Friday, November 30, 2012
Thursday, November 29, 2012
The Last Degree by Dina Rae Blog Tour Guest Post/Interview
The Last Degree is a fictionalized account of how Freemasons and other secret societies set up the world for takeover. Ancient writings foretell a ‘Shining One’ who emerges as the world’s prophet. A murder of a Most Worshipful mason resembles a secret oath. A cop gets too close to solving the crime. Paranoid preppers go underground, preparing for war.
Headlines such as the Norway massacre, meltdown of the European Union, unscrupulous media, animal die-offs, Middle Eastern unrest, and U.S. shrinking power make the plot relevant to present day. This book is an ode to Christians, Birthers, 2012ers, Truthers, preppers, and/or other conspiracy junkies who enjoy Dan Brown, Jesse Ventura, Brad Meltzer, Alex Jones, Jerry Jenkins and Tim LaHaye. A sequel will soon be available.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Vampyrnomicon (Vampire Hunters #2) by Scott M. Baker
Hunters and vampires seek The Vampyrnomicon, a book that could destroy the vampires...or mankind. Within the vaults of the Smithsonian Institute lies the key to finding The Vampyrnomicon, the Book of the Undead that contains the history and secrets of the vampires. According to legend, whoever possesses the book can establish a vampire nation on earth - or destroy the undead once and for all. With an opportunity to end the war against the undead so close, Drake Matthews is determined to find the book. But the vampires also want The Vampyrnomicon. When Master Chiang Shih and her coven of the most powerful and dangerous vampires arrive in Washington to claim the book as their own, the hunters find themselves facing their most deadly enemy yet. With the stakes so high, so is the ferocity of the struggle.
Reviving Bloom by Michelle Turner Blog Tour Interview
Author: Michelle Turner
Published: Self Published – October 3rd, 2012
Word Count: Approx. 61,000
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Monday, November 26, 2012
Enchanted Frost by Kailin Gow Release Day Blitz
The wedding is off, and the groom-to-be is no longer. Prince Kian has left Feyland, trying to forget Breena and all memories of her. Failing to fight off the human affliction known as love by himself, he seeks the magic of the Ancient Realms, to forget his love for Breena, to become truly fey, strong, stoic, and cold...just as the son his mother the Winter Queen had always wanted.
The Forbidden Trilogy by Kimberly Kinrade Blog Tour Review
SYNOPSIS:
Paranormal teens with unimaginable powers. A secret organization with deadly intentions. When Sam, a girl who reads minds, meets Drake, a boy who controls minds, they discover their lives aren't what they thought.
The Three Lost Kids and The Christmas Curse by Kimberly Kinrade Blog Tour Review
BLURB:
Christmas everyday sounds like the best thing ever to Bella and her sisters. But when a special Wishing Stone grants her heart's desire, The Three Lost Kids discover the curse hidden in the wish.
Wisteria by Bisi Leyton Blog Tour Review
Synopsis:
Sixteen year old Wisteria Kuti has two options—track the infected around the Isle of Smythe or leave the only known safe haven and face a world infested with flesh eating biters. But even with well-armed trackers, things go wrong and Wisteria ends up alone facing certain death, until she is rescued by the mysterious Bach. Uninfected, Bach is able to survive among the hordes of living dead.
Clutch by JA Huss Blog Tour Review
BLURB:
In 2152 the avian race is on Earth looking for something stolen from them decades ago – their genetics. At the center of the search lies the Rural Republic; a small backwards farming country with high hopes of military domination and a penchant for illegal bioengineering.
The Devil Made Me Do It by Amelia James Blog Tour
Welcome to the Release Day of The Devil Made Me Do It
by Amelia James
Don’t tempt me...
Survivor Roundup by Angela Scott Blog Tour
BLURB:
Red always knew she would have to face the man who nearly destroyed her. She just didn’t figure it would happen so soon . . . With the plague sweeping across the nation, destroying many and turning others into walking corpses, survivors head West in search of a chosen land, a place designed to keep the infected out, while sealing survivors inside. In theory, the idea seems the only way to keep humanity alive. In practice, it doesn’t matter whether a person is on the inside or the out—there is no humanity.
The Silver Sphere by Michael Dadich Blog Tour
BLURB:
Shelby Pardow never imagined killing someone. That's about to change.
While hiding from her troubled father in the local library, Shelby stares at a flashing instant message on her computer: YOU ARE NEEDED. She discovers a portal that opens and teleports her to the planet Azimuth, where soldiers await. Here, she is not a child but a warrior, Kin to one of the six Aulic Assembly members imprisoned by Malefic Cacoethes, the daunting leader of the Nightlanders.
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Allegiance by KA Tucker Blog Tour Character Interview/Giveaway
Evangeline finally got what she longed for—the cursed pendant off her neck and Caden in her arms—only it came at a steep price. An unknown poison now courses through her body, slowly morphing her into something no one but the Fates can foresee.She has her suspicions, though...and if she is right, it will spell certain ruin for her and Caden. But she won’t last long enough to realize that, if Viggo and Mortimer uncover the treasonous secrets she keeps from them– that Veronique, no longer entombed, is now in the torturous clutches of the witches and the People’s Sentinel, or that she is protecting a Sentinel within their very midst.Always the naive human caught in the vampires’ web of deceit, Evangeline is now weaving her own dangerous web so she can keep her friend alive, rescue Veronique, and stop a seemingly inevitable war from erupting. But can her honor handle the depths of duplicity to which she must descend, in order to be in league with the vampires?
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Beguiled by Rashelle Workman Blog Tour Interview
Worlds divided them. Chance brought them together. Only love will save them.
In book 2 of the Immortal Essence series, Venus must enter her planet's Hell, and complete three trials in order to free her parents, and save her soulmate.
The Secret of Ella & Micha by Jessica Sorensen Blog Tour Review
Ella and Micha have been best friends since they were kids. But one tragic night shatters their friendship and their lives forever.
Ella used to be a rule-breaker with fiery attitude who wore her heart on her sleeve. But she left everything behind when she went to college and transformed into someone that follows the rules, keeps everything together, and hides all her problems. But now it's summer break and she has nowhere else to go but home.
Ella fears everything she worked so hard to bury might resurface, especially with Micha living right next door. If Micha tries to tempt the old her back, she knows that it will be hard to resist.
Friday, November 23, 2012
The Vampire Hunters (Vampire Hunters #1) by Scott M. Baker
As former Boston cops, Drake Matthews and Alison Monroe thought they had experienced it all... until they found themselves tracking down a serial killer who turned out to be one of the undead. Stopping him cost them their careers and almost their lives.
Thanks to an influential and anonymous benefactor, Drake and Alison find a new job ridding the streets of Washington D.C. of the vampiric threat terrorizing the nation's capital.
Only this time, Drake and Alison are not facing a single vampire but an entire nest led by Ion Zielenska, one of history's most evil and twisted masters. As the vampires indiscriminately prey on humans, seeing them as nothing more than food to satiate their hunger, they create a wave of violence that threatens to engulf the city. Orchestrating the carnage is Antoinette Varela, the mistress of the nest, whose vendetta against the hunters is personal.
Shallow by Georgia Cates Blog Tour Guest Post
SYNOPSIS:
Payton Archer's best friend, Claire, strives to be perfect in every way. Payton doesn't and this is her story.
Derek and Maks (Inked Heat series book one) by DeeLicious Blog Tour Excerpt
THIS IS AN ADULT BOOK.
IF YOU ARE UNDER 18 PLEASE STOP READING NOW.
Thursday, November 22, 2012
The Consul General's Wive by Aliefka Bijlsma Blog Tour Interview
Melchior Steenbergen is leading an idyllic life. An elite member of Holland’s diplomatic corps, he is the Consul General in Rio, with a sweeping view of the Ipanema bay from his official residence, and a beautiful wife 20 years his junior. His trustworthy maid, Mercy, who is from Ghana and has followed him everywhere, attends to his every need. At 59, his time as a diplomat is winding down, but he expects to put one more feather in his cap: an ambassadorship. Paris, perhaps. Doesn’t he deserve it?
Dominion by Scott M. Baker Blog Tour Review/Excerpt
BLURB:
After being hidden away for centuries, the Vampyrnomicon, the Book of the Undead, is finally unearthed, and with it the terrible secret of the vampires’ origins. The discovery of the Vampyrnomicon gives Drake Matthews the means to defeat the Master and eradicate the vampire threat, but it also provides Chiang Shih with the knowledge she needs to make her masters immortal.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Blood Debt by Nancy Straight Blog Tour Interview
SYNOPSIS:
Her whole life, it had just been the two of them. Before her mother’s last breath, she gave Camille the information she had craved her entire life: the identity of her father. Daring to contact him, Camille was welcomed by an entire family she never knew existed. But nothing comes without a price, as she discovers when her family claims a legendary heritage tracing back to a Centaur touched by Zeus.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Faded by Chloe Miles Blog Tour Excerpt
Author: Chloe Miles
Publisher: Self Published
Pages: 380
Blurb:
"Savannah wanted to kiss him, but she had never even kissed a human guy before, let alone a ghost. How was she supposed to kiss him if he wasn't really there?"
Publisher: Self Published
Pages: 380
Blurb:
"Savannah wanted to kiss him, but she had never even kissed a human guy before, let alone a ghost. How was she supposed to kiss him if he wasn't really there?"
Forward Passes by Jami Davenport Blog Tour Interview
SYNOPSIS:
Quarterback Tyler Harris is about to find the woman who can get past his defensive line and reach his heart.
Monday, November 19, 2012
A Bridge to Treachery by Larry Crane Blog Tour Character Interview
Former Colonel Lou Christopher is an ex-Army Ranger retired from the military and contentedly working as a New York investment broker. After being assigned a number of lucrative accounts and becoming accustomed to living the good life, he discovers there is a pay back. His former military skills are requested under a threat of losing everything he has.
Handed a group of misfits to assemble into a military strike team, he is coerced into leading the team on a mission of domestic terrorism. At the center of a bridge outside of Manhattan, his strike team is caught in the act and unexpectedly becomes engaged in a deadly firefight. It's then that he learns the mission was a political maneuver from the highest levels of the U.S. Government-and ultimately realizes he has been betrayed by his superiors. Learning his team was considered nothing more than collateral damage and intended to be killed and left as scapegoats, he uses his unique military expertise and engages in a fight for his life.
As the strike team is decimated, he and a female teammate elude the opposition forces to survive and escape, turning the tables on his superiors. Using his distinctive set of military skills, he now becomes the hunter and vows to extract his revenge and bring them all down.
Character Questionnaire
Sidney Winkler
Easy. The Nobel Peace Prize. Get serious. I’m a semi-successful habit kicking college dropout. I need to get a job in the worst way. Any ideas for me? My greatest achievement: rolling out of bed most days.
• What is your current state of mind?
Deliriously giddy at being selected from a list of thousands to become the only female soldier of fortune in a gang of bridge hi-jackers. Reason: the organizer of this flash mob says I give credibility to the undertaking. Like, The Weathermen, the Panthers, you name it, all had females. If you have females in your organization, you’re a serious threat. Get it?
• What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
What do you say we elevate this discussion a tad? The last thing in the world I need is to dwell on all the little issues I have going on right now. Ask me something elevating.
• What is your motto?
That’s it? I’m getting paid for this gig , right? So, all right. Okay. My motto? Uh, how about: One learns to itch where one can scratch. Don’t laugh. It’s a serious motto from a serious writer, Ernest Bramah. He wrote the Kai Lung series of books with titles like: Kai Lung Unrolls His Mat. He had another motto: "May you come to the attention of those in authority" I seem to have lived that one out. Help!
• What are your favorite names?
Ernest Bramah and Kai Lung. I’m getting into this. Ask me more.
• Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
Wonder Woman.
• What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Chastity. On Turkey Mountain, after Lou and I had a little spat about who’s in charge of this operation, as a joke (really) I asked: “Do you want to do that make-up sex thing?”
He said: “Are you crazy or just completely friggin’ nuts?”
“You don’t have to be so sarcastic,” I said. Next question.
• What is the quality you most deplore in a man?
Honesty.
• What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Talent. Back on Turkey Mountain, Lou asked me where I went to college.
“ Williams,” I said. ”I’m really into biology and they have a great program.”
“It’s a good school,” he said. He was being nice to me, finally.
“I worked with the professor who was mapping the brains of zebra finches.”
“Wow. How’d he do that?” Lou asked.
“She. Physically how? You don’t want to know,” I said.
• What is your favorite journey?
One I never took. Lou and I were in an apartment in New Jersey. Our nemesis crushed his cigarette into the ashtray, took one of the sandwiches, and spelled out his plans for us:
“You board a plane tonight out of Kennedy. The 11:45 for Quito, Ecuador. From there, you’re on a bus through the mud to Montalvo, where you hang out with the peasants and live on coffee and bananas. You pick up your passport and ticket at Kennedy along with twenty thousand in cash.”
• What is your greatest regret?
I don’t want to talk about this any more.
Transplanted to Maine mid-westerner Larry Crane brings an Illinois sensibility to his writing. Larry graduated from West Point and served in the Army before starting
a business career on Wall Street. His writing includes articles for outdoor magazines, plays, short fiction, and his most recent thriller novel, A Bridge to Treachery. In his spare time, Crane is a hobbyist videographer for his local Public Access Television Station and is a volunteer at his local historical society. Larry and wife Jan live in splendid isolation on the coast of Maine.
ONLINE LINKS:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/mainelarrycrane
Webpage: http://www.mainelarrycrane.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MaineLarryCrane
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3974958.Larry_Crane
Wattpad: http://wattpad.com/LarryCrane
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/capenewagen?ref=tn_tnmn
Google+ https://plus.google.com/102138020542253759325
Blog http://mainelarrycrane.blogspot.com/
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/settings/?trk=hb_acc
IAN: http://www.independentauthornetwork.com/
YouTube Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nabX38RqwEI&feature=g-upl
BUY LINKS:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/RmJQNl
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/137163
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bridge-to-treachery-larry-crane/1101990028?ean=9781936587353
Rafflecopter giveaway
Tour Schedule:
11/14 Chris Redding Author 11/15 Blooding Book Reviews
11/16 The Avid Reader
11/16 Hooks and Book Review 11/19 The Cover by Brittany
11/20 My Cozie Corner
11/22 My Reading Obsession
11/23 Kindle Fever
11/26 TBR
11/26 Reflections of a Bookworm
11/27 Beauty in Ruins
11/28 Reviews By Molly
11/29 Harlie's Books
11/29 Have Kindle, Will Travel
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Phantom Dreams by TK Harris Blog Tour
SYNOPSIS:
A scorned serial killer on an old vendetta.
An FBI agent who has been chasing monsters for too long.
A woman whose nightmares start invading her waking life.
FBI Special Agent Jack Matthews finds himself on yet another serial killer case, having barely recovered from the last disastrous hunt. Still stiff from a gun shot wound in his leg, under investigation for a botched job, and having lost his fiancée when she walked out on him, Jack is beginning to wonder if it isn’t time to move on to something new. But, for Jack, these cases are personal and he can’t say no.
Marketing specialist Kathy Gilliam leads a fairly boring life. If she’s not working or caring for her ailing father, then she is doing whatever it takes to avoid going anywhere near crowds of people. Her few distractions include her friend Margo Longfellow, occasional hiking trips, and her increasingly alarming dreams of women dying.
As her nightmares cause her to begin to doubt her sanity, the media releases news of the “Coast-to-Coast Killer” and Kathy discovers her dreams may be related. In a moment of panic, Kathy does something that places her on the FBI’s “persons of interest” list. Suddenly, her life is set on a collision course with Jack who must decide if Kathy is the killer or destined to become a victim.
AUTHOR BIO:
T.K. Harris was born in California and lived a gypsy sort of life traveling the world as a military brat. She has been writing since she was a child and as had several short stories published by various magazines, including one in Woman's World. She currently lives and works in Colorado as a Senior Solutions Architect and IT Instructor and has recently had her first novel, Phantom Dreams, published. She is looking forward to her next two books, already outlined and partially written. You can find out more at: http://www.tkharrisonline.com.
Amazon Link:
http://www.amazon.com/Phantom-Dreams-ebook/dp/B008I4R1FM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1349985974&sr=8-1&keywords=phantom+dreams+t.k.+harris
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Awaken by Kristen Day Blog Tour Review
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SYNOPSIS:
The sacrifices we make have the power to shift the very fabric of who we are, and ultimately who we are meant to be…
After learning of her true destiny as the intended Leader of the Tydes, Anastasia Whitman must now embark on a perilous quest to the Underworld before the age of eighteen in order to plant the seed of immortality and complete her essence to become a true Sea Goddess. But before she can make her legendary journey, an unexpected new student transfers to Lorelei; initiating a sequence of events that will unravel Stasia’s new life, and test the boundaries of her relationship with the mysterious, dark, and sexy Finn Morrison. The line between the Underworld and the Living begins to blur as gruesome ghosts, morbid reveries, and pure evil haunt her waking hours as well as her sanity. Once the details of Finn’s own startling destiny are revealed, the dangerous secrets he’s been hiding will threaten the very love Stasia believed to be indestructible. As time begins to run out, she will be forced to choose between the one she loves and the destiny she cannot escape.
