Book Release for To Kill a Curse by Jennifer Jenkins

Title: TO KILL A CURSE (A Lingering Sea Novel Book 1)

Author: Jennifer Jenkins

Pub. Date: October 24, 2019

Publisher: Flying Unicorn Press

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 350

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD

Would you touch the one you loved, even if it might kill them?

Antonio, a merchant sailor, has no idea how dangerous Fina Perona is when he rescues her from drowning in the middle of the Lingering Sea. His ship is headed to the home Fina just abandoned, carrying desperately needed payment for her father's prized wine stores. Pirates attack, and as Antonio and Fina escape the clutches of slavery, she steals back her family's small fortune from the pirate captain's quarters. Fina doesn't need Antonio's protection, she's more dangerous than he could ever be, but she needs his experience as a navigator and agrees to give him a cut of the payment in exchange for his help. Returning the money is the only way Fina knows how to atone for inadvertently killing her own brother, but what she doesn't realize is, before Antonio was a sailor, he was a thief.

While threats of curses, witches, bandits, pirates, and traitors are all very real, Fina and Antonio are the most dangerous players in this story of true love and betrayal. Will they become each other’s demise or salvation as they set out to find redemption and to kill a curse?

*×*×*×*×*×*×*×*

Antonio pulled down a simple mask covered in black lace with a red feather fastened to one side. It was definitely not the most ornate, but its simplicity made it striking.

Careful not to touch her, he rested it on her face, tying the black ribbon behind her head to hold it in place. The mask formed to the bridge of her nose perfectly, leaving her mouth and cheeks free of covering, unlike many of the full-faced masks on the wall. 

With his hand at the small of her back, Antonio guided her to the corner of the shop where a mirror with a painted golden frame hung. “Take a look.”

She hadn’t had a mirror in her room at the inn. Seeing herself now, in a new dress and with the mask, she could have been anyone. Her skin had taken on a darker tone from all of her travelling. The dress amplified her figure to the point of making her blush, but the mask… the mask transformed her into someone completely different. Someone she thought—for just one night—she’d like to be.

“An excellent choice,” the white-haired shopkeeper said as he approached them. “Such a pretty face does not need much embellishment.” He handed Antonio a different mask. This one didn’t have the lace or feather, but bore the same shape as Fina’s. “The mask’s partner,” he exclaimed. Antonio tied it on his head and stood behind Fina to look in the mirror.

“They belong together, no?” the old man said.

Fina froze, unable to take her eyes off of Antonio. Unable to see if the shop owner’s words affected him the way they did her.

“Si, Signore.” Antonio cleared his throat. “They do.”

*×*×*×*×*×*×*×*

About Jennifer: 

With her degree in History and Secondary Education, Jennifer Jenkins had every intention of teaching teens to love George Washington, the Napoleonic Wars, and Ancient Sparta . . . until the writing began. In addition to her Lingering Sea series, Jennifer is the author of the bestselling Nameless trilogy and Teen Writer’s Guide: Your Road Map to Writing (releasing March 2020). She is a co-founder of Teen Author Boot Camp, and divides her time between reading, taking spontaneous trips, researching random events from the past, and fostering her adrenaline junkie addictions. Learn more at www.authorjenniferjenkins.com

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads 

Giveaway Details:

2 winners will receive signed copies of TO KILL A CURSE, US only.

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Tour Schedule:

Week One:

10/21/2019	A Bookish Dream	Review
10/21/2019	Two Chicks on Books	Excerpt
10/22/2019	Sometimes Leelynn Reads	Review
10/22/2019	Good Choice Reading	Excerpt
10/23/2019	Book-Keeping	Review
10/23/2019	That Georgia Gypsy	Guest Post
10/24/2019	Sifa Elizabeth Reads	Review
10/24/2019	Books & Other Pursuits	Guest Post
10/25/2019	Shelf-Rated	Review

Week Two:

10/25/2019	BookHounds	Excerpt
10/28/2019	Cover to Cover Book Blog	Review
10/28/2019	K.L Novitzke - Author	Excerpt
10/29/2019	Moonlight Rendezvous	Review
10/29/2019	Cuz I’m a Nerd	Guest Post
10/30/2019	Lilly's Book World	Review
10/30/2019	Ravenousreader	Excerpt
10/31/2019	Don't Judge, Read	Guest Post
10/31/2019	Writer of Wrongs	Excerpt
11/1/2019	Life of Female Bibliophile	Review
11/1/2019	Treestand Book Reviews	Review

Your Mid-Week Update for 10/30/19

I have killed two hitchhikers since I last wrote to you, dear readers.

And it felt fucking fantastic to put my creativity to use in a physical, meaningful way. Honestly, I don’t know why I was so stressed about it before – other than facing the inevitability of my capture – I need to be doing what I love doing BECAUSE the world is ending.

