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With THIS Ring: Mary Connealy Author Interview and Giveaway
With THIS Ring?
A Novella Collection of Proposals Gone Awry
by
Karen Witemeyer, Mary Connealy,
Regina Jennings, and Melissa Jagears
Genre: Romance, Humor
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Date of Publication: January 5, 2016
# of pages: 368
Sometimes Love is Found in the Most Unexpected Places!
Love isn’t always a fairy tale, and it doesn’t always go as planned. Sometimes the best stories, though, are the ones that are the most unexpected. Join Karen Witemeyer, Mary Connealy, Regina Jennings, and Melissa Jagears for novellas that celebrate the power of love to triumph . . . even when circumstances go awry!
The Husband Maneuver
When ranch foreman Daniel Barrett seems ready to leave her life forever, Marietta Hawkins decides to grab the reins on their relationship. But to have any hope of maneuvering him into a proposal, she has to act fast or risk losing him completely.
Her Dearly Unintended
Josiah Huckabee just wanted to make sure Katie Ellen Watson was safe, but when the only bridge to her farm is washed out, the two find themselves alone. Alone, that is, until a menacing stranger appears. Maybe by pretending to be newlyweds, they’ll save their reputations–but can pretending to be in love turn into the real thing?
Runaway Bride
Hired to help Carrie Halsey escape from a dangerous man intent on making her his wife, Big John Conroy never expected the job to interrupt his solitary Texas Ranger life. But now that he’s promised to keep Carrie safe, he discovers he may just want to make a few more promises.
Engaging the Competition
Harrison Gray and tomboy Charlotte Andrews have been rivals for years. With Charlotte intended for someone else, it seems they’ll never settle their differences until an accident changes things completely. When Charlotte breaks Harrison’s glasses–without which he’s nearly blind–she must help with his teaching position, and working together forces these former adversaries to reconsider everything.
“This quartet of authors consistently write with hilarity, warmth and toe-curling romance. Their individual contributions to this entertaining collection hold true to form. Connealy tips her hat to long-time fans with a grin-inducing reunion and clever word-smithing. Witemeyer’s ingenious story-within-a story adds even more humor and drama to her contribution. Jennings and Jagears perfectly complete the ensemble with witty tales of friendship and breathless kisses.”–RT Book Reviews Top Pick
PRAISE FOR WITH THIS RING:
“This quartet of authors consistently write with hilarity, warmth, and toe-curling romance. Their individual contributions to this entertaining collection hold true to form. Connealy tips her hat to long-time fans with a grin-inducing reunion and clever word-smithing. Witemeyer’s ingenious story-within-a story adds even more humor and drama to her contribution. Jennings and Jagears perfectly complete the ensemble with witty tales of friendship and breathless kisses.”—RT Book Reviews Top Pick
BUY THE BOOK
AMAZON AMAZON KINDLE BAKER BOOK HOUSE B&N KOBO
Author Interview: Mary Connealy
Why did you choose to write in your particular field or genre?
I don’t think I really picked this genre, I think, because of my rural background and husband who’s a cowboy, the genre sort of picked me. I wrote widely before I got my first book published and the cowboy romantic comedies are what hit. I like to think it’s because I can bring some real authenticity to it because of the life I live and my strange ability to be sassy (at least while typing). That all comes through in just the right way.
Where did your love of books/storytelling/reading/writing/etc. come from?
I’ve always loved to read, from a very young age my mom was always taking us to the library. My parents were big readers, too. But writing, a perfect storm of factors led me to start writing, including my baby going to kindergarten (some free time!), getting our first computer and having a friend write a book and, when I expressed, my admiration, she challenged me to write one, too. But whatever STARTED me writing, the fact was that, once I started, I just loved it. It was the most fun I’d ever had—and it still is.
How long have you been writing?
Almost exactly twenty years now. My ‘baby’ is going to be 26 soon. I started when she went to kindergarten in…counting on my fingers….must now remove my socks…I’d say September 1995. I wrote for ten years before I got my first book published and I had TWENTY finished books on my computer when I got my first contract. I got my first contract in…I’d say, September 2005. And my 50th book will release this year in July 2015. It’s a great ride!
