Thursday, August 11, 2016

COVER REVEAL: The Blessed Knights by Mary Ting


We are thrilled to share with you this Cover Reveal for Mary Ting's The Blessed Knights, the second book in The Angel Knights series! This is an exciting spin-off series from the Crossroads Saga! To celebrate this first look, there is a cool giveaway at the end of the post!


Genre:
Young Adult
Paranormal Romance
Series:
The Angel Knights, #2
Publish Date:
October 28, 2016

Synopsis:
Eli, Lucia's half-demon love interest, has been stabbed with a true-cross dagger and captured by Cyrus, master of the possessor demons.

The Chosen Knights must work together once again not only to save Eli, but also to decipher a clue to find the second missing page of Jacques de Molay's journal. Meanwhile, Uncle Davin informs Crossroads Divine Elders of the danger ahead and learns there is much more to fear.

Countless children are being taken from all over the world to be turned into demons.

Michael, one of the Divine Elders, has no choice but to intervene. The Chosen Knights track down Mortem, the demon who is the key to finding Cyrus, and learn they must travel deep into the pit of a Hawaiian volcano.

When they astral travel to the past in search of a clue and follow Jacques de Moley to Roselyn Chapel in medieval Scotland, what they find will rewrite history.


    


~~~

Don't miss the previous titles in The Angel Knights series!
 
(Covers link to Goodreads)


    

*Excerpt from The Angel Knights, a prequel to The Chosen Knights*
“Why, look here, Michael. I caught me another dove.” The Fallen grinned triumphantly. “Won’t the master be proud of me that I’ve killed two more?” His tongue glided across his lips at the same time he caressed my face. I grimaced and jerked my head away. “This one is beautiful. I think I’ll have my way with her and then rip out her heart.” He leaned into me, pressing his face to my hair, and touched my cheek with his. I wanted to throw up.
I shivered, mentally blocking out the vision of his words from my mind. Fear would not take me. I had created my situation and it was up to me to get out of it. Knowing I had backup, my courage grew. The Fallen pierced his dark, devious eyes into mine as if he could reach inside my soul. His brows were thick, nose sharp, and his lips so thin they were hardly there. His ghostly pale skin revealed a long scar running from his temple to his chin on his left cheek.
“Please, let her go. You have me,” I stammered.
“Oh, this one is so brave. What a great combination. Maybe I’ll brainwash her and train her to be on our side.” He hissed at me, showing me all of his abnormally sharp teeth. They appeared as if he’d purposely sharpened them.
My team had gotten closer, but where were Uncle Davin and Zach? Knowing we were outnumbered three to one didn’t give me much hope, but I had to remind myself we were stronger than we thought. Father and Uncle Davin were with us, the greatest demon hunters of their time.
“I’m giving you one last warning,” Father stated with authority.
The Fallen laughed again, mocking Father. “You’re giving me a warning? Let me tell you my name so everyone will remember it when they die. I’m called Mortem…meaning death.” Trailing the dagger down Victoria’s neck, he nicked it. Crimson liquid seeped from the wound, creating a red line down the front of her. “Beautiful. I love this color. I can’t wait to see more of it…on her.” Then, with a wicked grin, he plunged the sword into Victoria’s heart.




~~~~~

**About the Author**
International bestselling author Mary Ting resides in Southern California with her husband and two children. She enjoys oil painting and making jewelry. Writing her first novel, Crossroads Saga, happened by chance. It was a way to grieve the death of her beloved grandmother, and inspired by a dream she once had as a young girl.

When she started reading new adult novels, she fell in love with the genre. It was the reason she had to write one-Something Great. Hence, Mary's pen name, M. Clarke? She tours with the Magic Johnson Foundation to promote literacy and her children’s chapter book-No Bullies Allowed.

