Book Highlight: Reluctant Guardian

by Melissa J. Cunningham

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 committing suicide, 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? 

About Melissa J. Cunningham

 

Melissa's first novel: Reluctant Guardian, was accepted for publication through Clean Teen Publishing in August 2013.  When Melissa is not writing you can find her spending time with her husband of eighteen years and her five children. Melissa studied music in college and loves to read all things fiction. Melissa lives in Northern Utah with her family, her horses, cats, dogs and chickens. 

Melissa's first novel: Reluctant Guardian, was accepted for publication through Clean Teen Publishing in August 2013.  When Melissa is not writing you can find her spending time with her husband of eighteen years and her five children. Melissa studied music in college and loves to read all things fiction. Melissa lives in Northern Utah with her family, her horses, cats, dogs and chickens. 

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And please check out my latest Young Adult adventure/romance, 

Deep Green, 

available in Print & e-Book

AMAZON 

Eternal Press* 

*25% off with the promo code 20EPdb14

* * * *http://www.amazon.com/Deep-Green-Trisha-Haddad-ebook/dp/B00GOJ00M4

Reviving The Happy Reviewer...with a new Happy Reviewer!

Some news!

Bonjour! I'm reviving this blog with the help of an author (and reader) friend, Lea Waterhouse. She is the author of the upcoming Christian YA book, Dawn on the Road. Learn more about the book here.

We're open for book highlights and author interviews, and will be working through our review backlog as well. Enjoy!

--TH & LW

Release Day Spotlight: FALLEN by Rochelle Karina

Fallen 

by 
Rochelle Karina

ISBN-10: 1629292672
ISBN-13: 978-1629292670
ASIN:  B00YGD2QR2

Genre: Romantic Thriller

Buy the Book

She gave up everything to find herself, and gained even more.

Serena McClure walks away from a controlling husband and into the unknown. 

With nothing more than a good job and her will to get out, she faces obstacles and challenges.   It is a journey of trust and growth as she learns to lean on her friends, and comes to understand her own strength. And a journey of love and lust, unlocking Serena's long-dormant desires and unleashing her passionate nature. She must let go of her past and embrace love.

Buy the Book  

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“I’m not going to lie, Serena. I want you, but I’m willing to wait. I won’t say that I won’t sometimes test the waters, but I won’t go deeper or faster than you’re willing.” 

He took her face in both hands and kissed her again; a gentle, lingering kiss that took her breath away, then turned and walked to his own door.

--from Fallen, by Rochelle Karina

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About the Author

Blog 

Rochelle Karina is a freelance writer, professional blogger, and award-winning cook who refuses to admit to having over twenty years of freelance experience in the political, religious, nonprofit, and women’s studies arenas.

Her opinion and humor pieces have been published everywhere from local newspapers to internationally published magazines and a variety of Internet sites. She has an extensive theatrical background, including more than a few playwriting credits, mostly for nonprofit organizations and fund-raising events.

Originally from San Diego, Ms. Karina now makes her home in the cultural heart of Baltimore and is currently maintaining several blogs, and getting paid to do it.

She is the author of FALLEN (Eternal Press) and AFTER THE HARVEST (Damnation Books).

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And don't forget to check out my latest book, 

Deep Green, 

available in Print & e-Book 

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Breathe Deep...

Great news; mark-ups to the typeset proofs of Breathe Deep are now back with the publisher! Stay tuned for a cover reveal (it is a beauty)!

And if you haven't yet, now is a perfect time to read Deep Green, which is on sale at Amazon for $5.94 (paperback or e-book)!

SPECIAL: Launch Day Author Interview: MR Jones

Interview with

MR Jones,

author of 

Ash on the Stairs

Buy at Eternal Press

Buy on Amazon

Today at The Happy Book Reviewer we’re celebrating the release day of Ash on the Stairs with an interview of its author, Maggy Jones!

Ash on the Stairs takes erotic romance set in the high rise world of New York City. Corporate intrigue and mystery give depth to a tale with a heat level that all but scorches. Jesse Ash takes the stairs at work to avoid a predator and meets a man with golden eyes. He talks her into joining him for the evening. A game with no names leads to a night of hot sex. Will this continue when his identity is revealed? Travis Daniel owns the stairwell and the company. He wants Jesse’s heart. When the predator resurfaces, will they rise above the circumstances to find justice and love?

Whew! I can’t wait to read this one!

Tell, me what inspired Ash on the Stairs? Did you start with the City, or with Jesse and Travis, and build the plot around them? Or did you have the idea for the story, and created the characters to fit into it?

Maggy R. Jones: I became irritated that I was having no luck getting the attention of anyone in the publishing business with the contemporary fantasy I wrote. I decided that if erotic romances were selling, I would write one and see if it sold. I did have a compulsion to make my characters different from the ones I have met while reading other work.

            I started with Jesse, she told the story from the beginning. She is a strong young woman, taller and smarter than the average romance heroine. I made sure to give her a mysterious past and flaws without leaving her weak or needy.

            Then I decided to set the story in New York City. Jesse had to find a safe place to live far from her hometown of Houston, Texas. New York is large enough to provide anonymity for a person to live quietly out of the reach of childhood terrors.

            With Travis, I refused to go the route of the rich powerful pervert that seems so popular now. Travis is rich, powerful, highly intelligent, and socially awkward without the need to dominate through bondage. I gave him a normal family background.

The cover is gorgeous! Who is the designer? How did it feel the first time you saw your characters in physical form?

MR Jones: Thanks. Dawne Dominique is the designer. She’s great. I gasped when I first saw the cover. I was that pleased.

Is this what you envisioned for the cover, or did she totally surprise you?

MR Jones: We worked together to achieve this cover. I have a background in art, illustration, and type design. She allowed my input as she developed this cover. She did the greatest thing in making his eyes golden. That is important to the story.

This book is scorching hot. How was the experience of writing such sexy situations? How did you put aside the “my family will be reading this” thoughts and focus on “my readers want HOT”?

MR Jones: Initially, writing the sex scenes was uncomfortable. I had to get past my Catholic schoolgirl upbringing. I learned to depend on my later adventures in life to lend realism to the sensuality. As for how my family views it, my parents are dead and I have no children. My siblings are supportive and my nieces and nephews are as well.

If you could be sucked into any novel, which would it be? Would you be yourself, or would you be one of the existing characters?

MR Jones: I would love to be an elf in Middle Earth in the Lord of the Rings.

What book are you reading right now?

MR Jones: Me and Mr. Mephistopheles by D.D. Cross

Are you working on a sequel to Ash on the Stairs? Can you give us a hint on what it is about?

MR Jones: Yes, I am working on a follow up to Ash on the Stairs. The working title is Ash on the Beach. The story happens a year after Ash on the Stairs and much of the action takes place in and around Galveston, Texas. It should be even higher action with a kidnapping and rescue.

Do you think you'll stick with erotic romance then, or are you planning to write another book in a different genre in the future?

MR Jones: I'm working on another book, Slant Well. It is a contemporary fantasy, set in Southeast Texas is due out later in 2015. It is quite different from Ash on the Stairs in that it has what can almost be called magical realism in it. Oil men are trying to steal from the Federal Oil Reserves and a mixed crew of mortals and immortals band together and use magic to stop them and bring them to justice. While it is not a romance, it does have a love story woven through it.

One last question! I love collecting quotes, so add to my collection. What is your favorite line from Ash on the Stairs?

MR Jones: “Your goddamn name isn’t Jesus!” Jesse says this to Travis during a fight about him having withheld his name from her.

Thanks for spending some time at The Happy Book Reviewer on your launch day! Readers wanting more info can find you at:

• Buy at Eternal Press
  Buy on Amazon
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/MargueriteR.Jones
• Blog: http.maddmagz.wordpress.com
• Twitter: @maddmagz 

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Don't forget to check out my latest YA adventure, 

Deep Green, 

available in Print & e-Book

AMAZON 

Eternal Press

* * * *

Guest Post: Humanity and Science Fiction

Humanity and Science Fiction

Guest Post by Jon Messenger, 

author of the Brink of Distinction trilogy

Before I started writing the Brink of Distinction trilogy, I buried myself in science fiction novels, absorbing everything I could about the genre. One of the last series I read before I started writing was The Lost Fleet by Jack Campbell. The story centered on two factions of humans fighting with one another as they both laid claim to the explored space. Near the end of the series (sorry for the spoilers), they discover that there’s probably an alien race existing beyond their borders, one that is a threat to all humanity, if only they could set aside their differences.

It was a great series, one that I devoured, book after book. The idea that humanity would have to band together against an alien threat is a staple of science fiction, from Ender’s Game to Starship Troopers. 

But is it realistic?

These stories paint the picture of a humanity expanding to the stars, with the original colonists described as heroes to those who awaited word of their settlements from Earth. When they encounter aliens, the aliens are always hostile with the intent of wiping out the colonies before turning their attention to Earth itself.

Except I’ve study world history. Humanity doesn’t have a good track record of benevolence when meeting new cultures. In fact, 95% of the time, the invading culture wipes out the indigenous population. If that were the case, then why would we assume that humanity would be the victims in an intergalactic war?

That train of thought became the premise for the Brink of Distinction trilogy. It’s always been my belief that the only thing that would push humanity to colonize the stars would be overpopulation or over polluting of Earth. If that were the case, humanity would colonize under a manifest destiny mentality. The establishment of colonies would be priority number one, regardless of the alien races that might have already existed in the worlds they discover.

I invite you to come read the trilogy, consisting of BURDEN OF SISYPHUS, FALL OF ICARUS, and PURGE OF PROMETHEUS. It’s an interesting take on the science fiction genre, with humanity clearly the antagonists throughout the story.

BRINK OF DISTINCTION SERIES by Jon Messenger

Adult Sci-Fi Series Published Through Crimson Tree Publishing

Burden of Sisyphus

Between the alien Alliance and the Terran Empire, a neutral zone stretches between the galaxies, a demilitarized zone that was established 150 years previous, following the Great War. The peace accord granted a semblance of peace to the universe. The peace, however, is a facade, and it is the responsibility of Michael Vance and his covert operations team to maintain that illusion.

Recently, the Alliance lost contact with one of their outposts near the neutral zone. Surveillance scans show an abandoned city and no signs of life. The Alliance does what it always does: send in the best. But an unexpected betrayal leaves Vance and his team stranded. Worse, the city that was supposed to be dead is quite alive. And the monsters that now roam its streets are slaughtering his team, one at a time.

Fall of Icarus

The Terran Empire has broken the Taisa Accord and invaded Alliance space in this exciting second novel in the Brink of Distinction series. Survivors of the Empire's first assault, Yen Xiao and Adam Decker swore vengeance against the Terrans. Joining forces with the enigmatic Keryn Riddell, the three warriors must find a way to destroy the Terran fleet. But the Terrans have a secret weapon: a biological agent sold to them by an renegade smuggler. Now it's a race against the clock to capture the smuggler before the Terrans decimate the Alliance home worlds.

When everything they do proves to be not enough to stop the Empire's violent invasion, the Alliance takes the fight directly to the Empire by invading Earth! But Earth may not be the biggest threat to the safety of the Alliance. The biggest danger may be one of their own.

Purge of Prometheus

The final confrontation between the Alien Alliance and the Terran Empire begins in this exciting conclusion to the Brink of Distinction trilogy.

One-by-one, the brilliant suns of Alliance space are disappearing, left cold and lifeless after exposure to the Terran biological epidemic. Trapped on one of the sunless worlds, Keryn Riddell, the ruthless Wyndgaart warrior, fights against both a frozen landscape and her Terran captors.

As Keryn fights for her life, the psychic Yen Xiao leads the Alliance fleet in pursuit of the Terran Destroyers threatening the Alliance homeworlds. Yearning for leadership of the fleet, Yen begins to wonder just how far he’ll go for the power he craves.

I invite you to come read the trilogy, consisting of BURDEN OF SISYPHUS, FALL OF ICARUS, and PURGE OF PROMETHEUS. It’s an interesting take on the science fiction genre, with humanity clearly the antagonists throughout the story.

About Jon Messenger

Jon Messenger (Born 1979 in London, England) serves as an United States Army Major in the Medical Service Corps. Since graduating from the University of Southern California in 2002, writing Science Fiction has remained his passion, a passion that has continued through two deployments to Iraq, a humanitarian relief mission to Haiti, and an upcoming deployment to Afghanistan. Jon wrote the "Brink of Distinction" trilogy, of which "Burden of Sisyphus" is the first book, while serving a 16-month deployment in Baghdad, Iraq.

Jon's books include Wind Warrior, Flame Caller and Water Shaper which was published through Clean Teen Publishing and quickly hit the best selling lists of Amazon. Jon Messenger has won a readers choice award as well as the Clean Teen Publishing writing contest for his Novella of Wind Warrior, which is also featured in Wonderstruck. Messenger's sci-fi series, Brink of Distinction, was picked up by Clean Teen Publishing's adult imprint: Crimson Tree Publishing in the Fall of 2013. 

Facebook / Author Website / Website / Goodreads

Twitter: @JonMessenger

* * * *

Don't forget to check out my latest YA adventure, 

Deep Green, 

available in Print & e-Book

AMAZON 

Eternal Press* 

*25% off with the promo code 20EPdb14

* * * *

Guest Post: Real Life Experience, by Angela J. Townsend

Real Life Experience: 

Guest Post by 

Angela J. Townsend, author of

I love to write about the supernatural. Ghosts and witches and even a goblin or two always seem to sneak into my writing. 

I have lived in two haunted houses, traveled into the darkest regions of southern swamps and even fought off an alligator or two. All of these experiences have helped me to write my novel, River of Bones. And if you like a scary southern gothic story filled with local myth and lore than this creepy novel is a perfect read for you!

My real experience with haunted houses happened when I lived on a historic farm. If you pressed your ear against a far wall--you could literally hear whispering and crazy sounding laughter. On the other side of that wall was a simple flower garden. There was no reason to hear any noise from that wall.

We called in a paranormal team to and explore the house, The investigators claimed it was haunted by the prior owners who had died in the early 1900’s and were buried in the garden.

I was horrified that dead people might be underneath my radishes and tomatoes plants! The very next day I hurried outside with my shovel and starting looking for gravestones. I scooped out shovels of dirt and dug for nearly a whole day and never found anything. Not even a piece of headstone.

Later that summer on a smoldering day a car drove into the yard. Out stepped an older gentleman. I was packing my bags because we had found a house in town and frankly I was tired of all the creepy things that were happening in the house. The man walked up and shook my hand. He told me that he was the grandson of the original owners. I quickly asked him all the things I wanted to know about the house. He was very polite and after a cup of lemonade in the shade I had learned that his grandparents had both died suddenly of unknown causes. Before he left he tipped his hat back and said. “You know my grandparents are buried here don’t you?”

“Where?” I asked quickly.

“Over in the garden.”

I shook my head. “That just can’t be. I’ve searched the garden. There aren’t any headstones.”

“Oh,” he said. “Not that garden.” He pointed to a rosebush on the side of the house near where we could hear the voices. “They’re in the flower garden!”

The hair rose up on my neck and needless to say the paranormal investigators were right. There were dead people under my tulips.  We moved out that same night and never looked back.  I’ve always wondered what those voices were saying.  Perhaps they were telling me the tales that went into my novel, River of Bones….

RIVER OF BONES 

By Angela J. Townsend

Published by: Clean Teen Publishing

Young Adult Horror - Romance

Available Today!

When seventeen-year-old Dharma Moore moves to Bayou country so her scam artist mother can work as a Paranormal Investigator, she discovers that more than ghosts haunt the abandoned plantation they now call home. 

Centuries ago, a voodoo curse was placed on the swamp waters surrounding the old plantation by a murdered slave. This terrible curse ensnares Dharma with its deadly effects. To save herself, she must face the terror of the haunted waters, find the dead woman's skull, and convince the slave's soul to release her from its torments. When Dharma discovers an ancient secret that links her to the property—a secret kept from her by her own family—she realizes that the curse is more personal to her than she ever imagined. 

 To survive, Dharma must accept the help of the locals, and put her trust in the handsome gardener, Wolf Bodine—who is the only one crazy enough to come near the plantation. With his help, Dharma must learn to embrace the truth and accept that magic is not only real… but that it can be very, very deadly!

About Angela J. Townsend

Angela Townsend was born in the beautiful Rocky Mountains of Missoula, Montana. As a child, Angela grew up listening to stories told by her grandparents, ancient tales and legends of faraway places. Influenced by her Irish and Scottish heritage, Angela became an avid research historian, specializing in Celtic mythology. Her gift for storytelling finally led her to a full time career in historical research and writing. A writer in local community circulations, Angela is also a published genealogical and historical resource writer who has taught numerous research seminars. Currently, Angela divides her time between writing, playing Celtic music on her fiddle, and Irish dancing. 

Angela's first novel, Amarok, was published through Spencer Hill Press in 2012. Her newest novel, Angus MacBain and The Island of Sleeping Kings, was signed for publication with Clean Teen Publishing in 2013. 

Angela resides on a ranch, in rural Northwestern Montana, with her two children Levi and Grant. 

More books by Angela J. Townsend:

 

Want to READ MORE from Clean Teen Publishing? 

Check out our huge selection of amazing reads! There's sure to be something for every reader!

* * * *

Don't forget to check out my latest adventure/romance, 

Deep Green, 

available in Print & e-Book

AMAZON 

Eternal Press* 

*25% off with the promo code 20EPdb14

* * * *