Kay LaLone's Blog, page 15

Sword Of Deaths By Christopher Mannino

                  The Death laughed. He waved his scythe and the world behind her vanished. Two immense eyes rose behind him, surrounded by leathery skin. She heard the beating of wings. “You are weak,” said the Death. “You’re nothing at all, Suzie. Just a girl.”  He laughed again.“Leave me alone,” shouted Suzie. She walked forward but stopped as a sharp, shooting pain coursed through her. “So weak, so worthless.” “Go away!  Leave me alone!” The man, the strange eyes, and the entire world shattered, splitting into fragments of glass. Shards flew toward her, burrowing beneath skin. So much pain. She looked down. The glass was gone. Markings covered each hand. The marks crawled upwards, moving onto Suzie’s neck—strangling her.Something clawed at her throat, pulling her down, ripping her apart. She gasped for air. She exploded into a burst of light.
THE SCYTHE WIELDER'S SECRET CONTINUES
Susan Sarnio made a choice, and will spend the rest of her life as the only female Death.  Last year she was bullied and ostracized. Now, to her complete bewilderment, four Deaths vie for her affection. Yet, something is terribly wrong at the College of Deaths. When a ship carrying scythe metal is attacked, many blame the newly-freed Elementals, but Susan knows the Elementals are innocent.

Shadows from the distant past come to light. Dragons circle the horizon, blood spills, and nothing is what it seems. Susan and her friends struggle to stop a war. They search for the fabled First Scythe, hoping to sway the balance, but who is the true enemy?


SWORD OF DEATHS, the second novel in the critically acclaimed YA Fantasy trilogy "The Scythe Wielder's Secret," is now available from MuseItUp Publishing in both ebook and paperback formats. In SWORD OF DEATHS, Mannino delves deeper into the world and characters introduced in the first novel. The novel is told from three rotating points-of-view, and for the first time, the conflict with Dragons is fully realized. The style becomes darker, and for more epic, as the series moves towards a momentous climax in the final book DAUGHTER OF DEATHS.


WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT THE SERIES SO FAR(Praise for SCHOOL OF DEATHS: The Scythe Wielder's Secret Book One)
"Not just a book for young adults, but an imaginative read for everyone who likes something a little bit different. 5 Stars!" - Reader's Favorite
"With a well-developed setting, strong characters, a fairly fast moving plot, and snappy dialogue, this novel should keep readers engaged from the beginning to the end. Five Stars." - BookBreeze Magazine 
"Let's start with one simple statement: Wow!  This book, the characters and the world created by Mannino is absolutely spectacular."  -Kay, GoodReads Review
"This book's world is brilliant, and the author's creativity is more than amazing and the way he conveyed his imagination was just stunning."  -OnlineBookClub

 ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Christopher Mannino’s life is best described as an unending creative outlet.  He teaches high school theatre in Greenbelt, Maryland.  In addition to his daily drama classes, he runs several after-school performance/production drama groups.  He spends his summers writing and singing.  Mannino holds a Master of Arts in Theatre Education from Catholic University, and has studied mythology and literature both in America and at Oxford University.  His work with young people helped inspire him to write young adult fantasy, although it was his love of reading that truly brought his writing to life.  
Mannino is currently completing The Scythe Wielder's Secret series and is working on several adult novels.

My Review Of The Contaminants

About the BookTitle: The Contaminants (New Dakota Series, Volume 1) | Author: Devin K. Smyth | Publication Date: June 9, 2015 | Publisher: Firedrake Books, LLC (2nd Edition) | Pages: 230 | Recommended Ages: 12+
Amazon * Smashwords * GoodreadsSummary: When the American government's attempt to "purify" Earth causes a worldwide nuclear holocaust, teen friends Jessil and Soraj are among the few to escape the planet. Orbiting in a cruiser designed to help regenerate Earth's ecosystem, they assist Soraj's father, who leads the process to salvage a location for the cruiser's safe return. But when a mysterious distress signalarrives from Earth, Jessil is desperate to discover who sent it. She and Soraj join the reconnaissanceteam that descends to the planet, a world very different from the one they knew. In such a strange land, can their search-and-rescue effort succeed? And if it does, will it mean failure for Earth's recovery?

