Laurisa White Reyes's Blog, page 20

BOOK REVIEW: MUSIC BOXES by Tonja Drecker

MUSIC BOXES
Tonja Drecker
Dancing Lemur Press
Ages 8-12

"I only desire your talent..."


Twelve-year-old Lindsey McKay's biggest dream is to be a famous ballerina. But after moving to New York, she ends up at the Community Center with a teacher who's a burly bear in tights.

When she meets Madame Destinée, the teacher of a top dance school who offers her classes for free, Lindsey can't believe her luck. In exchange, she must perform in the school's exclusive midnight shows, ones sure to make her a star. But something's not right...


One by one, the other dancers disappear. Each time they do, a music box with a figurine just like the missing ballerina joins Madame Destinée's growing collection. If Lindsey doesn't discover the truth about the dance school, she might end up a tiny figurine herself.

MY REVIEW:

Music Boxes is a terrific thriller for young fans of Goosebumps and other books that go bump in the night.

Lindsey and her family move to New York so her younger sister can pursue her dreams of being a violinist. But Lindsey has dreams of her own. She wants to be a ballet dancer. So when Madame Destinee invites her join her studio and perform nightly in front of an audience, she jumps at the chance. At first, Lindsey loves the applause and the glamour of the stage, but soon she begins to see through the magical facade. All is not as it appears.

In addition, her dancing friends are disappearing one by one, replaced by Madam Destinee's music boxes with figurines that look just like them.

If your child loves scary stories (but not too scary), then this is the perfect read. Don't let the theme of ballet and music fool you. Kids will keep turning pages hoping to find out if Lindsey will escape the clutches of the sinister Madame Destinee.

Release date isn't until February, but it is available for pre-order now.

$20 GIVEAWAY - THE SHADOW CITY by Ryan Wieser

The Shadow City
Hunters of Infinity #2
by Ryan Wieser
Genre: Sci-Fi/Space Opera Pub Date: 10/16/18

The Hunters of Infinity have guarded the Daharian galaxy for ages, but when betrayed, they can become a vicious enemy . . .
Now, as the feared Falco Bane leads his forces into the Hunters’ territory, Kohl attempts to retaliate, flooding their infamous Shadow City with his own followers. Jessop must fight a war on two fronts, testing her commitment to the ones she loves and challenging her abilities as the most elite warrior among the Hunters. With the future of Daharia’s leadership at stake, Jessop is determined to protect those closest to her at all costs . But when allies turn into adversaries, the real threat comes from a place least expected . . .
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The Glass Blade Hunters of Infinity #1
The Hunters of Infinity have been protecting the Daharian galaxy for years, but there has never been a female Hunter—until now.
In a seedy bar in the shadowy corners of Daharia, Jessop comes to the rescue of young Hunter Kohl O’Hanlon. Impressed by her remarkable sword-wielding skills, the Hunters invite her to their training facility, the Glass Blade, though not all are pleased with the intrusion. But they soon discover that Jessop learned to fight from the rogue leader of the Shadow City of Aranthol—and escaped. Now they want to use her intimate knowledge of their enemy to destroy him.
As Jessop grows closer to this elite brotherhood, their leader succumbs to a mysterious ailment, and Kohl learns that Jessop is hiding dark secrets, raising suspicions about the enigmatic woman who saved his life. Has the Hunters’ security been breached—or do they have a traitor in their ranks?
Allegiances will be questioned.
Loyalties will be betrayed.
Vengeance will be brutal.
"This thrilling, action-packed debut ties together a strong characters with a building story line that will have readers clamoring for the next volume in this new series." —Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW, on The Glass Blade
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Ryan Wieser completed her B.A. in Sociology and Socio-Legal Studies before going on to complete her MSc. in Experimental Psychology. Having been raised in Africa and educated across multiple countries, Ryan has a passion for travel and an interest in diverse cultures. She currently resides in Wyoming with her husband, where she is writing her next book.
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WRITER 2 WRITER: WHAT IS A PAGE-TURNER?

HOW TO WRITE A REAL-PAGE TURNER, PART I


WHAT IS A PAGE-TURNER?

This term is probably one of the most sought-after compliments an author can receive about our books. It means we have succeeded in keeping our readers engaged from the first page to the last, and that they have connected with our story in a way that is both satisfying and invigorating. Books like that are never forgotten and are most likely to be the ones readers will rave to their friends about.
Here are some quotes from reviews of page-turners, quotes we authors all want to hear about our books:

 “I just couldn’t put it down!”
 “I have to know what happens next.”
 “Kept my attention to the last page.”
 “A book I would definitely read again.”
“Holy Moly! Read this book now!”

Now, you may be thinking that writing a page-turner applies only to specific genres like thrillers, action-adventure, or horror. If you think that you could never write one because you write romance novels, kidlit, or even non-fiction, think again.

Page-turners transcend genre and target audiences. The Da Vinci Code, an action-packed suspense/mystery, is definitely a page-turner. But so are Devil in the White City by Erik Larsen, a non-fiction narrative about the history of the 1898 World’s Fair and America’s first serial killer; The Hunger Games , a young adult dystopian about kids who kill each other in an arena; Wonder by R.J. Palacio, a contemporary middle grade novel about a boy with a facial deformity; The Help , a historical novel about the racial tensions of 1960s south; and I f You Give A Mouse A Cookie , a picture book about a very demanding little mouse. In other words, it doesn’t matter what kind of book you are writing or who you are writing it for, you CAN write a real page-turner.

Not every book has to be a page-turner. There are plenty of wonderful, slow-burning books out there, and many readers enjoy the kind of tomes they can snuggle up with in front of a cozy fire, or pace their read over several weeks or months. If that’s the sort of book you want to write, then read no further. Butt if you want your readers to gnaw at their fingernails late into the night because they can’t wait to find out what happens next, then this series is for you.

For the next four weeks, I’ll be sharing my tips on how to turn your book into a real page-turner. For starters, the two most important elements your book should have are:

— COMPELLING WRITING
— CLEAN WRITING

First, a compelling piece of fiction or non-fiction means that the narrative (the writing) has a fluid feel to it. The genre, the style, the voice will naturally vary from author to author. Some books will have short chapters, others long. Some will be written in first person, others in third. There is no specific kind of book that is guaranteed to hook readers. What is important is that you write your story, whatever that entails. Once it is written, however, it is essential that you take your manuscript through an intense revision process. But before you send it to a professional editor (and you should) what can you, the author, do to make sure your book “flows” well?

Whenever I reach the point when I feel like my book is finished, I print it out on paper and read the entire book out loud – with a pen in my hand. As I read, I make revisions in the text. I’m listening to make sure each sentence reads smoothly, that the dialogue sounds natural, and that there are no spots that would trip up a reader.

Another technique is to have someone else read the text to you. However, few people are willing to sit and read an entire book-length work verbally. So, an alternative is to read it out loud and record it. Then play the recording back to yourself.

Second, what do I mean by clean writing? I’m not talking about making your book ‘G-rated’. Instead, a clean manuscript means it is free of typographical errors: spelling, grammar, missing words, capitalization, punctuation, etc. Far too many otherwise good self-published books fall flat because the authors skimped on the proofreading process.

If you think you’re a good proofreader, think again. I have been editing other people’s work for many years, but I never rely on my own skills to proofread my books. I always hire a professional. Why? Because by the time I’ve reached that point in a project, I have read the manuscript dozens of times. I’m too close to it. I simply cannot see the mistakes anymore.

Our brains have the uncanny ability to fill in the blanks, so to speak. When we read something with which we are familiar, our brain knows what the words should say and what the sentences should look like, even when they don’t. The brain actually “fixes” the problems, and we are not even aware of it.

So, step one to creating a dazzling page-turner is to make sure your writing is compelling and clean.
Next week, we will dive into the “5 Sure-fire Fun-Suckers”, the things you should avoid while writing your book.

$25 GIVEAWAY - THE BLACK TRILLIIUM by Simon McNeil

The Black Trilliumby Simon McNeilGenre: Post-Apocalyptic Fantasy
Confederation rules in Trana—so says the king.

But Fredericton is a long way from the shores of Lake Ontario, and schemes for power will bring together three extraordinary young warriors.
SavannahA desert girl who came to Trana looking for refuge but has never found a home
KieranA privileged city boy dreaming of rebellion and hardened by cruelty
KyleThe disgraced heir to the throne desperate to win back his place in his father's heart
Sworn enemies or reluctant allies, they all have one thing in common: an incomplete half of the legendary fighting skill known as the Triumvirate sword art. They fight for glory, for power, for the monsters lurking beneath the streets, and for the mysterious society moving in the shadows of Trana—the Black Trillium.

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Simon McNeil is the author of The Black Trillium, a story of revolution and martial arts set in the ruins of Toronto. This novel is published by Brain Lag Publishing.He is an online marketing communications specialist with a major educational institution when not wandering the world looking for trouble. He is a life-long martial artist, has published several articles in Kung Fu Magazine and he’s probably a little bit too fond of kung fu movies.He lives in Toronto, Canada with his wife who has happily laid out rules to prevent the sword-through-glass-lampshade incident from ever happening again. The Black Trillium is his first novel.

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$25 AMAZON GIVEAWAY - DARK KARMA by Laura Simmons

Dark Karmaby Laura SimmonsGenre: Fantasy, Paranormal Romance
A remarkable tale of vengeance, time travel, and dark magic . . .
What would you do if you woke up one morning and your life was inexplicably changed in the worst way imaginable?
Banished by his enemy into a hellish alternate dimension, Luke Decker fights to understand why his world has suddenly changed, and why is he on trial for the murder of his beloved Nina?  What he doesn’t know is she’s not dead.  Nina watches him vanish into thin air and is completely bereft, struggling to find out how and why he disappeared.  Using all of her psychic talents and traversing the astral realm, she frantically searches for him to no avail.  She owns a secret item which holds the key to his salvation, but will she figure it out before he’s condemned to live the rest of his life in a realm of darkness?
**Can easily be read as a standalone!**
**On sale for .99 cents!!** Add to Goodreads Amazon * B&N



Read an excerpt from the first chapter here


**Get the other standalone books for only .99 cents each!!**
                        Tough Karma: A Race Against Time                  Little Bits of Karma                                 **On sale for .99 cents!!**                 **On sale for .99 cents!!**                                       Add to Goodreads                                  Add to Goodreads                                          Amazon * B&N                                       Amazon * B&N


I enjoy reading books on psychic phenomena and all things metaphysical. Most of my life I've been fascinated with astral travel, dreams, the ability to see the future, and reincarnation. 
I've wanted to write a book since I was a child, it was the first thing I can ever remember saying I wanted to do when I grow up. I love creating worlds in my mind and writing about them. My best days are when my characters decide to have lively conversations. They have developed a habit of giving me their best ideas and plot twists while I'm driving and can't write them down! All of my books can be read as stand alone stories. The characters carry over into the following stories with the major ones becoming a supporting cast and the previous supporting cast taking front and center to tell their particular story. Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to look at my books.

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WINNER OF EDISTO ISLAND MYSTERIES GIVEAWAY ANNOUNCED

CONGRATS TO BECKY R. FOR WINNING THE EDISTO ISLAND MYSTERIES 3-PACK!


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GIVEAWAY: LOVE LIES BLEEDING by Aspasia S. Bissas

Love Lies Bleedingby Aspasia S. BissasGenre: Dark Fantasy
What happens when a predator loves its prey?

Centuries-old Mara is dying a slow death when she meets Lee, a young man whose life has never belonged to him. Thrown together, they're forced to fight those who would destroy them and survive a slew of enemies they never expected, even as Mara falls into a downward spiral of delusion and obsession. Will she make a devil's deal to save both their souls? With pasts like theirs, can they ever have a future?

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Blood Magicby Aspasia S. Bissas
Myth and magic collide in this story about choices, transformation, and retribution.

On the run from both vampires and hunters, Mara and Lee are forced to confront the bleak reality of their future together. But an unexpected turn of events offers Mara the chance to shift things in her favor--at a cost. Will she walk away or will she embrace the magic?
Blood Magic is a standalone short story that takes place within the novel Love Lies Bleeding by Aspasía S. Bissas. You don't need to read Love Lies Bleeding to enjoy Blood Magic (but it doesn't hurt).

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Aspasia wrote her first short story at the age of six and illustrated it with a pink highlighter. She no longer does illustrations but she's been writing stories ever since. She lives in Toronto with her partner in crime, three cats, a plethora of plants, and a Disney movie's worth of wildlife in the yard. Her dark fantasy novel Love Lies Bleeding is now available in paperback and on Kindle. She is currently working on the next book.
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BOOK REVIEW: HATCHET by Gary Paulsen

HATCHET
Gary Paulsen
Ages 8 - 12

Alone Thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson is on his way to visit his father when the single engine plane in which he is flying crashes. Suddenly, Brian finds himself alone in the Canadian wilderness with nothing but his clothing, a tattered windbreaker, and the hatchet his mother has given him as a present -- and the dreadful secret that has been tearing him apart ever since his parents' divorce. But now Brian has no time for anger, self-pity, or despair -- it will take all his know-how and determination, and more courage than he knew he possessed, to survive.

MY REVIEW:

What thoroughly engrossing story! How had I gone so long without reading this? Paulsen's award-winning novel about a boy forced to survive two months in the Canadian wilderness with nothing but a hatchet is simply riveting. Readers are right there with Brian as his plane crashes into a lake, as he struggles to create fire, to make a shelter, find food. Paulsen's narrative uses repetition to drive home the dire circumstances and interior drive for survival that Brian experiences. An absolute MUST-READ!

$20 GIVEAWAY - IT HAPPENED TO ME by T.A. Beasley

It Happened To Meby T. A. BeasleyGenre: New Adult Contemporary Mystery
In one weekend, seventeen- year-old Delilah Murphy loses the one person she could count on. She tries to deal with the loss but the one she blames makes it hard. Delilah leans on her best friend for comfort but only for a short period of time. She must face her enemy and try to adjust to not having a support system. 
Delilah’s behavior and attitude are out of control as is her non-existing relationship with whom she believes is the cause of her pain. Will Delilah finally come to her senses and learn to forgive? Or will her childish antics lead her down a path she may not be ready to travel?

**Trigger warning: of sexual assault, alcoholism, domestic violence **

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$25 GIVEAWAY - MARTINIS WITH THE DEVIL by A.A. Chamerlynn

Martinis with the DevilZyan Star Series Book 1by A. A. ChamberlynnGenre: Urban Fantasy
When offered a job on the Holy Representative’s special security team, bounty hunter Zyan Star couldn’t be less interested – until she finds out it’s her most hated of exes that they’re trying to track down. He broke her heart and dumped her, which in turn led to the loss of her soul at the hands of an immortal soul thief. Now she too exists on a diet of souls, with the occasional martini thrown in for good measure, and she’s had over two hundred years to fantasize about revenge. She just didn’t quite imagine it playing out alongside the emissaries of Heaven.

Working with Eli, the uptight angel that heads up the HR’s security, is just about as much fun as Zy expects. He of course wants her vampire ex brought to justice through legal avenues, which is very inconvenient and incredibly boring. As she dives into the case, however, she realizes there’s more at stake than her plot for payback. Like, the free will of mankind, and preventing the minions of hell from taking over the sovereign dimensions. 
This job is going to push her to the limits of her abilities, and there’s just a slight problem with that: the powers she’s suppressed for centuries after losing control of them are exactly the powers she’s going to need to save the HR, end her millennia-old ex and stop Lucifer’s little plot to join the party and invade Earth. 
Savior of humanity? Not so much. Or so she thought.

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Whiskey and AngelfireZyan Star Series Book 2
Can Zyan avert the war that’s brewing before her past catches up to her, quite literally?

When one of the angelic warriors goes missing, Zyan and Eli head off to Dublin to join the search. As soon as they arrive, they're swept into rising tensions between the angelic forces and the other supernatural races. As more supernaturals go missing, Archangel Michael will stop at nothing to put the perpetrator behind bars, even if it means placing the city under martial law.
To add to the mess, Zyan's sister Anna is in Dublin, and where Anna is, Lucifer is only a step behind. Not to mention Alexander, Zyan's sworn enemy. Zyan has more than a sneaking suspicion they’re at the heart of a spree of recent demon invasions. But something is odd about these demons, and if she doesn’t figure it out before Lucifer reveals his ultimate plan, the price could be catastrophic.
As if things couldn’t get worse, being back in Ireland where she was turned immortal has dredged up the worst from her past. Including her maker, Olga, who’s none too pleased that Zyan’s come back. 

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Vengeance and VermouthZyan Star Series Book 3
Book three in the Amazon bestselling Zyan Star urban fantasy series!

To bring her best friend back from the dead, Zyan will march into Hell itself. But first she needs to amass a force that can challenge Lucifer on his home turf. 
With Archangel Michael and the forces of Heaven on her heels, Zyan criss-crosses the globe, gathering a supernatural team of epic proportions. She’s calling in all her favors this time, summoning figures from her past both dangerous and deadly.
And to get into Hell she must work with the worst of them all, the one who murdered her friend in the first place. Zy will have to put aside her burning need for revenge to pull off the biggest mission of her life, but that may prove to be the one thing she can’t do.

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Alexia is the author of the Amazon bestselling Zyan Star urban fantasy series and The Timekeeper's War contemporary fantasy series. She lives in Florida with her son, two cats, and a bearded dragon. When she's not writing or reading, she can be found playing with horses, drinking wine, traveling to the next place on her global wish list, or maybe doing yoga. Dr. Who, unicorns, and katanas make her very happy. She is represented by Sandy Lu of the L. Perkins Agency.
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