who suffers from albinism, and searches for the Russian assassin who killed his mother, an act he witnessed as a child; Lily, a young Hawaiian-Chinese journalist who falls in love with him; Bazil, an Indian intelligence operative from Mumbai who befriends Adam; and Zahira, a beautiful Afghani girl mutilated by the Taliban. In this searing and multi-faceted novel, Davenport reveals the paths these characters travel as their lives become intertwined in a haunting and timeless story of the love that binds humans together, and the wars that continue to tear us apart.

PRAISE FOR DAVENPORT’S EARLIER NOVELS

“A great story written in beautiful prose. It’s been a long time since I cried while reading a novel. Davenport is a brilliant writer.”
— The Huffington Post

“A powerful story about love and war. Davenport is ingenious in the way she writes.  A novel you are unlikely to ever forget.”
— Book Reporter

“A powerful and moving experience.”
— The Washington Post

“A lush, ambitious novel that offers a fascinating glimpse into the beauty and contradictions of Native Hawaiian culture.”
— Publishers Weekly

“Davenport mines the depths of emotion…Readers who enjoy a Doctor Zhivago-like saga will appreciate the broad scope of this novel.”
— Library Journal

“Deeply moving. She possesses the qualities all great writers have, compassion for their subjects. You can’t read Kiana Davenport without being transformed.”
— Alice Walker

“Incredible. Haunting. A powerful tale of love and loss.”
— Booklist (starred review)

“What separates ‘Song of the Exile’ from popular novels is its intensity of feeling, its sensuous detail on every page, its dedication to a level of writing few bestsellers possess.”
— Norman Mailer

“Great storytelling! An epic feminine saga…Davenport’s prose is sharp and shining as a sword. Yet her sense of poetry and love of nature permeate each line.”
— Isabel Allende

“Torrid, yet intelligent. Compares with the fiction of Toni Morrison.”
— Glamour

“A giant, image-fevered, luxuriant saga of a Hawaiian family…powerful, memorable, intoxicating!”
— Kirkus Reviews

Goodreads Book Giveaway

THE SOUL AJAR, A Love Story

by Kiana Davenport

Giveaway ends December 01, 2014.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

About the Author

KIANA DAVENPORT is descended from a full-blooded Native Hawaiian mother, and a Caucasian father from Talladega, Alabama. Her father, Braxton Bragg Davenport, was a sailor in the U.S. Navy, stationed at Pearl Harbor, when he fell in love with her mother, Emma Kealoha Awaawa Kanoho Houghtailing. On her mother’s side, Kiana traces her ancestry back to the first Polynesian settlers to the Hawaiian Islands who arrived almost two thousand years ago from Tahiti and the Tuamotu’s. On her father’s side, she traces her ancestry to John Davenport, the puritan clergyman who co-founded the American colony of New Haven, Connecticut in 1638. Kiana is the author of the internationally best-selling novels, SHARK DIALOGUES, SONG OF THE EXILE, HOUSE OF MANY GODS, THE SPY LOVER, and most recently, THE SOUL AJAR, now available in paperback and on Kindle. She is also the author of the collections, HOUSE OF SKIN PRIZE-WINNING STORIES, CANNIBAL NIGHTS, PACIFIC STORIES Volume II, and OPIUM DREAMS, PACIFIC STORIES, VOLUME III. All three collections have been Kindle bestsellers. She has also been a guest blogger on Huffington Post. A graduate of the University of Hawaii, Kiana has been a Bunting Fellow at Harvard University, a Visiting Writer at Wesleyan University, and a recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts grant. Her short stories have won numerous O. Henry Awards, Pushcart Prizes, and the Best American Short Story Award, 2000. Her novels and short stories have been translated into twenty-one languages. She lives in Hawaii and New York City.

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Book Blast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 11/27/14 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.   a Rafflecopter giveaway

An Absence of Light

Meradeth Houston

Paranormal/Suspense/Romance

Evernight Teen/80,000 words

Synopsis

Leah’s always seen the shadow creatures. She thought she was immune to their evil—until now.

She’s walked into a massacre, stolen a BMW, and is running from the law for a crime she didn’t commit. Nineteen-year-old Leah’s life just went from mildly abnormal to totally crazy at lightning speed. But no one will believe that the shadow creatures are framing her for the murder, because she’s the only one that can see them. At least that’s what she thought.

When Leah stumbles across a group who share her ability, she discovers they have something she doesn’t: a way to fight back. When the group offers to teach her how to kill the shadow creatures, Leah jumps at the chance. But something is brewing with the creatures. They’re tracking down the hunters like there’s no tomorrow. Leah suspects that maybe there won’t be, and it’s up to her to make sure tomorrow comes. Because she’ll do anything to stop the shadows, including risking her life—and the life of the one she loves—to keep the world from being lost to darkness forever.

Evernight Teen   Amazon

Excerpt

A creeping tingle of coldness wound around my ankles. Something lived in there––the same things that took away my family and had stalked me for most of my life.

I didn’t have a name for them. In my head, I called them the Shadows: inky, black creatures that avoided the light, like I avoided the dark. They did things. Things that made monsters like Hitler look warm and fuzzy—or at least, less homicidal.

How they did it confounded me, but they had the ability to influence the darkness in people, to make them do terrible things. The Shadows got something from it, as if they fed from humanity’s malevolence. I’d tried to learn more about them since I realized no one else could see them, but they didn’t exist in any book, Web page, or library.

The only thing I could conclude was that they were otherworldly evil, pure and simple.

It didn’t help that lately the Shadows had been more focused on me. I’d seen more in the last few months than I had in my whole life, and they had been acting stranger than normal. They were up to something.

