Sneak Peek + Book Playlist + Giveaway: Breathing Ghosts by Laekan Zea Kemp

Title: Breathing Ghosts

Author: Laekan Zea Kemp

She is a winding cosmos, bleeding and bursting into night. She is a dream. She is dead.

River has just lost the one thing that matters most to him—Nia—and all she’s left behind is a pile of scribbled love notes detailing their past and a pin-holed map planning out their future. Hopes and dreams confined to one dimension now that she’s gone and River’s too afraid to leave his hometown, crippled by the same anxiety that’s plagued his mother for as long as he can remember.

But after a strange encounter with the only girl he ever loved a week after laying her to rest, River, armed with nothing but her map and his memories, decides to finally leave and never look back. And with the help of a pair of eccentrically named siblings as well as a mutt with three legs, he sets out to do the very thing Nia always knew how to do better than he ever could—live.

From the moonlit beaches off of Florida’s east coast, to the forests of Mississippi, to Bourbon Street, Cadillac Ranch, and the Arizona desert, River is faced with not only Nia’s ghost but his own and he learns that in life there are no accidents, only miracles.

Hi there everyone! I am so excited to be featuring Laekan and her book, Breathing Ghosts here on the blog today! This is one book that I unfortunately have not read yet BUT am super freaking excited to hopefully read sometime here in the very near future. Laekan has put together an awesome sneak peek of the book, as well as an amazing book playlist and giveaway for all you lovely book nerds. Check it all out below and please let us know what you think in the comments section!

SNEAK PEEK:

I was standing on the beach, her note twisted in my grip. We’d barely spoken in a week but then I was leaving work and I saw the strip of paper tucked underneath my windshield. It said to meet her. That she was sorry. And yet there I was, watching the waves lap at her from a distance, hair already wet and hanging down her back, as if I was the one who should be sorry.

Because I’d said no.

She’d asked me for one thing. To go with her. And I’d said no.

I finally waded out to where she was waiting on the first sand bar.

After a long pause she said, “I’m sorry.”

“I know.”

She reached for my hand and I reached back.

“I’m sorry too,” I said.

“Don’t,” she stopped me.

We waded out a little farther and she floated onto her back. I watched the night ripple over her, stars flush to her skin. She slipped out of her bathing suit, the fabric floating there atop the water as the moon pooled across her skin, light bleeding into her navel, down between her breasts.

My fingers crawled across her skin and she pulled me under. I found her lips, bodies pouring into one another while the light danced above our heads. She led me toward the air again, her eyes catching the night’s flame, flickering there in the dark.

“Do you think this is what it feels like?” she said.

“What?”

“Do you think this is what it feels like to be dead?”

“What do you mean?”

She kicked, floating onto her back again, stars tangled in her hair.

“This drifting. I bet it’s warm. I bet it feels like a wave pulling you away from shore.”

“No,” I said, afraid.

“Do you think there are stars? Do you think you can get tangled in them?”

“There’s no heaven for stars.”

She stood, facing the moon. “Unless that’s it.”

“Maybe,” I said, still watching her.

“Maybe. Sometimes I wish I could remember,” she said. “Like maybe it would give me permission to be sad. Like maybe then Mari wouldn’t hate me.”

I didn’t know what to say.

“Do you think she’ll ever forgive me?”

Then I remembered what day it was. The day her father had died.

“You don’t need that from her,” I said.

“Yes I do,” Nia breathed. “Today I do.”

Tears slid down her neck and into the water. I reached for her.

“I hope this is what it’s like.”

Nia held her breath, letting go of my hand, and then I watched her sink.

BOOK PLAYLIST:

What Laekan has to say about a few of the songs:

Love and Other Planets by Adem: The title is actually taken from this particular song. I really love that whole album and, for me, those particular lyrics were just the right amount of haunting yet hopeful–something I really tried to capture in Breathing Ghosts.

Ethiopia by Red Hot Chili Peppers: When I pictured this story as a film, I always imagined this song playing over the credits because it perfectly sums up the emotional journey I wanted River to go on from living life as if everything is a tragedy to living it as if everything is a miracle.

WHERE TO FIND THE BOOK:

Goodreads // Amazon // Barnes & Noble

GIVEAWAY:

5, yes you read that right, FIVE lucky winners will be receiving an e-copy of Breathing Ghosts all thanks to the wonderful Laekan. All you have to do is fill out this form! Best of luck!

Sneak Peek + Giveaway: Rowena’s Revenge by Theresa Marguerite Hewitt

Title: Rowena’s Revenge (The Broadus Supernatural Society #5)

Author: Theresa Marguerite Hewitt

Expected Publication: 10/31/13

Rowena’s life has never been easy.

Being part Were and part Fae fire-starter she has learned to live a solitary life, depending only on her own instincts until one mistake throws her into danger. Now being chased by a psychopathic Warlock who is bound and determined to “own” her, Rowena must rely on her newly found mates and family. But is she ready to trust? Or will her damaged heart plunge her into darkness?

Blaine is a strong wolf, wanting to protect his new mate with his life. When a new man comes into her life, he can’t help but be jealous. Will it drive him into betrayal? Or will he accept their new life too late?

Penton has lived hundreds of years looking for his mate. Now he’s found her, but can he keep her safe long enough to get her back to Montana?

Will one of these three pay the ultimate price for love? Or will evil finally descend upon Broadus, Montana and The Big Sky Pack?

SNEAK PEEK:

  <Insert typical nightly news intro jingle>

“Hello and thank you for joining me for this special news cast on this 24th day of December, my name is John Kinglander.

Tonight we discuss the ever changing world of supernaturals in today’s society, and mainly the small, quiet town of Broadus, Montana; where lately a lot of activity has been centered.

This little town, just off of Route 212, is home of the Big Sky Pack. This Pack is unlike most you and I are used to. They have members of all shifter types; wolves, mountain lions, tigers, bears, and even razorback boars. They’ve come to accept all supernatural types when a special woman stepped into their lives almost five years ago.

