Posts Tagged Book News
Lily and the Celestial Isle of Wonders by Gabriel Barrett
Posted by The Literary Melting Pot in Uncategorized on August 30, 2023
Blurb:
A hidden floating island is discovered in the sky, accessible only through a magical portal. A young twelve year old girl named Lily stumbles upon this secret and befriends the inhabitants. But when the island faces a dire threat, Lily and her newfound friends must work together to protect their extraordinary home from an evil force seeking to exploit its powers.
Review:
I’ve been watching this indie author as he has been expressing his creative, literary mind and I like what I see. His first book was an absolutely adorable Children’s Book about a young witch and her monster friends on a journey for candy. This book, however, is for the older young adult group-and it’s equally as impressive.
A quick, but very entertaining and captive read! My Amazon review reads:
Extraordinarily descriptive book with lovable characters and enthralling story-line. Appropriately categorized by age and beautifully written.
Highly recommend!
You can’t get much better! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and definitely would have loved it as a teenager!
About this Literary Chef:
Gabriel, a SC native, is an author of children’s and young adult literature. His passions are family, film and music.
Check out his work:
NEW Release: AN UNFORTUNATE VICTIM OF CIRCUMSTANCE by RJ Laws
Posted by The Literary Melting Pot in Book News on August 10, 2016
Published August 9, 2016
by: RJ Laws
Blurb:
Sheila can’t seem to catch a break in life, at least not a permanent one. Just as soon as things seem to even out for her, the other shoe drops. Sometimes, you have to make life bend to your will, before it crushes you.
About This Literary Chef:
RJ Laws is a quiet person who recently decided to take the plunge into the literary world. He resides in the Southeastern area of the US.
Contact:
REVIEW: ****, OR, THE ANATOMY OF MELANCHOLY by Matthew Selwyn
Posted by The Literary Melting Pot in Book News, Reviews on July 15, 2015
Blurb:
Reality is overrated. Sex, love, power, life: it’s gone digital. Why settle for a girlfriend with cellulite? Why spend every day working a dead-end job? These are the new days, the infinite days: plug in, get connected. Life is porn, porn is life, don’t accept anything less than the electric light show that is our digital reality.
At the end of every computer screen, a mind is being formed on the material coughed up by the web that connects us all: this is the story of one of the internet’s children, told from his own warped perspective. This is the millennial generation, the Y generation: we’re horny, lonely, afraid, and self-confident.
This is our story, our reality.
Review:
This is an outstanding debut!
The direction is expertly delivered, and our protagonist befriends the reader as a novice. Though somewhat misguided to throw us from the reality of his situation, the truth is revealed in a most genius manner.
We live in a world where technology is king and our younger generation has become victim to the ease, or should I say addiction, of having the world at their fingertips. This tends to make one less inclined to involve themselves in actual social situations. Much like Robert Burton, our narrator rants about life and its inhabitants with superior prose. He’s vulgar, sexist, obnoxious, and real. He’s the kid next door, a friend of my son’s, or my nephews.
As in reality, nothing is what it seems, and I couldn’t help connecting with this character. His feigned attempts to be hard and impervious to pain slowly become translucent. While I’m a little older than the intended audience, every generation has their poison of choice. My generation birthed the internet, but our progeny has hypnotized our actual offspring.
Selwyn is an incomparable young writer that I will follow, henceforth.
Dark, entertaining, shrewd, comical, and moving! I highly recommend this to adults ages eighteen and up!
***Warning: This book contains Sex, Violence, and Profanity***
DIGITAL:
HARDCOVER:
About This Literary Chef
Matthew Selwyn is a young writer from London, England. His debut novel, ****: The Anatomy of Melancholy was released in 2014. A student and librarian, he is often to be found hiding amongst the stacks in the Victorian library where he works, surrounded by piles of books.
He writes book reviews online at www.bibliofreak.net.
LINKS:
Release Day Blitz! THE PLAYER by @DeniseMSwank
Posted by The Literary Melting Pot in Book News on June 2, 2015
series.
should be based on practicality, not passion. But as her own wedding
approaches, she finds herself remembering her law school boyfriend, the only
man she’s ever loved, and regretting what might have been. Then a twist of fate
lands Garrett back in her life, and the man who loomed large in her past is
suddenly casting a shadow over her wedding, making her question everything. To
complicate matters further, the job she loves is in peril, and she can feel the
‘perfect’ life she’s fashioned for herself start to crumble under her feet.
