Mini Tour: Hive by Jeremiah Ukponrefe (Genre: Sci-Fi/ Action) @JeremiahUAuthor @RRBookTours1 #Hive #RRBookTours

March 22, 2021Reads & Reels Leave a comment

Welcome to the mini tour for the action-packed sc-fi, Hive. This is the first book in a brand new series called The Arcane Volumes by Jeremiah Ukponrefe!

Hive (The Arcane Volumes #1)

Publication Date: March 3, 2021

Genre: Science Fiction

Length: 269 pages

The Collective military has spent its years destroying the last remnants of The Hive, an alien force that devastated the old world. bringing forth the apocalypse, and ushering a new age of warring factions.

Alexander King is a Collective soldier who during a mission monitoring the outskirts of Zone 6, discovers evidence that the Hives presence is stronger then commonly believed. With his new information it becomes vital that The Collective acts fast, for if they don’t the world will be brought to its knees again in a wave of destruction that will end humanity forever.

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Excerpt

The Market

Alexander King stood tall, glaring down at the citizens that hurried along the muddy streets.

He had no interest in eavesdropping on their whispered conversations; their words were of no importance to him.

The market was built on dirt, but its upper layer had slowly transformed into mud over time, by the light rain. Wooden carts and stands, stacked with savory meats hanging on rusty hooks, ragged furs strewn atop the table, red wine in dusty bottles, and even delicate jewelry, were scattered throughout the streets; remnants of the Old World.

All the sellers acquired their merchandise using the same method: thievery. Prior to the Collective’s occupation of the dead city, the citizens had raided all the abandoned buildings, later claiming that everything they had was their own.

“We have to get out of this soon,” said Alex, fixing his obsidian mask, until only his brown eyes were visible.

“Nothing wrong with guard duty,” countered Takeo,” It’s what we’ve been asked to do, so we should do it properly.”

Alex rolled his eyes at Takeo.

His partner stood a head taller than him, and was much more muscular, nearly double his size. Like Alex, he too wore the sleek grey jumpsuit and obsidian mask, of the Collective.

The two men not only differed in size, but weaponry. Takeo held

a pump action R-90 shotgun, Alex an Ak-47; both weapons of the Old World.

“I’m just bored of doing nothing.”

“We’ve been given a great position.” Alex snorted.

Takeo was never one to indulge in his valid complaints, never willing to speak an ill word of the Collective’s inner workings.

Tapping his AK-47, Alex scanned the busy market.

Eventually, his eyes turned to the inner city’s skylines, where gray clouds shrouded the tall buildings; it was the one place he wanted to be.

His eyes quickly turned back to the market, and he tightened his grip on the AK-47; something suspicious was underway. A young boy in his mid-teens, not far from Alex’s own age, handed off a steel case to the first man in a long line of buyers.

“3 o’clock.”

Takeo’s hazel eyes followed Alex’s stare.

“We should call reinforcements,” stated Takeo, as he pulled his shotgun closer.

Alex shook his head, not taking his eyes off the boy. “Just follow my lead.”

“But, protocol–” “Come on!”

Alex marched towards the stand, with Takeo following behind. He gestured to his partner,

and they both improvised a new position, forcing the common people to diverge.

“Move!”

Alex intervened within the line, cutting off the man whose hands were inches away from the case. The young seller retracted the object, and glanced behind in fear…

Now Available on Amazon

About the Author

Jeremiah Ukponrefe is a Vancouver based author and stand up comedian. He has written articles for The Runner, and The Reel Anna. His debut novel Hive is releasing March 2021. As a comedian his style is a mixture of clever observations with a subversive darkness, all performed under a veil of innocence. He has performed in the Comedy Ring, Rick Bronson’s House of Comedy, and Yuk Yuks. He is really hoping this art thing works out.

