Tag / publishing

by Erik McManus | Breakeven Books

Book Review: Red Hood

Can I get a woof woof? Can I get a woof woof? Oh, dog jokes lol. Anyways, this next book I read was called Red Hood by Elana K. Arnold.

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Synopsis: Since her grandmother became her caretaker when she was four years old, Bisou Martel has lived a quiet life in a little house in Seattle. She’s kept mostly to herself. She’s been good. But then comes the night of homecoming, when she finds herself running for her life over roots and between trees, a fury of claws and teeth behind her. A wolf attacks. Bisou fights back. A new moon rises. And with it, questions. About the blood in Bisou’s past and on her hands as she stumbles home. About broken boys and vicious wolves. About girls lost in the woods—frightened, but not alone.

So first off, this book was unique to me because it was the first book that I have read where it is told in 2nd person perspective. Which I now realize is a perspective that drives me nuts. I can honestly say that I am not a fan of this perspective in a book because I find that the word “you” is used way too much and it just bothered me.

That being said, the book and its plot overall was pretty decent. It was kind of a more modern retelling of litte red riding hood except in this one, you get badass female characters who are strong and independent. I am always down for a retelling so I did rather enjoy the book (if only the perspective it was told in didn’t keep throwing me off).

It dealt with family struggles and some physical abuse as well as rape. These could be triggering to some but I felt it was a good plot device for this book and added more to it because it showed how far someone can come after dealing with these types of things. It also showed women coming together to fight back against wrongful behaviour and serving some sweet justice.

I will say that it is rated YA and I do believe that some parts of this were not necessarily YA in my opinion but that is just a minor issue. Also, the main character’s name was Bisou and I found this to be a very pretty name.

If you want a book that can take pure Little Red Riding Hood and make her into her own powerful protector, then check this one out!

Book Rating: 3.5/5

You can buy this book on Amazon or find it on Goodreads.

Disclaimer: This book was sent to me in an ARC physical copy by Harper Collins to read and give an honest review.


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I caved and bought more books because its a quarantine and I need more OK! My trigger finger got a little excited on the checkout cart button alright. If you are interested in seeing what I bought, check out the video below:

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by Erik McManus | Breakeven Books

Book Spotlight: Roadside

Looking for a romance with a little more grit, check out Roadside by Angie Dokos!

Read on for more details and a chance to win a copy signed by the author!

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Publication Date: May 2017

Genre: New Adult Romance

Zayne finds Serena’s lifeless body off the side of the road one morning. She has been beaten and left for dead. As she recovers, they become the best of friends. It doesn’t take long for Zayne’s feelings to grow stronger. Will the fear of ruining their friendship keep them from taking a chance on love?

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Excerpt

Levi didn’t look at the caller ID on the screen before answering. “Detective Morgan.”

“Dad. She’s awake.” Zayne spat out.

Confused, Levi questioned, “What? Who?”

“The girl we found. She woke up.”

“How do you know? The nurses were to call me when she woke up.”

“They are working with her now. Trying to calm her down.”

“You’re there? At the hospital?”

“Yes. I came back to check on her. She woke up while I was talking to Sadie.”

“Son, why did you go back? You knew they’d call me if there were any changes.”

“I don’t know, Dad. I just felt like it.” Zayne snapped. “Please get back down here and ask your questions so you can help her.”

Levi exhaled loudly. “I’m on my way.”

Zayne stood outside the door listening to Sadie and another nurse talk to the girl. Sadie was telling her she had been beaten and was found lying near the side of the road. The other nurse told her, “You’re safe now. The young man that was here when you woke up was one of the people that found you and brought you here.”

Sadie asked, “Can you tell us what your name is sweetie?” Zayne listened for a response. He heard Sadie say, “It’s okay honey. You’re going to be okay.”

The other nurse asked, “Do you want some water to drink?” He didn’t hear a reply from the girl, but he could hear the nurse moving around. He was afraid to go back into the room. When she first woke up and saw him, she panicked. She didn’t scream, but it looked like she was about to. She was whimpering. Tears rolled down her bruised and swollen face. She

tried to push herself away. She was shaking, and the heart rate monitor’s beep sped up. Sadie asked him to go find a nurse named Piper. She was trying to calm the girl down. He found Piper at the nurses’ station. She rushed into the room to help Sadie.

