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Hello, my name is Valorie. I have a Master's Degree in History and a license to teach-- I have been both university professor and public school teacher. Currently, I am a middle school social studies teacher. I love horror movies and spooky things. Every day is Halloween. I am also a passionate book blogger.

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Showing posts with label inkslinger. Show all posts
Showing posts with label inkslinger. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 9, 2017

Cover Reveal & Giveaway: My Dear Hamilton by Stephanie Dray & Laura Kamoie







From the New York Times bestselling authors of America’s First Daughter comes the epic story of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton—a revolutionary woman who, like her new nation, struggled to define herself in the wake of war, betrayal, and tragedy. Haunting, moving, and beautifully written, Dray and Kamoie used thousands of letters and original sources to tell Eliza’s story as it’s never been told before—not just as the wronged wife at the center of a political sex scandal—but also as a founding mother who shaped an American legacy in her own right.

We’re celebrating Eliza Schuyler Hamilton’s Birthday today and you get the gift! Don’t miss the beautiful cover below and a special giveaway, and don’t forget to pre-order your copy today!


About My Dear Hamilton: A Novel of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton (Coming 4.3.2018):

Wife, Widow, and Warrior in Alexander Hamilton’s Quest to Form a More Perfect Union

From the New York Times bestselling authors of America’s First Daughter comes the epic story of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton—a revolutionary woman who, like her new nation, struggled to define herself in the wake of war, betrayal, and tragedy. Haunting, moving, and beautifully written, Dray and Kamoie used thousands of letters and original sources to tell Eliza’s story as it’s never been told before—not just as the wronged wife at the center of a political sex scandal—but also as a founding mother who shaped an American legacy in her own right.

A general’s daughter…

Coming of age on the perilous frontier of revolutionary New York, Elizabeth Schuyler champions the fight for independence. And when she meets Alexander Hamilton, Washington’s penniless but passionate aide-de-camp, she’s captivated by the young officer’s charisma and brilliance. They fall in love, despite Hamilton’s bastard birth and the uncertainties of war.

A founding father’s wife...

But the union they create—in their marriage and the new nation—is far from perfect. From glittering inaugural balls to bloody street riots, the Hamiltons are at the center of it all—including the political treachery of America’s first sex scandal, which forces Eliza to struggle through heartbreak and betrayal to find forgiveness.

The last surviving light of the Revolution…

When a duel destroys Eliza’s hard-won peace, the grieving widow fights her husband’s enemies to preserve Alexander’s legacy. But long-buried secrets threaten everything Eliza believes about her marriage and her own legacy. Questioning her tireless devotion to the man and country that have broken her heart, she’s left with one last battle—to understand the flawed man she married and imperfect union he could never have created without her…




Pre-Order on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | GooglePlay | iBooks | Kobo


To celebrate Eliza Schuyler Hamilton’s Birthday today, we have a surprise for you! Share the cover of MY DEAR HAMILTON and fill out the Rafflecopter below to receive an Exclusive Excerpt!







New York Times bestselling author, Stephanie Dray is an award-winning, bestselling and two-time RITA award nominated author of historical women’s fiction. Her critically acclaimed series about Cleopatra’s daughter has been translated into eight different languages and won NJRW's Golden Leaf. As Stephanie Draven, she is a national bestselling author of genre fiction and American-set historical women's fiction. She is a frequent panelist and presenter at national writing conventions and lives near the nation's capital. Before she became a novelist, she was a lawyer, a game designer, and a teacher. Now she uses the stories of women in history to inspire the young women of today.





New York Times bestselling author, Laura Kamoie has always been fascinated by the people, stories, and physical presence of the past, which led her to a lifetime of historical and archaeological study and training. She holds a doctoral degree in early American history from The College of William and Mary, published two non-fiction books on early America, and most recently held the position of Associate Professor of History at the U.S. Naval Academy before transitioning to a full-time career writing genre fiction as the New York Times bestselling author, Laura Kaye. Her New York Times bestselling debut historical novel, America's First Daughter, co-authored with Stephanie Dray, allowed her the exciting opportunity to combine her love of history with her passion for storytelling. Laura lives among the colonial charm of Annapolis, Maryland with her husband and two daughters.








