Knightingale Reviews

Monday, March 6, 2017

Escape from Witchwood Hollow by Jordan Elizabeth

This review was written by: B

Received: E-book from Author

Publication Date of Book: October 2014

Pages: 200 (Kindle Edition)

Stars: 4/5

Official Summary:

Everyone in Arnn -- a small farming town with more legends than residents -- knows the story of Witchwood Hollow: if you venture into the whispering forest, the witch will trap your soul among the shadowed trees.

After losing her parents in a horrific terrorist attack on the Twin Towers, fifteen-year-old Honoria and her older brother escape New York City to Arnn. In the lure of that perpetual darkness, Honoria finds hope, when she should be afraid.

Perhaps the witch can reunite her with her lost parents. Awakening the witch, however, brings more than salvation from mourning, for Honoria discovers a past of missing children and broken promises.

To save the citizens of Arnn from becoming the witch's next victims, she must find the truth behind the woman's madness.

How deep into Witchwood Hollow does Honoria dare venture?

My Thoughts:

She (Honoria) picked her way through the vegetation. Briars caught on her jeans. Go back, they seemed to say, or we will prick your heart. A sweet, earthy scent tickled her nose. Stepping deeper into the woods, autumn leaves created a shield around her as damp soil sucked at the soles of her sneakers. The darkness became an envelope and she the letter, seeking a destination she couldn't foresee.

~Escape from Witchwood Hollow

This book has interested me since February of 2015, but I had unfortunately never been able to get my hands on it. It had always been in the back of my mind, though, as I'm obsessed with YA fantasy and paranormal stories. I have also been slowly but surely trying to collect books from Curiosity Quills Press (the book's publisher). You can then imagine my immense excitement when the author asked me if I would accept an ebook of Escape from Witchwood Hollow in exchange for an honest review! I jumped on this opportunity and am still reeling in the rich world of Witchwood Hollow as we speak. (Of course, we aren't technically speaking, rather it's you reading without a back and forth conversation with me, but it honestly sounded better than, "...am still reeling in the rich world of Witchwood Hollow as you read." I don't know where I'm going with this, and (sigh) I digress.)

I'm a huge sucker for close or quirky familial relationships in books, and I can't explain to you how much I die each time I find one. (This isn't necessarily something that shows up regularly in the novels I read, so I always especially cherish them when they fall across my path.) With Escape from Witchwood Hollow, one would naturally assume that you wouldn't get this spectacular add-on since it's a book that, on the outside, appears to primarily focus on the superstitious town of Arnn and its inhabitants in general. In reality, it is so much more, and I was in for a surprising bonus when Jordan portrayed a highly realistic and heartfelt relationship between Honoria and her older brother Geoffrey. Yes, this is by no means the focal point of the novel, but it was definitely one of my favorite aspects of it. The siblings' parents died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and the way that Honoria leaned on and appreciated Geoffrey went straight to my fangirl heart, and the authentic nature and interactions between them melted me into a puddle.

My other favorite part of the novel was the writing itself. Each time Witchwood Hollow was described, I felt as if I was in a part of the woods itself. Jordan's writing of the hollow was rich and vivid. Imagine looking at an all-consuming, omnipresent painting that steals your entire attention away -- remaining in your mind's eye even when your eyelids are closed. This was Witchwood Hollow, as flawlessly beautiful as the writing was mesmerizing. Part eerie and part lonely, the hollow selfishly kept all of those who dared to step into it. I felt so immersed in the story that it was as if I was walking in the hollow itself, in all of its confounding glory, which is largely due to the perfected tone of this novel. Allow me to explain. But first, a little backstory . . .

I'll be honest, I'm an easily frightened individual. Set me in front of a horror movie and the majority of the time anyone looks over, I'll have a pillow covering my entire face. Occasionally, you'll hear me ask (all muffled-like, of course): "What's happening now? Is it scary? It sounds scary. Guys, I asked what's happening! Why isn't anyone answering me?!" Oh, and don't even get me started on spiders. I see one and I'm like:

Why bring this up you ask? The tone of Escape from Witchwood Hollow was haunting, especially when the characters were actually in Witchwood Hollow. (Of course, how these parts and the story as a whole will affect readers shall immensely differ from person to person.) I honestly found it frightening, though, but not in the typical sense of the word. It wasn't because Witchwood Hollow was written to personify a slasher, horror, or paranormal vibe. Instead, it was because the hollow magnified isolation and loneliness in their terrifying, all-consuming glory. It was a completely different type of horror, one that was a never-ending maze paired with the heart-stopping realization that no one you loved would ever be able to reach you because they couldn't find you. It was an embodiment of the fact that while you lived, your family would die as you stayed lost to time forever. I don't know about you, but I find that more frightening and heart-wrenching than any classic horror movie out there. I get distressed just thinking about what the characters must have went through. (Cue me throwing a pillow in front of my face now.)

