YA Author Rendezvous

Thanks to all of you for patiently waiting for a new blog entry!  Take a look at some of these fantastic title that will be coming out soon! (And some already are!)

1/29 – Soraya: A Wielders of Arantha Prequel

On the planet Elystra, the all-female Ixtrayu tribe have thrived, hidden from their world’s male-dominated societies for eight centuries. Thirty-five generations of Protectresses have safeguarded their sisters from the men who would destroy them for the Elemental power they wield. But how did it all begin? .

Seeking riches and power, a band of vicious slavers steal twenty girls from their homes, as well as the Agrusian Stone, long fabled for its beauty and pricelessness. Among the abducted is Sahria, an eighteen-year-old novice, determined to free herself and return home. When the Stone unexpectedly imbues her with her god’s divine power, she realizes freedom for herself and her sisters is within her grasp … but to save them all would mean leaving behind everything she’s ever known.

With a slaver’s market looming, Sahria must make a choice: escape and return to the safety of her Order, or embark on a far more dangerous path, one where mere survival is only the beginning.

Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Purchase Soraya HERE

2/9 – The Gay Teen’s Guide to Defeating a Siren Book 2: The Siren
by Cody Wagner

 After months of hiding from the evil Siren, Blaize Trales returns to Sanctuary Preparatory Academy for answers.

Some things at Sanctuary haven’t changed. It’s still a secret high school for gay teens. Healing Hamburgers still taste like overcooked charcoal. And it’s still Blaize’s favorite place in the world.

Other things on campus will never be the same. The loss of a friend at the hands of the Siren haunts Sanctuary. The struggle to hide a newfound power sucks. And fumbling through a crush makes Blaize’s life even crazier.

The line between relationship and duty is wrecked when government agents, under the Siren’s control, invade Sanctuary. Blaize will have to choose between protecting himself and rescuing those he cares about.

Lucky for Blaize, he wields the ultimate weapon—being gay. And he’s still pretty good at it.

Genre: YA/Paranormal

Download The Siren HERE

2/9 – Me + You (Senior Semester Series Book 4)
by Gina Azzi

Eager for a career in government and excited to explore a new city, Emma Stanton is thrilled to accept an internship on Capitol Hill for the fall semester of her senior year of college. When unexpected financial difficulties arise, she trades happy hours with colleagues for a second job, serving at D.C. restaurant Barracuda. Prepared for a semester of long hours and little fun, Emma’s outlook brightens after meeting her boss, Luke Harrington.

Luke has worked toward one goal his whole life: becoming a professional boxer. On the brink of his title shot, he inherits his late uncle’s restaurant and hires Emma on the spot. When she proves to be more than just an employee, Luke struggles to balance his business, his boxing, and his desire to win Emma’s heart.

Coming from two different worlds, Emma and Luke skirt around their mutual attraction, certain they can’t fit into each other’s futures. But what kind of idealist doesn’t chase her dreams? And what kind of boxer doesn’t fight for what he wants? As their hearts collide, so do their worlds… even the dark parts that threaten to keep them apart.

Genre: NA/Contemporary/Romance

Download Me + You HERE

2/13 – The Art of the Swap
by Kristine Carlton Asselin and Jen Malone

Freaky Friday meets Downton Abbey in this middle grade mystery that features a modern day twelve-year-old switching bodies with a Gilded Age heiress in order to solve a famous art heist.

Hannah Jordan lives in a museum…well, sort of. She is the daughter of the caretaker for mansion-turned-museum The Elms in Newport, Rhode Island. Hannah’s captivated by stories of The Elms’s original occupants, especially Maggie Dunlap, the tween heiress subject of a painting that went missing during a legendary art heist in 1905.

But when a mysterious mirror allows Hannah and Maggie to switch places in time, suddenly Hannah is racing to stop the heist from happening, while Maggie gets an introduction to iPhones, soccer (which girls can play!), and freedoms like exploring without supervision. Not to mention the best invention of all: sweatpants (so long, corsets!).

As the hours tick off to the art heist, something’s not adding up. Can the girls work together against time—and across it—to set things right? Or will their temporary swap become a permanent trade?

Genre: MG/Science Fiction

Pre-Order Art of the Swap HERE

3/5 – Warrior (Dragon Tamer Book 1)
by J.A. Culican and J.A. Armitage

Free the dragons? Piece of cake.

Genre: YA/Fantasy

Pre-Order Slayer HERE

3/9 – The Trail Rules (The Rules Series Book 1)
by Melanie Hooyenga

Junior year’s looking up for sixteen-year old Mike. Her new BFF isn’t a sadistic control freak, her boyfriend adores her, and she’s learning to bike in the mountains without decapitating herself on a tree.

Well, almost.

When she meets a group of riders who welcome her into their pack, she feels like she’s finally found where she belongs. One particular rider—a boy with an amazing smile and an even more amazing ability to see what she’s truly capable of—gives her the confidence to go after what she wants: her own life with her own rules.

There’s only one problem—he’s not her boyfriend.

Just as things seem to be falling into place, her parents put on the pressure to figure out her future—one that doesn’t include riding. Mike soon realizes that having everything isn’t that great when she’s not the one choosing it. She needs to decide if she’s going to continue to be a follower or step out of the shadows and find her own trail.

Genre: YA/Contemporary

Pre-Order The Trail Rules HERE

3/26 – Arcadia (Secrets of Aurora Book 3)
by L.J. Higgins

Aurora knows the truth about who she is, but her father’s final secret could change everything. Seth is her twin brother – and it’s the one secret she’s not sure she wanted to uncover.

Just as she has barely processed the revelation, she’s awoken at gunpoint by the very boy who has thrown her entire world off kilter. He’s unpredictable and dangerous, and her group of rebels can’t let him go now. Their priority is seeking the final piece of the pendant, hoping that the one who holds it can tell them what comes next.

Aurora doesn’t believe she can see her brother as anything other than cruel and malicious, but she soon learns there’s more to Seth than meets the eye.

When confronted with someone from his past, Aurora knows her fate rests in his hands. When allegiances are tested, can Aurora trust that blood is thicker than water?

Pre-Order Arcadia HERE

So many great new books from our group this spring!!

Genre: Kids/Picture

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3/8 – Paranormal Painless: A Supernatural World of Stranger Things (A Young Adult Ghost Story)
by Shannon Rieger

3/14 – Skipping Forward
by Bethany Wicker

What if you could skip forward in time, but never back?

Molly Jacobs has always wished for more time in life. But for Molly, time doesn’t work the same as it does for others because she suffers from time skipping. At least, that’s what she calls it.

From the age of seven, Molly discovers her ability to jump into the future. But it doesn’t come without a price. With each time skip, memories of those seconds, minutes, or hours of her life are lost.

Molly never cared until Rhett enters her life. Now, time has meaning, and as they grow closer together, pieces of their time together disappears. Molly needs to learn discipline and control, before she loses the essence of her life.

Genre: YA/Sci-Fi/Time Travel

Purchase Skipping Forward HERE

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3/31 – We Thought We Knew It All
by Michelle Lynn

Much can happen in ten years. People change. Life occurs; death ensues. Secrets are kept; truth prevails.

A decade has passed since Callie and Jamie exchanged goodbyes. At the time, they didn’t realize it might be their final exchange, and they’d disappear from each other’s lives. But that’s exactly what happened. Now, Callie finds herself at a crossroads. Caught between her current life and the longing for her past, she must decide what is best for her.

Jamie has worked hard to make something of himself — to prove his father wrong. Life as an Army Ranger isn’t easy, but it’s who he is down to his core. When everything starts to crumble, he receives news from home that makes him think about his life. Earlier, he vowed never to set foot in Gulf City again. Now, there’s no reason he can’t go home.

Except there is… And her name is California McCoy.

Genre: YA/Contemporary/Romance

Purchase We Thoughts We Knew It All HERE

Genre: YA/Paranormal

Author Spotlight: K.J. McPike

By Michelle Lynn

What are the titles of your work and can you tell us a bit about them?

The first book in my Astralis series is XODUS, and it tells the story of Lali Yavari, a girl who discovers she can astral project. She then goes on to use her newfound ability to bargain with a questionable boy who claims he can find her missing mother. The next book is Nemesis (book 1.5) that tells the events before, during, and just after XODUS from said questionable boy’s perspective.

Who’s your favorite character from your books?

It’s always hard to pick a favorite, but if I had to, I would choose Kai. (Yes, Kai is the aforementioned questionable boy.) I love that he challenges Lali’s black-and-white view of the world and makes her reevaluate right vs. wrong in certain circumstances. I hope he makes readers think twice, too.

I’ve never quite read a book like XODUS. That’s huge in a world where everything seems done to death. How did you decide to write about astral projection?

Aw, thank you! Astral projection is a subject that has always fascinated me. Growing up, my mother talked about astral projection a lot, and I latched onto the idea when she mentioned that some people claim they have been able to talk to deceased relatives while projecting. I never quite managed to do it myself (though I tried so hard!), but when the inspiration for XODUS hit and I decided I wanted to write about a bunch of siblings who have various abilities, astral projection was the first one that came to mind. Thanks, Mom!

I won’t give anything away, but in XODUS, the two main characters who everyone expects to fall in love have some major hurdles that may leave the reader not rooting for them until the next book. Most authors want you to immediately fall in love with the characters. Was this a hard decision?

It wasn’t a hard decision at first because it was how the story originally came to me, and I didn’t really picture it going any other way. But when I really started obsessing about the market and what readers seem to love about other books in the genre, I started to second-guess myself. Who doesn’t love two soul mates coming together in a relationship that is undeniably meant to be? But that wouldn’t have been true to my characters, and I think it would have taken away from the story. One of the major themes of the book centers around morality and understanding circumstances, and a major part of Lali’s growth is linked to that. So I kept the story-line as it was, for better or for worse. Here’s hoping readers will forgive me.

The second book in the series is written in quite a unique way. Can you tell us about that without giving any spoilers?

The second book Nemesis—which is technically book 1.5 just to complicate things—was my way of letting Kai have his say. I think his character is easily misunderstood, and when reading from Lali’s perspective, it’s easy to look at him as she does instead of seeing exactly where he’s coming from. Though his actions are questionable from the outside, I think most people in his position would make similar choices. My hope is that readers of Nemesis will recognize the tricky spot Kai is in and question how far they would be willing to go for their own families.

