Cover Reveal: Under Different Stars by Amy Bartol

I'm so excited to bring you this stunning cover for Amy A. Bartol's new book, Under Different Stars, coming out Dec!! Check out below for blurb and a short excerpt!!! 

AUTHOR: Amy A. Bartol | GENRE: YA Dystopian
RELEASE DATE: December 17, 2013
Smashwords pre-order link: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/380123

BOOK BLURB

All she wants is a home, but can she find one…UNDER DIFFERENT STARS

Kricket Hollowell is normally not one to wish upon stars; she believes they’re rarely in her favor. Well versed at dodging caseworkers from Chicago’s foster care system, the past few years on her own have made Kricket an expert at the art of survival and blending in. With her 18th birthday fast approaching, she dreams of the day when she can stop running and find what her heart needs most: a home.

Trey Allairis hates Earth and doubts that anyone from his world can thrive here. What he’s learning of Kricket and her existence away from her true home only confirms his theory. But, when he and Kricket lie together under the stars of Ethar, counting them all may be easier than letting her go.

Kyon Ensin’s secrets number the stars; he knows more about Kricket’s gifts than anyone and plans to possess her because of them. He also knows she’s more valuable than any fire in the night sky. He’ll move the heavens and align them all in order to make her his own.

When everything in their world can be broken, will Kricket rely upon love to save her under different stars?

TEASER

I glance at Trey; he looks like an advertisement for Calvin Klein. Wearing only dark, athletic boxers, he’s something out of a catalog or a warrior movie. Blushing deeply, I want to crawl under the rock I’m on. “Wade into the water together. We should tie you two so that you’re face-to-face with both your heads above the water,” Jax says. Trey nods, extending his hand for me to take.

Avoiding looking at him, I stand up, walking to the water’s edge on my own. Dipping my toes in the water, I pull them back sharply. “It’s freezing!” I glower at them, hearing my voice echo off the walls again.

“It is,” Trey agrees, scooping me up in his arms and wading out quickly into the water before I can object further. When he is chest deep, he says softly in my ear, “Breathe.”

Clinging to him tightly with my arms around his neck, I inhale deeply before muttering, “Shh…you’re interrupting my revenge plotting.”

“If you survive this, I’ll insist that you learn to swim,” he says, sounding annoyed as Jax wades to us with a line, circling us.

“If I survive this, I’m killing you,” I reply dryly, feeling the rope tense, drawing me tighter against Trey’s warm body.

A small smile touches his lips at my comment. “How do you propose to do that?” He gazes into my eyes as Jax knots us together.

“I’ll let you spend some sleepless nights worrying about that,” I reply, my teeth beginning to chatter as the cold water is chilling me to the bone.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I live in Michigan with my husband and our two sons. My family is very supportive of my writing. When I’m writing, they often bring me the take-out menu so that I can call and order them dinner. They listen patiently when I talk about my characters like they’re real. They rarely roll their eyes when I tell them I’ll only be a second while I finish writing a chapter…and then they take off their coats. They ask me how the story is going when I surface after living for hours in a world of my own making. They have learned to accept my “writing uniform” consisting of a slightly unflattering pink fleece jacket, t-shirt, and black yoga pants. And they smile at my nerdy bookishness whenever I try to explain urban fantasy to them. In short, they get me, so they are perfect and I am blessed.

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A Playlist: Autumn in the Air

So. I promise I'm still around!!! I have been super busy with working on my book, grad school, and a bunch of other things. This is really one of my favorite times of the year. More often than not I just want to curl up with a cup of tea and find a good book to read or some great music to get lost in. Below is a playlist of tunes that have been playing on repeat this fall season. (That's right, Christmas, It's still FALL. Back off until it's your turn.) I promise I will have more info about my book and all that great stuff soon but for now I leave you with a playlist of some great tunes!!!! Enjoy your Monday !

Blog Tour: A Matter of Truth by Heather Lyons

I don't think it is any secret how much I LOVE this series!!! I am so excited to not only bring you my review of A Matter of Truth, the third book in the Fate Series by Heather Lyons, BUT I also have an exclusive interview with Chloe!!! Check it out and make sure to check out my review below!! And there is a GIVEAWAY at the end of this post! 

Blurb 

Not long ago, Chloe Lilywhite seemingly had it all: a prized spot on the Magicals’ Council as lead Creator, a loving fiancé and Connection, and a wealth of good friends. But the poised young woman she projected was nothing more than a façade. Her parents all but disowned her. Power plays and accusations of murder within the Council rocked her confidence. And most difficult of all, her secret, a secondary Connection to Jonah’s twin brother, Kellan, became painfully impossible to resist. Desperate to gain control over her rapidly unraveling existence, Chloe did the unthinkable: she ran away.

