The Queen's Gift By T.R. Alllardice Book Blitz & Giveaway

The Queen's Gift

By: T.R. Allardice

Young Adult Fantasy

Released December 15th, 2014 

                  Summary

Fifteen-year-old, late-bloomer Jean Elliott dreams of becoming a Genie like her mom. When her family relocates to Tokyo, Jean is forced to use sleight-of-hand tricks to fool everyone at school into believing that she’s a normal Preternatural or risk expulsion. When her power finally appears, it comes in the form of the Queen’s Gift–an unspeakable magic that strips power from all Preternaturals and heralds the arrival of the new queen.
After an absence of two hundred years, not everyone wants the monarchy to return and they’re willing to go to great lengths to keep the status quo. When buried secrets rip Jean’s family apart, she has a choice to make: Walk away and hope for the best or embrace the power that’s known to lead to madness in order to save her family.
Jean’s greatest dream has turned into her biggest nightmare and no matter how hard she tries, there’ll be no wishing the Queen’s Gift away.

Buy Links:

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Author Information

T.R. Allardice writes young adult, new adult, and humorous horror stories. Most of what she writes incorporates several genres. The content won't always be 'safe'. What's the fun in that? She is a member of the Horror Writer's Association, Novelist Inc. and the Author's Guild. She has thirty-one books published under another pen name. To find out more about her upcoming work, go to:

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The Queen's Gift Excerpt #3

As I stepped inside the room, I felt eyes burning through the back of my sweatshirt. Was it too much to hope that it was Michael Cooper? I looked back. A Goth Fey was leaning against the far wall in the hall. His flame red hair, thick black eyeliner, and spiked choker clashed with the conservative uniform he wore. I hadn’t noticed him when we’d passed the Fey group earlier and he was hard to miss. 

I elbowed Karen and casually nodded in his direction. “Thought you said all the Fey hung out together.”
She followed my gaze and paled to lemon yellow. “That’s Akio Takahashi.”
“Akio?”
“Yes, but he goes by Spider because he doesn’t want anyone to know that his father is a member of the Assembly. I think he’s embarrassed by it,” she whispered, then leaned closer. “It’s not really a secret. Everyone knows, but it’s easier to pretend that we don’t.”
He didn’t look like any of the spiders I’d seen in Illinois. “Spider, seriously?”
“Yep, no one calls him Akio except his father and close friends. But most of them call him Spider, too.” Karen hesitated. “I’d never call him by his given name. And you shouldn’t either.”
“Okay...” I didn’t get what the big deal was about his name. Tokyo didn’t have a corner on the market for weird names. There’d been plenty of strange ones at my last school. “Why is he staring at me?” Was this an ‘offend one Fey, offend them all’ kind of school?
“Who knows?” Karen shrugged. “Spider kind of does his own thing. He’s weird, even for a Fey, but I’ve heard his glam punk band rocks.”
My head tingled as I tore my gaze away. “He’s in a band?” I’d never known anybody who was in a real band. I’d only been around the marching kind. 
Karen nodded. “They play around town sometimes. He’s the lead singer. I haven’t seen them, but I’ve heard Spider kills it on stage. To be honest, I don’t know him well, which I think is a good thing. He keeps to himself. And if you have any sense, you’ll give him plenty of space. You know how the Fey can be.” She rolled her eyes and flashed those dagger sharp teeth.
This from a Ghoul.

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Redheads Are Soulless Tour! Review and Excerpt!

Ladies and gentlemen welcome to my stop on the Red Blog Tour! Even though the title is a total lie to redheads everywhere because I certainly have a soul this book is fantastic! Enjoy my review and excerpt!

Title- Redheads are Soulless

Author- Heather M. White

Source- ebook sent from author

Pages- 213

Publisher- self-published

Goodreads Summary-

High school senior, Sofia Black, has had a very hard life. Since her father's death 7 years ago, she has had to look after her drug addicted, alcoholic mother. School isn't any better for her either. The other kids constantly tease, and ridicule her. All she wants is to get out of her small hometown in Alabama. When new student, Jason, shows up, Sofia's world is turned upside down. She doesn't understand why he wants to befriend her so badly... And, just when she thinks she can trust him, trouble appears. Jason's twin brother, Robbie, moves into town, and things go haywire. Sofia is now running for her life - and Jason is forced to share hidden secrets with her. She learns the truth about her father's death, and finds out that she may not be as "human" as she once thought. She struggles to accept her fate, while fighting for her life.

~Review~

Cover Thoughts-

I freaking love it! I promise it is not because I am a redhead too. It's because she looks beautiful on the cover and matches perfectly with Sofia. I even like the contrast of the purple and red. :)

First Thought-

Ooooooohhhh Aaaaaaaahhh. I love this summary! I'm really excited to get reading this!

What I liked-

I finished it in one sitting. I sat down and was crying from the start. It is just so sad how Sophia lives. She is alone, outcast, basically her mother's keeper, and her father died. I love how you can feel her emotions and every aspect of her loneliness is covered and the emotions are so raw. My favorite scene was where she first met Jason. Finally a boy of her dreams is here for her and cares for her and she just turns him down. She doesn't believe in the potential or beauty within herself. That really clicked in me because its like every girl is insecure and Sophia just embodies that insecure presence even though she is actually kind-hearted and one of a kind. I also love the twist at the end. I really didn't see it coming at all. It was hard to wrap my mind around it and then every piece fell into place. Robbie the super bad boy might be competition next to the super sweet boy Jason. I will totally be looking forward to the nest book in the series.

What I disliked-

Some things I kind of worried about like the story about her dad. If she and her mom know the real story then what do the cops or the town know? It is a small gossiping town that have talk and rumors so I was like what do they think about her father's death? Also towards the middle of the book you learn what Sophia actually is and what Jason and Robbie are and that confused me too. It wasn't enough information on them to keep me actually interested in what they are. I really wanted to know more about it and what their beliefs are but maybe that will come later in the series. That is it!

Overall Readability-

Awe-mazing! I really liked it! The story is original and I have never read anything even close to it! It has some good twists and a great plot. It is diffidently a story to look forward to.

My Final Thought-

How did they find more of their kind? What are Jason and Adrianne going to do now? How could the story stop at such a good part?!

4 out of 5 Haunted Roses

~Author Bio~

Hi! I'm Heather M White, a YA Paranormal author. I'm 22 years old and I recently got married. I just moved from Saint Louis, Missouri to a very small town in Arkansas. My passion is: writing. I also like to read, and play guitar. And I love Dr. Pepper! 

Goodreads

Website

Twitter

~Excerpt~

Just then, the classroom door opened and in walked a student I have never seen before. I wanted to look away, but I couldn't. Something about this guy captured my attention. It was like my eyes were glued to him.

He walked to the front of the class with pride and dignity. His hair was black, but not in a gothic, I hate my life, way. More like a, I’m a rock star, kind of way. His bangs swept to the side, and normally I’m not into that, but it looked good on him. He was tall, towering at least a foot over Mr. Franks. His tight, black hoodie clung to his abdomen, and it was hard

not to stare at his rock hard muscles. He wasn’t big like a football player, but something told me nobody would want to mess with him.

His eyes met mine for a second, and the hair on my arms stood up. His eyes were solid black. But then, something explainable happened they turned to a golden brown color. I blinked a few times. My eyes must be playing tricks on me.

He winked at me, and I was finally able to look away. I was sure my face was as bright as my red hair.

I looked up again once I heard Mr. Franks voice. “Everybody, this is Jason Morgan. He has just transferred here from California.” He pointed to the empty seat beside me. “Just take a seat in the back, please.”

My heart sped up about a hundred beats a minute.

He would be sitting by me.

Of course he would, that is the only empty desk in the class. Nobody else wants to sit by me.

On his way back to the seat, I could see people were giving him sympathetic looks. Poor guy, having to sit by her, I hope he doesn’t get her herpes, I could hear them whisper.

I looked down at my textbook, ignoring the whispers, as Jason took a seat beside me. I could feel his eyes on me. I glanced up for a moment. Sure enough, he was looking right at me.

“I’m Jason,” he introduced himself in a whisper.

“I know. Mr. Franks just told the class,” I whispered back, hoping that my unkind tone would end the conversation.

“I was hoping you’d tell me your name.”

I tried to hide the surprised look on my face.

“Why would you want to know my name?”

“Well,” he paused for a moment, “we are going to be sitting beside each other all year. I should at least know your name.”

I glanced around to make sure nobody was looking. “You really shouldn’t talk to me,” I warned him.

“What if I want to talk to you?”

“I’m kind of a freak,” I admitted sadly.

“Maybe I’m a freak, too.”

I sighed. “It’s your reputation at stake.”

“I think I’ll take my chances,” he smiled. “Are you going to tell me your name?”

“Sofia Black,” I mumbled.

“Well, Sofia Black, it is very nice to meet you.”

“Likewise.”

I turned my attention back to Mr. Franks, who happened to be standing right in front of us.

“Sorry, Mr. Franks,” I apologized immediately.

He tried to look mad, but I could see a smile beyond his angry face. “Since you two like talking so much, maybe you could show Jason around school.”

“I wouldn’t want to tarnish his reputation like that,” I protested.

“I’d love for Sofia to show me around,” Jason added quickly.

Mr. Franks smiled. “Then it’s settled.” With that, he walked back to the front of the room and continued the lesson.

My mouth hung open in disbelief. What was with this guy? Did he really have no self respect?

Talented by Sophie Davis Promo Blitz

Young Adult

Title: Talented

Author: Sophie Davis

Date Published: January 2012

Synopsis: 

Talia Lyons is Talented.  She possesses the ability to read the minds of others and manipulate their thoughts.  Ever since she witnessed the brutal murders of her parents, Talia has spent her life honing her abilities, with her heart set on vengeance.  Now she is poised to face the man responsible, but duplicity causes Talia to doubt herself and her powers.  In the wake of this betrayal, Talia turns to a boy who can mimic her Talents, a boy who truly understands her inner turmoil.  But even he can’t help Talia when she’s forced to choose between saving herself or avenging the lives of her parents.

Author Bio:

Sophie moved to Washington, D.C. after graduating from Penn State University to pursue a career in the Sciences.  After deciding to actually write down one of the stories she makes up in her head, Sophie began the long journey towards her first full-length novel, Talented.  Caged is her second novel, and the second in the Talented Saga.  When Sophie isn't hunched over her computer, she can be found shopping in Georgetown, running in Rock Creek Park, or at the local dive bars in her Columbia Heights Neighborhood.

Website

Twitter: @SophieDavisBook

Links to purchase:

B&N

Amazon

Sony

IPad

Smashwords

Excerpt:

My parents’ deaths had been quick.  One cold metal bullet to the side of my father’s head was all it took to steal the life of the man whose lap I curled up in every night before bed so he could tell me a story; the man who brought me cold milk and warm cinnamon sugar cookies when I had nightmares; the man whose warm, dark brown eyes and toothy smile lit up the room every time my mother walked in.

My poor mother, she never stood a chance.  Before she could even reach my father, a man in black grabbed her from behind.  With one flick of his wrist, a gaping wound appeared across her throat.  The man in black tossed her carelessly next to my father’s crumpled form, like she was trash.

I was murderous.  The feelings overwhelmed me, stirring in my stomach and rising like bile in my throat; overwhelmed me.  Then the horrible, high-pitched shrieking started; it filled my ears, suffocating all of the coherent thoughts in my brain.

I am still not sure if it was the cold, calculated murder of my father, or the careless disposal of my mother – probably both – but I felt something inside of me snap.  One minute, I was hiding in the closet with the silk of my mother’s long dresses pulled tight around my face, like curtains trying to block out the brutal scene in the bedroom.  The next, I was sitting in the outer room of our hotel suite, surrounded by broken furniture, shattered glass, and the bodies of the men in black.  They were all dead.

The blonde man carried a large gun slung over one shoulder, and several smaller ones were tucked at his waist.  An entire team of men clamored through the doorway after him.  He held up one of his hands, indicating for the men to stay back.  He approached me slowly, hesitantly.  He was greater than an arms distance away when he tentatively extended one of his large, gloved hands toward me; I had seen people do the same thing with wounded animals.

“Natalia?” he asked in a soft voice.  I couldn’t find the energy to even nod my head, I just stared blankly.  “Natalia,” he repeated.  “My name is Danbury McDonough.  Do you remember me?  I’m friends with your daddy.”  I rewarded him with another of my blank stares.  “Natalia, are you hurt?”  He took my silence as an indication that I was not.

He placed me in the back seat of the waiting vehicle. I curled into a ball as he covered me with dry blankets.  My body and mind were numb, impervious to the rain and cold.  He tucked the red and black fabric under my chin.  I was vaguely aware that the material was itchy against my skin, but I didn’t move it away.

I could hear the soft ping of the raindrops hitting the metal roof of the car, keeping perfect time with the tears leaking on to the soft leather seat and pooling underneath my cheek.  I tried to concentrate on the noise instead of the slideshow of my parents’ deaths playing on the inside of my eyelids.  I was convinced that the images, now seared into my conscious, would never fade.  The feelings I’d had in the closet were now gone, leaving me empty and hollow and tired – so tired.  I closed my swollen eyes and willed my own mind blank.

Dark Mercy Blog Tour! Review and Excerpt!

Welcome! Today I have for you a sneak peek into the first novella part of the Preternaturals Series by ZOE WINTERS! I also have a review on this short dark story. This is the first story leading into the actual series. So read on!

Title- Dark Mercy

Author- Zoe Winters

Source- E-book sent from Dark Mind Book Tours

Pages- 80

Publisher- IncuBooks

Publication Date- March 3rd 2012

Goodreads Summary-

1955, Las Vegas, Nevada 

Angeline has been on the run from her sire, Linus, for centuries. She’s tired, and she’s lonely. High from mescaline-induced blood, she sees a sign—a church that seems to glow in the distance—and she knows. Her future mate is in that building. 

Important Author’s Note:  Dark Mercy is the beginning of Hadrian and Angeline’s story, not the end. Their HEA will happen later in their own full-length novel. This story is important both for the overall series and for this couple, but it’s not their HEA. Just a mild disclaimer so no one goes in with false expectations for this story.

~Review~

Cover Thoughts-

I don't really get how the cover matches the book. It's a nice scenery but I would just want something more eye catching. But hey, it matches my blog design.:P

First Thought-

Vampires! My favorite of all supernatural creatures! :) Hopefully it's not unoriginal.

What I liked-

This is going to sound bad but I loved the ending. It's a sad ending too. I wanted to cry and yell Hadrian! All Angeline wants is to fill the emptiness in her heart. The ending will blow you away! My favorite scene is the one where the girl Hadrian fed off of appears again and Angeline realizes she isn't dead. It left me with so many questions and I realy must read more of the story! 

What I disliked-

Nothing really. The story was okay. It wasn't the best but I don't have any complaints. 

 

Overall Readability-

It was a dark little story that I could almost see myself telling over a campfire. It fast and easy to get into. I recommend this to all vampire lovers so you can see the darker side of vampiric nature.

My Final Thought-

Ohmigosh! That was such a sad ending! Whats the full length novel? I must know! 

5 out of 5 Haunted Roses

 

~Excerpt~

Dark Mercy Excerpt, used with permission. Copyright 2012 Zoe Winters

“A-Angeline. I haven’t seen you here in awhile.” Could he not get that schoolboy stutter out of his voice?

“I was fighting temptation,” she replied coyly.

Hadrian cleared his throat. “And did you succeed?”

“No.”

She glided closer—or floated. The length of her dress made it impossible to tell which. She stopped mere inches in front of him. He should have taken a step back, should have excused himself, but her strange eyes locked with his. They drew him in, hypnotizing him.

If he were another type of man, he would have proclaimed she was a witch putting him under a spell, but it was just as much his responsibility as hers for not moving away. It was his fault for not finding a replacement for midnight Mass.  His mind became fuzzy.

What was I just thinking about?

Her eyes pulled him in, making the rest of the room swirl around him in a slow blur. If he’d looked down to find them both floating and spinning in the air, he wouldn’t have been surprised. He was dizzy from the delicious scent emanating from her.