Zayne was still standing at the door listening when his dad arrived. Levi asked, “Son, are you okay? You look exhausted.”

Zayne replied, “I’m fine. Go find out who she is and help her.”

Levi shook his head. “We need to talk about this later.” He lightly tapped on the partially open door. The nurses and the girl turned and looked at him. The traumatized girl started whimpering again, and she was trying to scramble backward. Levi said, “It’s okay, ma’am. I’m not going to hurt you. I’m here to help.”

Sadie exclaimed, “She’s not ready to talk.”

Levi asked, “Do you know her name? We need to contact her family.”

“Piper, stay with her,” Sadie spat. She planted her hand on Levi’s shoulder and pushed him out the door. “She has obviously been attacked by a male, the last thing she needs is strange men in her room.”

“I apologize. But we need to know who she is. We found no identification, no phone or anything. We haven’t even found her clothing. We need to at least know her name. She needs her family and I’m sure someone is worried sick about her. The sooner we know what happened, the better chance we have of catching whomever did this to her.”

Sadie sighed. “Give us a few minutes. She hasn’t spoken yet.”

Levi asked, “Can I talk to the doctor while you talk to her? He can possibly tell me some useful information for the investigation.”

“Yes. Go to the nurses’ station down the hall and ask them to get Dr. Archer for you. I do know she fought like hell, and she wasn’t raped. But he can tell you more.”

Levi was shocked. “She wasn’t raped?”

Available on Amazon!

About the Author

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Throughout my childhood, I loved to write.  I would make up stories all the time.  As an adult, I had a million ideas for stories, but they weren’t leaving my notebooks or computer. My daughter got a bright idea for her senior project, she would publish a book.  We discussed it and decided she and I would write, edit, publish, and promote a book.  Well, life happened and she didn’t stick with it.  I was too attached by that time and had to figure out what was going to happen with our characters, so I kept writing. A couple years later, Mackenzie’s Distraction was published. After that, I started writing another one. The following year, Roadside was published. Click on over to Amazon and check them out.

Angie Dokos | Blog | Twitter |Instagram

Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads | Amazon

For your chance to win a signed copy of Roadside, click the link below!

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Here are the fantastic hosts this week!

Reads & Reels

Didi Oviatt

Jessica Belmont

Viviana MacKade

The Cozy Pages

The Faerie Review

Tsarina Press 

B is for Book Review

This is My Truth Now

Shalini’s Books & Reviews

Breakeven Books

Kristin’s Novel Cafe

Dark Whimsical Art

Books Teacup & Reviews

Book Dragons Not Worms

Book Blitz Organized By:

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Thank you to our Patreon Supporters:

Get your name/blog added to our blog posts and Youtube videos by supporting us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/breakevenbooks

I did the What Makes Me Pick Up A Book Tag! Check out the video below:

by Erik McManus | Breakeven Books

Book Spotlight: Return Addresses

Michael A. McLellan has a new book out in the world! Read on for an exclusive except and a fantastic giveaway — A $20 Amazon gift card, and a copy of Return Addresses!

Psst, bloggers and book reviewers! There is also going to be a blog tour June 10th to the 26th, if you’re interested! Visit R&R Book Tours for more info!

New Final FINAL 4Return Addresses

Publication Date: April 13, 2020

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Publisher: Mountain Press

“This ain’t your world. You don’t have any friends out here. Not real ones. No one out here cares about nothin’ but where their next drink or fix is comin’ from. That, or they were born too messed up in the head to even understand what friendship is. Remember that. You can’t trust anybody. You can’t rely on no one but yourself.”

Fourteen-year-old Sean Pennington never thought he’d find himself riding on an open train car in the middle of the night. He never thought he’d find himself alone. He never thought he’d be running for his life.

In the spring of 2015 Sean Pennington’s world of comfort and privilege is shattered and he becomes a ward of the state. Thrust into a broken foster care system, he discovers the harsh realities of orphanhood. Lonely, confused, and tormented by his peers, he runs away, intending to locate his only living relative; a grandfather he’s never met, who his only connection with is a return address on a crumpled envelope. Enter Andrea, a modern day hobo Sean meets at a California homeless encampment. Andrea travels the country by rail, stowing away on shipping container cars with other transients calling themselves traveling kids. Though battling her own demons, road-savvy Andrea promises to help Sean on his quest, but can she protect him from the unpredictable and often violent world she lives in?

