Traitor by Laurie Lucking is the next release from L2L2 Publishing, and this beauty comes into the world on April 27, 2021.
So of course everything we’ve spent months putting together is now falling into place, such as Laurie’s blog tour, Bookstagram tour, and online release party, to name a few.
Thanks to some amazing bloggers, Laurie Lucking’s blog tour is completely full (and in record time, too!), but how do you feel about being a part of her Bookstagram tour?
The Bookstagram tour runs from April 26th to May 7th, and we have a fun Insta challenge to go along with it.
Further details are at the signup link, and we have two gorgeous graphics and 30 suggested hashtags to send you should you choose to accept your mission and be a part of Laurie’s tour.
(Wanting to post about Traitor on your own? Possibly after you’ve read it? Here are some suggested hashtags!)
We’re looking for Instagrammers who take gorgeous pictures and have a solid following; however, if you’re just getting started and want to up your posting game, we’re here for that too! All are welcome.
Plus, (and this is top-secret stuff right here), the author maaay have a few paperback copies available to aid you in your gorgeous picture-taking endeavors.
Not only is our team hard at work on all things Traitor, we’re also gearing up for the author’s online release party.
Reserve your spot in our FB release party group and get a sneak peek of Laurie Lucking’s unboxing video. This book is even more beautiful in person!
Thank you for celebrating with us, and we know you’ll love this sweet romantic fantasy, full of second chances, an arranged marriage, and the heroine acclimating to a new culture. It is lovely!
Happy Reading!
~The L2L2 Publishing Team
Up next: Azriel news and Silence the Siren preorder goodies! (Hint: You can view them here.)
We are pleased to bring you the soft release of Ghostly Vendetta, the prequel novella to Zombie Takeover.
A little about the book itself:
“Dare to spend the night in mysterious Rutherford Hall! When? The 175th anniversary of the Rutherford family’s unsolved murder. Ghosts guaranteed. Cash prize: $5,000. Want more deets? Ask Tyler, Stewart, or James.”
I laughed aloud as I read the flyer. Yeah, right. To think that I, Candace Marshall, world’s biggest scaredy-cat, would go anywhere near some haunted house, much less spend the night in one. I crumpled the stupid thing, pitched it in the nearest trash can, and went on my merry, oblivious, and soon-to-be-scared-out-of-my-mind way.
* * *
Candace Marshall doesn’t do ghosts. Or zombies. Or vampires. Or mummies.
Anything scary, really.
When she finds herself signed up for a dare she’s gone out of her way to avoid, things spiral out of control. Quickly.
Stuck in a mansion alongside a vengeful spirit, a miffed boyfriend, and a room full of people she doesn’t know or even like (if she’s being completely honest here), she must decide whether to act brave or let the coward within show.
Or kill the person who got her involved in the first place.
Join Michele Israel Harper and Laura A. Grace to celebrate this new release at the online release party this evening from 8-10 p.m. EST.
Also, our cover artist, Sara Helwe Digital Arts, created the next cover in the series for a special cover reveal during the party tonight. Hope to see you there!
Burn is the third and final book in the Firebrand Chronicles. If you haven’t read the first two books, Spark and Flare, now is the perfect to catch up before Burn releases on May 26th!
From the back cover:
Life: 1. Brenna James: 0.
An AWOL talent, an enemy-occupied hometown, and a Life Shade boyfriend—Brenna James just wants something to go right. Although her family has been given sanctuary in Syeira, Brenna will never be safe as long as Rune is hunting down and killing Firebrands.
Can someone please wake her up already?
When a prophecy sends Brenna and Baldwin on a confusing quest, they aren’t sure where to begin. They must find the Caelestis Staff, a powerful object that both cuts and mends space itself. Rune wants it too, and he’ll use any lethal tactics necessary to obtain it.
Yeah, nightmare material right there.
A traveling oasis, plenty of man-eating mermaids, and one Skeleton King later, Brenna seriously doubts she has the edge she needs to confront Rune. When Brenna’s faced with the biggest test of her life, will she burn like the Firebrand she is? Or will she burn out?
And now for the lovely cover itself.
Thank you for joining us today, and we hope you love this gorgeous cover and wonderful new book as much as we do!
Our next release, Keen: Banshee Song Series, Book One by Laura L. Zimmerman, had been long anticipated by our readers. We are thrilled to share further details with you.