Who are some of your favorite authors you feel were influential in your work? What impact have they had on your writing?
I’d say the author most influential to me is Louis L’Amour. He writes the best cowboys EVER. And I’m strongly influenced in my work by his attitudes toward the frontier. I also love his knowledge of the west. In fact, if in my research I find some fact that disagrees with Louis…I go with Louis nearly every time—that’s mainly because most everyone will believe I’m wrong if I don’t match up to him. I’ve actually talked with Louis L’Amour’s son Beau a few times and hosted him on my blog Petticoats and Pistols.
What literary character is most like you?
This took some thinking. I came up with Melanie in Gone with the Wind. I really am a quiet person who spends most of her time alone, when not caring for my family. My characters I write are NOT me, all those feisty lady ranchers. I think they’re how I WISH I could be. Strong, take Charge, In-Your-Face type women. That seems fun, but I suspect in real life, it would get really old to be a person like that, especially for those around you.
If you were a superhero, what would your name be? What costume would you wear?
Introvert Girl. Yoga pants and a sweatshirt with a sky blue cape…so I wouldn’t show up much when I flew around.
Karen Witemeyer: Winner of the HOLT Medallion and the Carol Award and a finalist for the RITA and Christy Award, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer writes historical romance to give the world more happily-ever-afters. Karen makes her home in Texas, with her husband and three children. Visit her website or connect with her on Facebook.
Mary Connealy: Mary Connealy writes “romantic comedies with cowboys” and is celebrated for her fun, zany, action-packed style. She has over half a million books sold. She is the author of the popular series Wild at Heart, Kincaid Brides, Trouble in Texas, and many other books. Mary lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero. Visit her website or connect with her on Facebook.
Regina Jennings: Regina Jennings is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University with a degree in English and a history minor. She is the author of At Love’s Bidding and four other novels, and contributed a novella to A Match Made in Texas. Regina has worked at the Mustang News, along with time at the Oklahoma National Stockyards and various livestock shows. She now lives outside Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with her husband and four children. Visit her website or connect with her on Facebook.
GIVEAWAY! FOUR COPIES OF THE BOOK!
February 5-18, 2016
(Winners must have US mailing addresses)
Check out these other great blog stops on the tour!
2/5 The Crazy Booksellers – Promo
2/6 Missus Gonzo – Author Interview
2/7 Books and Broomsticks – Promo
2/8 My Book Fix Blog — Review
2/9 The Page Unbound – Author Interview
2/10 Because This is My Life Y’all – Guest Post
2/11 Texas Book-aholic — Promo
2/12 The Librarian Talks – Author Interview
2/13 All for the Love of the Word — Review
2/14 Hall Ways Blog — Review
blog tour services provided by
Glass Sword Release Day Celebration and Giveaway
GLASS SWORD (Red Queen #2) by Victoria Aveyard
Release Day Celebration Blast February 9, 2016
ABOUT THE BOOK
GLASS SOWRD
Red Queen #2
Author: Victoria Aveyard
Pages: 448
Release Date: February 9th, 2016
Publisher: HarperTeen
SYNOPSIS:
Mare Barrow’s blood is red—the color of common folk—but her Silver ability, the power to control lightning, has turned her into a weapon that the royal court tries to control.
The crown calls her an impossibility, a fake, but as she makes her escape from Maven, the prince—the friend—who betrayed her, Mare uncovers something startling: she is not the only one of her kind.
Pursued by Maven, now a vindictive king, Mare sets out to find and recruit other Red-and-Silver fighters to join in the struggle against her oppressors.
But Mare finds herself on a deadly path, at risk of becoming exactly the kind of monster she is trying to defeat.
Will she shatter under the weight of the lives that are the cost of rebellion? Or have treachery and betrayal hardened her forever?
BOOK LINKS
Amazon | BN.com | Goodreads
ABOUT THE AUTHOR.
