Barbara Russell's Blog, page 69

Chronicles of a Hero

Prelude to a HeroChronicles of a Hero Book 1by Jaime BuckleyGenre: YA Fantasy
Nerd. Introvert. He was the hero they never knew they wanted.


All Wendell hoped for was a decent job, a hot new car and a girlfriend to match.
What he got was the mantle of a legendary hero, the heart of a girl who had no idea who he really was…and a diamond bigger than his fist.
What could possibly go wrong?
Prelude to a Hero is book one in the Chronicles of a Hero series, by Jaime Buckley. If you enjoyed Tiffany Aching, Harry Potter or Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, then you’ll love this humorous, original epic fantasy, packed with magic, mystery and sharp kicks to the funny bone.
"I'm already a HUGE fan of fantasy fiction, this book appealed to me as I felt it would be something new and unique... I wasn't left disappointed!"


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Race to Til-ThorinChronicles of a Hero Book 2
Dream girls. Fried snails. A 30” bodyguard with pink ponytails.

Being a hero comes with learning curves.

The curve of a hip. The curve of a sword. The curve of a sucker punch as it connects with your face.
It wouldn’t be so bad if Wendell had professionals to help him.
Instead, he’s stuck with a feisty gnome, a senile old wizard and a green skinned, cigar-smoking babysitter to guide him.
Is it too late to quit?
Fans of epic fantasy will cheer Wendell on as the Chronicles of a Hero series continues in book two. Those who enjoy the world building skills of J.R.R. Tolkien, J.K. Rowling and Brandon Sanderson will surely get addicted to this original new world.
Feed your fantasy needs and grab your copy today!
"I have not laughed so hard in a long time. I don't KNOW how long it's been. Just when the tension is about to make my heart pop, Chuck or Dax or a situation will pop up and make you laugh."


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Into the FireChronicles of a Hero Book 3

Stranded, alone…with a tree sticking out of his bellybutton.


Wendell’s task is simple: get to Til-Thorin Keep.
No problem.
Add to that no map, no help and no flippin’ idea where he is and you have a day in the life of our hero.
Oh wait—we forgot to add the army of cannibals now nipping at his heels.
It just might be the death of him.
Elemental magic and nail-biting action are what you can expect in book three of Chronicles of a Hero. Fans of Dragonlance and The Hobbit will love this new addition to the series.
Don’t wait to grab your copy—buy one today!
"I think this book will be well-liked by those who like Harry Potter, but I think it goes to a new level where those who didn't like Harry Potter can still love this book!"


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Trench WarsChronicles of a Hero Book 4
Wizards. Elves. Giant Robots with Automatic Weapons.

Wendell is dying for a change of scenery, but Clockworks City has a ban on all outsiders.


It’s a law punishable by death.


So how does a 5’ 10” human hide among 1.5 BILLION gnomes?


By competing in the #1 televised extreme sport in the country, of course.




Enjoy bullets, babes and a bowl of mushroom soup as this series jumps from humorous fantasy to comical science fiction! If you enjoy a good laugh, intense action and unexpected endings, you’ll love book four in the Chronicles of a Hero series.

Grab your copy and keep the epic buzz going!


"(got yelled at by mom to put my Nook away all week....*sigh*) It was that good."  


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Second ChancesChronicles of a Hero Book 5

Fame. Fortune. Thrown into the City incinerator.

Wendell’s chance at the title was always a long shot.
Since then he’s been on TV, Radio and even has the attention of The Church. Fact is, he’s more popular than ever. So why are people trying to kill him? (It’s the cheesy goatee, isn’t it.)




Second Chances is book 5 in Jaime Buckley’s Chronicles of a Hero series. Laugh, cheer and bite your nails as this epic fantasy takes you on a crazy ride, twisting down ramps and out a back window! 

Pick up a copy today!


"You know you have found a great book when you want to slap the author and give the author a hug at the same time, when you take some of the plot turns personally."  


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The Truth About LiesChronicles of a Hero Book 6
Caught. Tortured. Scheduled for execution. Any Questions?.

Wendell and Dax are exposed and the gnomes of Clockwork City are freaking out. 


Are they spies? Is this an invasion? Was this all just a terror tactic to get gnomes to pay their taxes?


Now with Wendell under arrest and Dax under armed guard, it’s going to take a pardon from President Shrub to set them free.


Good thing Chuck’s planning to kidnap his kids.




The Truth About Lies is book six in the Chronicles of a Hero series by Jaime Buckley. The series that makes you laugh, squirm, grit your teeth and has you begging for more.

Make sure to grab yourself a copy!


"I loved this book because it takes a misfit who was never really liked or appreciated and it shows the beginning of the process of him unlocking his potential and becoming something greater than anyone would have imagined for such a small, insignificant person."


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The Price of FameChronicles of a Hero Book 7

Honest Politicians. Humane Terrorists. Religious Devils.
Then it gets confusing…


Wendell’s learned that gnomes are just as irritating and dangerous as humans…they just come in smaller packaging.


Citizens are rebelling, the government’s collapsing, the Church is selling off the poor and Dax’s head on the chopping block.


All Chuck needs to get everyone home is a city wide diversion, a flying S.L.A.G., four lawyers, a hand grenade…and a tiny bit of string.


It feels good when a plan comes together!




The Price of Fame is book seven in the Chronicles of a Hero series by author Jaime Buckley. If you love a good laugh and incredible plot twists to keep you guessing, this book will curl your toes and put a smirk on your face!

"…packed with wild imaginations and inspirations. It’s a rarity that a YA book contains the combination of those three things but Wanted: Hero has them. Seriously, you don’t want to miss reading this book in your lifetime."


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**Special Tour Promo!!** Get all 8 books + 2 Wallpapers for only $9.99!!Order HERE! Jaime Buckley married young, winning the heart of a beautiful Samoan princess and together, they had 12 amazing children.One of the original ‘lost boys’ of Peter Pan, Jaime never truly grew up. Though he is respected as a traditional father figure, he still enjoys late night conversations with Santa Clause, flirting with the Tooth Fairy and has an occasional beer with Bigfoot. Wizards and warriors seek his counsel while monsters tremble at the mention of his name.An accomplished writer and illustrator of all things fictional, Jaime has a passion to entertain and uplift. He loves God, his country, his family and continues to expand his influence and friendships by stepping onto the Twitch platform as a Creative streamer. Jaime can always be found through Wanted Hero, his greatest project, and passion.

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Three amazing prizes!!!
#1)A one-of-a-kind full color HD character sketch from the books--of ANY character the winner wants, created in a live stream session and autographed to the winner by name. (a $300 value)
#2) a PDF copy of the first 5 unedited chapters of Chronicles of a Hero, Book 8: Howling Shadows (scheduled to be released fall 2019)
#3) A digital copy of 'An Unsolvable Problem' (any format)--the Origin Story of Dax, one of the main characters of the Chronicles of a Hero story (not available for sale). 

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Cushion Tour and Giveaway

Cushionby Tamela Miles Genre: Paranormal Romance
Natalie Kliebert finally has the perfect life she spent years dreaming of. She's on the fast track to her fantasy-come-true career as a therapist. If she can help pop star Billy Chambers, it will be her greatest achievement and even sweeter than earning an "A" grade.
The last thing Billy Chambers wants is anyone's help, especially when he doesn't see a single thing wrong with his life. When bossy Natalie becomes his court-appointed personal therapist, sparks fly from day one. Annoyance was never so arousing. Hooking up should be easy, but an undercurrent of evil is coming for Natalie, which may force her to reveal her deepest secret.
The problems of their pasts are no match for today's demons. Natalie and Billy must come together and be the allies they were meant to be in a supernatural fight that may cost them their lives.


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Tamela Miles is a California State University San Bernardino graduate student with a Bachelor of Science degree in Child Development and a former flight attendant. She grew up in Altadena, California in that tumultuous time known as the 1980s. She now resides with her family in the Inland Empire, CA. She's a horror/paranormal romance writer mainly because it feels so good having her characters do bad things and, later, pondering what makes them so bad and why they can never seem to change their wicked ways. 
She enjoys emails from people who like her work. In fact, she loves emails. She can be contacted at tamelamiles@yahoo.com or her Facebook page, Tamela Miles Books. She also welcomes reader reviews and enjoys the feedback from people who love to read as much as she does. 




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The Geisha Who Ran Away

The Song of the Wild GeeseThe Geisha Who Ran Away Book 1by India MillarGenre: Historical Romance
Terue. The girl who was plucked from obscurity to become the most sought after geisha in Edo’s Floating World. The geisha who was so beautiful and talented that one of the richest nobles in Japan desired her as his wife.

But Terue wanted more from life, and was willing to risk everything to get it. Pregnant with her lover’s child and knowing that the disgrace would mean certain death for both her and her unborn child, Terue makes the devastating choice to flee Japan on the day her daughter – Kazhua, The Geisha with the Green Eyes – was born and changes both their destinies forever.


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The Red Thread of FateThe Geisha Who Ran Away Book 2
In Japan, it is widely believed that everyone’s life is bound by the red thread of their fate. The thread connects to all those we come in contact with throughout our lives. Thus, each path in life is predestined.Terue knows this. Just as she knows that one day her red thread will guide her to Kazhua, the daughter she was forced to abandon on the day of her birth in Edo’s Floating World. But before she can find Kazhua, fate has much in store for Terue.Following her new husband, Lord Kyle, from the Highlands of Scotland to fight in the Crimea, Terue serves as a nurse, witnessing the horrors of the battlefield.Injured, kidnapped, and assumed dead, Terue must face the possibility that she might never see her beloved daughter or husband again…

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The World Is OursThe Geisha Who Ran Away Book 3
The war in the Crimea is over. Delighted to be reunited with her husband, Lord Kyle, Terue thinks she will soon be home again in her beloved Scottish Highlands.But fate is not finished with her yet.Terue learns that her daughter is a geisha in Edo. Overjoyed at the chance to be reunited with her child again, she and her husband set out to find Kazhua, returning to where Terue’s life began in the Floating World.But old dangers and new foes abound.Forced to live in hiding, finding Kazhua without revealing Terue’s true identity proves more difficult than they expected. Terue is so close to finding her daughter, she can feel the red thread that binds them together pulling taught. But reaching out to Kazhua could put all their lives at risk.

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I started my career in the heavy industry of British Gas and ended it in the rarefied atmosphere of the British Library. Now, I share a blissful early retirement on the wonderful Costa Blanca, living in a male dominated household with my long suffering husband, a cat and a dog.

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The Seidr Cycle

Dolor and ShadowThe Seidr Cycle Book 1by Angela B. Chrysler Genre: High Epic Fantasy
A great power has awakened within Princess Kallan.To keep the princess hidden, she is taken to Alfheim; her abilities suppressed and her memory erased.Years later, Kallan inherits her father’s war, and vows revenge on the one man she believes is responsible: Rune, King of Gunir. But soon, a twist of fate puts Kallan in protection of the man she has sworn to kill, and Rune in possession of powers he does not understand.Lost in the world of Men, the two must form an unlikely alliance to make their way home and solve the mystery of their past - and of the Shadow that hunts them both.
Praise for Dolor and Shadow: "...a sweeping, epic novel... highly recommend it to all fantasy lovers."  - Erin S. Riley, author of Odin's Shadow "Angela B. Chrysler has brought world building to breathtaking heights with ‘Dolor and Shadow’"  - Jay Norry, Amazon Review "This is book one in a set that has the potential to become timeless"  - Timothy Bateson, Amazon Review


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Fire and LiesThe Seidr Cycle Book 2
War rips across the land of Alfheim.As the Fae gods draw near, Queen Kallan’s strength is tested.She follows King Rune, but the Shadow Beast caged within Rune’s body is writhing in hunger. Kallan’s newest companion, Bergen - the legendary Berserk - is determined to end the conflict in her life.As the three come together, the truth buried in the past resurfaces. Now, Kallan must master a dormant power... or watch her kingdom fall to the Fae, who will stop at nothing to keep their lies.

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Angela B. Chrysler is a writer, logician, philosopher, and die-hard nerd who studies theology, historical linguistics, music composition, and medieval European history in New York with a dry sense of humor and an unusual sense of sarcasm. She lives in a garden with her family and cats.In 2014, Ms. Chrysler founded Brain to Books and the virtual trade show, Brain to Books Cyber Convention. A passionate gardener and incurable cat lover, Ms. Chrysler spends her days drinking coffee and writing beside a volume of Edgar Allan Poe who strongly influences her style to this day. When Ms. Chrysler is not writing, she enables her addictions to all things nerdy, and reads everything she can get her hands on no matter the genre. Occasionally, she finds time to mother her three children and debate with her life-long friend who she eventually married. Her writing is often compared to Tad Williams. Her influences are Edgar Allan Poe, The Phantom of the Opera, and Frankenstein.Angela also loves writing, cats, reading, knitting, gardening, Tai Chi, Yoga, meditation, coffee, BBC, baking, cooking, dancing, singing, anime, and smiling.

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New Release

In a few weeks, my steampunk/ romantic suspense novel, set in Victorian Auckland, will be released by Soul Mate Publishing. It was an exciting journey, and I had a lot of fun writing this story, so I’m nervous about the release date. A side of me looks forwards to it, another side is freaking out. Anyway, since the date is getting closer, I have a few ARC copies to give to readers interested in leaving a review.Amazon link:That’s the blurb:Auckland, 1884. The Supernaturals are frightened. Despite being able to do extraordinary things like teleporting or lighting a fire with a stare, a serial killer, the Heart Collector, is slaughtering them. He rips their chests open and removes their hearts. While other aristocratic, nineteen-year-old girls spend time dancing, Isabel trains hard to become an MI7 agent—Military Intelligence Seventh Division, a crime squad run by Supernaturals. The Heart Collector murdered her best friend, and enrolling at MI7 is the best way to help catch the killer.
Isabel senses other people’s feelings as if they were her owns. But MI7’s leader is too worried about Isabel’s safety to let her join the team. Eager to prove that her power is valuable, Isabel volunteers to meet Murk, a dangerous Supernatural man who can turn himself invisible. MI7 desperately tried to recruit him and failed. She believes that her power is enough to convince Murk to become an MI7’s agent and help apprehend the Heart Collector. If he wants to attack her, his feelings will broadcast his intention, and she’ll be ready.What Isabel isn’t ready for is to fall in love with the man who will collect her heart.
If it’s something you might like grab a copy here:https://claims.prolificworks.com/free/giyMKsjkBook Sprout:https://booksprout.co/arc/9698/the-he...

Beyond The Shadow

Beyond the Shadowsby Loree Lough Genre: Romantic Suspense
Elice Glasser is a widow with three young children to raise. Cabot Murray is an ex-cop who returns home to Freeland, Maryland, to deal with the pain of his own tragic loss: the death of his wife and daughter in a fiery explosion intended for him.
Grieving, their sorrow brings them together, and a friendship develops that leads then to explore the possibility of finding love again. But vengeful enemies and jealous rivals are determined to destroy the peace and happiness that Elice and Cabot have found in each other’s arms. Why are their rivals so intent on keeping Elice and Cabot apart? Loree Lough's latest suspenseful romance is a page-turner!


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At last count, best-selling author Loree Lough had 115 award-winning books (nearly 9,000,000 copies in circulation and 7 titles that earned book-to-movie options), 68 short stories, and 2,500+ articles in print.
An oft-invited guest of writers' organizations, colleges and universities, corporate and government agencies in the U.S. and abroad, Loree loves sharing learned-the-hard-way lessons about the craft and the industry.
Once upon a time, Loree (literally) sang for her supper, performing alone and "opening" for the likes of Tom Jones, Dottie West, The Gatlin Brothers, and more. Though she refuses to share the actual year when she traded her Yamaha 6-string for a wedding ring, she IS willing to admit that, every now and then, she blows the dust off her six-string to croon a tune or two. But mostly, she just writes (and writes).
Loree and her husband split their time between a home in the Baltimore suburbs and a cabin in the Allegheny Mountains, where she continues to hone her "identify the critter tracks" skills. Her favorite pastime? Spending long, leisurely hours with her grandchildren...all seven of them!


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The Heart Collector-Auckland Steampunk#1

Uncle and Ants

Uncle and AntsA Silicon Valley Mystery Book 1by Marc JedelGenre: Cozy Mystery 
Mysterious attacks. Mischievous nieces. Can a clueless uncle catch a tech-savvy killer … and be home before bedtime?When a freak accident hospitalizes Marty Golden’s sister and condemns him to babysitter duty, he thinks it’s just another case of hardwired bad luck in Silicon Valley. Until a suspicious murder suggests the mishap was no mere coincidence. Something must be done. Too bad this quirky, fashion-backward uncle isn’t exactly hero material.Convinced his sister is in mortal danger, this amateur sleuth follows clues to an oddball array of suspects. Armed with nothing but an eye for detail and powers of self-delusion, Martytangles with gangsters, a cantankerous school secretary, and a perplexing woman he can’t help but fall for. Glitches in his investigation seem like a piece of cake compared to dinner-prep and bedtime stories with his two precocious, pre-teen nieces.Can Marty catch the culprit, save his sister, and get his life back in order before he gets unplugged?Uncle and Ants is the first novel in a refreshingly modern mystery series set in Silicon Valley. If you like clever humor, sassy side characters, and average Joes facing extraordinary circumstances, then you’ll love this twisty mystery.Buy Uncle and Ants to login to a fresh, funny mystery today!

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Chutes and LadderA Silicon Valley Mystery Book 2
Can super-agent (in his own mind) Uncle Marty solve not one, but two mysteries without becoming a victim himself? Will he ever be forgiven for bringing Buddy, the Labrador, into his sister’s house?All your favorite characters from Uncle and Ants are back in a crazy, new adventure. Plus, introducing a new member of Marty’s family!

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Marc Jedel writes humorous murder mysteries. In his high-tech marketing roles, he's also written fiction. These are just called emails, ads, and marketing collateral.
In his family, Marc was born first — a fact his sister never lets him forget, no matter what milestone age she hits. For most of Marc’s life, he’s been inventing stories. Some, especially when he was young, involved his sister as the villain. As his sister’s brother for her entire life, he feels highly qualified to tell tales of the evolving, quirky sibling relationship in the Silicon Valley Mystery series.
Family and friends would tell you that the protagonist in his stories, Marty Golden, isn't much of a stretch of the imagination for Marc, but he proudly resembles that remark.
Like Marty, Marc lives in San Jose, the heart of Silicon Valley, where he writes within earshot of the doppler effect of the local ice cream truck. Unlike Marty, Marc has a wonderful wife and a neurotic but sweet, small dog, who much prefers the walks resulting from writer’s block than his writing.
Visit his website, marcjedel.com, for free chapters of upcoming novels, news and more.

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Crave The Heat-A Silver Dagger Book Tours

Crave the Heat The Smokejumpers #2by Marnee BlakeGenre: Romantic SuspensePub Date: 1/15/2019


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Tempt the Flames
The Smokejumpers #1

Meg Buchanan is determined to prove she didn’t get the trainer job in Redmond, Oregon’s rookie smokejumper class because of her family’s long history as firefighters there—or out of pity. But if teaching one of her own brothers isn’t challenging enough, Lance Roberts is in the new class of recruits. Once her brother’s best friend, and her first, unrequited crush, he’s also the son of the man responsible for her dad’s death.Lance is stunned to realize that this confident redhead is the stubborn girl he once dreamed about. There’s no way he can fall for her now. He needs to focus all his attention on his training—and discovering the truth about the long-ago fire that killed both of their fathers. But as the undeniable heat between them threatens to ignite, someone attempts to put an end to Lance’s amateur sleuthing—and his life…

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Award-winning author and RITA® finalist Marnee Blake used to teach high school students but these days she only has to wrangle her own children. Originally from a small town in Western Pennsylvania, she now battles traffic in southern New Jersey where she lives with her hero husband and their happily-ever-after: two very energetic boys. When she isn't writing, she can be found refereeing disputes between her children, cooking up something sweet, or hiding from encroaching dust bunnies with a book.


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Aubergine (Eggplant) Balls

Aubergine (Eggplants) ballsThis is a quick and easy recipe for those who love aubergines. Ingredients: 2 large aubergines7 tablespoons of breadcrumbs  1 eggParsleyGarlic Turmeric, salt, and pepper
Directions: Cut the aubergines into small cubes, place them in a glass bowl, and cooked in the microwave for 8 minutes or until tender. Alternatively, you can boil them, but you’ll lose all the vitamins of the vegetable and its slightly bitter taste.Let them cool and squash with a fork. Add the spices, and the garlic finely chopped. Add the egg only when the aubergines are cool, or the egg white will cook in a moment. Yes, it happened to me.Add the breadcrumb and mix well until it becomes a bit firm. You might need to vary the quantity of breadcrumb. The mix shouldn’t be too soft or too hard.Form small balls and place them on a baking tray lined with a sheet of non-stick baking paper.  Add a bit of olive oil and cook in the oven for 10-15 mins until golden and crispy.Alternatively, you can deep fried them if you have the patience to keep an eye on them and turn them now and then to avoid burning. Enjoy! Suggested reading: The Fourteenth Letter by Claire Evans