[Cover Reveal] Numbers Game

Numbers Game by Rebecca Rode

Publication date: March 2015
Genres: Dystopia, Young Adult

Synopsis:

Treena can’t wait for Rating Day. Her high score will mean a life of luxury, showing the world that she’s a valuable member of society, not a pathetic waste of space. It won’t hurt her chances with her top-Rated boyfriend, either. But when the big day arrives, her true number shocks everyone.

To get her life—and boyfriend—back, she must go undercover and expose a military spy. Doesn’t sound too hard, except that someone seems to want her dead. And then there’s the mysterious soldier with a haunted past and beautiful brown eyes. Together, they discover a dark numbers conspiracy, one that shatters the nation’s future. They must band together if they are to survive the dangerous game of numbers—and the terrible war that rages within Treena’s heart.

See it on Goodreads

Rebecca Rode

By day, I'm a busy mom of four who struggles with housecleaning and cooking. By night...well, I'm still a busy mom of four. But scattered into those rare quiet moments is my life's passion--writing. My first book, HOW TO HAVE PEACE WHEN YOU'RE FALLING TO PIECES, was released in March 2013. It's a nonfiction quick-fix book for moms whose lives feel as crazy and out of control as mine does--and from what readers are saying, it's fun and entertaining to read. I also write for Deseret News and KSL.com on occasion, and some of my articles have also appeared in Schooled Magazine. For a sneak peek at the first two chapters of my book, HOW TO HAVE PEACE WHEN YOU'RE FALLING TO PIECES, check it out on Amazon.com. Bye now!

Author links

Facebook | Twitter | Website

[Blitz & Giveaway] Sword

 

Sword 

by Amy Bai

 

Details:
Sword by Amy Bai
Publication date: Feb. 10, 2015
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
Synopsis:

Sword shall guide the hands of men . . .

For over a thousand years the kingdom of Lardan has been at peace: isolated from the world, safe from the wars of its neighbors, slowly forgetting the wild and deadly magic of its origins. Now the deepest truths of the past and the darkest predictions for the future survive only in the verses of nursery rhymes.

For over a thousand years, some of Lardan’s fractious provinces have been biding their time.

Kyali Corwynall is the daughter of the Lord General, a child of one of the royal Houses, and the court’s only sword-wielding girl. She has known for all of her sixteen years what the future holds for her–politics and duty, the management of a House, and protecting her best friend, the princess and presumed heir to the throne. But one day an old nursery rhyme begins to come true, an ancient magic wakes, and the future changes for everyone. In the space of a single night her entire life unravels into violence and chaos. Now Kyali must find a way to master the magic her people have left behind, or watch her world–and her closest friends–fall to a war older than the kingdom itself.


Find it on Goodreads

Purchase Links
Amazon | B&N

Excerpt

An arm reached out of the dark and wrapped around her neck.

She saw it coming from the corner of her eye, but only had time to twitch uselessly sideways. Another arm immediately followed the first one, muffling her startled cry and stealing her breath.


Too shocked to be afraid, she bit down. The hand over her face jerked away. Her elbow drove backwards and her heel went up into a knee. The awful crack of bone that followed drew a pained groan from behind her, and brought her panic in a thundering flood. Her attacker staggered, pulling her with him. The dropped candle sputtered on the floor beside them, throwing huge shadows everywhere. Spurred on by the thought that she might have to finish this struggle in the dark, she shouted. It was a much softer sound than she'd intended, but the floorboards above them creaked ominously, the arms around her fell away, and he screamed, as though she had burned him.


Leaving this mystery for later consideration, Kyali flung herself at the steps and scrambled up, leaving the back panel of her skirts in his fist. Her sword clattered on the floor as she snatched at it. He came hard on her heels and, as she turned, drove himself obligingly onto it for her. Stunned, she froze again.


