Book Blitz: The Crimson Witch by Ashley Olivier – Genre: YA Fantasy @RRBookTours1 #RRBookTours #TheCrimsonWitch

May 24, 2023Reads & Reels Leave a comment

Have you read The Crimson Witch by Ashley Oliver? Now’s the time to go back and read the first two books in The Royal Thieves Trilogy before the final installment is released!

The Crimson Witch (The Royal Thieves #2)

Publication Date: September 2022

Genre: YA Dark Fantasy

She will make them pay, even if it destroys her.

The Crimson Witch is determined to free her undead army and wreak havoc on the world, both seen and unseen. Death would be too kind a mercy for those faerie traitors compared to the torment she has endured. And she will get her vengeance, no matter the cost.

Four enchanted objects, each sealed by dark blood and ancient magic, have bound her. But they also hold the power to set her free once and for all.

After being captured and imprisoned in the Black Lake, Enya and the others must find a way to undo the wicked damage done once they escape, even if that means uniting feuding faerie courts, runaway royals, and rival gangs. Deals have been made in the shadows, each at an impossible cost.

But with lies and secrecy around every turn and two more hidden relics remaining, Enya can’t be sure whose word she can trust, if anyone’s.

With everything hanging in the balance, can unlikely alliances keep the world from falling into darkness?

Fans of Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas, and The Wicked King by Holly Black can’t get enough of this action-packed story!

Add to Goodreads

Available on Amazon

The Raven Thief (The Royal Thieves #1)

Enya has a few very simple goals in life.

Take down a tyrannical king, give her gang a decent life, become the leader of Skeyya’s rebellion, and maybe become slightly more rich along the way.

Okay, so maybe those goals aren’t so simple. And everything comes at a cost in the capital streets of Arden; King Eamon is after her head, and shadows lurk around every corner, waiting to spill secrets and blood.

After being captured and sentenced to death in the esteemed royal palace, Enya never expected to run into three princes who need her help—and especially not ones thought to be dead for over a decade. An impossible quest is proposed; an ancient evil is rising, and only they can stop it. The Crimson Witch, a faerie demon imprisoned in the Black Lake, along with her undead army of ghouls.

Enya has now found herself caught in a web of darkness and deceit as she guides these princes and her right-hand man, Carson, on a journey to track down the magical artifacts needed to take down the Crimson Witch once and for all.

Love, friendship, and bravery will all be tested. Can three princes and a thief save the world?

Amazon

About the Author

Ashley Olivier is an aspiring writer based in the busy capital city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. When she’s not writing, she’s working as a full-time editor with a specialty in fiction and fantasy. You can usually find her spending an unusual amount of time in coffee shops taking advantage of free Wi-Fi and refills.

She prefers matcha green tea almond milk lattes over coffee, sushi over pretty much anything, and cats over humans.

When she’s not working, she’s getting her zen on with yoga, reading young adult fantasy—usually on the adventurous side, running her bookstagram, creating messy masterpieces in the kitchen, petting her cats, and going on midnight adventures.

– Instagram.com/ashleyolivierauthor

– Facebook.com/ashleyolivierauthor

– TikTok.com/@ashleyolivierauthor_

Book Blitz Organized By:

R&R Book Tours

Book Tour Sign Up: I Am the River by Kelly Romo (June 26 – 30) Genre: Thriller @KellyAnneRomo @RRBookTours1 #RRBookTours #VacayReads

May 8, 2023Reads & Reels Leave a comment

YESSSS!

Last summer we were blown away by Dead Drift and so I am thrilled to be organizing a tour for the sequel, I Am the River by Kelly Romo! The tour will run from June 26th till the 30th and I need people to review and share promos. Physical copies will be provided in exchange for reviews (US only) and digital editions of Dead Drift (book one) will be available upon request. Digital copies of both books are available for international reviewers!

Sign up below!

I Am the River (A Whitewater Thriller)

Expected Publication Date: June 15, 2023

Genre: Thriller/ Serial Killer

HE is the river. HE takes who he wants and releases who HE wants.

Ashely Covington struggles to raise her three young daughters on what little life insurance is left from her husband’s death while fighting a woodland fire. Her family does not have the resources to help her, so they pressure her to move on to find a new husband and a father for her girls.

Emmy Jenkins knows what it feels like to have a serial killer come after her. She escaped HIM twice. Emmy and Brian must start over in a new town, away from the tragic events and the killer’s family. Unfortunately, HE escapes custody. The authorities think the killer committed suicide by drowning himself in the river. They do not locate his body, but they do find a girl drowned in Elk Lake. Her death is ruled an accidental drowning, but Emmy knows HE is still alive. And HE is coming for her.

To prove himself worthy of immortality, HE follows the river to its source in the Cascade Mountains, where HE will accept whatever the headwaters offer. Suddenly, his destiny is revealed when the perfect nymph with three little girls appears on the shore.

Dead Drift (Whitewater Thriller #1)

Publication Date: May 15, 2022

Genre: Thriller/ Serial Killer

Two teenage girls on the run with fake IDs and a beater car…what could go wrong?

Emmy has always been impulsive. She is no longer a minor and has aged out of foster care. When her best friend, Amber, is the target of a perverted uncle who lives in the basement of her group home, they plan her escape.

They head for Canada, where Amber will be safe, and the foster care system can no longer control their lives. When they come across a whitewater rafting brochure, they decide to take a detour for one last adventure before leaving the country. Emmy and Amber have no idea it will be a decision that will forever change their fates.

The rafting town is so far in the middle of nowhere that Emmy’s car radio catches nothing but static. They consider turning around until a truck pulls up, loaded with hot whitewater rafting guides and rubber rafts–just the fun they were looking for. Ignoring every instinct, they turn off the pavement and follow the truck down an isolated dirt road. They end up in Lodell, the town where a girl went missing the previous summer…and she will not be the last.

About the Author

Kelly Romo grew up in California but has lived in Oregon for over twenty-five years. She teaches writing, literature, and social studies. She is the mother of three grown children: Brittany, Brennan, and Ryan. She is an avid outdoorswoman who loves to kayak, hike, and fish.

Kelly has a Master of Fine Arts in Writing (Fiction) and a Master of Arts in Teaching, both from Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon USA.

For more information, please visit Kelly’s website at http://www.kellyromo.com

Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Readers Club

Book Tour: The Forgotten Keychains by Julian Kennedy – Genre: Suspense/ Thriller/ LGBTQ Representation @jkennedy_author @RRBookTours1 #RRBookTours

April 24, 2023Reads & Reels 1 Comment

Welcome to the book tour for The Forgotten Keychains by Julian Kennedy! Read of for more details!

The Forgotten Keychains (The Forgotten Series #1)

Publication Date: August 4, 2022

Genre: Suspense/ Thriller/ LGBTQ Rep

Buckle up for a gripping suspense novel with an ending that will leave readers curious, creeped out, and looking over their shoulders.

Dannie, a real estate photographer, finds something intriguing at a photoshoot. At first, it leaves them curious, but soon after, they become thrust into a nightmare they’ll never forget.

They have dreams that frighten them, and massive anxiety to contend with. But they’re compelled to push forward by circumstances that are out of their control, fighting a battle against their own mind, all while trying to protect the person they love the most. The keychains are more horrifying than they could have even imagined.

Does Dannie find out the meaning of the keychains? Order your copy of this creepy suspense thriller now, or download it for free on Kindle Unlimited, to find out.

(Bonus: Tons of lgbtq representation)

The Forgotten Keychains is the debut suspense novel by Julian Kennedy and is the first novel in The Forgotten Series.

(TWs for dark content including references to rape, violence, substance abuse, and LGBTQ family issues)

For people who find themselves unable to put down creepy psychological thrillers and stories that keep them up at night, this is the perfect book.

Add to Goodreads

Excerpt

I could have smelled it from a mile away, the scent of death mingling with that of the wildlife and mucky water winding its way through the river. It haunts the area, and I know I’ll go home smelling like it, same as I always do. There’s no amount of body wash, detergent, or scent beads in the world that can rid me of it, because I carry it in my heart even more than I do on my clothes.

The surrounding area is clustered with police, crime scene personnel, and a handful of rubberneckers. That’s not unusual. Murders especially seemed to draw out a bunch of true crime obsessed lurkers. I can’t blame them. Curiosity about death is what leads a lot of people like me into working in homicide in the first place.

I wonder if any other local jurisdictions have come across anything as horrifying as this. As soon as I get back, I ought to put out some feelers. Other cops tend to keep things pretty close to the chest about this sort of thing, but you would think a decomposed body of yet another young woman would be enough to get them to share some info. Especially with such similar circumstances to the body we found several months ago.

This poor angel washed up a couple of days prior, I’m guessing, and based on the amount of insect and wildlife damage, that wasn’t when she died. Decomp looks like probably about a month or two’s worth, but I need to wait to see what the medical examiner says.

My heart cries for these young women, and I try to not let my eyes do the same. I wear a flat expression so that other cops feel better. It’s hard to do your job when you’re busy dealing with a lead detective who’s in tears.

According to one of our crime scene techs I talked to by the yellow tape, there’s nothing apart from the strangulation marks and petechial hemorrhaging in both eyes. So far, no hint of DNA, but the tech had only been there an hour or so at the time. No identification, or wallet. Her clothes show normal wear and tear given her current condition.

The lack of personal items is odd. It’s the same as the last case. Who leaves the house without at least their phone these days? People in their twenties and thirties use their phones like another appendage. I can also remember many, many teenage lectures from my dad about remembering my license when I went out. “You never know what kind of creeps are out there. And you can’t always trust the other drivers.” Always the optimist. I smile, but then I start to wonder what kind of families were missing these women, and I instantly deflate like a balloon.

I approach the body and squat down, careful to not let my booties knock around any potential evidence. I think for a couple of minutes, my eyes scanning for any obvious clues. “Anything stand out?” I ask, already predicting the answer.

This tech just joined the squad and is eager to prove himself. Police precincts can be a bit like dick measuring contests, and new hires get a little insecure. He clears his throat, “Okay, well, nothing yet, ma’am. Just the signs of strangulation. It sucks, doesn’t it? When these bastards cover their tracks so well. I hope the ME comes back with better news. Just about done with my pictures and then I’m gonna head back to the lab to take a look at a couple of skin samples.”

I nod, knowing he’s doing the best he can. “Good work, Aaron. Keep it up.”

He grins. “Thanks, boss.”

I return the grin. “I’m not your boss. Just trying to solve a mystery, same as you.” I head back to the group of officers clustered next to their squad cars, Phil holding court with his newfound confidence. It’s good to see him finding his footing.

They stop talking as soon as I get there, and Phil holds his hand up to me as if to say, Chill. I know for damn certain what the uniforms all thought. It’s not too hard to guess. I’m a black female cop who passed them all up for a promotion. What they seem to forget is that the promotion involved scoring well on exams and being able to run more than a tenth of a mile without getting winded. They’re supposed to stay in shape, too, but it’s easier for them to slack the lower they are on the food chain.

“Make sure the scene stays blocked off, and keep the press away. Until we know what we’re dealing with, the last thing we need is the media fucking this all up for us. You know how they are.” I spot a couple of vans approaching in the distance. “Vultures. Let’s head back, you two.” I indicate a couple of the cops. “Phil, I want to talk this over with you.”

Available on Amazon

About the Author

Julian Kennedy is a debut author who lives in the Midwestern United States with their family (a partner and three wonderful kids). They’ve wanted to publish a book ever since they were a kid, and are psyched to finally realize that dream.

In their spare time, Julian is an avid true crime fan and can be found listening to “their murders,” as their skeptical partner always says. They’ve also been a bookworm since they could walk. They enjoy a wide range of books—from classic literature, to fluffy rom-coms, to true crime, to creepy mysteries. Just about anything with pages will do.

authorjuliankennedy.com

Book Tour Schedule

April 24^th

R&R Book Tours (Kick-Off) http://rrbooktours.com

@waggybookworm (Review) https://www.tiktok.com/@waggybookworm?_t=8a1EBJNLCO3&_r=1

@mybookworld96 (Review) https://www.instagram.com/mybookworld96/

Cocktails & Fairytales (Spotlight) https://www.facebook.com/CocktailsFairytales

April 25^th

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

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

Phoebe’s Randoms (Review) https://phoebesrandoms.wordpress.com/

April 26^th

@demigodreading19 (Review) https://www.instagram.com/demigodreading19/

Rambling Mads (Spotlight) http://ramblingmads.com

Stine Writing (Spotlight) https://christinebialczak.com/

April 27^th

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

I Love Books & Stuff (Spotlight) https://ilovebooksandstuffblog.wordpress.com

@smut.luvin.books.smm (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/smut.luvin.books.smm/

April 28^th

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

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

@booknerd_jen22 (Review) https://www.instagram.com/booknerd_jen22/

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

Book Tour Organized By:

R&R Book Tours

Book Tour Sign Up: House of Sticks by Marc Scott (June 5 – 9) Genre: Psychological Thriller @marco1918253109 @RRBookTours1 #RRBookTours

April 14, 2023Reads & Reels Leave a comment

Thriller Fans!