First of all, here is more info about the lovely book itself:
You must walk the darkness to find the light.
Half-faerie Caoine has no control over the banshee lament she sings each night, predicting the death of others. A senior in a brand new high school, she expects the same response she’s received at every other school: judgment from fellow students over her unusual eyes and unnaturally white skin and hair. However, when Caoine arrives at West Lincoln High, for the first time in her life she finds friends. Real friends.
But being a teenager is never easy, especially when the star soccer player, Oliver, sets his sights on her. Allowing him to get close means revealing her curse to the human world.
She can’t let that happen.
Life spins further out of control when her lament comes out during the day, those whose death she predicts die right in front of her, and a dark faerie known only as the Unseelie prince blames Caoine by leaving her the creepiest notes ever.
Her curse is not supposed to work like that.
In a race against time, Caoine must uncover the Unseelie prince’s identity and stop a spell before it unleashes hell on earth, all while trying to control her banshee song and finding a place among her peers.
Senior year just got real.
Seriously such a good book. Now just a few more details before we show you that gorgeous cover.
Keen releases on Tuesday, July 9, 2019.
Keen’s blog tour will be Monday, July 1st–Friday, July 12th.
The months leading up to a new release are a crazy and busy time at L2L2 Publishing, but they are also our favorites.
After all, a new book is about to be born!
This month, we will be releasing Flare: The Firebrand Chronicles, Book Two by J.M. Hackman, the riveting sequel to Spark.
We cannot wait to share this new book with you.
From the back cover:
Brenna travels to Linneah via portal to visit her boyfriend Baldwin, only to find heartbreak. Betrayal. A serious case of never, ever wanting to see him again. Worst summer vacation ever.
So when her best friend Tiny invites her on a road trip to meet Tiny’s fiancé, Brenna jumps at the chance. Even if her mother disapproves. Even if it’s through a dangerous travel portal. Even if Tiny has never met this fiancé handpicked by her dad. Anything’s better than staying in Linneah.
But the trip disintegrates into disaster. The two friends are separated, Brenna is kidnapped, and not only are Brenna’s Firebrand skills tested to the limit, she must participate in the dangerous event, Starfall . . . or go home. Broke. Alone. With a shattered heart. Sonot fun.
And then as if that’s not bad enough? Brenna discovers a plot that could spell disaster for everyone she holds dear. And no one believes her.
Can she prevent a bloody government takeover? And what will become of Brenna’s broken heart?
(These links will be updated as the posts go live.)
We hope you will join Author J.M. Hackman as she tells you all about the world of Flare!
Facebook Release Party for Flare
And we cannot forget Flare’s online release party on Facebook! We hope you will join us.
As with our other release parties, we will have games, trivia, and tons of prizes. (Okay, mostly books or bookish prizes. That is, after all, what we love best! New books!)
What readers said about the first book in the series, Spark:
“J.M. Hackman’s Spark is a fun ride for your imagination. She weaves a sweet tale of action, adventure, and romance, sprinkled with humor that any lover of fantasy should be excited to read. Hackman crafted such a beautifully creative world that by the end of the book, you’ll want to visit the kingdom of Linneah for yourself and share in Brenna’s adventures. Great start to a wonderful new series.”
—Julie Hall, award-winning author of the Life After series
“Finally—a well-written and impossible-to-put-down YA speculative that is safe to read and can be enjoyed by all ages! Spark is the kind of story teens crave: gripping, fast-paced adventure; unpredictable twists; a strong heroine; and a touch of romance. Parents, I believe, will appreciate this new voice in clean YA speculative fiction and the morals that are presented throughout. J.M. Hackman, a talented debut author, does an excellent job at weaving in inner challenges of self-discovery that teens in our modern world understand and will identify with. Teens, you’ve been warned: expect to lose sleep over Spark!”
—Tessa Emily Hall, YA author of Purple Moon(2014 Selah Award Finalist) and Unwritten Melody
“Spark is a trip into a creative and unique fantasy world with adventurous characters and lovable mythical creatures. It’s a story for young teens—and the young teens still living inside the rest of us.”
—Kat Heckenbach, author of Finding Angel
“As a bookseller who reads bunches of books, I have rarely been so captured by an alternative reality fantasy as I was from the very first page of this marvelous new book. I was smitten with Brenna, the snarky, confident, sixteen-year-old who exhibits wit and grace (and fire—you’ll see). You will love this fun story crafted by a great writer who chooses wonderful words and colorful phrases, sometimes with stunning results. As the drama unfolds, you will learn why Hackman started Spark with the fitting line from C.S. Lewis that there are no ordinary people. Wow.”
—Byron Borger, owner of Hearts & Minds Books
About the author:
J. M. Hackman loves thunderstorms, bookstores, and happy endings. She’s never met a reading nook she didn’t like and prefers soul talk to small talk. When she’s not writing, she spends time with her two munchkins and her handsome husband who supports her in this crazy profession. Her days are filled with writing stories, consuming massive quantities of dark chocolate, and looking for portals to other worlds. You can find her at www.jmhackman.com.
The blog tour for Drifting, the second book in the Sinking Trilogy by Sarah Armstrong-Garner, begins tomorrow with a stirring “Recap of Jocelyn’s World” by Pam Halter.
In fact, here is the full blog tour schedule:
Monday, April 23rd, “A Recap of Jocelyn’s World: Sinking,” Pam Halter, www.pamhalter.com
Sunday, April 29th, “Sinking Book Review and Drifting Blog Tour,” Liv K. Fisher, www.livkfisher.blogspot.com
(Each of these links will be updated as the posts go live.)
Then, of course, we cannot forget Drifting’s Online Launch Party!
This party will be held the same day as Drifting’s release, Thursday, April 26th, from 7-9 p.m. PST. (Other time zones: 8-10 MST, 9-11 CST, and 10-12 EST.)
We have over 20 prizes to give away to celebrate Drifting’s debut, and the grand prize happens to be a Kindle Fire 7″ and both ebooks of Sinking and Drifting.
We hope to see you there!
And now we come to the most important part of this post. To kick off our blog tour, we want to introduce you to Sarah Armstrong-Garner with an interview conducted by our very own Jebraun Clifford.
So many authors I’ve talked to said they can’t remember a time when writing wasn’t part of their life. When did the writing bug first get to you?
“In elementary school. With help from my mother and an old typewriter, I wrote plays for my fellow classmate to perform during recess and elaborate stories for class assignments.”
I love it! Did the urge to write stick with you all through school?
“Daydreaming became part of my routine as I drifted into middle school and high school. Photography became an outlet to express myself in high school. Entering competition and fairs, I became obsessed with everything photography, and the dark room was my home away from home.I would submerge the photo paper and watch as the image appeared as gently as a ghost would. Stories fluttered in the back of my mind as black and white faces peered back at me.”
Photography is such a great medium for storytelling. What else did you do at this time?
“Eventually, I found myself in a film class and working at a movie theater.I would spend my day scooping popcorn, threading the films for the patrons to watch, and doing my homework between shows.”
One year ago today, we signed a new author to L2L2 Publishing.
An avid reader since birth (her parents claim she often kept them up late begging to hear just one more story), Laurie Lucking discovered her passion for writing after leaving her career as an attorney to become a stay-at-home mom. She writes young adult fantasy with a strong thread of romance, and her debut novel, Common, releases in 2018 from Love2ReadLove2Write Publishing. Laurie is the secretary of her local ACFW chapter and a co-founder of www.landsuncharted.com, a blog for fans of clean young adult speculative fiction. A Midwestern girl through and through, she currently lives in Minnesota with her husband and two young sons. Find out more about Laurie and her writing by visiting www.laurielucking.com.
And now, exactly one year later, her stunning debut novel, Common, releases.
Only one person knows of the plot against the royal family and cares enough to try to stop it—the servant girl they banished.
Leah spends her days scrubbing floors, polishing silver, and meekly curtsying to nobility. Nothing distinguishes her from the other commoners serving at the palace, except her red hair.
And her secret friendship with Rafe, the Crown Prince of Imperia.
But Leah’s safe, ordinary world begins to splinter. Rafe’s parents announce his betrothal to a foreign princess, and she unearths a plot to overthrow the royal family. When she reports it without proof, her life shatters completely when the queen banishes her for treason.
Harbored by an unusual group of nuns, Leah must secure Rafe’s safety before it’s too late. But her quest reveals a villain far more sinister than an ambitious nobleman with his eye on the throne.
Can a common maidservant summon the courage to fight for her dearest friend?