Ask any of the locals, as I spent most of last week doing, and they will tell you that their lives changed the day Siofra O’Hana, now Siofra Johnson, stepped into their towns, and they all told me it was for the better. The consensus was that this fiery mother of six has strengthened their Pack more than any of them could fathom possible.

It started when she was kidnapped from a wedding dress shop by a former lover, thought to be dead by her and all those that knew him. She was held in an abandoned barn, beaten and almost rapped, but as I got from my interview with her, she never once worried about herself. She only wanted her Pack, her fiancée, and her son to be safe; she could’ve cared less what her ex-boyfriend, his brother and their rag-tag bunch of wolves did to her.

Her husband, Conall, and her mates, Abe and Dyson, gladly stepped in, saying that Siofra is much stronger than she gives herself credit for. I can’t disagree.

After surviving the kidnapping, Siofra was confronted with her relation to creatures of the Fae and her father, Ancient Druid and advisor to the Fae royals, Shamus. Siofra embraced her white wolf and learned that she also carried magical powers; all while being hounded by the evil Prince of Elves, Bronton. The malicious Bronton brought war to Broadus’ backyard and the Pack fought as one.

They drove the prince’s army of Trolls off, but not without great sacrifice. Siofra was driven into a coma, leaving her husband and Pack mates to worry about her for weeks on end. As we can all see, she returned and the Pack moved on, stronger than before.

We all know that life is not without its tragedies, and in my opinion Siofra and her family have suffered more than their fair share. A Christmas Eve car accident drove Siofra into a deep depression, and the Pack into a funk.

“We didn’t function like normal wolves. We were more like zombies without her laughing and smiles,” her brother-in-law, Pack Alpha Mike Johnson, said when I interviewed him.

Finally bowing to the need for help, Siofra traveled to a nearby town, seeking group therapy. There she met a friend, Nikki, and ran into her unknown mate Dyson Killian for the first time. All was not well in Broadus as everyone suspected and there were dark things on the horizon.

Siofra couldn’t know that a vengeful soul would bring an ancient demon into her life. Possessed and wanted, Siofra was kidnapped again and held hostage in the dark Pryor Mountains; the home of the Elves. Tortured and rapped, Siofra thought all was lost, but that at least her family would be safe. Learning she would bring the end of the known world, and reuniting with a loved one, though deceased, she vows to get her revenge.

Penton, former Prince of Elves and now reformed advisor to the Fae, travelled to his home land to rescue Siofra, bringing her through the portal that lies at the back of her property. They weren’t alone though, and as Siofra struggled with a heartbreaking decision, her Pack fought off Trolls and other dark magic creatures around her.

In my opinion, Siofra is one of the most self-less people I know. That night as war raged around her, she sacrificed a piece of herself to bring an end to evil. The decision hung heavy on her heart and she decided to run, to transport herself using her magic to a place she thought safe and away from danger.

Turning to a friend of the family, Madame Petit, a former Pack leader and acclaimed Witch living in New Orleans, Siofra was handed another surprise. She once again found that fate handed her another mate in the form of Were-tiger, Abe. With his help, and that of new vampire friends, Siofra began to heal and accept that she needed to go back to her family and Pack.

A powerful, magic wielding, and mind reading Werewolf such as Siofra can’t go unnoticed, and the former Master Vampire from Las Vegas took a special interest in her, chasing her from New Orleans back to Broadus, evading the scope of even the F.S.C.C.A.. He used an army of Ghouls, a force of decoys, and finally kidnapping her oldest son as tactics to draw Siofra out.

“It really wasn’t that big of a decision. He had my son, I needed to get him back, and I knew that my father and my mates were there if I needed them,” Siofra said about her following the Master Vampire to his lair in Las Vegas. The demise of the vampire was caught on amateur video and became the YouTube hit that we all know.

When asked whether or not she thought the camera phone video hurt the image of supernatural creatures, Siofra replied, “No, I don’t think it hurts our image. Human take retribution too, but you send those people to jail. We have our own laws, and humans happily let us abide by them. I only wish that I didn’t look so fat in the video. I know I was pregnant at the time, but dang. I look like a hippo.”

All lightheartedness aside, Siofra and her Pack have encountered many obstacles and overcome them all, coming out stronger and wiser in the end. Now, well now we turn our attention to the wilderness of Maine and the plight of Siofra’s half-sister, Rowena.

She burnt down a nightclub owned by a prominent vampire in New York City, but was broken out of jail by a rogue Berserker wolf. Can she find her way to Broadus to be safe?

We’ll find out next time. Thank you for tuning in, and have a wonderful night.

For Channel 12 News, I’m John Kinglander. Goodnight.”

<Insert typical outro News jingle> 

Now, please enjoy Chapter One of Book 5 in the Broadus Supernatural Society Series

ROWENA’S REVENGE 

CHAPTER ONE: 

December 24, 2016

Rural Maine

The snow is falling in large clumps around me as I huddle up to a large pine trunk, the burning and stinging in my calf radiating up through my leg. Damn silver, I curse in my head as my breath steams around my face. I never asked for this.

All I ever wanted out of life was to be left alone. To be left alone so that the fire inside would slowly burn out without hurting anyone.

But no, it couldn’t happen that way. That dirty, sadistic, son of a bitch Master Vampire Livius had to ruin everything in the one night I spent in New York City. He was a creature of power, not used to hearing no, and when I had told him that I wasn’t interested in him he had tried to rape me. I burned his ass alive, along with most of his hoard, earning me a cell in an F.S.C.C.A. holding center.

My saving grace was a bouncer from the club Livius had owned. I had only shared a fleeting moment with him that night, but catching his scent had been the best thing to happen to me in years. Blaine D’Oro broke me out of that dank cell in NYC, and we’ve been on the run since.

We were doing fine up until about two hours ago, and the gunshot in my leg is a testament to that. The Berserker wolves chasing me aren’t far behind, but they are up wind from me and I can hear their shouts in anger because they’ve lost my scent.

