Kings and Queens by Courtney Vail
Seventeen-year-old Majesty Alistair wants police to look further into her father’s fatal car wreck, hopes the baseball team she manages can reclaim the state crown, aches for Derek…or, no…maybe Alec…maybe. And she mostly wishes to retract the hateful words she said to her dad right before slamming the door in his face, only to never see him again.
All her desires get sidelined, though, when she overhears two fellow students planning a church massacre. She doubts cops will follow up on her tip since they’re sick of her coming around with notions of possible crimes-in-the-works. And it’s not like she cries wolf. Not really. They’d be freaked too, but they’re not the ones suffering from bloody dreams that hint at disaster like some crazy, street guy forecasting the Apocalypse.
So, she does what any habitual winner with zero cred would do…try to I.D. the nutjobs before they act. But, when their agenda turns out to be far bigger than she ever assumed, and even friends start looking suspect, the truth and her actions threaten to haunt her forever, especially since she’s left with blood on her hands, the blood of someone she loves.
About Author Courtney Vail
COURTNEY VAIL writes totally twisted YA and adult suspense. She enjoys braiding mystery, suspense & romance with some kind of weirdness. Her addictions to crazy coffee concoctions, Funny Bones, Ben & Jerry's, and bacon keep her running and writing. She currently lives in New England with a comedian stud and a wild gang of kidlets.
Links:
Site: www.courtneyvail.com
Blog: http://gottahaveya.blogspot.com
Twitter @cvwriter http://www.twitter.com/cvwriter
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kingsandqueensnovel
Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4744654.Courtney_Vail
Giveaway
Enter to win a $100 Amazon Gift Card compliments of Author Courtney Vail.
Last day to enter is May 14th.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
COURTNEY VAIL writes totally twisted YA and adult suspense. She enjoys braiding mystery, suspense & romance with some kind of weirdness. Her addictions to crazy coffee concoctions, Funny Bones, Ben & Jerry's, and bacon keep her running and writing. She currently lives in New England with a comedian stud and a wild gang of kidlets.
Links:
Site: www.courtneyvail.com
Blog: http://gottahaveya.blogspot.com
Twitter @cvwriter http://www.twitter.com/cvwriter
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kingsandqueensnovel
Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4744654.Courtney_Vail
Giveaway
Enter to win a $100 Amazon Gift Card compliments of Author Courtney Vail.
Last day to enter is May 14th.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Praise for Kings & Queens:
"I think the best way for me to describe the book is quirky. "Beautifully unique" would be another term I'd use. I just.. I love this book. Each character, especially Majesty, was like a 20-Layer Cake. The book was both character-driven and plot-driven, which promises to be an exciting ride for every type of YA reader."
~Missy from Missy's Reads & Reviews
"WOW. The description for this book on GoodReads.com does not do this book justice. This was an AWESOME, twisted, capturing tale. Like Gossip Girl with deadly consequences."
~Teresa Rice from The Duchess Mommy Reads
"Best YA Book I've read all year...out of 79 books."
~Jennifer Golub from Waiting on Sunday to Drown
"I don't think I've ever read a book like this one. A whirlpool of humor, bravery, slowly spreading horror, friendship, wrenching sadness, volatile emotion, barely contained passions: the literary equivalent of crystal meth. I hit a certain point, where the action and confusion and mystery were at their peak, that I narrowed my eyes and said, "All right, that's it! I refuse to put this book down until I know who is who, what this is really all about, how this fevered chase is going to end!" And I didn't put it down until I read the last word. Which was sometime in the very early morning. I passed out and re-awoke with a Kings&Queens hangover."
~ Lily Odell
"Courtney Vail thrills and shocks in her debut YA suspense, Kings & Queens. I really enjoyed reading this mystery because it reminded me of one of my favorite detective TV shows, Veronica Mars. The authentic high school drama and conspiracies were warped and utterly original."
~Candace @ Lovey Dovey Books
"I think the best way for me to describe the book is quirky. "Beautifully unique" would be another term I'd use. I just.. I love this book. Each character, especially Majesty, was like a 20-Layer Cake. The book was both character-driven and plot-driven, which promises to be an exciting ride for every type of YA reader."
~Missy from Missy's Reads & Reviews
"WOW. The description for this book on GoodReads.com does not do this book justice. This was an AWESOME, twisted, capturing tale. Like Gossip Girl with deadly consequences."
~Teresa Rice from The Duchess Mommy Reads
"Best YA Book I've read all year...out of 79 books."
~Jennifer Golub from Waiting on Sunday to Drown
"I don't think I've ever read a book like this one. A whirlpool of humor, bravery, slowly spreading horror, friendship, wrenching sadness, volatile emotion, barely contained passions: the literary equivalent of crystal meth. I hit a certain point, where the action and confusion and mystery were at their peak, that I narrowed my eyes and said, "All right, that's it! I refuse to put this book down until I know who is who, what this is really all about, how this fevered chase is going to end!" And I didn't put it down until I read the last word. Which was sometime in the very early morning. I passed out and re-awoke with a Kings&Queens hangover."
~ Lily Odell
"Courtney Vail thrills and shocks in her debut YA suspense, Kings & Queens. I really enjoyed reading this mystery because it reminded me of one of my favorite detective TV shows, Veronica Mars. The authentic high school drama and conspiracies were warped and utterly original."
~Candace @ Lovey Dovey Books
Freakish Facts copied from Courtney's site
1. I am terrified of bees and sharks, but my biggest phobia of all is large knives, like the psycho chef knife…or bigger. The Rock-n-Chop is not of God! I can watch all of Predator without blocking my eyes or cringing, except the part where the soldier is shaving with a straight blade. Uuuuhhh! Can’t watch that.
2. I love soda and have NO cola preference. Coke, Pepsi, RC, Polar—or Dr. Pepper when I need some pep—I drink it all. It makes no difference to me. I probably drink too much though…SODA not alcohol. I’m not a big DRINKER drinker. IF I DRINK drink, which is not often, it’s one. Yeah. I’m a wimp.
3. Bacon is one of my favorite foods. I put it on meatloaf—write me for my very own Bacon Double Cheeseburger Meatloaf recipe—, on pizza, in tortellini Alfredo, in corn chowder, in my white lasagna—you can write me for that recipe too! And I’d put it in salad if I ate that. Not the Baco Bits either. Real bacon. I don’t think God’s ever tasted bacon, because if He had, He’d be like, “Oh. My mistake. Scratch that. That is GooOOooD too.” Thankfully, I reside under the Blood of the Lamb and am not bound to the Law. More bacon for me! Pass it!
4. I have three kids and absolutely love the baby stage. Maybe I’ll have one more. Maybe. Just one more.
5. I’ve loved the Dallas Cowboys since the Staubach days and had his poster on my wall with those glorious blue stars…alongside the crushes of my 5-year-old heart: Shaun Cassidy, Bo Duke (character) and Andy Gibb…Old. This girl’s old.
6. I LOVE flavored coffee, and when I see a sign noting some flavor I’ve never tasted, I’m compelled to try it. Usually the little podunk places have the very best coffee.
7. I was 8 when I went to my first game at Fenway. Took the bus with my dad, and we had a fun day.
8. One Christmas, my cousin and I went around caroling in my grandparents’ neighborhood and people gave us money. We collected like 28 bucks. Haha. My livid grandmother berated us for accepting it and made us give it to Toys for Tots.
9. I’m reeeallly not a fan of estrogen-heavy movies. Not quite. e.g. Steel Gagnolias, The Yaya Boringhood, the Joy Yuck Club.
10. I’m considering adding one more book to Kings & Queens and Sapphire Reign to make a trilogy. Dominion of Darkness is my working title. No plot yet, but that’s okay. Novels usually come to me in pieces.
11. I didn’t see E.T. until I was 22.
12. I have a difficult time sitting still when I’m on the phone. I walk all over the place, do ballet moves, stair step, pace lines on the floor, pick up toys.
13. By the time I was holding my college degree, all my grandparents were dead.
14. I thoroughly enjoy when musicians successfully incorporate various styles into their music, like Peter Gabriel.
15. I believe everyone should have at least one passion. What’s yours? If you don’t have one, go find one. What are you waiting for? Life is short.
16. I love rollercoasters, especially steep and loopy ones, and I usually aim to ride them when I first get to an amusement park.
17. My Freshman year in college, 6 girls on my hall shared my first name and 3 were on my intramural softball team. To differentiate without having to use an initial, I started saying my name the way my French Canadian grandparents pronounced it.
18. I somehow lost the notebook that held all the deep, melancholy, angst-ridden poetry I wrote in junior high. It was pretty good too.
19. I used to collect roach clips with rawhide strings and colorful feathers…to wear in my hair of course. What can I say? I was cheesy at 11. I also only wore the ultradark blue Jordache jeans and collected a rainbow of Jordache purses.
20. I’ve never been to the ballet or the symphony.
21. I want to go to Ireland and run and/or hike on one of those amazingly gorgeous, scenic dirt roads along a hillside that you so often see people enjoying in videos or pictures. I’m always thinking, where in the world is that? I’ve never seen a road like that. I’m pretty sure they’re in Ireland. So that’s where I want to be.
22. The scent of gingerbread makes me sick and anything rose…except roses themselves.
23. I never mastered double dutch because I was usually building forts with the boys.
24. Even though I know right from left, when verbally giving directions, I cannot tell someone which way to turn without using my fingers as an L-frame visual guide. The side that makes the L is left. I do it without hesitation, and then I instantly know.
25. I really, really wanna see a Broadway show, but the only musical my husband would be willing to see LIVE is Spamalot.
Pin It 2. I love soda and have NO cola preference. Coke, Pepsi, RC, Polar—or Dr. Pepper when I need some pep—I drink it all. It makes no difference to me. I probably drink too much though…SODA not alcohol. I’m not a big DRINKER drinker. IF I DRINK drink, which is not often, it’s one. Yeah. I’m a wimp.
3. Bacon is one of my favorite foods. I put it on meatloaf—write me for my very own Bacon Double Cheeseburger Meatloaf recipe—, on pizza, in tortellini Alfredo, in corn chowder, in my white lasagna—you can write me for that recipe too! And I’d put it in salad if I ate that. Not the Baco Bits either. Real bacon. I don’t think God’s ever tasted bacon, because if He had, He’d be like, “Oh. My mistake. Scratch that. That is GooOOooD too.” Thankfully, I reside under the Blood of the Lamb and am not bound to the Law. More bacon for me! Pass it!
4. I have three kids and absolutely love the baby stage. Maybe I’ll have one more. Maybe. Just one more.
5. I’ve loved the Dallas Cowboys since the Staubach days and had his poster on my wall with those glorious blue stars…alongside the crushes of my 5-year-old heart: Shaun Cassidy, Bo Duke (character) and Andy Gibb…Old. This girl’s old.
6. I LOVE flavored coffee, and when I see a sign noting some flavor I’ve never tasted, I’m compelled to try it. Usually the little podunk places have the very best coffee.
7. I was 8 when I went to my first game at Fenway. Took the bus with my dad, and we had a fun day.
8. One Christmas, my cousin and I went around caroling in my grandparents’ neighborhood and people gave us money. We collected like 28 bucks. Haha. My livid grandmother berated us for accepting it and made us give it to Toys for Tots.
9. I’m reeeallly not a fan of estrogen-heavy movies. Not quite. e.g. Steel Gagnolias, The Yaya Boringhood, the Joy Yuck Club.
10. I’m considering adding one more book to Kings & Queens and Sapphire Reign to make a trilogy. Dominion of Darkness is my working title. No plot yet, but that’s okay. Novels usually come to me in pieces.
11. I didn’t see E.T. until I was 22.
12. I have a difficult time sitting still when I’m on the phone. I walk all over the place, do ballet moves, stair step, pace lines on the floor, pick up toys.
13. By the time I was holding my college degree, all my grandparents were dead.
14. I thoroughly enjoy when musicians successfully incorporate various styles into their music, like Peter Gabriel.
15. I believe everyone should have at least one passion. What’s yours? If you don’t have one, go find one. What are you waiting for? Life is short.
16. I love rollercoasters, especially steep and loopy ones, and I usually aim to ride them when I first get to an amusement park.
17. My Freshman year in college, 6 girls on my hall shared my first name and 3 were on my intramural softball team. To differentiate without having to use an initial, I started saying my name the way my French Canadian grandparents pronounced it.
18. I somehow lost the notebook that held all the deep, melancholy, angst-ridden poetry I wrote in junior high. It was pretty good too.
19. I used to collect roach clips with rawhide strings and colorful feathers…to wear in my hair of course. What can I say? I was cheesy at 11. I also only wore the ultradark blue Jordache jeans and collected a rainbow of Jordache purses.
20. I’ve never been to the ballet or the symphony.
21. I want to go to Ireland and run and/or hike on one of those amazingly gorgeous, scenic dirt roads along a hillside that you so often see people enjoying in videos or pictures. I’m always thinking, where in the world is that? I’ve never seen a road like that. I’m pretty sure they’re in Ireland. So that’s where I want to be.
22. The scent of gingerbread makes me sick and anything rose…except roses themselves.
23. I never mastered double dutch because I was usually building forts with the boys.
24. Even though I know right from left, when verbally giving directions, I cannot tell someone which way to turn without using my fingers as an L-frame visual guide. The side that makes the L is left. I do it without hesitation, and then I instantly know.
25. I really, really wanna see a Broadway show, but the only musical my husband would be willing to see LIVE is Spamalot.
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