What I was not expecting from this novel were the three different storylines that Jordan presented. It was a brilliant idea and a game changer for the novel on her part. Honoria was a little difficult for me to connect with at first, and I found myself gravitating towards an interest in other characters, particularly Elizabeth Clifford. (I would read an entire book from her point of view if I could!) Then, I eventually found myself gravitating towards Albertine. (Right now, you might be like: Who the heck are they? I feel it is best, though, not to tell you anything about these two characters because it would make the story more interesting if you went into the book more blind than not.) Over time, though, I got used to Honoria's voice and began to appreciate her as a character. I just needed a bit of time to warm up to her is all.

And that ending! My goodness! I loved every second of it, and I thought I had it all figured out with what the author had done . . . that is until I read other people's interpretations of the ending on GoodReads. Now I'm not too sure . . . like . . . at all. I'm freaking out over it because I need a straight forward answer! But again, I digress.

Escape from Witchwood Hollow is a fantastic, eerie book to read in one sitting. It's got multiple, interweaving storylines (Who doesn't love those?!), great themes (like family and moving on), and a mesmeric atmosphere. I would definitely recommend this book to fans of The Secret of Dreadwillow Carse!

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Tuesday, February 14, 2017

The Sebastian Chronicles (Entire Series Review) by T. L. Travis

Received: Ebooks from Author

Initial Publication Date of Books: Aug. 2016 - Jan. 2017

Pages Each: Around 30

Overall Rating: 4/5

Official Summary:

The Sebastian Chronicles is a series of 5 Erotic Paranormal Novelettes that will take you through each century since Sebastian Benoit's Vampiric inception.

In book one, you learn why his maker Isabel chose him to be her mate.

Isabel stalked Sebastian even going so far as to watch him satisfy his lovers. He had a death wish, one that an angry husband would surely have carried out had Isabel not turned him in time.

Sebastian's hatred for Isabel overshadows the gift she's given him, causing her to doubt her decision. Will he ever learn to love her as much as much as she loves him?

My Thoughts on the Series:

I've fallen in love with the concept of immortal bloodsuckers ever since watching Interview With a Vampire, and I've never been able to get my fill of them since. Sebastian, though, is a great character who can easily satisfy his audience in more ways than one with his dashing good looks and enticing allure that would leave anyone with a brain standing senseless with their jaw dropped to the ground and a puddle of drool at their feet. He's one fine specimen after all! I loved seeing his romantic endeavors throughout the centuries and was more than a little excited to see where he would visit next each time he picked up his roots and left for a new home.

Each book was more hot and sensual than the last. And by hot, I mean that they were hot!

Everyone and their grandmother who reads these will be like:

And afterwards, you may be like Blanche over here:

My favorite part about the Sebastian Chronicles, which I truly appreciated, was how vampires were individuals who took on partners of the same and opposite sex, finding love in people no matter their gender. These vampires were progressive! I also really liked how I could actually sit down and read one of these books (and the entire series!) in a single sitting! I can't even remember the last time that happened. (It was probably the twelfth of never to be exact.) Plus, there were many rich and even rustic settings that allowed the imagination to dream up perfect backdrops. (I adored New Orleans the most.) T. L. Travis does a great job setting up new scenes and packing a satisfying story into such a small amount of space.

Sebastian wasn't all about carnal desires, though. He's a man of substance and ultimately longs to find true love after centuries of relationships, believing in it with his whole heart. His search for it leads to some dead ends, but if you stick around long enough, you may just find out what happens next! If you do, you'll be in for a steamy, intense ride full of moments that leave you stunned in their shear sexiness!

Break Down of the Books:

My Thoughts:

I found it so amusing that Sebastian was the town's heartthrob among the women before he became a vampire. (I can only imagine the poor husbands!) It was also enjoyable how the reader gets to see Sebastian learn about vampiric ways and do basic training in this first installment, setting up essential rules that creatures of the night should follow without getting too complicated or boring with the details. Then seeing Sebastian fall hard for the first time with Isabel (so steamy!) only to have the ending that we did, left me begging to read the next installment ASAP.

