Book Blitz & Giveaway: The Skinwalker's Apprentice — Claribel Ortega

Introducing...The Skinwalker's Apprentice by Claribel Ortega! This new release has pretty good reviews and ratings on GoodReads. This book blitz features a bit about the author and a great giveaway prize pack for US entrants. Read more for information about the book and to enter the giveaway!

The Skinwalker's Apprentice
by Claribel Ortega

Release Date: 02/24/14

Summary from Goodreads:

“Welcome to The Empire State, where banshees, witches, and skinwalkers wait…”

Margo Pennyfeather is being hunted. The 16-year-old witch has always been an outcast, in her home back in England, and now in the village of East Hampton New York where her family has settled. No one but her family has ever cared for Margo, but now the most important witch in the magic world wants her as an apprentice, giving her a chance to bring her family out of poverty.

Before long, Margo realizes things aren't what they seem, least of all, what kind of witch she really is. Now, the young witch must face a terrifying monster on her own, and the reverberations will reach farther than she could have ever imagined. 

More than three hundred years later, in 1984 Emerald Kipp is a high school senior in New York City. A troubled teen with a rebellious streak, Emerald can't seem to figure out what to do with her life, and unfortunately for her, “witch” isn’t one of the available career choices in her guidance counselor’s office. As she struggles to figure herself out, Emerald is faced with the threat of being stuck in school and missing her final summer with her three best friends. Her last year of high school is turning out to be the worst yet, and Emerald thinks it can’t possibly get any worse. Unfortunately for her, she’s dead wrong. 

And there’s something else, something far more sinister stirring in Emerald’s world, and she’ll have to believe in herself if she wants to get through it alive. 

Two witches, three hundred years apart, one inescapable fate. 

The Skinwalker's Apprentice is a prequel to the upcoming novel, Emerald Kipp and The Riddle of The Timekeeper, a terrifying magical scavenger hunt through the gritty streets of 1980’s New York City,set to a killer soundtrack, and perfect for fans of Harry Potter and The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Part of The Empire Witches series.

*Available February 24th, 2014 on Smashwords,iBook, Amazon, Barnes & Nobles and more!
(Pre orders available Jan. 20th)

Excerpt 

“We will begin with the most basic of spells,” said The Priestess on Margo’s first day of lessons. Margo sat in a small, circular room on the second floor of the stone house. It was mostly empty, save for a marble table and the stiff wooden chair where Margo sat nervously. Unlike the rest of the house, the room had but one window, and judging by the view, Margo guessed they must have been inside the onion dome on the roof. The young witch tried not to fidget, as The Priestess circled around her as she spoke.

“There is magic that is practical, that you will need in every day situations, and magic that is impractical.” “I do not deal in the impractical sort,” said The Priestess sternly, stopping directly in front of Margo, “love potions and beauty enchantments are amongst the kinds of frivolous spells you will not be learning here. Instead, I plan to teach you useful, direct, magic, which you can implement in most any situation. You are to take these lessons seriously, for you will never know when they might be of use to you. The difference between knowing practical spells and not knowing them, is a matter of life and death.” Margo gulped and nodded anxiously, her eyes following The Priestess as she continued to pace about the room. 

“For your first spell,” said The Priestess, taking her wand from her sleeve and nodding at Margo, her signal to do the same, “we shall be attempting a growing spell.” The Priestess’s face contorted suddenly at the sight of Margo’s wand. The young witch blushed. Her wand had been handed down to her by her grandmother Mary, and it was not in the best condition. In fact, the once wooden wand had been enchanted to have the look and feel of toad’s skin. Mary thought it would impress The Priestess.

Margo smiled nervously as she tried to hide the slime secreting from her wand and sticking to her fingers. “That…wand, just won’t do,” said The Priestess delicately. Margo put the wand on the marble table, the gunk stretching as she tried to free her hand from it. She pushed the wand to the corner of the table, and pressed down hard on the cold surface, trying to wipe the glop of her hands. Her face turned red as she struggled to pull free, and finally an exasperated Priestess pointed to Margo’s hand with her own wand, “ Divisio.” 

With a slight “pop” Margo was free, but still covered in slime. She shook off what was left of it on the floor with a few sharp flails of her arm, smiling bashfully at her teacher as she did. 

The Priestess walked over to the small window facing the front of the house. She opened it, and pointed her wand at a weeping willow that adorned the road leading to her front door. Margo heard a loud CRACK and suddenly, a tree branch was entering the room. 

The Priestess placed her wand in her skirt waist, and pointed one long, jagged, fingernail in the direction of the bough. A green light shot from her black nails, cracking the limb, and sending the branch back into the woods from whence it came. The Priestess brought the remaining wood further into the room in her net of brilliant light, spinning it as she did, her eyes steady and focused. As she did this, the branch whittled down bit-by-bit, splinters flying every which way, and darting dangerously close past Margo’s face. The Priestess’s flesh was the color of rusted copper as the viridescent light danced off her skin and Margo could see the wand she was crafting beginning to take shape.

About the Author

Claribel Ortega is a graduate of the SUNY Purchase journalism program, and got her start writing for the school’s Independent Newspaper. There, she quickly rose the ranks from editing the student’s often times hilarious ads and ramblings on the back page of the paper to staff and feature writer.

After graduation, Claribel worked as a reporter for The Rivertowns Enterprise, a local paper in lower Westchester County, New York. As a reporter, she enjoyed going to board of education meetings and texting the town mayors about the line at Starbucks.

Today, Claribel works for The Combined Book Exhibit, a book marketing company in Westchester NY.

She lives in New York with her really awesome boyfriend, her suspiciously intelligent yorkie Pancho Villa and is surrounded by an impenetrable fort of books she gets from her job.

“The Skinwalker’s Apprentice” is her first book, and cheese is her favorite food.

Author Links:

Giveaway

Prize pack: (US only)

Forever 21 Mint green Handbag

Forever 21 Emerald glitter nail polish

Forever 21 Cat charm bracelet

Forever 21 Pink heart gold necklace

iTunes Playlist of all the songs in "The Riddle of The Timekeeper" (Playlist attached)

Bookmarks and ebook of The Skinwalker’s Apprentice

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Blitz Organized by:

Free eBooks: 22/01/2014

Today I bring you some ebooks that are currently free! I  have included four different books of various genres. Enjoy ~!

Ghostwalker (The Chronicles of Zanthora #1)

Ben Cassidy

Kendril is a Ghostwalker, a man who is dead to his former life and bound by a solemn vow to seek penance for some mysterious dark sin in his past. When a chance encounter in the forest leads him to inadvertently rescue a woman named Jade, a woman who claims not to remember anything about who she is or what has happened to her, Kendril becomes her reluctant guardian.

But after a gang of ruthless bounty hunters comes after Jade, Kendril finds himself thrown into a deadly game of cat and mouse where one wrong step will be his last. Now he must use every ounce of daring and cunning he has to escape with his life and to protect the woman he is growing to love, a woman with no past.

But can he trust Jade, or will her secrets lead to his undoing?

Ghostwalker is an action-packed novel of suspense set in the fantasy world of Zanthora. Filled with dark humor and a cast of diverse characters, it is the first book in the Chronicles of Zanthora, the relation of the Fourth War of Despair.

Child of the Ghosts (The Ghosts #1)

Jonathan Moeller

For fans of Marion Zimmer Bradley's "Sword & Sorceress", Tamora Pierce, Robin McKinley, and Jennifer Roberson, here is a new story of a woman's fight against an ancient evil.

When her life is torn apart by sorcery and murder, young Caina Amalas joins the Ghosts, the legendary spies and assassins of the Emperor of Nighmar. She learns the secrets of disguise and stealth, of assassination and infiltration.

But even that might not be enough to save her.

For the evil that destroyed her family seeks to devour the entire world...

Gunning Down Romance

C.L. Raven

Three chilling stories themed around the dark side of love - one woman embarks on a grisly quest to create the perfect lover; a man uses his life's work to ensure his lovers stay with him forever and a reincarnated saint has a unique, macabre way of punishing unfaithful lovers which keeps her alive. All their unfortunate lovers will experience a Valentine's Day they will never forget.

Dark Phase

Jonathan Davison

Sarazen is a silicant, an android existing in a highly organised and rigid society where individuals are designed to perform unique functions. Created and maintained by The Mother, each silicant coexists in harmony to pursue their primary function, the protection of the primitive organic creatures with whom they share their world.

Sarazen, a career 'troubleshooter' is called to examine a rogue named Cole with orders to fix his malfunction or send him for 'renewal', but Cole is unlike any silicant Sarazen has yet encountered.

Cole's enlightening revelations lead Sarazen to make the courageous and perilous decision to leave the comfort of The Mother's influence and find the true meaning of the silicants' existence and the horrifying reality of their collective fate.

Dark Phase is a cerebral, powerful and thought provoking Science Fiction story with a plot that will leave you captivated even after the final page has been turned.

Book Tour: Excerpt from Arcadia Series

Today I'm featuring an excerpt from the Arcadia series! This series focuses on sixteen year old Arcadia who turns out to be an empath. So far there are two books in this series, and from the blurbs, it seems like they are emotionally deep. I hope to read them at some point this year as they look pretty intrigue.

Click 'read more' to read an excerpt!

Arcadia's Gift

Most people who experience death don't live to tell about it.

When sixteen year old Arcadia "Cady" Day wakes in a hospital after experiencing what can only be called a psychic episode, she finds her family in tatters. With her twin sister gone, her dad moved out, her mom's spiraling depression and her sister's boyfriend, Cane, barely able to look at her, the only bright spot in her life is Bryan Sullivan, the new guy in school. When Bryan's around, Cady can almost pretend she's a regular girl, living a regular life; when he's not, she's wracked with wild, inexplicable mood swings. As her home life crumbles and her emotional control slips away, Cady begins to suspect that her first psychic episode was just the beginning...

Arcadia's Curse

Think high school sucks? Try being an empath who has to experience everyone else’s suckage on top of your own. (Literally.)

In the months since her family life imploded and her psychic gifts began to arise, Cady has struggled to figure out how she can fit into her normal life without going crazy from the constant presence of emotional energy. Her grades have tanked. Her best friend is afraid of her. And she begins to have doubts about why her boyfriend, Bryan, is really keeping her around. But a chance meeting with another gifted girl online opens up a whole new world of possibilities. Unfortunately, this new world comes at an awful price.

Find The Arcadia Novels here:

Amazon (Arcadia's Gift)/Amazon (Arcadia's Curse)

AUDIBLE Audio Book of Arcadia's Gift

Author Bio

Jesi Lea Ryan grew up in the Mississippi River town of Dubuque, IA. She holds bachelor degrees in creative writing and literature and a masters degree in business. She considers herself a well-rounded nerd who can spend hours on the internet researching things like British history, anthropology of ancient people, geography of random parts of the world, bad tattoos and the paranormal. She currently lives in Madison, WI with her husband and two exceptionally naughty kitties.

Stalk Jesi Lea here:

Facebook/Twitter/Website/Blog

Book Except

But it wasn’t just the warmth of his hands that were heating me up. Waves of excitement and anticipation rolled between us. My heart palpitated wildly.

I raised my eyes to meet his. Though the corner of his mouth curved upward, his expression was serious. Even in the dark, I could see his gaze dip to my lips.

Bryan lifted a hand to touch a lock of my hair. So softly I could barely hear it, he whispered, “Cady, I want to kiss you.”

Somehow I was able to swallow the lump in my throat and reply, “I want you to kiss me too.”

A glimmer of exhilaration flashed in his eyes as he leaned down and slanted his lips on top of mine. It wasn’t the first time I’d been kissed —I guess I had to count Tyler Galvin from ninth grade —but being able to feel the emotion from both mine and Bryan’s perspectives was almost indescribable. Waves of nervousness turned into waves of pleasure as our lips parted deepening the kiss. The soft scent of his cologne mingled with the sweetness of his ice cream taste, making my head swim with delicious intoxication.

My breath became ragged as adrenaline coursed through our bodies. I gripped his shoulders for fear my legs would melt out from under me. Bryan placed a warm hand on the small of my back and threaded the fingers of his other hand through the back of my hair, sending shivers down my neck. Energy flowed back and forth between us in each place we touched like feedback. So complete was the emotional circuit between us, I almost couldn’t sense where I stopped and he started. I pushed my body against his, unable to get close enough. The pressure building and building until--.

Book News: Second Life (Life First 2) by RJ Crayton

Second Life is the second book in the Life First series. The first book, Life First, had an interesting concept, but I found the main character - Kelsey - annoyed me a little bit. You can read my full review of the first book here. But, I'm excited to read this one! It seems to focus on Kelsey's friend Susan, who I found to be much more likeable.

GoodReads Synposis:
After helping friend Kelsey flee the country in Life First, Susan Harper is being held captive by the government in the thrilling sequel, Second Life. As the normally feisty Susan’s hopes of freedom dwindle, a mysterious stranger sneaks into her room and promises to help her.

Susan and mystery man Rob grow close as he tries to orchestrate her escape. When the duo discovers the truth behind Susan’s captivity, they realize she is in grave danger, and they must act quickly. Susan and Rob will need more than passion for each other and their wits to succeed. They will need help from old friends, including Kelsey.

Susan gave Kelsey a chance at a second life, but will she get her own?

  

Book Blast: Matt Archer Series

Today I'm taking part in a book blast for the Matt Archer series. I have to say, these books look awesome. I looked up the books on Good Reads and they all have quite positive ratings and reviews. I hope to start this series at some point in the next few months. People have tagged them as being Young Adult, Fantasy, Adventure and Horror.

Click 'read more' to find out more about this book series!

Matt Archer: Bloodlines

When seventeen-year-old Matt Archer set out on his last mission in the Australian Outback, he thought it would be like every other hunt.

Not even close.

After only two days on the ground, his best friend is possessed, a long-lost family member has returned and hidden truths have come to the surface. Add in a coven of witches bent on bringing about the end of the world and, well, this trip has started to suck. Badly.

As his power and strength continue to grow, so does Matt’s concern that he’s becoming more and more like the creatures he’s been charged to hunt: a monster.

Faced with some of his biggest challenges to date, Matt has to decide what he needs to protect most—his family, his team…or himself.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo

Smashwords * iTunes/Apple Bookstore * GoodReads

Matt Archer: Legend

When Matt Archer was fourteen, he was chosen—by a magic, spirit-inhabited knife—to hunt monsters with a special paranormal division of the Army. When he was fifteen, he was thrown into a global war the rest of the world didn’t know existed.

Now Matt’s sixteen and the war has cost him more than he ever thought it would. He’s also learned that the knife-spirits have an agenda he doesn’t totally agree with. The only problem? The spirits have the upper hand, and they plan to control the fight—and Matt.

Then things get worse: the next lunar eclipse cycle is starting, a prominent physicist has gone missing, and Matt’s best friend is thinking about quitting the team. If he loses Will—after everyone else he’s lost—Matt’s not sure how he’ll fight alone.

As the source of his nightmares starts to creep out of the shadows, Matt knows he’ll need all the help he can get…because being alone could prove deadly.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo * Smashwords

Matt Archer: Blade's Edge

When Matt Archer was fourteen, he discovered monsters are real. As if that wasn’t enough to go on for a few decades, Matt also found out that he’d been chosen to hunt those monsters--with a sentient, supernatural knife. Now fifteen, Matt has spent the last year working with a clandestine military unit, trying to rid the world of monsters, demons and other vicious creatures, all while keeping it a secret from nearly everyone he knows back home in Billings.

Including his mom.

Add in a new girlfriend, family secrets, sibling drama and enough homework to sink an aircraft carrier, and Matt’s life has become more complicated than he ever imagined. Worse, the knife has developed some very definite opinions about Matt’s personal life and it interferes in his business whenever it wants. More and more, Matt’s coming to realize that sharing brain-space with a spirit kind of sucks.

When stories of decimated towns and hordes of zombies start pouring into the Pentagon from Afghanistan, Matt knows he’ll be called up soon. Between the new mission and the knife’s increasing control over his mind, Matt wonders if he’ll survive long enough to take his driver’s exam.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo * Smashwords * iTunes

Matt Archer: Monster Hunter

Fourteen-year-old Matt Archer spends his days studying Algebra, hanging out with his best friend and crushing on the Goddess of Greenhill High, Ella Mitchell. To be honest, he thinks his life is pretty lame until he discovers something terrifying on a weekend camping trip at the local state park.

Monsters are real. And living in his backyard.

But that's not the half of it. After Matt is forced to kill a strange creature to save his uncle, he finds out that the weird knife he took from his uncle's bag has a secret, one that will change Matt's life. The knife was designed with one purpose: to hunt monsters. And it's chosen Matt as its wielder.

Now Matt's part of a world he didn't know existed, working with a covert military unit dedicated to eliminating walking nightmares. Faced with a prophecy about a looming dark war, Matt soon realizes his upcoming Algebra test is the least of his worries.

His new double life leaves Matt wondering which is tougher: hunting monsters or asking Ella Mitchell for a date?

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo * Smashwords * iTunes

Author Kendra C. Highley

Kendra C. Highley lives in north Texas with her husband and two children. She also serves as staff to two self-important and high-powered cats. This, according to the cats, is her most important job. She believes chocolate is a basic human right, running a 10k is harder than it sounds, and that everyone should learn to drive a stick-shift. She loves monsters, vacations, baking and listening to bad electronica.

Twitter * Facebook

Pinterest * Goodreads * Website

Book Blast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 2/2/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Second Life — R J Crayton

Second Life is the sequel to First Life. The setting of Life First was intriguing, though its plot focused on the struggles, family and romance in relation to one woman – Kelsey. The book was enjoyable overall, but I found the main character irritated me somewhat because the choices she made were often poor. The whole bad situation could have been avoided if Kelsey had simply left the country when she realised that she did not agree with Life First policies. Instead she stayed until she was marked for donation and then attempted to run away. Pretty poor decision making there, don’t you think? Especially given the number of people who were drawn into and effected by that affair. The side characters seemed to be more interesting and less 2D than Kelsey. (You can read my full review of the first book here.) Needless to say I was very excited to find that the second book was focusing on Kelsey’s more logical friend – Susan.

Book Information
Pages: 285
Published: December 2013
Series: Life First, Book 2

Good Reads Summary

After helping friend Kelsey flee the country in Life First, Susan Harper is being held captive by the government in the thrilling sequel, Second Life. As the normally feisty Susan’s hopes of freedom dwindle, a mysterious stranger sneaks into her room and promises to help her.

Susan and mystery man Rob grow close as he tries to orchestrate her escape. When the duo discovers the truth behind Susan’s captivity, they realize she is in grave danger, and they must act quickly. Susan and Rob will need more than passion for each other and their wits to succeed. They will need help from old friends, including Kelsey.

Susan gave Kelsey a chance at a second life, but will she get her own?

My Review

I found Susan more likeable because while her predicament was caused by her own decisions, I think most people would have done the same thing. I feel Susan is a much stronger character and handled events in a more mature manner. Her love interest, Rob, reminded me of Kelsey’s love interest Luke. They both have medical links, have both lost someone important to them and both break the rules of the Federation of Surviving States (FoSS). Both of these characters were likeable, but they didn’t have qualities which made them really memorable to me.

A few side characters from the first book make an appearance. Such as Senator Reed, Kelsey’s father, who doesn’t do a whole lot until the end of the book. Dr Grant also makes an appearance and he is increasingly shady. I’m eager to learn about what Dr Grant is really up to, or even the chance to read from his perspective. New minor characters include the Colonel Parker, a character made to instil fear and compliance in Susan and a face to the evil of FoSS/Life First regime.

Second Life has a broader story line than Life First. Occasionally we have glimpses into the world outside the small view of the main characters. I enjoyed these snippets, because it means I was able to see just how the events and actions of these two girls (Kelsey and Susan) impacted the world in which they live. That is the sort of content that appeals to me in a fictional world with such strong views like Life First.

In Life First, the values of the state seemed reasonable, given their history and their use of survival percentages. The state didn’t demand its citizens put themselves against the odds, but in order to help maintain the population it did demand that if you were a donation match that you gave what was needed. The neighbouring country of Peoria rejected such values. So it seemed obvious that if you don’t believe in donation to strangers, then you leave FoSS. Therefore, they didn’t appear that corrupt. In Second Life, however, the state uses many tactics to make things play to their script. They slice pieces of Susan’s interviews together for the propose of propaganda and only attempt to cure her paralysis to show how great they are. Clearly, in this book, the evil and corrupt moral values of FoSS are being exposed.

I really like the multiple perspectives. I find it easier to get to know characters when you see through their eyes. Seeing from multiple characters helps to keep things fresh and it also means the reader can learn a lot more. Crayton gives us Susan’s perspective inside FoSS and Kelsey’s perspective who is in Peoria. It’s great that the girls’ lives, from childhood to the events in this book, are entwined. It also means that this sequel wasn’t devoid of Kelsey and Luke, the main characters from the first novel.

Seeing some of Kelsey’s new life – such as their search for a house outside of the safe Peorian compound – was interesting, but by itself I don’t think it would have made for a terribly interesting book. That’s why I was happy it was interwoven with Susan’s story which took centre stage.

Crayton paints a world which seems also most perfect on the surface, but underneath we learn through Susan and Kelsey that FoSS is far from it. Some minor key players in FoSS, including military personal and doctors, are no angels and they will use any underhand tactics to make things go their way. While the beginning of the book feels a lot like scene setting, lulling the reader into a false sense of security, just over half way through the book the tension really picks up.