“Where the fuck is she?” one growls, the sound echoing through the quiet woods.

I don’t want to be standing here when they come around, so taking a deep breath, feeling the cold hit my lungs and the pain in my leg, I slink along the tree trunk and head deeper into the trees. Trying not to brush too many branches and leave a trail, I can feel the blood running down into my boot as I limp along, succumbing to the metallic bite of the silver bullet and falling to my knees beside an old Birch.

“If you can hear me, please listen,” the whisper of a voice meets my ears and I search the darkness around me; my eyes shifting into their feline counterpart to reflect the moonlight. Seeing nothing, I just focus in on the sounds of the men coming after me.

“Rowena,” the whisper comes again, this time stronger, freezing me in my tracks. My fingers dig into the tree bark at my back and I look up to the moon, searching it for an answer as to this strange voice. I brush back the silver strands of my hair and close my white-blue eyes to focus.

“You’ll be safe here. I’m your sister; your family,” I hear it again, coming to me on the slight breeze, and I have to stifle a laugh. I have no family, at least not since my mother’s death when I was twelve years old. There has been no one for me, except the black and silver haired man in my dreams, claiming to be my father, but that’s all that they have been—just dreams.

The day my mother killed herself I was cast out of the small shifter town we had been living in; twelve years old with only a change of clothes, a bottle of water, and a bag of venison jerky to help me on my journey. They didn’t like the idea of the cursed, silver haired, freak eyed girl hanging around their pure blood children, so I was sent on my way.

So how is this voice on the breeze getting to me? How does it know my name? I think to myself as the footfalls of the two wolves tracking me catch my attention again, this time being dangerously close. I squeeze myself tighter to the trunk, the fear building within me as I frantically look for a better hiding place.

“Where the fuck did she go? We shot the bitch; she couldn’t have gotten too far.” The raspy voice fills the bone chilling air, and I know it’s now or never to hide.

Taking a deep breath, I push off from the tree and start the shift from human to my were-snow leopard form. The crack of my bones and the shifting of skin is a fairly silent process when you have it under control, but being chased by Weres, they’ll sense the magic in the air in an instant, so I find the biggest, lowest lying pine and slink underneath it, tucking my long tail up along my body and positioning myself so that I’ll see their approaching legs and feet.

I can hear them sniffing wildly, and a low growl rips through the one I’ll call ‘Rubber Boots’, due to the thigh high waders he’s wearing right now. Their quick footsteps bring them to the edge of the tree I’m hiding under, and I’m thankful for the still breeze right this instant, because if it kicks up they’ll know where I am right away and I’ll be in for a good fight.

“She’s got too big of a bounty on her head for us to lose her. That honcho down in NYC says she burnt up his kid or somethin’. We’ll be set for a lifetime when we find her, so put your damn nose down and search!” The one in the camo pants growls at Rubber Boots and they circle a tree nearby.

I can see Camo Pants’ hand on the trunk of the tree, and it quickly shifts into the Berserker state as he catches a scent; the fingers elongating and sprouting hair, the nails razor sharp and digging into the bark. I can hear both of their breaths coming heavy and quick, and then they stop, the stillness of the night taking over, and a dark feeling settles in my bones.

The hair stands up on the back of my neck and I slouch closer to the truck, my claws instinctively flexing from my paws as their legs turn in my direction. They quickly move to the branches at the edge of my hiding spot just as a breeze kicks up, bringing the stale scent of beer and a hint of something else my way, perking my senses.

Camo Pants’ hand comes down onto the bottom branch and my muscles tense, my ears pressing into my head as I’m ready to issue a warning hiss. No doubt they’ll only laugh at me—damn cocky wolves—but my bite is a hell of a lot worse than my hiss, so they should be ready.

Just as the branch starts to lift, the breeze kicks up again with a ferocious hiss, whipping the snow into my face and causing the two wolves to stumble back, swearing. Shaking the snow from my face, I hear a thud and the wolves growling. Turning my attention back to their feet, I see a third pair of legs joining them now as their voices rise, snarls and growls filling the air for only a second before the distinct sound of steel leaving leather, and a bright streak of silver flashes before my eyes.

I hiss in a breath as Camo Pants and Rubber Boots’ heads hit the snow and roll away. Their bodies fall like chopped trees, the blood spurting from their necks, and I’m slightly frozen in fear. It happened so fast. The glinting silver of a sword catches my attention, and I gulp at the blood dripping from the very sharp looking blade; the crimson tainting the pure white snow around the legs of the wielder.

There is nowhere for me to go, and as I see the long fingers wrap around the branch, I let out a hiss that vibrates through my entire body. I can feel it all the way down into my feet. His crouching slows as my warning turns into a low rumble, my throat raw and heated from the exertion.

“Now, now,” a smooth, deep voice washes over me, followed by a low chuckle, and I feel calm immediately, confusing the hell out of me.

The branch lifts up, showering me with needles, and through the dark I can see his eyes. Eyes just like mine; the white-blue color seeming to glow in the moonlight, and they lock onto mine. A slow wind brings a whiff of sun ripened apricots to my nose, and I can’t keep my eyes from closing, a low moan rumbling through me.

What the hell? I shake myself, causing more needles to rain down on my coat, and I turn my attention back to this man crouched before me.

He is lean and muscular, his Peacoat hanging open to reveal a form fitting shirt giving away his muscle tone. I’m guessing he notices me checking him out, because a smirk tugs at one corner of his mouth, the simple action setting a fire deep within me, and I shift back into human form to keep it at bay.

On my hands and knees before him, I see his eyes roam my body and his nostrils flare, taking in my scent. I’m breathing hard, the steam forming around me in rapid clouds as I try to slow the fire of desire building within me. His scent is doing something to me and my leopard is pacing within me, stoking the flames even more.