Official Summary:

In book two My Servant, My Lover, Sebastian embarks upon a forbidden romance with a member of his staff in Isabel's home. This cardinal rule was one Isabel was adamant it never be broken and with good reason. But is the crime worth the potential punishment?

My Thoughts:

This book was even more sensual than the first one, and I didn't even think that was possible! Hold onto your socks folks because the sexiness is being amped up to dangerous levels!

What I loved most about the second installment was how T. L. Travis introduced the concept that vampires were capable of loving both genders. (I'm team Lorenzo all the way!)

Official Summary:

In book three, our beloved vampire Sebastian has found himself in 19th century New Orleans, a vibrant town in the midst of rebuilding after the war.

Sebastian's insatiable sexual appetite gets him into some precarious positions. Positions that will leave you wanting more.

My Thoughts:

I loved the rich environment of New Orleans. It's in this installment that we get to see a side to Sebastian that hasn't been too heavily explored until now: his generous, caring side. I won't spoil too much, but there are multiple occasions when he melts your heart. (And Lorenzo comes back!)

Official Summary:

In book four, Prohibition Inhibitions, our beloved vampire Sebastian has found himself in 20th century Chicago, a town at war with itself.

He shows his true colors to the local crime families, and they in turn stay out of his business. This book ties up many loose ends for Sebastian, finally allowing closure. But will he ever find true love, does it even exist?

My Thoughts:

Deciding to start a new lucrative business in Chicago, we are able to be introduced to a new character Nadia, who is able to bring a freshness to the story and more steamy moments! Sebastian has still been unable to find true love, though, as Isabel is still sometimes on his mind. This installment was another great, quick, satisfying read that eagerly leads to the final conclusion.

Image result for the tryst by t. l. travis

Official Summary:

Bree Emerson is fed up with the singles scene losers. Three pump chumps just weren't getting the job done.

Having left last night's lame ass mistake passed out in the hotel room, she decided it was time to embark upon a new erotic journey, one that will finally fulfill her sexual needs.

Unbeknownst to Bree, her Eros was already stalking her and the devious things he had planned would be beyond his wildest dreams. But will they both be able to walk away when playtime is over?

My Thoughts:

This was yet another fun addition to the Sebastian Chronicles and kept pace with the rest of the series. Along the way, women will swoon over the deliciousness of Sebastian's entire being and wish that they were a part of his story! I would highly recommend this to someone looking for a quick, hot, erotic story that dives into the wilder side of people . . . and vampires!

Monday, January 23, 2017

Right to Silence (Paranormal Detectives #4) by Lily Luchesi

This review was written by: B and C

Received: Ebook from Author

Publication Date: January 2017

Pages: 256

Stars: 5/5

Official Synopsis:

The truth can be deadly.

In the first of this two-part novel, we learn the history of hunters Brighton Sands and Mark Evans in their two lifetimes, culminating in their final battle with the insane vampire they have been hunting for centuries.

In the second part, with Angelica Cross still on the run, multiple vampiric murders lead to the kidnapping of a famous vamp. Detective Danny Mancini must drag a mortal into the bowels of Hell in order to rescue her.

But why does Leander Price want her so badly, and what does she have to do with an ancient vampire prophecy?

Our Thoughts:

It's so hard to believe that we started reading the Paranormal Detective series during the summer of 2015! Taking a step back in order to put everything into perspective, it's truly astonishing how far Angelica's story has come, and it's even more painful knowing that it will soon end. Right to Silence is a killer installment, though, that packs the biggest punch yet, and to be perfectly honest, we're emotionally reeling right now. We can't even quite say when or rather if we'll get out heads back on straight! Luchesi made this book grittier and more heart-wrenching than any of her previous works, and we can't promise readers will ever truly recover!

The first half of Right to Silence featured two rather new characters we had the pleasure of encountering for the first time in Life Sentence, both whom C and I immediately took a liking to: Brighton and Mark. There are no words to describe how ecstatic we were to see these two take center stage! There's something about them that makes them so darn lovable. Seeing their relationship unfold despite the fact that they didn't come into the series until later was a truly welcoming surprise as they inexplicably found a way to permanently worm their way into our hearts as if it was easy. How they met and fell in love in the nineteenth century only to be ripped apart and brought back together again in the twenty-first century squeezes our hearts with all the feels. (Forbidden romance and second chances certainly have their appeal!) Every kiss, every embrace, every laugh the two shared brought a smile to our lips and a warmth to the story. WE LOVE THEM SO MUCH!!!!!!! The way Mark completely accepts Brighton in all of his bluntness . . . the way Brighton buys Mark books even though Brighton doesn't approve of them . . . the way Mark inexplicably calms Brighton down and centers him . . . the way Brighton won't let anything happen that will hurt Mark again . . . It's just too many feels to take for one person! The two are perfect in every way possible, especially when they're together. I mean they're so . . . they're just . . . they're . . . UGH! We don't have the words! They're possibly one of our favorite couples of all time now, okay?! And NO, there is no such thing as feeling too many feels!