Plotting how to kill me, and everyone I love. I’d been so stupid not to figure that out.

As if hearing my thoughts, the Shadow sensed my presence. It crept forward to the mouth of the alleyway, a darker blotch of oily blackness that moved of its own volition. A fine tendril rose from its black mass, reminding me of a periscope on a submarine, searching.

“Crap.” I glanced around for the best way to escape. No way I could outrun the thing.

The Shadow moved into the open. Skirting the light, coming ever closer. Picking up speed. I had to get away. Now.

My heart began beating double-time and my feet froze to the ground.

A part of me wanted to step on it, like a giant slug, but it wouldn’t do anything. They couldn’t be killed that way.

I would give anything to know if I could get rid of them, to wipe them from the face of the earth. But they didn’t die. Didn’t disappear. Didn’t leave me alone.

There was nowhere to hide. They’d kill me. Just like they did my family.

Glancing at the car in front of me, my panicked laugh caught me by surprise.

Another entry for my rap sheet.

Careful to keep in the light, I hurried around to the driver’s side. Scooping up the keys, I threw myself behind the wheel. My fingers trembled as I shoved the key into the ignition.

The Shadow lurked near my door. I spared it one glance before the engine caught with a merciful roar and I slammed my foot on the gas.

The tires squealed and a trail of smoke hid the Shadow. The snaking chill, as I always felt from them, gave way and I knew I had left it behind.

There would be more, though. There were always more.

About the Author

I’ve never been a big fan of talking about myself, but if you really want to know, here are some random tidbits about me:

~I’m a California girl. This generally means I talk too fast and use “like” a lot.

~I have my doctorate in molecular anthropology. Translation: I sequence dead people’s DNA and spend a whole lot of time in a lab, which I love.

~I’ve been writing since I was 11 years old. It’s my hobby, my passion, and I’m so happy to get to share my work!

~My other passion is teaching. There’s nothing more fun than getting a classroom of college kids fired up about anthropology!

~If I could have a super-power, it would totally be flying. Which is a little strange, because I’m terrified of heights.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Tumblr, * Blog

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Synopsis

The Santa Switch

Everyone knows about Santa Claus. Now, it’s Jessica’s turn!

When it comes to the biggest toy drop of the year, Santa gets most of the credit — but he could hardly do it alone! In The Santa Switch, Mrs. Claus becomes the fabulous tour-de-force she’s always had the potential to be. This sharp, modern version of Mrs. C. believes in equality, compassion, and continuing education. She loves her good-natured, big-hearted husband, and they share the same vision — but she’s definitely the doer to his dreamer. And, while Jessica Claus is CEO (Chief Elf Optimizer) of the world’s most successful toy factory, she also loves to kick off her shoes and bake up a storm, spreading holiday joy to anyone willing to believe in a little Christmas magic.

The positive, gender-empowering message, lovable spin on legendary characters, and eye-catching illustrations found in this two-time award-winning holiday book are sure to warm hearts and tickle funny bones of the young and the young-at-heart…making it a treasured read for all at Christmastime!

A Trip for Mrs. Claus

Soaring on the award-winning heels of The Santa Switch–Jessica Claus’ first, gender-empowering tale–comes an epic, colorful adventure, custom-made for this super-smart Christmas heroine. In A Trip for Mrs. Claus, Santa’s better half creatively invents her own, philanthropic niche–one that adds a new level of ingenuity and soul to the Big Guy’s legendary exploits.

Review of The Santa Switch

Jessica Claus is not appreciated by Santa especially with the big day coming up. Well she sets Santa straight and he realizes and quickly appreciates all that she does to keep the North Pole running smoothly.

Great story for kids and will make a great holiday story to read over and over and it reminds young girls that they can do anything if they set their mind to doing whatever it is that they want to do in life.

It does leave you hanging so you have to read A Trip for Mrs Claus to see how the story ends!

We give it 5 paws

Review of A Trip for Mrs. Claus

A great follow up to The Santa Switch but with a twist. Jessica has an altruistic heart and goes back out after delivering all the toys and delivers needed food and blankets to those in need. So with a holiday story also comes a message to help those in need and it is about more than just ourselves.  Plus it continues to remind us that women can do anything that men can do, sometimes even better.

I like that the North Pole has gone techie – apps and gadgets and a sleigh on auto-pilot.  Santa is definitely in the 21st century.

Right now this book is only available as an ebook and on limited devices. Luckily I have a Kindle Fire that I could read it on because it was not available to download to my keyboard Kindle. I think the book needs to be available in print as well.

We give this book 5 paws as well.

About the Author

Laura Lee Scott, is a writer and publisher with over 20 years of professional experience.

Born and raised in Edina, Minnesota, Laura Lee Scott has worked as a professional copywriter, ghostwriter, editor, publisher, and graphic designer for nearly 25 years. Laura has authored and/or ghost-written numerous biographies Genres include children’s books, memoirs, historical fiction, poetry, short stories, ad/marketing copywriting, videoscripts, websites, and blogs. Laura is also a full-time mom of two, school-aged boys; when she’s not providing their personal shuttle service, she operates WriteLifeStories and Passionflower Press, creating premium memoirs, children’s books, and more. and children’s books, and is the author of the award-winning holiday picture book series, “The Santa Switch”, published by Passionflower Press in 2012. Her most recent creation A Trip for Mrs. Claus is the second in The “Jessica Claus” Series She lives (Laura not Jessica)in a suburb of Portland, Oregon with her husband and two, school-aged sons. Jessica Lives up North with her Hubby and soulmate Santa.

Jessica’s Facebook Page * Jessica’s Website

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