{Blog Tour: Review + Playlist + Dream Cast + GIVEAWAY} Smoke and Key - By Kelsey Sutton

 

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Smoke and Key - By Kelsey Sutton
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Release Date: April 2nd 2019

Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Fantasy, Mystery, Historical, Fiction, Paranormal, Magic, Horror
 

A sound awakens her. There's darkness all around. And then she's falling...

She has no idea who or where she is. Or why she's dead. The only clue to her identity hangs around her neck: a single rusted key. This is how she and the others receive their names—from whatever belongings they had when they fell out of their graves. Under is a place of dirt and secrets, and Key is determined to discover the truth of her past in order to escape it.

She needs help, but who can she trust? Ribbon seems content in Under, uninterested in finding answers. Doll’s silence hints at deep sorrow, which could be why she doesn't utter a word. There's Smoke, the boy with a fierceness that rivals even the living. And Journal, who stays apart from everyone else. Key's instincts tell her there is something remarkable about each of them, even if she can't remember why.

Then the murders start; bodies that are burnt to a crisp. After being burned, the dead stay dead. Key is running out of time to discover who she was—and what secret someone is willing to kill to keep hidden—before she becomes the next victim…

 

 

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Review

 

 

Everything.....

 

This book is everything....

 

When you fall into Under you don't know where you are, who you are, and are simply given a name based on what you bring with you. A ribbon, doll, or a Key...

 

Too many questions, that is a constant for Key, she wants answers to her questions, but she can never seem to remember completely. She can always feel that she is getting close, but it's almost as if something is pushing her away from it. The reason for this ties itself so well into the end of the novel it'll have you like....

 

 

 

Throughout the entire book I appreciated the journey that Key went on, there were a couple of times I wanted more, but then it was like the author heard me and suddenly that growth, or plot twist was there like, BAM! The author did an amazing job of finding the find line between morbid and the after, which is extremely hard to do. Death is already emotional, but giving those who are in this state of limbo purpose, emotion and a reason to "live", was such a breath of fresh air.

 

As this novel came to an end, I totally thought (and hoped) there would be an entire series centered around these characters, sadly it is a stand along...for now...

Though I don't want to give too much away, because I feel as though spoilers could happen with every page, I will say that there are a million plus reasons to pick this novel up and here are a few; Journal, Smoke, Ribbon, Key...

 

 

4/5

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Playlist

 

 Moonlight Sonata - Beethoven

 

Can't Help Falling in Love (Elvis) - Piano Guys

 

End of Me - Apocalyptica ft. Gavin Rosdale

 

Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin

 

Within You - David Bowie

 

I Won't Give Up - Jason Mraz

 

Highway to Hell - AC/DC

 

Human - Christina Perri

 

A Thousand Years - Christina Perri

 

 

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Dream Cast

 

Key

 

 

Smoke

 

 

Ribbon

 

 

Journal

(yes, Clint Eastwood, he just FITS)

 

 

 

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About the Author

 

 

Kelsey Sutton is a young adult and middle grade author. She lives in Minnesota, where she received a dual bachelor's degree in English and Creative Writing from Bemidji State University. She will soon have a master's degree from Hamline University. Her work has received an Independent Publisher Book Award, an IndieFab Award, and was selected as a Kirkus Reviews Best Teen Book of 2013. When not writing, Kelsey can be found watching too much Netflix, ordering a mocha at the nearest coffee shop, napping with her rescue dogs, or browsing a bookstore.

 

You can visit her online at www.kelseysuttonbooks.com, like her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter or Instagram. 

 

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Tour Schedule

 

 

April 10th

The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club - Welcome Post

April 11th

TheSecret Reader - Review + Favourite Quotes

Moonlight Rendezvous - Review + Favourite Quotes

Some Books & Ramblings - Review

April 12th

Feed Your Fiction Addiction - Review

The Clever Reader - Promotional Post

April 13th

Confessions of a YA Reader - Review

A Dream Within A Dream - Review

The Reading Corner for All - Review + Favourite Quotes

April 14th

The YA Obsessed - Review

Bookwyrming Thoughts - Review

Absolute Bookishness - Review

April 15th

 

Book Rambler Blog - Review + Favourite Quotes

Young Adult Media Consumer - Review

Mahkjchi's Not-so-secret Books - Review + Favourite Quotes

April 16th

Taking It One Book at a Time - Review + Playlist + Dream Cast

Reads Like Supernovae - Review + Favourite Quotes

Book Swoon - Review

 

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Giveaway

 

 

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{Book Blitz + Giveaway} The Lovely Dark - By K.A. last

{Release Day Celebration + Giveaway} Broken Chords - By Jessica Bayliss

{Series Blitz + Giveaway} The Harvesting Series - By Melanie Karsak

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The Harvesting - By Melanie Karsak
(The Harvesting, #1)
Release Date: 1/8/2014
Genres: Horror, Young Adult, Zombies

It’s all fun and games until someone ends up undead. 

Layla Petrovich has spent her whole life running away from her hometown of Hamletville. Raised by the town’s medium, and dubbed the “weird” girl for her fascination with swords, the last thing Layla wants is to go home. 

But when she receives a desperate call to return just as a mysterious outbreak sweeps the country, Layla’s instincts urge her to go. Good thing, because the dead are rising.Layla, however, isn’t entirely on her own. With her psychic powers growing, surely everything will turn out okay, right?

Not so fast. Just when Layla believes she might survive the apocalypse, a sinister and ancient force rises from the shadows to finish mankind for good.Because the truth is, we were never alone in this world.

Begin The Harvesting Series with The Harvesting, Book 1.

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT

“If you ever need to slice someone’s head off, this is the blade you want,” I said as I lifted a curved sword off the table in front of me. “We’ve been practicing épée and foil so far, but tonight I want to introduce you to the sabre.” The practice sabre’s curved blade reflected the orange streetlight shining in through the window. A grant from the Smithsonian where I worked allowed me to teach my two passions: ancient weapons and their arts. “The sabre is a slashing weapon,” I continued and then lunged, showing the wide-eyed and excited students a few moves. “And in general, it’s my favorite,” I admitted with a grin.

The students laughed.

“Is that why you have it tattooed on your arm?” Tyler, one of my best fencers, asked.

My hand went unconsciously toward the tattoo. The ink was a sword interlaced with other once-meaningful symbols. “That’s not just any sabre,” I said, mildly embarrassed. “Here, let me show you. I brought something special tonight.” Setting the training sabre down, I lifted a rolled bundle. I laid it down on the table and unrolled it to reveal weapons in various elaborate scabbards.

“Some are épée, foils—you can tell by the hilt—a broadsword, a claymore, a katana, a scimitar, throwing daggers,” I said, pointing, “but this, this is a Russian shashka.” I pulled the shashka from the bundle. “It’s like a traditional sabre, but has no guard. She’s light, single-edged, wielded with one hand, and good for stabbing or slashing. Not awkward in close quarters like a Scottish claymore, but it will kill you just as dead,” I said with a smile. I unsheathed the weapon and gave it an under-and over-hand spin around my head, shoulders, and back.

The students grinned from ear to ear.

I put it back in its scabbard and handed the shashka to them. “Pass it around, but keep in mind it is sharp enough to cut a blade of hair in half.” I then turned my attention to Tyler. “Now, since you’re so interested, let’s see how you do with the sabre.” I tossed one of the training swords to him.

Tyler, already in his gear, jumped up and lowered his fencing mask. “But you’re not in gear,” he said.
I shrugged. “Hit me, if you can.”

We stood at the ready, made the ceremonial bow, and began. Tyler was not overly aggressive, which is partially why he was so successful. He waited for me, moving slowly. He was smart, quick, and often tried to over-tire his opponent.

I waited, dropped my sword a bit, and let him make the lunge. He took the bait.

The swords clanged together, and we clashed back and forth across the strip. He lunged and slashed while I dodged and blocked. He was fast. I was faster. When he lunged again, I ducked. With an upward movement, I went in.

