Spotlight & Giveaway: Burning Bright by Melissa McShane #FantasyforChristmas19

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Burning Bright
(The Extraordinaries #1)
By Melissa McShane
Historical Fantasy
Paperback & ebook, 366 Pages
August 15th 2016 by Curiosity Quills Press

In 1812, Elinor Pembroke wakes to find her bedchamber in flames—and extinguishes them with a thought. As an Extraordinary, gifted with powerful magical talent, she is respected and feared, but her father intends to control her and her talent by forcing her to marry where he insists. Trapped between the choices of a loveless marriage or living penniless and dependent on her parents, Elinor takes a third path: she joins the Royal Navy.

Assigned to serve under Captain Miles Ramsay aboard the frigate Athena, she turns her fiery talent on England’s enemies, vicious pirates preying on English ships in the Caribbean. At first feared by her shipmates, a growing number of victories make her truly part of Athena’s crew and bring her joy in her fire. But as her power grows and changes in unexpected ways, Elinor’s ability to control it is challenged. She may have the power to destroy her enemies utterly—but could it be at the cost of her own life?

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Excerpt

Elinor dreamed of fire, the unseen ground beneath her burning and the air white with heat, and woke to find her dream a reality. The walls of her bedroom were ablaze, the varnished floorboards slightly less so, and fire rolled across the ceiling in golden waves. Heat struck at her with an intensity that dried her nostrils and mouth and made her eyes feel roasted. She felt no fear, merely sat with her arms around her knees, her white, flannel nightgown tucked over her feet, and marveled at the fire’s power and beauty. She had never seen such color. It made every memory she had of this dismal room seem even more faded and dispirited. Then the heat battered at her again, and she realized she would die if she did nothing.

So she reached out from within herself, and extinguished it.​

Other Books in the Series

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About the Author


Melissa McShane is the author of over twenty-five fantasy novels, including BURNING BRIGHT, first in The Extraordinaries series; SERVANT OF THE CROWN, first of the Crown of Tremontane series, and the Last Oracle series, beginning with THE BOOK OF SECRETS. She lives in the shelter of the mountains out West with her husband, four children and a niece, four demanding cats, and a library that continues to grow out of control.

Website | Goodreads | BookBub | Pinterest | Twitter

Tour Schedule

(Posts go live on the day they're scheduled.)

December 1st: Launch

December 2nd: Rebecca Belliston - Heart of Red, Blood of Blue

December 3rd: Morgan L. Busse - Flight of the Raven

December 4th: Jes Drew - Tales of Parallel Worlds

December 5th: Ronie Kendig - Brand of Light

December 6th: Alisha Klapheke - Fate of Dragons

December 7th: Jessica Leake - Through the White Wood

December 8th: Belle Malory - Electric Skies

December 9th: Melissa McShane - Burning Bright

December 10th: Jennifer Silverwood - Blackbriar Cove

December 11th: Melissa Wright - Shadow and Stone

December 12th: Grand Finale

Tour Giveaway

1 winner will receive an Amazon Fire Tablet and a $50 Amazon eGift Card

Open internationally (as long as winner is eligible to receive prizes)

Ends December 16, 2019

ENTER HERE

Spotlight & Giveaway: Electric Skies by Belle Malory #FantasyforChristmas19

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Electric Skies
(Twelfth Keeper #5)
By Belle Malory
YA SciFi, Fantasy
Paperback & ebook, 256 Pages
March 8th 2019

The strange planet Kennedy has called home for the last year transformed her into something more powerful than she ever imagined.

But it’s not home.

It’s not Earth.

And most importantly, it doesn’t have Phoenix.

Faced with life-altering decisions, Kennedy is forced to abandon everything she built for an uncertain future. The journey won’t be easy, but she’s survived greater odds. If it means reclaiming the life she lost, she’ll do whatever it takes. Even if it means letting go of something she never expected to want.

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Goodreads | Amazon

Excerpt

Fire.

It lit the ground, soaring straight toward her. She scrambled to her feet, her heart thudding against her chest. It was coming fast—faster than she could run.

Holy Mother of God.

A thunderous voice boomed from behind. “ASSASSIN WITCH! You dare come into this camp!”

She jumped, using the water in her own body to propel her faster, trying to put some distance between her and that blasted fire. It didn’t work. She couldn’t gain much ground, and whoever was after her was coming way too fast. The scalding heat was at her heels, blazing across her back. Sweat poured from her body. She cried out from the pain. God, it felt like she was melting.

The ground shook, and she tripped. As she fell, time slowed.

Instinctively, Kennedy did the only thing she could do. She stretched her mind, reaching into the stream. Water rushed around her, enveloping her body inside of a cube. Four walls, four sides. Within seconds, she froze each of those sides, creating her own little box of ice. It was airtight—she wouldn’t last long in here without oxygen, but hopefully long enough for the fire to subside.

Hopefully long enough to keep her alive.

The ground continued to shake from the force of the explosion. Those bright orange flames danced around her, frosting the surface of her cube and blocking everything in sight.

Kennedy curled her knees to her chest, focusing on keeping the water frozen. It took every ounce of energy she had to keep the ice from melting, to keep herself protected.

Between the flames, she saw someone coming. The fire died down, and then they were right upon her, a pair of lethal black eyes peering into her icy sanctuary. It was hard to focus. The fumes had made her dizzy. Little by little, the rest of the face came into view.

Phoenix?

She blinked several times, trying to still her wildly beating heart. A blur of hard angles, unkempt blonde hair, and muscles. The body was slightly different, a little bigger. But she would know that face anywhere.

It was him.

She must be dreaming. Had she died in that explosion back there? She blinked once. Twice. Then pinched herself for good measure.

Still here.

He stood on the other side of the ice, looking downright murderous as he glared at her. Holy bejeesus—he was the one trying to kill her!

“Your time is up, witch!” he said, his voice slightly muted.

Kennedy scrambled toward him, pressing her palms against the ice. “Phoenix, it’s me!” she said, wiping away the frost so he could see her better. But there was no recognition in his eyes. He didn’t even flinch.

It was too late anyway. Another explosion sent her cube tumbling. She slipped on the melting floor and lost her balance. Her head struck against the wall, and ice shattered around her like shards of glass.

Stars. All she could see were stars, and then nothing.

Other Books in the Series

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About the Author

I don't consider myself a writer. I'm a storyteller. I live in Orlando, FL with my family. Keep up with me on social media. I love hearing from readers!

Website | Goodreads | BookBub | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Tour Schedule

(Posts go live on the day they're scheduled.)

December 1st: Launch

December 2nd: Rebecca Belliston - Heart of Red, Blood of Blue

December 3rd: Morgan L. Busse - Flight of the Raven

December 4th: Jes Drew - Tales of Parallel Worlds

December 5th: Ronie Kendig - Brand of Light

December 6th: Alisha Klapheke - Fate of Dragons

December 7th: Jessica Leake - Through the White Wood

December 8th: Belle Malory - Electric Skies

December 9th: Melissa McShane - Burning Bright

December 10th: Jennifer Silverwood - Blackbriar Cove

December 11th: Melissa Wright - Shadow and Stone

December 12th: Grand Finale

Tour Giveaway

1 winner will receive an Amazon Fire Tablet and a $50 Amazon eGift Card

Open internationally (as long as winner is eligible to receive prizes)

Ends December 16, 2019

ENTER HERE

Spotlight & Giveaway: Through the White Wood by Jessica Leake #FantasyforChristmas19

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Through the White Wood

By Jessica Leake
Young Adult Historical Fantasy

Hardcover & ebook, 416 Pages
April 9th 2019 by HarperTeen

The Bear and the Nightingale meets Frostblood in this romantic historical fantasy from the author of Beyond a Darkened Shore.

When Katya loses control of her power to freeze, her villagers banish her to the palace of the terrifying Prince Sasha in Kiev.

Expecting punishment, she is surprised to find instead that Sasha is just like her—with the ability to summon fire. Sasha offers Katya friendship and the chance to embrace her power rather than fear it.

But outside the walls of Kiev, Sasha’s enemies are organizing an army of people bent on taking over the entire world.

Together, Katya’s and Sasha’s powers are a fearsome weapon. But as their enemies draw nearer, will fire and frost be enough to save the world? Or will Katya and Sasha lose everything they hold dear?

Inspired by Russian mythology, this lushly romantic, intensely imaginative, and fiercely dramatic story is about learning to fight for yourself, even when the world is falling down around you.

(Affiliate links included.)

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

Excerpt

Above me, my golden eagle let out a soft cry, and as I glanced up at her, my spirits lifted ever so slightly. Elation, I’d named her long ago, because she never failed to bring me joy. Now she followed the sleigh from the sky, and I suspected she was my only remaining friend and ally.

After the horror of what had happened in the village, it was almost difficult to be afraid of what awaited me with the prince. Almost, but not quite. Rumors hammered at my thoughts as the sleigh traveled farther and farther into the deep woods that surrounded my home.

People disappearing into his castle, never to return. People with abilities beyond human limits. People like me.

Worse still was the knowledge that I went to him having committed crimes whose punishment was death.

You deserve it, the nasty part of my mind said to me, the one that sounded like the village children I grew up with. It will be a fitting punishment for what you’ve done.

We will not execute you as you deserve, the village elder had said, dressed in his long black shuba—the bearskin coat he was so proud of. Instead, we will hand you over to the prince. He’s always searching for people with your abilities, he’d said with a look of disgust. Let him deal with you as he sees fit.

Standing in the elder’s own izba, the clay oven blazing with a warm fire that could do nothing to pierce my frozen skin, I had paled at the announcement.

But Babushka—I’d stuttered, trying to think of anyone who could save me.

She has agreed to it, Elder Anatoly had interrupted, his voice brooking no argument.

Beside me, Andrei, one of the men who held my ropes, leaned toward me. They say the prince will cut your heart out and eat it. I had looked at him, this man I’d seen walking cheerfully to work in the lumber mill every day of my life, with eyes wide with fear. He’d looked back at me with a terrible sneer instead of a smile. And you will deserve it, Ice Witch.

Other Books by the Author

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About the Author

Jessica Leake is the author of the adult novels Arcana and The Order of the Eternal Sun, both with Skyhorse. She worked for years as a psychotherapist, but even though she loved her clients, she couldn’t stop writing. She lives in South Carolina with her husband, four young children, lots of chickens, and two dogs who keep everyone in line. Beyond a Darkened Shore was her YA debut and is followed by Through the White Wood. Visit her at www.jessicaleake.com.

Website | Goodreads | BookBub | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Tour Schedule

(Posts go live on the day they're scheduled.)

December 1st: Launch

December 2nd: Rebecca Belliston - Heart of Red, Blood of Blue

December 3rd: Morgan L. Busse - Flight of the Raven

December 4th: Jes Drew - Tales of Parallel Worlds

December 5th: Ronie Kendig - Brand of Light

December 6th: Alisha Klapheke - Fate of Dragons

December 7th: Jessica Leake - Through the White Wood

December 8th: Belle Malory - Electric Skies

December 9th: Melissa McShane - Burning Bright

December 10th: Jennifer Silverwood - Blackbriar Cove

December 11th: Melissa Wright - Shadow and Stone

December 12th: Grand Finale

Tour Giveaway

1 winner will receive an Amazon Fire Tablet and a $50 Amazon eGift Card

Open internationally (as long as winner is eligible to receive prizes)

Ends December 16, 2019

ENTER HERE

Spotlight & Giveaway: Fate of Dragons by Alisha Klapheke #FantasyforChristmas19

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Fate of Dragons
(Dragons Rising #1)
By Alisha Klapheke
YA Fantasy, Romance
Paperback & ebook, 292 Pages
March 27th 2019

An Earth Queen desperate to wake her magic.

An elven prince fighting a ruthless betrayal.

A flood is coming. The Sea Queen has a mad plan to drown the world. Only the magic of the Earth Queen can stop her. Vahly, the last human, was born to fill that role and wield the power necessary to battle the rising oceans and save the dragons and elves.

But Vahly is the world’s biggest disappointment. She possesses no magic whatsoever.

When she finds an ancient scroll that mentions a human power ritual conducted deep in the homeland of the elves, she gathers her dragon allies and journeys to see the king of that great forest-dwelling race.

Welcomed by a handsome royal cloaked in dark magic, will Vahly find answers or will a twisted and powerful elven lord destroy her chance at saving the world?

(Affiliate links included.)

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

Excerpt

There, on the ground, was a shape that was not rock or smoke or golden earthblood.

Or dragon.

Her lips parted in a silent gasp.

Two arms. Two legs. Supple flesh instead of scales.

Crouching by the body, Vahly moved a curtain of obsidian hair away from the creature’s face.

A pointed ear.

Vahly’s tongue didn’t want to work.

It was an elf.

She shook him hard, finally forcing her mouth to make sounds. “Wake up, fool! You’re going to die out here and I’m not about to go down with you. I thought your kynd was known for wisdom. Why in the world are you out here by yourself?”

He could have asked her the same thing.

The elf was nothing like she’d imagined. Yes, he had the glowing elegance of the illustrations she’d seen from the library scrolls. His exposed arms showed powerful muscles and his features were just as chiseled as recorded in dragon history.

But there was an age to him, a feeling of having weathered many storms, a burnished look to his fine, clear skin and proud, beardless chin. His presence weighed on her like a winter cloak, heavy but somehow comforting.

A line between his sharply slanted eyebrows made her think he had experienced great frustration in his lifetime. She hadn’t thought to see that in an elf. This wasn’t the picture she’d cobbled from her research.

He was so much … more.

Other Books in the Series

(Linked to Amazon affiliate links.)

About the Author

Award-winning author Alisha Klapheke wants to infuse your life with unique magic, far-flung fantasy settings, and romance. Her inspiration springs from medieval art and artifacts, the world travel she enjoys with her husband, and the fantasy she grew up reading when she was supposed to be doing her math homework.

Website | Goodreads | BookBub | Facebook | Instagram

Tour Schedule

(Posts go live on the day they're scheduled.)

December 1st: Launch

December 2nd: Rebecca Belliston - Heart of Red, Blood of Blue

December 3rd: Morgan L. Busse - Flight of the Raven

December 4th: Jes Drew - Tales of Parallel Worlds

December 5th: Ronie Kendig - Brand of Light

December 6th: Alisha Klapheke - Fate of Dragons

December 7th: Jessica Leake - Through the White Wood

December 8th: Belle Malory - Electric Skies

December 9th: Melissa McShane - Burning Bright

December 10th: Jennifer Silverwood - Blackbriar Cove

December 11th: Melissa Wright - Shadow and Stone

December 12th: Grand Finale

Tour Giveaway

1 winner will receive an Amazon Fire Tablet and a $50 Amazon eGift Card

Open internationally (as long as winner is eligible to receive prizes)

Ends December 16, 2019

ENTER HERE

Blog Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway: Where I Was Planted by Heather Norman Smith

 

Welcome to the Blog Tour & Giveaway for Where I Was Planted by Heather Norman Smith, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Where I Was Planted
Author: Heather Norman Smith
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Ambassador International
Release Date
In the spring of 1961, ten-year-old Nate "Weenie" Dooley has a revelation-his father is not a good one.

Inspired by National Geographic, his favorite thing next to the Bible storybook his mother gave him before she died, Nate plans to leave his father and their home in the Smokies to set out on an adventure.

When he discovers that his father has left him first, it will take the help of a stray dog, some kind neighbors, a one-man-band, letters from a long-lost-aunt, and a new understanding of God to figure out he isn't really alone.

Will he find that Copper Creek is where he's always belonged? Or will his wanderlust keep him from ever coming back?

In her second novel, Heather Norman Smith demonstrates that love makes a family, and that while fathers may leave, our Heavenly Father is faithful, and He has a plan for all of us.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Christianbook

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EXCERPT

“Nobody else has ever held this book before, since it was bought—besides me and Mama, I reckon’,” I said.

He kept his hands down, waiting patiently for me to be ready to hand it over.

“It’s very special, then,” he said softly.

I handed Dell the book, then sat back down at the desk, ready to hear the words I knew so well spoken aloud. He read the same story I had read a few nights before about Joseph and his brothers. The story felt so different, hearing it in someone else’s voice.

“See, Nate,” he said when he had finished. “What those brothers meant for harm, God used for good. Look where Joseph ended up! The Bible says that all things work out for good if you love God.”

I thought about all the good things that had happened since Bert left.

“Dell, what did the preacher mean this morning about decidin’?” I asked. “I decide to read my Bible book, and I decide to be good. But he was talkin’ about something else, wasn’t he?”

“It’s pretty simple, really. Some people know about God in their head, but they choose not to give Him their heart. It’s a choice everybody has to make.”

Dell taught me a lot of things—things I had never had a chance to hear before. He explained to me how all the stories in my book fit together like pieces of a puzzle. He explained God’s big plan to make things right after Adam and Eve messed up from the beginning and how it was just as simple as choosing to believe it. That night, I made my choice, and I rested with a peaceful feeling way down on the inside, even though I knew it might be the last night I would sleep in my own bed.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Heather Norman Smith is a Christian Fiction and devotions author. Her goal is to use the written word to entertain and encourage while illuminating the redemptive love of God. Heather is proud to be a life-long North Carolinian and aims to present the beauty of the Tar Heel State in her fiction. Her home is just outside Winston-Salem, NC, where she lives with her husband and their four children, two cats, two dogs, and some fish.

CONNECT WITH HEATHER: Website | Facebook | Pinterest | Twitter

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(2) winners will receive a paperback copy of Where I Was Planted by Heather Norman Smith!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule shown below. Giveaway will begin at midnight December 2, 2019 and last through 11:59 PM EST on December 9, 2019. US only. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.