Heidi Angell's Blog, page 9

Book Review- Maharia book 3 in the Kaelandur series by Joshua Robertson

Genre: Epic FantasySynopsis: In Valor There Is Hope! Branimir has remained hidden from the enemy, withholding the cursed dagger from their erroneous hands. When a stranger arrives, and offers the chance to end his never-ending battle, Branimir sets off for the City of the Gods for answers. Now, hoping his faith has not been misplaced, Branimir undergoes his darkest adventure yet. He can only trust that he has the courage to survive the truth.My Take: This is the third and final book of the Kaelandur trilogy, but it isn't the end of the Thrice Nine Legends. For those who missed my review of Melkorka, and Dyndaer, those are kind of important to this discussion. So, I had a little "rant" on Facebook the other day about the end of this series. But I want to talk about Maharia specifically today. This is definitely the darkest book in the trilogy. I actually needed a couple of days in the middle to process a scene that crushed my soul. Seriously, still processing! But it makes sense. I mean, in a series where demons were flooding the earth and a little Kras is left wondering if he's the hero, or working with the villain, it is tough. And this whole series has very carefully reflected a lot of issues we experience every day in our own lives. One could sit back and reflect on so many issues, but the author is very careful in the way that he lays out the story to not make any judgments, but to leave the reader up to deciding.  Heavy thoughts buzzing through my head after finishing the series. There is this interesting introspection on religion that comes up in the series with Alden and Sulana, and ends quite unexpectedly (though the author assures me that I will find more information in some of the other Thrice Nine Legends books!) One of the characters, Alden, is a devout worshiper of his God, and participates in some strange religious practices as forms of penance (very reminiscent of some of the things that were going on in Christian history which led to the Council of Nicaea.) Each character has a different view of the Gods, and through their views and reflections, one can delve into a philosophical debate in ones own mind looking at the various world religions of today and seeing the chaos that it causes. The author also plays with the concepts of right and wrong, The idea of loyalty, the constant struggle of the few vs the many, the idea of happiness, and many others. And the author presents these thoughtful nuggets in a space that leaves the reader open to explore their own thoughts and ideas on each without being forced to believe one thing or the other. And it is this thoughtful approach that leads me to make the call that, despite some pretty heavy and dark scenes in Maharia, I want my boys to read this. I want to have these discussions with them. And I want to have these discussions with others, so everyone should go out and read this series. Seriously, we have to talk! If you haven't gotten your copy yet, you can order the whole beautiful signed three box series off the author's website It was my best birthday present EVER! I can't wait to read more in the Thrice Nine Legends. Until next time, Keep reading! 

Teaser Tuesday- Meet Darren Broderick of Snatch Girl by L.J. Kane

Full Name: Darren James BroderickAge: Late 20’sPlace of Birth: Perth, Western AustraliaFather: James Broderick - owns a car repair centre in Perth, Australia. He’s slightly dishonest when declaring his income. His favourite saying is, “What they don’t know won’t hurt them.”Mother: Susan Broderick was a bank clerk until recently, when she was sacked for slipping a bit of cash into her handbag. She is currently in charge of her husband’s business accounts.Siblings: Darren has an older brother, Jason, and a younger sister, Amanda, who is a model at a small modelling agency in Sydney.Appearance: Darren is very attractive, with brown, collar-length hair and brown eyes. He is tall and athletic, and likes to work out. He’s often seen wearing his black leather biker jacket, and a pair of blue-black jeans.Home: Darren resides in a studio apartment in Oxford, England, for now, until he gets kicked out for rent arrears. He has a beer fridge, and a bed, and that’s about it, unless you count his expensive car, and diver’s watch. He’s a regular visitor to the local pawn shop.Education: Darren attended veterinary college in Western Australia after leaving school, but dropped out of university after the first year. There appeared to be no end to his gap year…Visa: Darren escaped to Britain with an ancestry visa after getting his best mate’s girlfriend pregnant. His story changes often, but this is the real reason, and don’t let him tell you otherwise!Work: Darren has had a variety of jobs, both in Australia and in the UK. He drifts from one to another, never settling for long. No one seems able to pin him down.Hobbies and Interests: Diving, rally driving, motorbikes, playing cricket, and gambling.Friends: Darren has a group of Aussie mates who are all trying to get back home to Oz for a variety of reasons. His friend, Brett Hayes, is a property developer of undisclosed habits, who is looking to get rich quick before he returns to Australia for good.Romances: Darren’s lost count of his romantic encounters and tends to brag, so it’s hard to obtain a true figure. Like his jobs, he doesn’t stay for long, and his friends are not expecting him to settle down anytime soon. He’s had his eye on one particular girl, but she’s holding him at bay – and who can blame her?Worst Fears: None in particular. Darren doesn’t let on that he’s scared of anything!Want to learn more about Darren? Grab your copy of Snatch Girl on Amazon today! Until next time, Keep Reading!

Meet the Author Monday with Ndeye Labadens

Hello Lovelies,  Today I am delighted to introduce you to a lovely author I met on Goodreads. Ndeye Labadens is a multi-best-selling author, blogger and Vlogger, entrepreneur and World Traveler. She enrolled in a doctorate in Business Administration (DBA). With strong followings on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter at @labadensndeye allowed her to detail her travels and experience to the enthusiastic audience. Ndeye works as a consultant at www.lannconsultings.com. She helps other authors and small business owners.So let's jump on in!Hello Ndeye, welcome to An Angell's Life. How are you?I am doing great Heidi, Thanks for having me here. I am Launching my book Relocation Without Dislocation: Make New Friends And keep the Old It will be free this Sunday, August 6th, and 7th. The normal price is $10.Ooh, mark your calendars, lovely readers! Tell us a bit more about Relocation without Dislocation!An excellent and helpful guide that will provide readers not only with information regarding their moving needs but also about the resources they need when it comes to moving and how to utilize these tools so that their relocation is a success. Relocating can be stressful, and the author's personal experiences have enabled her to share everything that is required from websites to links to online tools to make moving a pleasant experience. Whether you are a student, a business owner, a professional, or a homemaker, this book will help you accept the challenges that come with relocating and handle it maturely and calmly. With checklists of required personal items, travel documentation and carrying cash tips. The information is easy to understand and can be applied while moving from one place to another or another country. All the links, websites, and online tools make it easier for readers to get more information before they relocate to a new place without dislocating themselves.If there was one thing you could do to change the world, what would it be?I would help one person at a time. I know I can't change the world but one person's life at a time would be awesome. I love to help and enjoy the impact it has on travelers who write to me to thank me because the tips were awesome thanks to my recommendations. That makes me happy!That's really great advice. Good to see you are already making a difference, and encouraging others to do so as well. Who is your Favorite Author?Marian Keyes, for her original style. She inspired me, and I was this year in Ireland to visit her land and join the Irish Writing center. Which I am a member now.If you could never write again, what would you do?I would be a movie producer or director. In this new position, I can still express and share feelings with my audience.Love it! A Storyteller at heart, no matter what medium! What is your next project?European Memories: Travels and Adventures Through 15 countries are my next project, and it will be launched within two months. The difference in my travel book series is the fact that you can watch me live on site in different countries. I vlog and interview people or simply broadcast live some event. My readers feel like they are by my side all along. There is a FB group where it is possible to follow me live on site or a website to watch the videos as my readers like. Here is, in exclusivity for your audience Heidi, the FB group:What a neat way for travel fans to get to experience the travel vicariously through you! Thanks for sharing with us today. Thanks for Having me here Heidi.Do you love travel and want to see more of he awesome stuff Ndeye shares with her people?  Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at the handle  @labadensndeye Follow herfacebook page, or join her Bestseller Giveaway group. Want to learn more about her services? Visit her website She is offering one free e-book on her website, check it out.Want to learn more about her books? Visit her onAmazonor Goodreads. Want to grab your copy of Relocation without Dislocation? Grab it from Amazon here. Until next time, Keep Reading!

Poetry Corner-Empty Field

Lonely empty field.Lonely empty life. Nothing to yield.Nothing but strife. But the sun will come out. The grass will grow green.The rain will fall down, and soon it is Spring. Life will be blooming,Love will grow.Birds are singing.And life is 'lo.You walked into my life.You dug into my soul.You made me your wife.You made me whole. Until next time, Keep Reading!

Book Review: Under A Hunter's Moon: Shadows Over Seattle: Prequel 1

Genre: ParanormalSynopsis: Richard Parsons is a lupine, one of the many breeds of shape-shifters living in Seattle. Mortal legends of his kind call them werewolves.When a traveling exhibition returns to Seattle, Richard takes a night time visit, with plans that go beyond seeing a particular display. However he is unprepared for the memories and emotions that come flooding back."Under A Hunter's Moon" is the first of the "Shadows Over Seattle: Prequel" series, giving readers a chance to meet the characters who will be appearing in the main series. Every story is a snapshot of an event in that character's past, and can be read as a standalone short story, or as part of the series. At 4,200 words in length, "Under A Hunter's Moon" is a quick, easy, read that introduces readers to the "Shadows Over Seattle" setting.My Take: Prequels are mean! Especially when the book isn't out yet! Timothy, I know you are releasing Evaline Transcendent right now, but can you hurry up with the first book in the Shadows over Seattle Series? Seriously, this was just... Sucked me right in and then left me with no where to go :( I enjoy the author's twist on the old werewolf lore, creating a whole new version and calling them Lupines, to allow him to break the rules of the legends without really breaking things, if you know what I mean. This is a great teaser to the main character, his motivations, and his drive. Jump on in and then go yell at the author to hurry up and finish the book, just like I'm doing! Get it done, Tim! And make it just as awesome. (I know you will!) Until next time, Keep Reading!

Teaser Tuesday- Clara Lissing of Clockwork War

 Hello Lovelies, Remember when we had Katy Haye over for an author interview? Well, she just sent this exciting news interview with Clara Lissing of the Clockwork War (One of the short stories in the Shattered Worlds anthology.) Hope you enjoy!Your London Courier is always first with the news. Today your Courier reporter spoke to Clara Lissing, the young engineer who came from nowhere and is now working with England’s regent, Duke Murgatroyd, on a top-secret device sure to bring a speedy end to the war with Scotland.Miss Lissing is much younger than I’d thought – only seventeen. She has olive skin and dark hair that’s pulled back in a bun. I was hoping to see one of the devices that brought her to Duke Murgatroyd’s attention, but all I can see in her workshop today is bits of metal, and tools.Tell us about your family, Miss Lissing.I have five brothers. Bill, Sam, Harry and Nathan are all older than me. They’re miners in Dorstow. The youngest is Tom. He joined the army recently.And your parents?My parents are both dead.I’m sorry to hear that. But they weren’t your real parents, were they?They were my real parents. They weren’t my birth parents, if that’s what you mean. Our research tells us you were discovered floating in a rowboat on the river Dor when you were a baby. Is that true?I’m not sure why you’re asking me questions if you already know the answers!Please, don’t be offended, Miss Lissing! We have to do our research - that’s the sort of tidbit our readers love.Yes, so far as I know, that story’s true.And you’ve never found your real parents?I’ve never looked.Well, if any of our readers can cast any light on the matter, be sure to get in touch at the Courier offices on Fleet Street. Perhaps we could reunite you with your parents, Miss Lissing!Perhaps.So, how did a lowly girl from Dorstow come to the attention of Duke Murgatroyd?My brother, Harry, wrote to the Duke about my skill with machines.And now you’re working on a top-secret device to help us win the war. How exciting! What can you tell us about it?Not much. It’s top secret.There’s no catching you out, is there, Miss Lissing! But tell me this – did the king really come and inspect the device himself?Both the king and the dowager queen, his mother.Oh, what a day that must have been!It was certainly interesting.Tell us a bit more about yourself, Miss Lissing – what’s the first machine you ever made?I spent years fixing machines before I started creating my own. The machine I’m most proud of is Fetchitt, who helps me in my workshop.Fetchitt? What does that do?Fetchitt fetches me things, it’s my mechanical assistant.How useful that must be. And what do you do when you’re not working on your devices?Oh, well, there isn’t much spare time while I’m working to end the war. I did see a show at the Hippodrome recently. That was great fun. We don’t have anything like that in Dorstow.And when the war ends, Miss Lissing. What will you do then?I’ll go home. To my family. I miss them. I hate being away from my brothers.Then let’s hope you won’t be kept from them for long. I won’t keep you from your important work any longer, Miss Lissing.Thank you.Clara Lissing is the heroine of The Clockwork War, a steampunk/alternate history novel available exclusively as part of Shattered Worlds, a collection of 23 epic YA worlds. Shattered Worlds can be pre-ordered for just 99c now – see more at https://www.shatteredworldsboxset.com/Katy has been working on a tie-in short story to The Clockwork War. She's delighted to say this is now completed, up on retailers, and (most importantly) FREE!The short story The Replacement Princess is set in the same world as The Clockwork War. It doesn't feature Clara, but has other characters that readers will meet in the novel. Imagine Queen Elizabeth I never reigned. England and Scotland never unified. It's 1841 and war is on the horizon - unless English Princess Myrtle can cement a truce with a marriage to a boy she's never met.This story is available onAmazon, iTunes, Kobo, and Nook.Until next time, 