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Excerpt

He saw the tents and the plastic tarp lean-tos too late. He was already underneath the highway overpass. The waning daylight barely penetrated the area, and the makeshift shelters were tucked back away from the road, in the shadows. If he’d seen them, he would have stopped and backtracked to the frontage road he’d passed a few hundred yards back. Breathing heavily, he slowed to a walk and kept his eyes forward.

“Hey, dude, what are you running for?” Came a voice from his left.

He turned toward the voice. Two men were walking toward him from the group of haphazardly placed shelters about twenty feet from the sidewalk. Gauging that he was less than halfway through, he turned around and started back the way he’d come. The men picked up their pace to a jog and cut him off. They stood on the sidewalk in his path. Sean stopped short of them and they casually walked forward, closing the distance. He was more afraid than he’d ever been in his life. His legs were shaking and he felt sick to his stomach. One of the men was old and had long, matted gray hair that hung to his chest in clumps. His clothes were tattered and filthy. The other was younger, maybe thirty. He was wearing a red hoodie and gray sweat pants that were so dirty they’d turned black in places. He had the hood up and masses of brown dreadlocks spilled out of the sides. The smell of the two men reminded Sean of spoiled food and urine.

“What are you running for, kid?” the older man repeated.

Sean took a step back. “I…I must have gone the wrong way.”

“The wrong way? Ha! You got that right. This is the wrongest way you could go.” The man turned and glanced in the direction Sean had came from. “You got anyone with you?”

Now Available on Amazon!

About the Author

Mike Author 1

Michael’s love of books began with Beverly Cleary’s The Mouse and the Motorcycle when he was seven-years-old. Later influenced by the works of John Steinbeck, Harper Lee, Stephen King, James Baldwin, and Cormac McCarthy, Michael developed his style of storytelling. A self-proclaimed blue-collar writer, he draws on his experiences and observations to bring relevant and compelling topics to life.

Michael lives in Northern California and when he’s not writing, he can usually be found wandering around the Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountain ranges.

His body of work includes the 2014 novel After and Again, the 2015 novel American Flowers, and the 2017 novel, In the Shadow of the Hanging Tree, as well as various shorts and essays.

Michael McLellan | Goodreads| Twitter

Giveaway: 1st prize is a $20 Amazon gift card and a digital copy of Return Addresses. 2nd prize is a digital copy of the book! The giveaway will run from today to May 21st! Click the link below to enter!

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Thank you to our Patreon Supporters:

Get your name/blog added to our blog posts and Youtube videos by supporting us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/breakevenbooks

I did the What Makes Me Pick Up A Book Tag! Check out the video below:

by Erik McManus | Breakeven Books

Book Spotlight: Harrow Lake

There is a new book on the block that everyone and their grandmother is talking about and you should check it out. It’s called Harrow Lake by Kat Ellis.

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Synopsis: Welcome to Harrow Lake. Someone’s expecting you . . .

Lola Nox is the daughter of a celebrated horror filmmaker – she thinks nothing can scare her.

But when her father is brutally attacked in their New York apartment, she’s swiftly packed off to live with a grandmother she’s never met in Harrow Lake, the eerie town where her father’s most iconic horror movie was shot.

The locals are weirdly obsessed with the film that put their town on the map – and there are strange disappearances, which the police seem determined to explain away.

And there’s someone – or something – stalking her every move.

The more Lola discovers about the town, the more terrifying it becomes. Because Lola’s got secrets of her own. And if she can’t find a way out of Harrow Lake, they might just be the death of her.

I am taking part in a book tour as part of a promotion for this upcoming novel which will be published on July 9th! Keep an eye out for it because, by the sounds of it, it’s going to be fantastic.

About the Author

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Kat Ellis is the author of YA novels PURGE, BLACKFIN SKY, and BREAKER, and the novella THE TWINS OF BLACKFIN in the THREE STRIKES collection. Her next book, HARROW LAKE, will be published in the summer of 2020.

You’ll usually find Kat up to no good on Twitter, trekking through ruins and cemeteries with her camera, or watching scary films with her husband.