Could everything she’s believed about life and love be wrong?
down. The problem is that he can’t find a woman who suits him nearly as well as
the one he loved and lost. He broke her heart by playing the field after their
break up—something he’s always regretted. But after months of pining for Blair,
Garrett stumbles across her in a freak coincidence—and then destiny keeps
throwing them together, the coincidences becoming ever more unlikely. He’s
convinced it’s a sign they should give their love a second chance, but Blair is
engaged to another man—a man who is absolutely wrong for her.
forever, and that happy endings aren’t just for dreamers?
USA Today bestselling author Denise Grover Swank was born in Kansas City,
Missouri and lived in the area until she was nineteen. Then she became a
nomadic gypsy, living in five cities, four states and ten houses over the
course of ten years before she moved back to her roots. She speaks English and
smattering of Spanish and Chinese which she learned through an intensive Nick
Jr. immersion period. Her hobbies include witty Facebook comments (in own
her mind) and dancing in her kitchen with her children. (Quite badly if you
believe her offspring.) Hidden talents include the gift of justification and
the ability to drink massive amounts of caffeine and still fall asleep within
two minutes. Her lack of the sense of smell allows her to
unspeakable tasks.
children and hasn’t lost her sanity.
to believe.
his out-of-nowhere declaration.
and in truth, he could give a rat’s ass about it. But damned if he was going to
stand by and let his punk cousin marry Blair, let alone with that ring.
ratcheted it up to Def-Con 1. Jesus, he had to get things under control.
that’s what you concerned about,” he said, dropping Blair’s hand and trying to
control his racing heart. “We’ll wait for Nana to come tomorrow night. She can
help make the decision.”
Whiney Neil tossed out the phrase “you’re her favorite.” While that was
probably true, he doubted Nana could help him get the girl, which was his real
goal. That one was all on him.
clear they’d kept her in the dark about the questionable ownership of her ring.
But soon her bewilderment turned to anger as she narrowed her eyes at
him.
shaking the plastic cat jar. “Blair, you got off easy this time. You only owe a
dollar. Neil, you owe two, and you, Gene Neilson Fredrick, must owe at least
five between the drinking and the cursing.”
seconds before Gene caved. He must have decided to choose his battles because
he dug out his wallet and sheepishly stuck a five-dollar bill into the jar.
Neil put in his money and Garrett handed over a dollar when Debra shoved the
jar in Blair’s direction.
anything.”
Blair. “Oh, this is for the bride. Call it an early wedding gift. But it this
is for cursing, as the label suggests, you owe some money yourself, Aunt
Debra.” His eyebrows rose with mock recrimination.
mother about my true parentage. No one ever told me I was a bastard.”
tell if it was from
on her behalf, but now he could tell she was trying to hold back a grin.
The woman’s face twisted into disgust as she pulled her wallet out of her purse
and pulled out one dollar. She screwed an indignant expression on her face.
“The Lowrys seem to bring out the worst in me.”
mischief. “Actually, Debra, you owe two dollars. One for informing your nephew
of his illegitimacy and the second for spelling out the home of you know
who.”
aunt’s self-righteous attitude.
rest of them.
couldn’t help but take pleasure in riling up his aunt and irritating his
cousin. Especially since Blair seemed to find Debra as obnoxious as he did.
“Dare I ask who that is?”
darkness himself.”
an amused look.
you keep talking about? Do we need to add him to the kitty list?”
aunt didn’t already know about the notorious villain.
children’s book, which explains why Garrett is so enthralled with him.”
but it didn’t stop him from giving her a look of reproach. She glanced away,
trying to hide her grin.
and proper exterior. Just like he’d found her years ago.
RELEASE DAY BLITZ & GIVEAWAY!! STOLEN ART by RUTH SILVER
Posted by The Literary Melting Pot in Book News, Reviews, YA Fiction on April 29, 2015
Title: Stolen Art
Author: Ruth Silver
Publisher: Lazy Day Publishing
Release Date: April 28, 2015
Genre: Young Adult, Sci-Fi Romance
Sixteen-year-old Madeline has been living on the streets, biding her time until she’s eighteen. With little to no money, she takes on a heist in hopes of making ends meet. What could possibly go wrong?
Everything.
Getting caught is just the beginning of Madeline’s adventure as she meets Weston and discovers the secret of where she came from.
Fans of Orphan Black, The X-Files, and Fringe will fall head over heels for STOLEN ART.
Recommended: Ages 15+
Review
An excellent YA Sci-Fi with enough teenage angst and drama to keep readers glued to the pages! The story line was well written and flowed easily. Recommend for readers ages fifteen and above.
Excerpt
I rush back up the dark stairwell, shoving the key into the doorknob. It takes a minute for the lock to click and I push myself inside the apartment, securing every lock and deadbolt. I can’t stay here in Hutchinson, Kansas any longer. Pulling my phone from my purse, I text Weston.
Tatiana is here. It’s not safe for me.
I grab the few belongings that have any value to me, sentimental or otherwise, and shove it into my shoulder bag, including the stolen silver necklace. It has value and if I’m forced on the run, I’ll need money to survive.
I know.
What did Weston mean he knew Tatiana is at the bar? Had he seen her? Is he there?
What do you mean, you know? I type into the phone. If he saw her, why didn’t he warn me? I can’t go down out the front door and it’s only a matter of time until she finds me just a few feet away. I grow restless waiting for an answer.
The phone buzzes and displays an incoming call from Weston. “Wes, tell me you’re here.” The only thing to do is hop in his car and drive into the night, far from Kansas.
A female’s voice bubbles with laughter. “Oh he’s coming darling, but you should know he won’t get here in time. Amazing how easy it is to clone a phone number and steal his service. The advancements Stem Tech has made is encouraging.”
About the Author
Ruth Silver is the best-selling author of the Aberrant trilogy. With a passion for writing and a love of story-telling, Ruth is actively writing multiple series under her name as well as the pen name Ravyn Rayne. Her interests include traveling, reading, and photography. Her favorite vacation destination is Australia. Ruth currently resides in Plainfield, Illinois.
Follow Ruth here
Blog- http://writeawaybliss.com
Facebook- http://facebook.com/writeawaybliss
Twitter- http://twitter.com/writeawaybliss
Looking for a steamier read? Check her out here
Blog- http://ravynrayne.com
Facebook- http://facebook.com/ravynraynereads
Twitter- http://twitter.com/blushingravyn
GIVEAWAY:
RELEASE BLITZ! HOMEFRONT by JESSICA SCOTT
Posted by The Literary Melting Pot in Book News, Reviews on April 10, 2015
Jessica Scott
Homefront
4/7/2015
Blurb:
He’s always loved her…
First Sergeant Gale Sorren waited a war and half a lifetime for a chance to get stationed near the ex-wife who left him years ago. When he finally musters the courage to see her, the life he imagined she was living was nothing close to the reality.
She’s never stopped loving him…
Melanie never stopped worrying about Gale each time he headed off to war. But he’s never been there when she needed him and she’s had fifteen years to steel her heart against him.
But when Gale moves to Fort Hood, he finally has a chance to make things right with Melanie and the daughter she raised without him.
Can Mel trust her heart to a man who has always let her down?
Review
**This is a review of the original version; therefore, my review may have some obsolete opinions**
I adore Jessica Scott’s novels, as they’re always romantic with a sense of realness.
Gale and Mel were hot-blooded teens when they married and the same when they divorced. This novel covers the aftermath fifteen years later, as the two try to help their daughter cope with mental illness, and a plethora of other things. Since neither quite let go of the love they shared, a rekindling of what once was becomes a passionate story that engrossed two hours of my life! I’m happy to say this was NOT time wasted.
There’s a certain soul to Scott’s writing. I felt the heartbreak as they tried desperately to reach their daughter, my shoulders were heavy with the burden of guilt as they both relived their mistakes, and my breath hitched as each sensual moment arose. The family structure portrayed here was beautiful, and the story line was realistic. PTSD was a forerunner that was written well, and the problems Gale had with his battalion were not out of the realm of possibilities. Mel’s story was one in which many women can relate, and I felt the author portrayed her vulnerabilities and strengths beautifully!
I loved the characters, was mesmerized throughout, and finished the last page with a smile. I look forward to the next installment!
Highly recommend!
**Growing up, I was surrounded by military jargon; therefore, the slang was casual conversation for me, but some may have a hard time understanding the lingo.
Buy:
Amazon | B&N | iTunes/iBooks | Kobo | Google Play
Excerpt:
“What if he comes here?”
“He won’t.”
“You don’t know that.”
“You’re right,” he admitted finally. He sighed heavily. “I’ve known him a long time and this doesn’t gel with what I know of him. He’s not going to hurt you.”
“You sound so certain.” Her fingers danced over his ribs, as though she wasn’t sure where to place her hands. “Why?”
