Instagram: @declarationsofafangirl

Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Tour & Giveaway: The Maura DeLuca Trilogy by Claudette Melanson



Rising Tide: Dark Innocence
The Maura DeLuca Trilogy Book 1
by Claudette Melanson
Genre: YA Paranormal

Rising Tide will sink its fangs into you, keeping you awake into the wee hours of the night

Could Maura's life get any worse? ...turns out it most certainly can.

Isolated and sheltered by her lonely mother, Maura's never been able to make friends. She seems to drive her classmates away—except for the odd times they pay enough attention to torture her—but she doesn’t understand why. Maura considers herself to be a freak of nature, with her unusually pale skin and an aversion to the sun that renders her violently nauseous. Her belief is only worsened by the fact that almost everyone around her keeps their distance.

Even her own father deserted her before she was born, leaving Maura alone with her emotionally distant mother, Caelyn. Even though Maura is desperate for answers about her unknown parent, Caelyn remains heartbroken and her daughter can’t bring herself to reopen her mother’s wounds. Or is there a more sinister reason Caelyn refuses to utter a word about her long-lost love?

When a cruel prank nearly claims Maura’s life, one of her classmates, Ron, rushes to her rescue. Darkly handsome & mysteriously accepting, Ron doesn’t seem to want to stay away, but Maura is reluctant to get too close, since her mother has announced she’s moving the two of them to Vancouver…nearly 3,000 miles away from their hometown of Indiana, Pennsylvania.

If life wasn’t already challenging enough, Maura begins to experience bizarre, physical changes her mother seems hell bent on ignoring, compelling Maura to fear for her own life. Vicious nightmares, blood cravings, failing health and the heart-shattering loss of Ron—as well as the discovery of a tangled web of her own mother's lies—become obstacles in Maura's desperate quest for the unfathomable truth she was never prepared to uncover.

2015 Readers' Favorite Gold Medal Winner for YA Mystery

2015 RONE Award Finalist for YA Paranormal
2015 New Apple Top Medalist for Young Adult Ebook
Chosen as one of 400 for the second round of the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award for 2014!!!

Praise for Rising Tide:

"This captivating and commendable work had me immersed from the beginning. The story flows from scene to scene with ease, and the author shows exceptional skill when it comes to storytelling." 

"Mrs. Melanson’s writing is so descriptive and talented. Throughout the entire story, I felt like I was watching a movie." 

"Melanson grabs you from page 1 and doesn't let you go until the very bitter end, only bitter because the book is finished." 

"I found pure delight in this book and will recommend it to other readers." 

"The writing by Claudette Melanson in this novel is top notch and I can see the movie rights for this being grabbed in no time." 

˃˃˃ Sure to become one of the Books to Read of the year, Rising Tide: Dark Innocence isn’t the usual YA tale of vampires. Full of Mystery and Suspense, this Vampire Mystery Thriller packs just enough Romance & Humor, while delivering plenty of Dark Fantasy served with a side of the Supernatural. Maura, in the midst of her vampire awakenings is unarguably a vampire in denial. It is a novel that is certain to become one of the classic paranormal and fantasy books of its time--the series is not only for Teen & Young Adult readers, but has been well-received by many adult readers, as well. Maura doesn't live in Castle Dracula in Transylvania, but she must still discover the bloodlines constructing the creature she is destined to become, while overcoming social issues, such as bullying, that rock her world while coming of age. She is an strong Urban Scienece Fiction & Fantasy female protagonist readers love.

**Get it FREE!!***





Undertow: Death's Twilight
The Maura DeLuca Trilogy Book 2
Maura finally found the truth she was always seeking…or has she?
After being left in the dark for all of her life, Maura’s father, Maxwell, has finally returned to reveal sinister family secrets Maura could never have dreamed possible—including his revelation that she is one of The Born. But his daughter soon discovers both he and her mother are keeping pieces of her reality hidden, still. As Maura struggles to unravel the mysteries surrounding her new existence and discover every piece of the cryptic puzzle, life appears intent on casting stumbling blocks across her path with every step forward.

Tragedy seems to stalk Maura, and those around her, as she stumbles along, altering the young changeling’s family, just when they have all come back together. The changes left in its wake could be for the better, or may threaten their existence, entirely.

With the arrival of Christmas comes the opportunity for Maura to draw close to everyone she loves—and finally reunite with Ron, the man she loves. But permanence has always eluded her, and in her current state of flux this pattern endures, as fate seems intent on snapping the threads that bind her to those she holds most dear. Maxwell’s good intentions pave a road for Maura, littered with misery, while her mother, Caelyn’s, desire to shield her family from pain may tear her away from them, altogether. The perfect happiness in the young vampire’s grasp is so easily swept away and dragged under, out of reach. Can Maura erupt from the darkness and confusion to break the surface and find the life she’s always dreamed of?

In the midst of chaos, assistance materializes in the form of another of her kind—ephemerally beautiful, yet explosively volatile, this new vampire may prove capable of unlocking the puzzle-box Maxwell seems intent on securing from her sight. Maura will discover the darkest parts of herself in her quest to understand the being she is destined to become. Her newfound friend has some shady intentions of his own—such as thwarting the love that has grown between Maura and Ron. Following in the wake of the impulsive vampire’s misguided instruction may further pull a naive Maura down into the depths of ultimate despair, heartbreak…and even destruction.

2015 Readers' Favorite Honorable Mention for YA Horror
2016 New Apple Summer eBook Solo Medalist for YA Horror


Praise for Undertow:

"This series offers so much: the heartwarming family moments, the comedic back and forth banter between characters, life lessons tragically instilled."

"I actually cried during a few parts of the story."

"The story is well written and gripping until the very end."

"If it’s written by Claudette Melanson, you’re guaranteed to have an amazing piece of literature that anyone can enjoy."




Riptide: Betrayal of Blood
The Maura DeLuca Trilogy Book 3

Maura has never felt so alone in her life…nor has her existence ever been so overshadowed by peril…

Not only do both her parents—her distant but loving mother and recently- returned father—remain absent from her life, but due to the hideous error in judgement executed in collusion with her best friend, Valdamir, and adoptive sister, Susie, Maura has been cut off from the pair’s friendship and support, forbidden by both her father and the fallout from the dire outcome to see either of them. The heartbreak she suffers, brought on by the weight of these estrangements, is only intensified by the continued mysterious absence of her supernaturally-destined mate, Ron…whose disappearance delivers grave consequences Maura would have never dreamed possible… 

Despised by her vampire cousin, Aldiva, for reasons Maura cannot yet comprehend, the young changeling will be forced to guard her back with every step, as she comes to realize this member of her vampire family would love nothing more than to bring about her demise. Aldiva’s wrath calls forth other members from both Vancouver covens, forcing them to rush to Maura’s aid—even though her father, their king, has expressly forbidden the other vampires to initiate contact with his daughter. Will her extended family on Vancouver Island obey, abandoning Maura to her doom, or will they instead rebel against Maxwell’s wishes in order to save her life? 

In addition to the menace personified in her unsolicited enemy, the unlikely vampire princess will find herself drowning as she is pulled down into the depths of a far more devastating crisis…one which may condemn her to a fate she considers much more undesirable than death. But in order to tear herself free from the deadly pull which is drawing her under, Maura must enlist the help of her preternatural family, exposing her newfound friends to a danger none of them have ever had the misfortune to face before. Can she be saved or will the riptide drag Maura under…along with those she loves the most… 

2017 New Apple Solo Medalist for Summer eBook - Young Adult General Fiction

Praise for Riptide:
"I will scream it from the rooftops how much I love this series."

"I can only say that Riptide is one of the best modern vampire stories I have ever read, and I read them all from Stephen King to Ann Rice to Stephenie Meyer."

"Riptide was action packed and the fight scenes were well written but more than that it was the story of family and love, of taking responsibility, and dealing with hate when all sane avenues fail."

"The lore is superb, as is the writing. I can't wait to catch up with Maura again!"



Claudette Melanson writes dark fantasy, horror and children’s books in Kitchener, Ontario with seven bun babies at her side: Tegan, Pepper, Butters, Beckett, Sansa, Daenerys & Caramel. She graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a BA in English, BS in English Education and an MA in Literature. Harboring a deep admiration of vampires since the age of five left her with the desire to eventually become one, and now fuels the creation of her favorite paranormal characters. She hopes to one day work full time as an author, since there are many, many stories playing out inside her head.

In her very scant spare time, she enjoys watching Japanese Anime and reading vampire stories...along with other genres of great fiction, as well as riding every roller coaster she encounters in both her hometown and away at signings. An advocate for good health and ketogenic eating, her favorite foods are bulletproof coffee, cashew-flour crust pizza and treats made with xylitol and almond, coconut or cashew flours. 

Future dreams include a cabin boasting a roaring fire, isolated inside a snow-filled wood in the Yukon—the perfect writing spot—and the completion of dozens of future novels and stories. A Rabbit Rescue fanatic and loving bunmom, she also hopes to help rescues all over the world save many innocent lives. 


Follow the tour HERE for exclusive content and a giveaway!










Tuesday, October 30, 2018

New Release & Giveaway: Shifters & Glyphs by Christina Bauer



Shifters and Glyphs 
by Christina Bauer 
(Fairy Tales of the Magicorum #2) 
Published by: Monster House Books
Publication date: October 30th 2018
Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult


A fun romp for Twilight Fans” – School Library Journal

After being raised by the meanest fairies in the history of ever, Bryar Rose is now free to live her own life. For the first time, she’s attending West Lake Prep, a regular high school. Well, mostly regular. Some students are actually hidden members of the Magicorum. In other words, they’re really wizards, fairies, or shifters. Bry doesn’t mind, though. She’s thrilled to enjoy all the new experiences of being around normal kids her age, from locker pranks to lunchtime mystery meat. Everything is going along great, except for one thing.

Bry’s dreams about the pyramids of Egypt have gotten darker and more sinister. Every night, she sees her new man Knox and her best friend Elle in danger.

Exciting and well-conceived” – Kirkus

With no other choice, Bry plans to leave school to explore the pyramids on her own. But her new man Knox discovers the scheme and is having none of it. He wants to stay by her side, no matter what. It’s a good thing too, because Bry must solve the mystery of her attraction to the pyramids and soon. Otherwise, it could cost the lives of those she loves most.

And that means not only Knox, but also her best friend Elle.

Must-read YA paranormal romance!” – USA Today

Perfect for readers who love young adult books, contemporary fantasy, fairy tales, satire/comedy, paranormal romance, fairies, magic users, shapeshifters, and coming of age stories.…



Shifters And Glyphs
Fairy Tales of the Magicorum, Book 2
Chapter One 

I’m a teenager who can wield magic, so you might think my ultimate in fun would be casting a spell.
Not really. 
Plus, I live in Manhattan and—since my aunties no longer have me locked me up in a penthouse—you’d imagine that I love roaming the city.
Nope.
I’m also a werewolf, so racing under the moon could be my fave for fun.
It’s not. 
Instead, my ultimate smile comes from what’s happening right now: snuggling on the couch with my boyfriend Knox. To be specific, Knox and I are wrapped in a blanket with my head resting against his right bicep. 
Perfect. 
It’s almost time for dinner, but I hardly notice my stomach growl. Knox is in jeans and a t-shirt; I’m sporting what I call my unshreddable outfit: black leather pants and a cropped top that I got from the fairies. Why unshreddable, you ask? Because before I got my enchanted clothing, shifting into were form was murder on my wardrobe. One magically enhanced outfit later, and it’s all good. I never again have to worry about turning into a wolf and then into a very naked girl, all in the age of camera phones. And without that worry hanging over my head, I can more fully relax. Like I am now.
In fact, at this very moment, Knox and I are chilling out while watching an old movie called The Breakfast Club. In it, a bunch of human kids get detention at high school. For me, this particular movie is valuable life research, considering how tomorrow’s my first day in a typical classroom.
Ever. 
Yipes.



Christina Bauer knows how to tell stories about kick-ass women. In her best selling Angelbound series, the heroine is a part-demon girl who loves to fight in Purgatory’s Arena and falls in love with a part-angel prince. This young adult best seller has driven more than 500,000 ebook downloads and 9,000 reviews on Goodreads and retailers. The first three books in the series are now available as audiobooks on Audible and iTunes.

Bauer has also told the story of the Women’s March on Washington by leading PR efforts for the Massachusetts Chapter. Her pre-event press release—the only one sent out on a major wire service—resulted in more than 19,000 global impressions and redistribution by over 350 different media entities including the Associated Press. 

Christina graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School with BA’s in English along with Television, Radio, and Film Production. She lives in Newton, MA with her husband, son, and semi-insane golden retriever, Ruby.

Stalk Christina On Social Media – She Loves It!
Twitter: @CB_Bauer






Tour & Giveaway: Something Wicked by Emery Nicolson




Something Wicked
by Emery Nicolson
Genre: Paranormal Romance



The winds of change are blowing… And something wicked is brewing in the dark.

Millie Lockhart is descended from a long line of powerful witches but that doesn’t mean she has the foresight to avoid being stood up by her blind date, nor the courage to change her miserable life. 

Stuck in a rut and unappreciated by her family, Millie must make a choice when fate throws the criminally sexy Colm Walker her way. A choice between a man who is a complete anathema to her family – but makes Millie feel alive - or to languish in her status quo. 

Saying yes to Colm Walker could make all of Millie’s dreams come true… Or it could cost her everything. 

Including her life. 

Something Wicked was originally published as a 20,000 word novella back in 2015. It has been modified and extended into a full-length novel of over 65,000 words. 

This book is written in British English which means British spellings and idiom. 

**On sale for .99 cents!!**





It feels like I’ve just fallen asleep when I’m awoken by someone obnoxiously ringing my doorbell, over and over and over again.
Blinking sticky eyes open, I roll over and check the time on my phone screen. Seven o clock! Who in the right bloody mind goes knocking on someone’s door at that time on a Saturday? It’s cruel! It’s unnatural! But whoever the knob head is they aren’t buggering off like I’d hoped they would, leaving me no choice but to get out of bed and answer the bloody door.
“Alright, alright! I’m coming!” I yell, as I stomp down the hall, and flick on a light before taking a peek through the peephole.
“Bitch!” I shout through the door as I start releasing the locks. There are quite a few, so it's a bit of a slow process, but when you live in a basement apartment, I feel you can’t be too careful.
“Stop your whining Lockhart! I’ve got to be at work in an hour and details can’t wait!”
Pulling the door open, I’m faced with the happy smiling face of my BFF Sarah. I fucking hate morning people, as a whole, but at least this pre-dawn menace has the decency to come bearing gifts.
“Do I smell bacon?” I ask, as she marches past me with a brown bag of goodness and a cup holder with two coffees.
“Hell yes its bacon. You think I’d be stupid enough to wake the bear without bringing a sacrifice?”



Emery Nicolson lives in the south of England with her husband, son and assorted fur babies. In her spare time, she likes to think about writing, binge watch tv shows, read and partake of pyjama-themed dance parties often while drinking spiced rum from a mug. Something Wicked is her first novel. 



Follow the tour HERE for exclusive excerpts and a giveaway!






Monday, October 29, 2018

Tour & Giveaway: Painless by Marty Thornley



Painless 
by Marty Thornley 
Publication date: January 12th 2018
Genres: Adult, Horror, Psychological Thriller


The debut psychological-horror novel from author Marty Thornley is a page-turning ride, a front row seat to a clinical trial gone horribly wrong.

For Greg Owens, this was supposed to be a chance to end years of back pain and escape his reliance on pain pills. If it all worked out, he could maybe even get back the life he left behind as the pills took control.

Instead, as the patients are cured of their physical pain, they encounter a different sort of pain building inside them – obsessive thoughts, depression, self-destruction. The side-effects grow worse, and the suspense ratchets tighter. The patients want answers and violent revenge, setting them on a collision course with a crazed doctor, determined to protect his life's obsession.

--
What readers are saying...

"...most definitely a recommended read, though it's probably not the best choice for those with a weak stomach."

"Gruesome and twisted. Awesome!!!"

"OMG this book. Holy heck the gruesome descriptions of blood and gore and guts was SO RAD. I found myself cringing and fidgeting and yes, even feeling a bit nauseous in some spots - but totally in a GOOD WAY! Painless was exactly what I wanted in a super-unique, creepy, shocking horror-thriller."



Streams of smoke and steam rise into the sky from the burnt underside of a car, wrecked and resting on its roof. The heat of the engine and exhaust distorts the air above, and the metal crackles as it cools in the breeze of early morning. 
1965 Cadillac Coupe De Ville. Black. It still has that new-car shine. Even with the wreckage of the crash, it is evident the car was cleaned and cared for. The tires, still spinning, slowly come to a stop.
A small hand reaches from the broken back window. A boy drags himself carefully out of the twisted, broken door. Blood drips from his scalp, down his face and onto his suit—disheveled from the crash but cleaned and ironed just a couple of hours ago.
He stands and, though only seven-years-old, stumbles and braces himself against the car like a drunk who just pulled himself out of his own wreck. For a moment he looks out into the distance. 
It is quiet here. 
The pine trees lining this lonely stretch of road are swayed by an almost silent wind. Behind the seemingly endless forest, snow-capped mountains stand indifferently.
A woman moans in pain.
The boy moves forward, making his way around the back of the car, bracing himself on the tail light, the license plate, the bumper. He rounds the corner to the driver's side. A woman's head and arms hang out of the driver's window. A pool of blood spreads around her.
"Mama?"
She tries to smile. Blood drips from her lips.
"Does it hurt?"
She reaches for the back of her neck. "I can't... get it..." Her fingers grasp a shard of metal that has pierced her spine. "Agh!"
The boy moves aside her hair, exposing an angled fragment of chrome window trim—embedded deep in her neck, its bent and twisted length shooting through a ragged and bleeding gash of skin. As his fingers brush against the shiny protrusion, she closes her eyes and clamps her mouth shut—refusing the pain and stifling a scream.
"I... need... you to... pull it..."
The boy tugs. The metal moves.
"AHHHHHHHH!"
The boy hesitates.
"PULL IT!"
He tugs again. The chrome spike slides out of her neck. Blood splashes off the end and splatters his face. 
A serene calm washes over Mama's face.
"Thank you, baby. It doesn't hurt anymore."
"It doesn't?"
Mama smiles. Her hand reaches up, wiping the blood from her son's face with her thumb.
The boy smiles back. 
Mama's hand goes limp and drops away. Mama's eyes gloss over.
"Mama?"
Mama is dead.
A drop of crimson pools at the tip of the sharp and twisted chrome, still held tightly in his fingers, finally building the critical mass to drip down into the dirt between his feet.
The boy stares down. Cold and calculating.


Marty started writing short stories as a teenager, inspired as much by favorite books and movies as the environment and characters that define the South Shore of Massachusetts. The pull of the movies dragged him first to film school and finally to Los Angeles, where he poked at the outskirts of the industry with screenplays and short films.

As his interest in a film career fizzled, he rebuilt himself bit-by-bit as a programmer. He spent the next decade building websites, finally realizing that something had been lost. His stories were collecting dust in the back of his brain while he sat through conference calls and code reviews.
So he returned to the woods of New England and the calming darkness under the trees. He returned to find the things that crawl in the undergrowth and turn them into words on the page. He dusted off one of his screenplays and turned it into his first novel. In the process, a dormant storyteller was awakened and is now seeking the next blank page to fill.

Author links:








Sunday, October 28, 2018

Blitz & Giveaway: Witching Hour Sinister Legends



Witching Hour: Sinister Legends
(Witching Hour Anthologies) 
Publication date: October 23rd 2018
Genres: Adult, Horror, Paranormal, Thriller


Bloody Mary...

Bloody Mary...

Bloody...maybe we shouldn’t test that just yet. 

Urban legends, fact or fiction, at the end of the day they’re all stories. We know not to spin around the room in the dark whispering her name. We've heard about the man with the hook and the terror that stalks the babysitter while she's home alone. 

But there are other tales told around the fire at night. The man finding the steps into hell and sanity flickering away. Mind control experiments by governments, big and small. The woman married to the man of peculiar tastes. There are the haunted hospitals, sleep trials in Russia and more. 

Slenderman and Bigfoot are nowhere within these stories; these are only the unusual and dark ones, slanted into truth.

In every legend, there is a seed of truth. Welcome to the Witching Hour.



ANTHOLOGY PLAYLIST: 
Jenniefer Andersson: https://youtu.be/u9Dg-g7t2l4
Trinity Hanrahan: https://youtu.be/Pgum6OT_VH8
Sienna Haslam:
Morgan & Charlotte: https://youtu.be/tt2k8PGm-TI
Maggie Jane Schuler: https://youtu.be/zDo0H8Fm7d0







Tour & Giveaway: The Hunted by Jessica Gunn



The Hunted by Jessica Gunn
Narrated by Shannon Condon
Length: 6 hours, 42 minutes
Publisher: Jessica Gunn - 2018
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Hunter Circle, Book 1
Release Date: August 16, 2018


I'm Krystin Blackwood, and I've only ever been good at one thing: killing demons of Darkness. But at 24, I'm about to face my toughest challenge yet: shifting from working alone to joining a team of three other Hunters. Newbie Hunters. 

They don't know their magik, they barely know their place in the world, and when they find out the secrets I've been carrying, they'll definitely decide it's safer if they don't know me.

But unfortunately for them - and me - Darkness has other plans. Lady Azar, Darkness's heir, stole my new team leader's kid two years ago. Now, she and her lackeys are rallying to exchange Ben's kid for me because of the power I wield. I'm one half of a prophecy to save an ancient city the Powers of Good lost centuries ago. And if I fail or die before that happens, the destruction of that city will be felt across all planes of existence. 

If we can't find Ben's son before All Hallows' Eve and somehow save him without putting my life at risk, that existential explosion will absolutely happen. But it'll be nothing compared to the destruction wrought if Lady Azar changes Ben's son into a demon...and her minion

Because the only thing more dangerous than me with a blade is a father's wrath.



Top Ten List

Songs that could be in the soundtrack for this book

1- Five Become Four - Yellowcard
The song, word for word, line for line, could have been a conversation between my characters. This album came out when I was first writing what would eventually become book four of this series, The Hero, for the first time.

2- Uninvited - Alanis Morissette
My critique partner sent me this song and said it reminded her of Giyano and Krystin, and I love it so, so much.

3- We’re All To Blame - Sum 41
There’s an awful lot going on in this world, and at the end of the day, they’re all to blame.

4- Spirits - The Strumbellas
This song is Krystin 100%. When I first heard it, it was like I finally understood her.

5- Believer - Kill Hannah
At some point, they all decide they’re done running. All they can do now is believe.  
                 
6- Be The Young - Yellowcard
The more things change, the more obstacles challenge the characters, the more things stay the same. They persevere and remain.

7- You’re Gonna Go Far Kid - The Offspring
A song for Krystin to sing to a certain someone.

8- Lights And Sounds - Yellowcard
A song about what the Hunter Circles can do--and has done--to their Hunters.

9- This Is War - 30 Seconds To Mars
This one is pretty self-explanatory I think!

10- With Me - Sum 41
Spoilers ;) 

Play List




Jessica Gunn is a New Adult author and avid science-fiction and fantasy fan. Her favorite stories are those that transport the reader to other, more exciting worlds. When not working or writing, she can be found binge-watching Firefly and Stargate, or feeding her fascination of the ancient world’s many mysteries. Jessica also holds a degree in Anthropology.



ABOUT THE NARRATOR:

Shannon Condon is a New York City based Actor, Voice Actor, Improviser and Filmmaker. Shannon is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA, and is recognized by her unique voice and quick-witted humor. When not recording, she can be found playing with her dog/best friend, Maple. For more updates visit shannoncondon.com

TOUR SCHEDULE

Oct. 23rd:

Oct. 24th:

Oct. 25th:

Oct. 26th:

Oct. 27th:

Oct. 28th:

Oct. 29th: