Book Blitz & Giveaway: The Romeo Club by Rebekah L Purdy

The Romeo Club

by Rebekah L Purdy

Release Date: 04/08/14

YA CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE 

Summary from Goodreads:

THE ROMEO CLUB is Hitch meets The Secret of My Success.

What happens when you agree to help your brother “de-nerdify” so he can catch the attention of the popular Chloe Anders, and to everyone's surprise, he actually lands her?

And what if his equally geeky friends come running with girl wish lists of their own, offering money for your services?

Well, if you’re sixteen-year-old, Delyla Denson, then you start The Romeo Club. A secret club where she’ll teach these guys how talk, act, and be cool around girls. It’s a win-win situation.

She’ll get enough money for the awesome prom dress she’s had her eye on, and the guys, well, they’ll get dates and maybe learn how to do something other than beat the next level on their video games.

There are only two problems with this plan. One, her quarterback/track star boyfriend is getting jealous of how much time she’s spending away from him and decides to try and figure out what’s going on. And two, Delyla is kind of falling for her brother’s BFF, Trey who she’s been hanging out with a lot more. And who thanks to her help, has caught the attention of the beautiful, perfect, and popular, Portia Rickard. With Portia and Trey heating up, Delyla realizes that maybe the person she’s meant to be with has been in front of her all this time.

But falling for Trey means she’ll have to take drastic measures including sabotage, with a capital S.

Buy Links:

Amazon ¦ Amazon UK

The Romeo Club Excerpt

A few minutes later we arrived at Bogarty’s. We went inside and found Kevin working the counter.

“Hey,” he said. “I thought you had a date tonight?”

“I do. But I wanted to treat Del out for helping me.” Trey took some cash from his pocket. “Can we get two chocolate vanilla swirl ice creams?”

Warmth spread through my chest. He remembered my favorite flavor. How is it he knew more about me than my boyfriend?

“Coming right up.” Kevin took his money then gave him the change. He waved me closer to the counter then leaned forward. “Melanie’s working tonight.” He nodded to a petite girl making milkshakes. She had black hair with a shock of electric blue highlights. Her ears had numerous piercings, and she wore dark eyeliner. She had the whole rocker chick thing going on.

“She’s pretty,” I said. And to say I was surprised was an understatement. She didn’t seem like his type, but then again, who was I to judge.

He grinned. “Yeah. She is.” He handed us our ice cream. “I’ll see you guys later.”

I licked the side of my cone to keep the chocolate from dripping. Trey and I sat down in a corner booth and devoured our food. When I finished, I wiped my mouth with a napkin. My eyes shifted to the window. No way. Did he have GPS attached to me or something?

I shot to my feet. “Crap.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Rex is here with his friends. I told him I was having a Science Club meeting today.”

Trey followed my gaze. “They’re coming in.”

We rushed toward the counter. Maybe there was a back way out. “Kevin. We need to hide.”

“What?”

“Rex.” I nodded over my shoulder. “Please, Kev. There’s gotta be a back way out.”

“I can’t let you go through the kitchen. I’ll get fired.” He glanced behind him.

“Ah, I’m so dead.”

“Wait, I have an idea. Hey, Melanie can you watch the register for a second?”

She looked up. “Sure. But hurry.”

“Thanks.” He came around the counter. “Quick, follow me.” He led us down a narrow hall toward the bathrooms. But before we got there, he opened a door and pulled out two costumes.

“Oh brother. I’m not gonna like this, am I?” Trey took a giant ice cream cone costume from him.

“Nope. In fact, you’ll probably hate it. But it’s the only thing I got.” He handed me a Poppy the Popsicle costume.

I groaned. “This day just keeps getting better and better.”

“Hurry up, he’s coming in.” Kevin shoved the giant popsicle over my head.

I put my arms in, while he tugged it down. He then put big rubber shoes on me. I attempted to adjust the top so I could see out the eyeholes. Next to me I saw Trey and giggled.His head looked like a giant vanilla swirl ice cream. The cone part came down to his ankles so he had to waddle while he walked. 

Kevin, shut the closet. “Just go out in the lobby area and dance around or something. When he leaves, you can get out of here.”

“You owe me big,” Trey said from beside me.

Just then a group of elementary kids saw us. “Look it’s Poppy the Popsicle and Icy the Ice Cream.” 

In that moment, I wanted to die. Kids screeched at our legs. I hopped around in circles, giving them high fives. I attempted a booty shake dance and nearly toppled over, right into Rex’s lap.

“Hey, Rex. Looks like Poppy has a thing for track stars.” Bart laughed and slapped his back. “If you want to dance with the popsicle, I won’t tell Delyla.”

Rex grinned, grabbed my giant rubber hands and twirled me around. “Hey, can I get my picture taken with you?”

Holy balls. This wasn’t good. “Sure,” I said in a high-pitched Minnie Mouse type voice. He held up his phone and leaned in close. Wow, this would be one for the memory books. 

“I think the popsicle is melting at your touch,” Bart said. “Maybe you should go for the ice cream cone instead.”

If he made one more popsicle comment, I was gonna shove my stick somewhere where the sun didn’t shine. Behind me, I heard Trey mutter something about a jack ass.

At last, Kevin called them up to the counter for their order. 

“See you, Poppy.” Rex patted my back.

“Yeah, see you,” I said in the same high-pitched voice from before.

When they left, Trey and I raced to take the costumes off. 

“Remind me never to come to the ice cream shop with you again,” Trey said. “I swear, if one more kid hit me in the crotch, I was gonna shove them in a trash can.”

“At least you didn’t have to deal with my boyfriend.” I laughed.

“Yeah, there’s that. But I think I’m ready to go now.”

He didn’t have to tell me twice. Goodbye ice cream, hello world.

About the Author

Rebekah Purdy grew up in Michigan, where she spent many late nights armed with a good book and a flashlight. When not hiding at her computer and getting lost in her stories, she enjoys reading, singing, soccer, swimming, football, camping, playing video games and hanging out with her kids. She loves the unexplainable like Bigfoot, the Dogman, and the Loch Ness Monster (lots of good story material)! She admits to still having all the books she bought throughout her childhood and teen years, and she may or may not have an obsession with anything chocolate…

Author Links:

   

***GIVEAWAY***

1 ebook of The Romeo Club + $10 Amazon Gift Card (UNT).

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Book Blitz Organized By:

BOTM - The Unusuals {Wattpad}

The Unusuals

Author: Mayakakos

Genre: Teen Fantasy / Adventure

Wattpad Book Blurb:

Jamie Smith was never a normal girl. All her life she was training and running from The Government. Everything changes when everyone except her and five other Unusual are left to fend for themselves. Jamie Smith must now over come not only running from the Government but also betraying best friends, prophecies and the fear of losing everyone she loves...

Author Links:

Wattpad

Interview

1. Please tell the readers a bit about yourself.

Well, to start, my name is Maya. I love books. I used to be that kid in class that the teacher would have to yell at and tell her to put her book away. I come from a normal family with very supportive parents that always encouraged me to follow my dreams. My younger sister is amazing and though we may disagree at times, she’s always there for me. I absolutely love to laugh and love anyone who can make me laugh. I’m very, very shy at first, but once you get to know me, I’m crazy.

2. What types of books do you write?

This is an easy one. I write mostly action and adventure. Maybe a tiny bit of fantasy. I’ve tried writing deep, emotional poems and books, but when I went back to read my writing, I would cringe at my work. So like my people, I’ll stick to what I’m good at.

3. How many books have you written?

None. I’ve started plenty, but never been enthusiastic about any of them to actually finish one. That was until one day I began writing The Unusuals. The ideas kept flowing and I had no choice but to let my thoughts come to life in my writing.

4. What movie and/or book are you looking forward to this year?

I’m defiantly looking forward to Divergent. The trailer looks great and it looks like the producers and director did a great job. I’m currently reading The Fault In Our Stars and I can’t wait to see it come to life in the movie. Ah! I can’t forget about Mocking Jay part 1!

5. What type of books do you enjoy reading?

Depending on my mood, I’ll occasionally pick up a sad John Green book, but for the most part, I love reading dystopian novels that are full of action and adventure. They keep me entertained and inspire me to write.

6. If you were stranded on a desert island what 3 things would you want with you?

Three things I would want:

1. My laptop (I’ll just email for help, right?)

2. Eternal Wi-Fi

3. An unlimited supply of books

7. Are you considering a sequel?

Defiantly. When I first began writing, I was planning for a series of very short stories of the same characters. However, I decided against it and am currently putting the plot together for the sequel.

8. What inspired you to become a writer?

Nothing really in particular inspired me I guess. As a little girl, I enjoyed reading. I would imagine myself in the story and would read late at night until my mom told me to put my book away. As I would fall asleep, I would imagine how I hoped or wanted the book to end. Next I started putting my thoughts on paper and thinking of my own short stories. I finally put in the commitment to write a longer story, and thus The Unusuals was written and is currently still being written.

The Unusuals Scavenger Hunt

Click the image below for more details

Book Blitz & Giveaway: Synchrony (Destiny #2) by Cindy Ray Hale

Synchrony (Destiny #2)

by Cindy Ray Hale

Release Date: 2014

Summary from Goodreads:

When her parents discover she’s been sneaking out with Isaac Robinson the forbidden Baptist boy, Mormon girl Destiny Clark decides it’s time to keep their relationship quiet. As their relationship moves to shakier ground, Destiny discovers that Isaac has a terrible secret, and she is left completely shattered.

The moment Destiny feels all hope is lost, Preston Nelson, her longtime church friend and Isaac's bitter rival, arrives like a beacon of light. It isn't long before two separate disasters strike for Preston and Destiny's best friend, Hannah. As Destiny helps them through their issues, she discovers that sometimes the best way to forget about your own problems is to help a friend in need.

Just as her heart begins to mend and her friendship with Preston begins to heat up, Isaac walks back into her life, threatening to rekindle the feelings she’d hoped to bury forever. Will Destiny and Preston find the synchrony they so desperately need, or will she find a way to forgive Isaac and return to his outstretched arms?

Available from:

Synchrony Excerpt

My scattered emotions continuously wove themselves around each other chaotically, growing from a few errant threads of thought into a tangled mess, snagging tighter and tighter until I was ready to explode. 

I began wailing, and Preston grabbed me by the shoulders, pulled me back, and said, “Destiny, stop.” But I couldn’t. The tears kept coming. Living without Isaac was like being held underwater and being told to breathe. I would take water into my lungs, and it would burn. And eventually, everything would grow dimmer until it became black.

Preston shook my shoulders, jarring me from my despair. “Look at me, Destiny.” I cracked open my eyes and peered into his trustworthy green ones. They were so full of concern. “He’s not worth your tears. Do you hear me?”

I stared back at him. Not worth my tears? Did he have any clue what Isaac really meant to me?

“Don’t let him hurt you worse than he already has. It’s going to be hard for a long time, but you’re going to survive this.”

“How can you possibly know that?” What did he know about getting his heart ripped out? He’d never even had a girlfriend.

A corner of Preston’s mouth quirked up. “Because the Destiny Clark I know is a fighter.”

Link to Book One:

About the Author

Cindy Ray Hale lives in a little slice of wooded heaven near Atlanta, Georgia with her husband and children. She spends way too much time following up-and-coming musicians on YouTube and dreams of joining their ranks one day. She’s a bit of a health food nut and can’t live without her daily green smoothies. She tries to stay sane as she juggles writing with four kids, staying active on social media, and keeping up her book blog at http://cinnamoncindy.blogspot.com/. In addition to writing and self-publishing two Young Adult Contemporary novels, she has also written articles for "New Era" magazine and The American Preppers Network.

