Here's To You, Zeb Pike by Johanna Parkhurst

Johanna Parkhurst - Here's To You, Zeb Pike Cover sTitle: Here’s to You, Zeb Pike

Series: Here’s to You, Zeb Pike 01

Author: Johanna Parkhurst

Genre: Young adult, Contemporary

Length: Novel (180 pages)

Publisher: Harmony Ink Press (7 Nov 2013)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts

Blurb: Fact: When Zebulon Pike attempted to climb what is now known as Pikes Peak, he got stuck in waist-deep snow and had to turn back.

That’s the last thing Dusty Porter learns in his Colorado history class before appendicitis ruins his life. It isn’t long before social services figures out that Dusty’s parents are more myth than reality, and he and his siblings are shipped off to live in Vermont with an uncle and aunt they’ve never met.

Dusty’s new life is a struggle. His brother and sister don’t seem to need him anymore, and he can’t stand his aunt and uncle. At school, one hockey player develops a personal vendetta against him, while Emmitt, another hockey player, is making it hard for Dusty to keep pretending he’s straight. Problem is, he’s pretty sure Emmitt’s not gay. Then, just when Dusty thinks things can’t get any worse, his mother reappears, looking for a second chance to be a part of his life.

Somehow Zebulon Pike still got the mountain named after him, so Dusty’s determined to persevere—but at what point in life do you keep climbing, and when do you give up and turn back?

ISBN: 978-1-62798-525-3

Product Link: https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/heres-to-you-zeb-pike-by-johanna-parkhurst-5234-b

Reviewer: Prime

Review: Here’s to You, Zeb Pike is a really heartwarming and heartwrenching book. I know, it’s so good it makes you feel sad and happy at the same time. I didn’t know what to expect from this since this was the first book by Johanna Parkhurst I’ve read and I am glad to say that I loved both the writing style and the plot itself.

Of course, being a teen/young adult book, if you’re an adult reading it you really got to know what you’re into when it comes to young adult fiction. And if you’re reading about damaged teens from broken homes, that’s you’re first big hint that you’ll like it.

The story starts off with the heartbreaking opener of fourteen (almost fifteen) year old Dusty Porter, taking care of his six and eight year old siblings entirely on his own. His mother has flitted off months ago and his father is involved in some shady business, he doesn’t want to be around his kids but he gives them money to survive. Dusty has had a hard life from the start because of his negligent parents. Then, when his sister goes to hospital with appendicitis their entire world crashes down. Dusty’s entire life is changed when an uncle and aunt he never knew he had take him and his siblings into their home. That’s better than going into foster care but Dusty has a hard time accepting his new family and losing his role as primary care giver of his siblings.

At school Dusty is introduced to brothers Emmitt and Casey LaPointe. Emmitt is 16 years old, star of the school hockey team. To top off all the difficulties Dusty is going through, he finds himself attracted to Emmitt. Things keep piling up for Dusty, after all he is a teen as well as being a kid in a heartbreaking situation, but I like the fact that in this story his sexuality is not made part of the drama.

Emmitt and Dustin are sweet together, as only it can be for their age. This is more than a coming of age, in many ways Dusty is already an adult.  This is a lot more than two boys discovering themselves. It’s a really charming story of a making of a family and the making of a relationship, which will continue in the next book.

Ethan by Ryan Loveless Guest Post & Excerpt!

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Hi guys, we have Ryan Loveless popping in today with her upcoming YA release Ethan, we have a brilliant guest post from Ryan and a great excerpt, so check out the post and enjoy! <3 ~Pixie~

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Ethan

by

Ryan Loveless

Carter Stevenson is looking forward to a fresh start in a new high school on the other side of the country. It’ll give him a chance to escape his reputation for twitching and stuttering. He’ll have the summer to himself in his new home in California, and in the fall, he won’t get involved in any activity that puts his Tourette’s center stage. He won’t stand out as different.

But his new neighbor, Ethan, isn’t just going to change his plans. He’s going to change Carter’s life.

Ethan Hart is recovering from a traumatic brain injury, but it doesn’t dampen his enthusiasm or love for life. As soon as he sees Carter, who moves like the music Ethan sees between the clouds and the grass, he’s determined to become his friend, and then his boyfriend. And even if his parents say their romance can’t get physical, Ethan won’t let it stand in the way of falling in love.

Stepping into the spotlight was the last thing Carter ever wanted, but Ethan, along with a group of friends who like him just the way he is—tics and all—starts to change his mind. 

Adapted as a YA edition of the award-winning novel Ethan, Who Loved Carter by Ryan Loveless.

Release date: 20th October 2016

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Do-Gooder by j.l. bailey Blog Tour, Guest Post, Excerpt & Giveaway!

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Hi guys we have j. leigh Bailey stopping by today with her upcoming Y/A release Do-Gooder, we have a fantastic guest post where j. leigh chats about the setting of Do-Gooder, we have a great excerpt and there’s also a chance to win a fabulous giveaway, so guys check out the post and leave a comment to enter the giveaway! <3 ~Pixie~

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Do-Gooder

by

j. leigh bailey

No good deed goes unpunished, and for seventeen-year-old Isaiah Martin, that’s certainly the case. The gun he was caught with wasn’t even his, for God’s sake. He only had it to keep a friend from doing something stupid. No one wants to hear it, though, and Isaiah is banished—or so it seems to him—to live with his missionary father in politically conflicted Cameroon, Africa.

However, when he arrives, his father is so busy doing his good deeds that he sends Henry, the young, surprisingly hot do-gooder with a mysterious past, to pick up Isaiah and keep him out of trouble. Even while Isaiah is counting down the days until he can go home, he and Henry get caught in the political unrest of the region. Kidnapped by militant forces, the two have to work together to survive until they are rescued—unless they manage to find a way to save each other first.

Release date: 15th September 2016

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The Night Screams by Devon McCormack

Devon McCormack - The Night Screams Cover sTitle: The Night Screams

Series: N/A

Author: Devon McCormack

Genre: Mystery, Suspense, Teen Fiction

Length: Novel (220 pages)

Publisher: Harmony Ink Press (July 28, 2016)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts

Blurb: A Harmony Ink Press Title

After Cal escapes a deranged kidnapper who tortured him, he doesn’t even have the clothes on his back. Desperate and afraid, he breaks into a convenience store. But Jake, a clerk at the store, confronts what to him is little more than a petty thief. After a violent tussle, he knocks Cal out.

Jake encourages his Uncle Gary, the owner of the store, to report Cal to the police, but Gary can’t bring himself to report a kid who was just looking to steal food. When Cal wakes, Gary asks him if he’s okay. But Cal’s trauma has left him mute. Instead, he has to write his experiences down, relaying the horrifying events that led him to the store. The police track down the sick man who held Cal captive, and when he confronts them with a gun, he’s shot dead. However, Cal discovers that even with his captor gone, he is far from free of the nightmare he endured.

Gary and his wife welcome Cal into their home, determined to help him heal. Jake doesn’t trust Cal, and he isn’t afraid to say so. But buried beneath Jake’s disapproval might be the person who can help Cal recover from the terrifying experience that continues to haunt him.

ISBN: 978-1-63476-998-3

Product Link: https://www.harmonyinkpress.com/books/the-night-screams-by-devon-mccormack-401-b | https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/the-night-screams-by-devon-mccormack-7219-b

Reviewer: Shorty 

Review: Cal escapes a deranged man after being kidnapped and tortured. He finds Gary, a store owner, to be his savior. His son Jake is complicated. I realize this is a young adult book but I felt with Cal after he starts having feelings for Jake and acting on them it seemed a bit unreal to me. Why? I’ve known both males and females who were abused and none of them wanted to be touched for years afterwards let alone start a relationship and have sex with someone.

The details of exactly how the sadistic man was caught and how they proved one hundred percent he was the guilty party were sketchy at best. However I did enjoy the story of Cal’s recovery and his struggle to overcome the events that transpired. Jake I had mixed feelings about. He ran hot and cold so I felt disconnected to him.

It broke my heart to learn of both Jake and Cal’s past. It confuses me how any parent could do the things that were mentioned to any child let alone their own.

Full of drama, this story is about a young man who tries to overcome and conquer tragic events and learn to live again without fear.

Great read.

Merlin's Moon by Annabelle Jay Guest Post & Excerpt!

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Hi guys, we have Annabelle Jay popping in with her upcoming release Merlin’s Moon, we have a brilliant guest post and a great excerpt, so check out the post and enjoy! <3 ~Pixie~

Annabelle Jay - Merlin's Moon Cover s

Merlin’s Moon

(The Sun Dragon 02)
by

Annabelle Jay

Half-human, half-dragon Mani hatched from an egg and was adopted by Allanah, a human woman who discovered him after the death of his dragon mother. He possesses abilities he’s only beginning to understand, and every night he takes the form of a blue dragon.

When Mani’s secret is revealed, he takes refuge at the wizard Mansion. There, he encounters the Animal Guard, a group of people who share his affliction. But the members of the Animal Guard are under a curse by the sorceresses, and they need Mani’s aid to break the spell and resume their human forms. Growing romantic feelings for the wolf-boy Lup convince Mani to offer his help, but Mani’s own developing powers might destroy any chance at a relationship. The world of magic is changing, and as Mani and his friends fight to stop the evil sorceresses from using the deadly North Star, they must figure out what places they will hold when the battle is over.

Release date: 28th July 2016

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Castor by Shaun Young Guest Post & Excerpt!

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Hi peeps, we have debut author Shaun Young popping in today with his upcoming release Castor, we have a brilliant guest post and a great excerpt, so check out the post and enjoy <3 ~Pixie~

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Castor

by

Shaun Young

James Fisher’s memories of Earth are distant, replaced by the harsh realities of life on the planet Castor. As a “Half-Adapt,” James is one of many who were biologically engineered to survive conditions on Castor—and to labor for the benefit of the ruling class. Indentured to servitude, James has no way to defy or escape the severe caste system… until he meets Vidal Centa, his master’s nephew. The draw they feel toward each other is instant, powerful, and maybe even enough to move beyond the unyielding regulations of their society.

But not everyone blindly accepts the absolute power of the oligarchy. The Independence Society fights for freedom and equality, and since James shares in their ideals, he joins their ranks. Soon he’s faced with an impossible decision: continue the fight against the oppressors or choose the love of the young man who embodies everything the Society loathes. With a looming conflict threatening to tear the planet apart, James fears he cannot continue to fight if he wants to keep his relationship with Vidal.

Release date: 30th June 2016

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RUFUS + SYD by Robin Lippincott & Julia Watts Book Blast & Excerpt!

Robin Lippincott & Julia Watts, RUFUS + SYD Banner

Hi guys, we have Robin Lippincott & Julia Watts popping in with their upcoming new adult release Rufus + Syd, they’re letting us have a peek at an excerpt so check out the post and enjoy! <3 ~Pixie~

Robin Lippincott &amp; Julia Watts, RUFUS + SYD Cover

Rufus + Syd

by

Robin Lippincott & Julia Watts

Vermillion, Georgia, is the small town that time forgot, or at least that’s how it feels to fifteen-year-old Rufus. As if being a scrawny ginger called “Matchstick” isn’t bad enough, Rufus is also gay, an artist, and the son of conservative religious fanatics. He doesn’t have a prayer of fitting in in the Bible Belt—at least not until he meets Syd, a spiky-haired girl in black eyeliner. Sick of being the adult her mother can’t seem to be, Syd hides behind a snarky attitude and takes refuge in classic movies, and eventually, her friendship with Rufus.

As isolated as they feel in Vermillion, Rufus and Syd soon discover they’re not as alone as they thought. Josephine, an aging free spirit who once ran a repertory cinema in Chicago, and Cole, a middle-aged gay man living with a brain injury as a result of a violent homophobic attack in his youth, offer help as the two teens struggle to discover who they are, what they want, and where they might belong. But not everyone in their town is so freethinking or open-minded.

When things become unbearable, where do two outspoken atheists turn? Trusting in each other and standing together is their only chance of making it through the opposition on all sides.

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The Ongoing Reformation of Micah Johnson by Sean Kennedy Guest Post & Excerpt!

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Hi guys, we have Sean Kennedy stopping by with his upcoming release The Ongoing Reformation of Micah Johnson, we have a great guest post and a fantastic excerpt, so check out the post and enjoy!

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The Ongoing Reformation of Micah Johnson

by

Sean Kennedy

There is no Plan B.

After being outed in an especially brutal way and briefly running away from home, Micah Johnson has sworn to get his life back on the straight and narrow.  Well, not so much straight, but you know what he means.

Unfortunately the path to redemption is not an easy one.  With fights at school and on the football field and an all-round snarky attitude as his number one defense mechanism, will Micah survive the school year and the training camps to achieve his dream of making the national draft and becoming a professional AFL player?

His mentor, Declan Tyler, believes in him, but Micah wishes he had the same confidence in himself.  Only time will tell if the ongoing reformation of Micah Johnson will be successful.

Release date: 7th April 2016

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Refraction by Hayden Scott Guest Post & Excerpt!

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Hi guys, we have new author Hayden Scott stopping by with her upcoming debut YA story Refraction, I’ve nicked Hayden’s YouTude announcement so you can get to know her and her story a bit 😉 , Hayden writes a guest post for us about her story and we also have a great excerpt, so check out the post and enjoy!  <3 ~Pixie~

Hayden Scott - Refraction Cover s

Refraction

by

Hayden Scott

Max Jackson spends his days worrying about the same things most teenagers do—homework, college admission, and how to detonate the doomsday device his mom built in their basement. As a member of the “Injustice League,” Max has devoted his life to destroying his city’s corrupt power structure. Everything is going according to plan until all-American superhero Crush Goodman steals the device right out from under him. Max’s life gets even more complicated when Crush starts stalking him at school and acting friendlier than he ever should to his archnemesis. Caught between his evolving feelings for Crush and wanting to protect his secret identity, Max has to steal his device back and show Crush the true meaning of supervillainy.

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Coyote's Creed by Vaughn R. Demont

*****Favorite Cover Art of the Week*****

Title: Coyote’s Creed

Series: Broken Mirror 01

Author: Vaughn R. Demont

Genre: Paranormal, Shape-shifter, Alternative World, Urban Fantasy

Length: Novel (218pgs)

Publisher: Samhain Publishing (11th October 2011)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating:  ♥♥♥♥♥5Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: If con games were taught in high school, Spencer Crain would be on the honor roll. As it is, he’ll be riding the edge of failure to graduation next month. Then Spence gets the news that his long-gone father is not only dead, but was a Coyote, one of three clans of tricksters in the City.

With a near-catatonic mother on his hands, Spence couldn’t care less about the Coyotes’ on-going feud with the Phouka and the Kitsune—until it lands on his doorstep. Suddenly he’s thrown headfirst into a dangerous world he knows next-to-nothing about. His only guide is Rourke, dashing King of the Phouka, plus a growing pack of half-siblings, a god, and Fate herself.

As Spence embarks on a journey to learn the Coyote’s creed, the truth about his heritage, and how to handle his growing attraction to Rourke, he wonders when his life turned from TV sitcom to real-life danger zone. And what price must he pay to survive the next roll of the dice…

Warning: Contains PG-13 rated violence, R-rated language and X-rated hotel scenes. Meta-humor, pop-culture humor, utter disregard for the 4th wall abound.

Purchase Link: http://store.samhainpublishing.com/coyotes-creed-p-6485.html

Review: Well hmmm what to say, what to say… I loved it, thought it was brilliant, so go out and get it… what? You want me to tell you why, geeze there’s no pleasing some people. Okay here goes… Spencer is an eighteen year old who is failing his classes, he gets the news that not only is his deadbeat dad dead, but he is half coyote as well and that’s when everything changes for him. Rourke is like an uncle to Spencer keeping an eye on him when he was growing up and being there for him if he needed it, when suddenly things change between them when they both least expect it.

This is a well thought out story-line and plot that, to be honest, if someone asked me to describe it I’d make a hash out of it and mess it all up. So I will just say this: there are twists inside twists and plots inside plots, there’s back-stabbing, intrigue, puzzles, tricks and pranks some for the long game but some for the quick pay off. We have the Fates and a God, an ex-Sorcerer, the Phouka, Kitsune and Coyote, a troll and… well I think the only thing that I didn’t read something about was Vampires but I might have missed it (don’t think I did but you never know).

The way this story is told is great, there is always something going on and sometimes you think you are being led astray but it always comes back around and makes perfect sense (sort of like a light bulb moment), it is brilliantly written and I am amazed that there was so much going on that Vaughn R. Demont didn’t lose his way or forget to tie something off. Brilliant.

The relationship between Spencer and Rourke is kinda like May to December in looks anyway as Rourke is described as looking in his fifties but is soooo much older than that… I wonder if that is his real appearance though because he’s the King of the Phouka and it says they are basically immortal.  Hmmm, I wonder…, so anyway getting back on track, Spencer doesn’t love Rourke but wants to still be with him. I think that’s for the future books, yeah!!

So if you like any of the above and some really, really hot sex then you need to read this book. I highly recommend this book but as I have said in previous reviews this is my favorite type of genre.