Sandra C. Lopez's Blog, page 153
January 2, 2023
Blog Tour: GUINEVERE: BRIGHT SHADOW by Sarah Provost
Guinevere: Bright Shadow
by Sarah Provost
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GENRE: Arthurian Fiction, Fantasy
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BLURB:
“You may think you know my story. My name has been bandied in ballads and jests, for good and (mostly) for ill. High Queen, priestess, adulterer… but first and always a woman. Courage and honor shaped me; ecstasy transported me; grief, betrayal and terror tempered me.
“My loyalty to the Goddess was supreme. But as the new religion took hold, the pagan way was threatened with extinction. There were those on both sides who would use me as a pawn in that battle, even if it meant taking my life.
“Yes, I bear my portion of blame. I loved Arthur, and I loved Lancelot, will I or no. But that was only one element in the impending chaos. Britain was divided, my love was divided, and such divisions cannot endure. I did everything in my power – and learned new powers – to prevent an all-out war. But would it be enough?”
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Excerpt One:
I worried at the glove, getting exasperated. Lancelot noticed and came to my aid. He smiled at me, his eyes sweet and affectionate, then bent his head and began to work the buckle free.
At last it let go. Lancelot drew the gauntlet from my hand and let it fall. But he still kept my wrist, and held his face averted. I should have moved away, but something in his utter stillness held me as if I were glamoured. When he raised his head to look me full in the eyes, there was no smile. His face was taut and deathly pale. He pulled me toward him, and I did not resist.
When his mouth met mine, it was with such tenderness that I could do nothing except meld into it. What we were saying to each other with that kiss had little to do with lust. Only our lips touched, and our hands where he still held mine.
In that instant my life was changed forever. There was no sense of urgency. Instead, it felt like coming home after a lifetime spent wandering. Had it really always been this simple, this pristine? The miracle of his lips on mine could only have lasted a moment, but in that instant I understood all I had been missing in my life. And then, as I was about to vanish completely into the ecstasy of it, I understood what the future held as well. And it was dire, agonizing. It was utterly impossible.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Sarah Provost is a poet, playwright, screenwriter and novelist, currently living and working in upstate New York. A collection of poems, Inland, Thinking of Waves, was published by the Cleveland State University Press. Her stage plays have been produced off-Broadway, in London, Los Angeles, and states beginning with K. No screenplays have been produced, but she made a decent living writing for Paramount, Disney, HBO and others until Hollywood broke her heart. After a period of recuperation and relocation to a place with much worse weather, she began writing Guinevere: Bright Shadow, her first novel. A second novel, The Real Girl, is in progress.
https://twitter.com/Sarahwriter17
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1675305.Sarah_Provost
https://www.facebook.com/sarah.provost.18
https://btwnthelines.com/product/gbs/
https://www.amazon.com/Guinevere-Bright-Shadow-Sarah-Provost-ebook/dp/B0BM5YHDST
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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE
The author will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
December 30, 2022
Blog Tour: FAIRY GRANDMOTHER series BY Marie-Helene Lebeault
Fairy Grandmother Series
Fairy Grandmother: Millie Goes to Antarctica
Fairy Grandmother, book 1
Picture Book
Date Published: November 24, 2021
Publisher: Beaches and Trails Publishing
A sweet book full of adventure and wonder for kids of all ages!
Every Saturday, Millie spends the day at her grandmother's house. There are no toys and no TV, but it's still the best part of her weekend. You see, Grandma is actually a fairy! With a twirl of her magic spoon, she sends Millie on exciting journeys to magical faraway places.
Don't forget to claim your bonus content on the publisher's website!
Available in English, French, German, Spanish, and Italian!
Fairy Grandmother: Millie Goes to the North Pole
Fairy Grandmother, book 2
Picture Book
Date Published: December 12, 2021
Publisher: Beaches and Trails Publishing
A delightful holiday book that's sure to become a Christmas tradition!
Every Saturday, Millie spends the day at her grandmother's house. There are no toys and no TV, but it's still the best part of her weekend. You see, Grandma is actually a fairy! With a twirl of her magic spoon, she sends Millie on exciting journeys to magical faraway places.
This is the second book in the Fairy Grandmother Series. Books can be read in any order.
Don't forget to claim your bonus content on the publisher's website!
Available in English, French, German, Spanish, and Italian!
Book Title: Fairy Grandmother: Millie Goes to China
Fairy Grandmother, book 3
Picture Book
Date Published: March 30, 2022
Publisher: Beaches and Trails Publishing
Join Millie on a new adventure!
Every Saturday, Millie spends the day at her grandmother's house. There are no toys and no TV, but it's still the best part of her weekend. You see, Grandma is actually a fairy! With a twirl of her magic spoon, she sends Millie on exciting journeys to magical faraway places.
This is the third book in the Fairy Grandmother Series. Books can be read in any order.
Don't forget to claim your bonus content on the publisher's website!
Available in English, French, German, Spanish, and Italian!
Book Title: Fairy Grandmother: Millie Goes to Africa
Fairy Grandmother, book 4
Picture Book
Date Published: September 1, 2022
Publisher: Beaches and Trails Publishing
Follow Millie to South Africa!
Every Saturday, Millie spends the day at her grandmother's house. There are no toys and no TV, but it's still the best part of her weekend. You see, Grandma is actually a fairy! With a twirl of her magic spoon, she sends Millie on exciting journeys to magical faraway places.
This is the fourth book in the Fairy Grandmother Series. Books can be read in any order.
Don't forget to claim your bonus content on the publisher's website!
Available in English, French, German, Spanish, and Italian!
REVIEWS
Fairy Grandmother: Millie goes to Antarctica
“I want to be a penguin!”
With a wave of Fairy Grandmother’s magic spoon, off Millie goes…to Antarctica.
In Antarctica, Millie learns what it’s like to be a penguin. She slides, she swims, she runs into other arctic creatures like seals and whales. With every, little thing she learns, the reader learns a little something, too. For instance, penguins can dive deep underwater and hold their breath for 20 minutes.
The illustrations were basic and simple, but quite colorful and fun.
A nice and resourceful read! It’s a quick learning experience for kids. I wonder where else Fairy Grandmother will take readers.
Rating: 4 stars
Millie goes to the North Pole
Now, Millie wants to be a reindeer. Off to the North Pole she goes.
As a reindeer, Millie walks among the other reindeer in the North Pole. As she goes along, we learn how reindeer keep warm and how they say hello. Her trip even includes a visit to Santa’s Village. Yay!
It’s a nice, little Christmas story. Again, the illustrations were simple and lovely.
A good way to read and learn.
Rating: 4 stars
Millie goes to Africa
“I want to be a meerkat!”
Off to Africa Millie goes.
As a meerkat, Millie learns to stay warm and hide from predators. In this book, Millie wonders if it’s safe to go underground. Well, that’s what meerkats do after all.
Another nice read and a great way to learn something about animals. I look forward to more of this series.
Rating: 4 stars
About the Author
Marie-Hélène is a Canadian author. She writes young adult quest and adventure stories rooted in the world of fantasy, magic and time travel. With important coming of age lessons at the core of her writing, children and young adults alike will revel in the fantastical journeys of her characters. When not immersed in the worlds of magic and mystery, you’ll find Marie-Hélène hiking, cycling, or lying on the beach with a good book.
To date, Marie-Hélène has published two YA fantasy series, a standalone novel set in the Eastern Townships of Quebec, a speculative fiction short story anthology, four YA Ghost Stories, and a series of whimsical picture books for children aged 3 to 7. A retired teacher, she lives in Quebec, Canada with her children.
Contact Links
Blog Tour: LAST CHANCE TOWN: FURTHER ADVENTURES ALONG THE ROAD WITHOUT END by Ron Kearse
Last Chance Town: Further Adventures Along the Road Without End
by Ron Kearse
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GENRE: Fiction
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BLURB:
In this, the Further Adventures Along the Road Without End, we fast forward from where the story left off in 1983, to Vancouver, BC, in 1988. Warren Givens has completed his second jail sentence four years previous, after which he's vowed to lay low and stay clean so there's no return to "Clown-College," as he calls it.
A chance meeting at a pub one night introduces us to Daryl Kellerman, at first as Givens' one night stand, which quickly develops into a love and live-in relationship between them.
Warren's distant past comes front-and-centre in the form of his birth mother, who lost him to Social Services before he was ten years old, and has been looking for him ever since.
We get to know Warren's past and what's made him the way he is.
This, along with some other drastic life changing occurrences, propel Warren into a life he never thought he would live.
Later, we get to know what life was like living with Givens through Daryl's eyes as he reminisces over the years since their initial meeting.
Last Chance Town is the third book in the Road Without End Trilogy.
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EXCERPT
“That’s a great answer!” Hunter says. “And it’s a great reason to write a book! Have you thought of a title yet?”
I shrug again. “I guess I haven’t got that far yet.”
“Any ideas at all?”
I smirk. “Maybe…Sex, Love and Moving On.”
Hunter raises his eyebrows. “That’s got a ring to it.”
“Or maybe I can call it, No Bird Like a Jailbird!”
Hunter laughs. “Or you could call it Prison Cell Wet Dreams!”
I laugh. “Or There’s a File in the Cake!”
We both giggle.
Then he says, “How about, Don’t Drop the Soap If You Don’t Want a Grope!”
We both laugh.
“Chain Gang Lust!” I answer.
We laugh again and start going back and forth.
“Toto, We Ain’t in Juvey No More!”
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Ron Kearse had a nomadic upbringing and finds inspiration in traveling, art, friends, reading, and photography. He's written reviews and features for local periodicals, co-hosted radio programs, conducted interviews on-air and in print, and has a colourful and varied resumé. He's hosted art exhibitions of his works and has had his photographs displayed in public showings. He presently lives in Victoria, BC, with his partner, James.
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7042513.Ron_Kearse
Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Last-Chance-Town-Further-Adventures-ebook/dp/B0BBZ34GPG/ref=sr_1_1
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/last-chance-town-ron-kearse/1142095366
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GIVEAWAY
Ron Kearse will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveawayDecember 29, 2022
Blog Tour: THE ANCHOR by Kevin R. Doyle
The Anchor
by Kevin R. Doyle
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GENRE: mystery
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BLURB:
The Anchor: Jen has toiled away in television news, just waiting for a big break. And at the same time she finally gets a shot at the promotion opportunity she’s waited years for, head anchor for the nightly newscast, an unseen, shadowy man is desperate for her to notice him. When messages and well wishes don’t do the trick, her mysterious admirer intends to do anything necessary to make Jen a success and snare her attention, even if it means attacking her fiancé and killing off her competition.
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Excerpt One:
“Package for you,” Aldiss said.
Jen looked down at the plain wrapped bundle lying on her desk.
“Jack do something to make up for?” her deskmate asked.
Jen puffed in exasperation and plopped into her chair.
“What hasn’t he done?” she replied.
Aldiss chuckled and bent over his computer screen.
“How long have you and I shared a desk?” she asked.
“A year or so, give or take,” Aldiss replied, looking up.
“Uh huh. And how long have I been seeing Jack?”
“That you’ve admitted to? Seems like running on a year.”
“Eleven months.”
“Close.” Her coworker turned away and went back to his work.
Jen tapped her fingers on her desk and stared at the bundle. It had a small card attached, but without raising the flap and reading it, it looked like some sort of generic message-type thing.
“And when’s the last time he’s sent me a gift at work?”
Aldiss grinned.
“What’s the package say?” he asked.
“You didn’t look?”
“Hey, bunky, I believe in privacy.”
“Some reporter you are.”
She glanced at the package again, noted that it had come from FedEx, and assumed Tammy had signed for it up at the front desk. Then she flipped the front flap on the little card open.
“Hmm.”
Aldiss glanced up from his work but didn’t say anything.
Jen snared some scissors out of her desk and cut the paper open.
“Obviously, somebody thinks my current diet’s unnecessary.”
He looked up again, his brows raised.
Jen held up a box of Russell Stover chocolates.
“Card not from him?”
Jen shook her head.
“Say who it’s from?”
She held the card up eye level.
“In appreciation of all your service to the community,” she recited.
“Doesn’t sound like a new lover.”
“I hope not. I’d like to think I’d know if I was seeing someone new.”
Aldiss furrowed his brow.
“You done any story lately that’s been big time?”
Jen half glared at him.
“Meaning?”
Aldiss spread his hands out in a placatory gesture.
“Hey, nothing personal. I’m just curious what they mean by service to the community.”
Jen glanced down at the card for a second before looking back up.
“Maybe it’s just a fancier way of saying ‘I like your work.’”
“Or maybe it’s just some creeper who’s got a thing for you. After all, it wouldn’t be the first time a hot news anchor had an admirer.”
Grinning, Jen picked a paper clip off her desk and flipped it at him.
“Far as that goes,” she snorted, “wouldn’t be the first time for me.”
Aldiss picked the clip up from where it had fallen on his desk and tossed it back her way.
“Just imagine if they end up giving you Karyn’s nighttime slot. They’ll be coming out of the woodwork.”
“Thanks,” Jen said. “I’m doing my best not to think of that.”
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Kevin R. Doyle’s The Anchor: Jen has toiled away in television news, just waiting for a big break. And at the same time she finally gets a shot at the promotion opportunity she’s waited years for, head anchor for the nightly newscast, an unseen, shadowy man is desperate for her to notice him. When messages and well wishes don’t do the trick, her mysterious admirer intends to do anything necessary to make Jen a success and snare her attention, even if it means attacking her fiancé and killing off her competition.
Author website: www.kevindoylefiction.com
Biography:
A high-school teacher, former college instructor, and fiction writer, Kevin R. Doyle is the author of numerous short horror stories. He’s also written three crime thrillers, The Group, When You Have to Go There, and And the Devil Walks Away, and one horror novel, The Litter. In the last few years, he’s begun working on the Sam Quinton private eye series, published by Camel Press. The first Quinton book, Squatter’s Rights, was nominated for the 2021 Shamus award for Best First PI Novel. The second book, Heel Turn, was released in March of 2021, while the third in the series, Double Frame, came out in March of 2022.
Email: kevinrossdoyle@gmail.com
Facebook address: www.facebook.com/kevindoylefiction
Amazon paperback and Kindle
Smashwords:
Smashwords – The Anchor – a book by Kevin R. Doyle
The Anchor by Kevin R. Doyle | eBook | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)
The Anchor eBook by Kevin R. Doyle - EPUB | Rakuten Kobo United States
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GIVEAWAY :
Night to Dawn Magazine and Books LLC will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
December 28, 2022
Blog Tour: POLLY'S SPECIAL DAY by Yulinda Blake Cook
Children's Book
Date Published: Aug 3, 2022
Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
The story of a lifelong memory given to a little girl by her father who grants her the gift of her dreams, which is... time!
What do #GIRL DAD’S DO? They show their daughters that quality time given to them doesn’t tick away. Quality time is recorded and locked in the heart to cherish and retrieved through the memory anytime they need it!
Review: This is the colorful story of Polly’s Special Day, a day when Polly is Queen for the Day. Evidently, she’ll eat cake all day. Judging by how excited and hyper she was, I gathered that she must’ve already had her cake.
But I didn’t get why this was Polly’s Special Day. Was it her birthday?
In any sense, the day starts with making a sugary breakfast. Then they go on to make sugary treats. Wow, this kid really was having cake ALL DAY. Pancakes, cupcakes, pound cakes. Yikes! That’s A LOT of cake! I was getting a little sick of all that cake.
The illustrations were nice and simple—bright with color. The text was too small and was often hidden within the images. It just seemed that with such a lively book, there was a missed opportunity to get interactive with the text. Perhaps changing the size or color would’ve been good if just to add some contrast and make the text easier to read. There was also too much text to read at times. Again, adding some contrast would’ve made it better and easier to read.
This was a rather nice picture book, but I felt that it lacked story and direction. I mean, after all, all the kid talked about was cake, cake, and more cake. By the end of the book, you feel like you got a sugar rush. If you read this to a child, I can imagine the kid would feel about the same.
Overall, this was a fairly nice read.
Rating: 3 stars
About the Author
Yulinda Blake Cook lives in Suwanee Georgia, she is a wife, mother of four, and YaYa to nine wonderful grandchildren and counting. She loves spending quality time with her family. Yulinda loves reading to her grandchildren and cooking large family meals. Prior to retirement, she worked professionally in the fields of Social Work, Psychology, and Early Childhood Education. She has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama (Birmingham) in Social Work with a Psychology minor. She also has an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education from Lawson State College (Birmingham). Yulinda has experience as an editor/writer of a newsletter, and as an instructor and mentor during her employment with the federal government. “Polly’s Special Day” is Yulinda’s first published book. This book is loosely based on a true family event. With every book, she hopes to fortify children’s imaginations and improve family relations.
Contact Links
Purchase Link
Blog Tour: SIBA: THE ETERNAL QUEST by B. Singh
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
An epic journey of adventure, heroism, and self-exploration through the eyes of a teenage boy named Siba.
Siba’s life takes an exciting turn when his pet parrot takes him to a magical forest. He explores the mysterious forest-dwellers and the precious ancient wisdoms of the fantasy world when a sudden tragedy jeopardizes life on earth. To save the world, he must embark on a legendary journey to the Pole Star.
Siba encounters many mythical creatures and numerous thrilling challenges that jolt him to his core. They leave burning questions in his mind about the world and his own existence. He must dive into the dark labyrinths of his mind, for the last hope of saving humanity seems to be hidden there.
Can he solve the mysteries of the mystical world and his inner world? Can he complete his journey to the Pole Star and save the world?
A perfect blend of fantasy, mysticism, and spirituality that explores the answer to the eternal question – Who Am I?
Read an Excerpt
Master Sung Tzu smilingly stared at the demoralized boy. “Don’t worry. The Great Forest has sent you to the right place. I’ll help you. Close your eyes and tell me what you see?”
Siba closed his eyes and replied, “I don’t see anything. It’s just dark and black.”
“Try harder. Try to see what’s going on in your body, in your mind, in your thoughts.”
“No, Master. I still don’t see anything.”
“You can’t see because you are not focused. Let’s say, focus on a dog. Do you see it now?”
“Yes, Master. I see Limpoo.”
“Limpoo? What’s Limpoo? I said dog.”
“Limpoo is my dog. I see him running toward me.”
“Oh! Ok! Where is he running? On the road or the ground? Where?”
“Nowhere. He’s just running on a black background. There’s nothing else, only him.”
“That’s enough. Open your eyes. That black background is your mind’s eye and part of it formed the colorful moving image of the dog. Some say, it’s the third eye. You can visualize anything in that eye. In fact, whatever your two eyes see, their image is actually formed in your mind’s eye. Not only the eyes but the processing of information from your other senses also takes place there. Your sensory organs are just tools to collect outside information. It’s the mind’s eye, which actually sees, smells, tastes, hears, and feels.”
About the Author:B. Singh grew up in a small city, Chandigarh, located near the foothills of the mighty Himalayas in northwest India. Since his childhood, he has always had an inquisitive mindset. He doesn’t settle for the pre-existing answers if they don’t make sense to him. Instead, he explores, experiments, and finds the answer himself. He has traveled across India from north to south not only for his education but also to explore different cultures and values. To continue his journey of exploration, he moved from India to Canada. After graduating from the University of Windsor, Canada, he conceived the idea of compiling his learnings in the form of a spiritual fantasy book. This well-crafted and awe-inspiring adventurous journey into a fantasy world is full of chiseled gems of wisdom that will enrich the lives of every human being on earth.
Amazon
a Rafflecopter giveaway
December 27, 2022
Blog Tour: TREMORS THROUGH TIME by Anastasia Abboud
Tremors Through Time
by Anastasia Abboud
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GENRE: time travel romance
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BLURB:
She's made mistakes and paid the price, but Deidre Chisolm is no quitter. She'll never again be a fool for a man, not even her gorgeous new neighbor with his haunted eyes and strange accent. She'll be friendly, but nothing more.
Lachlann has to go back to fourteenth-century Scotland. He can't forsake his family, his son. But when a beautiful, kind, funny lady buys the house next door, he's never been so drawn to anyone in his life. Would she believe his story? After years of struggling through nightmares and flashbacks, headaches and illiteracy, dare he ask her to help him return?
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Excerpt One:
Lachlann couldn’t stop looking at Deidre. His mind, body, heart—aye, his very soul—were in turmoil. Splendid, blessed turmoil.
She sat across the table from him, dressed in what she called her farmer clothes. The denim overalls, far from concealing her figure, emphasized her best assets. Less than an hour ago, those assets had been pressed against him, fragrant and soapy, in her enormous shower. His senses reeled.
His heart was going to explode.
The way Deidre responded to him, held him, her eagerness to enjoy him…His whole being responded to her.
She smiled at him, and he realized that he was just sitting there, fork in hand, staring at her like a fool.
“I thought you were hungry,” she reminded him.
He glanced down at his plate. They’d made omelets. Filled with bounty from their garden—chives, hot peppers, kale—along with a little diced ham and some farmer’s cheese, they were delicious and satisfying.
“I was. I am.” He grinned at her. “I’m just a little distracted.”
Distracted. After thinking he was as good as a eunuch for four years—or was it seven hundred?—he’d experienced a morning of lovemaking so intense that he’d thought it might kill him. Now, he sat across from the sexiest, sweetest lover in all history. Distracted! He snorted with laughter.
“What’s wrong with you?” Deidre chuckled. Taking his fork, she cut a bite of omelet and stuffed it into his mouth. “Eat! We have work to do!”
“I’m happy,” he told her. Was it the first time he’d ever said that?
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Review: Lachlann had lost it all—wife, kids, his village, everything.
“You’re obviously not meant to die yet.”
Then tremors tore through the Earth, dirt crumbling beneath him and swallowing him whole.
Texas, 2016—Deidre was moving into her own home, starting a new life, single and alone. Her interest in Medieval culture led her to a job at the school. She was always fascinated by the picture of a farmer in a portrait her grandfather gave her. Then suddenly her farmer was standing right next door. Was this real? His name was Lacklann, a man that has traveled far. Well, he was from another century, so you can definitely say so. The two strike up a conversation and strike up a deal: she would teach him English and he would help her with her garden.
The story was told in the diary perspective of Deidre and Lachlann in a soft, poetic lilt. The feel and tone of this tale is very romanticized as we get the feelings of each character. The narrative is very rich in long and vivid descriptions. The pace is also very languid. The interactions between the characters was especially interesting. I enjoyed their intelligent discussion on Medieval history.
Deidre was a beacon of hope in Lachlann’s dark and confusing world. He didn’t know why he was brought to this time. Until he met Deidre, all he thought about was getting back to his own time. But now…
The 2 spend most of their time pining for each other. At times, the story felt stilted and uneventful, but the characters were pleasant and they had a good romance going.
A fairly nice read overall.
Rating: 3 stars
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
For me, playing is the best -- playing outdoors in nature or in my garden, experimenting in the kitchen, spending time with those I love. I also enjoy disappearing into a good book, attempting crafts, learning, writing, exploring, discovering. I especially like to mix it up and have yet to perfect any of it; and I've come to realize that perfection's not the point. It's all wonderfully fun. That's the point! I prefer authentic and natural, be it food, lifestyle, people. I passionately enjoy both history and science, and certainly sociology to a degree, and I am most truly a romantic. My husband and I have been married for over forty years. We reside near Houston, Texas, surrounded by loved ones. We have a blast with our little grandchildren and thank God for this wonderful life.
Author Links:
https://www.anastasiaabboud.com
https://www.facebook.com/anastasia.abboud.author
https://twitter.com/AbboudAnastasia
https://www.instagram.com/anastasia_abboud_author
https://www.goodreads.com/anastasiaabboud
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/anastasia-abboud
https://www.linkedin.com/in/anastasia-abboud/
https://www.amazon.com/Anastasia-Abboud/e/B00BTSVUY2
Book Links:
https://www.amazon.com/Tremors-through-Time-Anastasia-Abboud-ebook/dp/B09X3S3QVQ
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61248505-tremors-through-time
https://www.anastasiaabboud.com/tremors-through-time.html
https://www.bookbub.com/books/tremors-through-time-by-anastasia-abboud
Tremors through Time by Anastasia Abboud, Paperback | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)
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GIVEAWAY :
Anastasia Abboud will be awarding a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
December 26, 2022
Blog Tour: GODS ON TRIAL series by Opeshum Patroz
Gods on Trial: The Series - Beyond the Father
by Opeshum Patroz
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GENRE: SciFi
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BLURB:
“Beyond the Father” sets the scene for the 8-book Sci-Fi Epic “gods on Trial: The Series,” delving into life’s determination to transcend all limitation. Set on the planet Xżyber, citizens of the Sub-Median Region, imperfectly reborn into metal, oppress those who are organic. Elsewhere, in the Central Kingdom, religion supports royalty’s brutal domination of the lowest class. War over scarce resources is coming, revolution within each region is brewing, and none know of the eccentric god who created them. This being watches, has fascinating conversations with his often-wiser companion, occasionally learns, and rarely intervenes. The many levels and threads of struggle distract nearly all from a far greater threat. Meanwhile, the young Prince Anglid’s vision quest into the unexplored Area X may ultimately change everything. However, just when you think you know the direction of the story, the author has yet another surprise.
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Excerpt One:
“Fleet number, rank, and make?” asked the assignment officer at GATE 11, on the central floor of Team Command.
“44772PX, cadet, 40% Non-Mollard,” the next in line replied, quickly.
“Cleared. Report to HAS 4 in Field 8,” the assignment officer abruptly responded. “Next? I need Fleet number, rank, and make!”
“23619RX, cadet, 30% Non-Mollard,” replied the next in line.
“You’re cleared. Report to HAS 1, in Field 10,” said the assignment officer. “Next!”
“Thank you, yes! I’m next,” responded another cadet, rushing up to the window. Her rucksack slid off of her shoulder, where the stub of a missing arm stuck out just beyond the sleeve of her shirt. “Here are all of my papers,” the cadet said, spreading out a pile of disheveled notes.
“Hold it! I just need a fleet number, a rank and your make. I don’t need your life story,” snapped the officer.
“Of course. I’m 24005RX . . . sub-cadet, 100% Non-Mollard.”
The assignment officer studied the cadet disapprovingly. “100%—non-Mollard,” he repeated, carefully scanning the cadet’s face. “Didn’t know they still let your kind in. And who is your commanding officer?” he demanded.
“Umm . . . Officer Liara, sir. And my name is Purvi,” continued the sub-cadet.
The assignment officer pushed the papers back at Purvi and frowned. “I don’t need all these papers,” the officer scowled. “And I don’t need your name!”
“I see. Thank you, sir,” Purvi responded, retrieving her papers. But then she paused. “But, you’re a Non-Mollard too, aren’t you?” she pressed. “In which case . . . well, it’s just so hard connecting with anyone here. My whole fleet is mostly Mollard, and . . .”
“Why are you still talking?” the assignment officer interrupted, while entering something into his database. “You’re cleared for HAS 12 over in Field 3.”
Realizing her gestures were unwelcome, Purvi quickly repositioned her rucksack and turned to walk away. But then she turned back around and reapproached the window, consumed by what had become a theme in her life—the burning desire to challenge what she felt was wrong. “Why are you so full of hate when you are still part flesh yourself?” she challenged.
Shocked, the assignment officer slowly looked up to meet Purvi’s bold stare and revealed the circuitry behind his colorless, prosthetic eyes. “How dare you talk to me that way, you little ‘scunt!” he seemed to growl through clench teeth. “How dare you even open your mouth to speak to me without being asked a question? You remind me of everything that shouldn’t be. You’re an unfortunate arrangement of flesh and mineral—with a mouth!” Growing even more impatient, the assignment officer stood up quickly from his chair. “You are just a waste and a burden to us all. Your kind shouldn’t even be here,” he sneered, leaning forward to make his point. “Make no error in. I am part of the new Xżyber and you’re . . . you’re completely expendable.” His voice became deeper, as did his frown. “Now get out of my line!”
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Opëshum has been writing since she was a child, and believes that authors are selected by their characters to bring their stories to the world. Incredibly shy and introverted, Opëshum does not make public appearances. She prefers to remain behind the scenes as the characters in her books take center stage. Her current work, the 8-Book SciFi Epic gods on Trial: The Series™ kicks off with Book 1, BEYOND THE FATHER.
Opëshum calls Sheridan, Wyoming her home, where she is currently writing Book 2 of this series. She lives in a modest Cape Cod dwelling on 3 acres of land where she lets a robust variety of sunflowers grow wild and untamed, while Aloe Vera and other succulents decorate almost every ledge within her house. An avid writer in the early morning and late at night, Opëshum often works on her manuscripts in rooms lit only by homemade candles.
She enjoys nature walks, full moons, and open spaces where she can stare up at the stars.
"I live my life in the shadows, and I am shy. For I know that my appearance is not pleasing to the eye. " - Opëshum Patroz
Review: https://reedsy.com/discovery/book/book-1-beyond-the-father-gods-on-trial-the-series-opeshum-patroz
https://twitter.com/1iR3Publishers
Website: http://www.1ir3publishers.com/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100084210977128
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22660923.Op_shum
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BL3YPKWN ONLY $1.00
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GIVEAWAY :
Opeshum Patroz will be awarding a $50 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Blog Tour: THE CHRONICLES OF DENEB series by Zanne Raby
The Chronicles of Deneb Series
by Zanne Raby
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GENRE: Science Fiction/Space Opera
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BLURB:
The Chronicles of Deneb is a science-fiction/ space opera series set in the near future. The year is 2080 CE. The world is dying. Get ready to travel into the future to a time when nothing is certain. Where the science behind climate change was ignored, leading to drought and famine plaguing an already overpopulated globe. Massive waves of refugees stream across the planet, seeking sanctuary. Where terrorist groups have joined forces with biohackers to develop a deadly bio-engineered disease that marches across the continents like a conquering army, leaving millions dead in its murderous swathe.
Meanwhile, some of the best and brightest minds on the planet are feverishly at work - constructing gigantic Space Arks to shuttle hundreds of thousands of people to a colony on Mars. And it seems like there’s more good news: world
leaders announce that a vaccine is ready. It’s all good; it’s all returning to normal.
But the truth is very different. In THE FLIGHT OF THE MAYFLOWER, the first novel in The Chronicles of Deneb, Dr. Daniel Radu – project manager for NASA’s Space Ark Mayflower – uncovers a global conspiracy of immense proportions. But Daniel cooks up a scheme of his own. Joined by a team of global experts, he and his colleagues brace themselves for a journey of a lifetime as they trek across the galaxy in a quest for survival.
Mayhem follows the Mayflower in the second book of The Chronicles of Deneb series, DESCENT INTO DARKNESS. Journey along with the crew of the Space Ark Mayflower as they adapt to their new home on the planet Deneb. But along
with their struggle to integrate into an alien culture, a new battle sweeps across the planet with the arrival of the human-transmitted Chimera bactovirus, bringing war and fanning the flames of racial intolerance. With a bloody conflict now raging across the planet, the crew of the Mayflower is split between the two factions and embroiled in the chaos and destruction.
FIRES OF FURY is the third installment in The Chronicles of Deneb. Will the survivors of the Space Ark Mayflower find their way when cultures clash and the fires of fury threaten to consume their lives? Now masquerading as citizens of the Collective, the Mayflower crew has a new reason to fear. With the end of the Second Denebian War, Wesselan’s General Pallav Kóbor and his astrophysicist wife, Dr. Tara Kóbor, have high hopes that life will return to normal on Deneb7. Yet nothing can be further from the truth.In a diabolical plot to erase the scars left by the Second Denebian War, warlord turned Wessel Head of State Gomalan unleashes a fiendish scheme to heal his nation’s wounds, while his top soldier, General Ravenna, falls under the spell of a seductive Fyjer agent intent on crushing their ambitions. Dragged into a brutal reality of terror and intrigue, can the Kóbors and warbird ace Fynn Vogel remain unscathed, or will the flames consume them and all that is evil on Deneb-7?
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Excerpt One:
A willowy brunette with shining brown eyes burst from the shadows, almost scaring Daniel out of his skin. “Tara,” he gasped, trying to quiet his heart. “What the hell? The president’s due here any second.” Dr. Tara Kóbor, the Nobel-prize winning astrophysicist who had discovered the find of the century – an Earth-like planet cuddled up in the Goldilocks zone of its star – was wearing a grin as wide as the Grand Canyon.
“You heard the news, right? I mean, the broadcasts are on fire. They’ve developed a vaccine! And whoever’s on the first shuttle flight is top priority. That means…”
He could hear heavy footsteps pounding on the hangar floor: time to play show and tell. Taking her by the shoulder, Daniel shepherded his friend to the bulkhead door. “It means you gotta get outta here. We’ll celebrate later,” he promised.
Just then, a bevy of bodyguards swooped in, all earpieces and dark glasses, and Daniel stood back as they robotically carried out their duties. No need really, NASA’s Chief of Security had seen to that. Out of the corner of his eye, Daniel spotted Tara’s husband, Lt-Col Pallav Kóbor, dwarfing the president’s team as he walked them through the hangar. He could hear the click click click of the cameras as the president approached with his staff trailing behind like good little shadows.
Show time, he mumbled to himself, wiping the sweat from his palms on his cobalt-blue NASA tunic.
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GUEST POST
Topic; What makes your book series different from other books in the genre?
My space-opera series, The Chronicles of Deneb, begins six decades in the future in the year 2080, with a cast of engineers and scientists working at NASA, the European Space Agency, and the fictitious Sino-Russian ROSCOMOS developing three large space arks which were designed to ferry tens of thousands of people from Earth to a colony on Mars. In the first novel, The Flight of the Mayflower, the readers is introduced to a set of seemingly insurmountable problems that our planet is facing: the world leaders have taken no action to resolve our current climate emergency with the result that the polar ice caps melted and flooded coastal cities. The world’s population continued to expand while famine and drought lead to global suffering. Massive waves of migrants seek refuge, though the wealthy countries remain unwilling to accept the climate refugees. Into this mix, throw a group of rogue scientists who unleash a deadly genetically engineered disease, and a cast of corrupt politicians who are only out to save themselves, but they didn’t count on Dr. Daniel Radu unveiling the conspiracy and taking action to keep his family and his team safe.
The second novel in the series, Descent into Darkness, deals with the fallout of human colonization on a distant planet that hosts advanced humanoid life. When the crew of the space arks land on Deneb-7, they are originally met with a mixture of hostility but also understanding by the natives. Wary of intergalactic travellers, the three nation states of Deneb finally agree to allow the newcomers to take refuge on their planet, with catastrophic results. The arrival of the human colonizers fan the flames of hatred and plunge the planet into conflict. Only after understanding the tumult caused by the new arrivals do the Denebians realize their mistake and Daniel and the crew of the Mayflower must flee for their lives.
A fragile peace has now been established after the Denebian War in Fires of Fury, the third novel of the series. But peace comes with a price. The bloody conflict decimated the Denebian economy, and the cunning and sinister High Commander Gomalan exacts a terrible price on the vanquished. After all, to the victor go the spoils! From the ashes rises a group of rebels, ready to overturn the despotic government and win the freedom for their people. While hatred continues to simmer, one man searches his conscience for his part in this evil, while another cannot release the battle that still consumes his soul.
There are so many series that deal with a dystopian future, although in The Chronicles of Deneb, the future is what we, as a whole, are currently crafting for our children and grandchildren. If humanity cannot address the multitude of problems, such as climate change, overpopulation, social inequity, then we are on a collision course for the same set of issues that are addressed in my series. In the near future, interplanetary travel will become a reality, and we must ask ourselves if we will simply transplant our current way of life onto any potential habitable exoplanets, or can we learn from the mistakes we have made and treat a new planet with respect. And if a future world is already inhabited, what should first contact look like? These are all aspects that I write about in my series, and I believe this is makes my novels different from other books in my genre.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
SHORT VERSION
Zanne Raby is a military veteran, having served for over three decades across North America, Europe and the Middle East. Passionate about all things space, her novels weave fast-paced, team-oriented environments into character-based science fiction. Currently residing in a small town on the shores of Georgian Bay, Ontario, Zanne enjoys hiking, gardening and Sudoku.
LONG VERSION
Since the days of the Napoleonic War, there has always been a member of Zanne’s family in uniform. Choosing to follow in the footsteps of her ancestors, Zanne joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1980, and was selected to attend the Royal Military College of Canada – the first year that women were accepted into that prestigious academy of learning. After graduation, she studied to become a Transportation and Movements Officer in the Royal Canadian Air Force.
During a career spanning 38 years, some of the most memorable experiences involved command of 8 Mission Support Squadron as part of Joint Task Force Afghanistan, leading a study on support to the Canadian Arctic involving several trips to Northern Canada, including Canadian Forces Station Alert (the most northern settlement in the world), a three-year tour with NATO at Joint Force Command Brunssum, a deployment as the NATO Liaison Officer to United States Central Command, and finally a nomination as the Deputy Commander for the Canadian Forces Recruiting Group.
After hanging up the uniform and putting away the combat boots, Zanne bought a small acreage in Central Ontario and designed her own house. With a cozy office overlooking the shores of Georgian Bay, she decided to pursue her life-long ambition: to become an author. Enough of the reports and returns that littered her desk over her career, now she could turn her attention to unleashing the creativity that had taken a back seat. The time had come to shake the dust off begin a new career. The winds of change had called.
Zanne is currently crafting The Chronicles of Deneb, a sci-fi space opera series that will take the reader from a dystopian earth on a voyage across the universe in search of a safe haven. But trouble is in store for them when the planet they land on is anything but the sanctuary they sought.
When not behind the keyboard, Zanne enjoys travel, photography, hiking, and gardening. And always, a good story to pass the time.
LINKS
PRESSKIT: https://bit.ly/3U4OenB
WEBSITE: https://www.zanneraby.com/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/zanne.raby
LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zanne-raby-2b4a9b1bb/
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/zanne_raby/
PURCHASE VIA: https://ridgecrestbooks.com/ AND https://amzn.to/3fiZy0m
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GIVEAWAY
Zanne Raby will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveawayDecember 24, 2022
Review: GO WITH THE FLOW by Lily Williams and Karen Schneemann
Sasha is the new girl at Hazelton High School. At first, she has a hard time fitting in. Until she meets Christine, Brit, and Abby—3 best friends—who help her out with a public “flow” problem. Aye! How embarrassing! Poor Sasha. The kids at school were calling her “Bloody Mary.” But the trio really does stick by her.
When it’s concluded that the tampon/pad machines were never stocked in the bathrooms, the girls get annoyed. What an injustice!
They really get intimate on the way tampons work, but it was nothing gross though. Un
Why do boys get new uniforms and equipment, and the girls have to pay $0.50 for tampons that they don’t stock? Unfair! Abby would not let the issue go. Time for a revolution!
Meanwhile, the girls go through the trials of puberty, boys, and school.
Just the coolest illustrations! Loved the dynamic poses of the character illustrations. Go with the Flow is a story that all girls can relate to. It’s a fun story about girls and friendship.
Rating: 5 stars