Friday, August 4, 2017

Excerpt: The Invasion by T.H. Hernandez

Excerpt:

I open my eyes and immediately slam them shut. Something is beating on my skull with a hammer, and the smell of alcohol swamps me. With care, I pry my eyelids up, squinting against the harsh light. Confusion hits me hard, my brain is fuzzy as hell, and my mouth is as dry as the summer desert. My eyes regain focus, zeroing in on the lime green vinyl in front of me. I’m on a commuter train with no clue how I got here.

The reek of booze is evidently coming from my pores. I rub my hands over my face and slide out of my seat, heading for the doors. The floor slopes under me and my guts lurch, ready to expel their contents. I swallow and breathe through my nose until the urge passes. When we pull to a stop, I step out into a station and head for the closest map. I’m only a few stops away from the coast. Right, I was heading to the beach. Must’ve fallen asleep.

I could use a walk to clear my head, and opt for walking the rest of the way. The last thing I remember was going to a bar to get drunk. Apparently, I accomplished that.

In fact, I fucking nailed it.

A vision of a brunette comes into focus. Flirting, drinks, dancing, her body rubbing up and down mine before she led me back to her place. Before I ran from her like some emotional girl. I can’t even do a revenge fuck properly.

The pain that started in my head is now rampaging through my body. I exit the tunnel as the sun slips above the horizon, casting a pink glow. The briny air hits my lungs and some of the tension erodes. Not a lot, but enough that maybe I can figure out my next move. I walk over to the boardwalk and kick off my shoes before sinking my toes into the sand. The pounding in my head subsides with each deep breath I take and each step closer to the ocean. When I reach the water’s edge, I wade in and let the gentle surf lick my ankles. The cool water bites at my feet, allowing me to focus on something other than my hangover or the sight of a half-naked dickwad in my girlfriend’s hotel room.

I still don’t know what to do. Going back out to the Ruins and being back in that house without her might be too much. Maybe it’s time to settle someplace new, somewhere I’ve never been. First I owe it to everyone to let them know what I’m doing.

My shoulders drop with the weight of my decision, and with a slow pivot, I head back toward dry sand.

Get You Copy Today:

Amazon | iBooks | Barnes & Noble | Google Play | Kobo | Goodreads

Catch Up on the Series:

The Union: Goodreads | Amazon

The Ruins: Goodreads | Amazon

The Uprising: Goodreads | Amazon


About T.H. Hernandez:

When not visiting the imaginary worlds inside my head, I live in San Diego, California, with one husband, three children, two cats, and one dog. In addition to my day job as a technical writer and editor, I write young adult fiction. I love the intensity of teen emotions and the way they're still figuring out life. When I'm not writing, you can find me with my nose in a book, hanging out with family and friends, hiking, or knitting. I'm obsessed with Facebook, young adult novels, bad lip reading videos, pumpkin spice lattes, microbrewed beers, and the San Diego Chargers.

Connect with T. H. Hernandez:

Goodreads | Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Author Amazon Page

Enter T.H’s Giveaway:






Cover Reveal, Excerpt & Giveaway: Superhero Syndrome by Caryn Larrinaga

Today we have the cover reveal for Superhero Syndrome by Caryn Larrinaga! Check it out and be sure to grab your copy when it comes out September 12th!

Title: Superhero Syndrome

Author: Caryn Larrinaga

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Release Date: September 12th

About Superhero Syndrome:

Tess McBray was dying. The Solstice Syndrome had no cure, and she resigned herself to an early grave. But just when she gave up on survival, all her symptoms mysteriously disappeared.

All but one symptom, anyway. Something is wrong with Tess’s hands. They absorb any material they touch, and her skin turns to wood, or steel, or concrete. It doesn’t take this comic-book obsessed 21-year-old long to figure out what’s going on: somehow, she’s developed super powers. And she’s not the only one; across the country, people are coming forward and sharing their gifts with the world. In her own city, where the police are battling a human trafficking operation, a masked vigilante called The Fox is saving lives and stopping criminals.

Tess doesn’t know where she fits into this new, super-powered world. But when people around her start disappearing, she can’t just sit on the sidelines. Teaming up with The Fox might be the only way to rid her city of evil and save the people she loves most.


Add On Goodreads!

Exclusive Excerpt:

I wish I’d been with the people I loved on the day the world changed. Then again, if someone had said, “Hey Tess, reality as you know it is about to be turned upside-down. You should probably witness this moment with someone you care about. Anybody fit that bill?” I would’ve barked out a bitter laugh and told them I’d rather be alone. Which, as it turns out, I was.

The meteor shower was all over the news. CNN covered it nonstop in the hours before it was visible, bringing on astronomers and astrophysicists to explain why it was such a big deal for a meteor shower of this size to be happening in the middle of January. Apparently, our scientists were supposed to be able to predict this kind of thing. The fact that one had snuck up on our collective set of observatories and satellites was—to quote one NASA representative—“extraordinary.”

I didn’t care if it was unprecedented. I didn’t care if people around the world were calling it a sign or a portent of the Second Coming or whatever. I just knew it was beautiful, and I wanted to see one more beautiful thing before I died.

The trick was explaining that to the floor nurse.

“Miss McBray, please go back to your room.” Nurse Davies crossed her beefy arms over her chest and planted her white-sneakered feet to the floor. “We’ve been over this before. You’re in no condition to leave.”

“How do you know?” I growled. “Nobody here can even tell me what my condition is.”

I shifted the weight of my duffle bag on my shoulder and leaned to the left, craning my neck to gauge the distance between Davies and the elevators. Only a few dozen yards. Sure, she towered over me. Sure, in the month I’d been in the hospital my body had wasted away to little more than a skin-wrapped skeleton. But I might be able to make a run for it.

Davies shook her head. “Do you think you’re going to find the answers out there?”

“Maybe. I don’t really care.”

She glared at me, and I knew exactly what she was thinking. It was the same thing she’d spat at me every time I’d fought against the IV, or questioned the contents of the murky soup they forced me to eat, or requested—and then repeatedly demanded—to have my comic book collection brought into the hospital. And just when I began to worry she’d disappoint me by refusing to lean on her catchphrase, she said it.

“Stop being so melodramatic.”


About Caryn Larrinaga:



Caryn Larrinaga is a Basque-American mystery, horror, and urban fantasy writer living in Utah with her husband and cats. Her debut novel Donn’s Hill (March 2017, Immortal Works Press) garnered rave reviews from fans of the cozy mystery and paranormal genres, and her new urban fantasy Superhero Syndrome (September 2017, Twisted Tree Press) will be out this fall. Watching scary movies through split fingers terrified Caryn as a child, and those nightmares inspire her to write now. She lives in a 90-year-old house with a colorful history, and the creaking walls and narrow hallways send her running (never walking) up the stairs from her basement. Exploring her fears through writing makes Caryn feel a little less foolish for wanting a buddy to accompany her into the tool shed.

When her fingers aren't glued to her laptop keyboard, Caryn also enjoys binge-watching Netflix with her husband, reading, playing video games, and filling up her phone's flash memory with pictures of her cats. She loves music and plays the bass guitar. Caryn is an active member of the League of Utah Writers and the Utah Chapter of the Horror Writers Association.


Twisted Tree Press | Website | Email | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

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Tuesday, August 1, 2017

Release Blitz & Giveaway: The Invasion by T.H. Hernandez

Today we have the release day blitz for THE INVASION by T.H. Hernandez! Check out this fantastic new dystopian romance and grab your copy today!