Meet the Author Monday with Andrew Mackay

Hello Lovelies,I met a very interesting author recently (He was kind enough to offer his "In Their Shoes" trilogy up in my Birthday Bash giveaway back in May) and as I have gotten to know him a bit better, just knew I had to introduce you!Some authors are afraid to cross the line. International Best-selling author Andrew Mackay makes it his starting point.A novelist, screenwriter and former teacher, Mackay is the creator of the best-selling, groundbreaking satire series ‘In Their Shoes’ - the hilarious and outrageous journey of fictional newbie journalist Joy Attwood, who follows a different profession in each volume. Self-proclaimed "Antisocial Justice Warrior" Mackay is the founder of Chrome Valley Books - “The Home of Dangerous Fiction”. Never knowingly inoffensive, his works often contain a ruthless and shocking commentary on society, delving into the darker and disturbing machinations of modern life, but always with a sense of humanity and wit. His influences include John Cleese, Tom Sharpe, Kurt Vonnegut, James Patterson, Hunter S Thompson, Douglas Adams, Imogen Edwards-Jones, Michael Frayn, Chris Morris, Jerry Sadowitz, Christopher Hitchins, Bill Maher, George Carlin, Milo Yiannopoulos and Larry Cohen. One of the UK's most dedicated provocateurs and contrarians, his obsessions include (and are essentially limited to) unhealthy amounts of: smoking, drugs, alcohol, caffeine, sex, arguing, fighting, vandalism, daydreaming and writing about himself in the third person.See how interesting he is? Let's dig in a bit more. Hello, Andy, welcome to An Angell's Life. How are you?Tired lol – but upright and alive, better than the average dead guy. Thanks for asking!Lol, seems to be the life of a writer, doesn't it? What is the current book you are promoting?My new crime/thriller “Versus”, which will be available to buy at Amazon. Kindle and Paperback – and it’s also in Kindle Unlimited should anyone wish to borrow it.Who is your favorite character in your book and why?Oh, man – that’s a tough one for this book. It follows two characters; Daryl Kelly, a teenage loner who decides to shoot up his school. He’s a nasty piece of work, but he’s very intelligent. He gets good grades and, occasionally, shows some compassion. Then there’s Fariq, a Pakistani Muslim, also a student at the school, who’s being radicalized by his older brother and cousin, who have just returned from a Pakistani training camp. He’s going to blow himself up at the school on the same day Daryl is going to shoot it up. Neither of them know of each other’s plans, though. Unlike Daryl, Fariq (or Freddie as he’s known) is a likeable guy. He’s way more likeable than Donna Doubleday, the news reporter who uses the atrocity as a big break for her career. Probably Freddie, if I absolutely had to choose <!>Wow. Talk about a sucky situation for the students at that school! Who is your least favorite character and why?It would be easy to say Daryl Kelly. Easier still, Donna Doubleday, the reporter – or Janny Shadow, her news rival. Janny is a horrible piece of work. She interviews the bereaved with absolutely no compassion and almost jeopardizes the armed police’s response at one point. A thoroughly repugnant character. And that’s saying something when you’re up against a school shooter and a terrorist!I can totally get that, though. I recently read a book about the Sandy Hook shooting, and even though the author didn't delve too much into her experience with the press, it reminded me of the footage and the disgust I felt about how the reporters behaved. What inspired this book?I was out one day and a sentence/idea popped into my head. What would happen if a school shooter and a terrorist bomber blew up a school in the middle of nowhere at the same time? I just couldn’t get that question out of my head. It must have been a meld of all the news stories we’ve had in the UK lately. All the terrorist activity has been in tourist areas. If I were a terrorist, I would strike in the heart of normality; average, boring, humdrum UK. It’d terrify everyone. All those people who avoid London and famous places think they’re safe. Well, what happened if a terrorist attack occurred on some unnamed road in the middle of nowhere? Where would you run? Of course the main question led to many others, as you’ve seen, and so I had to spend a fair bit of time thinking like a school shooter who wanted to be the UK’s first to do it. How would I do it? How could I maximize the death toll? And then, as the suicide bomber – where best to attack? And then, conflict – both these strands of thought “versus” one another, which gave me the title.The UK has never had a school shooting? That is mind boggling! They seem quite common place here. And yet, you all seem to handle the bombings as if it were, as you said, humdrum, so I guess we each have our battles.The book is more than just the event itself, though. It’s a character study, showing how easy it is to fallinto a mental trap. Brainwashing yourself into loathing others. Or, as in Freddie’s case, being brainwashed by others. The signs were there all along, and no-one saw it. In many ways, it’s a vicious satire. But Versus is scarier than any horror you’d ever read because this could happen one day. It will happen one day, I’m sure.It is sad, isn't it. I have two teen boys and I am constantly trying to re-direct their thoughts from the way the news shapes their Us/ Them mentality. TBH, it's a struggle for me sometimes, too. If you could have your book made into a movie, who would you want to direct it?I don’t think Versus could be made into a film, purely because of its subject matter. Especially what happens in the last chapter. It’d be impossible to film. It’d be lucky to get an NC-17 rating.But if I had to choose a director, I’d probably go with Jeremy Saulnier, who wrote and directed Blue Ruin and Green Room. He’s a breakthrough director who has yet to succumb to the devil’s spawn of Hollywood Blockbusterdom. He makes compelling and suspenseful independent thrillers. He’d be perfect for Versus. Jeremy, email me.Ha, I bet he'll get right on that! It certainly is a compelling concept. If your book were made into a movie, who would you cast?For Daryl Kelly, certainly an unknown and young character actor. Maybe a young Brad Renfro, or any of the actors from Larry Clark’s Kids, or the 2004 movie Mean Creek. The book has that kind of vibe to it. Haunting, paranoid, dark… brooding, deadly. Courtney Cox played Gail Weathers in Scream. Donna Doubleday was loosely based on that character. I’d like to see Ellie Goulding play that part, actually. I dunno why, maybe it’s because I want to have sex with her.I loved Brad Renfro back in the day! Mean Creek was hard to watch, so I could only imagine how tough this would be! What is your next project?My next book is the start of a series; a short horror story collection – ten per volume, called PURE DARK. The ten shorts start off relatively tame; ghosts and stuff, but, as they go on, they get especially gross, sick and disturbing. There’s a short called Majesty about a clown who follows two girls home from school, and then abducts and tortures them. It’s one of the tamer shorts, and has a brutal twist. There’s another story called Fine Dining, about two successful women who have dinner in a high-class exclusive restaurant which turns sick and bizarre. Another story concerns a man releasing an Ebola-like killer virus into the air vents in a shopping mall, and removes teeth and other appendages with pliers.The tenth and final story is called Baby Champagne. I’m not going to tell you a damn thing about that one. It’ll probably get pulled from Amazon after a few people complain. I’m selling Pure Dark as “the ultimate horror endurance test” – and will be offering t-shirts with “I survived Pure Dark” and so on to select readers. It really will test the reader’s constitution. I think most will give up a quarter of the way through, once they’ve acclimatized themselves to the heinous, black, poisoned, angry and vile minefield that is the darker recesses of my warped and violent imagination.But it’ll be a lot of fun, too. (lol)Hmm, sounds like you and my buddy Lee Newman should get together. His short story Eat totally skeeved me out! What is one place you would like to visit and why?I’ve travelled the world extensively, but I’ve never been to Australia or New Zealand. I’d love to go there so at the very least I’d have covered all the continents. Travelling is so important as a human being. It’s not till you’ve gone everywhere else that you truly learn about your own country and city and town. It made me a much better and more knowledgeable person. Quite handy when you’re writing, I think.I completely agree! I love to travel and wish I could do more international travel. So far, I've only been to Mexico and Canada. Who is your favorite fictional character and why?Of all time? Probably Basil Fawlty, as played by John Cleese. A classic comic creation. Pretentions to the higher classes whilst going about it the wrong way. He’s utterly afraid of his wife. He gets himself into so much trouble unnecessarily. It’s wonderful.We introduced my son's to Fawlty Towers this summer. My husband and I are huge John Cleese fans! What one person from history would you like to meet and why?Hitler’s mother. I’d put a chainsaw through her face and give her husband a condom, just to make sure.If there was one thing you could do to change the world, what would it be?Somehow make the 1% of the world’s richest go bankrupt and redistribute the wealth. Force the government to regulate the media properly. One man, like Murdoch, cannot be allowed to own the majority of the news corporations. We get all our ideas, news and facts from the media. Imagine of Hitler was in charge – we’d all be killing certain faith groups by now. It’s insanity. I go into it in Versus – the media have always been morally adrift but, in the age of social media and getting stuff for free, they’re playing an uglier game in trying to stay solvent and relevant.How do you write your books?I blast them out project by project. My last book (In Their Shoes: The Dealer) took five days to write. It was 85k words. Then I have two or three weeks off while it’s in editing, or we’re in marketing etc, and daydream about the next book, and then blast that out.Who inspires your writing?Honestly, me. I write stuff I want to buy and read. So, my stuff is usually written because I’m first in line to consume it. I figure there must be others like me out there, and so I use that as my basis. Other self-published authors have been a massive inspiration, and I know a few of them. Kim Faulks, Michael Anderle, Craig Martelle, H Claire Taylor, Brian Meeks – I could name hundreds more, but they inspire me as well. We’re all very supportive of each other.That's one thing I love about the Indie community. And it gives me the chance to meet people like you! Where do you come up with your stories?They just randomly pop into my head. I would say I have four or five ideas a day, and none of them stick. One day, though, an idea will refuse to leave my brain. It happened with Versus. It happened with Pure Dark – the latter, certainly, just wouldn’t budge. I never write my ideas down in a notepad. They have to stay fresh and relevant for weeks, sometimes months, in my head. That’s my elimination process. If I have to write the bloody idea down so I don’t forget it, then I’m sorry to say that it was likely worth forgetting about.Oh, I have dozens of notebooks, but you're right. Rarely when I go back to them is a story concept worth building on. On the other hand, sometimes there's a story that just refuses to quit! Who is your favorite author?The Gibbons brothers, who have been writing with Steve Coogan for the Alan Partridge books are magnificent. I love Douglas Adams, Stephen King, John Steinbeck, Harper Lee… my favourite writer of all time, whether it’s movies, TV shows or books is John Cleese.What is one great lesson you have learned as a writer?Stop talking about how you’re going to write, and just f**king write the damn thing. “Oh, but I’m not ready”. Bulls**t. If you have a beginning, middle and end, you’re ready to write. I don’t care if you write 15 words a day for seventeen years to get the book done, just do it. I’m fed up with people saying “I’m gonna write this, and x will kill y, and it’ll be great, and…” – shut up. I had this a lot at film school. Pretenders and chancers at the bar, getting more and more drunk, each and every night, talking about their projects. I got fed up and stopped going and actually made those films. They were still at the bar.Telling it like it is, folks! What is one thing you hate about being a writer?Two things, mainly. Ordering what’s going to be written next in my head and sticking to it. I have sixteen thousand ideas all fighting to jump to the front of the line. Second, marketing. I wish I could hit the sweet spot permanently. It’s annoying. I want loads more readers than I already have.I can completely relate to that first one! I keep genre hopping and series hopping and it is so much work getting back into the frame of reference when I go back to a series. If you could never write again, what would you do?I used to be a teacher. Fifteen years. I hated it. I’m not going back. I dunno, maybe I’ll just claim welfare and spend the rest of my life locked in a room and making a messy nuisance of myself.Tell us something unique about you:I’m a movie obsessive. I am a walking, talking movie encyclopedia. I write screenplays, and have done for over twenty years. It’s really helped my writing in novel form. When I write, I kind of visualize the movie and just type/describe what I’m seeing. My mind and psychology is very good like that.You would love Joe Compton from Go Indie Now. He's the same way! What is your favorite word?Hubris.Thanks for joining us, Andy! Didn't I tell ya'll he was fun? Want to get more of his blunt honesty with a dash of good humor? Follow him on Facebook,Twitter and Youtube. Want to learn more about his upcoming projects and get news about his releases? Join his Facebook Group. , check out his website and his Amazon author page. Wanna see what awesome books he reads? Check out his Goodreads page.  Andy has a gift for you! Subscribeto Chrome Valley Books and get your free short story ‘One Size Fits All’, the prequel to ‘In Their Shoes’Until next time, Keep Reading! 

Poetry Corner- Empty Stage

My life is an empty stage.Everything I had is gone.Now I must start over.Build a new set.Write a new story.Get new music.Find a new actor.The perfect person to play my part, to be me. My empty stage is quiet, and I don't knowhow to fill it. Until next time, Keep Reading!

Book Review- Dyndaer book two in the Thrice Nine Legends by Joshua Robertson

 Genre: Epic FantasySynopsis: DyndaerSome Evils Never Lessen!Branimir emerges from the Netherworld as a living legend and learns the Ash Tree is still in danger from the cursed dagger, kaelandur. An old friend compels Branimir to finish what they started at Melkorka. Once again, the former slave must keep kaelandur out of uncertain hands, while struggling to separate heroes from villains and friends from foes.My Take: Aaahh!!!! So many feels.... For those who missed it, here is my review of Melkorka, the first book in the series. Often the second book in a trilogy is not as good because it's more exposition, but that is not the case at all with Dyndaer! It takes off running on a new adventure, teasing us with Branimir's disenchantment with Dorofej, and introducing us to new companions which I liked far more than our previous companions, and turning the tale on it's head! I absolutely love Adamus, one of the new companions. He is certainly the character I most relate to in this book, though Sulana is beginning to grow on me.There were a few things I struggled with, including word choices the author made which left me scratching my head. Yet, this did not change the fact that this is an awesome story line, andI cannot wait to dive into the last book in the series, Maharia! Have you read Thrice Nine Legends yet? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! If you haven't read it,grab your copy on Amazon today! Until Next time, Keep Reading!

Teaser Tuesday- Meet Ellie from Snatch Girl by L.J. Kane

 Full Name: Eleanor May CunninghamNickname: EllieAge: 18Place of Birth: Salisbury, England, UKFather: Rob Cunningham. He divorced Ellie’s mother years ago, and he is now living abroad with his new wife, Maria.Mother: Emma Masterson (deceased). Emma married Ellie’s stepfather in the year following her divorce. Stepfather: Doug Masterson, an entrepreneur and business tycoon. Doug has tried to help Ellie trace her father, Rob, to no avail. Doug treats Ellie like his own daughter, Charlotte.Siblings: Ellie has an older stepsister, Charlotte Masterson, who has a young child, James, and a baby called Sebastian (known as Seb).Appearance: Ellie has bright blue eyes, and pale blonde hair. She loves to maintain her tan, and enjoys having regular pamper sessions at her local beauty salon. Ellie’s quite particular about her appearance, and loves buying new clothes, and following the latest fashions.Education: Ellie was studying journalism and media at college, and is now considering taking a gap year before starting university.Work: Ellie works part time as a waitress in a quaint riverside café, and also helps out in a secondhand bookshop in town. She is still undecided about her career path, but feels that she has plenty of time to make up her mind.Hobbies and Interests: Ellie loves reading thrillers and chick lit. She sings with a local band at weekends (much to her stepfather’s annoyance), plays tennis, and enjoys pony-trekking, and horseriding with friends.Friends: Ellie is part of a large group of college and university students who meet up in Ellie’s favourite coffee shop. Her best friend is Kirsty, who robbed Ellie of her boyfriend during their first year of college, and only redeemed herself this year. Kirsty is on borrowed time…Romances: Ellie has been romantically involved with students of her own age, plus others that she doesn’t want to mention. Ellie is reluctant to share this information with anyone (if you’ve read ‘Snatch Girl’, you’ll know why!).Worst Fears: Ellie is terrified of hypodermic needles. Just seeing one freaks her out. Going abroad is a nightmare for Ellie when there’s an inoculation involved.Pets: Ellie owns a huge ginger cat called Jackson.Want to learn more about Ellie? Grab your copy of Snatch Girl on Amazon today! Until next time, Keep Reading!