Book Blitz for Blackout Trail by Linda Naughton

Blackout Trail
Linda Naughton
Publication date: January 10th 2023
Genres: Adult, Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic

Doctor Anna Hastings is no stranger to disasters, having spent much of her career as an aid worker in conflict zones around the world. Yet when an electrical phenomenon known as an EMP brings down the power grid, Anna faces catastrophe on a scale she never imagined. She must learn what it means to be a doctor in a world deprived of almost all technology.

As the blackout causes planes to fall from the sky, Anna crosses paths with devoted father Mark Ryan in the chaos at the airport. Mark convinces Anna to travel with him and his seven-year-old daughter Lily to their family’s cabin in remote Maine. There Mark hopes to reunite with his wife, and find a safe refuge from a society on the brink of collapse.

Journeying across a thousand miles of backcountry trails, they will face a daily struggle against nature. Their biggest peril, though, may come from their fellow survivors. As Anna grows closer to Mark and Lily, she resolves to see them safely home. But can she hold onto her humanity in a world gone mad?

Goodreads / Amazon

—

EXCERPT:

I lowered the phone and narrowed my eyes at the blank display. No indicators, no clock —nothing. How could it be dead already? I’d charged it before I left Jess’ house last night, and the damn thing was barely a month old. I scowled. “Oh, come on.”

The nearby baggage carousel ground to a shuddering halt. A collective groan from the other passengers drew my attention away from the useless brick in my hand. Snatches of disjointed conversation reached my ears.

“Can you hear me? I think we got cut off. Frank?”

“The hell? I had plenty of charge left.”

“Moooommy! My movie stopped!”

A growing sense of dread pooled in my stomach. It wasn’t just our baggage carousel that had stopped; they all had. Both the overhead lights and the computer screens showing the baggage carousel assignments had gone dark too. The only light streamed in from the floor-to- ceiling windows lining the perimeter of the baggage claim area. Why hadn’t the emergency lights kicked on?

The automatic sliding doors had also stopped, confounding a gaggle of college kids trying to leave. Beyond the doors, an ominous stillness had replaced the constant bustle of parking shuttles, cars, and taxis creeping along the pickup lane. There should’ve been engine sounds. Horns. Something. Now there were just a bunch of confused and pissed-off people getting out of their vehicles.

Grumbling from the other passengers gave way to a stunned hush. Panic bubbled just beneath the surface. You couldn’t set foot in an American airport these days without being bombarded with reminders of terrorism. Everyone looked at each other, the same question written on our faces: Was this some kind of attack? What should we do? I expected some sort of alert or explanation over the loudspeaker, telling everyone to remain calm, but none came.

A thunderous crash from the opposite end of the terminal had me ducking and covering my head. Metal screeched on metal, accompanied by the tinkle of shattered glass and an ear- splitting grinding sound. A chorus of terrified cries erupted around me. I’ll admit it—I screamed too. I caught a glimpse of a plane fuselage crashing through the airport ceiling before plowing into the ground.

The plane flattened the south end of the building as casually as a child knocking over a stack of blocks, and the resulting fireball sent flaming debris flying in all directions. At the opposite end, the shock wave knocked me off my feet. A rush of hot air stung my face and hands.

People started picking themselves up off the ground. Dozens of survivors made a mad dash for the exits. Their screams sounded distant to my ringing ears. Non-functioning doors proved to be a mild hiccup for the exodus. The lucky ones smashed through or pried the doors open before they got smashed against the glass.

Catching my breath, I rose to a crouch. The putrid smell of aviation fuel mixed with acrid smoke tickled my throat and made my eyes water. Heart hammering, I surveyed the destruction in slack-jawed horror. The rectangular terminal stretched for the length of a football field, and nothing remained of the south half but fiery rubble. Between here and there was a wide stretch where it looked like a bomb had gone off.

Author Bio:

Linda Naughton is a writer, software engineer, paramedic, and mother of two. She's the author of several novels, gaming products, and the blog Self-Rescuing Princesses. A proud geek and gamer girl, she enjoys TV, movies, video games, and role-playing games. Visit her website at https://lindanaughton.com.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

—

Release Blitz & Review for Stoke the Flames by Whitley Cox writing as Natalie Sloan

Title: Stoke the Flames

Series: Revolution Inferno Book Two

Author: Whitley Cox writing as Natalie Sloan

Genre: Reverse Harem; Romantic Suspense

Release Date: January 1, 2023

Tropes: Dystopian, Alpha Male, Surprise Pregnancy, Thriller, Post-Apocalyptic; Enemies-to-Lovers

They took her in the middle of the night, performed tests on her against her will … now she’s out for their blood.