Mark and Brighton's story affected us more deeply than we can possibly express, which for a reader:

Who knew Luchesi would do this to us? Her use of including diverse couples (whether it be through gender or species) is phenomenal! She's not afraid to shy away from M/M relationships and add diversity to her stories. (Plus there are a few more surprises in this department, but no spoilers!) Can we get some applause over here? We adore her! And that ending to Part One! Wh-?!

The feels and dare we say . . . sadness . . . are also inexpressible. I, B, have a confession to make. Not many books can make me tear up, with the exception of Pushing the Limits, but Mark and Brighton's story did. On. Multiple. Occasions. I don't like to cry! (But if anybody asks, it was allergies.) Those feels and emotions associated with that ending nearly toppled me, and I didn't know if I would ever get up again. I think a piece of my heart died at that point. Seriously.

Part Two was difficult, too, as stability had not yet been reached. But we made it here for you all today. Danny is trying to live life post Angelica's leaving, and moving on after the love of your life left you for your safety is as difficult as you would imagine, that is to say: not easy. Poor guy. With Angelica, she's darker and more intriguing than ever. The ending of book three left you hanging with an ominous, yet to be explored prophecy lurking in the back of our minds most likely regarding her, and book four is here to explore this further. All of our main characters are stripped raw and vulnerable at one point or another, and we get to see who they truly are or who they might turn out to be.

Setting the story in two parts was unique and highly enjoyable. You get to further examine both the past and the present, blending together a riveting plot line that leaves you immersed and highly captivated from page one. New characters enter the scene and gaps are filled in that were purposely left open from the previous novels. There are the twists and the turns and then more of the twists and the turns. Plus, there were some exciting references! Lily Luchesi included more Supernatural ones, plus Sherlock and Cirque du Freak ones, too!!!! Fandoms will surely be happy.

We can't be more proud of how far this series has come and where it will take us. Lily Luchesi continues to perfect her writing and storytelling process into sheer perfection, moving readers more and more with each new installment. Right to Silence is our favorite Paranormal Detective book yet, and if this book was any indication of how Luchesi can connect readers to her characters, we can't even imagine how she will affect us in the future! (We'll probably be obliterated with feels by the end!)

Don't waste anymore time if you haven't started these books yet! You'll certainly regret it. Just grab the books, sit back, and enjoy the marvelous ride! (Mr. Tiny looks like he is!)

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Right to Silence by Lily Luchesi Release Party

Happy book birthday to Right to Silence by the fabulous Lily Luchesi!

Release Blitz:

Right To Silence

(Paranormal Detectives Book Four)

Lily Luchesi

Jan 17^th

The truth can be deadly.

But why does Leander Price want her so badly, and what does she have to do with an ancient vampire prophecy?

Author:

Lily Luchesi is a young author/poet born in Chicago, Illinois, now residing in Los Angeles, California. Ever since she was a toddler her mother noticed her tendency for being interested in all things "dark". At two she became infatuated with vampires and ghosts, and that infatuation turned into a lifestyle by the time she was twelve, and, as her family has always been what they now call "Gothic", she doesn't believe she shall ever change. She is also a hopeless romantic and avid music-love who will always associate vampires with love, blood, and rock and roll.
Her interest in poetry came around the same time as when she was given a book of Edgar Allan Poe's complete work. She then realized that she had been writing her own poetry since she could hold a pen, and just had not known the correct terms. She finished her first manuscript at the age of fourteen, and was first published at twenty-one.
Her debut novel, Stake-Out (Paranormal Detectives Series Book One), was published by Vamptasy Publishing on May 19th, 2015. Book two, Miranda's Rights, was released on January 8th, 2016. Book three, Life Sentence, was released on August 2nd, 2016 by Vamptasy Publishing, and book four, Right To Silence, was also just accepted by the publisher and will be released on January 17th, 2017.
She had a short story, "Undead Ever After" in the CHBB Publishing anthology Love Sucks (released on June 13th, 2015). Her first erotic short story, "Have No Fears", was published in the Hot Ink Press anthology Naughty Bedtime Stories: In Three Words on October 10th, 2015. She will also have a short erotic horror story, "The Devil's Dozen", in the Hot Ink Press anthology Death, Love, Lust, which was released on February 4th, 2016. Her horror short "Too Young To Kill" was released in the CHBB Publishing anthology Lurking In The Shadows on June 28th, 2016.

