The Shrike & the Shadows
A.M. Wright & Chantal Gadoury
Published by: Parliament House
Publication date: March 3rd 2020
Genres: Dark Fantasy, Horror, New Adult, Romance

Men have gone missing before.

The village of Krume is plagued by a haunted wood and a hungry witch. It’s been that way for as long as Hans and Greta can remember, though they have never seen the witch themselves; no one has.

When men start to disappear once again in the cover of night – their bloody hearts turning up on doorsteps – the village falls into frenzied madness.

Hans and Greta, two outcast orphans, find themselves facing accusations of witchcraft and are met with an ultimatum: burn at the stake, or leave the village forever.

With nowhere else to go, they abandon their only home.

As they venture into the strange forest, their path is fraught with horrific creatures, wild and vivid hallucinations, and a mysterious man tied to the witch’s past.

The Shrike is watching, just beyond the deep darkness of the woods.

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EXCERPT:

“See these lines here, my maus?” She tapped the top of Greta’s palms.

“They are your heart lines. The way it curves, you have a caring soul.”

“You must have that, too, Mama.”

“Aha!” her mother exclaimed, and Greta jumped. “These love lines! How auspicious, little maus.”

“What, Mama? What do they mean?” Greta looked up into her mother’s face eagerly. She smiled.

“It will surprise you, this love of yours.” Her mother paused, frowning for just a moment before taking up her smile again. “But not for many more years. You will be ready then…”

Greta’s mother stilled, her words falling from her mouth quietly. She barely heard anything after that.

“Mama?”

“Yes?”

“Will I be okay?”

“Oh, of course! But to be sure, we must find your fate,” she said, though somewhat distant. “Here they are. And look! They meet here, at your life lines… goodness, so young for such a burden.”

Greta frowned at her mother. “Mama, you’re not making any sense.”

“I know, my maus, I know. I did not expect to see so many… things.”

“Are they sad things? Because you sound sad, Mama.”

Her mother grasped at her hands and held them for a moment. She gave a gentle squeeze and said, “Not all, but some, yes. Some will be sad, and others will be happy.”

“Oh.”

Then, Greta’s mother fell into her with an embrace. She locked little Greta into her arms and rocked her slowly. She had felt so warm in her hold, and so content, she had almost missed her mother’s final words:

“It will be a fearsome trial, my love. Your fate is bound to a great and daunting endeavor.”

Author Bio:

A.M. Wright is an Ohio native, perched on the shores of Lake Erie for as long as she can remember. She is a graduate of Walsh University and holds a Bachelor's Degree in Corporate Communications, with two minors in Marketing and Writing. She has a passion for reading, writing, and drawing; and has a particularly strong love for shojo-manga and all genres of anime. When A.M. Wright isn't focused on her day job, she is sorting through submissions, writing too many stories to keep track of, and playing video games with her fiance in a townhouse that's just a fifteen minute drive from "The Roller Coaster Capital of the World."

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Amazon Best Selling Author, Chantal Gadoury, is a 2011 graduate from Susquehanna University with a Bachelor's Degree in Creative Writing. Since graduation, she has published "The Songs in Our Hearts" with 48Fourteen Publishing, and "Allerleirauh" with Parliament House Press, with future titles to follow. Chantal first started writing stories at the age of seven and continues with that love of writing today. Writing novels for Chantal has become a life-long dream come true! When she's not writing, she enjoys painting, drinking lots of DD Iced Coffee, and watching Disney classics. Chantal lives in Muncy, Pennsylvania with her Mom, Sister and furry-'brother' (aka, puppy) Taran.

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Sting
Cindy R. Wilson
Published by: Entangled: Teen
Publication date: March 3rd 2020
Genres: Dystopian, Romance, Young Adult

They call me the Scorpion because they don’t know who I really am. All they know is that someone is stealing from people with excess to help people with nothing survive another day.

But then a trusted friend reveals who I am—“just” Tessa, “just” a girl—and sends me straight into the arms of the law. All those people I helped…couldn’t help me when I needed it.

In prison, I find an unlikely ally in Pike, who would have been my enemy on the outside. He represents everything I’m against. Luxury. Excess. The world immediately falling for his gorgeous smile. How he ended up in the dirty cell next to mine is a mystery, but he wants out as much as I do. Together, we have a real chance at escape.

With the sting of betrayal still fresh, Pike and I will seek revenge on those who wronged us. But uncovering all their secrets might turn deadly…

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EXCERPT:

His fingers brush mine when he takes the knife, and I fight back a shiver, trying to hold my ground.

“Scorpion,” he says softly.

I brace myself for more Pike wisdom, or maybe even a mention of the kisses we’ve shared that we haven’t mentioned.

Instead, he smiles. “You’ve been a very good teacher. Are you sure you want to do this?”

“Yes.”

“If you say so.”

He takes his stance, gaze zeroed in on the board. He’s wearing a simple blue shirt, cut off at the shoulders, and his muscles flex when he lifts his arm.

I exhale just as he throws and the knife zooms to the board, hitting inside the widest ring, but not in the middle.

His eyes narrow. I smile.

“I’d like to see you do this with a distraction,” he says.

My heart flutters, but I nod. “No problem.”

I step to the line, a whole head shorter than Pike. I feel his eyes on me. In fact, he’s so close, I feel the heat from his body. But I’m focused, and all I can see is the red circle I’m aiming for.

I squeeze the blade between my fingers and hold my breath, preparing to throw.

Pike blows on my neck.

Chills race across my skin even as I fling the knife. The blade hits the board with a thud, straight in the middle.

Pike curses softly and shakes his head. I turn to him, unable to help the smile stretching wide across my face. “See? I know a little something
about focus.”

“I’m impressed.”

“Looks like you could use some practice.”

“What about on the mat?” He lifts an eyebrow. “Do you have focus there?”

Uh…no. But Pike doesn’t need to know that. “I have focus anywhere.”

He points. “Mat. Now.”

I lift my chin, toss the last knife at the board, and smirk when it hits the center. Then I walk to the mat. I get into my stance before he joins me. I wouldn’t put it past him to attack right away. Pike’s a big fan of not being caught off guard, and he’s taught me accordingly.

Pike stalks the edge of the mat, knees bent. He feigns a lunge, then laughs when I tense.

“You’re lucky I don’t have a knife,” I say, mock warning in my tone.

He takes a step closer. “Luck has nothing to do with it. It’s all about being prepared. Besides, I don’t want a hole in my side like Mongo.”

“He deserved it.”

Pike gives me his dangerous smile and takes another step. Almost close enough to reach me. “You’re not saying I deserve to be stabbed, are you?”

My chest vibrates with a low laugh, but I’m still on guard. “No, Pike. Not today, anyway.”

His smile lights his eyes. And suddenly he stands fully, shoulders relaxing, and closes the gap between us.

I draw in a sharp breath. “What are you doing?”

“What does it look like?”

His hands skim my arms, making me shiver. I lift my chin to meet his eyes, lips parting slightly.

“Pike,” I say, my voice coming out breathless.

Then he sweeps my legs from beneath me. I hit the mat hard, banging my elbows. I kick out and almost catch Pike’s leg, but he’s too fast. He bends and snags my arm, twisting it behind my back as he pushes me flat on my stomach. My breath whooshes out, but I don’t struggle. Crap. So much for proving I can’t be distracted.

Author Bio:

Cindy began creating worlds as a kid, entertaining her siblings with spontaneous ghost stories before bed. She filled notebooks with novels and ideas and realized quickly she wanted to be a writer as an adult.

Now Cindy lives in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and loves using Colorado towns and cities as inspiration for settings in her stories. She's the mother of three girls who provide plenty of fodder for her YA novels. Visit her website to learn more about her books or subscribe to her newsletter: https://www.cindyrwilsonauthor.com

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Adversity
Melody Winter
(Ascent #2)
Publication date: March 24th 2020
Genres: Fantasy, New Adult, Romance

Athena Harrow is on the run. Destined for a life she managed to evade, she flees with Erebus before his brother’s threat can prove true.

But within their newfound refuge, they discover secrets long held close in the historical city of York—a creature thought to have been wiped out when the demons ascended. A creature whose existence renews Athena’s determination to restore the light.

However, attacks by Erebus’s brother and his promised army shatters those plans. Faced with the responsibility for the loss of numerous innocent lives, Athena makes a choice. To protect those around her, she’ll surrender to the Master Demon’s dark world.

Life with the Master is intolerable, though, and conflicted Athena is not what he expected. With time against her, and the Master losing patience, will Athena find the Master’s secret to restoring the light? Will she manage to escape the Master and the fate she was chosen for on her twenty-first birthday? And will she be able to return to York to reunite with the man she loves?

Tumultuous and emotional, ADVERSITY is the gripping conclusion to this dark romantic fantasy.

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Author Bio:

Melody grew up in North Yorkshire, England. She's a North Yorkshire lass through and through, although she does have a tendency to holiday in Spain. She has dreams of moving to the warmer climate to sip on Sangria as the sun sets over the roof tops of surrounding buildings. But, for the moment, she still lives in North Yorkshire with her husband and two sons.

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