My Review:  I loved this book. This story is told from the POV of two teen characters Soraj and Jessil. Soraj, Jessil and her two brothers meet all kinds of strange creatures on their journey to find Jessel's father. Some are friendly, other are dangerous. But the real danger comes when Soraj's father wants to kill them. "There can be no contaminants if humanity is to resurrect itself," Soraj's father says before getting ready to kill his own son. Danger. Adventure. A must read.
More Buzz About the Book

"The Contaminants, a work of dystopian fantasy for teens from Devin K. Smyth (the pen name of Kevin Speth), serves as the first volume of his New Dakota series. Composed of two believable first-person narratives and based around two father-child relationships, this is a novel that prizes emotions as much as it does technology." ~ Rebecca, Foreward Reviews

"The Contaminants by Devin K. Smyth is a story of survival, friendship, loyalty, and hope set in the aftermath of planetary devastation. I loved this book... I didn't want to put the book down. I wanted to keep reading to see what happened next. This is a great start to what I hope will be a continuing series." ~ Ubiquitous Bubba, Amazon"This story had me sucked in fromthe very beginning, and I had trouble putting it down. The science was thorough and awesome. The characters were portrayed at different ages and through different stages of their journey with skill and a perfect arc. " ~ Amie M., Amazon "An exciting trek to a post-nuclear Earth! Tightly composed and never off tangent in its delivery, "The Contaminants" by Devin K. Smyth packs many punches" ~ Future Boy, Amazon"There's enough drama and tension here to keep you riveted. Smyth's concept of a world intentionally destroyed in order to "improve" on it is fresh and provocative. The characters are well developed and engaging. I'm eager toread the next story in this chapter, and find out more about this new yet familiar world." ~ Nikki B., Amazon About the Author: Devin K. SmythDevin K. Smyth is the pen name of Kevin Speth, a part-time novelist and full-time marketing copywriter in the field of children’s entertainment. He resides in southern Wisconsin with his girlfriend and their herd of cats. The Contaminants is Devin K. Smyth’s first novel and is the first in the “ New Dakota ” series.Firedrake Books | Goodreads

My Review Of Diego's Dragon Book Two: Dragons Of The Dark Rift

About the BookTitle: Diego's Dragon, Book 2: Dragons of the Dark Rift | Author: Kevin Gerard | Publication Date: April 6, 2015 | Publisher: Crying Cougar Press | Pages: 214 | Recommended Ages: 10+
Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Smashwords * GoodreadsSummary: A Prophecy, an Ancient Calendar, and a Battle for Earth’s Survival The turning of the 26,000 year cycle is approaching. The fifth sun promises a time of peace for all creatures. Magnifico, Estrella, and the Sol Dragones eagerly await the new age. Vipero hopes to alter the ancientprophecy. He orders the Dragons of the Dark Rift to find and eliminate the Sol Dragones. If they succeed, nothing will stop him from destroying Diego’s world and claiming ownership of Sol, a star with unlimited spiritual power. Diego and Racquel travel with their dragons to the Dark Rift, the entrance to the magical realm known as the Xibalba. Together with the Sol Dragones, they battle Vipero’s immense army in a fight to save or shift the Mayan prediction. The fate of earth depends on victory or defeat, and Diego is the key. His choice – to betray Magnifico or stay true to the Sol Dragones – will determine the outcome of the conflict.  

My Review:  Intriguing. Adventure. Danger. These are just a few words to describe this wonderful story. Great fun characters. Diego fights along side the dragons. Vipero, an evil dragon, wants Diego for his guide. If you love to read about dragons, this is the book to read.
The Buzz About the Series"Diego’s Dragon: Spirits of the Sun is a gripping, intrigue-filled adventure featuring a young Hispanic boy as the main protagonist, a beautiful statue that transforms into a realdragon, and a cast of secondary characters who all play a role in helping Diego fulfill his destiny as the Guide who delivers his ancestors into the spirit world. Tweens and teens will enjoy this magical and mystical journey..." ~ Mother Daughter Book Reviews "Kevin, you are an amazing writer. You have inspired me to make a book of my own. It is about a kid who can jump through space and time just by jumping. The next few paragraphs are what I have so far from the book. Please read them and give me feedback." ~ Your #1 fan - Ryan"Another fun little book by Kevin Gerard in the Diego's Dragon series... My daughter (who is in the 4th grade, but reads at the middle school level) read this book right after she read the first in this series 'Diego's Dragon: Spirits of the Sun. She can't wait for the next one to come out." ~ Tjasinto, Amazon, 5 Stars"I love your fantasy fiction books so much!" ~ Tanner - Palm Desert Charter School 
About the Author: Kevin GerardKevin Gerard lives in San Diego, California, with two feline friends, Jesse the WonderCat and Little Man. When not writing or teaching statistics at Cal State San Marcos, he enjoys walking the grounds at the San Diego Zoo, hitting the waves at Cardiff State Beach, and hanging with his brother, nieces and nephews at the local Pizza Port. He also enjoys playing Halo on the internet; look for him in the rocket games as one of the characters from Diego’s Dragon or Conor and the Crossworlds.  
Book Website | Author Blog | Twitter Facebook | Goodreads

My Review Of The Ifs Return

 
About the BookTitle: The Ifs Return | Author: J.D. Pooker | Illustrator: Frank Walls | Publication Date: May 17, 2015 | Publisher: Little Devil Books | Pages: 131 | Recommended Ages: 8 to 12
Amazon * Barnes & Noble * GoodreadsSummary: “Gage escaped.” These are the worst words Broden could hear from his big brother Landon—just one day after they battled alongside Slade’s Ifs and his army of forest beasts. Sure, the brothers had learned to work together to fight and capture the evil If Gage. But, now, Sladehas informed them that Gage has escaped! Fear and distrust have entered the boys’ world. Why should they help Slade if he can’t keep control ofhis prisoners? Will they be able to fight against a familiar foe? Plus, Landon has more news... “Gage has magic.” What kind of magic? Will he use it against them? As the boys are drawn into yet more adventure with the Ifs, they find out just how powerful, and dangerous, Gage’s magic can be.  

My Review: I loved this book and I enjoyed reading again about Broden and Landon adventure. Great fun characters. I like the brotherly relationship between Landon and Broden. As they go on this adventure to capture Gage again, the brothers seem to grow closer, wanting to protect each other. The boys face danger as they fight Gage and save the world.
The Buzz About Book 1Check out the Book Review Blitz for the first book in the series, The Ifs for over 30 reviews of the book! Here is some of the buzz:
Angela Burkhead: “The Ifs is a tale of brotherhood, loyalty, and knightly valor astwo human brothers fight in a great battle to save the Ifs from their rival tribes. But which tribe is in the right? Borrowing from such beloved stories as The Borrowers, Pooker adds a unique twist in creating a group of ‘little people’ who are seemingly self sufficient and militarized...”Vincent N. (Goodreads): “Kind of reminded me of the movie “Epic” or Disney’s “Rescuers Down Under.” There is some action and the storyline itself, and with that I mean what’s actually happening, stirs the imagination.”1977 Books: “A good and exciting read for a middle school age child. I like the message this story projected, brothers no matter what!”Jane Ritz: ” “The Ifs” is a fabulous mystery for children 3-5th grade. It reminds me of “Where the wild Things Are” in a good and strange kind of way.”SOS-Supply: “This book has it all – fighting, plotting, sibling rivalry, weird experiences, adventure, mystery and battles. In short, everything that appeals to middle school readers. The plot rolls along at a good pace and hooks you in from the very start, with believable characters that are easily related to – we all know a Landon and a Broden, right..? A must-have for any child’s library with real-life lessons built in.” 
About the Author: J.D. Pooker J.D. POOKER lives in wonderful Wyoming with her husband and two sons, along with a black lab named Ryder and a sweet kitty named Alia. J.D. likes to spend time with her family and go camping, fishing, and snowmobiling. Her sons, Landon and Broden, were the inspiration for The Ifs and The Ifs Return . The brothers enjoy camping, fishing, and snowmobiling with their parents. They also enjoy wrestling, playing with their Wii, their toy guns and bows and arrows, and their pets. J.D. can’t wait until her boys get older. She is sure they will have many fabulous adventures.
Website

My Review Of Oliver And Jumpy

  Story 19: Santa's Chocolate Factory – Naughty Joey is getting into mischief. Story 20: Triller - One of Oliver's friends is taking part in a singing contest. Story 21: April Volcano – April Fools' Day can be no joke.

Blurb of series:
“Oliver and Jumpy”, are best of friends and experience many adventures together in this extensive series. Oliver is a black-and-white tomcat, who is very self-assured. As a matter of fact he says: “I love myself!” quite often. But his best friend Jumpy is aware that he is only putting up a front! Oliver has a soft heart and will always want to help others. The great thing is Jumpy’s pouch, which Oliver loves to ride in! He calls her his kangaroo taxi!
How did you get your start writing?
There are lots of fairy tales and bedtime stories around and many of them are quite violent and unsuitable for young children. This made me decide to write something different. On a flight from Europe to Australia I watched the movie ‘Magic on Belle Island’ with Morgan Freeman, where Freeman teaches a little girl to have imagination and write her first story. This inspired me as well and the first stories with the two main characters Oliver, the elegant tomcat, and Jumpy, his kangaroo lady friend, made their appearance. It was my full intention to create something quite different and maybe even controversial at times. I prefer to treat children like adults within reason. 
My Review:  Colorful pictures. Entertaining stories. Teaching values. Fun characters. Werner takes the young reader on an adventure and helps them use their imagination. Great bedtime stories. 


A SHORT BIOBorn in Vienna, Austria, Werner is now living in the paradise of Perth, Australia with his wife, two married children and three grandchildren. He worked in the printing industry for many years and later for the United Nations in Vienna. Now retired, after a full and eventful life, he began to write children’s stories. He found illustrators through Odesk, narrated them himself for YouTube and finally took the next step by publishing ebooks.
My website:http://www.bedtimestory4you.comMy Amazon author’s page: (You will always find a free full-length book there and the free Introduction to the series)http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LMKWMD0/ Free purchase link on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LMKWMQM/

My Review Of The Gryphon & His Thief By Karen Michelle Nutt

Some Treasures are Priceless…

A long time ago, a Gryphon shifter’s duty was to guard and protect the people of the tribes, but Darrien Andros failed to keep his human wife safe from harm. Cursed for the crime, he must guard everything in the Museum of Cursed Antiquities forever, never to truly live and never to die. Centuries have passed, but when he encounters a thief, who uncannily resembles his dead wife, he is convinced he has a second chance.

Calli Angelis is hired to steal Hecate's Stone from the Museum, believing she would be returning it to its rightful owner. She never really trusted the person who hired her and now Darrien makes her doubt her motives, too. He also has her questioning the possibility of reincarnation when the attraction between them ignites into something she can no longer ignore.

As the two work together to unravel the mysteries behind the stone, it becomes apparent an old and dangerous enemy from Darrien’s past is determined to have history repeat itself.

My Review: I loved this book. I give it five stars. This book is full of mystery, danger, and romance. "I bless the stars that you walked into my museum to commit thievery," Darrien says to Calli. Darrien is a Grphon who has been cursed. Calli is only a human. These two fall in love. A love they shared a long time ago. 

My Review Of Sammy Steals The Show A Bird Brain Book

 
About the BookTitle: Sammy Steals the Show (a Bird Brain Book, #10) | Author: Emlyn Chand | Illustrator: Noelle Giffin | Publication Date: May 28, 2014 | Publisher: Evolved Publishing | Pages: 56 | Recommended Ages: 3 to 8 Book Description: Sammy is a talented young cockatiel who loves to sing out of his open apartment window for all of Australia to hear. One day, he watches a reality singing competition with his human friend, Lisa, and knows that if he could just audition, he would surely win. What follows is a masterful escape, an eventful journey to the Sydney Opera House, and an audition thecrew of "Sing Your Heart Out" will never forget. Will Sammy take home the title of Australia’s next rising star, or will he find something more important along the way? There’s only one way to find out: join Sammy in his humorous adventure of fame, friendship, and fun.
Amazon * Goodreads 
My Review:  "Everything is better when you carry a song in your heart," is what Sammy says. He is a talented bird with a beautiful singing voice. He could have had a chance at fame, but he chose friendship. Cute story that reminded me how important friendship is.
About the Author: Emlyn Chand From an early age, Emlyn Chand has counted books among her best friends. She loves to hear and tell stories and emerged from the womb with a fountain pen grasped firmly in her left hand (true story). Her affinity for the written word extends to absolutely every area of her life: she has published fiction across multiple genres, oversees and contributes as both an editor and an author to the Novel Publicity Guides for Writing & Marketing Fiction series, and loves the written word so much, she even married author Falcon Storm! Don’t forget that she is the founder and president of Novel Publicity too.The book that changed Emlyn’s life is Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crocket Johnson. It opened her eyes to the world that could exist if only she was willing to create it—a lesson she has never forgotten. Maybe that’s why she loves writing her Bird Brain Book series for children so much! Emlyn’s first novel, Farsighted, won the prestigious Writer’s Digest Self-Published Novel of the Year award in 2012 for the YA category. She now writes most of her fiction under her real name, Melissa Storm. Website * Facebook * Goodreads

My Review Of Wind Catcher

 
About the BookTitle: Wind Catcher (Chosen, Book 1) | Authors: Jeff Altabef & Erynn Altabef | Publication Date: March 21, 2015 | Publisher: Evolved Publishing | Pages: 324 | Recommended Ages: 10+ Book Description:
Winner: Mom's Choice Award -- Silver MedalWinner: 2015 Beverly Hills Book Award - Best YA FictionWinner: Awesome Indies -- Seal of ApprovalRecipient: Readers' Favorite -- 5 Star ReviewEvolved Publishing presents the first thrilling installment in "Chosen" by award-winning author Jeff Altabef, and his daughter Erynn Altabef. This fantasy adventure series is steeped in American Indian culture and so much more. Juliet Wildfire Stone hears voices and sees visions, but she can't make out what they mean. Her eccentric grandfather tells her stories about the Great Wind Spirit and Coyote, but he might as well be speaking another language. None of it makes any sense. When she stumbles upon a series of murders, she can't help but worry her grandfather might be involved. To discover the truth, Juliet must choose between her new life at an elite private school and her Native American heritage. Once she uncovers an ancient secret society formed over two hundred years ago to keep her safe, she starts to wonder whether there's some truth to those old stories her grandfather has been telling her. All she wants is to be an average sixteen-year-old girl, but she has never been average-could never be average. Betrayed by those she loves, she must decide whether to run or risk everything by fulfilling her destiny as the Chosen.
Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Goodreads
My Review:  I loved this book. The characters come to life on the pages. Juliet Wildfire Stone is thrown into a world she knows nothing about. She gets some guidance from her grandfather to learn her true destiny. She is chosen, the only one who can kill the Seeker. Adventure. Mystery. I want to read the next book.  
The Buzz About the Book"Overall I thought the book was really entertaining and cool. I would give it 4 1/2 stars. I think boys and girls 13 and older would like this book." ~ Mother Daughter Book Reviews, Daughter's Review "This is an enjoyable read for all ages that goes by as fast as the authors can unspool it. " ~ Kirkus Reviews"This very unique and refreshingly original contemporary fantasy has elements of high epic fantasy woven throughout it, and it will surprise and delight even the most jaded fantasy readers." ~ Jack Magnus, Readers' Favorite Book Reviews"Wind Catcher stands out from the crowd. It's... a powerful young adultadventure steeped in Native American legend and tradition." ~ Donovan, eBook Reviewer, Midwest Book Review"A treat to read." ~ Awesome Indies 
About the Authors: Jeff Altabef & Erynn Altabef Wind Catcher is a joint project between the father/daughter team of Jeff Altabef and Erynn Altabef. Jeff is an award-winning author with two published thrillers. He has a column on The Examiner focused on writing, and volunteers at the local community college. Erynn is an avid reader, dancer, and community activist who has just earned her Girl Scout Gold Award. When she's not in high school, she loves reading performing in school musicals, baking, and watching movies with her friends.  
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My Review Of Lure By Tarynn Kerr

David was looking forward to doing some hiking on his family camping trip. That is, until he’s lured into another world. Now he has to hike through the fae world, where fairies, hellhounds, and all sorts of magical creatures are lying in wait. These aren’t nice, fairytale creatures. No, everything here seems determined to kill David and his family. He has to escape this dangerous realm, but the one fairy that can help him may be the one that keeps him here

My Review:  I loved this book. I love to read books where the characters come alive on the page so that is one reason why I enjoyed reading this book. David doesn't realize the world he will enter when he meets a stranger who invites him to hike on a trail. Secret. Danger. Adventure. I want to read the next book. 

My Review Of Bubbles Big Stink In Frog Pond

 
About the BookTitle: Bubbles: Big Stink in Frog Pond | Author: Ben Woodard | Illustrator: Fran Riddell | Publication Date: June 15, 2015 | Publisher: Miller-Martin Press | Pages: 32 | Recommended Ages: 3 to 7 Book Description: Bubbles is causing a stink. And the other frogs are not happy. Theytell him to stop bubbling the water or he'll have to leave Frog Pond. But he can't help it. He's been bubbling since he was a little tadpole. Will Bubbles have to leave Frog Pond? Where will he go? And what happens when danger comes? Find out in this fun picture book about friendship and self-respect for preschoolers and all ages.
Amazon * Goodreads
My Review: I loved this cute, funny story. Bubbles can sure stink up the pond. His friends don't want him around any more. But stinking up the pond makes Bubbles a hero when he saves his friends. So when Bubbles gets too stinky, they send him to Bubble Zone.  
About the Author: Ben Woodard A spellbinding storyteller of high adventure, Ben Woodard has walked the Great Wall of China, hiked in Tibet, and climbed to 18,000 feet on Mt. Everest. And recently learned to surf in Hawaii. Ben is active in SCBWI and a member of a local children's writing critique group. He is a former Marketing Manager for a major corporation and ran his own marketing consulting business. He started writing children's stories in 2008 and has written picture books, middle grade and young adult. Stories of adventure and wonder. Stories that inspire and educate, and, most of all, entertain. Ben lives in Kentucky with his wife Lynda.
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