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The author has brought amazingness to the table yet again! I'm about to dub her the cliffhanger queen though! How can you leave us hanging like that?! Now with that said, I'm going to try to be as spoiler free as possible...
The twists and turns in this book will have you reeling from the first chapter. I literally went through every emotion possible while reading this book, so much so that I had my pups running in all directions during my experience. If you thought that book 1, Forsaken, was "predictable"...man, oh man, do you have another thing coming in this mythologically awe-inspiring creation! Book 1 has nothing on the action that happens in this book! I can't wait to see what happens in the next book :)
AUTHOR BIO:
Kristen Day is a southern belle at heart with a crazy streak that desperately tries to escape at every opportunity. She loves all things nostalgic, rustic, and quirky. She’s been told she sees the world through rose-colored glasses, but she prefers to think of them as kaleidoscope glasses - swirling and morphing reality into something she can digest (who hasn't pretended those pasty lima beans were really kiwi strawberry jelly beans?).
She is the author of the DAUGHTERS OF THE SEA trilogy, which includes FORSAKEN, AWAKEN (Oct 2012), and CHOSEN (Winter 2012). She loves all books, but really enjoys writing young adult, paranormal romances. She’s loved to write for as long as she can remember. Her first published work was her poem RED in second grade (you guessed it - it was a poem about the color red - life altering, right?) that won her 5 gold stars and a spot in her elementary school's poetry book. That's when her addiction to the written word officially began. She was the only kid in fifth grade that actually enjoyed diagramming sentences. Go ahead and laugh - its okay.
When she’s not writing she’s making jewelry, painting, feeding her addiction to sweet tea, watching the Discovery Channel, or going on random adventures in the mountains of North Carolina with her amazing husband. She was born in Boone, NC and graduated from Appalachian State University with a degree in Marketing in 2001.
Tour Schedule:
11/1/2012 Girls Heart Books 11/2/2012 Captivated Reading 11/3/2012 Between The Bind 11/4/2012 A Book So Fathomless 11/4/2012 Stephanie Keys 11/5/2012 The Librarians Bookshelf
11/6/2012 The Little Hyuts
11/7/2012 My Miscellaneous Book Shelf 11/8/2012 Behind A Million and One Pages
11/9/2012 Magic, Immortals and Being A Good Monster 11/10/2012 Pink Fluffy Hearts 11/10/2012 Mom With A Kindle
11/11/2012 Project Read and Review 11/12/2012 The College Crawl 11/13/2012 Young Adult Book Addict
11/14/2012 The READioactive Book Blog
11/15/2012 Splash Of Our Worlds
11/16/2012 A Dream Within A Dream 11/17/2012 The Cover (and Everything in Between) 11/18/2012 Jessabell Reads 11/19/2012 Young Adult Novel Reader
11/20/2012 Geo Librarian
11/21/2012 Doctors Notes
11/22/2012 My Book Mark Blog
11/22/2012 The Reading Diaries
11/23/2012 From The Bootheel Cotton Patch
11/24/2012 Book Lovin Mamas
11/25/2012 Stressed Rach
11/26/2012 The Life of Fiction
11/27/2012 Book Nerds United As One
11/28/2012 Night Owl Reads 11/29/2012 My Escape
11/30/2012 A Soul Unsung
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Kristen Day is a southern belle at heart with a crazy streak that desperately tries to escape at every opportunity. She loves all things nostalgic, rustic, and quirky. She’s been told she sees the world through rose-colored glasses, but she prefers to think of them as kaleidoscope glasses - swirling and morphing reality into something she can digest (who hasn't pretended those pasty lima beans were really kiwi strawberry jelly beans?).
She is the author of the DAUGHTERS OF THE SEA trilogy, which includes FORSAKEN, AWAKEN (Oct 2012), and CHOSEN (Winter 2012). She loves all books, but really enjoys writing young adult, paranormal romances. She’s loved to write for as long as she can remember. Her first published work was her poem RED in second grade (you guessed it - it was a poem about the color red - life altering, right?) that won her 5 gold stars and a spot in her elementary school's poetry book. That's when her addiction to the written word officially began. She was the only kid in fifth grade that actually enjoyed diagramming sentences. Go ahead and laugh - its okay.
When she’s not writing she’s making jewelry, painting, feeding her addiction to sweet tea, watching the Discovery Channel, or going on random adventures in the mountains of North Carolina with her amazing husband. She was born in Boone, NC and graduated from Appalachian State University with a degree in Marketing in 2001.
LINKS:
Tour Schedule:
11/1/2012 Girls Heart Books 11/2/2012 Captivated Reading 11/3/2012 Between The Bind 11/4/2012 A Book So Fathomless 11/4/2012 Stephanie Keys 11/5/2012 The Librarians Bookshelf
11/6/2012 The Little Hyuts
11/7/2012 My Miscellaneous Book Shelf 11/8/2012 Behind A Million and One Pages
11/9/2012 Magic, Immortals and Being A Good Monster 11/10/2012 Pink Fluffy Hearts 11/10/2012 Mom With A Kindle
11/11/2012 Project Read and Review 11/12/2012 The College Crawl 11/13/2012 Young Adult Book Addict
11/14/2012 The READioactive Book Blog
11/15/2012 Splash Of Our Worlds
11/16/2012 A Dream Within A Dream 11/17/2012 The Cover (and Everything in Between) 11/18/2012 Jessabell Reads 11/19/2012 Young Adult Novel Reader
11/20/2012 Geo Librarian
11/21/2012 Doctors Notes
11/22/2012 My Book Mark Blog
11/22/2012 The Reading Diaries
11/23/2012 From The Bootheel Cotton Patch
11/24/2012 Book Lovin Mamas
11/25/2012 Stressed Rach
11/26/2012 The Life of Fiction
11/27/2012 Book Nerds United As One
11/28/2012 Night Owl Reads 11/29/2012 My Escape
11/30/2012 A Soul Unsung
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Friday, November 16, 2012
Cephrael's Hand by Melissa McPhail Blog Tour Review
SYNOPSIS:
"All things are composed of patterns..." And within the pattern of the realm of Alorin, three strands must cross:
In Alorin... three hundred years after the genocidal Adept Wars, the realm is dying, and the blessed Adept race dies with it. One man holds the secret to reverting this decline: Bjorn van Gelderan, a dangerous and enigmatic man whose shocking betrayal three centuries past earned him a traitor's brand. It is the Adept Vestal Raine D'Lacourte's mission to learn what Bjorn knows in the hope of salvaging his race. But first he'll have to find him.In the kingdom of Dannym... the young Prince Ean val Lorian faces a tenuous future as the last living heir to the coveted Eagle Throne. When his blood-brother is slain during a failed assassination, Ean embarks on a desperate hunt for the man responsible. Yet his advisors have their own agendas, and his quest for vengeance leads him ever deeper into a sinuous plot masterminded by a mysterious and powerful man, the one they call First Lord.
In the Nadori desert... tormented by the missing pieces of his life, a soldier named Trell heads off to uncover the truth of his shadowed past. But when disaster places him in the debt of Wildlings sworn to the First Lord, Trell begins to suspect a deadlier, darker secret motivating them. Honor-bound to serve the First Lord in return for his life, Trell continues on his appointed path, yet each day unveils new and stranger secrets that eventually call into question everything he knows.
Isn't this an amazing map?!
Oh where to start with this review... When approached to review for this tour I was a bit apprehensive. 654 pages is definitely an epic size! But, after a few arm twists, I was convinced that it was worth my time. And boy was it! The first few chapters were a little rough, as to be expected in the first book from any author. After the author worked through her intense descriptions, the book took off like a rocket. I really enjoyed the flashbacks, although they were a bit hard to distinguish at times. All throughout the book I was transported to the author mystical land and had a hard time coming back to reality. The characters are easily lovable and the story line keeps you wondering what is going to happen next. Overall, I say that this is a great start to the series. I can't wait to see how the author's writing style develops and what comes in the next book :)
Melissa McPhail is a classically trained pianist, violinist and composer, a Vinyasa yoga instructor, and an avid Fantasy reader. A long-time student of philosophy, she is passionate about the Fantasy genre because of its inherent philosophical explorations.
Ms. McPhail lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, their twin daughters and two very large cats. Cephrael's Hand, her first novel in the series "A Pattern of Shadow and Light."
Check out the rest of the tour :)
10/30 The Cover by Brittany
10/31 huithiang!
11/1 The Cosy Dragon
11/2 Window on the World
11/12 Wolf Majick Reviews
11/12 Cristi's Reviews
11/16 My Cozie Corner
11/16 The Cover by Brittany
11/22 Once Upon A Book
11/23 I am, Indeed
11/26 The Insane Writings of a Crazed Writer
11/27 Nyx Book Reviews
11/29 Krystal's Enchanting Reads
Thursday, November 15, 2012
The Erroneous Talibani by Richard Asner Blog Tour Guest Post
Synopsis:
The Erroneous Talibani showcases all the essential components of the classic espionage novel. Exotic settings, broken hearts, treacherous allies, love, violence, redemption and vengeance spin through the book, which moves at a breakneck pace worthy of the best examples of the genre.
Greg Damet, an Annapolis graduate with eight years in Naval Intelligence is recruited by the CIA where he meets and falls in love with Jacquie Dean. Together they are sent to Afghanistan to work with the Special Forces. Greg is sent into the field while Jacquie remains at Bagram Air Base.
During Greg’s tour of duty, his plane is shot down, eats raw snake to survive and is ultimately captured and beaten nearly to death by the Taliban. He is discovered by Aysha, the daughter of a tribal chieftain and she nurses him back to health. During his recovery, the two develop a romantic attraction for each other. It is also while he is recovering that he is able to obtain information that has dire international consequences, information supplied by a CIA mole. Armed with this information, Greg is forced to kiss a tearful Aysha good-bye and do whatever it takes to get to the American Embassy in Islamabad. Greg’s initial action there is key to unraveling the mystery of the mole’s true identity.
Guest Post:
My latest book introduces a new protagonist. Roman Hawk gained his name early in life after his Iranian parents were killed in a horrible automobile accident. At the age of eighteen, Roman enters Notre Dame University on a football scholarship.
After graduation, Roman spends eight years with the country’s FBI before being recruited by the CIA. His first assignment sends him to Moscow to recover confidential records of a new army rifle that fires smart bullets acquired by a mafia kingpin only known as the Chairman. While in Moscow, Roman discovers that the Chairman is involved with General Giorgio Levshinsky in the secret construction of a suitcase nuclear weapon for Iran.
One month before Yom Kippur, Mossad Director Aaron Levy receives a letter saying that at one minute after midnight on their Day of Atonement, a nuclear blast will take place somewhere in Israel.
The rest of the story concerns Roman chasing after the shipment of this nuclear weapon through Iran on its way to Israel assisted by Mossad agent, Rina Kol. In the end, they lose track of the weapon. The story’s climax occurs at midnight with sixty seconds before the scheduled nuclear explosion.
Mr.Asner moved his focus to engineering and spent thirty years working in that field in the Chicago area before retiring. His primary enthusiasm is working out in his health club, but the keyboard will continue to compete with the weight room as a focus for his energy.
BUY NOW LINK:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Erroneous-Talibani-ebook/dp/B008KA0VBA/ref=tmm_kin_title_0
Check out the rest of the tour ;)
10/15 YA Between the Lines
10/17 A Chick Who Reads
10/18 Reflections of a Bookworm
10/19 The Cover by Brittany
10/24 Kaisy Daisy's Corner
10/29 I am, Indeed
10/31 SnifferWalk
11/2 The Bunny's Review
11/2 Window on the World
11/4 T B R
11/5 Reflections of a Bookworm
11/5 Free Book Dude
11/7 Books for me
11/8 Happy Tails & Tales
11/9 Books & Other Spells
11/9 Kindle Fever
11/12 My Cozie Corner
11/14 SMARTMOUTHTEXAN
11/14 All Things Writing
11/15 The Cover by Brittany
11/15 DanaSquare
After graduation, Roman spends eight years with the country’s FBI before being recruited by the CIA. His first assignment sends him to Moscow to recover confidential records of a new army rifle that fires smart bullets acquired by a mafia kingpin only known as the Chairman. While in Moscow, Roman discovers that the Chairman is involved with General Giorgio Levshinsky in the secret construction of a suitcase nuclear weapon for Iran.
One month before Yom Kippur, Mossad Director Aaron Levy receives a letter saying that at one minute after midnight on their Day of Atonement, a nuclear blast will take place somewhere in Israel.
The rest of the story concerns Roman chasing after the shipment of this nuclear weapon through Iran on its way to Israel assisted by Mossad agent, Rina Kol. In the end, they lose track of the weapon. The story’s climax occurs at midnight with sixty seconds before the scheduled nuclear explosion.
Author Bio:
Richard Asner describes himself as having led a “very fruitful life,” and it would be impossible to dispute him. A veteran of the U.S. Marines, which he joined at 17, he went on to graduate from the Naval Academy, like his hero Greg Damet. He then spent eight years as a naval aviator teaching midshipmen at Northwestern University during the last three years of his flying career.Mr.Asner moved his focus to engineering and spent thirty years working in that field in the Chicago area before retiring. His primary enthusiasm is working out in his health club, but the keyboard will continue to compete with the weight room as a focus for his energy.
BUY NOW LINK:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Erroneous-Talibani-ebook/dp/B008KA0VBA/ref=tmm_kin_title_0
Check out the rest of the tour ;)
10/15 YA Between the Lines
10/17 A Chick Who Reads
10/18 Reflections of a Bookworm
10/19 The Cover by Brittany
10/24 Kaisy Daisy's Corner
10/29 I am, Indeed
10/31 SnifferWalk
11/2 The Bunny's Review
11/2 Window on the World
11/4 T B R
11/5 Reflections of a Bookworm
11/5 Free Book Dude
11/7 Books for me
11/8 Happy Tails & Tales
11/9 Books & Other Spells
11/9 Kindle Fever
11/12 My Cozie Corner
11/14 SMARTMOUTHTEXAN
11/14 All Things Writing
11/15 The Cover by Brittany
11/15 DanaSquare
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Veiled Mist by Eleanor Beaty Blog Tour Guest Post/Interview/Giveaway
BLURB:
On the Caribbean island of Maurray, spoiled-rotten, fifteen-year-old Hanna wakes up to a nightmare. She is not the daughter of an aristocrat but the orphan of a Gypsy. She is the descendant to a mystical Gypsy tribe. Their magic is strong and has lasted six hundred years. Ornella, the tribe’s guardian, arrives at the island with her mutt, Count Dracula, to guide Hanna. Hanna is told she must embrace her heritage or die at the ripe age of seventeen. But Hanna does the unthinkable, she chooses death. She hates Gypsies and would rather die. What she doesn’t know is that her death will destroy the entire tribe. What she also doesn’t know is how persuasive Ornella can be. The nightmare begins.
GUEST POST:
Why I write Young Adult Paranormal Fiction.
I was always a spiritualist, but not a serious one. While growing up, the mystical beliefs and the rituals from the African religions were a part of my culture. New Years were always at the beach, watching the believers of Umbanda and Candoble, dressed in white, offering flowers and notes with their wishes, to the water goddess, Iemanja. Wishes of prosperity, health, happiness and love. At midnight we would enter the shallow water and jump 7 waves for good luck.
I didn’t question whether their wishes came true, nor if jumping those seven waves made me lucky, but I believed there were spirits out there watching over us.
My first personal experience with spirits came after a very bad year in my life during which I almost died. I went in search of guidance in spiritual centers. I found one where I met two very nice older women. I told them I felt my life was a series of bad events. I wasn’t going anywhere. They offered to come to my office and clean it. Clear my professional path. I accepted.
They came at night, smoked out the office and told me they would leave a spirit to guard the house. Great, a private guard. A few months went by and things got worse, which made me wonder how effective my guard was. I hit rock bottom when my assistant left, taking all her salary receipts, then went on to sue me for the salaries I couldn’t prove I paid. I was angry and hurt because I had helped her in so many ways.
A friend then sent me a friend to fill the assistant position. Soon I found out my new assistant was a medium and worked in a small spiritual center. I asked her if I could attend. I was freaking out with the possibility of losing the lawsuit.
At the center I found out my guard was an ignorant spirit, who did more harm than good because he couldn’t tell the difference between good and bad. Great!
I know it sounds crazy, but there is a food chain in the spirit world and he was at the bottom. He had to go. He would be replaced by another spirit, of low light, but powerful, and more aware of right and wrong. His task was to protect me, not the office.
I asked what the spirit’s name was, since I could call on him whenever I needed. He called himself Lord of the Swamp. Really? Nothing normal like John or Paul? If he was a Lord why did he end up in a swamp? My assistant gave me a look that warned me to respect swamp-man, so I shut up. I’m a very curious person and kept asking, but she would not tell me his story.
The first time I called on him, I was enveloped by a strong putrid stench. I thought it was my impression, but then I noticed that every time I called on him the same thing happened. That was his way of telling me he was there. I hadn’t made the connection; Lord of the Swamp smelled like a swamp! Thankfully, only I could smell it.
There are certain rules when dealing with spirits like Lord of the Swamp, but I wasn’t aware of them so, after a few months of experiencing life with such an amazing guardian angel, albeit stinky, I decided to start the day offering Swamp-man a white candle and a white flower in gratitude, while asking God surround him with light. One day my assistant walked in while I was praying and gasped in horror. (She was freaky, because she could see spirits and hear them and sometimes she would be talking to me but looking over my left shoulder at some spirit.)
She explained I shouldn’t offer him flowers or call him by a nickname (Mane- short for Manuel) because that diminished him before the group he commanded.
He was a spirit from the lower sphere. He lived in darkness. Offering him a flower and light was the equivalent to giving Darth Vader a flowered cape.
Great, and I thought I was doing something good; he deserved to rise from the mud. He had done some amazing things. Kept me safe. I didn’t lose my third child because of him. But that, she told me, was not what he wanted. I had to respect him. I could simply thank him, and maybe a black candle.
Stubbornly, I continued to light a white candle every morning. Black candles are too creepy. One day I noticed the leftovers of the candle looked different. It always differed between a clean plate and some bit of wax and a few black dots. But now there was a flower inside a circle. The black wick was bent at the end and the tip spread open like petals. The next day again a flower, and several days after that. I realized something had changed. A week later my assistant told me Swamp-man was given a choice to either grow to stay with me or leave my side. He chose grow, which meant he would have to spend sometime away. I felt happy that he wanted to make the effort to stay with me. He stayed for many years and then moved on. Now he comes to visit and uses the stench to announce his presence.
Because of this experience with Lord of the Swamp, I began to read, and the more I read about spiritualism the more fascinated I became. It is logic and scientific but mystical and mysterious at the same time. I wanted to pass that on in my books, but not in a preachy way, instead through adventure and action, and that I have. In all my books you will find spiritualistic themes. I plant a seed of curiosity and people begin to wonder. Is paranormal fiction or reality?
INTERVIEW:
If you could travel in a Time Machine would you go back to the past or into the future?
If I could choose time travel I would go back to the 60’s, here in Brazil, where there was so much to accomplish and so much to learn. I’m actually afraid of the future on earth seeing how destructive we are. Now given a choice to head to space, to another planet, I would take future.
If you could invite any 5 people to dinner who would you choose?
Anwar Sadat – a man a greatly admire for his courage.
Liam Nielson – needs no explanation.
Graham Green – for his experiences and life as a spy, and his sense of humor.
My father – for his incredible wisdom, and his adventurous and mysterious life.
Queen Elizabeth 1 – for her courage and strength and all she accomplished.
If you were stranded on a desert island what 3 things would you want with you?
I would take a thick spy or mystery book, a large sharp knife and moisturizer.
If you could have any superpower what would you choose?
I would want to foresee the future.
What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
Coffee.
If you could meet one person who has died who would you choose?
I would choose Ayrton Senna – the Formula 1 driver. He touched my life and my heart in such a way that I could never again watch a race without crying. He was controversial and imperfect by so illuminated. I always felt he came with a big mission. He united the country in such a moving way.
Night owl, or early bird?
Early bird.
One food you would never eat?
Meat.
Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book.
My stories and characters are original, unconventional and captivating. My books bring growth through humor, magic and adventure.
Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects?
Yes, Fallen Ruler comes this month and Souls of Darkness soon after.
Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.
My most rewarding experience after being published was hearing from an adult how my book helped her go through life as a child. She read the series I had written many times. Every time I get such feedback from a child it makes all the difficulties of being a writer worth it.
If you could jump in to a book, and live in that world.. which would it be?
James Bond, as James Bond. Any and all of them. I love spy stories full of action.
What was your favorite book when you were a child/teen?
The Once and Future King by T H White.
What's the best advice anyone has ever given you?
The best advice I’ve been given – learn to accept criticism and not take it personally, but view it as a learning process. The toughest thing for a writer is to be told what you wrote isn’t good enough. I used to crawl under my bed, now I ask how can I make it better?
Hidden talent?
Cooking. I love experimenting with exotic flavors. And I make the best chocolate chip cookies!
Favorite Food?
Japanese – Uni.
Finish the sentence- one book I wish I had written is...
Winnie the Pooh. I love Milne’s play with words and sense of humor, which we only understand when older.
What is your favorite scene in the book and why do you love it?
My favorite scene is when Hanna delivers the doll to Steve and realizes that she had felt the same fear he feels when she was small. That moment she starts to allow the true Hanna back.
Favorite Place: Italy
Best Christmas present: Creepy Crawler Factory (Long time ago).
Favorite Book: I don’t have one, as books to me represent a time in my life, so I have many. The one that I never forget is T H White’s -The Once and Future King.
Favorite Author: Again I have many, so here are a few: A. A. Milne, T H White, Andrea Camilleri, Christian Jacq, Robert Ludlum, Leon Uris and Luiz Sergio.
Favorite smell: coffee!
Favorite series: Again, picking one is impossible so I’ll say Justified and The Mentalist.
Nickname: Lolo
Favorite writing spot: At my desk, at home.
Favorite movie: Hard to answer as I love to watch films– so I’ll pick a recent one – Argos.
Favorite dish: uni sushi
Favorite color: Nowadays I favor the color that favors me, black, but I love white and beige.
Favorite quote: I read a poem while in college but I can’t remember who wrote it, nor have I been able to find out, which leads me to suspect I might not remember it correctly. This is what stayed with me -I came upon my self in the middle of the forest, I laughed, I cried, I lived and died and understood nothing - we can never say we understand life because we’ll never be done learning.
Gifts: now-a-days – one expensive one!
My best trait: Kindness.
My worst trait: Difficulty to forgive betrayal.
Skittles or M&M: M&M
ONLINE LINKS: · Website http://www.eleanortbeaty.com
· Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Eleanor-T-Beaty-Author/116550148485360
· Twitter @ eleanortbeaty
· Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6452631.Eleanor_T_Beaty
BUY NOW LINK:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Favorite Book: I don’t have one, as books to me represent a time in my life, so I have many. The one that I never forget is T H White’s -The Once and Future King.
Favorite Author: Again I have many, so here are a few: A. A. Milne, T H White, Andrea Camilleri, Christian Jacq, Robert Ludlum, Leon Uris and Luiz Sergio.
Favorite smell: coffee!
Favorite series: Again, picking one is impossible so I’ll say Justified and The Mentalist.
Nickname: Lolo
Favorite writing spot: At my desk, at home.
Favorite movie: Hard to answer as I love to watch films– so I’ll pick a recent one – Argos.
Favorite dish: uni sushi
Favorite color: Nowadays I favor the color that favors me, black, but I love white and beige.
Favorite quote: I read a poem while in college but I can’t remember who wrote it, nor have I been able to find out, which leads me to suspect I might not remember it correctly. This is what stayed with me -I came upon my self in the middle of the forest, I laughed, I cried, I lived and died and understood nothing - we can never say we understand life because we’ll never be done learning.
Gifts: now-a-days – one expensive one!
My best trait: Kindness.
My worst trait: Difficulty to forgive betrayal.
Skittles or M&M: M&M
AUTHOR BIO:
I am Brazilian born and raised, of American parents. I live in Sao Paulo with my third husband and children. I studied at the American school in Brazil, in boarding schools in Switzerland and the US. I have a BA in English Literature from FIU. I published a YA trilogy in Brazil and another YA novel in Turkey in 2001, now in its fifth edition. My passion is history and spiritualism. Besides Veiled Mist, I have another YA novel, Fallen Ruler, being released soon. ONLINE LINKS: · Website http://www.eleanortbeaty.com
· Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Eleanor-T-Beaty-Author/116550148485360
· Twitter @ eleanortbeaty
· Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6452631.Eleanor_T_Beaty
BUY NOW LINK:
Monday, November 12, 2012
Awaken by Kristen Day Blog Tour Guest Post
Author Kristen Day has stopped by today with a guest post for the Awaken (Daughters of the Sea #2) blog tour!
What inspired you to write The Daughters of the Sea series?
Life’s a Beach: Choosing the beach as my location for the series was a balancing act. I despise mermaids, but love the idea of having a connection with the sea. This is where my favorite classics came into play: The Odyssey and The Iliad. I know what you’re saying - seriously? That awful monstrosity of a story we were forced to read in high school? Yes, that’s the one. I didn’t have the normal gag reflex most of my friends had to reading them though; I fell in love. The challenges, the beasts, the sirens, the twists and turns and the intertwining love story; all sucked me in and had a profound effect on me. Couple that with a love of the beach and it suddenly occurred to me what I wanted to write about. My family lives on Oak Island, with Bald Head Island a mere ferry ride away. Bald Head is truly magical and enchanting (if you have never been, you should go!) and was the perfect setting!
Reality meet Fiction: I desperately wanted to read about a heroine that had a real reason for being strong. Last I checked being gifted with magical powers doesn’t make you an instant leader/hero/bad*ss. Experience is the only thing that can give you that kind of mental strength. So, that’s what inspired me to incorporate a little bit of tough reality into my fiction.
Thank you so much for hosting the Awaken Blog Tour! I hope everyone has enjoyed reading the Daughters of the Sea series as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Author: Kristen Day
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: October 2, 2012
Blurb:
The sacrifices we make have the power to shift the very fabric of who we are, and ultimately who we are meant to be… After learning of her true destiny as the intended Leader of the Tydes, Anastasia Whitman must now embark on a perilous quest to the Underworld before the age of eighteen in order to plant the seed of immortality and complete her essence to become a true Sea Goddess. But before she can make her legendary journey, an unexpected new student transfers to Lorelei; initiating a sequence of events that will unravel Stasia’s new life, and test the boundaries of her relationship with the mysterious, dark, and sexy Finn Morrison. The line between the Underworld and the Living begins to blur as gruesome ghosts, morbid reveries, and pure evil haunt her waking hours as well as her sanity. Once the details of Finn’s own startling destiny are revealed, the dangerous secrets he’s been hiding will threaten the very love Stasia believed to be indestructible. As time begins to run out, she will be forced to choose between the one she loves and the destiny she cannot escape.
About Kristen Day:
Kristen Day is a southern belle at heart with a crazy streak that desperately tries to escape at every opportunity. She loves all things nostalgic, rustic, and quirky. She’s been told she sees the world through rose-colored glasses, but she prefers to think of them as kaleidoscope glasses - swirling and morphing reality into something she can digest (who hasn't pretended those pasty lima beans were really kiwi strawberry jelly beans?).
She is the author of the DAUGHTERS OF THE SEA trilogy, which includes FORSAKEN, AWAKEN (Oct 2012), and CHOSEN (Winter 2012). She loves all books, but really enjoys writing young adult, paranormal romances. She’s loved to write for as long as she can remember. Her first published work was her poem RED in second grade (you guessed it - it was a poem about the color red - life altering, right?) that won her 5 gold stars and a spot in her elementary school's poetry book. That's when her addiction to the written word officially began. She was the only kid in fifth grade that actually enjoyed diagramming sentences. Go ahead and laugh - its okay.
When she’s not writing she’s making jewelry, painting, feeding her addiction to sweet tea, watching the Discovery Channel, or going on random adventures in the mountains of North Carolina with her amazing husband. She was born in Boone, NC and graduated from Appalachian State University with a degree in Marketing in 2001.
Author’s Links