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Friday, January 13, 2017

Warren the 13th and The All-Seeing Eye (Warren the 13th #1) by Tania del Rio

This review was written by: B

Received: Publisher for Blog Tour

Publication Date: November 2015

Pages: 224

Stars: 4.5/5

Official Summary:

Warren the 13th is the lone bellhop, valet, waiter, groundskeeper, and errand boy of his family’s ancient hotel. It’s a strange, shadowy mansion full of crooked corridors and mysterious riddles—and it just might be home to a magical object known as the All-Seeing Eye. Can Warren decipher the clues and find the treasure before his sinister Aunt Annaconda (and a slew of greedy hotel guests) beats him to it?

This middle-grade adventure features gorgeous two-color illustrations on every page and a lavish two-column Victorian design that will pull young readers into a spooky and delightful mystery.

My Thoughts:

As most bookish things in my life begin, Warren the 13th started much the same way, that is to say with a library and a bookshelf. Working part-time in the Youth Services Department at a local library can be extremely tempting when it comes to grabbing everything you see, especially when each new book screams at you to check it out! I have learned to exercise self-restraint, though others may argue with me on this, and I try to limit myself. (If 40 books is a limit?!)

One random day, I was walking past our New Shelf when Warren the 13th and The All-Seeing Eye jumped at me. It literally fell off the shelf when I walked past. I. WANTED. IT. SO. BAD. But then I remembered how many books I had waiting for me at home. I fought so hard subconsciously to justify my taking it home, but needless to say, it was not in my bag at the end of the day. I was forcibly removed from the scene.

Not even a week after my sad incident, though, I got asked to join a blog tour for none other than . . . wait for it . . . Warren the 13th and The All-Seeing Eye! My luck had changed drastically (which is ironic considering this is going up on Friday the 13th!), and I no longer had to feel guilty about having the book in my possession! Haha, Conscience, Fate won this round! Ding, ding, ding.

Warren the 13th and The All-Seeing Eye is one of the quirkiest and most imaginative, not to mention beautifully crafted, Middle Grade novels that I have read in a long time. I've never had a reading experience quite like this one, either. There are so many gorgeous, detailed illustrations that literally brought the story to life right before my eyes, and the columned pages, for whatever reason, threw me into the plot and made me super excited for this new format! Shall we take some time to just appreciate the shear loveliness of Tania del Rio and Will Staehle's work?

If those pictures alone aren't enough to make someone want to go run out to the nearest bookstore or library to nab this book, I don't know what else will!

There is a slightly gothic vibe to this book, which I immediately jumped on board with. On top of that, there is no possible way to describe how the illustrator did such a phenomenal job of transporting his audience into a world of a run-down hotel with secrets literally waiting to burst from its foundation. I cannot begin to fathom how much adoration and dedication went towards making this book. Each page was a masterpiece unto itself, with its own title and artwork woven in rich red and black coloring.

When it comes to the cast of this fantastic story, Warren is a character who is different from everybody else as a result of his appearance. He has a peculiar face that his Aunt Annaconda won't stop criticizing. What I loved about this detail was how the author was able to repeatedly stress the fact that how people look on the outside in no way defines who they are as an individual. It's their heart that does that, and Warren has one of the biggest hearts on the planet. This wasn't a theme that was pronounced from the rooftops, though. Instead it seems as if it was meant to seep into the readers chapter by chapter, allowing them to come to this wonderful conclusion themselves.

I'm a huge sap for stories spotlighting heartwarming family moments and unconventional families in general. This is exactly what Warren has. His parents are deceased and he only has his lazy Uncle Rupert left, along with Rupert's unsavory new wife Annaconda. To feel connected with his father, he goes to a painting of Warren the 12th, his dad. He tells this image about his adventures in the hotel and the current happenings that go on there. These heartfelt moments show, to a certain degree, the loneliness Warren feels and the strong connection he still has with those he has lost. This has all the feels.

If you're looking for a book with a Hotel Transylvania vibe mixed with Howl's Moving Castle scenery and just a dash of Tim Burton pazazz, Warren the 13th and The All-Seeing Eye is the perfect combination of the three. I can already envision it as a Studio Ghibli film! It is the ideal type of story to read to the whole family, no matter everyone's age. Both the young and the young at heart will fall in love with this extraordinary tale that was nothing short of perfection.

