Rachel McClellan: Escape to Eden

Run now!

When seventeen-year-old Sage wakes up in a hospital with no memories, her only clue is the words written on her hand. With a deadly disease threatening to wipe out mankind, Sage must find out who she is and why most people would kill to get their hands on her--before it's too late. This fast-paced, futuristic thriller is a spine-tingling read!

                  

Rachel McClellan was born and raised in Idaho, a place secretly known for its supernatural creatures. When she's not in her writing lair, she's partying with her husband and four crazy, yet lovable, children. Rachel's love for storytelling began as a child when the moon first possessed the night. For when the lights went out, her imagination painted a whole new world. And what a scary world it was... 

          

Make sure to read my interview of Rachel, and read an excerpt from the book below.

Review: Just wow. Rachel is such a gifted writer and I've never yet been disappointed by any of her books. This one in not only no exception, it actually really excels. I love the world she's created, with the all-too-human desire to be perfect which has gone awry. Sage is a great heroine, and Colt is a perfectly flawed hero. You seriously need to read this book. I can't wait for the next installment to find out what happens next to these "originals" (you'll have to read it to really understand that). Highly recommended.

What was your inspiration for this particular book? I wanted to write a book about humanity and how important the relationships are with people in our lives. I also wanted this theme to be expressed in a future world where man has been made to be “perfect” when nothing could be further from the truth.

I love that since the idea of creating a "perfect human" seems crazy. We're perfect in our imperfections. What is your favorite part of this book? I personally love the scene where Sage is with Colt and has to do something to him to save his life. It’s pretty cruel, but it’s the only way she can protect him.

Yeah, I agree with that. Is there anything in the finished manuscript you would change? Yikes! Tough question. Nothing I’ve noticed yet, but I’ve found with every one of my novels that after it’s been out for awhile, and I re-read it, there is always something I which I would’ve changed. I’m sure this novel will be no different. 

I know what you mean. I don't think I have a single book I've written I wouldn't like to change at least one thing in. As you know, you're one of my favorite authors. Of all the books you've written, which one would you call your favorite? If you can't name a favorite, which one did you enjoy writing the most? First, thanks for the compliment! Second, what’s with all the tough questions? :) I think The Devil’s Angel is my most favorite of all, but I had the most fun writing this book [Escape to Eden] because it’s so fast paced. It played out like a movie in my mind. 

Though I love all of your books - seriously - I would probably list Fractured Light as my favorite. Still, that doesn't detract from my love of all of them. I just flat out think you're a fantastic writer. Outside of writing, what's your favorite activity or hobby? I love playing volleyball, racquetball or really any sport. 

I'm so completely uncoordinated that I avoid sports myself, so good on you that you enjoy them. So, what is Rachel McClellan's biggest pet peeve? I’m a pretty laid back person so not much bugs me, but I really hate commercials. Like really hate them. The TV is always muted during them. This is a recent pet peeve, probably because my kids are loud enough so I don’t need the added noise.

Did you know commercials are purposely played at a higher volume than whatever show you're watching? Crazy. I don't mute them, but I've learned to tune them out. Anything else you wish to let your readers know or tell them about? This book is the beginning of a trilogy. I’m wrapping up the second book now, and I can’t tell you how excited I am about this series! It’s a page-turner for sure! 

Yes, I agree! It was hard to stop reading when I had to. I can't wait to see what comes next. Below is an excerpt from the book. You'll have to read the book yourself to find out what happens to Anthony! And don't forget to enter the giveaway at the bottom.

Excerpt

"Stop!" a man shouts. He runs towards us. Two more appear behind him.

Jenna reaches a hand down. "Grab it!"

Colt takes hold and she easily lifts him out. They are all so strong.

"Go up, Sage,” Anthony says. “I've got these guys.”

He's holding the same dagger I'd had in my hand earlier.

"I'm not leaving you alone," I say.

"Three guys is nothing. I'll be fine. Go."

I look up toward where my brother sits waiting for me and then back at Anthony.

"Stop right there and we'll let you live," a guard says. He has a single spike sticking out of his otherwise bald head.

"Don't listen to him Sage," Anthony says. "You're too valuable. Just go before they capture Max again."

This makes me move. I scramble up the ladder. When I'm at the top, I shout down, "Come on! You can make it."

He stares up at me through the narrow opening and smiles. "Change the world," he says just as an invisible blast knocks him to the ground. 

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Valentine's Book Blitz Day 12

 

Former Navy SEAL Jake Williams is the newly appointed head of a task force assigned to rescue a kidnapped American diplomat. Their only hope is Mya Amari, the daughter of a notorious Algerian hostage negotiator, but she is full of secrets and complications–something Jake takes as a personal challenge. As they grow closer, the threat to the mission escalates and time runs out for the hostages. Can Jake unravel the web of deception to save them all without getting caught in the crossfire?

Mya Amari has been in hiding nearly her entire life to escape her father’s enemies. But when her sister is kidnapped along with an American diplomat, she’ll do anything to bring her home–including walking into the enemy’s lair. She doesn’t trust anyone, especially the too-handsome-for-his-own-good Commander Williams, but when all her careful plans explode out of control, he’s the only one she can turn to with the truth about her family. Is it too little, too late? 

       

Julie Coulter Bellon is the author of more than a dozen romantic suspense novels. Her book All Fall Down won the RONE award for Best Suspense and Pocket Full of Posies won a RONE Honorable Mention for Best Suspense.

Julie loves to travel and her favorite cities she's visited so far are probably Athens, Paris, Ottawa, and London. She loves to read, write, teach, watch Castle, Hawaii Five-O, and eat Canadian chocolate. Not necessarily in that order.

Julie offers writing and publishing tips as well as her take on life on her blog ldswritermom.blogspot.com You can also find out about all her upcoming projects at her website juliebellon.com 

Author Newsletter http://eepurl.com/g48Pz

Facts About the Author:

1. When I am not writing I like to read, play board games with the family, (our new favorite is Sheriff of Nottingham), or watch Castle.

   
   

   
   

   2. I am working on the second book in my Griffin Force series called The Captain and it should be released in May 2016.

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Snippet #2

He was looking out the kitchen window when Mya came in. He could see her out of the corner of his eye, standing in the doorway, watching him. She looked undecided, as if she wanted to come in, but didn’t know if she should. “Is everything okay?” he asked finally, turning his face toward her.

“Yeah.” But she still didn’t sound sure.

He moved to the table and motioned her toward it. “Looks like a pretty quiet neighborhood. I don’t think we have anything to worry about.”

“That’s what I thought about the last place.” She shuddered slightly. “Watching those gunmen through that camera made me feel so helpless. I thought they were going to kill them, then come for us.” Her voice trailed off.  “I’ve lost so many people in my life.”

The vulnerability in her voice was unmistakable, the longing for connection. Jake saw himself in her statement, their similar losses forging an emotional bond he’d never felt with anyone else.  He put his hand on hers, needing to touch her. “You won’t lose me.” The attraction that had been simmering between them flared to life. He lifted her hand, letting his thumb run over her knuckles. “I promise.”  She sucked in a breath, unable to keep her eyes off him as he flipped her hand over palm up and pulled it to his mouth, kissing the inside of her wrist. 

“Jake,” she whispered, leaning close. 

He lifted his hand to cup her face and she nestled her cheek against it. 

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Valentine's Book Blitz Day 11

Julianne Kelsch is an author and freelance writer who picked up the pen after the birth of her second child. A mother of four, she believes words have a special kind of magic all their own. With a word you can open the heart or break the soul; you can breathe life into love or distinguish the final flame. For her, reading is a place to experience worlds unseen and lives never lived; writing is the place to create them. 

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For Lily Frost, love is a double edged sword. She craves it, she needs it, but the asking price for love may be her life.
After her mother's apparent suicide, Lily receives a terrible warning: leave California or run the risk of death. Afraid for her life, she flees. Her only hope for safety lies with her father, a man who abandoned her when she was five. But while she searches for him, she discovers love and safety in the arms of James Prescott.
James is a man tormented by his mother's unsolved murder. More than anything he wants to see her killer lifeless, lying in a shallow grave. When Lily enters his life, he realizes that he hasn't been living. Lily shines for him, a light that finally pierces the darkness. For the first time in years, he feels hope. Their relationship blossoms and Lily discovers that she is worthy of love. However, she soon realizes that the safety she craves and the love she's found may be short lived.
The past James carries and the life Lily left behind collide, throwing the couple into the path of the murderer. Secrets long buried come to surface and threaten to destroy everything. Will they face their demons together or will they let the past tear them apart?

1. For my tenth anniversary I went to Jamaica and renewed my wedding vows; it was glorious!

2. I hate being cold so I wear fuzzy slippers all winter. This year's model makes me look like the abominable snowman.

3. I teach piano lessons (and I have no patience) - I'm still not sure how that works.  

4. The wall behind my bed is painted to look like an ocean sunset. It would probably throw most designers into a tailspin, but I love it. 

5. I spent a lot of my childhood reading and devoured everything I could. When I was eleven I decided the vital components of every novel included: suspense, drama, action, comedy, and romance. When I started writing I cut out comedy because, to be frank, I'm just not funny.

6. My husband tells me I'm like a fine wine - I get better with age. I'm grateful for this because I haven't figured out what he saw in me in the first place. 

7. I believe words have a special kind of magic. Many wonderful souls penned beautiful words that impacted my life. Some of them caused me to think in a different way, some of them gave me joy, many of them just made me smile, and some of them I escaped into. I hope in some way I can return the favor. 

8. When I was growing up I always wanted the kind of love I read about in my novels. It didn't happen overnight, but I never lost that dream; I realized recently that I have the kind of love I read about in my novels, but it took me years to see it. I'm grateful my eyes finally opened. 

9. I am well versed in the language of sarcasm. 

10. I dream about having an office filled with geeky stuff. I can see it all in my head - posters of my favorite stories and characters line the walls, lego sets of Lord of the Rings or the Disney princess castles are set strategically on shelves and desks; somewhere near the office is a library, and I'll probably have costumes designed to match the characters I love. I'm a kid at heart, operating as an adult, always looking to embrace the child inside. Right now I embrace these things covertly (jewelry is a great way to express my geekiness without overdoing it), but someday I'll have my office. 

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Notice: Valentines Day Cancelled Due to Cruelty!

I am hereby giving notice that Valentine's Day has been cancelled - at least for me. From here on out, February 14th will simple be the day after February 13th and the day before February 15th. It will hereafter be referred to a V-day (Vengeful day or Venom day or Vicious day, take your pick).

I've come to the conclusion that V-day is actually a cruel holiday, and not just for the single people. Here's why.

If one is single, it seems to be a day that is nothing more than a reminder that they're alone. It's a day to say

If in a relationship, there's still an intense amount of pressure that comes with V-day. How to plan the perfectly romantic evening, and how to buy the perfectly romantic gift puts undue stress on a person. 

Notice that all commercials and gifts are geared toward what to buy her. She doesn't really want flowers that are going to wilt and die in a few days, or candy which she thinks will make her fat. Which leaves jewelry, and so now one has to decide which jewelry is appropriate that won't either be too meaningful (I don't want to marry you just yet), or too casual (but I do love you). And then hope like heck that she likes the jewelry!

And what is she supposed to buy for him? He definitely doesn't want any of those three things (okay, maybe the candy). So then what? If in an intimate relationship one can always buy lingerie to wear for him (because really, what man doesn't like that?). However, if the relationship hasn't progressed to that point, then what?

Are you starting to see the cruelty of V-day?

So I hereby renounce V-day! I will support Galentine's Day (a day for you and your gals to hang out and celebrate one another without the above pressures and expectations). Or Guylentine's Day (the same thing for guys). And I will also support your decision to continue to celebrate V-day with your own lover. 

Because that's what's so great about life, getting to make your own decisions that are right for you and not trying to impose your thoughts or decisions on someone else. 

So for those who will celebrate, Happy V-day! And for those who, like me, have given it up, have a happy February 14th!

Valentine's Book Blitz Day 10

 

At the age of fifteen, Carly Sue McCluskie ran away from the family farm to escape her abusive great uncle Ezra and the torment of her classmates only to end up homeless on the streets of Salt Lake City. Eight years later, she reluctantly returns to oversee Ezra’s estate and is not surprised to learn someone killed the old codger. What she didn’t expect is someone attempting to kill her.

Seth Wakely and his family have been feuding with the McCluskies for a lifetime, but that doesn’t stop him from helping a neighbor in need. Seth is as surprised as a pig laying an egg when he learns someone in their little country town might have killed Ezra and now Carly Sue’s life is in danger.

Seth finds himself torn between protecting her and the bitter memories of the past, including what he did to Carly Sue. Good thing he can send his Border collie, Jewel, over to protect her.

Will their Hatfield and McCoy relationship continue, or will Carly Sue and Seth be able to conquer the anger which corrals them and, instead, learn to love?

          

        

Bestselling author, Cindy A Christiansen, has combined her love of dogs with her joy of writing to create an award winning combination. Her novels always include canine characters both in the pages and on the cover, an extension of the credit she gives to her extraordinary rescue dogs for their part in helping her overcome numerous challenges. In a reciprocal gesture for their love and devotion, a portion of the proceeds from her books are donated to assist abandoned and abused dogs.

She lives in Utah with her loving husband, two creative children with autism, and a pack of rambunctious dogs.

Fly into a good book!

Facts about the Author

1.     Readers would be surprised to know that I am actually allergic to dogs, but that doesn't stop me from having them and loving them!

2.     I have always wanted to make a difference in people's lives.

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List of My Top 10 Favorite Things:

1.     Puppies and their puppy breath

2.     A cup of hot chocolate with whipped cream

3.     Dragonfly jewelry

4.     Homemade buttered popcorn

5.     A book that puts you through a lot of emotions

6.     Playing with my dogs

7.     Quality time with family

8.     Sharing time with friends

9.     Helping others

10.  Classic black and white movies

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