Quen Nim by Steve Shilstone -- Review and Giveaway

This review is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Steve will be awarding a $10 Wild Child Publishing GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

You can see the rest of the stops by clicking on the tour banner.

Nimble Missst, shapeshifting Cloud Castle City Princess, rages against her betrothal to the ridiculous Blossom Prince, Zootch. Reluctantly bound to duty, she agrees to go through with the marriage, but always in her snapjaw mind she devises plans of escape.

On the day the vows are to be exchanged, her startling violet eyes flash in disbelief when she learns that Zootch has fled Blossom in terror, saying he’s always been afraid of Nimble Missst.

Newly enraged, she sets off in hot pursuit of the Prince. It becomes a game of hide and seek, pitting the snapjaw mind of Nimble Missst against the surprising cleverness of Zootch.

My Review:

Nimble Misst is a shapeshifting princess... but not the sort who turn into wolves or other creatures. She can turn into clouds--- after all, she's a princess from Cloud Castle City. And, there is an arranged marriage in store for her--with the Blossom Prince, Zooch.

She has a snapjaw brain and wants to escape the marriage until the tables are turned and she discovers that Zootch doesn't want the marriage any more than she does and... in fact, is afraid of her and has run away.

This series is so much fun--it's enjoyable discovering other facts about it through the different chronicles! This particular story takes place long before the material in the first book... and is, in fact, a story told by Bekka in her unique way. Nimble comes to realize that, instead of really running way, she is engaged in a battle of wits, because Zooch also has a "snapjaw brain" only he kept his hidden.

The story plays out as the Zooch tries to outsmart Nim by leaving clues.. but staying one step ahead of her. And, there's a hidden player in this game.

You don't need to read the other books in the series to enjoy this short volume, but be aware that the language and the way the stories are written have it's own rhythm and may take you awhile to get comfortable with if you aren't familiar with is. But, the stories are, as Nim would say, ridiculously good. And, I hope there are more stories about Nimble's family... I haven't read all the books in the series and need to double check on that.

About the Author:

Steve Shilstone is a benign elderly hippie lite loon living in Northern California. He fancies himself to be a prosemaker and a dadaist with a small d who enjoys hanging out at the intersection of Humor and Nonsense. In times ago, he was a youth baseball coach for 25 years, a distributor of mail for the United States Postal Service, a stock associate employed by a no longer with us department store, a cartoonist of little note, a painter of littler note, and an anthropology student at UCLA.

His author website – www.SteveShilstone.com
His fantasy site – http://bekkaofthorns.com
His dada site, Anvil in a Lace Bootie – http://dochortonsloondiary.com
Publisher of his fantasy series – http://www.wildchildpublishing.com
Publisher of his print child of hippies novel, Vineyard’s Children, due out in December 2013 – www.livingstonpress.uwa.edu

Buy the book at Wild Child Publishing.

Book Review: Aundes Aura by Ryan Sullivan

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Ryan will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Since their father was taken to the dungeons of the capital city, Eoin and Saera have had to fend for themselves. If Eoin can find an apprenticeship in the capital, they can work on freeing him.

But Saera is afflicted with an evil goddess's light, and when her Aura flares up in the middle of the street, the power-hungry Church Regency are quickly on their heels, keen to eradicate the threat.

With more than the Regency after them, their only hope is to relinquish the Aura. Making alliances they would never have dreamt of, they find themselves swept up into a struggle against the kingdom they once called their own.

This is a very exciting book! I'm so glad it's part of a series because I really liked these characters and this world, and I can't wait to visit there again.

Often people dream about having special powers, but Saera knows that having special powers aren't always what it's cracked up to be--especially in their kingdom. The Church Regency tries to hunt down everyone who has been gifted with one of the Auras to destroy them. Fortunately for Saera and her brother, there are other kingdoms that will take them in and protect them--the trouble is getting there first.

On their way to safety, Saera and Eoin meet other people who hold the Auras of the other gods--and the adventure is on! There's also a touch of romance which is nice.