“Because you’re mine,” he said, giving voice to the powerful feelings he could finally identify for what they were. “And if he puts his hands on you or our daughter, I’ll kill him.”
And then he kissed her.
It was a powerful kiss, filled with a riot of emotions that had started building in him years ago when she’d first left him. It was a kiss filled with fear. With uncertainty.
With desire.
He gave in to the maelstrom inside him, holding back only enough to be certain that he wasn’t crossing the line.
Mel opened to his kiss, wanting badly to push away the sadness and the fear and the worry that had been squeezing the air from her lungs since she’d found Gale outside her office.
There was fear in her response, a tacit admission that this was something fleeting and yet, it was the only tangible thing between them.
He shifted then until their bodies pressed together, until she breathed with him and felt part of her soul take flight from the bonds of worry and sadness and daily life.
Her fingers flexed against his ribs. Gale felt the moment she gave in to the kiss, savored the moment of her surrender. Her body relaxed against his, fitting perfectly against his chest.
This was something good. Something pure. Untainted by the darkness that had caused him to seek her out today, needing her when he needed to lean. This. This was what he craved. His wife’s touch. His wife’s taste.
She was not his wife. That ugly piece of reality crashed into him and he stiffened.
Mel felt it instantly, her body tensing. “What?”
The words lodged in his throat. There was no way he could admit the feelings that churned inside him. That he still thought of her as his wife after all these years.
He nipped at her bottom lip, hoping to distract her. “We should do this more often.”
He felt her smile beneath his lips. “You think so?” There was something light and breathless in her words.
“Very much so.” He kissed the corner of her mouth. The edge of her jaw.
He traced the outside edge of her ear with the tip of his tongue. Felt the pleasure of her gasp against his cheek. His teeth scraped over her earlobe. “That’s nice,” she breathed.
“You like that?”
“Yeah.”
He closed his eyes, pulling her tight, needing the comfort of her touch, the pleasure to drive away the darkness. He breathed in her scent, holding her close. Her pulse scattered against his cheek and for a moment, he simply held her.
“You make me crazy, Melanie,” he whispered.
About Jessica Scott:
USA Today Bestselling author Jessica Scott is a career army officer, mother of two daughters, three cats and three dogs, wife to a career NCO and wrangler of all things stuffed and fluffy. She is a terrible cook and even worse housekeeper, but she’s a pretty good shot with her assigned weapon and someone liked some of the stuff she wrote. Somehow, her children are pretty well adjusted and her husband still loves her, despite burned water and a messy house.
She’s also written for the New York Times At War Blog, PBS Point of View Regarding War, and IAVA. She deployed to Iraq in 2009 as part of OIF/New Dawn and has had the honor of serving as a company commander at Fort Hood, Texas twice.
She’s pursuing a graduate degree in Sociology in her spare time and most recently, she’s been featured as one of Esquire Magazine’s Americans of the Year for 2012.
Find Jessica Online:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | TSU
REVIEW!! A Veil of Glass and Rain:Special Edition by Petra March (A Touch of Cinnamon, Book 1)
Posted by The Literary Melting Pot in Book News, Reviews on April 2, 2015
Synopsis
Brina and Eagan meet for the first time when she’s nine and he’s fourteen. They like each other from the very beginning, though their bond isn’t immediate, but it grows over the years. What links them is the fact that their parents are photographers and are extremely devoted to their work and to each other; so much so that both Brina and Eagan have to learn how to take care of themselves from a very young age. Despite their differences, age, gender, nationality – Brina is Italian and Eagan is American – they find comfort in their growing friendship.
Then Brina becomes a teenager, and her feelings for her friend start changing and deepening. New desires stir within her. As soon as Brina realizes how those feelings complicate her friendship with Eagan, she runs away from him.
A few years later, Brina is twenty and Eagan is twenty-five, they find one another once again.
Publisher’s Note: This is a fully re-edited and enriched with new and special contents version of the previously published novel, A Veil of Glass and Rain, by Petra F. Bagnardi (aka Petra March).
**Ages 18+ Recommended due to adult content**
Review
This was a very passionate, romantic, and emotional novel!
Brina and Eagan have a very intense relationship that many can understand, but not all. The depth of their love is tormenting, while at the same time comforting. Their need for one another is complicated by their need for independence. As their background is given, the pieces fall into place, making this a wonderful read as a whole!
I devoured this book! March’s writing style is expressive and dramatic, which hooked me from the start. There’s a musician inside of her somewhere, as she shares songs at the end, but her writing throughout this novel has a certain melody of its own.
While the story spans over several years, the narration flips from the past to present, then from Brina to Eagan. The author manages this change of direction in a most expert manner, adding complexity to the story. The sensual scenes are explicit, and wonderful! Setting is depicted beautifully, secondary characters are strong, and the flow starts as a steady stream only to turn into a raging river of speed reading. I loved this novel & I highly recommend to lovers of deep romance!
About This Literary Chef
Petra March (aka Petra F. Bagnardi) studied Screenwriting and History of American Cinema at UCLA and NYU. Presently, Petra keeps traveling and dreaming through her novels. Her characters are deeply in love with Europe and the USA, just like Petra is.
Author Links
Blog Tour Stop! Bad For Me by Codi Gary
Posted by The Literary Melting Pot in Book News, Reviews on April 1, 2015
All she has to do is take a chance…
***Novel Contains Mature Content***
Publication Date: April 6, 2015
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Blurb
Review
Catching the series a little late, I was surprised how well the author makes this novel stand on its own.
This is a lovely story involving two emotionally wounded characters, just trying to move forward. The quaint setting, and the author’s exceptional taste in music was a definite plus, but the main story line is quite a treat! Callie was a little hard on Everett at times, as one would expect considering her past, but Everett’s resolve proved him the quintessential hero. Their tale is touching, funny, heartbreaking, and sometimes frustrating, but I loved this couple!
Excellent read!
An obsessive bookworm, Codi Gary likes to write sexy small-town contemporary romances with humor, grand gestures, and blush-worthy moments. When she’s not writing, she can be found reading her favorite authors, squealing over her must-watch shows, and playing with her children. She lives in Idaho with her family.
Check Out THE ROCK CANYON SERIES!!
RELEASE DAY BLITZ! LADY OF THE FLAMES by BARBARA MONAJEM
Posted by The Literary Melting Pot in Book News on March 23, 2015
Magic is fraught with peril—but so is love.
Lord Fenimore Trent’s uncanny affinity for knives and other sharp blades led to knife fights, duels, and murderous brawls. Five years ago, he faced a choice: marry Andromeda Gibbons, the woman he loved, or find a safe, peaceful use for his blades by opening a furniture shop—an unacceptable occupation for a man of noble birth. The choice made itself when Andromeda turned to another man. The furniture shop prospered, but now Fen’s partner has been accused of treason. In order to root out the real traitor, he may face another unpalatable choice—to resort to the violent use of his blades once again.
Once upon a time, Andromeda Gibbons believed in magic. That belief faded after her mother’s death and vanished completely when Lord Fenimore, the man she loved, spurned her. Five years later, Andromeda has molded herself into a perfect—and perfectly unhappy—lady. When she overhears her haughty betrothed, the Earl of Slough, plotting treason, she flees into the London night—to Fen, the one man she knows she can trust. But taking refuge with Fen proves to mean far more than getting help—it means learning to believe in love, magic, and the real Andromeda once again.
“It’s time for bed now,” Fen said.
Andromeda’s eyes widened, but mercifully she was too exhausted to try any of her wiles on him. Not that she seemed so inclined at the moment, but earlier, when their eyes had met for a few seconds, he’d wondered. Oh, how he remembered kissing and licking those lovely feet—and stopping right there, for if he hadn’t, his tongue would have wandered elsewhere and feasted indeed.
He knew for certain that she remembered it, too.
But he also doubted that she could undress by herself. “There are no women here, so I suppose I’ll have to unlace your stays.” He knew he sounded surly but couldn’t help it. Time was when he’d wanted nothing more than to love this woman forever.
“If you don’t mind,” she said stiffly, standing up, hissing as her injured feet touched the rug. She pulled a small reticule from the top of her stays and set it on the dresser. “If I can put up with it, surely you can, too.”
He swore under his breath and went behind her to undo the hooks at the back of the gown. Quickly, he unlaced her stays and stood back. “I’ll give you something of mine to wear. It’ll be too big, but you need more than a shift.” He went over to his chest of drawers, pulled out a nightshirt, and tossed it onto the bed.
This would not be comfortable or easy, but they both had to sleep. “There’s a chamber pot under the bed. I’ll be back in a few minutes.” He went to the door. “Call me when you’re ready.”
“Ready for what?”
“To go to bed.” She frowned, and he added, “When you’ve changed into the nightshirt and used the chamber pot and done whatever else you have to do. There’s a hairbrush on the dressing table if you need it.”
“Very well, but why would I call you?”
“So I can come to bed, too,” he said.
She was already pale with fatigue, but now she went stark white. “You can’t come to bed…in here…with me!”
Considering the way she’d thrown herself at him five years ago, this should be hilarious. It wasn’t. It made him want to swear and throw things. “I have nowhere else to sleep.”
“No other bedchambers?”
“One, but it belongs to my valet.”
“No settee? No sofa?” She clenched her small fists.
“Only chairs. And before you ask, we’re out of sofas in the shop, too.” A damned good thing, because he didn’t relish sleeping in the showroom for all his workers to find in the morning. “I need what little sleep I can get. The next few days are going to be hell in too many ways.”
If she took that as an insult, so be it. She put her hands on her hips and tried to look fierce, but her lip trembled.
He relented a little. “Don’t be a fool, Andromeda. We’re not going to do anything we shouldn’t.”
She narrowed her eyes. “No, we certainly are not.”
Lord, what a fiasco. “Then what’s bothering you?”
“I won’t be able to sleep at all if you’re naked!”
He burst out laughing. Was that all that bothered her?
“It’s not proper,” she shouted, crimson with rage. The fire crackled, sounding as angry as she. “It’s not right!”
“Hush,” he retorted. “Someone might hear you.”
“Just because I’m now completely ruined doesn’t mean I should be treated like a trollop.”
Where had she got that idea? He’d thought he was treating her rather well. “I won’t be naked, you idiotic girl,” he said. “I’ll wear what I have on now.”
“It’s still not right,” she said. “I’m unmarried. I can’t share my bed with a man.”
“In case you have forgotten,” he said between his teeth, “it’s my bed, and I don’t want you there, either.” He lit a candle from the branch on the dresser and went to the door. “But unless you wish to sleep on the floor, that’s the way it will be.” He left the room, shutting the door behind him.
Barbara Monajem grew up in western Canada. She wrote her first story, a fantasy about apple tree gnomes, when she was eight years old, and dabbled in neighborhood musicals at the age of ten. At twelve, she spent a year in Oxford, England, soaking up culture and history, grubbing around at an archaeological dig, playing twosy-ball against the school wall, and spending her pocket money on adventure novels. Thanks to her mother, she became addicted to Regency romances as well. She is the award-winning author of several Regency novellas, many of which include elements of magic, and the Bayou Gavotte series of paranormal mysteries. Apart from writing, she loves to cook (especially soups), and the only item on her bucket list is to be successful at knitting socks (which she doesn’t expect to achieve). She lives near Atlanta, Georgia, with an ever-shifting population of relatives, friends, and feline strays.
COVER REVEAL! FORBIDDEN TERRITORY by MELLISA PEARL & BRENDA HOWSON
Posted by The Literary Melting Pot in Book News, YA Fiction on March 3, 2015
Forbidden Territory
By Melissa Pearl & Brenda Howson
COVER REVEAL
March 3, 2015
Best friends mending a heartbreaking feud, two hot boys, a weekend camping trip in the New
Zealand bush away from meddlesome parents . . . what could be better?
That is, until they stumble across a hidden marijuana crop and its terrifying watchmen, and
their dream weekend turns into the ultimate nightmare. Forced apart, the two couples spend
the next 48 hours racing blindly through the bush, searching for each other. Hoping
desperately to find their friends before the hunters do . . .
~*~ABOUT MELISSA PEARL & BRENDA HOWSON~*~
Melissa Pearl and Brenda Howson have been best friends for well over a decade. Both
mothers of two young children, both married to school teachers, and both lovers of writing,
they have a lot in common. Having spent many vacations away together, they have become
as close to sisters as two girls can get. It was on one of these holidays away that the Mica and
Lexy Series was born.
Melissa is the author of multiple YA and NA books, written in a variety of genres. She is a
fully trained elementary teacher, but is lucky enough to stay home and watch her kids grow.
She is also spending every spare moment trying to turn writing into a full-time career … and
loving the process.
Find out more about her books here: http://www.melissapearlauthor.com/news
Brenda was the one who encouraged Melissa to start writing in the first place. Once Melissa
got started, Brenda caught the bug; she has been writing for ten years, in between
motherhood and working at a local high school in the computer department. She has won two
short story competitions and been runner up in another. Forbidden Territory is her first
published novel.
The Literary Melting Pot 