Victoria Aveyard is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Red Queen. Victoria was born and raised in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, a small town known only for the worst traffic rotary in the continental United States. She moved to Los Angeles to earn a BFA in screenwriting at the University of Southern California. She currently splits her time between the East and West coasts. As an author and screenwriter, she uses her career as an excuse to read too many books and watch too many movies. She has sold several television pilots and feature-length screenplays. You can visit her online at www.victoriaaveyard.comor on Twitter at @VictoriaAveyard.
GIVEAWAY
One winner will get a RED QUEEN Prize pack from HarperTeen, which includes:
– 1 Physical Copy of CRUEL CROWN (0.1 & 0.2 Red Queen)
– 1 Red Queen foam sword that reads “Kneel or Bleed”
– 1 Scarlet Guard scarf
Must be 13+ To Enter | Ships in US only |
See Terms & Conditions for full contest rules before entering some restrictions apply
Borrowed Magic Book Blast and Giveaway
Borrowed Magic by Shari Lambert
After a three-year siege, Lord Kern, the dark mage, is dead. Magic has left Tredare, and life is almost back to normal.
For everyone except Maren, that is.
Before the siege, an attack by Lord Kern left Maren near death and with a sliver of magic buried deep inside her. Now, for reasons Maren doesn’t understand, that magic has been triggered, giving her the ability to “see” the truth: that her world is nothing more than a magical façade; and that the kingdom’s hero may not be a hero at all.
But this gift of sight comes at a high cost. Maren is in constant pain, and fears her own death is imminent. Plus, no one believes her suspicions that another Dark Mage has risen, and that Tredare may be in just as much danger as it was when Kern was alive.
With the country’s future in the hands of a man who’s vowed revenge on its king, Maren must convince someone else of the truth. Unfortunately, the only person powerful enough to help is also the one man she can’t trust; the man she almost married; the man who abandoned her and disappeared for three years: Kern’s son.
As Tredare crumbles around them, Maren must persuade him to help – before the king is murdered by the very hero he reveres; and before the same magic that gives Maren the gift of sight also takes her life.
Kobo * Smashwords * iTuneExcerpt from Borrowed Magic
The siege had ended. Lord Kern, the dark mage, was dead.
Maren pushed her forehead against the warm glass, straining for a better view of the commotion below. A cheer went up from the crowd, and she searched for any sign of the man making his way to the castle. The man who’d saved the city – and the kingdom.
All she could see was a mass of bodies, crowding the path leading up from the city gates.
It wasn’t uncommon to see people in the streets of Delorme. They’d come every day for the past two and a half years, standing in subdued silence as they waited for the daily rations that grew more and more meager as the weeks went by. But today the crowd wasn’t silent. Today was different.
The tent cities beyond the wall, once teeming with soldiers draining the city of life, were now abandoned, destroyed, thin plumes of smoke the only movement. What was left of the lush, green fields sat charred and barren. Desolate.
“Anything?”
Maren jumped back from the window and felt the color rise to her cheeks.
“It’s all right, Maren,” Adare said, trying to get her own view of the street below. “We’re all curious. And you have more right than the rest of us. You knew him better than anyone.”
The dull, familiar ache in her chest forced Maren to hesitate until she was sure she could speak without her voice breaking. Even then, she couldn’t meet the queen’s eyes. “I’m not sure I knew him at all.”
Praise for Borrowed Magic
“I was enthralled from the very beginning up until the very end. This is one of those rare stories that has been created by a truly talented author, that captivates its readers and pulls them in. I felt every emotion as it reached its final conclusion, and I was able to breathe a sigh of relief that we were given the ending we so desperately hoped for.” -Tasha Williams, Red’s Midnight Readers
“Borrowed Magic is a spellbinding story, and the mystery kept me turning pages well after I should have gone to bed. Completely engrossing.” -Dawn Rae Miller, New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of Larkstorm (The Sensitives Trilogy)
“Shari Lambert has a way of capturing your mind and transporting you into her fantasy world. Filled with royalty and dark forces at court, Borrowed Magic reminds me of a Phillipa Gregory novel with the bonus of magic.” -Jamie Blair, author of Leap of Faith
FREE EBOOK
Siege: A Borrowed Magic Novella
For six years, peace has reigned over the kingdom of Tredare. Lord Kern, the dark mage who murdered the king and queen eight years prior, is imprisoned in a magical tomb.
