Blog Tour: The Life Group

The Life Group
by Maura Jortner
Genre: YA Thriller
Release Date: January 9th 2017
Lakewater Press

 Summary:

 ONE MISSING GIRL. NO SUSPECTS.

Every day since her sister vanished, Rachel has visited the radical church where Leah was last seen. There are still no suspects or leads, but Rachel’s positive clues lie in that church somewhere.

Thirteen days on from Leah's disappearance, the pastor introduces Rachel to Tim, a devout worshiper of his Lord. To avoid dealing with his own demons, he agrees to spend the day helping Rachel search for her sister.

It’s Saturday, March 14. Maybe today will be the day. Maybe today Rachel will be reunited with Leah. Or maybe today will change Rachel’s life forever.

For fans of GONE GIRL, this gripping Young Adult thriller will keep you guessing until its explosive climax.

 '...a truly original storyline and taut pacing that pulls the reader relentlessly toward the devastating conclusion.' USA Today Bestselling author Lisa Stormes Hawker

'Teens and adults alike will devour this rollercoaster story...' Emily Bleeker, author of WRECKAGE and WHEN I'M GONE

Excerpt:
The podium and cross look lonely within the dim space ahead of me. As I gaze forward, I imagine myself standing there, dressed all in black, singing at Leah’s funeral. My parents huddle together, arms entwined, in a front pew. I alone face the congregation, and though I’m shaking so hard my voice falters, I don’t want to let my sister down. I bravely confront her coffin and dig deep to summon more vocal strength. I make it through the end of Amazing Grace.

For the record, Leah would be pissed. She hates that song.

In the next minute, I’m praying again. Please let her be okay. Please, God. Please? It must be something that happens automatically in a church. Please, God. She’s my sister. My sister. My only sister...

Stupid. God knows that.

I swallow and blink at the ceiling. When I’m ready, I face the front anew.

The cross up front is simple, sparse. A small podium draped with a cloth sits on the left. It’s decorated with things cut from felt, something a youth group would make. Thick, fuzzy red writing shouts, The Blood of the Lamb Has Saved Us, Sinners All; yellow, orange, and blue flames lick at the text.

Something creaks—maybe a floorboard—and I swivel around, hoping to see someone suspicious. No. It’s just Pastor James and the guy he’s praying with. Their heads still hang down. One of them must have shifted in his seat. I puff out a deep breath and turn back to the front.

She’ll turn up. She’ll turn up. She’s done lots of stupid stuff before and she’s always been okay.I whisper this over and over. Inside, though, I’m not sure it’s true this time.

Please. Please let her be okay. Please let her not be dead.

Tears gather in my eyes, and a lump the size of Texas knots in my throat.I dig a tissue from my purse and wipe my nose. I dab under my eyes, careful to veer around my eyeliner, and sniffle. But going into meltdown mode here, in this church? No. It won’t happen. I won’t let it. I press my knuckles into the old wood. My joints start to throb, but I hold them against the smooth surface until physical pain replaces emotion, and the tears vanish down my throat. Happy with my show of self-control, I shove the wadded up mess of tissue into the side pocket of my purse.

I let out a sigh. This is probably a huge waste of time.What am I hoping to find?I’ve come here for six days in a row and nothing’s turned up. Nothing’s happened.Why am I expecting something different now? God, I just want to help Leah. Please give me a sign. Let me know she’s okay.

When I glance down, I discover my hands are clasped together. Am I praying? Am I seriously praying?

Another noise; I swing around in my seat. The two in the back. I wonder how long they can keep up with it—talking to God. Together. Exactly when that thought crosses my brain, Pastor James’s head bobs up. He smiles at me. I freeze. Crap. Grimacing, I face the front again. Whatever. Worst case: I interrupted his prayer. Best case: He has something to report.

I force myself to stay seated the way I am, but I finally give in to the impulse I’ve been fighting. God,I whisper, are you listening? Where is she? Did Mason have something to do with it?God doesn’t answer, but a sound echoes behind me—a mumble and then movement. I can’t help myself. I swivel.

Pastor James is coming up the center aisle, strutting almost, in his usual swaying gait. His hands are in his pockets. As he gazes at me, his eyebrows shoot up to hide in his long bangs; he looks like he has something important to tell me.

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 About the Author
Maura Jortner grew up in New Hampshire and now lives in Waco, Texas with her patient husband, two amazing daughters, and one unruly cat. She teaches literature and writing classes at Baylor University. A lifetime ago, she used to direct plays and put on puppet shows for kids, which led to a Ph.D. in Theatre History. Currently, when Maura’s not writing, she’s spending her time like every native-born Texan: worrying about how many chiggers might be hidden in the grass outside her house or if she put enough sunscreen on her kids.

 Author Links:
Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook

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Blog Tour Organized by:
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The Autumn Bookshelf

Book Blitz: Roseblood

We are so excited that ROSEBLOOD by A.G. Howard releases today and that we get to share the news!