I’m organizing a tour for House of Sticks by Marc Scott and need hosts. The tour will run from June 5th till the 9th and reviews and spotlights are welcome. Physical copies are available for reviewers in the UK and Digital books are available for everyone. House of Straw is available upon request.

House of Sticks

Publication Date: February 2022

Genre: Psychological Thriller

They are united now, two sisters who were kept apart by the cruel twists in their lives. And, despite the fact these siblings grew up at the opposite end of the social ladder, they have discovered that they share an unbreakable bond. It is like a modern-day fairy tale coming to life.

However, the pathway to their shared happiness is littered with misgivings and depraved memories from which they can never escape. Brianna is still haunted by the tragic death of her twin brother while Poppy finds it hard to let go of the ghosts of her abusive childhood.

It seems that the forces around them will never leave them alone. Neddy, a ruthless drug dealer is hell-bent on revenge. A worried mother who is desperate to unlock the darkest of secrets. A stranger with tattooed fingers who must face retribution for his evil sins. These women must be strong to survive.

But remember, not all girls are made of sugar and spice.

Be prepared! This is not a fairy tale…

House of Straw

Publication Date: November 2018

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Traumatised by the tragic death of her twin brother, Brianna falls into a state of deep depression, isolating herself from the world and all those that care about her. When a twist of fate reveals that she has a half-sister she finds a new purpose in her life and sets out to find her sibling, desperately hoping she can fill the void left in her world.

Poppy has not enjoyed the same privileged lifestyle as her sister while growing up. Abandoned into the care system at the age of eight, she has encountered both physical and sexual abuse for most of her life. Passing through the hands of more care homes and foster families than she can remember, the damaged product of a broken upbringing, Poppy has never found a place to feel truly safe. Kicking back at society, she turns to drug abuse and acts of extreme violence to escape from reality.

When the two siblings are finally united, they discover that they have much more in common than their DNA. Their paths are shrouded with sinister secrets of betrayal and regret and both girls share a deep-rooted hatred for one of their parents. As the dark truths of their lives are unveiled they realise that nothing can ever be the same again…

CW: Dark chapters involving child abuse and brutality, adult themes

About the Author

Marc Scott was born and raised in the heart of the East End of London. He spent more than 25 years working in the video and film industry, including a 12-month spell on a project in Los Angeles. More recently he has been involved with assisting at the rehabilitation section of the UK court service, working predominantly with young offenders. It was here where he met the people that would inspire him to write his first novel House of Straw.

He is unapologetic for the dark backdrop and raw brutality in his books. ‘You can’t sugar-coat some of these damaged individuals that live in a broken society and make excuses for them.’ he says. ‘Not everyone wants the chance to redeem themselves.’

His gritty writing style has earned him much praise from reviewers and bloggers. The second book in his trilogy, House of Sticks, will be available later this year. A story that Marc describes as, ‘An even darker and more twisted journey into the depths of depravity.’

Marc lives in Halstead in England. He has a son and two daughters, who, he says, have given him the proudest moments in his life. He lists his favourite author as Kazuo Ishiguro, and his favourite book as ‘Birdy’ by William Wharton. He sums up his reading choices with a method which he applies to his own works. ‘When I read a book, I want to feel like a bystander, watching on, as an ‘extra’ as everything unfolds. If any of the characters in the book are bland and don’t affect you in some way, the author has wasted an opportunity.’

Marc Scott

Book Tour: Compunction by Ehmbee Way – Genre: Psychological Thriller @NewShelvesBooks @KeriBarnum @RRBookTours #RRBookTours

April 3, 2023Reads & Reels Leave a comment

Congratulations to author Ehmbee Way on the release of Compunction! Read on for more details!

Compunction

Publication Date: March 28th, 2023

Genre: Psychological Thriller/ Suspense/ Terror

In a relatively short amount of time, James Singer has lost his wife, his job, his home and his subsequent place in the world. Now, with appearance of a shadowy phantasm who has taken to terrorizing him every night, he’s beginning to fear that he, like his schizophrenic aunt, is also on the verge of losing his ability to discern what is real and what is not.

As James’s condition continues to grow worse, he begins to mysteriously and uncontrollably phase in and out of several different worlds-all of which seem to be inhabited by quirky, non-conventional and often down-right absurd characters. James doesn’t know if he’s dreaming, overmedicated, in the throes of a nervous breakdown or if he’s already dead but one thing he does know is that, one way or another, it all ends on Monday.

Compunction combines the suspense of M Night Shyamalan, the psychological melancholy of Edgar Allen Poe and the absurdist vibe present in Netflix’s Midnight Gospel. The result is a suspenseful, character-driven, upmarket fiction that’s all about redemption and second chances. Or, as USA Today bestselling author Pamela Crane says, “Compunction reaches new literary heights as it bends the genres of psychological thriller with fantastical misadventures. You’ll relish its delectable prose and timeless theme of self-discovery, wrapped in an urgent plot that will hook you.”

CW: Mental illness, adult themes

Available on Amazon

About the Author

Ehmbee Way is a former corporate success who earned his undergraduate degree in the field of education. For many years, he battled internal feelings of nihilism, alcoholism and depression. He wrote Compunction with the hope that it would help others affected by similar issues.

Ehmbee Way

Book Tour Schedule

April 3^rd

R&R Book Tours (Kick-Off) http://rrbooktours.com

Riss Reviews (Review) https://rissreviewsx.wixsite.com/website

Mom of 9 (Spotlight) https://mamof9.blogspot.com/

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

April 4^th

Brandi Kae Designs (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/brandikaedesigns/

Books + Coffee = Happiness (Spotlight) https://bookscoffeehappiness.com/

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

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

April 5^th

@word.addict914 (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/word.addict914/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D

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

Stine Writing (Spotlight) https://christinebialczak.com/

Books Blog (Spotlight) https://www.booksblog.co.uk/

April 6^th

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

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

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

Liliyana Shadowlyn (Spotlight) https://lshadowlynauthor.com/

Book Reviews by Taylor (Spotlight) https://www.bookreviewsbytaylor.com/

April 7^th

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

@gigiis.corner (Review) https://www.instagram.com/gigiis.corner/

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

Bunny’s Reviews (Spotlight) https://bookwormbunnyreviews.blogspot.com/

Book Tour Organized By:

R&R Book Tours

Book Tour: Once to Die by T.S. Epperson @TSEpperson @RRBookTours1 #RRBookTours #Thriller

April 3, 2023Reads & Reels 1 Comment

Welcome to the tour for the newly released thriller, Once to Die by T.S. Epperson. Read on for more!

Once to Die (The Other Side of Dead Book 1)

Publication Date: March 28th, 2023

Genre: Thriller

He imagined his death would be the end, but there is no rest in the afterlife…

Perry is homeless, and desperate to get off the streets, after losing his best friend Bobby to gang violence. When Perry witnesses a drug deal, he finds his own life in peril.

Father John is exhausted. Burned out after fifteen years of ministry, he seeks a sign that he is on the right path. At the driest point of his spiritual life, a beautiful woman is tempting him. He knows he is a soul in danger. When a murder victim shows up begging for help, he fears all hell is breaking loose.

A young man wanders an existential maze between heaven and hell, good and evil. He darts between worlds involuntarily, terrifying a Catholic priest, a college professor, and a world-famous musician. Evil wants him, and time is running out.
Mind-bending events erupt to threaten the spiritual foundations of both the living and the dead. Life, sanity, and salvation hang in the balance. With the veil between here and there in tatters, the very fabric of the universe seems to be unraveling.

Available on Amazon

About the Author

T.S. Epperson is a pen name for Tom Epperson, a respectful nod to one of his literary heroes, T.S. Eliot.

Everyone is on a unique journey. Tom was born the seventh of twelve siblings. He was an altar boy beginning at age seven, and a bar band musician beginning at age eight. His childhood was a happy rhythm of walking to daily Mass in the mornings and participating in music rehearsals in the evenings. On Friday and Saturday nights, as a young boy, he closed down the bars with the band and then served or attended Mass again Sunday morning.

His life has been and still is, a constant effort to balance the worldly with the spiritual, as his writing reflects. He is fascinated by colorful, complex characters, and has had the privilege and challenge of interacting with many along the way. Tom is a hopeless optimist and a romantic realist. He is the proud father of two adult sons, the finest of the finest, and lives in South Carolina with his wife, who is his companion in a sweeping time travel adventure. So far, they have traveled nearly four and a half decades. Together, they strive to live more in the present than in the past, and his favorite activity is to stand in salt water and teach his grandchildren how to lure exotic creatures from the sea.

Connect and learn more at http://multivalentpress.com/.

Book Tour Schedule

April 3^rd

R&R Book Tours (Kick-Off) http://rrbooktours.com

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

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

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

April 4^th

@booknerd_jen22 (Review) https://www.instagram.com/booknerd_jen22/

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

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

Liliyana Shadowlyn (Spotlight) https://lshadowlynauthor.com/