Her blood sang in her ears. By the look on his face—a fair face, some much colder part of her noted, with the Western short-beard—he was at least as surprised as she was. He drew a bubbling breath. A dagger dropped from his hand and hit the floor between them.


They stared at one another.


He made an odd face then, and coughed a gout of blood all over her. She blinked through the drops. She knew she had to move—not dead till they stop bleeding, Father would say—but she couldn't. For all her years of study, all the secrecy and swordplay, she had never killed a man. She supposed, watching his face in a perversely distant way, that she still hadn't quite managed it. But he fell forward onto her then, going limp, and after the instinctive terror of having him land on her subsided the sight of his glassy gaze, of her old practice sword sticking out of his ribs, made it clear that she had done it now.


She watched his face closely while his blood dripped down her cheek. He didn't move. He seemed not to be bleeding anymore, though with all the blood on him already how could one tell? She didn’t intend to get closer to check. She couldn't hear anyone else in the house. Through the haze of shock, she was grateful the soldiers weren't here to witness this bizarrely personal moment.


"Well," Kyali said, beginning to be pleased at how well she was taking this—and then threw up on him.


Damn.

AUTHOR BIO

Amy Bai has been, by order of neither chronology nor preference, a barista, a numbers-cruncher, a paper-pusher, and a farmhand. She likes thunderstorms, the enthusiasm of dogs, tall boots and long jackets, cinnamon basil, margaritas, and being surprised by the weirdness of her fellow humans. She lives in New England with her guitar-playing Russian husband and two very goofy sheepdogs.

Author links:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

11 random things about Amy Bai

Because 10 is just too even a number for my rebellious soul.

1. I occasionally take 3-hour baths. Yes, really. I have started and finished books in there, and I am not ashamed, except possibly of my heating bill.

2. I lose every social grace I can (tentatively) lay claim to when I get behind the wheel of a car. I think it is perfectly fine to tailgate people driving too slow for my taste, and just as acceptable to bait fellow drivers tailgating me. I unconsciously speed up when somebody passes me. I gently encourage people driving in front of me to pull over with flashing headlights, honking horn, and occasional hand gestures. And yet, though my grill may be locked to your bumper the whole way in, I’m nonetheless likely to hold the door for you when we’re walking into the building together, even if you’re in the process of telling me what a dangerous bitch I am on the road. Don’t ask me to explain this. It’s a pathology.

3. I think meat is totally gross. And I have since I was about 7 years old. When we had our family visits to McDonald’s (hey, backwoods town in Maine; it really was the big hangout) I used to eat only cheeseburgers because I believed the cheese negated the beef. This logic only worked for me until I was about 8, and then I moved on to about a pint of A-1 sauce, which certainly had the effect of negating the taste, if not the existence, of meat. And when I was 9 I gave up the red stuff altogether, and I think I was 13 or 14 when poultry went. I’d love to claim some great moral objection, but while I think the methods of raising and slaughtering are more than reason to give meat up, I stopped because it was dead flesh, and well, ew.

4. I once dressed in poplar leaves stitched together with twigs and tree sap. I wasn’t alone, either.

5. My first real story was an action-romance about two of my classmates in second grade. Poor Brian and Charity were drowned, mugged, shot from a cannon, chased by lions across the Sahara, and Charity herself died at least once before they shared their first sloppy, painfully-depicted kiss. Their real-life counterparts were horrified when I was picked to read the installments out loud in front of the class. The teacher, who probably wasn’t the best choice for the classroom, was extremely amused. And I, of course, was hooked.

6. I own The Secret of Nimh. And I do on occasion watch it. So should you. Because it’s awesome.

7. I loved writing essays in college. Even dreadfully hungover, scratchy-eyed and exhausted, I still loved writing essays. I know this makes me a freak, and I don’t care.

8. I am a conflicted cynic: I don’t believe in happy endings, but I still want one.

9. I count sounds. I don’t mean to; it just happens. I turn on the blinker, sit there in traffic waiting for someone who appears to be moving slowly enough that I can cut across their path, and by the time I get into the parking lot the little ticky noise has happened 128 times, 64 if you’re counting the high and low tics as one unit.

10. I cringe when I write big angsty melodrama, and yet somehow both the emotional and the plot arcs of all my books head inevitably toward climactic scenes of great angst and melodrama.

11. When I am stressed for too hard and too long, or in constant physical pain or ill health, I tend to write backward. And I don’t mean switching letters: I mean whole sentences, spelled (mostly) correctly, and completely backward except for the capitalization and punctuation.

Giveaway

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Host by Xpresso Book Tours

 

Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish problems I have

I did a little research when I started up my blog again. I asked people what they would like to see on my blog other than the usual reviews. One answer I got was lists. I found this fun list to share on Tuesdays. So here's my first Top Ten Tuesday list. 

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

The top ten book related problems I have

1. Money. I spend way too much money on books and I'm not even ashamed to admit that. If I ever added up the cumulative amount I've spent on books over the years, I think I would cry. I probably could have paid for my entire college education with that money. But, as I always tell my mom, there are worst addictions than a book addiction.
 
2. Dreams. I tend to have extremely vivid dreams when I read right before I head to bed. Some are great, some are not so great. Like the time I read an action book right before going to sleep and I had a dream that I was shot in the neck. I woke up and my neck hurt exactly where it happened. Let's just say, I have a vivid imagination.
 
3. Having friends that don't read. As much as I love them, some of my friends are dumb as a box of rocks. I cringe inside when they tell me they haven't read a book since high school. It's hard to have an interesting conversation with someone when I have to stop and explain what a word means. For example, I just had this conversation a few days ago: 

Me: I feel off today. 
Friend: What do you mean you feel off?
Me: I don't know. I just feel like I'm zoning out and a bit lethargic. 
Friend: Ash, you know I don't know what lethargic means.
Me: *sighs internally*

4. The real world doesn't live up to my expectation. The real world is boring, and no guy will ever be like my book crushes. 

5. Trying to figure out what to read next. Sometimes I go in search of a book, only to find 17 books that I now want to read. Or I have the opposite problem. I can't find a single book to fit my reading mood.

6. Finding a comfortable position while I read an entire book. Does anyone else have the problem where you finally find a good sitting position, only to have your butt fall asleep a few chapters in? So you find a new one, and it happens again. Rinse and repeat for the duration of the book.

7. Lack of sleep. I have a problem where I will start a book at 8 p.m., and if it's really good, I'll stay up all night reading it. Its pretty rare for me to not finish a book in one sitting. 

8. Rereading something from my youth. I lot of times it doesn't live up to the memory I had of it. I think it's just because as I've gotten older so have my reading tastes. 

9. When a series wraps up. There are some characters I never want to let go of. Even if the series is wrapped up in a nice, neat package and everything is resolved, I still want to see more of it. 

10. Bookstores. I have actually made a rule for myself where I'm not allowed to wander into a bookstore in passing. It doesn't matter if I'm "just browsing." I WILL walk out two hours later with a pile of books I wasn't planning on reading. Now, if it's part of my plan to go, that's completely allowed.

Spread Some Indie Love Blog Hop & Giveaway

Diviner Series (3 books)

by Nicolette Andrews

A few years ago, I hadn't had much experience with indie authors. Honestly, I didn't really think there were any good books that were indie published. But I gave one book a chance. A book I found for free through an email newsletter I subscribe to. After I finished that book, I realized how wrong I was. I was so very wrong. 

I've come to have a new appreciation for authors who go the route of self-publishing. So when the opportunity came along to participate in a blog hop that promoted everyone's favorite indie authors, I jumped on the chance. 

In preparation I went through all the books I've read in the past year or so (which ended up being way too many books) and I found it very hard to make a final decision on which author I would feature. There are so many great ones that I've come across. However, I finally picked on.