“Come on, Rowena, there is no need to fear me.” His voice is soft this time, and I can see the sincerity in his eyes. Those damn eyes, so much like mine. My stare moves to the sword in his other hand, the blood still dripping, and he drops it in the snow, reaching the hand out to me.

“How do you know my name?” I breathe out, brushing the hair from my eyes as I try to shuffle out without taking his hand. I mean, really? I just witnessed him behead two men in the blink of an eye, and he wants me to trust him? I don’t think so; not even with this inferno of lust burning within me for him.

The pain from my gunshot wound returns and I fall to my elbows, wincing and hissing through my teeth as I feel the silver bite further into my flesh. Pushing back the waves of nausea, I look back up and see that his hand is still outstretched; a concerned look on this stranger’s face.

Oh, what the hell? I think to myself as I reach out and grasp it. My breath catches in my throat as his fingers link around mine, lightning bolts flowing out and over my skin, gathering in my core, and I can feel the familiar tingle of my fire roll over my body. If I’m not careful, I’ll burn down this entire forest in a second, so I let him pull me from my hiding spot.

Trying to keep my weight on my uninjured leg, I stumble and fall into his chest. Oh God, it’s rock hard. I try not to let his body heat get to me as his arms go around me to keep me on my feet, but damn does he feel good. He even smells good.

As he holds me to him, I spare a look up into his eyes and see that he has a small smile on his lips. Perfect lips; luscious even, begging me to bite them, and I have to look to the snow and suck in a breath to reign in my raging desire.

“I know an awful lot about you,” he whispers, his eyes roaming my face as I look back up at him. I need to step back before my flames burst out and hurt him, so I jerk from his hold, wincing as my injury burns through my calf muscle. He keeps his hand wrapped around mine, and I see his attention float to my leg.

“What?” I have to pause and take a second as my head spins, and I’m cursing those wolves for shooting me again. The man’s arm wraps around my waist, tugging me into his side. “What’s your name?”

He smiles sweetly, and my heart feels like it might burst at the sight. His face is so handsome; strong jaw and nose, no facial hair, and close cut midnight black hair wet with the falling snow. He almost seems too perfect to be real. I cock my head in an almost awe like state and notice that his ears have a slight point to them, spiking my curiosity.

“My name is Penton,” he says as I reach my right hand up slowly and hesitantly brush my fingertips along his ear. His eyes flutter shut as I run my fingers over his skin and through his hair, the smell of apricots filling the air around him as his eyes fall on me again, bathing me in un-restrained lust and desire. The degree of it almost frightens me as I move my hand to his cheek and feel him lean into my touch.

As I see a naughty little grin play across his face, I feel the dizziness and weight of my blood loss and I teeter in his arms, almost falling, but he catches me by shooting his hands into my armpits. I can hear myself let out a strangled laugh, but my mind is floating, the darkness filling my vision.

“Were you the voice? The voice I heard?”

“No,” he chuckles, his smile seeming brighter than the mid-day sun, and I can’t take my eyes from it, the sway deepening in my stance and the blurriness in my vision fading in and out. So he wasn’t the voice I heard on the wind, but who was?

“Take me back to Blaine,” I manage to get out as I feel him lift me into his arms, holding me tight to his chest. “Take me to Blaine. He’ll help us.”

Then I’m out, the only feelings rolling through my body is the heat from his closeness and the inferno threatening to burst from my core. My libido wars with my mind for the split second before I’m out, this stranger pulling at every fiber of carnal need within me.

What have I gotten myself into?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Theresa Marguerite Hewitt is a very laid back person; enjoying the simpler things in life more than most sometimes. She grew up in a very, VERY small town in Central New York and she will always be a Redneck Woman.

She loves reading, writing, taking long pointless drives and long dusk time walks. Fall and winter are her favorite times of year and she spends more time outside then than in the summer. She loves hearing from fans and is not above fan-girling on those that show her tons of support.

She donates the profits from the Amazon sales of her military series, The Wakefield Romance Series, to various military charities including; Wounded Warrior Project, Red Circle Foundation, Boot Campaign and others.

She is addicted to the cheap-Harlequin romances you can pick up in most drug stores and cannot go in and out of a store without picking up at least one. She resides in Buffalo, NY with her boyfriend, two dogs and two cats.

Facebook// Twitter // Blog // Goodreads Book // Smashwords // Amazon Author

GIVEAWAY:

Theresa is giving away a $10 giftcard (winner’s choice) and 3 swag packs! Please follow this link to enter the giveaway!

HOSTED BY:

Tune In Tuesday (128)

Tune In Tuesday is a weekly feature in which bloggers get to showcase another one of their loves, music! This feature was originally created by Ginger over at GReads! but you can now find it here at Kate’s Tales of Books and Bands. If you would like to participate in this weekly feature, make a blog post showcasing a song (or a few!) and link up at the bottom of this post by clicking the cute blue guy! While you’re here make sure to check out all the other awesome blogs that have decided to participate!

So I thought I would have a little bit of fun with today’s post. Last year around Halloween time, I made up a music post in which I posted a lot of music that reminded me of Halloween because I found it chilling, haunting, or down-right creepy. Today I am doing something sort of the same, but also not really. Instead of the actual songs reminding me of Halloween, today’s songs have names that remind me of Halloween. The result is…eclectic to say the least. I hope you enjoy!

Tie Your Monster Down by Quiet Company

Monster by Imagine Dragons

Wooden Bones by Pilot Speed

Ballroom Bones by The Ceremonies

Psycho Killer by Harper Blynn

The Kill by 30 Seconds To Mars

Ghost by Belle Histoire

Ghost To Me by Youth Lagoon

LINK UP HERE:

NOVEMBER’S THEME IS…..

Since November is my birth month and the 90’s is my birth decade, I thought t would be fitting to make November “Tune In Tuesday: 90’s Edition.” For those of you just tuning in, we like to switch it up every other month by having a special theme for Tune In Tuesday. This special theme is by no means required just a way to make Tune In Tuesday extra fun. I hope you all have been brushing up on your old school hip hop, boy bands, grunge, and punk. I cannot wait to see what songs you have to share!