Were there alternate endings that you considered?

Not with dramatic differences. I struggled with where exactly to end the story, but the major events were pretty much always going to go the way they went. Sorry if that’s a boring answer!

What authors have inspired you to write?

I will forever be in awe of J.K. Rowling and her incredible ability to connect with so many different types of people through her writing. She’s also incredible at world building and planting seeds that seem small at the time but then become huge plot points later. I loved writing before those books came out, but when I decided I wanted to write a book of my own, I definitely had in mind how much I loved reading the Harry Potter series and how I wanted my writing to make reading that enjoyable for someone someday.

What age were you when you started writing?

I started writing stories when I was about ten, shortly after my family purchased a word processor. I thought typing was the coolest thing ever, and I spent countless hours whipping up crazy stories about environmentally conscious whales working to clean up the ocean and baby dinosaurs wreaking havoc on unsuspecting families. I also thought it was super cool to make all my characters’ names rhyme, so yeah…probably not my best work.

Do you ever experience writer’s block?

All the time! It’s the worst, but I try to force myself to write anyway, even if what I’m writing has nothing to do with my current work in progress. For me, the key to beating it is to write through it.

Do you work with an outline, or just write?

I try to work with outlines, I really do. It’s just that I’m terrible at it. Even if I manage a coherent outline, I will inevitably change everything as I start writing. Planning and I just can’t get along.

Do you ever get sad when you realize that the characters that you’ve created aren’t real?

What do you mean they aren’t real?! Hehe, I do feel a very strong attachment to my characters, despite the mean things I do to them in my writing, and I have been known to talk about them as if they are real people. But deep down, I have accepted that they aren’t real. I think…

Can you tell us about your challenges in getting your first book published?

My biggest challenge with XODUS was letting it be done. It took me nearly three years to write it, and I am incapable of reading something I’ve written and accepting it. I always want to change things. Eventually, someone had to pry it out of my hands and tell me to stop obsessing, but it was so painful!

If you had to go back and do it all over, is there any aspect of your novel or getting it published that you would change?

The main thing I would change about my publishing journey is that I would have studied marketing and begun building my author platform sooner. I didn’t do either of those things until after XODUS was published, so now I’m trying to play catch up.

Can you tell us about your upcoming book?

My upcoming book is called Tenuous, and it is the official book 2 of the Astralis series. In it, Lali and her siblings end up in trouble of the time traveling variety. *cue maniacal laughter*

Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?

Write every day, and read every day. Both are equally important. Also, join at least one good writing group where you read each other’s work and give each other honest feedback. The groups are great for keeping you accountable and for bouncing ideas off people who truly understand the writer struggle.

Do you have any strange writing habits?

I’ve been told that I write in strange positions. For some reason, I always seem to feel more comfortable with one leg propped up, and when I’m doing the standing desk thing or curled over my laptop on the sofa, that can get pretty interesting. My boyfriend went on a kick where he would sneak pictures of me writing in my crazy positions, and once he’d collected enough of them, he decided to share them with me. It was then that I realized my problem.

What others are saying about K.J. McPike:

“I loved how the book could make me hate a certain character and then root for them and sympathize with them at the same time.” 

“I really enjoyed XODUS. It was well-written, cleverly plotted, and full of twists and turns.”

“I am in love with the style in which K.J. McPike writes. The story and wording has a way off pulling you right in from the get go making it very hard to put down. So good in fact, I had it read in two days.”

Want to learn more about this wonderful author? She has a website!

Check out K.J. McPike’s page on YA Author Rendezvous HERE!

Find here on Facebook HERE!

Learn more about the YA Author Rendezvous HERE!

by Patrick Hodges

Several great books to tell you about coming out soon!

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12/16 – Swords & Stilettos (Enlighten Series Book 1) by Kristin Van Risseghem

Genre: YA/Fantasy

Available for Order on Amazon HERE

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1/7 – The Keeper of Dragons: The Elven Alliance (Keeper of Dragons, Book 2) by J.A. Culican

Genre: YA/Fantasy

Available for Order on Amazon HERE

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1/16 – Dark Fire  by Bethany Wicker

Genre: YA/Fantasy

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1/17 – All the While (The Senior Semester Series Book 3)  by Gina Azzi

Genre: NA/Contemporary

Available for Order on Amazon HERE

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1/17 – Dark Legends by J.A. Culican, G.K. DeRosa and 18 other authors

Genre: YA/Fantasy

Available for Order on Amazon HERE

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1/24 – Train I Ride by Paul Mosier

A beautifully poignant debut perfect for fans of authors such as Rebecca Stead and Sharon Creech and books like Ali Benjamin’s The Thing About Jellyfish. When Rydr travels by train from Los Angeles to Chicago, she learns along the way that she can find family wherever she is.

Rydr is on a train heading east, leaving California, where her gramma can’t take care of her anymore, and traveling to Chicago, to live with an unknown relative. She brings with her a backpack, memories both happy and sad, and a box, containing something very important.

As Rydr meets her fellow passengers and learns their stories, her own story begins to emerge. It’s one of sadness and heartache, and one Rydr would sometimes like to forget. But as much as Rydr may want to run away from her past, on the train she finds that hope and forgiveness are all around her, and most importantly, within her, if she’s willing to look for it.

Genre: YA/Contemporary

Available for Order on Amazon HERE

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1/27 – Soul Sanctuary (Book Two of the Spirit Shield Saga) by Susan Faw

A temple awakened. The forbidden mountain stirs.The dead are missing.

Snatched from her home by a Primordial Seeker, seventeen-year-old Avery is imprisoned by the people she intended to serve. In a desperate bid for freedom, she escapes, only to find herself racing against time to save those who seek to use her.
Driven by jealousy, the lust for power and the stain of ancient crimes, conflicting factions struggle to gain control of the magic of a Spirit Shield. Avery must dodge all who cross her path, for each group vies to control her actions.
Aided by the mythical creatures of her native land, she discovers that a true Spirit Shield is much more than a simple priestess. She must fight for control of the souls of the world, and in doing so must face her worst fear of all: family.

Genre: YA/Fantasy

Available for Order on Amazon HERE

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Late February – Action Figures Book Six: Power Play by Michael Bailey

One of our super-heroes is missing.

It took a devastating attack on Kingsport to reunite the Hero Squad, but their reunion proves short-lived after Lightstorm vanishes following the battle, leaving the team without its most powerful member at the worst possible time.

Damage Inc. is back and more dangerous than ever, thanks to the mysterious mastermind known only as the Foreman arming them with enough firepower to take on the Hero Squad — but for what sinister purpose? The Squad is determined to find out, but the answers could cost them dearly.

Psyche takes center stage for this game-changing chapter in the Action Figures saga, which includes the bonus short story, Action Figures – Live Free or Die.

This is when everything changes!

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by Patrick Hodges

Several great books to tell you about coming out soon!

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9/27 – The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot: Assassins Brawl by Michael Bailey

You’re invited to the wedding of the year! In lieu of gifts, the bride and groom humbly ask that you do not try to murder them.

After barely surviving Habbatarr the lich-lord and the Dead City of Hesre, Derek Strongarm and Felix Lightfoot and their companions are ready for some well-deserved rest. All they want now is good food, cold beer, a warm bed, and maybe a few days without someone trying to kill them.

And then they encounter a damsel in distress and, well, so much for that idea.

The damsel in question is the Lady Alyssa Spendle, a spoiled noble promised to Lord Paradim as part of a brokered political marriage, and the distress comes in the form of a determined group of kidnappers looking to make a quick profit off Alyssa’s ransom.

Derek and Felix learn there’s much more to this plot, and the heroes soon find themselves entangled in a vast conspiracy that threatens to topple a kingdom and take them down with it in the process.

Get ready for another wild adventure with Strongarm and Lightfoot as they fight for their lives against backstabbing thieves, cutthroat mercenaries, the crime lords knows as the Seven Jewels, and the mysterious assassin Ruined Isys.

Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Available for Order on Amazon HERE

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10/20 – The Longest Night Watch, Volume 2: A Charity Anthology for the Alzheimer’s Foundation featuring Debbie Manber Kupfer

A year ago, a group of authors got together to pay tribute to Sir Terrence “Terry” Pratchett, a fantasy genre giant and a sufferer from Alzheimer’s. They formed “The Longest Night Watch,” and, not content with one anthology, went on to enter writing team competitions and plot a follow up volume. And they found other like minded authors, bringing them into the Watch. The book that you hold in your hands is the culmination of fun and of reflection, a celebration of speculative fiction and an introspective into the lives and minds of Alzheimer’s patients and their families.

Genre: Gen. Fiction/Anthology

Available for Order on Amazon HERE

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11/12 – The Keep (Converters Book 2) by Tenille Berezay

After a pardon from the convergence, Desiree returns to the protection of home. But safety is an illusion and her family is shattered by the violent retribution of a desperate enemy. On the run again, Desiree struggles to keep those she loves from a host of gathering threats—debilitating doubts, manipulative converters, dark technology, and a murdering madman. To save them all, Desiree will need more than her ability to convert, she’ll need to redefine her strength.

THE KEEP is the dramatic sequel to THE CONVERGENCE; a continuation of Desiree and Blake’s story.

Genre: YA/Sci-Fi

Available for Order on Amazon HERE

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11/15 – The Mentor, a Wish, & an Angel by Kristin D. Van Risseghem

Kieran’s job of being a guardian angel is straightforward: observe and learn—and don’t intervene in their lives. But then he watches as his first charge dies at the hands of evil while he does nothing to help.

Overcome with grief and doubt, Kieran flees back to the sfety of heaven. With guidance from his mentor, he learns all he can about the Battle of the Fallen and the creation of evil itself. With renewed determination, he vows he will save the Ordinaries in his care.

The rules of being a guardian angel have not changed, but Kieran has. Returning to earth, only Kieran knows how essential it is to find and protect one 17-year-old girl. The girl who can thwart the Devil’s escape from his prison and the start of Armageddon.

Genre: YA/Fantasy

Available for Order on Amazon HERE

by Patrick Hodges

Several great books to tell you about coming out soon!

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7/27 – Dreams (New Beginnings Book 3) by Michelle Lynn

Moving on is the hardest thing she’ll ever have to do.

Taylor Scott sees the world differently than she did a year ago. She’s no longer the love-sick teenager, quick to smile and full of joy. Now she’s the broken college student just trying to get through the day without letting her feelings overwhelm her. It isn’t until she meets Josh that pieces of herself she’d lost start falling back into place and she can finally see that it’s okay to be happy again.

Josh Walker is a professional athlete who has always avoided distractions. His career is just getting started and he works harder than anyone else. Hockey is his life. It’s the only thing that makes sense to him. When a new coach joins the team, it’s his daughter that threatens to complicate everything. He wants to help her. Needs to help her. But when he needs her to do the same, he finds out what she’s really made of.

No one ever told him that the hardest part of his hockey career wouldn’t have to do with hockey at all.

Genre: NA/Romance

Available for Order on Amazon HERE

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7/31 – Wilder Destimy by G.K. DeRosa

The life of a Guardian is a dangerous one, and with everything Celeste has lost in the past year, will she find the strength to continue on?

Battling the growing evil inside her proved to be Celeste Wilder’s most formidable challenge—and the fight isn’t over yet. As her Guardian skills continue to strengthen and tangle with the power of the Albsurori ring, new and old enemies emerge to conspire against her and the Constantin brothers alike.

When news breaks about an attempt to free Brazen, the rogue Alpha, Celeste must rely on unlikely allies, causing her to question the loyalties of everyone around her. With Alek looming continuously in the background and Brazen’s foreboding final words to her, there seems to be no end in sight to the struggle.

To top it all off, Roman has always remained by her side, but the discovery of another Wilder family secret may threaten their future forever.

Genre: YA/Fantasy

Available for Order on Amazon 

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8/10 – Unexpected Rewards (Not Every Girl #2) by Jane McGarry

Olivia Davenport is looking forward to her future. After all, Prince Liam has pro-fessed his love and King William has promised her a reward for her role on a recent mis-sion. She fully expects to continue her knightly training while enjoying a blossoming ro-mance with her Prince. The King, however, has other ideas, appointing her as a lady-in-waiting to Queen Helen.

Thrust into unfamiliar territory and left to fend against the malicious women of court, Olivia feels awkward and confused. With the help of her new friend, Kat, and her sister, Anne, she tries to find her footing among the courtiers, their protocol, and the added complication of Jocelyn Crawford, a lady who has her eyes set on becoming Liam’s bride.

When, a disturbing prophecy puts the safety of the King in question, fear spreads through kingdom. Intrigue abounds at the palace with an enigmatic witch and a strict Friar at the center of the controversy. Olivia must use her training and instincts to unravel what is truly going on in order to protect the King. Through it all, she questions if she will ever be able to fit into Liam’s lifestyle or if their relationship is not meant to be.

Genre: YA/Fantasy

Purchase on Amazon HERE

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8/19 – Type X (Project W.A.R. Book 2) by M.A. Phipps

No matter what I do, no matter what steps I take to avoid it, I’m always playing right into somebody’s hand.

Playing the role I was destined for.

Two years have passed since her willing return to the DSD, and Wynter Reeves is no longer the timid girl who only wanted to blend in. Strong, confidant, and in control of her once debilitating powers, the world trembles at her feet while news of what she’s capable of spreads like fire among the State’s enemies. As the death toll rises and Dr. Richter further warps her into a weapon of war, Wynter is forced to embrace the daunting reality of what she’s become. With the remnants of her humanity hanging on by a shoestring, she must choose between the one sacrifice that could lead to her salvation or the dark path of destruction from which there can be no return.

Torn between two sides of a war she never asked for, will Wynter find her freedom, or will she be doomed to remain a monster forever?

Genre: YA/Dystopian

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8/23 – Locksmith’s Journeys (Locksmith Trilogy Book 2) by Paul Briggs

Lachlan Smith knows when the world ends.

He doesn’t know how.

When 12-year-old Locksmith found a portal to a hundred years in the future, he discovered a world where no human had lived for decades. Now Lock and a small group of his family and friends are exploring the ruins of the future to learn its secrets. At the same time, they’re trying to keep those secrets from the world of the present… all while maintaining the semblance of a normal life.

The more they find, the more they realize that if they’re going to prevent the end of the world, they can’t do it by themselves. But who can help them? And who can they trust with the portal and the power it represents — the power to reshape the future… or destroy it?

For Locksmith, new discoveries, hard choices and dangerous journeys await.

Genre: YA/Sci-Fi

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9/20 – Daughter of Deaths (The Scythe Wielder’s Secret Book 3) by Christopher Mannino

Two years ago, Susan Sarnio was brought to the World of Deaths.

Fighting sexism and bullying, the first female Death helped reinvent the College. Now, her friends journey deep into the heart of enemy territory, hoping to rescue her.

Ancient secrets come to light. The horrifying truth behind Susan’s arrival in the World of Deaths is at last revealed. War erupts between Dragons and Deaths, and the fate of three worlds hangs in the balance.

The epic conclusion to The Scythe Wielder’s Secret.

Genre: YA/Fantasy

Pre-order from Amazon HERE

by Patrick Hodges

Several great books to tell you about this month!

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5/22 – The Legend of the White Peacock (Legends from Around the World Book 1) by Kristen Iten 

Enter the jungle with a young Indian girl, as she braves the night in search of a magical bird of legend. It will take all of her courage to break with tradition, and realize her secret wish.

Sometimes the best things in life are not free, but who will pay the price? Find out in this story of compassion and sacrifice.

If you are a fan of Disney style artistry, you will fall in love with the illustrations in this book! Inspired by traditional Indian art, the illustrations in “The Legend of the White Peacock” will take your breath away. This book is sure to be enjoyed by your intermediate reader, as well as the entire family!

Genre: Children/Geography & Cultures

Available for Order on Amazon HERE

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5/23 – War of the Networks (The Network Series Book 4) by Katie Cross

Never Underestimate the Power of a Desperate Witch

With the Central Network entrenched in war and teetering on the brink of destruction, eighteen-year-old Bianca Monroe is determined to defeat Mabel’s powerful Almorran magic by finding the Book of Light.

During an attempt to save a burning orphanage, Bianca finds herself caught in a trap. Mabel kidnaps her, taking her to the hot sands of the Western Network where things are not as they seem. Mabel is more dangerous—and unhinged—than she’s ever been before.

War of the Networks is the fourth and final book in the thrilling fantasy collection The Network Series. It’s a gripping tale about compassion, forgiveness, and surviving against all odds.

Genre: YA/Fantasy

Available for Order on Amazon HERE

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5/31 – Magic in Clearview (Xavier #4) by E.M. Cooper

As the final battle draws closer, Xavier seeks the beekeeper of Clearview and guidance from the ledger. From Griswold College to every corner of Clanarde, the threat from demons and the Darklaw grows.

In the back of Xavier’s mind, Father Augustine’s final warning causes him to doubt and question all the angels he has ever encountered. At the same time Xavier’s closest friends face stunning revelations about their heritages, while another must come to terms with a devastating experience.

Genre: YA/Fantasy

Available for Order on Amazon HERE

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6/1 – The Last Nine Winters of Cade Finley: A Sirens of Falkeld Novella by Julie Tuovi

Aidan Finley dreamed of marrying the girl with the red hair who stole his heart as a lad. He dreamed of a family and growing old together in a cottage atop Muireall’s wind-swept cliffs.

But Aidan didn’t know what swam beneath the island’s dark, fathomless waves.

He never realized what fragile things dreams can be.

After a storm ravishes the island one summer day, he finds a creature caught beneath a rock in a cave. His choice to save her will alter his world forever—for even dreams aren’t safe from the siren’s song.

Genre: YA/Fantasy

Available for Order on Amazon HERE

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6/24 – Woven Peril (The Aylosian Chronicles Book 2) by Jeffrey Collyer

The Guardian’s forces may have left the forest, but they haven’t departed from Michael’s mind as he struggles to learn what his enemy will do next. Torn between feelings of guilt and love, he must now push ahead to find mythical halls deep in the earth, where secrets from the distant past are spoken of, and new riddles unearthed.

Entering dark paths, Michael must learn to use his growing power if he is to discover that which will save the land, at the same time as trying to protect those now under his care from new and deadly monsters sent to hunt him.

And all while he struggles to understand mysteries surrounding his mother.

Woven Peril is the thrilling second book in the Aylosian Chronicles, and continues the epic tale in a world of unusual magic and unique creatures. If you enjoy stories with a combination of action, tenderness and thoughtful wisdom, the Aylosian Chronicles is sure to be a series you’ll enjoy.

Genre: YA/Fantasy

Available for Pre-order on Amazon HERE

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7/1 – Gather the Sentient (The Sevens Prophecy Book 2) by Amalie Jahn

What if a group of psychic strangers came together to save the world?

There will come a day when seven psychic children of the light and seven psychic children of the dark will be born. From the moment of their birth, strong powers will be in place to bring the seven light together and the seven dark together to form two separate but equally powerful groups. The first seven to gather all in one place will seal the fate of the world – dark for hell, light for heaven. At that point the seven deadly sins will take over the world or cease to exist.

After Mia is rescued from the trafficking ring’s basement brothel, she and Thomas begin putting both their lives and the pieces of the Sevens Prophecy together, but quickly discover there may be little hope for the light psychics.

Little do they know that the powerful forces alluded to in the prophecy are already working to bring the light psychics together. Unfortunately, they’re bringing the dark psychics together as well.

As both sides of the prophecy gather, which group will ultimately decide the fate of the world?

Genre: Mystery/Paranormal

Available for Pre-order on Amazon HERE

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7/8 – Audette of Brookraven (The Eldentimber Series Book 4) by Shari L. Tapscott

The Final Chapter in The Eldentimber Series

When Audette pictured her wedding day, she never imagined leaving her intended at the alter. And though Irving, a prince with a reputation for trouble, never cared to picture the grand event (and had rather hoped he could somehow avoid it altogether), he certainly wouldn’t have imagined being abandoned.

But when Audette receives a cry for help from the mysterious, secret order she leads, the princess doesn’t think twice about jilting Irving. With her brother and closest friend at her side, and her loyal order of knights anxiously awaiting her arrival, Audette travels to the distant island kingdom of Ptarma, not once expecting Irving to follow her.

But that’s exactly what he does.

Now, trapped together until the ships sail again in spring, Audette must learn to get along with the infuriating prince if she’s to track down the darkness that’s wreaking havoc in the night. For in the shadows, the dark beast of legend looms, and only together will they have a chance of defeating it…

Genre: YA/Fantasy

Available for Pre-0rder on Amazon HERE

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7/19 – Ignite (The Resistance Series Book 3) by Tracy Lawson

The Greatest Risk Is To Take No Risk At All

Nationwide food shortages have sparked civil unrest, and the Office of Civilian Safety and Defense’s hold on the people is slipping. The Resistance’s efforts to hasten the OCSD’s demise have resulted in disaster, with Tommy Bailey and Careen Catecher taking the blame for the ill-fated mission in Tommy’s home quadrant, OP-439.

Both teens struggle to survive the circumstances that force them into the national spotlight—and this time, they’re on opposite sides. On the run and exiled from his fellow Resistance members in remote BG-098, Tommy makes his way to a Resistance safe house in the capital. The OCSD is preparing to monitor all under-eighteens with the Cerberean Link, a device that protects them against hunger and sickness and can even locate them if they’re lost. Tommy’s now living in close quarters with Atari, an operative who has been assigned to sabotage the Link. But does Atari plan to use it for his own purposes?

Through it all, Tommy refuses to believe Careen’s loyalties have shifted away from the Resistance, and he’s willing to assume any risk to reconnect with her. Will they be able to trust each other when it matters most?

Genre: YA/Dystopian

Available for Pre-0rder on Amazon June 19

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7/27 – Kiss Me Goodnight in Rome (The Senior Semester Series Book 2) by Gina Azzi

Why did Mia Petrellla ever make such a drastic life change? Spending the fall semester of her senior year in Rome is a huge leap outside of her comfort zone and she’s a nervous wreck. But then something unexpected happens.

During her first hours in Rome, she meets Lorenzo Barca, a charming Italian waiter with deep blue eyes and a devilish wink.  From their first encounter, Lorenzo catches Mia off-guard with his piercing gaze and friendly banter. Maybe her adventure abroad will be more surprising, and less nerve-wracking, then she thought?

Lorenzo Barca is fed up and done wasting his time waiting tables at his family’s restaurant when he could be living his life. The life he should be living. The life he wants to be living. And it doesn’t include serving loud American tourists espresso. Until one of those American tourists turns out to be a sweetheart with chocolate eyes and a beautiful smile.  Soon, Mia Petrella has Lorenzo not only showing up for work, but looking forward to it.

Mia and Lorenzo build a friendship that blossoms into love, but they both hold back as Mia’s departure date and the transition to a long-distance relationship is inevitable. When Lorenzo makes a series of shocking discoveries regarding his family, his future, and Mia, their bond threatens to snap, shaking them both to the core.

Can Mia and Lorenzo trust each other enough to build the future they both desire?

Genre: New Adult/Contemporary Romance

Available for Pre-order on Amazon HERE

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by Patrick Hodges

Several great books to tell you about this month!

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2/27 – Twisted by Elizabeth Montgomery

Who could’ve known one pair of shoes could cause so much trouble.

Dee’s lost the sparkly red heels, and when she befriends a witch to help her find a way home, she finds herself down the rabbit hole. With the veil between Wonderland and Oz torn wide open, things go awry.

The flying monkeys are loose in the Kingdom, Hatter is lost on the sun-colored brick road, and betwixt a battle of the worlds, the Red Queen seeks power, but all Dee wants is to go home.

Genre: YA/Paranormal

Link to the Book on Amazon HERE

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3/14 – The Lost: Tales of the Ablockalypse Book 2 by David H. Scott

Steve was destined to be a hero. Or maybe he wasn’t. To be honest, he wasn’t sure anymore. But since the monsters won’t stop spawning and attacking his village, he finds himself forced into the role. Along with his friends, his dog, and an impossibly red dragon, he is determined to bring peace to all block-kind.

Genre: Middle Grade/Fantasy

Purchase The Lost HERE

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4/1 – Tales from P.A.W.S. by Debbie Manber Kupfer

Cats and Wolves and Tegs – Oh my!
Meet Alistair, Ramora and Griddlebone in three stories from the world of P.A.W.S.

Genre: YA/Fantasy

Available for Pre-order on Amazon HERE

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4/13 – The Passage, a Dance, & a Little White Dress (Enlighten Series Book 2) by Kristin D. van Rissegham

It’s been a week since 17-year-old Zoe Jabril found out her best friend is a Guardian Angel, her boyfriend is a Nephilim, and a fellow classmate is a Fairy. What makes Zoe so special? She’s destined to unify Enlightens to battle evil—that is, if Demons don’t kill her first.
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With “Project: Enlightens Unite” underway, Zoe learns the history of the area wolf pack and realizes she’s in a race against time to get her newly discovered talents under control. Despite struggling to fight a mysterious attraction to her new neighbor, rescue her boyfriend from Demons, and travel into Fairyland to convince the Summer King to join the fight, Zoe must still attend high school classes so her nosy parents don’t suspect anything is out of the ordinary before Demons can mount another attack.

Zoe will need all the help she can get, from the most unlikely of sources, if she’s to save her boyfriend’s life and prevent the Devil from escaping Hell on her eighteenth birthday.

Genre: YA/Fantasy

Available for Pre-order on Amazon HERE

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4/30 – Mourning Memories (Liliana Book 2) by Lauren Mayhew

SECRETS. LIES. DECEPTION.

Having managed to free herself from Duana’s prison, Liliana Frye still needs to find her family. Samson, her brother, her fiancée Asher and best friend Justin have waited 174 years to see her again, but she still doesn’t know exactly where they are.

A letter from her father reveals secrets about Liliana that will undoubtedly change her world. She begins to realise why Duana so desperately wants to steal her powers and is determined to never let her complete her aim to become the most powerful Custos the world has ever seen.

New friends are made, old friends return and Liliana needs to decide who she can trust.

Genre: YA/Paranormal

Available for Pre-order on Amazon HERE

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by Patrick Hodges

Several great books to tell you about this month!

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2/20 – Battle of Green Isle (Xavier Book 3) by E.M. Cooper

In book three of the Xavier fantasy series, Xavier Jones and his best friend and guardian angel, Gabe are released from the dungeons of St Griswold College. They must find a way to reach Green Isle where Mortimer and his men are fighting those intent on conquering Clanarde—demons, gargoyles and the Darklaw. In the quest to fulfil his destiny, Xavier discovers the first secrets of the mysterious Celestial Ledger and witnesses a horrifying event in the grounds of St Griswold College.

The Xavier series is set in the year 3016 and war is raging on Kepler, a planet settled by travellers from Earth 500 years earlier. Angels, demons and wraiths are battling in the night skies over the island of Clanarde. In a dystopian landscape left ravaged by the Great Atomic War 300 years ago, men, wizards and the original island’s inhabitants fight with gargoyles, shape shifters and the Darklaw using everything from physical combat to old magic. At the centre of the battle, young Xavier Jones fights his inner demons while trying to fulfil his destiny to save the children of St Griswold College.

Genre: MG/Fantasy

Visit E.M.’s Amazon Author Page HERE

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2/21 – Dark Winter: Last Rites by John Hennessy

The final chapter in the Dark Winter series.

What would you risk losing, in order to win?

As the Crescent Moon set on that last day of winter, the residents of Gorswood realised that the horrors that had been contained in the woods for so long, had finally risen, and were coming for them.

With the fate of Romilly, Beth, and Gorswood’s greatest ever witch uncertain, an age-old evil senses its time has come, threatening to cover the inhabitants of Gorswood in a new and never ending terror.

Even if the newest owner of the Mirror of Souls is to prevail, at what cost will her victory be?

Meanwhile, the last rites on a long dead demon need to be performed. But her spirit resides in the most terrifying place of all, meaning that a choice will have to be made.

A choice that will affect the entire world…..

Genre: YA/Horror

Link to the Book on Amazon HERE

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3/7 – Sophie’s Different (James Madison Series Book 3) by Patrick Hodges

Middle school is all about fitting in. It’s about not standing out. After all, kids can be cruel.

Sophie Devereaux doesn’t fit in. She and her two best friends, Marissa and Michelle, are seen as misfits. Things only get worse when Sophie runs afoul of Alexis, the most popular girl in school.

Ayden Saunders doesn’t fit in. Tragedies in his life have caused him to retreat into the shadows, where he watches his classmates from afar and fantasizes about being a superhero.

When Ayden overhears a plot to ruin Sophie’s life, he knows he can no longer sit on the sidelines. The two of them soon discover, to their amazement, that life is not about fitting in, it’s about being true to who you are.

Genre: YA/Contemporary

Visit Patrick’s Amazon Author Page HERE

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3/15 – Griddlebone (Tales from P.A.W.S. Book 3) by Debbie Manber Kupfer

The werecat flexed his claws, as he waited in the shadows. Griddlebone wished he could rescue them all, but his orders were clear. He could only take one …

A short story from the world of P.A.W.S.

Genre: YA/Fantasy

Visit Debbie’s Amazon Author Page HERE

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3/25 – Choices by Michelle Lynn

Do you promise you’ll always be here for me?

It was a game they played, only it wasn’t a game. Maggie Marks held on to Elijah’s childhood promises as a way of escaping a life that was far from perfect. Elijah Lugo was her neighbor, her best friend, her family. He was everything her parents refused to be, everything she needed. He was her first kiss and a witness to more of her father’s drunken rants than she could count. He was there at her wedding and then held her when it all fell apart. Elijah was in love with her, but she was afraid loving him would eventually mean losing him too.

They were no longer kids, pretending everything would work out in the end.

When Maggie’s father reenters her life in an unexpected way, revealing long held secrets, her world is turned upside down and she will need Elijah more than ever.
A story of friendship and family. The promises you make and the ones you keep.

Genre: Romance/Contemporary

Visit Michelle’s Amazon Author Page HERE

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