Thanks, Ryan, for a great read!!

About the Author:

Ryan Sullivan discovered his passion for writing at the age of seven. Drawn to the limitless worlds of magic, he never stopped. Ever since writing his first collection of stories, he knew he wanted to be an author. He is currently studying music, and teaches piano. He lives east of Melbourne, Australia.

Buy the book at Amazon US, or Amazon UK. Connect with the author at his Facebook Author Page, Twitter, Goodreads, his blog, and his website. Sign up to the mailing list for new books.

Painted Boots by Mechelle Morrison - Virtual Tour and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Leave a comment for a chance to win a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour and a unique, hand-crafted bookmark to one randomly drawn commenter at each stop--the other stops on the tour can be seen by clicking the tour banner. Remember, the more you comment, the better your chances of winning.

What’s your favorite sweet treat?

I’ve been addicted to chocolate from birth. Especially the European stuff. I blame my mother, who likely gorged on chocolate right along with pickles and sour- cream herring during my formative months in her womb. Though come to think of it, I don’t like pickles or sour-cream herring. Anyway, I also blame her for my far-sidedness, and for the ridiculous habit I have of fretting over things so miniscule most people just stare at me blankly when I bring them up, but those are completely different issues.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

An artist—and I became one. I graduated college in graphic design and illustration then spent ten years in the commercial art market, designing things like wall paper and fabric and scrapbook papers and frameable art. Twelve years ago I stepped out of the working world to become a mom. That’s when I started to write.

What would you write in a letter to your teen self?

I love this question. Passionately. But I’ll say here and now that whenever I think about the past I realize I would never travel back in time—unless I could take what I know with me. So here goes:

Mechelle,

Don’t bother with boys until they’re out of college and making money. I mean date, enjoy, have good friends, but beyond that remember: there’s so much else when you’re young. Work hard in school, get good grades and a scholarship, be crazy-brave and head to a place like Portland or Seattle or even Stanford for college. You love the northwest … you just don’t know it yet. And invest: Microsoft, Apple, Amazon. Maybe you’ve never heard of these companies but trust me. Borrow money from your parents or your grandmother and plop about ten thousand dollars into each one of them before the clock strikes 1990. You’ll be set for life. BTW: about your seventh grade BFF, LeeAnn. Turns out her older brother and your husband are friends. So instead of spending your middle school summers hanging around at the mall, spend more time at LeeAnn’s house, where I dare you to walk up to the guy of your dreams and say: “Hey. You’re gonna marry me someday.”

Favorite hot beverage.

Chai tea—the creamier, the better. I’d take it intravenously but then I wouldn’t be able to taste it. As a chai-lover, I feel compelled to share my favorite recipe with the world: -boil some crushed fresh ginger in water (I peel the ginger, smash about an inch of it in a garlic press, then put it in the water to boil) -1 ½ teaspoon White Ayurvedic Chai (I get mine from Teavana) Strain about ½ cup water into a mug. Put the chai in a tea-ball and the tea-ball into the water. Steep for 2 minutes. Remove teaball, add one cup whole milk and ½ teaspoon sugar. Warm in the microwave. A bit time-consuming, but yumma! Or just do it the easy way and order Oregon Chai from your local Java Joes.

Create an ice-cream flavor. What’s it called?

OH MY HECK

-one cup Häagen-Daz vanilla
-1 T chopped Trader Joe’s dark chocolate, caramel and sea-salt covered almonds
-about half a shot glass of Baileys Irish Cream
-heavy whipping cream, whipped
-sprinkle with grated dark chocolate
Enjoy with a good book. Hint: tastes even better when you have the whole house to yourself J

You’ve just won a million dollars and you’re not allowed to save any of it. What do you spend it on?

I’d buy an Airstream camper, talk my husband into hooking it up to his silver Tundra, pull our daughter out of school for two years and hit the road. We’d visit every National Park and quirky, out-of-the-way attraction we could find. We’d shop consignment and country yard sales. We’d eat at local diners for breakfast and always leave our waitress a hundred-dollar tip. Most evenings we’d cook dinner on our really cool Airstream kitchen stove while reminiscing about our day and up-loading pictures from our digital camera to our travel blog, which I hardly ever use because we hardly ever travel. Our nights would be filled with board games, guitar, star-gazing and other stuff. Hmmmmm. This is food for thought ….. now I just need that million dollars.

When her father drags her to a new life in Wyoming, Aspen Brand doesn’t expect to fall for a cowboy named Kyle Thacker—but she does. Aspen and Kyle share unexpected ground: guitar, running, physics. And guilt. Aspen blames herself for her mother’s car accident, while Kyle can’t find a way past his brother’s suicide.

On their first date they open up to each other, forging an unbreakable bond between them. But Kyle has spent two years living with a vicious secret—one his ex-girlfriend will do anything to protect—and sharing his truth with Aspen makes her a target. Now if Kyle is to be her love story, Aspen must first win the fight of her life.

An excerpt:

“My parents had a great relationship,” I say. “They were always touching each other, like they’d never evolved beyond infatuation. I lost my mom, yeah. But my dad lost more. He lost his other half, his best friend, the girl he’d been with since he was sixteen years old. It’s like I don’t know him, since Mom died.”

“If your mom was anything like you,” Kyle says, “I guarantee your dad’s hurting.”

“It’s hard for me to see him without her. I still think of my parents the way they were—loving and physical and fun with each other, all the time.”

Kyle slides his hand beneath the hem of my tank top, resting his fingers on the bare curve of my waist. Goose bumps spread across my skin. He pulls at me until our bodies touch. “Any guy’d want that,” he says softly.

About the Author:

As a child, Mechelle filled her journals with someday-my-prince-will-come fantasies. Then one day her prince arrived, driving a silver Tundra, and they adopted a fine daughter. Life got busy—work, family, daily cooking—but she still spends her evenings giving voice to the stories inside her head. Only now, instead of locking them away, she publishes them.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/Mechelle_Morrison
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MechelleMorrison
Website: www.mechellemorrison.com
Book trailer: http://youtu.be/nTe8UoTEZxg
Amazon.com : http://www.amazon.com/Painted-Boots-Mechelle-Morrison/dp/1484102002/ref=sr_1_1?
Barnes & Noble : http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/painted-boots-mechelle-morrison/1115919461?ean=9781484102008
Kobo : http://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/Search?Query=painted+boots

Review: Princess Interrupted by Michael A. Rothman

BLURB:

** A prequel novel to the Prophecies series **

Arabelle's life of leisure is shattered when she's attacked by a poisonous creature that hasn't walked the land in over five centuries.

As she struggles to live with the effects of the poison, Arabelle learns that it isn't the only cause of her sleepless nights. With her gift of prophecy, her sleep is plagued with visions of assassins and monstrous foes that threaten her people and the ones she loves. Yet during the day, her visions hint of a blue-eyed boy that makes her hope for the future.

The fate of her people weighs heavily on her shoulders, and Arabelle knows she must keep a dark secret that only she can bear.

My Review:

 

 

Princess Interrupted gives us a few months, maybe a year, in Arabelle's life before she meets the Rivertons in the LORDS series. She has to handle the transition from being a little girl to growing up and handling responsibility while caring for her loved ones, and exercising her talents. She is a very well developed character, and it's interesting to look back at her life to see what she had to live through.

 

Arabelle is a very admirable character. I like to see her reaction to the curse she's been afflicted with, watching her fight, train, and protect her loved ones despite the dark clouds hanging over her head. She has a whole heart, and I hope to see that people can reflect her good image.

 

The characters come alive in many different ways; giving the reader a view of what's really running through their minds at a specific time in the story. My favorite was probably Grisham, because of his gentle attitude, and his care for other's well-being. He had a good heart, and a sound mind, and at some points, I just wanted to reach through the pages and give him a big hug.

 

I loved  the book, through and through, and I'm pleased to have finally gotten the chance to read it. I give it five out of five stars, since it lived up to all I thought I would be. It's perfect for fantasy lovers, magic, spells, heart, and more!



Waiting on Wednesday - Nov 13, 2013

 

Here's a book that I have been waiting on for weeks. Yes, just weeks, because, after all, the most recent addition to the series, The House of Hades, came out in the second week of October.

I've been thoroughly obsessed with the series forever - I have been obsessively reading the whole Percy Jackson series since Riordan came out with The Lightning Thief.  I hope you enjoy!

 



The Blood Of Olympus, Book Five

Release date October 7, 2014

Cover Not Final

Though the Greek and Roman crewmembers of the Argo II have made progress in their many quests, they still seem no closer to defeating the earth mother, Gaea. Her giants have risen—all of them, and they’re stronger than ever. They must be stopped before the Feast of Spes, when Gaea plans to have two demigods sacrificed in Athens. She needs their blood—the blood of Olympus—in order to wake. The demigods are having more frequent visions of a terrible battle at Camp Half-Blood. The Roman legion from Camp Jupiter, led by Octavian, is almost within striking distance.

Though it is tempting to take the Athena Parthenos to Athens to use as a secret weapon, the friends know that the huge statue belongs back on Long Island, where it might be able to stop a war between the two camps. The Athena Parthenos will go west; the Argo II will go east. The gods, still suffering from multiple personality disorder, are useless. How can a handful of young demigods hope to persevere against Gaea’s army of powerful giants? As dangerous as it is to head to Athens, they have no other option. They have sacrificed too much already. And if Gaea wakes, it is game over.

What are YOU waiting for?

Flick by Keira Des Anges - Virtual Tour and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Leave a comment for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card--the other stops on the tour can be seen by clicking the tour banner. Remember, the more you comment, the better your chances of winning.

Leanna Matthews enjoys flying below the radar. She does well in school, has a few close friends and hides the fact she’s an astral-traveling telekinetic. But there’s no escaping her creepy dreams or Simora, the bizarre little spirit lady, that suddenly pops out of nowhere to warn her against keeping secrets and predicts an encounter with a sinister evil. For the first time in forever someone…or something…is on to her.

But life turns around when Leanna meets Piper one sunny afternoon. She’s inexplicably drawn to him, almost as if she’s been waiting for him to come. Forbidden to have a boyfriend Leanna throws caution to the wind, lying to her family and friends to be with him, while ignoring Simora’s ominous message.

Yet Piper has a secret of his own. He is on a mission and Leanna, unwittingly, is the key.

Now, enjoy an except:

Leanna Matthews craved for ordinary in the least extraordinary way. She enjoyed a few close friends, shopping at the mall and perhaps a nice romance novel every now and again. Routine was good, early mornings were better…and life was extremely complicated.

She squirmed restlessly in Biology – the final, insufferable class of the day – listening to Ms. Alvarado drone on-and-on about non-polar bonds in her last, torturous act of the term. Somewhere between ‘atom’ and ‘electronegativity,’ Leanna nodded off, nearly conking her head on the desk while daydreaming of summer vacation: shopping, beach, friends, shopping, vacation, shopping, sun, shopping, but not necessarily in that order.

Someone snickered from behind, no doubt amused by her wobbly head, as her eyelids grew heavier. Shut-up Ms. Alvarado, she thought bitterly. Thank God that in less than 20 minutes ninth grade would be officially over! School, and all its stupid inhabitants (present company included), would be history for a good two months; or rather two months too short - but it didn’t matter. Somewhere a beach chair sat waiting on white, fluffy sand and a plane ticket had her name stamped all over it. The fun was just about to begin!

Or so she thought.

That next morning, instead of awakening to the sweet taste of freedom, Leanna lay whimpering, shivering feverishly in her sleep. She curled tightly into a knot as a tiny beam of light crept through the shutters while she slept, casting eerie shadows on the wall - one of which grew abnormally in size until completely encircling the white canopy bed.

About the Author:

By day, Keira des Anges has the distinct pleasure of assisting teenagers with disabilities find employment, empowering one life at a time. By night, she is a chew toy for her dog and cat and avid reader of anything spooky, magical and totally out of this world. She lives in sunny Florida with her husband and two kids.

Find me online at:

Twitter: @KeiradesAnges
Facebook: www.facebook.com/KeiraDesAnges
Website: www.keiradesanges.com
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Flick-ebook/dp/B00D8MW7EE/ref=la_B00DCFJYB6_1_1
Book Video: http://youtu.be/J0iUsTkB--w

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Finder's Tome by TJ Marshall-- Book Review and Giveaway

This review is posted as part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. TJ will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

Finder's Tome by TJ Marshall
YA Fantasy
332 pages
4 Stars

The Deadly Gates have been opened. An exiled prince plots the return of trolls into FourPosts.

Jacob “Feather” Moore is given an ancient book to read. It shows him where he can find Mandrake’s Key, an artifact with the power to lock the Deadly Gates.

Forced into a race for his life and the future of FourPosts, Feather is pursued through caverns, deserts and foreign cities. Lost, hungry and alone, the boy struggles to reach the Great Hollow and the portal it holds. His only hope lies in the visions given by the book called Finder’s Tome.

This was a really neat book... Feather was my kind of guy--he loves to read! Fortunately, he has a friend who keeps him supplied. Turns out, though, the latest book this friend gives him is magic--and only Feather can "read" it.

I was a little perturbed by Feather's "adopted father" and mother at the beginning of the book--I thought the father was too harsh on Feather, but as you read the book you come to understand the conflicts his parents go through.

I liked the idea of a book that gives visions--Feather has to not only figure out what they mean, but had to go through many adventures in order to find Mandrake's Key and save his world. I also loved his traveling companions and helpers... a great beginning to what promises to be an awesome series.

Good job, Mr. Marshall! Four Stars!!!

Now enjoy an excerpt:

In this scene, Feather had fallen asleep in front of a fire the morning after a fight that ended with him killing a man.

“You little runt!”

Feather flinched, backing up a step.

A disembodied face with a black goatee loomed over him. Steel blue eyes glared as the man’s lips twisted into a grimace.

“No!” Feather yelled. “It can’t be!”

People surrounded him, some waving overfull tankards, splashing its contents, while others danced to a lute player’s tune. They appeared and disappeared in an instant, each pointing and laughing.

Feather’s heart beat wildly. He searched for a way out, but a thick haze of pipe tobacco choked him and obscured his vision.

A huge body formed under the floating man’s face. His arm dripped blood. He charged across a black floor, and toppled over Feather, weighing him down like a boulder.

Feather screamed again, struggling to be free of the dead weight. Breathing in short bursts, he managed to roll the man over. His knife was buried in Darrius’ chest.

The people stopped laughing. They sneered at Feather and shouted, “Murderer!” The lute player waved his instrument like a club as the crowd closed on him.

“Feather, this way!” The voice was distant, it’s source nowhere to be seen. “Feather! Feather!

Feather jumped, shoving a hand off his shoulder.

“Feather, wake up.” Geoffrey touched the boy’s arm.

Shaking his head, Feather tried to dismiss the lingering vision.

“You were screaming.” The old man hugged Feather. “Are you okay?”

“Oh, sorry.” He rubbed his eyes. “It must have been a nightmare.”

About the Author:

TJ Marshall spent the majority of his adult life in the US Army, and during this time, had traveled to more than two dozen countries as well as visiting nearly every state. A veteran of both Desert Storm and the Global War on Terror, TJ finally decided to retire and start a new life in Texas with his two daughters. A newcomer to writing, Finder’s Tome is TJ’s first novel, but in the short time he’s been writing, he has produced countless short stories, one of which was the winner of an internet writing contest hosted by First Page Last Page. TJ is currently working on a second novel titled The Struggles due to be released in summer 2014.

www.facebook.com/FourPostsAuthor
www.facebook.com/FindersTome
Buy the book at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.