COVER REVEAL: LET THEM HEAR by Makenzie Gray

Hey everyone! Today I'm antsy to share the cover reveal for Let Them Hear, the second book in the Midnight Hour series which is published under my pen name, Makenzie Gray. I've been waiting literal months to share this cover -- even long before Those With Ears was published, guys -- so today's a big, big day.

Without further ado, I'll share the blurb: 
Since the End began, Unmarked are hunted and imprisoned like animals while the Marked live in excess. Eighteen-year-old Takvi has been on the run since it all began. When she learns that her brother is in the One Order’s custody - alive - she leaves everything to search for him. But to succeed in her rescue mission, she’ll need aid.

Gathering a ragtag group of Unmarked is dangerous, but it’s Takvi’s only chance at saving her brother. As they travel across apocalypse-torn North America, they learn the Order is growing darker and more powerful than they ever imagined. The group wants to save as many tortured Unmarked as possible - but Takvi refuses to face the wickedness she’s running from. One person can’t stop the End and Takvi won’t die for a lost cause. But everything has a cost these days. Will the rescue come at a cost too high to pay?

A gripping novel about sacrifice and redemption, The Hunger Games meets Mad Max in this post-apocalyptic ride. 


And then the cover.

What do you think? I'm a little over-excited because these covers turned out exactly how I wanted them and I'm still surprised about that, in all honesty. 
 

Have you read Those With Ears yet? Are you looking forward to Let Them Hear? 

JUSTREAD REVIEW: Second Chance at Happiness by Greta Picklesimer!

 

Hey everyone! Today I have a review of Second Chance at Happiness by Greta Picklesimer, a historical novel set soon after the Civil War. Check out the info below before reading my review!

BLURB

After Catherine Reed’s husband dies in a tragic logging accident, Catherine and her four-year-old daughter, Clair, move home with Catherine’s mother and brother in order to accept a new position as the teacher for the town’s one-room schoolhouse. But Catherine carries a dark secret that she hasn’t even shared with her mother. Will she ever find forgiveness?

Samuel Harris has suffered his own loss, losing his wife and unborn child over a year prior. Although he is the town’s preacher, he struggles to trust God, blaming God for allowing him to be absent when his wife died. The guilt has burdened him ever since. But when his old flame Catherine Reed comes back to town, he wonders if they can find healing together.

Catherine believes that anyone who wants to learn should be allowed to learn, but she is quick to find a town divided on that issue. As she and Samuel set out to change people’s minds in a post-Civil War era, they find themselves drawn to each other over and over again. As they join together for the same cause, could they also find a second chance at happiness?

 Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Christianbook

THE AUTHOR

Greta Picklesimer is Michigan born and raised by Kentucky-transplanted parents. She accepted Jesus as her Savior at the age of five—a happy day in her memory. Besides writing, Greta spends time working on her art journal, painting with watercolors and oil pastels. She is owned by one rescue cat by the name of Pearlie Blue who was named after her father's favorite Bluegrass song. By day Greta works as an office assistant. By night, she writes.

MY REVIEW

I was excited to read this novel, considering the time frame, jobs, and geographical location of the characters. Picklesimer presents some very interesting dilemmas -- stuck in the aftermath of the Civil War, when sometimes neighbors chose (or were conscripted for) different sides to fight on, I hoped it would be compelling. I appreciated the historical accuracy the author presents, and ended up reading this book in one evening because of that accuracy. The characters initially seemed like they would have fantastic character arcs, but it felt like that arc didn't follow through for both Catherine and Samuel, and a lot of the romantic scenes felt ill-timed or awkward. So while this is an interesting book that kept me reading for the sheer amount of conflict the characters face, and the author's prose developed nicely throughout the story, the plot and resolutions ultimately could have been stronger. 

SIGNUPS: COVER REVEAL for LET THEM HEAR!

 

Hey folks! Just dropping in to let you know that signups are officially open for the cover reveal of Let Them Hear -- April 21st is the big day (well, for the cover reveal), and help would be very much appreciated!

Check out THIS FORM to sign up.

Blurb: 

Since the End began, Unmarked are hunted and imprisoned like animals while the Marked live in excess. Eighteen-year-old Takvi has been on the run since it all began. When she learns that her brother is in the One Order’s custody - alive - she leaves everything to search for him. But to succeed in her rescue mission, she’ll need aid.

Gathering a ragtag group of Unmarked is dangerous, but it’s Takvi’s only chance at saving her brother. As they travel across apocalypse-torn North America, they learn the Order is growing darker and more powerful than they ever imagined. The group wants to save as many tortured Unmarked as possible - but Takvi refuses to face the wickedness she’s running from. One person can’t stop the End and Takvi won’t die for a lost cause. But everything has a cost these days. Will the rescue come at a cost too high to pay?

A gripping novel about sacrifice and redemption, The Hunger Games meets Mad Max in this post-apocalyptic ride.

COVER REVEAL: TALES FROM THE TOWER ANTHOLOGY!

Sometimes Rapunzel is the prisoner, and sometimes she is the one holding the key. 

Are you guys ready for an anthology full of Rapunzel retellings? I sure hope so, because there's one I'm particularly excited about which will be releasing May 1st. You'll be able to snag copies from Amazon as well as the Ye Olde Dragon Books website (as they're the publisher). This is the second book in the Ye Old Dragons Fairytale Anthology series, and just like the first book (When Your Beauty is the Beast), the theme is a fairytale character, but covers a wide range of genres. There are sixteen different takes on the Rapunzel trope featured in this anthology, from humorous to frightening, heartbreaking to courageous. 

And today's the cover reveal, so without further ado...

And now, I'd like to share why I'm especially excited for this book to come out. While I'm sure it's a HUUUGE surprise to everyone that I'm a nerd for anything that involves Rapunzel, it may come as a surprise that I have a short story that will be published in this anthology! "The Dragon-Keep's Servant" is a unique twist on Rapunzel, and I had a ton of fun working on it. I was really shocked to be accepted into this antho and it's been so hard keeping my mouth shut xD So I hope you guys are excited to check it out -- I'm so excited to read the other stories in this antho -- and I hope you enjoy learning about my main character, Galena, when May 1st rolls around!

Special thanks to Kaitlyn Emery (@kaitlyn_scribbling on Instagram) for that sweet cover! Are you excited for Tales from the Tower?