They killed my parents.
Then kidnapped me in the middle of the night and locked me in a tower, restraining me and sedating me so they could perform experiments on me daily.
Why me?
I am a nobody. A nothing. Born with no enhancements. No coveted blood.
Except to my men. To them, I am somebody. I am a person. I am whole.
Apart, we are vulnerable. But together we are unstoppable, and one-by-one we will hunt down those who have betrayed us, until we can meet with the rest of the revolution.
Only, I’m carrying a secret, a secret that not even I know. And when we finally find out what it is, it could change everything. And not for the better.
I am Olia, Amlin born, betrayed by those I trusted most, and now I am on the road to revenge. With my men at my side, we will stoke the flames of the rebellion and bring peace, harmony and order to the new world, with women and the men of their hearts at the helm.

Notes from the author

* Multiple POVs and first person.

* This is a MFMM romance. There are no MM romantic scenes or MM romances.

* This is a reverse harem novel, meaning the main character has more than one love interest. There is no cheating, no cliffhanger (to their romance arc) and definitely a happy ending.

* There is described torture and graphic killing in this book. Reader discretion is advised.

* Book 3 will follow four new characters, as does book 1, with the series arc coming to an end in Book 3.

* Please note that this book is set in a post-apocalyptic world where not only has eighty percent of the human population died, but the ice caps have melted, the oceans have warmed and the geographical landscape of the world as we know it has changed due to the drastic rise of sea levels. The author did consult with an environmental and climate specialist to see what the world is projected to look like in 400 years, but some creative liberties have been taken to enhance the story.

*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.

After reading book one I had to get my hands on this gem. Each book is a standalone following a different set of characters but they share the same world and like to make appearances. The main story line continues while we follow Olia and her men on their adventures and relationship building. Fabulous world building that will have you engrossed while the characters are easy to relate to pulling you into their story. Makes for a great read as it plays out. I really liked it so I give it 4/5 stars.

“What an absolutely brilliant plot. It drew me into the pages right from the start. There’s plenty of action, drama suspense and steam that had me turning the pages to find out what was going to happen next. Even though this is book two Revolution Inferno it can be read by itself but to really get the right fill I would read the books in order. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book for my honest opinion.” – @Kazza1957 ~ ★★★★★ Star Bookbub Review

“Fantastic!! Another great standalone addition to this interconnected series. Filled with action and suspense it kept me on the edge of my seat!! There was lots of steam. The spicy scenes were hot!! 🔥 🥵 I loved our FMC, Olia. Not only is she a survivor, but she is brave and has a big heart. I loved seeing her character growth throughout the story. Maxxon, Cypher and Alaric make up her delicious men. Each has their own traumas, but also have certain strengths. Together they fit together so well. I honestly couldn't pick a favorite, because each played a vital role in Olia's heart and also her growth. I cannot wait for book 3!!!” -@Rachel Stephens ~ ★★★★★ Amazon Review

“Book two in a new page turning trilogy. If you enjoy futuristic books and also reverse harem then you’ll love the way this joins the two! A few surprises in this story, also plenty of steamy scenes and action where the female isn’t standing by waiting to be saved! I found this to be well worth the read and definitely has me ready for the final book. There’s some scenes which may be triggering for some readers, but I still give this five well deserved stars!!.” – Sue Hancock ~ ★★★★★ Goodreads Review

“WOWZA! Book 2 is even more engrossing, steamy futuristic reverse harem. There’s a lot riding on every single decision in the future world! Not just wild uninhibited sex that will have you burning through the pages! The suspense, drama, fear for safety of the five and their woman. Another must read by Natalie Sloane. *I was given a copy and am voluntarily giving my honest review.”– Pat ~ ★★★★★ Goodreads Review

Another noise, this time a sharp gasp. “Where am I? Hello? Where am I?” The cage shook. “Help!”

“Shhh,” I said softly. “Olia, it’s Cypher. You’re safe. We’re in the safe house, remember? Alaric’s on the roof ready to shoot bad guys, and Max is sleeping upstairs. Are you okay?”

“Cypher?”

“Right here.”

“I forgot where I was for a second.” Her breathing was shallow, and her words still held a tinge of worry. “Everything is so dark and … and I forgot about this cage.”

I felt terrible that she was locked up—again. But it was for her own safety.

“Do you need anything?” I asked.

“I, um … I’d like to use the bathroom if I could?”

Nodding, I set aside the scrambler I was building and stood up. “You’ll need to wrap that foil around your torso, okay?”

“O-okay.” She was probably struggling to see anything, so I reached for the flashlight beside me, lifted up the cage a couple of inches and shone the light under.

“Thank you,” she breathed. The rattling and crinkling of the foil was the only sound, save for her breathing. “Okay. All good.”

I lifted the cage up more. “Can you crawl out? Then I’ll carry you so you don’t have to walk.”

“Okay.” She crawled out, the light from the flashlight catching on her long, bright red hair.

Once she was out, I set the cage back down, grabbed the flashlight and scooped her up. She was as light as could be, and her small frame fit against my chest and in my arms perfectly.

“You good?” I asked.

“Yes.”

I carried her up the steps, out of the sunken living room and down the white-tiled floor of the hallway toward the bathroom.

Her ear fell to my chest over my heart, and she closed her eyes. “Hmmm.”

My body stiffened. “Wh-what are you doing?”

“Just checking to see if it’s a heart in there or a cog and wheels.”

I shoved down my bark of a laugh. “And?”

“You’re human, just like me.”

“I am,” I said, shocked at just how much emotion accompanied those two words. I cleared my throat so the words wouldn’t choke out again. “I will bleed if you cut me.”

“I won’t cut you.” She glanced up at me with a small, playful smile. “Unless you give me reason to.”

My smile was small and close-mouthed as we entered the bathroom. There were no windows in here, so I wasn’t concerned about flicking on the light. “Do I need to put you on the toilet?”

She shook her head. “I can manage. Thank you.”

“Right.” Now what?

I was just standing there holding her, and I didn’t want to let go.

“You can, uh … you can put me down now. I’ll call you when I’m done.”

“Oh, right … sorry.” I set her down on her feet but scooped her up a second later when she sucked in a sharp breath that had to be from the pain in her feet.

“It’s okay, Cypher. You can put me down.”

This woman didn’t deserve a second of pain after what she’d been through, and the idea of hearing her gasp again, knowing it was from the cuts on her feet, made a hot, trail of rage burn through me. I hadn’t felt this kind of bloodlust in years. Not since …

“Cypher?” Her small, delicate hand fell to my chest, while the other one cupped my cheek. “Are you okay?”

I swallowed and glanced down at her, the vibrant green of her eyes hitting me hard in the solar plexus.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost. And a scary as hell ghost at that. What just happened?” There was no fear on her face, just worry. Just concern. Just … care.

Besides my brothers, I hadn’t seen a look like that on anyone else’s face in years … possibly ever. Nobody cared about me. Not in the way that Olia was demonstrating at least.

It felt good, and it pushed those charring, murderous feelings I had a moment ago to the deep, dark corners of my mind. She replaced those feelings with light.

Olia was light. Olia was brightness and hope.

I shook my head and blinked a few times, staying focused on her beautiful face, on her touch and the way she cupped my cheek.

“You want to talk about what just happened there?” she asked slowly. “You sort of … disappeared in your own head. Something hard creased your face, and you looked both furious and in so much pain.”

That was the perfect way to describe it. I was furious. I was in pain.

Natalie Sloan is the mother of two gorgeous, wild little girls, and married to her high school sweetheart. She’s traveled the world, taught abroad, and now she and her scientist husband with their kids, dog and betta fish call Nanaimo, BC home. She loves writing filthy romance that tugs at your heart strings until you think they might snap, with cantankerous heroes and steel-spined heroines.

HOSTED BY:

Book Blitz & Giveaway for The Light After the Orange by Beverley J. Hall

The Light After the Orange
Beverley J. Hall
(The Tundra Stone Series, #1)
Publication date: July 18th 2022
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Post-Apocalyptic

EVEN IN A DYING WORLD, IS SURVIVAL ENOUGH?

After the Orange and the catastrophic devastation of Earth, magic began to seep in—but will it help Alex Chegasa survive?

Hidden and protected by magic, she grew up embracing her gifts. After witnessing the only people she can call family being murdered, eighteen-year-old Alex must choose between her head and her heart in her search for a place to belong. But, her hunt for a home means having to hide her magic.

All the while, in the shadows, eight-hundred-year-old Fae Billey NicNevin, suffering from amnesia, is rediscovering her magic.

Are their fates intertwined?

What if the fantastical stories Alex’s mother told her as a child were true?

ALL MYTHS ARE BASED ON TRUTH

Sales Copy: Eighteen-year-old Alex Chegasa, one of the first generation to be raised on post-apocalyptic Earth, was taught to embrace her magical gifts.

After the Orange, as the planet burned, magic trickled in. The bombs that had wiped out most life ripped open the barrier between worlds. Can the next generation, connected to the magic, be the solution to mankind’s problems or are they destined to repeat the mistakes of their ancestors?

Did the Orange, the very thing that ravaged the planet, also provide the solution? Or is magic more than a coincidence?

While Alex searches for somewhere to belong, in Massachusetts, she questions if survival is enough when she comes to understand that magic, used by the wrong people, could be more dangerous than the power of the generations before her.

Meanwhile, in a parallel story, we meet eight-hundred-year-old Fae, Billey NicNevin. With a past she doesn’t remember, she struggles to fit into Nuadh Caled (New Scotland) as it rebuilds itself. When she meets a woman whose soul calls to her, will she find her missing piece or tumble into insanity?

Are their destinies connected?

WHAT IF THE FANTASTICAL STORIES FROM ALEX’S CHILDHOOD WERE TRUE?

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

—

EXCERPT:

Loneliness ate me up from the inside, nibbling away at me and leaving an aching emptiness. I didn.t know what I missed or who I missed but knew, deep in the part of my soul that holds my intuition, there was a person-size hole nobody could fix, except for the one.

The person we all hunt for but so rarely find.
The person we were made to fit with.
The one imperfect, perfect, mismatch our soul longs for. *

The trees gathered around me and protected me from the breeze that grew and took on a new life. I rested against the rough bark of the largest tree, my rear now sitting into the roots that formed a seat in the ground. The tree, I almost believed, was shaped for me. Its branches wrapped around my tiny form as I snuggled among the roots. The wind grazed my cheek and I pulled my scarf around my face, desperate to stay here for every second possible.

The sound of the wind howling through the branches vibrated the leaves and created a voice I longed to understand. I closed my eyes, listening, imagining I could hear the voices of the trees. I felt my soul combine with the tree, and contentment that existed nowhere else in my life melted my anguish and pain.

My eyes shot open and I stared at where Geilis had been moments earlier. Empty space filled my view.
I was, again, alone.

Author Bio:

Beverley J. Hall was born in Kent, England, and raised in Scotland. Most of her childhood was spent with her nose in a book, and her love of stories was born.

While studying Art and Design, she discovered her love of storytelling, whether with paint, sculpture, fabric, or words.

After completing an MA in Creative Writing, she is now living her best life, writing stories at the seaside with her son, her granddaughter, and her cat Bertie.

Head over to TikTok, Instagram, or Twitter to join her overthinking and daydreaming (she’s still hoping for a pet dragon).

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / TikTok

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hosted by:

Book Blitz & Giveaway for Liquid Foundations by Lisa Acerbo

Liquid Foundations
Lisa Acerbo
(Hell in a Handbag, #3)
Publication date: April 13th 2022
Genres: New Adult, Post-Apocalyptic, Supernatural, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult, Zombies

Even the most solid foundation can be shaken.

No place is safe anymore, and I’m on the run from something new.

The putrid stink of zombies has been replaced by sulfur, feces, and wet dog. The High Point Inn has been abandoned, the landscape plagued by the unimaginable, animal-hybrids. Wolves and bears rise from the grave or maybe they never died. Sure, the hordes of undead humans are diminishing, but whatever lies in wait is faster, smarter, and spurned by the devil himself.

With Caleb, Lilly, and Eric at my side, I search for friends and suFictiorvivors. But the new evil has arrived.

I can’t run quick enough.

The wolves are here, and they’re hungry, not to mention cunning and cruel. Endless rains force my group underground and into a cave system. Lost in the interminable, pitch-black subterranean tunnels, I struggle to keep my sanity and my life. There’s only one place in the world that makes sense anymore, and that’s where my friends are.

If I can survive the dark and the zombie wolves, Hopewell, Maine, here I come.

Goodreads / Amazon

—

EXCERPT:

Her eyes found the offending window, and the Streaker who launched through it. What had once been a squat man in a flannel shirt and jeans had turned into a distended corpse in blood-crusted rags, its bloated stomach exposed for all. The Streaker wore a wrinkled face with the consistency of a peach left too long in the sun. One arm hung limp, fingers gnawed away.

Did something do that to the Streaker, or did it eat away at its own flesh?

The monster staggered to the curb and stopped, pointing its chin to the sky, and taking in a breath through black, decayed nostrils. Its next meal had arrived, served up and ready to be consumed. Patches of skin had been torn away, exposing the rot that lived underneath. With a mewl, it lumbered at Jenna. The Streaker’s stare met her with singular intent. Eyes dead and unblinking, it closed the distance between them. She equaled food, and the risen dead was hungry.

In a practiced motion, Jenna released her bowie knife from the sheath on her belt. The monster stumbled over a garbage can in its path. Moving close, it reached out.

“What’s that smell?” Jenna ducked and swung low and hard. “Step back, foul one. God, you reek. Haven’t bathed in forever I’d guess. Personal hygiene not a priority these days?”

The Streaker growled in response and stretched a mottled, pus-clotted arm to grab her camo jacket.

“They’re slower than they used to be, Jenna, but don’t get too smug. The bite might not kill you, but the infection can.” Lilly tilted her head. “Need help?”

Eric moved closer, a similar knife in his hand. “Don’t worry. I got you covered.”

Jenna kicked at the creature. “Eric and I can handle this.”

The Streaker staggered back, but then surged forward again. “I’ll keep watch.” Lilly surveyed their surroundings. “Where there’s one, more to come.”

“Did you just make that up?” Eric asked.

“I like to rhyme,” Lilly said. “Appears clear.”

“One of your many talents.” Eric sent a smile her way and turned back to face the enemy.

“Come here, big boy.” Jenna took a step back into the center of the road where less debris meant less to trip over.

“Me or the monster?” Eric joked.

The Streaker trailed Jenna, the remains of its ragged flannel shirt fluttering open. Guts leaked out of its sliced chest cavity and slipped out of the tattered remains of clothing.

Jenna gagged. “There’s something no girl ever wants to see. Put it away and be a gentleman.”

“The gentlemanly thing to do would be to find dinner somewhere else.” Eric moved behind the creature. The undead mewled.

“That’s all you got for me?” She stepped back, hoisted the bowie blade, and slashed. The knife embedded itself between the creature’s eyes. She sliced higher. The blade released with a pucker. She stepped back. The zombie closed in. “Guess I missed my mark.” Jenna dodged the lumbering monster.

Eric’s knife slashed the Streaker’s back with a repeated, steady swing. Strips of skin and black goo melted to the ground.

Jenna sliced across the creature’s neck, stabbed, and drew her knife away, hearing the suck of release. She skidded back. “Why won’t it die?” Jenna eyed the creature for a weakness.

“Maybe you have bad aim.” Eric carved out new wounds, but the monster stretched its arm making it impossible to get close.

“Could be that it’s already dead.” Jenna frowned. “I have great aim and practice a lot more than you to make sure I never lose it.”

“I’m younger and more fit.”

“We’ll see about that.” Jenna moved behind the writhing creature. She hoped to catch it unaware, but the monster spun, its lifeless eyes meeting hers. Jenna jumped back and huffed out a breath. “So much for the element of surprise.” She’d better practice those battle skills a few more hours a day.

“What’s the plan?” Eric sidestepped to refocus the Streaker’s attention on him. “More firepower? Bring out the big guns?”

“Don’t want to attract more.”

Eric scooted close and then backed away. “I’ll draw its attention. You finish it from the rear.”

“Sounds like a firm plan.”

“Not in this case.”

Jenna eyed the undead. “True. Very saggy from this view.”

“Get on with it, you two.” Lilly waved a hand at them. “I don’t want to hang around here any longer than I have to.”

Author Bio:

Lisa Acerbo is a high school teacher and adjunct faculty at a local community college. She lives in Connecticut with her husband, daughters, two dogs, and horse. When not writing, she mountain bikes, hikes, and fosters dogs.

 

 

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

GIVEAWAYS!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hosted by: