The Undoer by Melissa J. Cunningham Blog Tour (Excerpt, Author Interview, and Giveaway)

Clean Teen Publishing is proud to present, The Undoer, the third installment in Melissa J. Cunningham's The Randsomed Soul Series.

They call it The Door to Hell. It’s a blackened crater that never stops spewing up poisonous gas. But gas isn’t the only thing coming from the bowels of the Earth…

They slither out, those malevolent souls—demonic filth that wreak havoc and destroy lives. They don’t even pretend to hide…

Brecken, an ex-demon trying to find redemption, is given the task of closing The Door. It’s a seemingly impossible task. A group of teens who call themselves Cazadors will be his allies. These extraordinary youth can see the demons when no one else can, but Jag, their leader, wants nothing to do with Brecken.

Brecken must earn their confidence and defeat the demon horde infiltrating the Earth.

The Cazadors might not be much… but they are all the world has.

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Author Interview with Melissa J. Cunningham

• Who is your favorite character in this book. Why? Dang! I can’t decide. Seriously. I love them all so much. They are all so different, with awesome strengths and weaknesses. I love Brecken, because he’s been such a fun character since the beginning of the series. I love Heidi, as she carries my daughter’s name and becomes a badass warrior princess in this book, and I absolutely love Dean because of his heart and fierce loyalty to his friends. 

• Who is your least favorite character in this book. Why? Lily, because she’s just a mention LOL

• How is The Undoer different from other books in its genre? It’s not really. The title says something significant about the main character in the book. And Brecken is absolutely The Undoer. 

• What would you say to entice a reader who isn’t familiar with the genre to read your book? That this story had EVERYTHING! Adventure, action, battles, romance, heartbreak. And if you like the paranormal, this book’s for you! 

• What was the most challenging part about writing The Undoer? Going as slow as I had to. I had Lyme Disease, and even though I’m over it now, it left some damage behind, so now I get mentally tired REALLY fast. I was only able to write for short periods at a time. 

• It is said that writers will always put a bit of themselves into whatever they are writing. Is that true for you? Do you relate to any of your characters? Absolutely. Every character is a piece of me in some form or fashion. I thinks it’s impossible to not do this. Everything we write about comes from our own brain. The things we remember, experience, dream about, imagine. So yeah. Since it comes from inside, they are all bits and pieces of me and the people I know, love, and care about. 

• Some authors plan ahead, making a plot outline of how they intend for the story to unfold and some will allow their muse to take over, writing the story as it is revealed to them. What writing method did you use for The Undoer? I definitely write by the seat of my pants. I do have a rough idea where I want the story to go though, and I’ll take notes etc… but I don’t have the patience to completely outline. 

• How long did it take you to write The Undoer? A year! Can you believe that? A freaking year! I would love to right at least two books a year and three would be even better. 

• What was your inspiration for writing The Undoer? My publisher wanted a third book. LOL But the funny this, this has become my very favorite of all the books I’ve written. 

• If you could sum up The Undoer in just two sentences, what would you say? I’d use the tag lines on the front cover. “He has a holy weapon. She has a fearless heart. Together they must save the world.” 

Excerpt:

Dean

The clanking of keys rattles outside my cell door. I’ve been lying here for a while, my throat growing scratchier as the minutes tick by. “Who’s there?” I call, but it only comes out as a croak.

The door squeaks open and Brutus—the guy who kidnapped me—steps in. Yeah, I gave him a nickname. It’s my thing after all. A dim light shines on him from behind. He looks bigger than before, if that’s even possible.

“Time to get up,” he says with a smile in his deep, resonating voice.

When I don’t move quickly enough, he grabs me by the arm, yanking me from the metal cot. I bang my knee on a steel bar and barely find my feet before he starts hauling me out of the room. At the end of the hall, we pass through the storage room with the stairs that lead out to the alley.

We don’t go out that door though, but skirt through the storage room that’s lined with shelves of canned goods. Between two of the tall shelves, we stop at what looks like a cement wall. Brutus reaches behind some canned peaches and flicks a switch. The cement wall screeches, sliding open to reveal a long, black corridor.

The oppressive darkness in that space stretches its inky fingers and wraps them around my quivering heart. Like suffocating liana vines, squeezing the life out of its host tree, the life leaches out of me just thinking about what lies beyond this door.

“I’m not going in there.” I dig in my heels, pulling back.

Brutus stares at me, his smile wide and his eyes crinkling in humor. His dark hair is slicked back with gel. He looks more like a Mafioso each time I see him. “You’ll be entertaining. You show such defiance! I almost can’t wait.”

As I glare back at him, my fingers curl into fists. Next to him, I look like a pathetic wolf pup rather than something fierce, but I want to hurt this guy. “I’m not your toy.”

“No,” he says. “You won’t be. You’ll be the plaything of someone else.”

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Reluctant Guardian (Book 1)

Guarding Brecken Shaefer—a dark and dangerous rebel—is harder than it looks. 

Death was nothing like sixteen-year-old Alisa Callahan thought it would be. Resting on pink, fluffy clouds for eternity with her gram and best friend sounded like a dream come true. After all, enduring one torturous experience after another in her short life deserved some kind of reward, right? Unfortunately, eternal rewards aren't given out so freely when you take your own life. 

Required to pay the debt for her actions, Alisa must become a guardian. It sounds easy enough, but not when the boy she is forced to protect has a dangerous secret and wants absolutely nothing to do with her. 

Brecken Shaefer isn't any normal teenager. He has special gifts that are sure to make Alisa's afterlife miserable. When feelings develop between them, everything spins out of control. Not only must Alisa face her own demons— but to protect Brecken, she must face an evil so heinous that it threatens to destroy their souls completely. 

Alisa is tired of hiding from her past. When the easiest thing to do is run, can Brecken give her the strength to stay?

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The Elementalist (Book 2)

Deceased Alisa Callahan thinks nothing could be worse than watching the boy she loves move on in his life without her… until she is ripped from her less-than-peaceful existence in Elysium to be trapped… in someone’s else’s body.

Seventeen-year-old Claire Balister wants only one thing. To master the art of Elementalism. To accomplish this, she must to learn to control a damned soul. Her old classmate and suicide victim, Alisa Callahan, is the perfect candidate. But when the spell goes wrong, Claire finds herself in the worst possible situation… sharing her body with an unwanted guest.

Everything swirls out of control when Alisa learns her entrapment is all part of a set-up, an elaborate scheme to keep her out of the way while demons take over the realm of Idir Shaol. Her only hope rests with a boy who can’t remember her, his past, or more importantly, who he really is…
One of the bad guys.

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About the Author

Melissa Cunningham (also known as M.E. Cunningham) was born in Oregon but  grew up in Utah, where she was raised on a steady diet of fine literature from Charlotte’s web to the The Trumpeter Swan, and then plenty of romances in her teen years. She now lives with her husband on a little farm in northern Utah where all she can see out of her back door is miles of pasture and stunning sunsets. Not only does she raise horses, dogs, cats, and chickens, but her five kids also. When Melissa is not writing you can find her spending time in the outdoors with her family or dancing wildly to rock music in her living room. She loves running, camping, and all things fiction—scary, mind-numbing stories preferred.

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Melissa's Website

Wrong Side of the Grave (Mothman Mysteries #1) by Bryna Butler Review

Hey readers! Happy Monday to you all. I am so excited to bring you a review this evening that I've had on my TBR for almost a year. So awesome when you finally get a chance to read those books that have been teasing you, right? This time on the chopping block, Wrong Side of the Grave by Bryna Butler. Before we get to my thoughts, here's a bit about the novel and our author:


When Eric Jansen takes a seat behind his drums, every girl in the place takes notice. Not that he’s surprised. He’s had decades to practice. The guy is almost perfect. Still, there’s that one tiny thing…

Eric Jansen is an alien. Offworlder. Take me to your leader, fall from the sky, space invading, phoning home, UFO jockey. A swipe of the tattoo on Eric’s arm will reveal his true form which locals call Mothman, a winged creature formed of ashen gray skin and glowing red eyes. Eric is one of the last of his kind.

So when the recently deceased of Point Pleasant, West Virginia, start walking and talking, the Men in Black mark him as suspect number one. It will be up to Eric and his inner circle to solve the mystery before the black suits lock him up and throw away the key.

A fun read, Wrong Side of the Grave is a fast-action Teen Sci-Fi Mystery with a paranormal twist.

Parent Approved: Contains no profanity or sexual content.

     

Bryna Butler 

Indie author Bryna Butler pens an outrageous take on the legend of the tooth fairy in her debut Midnight Guardian series. Butler’s young adult romance novels feature strong female leads and are woven from elements of comedy, horror, suspense, and mystery, all in a contemporary setting.

She is an accomplished financial corporate communications professional who authored hundreds of publications and press releases before her jump into teen and young adult fiction in 2010. Butler believes the heart of teen fiction is in creating realistic relationships with strong teens who feel the full consequences of their choices. Her work is considered “clean” making it appropriate for both teen and preteen readers.

Butler holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communications and was named Outstanding Communications Student of her graduating class at the University of Rio Grande. The idea for the Midnight Guardian series came to her in 2008 on a commute from her family farm to the nearby historic small town of Gallipolis, Ohio. [pronounced GAL-uh-POLICE].

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*****

My Thoughts:

I have to say, I really didn't know what to expect when I first picked up Wrong Side of the Grave. The synopsis really left me interested, but I didn't quite know where to place it in my head. It's definitely not something I'd ever read before, but I couldn't wait to take the plunge. What did I think? Well, it's complicated.

I guess I should start out by saying that I love paranormal, but I'm not the biggest sci-fi fan. When the genres cross paths, I've seldom seen good results. Thankfully, to my surprise, Butler pulled it off pretty well. You see, I love vampires. They're among my favorite of all paranormal creatures, but I'd never quite seen anything like what Butler has done to the trope. Vampires depicted as otherworldly beings? Now that's a twist.

This being said, I'm not entirely sure the vampire aspect was quite what I was looking for. Butler did a great job with the world building in this novel. Keeps the mysterious, yet historical setting for the novel at an incredible pace, giving readers just enough to keep them reading, but not spoiling any surprises until the very end. This is were the vampire-aspect of the characters gets a bit odd. In all actuality, I don't see why it was important for the characters in question to be vampires, because in the end, the fact that they are actually aliens is what drives the story. When it comes to vampires, you really have to hit the historical aspect pretty hard on the head (in most instances), but, aside from one scene, this one fell flat on the vampire-trope for me. 

Now that doesn't mean I didn't fall hard for the story, just don't go in expecting your standard run-of-the-mill vampire novel, because you will be disappointed, 

Now, the alien, other-worldly aspect of Wrong Side of the Grave? Butler killed it. Seriously. Alien technology, secret government agencies, hidden spaceships: what's not to like? As I mentioned before, I'm generally not a sci-fi fan, but Butler did a great job capturing my attention from the very beginning. 

Now that we've covered the genre aspect of the novel, let's talk about the story.

I have to say that I found the plot of WSotG to be very original. Butler has twisted an intriguing local legend (one that I even researched myself after reading) to craft a story that will delight readers young and old. I was genuinely surprised by the finale, but the exposition of the novel really created a literary world that left me flipping each page with anticipation. 

The plot was fun. It was a pretty quick read. If anyone has read any of my reviews in the past for mystery novels, you'll know that mysteries are one of my least favorites for a number of reasons. They are often entirely too dramatic, predictable, and leave me more than disappointed. I am so glad to say Butler passed the mystery test. They always say the culprit in a mystery is supposed to be the last person you suspect, and I have to say I didn't see the mystery Butler gave us to be unraveled as it did. 

As per the characters? I found them to be fairly relatable, but above all, realistic. I liked the characters sense of responsibility, but also their down-to-earth demeanor and maturity on most subjects. I'd really like to see more from Butler in the same vein as WSotG, as these characters were spot-on.

Now as you guys can see from the synopsis, this is a safe read for all ages. No sexual content, profanity, etc. That being said, I was actually kind of put off by how safe this read was. I give full respect to Butler for taking this approach as it is a great way to grab readers across all age groups, however I really would have loved to see this novel take a more adult direction. Rock stars in a small town high school? Attractive-otherworldly male lead? Corpses rising from the dead? I think this story could have really excelled as an upper-YA/NA or even adult series. While Butler does an incredible job appealing to all readers, I definitely believe an opportunity was missed here by not appealing to an older crowd. This is just my opinion. While I enjoyed the novel overall, I would have loved to see some adult content. Especially regarding language and adult content. At times WSotG read more like a middle-grade novel than a YA stories with Butler's word choices. 

Butler really hits on some deep themes in WSotG. Especially regarding death. It's a strong subject that takes a truly talented author to explore its' depths. Too many authors merely lay it out there with little-to-no explanation or explaining the psychological impact it can have on characters. Butler used these events to further explore the psyche of her characters to really allow the readers to get into their minds and enjoy their story even more. 

All of this being said, I was slightly let down by the ending of this one. Butler sets up the world for many more potential stories in the series, but we really don't have a clear vision if any are to come. I know that I would personally like to see more of this world expanded upon in future stories. As with most mysteries, the story does wrap up most loose ends and leaves you with a warm feeling in your bookish heart. 

As you can see, I had some conflicted thoughts on Wrong Side of the Grave. It may not have been my favorite novel in either of the genres that it dabbles in, but I was still most definitely impressed by the story as a whole. I look forward to what Butler does with this series in the future. That being said, I am granting Wrong Side of the Grave a 3.5-star review. While it wasn't without it's issues, it was still a fun, past-paced read that left me finishing each chapter with anticipation. If this sounds like the story for you, don't miss out. Add this to your TBR today!

*****

Alright folks, that's all I've got for you on the topic of Wrong Side of the Grave by Bryna Butler. This was my first trip down the rabbit hole with Butler and I can definitely say I'll be trying more from her in the future. Be sure to add this one to your TBR today! I'd also like to note that Bryna has one of THE BEST author websites I've ever seen so be sure to head over for all kinds of awesome goodies and exclusive content! Thanks for stopping by! Until next time, Happy Reading!

-Ethan

Bloodthorn (Olive Kennedy: Fairy World MD #3) by Tamara Grantham Book Tour

Crimson Tree Publishing is proud to present Bloodthorn, Olive Kennedy Fairy World MD Book 3, by Tamara Grantham!

Olive Kennedy doesn't believe in fairy tales.

In a desperate attempt to earn income, fairy world therapist Olive Kennedy resorts to finding clients at the Texas Renaissance Festival. When she discovers the corpse of her clientís husband discarded in her booth, she realizes that earning her next paycheck is the least of her worries.

As more of Oliveís clients fall prey to the killer, the fairy prince and princess arrive from Faythander with troubling news. The starstoneóthe fairiesí source of magicóhas been stolen, and the thief is hiding on Earth. The bloodthorn, a mythical beast born of fairy legends, is rumored to be responsible, but no one is certain if the creature exists.

Of course, the fairy royalty do not travel alone. Their protector happens to be the one man Olive never wanted to see again. Her exóKull.

Following a trail of clues, she learns that the killer may be a shape shifter. Worse, she learns the identity of his next targetóher.

After months with no contact from Faythander, Olive hoped the magical drama was over, yet it seems sheíll never escape the beings who haunt her nightmaresÖ or be free from the man who took away her happily ever after.

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Excerpt:

Kull peered out toward the mountains. The last rays of sunlight fell over him, and a gentle breeze tousled his hair. I tried to remember every detailóhis forehead creased in concentration, the slope of his nose, the curve of his lips. I etched every feature into my memory, knowing that soon all I would see was thisómy memories of himóand nothing more.

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Dreamthief (Book 1)

Visiting Faythander is a nasty business. Forget the fairies and unicorns, most people come back with lost memories and mental problems. Olive Kennedy knows. She's the therapist who treats patients suffering from Faythander's side effects. Despite her empty bank account, she takes pride in her job as Houstonís only Fairy World medical doctor. She's never failed to cure a clientóuntil now.\

Traveling back to Faythander wasn't on Olive's to-do list. But she has no choice. The fate of both Earth and Fairy depends on her ability to stop an ancient being called the Dreamthief. To complicate matters, she may be losing her heart to someone who canít love her in return. Saving the world, she can handle. Falling in loveónot so much.

As if battling the forces of evil wasn't difficult enoughÖ

Spellweaver (Book 2)

Olive's to-do list: Feed the cat. Pay the rent. Save Faythander. Again.

After Olive's last trip through Faythander, she wants nothing more than a nice vacation. But there's never time for relaxation when goblin treachery is afoot. When Geth, a goblin Spellweaver, destroys the Everblossomóa tree containing Faythander's pure magicóthe fairy-world utopia begins to die. The bloom of the Everblossom is all that remains of pure magic. Now Olive must travel through Earth and Faythander to find a place where it will flourish.

As a psychiatrist, her skills are top notch. However, her abilities to handle patients with abnormal mental behaviors will be put to the test when she confronts Geth. Nothing has prepared her for what he reveals to her about goblins and elves. As Olive's quest takes her from her home in Houston through the most dangerous places in Faythander, she learns that history is a muddled subject, especially when elves are involved.

Her only comfort comes from Kull, her Viking warrior sidekickówho somehow negates her bad fortune. Yet how long can their relationship last when his past is brought to light? Olive will be tested beyond anything she has endured so far, as the secrets of Faythander's sordid and bloody past are exposedóone that could irrevocably alter the future and destroy the lives of everyone she loves.

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About the Author

 Tamara Grantham was born and raised in Southeast Texas. She earned a Bachelorís degree in English from Lamar University. After marrying her husband David, she followed him through his training to become a burn surgeon, which consisted of moving from Vidor, Texas to Galveston, Texas, then to Tulsa, Oklahoma, back to Galveston, and they finally settled in Wichita, Kansas. Tamara and David have five active, sweet, and almost always well-mannered children, ages zero to ten years. Their two pets, Juneóthe Jack Russell Terrier, and Chesteróa black cat, help to keep the house lively (in addition to the children.)When Tamara isnít writing or tending her children, she enjoys taking walks through the woods, eating chocolate, and very infrequently, she enjoys a good nightís sleep. Check out Tamara's website at: WWW.TAMARAGRANTHAM.COM 



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Frequency (Book Three: The Frantic Series) by Casey L. Bond Blog Tour (Video Guest Post + Review + Giveaway)

Hey readers! Happy Monday! I'm so excited to be sharing this blog tour stop with all of you today. Anyone who's been following the blog here in 2016 has seen me absolutely rave about every word of this incredible series by the amazing Casey L. Bond. Vampires and Zombies, a gripping tale of suspense and a mysterious romance that will leave you begging for each passing installment? On the chopping block today? Frequency by Casey L. Bond. I've got all kinds of awesome here for you including my first EVER video Guest Post and review. Before we get to my thoughts, here's a bit about the novel and our author:

When the Infected attacked, something horrific happened to Porschia Grant. Porschia in Frenzy was scary; Porschia with hallucinations is terrifying. There has to be a reason, and there must be a cure for the episodes refusing to release her from their tentacles of insanity. 

Saul is in the center of the city surrounded by secrets–some are damning, some are eye opening—others might just offer hope and be worth fighting for. How can a person justify the possibility of infecting another human being? What might the humans and night-walkers lose if he doesn’t take the chance?

The decisions made, and the lies uncovered, will shock everyone in and around Blackwater, and they just might spark a revolution.

Everything emits a sound… and hunger is deafening… horrible.

     

Casey L. Bond

Casey L. Bond resides in Milton, West Virginia with her husband and their two beautiful daughters.
When she’s not busy being a domestic goddess and chasing her baby girls, she loves to write young adult and new adult fiction.

In 2003, Bond graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Marshall University in the field of Criminal Justice. 

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Special Video Guest Post from Author Casey L. Bond

'On the Topic of Combining the Vampire/Zombie Tropes'

*****

My Thoughts:

As anyone who follows this blog will well know, I am a huge Casey L. Bond fan. Admittedly, I haven't read her entire backlog and just recently jumped on board the Bond Bandwagon, but even based on the few works I have devoured, I can say with confidence that she's one of the most talented writers I've worked with as of late. Her stories are full of gripping emotion and such vivid plots and settings that really leave a lasting impression on the mind of her readers. 

I have to say, of all the reviews I have written for Casey's books, this one here has proven to be the most difficult. How do you adequately interpret all these feels without spoiling the novel for new readers? Well, I'm honestly not sure I can, but doggone it, I'm going to try.

Frequency was everything I wanted from the third installment in this incredible series, but the funny thing is that I didn't realize it until after I read it. It's near-perfect. Continuing the gripping plotline she crafted in books one and two, the stakes are higher than ever now that Portia is fresh out of Frenzy and attempting to setting into a life as the one thing she's feared her entire life long. The nightwalkers have claimed Portia as their own after her own community abandoned her without a second glance. But with some digging and some hard-hitting questions, Portia learns the hard way that there's much more to the story than what the Elders of Blackwater let on. Can Portia uncover the secrets in time to save those she loves?

I can't say much more because OH BOY huge spoilers, but let's just say that Casey blew the doors on the genre fresh off their hinges. You will not see this plot twist coming from a mile away. Think you know Blackwater? Think again. But vamps aren't the only paranormal in town, what of Mercedes and the Infected, long-feared? Is there redemption for the Infected? Will there be hope for Saul, Portia's once love?

Readers everywhere are going to want to grab the tissues for this one, because the feels are real. Casey holds nothing back and delivers several emotional blows that really help to ground this story into a reality that's terrifying, but relatable, on multiple levels.

Much like the previous novels, each chapter is told from an alternative POV, but this time definitely holds some twists as well. With new characters' insight to the madness, Bond is able to further envelope us into the world she has so delicately crafted. Bond's writing transcends the boundaries of paranormal literally, leaving readers with minds blown and hearts full.

As I mentioned in my reviews for both books one and two, Bond really challenges the conventions of the genre with each installment. It's so much more than what you see on the surface and that in itself will leave you with so many questions at the end of the novel. Questions that will leave you pondering everything you thought you knew about the genre and leave you begging for more!

I have to say that the ending to Frequency was probably one of my favorite scenes that Bond has written to-date. After so much heart stopping action and emotion, Bond leaves you hanging on to each and every word, anxiously awaiting the finale. I was definitely not disappointed. Bond left the door wide open for the world that she has created and I know she will continue to shatter our realities with each passing installment. 

I know I've left a lot of vagueness in this review, with good reason. Any fan of Bond or the paranormal genre is definitely going to need to grab a copy of Frequency themselves to see what becomes of the Grant family, Blackwater, and the creatures that lurk in the surrounding forest. It's not to be missed! 

All of this being said, it should come as absolutely no surprise that I am granting Frequency by Casey L. Bond a near-perfect 5-star review. I'd have to say that this has been my favorite series of 2016 thus far and I can't speak highly enough of it. A perfect read for fans of New Adult, Paranormal, or anyone looking to shake up their TBR with something a little different. Add this incredible series to your TBR today!

*****

GIVEAWAY

You read it right! I'm giving away an entire Frantic trilogy set to one lucky reader. Comment below with YOUR favorite vampire/zombie tale to enter. That's it! Likes/follows/shares are greatly appreciated but not required for entry.

*****

Alright readers, that's all I have for you on the topic of Frequency by Casey L. Bond. It was a fun, fast-paced read that I couldn't put down. I have yet to read something from Bond that I didn't love from the very first sentence. I know this guy will be anxiously awaiting the release of Bond's next great novel. Don't forget to comment below for your chance to win an ecopy of THE ENTIRE Frantic trilogy! Until next time, Happy Reading!

-Ethan