For more information on The Destiny Trilogy and Cindy’s upcoming books visit http://destinybycindyhale.blogspot.com/ or follow @CindyRayHale on Twitter.

Author Links:

   

***GIVEAWAY***

1 ebook of 12 Steps by Veronica Bartles, 1 ebook of Not Your Average Fairytale by Chantelle Sedgwick,  swag pack of Destiny bookmark, a Destiny charm bracelet, and a Synchrony keychain + $50 Amazon gift card (INT).

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Book Blitz Organized By:

Blog Tour Guest Post & Giveaway - The Betrayal by S.J. McMillan

The Betrayal

Author: S.J. McMillan
Series: City of the Gods, Book 2

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Pages: 342 ebook

Word Count: 86,330

Cover Artist: Alexia Purdy

ISBN-13: 978-1495986406
ISBN-10: 1495986403

Book Description:

Centuries ago, Damian was betrayed by his best friend, his fiancé, and the Gods of his civilization. He vowed vengeance against them all. He studied and mastered the dark arts. All he needed after that was patience.

Damian’s ex, Vivian, now feels like her world is crashing down around her. His curse is threatening her brother Tristan’s life. The only way to save him is to trust a stranger who saved her from a fate worse than death.

Marcus had no idea saving Vivian’s life would put him in the middle of an ancient battle between good and evil. All he has to do is figure out which side he’s fighting for.

Guest Post: 10 Fantasy Places I Would Like To Visit

When contemplating a subject for and writing a guest blog I tend to shy away from advice about writing.

I’m not a NYT best seller…yet. Any advice I give would be common sense things to take into consideration. There are dozens of articles out there giving great advice. I like my posts to be more on the fun, get to know me, you just may like me side. I write urban fantasy, so my story takes place in the here and now. This time around I thought I would share the 10 Fantasy Places I Would Like to Visit. (In no specific order). 

Narnia – I would love to meet and talk with all the creatures residing there. Epitome of fantasy. 

Wonderland – I want to have tea with the Mad Hatter, talk with the Cheshire cat, & avoid the Red Queen if at all possible. 

Endor – Why? I love Ewoks! 

Asgard – As long Chris Hemsworth gives me the grand tour. 

Atlantis – It’s one of those places I’ve always heard so much about but still has so much mystery and intrigue left. 

Eternia – Back in the day I loved He-Man and She-ra. 

Oz – How cool would it be to hang out with the Scarecrow, Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, the munchkins, and the good witch? 

Bedrock – Because I want a pet dinosaur like Dino. Not to mention Wilma & Betty always looked awesome in their outfits. 

Barsoom – To be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound? Yep, gotta try it. 

The Labyrinth – I want to meet Hoggle, Ludo, Didymus and all the other awesome creatures in the maze. 

Honorable Mention: Camelot, Westoros, Middle Earth, & Camp Half-Blood. 

Which places did I miss? I know there are way more out there. Stop by my facebook page at www.facebook.com/mcmillansj and let me know what you think of my list and the fantasy place you want to visit. Thanks for taking the time to stop by and thanks for allowing me to share. 

The Betrayal Excerpt

Vivian sat on a large rock positioned slightly above the river and dangled her legs over the water. She began to meditate, staring into the clear river water. The meditation felt good for her mind and body after the past twenty-four hours’ stresses. Her eyelids grew heavy and she allowed herself a moment to drift to sleep. Her mind wandered from her present danger to Tristan and her hopes of saving him. She was dreaming of Sabine when she heard her voice from far away. Vivian searched for her in her dreams until it occurred to her that Sabine wasn’t speaking to her in her mind, but in reality. She opened her reluctant eyes to see Sabine standing over her. Vivian smiled, stood, and embraced her. Tears welled up as Sabine returned the hug. Vivian felt happier, as if a burden had been lifted from her. She wiped away a stray tear and stepped back to regard Sabine.

“I’m so happy you’re here. You wouldn’t believe what’s happened to me in the last twenty-four hours.” For the first time, Vivian took in Sabine’s expression. It was one of surprise and sadness. She gave Sabine a questioning look. “What’s the matter?”

“Vivian…this is not a good visit,” Sabine said. Vivian felt her heart drop into her stomach. Vivian naturally assumed she had failed and Tristan was dead. She took a moment to get a grip on her emotions before she responded to Sabine’s statement.

“What happened? I thought Tristan had enough time for me to gather more herbs to help him. This is my fault. I should have been back last night, but we were attacked by a renegade warlock, and then we had to find our way out of a cave. I almost drowned in this stupid river and now I’m freezing to death while Marcus tries to find the way back to my car. I’m so sorry…” Vivian trailed off. She couldn’t stop the tears from spilling down her face. Sabine stepped forward and placed a hand on Vivian’s shoulder.

“Tristan’s fine for now. I’m not here because of him. I’m here because of you. What happened? Who’s Marcus? What’s going on?” Sabine asked. Vivian rushed through the events that had taken place. Sabine shook her head.

“Wait, you’re here for me? Why?” Vivian asked, thoroughly confused. Sabine glanced behind her then back into Vivian’s eyes. Vivian suddenly understood why Sabine was with her and hesitantly looked behind her. Laying on the large rock above the river was Vivian’s body. Her face was pale and there was blood staining the rock under her head. Vivian’s knees gave out and she dropped to the ground next to her body.

“No…,”she whispered and shook her head in defiance. “This can’t be happening. I’m not dead.”

About the Author:

I live in southwest Missouri with my husband of 15 years and our three children. I work as an administrative assistant during the week. Now I get to add published author to my list of roles I play in life.

Being an author was not my first career choice. In my younger years I wanted to be a dancer, but dance lessons are expensive. I also wanted to be Dolly Parton from The Best Little Whore House in Texas. I could really belt out Itty Bitty Piss Ant Country Place, just ask my parents former neighbors.

After a slew of other interesting job choices, I just couldn’t shake the writing bug I picked up in high school. I started writing poetry and still write a poem whenever inspiration hits me. I also love to read, especially paranormal romances and urban fantasies. The love of reading is what spawned the desire to try my hand as writing a novel of my very own.

I love creating the characters and giving them their own personalities and voices. I have also come to enjoy writing fight scenes.  The hubster (the wonderful man that he is) will act them out with me so I know exactly how I need to show it to the audience. Call us crazy if you like, but it’s really fun to act out a scene using a broom handle as a spear and a foam baseball bat as an axe.

Author Links:

Website ¦ Facebook ¦ Twitter ¦ Goodreads ¦ Clan Kids (Blog) ¦ McStubs Musings (Blog)

***Giveaway***

2 signed print copies of City of the Gods: The Descendant (book 1)

2 signed print copies of City of the Gods: The Betrayal (book 2)

5 ebooks - winner’s choice of book 1 or 2

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Release Week Promo - Deadly Delicious by K.L. Kincy

Today we're excited to bring you the release week promo and cover reveal of the middle grade novel, Deadly Delicious by K.L. Kincy.  K.L. Kincy is a pen name for author Karen Kincy, author of young adult and adult novels.   To make things exciting we have the cover artist, Kirbi Fagan, here to tell us about the creation of the cover of Deadly Delicious!  Deadly Delicious is out now!

Creating the Cover by Kirbi Fagan

Painting the cover for for the novel started with an email. When I heard the story was set in the 1950's, I knew it would be fun project for me. I'm always eager to paint strong young girls on an adventure. The magical twist of the story was icing on the cake --- pun intended!

Starting an illustration is the most exciting part for me, it is when I feel the most creative. When you have a great story like "Deadly Delicious," feeling inspired isn't hard, the ideas flow. Below is the first scribble of Josephine, drawn while reading the manuscript.

After a many sketches, I worked with Karen to find a sketch that was just right. Flash, the dog in the story, was my favorite character and I knew I had to find a place for him on the cover. 

Next, I grabbed my camera and started shooting the reference material for the painting. I photographed it all. Another illustrator even helped me out and photographed her dog at the angle I needed. Below are few shots of the zombie hands, frosting covered and all.

A screen shot of a drawing in progress, figuring out Josephine's "look."

On to the painting. I used both traditional and digital media to create the final artwork. Working digitally allows me to experiment with things I might not have the freedom to do with real paint. The traditional element allows me to create rich colors and real texture.

Now about that type... what a mess! I won't be making a career change to a cake decorator anytime soon...

At last... the cover!

For more information about myself and my work visit www.kirbiillustrations.com or tweet me @kirbifagan

 

About Deadly Delicious:

Twelve-year-old Josephine DeLune can’t take the heat this sweltering summer of 1955, and she was out of the kitchen long ago. An awful cook, she ruins recipes left and right, and she certainly can’t compete with her family’s reputation for extraordinary food. Her daddy’s parents ran one of the best restaurants in all of Paris, but Josephine lives in Paris, Missouri. On her mama’s side, she’s up against a long tradition of sinfully delicious soul food. Rumor has it, her Creole ancestors cooked up some voodoo to make tasty even tastier. Josephine knows the secret ingredient: she comes from a long line of conjure witches with spellbinding culinary skills. Disenchanted, Josephine works as a carhop at Carl and Earl’s Drive-In. Just plain old hamburgers, hot dogs, and curly fries, nothing magical about them. She’s got bigger fish to fry, though, when a grease fire erupts into a devilish creature who hisses her name with desire. Turns out he’s the Ravenous One, the granddaddy of all voodoo spirits, and he’s hungry for her soul. Josephine thinks he’s got the wrong girl—she’s no witch—but a gorgeous, dangerous night-skinned lady named Shaula sets her straight. Josephine is one of the most powerful witches alive, so overflowing with conjure that her out-of-control cooking simply catches fire. Josephine would love to laugh this off, but Shaula warns her that she must learn to master her magic before the Ravenous One devours her soul. Spurred into action, Josephine breaks out her grandma’s old conjure cookbook and starts cooking. Nothing grand, just the usual recipes for undying friendship and revenge. But soon Josephine can’t escape the consequences of her conjure. When the people of Paris start turning into zombies with a strange fondness for cake, Josephine looks pretty responsible for their undead reawakening…

Purchase at Amazon, available now for kindle and in paperback!

 

About the Author

K. L. Kincy (Kirkland, Washington) loves zombies, though she hopes to meet only the cake-eating kind. Deadly Delicious is her first book for children. She has a BA in Linguistics and Literature from The Evergreen State College.

K. L. Kincy also writes for teens and adults as Karen Kincy.

Author Links:

Website ¦ Facebook ¦ Twitter

 

***Giveaway***

One paperback of Deadly Delicious by K.L. Kincy

Open to US only.

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BOTW - WEEK 47 {Wattpad}

A.B All For What Being Fat

Author: DiceFab

Genre: Teen Romance

Wattpad Book Blurb:

"Listen here I'm Fat I'm not saying I'm 200 pounds no, I'm 190 pounds but that's called fat at my school. I have been bullied for being 190 pounds no one loves or cares for me. I want to be wiped off this earth already why live if  No one cares for me."

Selene as in (Se-Len) she is picked on for her weight a girl that wants no trouble but yet it comes to her. One day it gets so bad that two girls almost beat her to death. But she will try to still stay to fight, will Selene ever find peace or someone at high school will help her find it?

Click here to read the book.

What I Saw

Author: VeryVeryMusical

Genre: Teen Fiction / Humour / Short Story

Wattpad Book Blurb:

As the title suggests, I will be narrating what I saw happening.                        

What I saw happening, was one of the most traumatic things I've ever seen.  

It may be weird, but what I saw is what I saw.

I doubt you can predict what I saw, till you actually see what I saw for yourself.                              

I sincerely hope you somewhat like it.

Click here to read the book.

Night in Gail

Author: JuveriaB

Genre: Horror / Mystery / Thriller

Wattpad Book Blurb:

Sometimes, to unravel a mystery, you have to look within yourself...

Detective Stones, from Homicide Squad at New York Police Department Detective Bureau, was assigned to a murder case that led her to a series of similar ones. Switching between her therapies and work was hard enough, unravelling herself was just a bitter add-on.

Will she ever get hold of the serial killer or she’ll just get hold of herself?

Click here to read the book.

Perception

Author: EvilGhost

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Wattpad Book Blurb:

It wasn't her demon, but soul, searching for freedom within.

It wasn't in her hands.

It was his lust that turned into love.

It was his promise that he broke.

And it was her turn to avenge the death that the broken promise brought.

Click here to read the book.

Wonderwall

Author: ilovebritishboys1

Genre: Teen Romance / Fan Fiction

Wattpad Book Blurb:

"Let go of me, you're hurting me"

"I'm sorry I didn't wanna hurt you" 

"Yes but you did"

"You wouldn't fucking listen to me! Now answer me why do you keep igno-"

"What the hell do you want from me?" 

"You!"....

Read the story of Zayn Malik and Alice Evans, two people very different from each other, that are determined to keep their love alive even at the darkest times. But is their love strong enough to overcome all the obstacles that show up?

Click here to read the book.

BOTW - List #47 {Wattpad}

BOTW WEEK 47:

Blog Tour Spotlight & Excerpt - Saving Raine (The Drone Wars: Book 1) by Frederick Lee Brooke

Saving Raine (The Drone Wars: Book 1)

Author: Frederick Lee Brooke

Genre: YA Dystopian / Thriller

Language: English

Format: Paperback & eBook

Book Description:

Matt, Raine went to California because her parents thought it was safe. It’s not. You’ve got to get her out as soon as possible. She could die, Matt.

When 19-year-old Matt Carney gets a cryptic message from his father telling him to go to California and save his girlfriend, Raine, he doesn't hesitate—he grabs his AK-47, revs up his blue pickup, and gets ready to make the 2,300-mile roadtrip.

But cross-country travel in 2021 isn't easy—or, sometimes, even possible. The U.S. has become a near-military state: 17,000 checkpoints severely restrict interstate movement, Predator drones target innocent civilians without cause, and explosions rock cities daily. Matt and his stepbrother, Benjy, face deadly attacks from a corrupt government, ruthless local law enforcement, and bloodthirsty terrorist groups as they embark on their trek. They're about to find out that their trip is much more than a private journey, and their success could change the face of the country—forever.

Can Matt and Benjy outrun the drone missiles raining down on their heads? Can they avoid assassination by government officials hell-bent on taking over what little is left of the country? Can they outsmart the deadly schemes set in motion against them?

Break the rules.

Save the girl.

He only gets one chance before she's gone forever.

Buy Links:

Amazon ¦ B&N ¦ Smashwords

Excerpt from Saving Raine (The Drone Wars: Book 1)

Thirty minutes later, armed with two boxes of posters and ten plates of bacon snacks balanced in a Safeway shopping cart, they went to the Radio Shack at the south end of the mall. They wheeled the cart into the store.

The sideburns of the man who greeted them tapered into lines that travelled along his jawline and met at his chin. The thin line of his beard accentuated his wiry frame. He had a sharp nose, close-cropped hair, and three silver hoops in one ear.

“You the manager?” Mel said. He had a poster in one hand and a plate of bacon-wrapped olives in the other. “You’re a patriot, right? You want to know if your customers are patriotic? We made these ‘No Bacon, No Service’ displays for your entrance. Kinda like a patriotic challenge. Try a tasty snack and prove your patriotism.”

The manager fingered the line of his beard. “Who’s behind this?”

“Hog Farmers of America,” Mel said, making up something fast. “Give your customers a tasty snack. Boost your business. We gift you the display, and this here supply of bacon treats, cooked right in the mall at Eddie’s Restaurant.”

“Eddie’s? I go there for lunch.”

“All you have to do is set up the display and offer one to every customer. You’re supporting Eddie’s and the Hog Farmers of America.”

The manager read the display. 

“Sure, we’ll try it,” he said. “Everybody loves bacon. If it’s popular, I’ll bring the bacon from home tomorrow.”

“That’s the ticket,” Mel said.

The manager ate one himself, then offered them to three other salesmen who had been watching. “Mmm, those are going to go fast,” he said. He stood the poster next to the cash register.

Next door was a bridal shop, fluffy white wedding dresses filling the window. Mel saw only women in the store. Mothers, daughters, and saleswomen.

“I’ll understand if you wanna wait outside, bro.”

Phil pointed to the next shop after the bridal store, a pet shop with rabbit cages and cat towers. “Me and Lil’ Lena gonna go hobnob with the hamsters.”

Mel took a plate of tiny sandwiches with cream cheese and bacon and one of the red, white, and blue displays, and went in the bridal shop while Phil rolled away with the cart. A little bell rang as Mel went in. A tall, thin woman with long black hair approached, swinging her hips like a TV model.

“Can I help you?”

“I got munchies for your customers,” Mel said. “Choosin’ a weddin’ dress takes a while, and they prob’ly get hungry while they’re lookin’ around.”

“What’ve you got there?”

“Bacon treats cooked fresh at Eddie’s Restaurant. See, we’re from the Hog Farmers of America, and we got these here displays for your fine store.”

He set down the display on the counter next to the cash register where she could read it properly. Prove Your Patriotism, Eat Bacon! The American flag had strips of bacon floating in the air around it.

“It’s very direct,” she said. Mel saw the woman blushing.

“Customers love it,” he said. “We’re providing the treats today, and we’ll leave the display here. You make the bacon starting tomorrow.”

A brown-skinned saleswoman came behind the counter, followed by a mother-daughter pair. The daughter had on a wedding dress. A little quadcopter zipped around snapping pictures.

“What’s all this?” the brown-skinned woman said once the customers headed to the back of the store again.

“This gentleman is with Hog Farmers of America,” the first saleswoman said. “He gave us this display, and these bacon treats.”

“Prove your patriotism?” the brown-skinned woman said. “I’m as patriotic as anyone else, but I don’t eat bacon.”

“Because?” Mel said.

“My religion forbids it.”

“Oh, I didn’t think of that,” the first woman said.

“How can a religion forbid something so good to eat?” Mel said, charming her with his smile.

“It’s offensive,” the brown-skinned woman said. “Thank you, but we’re not interested.”

“My religion says no fornication,” Mel said. “That don’t prevent people from doing it.”

“Please take your things and leave,” the brown-skinned woman said.

“Or stealing. Happens every day. You better keep your eye on her,” he said to the first woman. The two women frowned as he left, hands on their hips.

About the Author

Frederick Lee Brooke launched the Annie Ogden Mystery Series in 2011 with Doing Max Vinyl and following with Zombie Candy in 2012, a book that is neither about zombies nor sweets. The third mystery in the series, Collateral Damage, appeared in 2013.

Saving Raine, the first book in Fred’s entirely new series, The Drone Wars, appeared in December, 2013.

A resident of Switzerland, Fred has worked as a teacher, language school manager and school owner. He has three boys and two cats and recently had to learn how to operate both washing machine and dryer. He makes frequent trips back to his native Chicago.

When not writing or doing the washing, Fred can be found walking along the banks of the Rhine River, sitting in a local cafe, or visiting all the local pubs in search of his lost umbrella.

Author Links:

Website ¦ Facebook ¦ Twitter ¦ Goodreads

***Giveaway***

Kindle Fire HD 7'' or Kindle PaperWhite (winner's choice).

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3 Saving Raine autographed paperback copies.

3 Saving Raine ebooks (winners' choice of format).

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