Friday, April 19, 2013

Troll or Derby by Red Tash: $.99 April 19-22

Red Tash is offering her dark fantasy masterpiece up for sale at 99 cents April 19-22. Get your copy now and see why Tash keeps me in thrall. :)

“Your parents probably won't want you to read this book.  Read it, anyway.  Five stars.”  Ian Seta, Floating Leaves Reviews / Indie Bookshelf

Troll Or Derby: A Fairy Wicked Tale is the story of Deb, a punk kid from the wrong side of the trailer park.  In her rural Indiana hometown, Deb can't fit in, so all she wants to do is skate away.  She's not into line dancing or partying it up, and she can't sit still long enough to escape into a good book.  No, every time Deb rolls to a stop, her alcoholic mom is hollering for another pack of cigarettes, or another six pack of Bud.  Making matters worse, Deb's portly beauty queen sister Gennifer is the town's “It girl,” a stark contrast to Deb's exceptional lack of charisma; her closest friend is either the old man who runs the roller skating rink, or the annoying neighbor who's had a crush on her since he discovered he had a penis.  As if all of that weren't enough for any girl to handle, Deb is queer, and she's starting to realize that even if that side of her personality doesn't define her, it makes her a target for high school bullies.

Skating is the only thing that brings Deb joy; the rink is the only place where she can forget her troubles and lose herself in the speed and the exhilaration of living, one blistering lap at a time.  Out on the rink, she forgets about her Mom's ever-present breakdown.  She forgets about the fact that Gennifer is dating the town sleaze, and probably using meth.  She forgets all about the bullying, the name-calling, and the hundreds of days between now and graduation.  Out on the rink, there is only this fleeting moment, and Deb is the one in control.  Skating might as well be flying, and Deb is the hottest chick on the hardwood when she straps on eight wheels.  Skates?  They might as well be wings, and someday she'll use them to fly away from this town.

Everything changes when Gennifer is kidnapped by her horrible boyfriend, and secrets begin to come out.  Deb's mother turns out not to be more like a legal guardian, the old man who owns the rink might be a troll, and Deb's discovers magical powers she didn't know she had.  Before she can stop to catch her breath, Deb's on the trail of a murderous monster and deep in the realm of the bad fae—and by bad fae, dear reader, I do, of course include trolls.

Not all trolls are baddies, though, and not everyone Deb meets is out to to tear her wings off—just most.  She soon meets Harlow, the benevolent loner who takes her in for as long as she'll stay.  A gravel-voiced rock singer who lives in a garbage dump, Harlow may be a troll, but he's got a heart of gold.  The question is, can a girl like Deb learn to trust a fella like Harlow?  Deb's fairy nature keeps her constantly on the move—can Harlow tell her all she needs to know before the lure of an illicit roller derby ring pulls her into its wicked game? 

In an odyssey through Amish Rumspringa, biker bars, trailer parks, Bingo halls, flea markets, fairy realms, trolls underworlds, roller derby, tractor pulls, dungeon cells, and rock and roll concerts, Deb slowly uncover her own truth as she tries to do what's right in all the wrong places.  Love her or hate her, once you roll with Deb, you'll never see the world the same.
Troll Or Derby is now on sale for $.99! 
Grab it here: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo
 
 
About the Author
Red Tash is a journalist-turned-novelist of dark fantasy for readers of all ages. Monsters, SciFi, wizards, trolls, fairies, and roller derby lightly sautéed in a Southern/Midwestern sauce await you in her pantry of readerly delights. Y'all come, anytime.
 

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Cover Reveal: Nightmare's Dream by SM Blooding

The Demimonde is pleased to present the cover for Nightmare's Dream...and WHAT A COVER! If you're going to pick up a book on the merits of its cover art alone, this is the one. And wait 'til you read what's inside...