If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful book by Author A.G. Howard, be sure to check out all the details below.

This blitz also includes a giveaway for a signed ROSEBLOOD poster and a mask courtesy of A.G. and Rockstar Book Tours. So if you’d like a chance to win, enter in the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post.

About The Book:

Title: ROSEBLOOD

Author: A.G. Howard

Pub. Date: January 10, 2016

Publisher: Amulet Books

Pages: 432

Formats: Hardcover, paperback, eBook

Find it: Amazon, B&N, iBooks, Audible, Goodreads

In this modern day spin on Leroux’s gothic tale of unrequited love turned to madness, seventeen-year-old Rune Germain has a mysterious affliction linked to her operatic talent, and a horrifying mistake she’s trying to hide. Hoping creative direction will help her, Rune’s mother sends her to a French arts conservatory for her senior year, located in an opera house rumored to have ties to The Phantom of the Opera.

At RoseBlood, Rune secretly befriends the masked Thorn—an elusive violinist who not only guides her musical transformation through dreams that seem more real than reality itself, but somehow knows who she is behind her own masks. As the two discover an otherworldly connection and a soul-deep romance blossoms, Thorn’s dark agenda comes to light and he’s forced to make a deadly choice: lead Rune to her destruction, or face the wrath of the phantom who has haunted the opera house for a century, and is the only father he’s ever known.

About A.G. Howard

A.G. Howard was inspired to write SPLINTERED while working at a school library. She always wondered what would've happened had the subtle creepiness of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland taken center stage, and she hopes her darker and funkier tribute to Carroll will inspire readers to seek out the stories that won her heart as a child.

When she's not writing, A.G.'s pastimes are reading, rollerblading, gardening, and family vacations which often include impromptu side trips to 18th century graveyards or condemned schoolhouses to appease her overactive muse.

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Tumblr | Pinterest | Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a signed ROSEBLOOD poster and a Mask. US Only.

Ends on January 17th at Midnight EST!

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Book Review: Endgame

Endgame by James Frey and Nils Johnson-Shelton

Release Date: October 7th, 2014

Read: November, 2016

Publisher: HarperTeen

Format: Hardcover, 461 Pages

Series: Endgame (#1)

Summary from Goodreads:

Twelve thousand years ago, they came. They descended from the sky amid smoke and fire, and created humanity and gave us rules to live by. They needed gold and they built our earliest civilisations to mine it for them. When they had what they needed, they left. But before they left, they told us someday they would come back, and when they did, a game would be played. A game that would determine our future.

This is Endgame.

For ten thousand years the lines have existed in secret. The 12 original lines of humanity. Each had to have a Player prepared at all times. They have trained generation after generation after generation. In weapons, languages, history, tactics, disguise assassination. Together the players are everything: strong, kind, ruthless, loyal, smart, stupid, ugly, lustful, mean, fickle, beautiful, calculating, lazy, exuberant, weak. They are good and evil. Like you. Like all.

This is Endgame.

When the game starts, the players will have to find three keys. The keys are somewhere on earth. The only rule of their Endgame is that there are no rules. Whoever finds the keys first wins the game. Endgame: The Calling is about the hunt for the first key. And just as it tells the story of the hunt for a hidden key, written into the book is a puzzle. It invites readers to play their own Endgame and to try to solve the puzzle. Whoever does will open a case filled with gold. Alongside the puzzle will be a revolutionary mobile game built by Google’s Niantic Labs that will allow you to play a real-world version of Endgame where you can join one of the lines and do battle with people around you.

Will exuberance beat strength? Stupidity top kindness? Laziness thwart beauty? Will the winner be good or evil? There is only one way to find out.

Play.

Survive.

Solve.

People of Earth.

Endgame has begun.

Review:

When I first read the back of the book, it struck me how this seemed like an older version of the 39 Clues series, aimed for younger readers. Since I enjoyed those when I was a wee 4th grader, I decided to give it a go. Wow is all I have to say! This book rocked from start to finish! It was a bit of an abstract story as they had to cover 12 Players from around the globe, but it was artfully done! The background info on the game and the players origins was very interesting to read, not at all long winded and boring as it could have been. I loved the characters with all their flaws and as the book progressed I rooted for some more than others. This novel made me scream in frustration  (hello Sarah, dump your stupid boyfriend!) and it made me smile when my favourite characters succeeded. I really loved this book because I rarely for saw where it was going. It twists and turns as you follow your characters around the globe. Yes the globe. These are teens who can afford to fly around the world. Overall, this book was realllllllllllllly good, and I can't wait to read the rest of the series!

Favourite Quote:

“Enemies are a given. Friends are not.” 

― James J. Frey, The Calling

Rating: 9/10 Stars

Recommended for People Who Like: The 39 Clues, adventure, puzzles, mysteries, fantasy

That's all for me!
Happy Reading,

Mari