Thank God It’s Indie Friday (1)

TGIIF is a new feature here at Kate’s Tales of Books and Bands in which I will feature an indie author and indie band/musician every week. If you are an author or musician interested in being featured, please check out this blog post for more information!

To kick off my very first TGIIF, I will be introducing a few of my favorites. Raine Thomas, indie author, is not only kick-ass when it comes to writing books and making up book playlists, but she is also one of those people I just want to squeeze. Her kindness and generosity knows no bounds. As for today’s indie artist, I had a super non-difficult time selecting them. The Avett Brothers have become one of my all-time favorite bands over the years. Since their beginning they have been putting music out there that is original, meaningful, and oh so amazing. While they are now signed to Ramseur Records, their dedication to staying themselves and putting music out there that truly means something regardless of what is popular, makes them one indie band that everyone should be lucky enough to listen to.

Today’s Indie Author Is…

Raine Thomas!

Raine started up her own publishing label, Iambe Books back in 2011. Since then Raine has published 9, yes I said NINE books. With her Daughters of Saraqael series, her Firstborn trilogy, and two AWESOME NA Romances under her belt, there is something there for EVERYONE to enjoy.

For today’s post I am going to be featuring all of Raine’s books in one post. I’ve compiled a list with covers, links as well as all of the fun stuff Raine has participated with here on the blog. Please be sure to share some love for this author because she made of pure awesome.

       

The Prophecy (Daughters of Saraqael #.5)

Goodreads // Amazon // Barnes & Noble

Becoming (Daughters of Saraqael #1)

Goodreads // Amazon // Barnes & Noble // Book Review

Central (Daughters of Saraqael #2)

Goodreads // Amazon // Barnes & Noble

Foretold (Daughters of Saraqael #3)

Goodreads // Amazon // Barnes & Noble

   

Defy (Firstborn Trilogy #1)

Goodreads // Amazon // Barnes & Noble // Book Playlist

Shift (Firstborn Trilogy #2)

Goodreads // Amazon // Barnes & Noble // Book Playlist

Elder (Firstborn Trilogy #3)

Goodreads // Amazon // Barnes & Noble // Book Playlist

 

For Everly

Goodreads // Amazon // Barnes & Noble // Book Review // Book Playlist

Meant For Her

Goodreads // Amazon // Barnes & Noble // Book Review // Book Playlist

About The Author:

Raine Thomas is the award-winning author of a series of YA fantasy/romance novels about the Estilorian plane, including the Daughters of Saraqael trilogy and the Firstborn trilogy. She is also the author of the bestselling New Adult Contemporary Romance, For Everly, and the much-anticipated spin-off, Meant for Her. She is a proud member of Romance Writers of America and is a contributing blogger to The Writer’s Voice. When she isn’t planning weddings, writing, or glued to social media, she can usually be found on one of Florida’s beautiful beaches with her husband and daughter or crossing the border to visit with her Canadian friends and relatives.

Twitter // Facebook // Goodreads // Pinterest // Linkedin // Website // Blog

Today’s Indie Artist Is…

The Avett Brothers!

Brothers Seth and Scott Avett have been sharing music long before The Avett Brothers were an actual thing. And now with Bob Crawford and Joe Kwon on board, they have released an insane amount of music that my ears can’t seem to get enough of. I’ve got all sorts of links for you to check out below as well as a Spotify playlist of their music. Enjoy!

Website // YouTube // Twitter // Facebook

Tune In Tuesday (127)

Tune In Tuesday is a weekly feature in which bloggers get to showcase another one of their loves, music! This feature was originally created by Ginger over at GReads! but you can now find it here at Kate’s Tales of Books and Bands. If you would like to participate in this weekly feature, make a blog post showcasing a song (or a few!) and link up at the bottom of this post by clicking the cute blue guy! While you’re here make sure to check out all the other awesome blogs that have decided to participate!

Hi there everyone! How is your week going so far? For me it is full of suck considering I have work non-stop not to mention that tonight I have work until midnight and then have to be back to work at 6 a.m. the next (same?) morning. Gag me now please. Anyways, the really super awesome, non-sucky part of my week is the MUSIC! I am oh so excited about today’s band ESPECIALLY because they are another NoiseTrade find and I sort of want to squeeze them and love them. Who is this band I speak of? Well they are called Wild Child and if you are a fan of The Head and The Heart or even Of Monsters and Men let me first commend you on your brilliant taste in music and second, tell you that you need to give this group a listen. I obviously have much love for them. Take a listen to a few of my favorites below (even if their album Pillow Talk is worth a full listen) and let me know what you think.

That’s What She Say by Wild Child

I LOVE this version of the song!

Someone Else by Wild Child

I love that this song starts off so sweet and by the end it turns kind of evil but it is still so much fun!

Pillow Talk by Wild Child

This song…it’s just so effortlessly adorable and I have decided that’s why it’s my favorite.

LINK UP HERE:

Now Introducing: Thank God It’s Indie Friday!

Hi there everyone and welcome to the launch of a new feature over here at Tales of Books and Bands, Thank God It’s Indie Friday or you know, we could also call it TGIIF for short.

I’ve known for a while I wanted to do a feature that would include both my love for books and music but the tough part was actually coming up with something. After some intense brainstorming sessions (i.e. I sat at my computer looking up funny pictures online) it finally dawned on me. Out in the world of books are awesome Indie Authors. Out in the world of music, there are fantastic Indie Artists. Why not combine the both and have an awesometastic weekly feature that showcases both?

Each Friday I hope to be sharing one indie author with you along with one indie artist. For the bookish side of this feature I could be gushing about an author I’ve read before, flail over an author I’m excited about, or even (as you’ll read more about below) I will have an indie author take over my blog for the day. When we flip over to the music side of things, I will feature an indie band/musician that I enjoy listening to. Odds are this will be a mix of YouTube videos, Spotify playlists, and even if we’re really lucky, (again, as you’ll read more about below) I’ll have an artist/musician take over the blog for the day!

