Neptune’s Window, Deep Stare by L.L. Lewin blitz with giveaway
Neptune’s Window, Deep Stare
L.L. Lewin
(Neptune’s Window, #2)
Publication date: June 21st 2021
Genres: Mystery, Young Adult
Caught up in the lies, illusions, and mystery of Newport Beach, teenage medium Aries Dade delves deeper into the circumstances surrounding her mother’s death. Still unable to communicate with her mother, she relies on the aid of several spirits, discovering the identities of two of them, and how they relate to her.
As the second novel in the Neptune’s Window trilogy, Deep Stare thrusts Aries further into the scandal of Newport Beach High School, where everyone has their own secret, including the death of the school’s most popular and beloved friend. But Aries has a secret of her own. She can communicate with their dead friend.
Are you ready to take a deep stare into Neptune’s Window?
—
EXCERPT:
Setting her laptop on the kitchen table, she turned it on.
“Don’t do it,” a spirit said.
Halfway through a bag of chips, she opened a can of soda. If everybody else knows, shouldn’t I?
“Ignorance is bliss. You already know that you’re not going to like what you find.”
I hate that expression. Ignorance is a nicer way of saying I’m stupid. Which is what everyone must think. It’s time I know the truth about Cory.
“Suit yourself. But it’s not wise to participate in their drama.”
You have a point. But I can’t control myself any longer. I have to know.
With curiosity getting the best of her, she didn’t care who the spirit was, and ignored the warning. Clicking onto the site, she typed in her password while sipping some soda.
“It’s only going to cause you more problems.”
I appreciate the warning, but here I go. She scrolled back to the night of the homecoming dance.
“Oh my God.”
Author Bio:
LL Lewin is the author of the Neptune’s Window Trilogy. A native of Southern California, she was born in Los Angeles County and grew up in Orange County. She graduated from the University California, Irvine with a degree in psychology and social behavior. After teaching for several years and interacting with the youth almost daily, she was inspired to write a young adult mystery novel, which morphed into a little bit more. Since things happen in threes for her (her initials, triple Sagittarius, the third born) the novel turned into a trilogy and reaffirmed her belief that three’s a charm.
She loves all things astrological, metaphysical, and spiritual. With her sun, moon, and rising all in the sign of Sagittarius, She’s as Sagittarius as they come, optimistic, freedom-loving, and ever so tactless.
Her three passions in life are writing, traveling, and soccer. You’ll either find her writing at the beach, on an island somewhere, or on a soccer field. And her three vices are chocolate, pizza, and champagne, and not necessarily in that order.
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Mimic by C.L. Denault blitz with giveaway
Mimic
C.L. Denault
(The Prodigy Chronicles, #2)
Publication date: April 3rd 2021
Genres: Dystopian, Romance, Science Fiction, Young Adult
Three simple rules. One secret skill. Let the game continue.
In 2012, one cycle of an ancient calendar system came to a close. Humanity predicted its downfall, but it wasn’t the end of their evolutionary climb. It was the beginning.
Willow Kent is discovering that life as a second-phase prodigy comes at a price. Trapped in the London Core, her choices are limited, made difficult by her forbidden romance with Reece and the presence of a new commanding officer who establishes harsh rules. With unpredictable skills and a growing distrust in her birth parents, she is struggling to play the Core’s game. But when opportunity arises in the form of a mysterious shapeshifter, Willow realizes there’s more to her own evolution than meets the eye. She soon learns that keeping secrets is a key move, and the more dangerous they are, the greater her need to evolve into the powerful prodigy nature intended her to become.
But those closest to her have their own secrets, and her status has made her an easy target for betrayal. Who will she turn to…when nothing is as it seems?
Mimic is the second book in The Prodigy Chronicles, a Hunger Games meets X-Men dystopian romance series about a young girl struggling to control her immense powers and find her place in a city filled with enemies.
MORE IN THE SERIES:
Book 1: Gambit
Book 2: Mimic
Book 3: Gauntlet (coming soon)
—
EXCERPT:
“Gem.” I put my hand on her arm. “What did you see on that screen?”
She raised her eyes to meet mine. “A prediction.”
“Prediction?” I immediately thought of the gypsy seers that traveled between villages. They tagged alongside the musicians, setting up tables with rich fabrics and candles, coaxing a jingle out of anyone drunk enough to fall for their silky promises. “About my future?”
“About your skill level.” Ignoring the food, Gem rested her arms on her folded legs and clasped her hands. “After the machine stopped, did you see the way that commander worked with the data?”
“You mean, when he was spinning it around?” I made circles in the air with my fingers.
She nodded. “Something about your frequency shut down the program, but he forced it into making a guess about your skill level. The prediction popped up on the screen.”
“That’s the message you saw?”
Again, she nodded.
“What did it say?”
She pressed her lips together, thinking. “Do you know anything about Callayo Roanoke?”
I blinked. “A little. He was my great-great-something or other, I think, but—” I shook my head, confused. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“He was like you, Will. He had telekinesis. Really strong telekinesis. He used it to keep London from being totally wiped out during the prodigy wars.”
“Okay, but how does—”
Waving her hands, she stopped me. “He was a Level Three prodigy. That’s the highest level on record. Anywhere.”
Slowly, the tiger uncoiled in my belly. “Go on.”
“His DNA frequency sets the standard for all programs—here, and across the sea. The parameters don’t go any higher, because no one thought . . . well, it’s just a guess, but . . .”
I reached out and grabbed her shoulders. “What are you saying?”
She took a deep breath. “The program thinks you’re a Level Four.”
Thunder rumbled outside the window, but it was nothing compared to the sound of the tiger laughing in my ears. Her delight swept through me, followed by a strange sense of awakening. Something potent and powerful unfurled in my belly as she rose to all fours. Then her laughter faded, and Gem’s voice broke though.
“—change the software and run the test again. If it’s true, Will, then everything has to be reconsidered.”
Blood pounded in my ears. “Everything?”
“Security, location, testing, even your betrothal contract.”
Nausea set in. “What do you mean?”
Peeling my hands off her shoulders, she held them tightly between us. “I mean that no one knows what you can do, and that could scare a lot of people. If Callayo Roanoke was able to save this city, you could easily be capable of . . .” She trailed off, the tiger finishing for her.
Destroying it.
Author Bio:
C.L. Denault is a speculative fiction writer who loves dreaming up tales of adventure and intrigue. A former systems analyst, she gave up her nerdy code-writing skills to care for her family (including a son with special needs) and currently lives among the vast stretches of cornfields in Illinois.
Writing and working out are her biggest passions, along with coffee and sci-fi. When she’s not hanging out with her husband and kids, she can usually be found at a library or tucked away in the shadowy corner of a hip coffeehouse. She’s also been glimpsed sneaking into her garage, late at night, to work on her time machine.
She enjoys connecting with people—especially those from other planets, nearby dimensions, and the future. To find her, just visit her website or social media pages. Or use a Stargate. Whichever is easiest.
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The Boy in the Photo by Nicole Trope #bookreview #thriller
Title: The Boy in the Photo
Author: Nicole Trope
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Publication Date: June 22, 2021
Page Count: 304
My rating: 3 1/2 stars
About the book:
Read the chilling and completely heartwrenching story of a mother’s worst nightmare: her child being stolen—and what happens when he returns.
Megan waits at the school gates for her six-year-old son, Daniel. As the playground empties, panic bubbles inside her. Daniel is nowhere to be found. Her darling son is missing.
Six years later
After years of sleepless nights and endless days of missing her son, Megan finally gets the call she has been dreaming about. Daniel has walked into a police station in a remote town just a few miles away.
Megan is overjoyed—her son is finally coming home. She has kept Daniel’s room, with his Cookie Monster poster on the wall and a stack of Lego under the bed, in perfect shape to welcome him back. But when he returns, there is something different about Daniel . . .
According to the police, Daniel was kidnapped by his father. After his dad died in a fire, Daniel was finally able to escape. Desperate to find out the truth, Megan tries to talk to her little boy—but he barely answers her questions. Longing to help him heal, Megan tries everything—his favourite chocolate milkshake, a reunion with his best friend, a present for every birthday missed—but still, Daniel is distant.
And as they struggle to connect, Megan begins to suspect that there is more to the story. Soon, she fears that her son is hiding a secret. A secret that could destroy her family . . .
The Boy in the Photo by Nicole Trope is a thriller novel centered around a mother’s worst nightmare, her child being taken. The book is told from two different timelines of the past and the present.
Six years ago Megan was adjusting to being a single mother after divorcing her controlling and abusive husband. One day Megan goes to the school to wait for her six year old to be dismissed only to find that he was already gone from the school. Police determined Daniel had been taken by his father leaving the country and vanishing without a trace.
Now, six years later, Megan has finally began living her life again after years of living in limbo hoping and praying for her son’s return. Megan had gotten close to the detective assigned Daniel’s case and the two had married having a daughter together. When the phone call comes in the Daniel has been found Megan is overjoyed but hesitant about now having a twelve year old she does not know at all.
Having read Nicole Trope before I expected this book to have wonderful writing and sure enough it did pull me right into the story and was easy to follow as it switched between telling the story in both timelines. The one thing that brought my rating down though was I knew right away how the story would work out in the end so when it all wrapped up there were no real twists or surprises for me with it being so easy for me to work out. Since I did find it engaging and flew through the pages until I got to the end I gave the story three and a half stars despite guessing the outcome.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
Find this book online:
Goodreads / Amazon **
About the author:
Swipe Right for Murder by Derek Milman #bookreview #YA #thriller #LGBTQ+
Title: Swipe Right for Murder
Author: Derek Milman
Publisher: Jimmy Patterson
Publication Date: August 6, 2019
Page Count: 368
- My rating: 3 stars
About the book:
An epic case of mistaken identity puts a teen looking for a hookup on the run from both the FBI and a murderous cult in this compulsively readable thriller.
Finding himself alone in a posh New York City hotel room for the night, Aidan does what any red-blooded seventeen-year-old would do—tries to hook up with someone new. But that lapse in judgement leads him to a room with a dead guy and a mysterious flash drive . . . two things that spark an epic case of mistaken identity that puts Aidan on the run—from the authorities, his friends, his family, the people who are out to kill him—and especially from his own troubled past.
Inspired by a Hitchcock classic, this whirlwind mistaken-identity caper has razor-sharp humor, devastating emotional stakes, and a thrilling storyline with an explosive conclusion to make this the most compelling YA novel of the year.
Swipe Right for Murder by Derek Milman is a young adult LGBTQ+ thriller. The story is a fast paced, adrenaline fueled adventure in which a teen goes on the run. The main character, Aidan, finds himself alone in a hotel so he decides to swipe right and find a hook up for the night. Of course instead of a fun night Aidan ends up on the run when he’s suspected of murder.
Now normally I’m all about a fast paced book where I don’t get a chance to catch my breath before the next twist comes along. However, when it came to Swipe Right for Murder some of the action just seemed over the top causing a bit of eye rolling as I turned the pages. In the end I just found the story to be so-so with some things I liked, the pace being at the top of the list, but then of course some I didn’t.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
Find this book online:
Goodreads / Amazon **
About the author:
The Accidental Gatekeeper by Carla Rehse blitz with giveaway
The Accidental Gatekeeper
Carla Rehse
(The Accidental Midlife Trilogy, #1)
Publication date: June 14th 2021
Genres: Adult, Paranormal
Turning the big four-five isn’t a problem for Everly Popa—it’s everything else in her life that’s gone to hell in a handbasket.
It’s bad enough that Everly’s drug-selling husband is in jail and her adult daughter blames her for the situation. But now the FBI wants her to turn witness, while her husband’s criminal friends want to keep her permanently silent. With no other safe haven, Everly returns to her hometown. A place she hasn’t visited in twenty-seven years. And didn’t leave under the best of circumstances.
It’s not that Everly has a problem with her hometown, exactly, but since it sits next to Hell’s Gate, there’s bound to be a few issues. Like the archaic rules set by the angels who run the town. Or the fact that the townsfolk feel Everly abandoned her duties as one of the members of the town’s founding families. But between celestial politics or getting gunned down by a drug cartel, Everly decides to chance finding sanctuary back home.
After a little good-versus-evil stunt at the town’s border, Everly is let back in and for the first five minutes, things are great. Everly’s mom hasn’t started nagging and she has a whole bottle of wine to herself. But after minute six, all hell breaks loose. Everly gets bitten by a hellhound, faints in front of her hot-and-single old high school boyfriend, and accidentally becomes the town’s Gatekeeper to Hell. A job she never wanted, isn’t trained for, and can’t shake off like gum stuck to her shoe. And as much as she’s flipping out, the celestial ruling body aren’t too pleased about it either.
Before Everly can take a deep breath and figure a way out of this mess, an angel gets killed, humans go missing and the town shuts its magical borders. Now Everly is trapped inside with dying angels, rampaging demons, and a witch with a murderous agenda. Plus, an archangel and his army surround the city and are itching to contain the town’s problems with a heaven-sent big boom. The only way out is for Everly to learn how to use her newly acquired Gatekeeper powers. But with no handbook provided, there’s a snowball’s chance in hell she’ll figure it out in time.
—
EXCERPT:
When all the good choices have disappeared faster than kids at chore time
If eighteen was the age of exciting self-discovery, then forty-five was the weary age of having zero shits left to give.
What did it matter if my husband of twenty years was rotting in federal jail? And that our chiropractic clinic had gone belly up, leaving me jobless? Or that my friends had turned from “we’ll help hide a body” to “we’ve got your back until the reporters hit our lawn?” I also didn’t care that the DEA had frozen our joint bank accounts and seized our assets. I never liked that ho use anyway.
Homeless. Jobless. Friendless.
Add in a pickup truck, beer, and an old dog and it would be the most pathetic country song played on the tiniest fiddle ever. I gritted my teeth as the wipers shrieked across the windshield. Nothing like driving through a late-October downpour to add to your misery, and the constantly patched roads in this part of Central Texas didn’t handle rain well.
My phone rang with its cheerful tone that I kept forgetting to change. Sadie’s name lit up on the display, and I almost knocked it off the dashboard holder while hitting the speaker button. “Sadie? Is everything okay? How’s Laney?” I really hoped the trembling in my voice wasn’t audible. My daughter hadn’t spoken to me in two months, refusing to answer my calls or respond to my texts. Her girlfriend had even gone so far as to block me on her social media.
“Mom? Where are you? God, this connection sucks.” Her voice had a recognizable anxious edge to it. I wanted to ask if she was taking her meds, but at twenty-one Sadie hated coddling. “Someone needs to talk to you.”
“What?” I eased onto the shoulder of the road, then placed the truck into park. “Who?”
“Mrs. Collins? Uh, Everly Collins? This is Sam Duncan, your husband’s attorney? We really must discuss your husband’s case.”
I glanced at the clock on my dash: 10:33 p.m. Duncan was raking in some serious OT. “What the hell are you doing with my daughter?”
“Mrs. Collins?” He lowered his voice. “I know you’ve been advised not to speak with me. But you really need to before certain other people do. We can meet anywhere you want.”
Author Bio:
Although not a native Texan, Carla prides herself on having mastered the correct usage of “y’all” and “bless your heart.”
Carla is owned by a persnickety kitty, who rules the computer keyboard and only allows Carla to write when demands for cat treats are met.
GIVEAWAY!
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