Now living and working in Alaska under an alias, Chloe is slowly discovering who she is and, more importantly, who she wants to be. But the more she tries to leave the Magical world behind, the harder it becomes to stay hidden. The Elders are back with a vengeance, and the stakes have never been higher. Chloe finally has to make a choice: embrace her pre-ordained Fate or pave her own way in the worlds. One thing’s for sure, though—she’s finally up for the challenge.

*This is a New Adult title, suitable for readers 18+*

Purchasing Links

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Interview with Chloe

Hey Chloe, thank you so much for answering some questions today! I know things are pretty crazy for you right now, so I appreciate you talking to me today!

No problem, Caitlin. I’m glad to be here!

Well let’s get to it! Chloe, in your journey, we have seen you grow and in this book, A Matter of Truth, you continue your journey and try to find your truths. What has been the hardest part of finding your truth?

Well, I think a lot of it has to do with my struggles over what’s expected of me—and what Fate set in store for me—as opposed to becoming the person I wanted to be. It’s not so much that I relished the idea of shirking my duties, it’s just . . . it often felt like I was expected to be somebody I wasn’t comfortable being.

So, I needed to find who that person was. I needed the freedom to do so.

In AMOT, we get to meet Will, the wonderful sweet Will . . . Sorry, I got distracted thinking about him.

(practically chortles) Let’s not tell him, since his head is already too big.

Anyways . . . we get to see you meet Will for the first time at the end of A Matter of Heart and in AMOT we get to see how your relationship has developed and how much trust and love you have for him. Can you tell us about the exact moment you knew Will was more than a coworker and become more like family?

Hmm . . . I don’t know if I can pinpoint an exact moment, but I remember really early on, like not even a week after us meeting, accepting that I felt very comfortable with him. We just seemed to get each other on a level we hadn’t necessarily really felt with a lot of other people before. He and Cameron are truly my family—it just took me nearly twenty years to find them.

In AMOF you start out with having dreams of Jonah and by AMOT you have three very wonderful boys who all care a lot about you in their own special ways. If you could use one song to describe Jonah, Kellan, and Will, which would they be?

Oh, gosh. Let’s see . . .

Will’s the easiest. I would definitely pick Safe and Sound by Electric President, because that’s what we are to one another.

As for Jonah and Kellan . . . (stares off in the distance) This is hard, because I have several songs that make me think of them and what they mean to me. (is quiet) Maybe Gravity by Vienna Teng for Kellan and Today by Joshua Radin for Jonah.

Throughout your journey, you went from having distant parents and a handful of cousins to having a lot of people on your side who care for you, a family. Has that been overwhelming? Such a quick transition?

I don’t know if I’d call it a quick transition at all, since it took me several years to find my peeps. (chuckles) In all seriousness, it’s been wonderful. All my life I’ve been starved for a family. I think another truth I had to come to was realizing a family isn’t always defined by blood—and you can’t force a relationship when there isn’t one.

Every action has a reaction, or a consequence, and in AMOT there are many actions that have reactions and consequences. Are you ready to deal with these consequences?

I do. Good or bad, I’m ready to take responsibility for my actions.

Do you feel more ready to deal with them than before you went to Alaska?

Oh, absolutely.

I know things are pretty crazy right now, and you haven’t had a lot of time to thing about anything besides what’s going on in the worlds, but what are your hopes for the future?

I hope that I will always be the sort of person that deserves the level of power she’s been given.

What is one thing you wish for more than anything for your future?

(thinks about this for a long moment) One of my most fervent wishes has always been for the happiness of those I love. It still holds true today. It will always be my most cherished wish.

And a few fun quick questions.

If you weren’t a creator which craft would you choose?
Probably an Elemental.
Favorite Season?
Spring, because it’s all about new hope and growth.
If you could play any sport, what would it be?
I wish I were a better bowler. Gods, I hate losing all the time! *Caitlin's note* I as well suck at Bowling. Like really bad. I can feel ya on that one girl*

What is one typical teenage thing you wish you got to do more of when you were a teenager?

It’s going to make me sound like a dork, but applying for colleges.

Favorite pastime with Jonah?

Kissing. Because wow, is he . . . um . . . Is that TMI? (giggles) Okay. Trying out new restaurants.

Kellan?

I’ll keep it clean,  *Caitlin's note* You really don't have to keep in clean. I don't mind!* so I’m going to say . . . just hanging out together. Kellan Whitecomb is always a good time.
(pauses)
That came out wrong.

And Will?

Watching hockey together and fighting over the food he makes us. Did you know he plays? *Caitlin's note* Will plays hockey??? Oh well I will watch a hockey game with this guy ANY time. ;)*

Well thanks again, Chloe for stopping by and chatting with me! I wish you the best of luck in the future!!!!!

Aw, thanks, Caitlin! Thanks so much for having me.

My Review

I love these books something fierce. A Matter of Truth is no exception in another heart wrenching, emotional filled story of love, family and finding your truth. In this book, Chloe has ran off to Alaska to figure out things, figure out how to live her life how she wants but still be able to handle the responsibilities that are required of her. It is no small matter, the weight of the world Chloe deals with and while in most cases, I really hate when characters run away,  but in this- I got it. It made sense. She needed to do something in order for her to deal with everything that has essentially, been dumped on her.

"How do you know whether you made the right choice?"

My emotions were all over the place as I read this book. These are the types of books where you are so emotionally charged you have to physically take a break because you feel like Chloe, like you are going to break. In AMOT, though, there were so many sweet moments. Moments filled with love and comfort of finding your people. Life doesn't mean a whole lot without your people, the ones that love you regardless of circumstances and will be there to no matter what. I fell in love with how Chloe not only finds her family but also finds how meaningful a family can be, wether they are a blood relation or not.

"I haven't been fair to myself." 

I was also so proud of Chloe for finding her truth. Her truth. Not the truth that is expected of her. Not the truth she thinks she should have. Not the truth of the worlds, but the truth that lives deep inside her soul. Her truth that is not influenced by fate, but rather by her choice. To see Chloe find that truth, love, family, it just gives me all the warm fuzzy feelings inside. I was also proud of Chloe for not only realizing her trurth but knowing that her journey isn't over and it still won't be easy. It will be hard but I think Chloe has figured it out it will be worth it. There are also some really great things in this book. Will. Oh Will. I didn't think it was possible for Heather to write even more characters for me to fall in love with but I was so wrong! Will and Cameron and the whole gang she has in Alaska is amazing!!!

"It was because I wanted a chance to figure out who I am without Fate sticking its fingers in every one of my pies." 

You get to see more Chloe, Jonah, and Kellan in this book and there moments where my heart was ripped out. I was sad and happy and felt all the love in this book! I understood Chloe's actions. That was the most important, was understanding Chloe for me in this book. Did I swoon every time Kellan made an appearance....yes...yes I did. But this book, for me, was all about Chloe. Will, Jonah and Kellan- all great bonuses!!! :)

"I want to be able to come home and lean on you. Know that you've got my back. I want to be the same for you. I want us to be lovers. Best friends. Partners. Because, it's you I want."

Then of course the ending......with wide eyes I had to read it a few times and then throw out a few curse words and then calmly tell myself that I will burn the worlds down if this doens't end well!!


Overall, Heather Lyons takes every day words and weaves them into an enchanting heart filled story of a girl trying to find her truth, trusting in herself and having the courage to live the life she wants to live. You can't help but fall in love with these books, these characters, and this family Heather has created.

5  AMAZING stars and waiting on edge for the fourth book!!!

About Heather Lyons

Heather Lyons has always had a thing for words—She’s been writing stories since she was a kid. In addition to writing, she’s also been an archaeologist and a teacher. Heather is a rabid music fan, as evidenced by her (mostly) music-centric blog, and she’s married to an even larger music snob. They’re happily raising three kids who are mini music fiends who love to read and be read to.

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Book Review: Undertow by Amber Lynn Natusch

Today I am sharing my thoughts about Undertow by Amber Lynn Natusch as part of the blog tour. I loved loved loved this book! Check out my review below as well as a giveaway!!! 

Blurb

How far does a girl have to run to escape a lifetime of pain and loss at the hands of Alaska's notoriously unforgiving Bering Sea? Twenty-seven-year-old Aesa Fredriksen thought landlocked Columbus, Ohio would suffice, and it does until the fear of regret drives her to return to Dutch Harbor in a final attempt to make amends with her nearly-estranged father. Intent on salvaging the wreckage of their relationship, she reluctantly agrees to join him—the only family she has left—as he heads out to fish for king crab, forcing her to brave the very waters that pulled him away from her as a child. The waters that stole her mother's life.

When the day finally arrives for the Norwegian Queen to sail off into an uncertain future, Aesa can't help but fear the worst. Beyond the violent swells and impending storms, there is far more than death and danger awaiting her on her journey: love awaits her too.

Decker, a young but seasoned member of her father's crew, is a force of nature as strong as Aesa, He's her perfect match, and even she can't deny it. But he too is a man of the sea, and with memories of tragedy and abandonment etched so deeply into her mind, can she overcome her demons and let him in or will she drown in her darkness, forever caught in its undertow?

My Review

There are so many things that are right in this book. When you read contemporary books, YA, NA or adult, you think you have seen it all, read it all, every plot twist that has been done before. Each time you pick up a new book you truly don't know what you are getting. Undertow? I couldn't have been happier because what I picked up was pure gold. Lets go through all the awesomeness, shall we?

The setting: Set in Alaska with the focus on crab fishing, I was totally sucked in from the setting alone. It's like this setting just writes it self, the beauty and danger jumps out of you and feel like you standing at the edge of something that can take you to places you never thought. You feel as succumbed to the setting as Aesa, you feel the love and hatred Aesa has for her home. The side characters are all great and you can tell this is a family and the bonds they have are strong. If one experiences heartache, it affects them all. They protect and love each other.

"I think your cold runs deeper than that, Aesa."

In this book you see the relationships Aesa has with her father, a relationship she is trying to mend, and the one she has with the sea. Truly moving and emotion filled, both relationships. Aesa struggles with so much but still has the strength to go on, to move forward in fixing what was broken in the past. Along this journey she meets Decker. I am a sucker for the quiet, strong, and kind type. Decker, well he is a whole lot of man who a lot of admirable traits. You see Aesa fall for this man and you love it because you can't help but not.

“Disappointment and sadness don't have to be your life anymore. You can choose to have more,” he whispered, his head hanging just above me. “You can choose me...”

This book is also filled with action, heart stopping moments when you are asking yourself, what next? What happens?? There was a something that happens in the end of book, I won't give it away, that usually in books I just really don't like, but in this book? It worked, it made sense, I understood why she did it and I loved how Decker and her figured it out. Together. Aesa is one strong woman who has gone through her share of heartbreak but she still comes out strong and you can't help but wonder if the same sea that has caused this heartache isn't also the balm that soothes parts of her soul. 

This is a book that is less about me telling you to read it but encouraging you to experience it. That is my best advice, just trust me and read it.

About the Author 

If you're dying to know more about me, allow me to put you at ease. I'm a sharp-tongued, sarcastic cancer, who loves vegetable smoothies, winter storms, and the word 'portfolio'. I should NEVER be caffeinated, and require at least eight hours of sleep to even resemble a human being. At thirty-four, I just now feel like I can keep a straight face while saying the word "rectum" (which is actually a huge lie because I just laughed out loud while reading this to my husband). I live with my iPod firmly affixed to my body, drive too fast, and laugh/cry at inappropriate times. I'm obsessed with urban fantasy... When I discovered that genre, I knew I had found my tribe. Now I write in that world because that's what the voices in my head tell me to do. And they are very, very loud.

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Giveaway
1 winner will receive a $50 amazon gift card + plus an ebook copy of Undertow
2 winners will each receive a $25 amazon gift card + plus an ebook copy of Undertow

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Marriage and Musings

So this article: Marriage Isn't for You I have seen a lot on my news feed. Everyone is all gushing about it and as a critical student I can't help but see the other side.

First off, before you all freak out, I want to say this guy isn't totally off his rocker. There is truth in his words but I don't feel like it's the whole picture. Selflessness is an important part of marriage but I don't think it is the ONLY thing about marriage. I also understand it is different for every person.

But I just don't buy the whole being selfless thing. If BOTH people in a marriage give up or try to please the other person, HOW DO YOU GET ANYTHING DONE???

For example: And I have read this article four or five times to make sure I am reading it correctly but for D and I we are both looking for jobs this spring. So say I am this "selfless" type and I say: Even though I have been in school for 7 years and have a masters degree I want you to be happy and I want you to find a job and I will follow you regardless. And then D says, essentially the same thing. Then what? We both can't make a freaking decisions and then tip toe around the fact that we should be thinking about the other person and no one makes a move and.....you see where this is going. Or I decide that I want D to go find a job and be selfless and then later on I resent him because I had to give in and do what he wanted, giving up what I wanted?

I don't know....maybe I am reading this wrong. What I think is important in a marriage is a combination of selflessness, honesty, and communication. There is a time and place for one person to give to the other so the other can follow their hopes and dreams. Or it's a compromise where both can be happy. Tricky, yes, but it can be done.

I should also point out that D and I don't believe in traditional gender roles.  You wont ever catch me being a housewife or stay at home mom, cooking and raising the kids or whatever and again, nothing wrong with that AT ALL, stay at home moms do so much, it's just not how D and I work. It's not my scene.

D is much better at cooking than me, I pay the bills and we usually rock paper scissors over the laundry. Some days I am swamped with homework and he tells me not to worry about cleaning the house and some days D is stressed with studying and work that I usually will pop into work and give him a peach tea because they are his favorite and hope it brightens his day.

It's a balance. With many conversations we have had about our future I have been completely honest with D and sometimes with that honesty comes things that aren't as pleasant to hear. But I would rather be honest now than resent him later or vice versa. It's hard to honest, it's hard to know that you both are bound and determined to find great jobs and you know how hard it will be for both of you to be completely happy. But when I am being selfless and D knows how I really feel, it tends to mean more, have more weight behind my words.

I understand being giving to my partner. D is great at it, it is very much in his nature to be a giver, more so than myself. He makes me a better person when he takes interest in the things I do and supports me. I support him of course but there is a difference between supporting your partner and giving up things for them, giving up who are you for the other person. Giving up what made you fall in love with that person in the first place. Again, a time and place and it switched off as time goes on.

So yes, I am going to say it, There is a time when it's ok to be focused on you and what you want to do just as long as you know that your partner is supporting you and there will be a time and place for you to give back. Maybe that is what this guy was saying the whole time and we actually agree on it. I don't know. But I thought I would shed some light on how I see things.


In all reality, marriage is hard! True love is not killing your husband when you go to bed and he comes out of the office to only turn on ALL the lights and not turn them off again. Or when you are constantly saying, "D, your shoes don't go here." or "D, you keys don't go here." or "D, where in the HELL are my keys. We have a key hook for a REASON."

Or when you are driving and you say to your partner, "Take a left here." and he gets in the left lane for you to only say, "Oh shit I really meant take a right!" and then he cuts off traffic to get in the right lane, shooting you a dirty glare.

True love is when your partner says,

D: What are you reading?
Me: A book called Deity 
D: Oh, are you reading a book about Greek Gods?
Me: With hearts in my eyes Yes. Yes I am.

True love is this conversation:

D: I need a basket for my rocks.
Me: Can't you just put the rocks...you know....outside?
D: WHAT! Rocks don't go outside. I can't put my rocks outside!
Me: Oh. Of course not.
Me: actually understand the importance of keeping his rocks inside our tiny apartment. 

True Love is when your husband, when you first started dating liked rap and punk music, now loves Josh Ritter as much as you and anytime "Kathleen" comes on in the car you both know all the words and sing it at the top of our lungs. With the windows open.

True Love is when you try to cook dinner for your partner but he politely tells you it's kind of bland and then adds a dash of this and a dash of that and suddenly it doesn't suck anymore. And you don't get offended.

Again, maybe I am just proving this guys point over and over again.

A Short Story: A Haunting First Date

Six years ago, D and I went on our first date. I had no idea our first date would lead to many many more! (Seriously, I thought he was kinda a goober, but I guess he grew on me :) Since it's so close to Halloween I thought I would write a short (ish) story! Don't worry, our first date wasn't nearly this terrifying.  Enjoy! Oh and Stella and Ricky? They might make appearances in future short stories. 

And to my wonderful husband--I am so happy you are always there to hold my hand through the happy times and the more scary times in our life. Thanks for being my stone ;)

I stood there shifting back and force trying to get warmth back into my legs. Standing here in the cold with my new boots I hadn’t worn in yet was a bad idea and this walking tour hadn’t even started yet. Awkwardly, I looked around, wishing I had agreed to Ricky picking me up. Our first date. A date I had been looking forward to when six months ago he opened his store two doors down from my bookstore. 

I stood in Collie Mansion in one of the oldest parts of town, waiting for a tour to start. It was two days before Halloween and this was supposed to be the most haunted part of the town. Also, rich with history and I was banking on the history part rather than the haunting part. I did not do scary movies, let alone haunted mansions. Nope. Nope. Nope. But I was happy Ricky had finally asked me out on this date and I was going to say yes no matter what. Even if I had made a fool of myself as I freaked myself out. It would be worth it. Hopefully.

While I waited for Ricky, I stared up at the huge mansion. I wasn’t too familiar with the story. It was apparently owned by a Croatian family who had decided to steer away from their Illinois based home and moved west in hope to find gold. They ended up here instead and well….they never found gold. They made their money in various ways and I doubted they were all legal means of entrepreneurship.

The house loomed over me; hidden in the last of the sun, turning the gray stone into a deep purple. It was a huge structure, with tales of it having over fifteen bedrooms and twice as many rooms for entertaining purposes. Each window had a light in it, an old-fashioned candle flickering in the thick paned glass, an eerie darkness behind the small light. The uppermost window was in a tower type room, a turret I think they called it. A light in the window flickered feverishly, like a wind was blowing it out and it was struggling to survive. I was transfixed by the flame, slightly confused. The rest of the lights looked like the fake plastic candles, but this one looked real, even so far away. I saw a dash of white for only a split second and felt someone grabbing my shoulder. I screamed and spun around, ready to attack to only see Ricky holding up his hands and a look of surprise mixed with laughter. “I am so sorry Stella! I didn’t mean to scare you. I tried calling your name a few times but you didn’t answer.” My breathing resumed a normal pace as my nerves settled.

I hadn’t said anything yet. “Are you ok?” Ricky asked me as he gently placed a hand on my shoulder. His touch on my arm brought me back to my senses.

“mmhmm” I said tight lipped. Doubts crept in about whether or not this was a good idea. 

Ricky smiled at me and grabbed my hand as we walked up front to the guide who was already making his way into the house. We were the last in the crowd to pass over the threshold and as soon as we passed over the doorway, I felt a cold tingle attach itself on the back of my neck, making me shiver.

Ricky this time didn’t say anything but looked over to me, gave me a reassuring smile, and grabbed my hand. My attention went back to the guide as he told us the story of the Collie Mansion,

“Alright everyone, before we start going through the house lets give you a brief history about the Collie Mansion  Andro and Mirna Collie moved to this town around 1890, trying to make money by finding gold in the mines nearby. They lived in a smaller house closer to the center of town ,but they found gambling and opium to be a better money making business. Only a year after moving here, they started construction on this house. At the time Mirna was pregnant with their daughter Brigita. The house took over two years to build and the family moved in shortly after. The extra rooms only helped their illegal businesses, as they entertained high profile people from all over the state.

Years went on and the family started to turn their more lucid dealings into legitimate business as they grew their empire. Soon they owned a large part of the town around the time their daughter, Brigita, was about sixteen. One of the businessmen Andro Collie dealt with was from New York and at the time twenty-one. They say the exact moment this businessman, Paul was his name, and Brigita saw each other it was love at first sight. He was five years older than her but they didn’t care. Her parent’s did care and were against it. Brigita and Paul had a secret love affair every time Paul came into town and soon she found herself pregnant with his child.

Mirna Collie, very much the lady of the house, was livid and forbid Brigita to ever see Paul again. The family had an image to live up to so they locked Brigita in the tower room through her pregnancy. They had decided they would pass off the baby as a distant cousin’s, saying the cousin had died during childbirth and they were raising the baby. Andro cut all ties with Paul and Brigita went into a deep depression.

Locked up in her room, Brigita threatened to kill herself if she never got to see Paul again, but Mirna made sure that was not possible. Brigita eventually gave birth to a baby boy who she named Jeremy. But even after having the baby, Mirna still didn’t let Brigita out of her tower room, instead taking the baby and limiting the time she got to hold her child. Brigita went crazy; screaming at all hours, voicing her hatred for her mother. One day a servant went up to give Brigita her dinner. Brigita stabbed the servant with a piece of wood she had broken off her bed, ran downstairs and then killed her mother with the same piece of jagged wood. Her father came into the room, seeing his wife surronded by blood, and demanded Brigita to tell him what happened. Brigita, in a rage, took the wood and told her dad he would have to live with her son and tell him why his mother and grandmother were dead, then proceeding to kill herself.

The empire Andro Collie made, quickly fell apart. Paul eventually came back and took the young boy away from Andro. Soon Andro had no one and joined his wife and daughter by taking his own life, some say with the same piece of wood his daughter used. They say all three of them still haunt this mansion, Brigita forever stuck in the tower room.”

Holy shit. What a tragic and screwed up family. The tour guide started to talk again, moving the group along but I felt a tug on my arm. I slightly freaked out, the story still running through my head, to turn and see Ricky had pulled me aside.

“Let’s see if we can get up there.”

Uhhhhh

“What?”

“Yeah..let’s see if we can get up into that tower room. “

My eyes widen. Was he serious? There was no way you were getting me up to that room filled with an angry teen girl of a ghost. Teen girls were already terrifying, no need to add the dead part to it. But before I had time to answer, Ricky was already dragging me up the stairs, simply stepping over the velvet-lined rope blocking our path. I couldn't believe I was doing this. My heart started to race and the house was drenched in darkness. 

We hit the second floor but Ricky kept going and found the spiraled stone encased staircase leading up the tower room. The farther up the stairs we went, the deeper the fear set in. I was in no way possible a daring person. This was not something you would ever find me doing. Ever. Yet here I was, following Ricky on our first date into a haunted secluded room. I was insane.

We reached the top of the stairs; the large wooden door loomed in front of us.
“You think it’s that simple.” Ricky asked me as he pushed the door open.

“I guess so.” I barely answered. We stepped into the circular room. It was a bizarre mix, like be thrown back in time. The stonewalls had a medieval vibe but the décor was mid 1970s. The small metal bed had an orange and green crocheted bedspread on it, the layer of dust visible even from the door. A poster of Neil Diamond was tapped on the wall, one corner hanging down covering half his face.

“Odd...” Ricky said as we walked further into the room. “But I think spirit free.” Ricky turned around and moved his arms around me, his hands wrapping around my waist and settling on my lower back. “I might have had a different motive besides trying to find ghosts.”

I raised an eyebrow. If I focused on the hot man in front of me, I was less likely to freak myself out about the potential angry ghost. “What was the motive then?” I asked Ricky

He smiled. And oh that smile. “This.” Then he was kissing me and what a kiss it was. After a few heavy moments of kissing he broke apart from me and said, “I have wanted to do that since I met you in your bookstore Stella.” I smiled shyly as Ricky traced kisses up my neck. I glanced over to the small bed, my thoughts distracted by the man in front of me when I caught a glimpse of something white.

As I focused more on the bed I saw a women with curly black hair on her knees on the side of the bed, acting like she was praying. My breath caught and the grip I had on Ricky tightened. He lifted his head and looked at me but I didn’t see his eyes because mine were stuck on the women. Her head lifted and her face was white, her eyes black as the hair that curled around her head. Ricky turned his head around to see what I was looking at. His breath matched mine as it slowed. We were both transfixed by the women in front of us. Her hands clenched together but slightly transparent, though it looked like she clutched a very real blood red rosary in her tiny hands. This could only be Brigita, a daughter scorned.
Her obsidian holes that were her eyes connected with mine. I could hear in my mind the pacing of footsteps; suddenly the ghost of Brigita was in front of my face. 

Ricky no longer held me, flung to the side. I heard him hit the stone wall and a grunt but I couldn’t move my eyes away from the young woman. Fear filled every minuscule pore of my body and my heart was racing so fast I thought it would leap out of my chest.

Brigita didn’t open her mouth this time but in the deep hallows of my mind I heard, “You have to save him….my baby boy…..all I want to do is hold him. Why can’t I hold my baby boy?Where have you taken my baby boy? If my beloved was here, we would be a family but you awful wrench, you have ruined it all, taken away my family. I hate you.”

I couldn’t move a single muscle. My feet felt like the stone in the room, stuck to the ground, which was a pity when I saw in the women’s hand a jagged piece of wood, as real as the rosary I had seen only moments before. She lifted her hand and the sharpen piece of wood was caked in dried blood, the death of Brigita and her family forever embodied on the wooden stake. She held the stake up high above my head, ready to plunge into my body. The starry sky from the window behind Brigita leached through the ghostly pale form, a twisted version of the Milky Way. The light I had seen outside no longer glowed.

I glanced up to see the black holes of her eyes. I could only imagine the hurt and torture that would fill those eyes, the damaged soul of Brigita Collie. I saw her swing down the wooden stake and suddenly felt myself fly out of her path, hitting the stone floor with enough force to hear a crack in my arm. A heavy body was lying on top of me, but this one warm and breathing. Ricky rolled off me grabbing my hand and lifting me up. I clutched my right wrist close to me, pain radiating off in the same rhythm of my fast paced heartbeat. I looked over as Ricky pulled me out of the room to see Brigita gone but the wooden steak rolling around on the floor.

We rushed down the stairs and onto the second floor when Ricky abruptly stopped in front of me, causing me to crash into his back, bringing a whole new wave of pain to my wrist. I sucked in a breath and tightened my grip on his hand, leaning over him to see why we had stopped. In front of us was another form of a woman, this time her curly hair was gray and piled on top of her head.

This could only be the lady of the house. Mirna Collie. She stood there with her arms cradling something, but nothing was there. There was no baby in Mirna Collie’s arms. A small victory at this point. I have no idea what we would have done with a real life baby. The women looked past Ricky, staring at me.

Why me? Why were these women targeting me? The women glided towards me, like her feet weren’t even touching the ground. I heard her in my mind, just like I did with her daughter.

“I regret everything.” Her voice was like cold air, shrouding me in an icy blanket of sorrow.

And then she was gone. We both stood there, not sure what to do. It only took a split second and we were both on the move again, racing towards the stairs that brought us up here. We clomped down the old stone stairs, each step echoing through the stairwell. As we hit the bottom, we saw the guide bringing the group out of the house. We had somehow missed the whole tour.

The guide stopped and looked at us both. I was positive we were a sight to see. He smirked and said, “Looks like you two saw a ghost or something.” Then chuckled at his own joke, leaving us unable to respond.

Or something was right.


3 days later

I parked my car and locked the door as I walked the block to my bookstore. After our terrifying first date, Ricky was a gentleman and took me to the hospital to get my wrist set. I had fractured it when I landed on it but Ricky saved my life so I wasn’t too upset. Even after our date, he still asked me out again and I agreed ONLY if he never took me anywhere with angry spirits. He was quick to agree. I looked into my purse for my store keys. As I finally grabbed the keys and unlocked the door I heard a clinking against the window-lined door. That was weird, I didn’t have anything hanging from the inside of the door. I took the key from its lock and looked inside.

Hanging from the doorknob was Brigita Collie’s blood red rosary. 

 The End

Book Review: Making Faces by Amy Harmon

Synopsis 

 Ambrose Young was beautiful. He was tall and muscular, with hair that touched his shoulders and eyes that burned right through you. The kind of beautiful that graced the covers of romance novels, and Fern Taylor would know. She'd been reading them since she was thirteen. But maybe because he was so beautiful he was never someone Fern thought she could have...until he wasn't beautiful anymore. Making Faces is the story of a small town where five young men go off to war, and only one comes back. It is the story of loss. Collective loss, individual loss, loss of beauty, loss of life, loss of identity. It is the tale of one girl's love for a broken boy, and a wounded warrior's love for an unremarkable girl. This is a story of friendship that overcomes heartache, heroism that defies the common definitions, and a modern tale of Beauty and the Beast, where we discover that there is a little beauty and a little beast in all of us.

 Review 

I fell in love with Amy Harmon's A Different Blue  earlier this year. So when I heard about this blog tour I immediately signed up, I don't even know if I knew what the book was about, I just trusted Harmon to deliver another stunning novel. And she did. Oh did she deliver a beautiful heart wrenching novel. Harmon doesn't just write a book, she takes a rainbow of emotion and paints them on paper in the prose of words strung together ever so eloquently. 

"Everybody is a main character to someone."

You can't help but fall in the depths of this story and feel for these characters, their story so well developed. That was one of the things I loved about this book. We got to see the whole story. Many books (and this isn't necessarily a bad thing) start after the "tragic" event, but Harmon takes the extra step and shows us the whole story, making it easier to connect to not only the love story but their pain and joy and strength. You feel apart of the story, not simply an outsider looking in. You feel like you're standing in the bakery late at night watching Ambrose and Fern interact. It really is a beautiful thing. 

"Then lost, because alone feels permanent, and lost can be found."

I would say one of the main reasons why I love Amy Harmon's book so much is because there always seem to be that extra something, she takes the extra step to illuminate a story and give it life. It's like looking at stained glass window in a church. You see it, but when the sun shines through it comes alive, the colors popping out and the scene playing out in front of you. That is what Amy Harmon does with her books, gives light where there is dark. 

"Maybe everyone represents a piece of the puzzle. We all fit together to create this experience we call life."

And lets talk about not only the heroism of Ambrose but that of Bailey. Bailey was a breath of fresh air as a character. There are side characters and then there is Bailey. More than a side character, but an integral part of this story, showing how anyone can be a hero. I loved the relationship of Fern and Bailey, the banter they had and the honest moments between them made me feel all the feels. As Ambrose comes back from war, they three of them together was fascinating to watch, how they pushed each other, dealing with the loss of so many things, people, and ideas. It takes a lot of courage, strength, and tears to deal with the loss of one dream, one life plan, and to learn to accept and strive in a new dream. But that new dream can be as rewarding and beautiful as one can ever hope. 

"There's a lot I don't understand....but not understanding is better than not believing." 

Amy Harmon is an author I will pick a book regardless because I know she has the talent to tell us such amazing stories. I hope you all pick up this book and enjoy it as much as I did!

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About Amy Harmon 

 Amy Harmon knew at an early age that writing was something she wanted to do, and she divided her time between writing songs and stories as she grew. Having grown up in the middle of wheat fields without a television, with only her books and her siblings to entertain her, she developed a strong sense of what made a good story. Amy Harmon has been a motivational speaker, a grade school teacher, a junior high teacher, a home school mom, and a member of the Grammy Award winning Saints Unified Voices Choir, directed by Gladys Knight. She released a Christian Blues CD in 2007 called “What I Know” – also available on Amazon and wherever digital music is sold. She has written five novels, Running Barefoot, Slow Dance in Purgatory, Prom Night in Purgatory, the New York Times Bestseller, A Different Blue and coming October 20, Making Faces. Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter 

Blog Giveaway (OPEN INTERNATIONALLY) 

 1st Prize: · Kindle Paperwhite · $50 Amazon Gift Card · Signed set of all 5 of Amy Harmon’s books! 2nd Prize: · Signed copy of Making Faces · $25 Amazon Gift Card

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