Her voice was a siren’s song when she spoke again. “Forgive me, Father, for I’m about to sin.”

Angeline’s mouth tasted like hot cinnamon candy as her lips descended on his. Her lip gloss left his mouth tingling. She might burn him alive with a single kiss. She chuckled as she continued her exploration of his mouth, as if he’d stated his thought aloud and she found it amusing.

Somewhere deep inside him was the place that was screaming that this must not happen, but it sounded like it was shouting from far away down a long, dark hallway, disappearing into a tinny echo. Quickly overtaking that voice was one penetrating thought that refused to release him.

I want her. I want her. I want her. I want her. The thought happened in rhythm to the beat of his heart.

Her lips left his mouth and made a burning trail over his cheek and up to the lobe of his ear. “Father Hadrian.” It was a breathy pant that held all the promise of a new universe unfolding.

He couldn’t remember what she said after that or even if she said something after that. The pounding of his own blood rushing through his ears—and other blood racing south in response to her nearness—had drowned out his ability to think or hear anything else but the lilting magic of her voice calling his name.

“Father Hadrian… ”

Her tone had gone from that of an angel to a writhing serpent as she rubbed her sinewy body against him. This was wrong. The thinking part of him clawed to get out. Something was all wrong about this, beyond the breaking of a vow. But he couldn’t form a coherent thought.

I want her. I want her. I want her.

“And you shall have me. Forever,” she said.

Had he spoken out loud? He wasn’t sure.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me right now,” he said, as her fingers slid under the Roman collar.

It startled him. His collar. Where were his vestments? There were more layers of clothing, or there had been a few moments ago. He glanced down to find the vestments somehow on the floor of the sanctuary. He started to pull away.

“No, Father. Eyes right here on mine. Stay with me.”

His gaze shifted back to her eyes and his will merged with her again. He didn’t realize his shirt was off until the air from the chilly room hit his bare chest.

“Oh, what a surprise. You must work out. Don’t be shy, Father Hadrian. It’s a crime you never get to be inside a woman with this body.”

~Want to know what happens next?~

Visit these links!

Dark Mind Book Tours

  Goodreads

Author Website

Twitter

Facebook

Amazon

~Tour Schedule ~ 

April 19th, 2012

Mind Reader

(Author Interview, Excerpt)

April 20th, 2012

Makayla's Book Reviews

(Review, Excerpt)

April 23rd, 2012

A Bookalicious Story

(Excerpt)

April 24th, 2012

Rachel Firasek

(Review, Excerpt)

April 25th, 2012

Sisterspooky: Book Fangirl

(Excerpt)

April 26th, 2012

The Haunted Rose

(Review, Excerpt)

April 27th, 2012

The Bornean Bookworm

(Review)

April 30th, 2012

Much Loved Books

(Review)

May 1st, 2012

Road To Hell

(Review, Excerpt)

May 2nd, 2012

All Things About Books

(Author Interview, Excerpt)

May 3rd, 2012

Sweet Southern Home

(Author Interview, Excerpt)

May 4th, 2012

Hazel The Witch

(Review, Excerpt)

May 7th, 2012

Butterfly-o-Meter Books

(Review, Excerpt)

May 8th, 2012

Words In Sync

(Review, Author Interview, Excerpt)

May 9th, 2012

Fictional Candy

(Excerpt)

May 10th, 2012

Salacious Reads

(Review, Excerpt)

May 11th, 2012

Happy Tails & Tales

(Review, Character Interview, Excerpt)

May 14th, 2012

Books Are Magic

(Review, Author Interview, Excerpt)

May 15th, 2012

S.M. Boyce

(Review)

May 16th, 2012

TToria

(Review, Excerpt)

May 17th, 2012

Close Encounters With The Night Kind

(Excerpt)

May 18th, 2012

Read My Mind

(Review, Excerpt)

May 21st, 2012

The Hardcover Obsession

(Review, Character Interview)

May 22nd, 2012

Pearls Cast Before A McPig

(Excerpt)

May 23rd, 2012

Kindle Fever

(Excerpt)

May 24th, 2012

Proserpine Craving Books

(Review, Author Interview)

May 25th, 2012

Darkest Sins

(Review, Excerpt)