Jeremiah Ukponrefe | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Mini Tour Schedule

March 22^nd

Meli’s Book Reviews (Spotlight) https://melisbokreviews.wordpress.com/

March 23^rd

Nesie’s Place (Spotlight) https://nesiesplace.wordpress.com

Breakeven Books (Spotlight) https://breakevenbooks.com

The Faerie Review (Spotlight) http://www.thefaeriereview.com

March 24^th

Dark Whimsical Art (Spotlight) https://www.darkwhimsicalart.com/blogs/news

Brenda Combs (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/brendajeancombs/

The Magic of Wor(l)ds (Spotlight) http://themagicofworlds.wordpress.com

March 25^th

Tsarina Press (Spotlight) https://tsarinapress.com/blog/

March 26^th

Reads & Reels (Spotlight) http://readsandreels.com

Mini Tour Organized By:

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Book Tour & Giveaway: Ulrik by Wendy L. Anderson @RRBookTours1 #RRBookTours

March 15, 2021Reads & Reels Leave a comment

Welcome to the book tour for Wendy L. Anderson’s latest novel, Ulrik! We have an exclusive excerpt for you and a chance to win a digital copy of the book!

Ulrik

Publication Date: February 24th, 2021

Genre: Fantasy/ Time-Travel Romance

Publisher: Infinity Publishing

Death was the beginning of their adventure.

Drowning when his ship went down in a vicious storm, Ulrik the Viking thought it was the end. Instead, he awakens on a new and brutal Earth. Believing he was banished to this strange land by the gods as punishment, he faces the mountainous wilderness alone.

Tessa, a lonely and broken-hearted woman, dies in her sleep on her 85th birthday. She too awakens surrounded by the frightful and the unknown. Both are mysteriously thrown into new bodies facing new lives, new hopes, new dangers, and new desires.

Cast through time and other dimensions, fate has given Ulrik and Tessa a second chance at life and love. They must survive on a ruthless new world against a brutal warrior race determined to use them to conquer extinction and enter into the age of metal. All that stands against them is ULRIK!

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Excerpt

Ulrik sat on the bank of a cool stream that ran down the mountain where he usually hunted. He watched as the water trickled over smooth rocks and sprayed the moss-lined bank. Down the mountainside, the stream narrowed and was eventually joined by another river, widening to become a rushing, roaring froth of cold, crystal blue water flowing swiftly over rapids. His gaze followed the stream as it meandered off into the distance and gently widened into a deep slow-moving river. He listened to the different sounds the water made. The roar, as it cascaded down the waterfall further uphill, to the trickle of the stream over moss-covered rocks, and finally the faint pounding of distant rapids. The forest was raucous with sound and full of breath-taking sights.

The forest’s majesty was lost on him today. Ulrik was bored. He reached for a stone and tossed it into the stream then stood, grabbed his spear, and walked up the hill toward the lake at the bottom of the waterfall. He decided he had better find something for his supper and thought fish sounded as good as anything else.

Memories swamped him as he recalled all the times he had fished with his brothers as a young man. Those thoughts led him to contemplate, for the hundred thousandth time, his current solitary situation. By his count, it had been around two years that he lived alone in these mountains in this strange place. Being banished by the Gods he knew, enraged him and his loneliness made him feel like less of a man. Two years without speaking to another soul or without seeing another human’s face made him angry. He cursed, kicking at a stone in his path. The stone shot forward, struck a tree, and fell uselessly to the ground.

“By Odin and all the gods! I wish I had a woman!”

He cursed out loud and continued stomping up the path until he came to his usual fishing spot at the lakeside. He hefted his spear and waded into the lake, not even bothering to remove his boots.

The warm spring wind blew across his face. As he had a hundred times before, Ulrik stood still, slowed his breathing, and searched the deep emerald depths for the flicker of a silvery tail. Quick as lightning he stabbed down and, wrenching his arm back, pulled an impaled fish out of the water. He grasped the wriggling tail, pulled it from the spear blade, and threw it to the bank of the lake where it flopped, struggling to breathe as its life leached away.

Available on Amazon

About the Author

Wendy L. Anderson is a Colorado native and mother of two boys. She has an English Degree from Regis University and writes books, short stories and poetry. Wendy is a devout reader of the classics, fantasy, sci-fi and historical fiction. She has decided it is time to write down the fantasies from her own mind. Writing about everything from fantastical worlds to the stuff of her dreams she takes her stories along interesting paths while portraying characters and worlds she sees in her mind’s eye. Her goal is to deviate from common themes, write in original directions and transport her reader to the worlds of her creation.

Wendy L. Anderson | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

International Giveaway: Win a digital copy of Ulrik in format of choice!

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Blog Tour Schedule

March 15^th

Reads & Reels (Spotlight) http://readsandreels.com

Books Rambling and Tea (Guest Post) https://booksramblingsandtea.com/

Phantom of the Library (Review) https://phantomofthelibrary.com/

March 16^th

Breakeven Books (Spotlight) https://breakevenbooks.com

Nesie’s Place (Spotlight) https://nesiesplace.wordpress.com

Bonnie Reads and Writes (Review) https://bonniereadsandwrites.wordpress.com/

Jessica Belmont (Review) https://jessicabelmont.wordpress.com/

March 17^th

@brendajeancombs (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/brendajeancombs/

Dark Whimsical Art (Review) https://www.darkwhimsicalart.com/blogs/news

Lunarian Press (Promo) https://www.lunarianpress.com/

March 18^th

Sophril Reads (Spotlight) http://sophrilreads.wordpress.com

The Faerie Review (Spotlight) http://www.thefaeriereview.com

Book Dragons Not Worms (Review) https://bookdragonsnotworms.blogspot.com/?m=1

March 19^th

@bookishkelly2020 (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/BookishKelly2020/

Inked & Blonde (Review) https://inkedandblonde.blogspot.com/

The Magic of Wor(l)ds (Spotlight) http://themagicofworlds.wordpress.com

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Book Tour: The Littlest Dinosaur by Bryce Raffle & Steven Kothlow, Illustrated by Tessa Verplancke @bryceraffle @RRBookTours1 #RRBookTours

March 8, 2021March 9, 2021Reads & Reels 1 Comment

Welcome to the tour for the most adorable story, The Littlest Dinosaur by Bryce Raffle and Steven Kothlow, illustrated by Tessa Verplancke! We also have a fantastic giveaway — Digital Prize Packs which include the ebook copy of the book, two desktop wallpapers for the computer, two cell phone backdrops, plus three printable activity pages including colouring two book pages and a maze.

The Littlest Dinosaur

Publication Date: November 2nd, 2020

Genre: Children’s Literature

Illustrator: Tessa Verplancke

Ty, The Tyrannosaur just wants to make a new friend.

Sadly, the other dinosaurs are all afraid of his sharp teeth! So Ty must go on an adventure to find a dinosaur brave enough to be friends with a Tyrannosaur.

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The Littlest Dinosaur | Amazon | Lulu | Lulu Hardcover

About the Authors

Bryce Raffle was the lead writer for the video game studio Ironclad Games. He also writes stories for young adults and designs book covers.

Steven Kothlow is making his debut as a children’s book writer. He hopes to tell many more stories that help spread a message of diversity and inclusion especially in children’s literature.

Tessa Verplancke is a sound designer by day and an illustrator by night. She lives to tell stories through as many mediums as possible.

Book Tour Schedule

March 8^th

Reads & Reels (Review) http://readsandreels.com

Didi Oviatt (Review) https://didioviatt.wordpress.com

I Smell Sheep (Review) http://www.ismellsheep.com/

@geauxgetlit (Review) https://www.instagram.com/geauxgetlit/

Lunarian Press (Review) https://www.lunarianpress.com/

@_yay_books (Review) https://www.instagram.com/_yay_books/

March 9^th

Breakeven Books (Spotlight) https://breakevenbooks.com

@dreaminginpages (Review) https://www.instagram.com/dreaminginpages/

Bonnie Reads and Writes (Review) https://bonniereadsandwrites.wordpress.com

Book Dragons Not Worms (Review) https://bookdragonsnotworms.blogspot.com/?m=1

@kathreadsya (Review) https://www.instagram.com/kathreadsya/

Michelle Meng’s Book Blog 4 (Review) http://michellemengsbookblog4.simplesite.com/

Books Teacup and Reviews (Review) https://booksteacupnreviews.com/

March 10^th

B is for Book Review (Spotlight) https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com

Jessica Belmont (Spotlight) https://jessicabelmont.wordpress.com/

@jodys_ig (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/jodys_ig/

Books Rambling and Tea (Review) https://booksramblingsandtea.com/

@joanna.zoe (Review) https://www.instagram.com/joanna.zoe/?igshid=1xipr7pa6a9zl

The Faerie Review (Review) http://www.thefaeriereview.com

@brendajeancombs (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/brendajeancombs/