About The Invasion:

They failed. Evan and Cyrus risked everything to keep the Uprising from attacking the unarmed Union, but something went terribly wrong. Evan’s home has been invaded by soldiers who are killing government officials and occupying the homes of her fellow citizens.

Captured by the Uprising, Evan fights for her life and her sanity, desperate to escape so she can find Cyrus and her family.

Reeling from an unexpected discovery, Cyrus is adrift until he uses his Uprising training to find a way to fight back against the invading force the only way he knows how.

With the help of old friends and new, they will do whatever it takes to protect each other and those they love, even if it means sacrificing being together, their way of life, and even their very lives.

Get You Copy Today:

Amazon | iBooks | Barnes & Noble | Google Play | Kobo | Goodreads

Catch Up on the Series:

The Union: Goodreads | Amazon

The Ruins: Goodreads | Amazon

The Uprising: Goodreads | Amazon


Exclusive Excerpt:

The slowing of the A-Train pulls me from a deep, dreamless sleep. I sit up and twist, stretching out my neck, a smile overtaking my face as the events of the past day return to me. Bryce is alive. I left him sleeping in my hotel room while I hopped a train to go meet Tony. We’re finally going to tell the world about the Ruins.

I glance out the window only to be greeted by darkness. There are no lights from the upcoming station. A murmur rises through the car as the other passengers voice my confusion aloud. Across from me a guy stares at his tablet, his eyes widening. His head pops up and his horrified gaze locks with mine, sending a chill through me.

“What’s wrong?”

“We’re being boarded.”

“Boarded? What does that mean?”

“A bunch of people with guns, calling themselves the Uprising, are boarding the train.”

The chill becomes ice, turning my blood to slush. Two words repeat in my head: we failed.

I get up and cross the aisle to look at the guy’s tablet. He’s reading a news story about A-Trains throughout the Union being taken over by soldiers. My breath stalls in my lungs. The murmur grows louder and someone begins to cry. Panic wells up from my core. Are they looking for me? Do they know I blew up their camps? I move toward the doors, driven by a burning need to escape before they find me.

“Where are you going?” tablet dude asks.

“I don’t know, but this isn’t good.”

He studies me for a few beats with pale green eyes. “No, it’s not. If the news stories are to be believed, anyway. We’re not near a station. You know that right?”

I nod.

“And it’s a long way down.”

“Yep.”

He shoves his tablet in his back pocket and grabs his backpack from the seat next to him, the corners of his mouth lifting in a wry grin. “Then let’s go.”

I lift a brow. “You’re coming with me?”

He shrugs. “Like you said, this isn’t good. I’d rather take my chances out there.” He leads the way down the aisle to the side doors.

“What are you doing?” a woman screeches.

“Getting off this train,” tablet guy says over his shoulder.

“Are you insane?” someone else calls.

“Maybe, but based on what I just read, staying isn’t proof of sanity, either.”

This guy is different from most Union guys, and yet, he doesn’t speak like someone from the Ruins. He’s missing the accent, for one, plus he lacks the roughness around the edges. While the other passengers are cowering in their seats, unsure what to do, he’s ready to jump from the train with a total stranger.

He notices me staring and winks. “Are we doing this, Red?”

“It’s Evan, and yeah.”

“Chase.” He nods before pulling the emergency release and pushing the door open.



About T.H. Hernandez:

When not visiting the imaginary worlds inside my head, I live in San Diego, California, with one husband, three children, two cats, and one dog. In addition to my day job as a technical writer and editor, I write young adult fiction. I love the intensity of teen emotions and the way they're still figuring out life. When I'm not writing, you can find me with my nose in a book, hanging out with family and friends, hiking, or knitting. I'm obsessed with Facebook, young adult novels, bad lip reading videos, pumpkin spice lattes, microbrewed beers, and the San Diego Chargers.

Connect with T. H. Hernandez:

Goodreads | Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Author Amazon Page

Enter T.H’s Giveaway: