Sadie's Spotlight

June 1, 2022May 31, 2022

Spotlight & Excerpt: Ashes + Giveaway

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the ASHES by M.K. Harkins Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

Title: ASHES
(Modern-Day Fairy Tale #1)

Author: M.K. Harkins

Pub. Date: June 1, 2022

Publisher: M.K. Harkins

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 303

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle

Read for FREE with a Kindle Unlimited Membership!

Not your typical Cinderella story…

If she thought college applications were complicated, just wait until she catches feelings for the newest celebrity in town.

Ashley Adams doesn’t have time for haters. Already too busy dealing with dead bodies after her stepmother purchased a mortuary, she is ready to put the lid on her judgmental peers and finally bury her high school experience. But her focus is shattered when a charming pop-star-turned-student needs her help evading his crazed fans.

The last place heartthrob Harry James wants to be is back in school. Sentenced to finish his senior year after a case of accidental arson, the singer longs to return to the stage. But he never expected to meet a girl who could see through the fame to the real person inside.

Surprised by the chemistry between them, Ashley is shocked when Harry gives her the cold shoulder. But with his publicist forbidding him from dating her, Harry must choose between fame or love.

Can Ashley and Harry survive the turmoil threatening to tear them apart?

Ashes is a fun and snarky standalone YA romance. If you like captivating characters, emotional twists and turns, Fairies and Cinderella retellings, then you’ll adore MK Harkins’ fast-paced tale.

*Recommended for readers 13+ (Some mild swearing and off-page violence)

Reviews:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “I’m no stranger to retellings of fairytales so my expectations were high. The story is beautifully written with a fresh and modern take on the characters, whilst retaining the true essence of the story.” Goodreads Reviewer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “A delightful mix of finding love in the modern world, with a bit of Fairytale magic mixed in. I thought the novel was beautifully written. There really weren’t any plot holes that led to confusion. The elements of a Cinderella retelling were masterfully placed, but not necessarily made the center of the story.” Goodreads Reviewer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “What a great read! Everything about this book made me want to keep reading! From the great characters, great story line and a Cinderella twist!” NetGalley Reviewer

Excerpt:

By the time we arrived at my front porch, the sun was setting, making the sky a show of purple and orange swirls. Harry paused and took hold of both my hands. The warmth radiated up my arms and throughout my body. I inhaled slowly, trying to calm my breathing. My eyes darted through the front windows, making sure everyone was still gone.
“Umm. Thanks. I had a great time.” Ugh. Could I sound any more lame?
A slow smile crept over his face. He leaned closer and focused on my lips. “May I?”
What to say? Part of me wanted to run like a cheetah. But another glance at his tempting lips and intense eyes, and I rethought everything. No, it wasn’t a good idea…
At the very moment of decision, a sparking sound came from the streetlamp, and it exploded, leaving us in semi-darkness. Startled, I jumped toward Harry and his protective arms, putting a hand on his chest.
Harry held me a little closer. “I guess the Universe wants this to happen.” His grin turned mischievous. “So?”
I leaned closer. His eyes darkened, and the electricity between us became a living thing, pulsing and sparking.
His hands reached up to cradle my face, and he leaned closer, his lips a whisper away. “It’s so easy being around you. “
“I feel the same,” I managed to get out.
“It doesn’t hurt that you’re also gorgeous.” His smile broadened into a grin.
Wow. Just wow. My defenses were blown to bits. He hadn’t even kissed me yet, and goosebumps covered every inch of my skin. Every cell came alive, and a thrill shot through my body. Our eyes stayed connected for a second and then…

About M.K. Harkins:

MK has always been a voracious reader. After hitting a dry spell of reading material, she decided to write the kind of book she’d like to read. This resulted in the creation of her debut novel, Intentional. (Award for Best Sweet Romance – eFestival of Words- August 2014) Unintentional, Breaking Braydon, Taking Tiffany and The Reader soon followed. MK’s newest, Famous by Default, an Amazon Bestseller, was released March 2017. The follow-up to The Reader, The Jack, published 2018. Next up- A series of modern-day fairy tales. We’ll start with a Cinderella story: Ashes

Subscribe to M.K.’s newsletter!

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of ASHES, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

6/1/2022	Sadie’s Spotlight	Excerpt/IG Post
6/2/2022	BookHounds YA	Guest Post/IG Post
6/3/2022	Cherie Colyer	Guest Post
6/4/2022	Jenguerdy	IG Post

Week Two:

6/5/2022	BETTER_0FF_READ	IG & TikTok Post
6/6/2022	Review Thick And Thin	Review/IG Post
6/7/2022	YABooksCentral	Guest Post
6/8/2022	Two Chicks on Books	Guest Post
6/9/2022	@jaimerockstarbooktours	IG Post
6/10/2022	Book Sniffers Anonymous	Review/IG Post
6/11/2022	Living in a Bookworld	Excerpt

Week Three:

6/12/2022	@jacleomik33 The Page Ladies	Review/IG Post
6/13/2022	Karen Dee’s Book Reviews	Review/IG Post
6/14/2022	beersbooksandboos	Review/IG Post
6/15/2022	@My.Bookish.Mind	IG Review
6/16/2022	@travelersguidetobooks	IG Review
6/17/2022	Lady Hawkeye	Excerpt/IG Post
6/18/2022	100 Pages A Day	Review/IG Post

Week Four:

6/19/2022	The Reading Devil	Review/IG Post
6/20/2022	@meetcuteromancebooks	Review/IG Post
6/21/2022	#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog	Spotlight
6/22/2022	The Momma Spot	Review/IG Post
6/23/2022	Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers	Review/IG Post
6/24/2022	More Books Please blog	Review/IG Post
6/25/2022	Books a Plenty Book Reviews	Review

Week Five:

6/26/2022	Emmiepooh2	Review/IG Post
6/27/2022	Fire and Ice	Review
6/28/2022	@enjoyingbooksagain	IG Review
6/29/2022	Nagma \| TakeALookAtMyBookshelf	IG Review
6/30/2022	@allyluvsbooksalatte	Review/IG Post

June 1, 2022September 18, 2022

Spotlight & Author Interview: Kingdomless + Giveaway

Join Us for this Tour: May 16 to June 3, 2022

Book Title: Kingdomless (The Evamore Series Book 1)

by Michelle Garyfalakis

Category: YA Fiction (Ages 13-17), 422 pages
Genre: YA Fantasy Romance
Publisher: Self-Published
Release date: January 2022
Content Rating: PG-13 +M: There is a scene where our main character is held at knife point and her attacker grabs her breasts without consent. The word ‘nipple’ is used in this situation. This is the reason for the added “M” in the rating.

The remnants of the United Kingdom of Garth, once ruled by the legendary Dynasty of Evamores are in the throes of conflict. Ten years ago, King Wren of the West discovered Raelle washed up on the shores of the Balour Sea, with no memory of the first nine years of her life. She was brought back to the castle and dutifully cared for and cherished by the king and his three older sons. On her nineteenth birthday, the Western Kingdom’s adoptive princess is secretly sent away by her stepmother to marry King Veras as a token of peace between the kingdoms. But, the Northern King has other plans.

As Raelle’s amnesia melts away with the help of a northern storyteller, she discovers more about the Kingdom of Garth, magic, the lovetie connection of the Evamores, and her role in the grand scheme of things. She is confused, angry, and curiously comfortable in the North.

A dark shadow overcasts all of the kingdoms, and the threatening influence of the fallen god Kellar seems to spread among the people, inciting disorder and violence. While the fate of the kingdoms may rest on Raelle’s shoulders, she can’t help but feel kingdomless. Betrayal is everywhere, from her own adoptive family to her newfound friends. Fearless, observant, witty, and determined, she is town between her attraction to King Veras’ good nature and the unexplained pull to the Tracker Calak. The challenge that she faces is not simple. As the old gods, laws and magic awaken, so does her own sense of self. There is a choice to be made, step into the role expected of her, or dive into the unknown and make her own destiny.

This YA fantasy novel asks the readers important coming of age questions, captures the attention with witty dialogue, relatable characters, and a world that is reawakening its forgotten magic. The readers will be entranced and hungry for more (and perhaps a piece of chocolate cake).

BUY THE BOOK
Amazon ~ Audible
add to goodreads

Author Interview:

When you wrote Kingdomless did you follow an outline?

At first, I did. I had a vision for where I wanted the book to go and started working in that direction. But after a great conversation with a good friend, I was challenged to deviate from my “plan” and start letting the characters surprise me as I write. It was the best advice and completely changed not only Kingdomless, but the entire Evamore Series. However, writing fantasy does include lots of details and magic rules that you have to keep consistent, so although my character development and dialogue is mostly spontaneous, I do keep a jot note of all of the “irons in the fire” I have burning and need to address before the book ends.

Do you ever get writer’s block? And if so, what do you do to help with that?

Absolutely. I don’t have any profound advice. The one thing that worked for me was to walk away. Sometimes the words are there and sometimes they are not. I love writing and anytime I’ve tried to “force” myself to create parts of my story, I end up deleting whatever I had written. The other side of that is sometimes an idea or solution to your writer’s block may appear out of nowhere. So I use the note app on my phone to record those ideas and then reference them when I have time to sit back down and write again.

Where do you write?

I have an office in our home that has a turret, which is basically five windows side by side like the spire of a castle. It gives me a great view of our property, but it also faces our wrap-around porch. I’ve often been in the middle of a written session and our kids and dogs have raced around, pounding on the windows for my attention. I’m hoping to one day have a writing shed where I can tuck myself away to write out more stories.

What was the easiest character to write in Kingdomless?

Bree. She was exactly what Raelle needed in the moment that they met and I loved using her voice and character to bring about that growth in our main character.

What character(s) do you wish had more of a role in Kingdomless?

Raelle’s brothers in the West. I am the oldest child in my family so I basically came up with the ideal big brother that I would want and divided that into these three characters. I’ve encouraged readers who are anxious for more of the Western princes to read Forging Hope, book 2 in The Evamore Series which is set to be released on June 21st, 2022.

Meet the Author:

MICHELLE GARYFALAKIS was born and raised throughout Ontario, Canada. She currently lives just outside of Hamilton, Ontario with her husband, four kids and Snowy (their friendly Samoyed-Border Collie). When she isn’t obsessively typing out new stories on her computer, you can find her drinking coffee with a friend, snacking on some guacamole or binge watching Outlander (again). Michelle loves finding creative ways to communicate with people, and her passion for storytelling is the newest addition to that list.connect with the author: website ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ twitter ~ bookbub ~ tiktok ~ goodreads

Tour Schedule:

May 16 – Cover Lover Book Review – book spotlight / giveaway
May 16 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – audiobook review / guest post / giveaway
May 17 – Character Madness and Musings – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
May 17 – Leels Loves Books – book review / giveaway
May 18 – Kam’s Place – book spotlight
May 18 – My Reading Getaway – book review / author interview / giveaway
May 19 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review / giveaway
May 20 – Wottaread – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
May 23 – Literary Flits – book spotlight / giveaway
May 24 – Freda’s Voice – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
May 24 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book review / guest post / giveaway
May 25 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – book spotlight / giveaway
May 25 – Cheryl’s Book Nook – book review / giveaway
May 25 – Living in a Bookworld – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
May 26 – Writer with Wanderlust – audiobook review / guest post / giveaway
May 26 – Westveil Publishing – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
May 27 – From the TBR Pile – book review / giveaway
May 31 – Gina Rae Mitchell – book review / guest post / giveaway
May 31 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review / giveaway
June 1 – The Page Ladies – book review
June 1 – Sadie’s Spotlight – book spotlight / author interview
June 2 – She Just Loves Books – audiobook review / giveaway
June 2 – Books for Books – book spotlight
June 3 – fundinmental – book spotlight / giveaway

Enter the Giveaway:

KINGDOMLESS by Michelle Garyfalakis Book Tour Giveaway

June 1, 2022June 1, 2022

Spotlight & Excerpt: Murderous Interruptions + Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. C.J. Carson will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Murderous Interruptions
(The Veils of Parallel Times, Book 2)
by C.J. Carson
Genre: Paranormal Mystery

The paranormal mystery The Veils of Parallel Times continues with “Murderous Interruptions”. Allie Callahan’s nemesis is a challenging and formidable adversary.

Travel with Allie as she finally accepts and embraces her ancestral gifts to stop her archenemy who would have her destroyed for his own lust of power. Explore the depths of her relationship with this rival in this life and beyond the veil.

Read an Excerpt

I wasn’t traveling long when darkness settled over the woods, and the air became chilled and damp. I was getting nervous that I might not find my way back out of the woods in the dark. I stopped at a brook to give my horse a quick break and a cool drink. As I raked my fingers through his mane, something caught his attention. Nodding his head, he whinnied. When I looked up, I spotted a campfire in the distance. As I walked him in that direction, I found a heavyset elderly woman with long dark braids sitting at, and stoking the fire. Moving in for a closer look, she wore a dress made of brown suede and was wrapped in an animal skin blanket, shielding her from the cold.

I didn’t recognize her, but somehow, she was oddly familiar to me. Without speaking a word, she reached out, beckoning me. I could feel a connection that drew me in as I slid down from my horse and joined her. She opened the blanket and, as I sat down, she held me in her arms to warm me by the fire. I was suddenly in my youth again, swept up in warmth and safety I hadn’t felt for a very long time.

Raising her arm, the woman drew my attention to the flames, and as I stared into the blazing fire, I couldn’t pull my eyes away. It was as if it was speaking to me, its warmth drawing me in.

“This is your truth, my daughter of my daughter’s son. You are at your best and can do your work in this lifetime when you accept that you are one with the earth, fire, water, and elements. Only when you embrace them, can you move toward your true destiny. You are a rare spirit in that you are blessed with many gifts that you are yet to discover and recognize. Yours is not an easy path unless you embrace it. I am always here; you have only to think of me, and I will be in your thoughts to help you, as are all your ancestors.

“Little Bird, you have traveled and lived in many times and dimensions. Think of time as a path that runs horizontally, but many paths are layered, one on top of the other, in a horizontal pattern.

“You have the ability to move through them, not only in time, but from one dimension to another. It was the element of water in the stream that brought you to me. Keep your routes planted firmly into the earth, for that will ground you and keep you balanced. Tonight, I want you to look into the dancing flames and listen to them speak to you. It is past the time for you to begin to understand your truth, my dear. You do not have the luxury of putting it off any longer.”

Gazing into the flames, I saw visions of a young woman riding my white horse. As the horse moved up a hill and into a green meadow, the young girl was now a young woman. As I studied her, she looked nothing like me, but I felt like I was watching my memory unfold. She was riding on a horse with a knight that looked like he was from medieval times. As the horse reached the top of the meadow, I knew the woman in the vision was an image of me, and when the valiant knight turned to me, a chill coursed through my entire body. Although his face was unfamiliar, his deep blue eyes caught me off guard. Those eyes, those beautiful eyes. I would know them anywhere.

About the Author:

CJ Carson was inspired by a great story from a very early age. What brought her to this juncture in life and encouraged her to put pen to paper are the many rich experiences and opportunities of her life’s journey.

While working in the medical field, she explored energy work and became a Polarity Therapist and Reiki Therapist.

Exploring acting brought her into the theatre world both on the stage and behind the scenes.

Painting introduced her to a group of artists that shared her passion for bringing a scene to canvas.

Her love of singing allowed her to travel twice to Europe as a soloist with conductor Sonja Dahlgren Prior, who inspired her to do something, she never dreamed possible

CJ Carson has always wanted to write. Now she is introducing to the world her second published book, “Murderous Interruptions,” from her trilogy, Veils of Parallel Times.

Website

Audible

Amazon
Barnes and Noble

a Rafflecopter giveaway