• Young adult epic fantasy books …

    One of my favorite things to read is young adult epic fantasy. I just really enjoy the genre. Plus, the books always seem to have the most gorgeous covers. Here are some YA epic fantasy books that I’m looking forward to this spring and summer.

    Note: The descriptions are from Goodreads.

    Hidden HuntressHidden Huntress by Danielle L. Jensen — out on June 2

    Amazon / Barnes & Noble

    Beneath the mountain, the king’s reign of tyranny is absolute; the one troll with the capacity to challenge him is imprisoned for treason. Cécile has escaped the darkness of Trollus, but she learns all too quickly that she is not beyond the reach of the king’s power. Or his manipulation.

    Recovered from her injuries, she now lives with her mother in Trianon and graces the opera stage every night. But by day she searches for the witch who has eluded the trolls for five hundred years. Whether she succeeds or fails, the costs to those she cares about will be high.

    To find Anushka, she must delve into magic that is both dark and deadly. But the witch is a clever creature. And Cécile might not just be the hunter. She might also be the hunted…

    A Court of Thorns and RosesA Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas — out on May 5

    Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iTunes

    A thrilling, seductive new series from New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas, blending Beauty and the Beast with faerie lore.

    When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

    As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she’s been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it . . . or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.

    The Orphan QueenThe Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows — out on March 10

    Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iTunes

    Wilhelmina has a hundred identities.

    She is a princess. When the Indigo Kingdom conquered her homeland, Wilhelmina and other orphaned children of nobility were taken to Skyvale, the Indigo Kingdom’s capital. Ten years later, they are the Ospreys, experts at stealth and theft. With them, Wilhelmina means to take back her throne.

    She is a spy. Wil and her best friend, Melanie, infiltrate Skyvale Palace to study their foes. They assume the identities of nobles from a wraith-fallen kingdom, but enemies fill the palace, and Melanie’s behavior grows suspicious. With Osprey missions becoming increasingly dangerous and their leader more unstable, Wil can’t trust anyone.

    She is a threat. Wraith is the toxic by-product of magic, and for a century using magic has been forbidden. Still the wraith pours across the continent, reshaping the land and animals into fresh horrors. Soon it will reach the Indigo Kingdom. Wilhelmina’s magic might be the key to stopping the wraith, but if the vigilante Black Knife discovers Wil’s magic, she will vanish like all the others.

    What about you guys? What books are you looking forward to this spring and summer?

  • · ·

    To pre-order or not to pre-order …

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    Note: I posted this over at Magical Musings last week and wanted to share it here on my blog as well.

    Do you pre-order?

    You know what I’m talking about — all those tempting little buttons next to books by your favorite authors. The ones that let you pre-order a new book months in advance.

    Cold Burn of MagicWhenever I’m talking about my books on my blog, Facebook, or Twitter pages, I usually include pre-order links to major retailers like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, iTunes, Kobo, IndieBound, and Audible (audiobooks). For example, on I’ve got several pre-order links up on my website page for Cold Burn of Magic, Black Blade #1, my young adult urban fantasy book that will be out on April 28.

    I’ve heard from many folks that when you pre-order a book — especially an e-book — that it’s a nice little surprise when you fire up your e-reader and see the book waiting there for you to start reading any time you want to. The same thing goes for getting an e-mail that the audiobook is available, a package in the mail with a print book, or getting a call from your local bookstore saying that the book has arrived.

    But me? I don’t pre-order books too often. Usually, most of my pre-orders are movies or TV shows because it seems like you can get a better deal on those online.

    But if there is a book that I want, I will bookmark it on my computer. Then I’ll wait until it comes out, go to the store, and buy a print copy, mainly because I still like to read print books over e-books. Or, if I think that my local stores might not have the book, then I will pre-order a print copy a week or two ahead of the release date. I also make sure that I order enough items to get free shipping. I am all about free shipping. LOL.

    What about you guys? Do you pre-order books, movies, or music? Why or why not?

  • Cold Burn of Magic, Black Blade #1, coming April 28 …

    4 Comments

    I’ve been getting some questions about my Mythos Academy young adult urban fantasy series, which wrapped up with Killer Frost, book six, last year.

    As of right now, I don’t have any plans to write any more Mythos Academy books. Instead, I will have a new young adult urban fantasy series out in 2015. Woot!

    Black Blade #1It’s called the Black Blade series, and it features magic, monsters, and mobsters. The heroine is Lila Merriweather, a 17-year-old thief who does her best to avoid the Families (mobs) that run her town, a total tourist trap known for the monsters that haunt the area. But, of course, Lila finds herself in the middle of a feud between two of the Families. There’s a cute guy in the mix too. As of right now, there will be three books in the series.

    Cold Burn of Magic, the first book, will be released on April 28 by Kensington.