Check out the accompanying activity booklet for Warren the 13th below!

Warren the 13th Activity Booklet by Quirk Books on Scribd

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Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Interview with Sara Elizabeth Santana

An Interview with Sara Elizabeth Santana

Congratulations to Sara E. Santana for finishing her Awakened Duology!

I remember when The Awakened first came out and how excited I was to see what this debut author had to offer. Now she has a new book out (The Sanctuary), and I'm roaring to go read it!

More about The Sanctuary can be found here (synopsis, ordering links, excerpts, etc.):

http://knightingalereviews.blogspot.com/2017/01/the-sanctuary-blog-tour.html

With her new release, Sara was gracious enough to allow us to interview her. She's such an amazing person and a talented author! Enjoy!

Are there any real life inspirations for your characters?

Yes and no. I don’t purposefully base characters off of real people but often times, real people super influence those characters. I noticed while writing The Survivor that Liam was taking on some qualities of my best friend, Daniel, because Liam is that kind of friend to Zoey. I also noticed that Astrid, who is a new character introduced in The Sanctuary, took on some characteristics that remind me of my youngest sister. But I don’t think I could ever truly base a character off of someone I knew. Its too weird.

What was the difference for you in writing a sequel compared to writing a debut novel?

Expectations. LOL. That is most definitely the big one. When I wrote The Awakened, it was my first time writing outside of the contemporary romance genre so it was new and it seemed sort of…eh, if this works, cool. If not, no big deal. I would have never thought that it would be the book to get published. But it did and I never really expected people to like it or anything. I thought it’d get published and disappear. But people read it and they enjoyed it and got excited for the sequel. So suddenly, I have an audience to think about it and you kind of have to turn that off and just write the book for yourself, the way I did when I wrote The Awakened.

Plus sequels are just hard!

Is there a particular message in either of your books that you want readers to personally connect with?

Not that I’ve consciously thought of. I don’t really write my books with a message in mind. I’m just looking to tell the story. I guess the closest thing I can think of is…all of my characters are incredibly flawed. They make mistakes, they do the wrong thing, they act like brats at times (I’m looking at you, Zoey and Ash) but they’re teens stuck in this horrible situation and they’re not perfect and I think that’s my thing. It’s totally okay to be flawed.

Did you always want to be an author? / Did you ever see yourself following a completely different career path?

I did and didn’t. My 4th grade teacher told me I was a fantastic writer and I loved doing it and I always wanted to do it but it felt like a dream, like becoming a rock star or an astronaut or something. It felt like an out of reach thing so I tried other things, like journalism and history and all of that. But once I got involved with the book community with my blog, I became friends with a lot of authors and realized, these are normal people who worked their butts off to accomplish this dream and they did it. So can I, and that’s when I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.

Do you have an interesting writing quirk?

I binge watch shows while I write. People look at me like I’m totally insane when they find that out. I hate silence. I have five younger siblings and I’ve always lived in a crowded household. I’ll definitely listen to music at times but I tend to find something on Netflix and put it on and just WRITE.

Do you follow a specific method to complete your writing (for example, you write in a certain environment or listen to a certain band, such as Set It Off)?

I don’t really have a set way that I do things, mostly because writing is my second job and I’ve always had another job to sort of “get in the way” of that. I do tend to handwrite out the entire summary of the book, to give myself at least a rocky path to write. It often changes a bunch. But usually I just sit in front of the computer, and write as much as I can. I have to have noise, either the TV or music. I listen to a lot of Set It Off and Issues and Our Last Night usually, though Hamilton was a big one for this particular book.

Do you have any advice for those who wish to follow your career path?

It sounds cheesy as hell, but honestly, don’t give up. Don’t stop writing. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it. Maybe its not book one that gets you published, maybe its book two, or three, or seven, or ten. Just keep doing it. This is not an easy path to take but its so worth it when you make it so just work your butt off and get there. Do not give up.

Were there any books that influenced you growing up or that you currently enjoy?

So many. I am insanely immersed in the YA community. There are so many authors that have and will continue to inspire me. When I was younger though, and really starting to figure out that writing was my thing: JK Rowling, Tamora Pierce, Meg Cabot, Sarah Dessen, those were the big ones. It’s changed as my writing has changed and those ones still remain huge ones and I just continue to add to the list as I read more and more incredible authors.

Why did you begin to write?

In my family, sports was always the thing, you know? You gotta be good at sports and I’m god awful at sports. I can barely walk without hurting myself and I tried really hard to be athletic and I just wasn’t. I felt like I wasn’t really good at anything until people started telling me that I was good at writing. It was really the first time that someone said I was good at something and I just ran with it, and eventually it became my passion.