“A hit,” Kasey called.

They clapped.

“Man, that’s what you get for taking on a former state champ—and the teacher,” Trey told Tyler with a laugh.

Tyler pulled off the mask and smiled at me.

Just then, my cell rang. I would usually ignore it, but something told me to answer.

“Everyone pair up and start working with the training sabers,” I said and pointed to the sword rack. I went to my bag and grabbed my cell.

Before I could say hello, she spoke.

“Layla, Grandma needs you to come home,” my grandmother’s voice, thick with Russian accent, came across through static. I was silent for a moment. My grandmother lived 500 miles away, and she never used her telephone. With the exception of her T.V., she hated technology. She’d cried and begged me to take away the microwave I’d purchased for her one Mother’s Day.
“Grandma? What’s wrong?”

“Come home now. Be here tomorrow,” she said. She hung up.

I lowered my cell and stared at it. Confused and worried, I dialed her back. The phone rang, but she did not answer. I had obligations: practice, bills to pay, groceries to buy, tons of work to do, and a date for god-sakes. But my grandmother was the only one I had left in the world.

“Sorry, guys. Emergency,” I called to my students.

Disappointed, they groaned.

“Sorry. Let’s pack it up for the night.” My hands shaking, I slid the shashka back into the bundle and rolled up the weapons. What had happened? Maybe Grandma was sick. Maybe she had some problem. Or maybe she had seen something.

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About the Author

 

Melanie Karsak is the author of The Airship Racing Chronicles, The Harvesting Series, and The Celtic Blood Series. A steampunk connoisseur, zombie whisperer, and heir to the iron throne, the author currently lives in Florida with her husband and two children. She is an Instructor of English at Eastern Florida State College. 

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest

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GIVEAWAY

$25 Amazon gift card

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{Book Blitz + Interview + Giveaway} The Z Tailgate - By Clive Riddle

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The Z Tailgate - By Clive Riddle
(The Sequel to the Burning Z)
Release Date: March 12th 2016
Genres: Adult, Horror, Zombies
 

Zombies go to a Raider tailgate and bleed silver and black. The Z Tailgate is the sequel to the Burning Z. In the Burning Z, Zombies went to Burning Man. The sequel begins back in the Black Rock Desert before zombies invade a cruise ship and a tailgate party.  

In The Z Tailgate, the Burning Man site is now an internment camp for zombies and our heroes, Alan Gorman, Conner and Bruce, consult with the Department of Homeland Security, who oversee zombie affairs. Alan and Conner are sent to a cruise ship to investigate a possible new zombie outbreak. Bruce and Cassie – Conner’s girlfriend – are kidnapped along with a truckload of zombies by Chinese-backed henchmen intending to stow away some Zs to China.  

The zombie truck becomes the subject of a manhunt, ultimately hiding out in the Oakland Coliseum parking lot, where a football game is about to take place. The zombies escape and invade the tailgate parties, leading to a climatic battle in the Coliseum parking lot.

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT

A palpable buzz could be sensed throughout the Hegenberger lot, as the stage one infected turned and began to rise up and join the other zombies in great numbers. Cassie, Conner and even Tess took measure of it from the back of their cargo truck as they fought off their attackers.


The buzz of the second wave began to unnerve, and then panic the thousands of tailgaters, who up to this point had patiently and obediently waited in their vehicles for an all-clear signal. Many started to flee their car on foot, causing others to see them and decide to do the same. Even more began to try to extricate their vehicles from their confined positions in the parking lot, ramming their cars and trucks into each other, hoping to clear enough space to break free.


Those in the far western end of the Hegenberger lot, in the “C” section – who remained outside their vehicles up to that point – caught the buzz of crowd noise and the initial thrusts of zombies into their areas. More than one barbeque of hot coals spilled over, rolling underneath running cars. A series of fires and explosions erupted in that end of the lot.
A growing number of people were fleeing on foot – which hadn’t been a major issue until this point – as the second wave of Zs pursued them. A number of persons were trampled in the process. Some of those on foot began to climb up the middle observation tower in the B lot to escape the Zs on their tail. Even more tailgaters sought out the tower as a refuge when they saw others before them taking that route. The structure soon became seriously beyond capacity. It didn’t take long for the tower to tip over, sending bodies flying everywhere, scattered amongst the zombies gathered below. A plume of dust rose from the tower’s collapse. Several cars were partially crushed underneath the fallen structure. Z’s began picking through the numbers that had tumbled off the tower as it went down.

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Author Interview

 

What’s the Z Tailgate all about? 

The Z Tailgate is a sequel to my second book – The Burning Z.  In the Burning Z – zombies invade the Burning Man festival, after a mysterious alien meteor-like object begins infecting people in the desert. Our protagonists set out to warn and save those inside Burning Man. So in the Z Tailgate, two months later, the Burning Man site is now an internment camp for zombies and our protagonists have contracted in different capacities with Homeland Security, who is now charged with dealing with the zombie site. The Chinese want to procure some of the interned zombies for their own experiments, and arrange a zombie kidnapping that goes awry. Two of our protagonists are kidnapped along with the zombies. The kidnappers end up the subject of a manhunt, and take refuge in the Oakland Coliseum parking lot, where a football game will soon be taking place. Meanwhile, our other two protagonists are dealing with a new zombie threat on a cruise ship, before they are whisked away to help consult in dealing with the zombie tailgate at the Coliseum.

 

Will readers first need to complete The Burning Z in order to make sense of The Z Tailgate?

While I’d love for anyone to read both in that order, you can certainly enjoy The Z Tailgate as a stand-alone story. Enough relevant background is provided in the sequel so it stands on its own.

 

Why Zombies? Why Burning Man? Why Cruise Ships? And why a Raider Tailgate?

These are all things I’m passionate about. Who doesn’t love zombies? They’re so soft and cuddly. I love a good zombie movie or The Walking Dead, despite how they ended this season. Burning Man is such a unique, wonderful experience – I consider it the best alternative to visiting another planet if you can’t afford space travel. Cruise ships can be so much fun if you’re with close friends or family and I’ve become a frequent traveler. And the Raiders – I’ve been a season ticket holder since 1995, and there is nothing like the Coliseum tailgate crowds. Burning Man, cruise ships, and a Raider tailgate – they all seemed such great venues to plop a herd of zombies into.

 

But aren’t the Raiders probably leaving the Oakland Coliseum after this upcoming season?

I deal with that in the story. And I do think the zombie incursion in a final game at the Coliseum is something that all Raider fans can relate to, given all the fans have suffered through in rooting for their team the past two decades.

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About the Author 

 

Clive Riddle is a life-long Californian, married and father of three. At age 26 Riddle became CEO of a regional HMO. After a decade, he went on to found MCOL (www.mcol.com), a leading health care business information company. Riddle has authored a variety of health care reference books and business articles. He is a noted speaker at national events regarding key health care business issues. Dorris Bridge was his first novel, The Burning Z was his second, and the Z Tailgate is his third. Find out more about Clive at www.CliveRiddle.com 

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

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GIVEAWAY


5x Signed copies of The Z Tailgate


a Rafflecopter giveaway

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{Book Blitz + Giveaway} Kahayatle - By Elle Casey

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Kahayatle - By Elle Casey
(Apocalypsis #1)
Publication date: June 22nd 2012
Genres: Horror, Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Young Adult

NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR, ELLE CASEY, brings readers Book 1 of 4 in the YA Dystopian APOCALYPSIS Series, suitable for older teens and adults. 

KAHAYATLE. My name’s Bryn Mathis. I’m seventeen years old, and I live in a neighborhood outside of Orlando, Florida. I live alone because my dad died almost a year ago, along with all the other adults in the world. I’m almost out of food and the gangs of kids that roam around my town are getting more vicious by the day. It’s time for me to leave and find another place to live … a place where I can find food and shelter … a place where they won’t be able to find me.  

Alone, it might have been possible, but now I’ve got company. I’m worried that I don’t have what it takes to get from here to my final destination, and I have no idea what might be waiting for me when I get there. 

Content Warning: Mild violence and some foul language. Meant for older Young Adult readers (age 15+). This book is in the Dark Science Fiction / Horror / Post-Apocalyptic genres, featuring teen characters only.  

APOCALYPSIS SERIES READING ORDER  

Kahayatle (Apocalypsis Book 1) **Special introductory ebook price**
Warpaint (Apocalypsis Book 2)
Exodus (Apocalypsis Book 3)
Haven (Apocalypsis Book 4)

Goodreads / Amazon / iBooks / GooglePlay / Kobo

Currently available for FREE!

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EXCERPT:

I STUFFED THE SLEEPING BAG down into my backpack with angry, punching motions, sick and tired of having to be here and having to do the same thing over and over again.  I hated camping, I hated being organized, and more than anything, I hated what this exercise stood for.

“Don’t do it like that.  I told you - you have to conserve the room as best you can.  You have to travel as efficiently as possible.  Take it out and start over.”

“I don’t see what difference it makes.”

“Trust me, it’s going to be a really big deal to you in the not so distant future.”  His voice sounded hollow.

“Says who?”  I was being ornery.  I knew the answer to the question already.

“Says me, Bryn.  And the news.  Look around, would you?”  He sounded like he was pleading now.  “Stop defaulting back to the rebellious young teen act, and get serious.  We don’t have enough time to play those games anymore.”

“They’re not games, Dad.  I am a teenager.  I don’t care what the news jerks and the government say.”  I threw my backpack down on the ground.  “And it’s not rebellious to not want to play friggin’ survivor in the backyard every day.”

My dad looked at me with a sad expression and sighed, reaching over to pull me into a tight hug.  He dropped his nose to my head and inhaled deeply.  

My face was pressed up against his shirt, and I could smell his sweat mixed with the sweet scent of his aftershave.  My dad always said he was the last of a dying breed, using that stuff.  He couldn’t have been more right.

“Maybe it’s not going to happen here … to us.”  I said it just to hear the words, but I knew it was only wishful thinking.

I could tell he was getting choked up again when he started talking, his voice now hoarse.  

“I wish, more than anything else in this world, that you didn’t have to be standing here with me in this backyard playing survivor.”  His whole body started to shake with silent sobs.  “Oh, God, Bryn.  If I could do anything to change this, anything at all, I would.  I swear to God I would.  But it’s happening.  No one can stop it.”

I put my arms around his waist, letting go of my earlier stubborn anger,  now choking back my own tears.  “I know, Dad.  I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean it.”

“Yes, you did,” he said, sniffing hard and clearing his throat, shifting to hold me at arm’s length.  He was staring at me while he smiled through his tears, giving me that look.  The one that always made me confess.

“Okay, so maybe I did mean it.  But I’ll shut up about it for a little while.”

“Not for too long, though.  You wouldn’t be my daughter if you weren’t complaining about something.”

I tried to slap him playfully but he moved too fast for me.  My dad is light on his feet, an expert level-one practitioner of krav maga - a certified badass.  He’d only recently taken up camping.

“Pick it up,” he ordered, now back in control of his emotions.  “Do it again.  Only this time, get the air out of that bag first, condense it down …”

I cut him off.  “I know, I know … ‘down into the smallest footprint possible.’  Geez, Dad, I’m not an idiot.”

I shook the sleeping bag out and started rolling it up quickly, using the moves I’d been practicing for four months straight to squeeze it down into a lump the size of a small loaf of bread.  I folded the whole thing in half, pushed it to the bottom of the backpack, and then let it unfold itself one time, before putting the other items in on top of it: unbreakable water bottle, half-liter of bleach, square of plastic, cup, hunting knife, and various other tools my father was quite certain I would need … once all the adults in the world had died off, leaving us kids alone to fend for ourselves.

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About the Author: 

 

Elle Casey is a prolific, NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY bestselling American writer who lives in Southern France with her husband, three kids, and several furry friends. She writes in several genres and publishes an average of one full-length novel per month. 

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

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