Congratulations, Author Laurie Lucking! We are crazy about your book, and we know our readers will be as well!
In fact, here are what a few of her endorsers had to say.
“Common is a well-told tale of true sacrificial friendship with a dash of sweet romance and a sprinkling of fairy tale magic. Teens and adults alike will enjoy this engaging coming-of-age fantasy.”
—Carrie Anne Noble, award-winning author of The Mermaid’s Sister
~
“Common pulls readers into a fantasy world of forbidden attraction, unforeseeable twists, and memorable characters. Plan on staying up all night reading—you won’t be able to put it down!”
—Sara Baysinger, author of the Black Tiger Series
~
“Common is a lovely coming-of-age story with a sweet romance that will have you holding your breath in anticipation.”
—Julie Hall, USA Today Best-Selling author of the Life After Series
~
“Engaging and intriguing! Laurie Lucking’s Common pulled me in and kept me riveted from beginning to end. I look forward to seeing what she comes up with next!”
—Katie Clark, author of the Enslaved Series
~
“Common deserves every point on each of its sparkling five stars. I truly loved it, regardless of the fact that it’s a lot more romance-heavy than I normally read. The book taught me a lesson about expanding my boundaries, and that a great story is simply a great story and can be thoroughly enjoyed regardless of whether or not it’s squarely set in your favorite genre. I feel silly for ever being so picky!
If you’re looking for a relaxing, heartwarming story you can dive into headfirst, I highly recommend that you grab a copy of Common. You won’t regret it!”
One person knows of the plot against the royal family and cares enough to try to stop it—the servant girl they banished.
Leah spends her days scrubbing floors, polishing silver, and meekly curtsying to nobility. Nothing distinguishes her from the other commoners serving at the palace, except her red hair.
And her secret friendship with Rafe, the Crown Prince of Imperia.
But Leah’s safe, ordinary world begins to splinter. Rafe’s parents announce his betrothal to a foreign princess, and she unearths a plot to overthrow the royal family. When she reports it without proof, her life shatters completely when the queen banishes her for treason.
Harbored by an unusual group of nuns, Leah must secure Rafe’s safety before it’s too late. But her quest reveals a villain far more sinister than an ambitious nobleman with his eye on the throne.
Can a common maidservant summon the courage to fight for her dearest friend?
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the page above are "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
We had two stunning novellas release over the Christmas holidays, and we wanted to share them with you if you haven’t already seen them.
Resistance by Amy Brock McNew is the first of three planned novellas in the Reluctant Warrior Chronicles. This book interlaces with Reconciliation, yet tells the story of Nate and Ilona instead of Liz and Ryland, and comes before the next full-length novel in this series, Resilience, to release mid-2018.
Now a little about the book itself:
Nate Vaughn lives in Ryland’s shadow, always the little brother, always the screwup. After their parents die, he embraces a world of greed and destruction. There, he is powerful, using his God-given gifts to demolish those weaker than he.
He is untouchable. He is in control. Or so he thinks.
Ilona Romenenko is a survivor. She has endured unimaginable torment at the hands of evil and remains unbroken. Her mission: to save those who suffer as she did. Yet she encases the deepest parts of her heart in steel to protect herself from further agony.
She is untouchable. She is in control. Or so she thinks.
When Nate and Ilona are called to fight side by side, their pasts collide, forcing them to face their demons and the growing feelings between them, stealing precious control. Will Nate let go of his past—and will Ilona open her heart—before their demons destroy them both?
Beast Hunter by Michele Israel Harper is the prequel novella to the soon-to-be-released Beauty and the Beast retelling, Kill the Beast. This book introduces our readers to Ro, the huntress who has been hired to sneak into an enchanted castle and kill the beast residing within. We are also planning a 2018 release date for Kill the Beast.
Here is a little more about this book as well:
Ro’s people are starving. A curse has overtaken her land, blackening the soil, wiping out crops, and bringing ruin to all. She doesn’t know what to do.
The only people who thrive are the huntsmen, brought in by the mysterious Gautier to stem the flow of ravenous creatures looking for food.
When Ro accidentally kills a wolf, an idea begins to form. Could she become a huntress? Earn enough livres to feed her family?
But her world is shattered when her father promises her to a beast in exchange for his own life. If she doesn’t go, a curse will fall on her family worse than the one destroying their land. But Ro is determined to save her family another way.
Will Ro have the courage to seek her own fate instead of the one pressed upon her?
We hope you enjoy both of these new titles and that you have a lovely new year.
Happy Reading!
~The L2L2 Publishing Team
Nothing Found
Beast Hunter
A curse has overtaken Ro's kingdom, blackening the soil, wiping out crops, and bringing ruin. The only people who thrive are the huntsmen, brought in to stem the flow of ravenous creatures. When Ro kills a wolf, an idea begins to form. Could she become a huntress? Before she can act, her father trades her life for his—to a magical beast.
Ro’s people are starving. A curse has overtaken her land, blackening the soil, wiping out crops, and bringing ruin to all. She doesn’t know what to do.
The only people who thrive are the huntsmen, brought in by the mysterious Gautier to stem the flow of ravenous creatures looking for food.
When Ro accidentally kills a wolf, an idea begins to form. Could she become a huntress? Earn enough livres to feed her family?
But her world is shattered when her father promises her to a beast in exchange for his own life. If she doesn’t go, a curse will fall on her family worse than the one destroying their land. But Ro is determined to save her family another way.
Will Ro have the courage to seek her own fate instead of the one pressed upon her?
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the page above are "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
The Final Paladin releases today! We couldn’t be happier, and our readers are thrilled.
Why have we gotten such great feedback?
Life for Peg Bowman is rough in the infamous slums of Five Points, New York, but her brother’s murder changes everything.
Thrust into incredible worlds beyond any story she’s ever heard, Peg meets Sir Godfrey, an eleven-hundred-year-old knight from Charlemagne’s court, trainer of Paladins. He reveals to Peg her family’s ancient obligation to protect the Key of Apollyon, a relic of immense power. She is the last descendant of the Paladins and his only hope for keeping it safe.
When Godfrey confides her brother was murdered because of the Key, Peg rejects her calling and demands revenge, a luxury she can ill afford as otherworldly creatures seek her death to claim the Key’s power for themselves.
Can Godfrey and his faithful retinue—Chim the Hobgoblin, Rebecca the Jewish Maven and healer, and Jack the sometimes human and sometimes seven-foot Black Dog—keep her safe and convince her that her calling is worth pursuing? Or will she succumb to the Key’s lure and wield it for revenge?
This story is available now, so snatch it up while you can still get the launch-week discounted price.
To begin, we have both a historical peek into the world of The Final Paladin with a visual post on Liv K. Fisher’s blog, then a review of the book by Gretchen Engel.
Thursday, November 16th, A Celebration of The Final Paladin, Michele Israel Harper, www.micheleisraelharper.com (Facebook Party Day)
Friday, November 17th, Guest Post by T.J. Akers, Bokerah Brumley, www.superbokerah.com
And here is a little more about the book itself:
Life for Peg Bowman is rough in the infamous slums of Five Points, New York, but her brother’s murder changes everything.
Thrust into incredible worlds beyond any story she’s ever heard, Peg meets Sir Godfrey, an eleven-hundred-year-old knight from Charlemagne’s court, trainer of Paladins. He reveals to Peg her family’s ancient obligation to protect the Key of Apollyon, a relic of immense power. She is the last descendant of the Paladins and his only hope for keeping it safe.
When Godfrey confides her brother was murdered because of the Key, Peg rejects her calling and demands revenge, a luxury she can ill afford as otherworldly creatures seek her death to claim the Key’s power for themselves.
Can Godfrey and his faithful retinue—Chim the Hobgoblin, Rebecca the Jewish Maven and healer, and Jack the sometimes human and sometimes seven-foot Black Dog—keep her safe and convince her that her calling is worth pursuing? Or will she succumb to the Key’s lure and wield it for revenge?
T.J. Akers desires to be a multimillionaire when he grows up and give his wealth to his favorite causes: churches, schools, and animal shelters. Since the millions have been slow in coming, he’s settled for working as a computer technician for a state university and volunteering at his church and local animal shelter. Whenever possible, he indulges his love of writing stories to entertain people, especially younger readers.
Akers holds a Masters of English from Minnesota State University, Mankato, and can often be found roaming the university’s library, especially the children’s and young adult sections. Librarians have always been his heroes.
He lives with his beloved wife of thirty years, his dog, and two cats. The dog is an excellent writing companion, but the cats have proven to be rather critical. Learn more at www.tjakers.com.
