Branded Blog Tour & Review

 

Title: Branded by Abi Ketner & Missy Kalicicki

Genre: YA Dystopian Romance

Series: Book One of the Sinners Series

ARC provided by NetGalley

 

Summary:

Twenty years ago the Commander came into power and murdered all who opposed him. In his warped mind, the seven deadliest sins were the downfall of our society. He created the Hole where sinners are branded according to their sins and might survive a few years. At best.

Now LUST wraps around my neck like blue fingers strangling me.   I’ve been accused of a crime I didn’t commit and now the Hole is my new home.

Darkness. Death. Violence. Pain.

Now, every day is a fight for survival. But I won’t die. I won’t let them win.
The Hole can’t keep me. The Hole can’t break me.

I am more than my brand. I’m a fighter. My name is Lexi Hamilton, and this is my story.

 

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My review for: Branded by Abi Ketner & Missy Kalicicki

My rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Shanna Roberson

 

Amazing. Fantastic. Heart-pumping, and brutal. These are just some of the words I would use to describe this very original dystopian novel. Heartbreaking at times and addictive from page one; Branded is one hell of a ride and it is one I will take over and over again. The depth of this story and how many twists and turns there are in it, it is a must read for any book lover. Even if this isn’t your usual genre, this book is a game changer! Trust me…you want to read this book!

 

In a world where justice lies in a single tyrant, the ‘guilty’ are marked and wrote off. These people are known as Sinners and their marks are a constant reminder that no one is safe and when you are marked you are forever convicted of that sin. There are seven deadly sins, each represented by a color and a discrimination. Instead of a prison system, they are nearly worked to death in the same matter as slaves would be. There is no justice when one man rules them all.

 

Lexi Hamilton has given up. There is nothing good left in the world now that her father was dead and she was more than ready to die along with him, but moments before she could commit suicide, they came for her. To mark her a whore even if the ruling was lie. She is sentenced to the Hole for the rest of her days.

 

Completely broken, she doesn’t fight back. What’s the point? No one can escape the Commander or his sadistic guards and what’s waiting for her in the Hole will change her whole life and possibly even her soul.

 

Cole is assigned to protect Lexi at all costs. When a beautiful girl is marked with LUST, there is nowhere that is safe for her. She is looked at as flesh and nothing more. And it doesn’t make his job any easier. To make matters worse, the more he learns about her the harder it becomes to disconnect from her. There is a pull there and it scares the hell out of them both. In a world where love is forbidden between the two castes, will they be able to deny the truth? Will there finally be a way to overthrow the Commander and save what’s left of humanity?

 

I cannot stress enough how truly incredible Branded is especially for a debut novel. Being unique in every way, I can honestly say you have never read anything quite like this before. With its vivid imagery both brutal and beautiful, Lexi’s story pulls you in and doesn’t let go until the very end and even then you are left wanting more. Bravo, Abi and Missy! This is clearly going to be a bestseller!

 

Authors Bio:

 

Abi and Missy met in the summer of 1999 at college orientation and have been best friends ever since. After college, they added jobs, husbands and kids to their lives, but they still found time for their friendship. Instead of hanging out on weekends, they went to dinner once a month and reviewed books. What started out as an enjoyable hobby has now become an incredible adventure.

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Excerpt Branded Chapter One

 

 

 

 

 

Cover Reveal: They Won't Shut Up by Cindy J. Smith

 

Blurb:

 Voices in my Head

Talk all of the time

To music I feel

They add rhythm and rhyme

 

Emotions take flight

Grief, despair and love

Heart seeks to find hope

On wings of a dove

 

Their view of this world

Both nature and man

New angle embellished

To help understand

 

Walk for a minute

In other guys shoes

See why they might feel

So lost and confused

 

Dreams, flights of fancy,

Sarcasm and light pun

Work through frustrations

To friendship and fun

 

Open myself wide

Feel pure empathy

See how this world could

With love, truly be

 

Listen with your soul

To songs that I share

May see way to change

This world if you dare.

 

 

 

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About the Author

Cindy Smith was raised in upstate New York. She has worked a variety of jobs during her life--waitress, store associate, certified electronic technician. She is currently employed as an over-the-road truck driver. Cindy has lived is many states from Maine to Florida. She now resides in Indiana. Through all her experiences, she had voices in her head dictating poems. The voices would not relent until Cindy wrote the poems down. She invites you to eavesdrop.

 

Kim McNiel's Caleb Blog Tour

 

 

 

Synopsis:

Living a double life, Caleb is a hard-working and self-assured man, who doubles as an arrogant, cocky and womanizing prick. With his choices of women on a layaway plan, he’s never lonely.

Caleb believes he’s nailed the market on being the ultimate playa and never wonders what the consequences could be if Sarah, his live in, ever found out…until she does. When Sarah turns his life upside down, Caleb loses it and catastrophe follows not far behind.

When his world gets flipped right size up, he begins to realize the things that are really important to him. Although Caleb makes some ultimate sacrifices to save his pride, ego and relationship with Sarah, he still hides one very important secret.

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  Excerpt:

 

Stopping at the florist on the way home, I pull in and pick up a dozen pink roses for Sarah. Yes, sucking ass big time.

Hey, if it works…then I’ll be all good. When I’m good, everyone is good. God forbid I get red roses, she’d want to run off to the fucking chapel. That isn’t going to happen to me, not in this lifetime anyways. I stroll in the house.

“I’m home babe,” I yell out, dropping the folder on the table.

“Upstairs,” Sarah yells back. I know this tone.

Skipping two steps at a time, I follow the circular staircase. I dodge the hanging chandelier with my head. Something else she had to have, forgetting I am well over six fucking feet tall.

“Hi darling, these are for you,” I hand her the flowers.

“Why? Because you slammed the phone down in my ear earlier?”

And…here we go! She’s such a bitchacoholic.

 

 

About the Author

Kim McNiel is a good ole' country girl at heart. She was born and raised in a small Texas town called Spring. As the mother of three, she spent most of her adult life dedicated to raising her family. With her children almost grown, she decided to fulfill her dream of writing. Her best friend, told her 'pen to paper sweetie, never give up, and never let anyone tell you that you CAN'T—‘ she heeded his advice and didn't. She writes contemporary and steamy romance and several memoir pieces on the back burner.

 

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