New Release + Review + Excerpt + Giveaway: DEFEND (Lost Tribe #2) by Kallie Ross

Defend RDL Banner 2Happy Release Day to Kallie Ross! DEFEND is live and waiting! DEFEND is a young adult fantasy adventure and the second title in the A Lost Tribe Series. Be sure to grab DESCENT, the first book in this awesome series, before reading DEFEND! You can read more about the series, read an excerpt from this new release, check out Tina’s Thoughts, and enter a giveaway below!

Defend - Cover

DEFEND
Lost Tribe #2
Kallie Ross
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Release Date: May 21, 2015
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After emerging from her Descent into an uncharted underground world, Ollie Miller is sure of three things. First, her feelings for her best friend, Mateo, are far from platonic. She can’t even look at Mateo without blushing at the memory of his lips on hers. Second, an evil man named Zadok is plotting to destroy the civilization above the surface. Third, there is no way to save the earth without returning underground. At least this time, she will have her mother along with Mateo and her friends to help guide her.

On their journey, noor, a mystical blessing guides them, but only if they’re willing to follow. Ollie’s determined to save the tribe from their evil leader, even if it means facing off with her long-lost grandfather. As Zadok comes face to face with his runaway daughter and his granddaughter, his plan starts to unravel, but is it too late to stop the destruction that he put into motion? Can the tribe survive and the surface be saved? Will Ollie learn to trust her own heart before it is too late?

Defend is the conclusion to Ollie’s discovery of a lost tribe in Descent. Don’t miss this adventure, brimming with ancient secrets and a thrilling underworld.

Untitled design (3)You can purchase your copy at the retailers listed below!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Smashwords

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tina's thoughtsIf you are looking for an adventure and you love the Young Adult genre, this is a book and series you should be reading! DEFEND is the second installment to the Lost Tribe Series by Kallie Ross and I found myself whisked away once again to a fantastic world of underground cities, new cultures, and fascinating people. This second book picks up moments after DESCENT, the first book in the series, ends. I would recommend reading them in order since the first book establishes the backstory of what comes in the second book. Ollie and her friends finally made it safely home and when she beings to ask questions, she learns so much more about who her parents are, where they came from, and what they must do. It is her mother’s conviction, as well as Ollie’s and her friends, to save the people underground from danger and evil that causes them to embark on another underground adventure to save the world Ollie has just discovered is a part of her past, present, and future.

This book is set well within the YA genre. It is clean, with a small wisp of a romance between Ollie and her best friend Mateo. This story focuses on one girl’s conviction and courage to save a people from destruction. She is brave, fiercely protective of those she loves and those she encounters, and headstrong- determined to save her people no matter the cost. Ollie is a refreshing female character in the YA genre. She is intelligent, sweet, kind, and level headed. She thinks things through and her driving force is to protect those around her. In a world of emotional heroines who develop drama as they go, this young woman is refreshing. I loved how she grows throughout the series and takes her life and experiences in stride, learning from those around her and fighting for what is right.

The setting for this story is interesting. There is a whole world of people and fantastic life under the world’s feet. The world that these people live in is just different enough to be intriguing. The world that Kallie Ross creates is not so farfetched that it would be absurd, but instead it blends the world of fantasy and reality with something that could be. Their world is developed from a need to survive and thrive. There are new customs and traditions for our characters to learn and embrace, but nothing in the story is hard to comprehend. There are a few things I would have loved more on about these people and their history but the story and the development are perfect for the YA genre.

The themes of friendship, bravery, and kindness are interwoven beautifully into a story that is set in a world that could be teeming with life below our feet. There is excitement, heartache, and a strong desire for justice and reconciliation. I loved watching Ollie and her friends push through hardships and choose to make a difference in a world that was not their own. This story was an exciting tale of hope and bravery.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR-2Read the First Chapter of DEFEND here!

Untitled design (3)And don’t miss the first book in the series, DESCENT!

Descent - cover

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Praise for DESCENT:

Descent is a gripping debut that takes you on a roller coaster – a page turner that has you asking – what happens next. I loved every single word of it.” Fangirlish.com

Seventeen year old Ollie Miller is ready to leave all of her hurt feelings behind, but moving on seems impossible while living next door to her ex-best friend, Mateo. When curious earthquakes begin to shake and rip open the foundation of her small town, the ground becomes as unsteady as her feelings for him. When they fall, they fall hard…

Ollie’s disastrous attempt to save Mateo’s brother from falling into a curious chasm results in their descent into a cavernous wonderland. Ollie, Mateo, Jesse, and Alexis search for a way back home, and encounter a mysterious tribe of natives. Gabriel, the next in line to lead his people, is granted permission to guide them to the surface. On their treacherous journey, an overzealous elder threatens all of their lives, because he can’t risk them exposing his people, or the power he wields. The group discovers ancient secrets, unexpected truths, and uncharted feelings. Ollie must find a way out or risk being stuck in the caves forever—or worse, dead.

giveawayTo celebrate the release of DEFEND, Kallie Ross is hosting a fabulous giveaway. Enter this Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win a signed copy of DESCENT and DEFEND and a $25 giftcard for 1 winner. All you need to do is follow the instructions listed for your chance to win. Don’t miss out. good luck!

about the author

Author Photo

Kallie Ross has a love for learning that has gravitated toward studying conspiracy theories and contradictions in our culture. Her creative conclusions have ignited a passion to write compelling young adult fiction that incorporates legend, conjecture, fantasy, and conviction. Kallie’s first novel Descent: A Lost Tribe Book 1, was released last year.

Kallie Ross loves being a wife, mother, friend, writer, and teacher. She began teaching high school English in 2002 and started blogging and podcasting in 2008. She has a brilliant husband, two redheads, and never imagined her life would ever be this fun!

KallieRoss.com | Kallie Ross Facebook Page @KallieRoss Twitter |  KallieRossWrites Tumblr | Descent: A Lost Tribe Facebook Page | Goodreads Page | Read more about DESCENT | DEFEND: Read Chapter 1 | DEFEND on Goodreads