Book Release | Delivered by Angels by Emerald Barnes

Delivered by Angels

by Emerald Barnes

Determined to escape her abusive father and drunken mother, Lexi Johnson turns to the blade to numb her pain, but it isn’t enough to end her misery. She’s convinced that not even God could save her now.

Roxy Taylor is the new girl in town, and Lexi doesn’t trust her, especially when she teams up with DJ Tucker to try and break down the barriers that Lexi has put in place.

Little does Lexi know, there are greater forces battling for her life, and as Lexi begins to open up to both Roxy and DJ, she’ll see that she isn’t alone in this world.

In the heart-pounding sequel to Entertaining Angels, everyone’s favorite angel, Zach Taylor, is back, and he’s there to make sure that Madison and Chase Sanders are on the path that God has chosen for them, a path that could deliver Lexi from the demons who want her soul.

Purchase Delivered by Angels on Amazon today, available through Kindle Unlimited as well! 

From Emerald

As teens, it’s easy to feel alone and unloved, and so often, that can lead down dangerous paths. It’s easy to want to fit in, to make sure that you’re popular or whatever. But the best advice I can give you is to be yourself. Be true to who you are as a person. And if you do feel unloved and alone, know that you aren’t alone and that you are loved!

I wrote a book, Delivered by Angels, to show others that God loves them and that He would do anything to show others that love. And that’s what I hope you know. That even when you feel at your lowest, there is always someone who loves you.

As a teen, I know that I felt unloved. I felt like such a loser. I had friends, and I was semi-popular, but I wasn’t blind to the mocking of my peers behind my back. I was never good enough for the people I went to school with, and I have lived with that to this day. (I’m about to turn 29.) It’s hard, especially as a kid, and there are people who deal with similar pain, bullying, and more, such as abuse, on a daily basis. There are kids who have to live with things they shouldn’t have to, and it’s not easy on them. They don’t know how to escape their pain.

I’m not saying I have the magical cure. I don’t. Even as a Christian, I know that life isn’t all rainbows, but I do know that I don’t want people hurting. I encourage anyone going through difficult times to talk to someone, even if it’s finding a support group or counselor. You don’t have to do this alone. There are people who will be happy to talk to you.

Take it from me, I bottled in most of my emotions. I didn’t like talking about the things that bothered me, and it wasn’t good. I should have talked more, opened up, trusted more people because I wasn’t alone. I had family who loved me, and they would have done anything to help me. There are people who feel that way about you, even when you don’t think that’s true.

You are not alone. Whatever you’re going through, know that God loves you, and He is there for you no matter what.

If you need to talk about something, or just want prayer, you can message me through the prayer request page on my website.

About Emerald Barnes:

Emerald Barnes graduated with a B.A. in English with an emphasis on Creative Writing at Mississippi University for Women. She resides in a small town in Mississippi and has the accent to prove it. She’s an auntie, a Whovian, a little bit of a nerd, a reader, a writer, and a family-oriented person. God is number one in her life, and she thanks Him continuously for His love and favor.

Connect with Emerald online:

Facebook: Author Emerald Barnes

Twitter: @emeraldbarnes

Pinterest: Emerald Barnes

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/emerald_barnes

http://ebarnes23.wordpress.com/

www.emeraldbarnes.us/

Add Entertaining Angels, Before We Say I Do, and Delivered by Angels to Goodreads.

Email: emerald_barnes@yahoo.com

Book Review | A Charming Ghost by Tonya Kappes

A Charming Ghost by Tonya Kappes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I always love reading about June's new adventure, and this one had a double dose. There was a new murder mystery to be solved, of course, but the mystery of the ghost boy from A Charming Death (do us part) was also explored. June had a lot of running around to do in this book, which allowed readers to get a wonderful look at Whispering Falls.

I loved watching June solve two puzzles at once, and even getting a chance to look back on her past while doing so. I can't wait for the next one!


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Blog Tour | Endangered by Dani Hoots

Endangered (Daughter of Hades #1)

by Dani Hoots

Genre: YA Urban Fantasy

Release Date: May 13th 2016

Summary from Goodreads: 

Chrys has been in the Underworld for thousands of years, hidden away by her father, Hades, from all of the other gods. He's afraid that if someone finds out about her, they will destroy her because of the dichotomous power that she holds, the power of life and death. So she has remained in the Palace of Hades all her life, making very few friends and always bored out of her mind.

Huntley would have never guessed that after he died he would wake up with a beautiful girl standing over him. And that she would be the Dark Lord of the Underworld's daughter. Yet, for some reason, she keeps him around as her tutor, as if he knows anything about the world. But Huntley knows that all she really wants is a friend; being trapped in the Underworld can get pretty lonely. 

That is, until Chrys decides she wants to run away to the human world after a big fight with her mother Persephone. Chrys claims her father is just over reacting and that nothing bad will come of it. There's no way that the gods will notice she's there for only a couple of days...right?

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Excerpt:

CHAPTER 7

Chrys

                The River Styx is really intimidating. Like, seriously.

                I honestly never really realized it until now, being without someone who knew how to guide the boat for me. I had only taken a boat out a couple of times, but never this far, and never with this much risk. Now that I stood there, waiting for the others, I found myself questioning my decision a little bit. Not enough to turn back, but enough to realize that Father was going to be really pissed if he found out I had hijacked a boat and left the Underworld with two of my friends. I guess I knew that already but it was hitting me hard now.

                I had left a note for him, telling him we were going to visit Maka and not to worry, that we would be back in a few days. He knew I needed to let off a little steam and that leaving me alone was the best choice. At least, I hoped.

                I was already wearing my ring and waiting to give A.J. and Huntley theirs. I was almost past the point of no return, making a decision that could get me in the worst of trouble.

                And it felt exhilarating.

                I was surprised that Huntley wasn’t fully on board with this, but more cautious than A.J. and I were. He was only coming because he wanted to make sure I was safe. But if A.J. thought it would be fine, I really doubted it was going to end badly.

                At least I hoped that it wouldn’t.

                A.J. was the cautious one out of the three of us, so if Huntley thought it was fine, it was probably going to be fine. I trusted him, especially after all this time. He cared enough to stay in the Palace for me, so he had to be speaking the truth.

                A.J. and Huntley showed up, checking behind them to make sure there wasn’t anyone following them. I nodded to both of them and handed them the rings. They slipped them on their fingers, and we quickly climbed in the boat to travel around the River Styx into the sky that was Oceanus.

                The boat was like an old gondola that might simply crumble if we were going over actual water.  It was beyond old, probably the same age as the Underworld itself. It creaked and cracked as we stood on it, rocking slightly back and forth. The three of us each grabbed a stick and pushed off the peer of the palace and into the river we went.

                “How does this actually work?” Huntley asked. “I mean, it looks like we are traveling on clouds.”

                “You really going to ask questions of how things work in the Underworld? Not just accept that things work differently here?” A.J. replied. We had barely been gone for a couple of moments and they were already arguing.

                “The rivers here are more like air currents, trapping things that have been lost in the mortal realm,” I explained. “The river we are on now is the River Styx, the River of Hatred. It is but one of five rivers. Most of the dead come to this world via Acheron, the River of Pain. It is where Charon runs his service. The other rivers flow through the Underworld and serve as transportation to places throughout. But without a boat, all of the rivers will curse those who try to escape, so make sure the water doesn’t touch you.”

                Huntley glanced over the water, his eyes wide. I probably should have mentioned that earlier, but it had completely slipped my mind. When you knew something for such a long time, it was hard to remember to tell others who might not know.

                “Don’t worry, you’re fine. But because of this, no god from the other realms can get through Oceanus, which is why Father has hidden me away for so long. That is, except Hermes, he can travel between realms. Why that is, no one really knows. He kinda just appears some days and Father can’t figure out how he’s doing it. As for my mother, well, it’s really rare for anyone to come to the Underworld and be able to go back to Earth. In some legends the hero can, or antagonist, depending on your point of view. The River Styx was their greatest obstacle.”

                “But she sneaks men in here,” Huntley countered.

                I nodded. “Yeah, but they don’t come by themselves. She pays Charon to escort them. He will escort anything as long as he gets paid.”

                “Oh. So which one is the River Styx?” Huntley asked.

                I gestured in front of us. “This one. We will be going around the Underworld seven times and then be dumped into Oceanus.”

                “Seven times? Won’t that take forever?”

                I shrugged. “Space is weird here. Doesn’t take too long actually and the farther we get, the faster it starts to go.”

                “Oh, I guess that makes sense,” Huntley said. “Then where is Oceanus?”

                I nodded up. “You see the blue clouds that covers the entire realm? That’s Oceanus.”

                He looked up at the sky. The molten blue shimmered in the light of the morning. Where the morning light really came from, I still wasn’t sure. This world was weird, I had to agree.

                “Shit. How are we supposed to get through that?” he asked.

                “Hence the boat, moron,” A.J. commented.

                Huntley pointed up. “Yeah, but that doesn’t have a surface that we can travel on.”

                I shook my head. “That’s because we don’t travel on it. We travel through it. Oceanus is like a shell between this world and Earth.”

                “Oh yeah, that’s going to be fun. Do you even know where we are going to end up?”

                I was silent. I actually didn’t. I figured, probably wherever my mother was last, but I couldn’t be sure. It wasn’t like I had a preference. Anywhere was better than here. Finally, I shrugged.

                “We don’t even know where we are going?” Huntley exclaimed. “Chrys, seriously, get some sense in your head. This is a bad idea.”

                He was right, I really didn’t know what I was doing. I should turn back now, I had let my emotions get the better of me. I was turning into my mother.

                And I didn’t want that.

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About the Author

Dani Hoots is a science fiction, fantasy, romance, and young adult author who loves anything with a story. She has a B.S. in Anthropology, a Masters of Urban and Environmental Planning, and is currently in the Your Novel Year Program through Arizona State University.

Currently she is working on a YA urban fantasy series called Daughter of Hades, a historic fantasy vampire series called A World of Vampires, and a YA sci-fi series called Sanshlian Series.

Her hobbies include reading, watching anime, cooking, studying different languages, wire walking, tinkering with her violin and concertina, and volunteering at the library. She lives in Seattle with her husband and two cats.

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Blog Tour | ASP of Ascension by B.R. Myers

ASP of Ascension

by B.R. Myers

Genre: YA

Release Date: July 21st 2015

Fierce Ink Press

Summary from Goodreads:

Nefertari “Terry” Hughes has three rules for surviving high school:
#1 Don’t attract attention.
#2 Don’t get involved.
#3 Don’t make trouble.

A year after the accident that left her crippled and took her mother’s life, sixteen-year-old Terry just wants to keep her head down and survive her new high school. When she catches the eye of cute basketball star Zach — who happens to be the boyfriend of mean girl Allison — all hopes of flying under the radar are gone.

She is thrust even further in the spotlight when Fraser, the editor of the school newspaper, learns Mr. Hughes is the renowned archaeologist overseeing the new Egyptian display at the museum, which is rumoured to include Cleopatra’s sarcophagus. Fraser’s research leads to the fifty-year-old mystery of a girl who vanished while on a school trip to to the museum along with an artifact that may be Cleopatra’s asp.

When Mr. Hughes falls into a coma and his co-worker claims it’s the curse of Cleopatra, the stakes become too high for Terry to ignore. Terry must work with Fraser and her new candy loving friend Maude to find out what happened fifty years ago in hopes of saving her father before time runs out.

Rated T - Teen 13 and up: May contain violence, crude humour, suggestive themes and/or strong language.

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Top Five Things You Should Know About Terry Hughes:

As much as I love a good romance, the best friend relationship is just as essential to any good story. In my YA mystery, Asp of Ascension, the main character has her own love interest, but more importantly she finds a true best friend by the end of the book.

Here are the top ten reasons why every girl needs a trusty sidekick. 

1. She'll Let You Ugly Cry


Broken bone or a broken heart? Doesn’t matter, your bestie is there when you need her with Kleenex and ice cream. She’ll be your rock and (if necessary) help you plan an act of revenge or at least a construct a pretend plan to lighten your spirits.

2. She Won’t Criticize

…Unless of course you need her to voice a strong and colorfully worded negative description of the enemy who has done you wrong. Some friends will tell you to let it go and just forget about it, but a true friend grabs the baseball bat and says, “Where does he live?”

3. She Will Always Show Up

A best friend will never stand you up or (and this is the worst) drop your plans to be with a guy.

4. She Understands Your Quirks

It’s so nice to be with someone who gets why you like to dip your French fries in chocolate sauce. And she always lets you have the seat that faces the door to the restaurant because you she knows you need to see who is coming and going.

5. She's Free Therapy


Even if it’s only to say, “I’m sorry you’re hurting.” Sharing your problems with someone you trust is as therapeutic as any advice you’d get from a professional. Plus, someone who loves and cares for you will always have your best interest at heart.

6. She Is Your Cheerleader

Your best friend never underestimates the power of getting a little support or encouragement at the time when you need it the most. 

7. She's Your Person

When you need to hide a body or um …a burnt casserole, you know the one person that will always say yes.

8. She Shares Her Stuff With You

Jewelry, make-up, jeans, junk food, dating tips, books … the list goes on. We learn early in life that sharing means caring.

9. You Complement Each Other

She’s outgoing, but you’re more of a wallflower. You can think up a comeback in record time, but she always gets flustered. Best friends are often each other’s strengths and weakness. They hold each other up and step in when the other needs help.

10. She Calls You Out

This is the toughest, but most crucial aspect of the best friend. She loves you so much she’s unwilling to let you make stupid mistakes. Just ask Neville Longbottom, he earned ten points for Gryffindor because he tried to stop Harry and Ron from sneaking out of the common room. As Dumbledore said, “It takes a great deal of courage to stand up to your enemies, but a great deal more to stand up to your friends.”

An Author Interview:

About the Author

I write YA, appreciate a design in my cappuccino, love shopping for vintage jewelry and dream in color. Coming from Nimbus Publishing, my contemporary coming of age novels, BUTTERFLIES DON'T LIE (SEPTEMBER 15,2014) and GIRL ON THE RUNJUST JESSE (Fall 2015). from Fierce Ink Press, ASP OF ASCENSION (July 2015).

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Blog Tour | Risuko by David Kudler

Risuko: A Kunoichi Tale

by David Kudler

Genre: YA Historical Fiction/Adventure

Release Date: June 15th 2016

Stillpoint Digital Press

Summary from Goodreads:

Can one girl win a war?

My name is Kano Murasaki, but most people call me Risuko. Squirrel.

I am from Serenity Province, though I was not born there.

My nation has been at war for a hundred years, Serenity is under attack, my family is in disgrace, but some people think that I can bring victory. That I can be a very special kind of woman.

All I want to do is climb.

My name is Kano Murasaki, but everyone calls me Squirrel.

Risuko.

Though Japan has been devastated by a century of civil war, Risuko just wants to climb trees. Growing up far from the battlefields and court intrigues, the fatherless girl finds herself pulled into a plot that may reunite Japan -- or may destroy it. She is torn from her home and what is left of her family, but finds new friends at a school that may not be what it seems.

Magical but historical, Risuko follows her along the first dangerous steps to discovering who she truly is.

Kano Murasaki, called Risuko (Squirrel) is a young, fatherless girl, more comfortable climbing trees than down on the ground. Yet she finds herself enmeshed in a game where the board is the whole nation of Japan, where the pieces are armies, moved by scheming lords, and a single girl couldn't possibly have the power to change the outcome. Or could she?

Historical adventure fiction appropriate for young adult and middle-grade readers.

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About the Author

David Kudler is a writer and editor living just north of the Golden Gate Bridge with his wife, actress, teacher, and author Maura Vaughn, their author-to-be daughters, and their apparently non-literary cats.

A published author, he is currently working on Risuko: A Kunoichi Tale, a young-adult historical adventure novel set in sixteenth century Japan.

He serves as publisher for Stillpoint Digital Press. Since 1999, he has overseen the publications program of the Joseph Campbell Foundation, for which he has edited three posthumous volumes of Campbell's previously unpublished work (Pathways to Bliss,Myths of Light and Sake & Satori) and managed the publication of over fifty print, ebook, print, audio, and video titles, including the third edition of the seminal The Hero with a Thousand Faces. 

Currently, David serves as vice-president of the Bay Area Independent Publishers Association.

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Book Review | A Charming Death (do us part) by Tonya Kappes

A Charming Death (do us part) by Tonya Kappes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this novelette in which Oscar and June finally got married! There was just enough of a mystery to whet my appetite for the next book, but it was the beautiful wedding storyline I enjoyed most. I've been rooting for this couple for what feels like years, and I'm so happy they are finally married! This book was a wonderful mix of mystery and romance, which was just what I needed to get me back to reading.

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Blog Tour | Withering Rose by Kaitlyn Davis

 Withering Rose (Once Upon a Curse #2)

by Kaitlyn Davis

Genre: YA Fantasy/Fairy Tale Retelling

Release Date: May 17^th 2016

Summary: 

 **A USA Today Recommended Series!**

What if Beauty was cursed, and the Beast was the only one who could save her? Don't miss WITHERING ROSE, a dystopian romance from bestselling author Kaitlyn Davis that reimagines the classic fairy tale of Beauty & The Beast. This is the second book in Once Upon A Curse, a series of interconnected stand-alone novels all set in the same fantasy universe.

"As the heat finally disappeared, I felt the bloom blossom in the very core of my soul, a rose just like my name—a ticking clock hidden behind a façade of beauty. From that moment on, my life would become a countdown, and all I could do was wait and watch as the petals of time slowly started to fall."

Omorose Bouchene has a secret—magic. There's only one problem. At the age of seven, an earthquake struck, catapulting her into a new world. A land made of skyscrapers and cell phones. Fast cars and fluorescent lights. A land where magic isn't supposed to exist and anyone who wields it is the enemy.

But after ten years of hiding, she's desperate to find a place where she can be free. Because all magic comes with a curse, and her curse is time—every ounce of power she uses strips days off of her life. The clock is winding down, and the only option left is to escape to the realm ruled by a man known only as the Beast. But the king of monsters isn’t what he seems. And the more Omorose opens her heart, the more she comes to realize that the only person she may need to fear is herself. 

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Gathering Frost (Once Upon a Curse #1) on Goodreads

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RAVE REVIEWS for Gathering Frost!

"My favorite thing about this book is the action. Jade isn't a sleeping princess. She's the best fighter and so fierce in her "empty" state. I felt like this was an urban fantasy with all the steam of a romance, and it was almost perfect for me." - Jessie Potts, USA TODAY Happy Ever After Blog

"Davis writes with confidence and poise, and the story's many twists and turns stave off predictability and allow readers to become immersed in a starkly magical world filled with last hopes." - Publisher's Weekly

"Gathering Frost is just awesome in every way. Beautiful prose, lots of heart-wrenching emotion, action and romance, a great, unstoppable villain, and a smart, tough heroine who will fight for what she wants." - Geeks in High School

"The writing is flawless as always and I must say, way to take a classic and make such a creative and wonderful twist to it...It's well thought out and it unbelievably magnificent. I seriously couldn't put it down. Wait I never actually put it down. I started and finished in one sitting because it's just that good. This one is a MUST READ." - Happy Tails and Tales Blog

The Fairy Tale World I'd Love To Live In Is…

One of my favorite things about writing and reading is the chance to experience new worlds! Nothing excites me more than diving into a new novel and living vicariously through the characters for a few hours.

I mean, let's be honest. What's more fun—cooking dinner for the umpteenth time or pretending to be a fire wielding sorceress falling in love with a werewolf while on the hunt for a dangerous new evil? If your answer isn't number two, I'm not sure you're in the right place! ;)

So, since my new book Withering Rose is a twisted take on Beauty & The Beast and the entire Once Upon A Curse series retells classic fairy tales, I figured I'd indulge a little. After all, I frequently spend the afternoon daydreaming—why not daydream about fairy tales? There's a little bit of everything I need—charming princes, evil queens, wondrous magic, swoony romance…did I mention charming princes?

Let's narrow it down. First, I'm speaking Disney tales with happily ever afters! While I love writing twisted takes on the originals, the gruesome direction they often travel in is more the thing of my nightmares!

With that base, I'm going into a top three!

Tangled—because, hello, Flynn Rider. Every girl needs a Flynn Rider. And the lantern ceremony at the end is so incredibly beautiful I would love to visit for the day of the festival and partake! 

Beauty & The Beast—Books, books, and more books! The library of my dreams! Not to mention amazing French pastries, dances beneath a blanket of stars, and the brooding beast himself.

Aladdin—The best magic! Who wouldn't want to ride the flying carpet around the world while being serenaded by a charming thief with a heart of gold? Or have a pet tiger—amazing! Or a genie as a best friend. Really, the list goes on and on!

So…the time has come. I choose…drumroll please…

Beauty & The Beast! My book nerd nature wins out :)

Which fairy tale world would you want to live in? Why?

About the Author

Bestselling author Kaitlyn Davis writes young adult fantasy novels under the name Kaitlyn Davis and contemporary romance novels under the name Kay Marie. 

Always blessed with an overactive imagination, Kaitlyn has been writing ever since she picked up her first crayon and is overjoyed to share her work with the world. When she's not daydreaming, typing stories, or getting lost in fictional worlds, Kaitlyn can be found indulging in some puppy videos, watching a little too much television, or spending time with her family. If you have any questions for her--about her books, about scheduling an event, or just in general--you may contact her at: KaitlynDavisBooks@gmail.com

To stay up-to-date with all of Kaitlyn's new releases, sign up for her new release newsletter here: TinyLetter.com/KaitlynDavisBooks

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