And now I shall explain what there is to explain when I said “as you’ll read more about below.”

I debated if I wanted this to be all authors and artists that I find on my own. But then the more I thought about it, the more I realized, I could find and feature a whole lot more authors/artists if I opened up sign-up forms. So what this all means, if you are an indie author or an indie musician, read more below and you could potentially sign up to be featured on a TGIIF post!

INDIE AUTHORS:

If you are an indie author (small press authors count too!) interested in being featured here on the blog, please make sure you are either a Young Adult author, a New Adult author, or Adult Romance/Contemporary Fiction author. I hate to limit it but seeing as those are the types of books I read and review here on the blog, I would like to stick with that. Being featured can mean a number of things:

-You could write up a guest post on why you chose to go the indie/small press route, the struggles you’ve had going indie, and the awesome success you’ve had with going indie.

-You could share an exclusive sneak peek of one or more of your indie books here on the blog.

-You could host a giveaway of one or more of your indie books.

-You could become the apple of my eye if you wish to feature a book playlist (notice how I like to mix music with my books?) over one or more of your indie books!

-Other ideas or suggestions? I am completely open to any that you may have!

So if you are an indie author and you 1) meet my few requirements and 2) this sounds like something you would be interested in, please fill out this form or feel free to email me at katelynsblog[at]aol[dot]com

INDIE ARTISTS & BANDS:

If you are an indie artist or band interested in being featured on a TGIIF post, please make sure you check out my “Music To Check Out” page. While my musical tastes are eclectic and I am pretty much thrilled to feature any musician here on the blog, I would be doubly thrilled if they were somewhat similar to music I tend to go for. Being featured as an artist/band is going to be a lot different from an author but there are still some different things we can do:

-A typical feature post, in which I will showcase one (or a few!) videos (preferably YouTube ones) of your music.

-A guest post talking about being an indie artist/band. Tell us what it’s like making, producing, selling, and performing all your own music.

-You could giveaway your album, your EP, your song, or even some merch!

-Or you know, if you have another idea, please feel free to let me know!

So if you happen to be an indie artist/musician/band interested in being featured on a TGIIF post, please fill out this form or feel free to email me at katelynsblog[at]aol[dot]com!

Blog Tour: PostApoc by Liz Worth

Title: Postapoc

Author: Liz Worth

Pages: 184 paperback

Publisher: Now or Never Publishing

Sole survivor of a suicide pact, Ang has fallen into an underground music scene obsessed with the idea of the end of the world. But when the end finally does come, Ang and her friends don’t find the liberation they expected. Instead, those still alive are starving, strung out and struggling to survive in a world that no longer makes sense. As Ang navigates the world’s final days, her emotional and physical instability mix with growing uncertainty and she begins to distrust her perception in a place where nothing can ever be trusted for what it seems to be. Bleak and haunting, “PostApoc” blends poetry and punk rock, surrealism and stark imagery to tell the story of a girl wavering at the edge of her sanity.

I am very excited to be part of the blog tour for PostApoc! I was so excited to read and review this dark, edgy book. I was about 25% of the way through the book when my Nook decided to go kaput on me. Unfortunately this means I will not have a review for you today BUT I can tell you what I learned in those first few chapters. Liz’s writing is enchanting. While the story (at least so far) isn’t necessarily something I go for, Liz’s beautiful, almost lyrical writing will suck you in.

I apologize for not having a review for you all today (I WILL have one up as soon as I get my Nook fixed) but I hope you check out the book regardless!

BOOK PLAYLIST:

You can listen to the track that Liz has selected as her book’s soundtrack here!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

At just 31 years old, writer Liz Worth has blown readers away with stunning poetry and a fascinating tribute to Toronto’s music scene.

Worth has worked as a journalist, but these days, she is mostly focused on poetry, fiction and performance art. Her writing has been published in Exclaim!, Dead Gender, Carousel, The Toronto Star and Broken Pencil.

She published a collection of poetry called “Amphetamine Heart” (2011, Guernica Editions) and the non-fiction book, “Treat Me Like Dirt: An Oral History of Punk in Toronto and Beyond” (2009, Bongo Beat/ECW Press) that gave an in-depth account of Toronto’s earliest punk scene. She has written three chapbooks – “Eleven: Eleven,” “Manifestations” and “Arik’s Dream”

Worth’s latest work, “PostApoc” comes out Oct. 15 from Now or Never Publishing. Excerpts from the book have appeared in Dead Gender and Carousel.

Worth lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Author Website
Twitter
Facebook

Goodreads

Amazon

WHERE TO FIND THE BOOK:

Amazon // Barnes & Noble

Blog Tour + Book Playlist + Book Review + Giveaway: Meant For Her by Raine Thomas

Title: Meant For Her

Author: Raine Thomas

Pages: 337 pages

Publisher: Iambe Books

My Rating: 4/5 Stars

Source: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest and thoughtful review

Photographer Sierra Stratton views the world through a lens all her own. She has an uncanny sense about people, something that often causes her trouble. When she meets the sexy and brooding Evan Dorsey, her intuition tells her he’s suffering, and she wants to be the one to help him.

Evan isn’t open to help from anyone, however. His focus is on his Major League career and making himself as marketable as possible for his upcoming free agency. He plans to ride out the season in Atlanta and then sign with another team, away from the painful memories that haunt him.

Someone’s eager to send him on his way, too. Between anonymous threats and equipment sabotage, it’s clear he’s earned himself an enemy along the way. To him, it’s one more sign that he’s right to move on.

But Sierra threatens his conviction. Her contagious smile proves hard to resist, as does her kiss. She tempts him in ways he never anticipated, making him question his plans for the first time. If he’s not careful, she might just convince him that he’s meant for her.

Raine Thomas has yet again impressed me with her Contemporary Romance writing abilities. Sierra and Evan’s story was a story filled with a little bit of darkness, a little bit of healing, and a little bit of love and compassion.