Anyways, it was so fulfilling to just tear into two separate humans, have the power to take their life and then do it. Follow through and accomplish something. Sure it was just one couple but the way their eyes…the betrayal as she realized that I had just stabbed her husband and even though she’d put her trust in me, a stranger, I was about to do the same to her. Amazing. The chase through the forest was absolutely worth it to finally pin her against a tree and slash her throat, the blood splattering everywhere because of how fast our hearts were beating together.

It was magical.

I can’t wait to do it again.

Although, I do not miss the cleanup. The smell of bleach may feel like home but it is time consuming and I always end up ruining my favourite clothes.

That’s why you thrift shop wherever you can. One: cheap clothing you can toss or burn if you really need to. Two: thrift clothing contains trace evidence of all the people who’ve worn those clothes before. Plus you can change your wardrobe every couple of months to keep from creating recognizable patterns.

It all comes back to recognizable patterns. That is the way to survive. Your routine can never be stationary. And trust me, I know it can be very frustrating, but it is the tried and true method that I’ve found. And giving in. That’s the other survival tactic you can chose to employ: Identify your true self, your base instincts, and give yourself over to them. I’m starting to realize that it’s a pretty good way to live. Suppression just makes you miserable and it doesn’t accomplish anything. Be smart about it, give over completely and you may end up in prison for the rest of your life. But don’t fight your inner self.

If you want to kill the hitchhiker, kill the hitchhiker. Just do it right.

Because giving in feels So. Damn. Good.

As always, dear readers,

Stay Safe

Your Mid-Week Update for 10/23/19

So the books are still missing. The books which contains basically a signed confession of my 20+ years of murder. Yeah, they’re still gone. But I’ve reached a conclusion. There is nothing I can do about it now. Whoever has the books knows the truth and they will do what they want with them and until I find out who it is – and maybe I never will – there is no sense in worrying about it. I can’t worry about it. Fear only causes sleepless nights. Making a life – friends, hobbies, taking care of my family – that will keep me safe until the day comes that it all ends.

I haven’t killed in months. Not even to help Casey. I decided I was okay with continuing in a new city but I haven’t…

I haven’t felt the urge. It’s so strange. I’ve enjoyed teaching and I do miss the feeling but I haven’t needed to kill.

Controlling my addiction was incredibly hard. But I never wanted to quit completely. I spent so long needing to kill. The itch I could never scratch. I had it down to a desire – a want to kill but I decided when and where. But lately, it’s down to a can. A will. I could kill but I don’t.

What if it becomes a won’t?

What if one day I wake up and I don’t want to kill? I can’t bring myself to kill. What will I be then?

Murder is not exactly a job you can quit. It’s barely a job. Do you know how expensive my hardware store runs are? And the gas required to drive to various hardware stores so I don’t get flagged for buying so much equipment. No one would believe I was doing house renovations for 20 years. Although, I am incredibly grateful that when I do go out for supplies, I have to make two stops max because everything in the world is one location nowadays. So thanks Corporate America for making my old job so easy.

I didn’t like typing “old job”. It feels final. I don’t want it to be final and you know what? Screw it, it isn’t final.

I’m going to go kill someone right now. Make it part of my morning jog.

It’s not over yet. No missing diaries or fading urges are going to stop me from doing what I love.

I’m going to show Casey that she’s learning from the best.

As always, dear readers,

Stay Safe

Your Mid-Week Update for 10/16/19

Apologies for leaving you all in the lurch last week, it’s been a hectic couple of days which culminated
in the most panicked I may have ever been. Being. This is an ongoing crisis.

I left the notebooks hidden in the house. When we left all those months ago, it didn’t feel like a priority
considering we were going to be arrested anyways. But when we came back, I didn’t check. I was so
relieved that there wasn’t an angry mob waiting on the other side of the door that I grabbed what I
could carry and left the rest behind. 

Last week, as I was writing the update, I remembered the books. And that the house was in
foreclosure and it was be thoroughly cleaned. So I raced over there before work and you guessed it:
the books were gone.

The notebooks detailing every murder I’ve ever committed, now missing from their hiding place after a
police investigation leading to my son abandoning his family. You know, those notebooks? Someone
has them and now we’ve entered the most panicked I will ever be. 

I don’t know what to do! I don’t know who has them or what they plan to do with them. I don’t know
where or when they might strike at me or my family. 

It’s a million unknowns weighing on my chest. I haven’t been able to fall asleep all week.

Side note: I don’t understand those people who say “I haven’t slept in days.” If I don’t get enough
sleep, my body basically shuts down until I can catch up. It’s not healthy to force your body to stay
awake when it doesn’t want to. Stress while you’re awake and get sleep while you can. 

Which is what I’ve been reminding myself as I try to figure out what to do about these missing
notebooks. The notebooks that will certainly have me drawn and quartered in the street. People seem
to be opposed to my previous works and might not like proof of worse crimes. If the wrong people see
these - if ANYONE sees these - there will be no running away or passing the blame or talking my way
out of it. 

I will be a goner. 

What do I do?

I can’t live in constant fear, waiting for something to happen. But I can’t ignore that this has happened. 

I need help.

As always, dear readers, 

Stay Safe

Book Tour for Academy of the Elites by Alexis Calder

Title: ACADEMY OF THE ELITES (Untamed Magic #1)

Author: Alexis Calder

Pub. Date: October 1, 2019

Publisher: Alexis Calder

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 139

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon 

My name is Raven Winters and I’m a mage. Who the hell knew? 

When I somehow summon fire in an act of self defense, I’m given two choices by the magic cops: attend some stuck-up magic school, or go to magic jail. 

Well, shit. There go my plans for the next year. Apparently, I have Untamed Magic, whatever the hell that means. And I’ve got a year to get it under control at this magic academy that’s basically a finishing school for the elite. Everyone here is somebody important. And rich. Except for me. 

Which paints quite the target on my back. Being the token poor kid is bad enough. Throw in that I somehow form a mating bond with four of the school’s most eligible bachelors. Oh yeah, and add in the fact that someone is trying to kill me. FML.

Scroll up and one-click this steamy, action packed reverse harem romance. 

Upcoming Release Dates for Academy of Elites:

Untamed Magic: October 1, 2019

Broken Magic: November 2019

Fated Magic: December 2019

Publisher’s Note: Academy of the Elites is a reverse harem fantasy series meant for mature readers who want action, magic, and steam.

----------------------

About Alexis: 

Alexis Calder writes sassy heroines and sexy heroes with a sprinkle of sarcasm. She lives in the Rockies and drinks far too much coffee and just the right amount of wine.

Facebook | Amazon Author Page | BookBub |  Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a $10 Amazon Gift Card, International.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour Schedule:

Week One:

9/30/2019- BookHounds YA- Excerpt

9/30/2019- Wonder Struck- Review

10/1/2019- Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers- Excerpt

10/1/2019- Lifestyle of Me- Review

10/2/2019- A Gingerly Review- Review

10/2/2019- Polish & Paperbacks- Review

10/3/2019- Fire and Ice- Review

10/3/2019- A Bookish Dream- Review

10/4/2019- Read. Eat. Love.- Review

10/4/2019- Bookriot- Review

Week Two:

10/7/2019- Smada's Book Smack- Review

10/7/2019- book briefs- Review

10/8/2019- Sophie Reads YA- Review

10/8/2019- Shelf-Rated- Review

10/9/2019- Novel Novice- Excerpt

10/9/2019- Fyrekatz Blog- Review

10/10/2019- Books a Plenty Book Reviews- Review

10/10/2019- EatingbetweenthelinesINC- Review

10/11/2019- Writer of Wrongs- Spotlight

10/11/2019- Books_andPoetrii- Excerpt 

Your Mid-Week Update for 10/09/19

I’ve decided that when it comes to murdering and passing on my gifts, there’s no reason I can’t do both. Murder is a very tactile profession and sometimes, a physical demonstration is required. I certainly don’t need to get right back into it. But if I were to take Casey out a few nights and show her the ropes (literally) that may curb any latent urges and still teach her the proper way to do things. Kill two birds with one stone (that might be a more advanced lesson; we’ll wait on that).

I love a good dark humor pun. If you can’t take some joy out of your work, there’s no point doing it at all. I take plenty of other joy but having a sense of humor keeps one from spiraling into morality.

I can’t say that I’m a killer without conscience. Some days I think that makes me more of a monster. I know that what I do (or did) goes against what society has dictated as good. I know that taking another life is not how we as a community move forward. I know that it’s wrong but I don’t feel bad for doing something that I enjoy. It’s been my purpose since I was a teenager. How can that truly be wrong?

Purpose has been defined as four things: You love it, the world needs it, you are paid for it, and you are great at it. Now, I love it. I mean really love murder. It brings me joy like nothing else. One care argue whether the world needs killers – someone to “decrease the surplus population” if you want to give it a productive meaning. I’m not paid for it but it’s not because I couldn’t make a living at it; I choose not to. And am I great at it? I believe I am. One of the most prolific serial killers of the modern age. If anyone bothered to count it all up.

The books.

Fuck! The notebooks. They’re at the house. I need to get them now.

I’m sorry to cut this short, but as always, dear readers,

Stay Safe