March 11^th

The Invisible Moth (Review) https://daleydowning.wordpress.com/

@devoured_pages (Review) https://www.instagram.com/devoured_pages/

Ruby Red Romance Review (Review) https://rubyredromancereview.com/

Tranquil Dreams (Review) https://klling.wordpress.com/

Nesie’s Place (Spotlight) https://nesiesplace.wordpress.com

Misty’s Book Space (Review) http://mistysbookspace.wordpress.com

March 12th

Tsarina Press (Spotlight) https://tsarinapress.com/blog/

Book Review Crew (Review) https://thebookreviewcrew.com/

Dash Fan Book Reviews (Review) https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/

Sophril Reads (Review) http://sophrilreads.wordpress.com

Bookish Laura (Review) http://www.bookishlaura.co.uk/

To win a digital prize pack which includes the ebook copy of the book, two desktop wallpapers for the computer, two cell phone backdrops, plus three printable activity pages including colouring two book pages and a maze, click the link below to enter!

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Book Blitz: Weasel Words (Bernard and Melody Capers Book 1) by Dale E. Lehman @lehket @RRBookTours1 #RRBookTours

March 1, 2021Reads & Reels Leave a comment

Today we’re celebrating the release of crime caper, Weasel Words by Dale E. Lehman, with an exclusive excerpt and a chance to win a print copy of the book!

Weasel Words (Bernard and Melody Capers Book 1)

Expected Publication Date: February 15th, 2021

Genre: Humor/ Crime Fiction

Between them, Bernard and Melody Earls have looks, charm, brains . . . everything but money. That’s why they steal from the rich and give to themselves. So when Alexander Hamilton Plaskett hires them to nick a silver statuette of a pine marten from his brother Paul Revere Plaskett, they’re happy to oblige. But it won’t be as easy as it looks. For one thing, the little beast is guarded by Fitzroy Fortresses, the best security system money can buy. For another, the five Plaskett siblings are obnoxious buffoons. Still, a job is a job, and this one may offer more than it appears.

At least, that’s Bernard’s theory. The pine marten isn’t particularly valuable, so why do the Plasketts contest its ownership so fiercely? To find out, he and Melody insinuate themselves into the Plasketts’ world and enlist a college geek to hack the unhackable Fitzroy system. Failure means poverty. Discovery means prison. And the biggest obstacle to Bernard’s brilliant schemes? Melody’s penchant for running off-script!

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Excerpt

Bernard had to admit to some fascination at the floorplan being revealed in shaky lines by Ruggles’ quaking hand. If it proved at all accurate, he could use it to plot his movements almost to the second. “Pretty good for having seldom been there,” he commented.

Ruggles tapped his temple. “Muskrat trap.”

“Not much gets away from one of those, huh?”

“Not much the size of a muskrat. Bears would be another matter.” The butler set the pen down and pushed it and the napkin back to Bernard. “And you are walking into a den full of bears, Mr. Earls. If you ask me, Bear Trap Falls is aptly named.”

“Bears and one weasel. Got it.” Bernard tucked the napkin and pen into an inside pocket.

“Do you take this matter at all seriously?”

“Very seriously, Mr. Ruggles. Seven thousand dollars plus expenses seriously.”

Ruggles gave Bernard’s suit careful scrutiny. Admittedly it wasn’t a Christian Dior, but surely it didn’t warrant that dismissive smirk. “Do you consider that a large sum?”

“For a few hours’ work, sure.” Bernard performed a quick burst of mental math. “It equates to an annual salary of over four and a half million, you know.”

Had he been standing, that revelation would have rocked Ruggles back on his heels. Sitting on the bar stool, it nearly dumped him backwards onto the floor. He grabbed the edge of the bar just in time and righted himself. “I didn’t realize that.”

“Oh yes, there’s good money in my business.” If only, he didn’t add, we could actually work something approaching full time. As it was, they were lucky to pay the rent some months.

The bartender returned and slid a plate of cheese fries in front of Bernard. “Hot,” she said. He thought she probably had been, a decade or so back, but she couldn’t hold a candle to Melody, not then and not now, so he didn’t give her a second thought.

“Just relax,” he told the butler, who didn’t seem capable. “Here. Drink your drink and eat some of these. They say the bacon is real good.”

Ruggles watched the bartender move down the bar to another customer. “No doubt you wish to inspire confidence.” He pulled a fry from underneath the mass of gooey yellow, then held it as though it were poison while it dribbled cheese all over the bar. “So why am I more terrified now than when I came in?”

Bernard shook his head and shoveled a few fries into his mouth.

The bacon, it turned out, was nothing to write home about.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks

About the Author

Dale E. Lehman is a writer, veteran software developer, amateur astronomer, and bonsai artist in training. He principally writes mysteries, science fiction, and humor. In addition to his novels, his writing has appeared in Sky & Telescope and on Medium.com. With his wife Kathleen he owns and operates the imprint Red Tales. They have five children, six grandchildren, and two feisty cats. At any given time, Dale is at work on several novels and short stories. Visit Dale at https://www.DaleELehman.com for information on his books, activities, and more.

Dale E. Lehman | Twitter | Facebook

International Giveaway: Win 1 of 10 Print Copies of Weasel Words! Enter below!

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Book Blitz Organized By:

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Book Tour: Reaper: Aftermath by Jonathan Pongratz @RRBookTours1 #RRBookTours #Horror #Scifi

March 1, 2021March 6, 2021Reads & Reels Leave a comment

It’s been five years have passed since the Reapers invaded Earth, but Gregory is back and trying to survive the wastelands left behind!

Welcome to the book tour for Reaper: Aftermath by Jonathan Pongratz! Read on for an excerpt and a chance to win 1 of 3 print copies of the book!

Reaper: Aftermath is also available for review until the end of April! Reaper (Book one is available upon request).

Request a copy below!

Reaper: Aftermath

Genre: Sci-Fi Horror/ Apocalypse

Publication Date: February 5th, 2021

Five years have passed since the Reapers invaded Earth and tore it asunder. Gregory, his mother, Trent, and their group of scavengers hunt the decimated wastelands for survival.

But when a sudden Reaper attack forces Gregory through a Reaper door, he finds himself in a bizarre place, one that may provide answers to the Reapers’ past and where they came from.

Can Gregory put together the pieces of the past and find his way home, or will he just become another human casualty in the lost war against the Reapers?

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Excerpt

I crouched behind a row of old dusty cars beside my mom and two other sharpshooters, my body trembling. Don’t freak out. Be brave. Remember your training.

I took a deep breath and dared a peek ahead between two cars. Across the street was a deserted grocery store covered in grime and soot. It was a small shop, maybe two or three times the size of an average gas station. A bunch of old, rotted wooden planks covered the windows, but the front entrance was untouched. Whoever had been here was either dead inside or long gone. No one in their right mind would leave their home unfortified, not anymore.

All was quiet except for the wind, but I knew better. We all did. Any second and the Reapers could be right on us. Though they never came out during the day, we couldn’t leave anything to chance.

Mom pulled out her walkie. “Proceeding with root-out of potential Reapers.” She retrieved an oddly-shaped ball constructed from cans, tins, and several small bells we called chatter boxes from her supply bag and hurled it over her head.

The chatter box clunked loudly on the ground, bouncing before stopping in front of the seemingly-empty store. For a couple moments we all sat there, waiting for any sign of Reapers.

              Mom’s walkie crackled to life. “Patricia, I think we should–”

              “Quiet!” Mom hissed. “I think I hear something.”

              I couldn’t hear anything, but there was definitely a difference in the air, like it was charged somehow. Just like the basement five years ago. Images of the past filled my mind: My little sister Imogen, the electrified feeling down in the basement, the Reaper’s sudden appearance. I shook off my thoughts and edged close to my mother.

              “You’re right, something’s coming.”

Mom nodded, her gaze fixed on the grocery store. “Be brave, Gregory. If you have to, fall back.”

I shook my head. There was no way I was gonna miss out on this.

Her eyes widened, and she gripped her walkie once more. “Reapers, incoming!”

I drew my Glock from my holster, turned the safety off, and tried to look through the abandoned store’s smudged entrance. It was dark inside, but I could see two hulking figures scrambling to the front of the store at breakneck speed.

Oh shi–

Two Reapers crashed through the entrance in an explosion of glass that blasted shards in a thousand directions. As the projectiles clinked on the ground I stared at the monsters before us, a chill running down my spine.

Large, festering boils covered their reddish, emaciated bodies. They stood tall on two clawed feet, but could easily switch to all fours for speed, doubling the danger of their razor sharp appendages. The Reapers opened their mouths, revealing multiple layers of jagged, pointy teeth as they gave ear-piercing shrieks of rage.

A grin spread across my face. Time to die, assholes.

I aimed, then pulled my trigger as deafening gunshots came from my left and right. We’d hit the one on the right several times. A thick, black liquid oozed from its wounds, but it was still in fighting shape and pretty freakin’ pissed based on the hideous snarl on its face.

The aggravated Reaper leaped forward on all fours, bounding over the car we were hiding behind and landing in front of the sharpshooter furthest from me. It gave a mighty roar, snatching him up and throwing him like a rag doll. He went flying, landing on a nearby car’s windshield with a loud crack. The monster eyed the other sharpshooter with furious, predatory yellow eyes.

Shit, shit, shit! I lunged towards the Reaper as I targeted it, then yanked on my trigger. It gave a high-pitched cry of pain and staggered back a step. Damn it! I’d only hit its shoulder. Its hateful gaze was now focused on me.

A sudden gunblast boomed from my comrade, and the Reaper fell to the ground, unmoving. A large pool of black sludge gathered underneath its head where the bullet had exited.

Before I could rejoice in the kill, Mom shouted nearby. I spun around. She was battling the other Reaper in front of the grocery store with a long knife in hand. She had deep cuts on her arms and legs, while the monster sported several nonfatal gunshot wounds. I tried to aim for the Reaper but they were moving too fast, desperately circling one another for an advantage. One wrong move and I’d shoot my own mother.

The Reaper took a wide-arching swipe at her, but she dodged to the side, cutting its leg as she went. The monster screeched and turned to attack, but mom slid between its legs and was now behind it. Point blank, Mom whipped out her revolver and fired three shots into the back of the Reaper’s head. It fell to the ground, twitching in its final death throes.

Mom lifted her combat boot and stomped on its head with a sickening crunch. The Reaper didn’t move anymore. She spat on it, then pulled out her walkie as I approached. “All clear. Torch the bodies.”

I glanced back. Twenty yards away behind another row of dead cars, our small group of noncombatants emerged. Mom strolled towards the grocery store and I jogged to catch up to her, eager to see what was inside. Whatever it was, it had better be worth it.

Available on Amazon!

About the Author

Jonathan Pongratz is a writer and author of captivating horror, urban fantasy, and paranormal stories. When he’s not writing, he’s busy being a bookworm, video game junkie, and karaoke vocalist. A former resident of Dallas, he currently resides in Kansas City with his halloween cat Ajax. By day he works magic in finance, by night he creates dark and mesmerizing worlds.

Jonathan Pongratz | Facebook | Goodreads | Tublr | Instagram

For a chance to win 1 of 3 print copies of Reaper: Aftermath, click the link below to enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Tour Schedule

March 1^st

Reads & Reels (Spotlight) http://readsandreels.com

Book Dragons Not Worms (Spotlight) https://bookdragonsnotworms.blogspot.com/?m=1

March 2^nd

The Magic of Wor(l)ds (Spotlight) http://themagicofworlds.wordpress.com

Jessica Belmont (Review) https://jessicabelmont.wordpress.com/

Musings of a Final Girl (Review) https://musingsofafinalgirl.wordpress.com/

Dark Whimsical Art (Spotlight) https://www.darkwhimsicalart.com/blogs/news

March 3^rd

@phantomofthelibrary1995 (Review) phantomofthelibrary1995

Didi Oviatt (Spotlight) https://didioviatt.wordpress.com

Sophril Reads (Spotlight) http://sophrilreads.wordpress.com

March 4^th

The Faerie Review (Spotlight) http://www.thefaeriereview.com

@liliyanashadowlyn (Review) https://www.instagram.com/liliyanashadowlyn/

March 5^th

Misty’s Book Space (Review) http://mistysbookspace.wordpress.com

@mistysbookspace – https://www.instagram.com/mistysbookspace/

Books & Such (Review) https://teripolen.com/

Nesie’s Place (Spotlight) https://nesiesplace.wordpress.com

Owl Book World (Review) https://www.owlbookworld.com/

Book Tour Organized By:

R&R Book Tours

Book Tour: Orange City by Lee Matthew Goldberg @LeeMatthewG @RRBookTours1 #RRBookTours #Scifi

March 1, 2021March 2, 2021Reads & Reels Leave a comment

Welcome to the tour for Orange City by Lee Matthew Goldberg! Today we have an excerpt to read and a chance to win a signed copy of the book!

Orange City

Expected Publication Date: March 16th, 2021

Genre: Science Fiction/ Dystopian Sci-Fi

Imagine a secret, hidden city that gives a second chance at life for those selected to come: felons, deformed outcasts, those on the fringe of the Outside World. Everyone gets a job, a place to live; but you are bound to the city forever. You can never leave.

Its citizens are ruled by a monstrous figure called the “Man” who resembles a giant demented spider from the lifelike robotic limbs attached to his body. Everyone follows the man blindly, working hard to make their Promised Land stronger, too scared to defy him and be discarded to the Empty Zones.

After ten years as an advertising executive, Graham Weatherend receives an order to test a new client, Pow! Sodas. After one sip of the orange flavor, he becomes addicted, the sodas causing wild mood swings that finally wake him up to the prison he calls reality.

A dynamic mash-up of 1984 meets LOST, ORANGE CITY is a lurid, dystopian first book in a series that will continue with the explosive sequel LEMONWORLD.

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Excerpt

At six on the dot, the gloved cellular let out a piercing ring. A timer turned on, ticking down with each buzz. E wouldn’t have long to remain idle. The entire pod apartment vibrated, and his capsule bed slid open. The white ceiling drew his attention, the walls devoid of color, a minimalist’s fantasy—nothing like a home.

Shades of the dream from last night still lingered. His knuckles painted with blood as he beat a shadow. The voice of the shadow belonging to a ten-year-old boy. The boy’s cries stabbing E’s ears. He shook that dream away.

He removed the intravenous tube that connected him to his bed and switched off the cooling mist which allowed him to slumber for days. He stretched his old bones, his hair standing up in a state of white shock like it had since he was a young man. Swinging his thick legs over the side of the bed, he yawned at the morning before finally answering his cell.

“I’ll be right there,” he coughed into the digital eye on his gloved palm.

He removed the glove and pushed a button on the side of the bed. Doors opening along the wall revealed a sliver of a kitchen with a piping pot of subpar and gritty coffee brewing on the counter— the best offered to the Scouts— and two sizzling poached eggs from a suspect source. He scarfed down the eggs and pushed another button to raise the shades along the lone wall facing east. The heart of The City hovered in the near distance, its new buildings staggering on one end like giant colorful stalagmites. Sipping his black coffee, he watched it in motion as he did every morning.

Between the Scouts and the rest of The City lay a half a mile of ice water. The City was made up of many Regions, his situated on the outskirts. Sometimes he wondered what it would be like to fall into those frosty waters and drift off to wherever it might choose to take him, no longer having to shuttle between The City and the faraway Outside World anymore. But instead of a dramatic suicide, he suited up and headed through the tunnel with a suitcase in hand like he had for twenty years. He’d convinced himself long ago that living here was better than rotting in prison like he would’ve been if they hadn’t selected him. At least he was still able to get lost in a bottle of whiskey or feel the sun against his cheek during

the few instances it was allowed to peek through the chronic clouds. Even though The City was far from ideal, the Outside World remained definitely worse. It reminded him too often of the man he used to be and of the terrible sins he’d committed. These thoughts returned at the beginning of every week while he geared up for another one, as he wondered if one day the Man in the Eye might give him a promotion and he wouldn’t have to be a Scout anymore.

That way, he’d never have to return to the Outside World.

Then, he could possibly be at peace, like all The City’s inhabitants wished.

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About the Author

Lee Matthew Goldberg is the author of the novels THE ANCESTOR, THE MENTOR, THE DESIRE CARD and SLOW DOWN. He has been published in multiple languages and nominated for the Prix du Polar. His first YA series RUNAWAY TRAIN is forthcoming in 2021 along with a sci-fi novel ORANGE CITY. After graduating with an MFA from the New School, his writing has also appeared in The Millions, Vol. 1 Brooklyn, LitReactor, Monkeybicycle, Fiction Writers Review, Cagibi, Necessary Fiction, the anthology Dirty Boulevard, The Montreal Review, The Adirondack Review, The New Plains Review, Underwood Press and others. He is the editor-in-chief and co-founder of Fringe, dedicated to publishing fiction that’s outside-of-the-box. His pilots and screenplays have been finalists in Script Pipeline, Book Pipeline, Stage 32, We Screenplay, the New York Screenplay, Screencraft, and the Hollywood Screenplay contests. He is the co-curator of The Guerrilla Lit Reading Series and lives in New York City. Follow him at LeeMatthewGoldberg.com

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