Stacy Lynn Carroll's Blog, page 2

Fair Maiden Book Review

 Synopsis:

It’s the Victorian era in England, but Tessa is from the medieval past. She awakens within a castle she has never seen before. Knowledge of her name also evades her. However, even worse than not knowing who or where she is, she cannot recall how she died or why she is dressed as a bride. 

Along with Christian, the earl of the castle she haunts, Tessa tries to discover who she is and break the spell holding her in a prison of death. They never imagined the curse keeping them apart is the only thing protecting her, until it’s too late.

My Review:

This book was intriguing from the very beginning. I immediately wanted to know more about the young maiden and what had happened to her. Who was she? And why was she sleeping in an unfamiliar castle? I admit, I became a little frustrated when the author made us wait, and then wait some more to discover all the secrets behind her circumstances. But, her beautiful writing held my attention and kept me glued to the story to find out more. I loved the author’s descriptions and talent for storytelling, she made me feel as though I were a part of each scene. I thought the second epilogue was a little unnecessary, but otherwise found the ending very satisfying. Happy and no cliff hangers

The Princess and the Prom Queen – Book Review

Blurb: Jenny’s had it with her life. Six siblings in an overstuffed house are enough to drive anyone crazy, and sometimes she dreams of escaping to some fantasy world. When she suddenly wakes up to find herself being kissed by a strange—but very handsome—prince, Jenny knows her life just got a lot more exciting. Now stuck in a medieval land of castles and royalty, when Jenny learns that the queen has agreed to marry her off to the prince, it’s time to take matters into her own hands. She goes on a quest to find out who dragged her to this time while trying to keep from falling in love with either of the boys vying for her attention.

Princess Genevieve has only known life under her mother’s rule. She wants to do more than go to battle or deal with suitors. She wakes to find herself in a new world filled with gadgets, electricity, and moving carriages. She finally has the freedom to be who she wants to be with a family who cares deeply for her and a boy worth any sacrifice. It’s more than everything she always wanted.

As Jenny and Genevieve settle into their new lives, they face an unknown evil which threatens everything they care about and makes them face tough questions—like who they are and what they really want their lives to become.

I started reading this book thinking it was going to be a light and fluffy fairy tale retelling. But it was so much more than that! I loved the comparisons between the two worlds. Some of the struggles and things the girls missed from their own times, I never would have thought about. And the misunderstandings frequently had me laughing. I also loved that the girls were torn between the two worlds. They didn’t just fall in love with a boy from their new land and live happily ever after, but they really struggled with missing the people they’d left behind. The book could not have ended more perfectly. I honestly started to get nervous, not liking where the author was going, but the last line ties everything up so nicely, it left me smiling. The only thing I struggled with was how easily people seemed to accept that the girls had been switched. But the beautiful writing and lovable characters made up for that in the end.

Bookmarked Bargains!

This sale is amazing. Dozens of books for $.99 or free and the chance to win all these fun prizes. Go to Bookmarked Bargains to click on the books you’d like to purchase and to enter to win.





Here are the other participating authors. Happy reading!

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

Imperfect Love, Rebecca Talley

Wild Hearts, Heather Tullis

Fallen Angel, Lisa Swinton

The Daisy Chain, Heather Moore

Sweet Confections, Danyelle Ferguson

A Portrait for Toni, Annette Lyon



ROMANTIC COMEDY

My Own Mr. Darcy, Karey White

Home Matters, Julie N. Ford

Silver Linings, Kaylee Baldwin

Third Times the Charm, Heather Moore



INSPIRATIONAL ROMANCE (LDS/ CHRISTIAN)

Discovering Sophie, Cindy Roland Anderson

The Making of a Queen (Ariana Book 1), Rachel Ann Nunes

Prank Wars, Stephanie Fowers

Mr. Wrong, Alivia Anderson

Intercession, Vicki Budge



HISTORICAL ROMANCE

Amazon, Sunset, Marie Higgins

Loyalty’s Web, Joyce DiPastena

The Man from Shenandoah, Marsha Ward

Intertwine, Nichole Van

Illuminations of the Heart, Joyce DiPastena

Spinster’s Folly, Marsha Ward



ROMANTIC SUSPENSE

Tell me No Lies, Rachel Branton

Spy Noon (Spy Another Day prequel), Jordan McCollum

A Change of Plans, Donna K. Weaver

Fourth of July, Cami Checketts

Homecoming Identity, Heather Justesen

I, Spy (Spy Another Day #1), Jordan McCollum

To Sleep No More, Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen

The Colony, Cami Checketts



NONFICTION

There, Their, They’re: A no-tears guide to grammar from the word nerd, 2nd edition, Annette Lyon

Homeschool Lifestyles from Homeschool Moms, Valerie Steimle

The 2012 Book Bloggers’ Cookbook, Christy Dorrity

Of One Heart: Being Single in the LDS World, Valerie Steimle



INSPIRATIONAL FICTION (LDS, CHRISTIAN)

Nourish and Strength, Maria Hoagland

Wall of Faith, J Loyd Morgan

Intercession, Vicki Budge

Family Size, Maria Hoagland



YA GENERAL/ YA ROMANCE

Just Like Elizabeth Taylor, Lu Ann Staheli

Worth It (an LDS love story), Taryn Taylor

The Princess Sisters, Stacy Lynn Carroll

Frogs and Toads, Stacy Lynn Carroll

Confessions of 16-year-old Virgin-Lips, Cindy Hogan

Samara: A Kilenya Romance, Andrea Pearson

Tides across the Sea, Lu Ann Staheli

Gravediggers, Cindy Hogan



MIDDLE GRADE

Heroes of the Highest Order (1-3), Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen

The Secret Sisters Club (A Ginnie West Adventure), Monique Bucheger

The Stone of Valhalla, Mikey Brooks

The Key of Kilenya, Andrea Pearson

Simply West of Heaven: A Ginnie West Adventure, Monique bucheger

The Dream Keeper, Mikey Brooks



FANTASY/ SCI FI

The Waxing Moon, author J Loyd Morgan

Blue Dragon (Dragonbound Series book one), Rebecca Shelley

Nexus Point, the Fall of the Altairan Empire Book 1, Jaleta Clegg

Soul Windows, Jaleta Clegg

DragonBound IV: Red Dragon, Rebecca Shelley





YA FANTASY

Inevitable, Tamara Heiner

Twisted Tales Trilogy, Stephanie Fowers

The Roilden Stones of Elf Mountain, Anna del C.

Awakening: Book One of the Geis, Christy Dorrity

Fateful, Cheri Schmidt

The Silent Warrior Trilogy, Anna del C.

Win a FREE audio book!

The Princess Sisters just released as an audio book only a couple weeks ago. To celebrate, I’m giving away a free download of the audio book (a $20 value) to one lucky winner.

Okay, so here’s the game: Change your Facebook profile picture to your favorite book: either The Princess Sisters or Frogs & Toads sometime in the next week. (Then comment on my Facebook author page so I know you’ve done it. The posting is pinned at the top of my page. Link: https://www.facebook.com/authorstacyl... . Feel free to invite others to play along! Then a winner will be chosen next Tuesday, April 29th at noon (mountain time). The winner will receive a free code for the audio book – a $20 value! I’ll leave how long you keep the profile picture up to you. Have fun!

Cover Reveal: Princess and the Prom Queen

Look at this gorgeous cover for Jaclyn Weist’s new book: The Princess and the Prom Queen. It comes out April 29th, so watch for it coming soon!

Description:

Jenny’s had it with her life. Six siblings in an overstuffed house are enough to drive anyone crazy, and sometimes she dreams of escaping to some fantasy world. When she suddenly wakes up to find herself being kissed by a strange—but very handsome—prince, Jenny knows her life just got a lot more exciting. Now stuck in a medieval land of castles and royalty, when Jenny learns that the queen has agreed to marry her off to the prince, it’s time to take matters into her own hands. She goes on a quest to find out who dragged her to this time while trying to keep from falling in love with either of the boys vying for her attention.

Princess Genevieve has only known life under her mother’s rule. She wants to do more than go to battle or deal with suitors. She wakes to find herself in a new world filled with gadgets, electricity, and moving carriages. She finally has the freedom to be who she wants to be with a family who cares deeply for her and a boy worth any sacrifice. It’s more than everything she always wanted.

As Jenny and Genevieve settle into their new lives, they face an unknown evil which threatens everything they care about and makes them face tough questions—like who they are and what they really want their lives to become.

The Princess and the Prom Queen will be available on Kindle April 29th, 2014, with print to follow shortly. You are invited to attend the online launch party on Facebook by clicking here at 7:00 pm on that day. https://www.facebook.com/events/312279742253197/

Release Party: Fourth of July

Fourth of July Release Party – Monday, April 14thWin a great prize and get the book for $.99 today only.

 

When eight parade floats explode during the annual Fourth of July celebrations, Agent Chris Harmer must find who planted the bombs before the terrorists strike again.

His troubles aren’t isolated to terrorism. Chris falls in love with the FBI’s feisty psychiatrist, Alexis Osborne. She won’t commit to someone who doesn’t share her religious values, and Chris has no desire to convert.

There are two great giveaways to celebrate the release of Fourth of July. The purse and scarf pictured below (bought from the fabulous Sugar ‘n Spice) will be given away through the Rafflecopter form.

Also, the first twenty people to buy Fourth of July at one of the following retailers, share the special $.99 price to any social media site, and email Cami (camichecketts@yahoo.com) will receive their choice of Dead Running audio book or The Colony as a kindle gift.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Smashwords

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Indie Publishing Conference

Come find out if Indie Publishing is for you! This conference is being put on by some of the best in the business! And most of them were originally published with big publishing houses, and then turned to Indie and have experienced great success because of it. Even if you don’t want to self-publish, they offer many phenomenal writing classes and marketing classes. Skills you need know matter how you publish your books. I hope to see you all there!

Follow the link to sign up: http://www.indieauthorhub.com/p/conference-2014.html

Cover Reveal: Rewind to You

Cover Reveal, About the Author, a Sneak Peek of REWIND TO YOU and Rafflecopter Giveaway

Goodreads * Amazon * Barnes & Noble
 
Author: Laura Johnston
Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corp.
Genre: Clean Contemporary YA Romance
Release Date: September 15, 2014; Available for PREORDER now

 

One last summer before college

on beautiful Tybee Island is supposed to help Sienna forget. But how can she?

This is where her family spent every summer before everything changed, before

the world as she knew it was ripped away.

But the past isn’t easily left

behind. Especially when Sienna keeps having episodes that take her back to the

night she wants to forget. Even when she meets the mysterious Austin Dobbs, the

guy with the intense blue eyes, athlete’s body, and weakness for pralines who

scooped her out of trouble when she blacked out on River Street.


When she’s with Austin, Sienna feels a whole new world opening up

to her. Austin has secrets, and she has history. But caught between the past

and the future, Sienna can still choose what happens now…

 
About the Author:

Laura’s Official Website * Facebook Page * Twitter * Goodreads


Laura

Johnston lives in sunny Arizona

with her husband and two children. Growing up in Orem, Utah with five siblings,

a few horses, peach trees, beehives and gardens, she developed an active

imagination and always loved a good story. Laura enjoys running, playing tennis, sewing, dancing (deduced to dancing around the kitchen

while cooking dinner these days), traveling, writing, writing and more writing,

and above all, spending time with her husband and kids. REWIND TO YOU, her

debut novel, was inspired by the loss of her father as a teenager.

A Sneak Peek of REWIND TO YOU:
















Giveaway: Signed Copy of REWIND TO YOU and $25 Amazon Gift Card

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. The winner, chosen by Rafflecopter, will be announced here on April 29th as well as emailed. The winner will have 5 days to respond at which point a new winner will be chosen. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning.

New Release: The End of Feeling

New book by author Cindy C. Bennett! If you have never read any of her books, I highly recommend her! She is such an emotionally-powerful writer. I have loved all of her books I’ve read! And she’s not bribing me to say that

Benjamin Nefer seems to have it all. He’s the most popular

guy in school, the star quarterback with college scouts looking at him, his

grades are near the top of his class, he can get any girl he wants . . . but he

hides behind his dream life to mask the nightmare of his reality.

Charlie Austin is the new girl. Forced to move in with a

bitter aunt, she only wants to protect her fragile mom from the world’s

cruelty. When Benjamin sets his sights on Charlie, she’s armored against his

charm—friends warned her about Benjamin’s game of pursuing and then dumping a

long line of girls, not caring about the broken hearts he leaves behind. She

doesn’t count on how single-minded he can be when she refuses him, or how

charismatic, easing into her life through what he claims is just friendship.

Benjamin thought he could keep Charlie in the same place he

keeps all girls—something to be used and then discarded. But Charlie has as

many secrets as he does, secrets he’s determined to discover while keeping his

own hidden. He realizes she’s the perfect girlfriend candidate . . . someone he

can use to keep up the façade of a perfect life. Now he just has to keep his

frozen heart from softening toward this unique girl, because if he doesn’t, his

carefully constructed lies might just come thundering down around him, crushing

him beneath the burden of feeling.

Get your copy today at:

Proud to be a part of Amazon’s Kindle Matchbook – Purchase the paperback, get the Kindle version free!

Here’s what’s being said about The End of Feeling

The End of Feeling is a

story that will stay with you long after you finish reading it. Haunting,

heartbreaking, in other words, another winner for Bennett!
~ Sherry Gammon, author of Unlovable

From the moment I picked it up, my heart was warmed, melted,

broken, and pieced back together again. A beautiful story that will leave you

aching long after the last page.
~ Jamie Canosa, author of Falling

to Pieces

A

tale of hope and love about a couple of teens who have every reason to believe

in neither. It’s raw and real, but leaves us believing in the power of

redemption.
~ Juli Caldwell, author of Psyched

The reality both characters live makes their story

captivatingly unique, and emotionally powerful. . . Demonstrates the beautiful

truth that two people can learn to be true to themselves, no matter

what—especially while falling in love. 
~ Heather Frost, author of The Seers trilogy

The struggles in this story bring to light the

fact that beauty and truly miraculous things can be found in the everyday, and

that the most important thing any one of us can possess, is love.
~ Shannen Crane Camp, author of Under Zenith

Once again Cindy C Bennett’s incredible talent

shines through yet another masterpiece . . . a triumphant story of love,

compassion and human strength.
~ Camelia MironSkiba, author of Hidden Heart

Bennett brilliantly weaves the fears and trepidation of two

teens treading the hazards of acceptance, young love, and. Curl up with this

story and enjoy the ride—it’s terrific.
~ Jeffery Moore, author of Jericho Solus

Learn more at Cindy C Bennett’s blog.

Visit The End of Feeling blog to read the full reviews.

The Stone of Valhalla by Mikey Brooks

 

Welcome to The

Stone of Valhalla Blog Tour!

A middle-grade fantasy-adventure by Mikey Brooks.

Don’t forget to check out the GIVEAWAY at the bottom this post for a chance to
WIN a $25 Amazon Gift card and other great prizes!

Synopsis:

Aaron was chosen to save their world, but it might come at the cost of losing his own.

Breaking into an old lady’s basement was supposed to reward 13-year-old Aaron with new friends. Instead he finds an enchanted amulet that transports him to another

world—one at war with magic. Before he knows it, he is accused of witchcraft and invited to a bonfire—where he’s the main attraction. If that’s not bad enough, a goblin army shows up and toasts the town…literally. The good news: Aaron escapes being charbroiled. The bad news: the goblins are after him. They want his amulet and will stop at nothing to get it. Battling to find his way home, Aaron teams up with a not-so-magical-wizard and learns it’s his fate to destroy the amulet and save this new world. But is he willing to sacrifice his own?

Check out what these talented authors

are saying about it:

“The Stone of Valhalla is one of those books that only comes along once in a great while. Brooks doesn’t just create a world, he puts you inside of it, allowing you to experience the wonder in a way that only he can. His characters are likable and fun. His twists leave you asking ‘Why?’ Treat yourself to an exciting adventure through a beautiful new land. Make new friends and be a part of the magic. This is a book that you will not be able to put down!”
—J.R. Simmons,

author of Ragesong: Awakening.

 “The Stone of Valhalla drew me in from the get-go. Aaron’s journey is reminiscent of Dorothy’s trek in The Wizard of Oz. Magic, sword fights, danger, and more danger, sprinkled with humor and unexpected twists. This is one of the ‘best’ fantasy adventures I’ve ever experienced!”
—BBH

McChiller, author of The Monster Moon

Series.

“The Stone of Valhalla is a riveting mystery revealing true friendship, loyalty and sacrifice. Brooks engages the curiosity of middle graders and older sleuths alike, until the very end. Fantastic!”
—L.R.W. Lee,

author of The Andy Smithson series.
 
Excerpt From: Chapter Two: The Penalty of Witchcraft

Aaron thought he’d been transported to some kind of renaissance fair. People milled about in the street, all dressed like they belonged on the set of some medieval movie. Most of their faces were stained with dirt, and they wore soiled clothing. Large, wooden buildings, held together by plaster, loomed overhead and all around him. Some had signs announcing specific trades and goods. The sweet smell of bread came from one shop, clearly a bakery. A rotund man stood out front, arguing with an old man who had a silvery- white beard and a long, purple cloak. He was telling the baker that the rolls he had purchased tasted ‘day-old’ and he required a reimbursement.
Several passersby gave Aaron odd glances. One little girl with a group of women dressed like nuns pointed at him and giggled. He thought he heard her call him a buffoon, but she was quickly shushed by one of the women and pulled into a shop.
This is so unreal.
Aaron couldn’t figure out what had happened.
How did I get here? Who are these people?
Aaron waited for someone to jump out and yell, “Surprise, you’re on camera!”
It never happened.
The seconds drew on like hours, and Aaron stood unmoving like a statue in the middle of the dirt road. The sweet smell from the bakery was drowned by the stench of a sweaty mule pulling a cart packed full with what had to be manure. The wind blew and the wafting smell of poo filled Aaron’s nose. He coughed and tried to cover the reek with his shirt.
“Witchcraft! Witchcraft, I say!”
Aaron turned around to see a middle-aged woman with only three teeth shouting hysterically. She pointed directly at him. He looked over his shoulder to ensure no green-skinned, broom-commandeering, warty-faced lady in black stood beside him. There wasn’t anyone there. The noise on the street stopped dead except for the woman. She grabbed a small wooden crate from a cart filled with fresh flowers and stood on it. “Fetch the constable! Don’t let him get away, or he’ll set a curse on our town.”
Five large men formed a group behind the woman and advanced toward Aaron. He didn’t know what to do.

Where to Find The Stone of Valhalla:



Exclusive price for the eBook

release is just $2.99! (List Price: $4.99)
And only $9.99 for the paperback!(List Price: $12.99)
On April 12th

2014 the price will return to the List Price

Kindle | Paperback

Another special offer:

During The Stone of Valhalla Blog

Tour

Mikey’s other great middle-grade eBooks will also be set to the low

price of just $0.99!

The Dream Keeper:
Kindle  |  Nook  |  Kobo

The Dreamstone :
Kindle  |  Nook  |  Kobo


You’re Invited to PARTY!!



The

online launch party will take place on Thursday, April 10th at 4pm

(MST). The party will run for 2 hours and you’re invited to drop by anytime.

The longer you stay the more chances you have of winning prizes! We have slew

of eBooks to giveaway, as well as a Stone of Valhalla necklace AND a $25 Amazon gift card! It is hosted by

LovingtheBookLaunchParty on Facebook. Just follow this link to join the event: http://goo.gl/Q2Fd3r.

What’s that? Another Party!



That’s right! If you’re local to Utah you don’t want to miss this kickin’ party. We are having a launch party to celebrate the release of this awesome new book. Of

course there will be plenty of giveaways there too, but what’s even better are the guest authors! Just check out these fabulous names: J. Scott Savage, Chad

Morris, Lisa Mangum, Jenni James, Ali Cross, and many more. The Launch Party is: Friday, April 11th from 6-9pm at The Viridian Center in West

Jordan, Utah. Follow this link for a map: http://goo.gl/dqVc0u

About Mikey Brooks:

Mikey is a small child masquerading as an adult. On occasion you’ll catch him dancing the funky chicken, singing like a banshee, and pretending to have never grown up. He is the author/illustrator of several books including the best-selling ABC Adventures: Magical Creatures

and Bean’s Dragons as well as the middle-grade fantasy-adventure series The Dream Keeper Chronicles. His art can be seen in many forms from picture books to full room murals. He loves to daydream with his three daughters and explore the worlds that only the imagination of children can create. Mikey has a BS degree in English from Utah State University and works fulltime as a freelance illustrator, cover designer,

and author. As a member of the Emblazoners, he is one of many authors devoted to ‘writing stories on the hearts of children’. He is also one of the hosts of the Authors’ Think Tank Podcast. You can find more about him and his books at: http://www.insidemikeysworld.com/.

The Giveaways!

 

Enter the giveaway below to be entered to win one of the following

prizes:

$25 Amazon Gift Card
The Stone of Valhalla

Necklace
Autographed Paperback of The

Stone of Valhalla
Autographed 11×17 Poster

a Rafflecopter giveaway