Evan was a difficult character to really grasp at the begging. Since the story is told through dual points of view, I would see the way he treated Sierra through her eyes which wasn’t always all that great and then switch over to Evan’s point of view and witness the reasons behind his actions which didn’t necessary excuse his actions but at least give me some insight into the real Evan. Despite the gruff, distant attitude he has at the beginning of Meant For Her, the more time Evan spends with Sierra, the more we are able to see how much pain he carries around with him. Right along with Sierra, I took the simple joys of every little piece of progress that Evan made; haring a piece of his past, hanging out with his friends, smiling every now and then.

Sierra is the definition of a carefree, easygoing, free spirit. Everything about this character was truly good. She was passionate about everything she cared about from her photography, to her family, to her friends, and to even complete strangers. I just appreciated how easy of a character she was to love. As Evan’s neighbor and also being the niece of his professional baseball team’s manager, Sierra decides she is just the person to break down Evan’s walls and get to the root of his pain and despair. And considering this character has enough love and caring within her to put the rest of us to shame, she is the perfect option.

Reading about Evan by himself was enjoyable but not without struggles. Reading about Sierra by herself was inspiring and touching. But reading about the two of them together was a completely different story. I LOVED the connection these two had. Sierra knew Evan harbored deep pain before she ever even spoke to him. On the flip side, Evan has been lost for a long time but even more so during the past year but Sierra changes something for him. It is because of her he can finally begin to heal, learn to trust and care for others, and even open up about himself. I also love that this relationship was not without struggles. Sierra pushes Evan too far, Evan pushes Sierra away. Evan allows Sierra to get too close and then he closes off out of fear. But despite all of the problems that their relationship faced, there was enough romance, compassion, and natural chemistry between these two to make it all worth the read.

On top of all this other greatness that Raine has going on in the story, she also went and added in two of my favorite characters from her previous NA contemporary book, For Everly. That’s right people, Cole and Everly are in this book. And I don’t mean in a “Oh we passed a cute couple on a street” way but “Oh Cole is friends with Evan and Everly is friends with Sierra” way. I just adored the fact that even though their book is over, their story wasn’t. I can’t share much more about their parts in the story in fear that I’ll spoil it for you but I will let you know that it made my heart oh so happy.

I could go all day talking about all the things I love about this book but what you really know is that Raine makes it oh so easy to read her books. Her characters are ones I love, the struggles they go through are ones that hurt my heart, but in the end, the changes they make and the struggles that they overcome make it worth it!

And now, because Raine and I are allll about music over here, she’s put together an Ah-Mazing book playlist for all you awesome book lovers! Take a listen below and read all about how the specific songs play a part in the book!

BOOK PLAYLIST:

Meant for Her features Evan Dorsey, a professional baseball player who has recently lost the only person who really mattered to him. The pain caused by her death has left him with a lot of issues to face. “Demons” by Imagine Dragons fits his story perfectly. I particularly love this version of the video, since it’s dedicated to a man who lost his life to cancer…a topic in Meant for Her.

KEY LYRICS:

They say it’s what you make,
I say it’s up to fate.
It’s woven in my soul,
I need to let you go.

Your eyes, they shine so bright.
I wanna save that light.
I can’t escape this now
Unless you show me how.

When you feel my heat,
Look into my eyes.
It’s where my demons hide,
It’s where my demons hide.
Don’t get too close,
It’s dark inside.
It’s where my demons hide,
It’s where my demons hide.

The female protagonist, Sierra Stratton, has a unique view of the world. Her insights into other people often make Evan uneasy. It’s harder, however, for her to have strong insight about herself and how she handles conflict with others. Evan wants her to stand up for herself, so Sara Bareilles’ song, “Brave” speaks to me about this.

KEY LYRICS:

Say what you wanna say
And let the words fall out.
Honestly, I wanna see you be brave

With what you want to say,
And let the words fall out.
Honestly I wanna see you be brave.

I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I wanna see you be brave.

I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I wanna see you be brave.

Sierra and Evan have a connection the moment they meet, but it takes time for Evan to accept it. He’s drawn to Sierra, despite his desire to avoid making connections and putting down roots in Atlanta. It isn’t long before Sierra has his head spinning. “Clarity” by Zedd is the song that reminds me of this element of the story.

KEY LYRICS:

Don’t speak as I try to leave, ’cause we both know what we’ll choose.
If you pull then I’ll push too deep and I’ll fall right back to you.

‘Cause you are the piece of me I wish I didn’t need,
Chasing relentlessly, still fight and I don’t know why.

If our love is tragedy, why are you my remedy?
If our love’s insanity, why are you my clarity?

After spending some time befriending Evan, Sierra gives their relationship a nudge to the next level. From that moment on, things are different between them. The song “Everything Has Changed” by Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran reflects this development.

KEY LYRICS:

I just wanna know you better, know you better, know you better now.
I just wanna know you, know you, know you…

‘Cause all I know is we said, “Hello.”
And your eyes look like coming home.
All I know is a simple name.
Everything has changed.
All I know is you held the door.
You’ll be mine and I’ll be yours.
All I know since yesterday is everything has changed.

Evan’s demons come back to haunt him, making him have doubts when things progress with Sierra beyond where he envisioned. The choices he makes then propel the story into another light. “Stay” by Florida-Georgia Line captures the essence of Evan’s difficult choices.

KEY LYRICS:

My heart’s on my sleeve, but it’s turning black.
(I guess I know what it feels like to be alone).
Without your touch I’m not gonna last.
(I know you know that I need ya just to carry on)
It feels like my walls are caving in.
(You’d always hold me before I left you hanging on)
And I’ll do anything to have you here again.

The song that ultimately captures the relationship between Sierra and Evan is “I Need Your Love” by Ellie Goulding (featuring Calvin Harris). It even reflects the fact that they’re neighbors and pass each other’s doors. The lyrics speak for themselves!