Nightmare’s Dream
(A Dreamland Stories Novel)
 
Harley’s been fighting Dreamlander society since the day she was born to a family of fixers, Dreamland’s janitors, with the abilities and gifts of a mechanic. She can see how to fix anything. That doesn’t matter though. As soon as she graduates, she’s scheduled to go to the Clink, Dreamland’s high security prison, for daring to be different.
Nightmare Keme has been a loner since the day he was pulled from death, and dumped into the Lake of Dreams to be reborn a nightmare. However, the day he walks into his quarters and discovers a woman mumbling about “killer glitter”, his heart does something it hasn’t done in over a century. It warms.
The Nightmare Realm is in trouble. Nightmares are dying. It soon becomes something much bigger when Harley stumbles onto the masters’ Compound, the location of their secret experiments to combine a dreamer’s body with all the powers of their barely used brain, with the world bending gifts of a Dreamlander’s soul.
Soon, glitter overtakes all Dreamlander places; Fixer’s Fairway, the Center, the Eat’s Market, the Burbs. Dreamlanders everywhere are falling to the virus; the more powerful the gift, the harder and faster they succumb.
Harley and Keme are the only ones who can save them. Keme, the nightmare who dared to dream, and Harley, the woman who defied her world.
Nightmare’s Dream will be published on July 5th by Blooding Books.
 
Praise for the Dreamland Series
 
I fell in love with the characters and the universe she has created immediately. It was imaginative and unique, well thought-out and well presented. I look forward to reading future works by this author!“ —Christina M. Colombo “samuraisloth82″
 
The story itself is wonderful, and I mean that from the bottom of my heart. I remember the stories of the sandman my own mother would tell me as a child. There are times when I wonder if it has anything to do with being such a dreamer myself. Dreamers will enjoy the story as it’s painted before your eyes, but adults who have taken the hard road of life – and who hasn’t?- will enjoy seeing how we can change things with just a bit of faith in ourselves. Better yet, we can set good examples for those around us when we don’t let the bad things in life tie us down.“ —Mother/Gamer/Writer
 
Dreamland . . . a place of magic and wonder, powered by the hopes and dreams of those who believe.This was such a delightful story. I enjoyed every minute of it.“ —Lisette’s review
 
You can feel the escape as the journey spins around you with the lush scenery and magical moments. Ms. Blooding takes the reader on a magical journey that is captivating. The Dustman is a most delightful read. Frankie pens a story that touches the heart and makes the reader feel forever young again.“ —Coffee Times Coffee Time Romance
 
Wow, what a great story. It just sucked me right in and practically held me captive. You’ve got to get it.“ —Enchanted Romance
Dreamland Stories
 
SM BloodingSM Blooding
SM Blooding lives in Colorado with her pet rock, Rockie and Ms. Bird. No. She did not eat the Chicken. SistaPITA would have killed her. She’s taken a break from the piano since it’s currently packed, which Ms, Bird is quite happy about, and now knows more than one word in Arabic. Basically, she can say hello, good-bye, give it to me, and hurry up! Though, on every other Tuesday and Wednesday, she forgets how to say any of those. She’s dated vampires, werewolves, sorcerers, weapons smugglers and US Government assassins. Yes. She has stories. She’s also an investigator with a local paranormal investigation group, Colorado Paranormal Rescue!
Website/Blog – Twitter – Facebook – Goodreads

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Up For Grabs: Signed ARC of BLOOD RUSH (Demimonde #2)

BLOOD RUSH (Demimonde #2) is coming out next month...you can win an advance copy by entering this Goodreads giveaway!




Goodreads Book Giveaway

Blood Rush by Ash Krafton

Blood Rush

by Ash Krafton

Giveaway ends May 15, 2013.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
Enter to win


Blood Rush has already gotten some very telling reviews. Want to see what readers are loving about it? Check out the Blood Rush Goodreads page!

I'm so grateful to my reviewers and I'm extremely proud of this book...so much so that I'm ready to dive right into writing WOLF'S BANE (Demimonde #3). I love getting lost in Sophie's world. :)

Join me in the Demimonde and enter to win today...

PS: If you haven't done so yet, be sure to enter the Pre-Launch Giveaway here...your chance to win books and shiny things. Good luck and thanks for entering!

Monday, April 15, 2013

Cover Reveal: Shadow Embraced by Cheree Smith

Thank you, Dark World Books, for introducing a new author and her book to the Demimonde blog! We are pleased to share Cheree Smith's new book on her cover release tour...SHADOW EMBRACED!
 
Shadow Embraced
(Haven #1)
 
No escape.
Those words haunt Scar’s dreams. She thinks the creature that terrorises her while asleep isn’t real, but when she’s abducted and taken to a reform school meant to contain creatures too dangerous to function in society, she starts to wonder whether she isn’t some monster.
She turns to an underground fight club full of vampires, werewolves and witches established by the students to control her urges, and who is she kidding, she loves to fight.
When fighters begin to disappear, turning Scar into the prime suspect, she must race to prove her innocence before her true nature is exposed.
The only problem is that she’s not entirely sure she’s innocent.
Add Shadow Embraced to your Goodreads list!
 

Cheree Smith
Cheree Smith
Cheree Smith lives in a country town in Australia as a high school English teacher where she writes paranormal, horror and dark stories for young adults. She enjoys listening to and learning about legends and myths, watching scary movies and dreaming up new worlds where monsters can come alive. When she is not in her writing cave she can be found listening to music, even dabbling in the occasional writing of music or reading.
Website –  Blog – Twitter – Facebook – Goodreads




Shadow Embraced Hosts’ list:

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Signed ARC of Blood Rush in Goodreads G!veaway

BLOOD RUSH (Demimonde #2) is coming out next month...you can win an advance copy by entering this Goodreads giveaway!




Goodreads Book Giveaway

Blood Rush by Ash Krafton

Blood Rush

by Ash Krafton

Giveaway ends May 15, 2013.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
Enter to win


Blood Rush has already gotten some very telling reviews. Want to see what readers are loving about it? Check out the Blood Rush Goodreads page!

I'm so grateful to my reviewers and I'm extremely proud of this book...so much so that I'm ready to dive right into writing WOLF'S BANE (Demimonde #3). I love getting lost in Sophie's world. :)

Join me in the Demimonde and enter to win today...

PS: If you haven't done so yet, be sure to enter the Pre-Launch Giveaway here...your chance to win books and shiny things. Good luck and thanks for entering!

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Fractured Soul by Rachel McClellan: Excerpt & G!veaway!

The Demimonde is thrilled to share another amazing release with you...FRACTURED SOUL by Rachel McClellan. Here's an intro to her new book as well as a refresher on the series opener FRACTURED LIGHT. Best wishes, Rachel!



Fractured Soul
(Fractured Light #2)
Llona will do whatever it takes to protect her new found friends and home, but the dark plot threatening Lucent Academy, a school that’s supposed to be a safe place for Auras, may be too powerful for even Llona to defeat. This fast-paced tale of love, loyalty, and overcoming the darkness will keep you on the edge of your seat until the last page!
 
What others are saying:
 
I love these books! A kick-butt heroine and a hottie love interest, with a refreshingly original concept. Be prepared—once you start, these are hard to put down.
Paula Cotton, book reviewer at ReadingLark.blogspot.com
 
Fractured Soul is a brilliant sequel, exceeding even the remarkable first book in the series. It will haunt your every waking moment between the times you’re reading it, and it will stay with you long after you’ve finished. It’s an amazingly well written and engrossing story that I highly recommend—after you’ve read the first one, of course.
Cindy Bennett, bestselling author of Geek Girl & Rapunzel Untangled
Amazon – Barnes & Noble
Fractured Soul Book Trailer


 
EXCERPT from FRACTURED SOUL
 
“FRACTURED SOUL” EXCERPT:
After a minute I peeked around the trunk. Not far away a form moved in and out of the shadows. I couldn’t sense if the thing was Vyken or human, but the moment it stepped into the light of the full moon, and I saw its face, I knew it was a Vyken. And by its slender form, I guessed a woman, but I couldn’t tell by the face, which was missing half of its leathered skin. The other half was a rotted skull with a green, moss-like substance clinging to the cheekbone. The bone was a dirty yellow, the same color as her two rows of broken teeth.
She looked around and sniffed like she was searching for something. Her eyes jerked to the tree I was hiding behind. I ducked farther behind it and held my breath, my heart pounding and sweat breaking on my brow. Any other day I would’ve jumped at the chance to fight, but I was still too afraid of what Liam had told me and of what I already knew. Was I seeing my future?
“I smell you, Aura,” the woman said. Her voice was deep and raspy.
I left my hiding spot and ran as fast as I could, crashing through the forest, arms outstretched. I pushed my already exhausted legs hard as I hurdled over, under, and around what felt like an Amazon jungle.
The Vyken chased after me, making a strange sound with her throat, almost like a pig grunting. I looked back at her and saw that the sound was from the wind moving between exposed cords on her neck where there was no skin. The sight and sound of her made me find a second wind, and I sped up.
Bursting through a tall bush, I moved to take a step but found nothing but air. I fell, more like bounced, end over end down a steep hill. I didn’t stop moving until I landed in cold water. I sucked in air and quickly stood up. In front of me was a lake the size of a football field. Moonlight stretched across it like a lit-up road. I looked around. Other than a steep incline around the water’s edge, most of which was covered in trees and bushes, there was no easy way around it.
I thought about climbing back up the hill, but even as I thought it, I heard the female Vyken coming closer. Having no other choice, I moved farther into the cold water until, once again, my foot found no ground beneath me. A sharp drop-off plunged me into the water. I gasped at the shock of it and swam backward to keep my eyes on the top of the ridge.
Just then the hunched-over female appeared. I took a deep breath and dipped beneath the water’s surface. A few feet away I spotted a branch attached to a fallen tree lying at the bottom of the lake. I swam over and took hold of it to keep me from floating up.
Through the clear water, I could just barely make out the Vyken’s form as she made her way down the incline. When she reached the water’s edge, she paused and scanned the surface. After a moment, she turned and began to move back up the hill. Just in time too because my lungs were burning.
I was about to push up when all of a sudden she stopped and turned back around. I bit the insides of my cheek to keep from instinctively taking in a breath.
She returned to the water’s edge, and what she did next had me frantically looking around for an escape. Her black boot slid onto the water’s surface, and as soon as it touched it, the water beneath her foot turned to ice. Another step. More ice. An ice bridge was being created wherever she moved. Ten more steps and she’d be standing directly above me.
Although I was terrified, my lungs no longer cared. I let go of the tree branch and began to float up, but just as I was about to break the surface and gasp for air, something took hold of my ankle and pulled me down.
 

 
 
 
About Fractured Light (Book #1)
Llona Reese is used to living on the run. After the Vykens killed her parents, she knew they would eventually come for her too. She can’t take any chances. But when she starts to make friends for the first time in her life, she gets careless and lets her guard down. Big mistake.
As an Aura, Llona can manipulate light and harness its energy. But if she wants to survive, Llona will have to defy the Auran Council and learn to use her power as a weapon against the Vyken whose sole desire is to take her light. Now she’s caught in something even bigger than she can understand, with a power she can’t wield, and no one she can trust, except, just maybe, a mysterious stranger.
Amazon – Barnes & Noble
 



Rachel McClellan
Rachel McClellan was born and raised in Idaho, a place secretly known for its supernatural creatures. When she's not in her writing lair, she's partying with her husband and four crazy, yet lovable, children. Rachel’s love for storytelling began as a child when the moon first possessed the night. For when the lights went out, her imagination painted a whole new world. And what a scary world it was…
Website – Blog – Twitter – Facebook – Goodreads
 
 
 
Rachel wants to give a copy of her book to one of the Demimonde readers....just leave a comment with your name and email and you can win an ebook of FRACTURED SOUL! Be sure to tell us what format you prefer...
 
Thanks again, Rachel, for sharing your incredible series with us!