Check out her website at http://katelliswrites.com!

Check out Lisa King’s brand new novel called The Vanishing Hour which is available now on Amazon! She is a Canadian author from London, Ontario and I am super excited to share the love on her new book! If you like post-apocalyptic books, then this one is for you!

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You can buy her book here: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B081ZHCPGF/


Thank you to our Patreon Supporters:

 

Get your name/blog added to our blog posts and Youtube videos by supporting us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/breakevenbooks

Anyone miss concerts? I know it has been a while since I have been to one and miss the sound of live music. Here is a video of me using concert prompts to talk about some books! Check out the video below:

by Erik McManus | Breakeven Books

Book Review: Social Misfits

Another book from the TBR jar bites the dust! I read Social Misfits by Kelli Nicole and got my fill of the highschool drama.

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Synopsis: Good friends are hard to come by and even harder to keep. C.J. Taylor learned this the hard way when she discovered her best friend had been keeping a secret from her. And it’s kind of awkward. He’s in love with her.

In this coming-of-age story of friendships, first dates, and chick flicks, this publicly accused “tease” is forced to deal with the awkward and often humorous aftermath of rejecting her best friend’s romantic confession. There’s​ ​her (former?) best friend, Presley​, ​who’s​ ​a​ ​total​ ​sweetheart​ ​of​ ​a​ ​jock​ ​but​ ​with​ ​a​ ​dorky charm​ ​that​ ​goes​ ​unnoticed​ ​by​ ​the​ ​female​ ​population,​ ​the​ ​tragically​ ​shy​, ​Cindy,​ ​who​ ​has​ ​a​ ​massive fear​ ​of​ ​boys​ ​and​ ​a​ ​secret​ ​desire​ ​to be noticed,​ ​the​ ​hopeless​ ​anti-social​, ​Hamp,​ ​who’s​ ​deceptively cute​ ​and​ ​is​ ​particularly​ ​allergic​ ​to​ ​all​ ​things​ ​school-related…And​ ​then​ ​there’s​ ​her​ ​mother’s​ ​fiance, Anthony,​ ​who​ ​thinks​ ​her​ ​only​ ​purpose​ ​in​ ​life​ ​is​ ​watching​ ​teen​ soap operas.

But C.J. isn’t ready to give up. Faced with the hopeless reality of her now strained friendship, C.J. is determined to set things right. And she thinks she knows the perfect way get things back on track…she must find him a girlfriend.

I was looking forward to the high school drama aspect of this book because I tend to like those and though it would be fun but this one just didn’t do it for me. I found the main character to be very self-centered (which I think was the point) and kind of annoying.

They were supposed to change throughout the book and learn more about what it means to be a good person and a better friend but it didn’t seem to get to the point where I actually thought they really learned anything.

There were also multiple times that the “R” word was used and I was not a fan of this. Especially because it was used in the send of calling someone “socially r******d” when they author could have used the book’s title, “Social Misfits”, perfect for this case of phrasing.

Some of the drama kept me reading until the end but I would not really recommend the book as it just didn’t have enough substance for me.

Book Rating: 2/5

You can buy this book on Amazon and find it on Goodreads.

Disclaimer: Ths book was sent to me in physical format by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Check out this book called Dork by my author friend Will Winkle about a guy trying to get his crush’s attention while navigating his life as part of a fraternity house!

His book can be found on Amazon, Goodreads, and his website: WillWinkle.com.

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Thank you to our Patreon Supporters:

Get your name/blog added to our blog posts and Youtube videos by supporting us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/breakevenbooks

If any of you out there like Brandon Sanderson, then you should check out my latest video. It is a reading vlog of his book Skyward and I had quite a time reading this one!

by Erik McManus | Breakeven Books

My Visit To Harper Collins

I was recently in Toronto for a design conference and I decided that I would reach out to Harper Collins to see if I could come to visit. I was so happy when their blogger relations representative got back to me and invited me for a tour.

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I arrived at the office and was given a pass to go up to the 41st floor. The HC headquarters was amazing and haad the most beautiful view of the city. I could definitely picture myself enjoying working up there. Each person had their own little personal libraries at their desks which was fantastic as it showed off everyone what they were interested in as readers.

They showcase the books that are brand new out front in the lobby under glass tables and then have an entire wall with all their other books around the corner. It was a really fun time asking Marisol about how an author gets their books picked up by a publishing company and how books are chosen by the publishing company when they come in.

Marisol was amazing and even provided me with some ARCs to take home which was so cool. I honestly can’t wait to go to their next HC Frenzy event so that I can meet more Canadian bloggers and talk about books!

It was honestly a book blogger’s dream come true to visit this place where all the magic happens and I am so happy to be a part of Harper Collins blogging program!

December is here and now it is time for the moment we have all been waiting for….THE REINDEER READATHON! Coming at you with my TBR for this intense month of reading!

 

One of my authors that I follow regularly, Lucia Mann (, has put out another book called Endless Incarceration Sorrows. It will be releasing in January 2020 so keep an eye out for it!

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by Erik McManus | Breakeven Books

Publisher Spotlight: In the Book!

Hey bookworms! Recently, a publisher reached out to us to show us some of the cool stuff they were doing over at their company. They mainly work with Children’s Literature and try to find ways to make everyday life just a little bit more literary!

This tube map was created as a way to get people talking about books. The map replaces London Underground’s stations with remarkable pieces of literature set there. Literature has an incredible ability to color your surroundings like nothing else, and with this map, you can vividly picture Baker Street as Sherlock’s home, and Scrooge skulking home from work in the City. This alternative tube map also offers lesser-known titles such as The Wimbledon Poisoner some deserved exposure, while highlighting London’s diverse literary history.

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In The Book are a personalized children’s book publisher, established in Hertfordshire in 2017. We are passionate about encouraging reading in children, and getting kids excited about stories. We believe that putting children into the book is a fantastic way to engage them. We understand that books not only provide a world where one can lose themselves but are also a means to develop social skills, cultural understanding and confidence.

Check out their website: https://www.inthebook.com/en-us/

If you know of an independent publisher (or big name publisher) that deserves to get a shoutout, let us know in the comments below and we will see what we can do!

I had my friend Elizabeth join me to do the first sentence challenge and had so much fun making this video! We tend to get goofy around each other so prepare for shenanigans!

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by Erik McManus | Breakeven Books

Book Highlight: Touch of Smoke

Welcome to the Touch of Smoke tour! This beauty is the latest offering from author, Karissa Laurel. If you like your romance mixed with the supernatural, then this book is for you!

In addition to an exclusive excerpt, you will also have the chance to win a signed paperback copy, and some sweet bookish swag! Be sure to enter the giveaway at the bottom!

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Touch of Smoke

Publication Date: February 12th, 2019

Publisher: Red Adept Publishing

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Three years ago, Rikki Albemarle watched her best friend die at the hands of supernatural evil. Certain she was slated to be the next victim, Rikki fled her small Smoky Mountain hometown, vowing to never come back. Plagued by nightmares and knowing she’s the only one who believes Mina’s death was no accident, Rikki returns with hopes of finding answers and holding the killer accountable.

Rikki is convinced the key to unlocking the secret of Mina’s death lies with Owen Amir, the alluring young army vet who once claimed her heart. But the deeper Rikki digs into Owen’s past, the more she’s torn between the urgings of her heart and her memories of him on the night Mina died.

After falling further into the rabbit hole, Rikki lands at the feet of an ancient and powerful evil determined to finish what it started years before. To survive, she’ll have to make a decision: believe Owen is the monster she always feared he might be or trust him enough to stay and fight for a second chance at love.

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Excerpt

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Owen huffed and shook his head but fished in his pocket until he found a small key ring. He selected an old brass one that he jiggled into the bolt lock over the warehouse’s rusty door handle. “Would have told you to put on jeans and boots if I’d known you wanted to go inside.”

Glancing at my shredded jean shorts and low-cut Chuck Taylors, I thanked Jesus I’d recently boosted my tetanus shot. “Not asking for a grand tour. Show me what you can from the threshold.”

Owen shook his head again, but he shoved his shoulder against the heavy door. It squealed as it gave way, swinging open on rusted hinges. I pushed past him, stepping farther into the room, but stopped at the edge of the small illuminated square thrown by Dolly’s headlights. “Just give me the general idea.”

His boot steps echoed in the open space as he moved behind me. Taking my shoulders, he shifted me until I faced the warehouse’s rear, where the light failed to reach. “The back wall there”—he pointed, leaning over my shoulder—“will be where we’ll line up the distilling tanks.” He wrapped an arm around my waist and spun us around like partners in a slow dance. A warm thrill raced through me as his lips brushed my ear. “And over there will be the café.”

My pulse throbbed in my ears, my chest, my lips. It wouldn’t be enough, these limited touches, these coy games, this not-so-subtle flirtation. With Owen, my options were sink or swim, and no matter how much reason and logic urged me to do otherwise, I was sinking, utterly drowning in him. I stumbled back and fought for a breath to clear my head, but my heel connected with an obstacle hidden in the shadows. I lost my footing and squeaked a feeble protest as gravity waged war against my balance.

The moment I was certain I would hit the floor and smash my tailbone, Owen grabbed my arm and yanked. Still off balance but with the added element of momentum, I plowed into him, tackling him to the floor.

Or that was what should have happened.

Instead, the world jumped up and swirled around me in a blur of blue sparks and shadows, air roaring in my ears like a tornado. I blinked, and the impression of someone—or something—huge, dark, and beastly burned behind my eyelids. When the dizzy moment passed, I found myself back on my feet, upright, and firmly wrapped in Owen’s arms. His heat blazed against me, filling my head with his smoky scent until I felt drunk and woozy.

“What…?” I shook my head and cleared my throat, but the intoxicating sensation remained. “What just happened?”

“You stumbled. I caught you.”

“No.” I squirmed, and he dropped his arms, releasing me. A thousand minuscule candles seemed to flicker in his eyes, giving them an otherworldly aura. I inched back, my steps wobbly. “We were falling. We should have hit the floor.”

His lips twitched. “I’m quick on my feet, Rikki. Give me some credit.”

Squinting, I studied him, his wide stance and the set of his jaw, full of self-confidence. He rolled his broad shoulders and grinned, obviously enjoying my scrutiny. Again, his presence seemed larger than the mere height and width of his physical body. Like a cowl and cape, dense shadows draped over him, and they seemed tangible enough to touch. When I reached out to stroke them, Owen drew back.

The shadows fled.

I shivered.

With no better explanation than to assume an overdose of adrenaline and desire had colored my perception, I dismissed my concerns and shrugged, heading for the door. “You’re not quick on your feet. You’re The Flash on steroids.”

His laughter followed me into the parking lot, but it was callous and more than a little cold.

The drive to my house was quiet, the atmosphere between us thick. If humans had animal instincts, then the wild creature inside me was insisting the man sitting in the passenger seat was more predator than appearance suggested. Something about Owen had changed. He was a tiger, I was his mouse, and I should run before he swallowed me whole. When I caught him staring at me, the dark look on his face implied he might do that very thing, given the chance.

Now Available

Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iBooks | Google

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For your chance to win a signed copy of Touch of Smoke and some cool bookish swag, click the link below!

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About the Author

Karissa-and-Bonnie - Copy

Karissa lives in North Carolina with her kid, her husband, the occasional in-law, and a very hairy husky. Some of her favorite things are coffee, chocolate, and superheroes. She can quote Princess Bride verbatim. She loves to read and has a sweet tooth for fantasy, sci-fi, and anything in between. In the summer, she loves to be on the water, on the boat or in her kayak. When it snows, you’ll find her on the slopes.

Karissa Laurel | Twitter | Instagram

Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest

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Blog Tour Schedule

March 11th

Reads & Reels (Review) http://www.readsandreels.com

Where Dragons Reside (Excerpt) https://kernerangelina.live/

Crystal’s Book World (Excerpt) http://crystalsbookworld.wordpress.com

The Writer’s Alley (Review) https://www.jacobrundle.com

March 12th

The Most Sublime (Review) https://themostsublime.com

Breakeven Books (Excerpt) https://breakevenbooks.com

March 13th

SnoopyDoo’s Book Reviews (Excerpt) http://snoopydoosbookreviews.com/

March 14th

Bobo’s Book Bank (Excerpt) http://bobosbookbank.com

J Bronder Book Reviews (Review) https://jbronderbookreviews.com/

Jessica Rachow (Review) http://jessicarachow.wordpress.com

March 15th

Misty’s Book Space (Excerpt) http://mistysbookspace.wordpress.com

The Hufflepuff Nerdette (Review) https://thehufflepuffnerdette.wordpress.com/

Blog Tour Organized By:

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by Erik McManus | Breakeven Books

Book Review: The Ambassador Of What

Bookworms! I am super excited to share this review of The Ambassador Of What by Adrian Michael Kelly. This book was sent to me by an amazing publishing company called ECW Press as part of a blog collaboration I reached out to them about doing.

Publishers Weekly recognizes ECW Press as one of the most diversified independent publishers in North America. ECW Press has published close to 1,000 books that are distributed throughout the English-speaking world and translated into dozens of languages.

Synopsis: Slogging through the miles of a city marathon, an eleven-year-old boy encounters small miracles; about to marry one of her patients in a home for the elderly, a nurse asks her estranged son to come to the wedding and give her away; home from university, a young man has Christmas dinner with his hard-up dad in a bistro behind a rural gas bar. Men and boys and maleness, money and its lack, the long haunt of childhood, marriage and divorce — these lie at the heart of The Ambassador of What. Driven by an ear for how we talk, how we feel, how we fail, and how we love, these are tough and tender stories that take hold, and linger.

Honestly, this book was brilliant. It was so real and showed the sides of a family in all their great times and all their struggles. No family is ever perfect and it was refreshing to see that portrayed in these storylines.

The book was completely set in Canada (primarily Ontario) which I loved because this is where I live. I am in North Bay but the book referenced Toronto, Kingston, Sudbury and then other small towns in Ontario. Books that are set in my home country always resonate with me. It’s amazing to have attention being drawn to your home; the place where you have grown and created stories and memories in your lifetime.

It isn’t too long either so it keeps you interested from start to finish. The last part was about a father and son going fishing and it was so similar to how I used to go fishing with my dad. They had the same mannerisms in their preparation for the daily catch and what bait they used (frogs on a hook). I was not a fan of the impaling of frogs on a hook as I was a kid and felt bad for the frogs so I tended to use other styles of bait or the old classic worm and a bobble lure. I felt like I was reading my memory straight out of my brain. Then I had a dream about fishing that night that was so vivid, I felt very nostalgic the next day. A book that can bring out this feeling and emotion in me is one you don’t forget so quickly.

Overall, I would suggest picking up this book for a quick, entertaining read that will bring you back to your roots.

Book Rating: 4.5/5

You can buy this book on ECW Press and find it on Amazon and Goodreads!

Sidenote: I am running a fundraiser for our local Food Bank in North Bay to raise money and make sure that families will have something to eat over the holidays. You can donate at this link:

https://www.facebook.com/donate/2243695192532823/?fundraiser_source=external_url

Disclaimer: This book was sent to me by ECW Press in physical format to read and give an honest review. 

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by Erik McManus | Breakeven Books

Book Review: A Vegan’s Guide to Plant Homicide

Where my vegans at? *insert Happy and you know it tune* If you love eating veggies and want new recipes, clap your hands! CLAP CLAP.

A friend of mine published a book called A Vegans Guide to Plant Homicide. Her name is Brett and she is also a blogger. Her blog is called Wine and Misadventures. I believe she also runs a podcast which you can find on her website.

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Her book was published in August and has an assortment of vegan recipes that look delicious. I am not vegan myself but I love tofu and find I don’t eat that much meat as is. Trying new recipes is fun for me and this cookbook gives you recipes with an entertainment aspect to it. You feel like she is there with you, cooking and having a great time when you follow the recipes in this book.

My personal favorite recipe in this book is the Mixed Berry Bliss Smoothie. Whenever I open a recipe book, I always flip through to the smoothies and milkshakes page. Sweet liquid treats are a true desire of mine. If you don’t believe me, just wait outside of a Booster Juice and I’m sure we will run into each other.

And there are are fun quotes to inspire you as you go through the book trying out all the healthy, flavourful recipes. I would strongly recommend buying this book if you are vegan and want some help planning some delicious meals. Even if you aren’t vegan, give it a whirl. You will not be disappointed.

Book Rating: 5/5

You can buy the book at this link: Www.blurb.ca/user/brettlarabie.

Disclaimer: This book was sent to us in e-book format to read, try the recipes, and give an honest review.


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