Without further ago, my choice for my feature indie author/series is (drum roll, please)... The Diviner Series by Nicolette Andrews. This three-book series has got fantasy, magic, mystery, murder and a dash of romance. 

The journey starts off in Diviner's Prophecy with Maea, who has recently lost all her memory. She doesn't know who she can and can't trust. It seems like everyone is using her to their own gain. She travels to court, where she hopes answers to her past can be found. What she really finds is a web of deceit and political maneuvering. 

What I really loved about this series was that it wasn't a run-of-the-mill fantasy where I can predict what's going to happen next. The storyline is complex enough to keep you interested, but not so complex that you feel as if you've missed something. The characters are likable, even the ones who appear to be using Maea. 

This is a coming of age story for Maea, and I found her to be a great leading character. She's vulnerable, but strong when she needs to be. She's a little bit naive, but not a blundering idiot. She stumbles through a world of magic and mystery to find that she is the last of her line. She is the last Diviner. And she may be the only person who can stop an ancient evil from destroying everything she's come to love. 

So if you're looking for your next indie YA fantasy to try out, make sure to put this on your list. The best part is that you can get the first book in the series for free on Amazon. 

Make sure to check out the other blogs on this hop. I can't wait to find some new indie authors myself. Lastly, a thanks to b00k r3vi3ws for hosting this lovely hop.

Since I had such a hard time choosing what author I wanted to go with today, I decided to add a list of some more great indie authors. 

Here are some indie honorable mentions:
1. Memory's Wake Trilogy by Selina Fenech- The review is here
2. The Emperor's Edge by Lindsay Buroker
3. Caged Series by Amber Lynn Natusch 
4. Darkness Falls by Jessica Sorensen
5. Demon Lord by T.C. Southwell
6. Warriors of Ankh by Samantha Young

Giveaway (Int)

The lovely Nikki Godwin has agreed to provide swag packs for three winners in this giveaway. 

About Nikki 

Nikki Godwin is a YA/NA/LGBT author. She can't live without Mountain Dew, black eyeliner, and music by Hawthorne Heights. When not writing, she internet-stalks her favorite bands and keeps tabs on surf competitions. Her favorite surfer is Gabriel Medina. If you ever get her started on surfing or music, she'll never shut up. You've been warned.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads 

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*Winners will be contacted by the sponsor of this giveaway.  

My fellow hoppers

Book Blogger Hop: Feb. 13-19

So I've been determined to incorporate some new things into my blog this time around. I finally came to the realization that every blog post doesn't have to be a 330+ word review on the latest book I've read. I found this little weekly hop through some method of random searching and clicking, and thought it would be find. 

Here's how it works

Every week Billy over at Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer poses a question submitted by a blogger. Anyone can answer the question and then add their link to the list. It seems pretty easy and fun.

This week's question

February 13th - 19th - Is there anything that makes you keep returning to certain blogs? (submitted by Elizabeth)

My answer 

There aren't a whole lot of blog that I would say I visit on a regular basis. (I know, I know. Shame on me) The very few that I do frequent are actually finance blogs. But I'm trying to get better at keeping track of blogs that do hold my interest. Many times I find ones that I really like, but as soon as I've closed the page I've forgotten their name and how I found them. 

There are a few things that will hold my attention and keep me coming back: 

1. I really enjoy blogs that post more than just review, I like seeing tips about writing and blogging. It's very helpful when you're a new blogger and have no idea where to start.

2. I also like to see blogs that are nicely designed, without clutter clogging up everything. 

3. At the top of my list though, is a well-written blog. If you can write your thoughts clearly and concisely with a little humor thrown in there... then I'm sold.

Who wants to try their hand at naming an upcoming book?

Name my next novel contest

So I've got something fun for you guys today. I did say that I would try to bring some new things your way. I've got a guest post here from author Roselyn Jewell who is looking for a little help naming her new book. Here's what she's got to say:

Hi everyone,
My name is Roselyn Jewell and I have recently made my first foray into the YA genre! Previously I’ve written almost entirely romance novels, but I came up with what I think is a great idea for a YA series and I’ve finished the first book in the series, which will be offered as an e-book in early March. In preparation for this, I’m looking for YA fans who are willing to read the book in advance in exchange for posting an honest (yes I really do mean honest) review on at least one site that has it for sale (Amazon, Smashwords, B&N, etc.) and you can feel free to post it anywhere else you wish also!


The second thing I want to share with you is that from now till March 1^st, I’m running a contest where you get to submit suggestions for the title for the book! The prize is:


A) The book will have the title you selected + one of the characters’ names will be changed to your name and...


B) You’ll win a free copy of either the final version of the YA book or a free copy of any other book that I have out.


You can read the full details, which include a synopsis of the book, at http://www.roselynjewell.com/1/post/2015/02/name-my-next-novel-contest.html.


Please feel free to send any submissions, suggestions, feedback, questions, etc. to me at Roselyn@roselynjewell.com. If you’d like to review the book, let me know if you’d like PDF or mobi format and I’ll send it right over. Good luck everyone!

Sincerely,

Roselyn Jewell

 Roselyn's Previous Works

 

[Blast & Giveaway] Prophecy of the Most Beautiful

Prophecy of the Most Beautiful

by Diantha Jones

Synopsis

She has a destiny so great that even the gods fear her. Constant hallucinations and the frequent conversations with the voices in her head, have earned eighteen-year-old Chloe Clever the not-so-coveted title of "Whack Job" in her home town of Adel, Georgia. Fed up with prescription meds and therapists, she wishes for a life where she is destined to be more than the butt of everyone's jokes and mockery. Be careful what you wish for has never rung more true.

After a vicious attack and learning that her favorite rockstar is an Olympian god, she is thrust into her new life as the Oracle of Delphi, the prophesier of the future. Setting out to fulfill the prophecy she has been given, Chloe learns of how great she is to become, all the while fighting mythical monsters and trying to outwit the ever-cunning Greek gods who harbor secrets of their own. While on a mission to discover the Most Beautiful, she strives to uncover the mysteries of the demigod Prince who has sworn to protect her with his life…and threatens to win her heart in the process.


AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE |

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Diantha Jones was born the day thousands of turkeys sacrificed their lives to fill millions of American bellies on November 22 which also happened to be Thanksgiving Day (Her mother says she owes her a turkey). She is a Journalism graduate who is working hard to be a career novelist (of books, not Facebook posts). When not writing or working, she is reading on her Nook or Kindle, getting drunk on Red Bulls, being hypnotized by Netflix or on a mission to procure junk food.

The Oracle of Delphi fantasy series is her first series. She is also the author of Mythos: Stories from Olympus, a companion series, and there is another fantasy series in the works.

WEBSITE: http://www.diantha-jones.com/ 
TWITTER: @DianthaJones 
GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5815616.Diantha_Jones 
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/dianthajones 
PINTEREST: http://www.pinterest.com/dianthajones/ 
AMAZON: http://www.amazon.com/gp/entity/-/B008OHIEUY/ref=cm_sw_su_e

 

GIVEAWAY

1 Winner will receive a Signed print copy of Prophecy of the Setting Sunrise (Oracle of Delphi #2) plus the matching charm bracelet by Diantha Jones.

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[Author & Character Interview] Bright Fire

Bright Fire

by M.J. Austin

Hello my nerds,
Today I've got something a little different than my normal review or promo blurb. Indie author M.J. Austin just published her first book, Bright Fire, this last month. I'm still in the process of reading, but you can get some more info about the book toward the end of the post. I can't comment on the book yet, but I will say that the cover art is absolutely gorgeous. 
 
Please welcome M.J. Austin and Delfia Stryker to Book Nerd Paradise..

Author interview

What is your favorite part of the story, Bright Fire?
I’d say my favorite part is the growth of the relationships between the characters.
If you were stranded on a desert island which of your characters do you want by your side?
Alec, because he is trained in these types of situations.
If you could be best friends with one of your characters, who would it be?
Cass, she’s definitely becoming a favorite.
What inspired you to write your first book?
Aside from being passionate about writing my whole life, NaNoWriMo2014 did. I finished with about 51,000 words, (Takes a bow).
Who or what inspired you to be a writer?
Amanda Hocking inspired me the most, because she started where I am and became super successful.
What's your favorite book-turned movie?
That’s a tough one. I’m going to say Harry Potter. Yes I am a Potterhead.
What is your typical day like?
CRAZY! I have day jobs. Yes I said jobs as in plural. Then I cook, clean, and finally make it to writing at like 11 p.m.  
How do you overcome writer’s block?
I just start writing random stuff until something makes sense.
Can you share a little of your current work with us?
I am in the process of writing book two of the Bright Fire series, as well as a novella centered around Cass.
What book are you reading now?
Halo by Alexandra Ardonetto
What do you prefer paperback, hardcover, or ebooks?
Paperback, they show how often they are read. Plus paper beats screen anyday.

Character Interview

What is your full name? Do you have a nickname?
My full name is Delfia Stryker, but most of my friends call me Dell.
What is your hair color? Eye color?
I have brown hair and blue eyes.
How old are you?
I am 16
What is in your refrigerator right now?
The fridge is stocked full of health nut foods, Cass is very particular about the food we eat.
Who are the people you are closest to?
Lyla, Cass, Alec
What is your biggest fear?
Failing to fulfill the prophecy.
What is your most treasured possession?
The book my dad left me before he died.
Which living person do you most despise?
Hades.
Which talent would you most like to have?
I would love to be able to make myself invisible. It would make my job so much easier.

About Bright Fire

Summary

Delfia thought she was a normal girl about to turn sixteen until her adoptive parents are murdered by creatures from the underworld. Her life gets thrown into chaos as she teams up with her best friend, a strange guy, and a prophetess. She soon discovers her biological father, Hades, ordered the attack on her and her family because a prophecy names her as the one to take him down. She must first complete a set of tasks to free Persephone, her mother, from the underworld and defeat Hades. Will she be reunited with her mother or will she get sucked into the underworld?

Read a review 

Since I don't have a review yet here's one by Triskele Reviews

About the Author 

 M.J. Austin is the author of the Bright Fire series and NaNoWriMo 2014 winner. She has always found the world of fantasy preferable to the real world. She channels this love of mystical worlds and creatures into her writing. She is an avid reader and proud bookworm. She has a Master's Degree in Project Management, but her true passion is writing.

When she isn't working or writing she is diving into random projects as often as possible. She lives in Tennessee with three children, husband, and three dogs.

Stalk M.J.:

Blog│Facebook│Twitter│Goodreads│Amazon Author Page│Amazon Purchase

[Book Blitz & Giveaway] The Last Order

 

The Last Order

by Angela Marie Caldwell

Release Date: February 3, 2015
Rocket Circus Press

 

Summary from Goodreads:

 

Lana forms a secret order of women knights to fulfill her father’s final request: find the queen who was thought to be dead and return her to the throne.

Lana Crewe is a strong, fiercely driven seventeen year old living in a village ruled by fear. With their king and queen both dead, strife and division have taken hold. Ruthlessly attacked by an Order called Talons, Lana’s father is fatally stabbed. Before he dies, he imparts upon Lana a directive to save the statue of Saint Peter, and tells her that the queen yet lives. Now it is up to Lana to unravel the mystery of Saint Peter and bring an end to all of the war by finding the queen.

A medieval tale of hope and mystery, The Last Order is an action-packed story with one of thestrongest female leads since Disney’s “Brave.” Not your average YA novel; The Last Order takes upper teenage angst and spins it on its head. You’ll be gripping this book as hard as it will be gripping you.

Add to Goodreads

Buy Links:

Amazon 

Read an excerpt

LANA RUBBED HER ARMS, still shivering under layers of clothing. You should have worn your cloak, her father’s voice warned, mixing within her thoughts. After years of his lectures and training, he had become a part of her—one that she assumed would eventually go away, or at least quiet down a bit. 

Under the short skirt layered over her leather pants, Lana retrieved her dagger from its custom pocket. Leaves rustled behind her and she spun around, ready for her opponent.

"One day, I will catch you off guard," Bowen said, twisting his lips.

"You’re late," she teased.

"What’s the wager, Lana?" he asked, holding up his sparring sword, ready to fight.

"You’ll mend my sword without payment."

"And if I win, you’ll run double errands," he answered. She swung her sword and lunged at him. "Deal."

Their swords sliced back and forth, making for an almost equal bout. Bowen stood taller than her by a few inches and weighed double. She glided around him with ease. He turned, whipping his blade around expertly. Sweat already beaded on his face. Lana’s heart pumped and her blood warmed. She jabbed her blade. Bowen swerved unsteadily, almost escaping her weapon, but her final swing landed perfectly along his ribcage. Bowen stumbled sideways and fell to the ground, his playful expression turning bitter.

Lana bowed her head. A smile began to creep along her face as she raised her eyes back up to meet his.

"Next time, I will finish you more quickly," she tried to joke, attempting to ease her conscience.

Bowen held his side and cringed. "You’ll do anything to win," he said.

Lana offered her hand, but he refused. "I’m done," Bowen said as he stood up and walked away from her.

"Done? What?" Lana balked. "Bowen, wait." Lana dashed around in front of him and pushed her hand out against his chest. He stopped, seeming unsettled by her touch. His eyes turned sour and far from amused. "We’ve always been a team," she pressed him.

"I don’t have time to play knight with you anymore," he argued, but didn’t try to push past her.

"Oh, too good are you?" she teased again. Seeing no change, she got serious. "I suppose it’s your mother?"

"Who else is going to mend your sword and everyone else’s? Father’s ill. You know that."

She stared into his eyes, begging. "You’re the only one left who can still keep up. Who will train with me?"

"There’s more to life than fighting, Lana. You need a skill," he said.

"I have a skill." Defending herself was an invaluable skill that few women possessed.

"One that matters, like... I don’t know." Bowen seemed to blush a bit.

She cut him off. "Cooking? Sewing? A skill more fit for a woman, so that your mother would approve of me?" His eyes agreed with her words and the realization sliced at Lana’s heart. She thought Bowen would stand by her, but he had stopped dreaming. She stepped out of his way.

What do you say now, Father? she thought. You won, but not over your anger. She kicked the ground and gritted her teeth. Walking away, she struggled to listen over her footsteps, wishing that Bowen would chase after her and beg her to forgive him for his lapse in judgment. Instead, stillness affirmed her fear. He had deserted her.

About the Author

Angela M Caldwell is an author, photographer, and digital filmmaker. She studied video production and photography at Radford Univeristy then relocated to Los Angeles for an adventure. After seven years of city life, she moved back to Virgina.

Angela loves a good story and she has a broad range of likes when it comes to reading. Give her characters that she can root for and take her on an adventure. Angela’s journey back to the written word is a story of its own with dyslexia keeping her from writing for years.

But, she is a storyteller at heart. Through the years, she enjoyed expressing her stories through a variety of forms: photography, painting, music, film-making, and writing.

She lives with her husband and 4 kids, who are her biggest fans. They have one dog, and two cats. Perhaps one day they will have a farm. And her dream of having a horse will be realized.

Author Links:

Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook│Tumblr

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway A special thanks to YA Book Bound Tours for organizing this blitz.