The Secret Lives of Royals by Shalini Dua - Book Tour + Giveaway
The Secret Lives of Royals
by Shalini Dua
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GENRE: New Adult, YA, Fantasy
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BLURB:
Olivia can’t take it anymore. She’s had enough of the big city and it’s lack of fulfilling her dreams.
Then, just when she’s about to give up and move home, out of the blue, she is offered her dream job.
Olivia is suspicious but that could just be the New York in her. She decides not to pull at threads.
Despite her best efforts to remain blissfully oblivious, the secret to her life upgrade is soon uncovered
when she finds herself invited to be part of a secret society.
Then, just when she’s about to give up and move home, out of the blue, she is offered her dream job.
Olivia is suspicious but that could just be the New York in her. She decides not to pull at threads.
Despite her best efforts to remain blissfully oblivious, the secret to her life upgrade is soon uncovered
when she finds herself invited to be part of a secret society.
Olivia learns that there is a thin curtain separating our world from theirs. Just beneath the surface,
an entirely different one exists. One that is controlled by those of Royal lineage. The chosen ones,
the Royals, hold the fate of the world in their hands. Will Olivia be able to bear the weight of the crown?
an entirely different one exists. One that is controlled by those of Royal lineage. The chosen ones,
the Royals, hold the fate of the world in their hands. Will Olivia be able to bear the weight of the crown?
Confessions of a Shopaholic meets The Adjustment Bureau, this contemporary fairytale is both
relatable and aspirational. Taking a look at the current balance of media and power with a healthy
dose of humor, fashion, food and wanderlust.
relatable and aspirational. Taking a look at the current balance of media and power with a healthy
dose of humor, fashion, food and wanderlust.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT
I’m getting a very weird feeling. I consider turning around and leaving, but getting a cab on a cold
rainy night before 2AM is going to be tough as they don’t begin frequenting the area until the bars
start to close, and the nearest Uber appears to be 25 minutes away. Plus, I did go to all of this trouble
to get my lazy self dressed and over here.
rainy night before 2AM is going to be tough as they don’t begin frequenting the area until the bars
start to close, and the nearest Uber appears to be 25 minutes away. Plus, I did go to all of this trouble
to get my lazy self dressed and over here.
There is a crest engraved in brass metal on the front of the red door, an intricately designed crown
and some lettering. I tilt my head to read it all the way around. ‘Alea iacta est memores acti prudentes
uturi modus operandi’ I read aloud, and below, ‘Posteriori’. I recognize the language as Latin from the
three weeks we spent on it during Intro to Languages, which was designed to help us choose one to
focus on during our tenure at the university
and some lettering. I tilt my head to read it all the way around. ‘Alea iacta est memores acti prudentes
uturi modus operandi’ I read aloud, and below, ‘Posteriori’. I recognize the language as Latin from the
three weeks we spent on it during Intro to Languages, which was designed to help us choose one to
focus on during our tenure at the university
…
Against my better judgment, I push on the heavy door, which creaks open. I enter into a cold
stone-walled hall with a stone slab floor, lit by what appears to be a row of fire lanterns on each side.
I guess this place is a bit behind the times in converting, or maybe they think it’s super ironic and
hipster to not jump on the modernization bandwagon. Or maybe it’s me. I’m not exactly the authority
on architectural trends. Maybe converted vintage is over and re-vintaged vintage is back in.
Ugh, I can’t wait until I’m old and have an excuse not to be hip.
stone-walled hall with a stone slab floor, lit by what appears to be a row of fire lanterns on each side.
I guess this place is a bit behind the times in converting, or maybe they think it’s super ironic and
hipster to not jump on the modernization bandwagon. Or maybe it’s me. I’m not exactly the authority
on architectural trends. Maybe converted vintage is over and re-vintaged vintage is back in.
Ugh, I can’t wait until I’m old and have an excuse not to be hip.
I walk down a windy stone hallway that seems straight out of a period film.
Wow, they are really taking this theme seriously. How cool would it be if this stuff was authentic?
I take a few pictures with my phone just in case. I mean as Cultures Editor, it’s always nice to be the
one to discover the next big thing, like Connor said.
Wow, they are really taking this theme seriously. How cool would it be if this stuff was authentic?
I take a few pictures with my phone just in case. I mean as Cultures Editor, it’s always nice to be the
one to discover the next big thing, like Connor said.
As I round the corner I hear, before I see, a British male mumbling to himself, apparently in debate.
“It’s so bizarre. But it couldn’t be. Could it? Stranger things have happened.”
I find myself face to face with a short-ish man, though taller than me, with glasses,
wearing a sports coat with suede elbow patches. I scream in surprise and jump about five feet
in the air. He seems slightly taken aback as well but less jumpy than me, or at least less vocal about it.
He’s good looking in an intellectual sort of way and his dark floppy hair is conservatively combed back.
I’m not sure if he’s startled by our unexpected encounter or my scream, but he does a bit of a double
back.
wearing a sports coat with suede elbow patches. I scream in surprise and jump about five feet
in the air. He seems slightly taken aback as well but less jumpy than me, or at least less vocal about it.
He’s good looking in an intellectual sort of way and his dark floppy hair is conservatively combed back.
I’m not sure if he’s startled by our unexpected encounter or my scream, but he does a bit of a double
back.
“Sorry,” he recovers charmingly, “I didn’t see you there.”
“No, me either.” I try to breathe. I feel like I know him from somewhere.”
“Stuart Stephens.” He proffers his hand in greeting.
“Olivia Grace Thorpland.” I shake his in return. “But you can call me Gigi.”
“Hello, Gigi. Nice to meet you.” He is impeccably mannered even after our near death collision.
Must be the British thing.
Must be the British thing.
“So are you here for the party too?” I inquire. “Do you know where it is?”
“Party?” he asks, confused. “No, I just had a meeting here.”
“Ah, I see,” I say, although I don’t, given the hour. I definitely know him from somewhere.
Got it, he’s a comedian.
Got it, he’s a comedian.
“Well, care to join me anyway?” I offer politely. After all, he’s British, I’m being a good ambassador.
He appears a bit bewildered.
He appears a bit bewildered.
“No, thanks. I best be going.”
“Are you sure? My friends are in there.”
“Really? Your friends are in there?” He seems surprised to see where I’m gesturing.
“Yup,” I tell him confidently.
“Oh, well, thanks for the invite, but I’m completely sure. Thanks anyway,” comes his nervous reply.
“But, can I ask you a question?” I nod. “Is this all, um, kosher?”
“But, can I ask you a question?” I nod. “Is this all, um, kosher?”
“I, I, don’t know.” I hesitate. Is he Jewish and British? Is that a thing?
“Well, I’ll let you get on “he says. “Have a good night.”
“You too. Bye,” I reply. And with that, we walk off in opposite directions.
Finally, I reach a semi-circled entryway that has the option of five doors, one straight ahead
and two on either side. These are not your ordinary doors either. They are heavy, arched, rustic,
dark brown, slated wooden doors. I’m not really in the mood to crash a wedding reception, murder,
or worse, a live band performance; and, given that anything could be behind these doorways,
I’m about to give up on this expedition completely, when one of the doors, the entryway smack dab
in the center, starts to creak open, apparently of its own accord. A feeling of unexpected dread
overtakes me. I brace myself, unsure of what to expect to find behind it.”
and two on either side. These are not your ordinary doors either. They are heavy, arched, rustic,
dark brown, slated wooden doors. I’m not really in the mood to crash a wedding reception, murder,
or worse, a live band performance; and, given that anything could be behind these doorways,
I’m about to give up on this expedition completely, when one of the doors, the entryway smack dab
in the center, starts to creak open, apparently of its own accord. A feeling of unexpected dread
overtakes me. I brace myself, unsure of what to expect to find behind it.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Guest Post
Guest Post
If given the chance to be a Royal, would you take it? Why or why not?
I totally would, in a heartbeat.
Don't even need to think twice.
I know there are certain pressures that come with being royal and your freedom is somewhat culled,
but there are so many opportunities. Besides the obvious, I love fancy clothes, good food and
the chance to travel, there is so much good you can do in the world with that
kind of access and money. You could influence causes that you really care
about. I would love to be able to contribute to the effort to ending hunger and
homelessness and I'm passionate about mental health awareness. A lot of my
poetry is on that topic.
Less philanthropically, you'd get to meet the most interesting people in the world, pick their brains,
become more educated as a result and possibly even exert some influence on art, politics
and many other innovative areas. You'd get to sample the most magnificent food.
Top designers would be a phone call away. Nothing would be beyond your reach.
Except, perhaps, a normal life. A trip to Target, a normal drive out to get
some ice cream, none of these simple pleasures would be possible in the way we
know them to be. Totally worth it in my, uninformed, opinion.
Ultimately, I think the access that comes with the royal life, the lifestyle attached to it, far outweighs the
cons of having to adhere to the rules. Rules are mere guidelines, anyhow. ;-)
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
An international upbringing and a love of stories laid the foundation for wanderlust.
Shalini aspires to spend her time country-hopping and consuming pop-culture, comedy,
and good food but the reality is often frantically downing coffee, meeting deadlines at exactly the last
second and working her unglamorous corporate job to fund all of the other pursuits.
Shalini aspires to spend her time country-hopping and consuming pop-culture, comedy,
and good food but the reality is often frantically downing coffee, meeting deadlines at exactly the last
second and working her unglamorous corporate job to fund all of the other pursuits.
The Secret Lives of Royals is Shalini’s debut novel. Her other work includes published poetry and
scripts only she has read.
scripts only she has read.
SOCIAL MEDIA AND WEBSITE LINKS
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShaliniDua126
Website: http://www.shalinidua.com/books
BUY LINKS
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2HxD1uZ
iBooks: https://apple.co/2w0APXd
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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION
Shalini will be awarding a $50 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner
via rafflecopter during the tour.
via rafflecopter during the tour.
8 Comments
Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome!
DeleteLots of big readers in my family and most with different genres. I appreciate the tour and getting to read about some awesome books.
ReplyDeleteThanks, James! I hope you enjoy the book!
DeleteThank you for hosting me :)
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome! :)
DeleteI liked the excerpt.
ReplyDeleteGood luck on your books release. I hope you sell alot of copies. Bernie Wallace BWallace1980(at)hotmail(d0t)com
ReplyDeletePlease try not to spam posts with the same comments over and over again. Authors like seeing thoughtful comments about their books, not the same old, "I like the cover" or "sounds good" comments. While that is nice, putting some real thought and effort in is appreciated. Thank you.