Withhold by Andrea Pearson

This is my stop during the book blitz for Withhold by Andrea Pearson. This book blitz is organized by Lola's Blog Tours. The book blitz takes place on 18 July. See the list of participating bloggers here.



Withhold (Mosaic Chronicles #9)

By Andrea Pearson

Genre: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy

Age category: Young Adult, New Adult, Adult

Release Date: 18 July, 2017

Blurb:

With the lives of everyone she holds dear at stake, will Nicole be able to do what it takes to stop the evil surrounding her?



In the ultimate battle between good and evil, Nicole is in a race to stop Keitus before he achieves his plans. If he succeeds, he will crush everyone who has opposed him and enslave Earth and countless other planets. Unfortunately, he is only minutes away from his goal.



With so much at stake, Nicole and her friends must approach Helen, a volatile and dangerous spirit who will probably destroy them regardless of whether she gives them what they want. And the chances of her helping them are slim.



Fast-paced and epic magical fights, exciting plot twists, and non-stop action and adventure await. So sit down, buckle up, and hold on for the explosive, much-anticipated conclusion to the award-winning and bestselling Mosaic Chronicles.

You can find Withhold on Goodreads

Discern Excerpt #2

Nicole and Lizzie walked in silence for a moment, exiting the building. Nicole’s thoughts returned to the brunette Lizzie had been sitting next to, and again, feelings of empathy filled her heart. The poor girl. It wasn’t until Nicole Restarted that people stopped questioning whether or not she was magical. And though she’d been able to hide the fact that she had no idea what focus she’d need to use to Channel while in high school, she realized that college was a completely different scenario.

 Channeling didn’t start at the same time for everyone. But why did Nicole have to be the one who struggled? It was so embarrassing. At least Mother and Dad didn’t really care. Or, if they did, they didn’t show it. But neither of them was an Arete, so it wasn’t terribly important to them. Mother was the first child in her family, and Dad the second in his.

 Nicole took a deep breath of humid air and pulled her hoodie closer around her. “How long ago was that girl’s birthday?”

 “It’s been a week.” Lizzie dug out a bottle of juice from her purse and offered some to Nicole.

 Nicole shook her head, and Lizzie took a drink.

 “For her sake,” Nicole said, “I hope she doesn’t Restart the way I did.”

 Lizzie choked on her juice, then wiped her mouth, laughing. “You mean, throwing up in class in front of your brand-new boyfriend and passing out in your own puke? Yeah, I hope she doesn’t have to experience that.”

 “I’ll never forget the expression on his face when I came to.”

 “Complete disgust.”

 “Shortest relationship I’ve ever been in.”

 The girls chuckled. Nicole relished the feeling—it had taken a long time for her to find humor in the experience.

 She put her hands in her back pockets, purse strap over one shoulder. “At least I knew what was going on.” And she had—she’d stayed up late one night, reading about what happened when an Arete’s magic manifested itself. The Arete body could only handle so much sensory overload—passing out was the natural way to adjust to the change. That moment was called Restarting. And it was never fun.

 Of course, throwing up didn’t usually happen. Nicole was just lucky that way.

 “The idiot thought I was a freak.” She sighed. “I’m sure puking didn’t help.”

  “He also knew that most Aretes are only unconscious for five minutes. You were gone for ten.” 

Withhold is only $0.99 on release day!

You can buy your copy of Withhold for only $0.99 today only! Buy your copy here:

- Amazon

- Nook

- Kobo

- iBooks



Download bonuses:

If you pre-order or buy a copy of Withhold you can receive some download bonuses! Here is how it works: buy your copy of Withhold and forward proof of purchase (a confirmation email or a screenshot) to withholdbonuses@gmail.com

You’ll receive 7 books (two books from Andrea Pearson and 5 from other authors) and some other goodies, including a bachelor of science degree from Katon University, coloring pages, word search, fantasy illustration by Andrea's husband (James E. Curwen, professional illustrator) and more. Read all the details about the download bonuses here.

Earlier books in the series:

Discern (Mosaic Chronicles #1)



He's dark and powerful, a magical anomaly. She's inexperienced and untrained. Can they set aside their differences in time to save themselves?



Links:

- Amazon

- Nook

- Kobo

- iTunes

- Goodreads



Praxis (Mosaic Chronicles #2)



Links:

- Amazon

- Nook

- Kobo

- iBooks

- Goodreads



Free books!

You can get both Discern and Praxis for free when you sign-up for Andrea’s newsletter! You can sign-up for her newsletter here.



Find the whole Mosaic series on Amazon

About the Author:

Andrea Pearson is an avid reader and outdoor enthusiast who plays several instruments, not including the banjo, and loves putting together musical arrangements. Her favorite sports are basketball and football, though several knee surgeries and incurably awful coordination prevent her from playing them.



Andrea graduated from Brigham Young University with a bachelor of science degree in Communications Disorders. She is the author of many full-length novels (the Kilenya Series and Mosaic Chronicles) and several novellas. Writing is the chocolate of her life - it is, in fact, the only thing she ever craves. Being with her family and close friends is where she's happiest, and she loves thunderstorms, the ocean, hiking, public speaking, painting, and traveling.



You can find and contact Andrea here:

- Website

- Blog

- Facebook page

- Facebook profile

- Twitter

- Goodreads

- Amazon

- Pinterest

- Newsletter



Giveaway

There is a tour wide giveaway for the book blitz of Withhold. This giveaway is US Only. One winner will win a $50 Amazon gift card!



For a chance to win, enter the rafflecopter below:

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I Stop Somewhere by T.E. Carter from Feiwel & Friends (Macmillan) book blitz

Star Binder by Robert Appleton book blitz

Sarah by Teri Polen

I was able to receive a copy of the book from Netgalley .com I totally enjoyed the book, as you will see by my review below. Teri Polen agreed to give me an interview to add to my review as well as an excerpt included, and a page with my bio, social media, and buy links.

If you get a chance to grab a copy of this book and like scary stories, I suggest reading it with the lights on.

Book Blurb:  

Seventeen-year-old horror fan Cain Shannon thought helping a ghost find her killers would be the supernatural adventure of a lifetime. Now, he just hopes to survive long enough to protect his family and friends from her.

A bet between friends goes horribly wrong, resulting in Sarah's death. When she returns to seek justice against those responsible, Cain agrees to help her. But when he discovers Sarah has been hijacking his body, he realizes she wants retribution instead of justice.

Terrified of what could have happened when he wasn't in control, Cain commands Sarah to leave his house - but exorcising her isn't that easy. She retaliates against her murderers in bloody, horrific ways, each death making her stronger, then sets her sights on Cain. With the help of friends, Cain fights to save himself and his loved ones and searches for a way to stop Sarah before she kills again. 

Exclusive Excerpt From Teri Polen

Squatting down to sort through the box, my elbow nudged one of the balls and it bounced across the floor a couple of times before I stopped it. When I picked it up to toss it back in the box, I noticed a splotch of red on one side. It was glistening, like the spot was wet, and after running my finger across the ball, I brought it closer for a sniff.

I knew that smell. With the multitude of soccer injuries I’d received over the years, the copperish tangy aroma of blood was all too familiar. Wait - blood? Was Eby injured somewhere up here? But I’d looked around and knew for certain he wasn’t here. Had I stepped on something and cut myself? When I looked down to check my feet, that’s when I saw it. A circular pool of blood on the floor about a foot in diameter. How had I missed this? It hadn’t been here when Finn and I were looking around last night. One of us would have noticed this.

So how did blood get here in the past twenty-four hours?

Then I felt it. Frigid air wrapped itself around me, like it was a living, breathing entity, causing me to gasp. When I let out a shaky exhale, I could see my breath. In a 90 plus degree attic. My gaze shot down to the floor where the blood had been.

It was gone.

My review
If you like ghost stories you are gonna love this book. It is creepy, scary, and even terrifying in parts.  Teri Polen has done an awesome job on this book. If it were made into a movie I would definitely go see it.

Seventeen year old Cain has a lot going on his life. He is the captain of the soccer team. He has a horrible snob girlfriend he can't stand. He has recently lost his Father to a tragic accident and has moved into a  new house.

Cain and his best friend Finn are in his bedroom one night playing video games when the attic door opens by itself and a rush of freezing air comes in. The boys go to check it out but find nothing. The attic door continues to open by itself at different times. One night while Cain is alone he goes back up to the attic to see if he can figure out what is going on. While upstairs he sees fresh blood on the floor then it disappears.  He hen finds out  Sarah a missing girl from his high school's blood was found in the attic but she was never found.

Eventually Sarah takes form and tells Can what happened that night. Cain decides to try and help her so she can rest in peace. Bad move Dude. Sarah takes advantage of Cain's generosity. She is out for revenge not for help. 

As things get deadly Cain decides to try and exorcise Sarah. Sarah isn't going to stand for this at all. Not only is she after her killers but she turns on Cain as well.

Author Bio

Teri Polen reads and watches horror, sci-fi, and fantasy.  The Walking Dead, Harry Potter, and anything Marvel-related are likely to cause fangirl delirium.  She lives in Bowling Green, KY with her husband, sons, and black cat.  Sarah, a YA horror/thriller, is her first novel and was a horror finalist in the 2017 Next Generation Indie Book Awards.  Her second novel, The Gemini Connection, a YA sci-fi/fantasy, is scheduled for publication in early 2018.  Visit her online at www.teripolen.com

Buy Links:

Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/Sarah-Teri-Polen-ebook/dp/B01NBIFRF4/ref=sr_1_1_twi_kin_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1485561261&sr=8-1&keywords=sarah+teri+polen

Barnes and Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sarah-teri-polen/1125171739?ean=9781612967912

Black Rose Writing:  http://www.blackrosewriting.com/childrens-booksya/sarah

Contact Links:

Website:  https://teripolen.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/TeriPolenAuthor/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/TPolen6

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16114393.Teri_Polen

Interview with Teri Polen

What is your favorite part of this book and why?  

That’s easy for me – the friendship between Cain and Finn.  The banter between the two of them was such fun to write and I never quite knew what they’d say.  They could rag on each other and talk smack all day, but each of them would take a bullet for the other.  They still talk to me sometimes.  

Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?

My characters are created in my head, but may possess character traits of people I’ve known or those I’ve observed while people watching (usually in airports – a fantastic place to people watch).  Sometimes it may take a couple of months to really get to know and understand my characters, but that’s part of the fun.

What made you want to become a writer?

I’ve always been a reader – I think I was born with a book in my hand.  One evening at my son’s soccer practice, a complete story occurred to me – I’d had ideas here and there, but never one for a full story.  So I wrote it – and it was just bad all the way around and nowhere near ready to be seen.  By anyone.  Ever.  But the ideas kept coming, I read books on craft, took webinars, workshops, and classes, and kept writing.  I’ve finally found what I want to be when I grow up.  

How did you come up with name of this book?

For over two years I debated on names for this book, but nothing seemed to fit.  The day before I had to turn the book into my publisher, it still had no title, but then Sarah just popped in my head and I wondered why it had taken me so long to figure it out.

Do you read yourself and if so what is your favorite genre?

I’m a voracious reader and have been known to read up to 6 books at a time, but since I’ve been writing, it’s more like a couple.  I’d estimate about 90 -95% of what I read is horror, sci-fi, or fantasy, with the occasional mystery/thriller/suspense tossed in.  

Do you write one book at a time or do you have several going at a time?

I’d have to say one at a time, although while writing my newest book, I’ve also written a short story to contribute to an anthology.  Ideas for new books may be floating around the brain cells, but I lack the capacity to focus on more than one major project at a time.

I received this book from the Author or Publisher via Netgalley.com to read and review.

BOOK SPOTLIGHT TOUR: Seven Threads by Jason Atkinson

Book Details:



Book Title: Seven Threads: A Book of Short Stories

Author: Jason Atkinson

​Category: Adult Fiction, 151 pages

Genre: Thriller and Suspense

Publisher: Mascot Books

Release date: July 4 , 2017

Tour dates: July 10 to 28, 2017

Content Rating: PG



Book Description:



In this collection of seven short stories from Jason Atkinson, follow a man accused of murder, a runaway girl on a train, a scientist at the heart of a government conspiracy, and more! Full of twists and turns, Seven Threads offers a selection of fast-paced stories full of heart and excitement.

​​

Buy the Book:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

Books-a -Million

Meet the Author:

​Jason Atkinson lives in the Midwest with his wife and son. With a love of writing, this is his 3rd book, but first book in the fiction category. Short stories are easy to digest, and yet, this book still provides all the joys for the long haul reader. Jason write for everyone in mind when creating this piece and hopes you will enjoy it as much as he did when writing it.



Connect with the author: Website ~ Facebook

Guest Post with Author Jason Atkinson

Q: Where do you get inspiration for your stories?

You might think by reading this book, and considering the Title’s of the stories, that my inspiration comes from a dark place. “The Runaway Tracks”, “Mr. Dean Brant – The Lost Brother”, and so on come across as down and depressing, but where the stories go are far from it.

I wanted to write stories that not only reflect real life possibilities, but also the goodness that each human being can offer. In a nutshell, my inspiration comes from within. My inspiration comes from the gentleness that mankind can show toward one another. It’s out there. We… are out there. But sometimes it is hard to see it or feel it.

Each story tells its own tale with twists and turns throughout, and it would seem that the end is lost for some of these characters, or even these stories as a whole, but I made sure to weave in their the kindness that the people of any place, background, can have towards their fellow neighbor. It doesn’t all have to be doom and gloom; there can be affection and love where it’s needed most.

The story “Life is A Rummage Sale” is about a man who is down on his luck. When he thinks all hope might be lost, he meets someone who changes everything for him, and it all started with a few simple words.

It’s stories like these that can be a nice reminder that life has purpose and meaning. That our own little bubble isn’t what we think it is, it can be impacted and changed by those around us in the best ways if we choose ourselves to be our best self.

My inspiration comes from me, the people I see, talk to and interact with. And I hope as you read this book you will be impacted too.

Enter the Giveaway!

Ends Aug 5

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Blog Tour - The Submissive Muse By Tiffany N. York

Title: The Submissive Muse 

Author: Tiffany N. York 

Genre: Erotic Romance 

Release Date: July 14, 2017 

Cover Designer: Lawson Craighill of Blushing Books

Hosted by: Buoni Amici Press, LLC

.

One man’s misfortune is another man’s destiny.
Elizabeth Wolfe’s husband, John, had been everything to her—protector, provider, administer of pain. Still devastated, one year after his death, she decides to take her own life, but her plan is interrupted when she discovers an unconscious stranger in her barn.
Devan Carthy and John Wolfe agreed to an arrangement before he died—Devan is to seek out Elizabeth, exactly one year from his death, and bring joy to her life again, in exchange for a sizeable sum of money.
What begins as a friendship between a grieving widow and a mercurial artist blossoms into love as Devan reawakens her desire for living. His erratic mood swings and her need for pleasure and pain threaten their relationship, but it’s John Wolfe’s hold over them that may ultimately tear them apart.
Publisher's Disclaimer: This dramatic love story contains graphic sexual scenes, as well as discipline. If either of these offend you, please do not buy the book.

A slow, sultry blues number filled the room. "Come here." His tone had turned suddenly serious.

She was no stranger to slow dancing, having danced with John at many formal events, so when he took her in his arms, they were able to move effortlessly together. She arched her back at one point, enjoying the feeling of fluidity in her body, and when she straightened up, he pulled her tightly to him, his warm breath tickling her neck. She kept her head next to his, breathing in his smell, a potent mix of soap and musk. With his beard against her cheek and his body pressed against hers, she became lost in the moment. Lost, when he gently ran his lips along her bare shoulder. Lost, when he murmured her name with desperate yearning in his voice. Lost, when he grew hard.

They barely moved to the music. Only their hips swayed, his erection straining against the seam of his pants, causing a hunger inside her that had been absent for so long. A hunger she thought she'd never feel again.

"Liz, look at me," he whispered.

When she did, he lowered his face to hers, their lips almost touching. He hesitated. And when she didn't move, he pressed his mouth to hers, softly at first, and then he deepened the kiss when he felt her respond.

A moan escaped her and before she knew it, her hands were tangled in his hair. Their tongues teased and stroked and begged each other for more until Elizabeth felt the sharp pinch of her necklace digging into her skin. A painful reminder of John. She broke the kiss and pushed him away, leaving him with a dazed expression.

"I can't do this. I'm sorry."

Taking the coward's way out, she left Devan standing alone and ran up the stairs to her bedroom. The last sound she heard was of shattering glass.

He wants her. She’s off limits. That’s the deal. But once the deal is fulfilled, all bets are off.

***

Can a mercurial artist bring color and passion back to a grieving widow's world?

***

Sometimes what brings a couple together can be the very thing that tears them apart.

https://youtu.be/-O-nEe2QwP0

Tiffany N. York lives in Southern California with her spirited son, diva Chihuahua, an ever-changing number of cats, and two tone-deaf parakeets. She writes fiction to escape reality. Her two romantic comedies, The Accidental Cougar, and The Meatball Mistress are available on Amazon. The Submissive Muse, an erotic romance will be out July 14, 2017. Visit her on social media.

Blurb Blitz: The Wellness Sense by Om Swami

The Wellness Sense

by Om Swami

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GENRE: Health & Fitness

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BLURB:

Why do certain foods harm some people and help others?

Why do the results of a weight loss programme vary from individual to individual?

And why do some people fall sick more often than others?

The science of Ayurveda holds answers to these questions and many more. Its scriptures took a holistic approach to health by combining our lifestyle with our natural tendencies (which vary from one person to another).

This groundbreaking new work from Om Swami combines the yogic view of food as sattvic, rajasic and tamasic with the Ayurvedic perspective, and further relates it to the modern view of food as acidic and alkaline. This is also the first time Ayurvedic prakriti (vata, pitta and kapha) has been discussed in the context of yogic prakriti (sattvic, rajasic and tamasic) in a truly cohesive fashion.

The Wellness Sense is a simple, step-by-step handbook on how to take better care of yourself. Accessibly written, deeply researched and distilled from Om Swami’s own livid experience, The Wellness Sense puts your health and happiness in your hands.

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Excerpt Two:

There are various ways to test pH levels but to tell you the truth that is an obsession in my view. Simply just eat a balanced diet. The definition of balance is that eighty percent of your diet should consist of alkaline foods and twenty percent with acidic. In the ideal world, one hundred percent of your diet should be alkaline because your body is already producing enough acids. For most people, however, it is not possible to go on a completely alkaline diet for a variety of reasons. So, go for the eighty-twenty rule in that case, that is, eighty percent alkaline and twenty percent acidic foods.

By following the dietary principles, your chances of remaining healthy grow exponentially. Is it possible to completely avoid the disease in our body, though? Or, more importantly, what actually causes disease? If I eat the proper foods according to my constitution, if I maintain an alkaline diet, does it guarantee I'll remain free of diseases? The answer is No. There's more to diseases than the food we intake. There's no doubt that your chances of falling sick are almost negligible if you use the eating-sense, yet, there's still a chance. And for that, we must have a holistic understanding of what causes diseases beyond food and how to avoid them. When I say, I'm sick, who is actually sick in me?

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Om Swami is a monk who lives in a remote place in the Himalayan foothills. He has a bachelor degree in business and an MBA from Sydney, Australia. Swami served in executive roles in large corporations around the world. He founded and led a profitable software company with offices in San Francisco, New York, Toronto, London, Sydney and India.

Om Swami completely renounced his business interests to pursue a more spiritual life. He is the bestselling author of Kundalini: An Untold Story, A Fistful of Love and If Truth Be Told: A Monk’s Memoir.

His blog omswami.com is read by millions all over the world.

Amazon Link – https://www.amazon.com/Wellness-Sense-practical-emotional-Ayurvedic/dp/0994002734/

Goodreads Link –

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23726933-the-wellness-sense

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION

$25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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