Stay connected with Mary Ting
      

~~~~~

***The Giveaway***

1 Grand Prize: $20 Giftcard to Amazon
2 Runner-Ups: Digital Edition of Any Backlist Title from M. Clarke or Mary Ting


Cover Reveal Organized by
 

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

SALE BLITZ: Nowhere But Here by Katie McGarry


We've got an exciting Sales Blitz going on for a limited time only for Katie McGarry's Nowhere But Here, the first book in the Thunder Road series! It is on sale now until August 15th! Get your e-copy now while it is at this amazing low price!

Genre:
Young Adult
Contemporary Romance
Series:
Thunder Road Series, #1
Publish Date:
May 26, 2015
Publisher:
Harlequin Teen

Synopsis:
An unforgettable new series from acclaimed author Katie McGarry about taking risks, opening your heart and ending up in a place you never imagined possible.

Seventeen-year-old Emily likes her life the way it is: doting parents, good friends, good school in a safe neighborhood. Sure, she's curious about her biological father--the one who chose life in a motorcycle club, the Reign of Terror, over being a parent--but that doesn't mean she wants to be a part of his world. But when a reluctant visit turns to an extended summer vacation among relatives she never knew she had, one thing becomes clear: nothing is what it seems. Not the club, not her secret-keeping father and not Oz, a guy with suck-me-in blue eyes who can help her understand them both.

Oz wants on thing:to join the Reign of Terror. They're the good guys. They protect people. They're...family. And while Emily--the gorgeous and sheltered daughter of the club's most respected member--is in town, he's gonna prove it to her. So when her father asks him to keep her safe from a rival club with a score to settle, Oz knows it's his shot at his dream. What he doesn't count on is that Emily just might turn that dream upside down.

No one wants them to be together. But sometimes the right person is the one you least expect, and the road you fear the most is the one that leads you home.



     

*Excerpt*
From Oz's Point of View. Set up: Emily has been separated from her parents and after a long night of worrying, her emotions and exhaustion catch up to her and it causes Oz to have his first fluttering of emotion for Emily. 

WIND BLOWS IN FROM THE NORTH AND A FEW pieces of Emily’s dark hair sweep across her face. One min­ute Emily’s a bright flame, then a gust snuffs out her light. Her body sways like a top at the tail end of a spin and I lunge forward.
Emily’s knees give out and her eyes roll back into her head. I catch her inches before she crashes onto the porch. She’s light as I swing her into my arms and her head circles onto my shoulder, reminding me of one of those rag dolls Violet used to play with when we were kids.
“Emily!” Eli’s on top of me, attempting to yank her out of my arms. “Open your eyes.”
Her eyelids flutter, but remain closed as her hand limply clutches my shirt. Eli rams his arms underneath mine and he makes Emily a rope in a tug-of-war. I should let her go. I should want to let her go, but then Emily goes and screws it up for me. “Oz.” 
It was a damn whisper, but I heard my name on her lips and so did Eli. His eyes flash to mine and Cyrus’s words repeat in my mind. That girl trusts you. And screw us both for that.
“She’s exhausted,” I say. “Hasn’t slept at all tonight.”
Eli’s expression hardens as he glares at me. I’ve seen Eli throw a coma-inducing punch for less defiance and I readjust the sleeping girl in my arms. A reminder if he decks me now, he’ll be putting his daughter at risk.
Temporarily surrendering, Eli cups Emily’s face in his hands and angles her toward him. “Emily, please open your eyes.”
She does. It’s barely a crack and they’re completely glazed.
“Everything’s going to be okay,” Eli affirms.
“I want my mom and dad,” she mumbles.
“You’ll see them tomorrow.” Eli pushes a strand of hair from her cheek. “You’re safe here. I promise.”
She rejects Eli by curling into me. Her head fits perfectly in the crook of my neck and I loathe the wave of protective­ness that rumbles through my body. Emily’s fingers tighten their grip near my shoulders and the impulse is to shield her from the guys gawking at this intimate scene. Yeah, this is club business, but Emily never asked for any of this.

Book Trailer


~~~~~

**About the Author**
Katie McGarry Author Photo
Katie McGarry was a teenager during the age of grunge and boy bands and remembers those years as the best and worst of her life. She is a lover of music, happy endings, reality television, and is a secret University of Kentucky basketball fan.

