Monday, May 30, 2016

Breath of Peace


I received a copy of THE BREATH OF PEACE by Penelope Wilcock from Lion Hudson via Kregel in exchange for an honest review.  It is the seventh installment in the Hawk and Dove series.  I absolutely love this historical fiction series.  This book is no exception to the long running entertainment.  The fourteenth century truly comes alive. 

In this seventh book, William de Bulmer and Madeleine Hazell are married.  William is a former monk.  I loved watching them struggle with their marriage – not because they were struggling, but because they learned how to deal with it.  So many people give up on marriage without trying to understand themselves and others.  Both William and Madeleine have their own issues that they need to work through, that seep through into their marriage – just like so many of us today.

William and Madeleine visit Friar John at the monastery, where he is able to counsel them with wise advice that the reader can take away into the twenty-first century.  The human nature of this story truly shines through, proving that Penelope Wilcock is an excellent writer worthy of taking note.

For lovers of historical fiction and Christian fiction, I highly recommend this novel. 

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Bottled - cover reveal

BOTTLED is a YA fantasy novel. It will release July 7, 2016, from Clean Reads.  



BIO:
Carol Riggs is an author of YA fiction who lives in the beautiful green state of Oregon, USA. Her debut novel, THE BODY INSTITUTE, released Sept 2015 from Entangled Teen, exploring body image and identity. Her fantasy YA, BOTTLED, will release from Clean Reads on July 7, 2016, and her sci-fi YA, SAFE ZONE, will release from Entangled Teen in October 2016. She enjoys reading, drawing and painting, writing conferences, walking with her husband, and enjoying music and dance of all kinds. You will usually find her in her writing cave, surrounded by her dragon collection and the characters in her head.


Connect with Carol:

Add this book to your Goodreads reading list: BOTTLED

BOTTLED:

At seventeen, Adeelah Naji is transformed into a genie and imprisoned in a bottle. For a thousand years, she fulfills the wishes of greedy masters—building their palaces, lining their pockets with gold, and granting them every earthly pleasure. All that sustains her is the hope of finding Karim, the boy she fell in love with as a human. When at last she finds a note from her beloved, she confirms he has access to the elixir of life and that he still searches for her.

But someone else also hunts her. Faruq—the man who plots to use her powers to murder and seize the life forces of others—is just one step behind her. With the help of a kind master named Nathan, Adeelah continues to search for Karim while trying to evade Faruq. To complicate matters, she begins to experience growing fatigue and pain after conjuring, and finds herself struggling against an undeniable attraction to Nathan.

As Faruq closes in, Adeelah must decide just how much she’ll risk to protect Nathan and be with Karim forever. How much power does she really have to change her future, and what is she willing to sacrifice for an eternity of love? If she makes the wrong choice, the deaths of many will be on her hands.

Advanced Praise for BOTTLED:
Bottled has everything you could want in a story: humor, suspense, action, and romance. The twists kept me glued to the pages.”
~Elizabeth Langston, author of I Wish and Whisper Falls

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Keepers of the Forest

I bought a copy of KEEPERS OF THE FOREST by James McNally.  I know James personally – we work at the same bank and we do author events together.  That does not influence my opinion at all.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book going in.  I had never read a James McNally novel before, but was excited to try this one.  This story took place in the Adirondacks, an area of New York State that I love and have visited quite a few times in the past.

He really captures their essence.  It reminded me of all those trips I’ve taken.  The cover image, by the way, is perfect. 


Overall, this is a thrill ride about human nature and nature itself.  When I finish a book, I tend to think about similar books I have read.  I really can’t think of a book that’s like this one.  Good job on a unique idea!

Saturday, May 21, 2016

Crimson Tides

I received a copy of CRIMSON TIDES from Eliza Tilton in exchange for an honest review.  It is the third installment in the Daath Chronicles. 

I read this with a bittersweet taste in my mouth.  It is the final book in the trilogy.  Eliza and I were critique partners as she was writing book 1.  I always knew it would be a series of action and romance.  Beautiful sentences.  Powerful scenes.  This conclusion to the trilogy, however, blew me away!

Without giving away any spoilers, you get to explore the minds of Avikar, Lucino, and Jeslyn.  Lucino was my favorite character.  I found him to be the most complex, and I have enjoyed watching him grow throughout the series.  If you have read the other books, be prepared for something a little darker, but the story can still be counted as a light fantasy. 

Speaking of Lucino, I loved his relationship with Jeslyn.  It almost made her tie with him for my favorite character in CRIMSON TIDES.


On a side note, the series has undergone an amazing transformation cover-wise!

Friday, May 20, 2016

Fencing Reputation

I received a copy of FENCING REPUTATION SHARDS OF LIGHT VOLUMTE 2 from William L. Hahn in exchange for an honest review. 

It starts with a map.  I love maps!  Okay, onto the story…


I found it thoroughly engaging.  I grew up with tales of nonstop action and memorable characters.  Lately I’ve been reading slightly different books, so it was great to go back to my roots, so to speak.  I hate to give spoilers, so how about this – go into this book prepared for intrigue and humor.  I loved the humor.  Some situations were downright hysterical.  Most of those books I used to read didn’t have the humor aspect, and I found that with FENCING REPUTATION, it kept me turning the pages (metaphorically speaking, as I was reading it on my computer).  The book isn’t all fun and games, though.  There is the perfect mixture.  

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

The Reform


I met Almondie Shampine at a book signing at a local library and knew I had to get a copy for my “signed” bookshelf.  I chose THE REFORM, book 1 in the Modules series.  It sounded interesting, especially as it talks about the state and education.  As someone with an education degree, I know what the core curriculum is like.

I loved the relationship between Catina and Kadrin.  It was realistic; at times infuriating and other times sweet.  I also enjoyed Almondie Shampine’s idea of the Reform.  Complex, well-thought-out, and downright chilling! 

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

My Toddler Bible


I received a copy of MY TODDLER BIBLE by Juliet David from Candle Books via Kregel in exchange for an honest review.  This little hardcover is illustrated by Chris Embleton-Hall. 

The tome contains both the Old and New Testament, the stories retold to be appropriate for young minds to grasp the significance and meaning.  The bright illustrations help to bring it alive.  The people are slightly bubble-drawn, reminding me of dolls.

I can see this appealing to any child.  It would make a perfect addition to bedtime.  I can also see this in a Sunday school classroom.  My teacher brain always kicks into gear when given a book like this.  From my experience with little kids, it is sometimes hard to get them to sit still, but the vividness of this book should do the trick.

I can also see this bring used for slightly older children to help them learn how to read.  The font is very easy and the words are simplistic while still being powerful.

I was going to give this to a family member, but now that I have discovered that I am pregnant, I will be saving it for my little boy. 

MY TODDLER BIBLE is highly recommended. 

Friday, May 13, 2016

Fading Starlight

I received a copy of FADING STARLIGHT by Kathryn Cushman from Bethany House in exchange for an honest review.   I am often raving about Bethany House books.  The team there must be amazing.  The editing is great (rarely a typo) and the covers are spectacular.  FADING STARLIGHT is no exception to their list of winners.  

This is the story of Lauren Summers.  She was on her way to the Big Time with an internship at a fashion house, but then she had a little accident and had to fight her way back to the top.  Her journey is truly admirable.  Her thoughts and reactions were believable.  They showed strength, but also the type of weakness that humans have.  The Bible stories only made it more meaningful. 

I am not really into fashion.  Most of my clothes come from the Salvation Army.  Part of my enjoyment for this book was because it took me into a different world. 


FADING STARLIGHT comes with high praise from me.  I have read another book by Kathryn Cushman, FINDING ME, that I also enjoyed.  If you are looking for a heartwarming storyu that will help you escape into the world of fashion, you will find FADING STARLIGHT to be a delight.

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Code War


I received a copy of CODE WAR by Richard Givan in exchange for an honest review.

There was a lot to like in this book.  It was quite different from what I normally read (tends to be either young adult fantasy or historical fiction), so this was a delight.  I love trying something new.

The chapters are told from different characters, an aspect I found refreshing.  It helped to make the book feel more well-rounded and intense.  You aren’t immersed in just one character. 

One character is named Dolf.  I loved saying that in my head!

It is a well-written book filled with realistic dialogue, engaging action, and some great scenery.  You can tell Richard Givan put a lot of work into this.  It shines as a very polished piece. 

Monday, May 9, 2016

To Hug or Not to Hug

I don’t feel comfortable when people hug me.  There, I said it.  Usually when I tell people, they give me a weird look. 

“What’s wrong with you?” 

“Don’t you like showing affection?”

I like to think there’s nothing wrong with me.  I just don’t feel comfortable with someone stepping into my personal space.  Then again, I’m fine with someone sitting next to me.  I’m fine with bumping elbows or hands.  Hey, I’m fine with shaking hands.  Maybe there is something wrong with me!

Nah, I’m pulling your leg there.  I firmly believe there is nothing wrong with not wanting to hug someone.  Growing up, I knew I was loved and I loved my family hard.  We didn’t have to show affection to know the love was there.  I hugged my mom when I was sad or when she was sad, and I cuddled with my maternal grandmother when she read to me.  That was it for hugs.  We didn’t kiss either.  (Unlike those sparse moments of hugging, we never kissed)

Teachers and friends never hugged me, and I still felt safe, happy, and accepted.  I wasn’t neglected (as I was told once when I didn’t want to embrace an old colleague) and I wasn’t abused (another comment thrown my way).  I was held a lot as a baby.  There are photographs to prove it.

When I was younger, I had no filter and if someone tried to hug me, I told him or her not to.  Age made me a little more tactful.  Now, I will hug, but I don’t feel comfortable, and I have a feeling you know it.  I get all stiff.  Rigid.  Who knows what my expression looks like.  I try to get the whole experience over with as fast as possible. 
 
If you see me and try to hug me, I will hug you back, and if it appears to be torture for me, then sorry.  Please don’t take it personally.  I would be more than happy to fist bump, shake hands, and/or talk.  It isn’t you, it’s me – literally.  

All Over You


Welcome to my tour stop on the All Over You Blog Tour! Today, Ayden has a brand new excerpt and teasers for us!

Ivy Kendall's only plan for her life was to teach, but then it all fell apart...

When Rory Clark disappears from UCLA after a lengthy online relationship with a "catfish" pretending to be Ivy, the sassy former model turned kindergarten teacher is forced to dive headfirst into the mystery in order to clear her name. The catfishing phenomenon meets good, old-fashioned police work when Cameron Lewis, a bossy San Francisco detective with a dominant streak, offers to help her uncover the awful truth about her stolen identity and Rory's disappearance.

They've barely scratched the surface when Ivy is charged with a murder she swears she didn't commit.

As the evidence against her piles up and the intense attraction between her and Cameron deepens, Ivy wants nothing more than to lean on the tattooed detective. He's already seen her at her worse. Now she has to find the courage to trust him with her heart. But how can she when she's terrified doing so will ruin his career?

Her greatest fear becomes reality when the ugly truth is revealed and their lives come tumbling down around them. 

Betrayed by the one person she never suspected, Ivy makes a reckless decision that puts her in the sights of a murderer and jeopardizes Cameron's career. He will do whatever it takes to save the woman he loves...even if that means becoming a killer himself.
 

Will he be able to reach her before it's too late, or will Rory's catfish take more than just one life?

All Over You is a completely standalone sister novel to the All Falls Down duo, intended for readers aged 18 and over.

AMAZON (Free on Kindle Unlimited!)| GOODREADS



Excerpt

"Where are you staying?"

"Um, not far," I mumble and then grab a couple of containers and hurry toward the kitchen to toss them in the trashcan. Once done, I turn the faucet on to wet a few paper towels to wipe down the coffee table, trying to avoid looking at him for as long as possible.

I jump when he presses into me from behind, caging me in against the sink.

"Where, kitten?" he growls in my ear, sending goosebumps up and down my arms.

"Mid-City," I say, giving in with a sigh.

His body tenses, his arms going rigid. He curses before spinning me around. His face is a thundercloud, his eyes dark and stormy, pissed. "You're kidding me," he says.

"I can't exactly afford to stay anywhere else. I've been placed on administrative leave," I remind him. Mid-City isn't the greatest area of Los Angeles, but it's not the worst, either. And, unlike him, I don't have an income at the moment.

"Hell no," he growls, not in the least mollified by my reminder. "You aren't staying there. We're going to get your shit in the morning before we pick up your car. You can stay here with me until we head back to San Francisco."

"No." I push against his chest, forcing him to back up a couple of steps.

"Why not?"

"Because I'm not staying here!" I shout, frustrated that he just doesn't get why this is a problem for me.

"Then I'll pack up my shit and stay with you," he says as if I didn't just shout at him.

I gape at him, trying to decide if he's serious.

He is. Deadly serious.

And I am so not having this argument with him.

Shaking my head, I storm past him to my pile of clothes in the chair by the desk. Before I can yank my pants on though, he's there, taking them out of my hands and tossing them behind him. And then I'm flying through the air again, tossed on the bed as if I weigh nothing.

He's on top of me before I can roll off the side, straddling me so I can't get away.

"Stop manhandling me," I huff, pushing against his chest. It's useless though. He's like a mountain, too damned big to move. I stop struggling and glare up at him, so mad I can't see straight.

"Then stop trying to run from me," he says, grabbing my arms and pinning them to the bed on each side of my head.

"I wouldn't have to run if you'd stop trying to boss me around." Maybe I am a little submissive at times, but that doesn't mean I can't support myself or make my own decisions about where I'm staying.

He narrows his eyes on me. I'm not sure what he sees on my face, but his expression softens. "Talk to me, kitten. What'd I do to piss you off?"

"I don't need a keeper," I growl at him. "I may not have much, but I can take care of myself."

He eyes me for a moment and then shakes his head like he can't figure me out. "You think I don't know that? You've been taking care of yourself since you were a teenager."

"Exactly!"

"But you aren't alone anymore, sweetheart. I'm here. Let me help."

"You aren't helping," I mumble, sounding like a petulant four-year-old. "You're trying to boss me into doing what you want me to do."

He brushes my hair back from my face. "Mid-City is rough, especially for a woman alone. I don't want something happening to you because you're hell-bent on proving to the world that you can survive on your own. You've already proved that, kitten. You've been proving it since you were seventeen years old."

I stare at him, not sure what to say.


"I want you with me," he continues before I can find words, his voice a quiet rumble. "In this bed or in one in Mid-City if that's what makes you happy. I don't care. But I want to know you're safe while we're here. Not because you can't take care of yourself, but because you don't have to. I'm not going anywhere." He leans forward and brushes his lips lightly across mine. "Stop fighting me."

*****



About the Author

Ayden lives in the heart of Arkansas with her childhood sweetheart/husband of twelve years, and their five furry minions. When not writing, she spends her time hiking, reading, volunteering, causing mischief, and building a Spork army. Ayden graduated summa cum laude with her Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and Forensic Psychology in 2009 before going on to complete her graduate degree in CJ and Law. She currently puts her education to use in the social services and CJ field. 

Ayden also writes Young and New Adult fantasy under the penname A.K. Morgen.

You can find her on 
TwitterFacebook, or via her website at http://aydenmorgen.com.

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Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Blog Hop


Hi all!!

Welcome to the Caliburn Press Blog Hop!!! Below you will find some of our books by some great authors. Please check them out. Don’t forget to follow the blog links below for more blogs and giveaways.

 

JJ Fowler

The Longest Midnight

The Earth is dead, long ago ruined in the fires of the war - a war without end. Humanity now fights extinction from the legions of the ravenous dead.  These dead warriors change, they adapt, they fight back with our weapons, mimic our tactics, and even speak in our tongue. In a sign of desperation, a small group of human soldiers sets off into the unknown for answers to the dead's uncanny ability to learn and organize and kill. They hope to return with something that will turn the tide in humanity's favor. But is there even a tide to turn? Most humans can only wait and look up into the blackened sky, a sky without sun, a sky they call The Longest Midnight.

Link: Coming Soon.

 

 

Barbara Custer

When Blood Reigns.

Marked for death, Alexis holes up in a safehouse with her lover Yeron and four survivors of a zombie invasion. She’s searching for the compound where Kryszka renegades are making a chemical to induce a zombie-like state. Despite frequent assaults by ravenous walkers, subtle dangers such as hidden cameras elude Alexis. She never realizes until too late that the renegade soldiers have been tracking her.

Link: Coming soon.

 

 

Marti Boshers

Sophie's seemingly ordinary life is about to be replaced with one full of chaos when she travels to an immortal realm for protection. She discovers she is part faery and part witch, but she is more powerful than either. She soon realizes she will have to protect her family, friends, and this new world she has come to love. She will sacrifice everything and never give up hope. She finds family, love, and power, but she also finds betrayal and murder. Will she rise to the challenge set before her or fall beneath the ashes of what she is destined to save.

Link: Coming Soon

 

S.A. Hunter

Elanraigh: The Vow

Thera doesn’t know why the Elanraigh Forest-Mind chose her, of all the Allenholme folk, to hear its voice and to awaken her gifts of mind and spirit. The Elanraigh sends a warning dream—black sails swooping toward Allenholme from across the western sea—the Memteth, an ancient enemy, armed with blue fire that hungers to consume life. 


 

 

Chuck Daukas: A Little Night Fishing

"Hidden by the sea and the fog, he watches.  His lust for human flesh has sprouted and grown over a preternaturally long life.  Now his hunger is insatiable and he will hide no longer.

On shore, a young, bumbling security guard barely escapes a mind-wrenching encounter, only to find himself all that stands between the thing and humanity - and a multiplying horror that is closer to us than we are to ourselves."


 

 

Barbara Winkes

Amber Alert

When her two-year-old niece is kidnapped, Major Crimes Detective Ann McCoy uses every bit of leverage she has with Agent Cal Davis to stay on the case. The girl's parents, Ann’s sister and her wife, are desperate for answers. 
While the investigators look at the disturbing possibilities, a pattern emerges. They find an organization hidden in plain sight that has no boundaries when it comes to pushing their agenda- 
even at the cost of harming families and children.


 

 

Julia French

Hill Magick

Seeking escape from her abusive husband, aspiring columnist Rachel Jeffries travels into the hill country of Massachusetts, where she is saved from certain death by self-taught folk healer True Gannett. Armed only with his great grandfather's knowledge, can True protect himself and Rachel and stop the swath of destruction started by the powerful magician Joshua Lambrecht and his obnoxious familiar?


 

Frank Julius Palumbo:


Planet Nibiru has returned from its twelve thousand year orbit, and its inhabitants, a race of advanced winged gargoyles, will again rule Earth as Gods. Humanity's harvest has begun. 


 

 

Sandie Will

The Caging at Deadwater Manor

On a cold, January evening, fourteen-year-old Jeannie Kynde is told that her beloved mother drowned in the murky waters along Florida’s Gulf Coast.  Her distraught father turns on Jeannie, no longer the caring father she once knew.  Four years later, Jeannie is finally old enough to escape her father’s clutches, but he has different plans.  He imprisons her at Deadwater Manor, a psychiatric hospital with an unscrupulous past. Will she be locked away forever?

 

 

BLynn Goodwin

Talent

Fifteen-and-a-half-year-old Sandee Mason wants to find her talent, get her driver’s license, and stop living in the shadow of her big brother, who disappeared while serving in Afghanistan. She tries out for the school musical, but is assigned to a job that might be better than any role. Everything changes after her dad picks her up following a Saturday work day, and I can’t tell you the rest without spoilers. If you check the reviews on Amazon, you’ll see that it’s well worth your time.


 

 

Tina Amiri

Whatever the Impulse

When There’s Nowhere To Go But Too Far.. 

With his sole guardian turned stalker and the police on the wrong side, 19-year-old Night has little choice but to enter into an elaborate ruse in exchange for refuge. Despite his oppressive, isolated past, fulfilling his dying mentor’s grand expectations is achievable for prodigious Night, but threats and temptations abound. As Night’s power increases, will he be able to control his feral impulses, and more importantly, will he care?


 

 

 

Michael Penny

The nations of Daern are being torn apart. Old enemies are watching their borders, leering through a thin veneer of peace. The nobles search for weaknesses among their rivals, even as their castles crumble around them. And hungry spirits creep into the souls of mortals, whispering of more horrors still to come. At the edge of civilization, four lives collide in this world where mercy has become a luxury few can afford and life is often cheap. Can they survive under the pressure of forces they barely understand?

 

 

Jodie Pierce

The Vampire Queen (book 1 of 3-trilogy)

A young woman awakes to find out not only is she an important Countess but she is also the very first or 'Ancient One' as she is called by her subjects. Her memories of being a vampire or anyone are gone so she must relearn everything (from spells to flying) from the people around her, but can they be trusted? She also learns her main objective as the old Countess was purifying the vampire race and wishes to continue with that work. The 'Others', powerful and evil vampires, attempt to use her memory loss to their advantage. They had been trying to entice her to their side for centuries. Struggling to remember her past, battling the 'Others' and coping with her new life keep the Countess busy throughout this spellbinding and thrilling novel. Will she succeed in her goals or will the 'Others' win her over to their side this time around?


 

 

Angela Page

Matched in Heaven

Heaven may not be what you imagine. 
Jake and Mimi are dead and riddled with guilt. They play matchmaker for their spouses on Earth with the help Marcel, a disgraced priest. A May/December romance blossoms for Samantha and Syd on Earth until fate steps in.


 

Thank you for visiting my blog and don’t forget to check out the other ones on this blog tour. You can find the links below:

 

 






5/1 www.matchedinheaven.net


5/2 www.bloodredshadow.com




5/4 www.kissedbyliterature.blogspot.com



5/7 www.sandrahunter.blogspot.ca

5/7 www.juliafrenchbooks.wordpress.com