Or so everyone thought – until one night when Kern appears during a ball at the royal castle, and life in Tredare changes for the worst.
Especially for innocent Maren.
Unbeknown to her, Maren’s father has a past history with Kern, and now she’s crossed Kern’s path, getting in the way of something he wants. Angry and boiling with dark magic, Kern vows to destroy those who dare defy him – including Maren, who protects the current King and Queen.
Despite Maren’s best efforts, Kern lays siege to Tredare for three years. Years Maren spends plotting revenge on the man who’s determined to ruin Tredare.
Author Shari Lambert
Shari has always loved to read. “Bookworm” may even be an understatement. But when she discovered Georgette Heyer in high school, her love of reading exploded. Ms. Heyer’s books were not only entertaining, witty, and smart, but they saved Shari from the awkward, unromantic teenage years. To this day, Shari’s favorite books all have romance in them.
Although Shari spent a good deal of her time at Brigham Young University on the ballroom dance team, she did manage to get a BA in History and English before going on to get a Juris Doctorate. After graduation, she decided her first priority was to be a mom — a career she’s stuck with and loved.
In between cleaning, laundry, and homework, Shari writes. Just like with reading, she wants to get lost in a world, whether imaginary or historical.
She lives just outside of Salt Lake City, Utah with her husband and four children.
BookBlast Giveaway
$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 2/23/16
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
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Spirit Warriors: The Burning, Author Interview with D.E.L. Connor
The Burning
Spirit Animals Book 3
by D.E.L. Connor
Genre: YA / Fantasy / Coming of Age
Publisher: Booktrope Publishing
Date of Publication: September 21, 2015
# of pages: 357
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In the third book of D.E.L. Connor’s magical coming of age Spirit Warriors series, Emmeline and her friends find themselves still reeling from the loss and pain caused by the evil spirit, machayiwiw- but the danger is far from over. As Emme, Charlie, Bets, Ollie, Jack and their beloved Spirit Animals prepare for the final battle against the machayiwiw, Emme struggles with a battle within her own heart. She longs for the beauty and softness she feels around Charlie, but she can’t deny the burning passion that consumes her with Jack. Will she finally let Charlie go and give her heart to Jack? Enthralling and passionate, Spirit Warriors brings the vibrant American West to life once again and whispers its ancient secrets of love and friendship.
BUY LINKS
Praise for the books:
“There is something special about a book/series when you feel like you’ve come home to family/friends in the first chapter. That is how I feel when I begin each new book in this series. I find I care more about each character as the series progresses.” – Amazon Reviewer
“I have been a huge fan of this series. After the second book I wasn’t exactly sure how this one would develop. Hands down it is the best book of the series so far.” – Goodreads Reviewer
“The Concealing is one of the best books that I have read in a long time…You will fall head over heels in love with all of the characters and the plot as well in The Concealing.” – The Avid Reader
“I was glued to the book from the moment I began reading it and was sad when it ended, because it ended. I can very easily visualise this book as a film, the descriptions are detailed enough to make it a great opportunity for a film. Amazing.” — Cookie Book Reviews
“I have been a huge fan of this series. After the second book I wasn’t exactly sure how this one would develop. Hands down it is the best book of the series so far.” – Goodreads Reviewer
“The Concealing is one of the best books that I have read in a long time…You will fall head over heels in love with all of the characters and the plot as well in The Concealing.” – The Avid Reader
“I was glued to the book from the moment I began reading it and was sad when it ended, because it ended. I can very easily visualise this book as a film, the descriptions are detailed enough to make it a great opportunity for a film. Amazing.” — Cookie Book Reviews
“A great young adult series along the formulaic values of the “Twilight” series. Also a wonderful book for adults who want to immerse themselves in a world full of youth and American Indian heritage.” — Respect the Books
Author Interview:
Are there under-represented groups or ideas featured if your book? If so, discuss them. The Spirit Warriors series focuses on the beauty and traditions of the Native American nations. I was born in South Dakota and raised in Montana, where the culture of the Wild West lingers to this day. You can journey in Lewis & Clark’s path, walk in the footsteps of the warriors at The Battle of Little Bighorn, crawl in a tepee, and see artifacts from a world far removed from the one we live in. My hope with this series is to introduce a new generation to a world they never knew existed. Although the books do have a fantasy element to them and the tribe in the books is really a compilation of beliefs of several plains tribes, the magic and wonder of the Native American world gives wings to anyone’s imagination.
What are some day jobs that you have held? If any of them impacted your writing, share an example. I actually have two days jobs. I am a nursing professor and I practice as a family nurse practitioner. Having been a nurse for a number of years nothing is unusual or off limits when it comes to the human body. When I write I forget this until my editor puts a note similar to this in the manuscript, “ICK! No one cares about what came out or went in. Cut the nurse jargon!” I must confess that I now put in the goriest nurse stories just to see what she will say!
Do you have any strange writing habits (like standing on your head or writing in the shower)? I love this question! I don’t stand on my head but I do write and edit my books on my Fitbike. In case you haven’t seen one, it looks like an exercise bike but it has a laptop desk attached to the handlebars. I’m trying to be more active when I am writing otherwise I sit for hours just typing away. It does take some getting use and the seat is hard on your bottom.
What book do you wish you could have written? Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. I am a huge fan of his! I have a paperback copy of Lonesome Dove that once belonged to my grandfather and it stays by my bedside. I bet I have read it a thousand times. He is a master storyteller and character builder. One day I hope to meet him. Now that would be a dream come true except I would probably stammer and stutter and embarrass myself!
What is something you want to accomplish before you die? How did you know I had an author bucket list? I want to finish the story of my dad’s life growing up in the Depression on the barren prairies of Montana. I have several other stories that I have started that have nurses as the main characters and I am excited to highlight my beloved profession. And I would love to meet Larry McMurtry! If anyone out there can help me with that, well I would be ecstatic!
If you had a spirit animal what would it be?
I would be an eagle. What I would give to soar in the skies and glide on the wind. I would own the heavens!
Enter to win: a signed copy of
The Concealing, Book 1 of the Spirit Warriors Series,
a $25 Amazon Gift Card, and some Swag!
a $25 Amazon Gift Card, and some Swag!
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Della Connor (D.E.L. Connor) was born in South Dakota and raised in Southeastern Montana where she acquired a keen appreciation for Western and Native American culture. She moved to Texas as a young adult and acquired her honorary Texan status. She became a registered nurse, a nurse practitioner and eventually earned her PhD in nursing. She still works as a nurse educator and as a nurse practitioner. Her nights and weekends, however, are filled with her stories and books. Her first book, Spirit Warriors:The Concealing, was published by Booktrope Publishing in November of 2014. The second book in the series Spirit Warriors: The Scarring published on July 21, 2014 and Spirit Warriors: The Burning rolled out on September 21, 2015.The Spirit Warriors story evolved from a short story she wrote for a college English class in the early 1990s. The professor read it, loved it and asked her to stay after class and discuss it. During this discussion, he told her that a “dark” story like hers, which was written for older children, would be unmarketable and unsaleable. The story kept floating around in her mind. Finally, J.K. Rowling, Stephenie Meyers and others stepped forward with amazing “dark” stories to create a new genre called Young Adult. The time was finally right for her book. She wrote book 1 in two weeks. It took another year and a half and about a 150 queries all with a “not interested” for her to find a publisher.
Check out these other great blog stops on the tour!
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1/31 Blogging for the Love of Authors and Their Books – Promo
2/1 My Book Fix Blog – Promo
2/2 All for the Love of the Word – Guest Post
2/3 A Novel Reality – Promo
2/4 Missus Gonzo – Review
2/5 Books and Broomsticks – Promo
2/6 bookishjessp – Review
2/7 The Page Unbound – Author Interview
2/8 Because This is My Life Y’all – Review
2/9 Texas Book-aholic – Promo
blog tour services provided by
The Omen Operation Review
Omen Operation
by Taylor Brooke
Release Date: January 26th 2016
Limitless Publishing
Book Summary
After an epidemic spreads through the country, Brooklyn Harper’s high school years come to an abrupt end.
Implanted in a rural camp, Brooklyn and her friends are cut off from their families and the outside world. Each day is filled with combat training to assure their safety against the crazed, belligerent, and deadly— those infected with a mysterious virus.
If the world couldn’t get any crazier, a letter ups the insanity…
After being assured day after day that the world outside their little camp had been compromised, Brooklyn’s cabin-mate, Dawson Winters, finds a letter that turns everything they’d known upside down. There is a world outside the trees that surrounds their camp, and the virus they all feared seems non-existent.
Determined to see it herself, Brooklyn plots with others to attempt an escape…
On the outside, Brooklyn finds the world is as normal as ever. But when they are attacked in the city, they dispose of their attackers far more efficiently than any normal human.. Is there more to Brooklyn and her friends then just being highly trained?
As their exploration continues, the group is faced with impossible feats. Betrayal, love, death, and a powerful sense of camaraderie lead Brooklyn and her friends to fight for their life, their freedom, and most of all, each other.
Buy Links
My Review
Brooklyn’s life changed forever one night with the attack of woman that seemed to be suffering from a mysterious virus. Since then, her life spiraled to a point where she is taken away from her parents and all that she knew.
While it may not be for everyone, I love books that start from the ground running. From the moment you start, you are taken on a whirlwind of action scenes and amazing tension that gets your heart pumping. I love well written action scenes and this book did not disappoint! I must say that I started biting my nails at some points. This book has so many amazing elements in it. The mysterious virus, intriguing characters, government conspiracies, genetic alterations, and crazy plot twists that had my head reeling.
I enjoyed how well-rounded each character is in this book. Brooklyn’s friends are all very diverse with their own special characteristics and can kick butt. Especially Brooklyn’s best friend Gabriel (who is a girl by the way), who’s interest in cosmetology does not sway her from her adrenaline junkie, butt kicking, bloodthirsty antics. Brooklyn’s love interest, Porter, was a great character as well. Without spoiling too much, his initial motivations are not what they seem. While their affection at times may be a bit rushed, I really liked the dynamic between them and what it meant for the character arc of Porter.
Overall this book was such a triller for me. The way Brooke builds her action and tension in scenes is so great. It really was right up my alley of what I most enjoy. I’m really looking forward to reading the next one after an ending like that. I recommend everyone finds a comfy seat while reading this because you’ll be on the edge of it.
About the Author
Taylor Brooke is the author of the upcoming sci-fi adventure trilogy The Isolation Series. She started out as a freelance makeup artist, and quickly discovered her love of elves, zombies, mermaids, kaiju, and monsters of all kinds. After receiving eight professional certifications in special effects makeup, working on countless projects, and fleshing out a multitude of fantastical creatures, she turned her imagination back to her one true love- books. Taylor has had a knack for writing since she was a little girl, and received recognition for her skills throughout grade school and junior college. When she’s not nestled in a blanket typing away on her laptop, she can be found haunting the local bookstore with a cup of steaming hot tea in her hands, scanning the shelves for new reads, or hiking one of the many mountains that surround her home in Oregon.
Author Links
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Giveaway
Book Tour Organized by
Stormwielder Review
Release Date: December 1st 2015
Book Summary from Goodreads
For five hundred years the Gods have united the Three Lands in harmony.
Now that balance has been shattered, and chaos threatens.
A town burns and flames light the night sky. Hunted and alone, seventeen year old Eric flees through the wreckage. The mob grows closer, baying for the blood of their tormentor. Guilt weighs on his soul, but he cannot stop, cannot turn back.
If he stops, they die.
For two years he has carried this curse, bringing death and destruction wherever he goes. But now there is another searching for him – one who offers salvation. His name is Alastair and he knows the true nature of the curse. Magic.
FOR A LIMITED TIME – STORMWIELDER IS ON SALE FOR $0.99 ON AMAZON!
My Review
Stormwielder is the fantasy book you want to read. Some fantasy books will have too much information or are too fast paced but this one really takes you along the journey of it’s characters, making you interested from the very beginning.
Literally from chapter one I knew that this was going to be a quick read. The main character Eric is cursed with a power he can’t control. He’s been traveling alone in exile for two years when he decides to venture into civilization once again. However, before he can even adapt to the fast paced bustle of the marketplace, he is tricked and attacked. Only it is not his attackers that cause the real trouble.
I really felt sympathetic from the beginning for Eric. The way he describes his actions and the emotions he cannot control really pulls you in and moves the story along. I also found it really interesting reading the different perspective of Gabriel as well and what has just changed his life forever. Both were very interesting, like mirror opposites, and it was a great addition to pulling you in the story. Eric’s character arc was also a very nice and well paced journey that unfolded. While he has been plagued with guilt since his powers developed, he really begins to gain his confidence and control over his abilities.
Then we have the mysterious Alistair (who I honestly at first pictured as a cross between Gandalf and Wolverine) basically older, slightly grumpy, and determined butt kicker with surprising agility. It fit for some reason. Alistair begins the book in his journey for purpose and living the glory days of his youth.
I most certainly recommend this book. Especially for people that are reading fantasy for the first time. I was really impressed by Hodges ability to world build steadily through this book and had no trouble at all understanding it. The characters really push the story along, the action scenes are great, and even the slower paced scenes do not drag at all. Overall, a pretty good read and I look forward to the next one.
About the Author
Aaron Hodges was born in 1989 in the small town of Whakatane, New Zealand. He studied for five years at the University of Auckland, completing a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology and Geography, and a Masters of Environmental Engineering. After working as an environmental consultant for two years, he now spends his time traveling the world in search of his next adventure.
Author Links
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Slumber Duology Book Blitz and Giveaway
Slumber (The Slumber Duology #1)
by Christy Sloat
Release Date: March 16th 2015
Summary from Goodreads:
Not all princesses get their happily ever after…
They tell me I killed my boyfriend Phillip in cold blood. I stabbed him twenty one times. I’m only seventeen years old, and I am serving life in Spindle Ridge Asylum for the Criminally Insane.
I don’t remember killing him, so it’s really hard to believe I’m capable of murder. In fact I don’t remember anything before I came to Spindle Ridge, not even my boyfriend.
I can only grasp onto my realistic dreams while the madness of the asylum threatens to pull me under. I dream I’m a beautiful princess and there is an evil faerie named Maleficent who is bent on my destruction. The dreams are the closest thing I have to memories of my life, except they aren’t real.
I’m crazy. I’m not a princess.
They’re the mad illusions of an irrational teenage girl, right?
They’ve assigned me a new doctor, and she says I can trust her, and that she’ll help me see the truth of who I really am.
When she arrived she brought a new patient, Sawyer, who is everything Spindle Ridge isn’t: exciting, mysterious and beautiful. He promises he’s here to rescue me. Trusting either of them frightens me.
Could it be possible that my dreams are more than just the imaginings of a delusional girl? Could they be truth?
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UK│Amazon CA
Awaken (The Slumber Duology #2)
Release Date: November 17th 2015
Summary from Goodreads:
“Happily ever after is hers for the taking.”
Once upon a time I found myself locked away in Spindle Ridge Asylum, punished for a murder I didn’t commit. It was all part of Maleficent’s evil plan. I didn’t remember who I was then … now I do. My name is Aurora, and I am the rightful queen of this realm. Armed with my memories, I’m ready to take charge of my kingdom once more. Happily ever after evades me, yet I long to claim it with my true love, Sawyer, beside me. That fairy tale ending seems impossible with him locked in the thralls of a sleeping curse. As much as I’d love to sit by his bedside and eagerly await a cure, I must first travel into the terrifying Dark Woods to stop Raven from stripping me of all that is rightfully mine. I am not only a queen, but a warrior who will fight for her kingdom. Some may die. Blood will be shed. But when this ending comes, I will settle for nothing less than a blissful ever after.
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About the Author
Author Links:
Burning Bright Book Blitz and Giveaway
Summary from Goodreads:
Three years ago, Samantha Gray killed her parents.
Haunted by their deaths, she hides her scars behind sarcasm and vintage t-shirts, counting the days until she can escape her foster home in Alegria, Arizona. Then she meets Ben, a California boy whose filmmaker parents constructed a big cat sanctuary outside of town. She’s hesitant to get close, terrified he’ll learn her secret.
When Ben introduces Sam to Solomon, a Bengal tiger on borrowed time whose gruesome history eerily mirrors her own, she must decide whether she’s strong enough to overcome her past and save not only Solomon’s life, but her own. And to do that, she’ll need to tell Ben the truth.
Chanda Stafford teaches middle and high school English. She loves traveling and currently lives in Michigan with her husband and a menagerie of rescued dogs and cats.
When she’s not reading or writing, Chanda enjoys old zombie movies, authentic Italian food, and comic books.
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When she’s not reading or writing, Chanda enjoys old zombie movies, authentic Italian food, and comic books.
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Marked Book Blitz
Marked
Amy Saunders
(The Birthright, #2)
Publication date: January 31st 2016
Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult
Starting over for Rosamund Brandt is more complicated than it sounds. Especially when the past keeps coming back to haunt her. As she and her mom and brother try to pick up the pieces in a new home, the universe seems determined to tear them apart even more as secrets multiply, and distrust grows.
While new threats and unknowns emerge, Rosamund struggles with her own inner battle. Her new powers are growing whether she wants them or not, and their origins and nature are sketchy at best. The more that’s revealed to her, the more uncertain she feels.
Choosing allies and facing new and old enemies alike may not be their biggest problems. Not if Rosamund’s worst fears come true. Could she be the one they should fear the most?
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Sequel to:
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EXCERPT:
Xavier turned his back to me, disappearing among the students walking in all directions. I gulped down the lump in my throat, and headed toward my locker on autopilot. I walked straight down the middle of the hallway, students veering around me one way or the other. Each step was like the last, until gravel crunched beneath my boot.
I stopped walking and glanced down. Instead of tile, I saw charred black gravel. When I looked back up, I was standing in a virtual field of the stuff. There was nothing else around me except some hills the same color. The sky was gray and wind blew strands of my hair across my face. When I brushed the hair away, I saw something glint among the rocks near my feet.
I bent down, brushing the blackened dirt away, revealing something silver. I grazed the edge of it with my fingertips, then plunged my fingers into the gravel, pulling out the object. I stood again, my hand wrapped around it. When I glanced up, I was back in the hallway, students parting around me.
Another memory. Each one seemed to get more vivid and real.
But then I felt something cold in my hand.
I slowly unwrapped my fingers, and charcoaled dirt sifted between them onto the floor, leaving behind a 3-D silver serpentine object the size of my palm. My hand shook. That wasn’t just a memory. I’d physically done something. Or, more to the point, I’d gone somewhere. And I was pretty sure it wasn’t on Earth.
I covered the object in my hand again. I took a step forward, totally ready to skip class to go have a meltdown in the bathroom, when someone grabbed my arm, dragging me across the hall into an empty classroom. I wrenched away, facing the guy from detention–who didn’t exist in school records.
“What are you doing?” he hissed. “Didn’t you grow up like this? I thought you’d know better.”
Author Bio:
Amy is a sci-fi/mystery addict with a soft spot for humor and romance. She lives in Massachusetts, and loves to bake and watch movies. Learn more about Amy and her books at http://amysaundersauthor.com.
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