Katie is the author of full length YA novels, Pushing The Limits, Dare You To, Crash Into You, Take Me On, Breaking The Rule, and Nowhere But Here and the e-novellas, Crossing the Line and Read at Night. Her debut YA novel, Pushing the Limits was a 2012 Goodreads Choice Finalist for YA Fiction, a RT Magazine's 2012 Reviewer's Choice Awards Nominee for Young Adult Contemporary Novel, a double Rita Finalist, and a 2013 YALSA Top Ten Teen Pick. Dare You To was also a Goodreads Choice Finalist for YA Fiction and won RT Magazine’s Reviewer’s Choice Best Book Award for Young Adult Contemporary fiction in 2013.

Stay connected with Katie McGarry
      


Sales Blitz Organized by
      InkSlinger Blogger Final

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

MARIAH's THOUGHTS on Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice Ultimate Edition Blu-Ray/DVD 2016

Genre:
Action, Adventure, Sci-fi, Drama
Rating:
PG-13
Run Time:
Theatrical Version: 151 minutes
Ultimate Edition: 182 minutes
Theatrical Release Date:
March 25, 2016
Distributed by:
Warner Bros. Pictures

Format:
Blu-ray/DVD/Digital HD Ultraviolet
Release Date:
July 19, 2016
Bonus Features:
Uniting The World's Finest: Glimpse the future of DC's bold new cinematic super heroes.
Gods and Men: A Meeting of Giants: Justice meets vengeance when two icons clash on-screen for the first time ever.
The Warrior, The Myth, The Wonder: Explore the origin, evolution and impact of the Amazonian Wonder Woman.
Accelerating Design: The New Batmobile: Hit the road hard with Batman's newest high-performance ride.
And more!

Directed by:
Zack Snyder

Plot Summary:
 Fearing the actions of a god-like Super Hero left unchecked, Gotham City's own formidable, forceful vigilante takes on Metropolis's most revered, modern-day savior, while the world wrestles with what sort of here it really needs. And with Batman and Superman at war with each other, a new threat quickly arises, putting mankind in greater danger than it has ever known before.

Cast:
Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Gal Gadot, Jesse Eisenberg, Holly Hunter, Jeremy Irons, Diane Lane


Social Media:
   



*My Thoughts*
Yet another super hero movie, but it’s not just another remake. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is a cinematic splendor that pits two comic book titans into short lived combat. Not great but not horrible. It was highly anticipated but I didn’t see the appeal. With the extra 30 minutes from the Ultimate edition, it made certain plot points through the movie make more sense. But it overall felt rushed as a movie that is trying to introduce the entire Justice League, no matter how little it does that, but slow in trying to resolve the actual conflict in the movie.

Lex Luthor (as played by Jesse Eisenberg) uses deception to increase the strain and conflict. Mr. Luthor, who should be put into an asylum, proves his place as Superman’s nemesis, very much in a fashion that is Joker-like to Batman. A decently executed plan that could have been solved by communication, less prejudice, and preconceptions still ends in failure. And introducing the Justice League… What was this movie about again? Oh right, Batman v Superman. Are you sure you really wanted to give us the beginning of the Justice League here? You could have cleaned that up or added more of that plot into this movie.

Despite forcefully introducing the Justice League to the cinematic world and cramming Batman v Superman, it does make you think, “Can humanity protect itself from it’s Savior?” I enjoyed that message. In any other circumstance, I would’ve picked Batman’s side. But still, Superman is more a human than Kryptonian. I guess compassion is more important in this movie?

The general acting had it’s good and bad moments. Bad moments: scenes that required sad or hardened emotions of agony. Good moments: poker faced characters all trying to hide their secret plans and close ups during fight scenes. Ben Affleck’s portrayal of Batman was spot on from Batman’s rage, rhetoric, and trauma. Other than the main cast many of the character didn’t seem to have a proper place in the movie, even for plot purposes, Lois Lane (as played by Amy Adams) and Diana Prince (as played by Gal Gadot), could have one or two scenes cut… Oh wait, they were, hence the theater versus ultimate edition.

My Rating: