Victoria Simcox's Blog, page 53

Liberation (I Am Margaret Book 3)

 “Seriously, Bane, should I sit around and pat myself on the back for resisting the EuroGov for six months of my life and call it a day? Or should I go out and try to make a world in which you and I can raise children without being afraid one day they’ll be taken from us and murdered?”

SALPERTON FACILITY STANDS EMPTY – EVERY OTHER FACILITY IS FULL.

TIME TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

Margo, Bane and Jon are determined to fight the EuroGov. Preferably by rescuing as many other ReAssignees as possible. And if doing so shakes the EuroBloc to its foundations, so much the better.

Meanwhile – a madman awaits his fate.
The world waits for Margo to take up her pen again.
And in their secret base, Margo and Bane prepare to marry at last.

But the safety of their new home is deceptive.
When they are discovered, the EuroGov’s vengeance will be swift.
And merciless.

PRAISE FOR I AM MARGARET

Great style – very good characters and pace.
Definitely a book worth reading, like The Hunger Games.
EOIN COLFER, author of the Artemis Fowl books

An intelligent, well-written and enjoyable debut from
a young writer with a bright future.
STEWART ROSS, author of The Soterion Incident

I AM MARGARET was awarded the ‘Seal of Approval’ by the Catholic Writers Guild in November 2014


PRAISE FOR THE THREE MOST WANTED

I cannot reiterate enough how much I am enjoying these books, and how talented this author is.
TIFFANY, blogger, ‘Life of a Catholic Librarian’  Corinna TurnerCarnegie Medal Award nominated author Corinna Turner has been writing since she was fourteen and likes strong protagonists with plenty of integrity. She has an MA in English from Oxford University, but has foolishly gone on to work with both children and animals! Juggling work with the disabled and being a midwife to sheep, she spends as much time as she can in a little hut at the bottom of the garden, writing.

She is a Catholic Christian with roots in the Methodist and Anglican churches. A keen cinema-goer, she lives in the UK with her Giant African Land Snail, Peter, who has a six inch long shell and an even larger foot! LinksAmazon: ttps://tinyurl.com/kqx8hau Twitter: @CorinnaTAuthor

Jupiter Winds

 In 2160, a teenager becomes the bait to capture her missing revolutionary parents she thinks are long dead. Grey Alexander has one goal—to keep herself and her younger sister Orinda alive. Not an easy feat living unconnected in the North American Wildlife Preserve, where they survive by smuggling contraband into the Mazdaar government's city zones. If the invisible electric border fence doesn't kill them, a human-like patrol drone could. When her worst fear comes true, Grey questions everything she thought she knew about life, her missing parents, and God. Could another planet, whose sky swirls with orange vapors and where extinct-on-Earth creatures roam free, hold the key to reuniting her family? A fast-paced, character-driven space adventure that's reminiscent of science fiction's golden age. --KATHY TYERS, author of the Firebird series C. J. Darlingtonhas been in love with reading since she was a kid dragging home bags of books from the library. When she was twelve she started dreaming about becoming a published author. That dream came true when her first novel Thicker than Blood won the 2008 Christian Writers Guild Operation First Novel contest. It became the first book in the Thicker than Blood series, which also includes Bound by Guilt, Ties that Bind, and Running on Empty. She has also written Jupiter Winds and Jupiter Storm, the first two books in a YA space adventure series.

In 2013 C. J. co-founded the publishing and design company, Mountainview Books, LLC with her family. A homeschool graduate, C. J. lives in Pennsylvania with her family and their menagerie of dogs, a tabby cat, and a Paint mare named Sky. LinksAmazon:https://tinyurl.com/kmp5u63 Twitter: @cjdarlington

The Warden and the Wolf King (Wingfeather Saga)

 All winter long, people in the Green Hollows have prepared for a final battle with Gnag the Nameless and the Fangs of Dang. Janner, Kalmar, and Leeli--Throne Warden, Wolf King, and Song Maiden of Anniera--are ready and willing to fight alongside the Hollowsfolk, but when the Fangs make the first move and invade Ban Rona, the children are separated. Janner is alone and lost in the hills; Leeli is fighting the Fangs from the rooftops of the city; and Kalmar, who carries a terrible secret, is on a course for the Deeps of Throg. Meanwhile in Skree, Sara Cobbler and Maraly Weaver care for the broken Artham Wingfeather as Fangs muster for battle across the Mighty River Blapp.

Sea dragons lurks in the waters. Wicked Stranders crawl through the burrows. Ridgerunners and trolls prowl the land. Cloven haunt the forest. Monsters and Fangs and villains lie between the children and their only hope of victory--in the epic conclusion of The Wingfeather Saga Andrew PetersonHey, folks. If you're just discovering me or any of my work, it can be a little confusing because there are several facets to it. Here's the rundown:

* I write songs. I also record them to these cool things called CDs and put on concerts around the country. (And beyond! To my great delight, I get to play in Europe every year or so.)

* I write books. I've just completed a four-book fantasy series for young readers called the Wingfeather Saga. I also drew some of the pictures (but not the awesome ones). (WingfeatherSaga.com)

* I'm the proprietor of the Rabbit Room, a community of songwriters, authors, and artists interested in storytelling, faith, and fellowship. We have a yearly conference called Hutchmoot, which is as strange and wonderful as it sounds. (RabbitRoom.com)

* I've been married for twenty-one years to Jamie, and we have three sweet children: Aedan (17), Asher (16), and Skye (13). We live in a magical place we call the Warren, just south of Nashville.

The common thread in all this is my love for Christ and his Kingdom, my belief in the power of story and art, and my need for family and community. If I had to boil it all down, I'd say this: I want to use my gifts to tell the truth, and to tell it as beautifully as I can.

That ought to get you started. For a more in-depth look at what I do, visit Andrew-Peterson.com. Thanks! LinksAmazon:https://tinyurl.com/ms9md7aTwitter: @andrewPeterson  

Illuminated: Book 1 (The White Road Chronicles 1)

 Welcome to the kingdom of Alburnium
If the Wizard of Oz swept you away and Narnia enchanted you, then follow the White Road Chronicles for a new kind of adventure.

Illuminated: Book One- begins with a girl in search of the truth.
Alyra, mockingly known as Princess, was captured at an early age by the evil ruler, Darnel, and brought up in the dark land of Racah. Now, at the age of seventeen, she considers herself nothing special. She has no recollection of who she is or where she came from. Her hope of ever finding freedom dims.
Until the messenger arrives. Until he brings to light the meaning behind the medallion she's kept hidden. Until she accepts the blinding truth.

Now she flees for her life.

Alyra’s journey leads her down a narrow road with strange traveling companions. Together, they encounter a kingdom where nothing is what it first seems.

This is an updated revised version with a new cover

Illuminated is the first book of The White Road Chronicles followed by:
Luminosity Book Two
Emanate Book Three
Radiance Book Four
Ignited Book Five
Book six coming soon! Jackie Castle
 is the author of The White Road Chronicles a fantasy series, The Sentinel Archives for school-age readers, and newly released Madison Creek Bed & Breakfast romance series. She has also published articles and short stories in numerous magazines. She’s enjoyed many crazy adventures from working as a hairstylist, to her bravest quest: teaching children in daycare and elementary schools. Eventually, she settled down to a somewhat safer pursuit of being a Story-weaver.

Now she lives in her comfortable Texas home where she spins marvelous tales and enjoys relaxing in the evenings with her husband Bob, their children and grandchild.

Her favorite pastime, besides reading, is traipsing through her imaginary worlds in search of another story.

She looks for the extraordinary in every ordinary day that she experiences.

Find out more about her shenanigans over at Jackie Castle's Story World: www.jackiecastle.com. There you can also sign up for her monthly newsletter.Links Twitter: @Jackie_CastleAmazon: https://tinyurl.com/zgbns4b

The Last Thing I Remember (The Homelanders)

Charlie West just woke up in someone else's nightmare. He's strapped to a chair. He's covered in blood and bruises. He hurts all over. And a strange voice outside the door just ordered his death.
The last thing he can remember, he was a normal high-school kid doing normal things--working on his homework, practicing karate, daydreaming of becoming an air force pilot, writing a pretty girl's number on his hand. How long ago was that? Where is he now? Who is he really?
And more to the point . . . how is he going to get out of this room alive? Andrew Klavan has been nominated for the Mystery Writer of America's Edgar award five times and won twice. He is the author of several bestselling novels, including Don't Say A Word, filmed starring Michael Douglas, True Crime, filmed by Clint Eastwood, and Empire of Lies. He is currently writing a series of thrillers for young adults called The Homelanders. The first two novels in the series are The Last Thing I Remember and The Long Way Home. Klavan is a contributing editor to City Journal and his essays have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times, among other places. His satiric video commentaries can be seen on PJTV.com. 
Editorial Reviews From School Library Journal Grade 7–10—Charlie West lived the life of an ordinary teenager—good student, black belt in karate, motivated—until he wakes up strapped in a chair next to a table of blood-splattered instruments of torture. He manages to escape from his unknown captors only to discover that an entire year has passed, of which he remembers nothing. Finding himself pursued by those he perceived as the "good guys," he must run to save himself and to discover the truth. Yet when Charlie learns of a plot to assassinate a government official, he risks all to save a stranger. This first book in the series may lack cohesiveness, but it remains a compelling thriller. The first half unfolds in painstaking, if not excruciating, detail, while the second half speeds to an ending with no real resolution. Readers presumably will have to hope that the sequel will explain more fully this tightly wound mystery. Klavan spends a good deal of time aptly portraying Charlie and other key figures, but some patriotic characters may come across as overzealous and off-putting.—Tara Kehoe, Plainsboro Public Library, NJ
Links:
Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/hzk7k8l
Twitter: @andrewklavan

Sipping Sangria (Wine and Sweat Pants Series Book 2)

 Recently single and trying to make sense of her life, Elaina Samuels could've never imagined such an amazing six months. She'd met Tawny Westerfield, Stephanie Mathews, and Grace Cordray at a cash-for-gold event. They were there to trade in their wedding rings as a way to get a fresh start. Little did they know that fate would step in and put them together - first in the jewelry store and then to share their stories over wine in the bar across the street. They clicked from the get-go and a few weeks later, Elaina made an offer for them to move in to share expenses. Best. Decision. Ever. 
Join Elaina, Tawny, Steph, and Grace as they continue their journeys to get life right-side-up with energy, mischief, chaos, fun, and a few tears. Jan Romes
 is a hopeless romantic who grew up in northwest Ohio with eight zany siblings. Married to her high school sweetheart for more years than seems possible, she is also a proud mom, mother-in-law, and grandmother. She likes to read most genres, writes witty contemporary romance and women's fiction, enjoys finding new ways to stay fit and gardens even though she doesn't claim to have a green thumb. 
Jan's passionate about reading, writing, publishing, and anything else that involves the written word. She loves to connect with readers. You can find her on Twitter, Facebook, at writer's conferences and book signings. If you love books as much as she does, she'd love to hear from you.
If you'd like to stay current on her most recent works-of-heart, click the Follow button here on Amazon or check out her website: www.authorjanromes.com
LinksAmazon  https://tinyurl.com/js45e4d Twitter @JanRomesWebsite www.authorjanromes.com

Spark (Legends of the Shifters Book 1)

 For more than a decade, Ivy Oliver has lived in a dark, crumbling orphanage where she was sent after her parents’ death. Her only hope for a life of simplicity and happiness is the trial, a test that frees her second form from where it’s been buried since her birth.

That hope is dashed, however, when she transforms into a creature that rips her away from the only friends she’s ever had and ensures that her enemies are numerous. She is dragged unwillingly to a school that will discipline her in the ways of survival and defense. There, she makes both friend and foe. She discovers things she never knew about her past and her future. This tiny, insignificant girl is faced with a crushing destiny that might be too staggering for her to bear. She will have to abandon her shy, quiet demeanor and take on a fearless spirit if she wants to survive. J.B. North grew up in central Texas where she spent her time scouring the bookshelves in her aunt's school library. She published her first book, Spark (Legends of the Shifters: Book One), when she was seventeen years old. She enjoys drawing badly, singing, and watching BBC television.

North moved to Michigan's Upper Peninsula in May of 2016. There, she spends her days writing, reading, and exploring the great outdoors.Links
Amazon https://tinyurl.com/grtk9f3Twitter @AuthorJBNorth

Seeker's Call (Seeker's Trilogy Book 1)

 Kierelia, a kingdom on the planet Kaern, is a forested land of kings, castles, and dragon-slayers... as well as the home of Iviana, an orphan and Healer who has just lost her mentor, the only family she ever knew.

Alone and searching for a place to call home, Iviana stumbles upon Tragor, the Great Dragon of the Ages, and Flynn, a strange young man determined to slay the dragon and steal its heart. Captivated by its beauty, Iviana intervenes on behalf of the beast.

Having earned the friendship of the dragon, Tragor flies Iviana to his home-world, the Greater Archipelagos, a planet set in another universe. Populated by a people who are born with what they call the Great Gifts, the islanders prove to possess supernatural powers bestowed by their god, the Great One. It is there she must press beyond the rejection of the people to make discoveries not only about her own lineage, but of her destiny: a call that could save the Greater Archipelagos from its demise.

With sword in hand, Iviana uncovers more about her gift as a Healer and finds purpose in the battles against the dark powers that seek to destroy her and those she loves.

Seeker’s Call is a thrilling ride filled with fascinating adventure, endearing characters and truth that will reach through the pages into your own world. Cassandra Boyson is author of Amazon bestselling Christian Fantasy series The Seeker's Trilogy. She plans to release several more books in the Christian Fantasy genre as well as in the worlds introduced in her books: Kaern and the Greater Archipelagos.

Through her books, Cassandra hopes not only to take readers on exciting fantasy adventures, but to reveal that God is the one in whom true power lies and he loves more deeply than any human ever could.

Cassandra currently resides in the Houston, Texas area. She dreams of traveling around the world, completing every book in her heart and having adventures like those of her heroines.Links: Twitter: @CassandraBoysonAmazon: https://tinyurl.com/jeltosg

Dare (The Blades of Acktar Book 1)

 Courage could cost him everything.

Third Blade Leith Torren never questions his orders or his loyalty to King Respen until an arrow wound and a prairie blizzard drive him to the doorstep of the girls whose family he once destroyed.

Their forbidden faith and ties to the Resistance could devastate their family a second time.

Survival depends on obedience, but freedom beckons. How far does he dare go to resist the king and his Blades?

No matter what Leith chooses, one thing is certain.

Someone will die. Tricia Mingerink is a twenty-something, book-loving, horse-riding country girl. She lives in Michigan with her family and their pack of pets. When she isn't writing, she can be found pursuing backwoods adventures across the country. 
Editorial Review "Their choice to save him was their death sentence. His choice to spare them was his." - review by Kim Moss, author of Leaving Nelson, My Summer Storm, and Chasing Secrets. LinksTwitter:@TriciaMingerinkAmazon: https://tinyurl.com/h89uazr

The Beginner's Guide to Intercessory Prayer

 Learn to Make Prayer Simple and Effective 
What is intercessory prayer? How does a person become an intercessor? When you don't know where to begin, start with the basics! In The Beginner's Guide to Intercessory Prayer, you'll learn to find your motivation for prayer in the power of love by first and foremost experiencing a lasting relationship with God as Father and friend. As Dutch Sheets lays the foundation for our motivation to pray, he teaches that our relationship with Christ doesn't need to be complex--it can be a simple act of pure devotion. In The Beginner's Guide to Intercessory Prayer, you will learn the 13 "P's" of intercession, which include priority, pleasure, plan, and pain, and be challenged to practice what you have learned through the "Did You Understand" questions at the end of each chapter. Make intercessory prayer a part of your life by learning to pray effectively, by learning to pray alone and in groups, and by persisting in prayer. DUTCH SHEETS is an internationally known conference speaker, pastor and author. He has written many books, including Authority in Prayer and his bestseller Intercessory Prayer. Dutch travels extensively as a guest lecturer in various venues. He is fervent in empowering believers for passionate prayer and world-changing revival. Dutch is the senior pastor of Freedom Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He and his wife, Ceci, their two daughters and three dogs make their home at the base of the Rocky Mountains. Links: Twitter: @dutchsheetsAmazon: https://tinyurl.com/j59flhy