Wednesday, July 29, 2015

COVER REVEAL: The Affiliate by K.A. Linde

We are totally stoked to reveal the cover for The Affiliate, the first book of the Ascension series, by K.A. Linde!

Genre:
Young Adult
Fantasy
Series:
Ascension, #1
Publish Date:
September 15, 2015

Synopsis:
On the day of her Presenting, in front of the entire Byern Court, seventeen-year-old Cyrene Strohm's lifelong plans come to fruition when she's chosen as an Affiliate to the Queen.

Or so she thinks.

When Cyrene receives a mysterious letter and an unreadable book, she finds nothing is as it seems. Thrust into a world of dangerous political intrigue and deadly magic, Cyrene's position only grows more treacherous when she finds herself drawn to the one man she can never have...

King Edric himself.

Cyrene must decide if love is truly worth the price of freedom. Find out in this first book in USA Today bestselling author K.A. Linde’s new Ascension series.


    

*Exclusive Excerpt*
“Do you enjoy the view?” King Edric asked.
“The rains have made the gardens bloom, and it warms my heart to see it so.”
“It is good to know that the gardener approves of the work.”
Cyrene laughed lightly. “I have not gardened in a month’s time. I fear I can no longer call myself a gardener.”
She remembered when she had told the king of her interest in gardening at the last feast day almost a week ago. After that dance, Queen Kaliana added a list of plants to her assignment, forcing her to reread every page she had already dredged through for information. It had wasted two entire days.
“Perhaps I could change that,” he offered.
He directed her down the staircase and into the courtyard below lit solely by the setting sun in the distance.
Her stomach churned at the thought of him offering assistance to any of her needs. It was like what she had read in her children’s books of the tales of Leifs, and how one request would be necessitated by a much larger sacrifice. Her biggest sacrifice at the present moment was time. She wanted nothing more than to finish her work on agriculture and prove that she could get moved somewhere that involved traveling…and adventure.
“On the contrary, My King, I am fully enthralled in my Affiliate duties, and believe that gardening would only distract me from my work.”
“You cannot spare one afternoon to spend in my gardens?” His blue-gray eyes searched her face. “If you have half the green thumb you suggest, then it would be delightful to have you on the grounds.”
She swallowed. “I really have much work to accomplish before we go on Processional.”
“I could speak to the Queen and request it be lessened,” he whispered into the evening air.
“No!” It was the first time he had ever admitted to discussing her with the Queen. Hearing him admit it aloud made her voice come out strangled.
Cyrene missed her footing on the pebble path and stumbled forward a pace. Edric steadied her. He turned his body to face her in the middle of the garden, and her breath caught at the sight of him in the setting sun.
“You do not wish me to speak to the Queen?”
“I spoke out of turn. Please forgive me.”
“I cannot forgive that which I do not understand. Did the Queen somehow offend you?”
Cyrene shook her head. “I fear that the Queen does not…like me.”
Edric laughed softly, taking one of her hands in his own. “Oh Cyrene, I believe that the Queen likes no one but herself.”
Cyrene found that she, too, could laugh at his comment.
“Now, tell me what the Queen has done to make you believe that she dislikes you.”
“It’s nothing, my King.” She turned her face away from his. She couldn’t possibly tell him the real reason.
“Enough to infuriate you, which is enough for me.”
When she looked back up into his blue-gray eyes she felt that same magnetic pull between them. Somehow she had not realized how close they were standing. His hand felt warm against her bare skin. His body only a few inches away from her. His breath hot on her face. Her heart contracted in her chest, and she forced herself to respond.
“She speaks of…of your interference, as if…as if you…”
Time stretched between them, and she thought for a split second he might move even closer to her. She was rooted in place, captivated by his gaze.
“Yes?” His other hand drifted to her waist, and she was suddenly on fire.
Their breath mingled together as she murmured, “As if you favor me.”
“And do you think that?”
“I…”
“Yes?” he asked, stepping closer.

“I think you have your queen,” she breathed.


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**About the Author**
USA Today bestselling author K.A. Linde is the author of The Affiliate, the first book in the Ascension series. As a military brat, she traveled the world with her family, imaginary friends, and ever-increasing supply of books. She has spent much of her life dreaming up new worlds and characters and forcing them into uncomfortable, usually life-threatening scenarios. After graduating from the University of Georgia with a masters degree in political science, she began spending every waking hour putting those characters onto paper.

When not writing, she spends her time dancing, collecting paperbacks in the hopes of filling a Beauty and the Beast style library one day, traveling to visit her friends who live all over the country, and still reading anything she can get her hands on. She currently resides in North Carolina with her husband and two puppies, Lucy and Riker, where she is hard at work on her next novel.

Stay connected with K.A. Linde
    

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***The Giveaway***


Cover Reveal Organized by

BLOG TOUR: No Kissing Allowed by Melissa West


Welcome to the exciting Blog Tour for No Kissing Allowed by Melissa West! Follow the tour, HERE!

Genre:
New Adult
Contemporary Romance
Publish Date:
July 28, 2015
Publisher:
Entangled Embrace

Synopsis:
Armed with her besties an embarrassing number of shots, and her list of 10 Wild Things To Do Before Adulthood, recent grad Cameron Lawson is partying it up before she starts her dream job at New York's biggest ad agency. Her last task? Hook up with a random guy. And while it's so not her style, the super-sexy guy sitting next to her is definitely game. No names. No details.

At least, that was the plan.

On her first day of work, Cameron discovers her hook-up is none other than Aidan Truitt--her new boss's boss. Talk about failing the "no fraternizing with coworkers" policy on an epic level. Especially when Aidan makes it clear their one night was only the beginning. Falling for him could cost her everything, but sometimes the only way to get what you want is by breaking a few rules...


       

Goodreads is holding a giveaway now!

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Deleted Scene
I took one long look at Mr. Confident again. “You know, I was hoping to run into you.” 

“You were, huh?” he said, his voice low and oh so sexy.

“I…Yes.” I stared at him, wondering why the lights were making everything so blurry, and then suddenly out of the corner of my eye I caught sight of Grace, her face inches from a guy and victory, and I knew I had to act fast. “Look, I sort of need a favor.”

His eyebrow lifted again. “A favor?”

“I need you to kiss me.” Were my words slurring?

Both eyebrows lifted this time, his mouth open to respond, but there wasn’t time for him to comply. This was right now, this moment, win or lose, and I planned to take home the gold. “Just…” And then before I could chicken out, I leaned in, my eyes closing, my lips puckered, but my mouth never quite made it to his. I pushed a bit harder, sure that I’d just misjudged my lean, when he began to laugh. Loudly. 

My eyes flew open to find him shaking, literally shaking, he was laughing so hard. I jerked from his grasp, nearly losing my balance. “What is your problem?”

He tried to rein in his laughter, but the smile remained. His eyes squinted, a sense of familiarity there. Like he was talking to a friend, but we’d never met. “Look, you’re cute…but this isn’t happening.” Those deep brown eyes rooted me to the spot. “Why don’t I grab you a cab?”

My cheeks flamed as his words sunk in, knocking the wind out of me. Cute? Not happening? I forced myself to hold his gaze, to keep the last bit of my dignity from slipping through one of the cracks in the floor. I’d never been called cute in my life. 

“What’s your name, anyway?” I asked, unable to hide my frustration. 

He smiled again. “You don’t give up easily, do you?”

“It’s just a kiss.” Even through my slight drunkenness, I could feel my face burning. God, I was going to kill Grace and Lauren for doing this to me. 

“There’s no such thing as just a kiss. It’s personal.” His gaze dropped down to my lips. “More personal than something you do with some nameless guy in a bar.”

My insides coiled at his words, at the way he seemed to know this wasn’t me and was calling me out on it. “Yet you’re still standing here.”

He swallowed, and I knew that despite his words, he was tempted. “That I am.” His eyes swept over me again, leaving a warm trail in their wake. A shiver ran down my back, my entire body drawn to him, despite his rejection, despite my dignity. It’d been a long time since a look alone caused me to buzz with such need. He leaned in closer to my ear, his breath dancing down my neck, and for a moment I forgot about the contest, all focus on this moment, this man, when he whispered, “But it’s still not happening.”


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**About the Author**
Melissa West writes heartfelt Southern romance and teen sci-fi romance, all with lots of kissing. Because who doesn't like kissing? She lives outside of Atlanta, GA with her husband and two daughters and spends most of her time writing, reading, or fueling her coffee addiction.

Stay connected with Melissa West
    

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***The Giveaway***


Blog Tour Organized by

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

RELEASE DAY BLITZ: You Loved Me at My Ugliest by Evie Harper


Welcome to the exciting Release Day Blitz for You Loved Me at My Ugliest, the third book of the You Loved Me series, by Evie Harper!

Genre:
New Adult
Romantic Suspense
Series:
You Loved Me Series, #3
Publish Date:
July 28, 2015

Synopsis:
She's no stranger to love and loss...

By age eighteen, Alexa Kingsley had lost everyone. Only Joey, the lonely boy next door, remained. He'd clung to Alexa like a lifeline through years of abuse at the hands of his father, and she vowed to protect him as best she could. Alexa thought Joey was the one person who'd always be there--until the day he left her as well. Finally forced to go it alone, Alexa finds this latest loss may hurt worst of all.

He's no stranger to lack of love...

Joseph O'Connor was every bit the villain his father trained him to be, his young heart twisted into something ugly, corrupted. But his father underestimated the girl next door, miscalculated the impact Lexi would have on Joey's life, the spark she ignited that eventually, despite all odds, grew to an inferno of hope. To reclaim her, Joey must first become a man Lexi can be proud of...the kind of man she deserves.

Amidst a shadowy world of guns and drugs, will Joey's ultimate sacrifice--a declaration of love from a man who was never shown any at all--be enough to finally set him free?


      


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What others are saying!

"Oh gods I have stalked this author and this book right from the get go, freaking love this author and her writing style, the dark, the emotions, the grit, all things that make this one of my favourite authors."
~ Kitty Kats Crazy About Books

"This is so beautifully written it brought tears to my eyes. Brilliant plot with beautiful characters"
~ Goodreads Reviewer

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Don't miss the previous titles of the You Loved Me Series
  


     

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**About the Author**
Evie Harper is an Australian author whose passion for reading lead her into writing. Evie spends her days writing heartbreaking, suspense filled love stories with happily ever afters. Evie's characters are strong alphas with even stronger heroines who bring sexy sass to the relationship.

Evie has three self-published novels with another one releasing July 2015.

Stay connected with Evie Harper
    

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***The Giveaway***


Release Day Blitz Organized by