    Dark Heart of Magic, the second book, is tentatively set to be released on Oct. 27. The third book will probably be out in May 2016, but that is subject to change.

    Cold Burn of Magic is up for pre-order at the following sites:

    Amazon Kindle / Amazon paperback / Barnes & Noble / Books-A-Million / iBooks / IndieBound / Kobo

    And here is the book description:

    THERE BE MONSTERS HERE…

    It’s not as great as you’d think, living in a tourist town that’s known as “the most magical place in America.” Same boring high school, just twice as many monsters under the bridges and rival Families killing each other for power.

    I try to keep out of it. I’ve got my mom’s bloodiron sword and my slightly illegal home in the basement of the municipal library. And a couple of Talents I try to keep quiet, including very light fingers and a way with a lock pick.

    But then some nasty characters bring their Family feud into my friend’s pawn shop, and I have to make a call—get involved, or watch a cute guy die because I didn’t. I guess I made the wrong choice, because now I’m stuck putting everything on the line for Devon Sinclair. My mom was murdered because of the Families, and it looks like I’m going to end up just like her…

    You can read the first chapter of Cold Burn of Magic here. Scroll down and click on the Read Excerpt tab.

    I hope that everyone enjoys Cold Burn of Magic when it is released.

  • · · · ·

    Blogging, e-newsletter, and social media sites …

    Here is a roundup of places where you can find me online and get my latest book news:

    1) If you don’t already, you can follow me on Facebook and Twitter. These are the two online sites where I am the most active. I usually post on both sites several times a day, respond to comments/tweets, and more. I also do weekly features on these sites:

    Teaser Tuesday — a brief excerpt from one of my books

    Waiting on Wednesday — a book I am looking forward to (this is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine)

    Friday Reads — what I’m reading

    Weekend Watch — what movies/TV shows I’m watching

    I also respond to friend requests and comments over at Goodreads.

    2) I blog here on my own blog on Mondays. I have four books out this year, so I’ll be posting a lot about those books — back cover copy, cover art, excerpts, and more. You can subscribe to my blog feed by clicking the icon at the top right corner of this page or going here.

    3) I also blog over at Magical Musings, a group blog with several authors. My blogs usually appear every fourth Tuesday. My next blog dates are Feb. 17, March 17, April 14, and May 12. I will probably be posting those blogs here to my site as well.

    4) I also send out an e-newsletter every month, which features my latest book news, upcoming guest blog schedule, book recommendations, and a recipe. I try to send that out the first week of each month. Also, when I have a new book out, I also send out an e-blast about that book, usually on its release day.

    To subscribe, go to my home page, scroll down, and fill out the form in the right sidebar. You will get an e-mail asking you to opt-in and confirm your subscription to my e-newsletter. I do not share anyone’s e-mail address.

    And that’s where you can find me online.

  • · ·

    Spider’s Trap cover art …

    12 Comments

    Book #13I posted this on my Facebook and Twitter pages a couple of weeks ago, but I wanted to share the cover art for Spider’s Trap, Elemental Assassin #13, July 28.

    The cover was once again done by Tony Mauro, and the model is Alexa Martino. From what I’ve been told, she has been Gin on all of the book covers.

    I always enjoy seeing the covers and how tough, cool, and confident Gin looks. I especially like her shirt on this one. I think that’s a cool nod to the spider theme.

    Spider’s Trap is up for pre-order at the following sites:

    Amazon Kindle / Amazon paperback / Books-A-Million / iTunes / Kobo

    It should be up at other sites, like Barnes & Noble, soon (if it’s not already). Also, the audiobook will be available through Audible, although that pre-order link probably won’t go up until sometime in May. Audible pre-order links don’t usually go up until about six weeks before the publication date.

    Here is the description for Spider’s Trap:

    Keep your friends close but your enemies within stabbing distance.

    One important lesson I’ve learned in the assassination business is that to be the best you have to roll with the punches. Now that I’m queen of Ashland’s underworld—by default, not by choice—a lot more punches are being thrown my way. But I suppose that’s the price of victory for taking down some of the underworld’s top dogs. Good thing I have my Ice and Stone magic to help me survive my volatile new position. Just when I think things are finally settling down, someone tries to murder me during a hush-hush underworld meeting. But the real surprise is how strangely familiar my shadowy assailant seems to be.

    My job is to maintain order among killers, crooks, and thieves, and soon I’m embroiled in a bloody game where the ability to keep secrets could be the greatest superpower of all. My enemies have all sharpened their knives and laid their traps, waiting for me to fall. But this Spider weaves her own webs of death …

    You can read the first chapter of Spider’s Trap here. Scroll down and click on the Read Excerpt tab, although beware of spoilers for previous books in the series, especially Black Widow.

    I hope that everyone enjoys the cover. July 28 will be here before you know it.