KEY LYRICS:

I take a deep breath every time I pass your door.
I know you’re there but I can’t see you anymore.
And that’s the reason you’re in the dark.
I’ve been a stranger ever since we fell apart,
And I feel so helpless here.
Watch, my eyes are filled with fear.
Tell me do you feel the same?
Hold me in your arms again.

I need your love,
I need your time.
When everything’s wrong,
You make it right.
I feel so high,
I come alive.
I need to be free with you tonight.
I need your love.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Raine Thomas is the award-winning author of a series of YA fantasy/romance novels about the Estilorian plane, including the Daughters of Saraqael trilogy and the Firstborn trilogy. She is also the author of the bestselling New Adult Contemporary Romance, For Everly, and the much-anticipated spin-off, Meant for Her. She is a proud member of Romance Writers of America and is a contributing blogger to The Writer’s Voice. When she isn’t planning weddings, writing, or glued to social media, she can usually be found on one of Florida’s beautiful beaches with her husband and daughter or crossing the border to visit with her Canadian friends and relatives.

Twitter // Facebook // Goodreads // Pinterest // Linkedin // Website // Blog

WHERE TO FIND THE BOOK:

Amazon // Barnes and Noble // Kobo // iBooks

GIVEAWAY:

One lucky winner will receive a signed copy of both For Everly and Meant For Her, a necklace inspired by the book, and a $25 Amazon gift card. Just fill out this rafflecopter form!

Tune In Tuesday (126)

Tune In Tuesday is a weekly feature in which bloggers get to showcase another one of their loves, music! This feature was originally created by Ginger over at GReads! but you can now find it here at Kate’s Tales of Books and Bands. If you would like to participate in this weekly feature, make a blog post showcasing a song (or a few!) and link up at the bottom of this post by clicking the cute blue guy! While you’re here make sure to check out all the other awesome blogs that have decided to participate!

I have been having an absolute BLAST with NoiseTrade lately. In case you haven’t heard of it, it is a way for bands to share singles, EPs, or sometimes even whole albums with listeners. The whole website is made of awesome. Through this website and the suggestions made off of what I already like and listen to, I have found AMAZING music. One of the bands I was introduced to because of NoiseTrade is St. Lucia. In short, their music is all sorts of fun. They keep me going during work and for that I am eternally grateful. Have a listen to a few of my favorites below. Enjoy!

Before The Dive by St. Lucia

Wait For Love by St. Lucia

The Way You Remember Me by St. Lucia

Blog Tour + Sneak Peek: Crash Into Me by Tracy Wolf

Title: Crash Into Me (Shaken Dirty #1)

Author: Tracy Wolf

Publisher: Entangled: Brazen

Release Date: Today! (Oct. 14th, 2013)

Jamison Matthews has lusted after Ryder Montgomery since she was a preteen. But now that Ryder and her brother’s band, Shaken Dirty, has made it huge, she’s just one of many pining for the brooding lead singer. Too bad Ryder still sees her as a little sister. Not that it matters. Her brother would never allow it, and the last thing Jamison wants is to be another notch on a rock star’s bed post. Even if it’s Ryder’s.

Ryder doesn’t deserve happiness. After his fame destroyed his last girlfriend, he swore he’d never fall in love again. So when Jamison, the girl he’s been in danger of loving for years, joins the band on the road, he’ll do anything to deny the sparks between them–even after one hot night together. But Jamison is determined to show Ryder that he’s worthy of love–her love–and that she’s all grown up and ready to play.

SNEAK PEEK:

Onstage, the band launched into “Awake,” one of the power ballads that had made them famous. The crowd screamed their approval and so did she. Totally not her typical modus operandi, but she couldn’t help it. Something about listening to Ryder croon the darkly haunting lyrics had her knees trembling and her heart beating much too quickly. If she closed her eyes, she could do what all the other women in the audience were doing and pretend that he was singing straight to her.

So much better than remembering he’d written these heartfelt words for another woman. For Carrie, who had killed herself and broken his heart so many years before. Her own heart ached at the thought. For him. Always for him. At twenty-nine, Ryder had already been through more darkness and despair than any one person should have to handle.

“Awake” finally came to a close, the last note hanging in the air for long, tension-fueled seconds. Then the band fell silent and the audience did the same, as if they were all holding their breaths. Ryder lowered his guitar, shuffled, and stamped his feet once, twice. It was a familiar gesture, one years of experience had taught her was his way of shaking off excess emotion. Again her heart twisted. It devastated her that more than ten years after the fact he was still eaten up by what had happened. Still determined to bury it under a bunch of layers that not only insulated him from his pain but also hid the real Ryder so deep inside the public Ryder that she wondered sometimes if he even existed anymore. Or if the boy who had held her while she cried, who had let her whisper her pre-adolescent fears without ever making fun of her, had disappeared forever.

She searched for him in that one endless moment.

Looked for him in the obsidian eyes that arrowed to the heart of the crowd even as they barricaded his own emotions.

Combed through her own memories and expectations in an effort to see Ryder as he really was instead of how he portrayed himself.

And when his eyes—his crazy, beautiful eyes—met hers, she found him. Seconds passed, long, intense seconds where she lost the ability to hear or breathe or even think. All she could do was look into Ryder’s eyes, at the feral heat boiling up and out of them, and want.

She smiled at him, waved. He snarled back. But it wasn’t a leave-me-alone snarl. No, definitely not. It was his I-want-to-fuck-you-up-against-a-wall snarl—she knew it well, had seen it directed at a lot of women through the years—and her knees gave way when she realized that this time, finally, it was directed at her. It didn’t matter that there was no sign of recognition in his eyes, no knowledge that the woman he was looking at like that was actually her. Jamison. For one moment, he wanted her the way she’d always wanted him.

It was more than enough.

CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR:

Website // Twitter // Facebook // Goodreads // Blog

PURCHASE THE BOOK:

Amazon // B&N // Kobo // iTunes