Do you have a favorite quote?

I have a lot of favorites. I have a lot of tattoos and I tend to cover myself with words. “Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home.” “It was books that made me feel that perhaps I wasn’t completely alone.” I love quotes. But my favorite is from a book series by Cora Carmack, and its simple, “No easy days”. It’s tattooed on my right forearm and it just…it reminds me how hard we have to work every day but how its so worth it.

Now that The Awakened Duology is coming to a close, will there be another series from you for your fans to look forward to? Also, will you be branching out into any new genres?

Yes! I’m working on something new! It’s in the super early stages so I don’t want to say too much in case it doesn’t work out and I end up working on something completely different but I’m venturing into my favorite genre: fantasy and I’m tackling my favorite creatures, dragons. I’m a little nervous but excited and the plan is to do another duology so we’ll see!

What are your favorite fandoms (anime, Harry Potter, Star Wars, etc), and what was your biggest fangirl moment?

Harry Potter, Star Wars, The Mortal Instruments, Studio Ghibli and Doctor Who are my big five, hands down. I have a ton more but those are definitely the big ones.

My biggest one is especially relevant now with her passing just a few weeks ago. I met Carrie Fisher, who plays Princess Leia in the Star Wars movies, amongst a bunch of other awesome, and she was just awesome. She’s just so unapologetically herself and I’ve looked up to her, on and off screen, since I was about five years old. She was so great, let me kiss her on the cheek for the photo op and pointed out that I had big boobs, and just…it was awesome haha. There’s no other word to describe that moment. She was just the best. I am so grateful that I had that moment with her.

I’ll also say, being the third person to walk into The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Hollywood on opening day was also definitely up there on my list.

Thanks so much Sara for being on our blog!

The Sanctuary Blog Tour

Synopsis:

Zoey Valentine is finally safe. Tucked away miles underground in the fortified community of the Sanctuary.

But the Sanctuary is far from what she imagined. Zoey can’t help but feel trapped. Sekhmet, the evil corporation behind the Awakened, is still out there and now, citizens of the Sanctuary are disappearing. It isn’t until the bodies of the missing turn up mutilated, each one tagged with a note, a warning, signed by Razi Cylon.

Problem is, Razi should be dead. Sekhmet has existed for far too long, and Zoey has had enough.

It's time to end it all.

Find the Book Here on GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33301817-the-sanctuary

Order Links:

(The books are available in both paperback and ebook format!)

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Sanctuary-Awakened-Book-2-ebook/dp/B01M8OD7DG'

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-sanctuary-sara-elizabeth-santana/1125069476?ean=9780995679290

Book Depository: http://www.bookdepository.com/The-Sanctuary-Sar-Elizabeth-Santan/9780995679290

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-sanctuary/id1172174821?mt=11

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-sanctuary-20

Author Biography:

Sara Elizabeth Santana is a young adult and new adult fiction writer. She has worked as a smoothie artist, Disneyland cast member, restaurant supervisor, nanny, photographer, pizza delivery driver and barista but writing is what she loves most. Her first story was written at age nine. She runs her own nerd girl/book review blog, What A Nerd Girl Says. Her favorite books are a tie between Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling and Trickster's Choice by Tamora Pierce. She lives in Southern California with her dad, five siblings and two dogs. Her debut novel is The Awakened.

Click here to visit her website: http://sesantanawrites.com/

Excerpt from The Sanctuary:

I blinked a few more times, staring at her. “Excuse me? There’s someone at the door? For me?” I ran my fingers through my bedridden hair and stared at her. “Who?”

“The Director,” she whispered, her eyes wide. Her expression told me that the Director visiting someone’s private quarters was not a regular occurrence. I hurried out of bed, pushing back the covers. I made sure my pajamas were at least on straight before heading to the door and pressing my wristband to the plate.

The wristband was my life at Sanctuary. It contained all of my personal information, including everything about my health. It gave me access to my room and other places that I needed to be and it was the device that kept me updated with my daily schedule. When I had been granted one, after my original medical examinations, I learned that it didn’t come off and it was water resistant, amongst other things. The first few weeks, it had chaffed and I had rolled on top of it in my sleep many times, but now I was used to it.

The doors slid open. Octavia was standing just outside the doorway. She looked perfect as usual, not at all like it was four in the morning. She wore black, the way everyone else wore black in this place, but she didn’t wear the same nondescript shirts and pants we did. She always managed to be in a dress or skirt, not a wrinkle or rumple in them.

“Director,” I addressed her. “This is a surprise. Is there something wrong?”

“I apologize for waking you at such an hour, Zoey,” she said, a concerned look on her face. “But this is an urgent matter. Please follow me.”

I looked over my shoulder at Kaya, who looked frightened. My stomach dropped but I turned back to Octavia and nodded. “Of course.”

She led me down the hallway and out of the resident floors. We turned down into an unfamiliar corridor and ended up at a door, with a special access pad. I hadn’t seen one of these since arriving at Sanctuary. She pressed her thumb to it and it opened soundlessly. Behind the door was an elevator and we hurried inside.

The elevator traveled up and up until it finally came to a halt. When we exited, we were met with Octavia’s second in command, Patrick, who was standing with a rumpled Ash. My stomach dropped even more.

“What’s wrong? Are you okay?” I asked, rushing toward him.

Ash’s arms reached out and quickly wrapped around me. I pressed my face against his chest, inhaling his scent. “I’m fine. I didn’t know you would be here. Are you okay?”

I pulled away slightly and looked up at him. “Yeah. Yeah, I’m fine.” I looked over at Octavia and Patrick. “What is going on?”

“Please, follow us,” was the only answer we received as we rushed after them. We didn’t have to go very far until we turned into a very large office. Octavia crossed the room and sat down at the chair behind the desk, while Patrick perched on the edge of it. Two empty chairs were in front, obviously for us. Ash collapsed in one seat and pulled me into his lap. Both Octavia and Patrick stared at us, but I took comfort in Ash’s warmth. Whatever was about to happen, I was happy he was there.

“We received a…package an hour ago. It was accompanied with a note. The note was addressed to you. We took the package immediately, and you will receive that in just a moment.” Octavia reached for an envelope on the desk and handed it to me.

My fingers shook as I took the envelope. My name was written in perfect handwriting on the front. I stared at it before using a fingernail to break the seal. A note fell out, on a small square of cardstock. My hands gripped it tightly as my eyes roamed the page. They widened and I gasped. “No. NO. This can’t be real.”

“Zoey?” Ash’s voice was low in my ear. When I didn’t answer, he grabbed the note out of my hand and read it out loud. “Zoey, I hope you enjoy my gift. I am so looking forward to seeing you again. Fondly…” He paused and his face paled. “Razi Cylon.” Ash’s fists clenched, the note crumpling in his hand. “What the fuck?”

“Language, Mr. Matthews,” Patrick said, but Ash didn’t listen.

“This is a joke, right? It’s not real. Dr. Razi Cylon is dead. She can’t be writing notes to Zoey because she’s dead. I saw her die. I saw her get shot.”

“You yourself were shot at the moment that this happened, Mr. Matthews,” Octavia pointed out. “Forgive me if your witness is not taken as fact.”

“I, however, was not shot,” I cut in, my voice shaking. “I saw her get shot. Bert shot her in the throat. How could she even survive that?”

“Razi Cylon has some of the best doctors in the world at her facility. It would not be impossible that she survived. This is also her handwriting. That much is true.”

My breathing grew erratic and for a moment, the world went black. It was like every nightmare came to life. She was alive. The past three months of safety were nothing but a farce. She was alive. She would never stop. She would never stop until I was dragged, kicking and screaming, back into her underground hellhole. She would never stop until I was in her control again. “She can’t be. She just can’t be.”

Ash’s hand rubbed my back again and again in circles. His warm palm against my back was a source of comfort and I focused on that, not on the fact that my world was crumbling down around me. “What was the package? What is this gift?”

It was the only moment that Octavia showed anything more than complete calmness. “I think it would be better to show you. Perhaps we can understand the meaning of it more.” She gestured toward the guard at the door and he opened it. Someone stepped in and I nearly fell off Ash’s lap.

He was beaten, broken. There were bruises along his jawline and he looked much smaller than the last time I had seen him. His hair was longer and he was barely standing. But I knew him. I would never forget that face.

I jumped up, nearly sprinting across the room. “Liam. Liam.”

I don't know about you guys, but I'm super pumped to dive into the book after reading that!

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If you want to check out the rest of the blog tour, the following will be where you can find even more cool excerpts, author interviews, and guest posts!

January 10th:

What A Nerd Girl Says

Living Within Fiction

January 11th:

Little Fantasyland

Knightgale Reviews

January 12th:

Renae McBrian Books

Books and Movies Addict

January 13th:

Movies Shows and Books

January 14th: