Kay LaLone's Blog, page 28

The Pen Pieyu Adventures Book Blast

 
About the BooksBook 1:Title: Sir Princess Petra (The Pen Pieyu Adventures Book #1) | Author: Diane Mae Robinson | Year published: 2012 | Publisher: Tate Publishing | Number of pages: 68 | Recommended age: 5+Summary: Princess Petra's unusual birthday request sends the royal court into a frenzy, but when she agrees to undertake a knight's quest they can't stop her. Armed with a cake knife and outfitted in the best royal pots and pans, Petra sets off to face a dragon and win her real armor before encountering a bog witch, and an army of the kingdom's worst enemies. Will Petra's kindness and acceptance prove to be more valuable than weapons and armor? 
Awards for book one, Sir Princess Petra:2012 Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Emerging Artist Award (Literary Arts). 2012 First Runner Up in the Purple Dragonfly Book Award in the Children's Chapter Book category 2013 Honorable Mention in the Reader's Favorite International Book Awards 2013 Finalist in the “50 Great Writers You Should be Reading” AwardPurchase:
Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Tate Publishing * Goodreads  Video Preview (Book 1):  
Book 2:Title: Sir Princess Petra's Talent (The Pen Pieyu Adventures Book 2) | Author: Diane Mae Robinson | Publication Date: September 24, 2013 | Publisher: Tate Publishing | Number of pages: 92 | Recommended age: Read-aloud ~ 5+
Summary: Sir Princess Petra has already proven she is a kind and noble knight. This, however, does not please the king and queen---they want her to behave like a princess and forget this silly knight nonsense of hers! But when the king writes a new rule in the royal rule book that requires her to attend Talent School and acquire a princess talent certificate or suffer the spell of the royal magician, Petra, reluctantly, agrees to go. But who could have guessed what Sir Princess Petra’s Talent would be?   
Awards for book two, Sir Princess Petra's Talent:2014 Readers' Favorite International Book Awards, finalist in three categories:Children's Fantasy SciFi Children's Grade K - 3rd Children's Grade 4- 6thPurchase:
Amazon * Barnes and Noble * Tate Publishing * Goodreads  Video Preview Book 2:  
The Buzz About the BooksBook 1: "I really feel that this little book is a gem. It is a relatively short book (70-ish pages) that can easily be read aloud to children in one sitting. My kids and I were completely captivated by this fun, adventure-filled tale about a very charming and unorthodox princess. I highly recommend this book to families with children under the age of 10 and as young as 5 who love a good tale filled with fairy-tale characters such as dragons, witches, princesses, and knights." ~ Renee @ Mother Daughter Book ReviewsBook 1: "I liked this book because it has a great story line and a great message about believing in yourself. Petra proves that she and all girls can be daring, adventurous and brave. I think Petra was a great character and I liked Snarls (the dragon) even better because he had good sense and dragons are just cool. The book is a beginning chapter book so there isn't a lot of details in it but it tells a complete story. The black and white illustrations in the book are really great too. The book is part of "The Pen Pieyu Adventures." I hope that means there will be more books about Petra coming out! This book is an awesome beginning chapter book and a great read aloud." ~ Erik @ This Kid Reviews BooksBook 1: "Sir Princess Petra is one of those stories that will appeal to most everyone. It is charmingly funny. Petra sets out to prove she has what it takes to be a royal knight and proves she can do nearly anything. Snarls, the howling dragon, is endearing and lovable. If stuffed, sitting on a toy store shelf, every kid would want him. The story is short enough to be read in one sitting, say at bedtime. There are many opportunities for humorous, wacky, high-pitched voices, making Sir Princess Petra fun to read aloud. The author's imagination is appropriately childlike. Petra is a child every parent will love. I know a child would have sweet, funny dreams after hearing mom or dad read this at bedtime."~ Sue M. @ Kid Lit ReviewsBook 2: " Sir Princess Petra's Talent is precisely everything an early middle grade book should be with a multi-dimensional main character who is a great role model for young girls; a great supporting cast of unique and quirky characters; a plot largely driven through clever dialogue amongst the characters and involving much adventure and folly; and unexpected turns and twists that willleave parents and their children laughing out loud. " ~ Renee @ Mother Daughter Book ReviewsBook 2: "This is an adventurous story, which gets going from the very first page and doesn't stop. The characters are all enjoyable, and the situations, although sometimes challenging for Princess Petra, are very appropriate for the age group." ~ Tonja @ Bookworm for KidsBook 2: "The[se books] are early chapter books, fun and suitable for children ages six and up. They move very quickly and are quite short, so I think they’d be particularly suitable for reluctant readers. I also think boys would enjoy these books as Sir Princess Petra thinks and behaves in the way I imagine most boys wish girls would think and behave – kind, down-to-earth, adventurous, and never squeamish or manipulative." ~ Tina @ Mommynificent 
About the Author: Diane Mae Robinson Diane lives in a small hilltop castle nestled amongst a very old and magical forest. In this mystical forest, all the fantasy creatures one can imagine live and audition for parts in the author’s next book. Diane has a journalism diploma from the Schools of Montreal and an advanced diploma from the Institute of Children’s Literature. The author also teaches acrylic and watercolor art to children, and is a writing instructor at the Creative Writing Institute. The author’s first book in this series, Sir Princess Petra, has won three prestigious awards, and was a finalist for another award. The author recently acquired an agent with Gotham Artists Agency in New York.
Website * Blog * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads * LinkedIn * Google+ 
* $50 Book Blast Giveaway * Prize: $50 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice) + BONUS SECOND PRIZE = Hardcover copies of both The Pen Pieyu Adventures Books by Diane Mae Robinson Contest ends: August 28, 11:59 pm, 2014 Open: Internationally How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. The winners will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winners will then have 72 hours to respond. If a winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, Diane Mae Robinson and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Eyes With No Soul By Sheri Chapman

Sheri Chapman, welcome to my blog today. 
Tell us about your book and how the story came to be.  One of my favorite genres to read and write is young adult.  I also love murder shows and the magical aspects in life.  I got inspired to write a short story for a contest, but I ended up submitting it to Muse instead. “Eyes with No Soul” is about a sophomore girl who has her psychic door thrown wide open when she bumps into a murderer at the local mall.  Unfortunately for Laurie, she looks just like the man’s victim and becomes his new object of interest.  No one takes the teen seriously, so it is up to Laurie, her friends, and the adults in her life to keep her safe.            What three words best describe your main character?Survivor, strong, psychicDo you have a method for creating your characters, their names and what do you think makes them believable?I don’t really have a method – I believe I get inspired by a story line and then go with the flow.  I notice that some characters have some beliefs similar to my own – or have some resemblances to people I have met or encountered in my life.  Some of my characters are also inspired by how I want people to be or not be. I use a lot of dialogue in my stories, and I let the reader see into the character’s minds.  Many of their thoughts, fears, beliefs, etc., are similar to what the reader would experience if they were in the character’s shoes.  This definitely helps make the character real.I also work with teenagers and have a lot of children in their teens in my home.  I know how they walk, talk, work the system, etc.  I know what they read, listen to, sports they play, and much more.  Because so much of my life is spent with teenagers, I feel like I have never grown up, in a sense, as well.  It makes writing about them as if I were one much, much easier. Do your characters follow your plot path or do they take on a life of their own? Do you keep them in check?My characters basically take a life of their own.  Sometimes I go with the path they take and weave in the plot.  Other times, they naturally follow the plot line.  Editing is the best way to keep them in check!  JHave you ever suffered from writer’s block? If so, how did you overcome it?I have started a lot of stories – and sometimes I put them away for a while when I’m stumped on where to go next.  Sometimes, I pray and meditate to open the flood gates again.  Occasionally, I return to the story and work further on it; other times, I don’t. Usually if I get a good foundation started, I haven’t gotten writer’s block too badly to date. It’s the first three chapters (in that area) that sometimes challenge me the most. What types of books do you like to read?I love to read many kinds of books.  My favorite is fiction.  I love paranormal, murder mysteries, romance, witch & werewolf books, and more.  I’ll read anything that strikes my fancy.  I also like spiritual self-help and inspirational books, but I notice they are a slower read for me – it helps me absorb what the book is saying.What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?My life revolves around my family including my pets.  My husband and I try to work in time to ourselves between our eight children (only four live with us) and our one grandchild (just born). I am always at sporting events for my girls.  Among choir, track, soccer, and volleyball, our schedule is limited.  It seems we are at some practice or game EVERY day…  sigh.I also own a dog kennel full of cute, fluffy, ADORABLE Pomeranians.  Poms are my passion.  I can’t be happier surrounded with Poms, reading, writing books, and being with family! Running is my preferred form of exercise.  I try to run four or five miles three times a week.  In addition, my husband owns a Harley, and we will go for rides with friends. What’s next for your writing? Are you working on a new story?I actually began a sequel for “Eyes with No Soul”.  I think it is okay, but I’m not sure whether I’ll change it up or not…  I think I might have a touch of writer’s block in getting it started.  It just doesn’t have the flare I want. I have another start to a story about a girl with powers who is trying to be incognito, but she has caught the eye of others involved with power.  Some want to protect her and others want to use her.  I am still beginning this book… a little blocked there, too.  LThen I am working on another romance book – Indian captive – and its sequel.What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve received?My editor, Chris Speakman, is amazing!  She helped me with wonderful advice for my hook.  In unedited writings, I tend to want to explain things – it’s the teacher coming out in me.  I give too much information too quickly, losing the interest of my reader.  I need to hook first, get rid of unnecessary information, and slowly give background details.  I also tend to reuse words a lot.  When I write, I go with the flow.  Then I have a lot of editing to do!  Chris has helped me to make my introductions more interesting!  I have the utmost respect for this wonderful lady! <3Where can readers find you and your books?MuseIt Up Publishing (on-line book store) http://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/our-authors/52-our-authors/authors-c/447-sheri-chapmanand also at:·         Amazon US (Kindle/Print)·         Kindle Amazon UK·         Barnes & Noble·         Blio·         Omnilit·         All Romance Ebooks·         Bookstrand - Mainstream·         Bookstrand - Romance erotica·         Coffee Time Romance·         Inkbok Library·         Indigo (print books)·         Kobo·         Diesel E-books·         Apple iBookstore·         SmashwordsBooks-A-Million - Print booksWizard's Tower BooksFlipkart - IndiaWheelers ePlatform for New Zealand/Australia/Pacifica (Hawaii,Fiji, etc.) & MaoriEbook Eros (search by title or author)
My review of Eyes With No Soul. I loved this book. Great title. Laurie has a gift of precognition. When she bumps into a stranger, it triggers her to see a murder scene and she knows this stranger is the killer. The strange part is Laurie looks like the girl that he killed. Full of suspense. I look forward to reading more books by Sheri.

 Back Cover

Laurie is a high school student who has been blessed with a touch of precognition her entire life. When she bumps into a stranger at the mall, her psychic door is thrown wide open, unlocking it for eternity! The action triggers a bloody murder scene to explode in her mind, numbing her ability to think… Unfortunately for Laurie, he notices her peculiar reaction and begins stalking her…she’s his perfect victim. With no “proof” for the police, Laurie and her friends must try to survive. In a race of life and death, only one can win!


Excerpt
Blood. Blood spilled everywhere. On the walls, on the floor…I was sickened by the overpowering smell flooding my senses. I did not see a body, just the thickening black pools and splatters staining the entire living room…
I bent forward to try to hide my reaction, a gag reflex. I took a steadying breath and turned to face my friends.
          Worry was etched in their faces, overcoming any playful antics; I could tell they were concerned because I was acting so out-of-character. Vaguely, I wondered if I was as pale as I felt.
          “Laurie, are you all right?” Kim asked.
          “No, not really,” I said with a gulp. “Okay, you know how I always tease you guys and tell you I’m psychic?”
          “You really get me going with that,” said Kim. “You always know what’s wrong with me without me even saying!”
          “Yes, well, uh, I’m just really good at reading body language. I know you guys,” I said. “But this is the first time that I’ve had a truly psychic episode…”
          I took a moment to let that sink in. Comprehension widened their eyes.
          “What happened?” Angela breathed. “What did you see?”
          I shuddered, and goose bumps puckered my skin. “Blood. That’s all I could see at first. It was so strong. It was all I could see...or smell.”
          Traces of doubt were reflected in Julie’s eyes, but I think the others believed me.
          I suddenly exclaimed, “That man is the devil. He killed someone, and he got away with it!”
 This is a picture with my four biological teenaged daughters. 


This is a picture of Wolfie (my male Pomeranian I plan on showing) and me. Bio:
Since I was very young (I want to say about fifth grade), I have always wanted to be a published author.  (Why “published”? – because I would have liked it to have been my full-time job and not work for someone else).  LOL!  Because that didn’t work out at the time in my life when I needed to start bringing in money, I became a teacher. 

I work with high school students who have normal to high intelligence as well as learning disabilities (mostly in the areas of reading and/or writing).  I also work with students with Attention Deficits (ADHD) and mild behavioral issues.  Every other instructional day, I spend in my classroom working with the students (mentioned above), and the opposite day I go into the English I classrooms to co-teach.  This is going to be my twenty-sixth year working in Missouri Public Schools. 

Luckily for me, my dream is about to come true!  I will be able to retire with full benefits (thanks to the 80 and Out program in Missouri), and with my toe in the door at Muse, I plan to retire in five or six years, write books, and raise my Pomeranian babies.  I am so excited for my future!  My only sadness about the whole retiring thing is that my children will all be graduated and move away from me.  So much of my time is spent on them, that I am very thankful that I’ll have hobbies and passions I love in place to help me deal with the big changes coming my way! 

I have four teenaged girls of my own.  I married a man a year ago with four of his own children. My husband and I were very close friends (but never dated) in high school.  His son is 12 and he had three daughters (17, 19, and 20).  We recently gained a grandson as well. 
My husband, his son (during the school year), and my youngest three daughters are happy living in our rural suburb home on 3.7 acres with our dog kennel, cats, and goats.  (We have four miniatures for pets).

 A year ago on July 20, I married my husband, Keith.
Sheri Chapman
"Eyes with No Soul"  (summer 2014)
 http://sherichapman.weebly.com  (Author website)
http://www.prayerpawpuppies.com (Pomeranians for sale) Thank you, Sheri, for letting me interview you. I have enjoyed getting to know you and I look forward to reading more of your books. 

My Review Of Thomas Hollard And The Prophecy Of Elfhaven

Tom does not believe in magic.For a thousand years, the Prophecy of Elfhaven has predicted the arrival of a boy who would irrevocably change their world. But what does that have to do with Tom? with his dog Max? with his robot Chloe? When Tom’s mom and her team of scientists unexpectedly open a portal to another universe they discover a world where magic, not science rules. And when Tom’s robot, Chloe, is drafted into service to explore that strange new world, it unleashes a bizarre series of events. Events where dragons, wizards, ogres, trolls, elves, dwarves, magic and technology collide; events that propel Tom headlong towards a war that threatens to destroy Elfhaven. Even with the help of his new-found friends, and despite the efforts of his new-found enemies, can Tom save this world or will he inadvertently bring about its destruction?    
Max, Tom’s enormous furry St. Bernard, brings help!
At this point, Avani and the others had reached the last row of trees before the clearing. They were about thirty paces to the right of the campfire. Directly in front of them there was indeed a boy tied to a small tree. But the boy was no elf child. He looked similar to an elf, but his face was all wrong. His ears were short and flat and his eyes were small and too close together. Plus his nose was round instead of pointy. He sat ten feet away, directly on the ground with a filthy rag tied around his mouth, and his hands were bound together behind the tree.Just then Max started crawling toward the edge of the clearing. Kiran grabbed his collar at the last moment. Max let out a slight whimper. The prince grabbed the hilt of his sword and looked in the direction of the trolls. The elves all stopped breathing. Luckily the trolls were still intent on their argument, oblivious to the noise that Max had made. Avani looked back toward the boy and saw that he was now staring right at them, only his eyes looked much bigger.Avani put her finger to her lips and mouthed the sound “shush.” He seemed to understand and relaxed a little, glancing back to where the trolls stood arguing.Avani turned toward Devraj whispering, “First I’ll create a diversion by conjuring up a dragon. Then I…”“Hold on. We’re not attempting to rescue the boy. The plan was to sneak up and have a better look, then head back and tell the guards, remember? My father will decide what to do. If he chooses to do a rescue mission, it needs to be carefully thought out and planned. Besides, a troll patrol this far into elven territory is not good! There are bigger issues at stake here than just some scrawny—whatever he is.”At that moment, another troll entered the firelight, apparently returning from patrol. There was a quick recounting of his events and what he'd found.“There isn't time. They’re arguing whether to kill the boy or take him with them. Sounds like they intend to leave soon. If we go now, by the time we get back to the city the boy will likely be dead and the trolls will be long gone.  So I'll conjure up a dragon and then—”“You don’t know how to conjure up a dragon, and even if you could, it would probably toast us as soon as you did,” whispered Kiran.Avani wrinkled up her nose at her brother, and turned back to Devraj, “True I can't actually conjure up a real dragon, but these are just dumb trolls, remember? I should be able to create the illusion of a dragon.  It doesn't have to fool them for long, just a couple of myntars, by then we’ll be long gone.”“I'm the smallest and the steel—, stealthiest,” said Kiran firmly, “so once Avani creates the dragon, I’ll crawl over and untie the boy.”Avani stared hard at her brother, her eyes intently studying his face. Finally she said, “Okay,” and then whispered to Devraj, “Once we have the boy we can make our retreat. You guard our rear,” at which point Devraj raised an eyebrow and smiled slightly. Avani rolled her eyes.“What?” whispered the prince with mock sincerity.Avani continued, “You guard our FLANK as we make our escape. I’ll hold the image of the dragon as long as I can. We probably won't get far before the image collapses, so we must be quiet and hope they don't notice the prisoner’s missing, at least until we’re far enough away, okay?”Avani, Kiran and Max all gazed expectantly at Devraj. Looking from one face to the next, he finally sighed. “All right, it looks like we have no other choice. But if anything goes wrong, you two run for help while I try to hold off the trolls. Agreed?”Avani and Kiran nodded. Max just drooled.Glaring, Devraj pointed his finger at Avani and added, “And no changing the rules this time, do I have your word?”“You have my word!” she whispered innocently.The prince looked once more at the boy tied to the tree, then back at the trolls. He drew his sword. “Summon your dragon!”  My Review Of Thomas Holland And The Phophecy Of Elfhaven:  To me, characters are an important part of a good story and this story has great, fun, believable characters. I looked forward to turning the page to meet new characters. Monsters. Beasts. Trolls. K. M. Doherty took me on a wild adventure in a new world. Must read for any age. Thanks. 

 
For author inspiration: The flight of the Valkyrie www.youtube.com/watch?v=V92OBNsQgxUTom’s favorite song is: enjoys the theme from Harry Potter: www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCNHVMIYqiAAvani (13 year old elven girl, head strong, magically gifted) enjoys Radioactive by Imagine Dragons www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkIWmsP3c_sGoban (a dwarf lad, always hungry, speaks hip-hop) also drools when he hears: My Songs Know What You Do In The Dark by Fall Out Boy www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkIWmsP3c_sKiran’s (8 year old precocious elf lad. Avani’s younger brother) favorite song: The theme song from Lord of the Rings www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMInqyumZ3IPrince Devraj (15 year old conceited elf boy who’s engaged to Avani) is enthralled by the Main Theme from Aliens by Ivan De Jesus: www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-jGrL7U09YBellchar (The troll) enjoys smashing elves while listening to: “You Don’t Dream in Cryo” (Avatar) by James Horner www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hus7Iv47YwENaagesh (Evil Wizard) works his favorite spells while humming: the theme from the Disney flick “Maleficent” http://www.mtv.com/news/1721247/lana-del-rey-maleficent-soundtrack/Larraj (Good Wizard) likes to relax to the theme from The Hobbit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=giZrnHDQpRAMax (Tom’s enormous, slobbering St Bernard) happily drools whenever he hears: “Celebration” by Kool and the Gang (Probably because it was in one of the “Beethoven” movies.) www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GwjfUFyY6MJuanita (Tom’s mom. A brilliant theoretical physicist who is trying to prove the existence of parallel universes) works out to the theme from Stargate SG1: www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5F_PIm5vR4Professor Snehal (Grumpy, sniveling magic teacher) thinks he could sing better than Snape in: “The Snape Song” by Kayla Kreger: www.youtube.com/watch?v=xi6BpwSfqoUKing Dakshi (King of the elves of Elfhaven) listens to “The Best of Robin Hood 2010 (Original Soundtrack)” www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GMHzge6c-I as he goes into battle!   Bellchar is a critically acclaimed author in Elfhaven. That’s in a parallel universe, for those of you who don’t know. Obviously, Bellchar is a rock troll. As this is his first novel published on the planet Earth, and due to the fact that there appears to be strong and continued prejudice against rock trolls on this planet, Bellchar has wisely decided to publish on Earth using a “quill name.” The author has chosen to write under the name of a human who befriended him some years back, K. M. Doherty. The two first met when, due to an unfortunate series of mishaps, Bellchar journeyed to the planet Earth. But that’s another story…
K. M. DohertyK. M. Doherty grew up in eastern Oregon in the shadow of the blue mountains. When he was a young lad he and his dad would stay up late at night watching old movies. But watching movies wasn’t enough. No, they’d painstakingly analyze them, searching here and there for little bits that didn’t work, and then discussing how they could fix them. Perhaps a bit of foreshadowing here, getting a character to stay in character there, adding or removing clues, etc... They especially loved mysteries and who-done-it’s, trying to figure out ahead of time who the real murderer was and what they did wrong that got them caught! Likewise with heist movies: how the crooks screwed up and how they could have gotten away with it. That was the catalyst that finally led to writing this book. However there were a few detours along the way. For instance, skiing, motorcycling, playing lead guitar in a rock and roll band, aikido, tai chi, acting, drawing, a master’s degree in engineering, working for a time as a hardware and software engineer, racing small sailboats, poker, and pool. Lastly, he loves to read science fiction and fantasy novels and he’s seen way too many movies…        
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Have You Seen My Tail? Book Blast

Mother Daughter Book Reviews is pleased to be coordinating a Book Blast for the adorable picture book "Have You Seen My Tail?" by Kathryn Harper.
About the BookTitle: Have You Seen My Tail? (Katie-Jane, Book #2) | Author & Illustrator: Kathryn Harper | Publication Date: July, 2014 | Publisher: Green Cup Publishing | Pages: 36 | Recommended Ages: 3 to 8 Summary: Anyone who has ever struggled to accept - or longed to experience - change of any kind will be able to relate to Katie-Jane's second story, "Have You Seen My Tail?" Using rhyming verse, and laugh-out-loud moments, Katie-Jane begins this story feeling bored. She is surprised and shocked as she meets a butterfly, a frog and a snake; who are all struggling to accept the recent big changes in their lives. Different perspectives help all four characters to accept their own situations, and embrace change in the way life offers it to them. "Have You Seen My Tail?" is the second book in the six-part Katie-Jane series, designed to encourage the reader to 'be the very best version of you.'  
Sneak Peek  
PurchaseAmazon | Book WebsiteYou can also purchase the first book in the Katie-Jane Series, "Am I a Chameleon?" by clicking the book cover below:  
Early Buzz About the Book"Author Kathryn Harper offers insightful questions and answers at the end of the book explaining how she feels about change. I love how these insightful thoughts give the reader a chance to verbalize their own feelings. Like her other books, the illustrations are beautiful and vivid. Each of the animals has a wonderfully rich texture, color, and personality. The Katie-Jane books continue to not disappoint, I look forward to seeing the next books in the series." ~ 5 Star Review, Katherine R., Amazon"Katie-Jane is a very sweet character in "Have You Seen My Tail?" She helps to explain change in a gentle and unsuspecting way. This is the second book in the series for Author, Kathryn Harper. She writes a relatable story that children all over the world can grasp and understand. " ~ 5 Star Review, Mary Jo P., Amazon 
About the Author: Kathryn Harper I have always loved to write, draw and create, but my books are inspired by more than my love for their medium. As a child I was selective mute. Both my struggles and my breakthroughs are a source of inspiration toward creating Katie-Jane and her stories. I grew up in the UK, after living in Johannesburg between the ages of two and five. Today I live in Wanaka, New Zealand, with my two gorgeous children and partner, Simon. I feel incredibly lucky to be able to call this place home, where an adventure can begin every time we step outside.
Website | Facebook | Goodreads 
* $25 Book Blast Giveaway * Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice) Contest ends: August 21, 11:59 pm, 2014 Open: Internationally How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, Kathryn Harper and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com. a Rafflecopter giveaway

My Review Of Night Chill and Killer Within By Jeff Gunhus

About the BooksNight ChillTitle: Night Chill | Author: Jeff Gunhus  |  Publication Date:December 11, 2013 |  Publisher: Seven Guns Press | Pages: 438 | Recommended Ages: Adult
Summary:    * Night Chill is now a 2014 Foreword Reviews Book of the Year Finalist. *In the tradition of Stephen King and Dean Koontz – intended for mature audiences. Jack Tremont moves his family to the quiet mountains of Western Maryland hoping to leave behind a troubled past and restart his life. Instead, he finds himself caught up in a nightmare when his daughter Sarah is targeted by Nate Huckley, a mysterious and horrifying stranger driven by a dark, ancient power who will stop at nothing to abduct Sarah. When Sarah goes missing, suspicion falls on Jack and he must uncover the secrets of the small mountain town of Prescott City and face the evil secret hidden there. As he digs further, he learns the conspiracy reaches more deeply than he could have imagined. He must soon face the question, What is a father willing to do to save his child? The answer? Anything. Anything at all.
Buzz About “Night Chill”*   Night Chill currently has 300+ Reviews on Amazon with 212 5-Star Reviews and an average rating of 4.5 stars.* “Readers looking for a good scare will delight in this novel, even if they suddenly feel compelled to sleep with the lights on.” ~ Publishers Weekly“Gunhus delivers a taut supernatural thriller…the powerful Nate Huckley terrifies, and the assorted cast of human antagonists add to the white-knuckle tension. All the chops of an action-packed horror tal.” ~Kirkus Reviews“…unforgettable, exceptional debut. A primitive ritual and an ancient secret threaten a family’s safety in this heart-pounding tale of horrific madness, Guaranteed to trigger night sweats along with a childlike, irrational fear of the creaky attic, Jeff Gunhus’s Night Chill will not disappoint horror fans.” ~ Forward Clarion Reviews, 5 Stars My Review: Scary. Gripping. Mysterious. This book will send chills up your spine. I kept turning the page to see what will happen next. Killer WithinTitle: Killer Within: An Allison McNeil Thriller | Author: Jeff Gunhus  | Publication Date: March 11, 2014 |  Publisher: Seven Guns Press | Pages: 328 |  Recommended Ages: Adult
Summary:  Arnie Milhouse is a murderer. A millionaire with dozens of kills in his past and no one the wiser. But when his name surfaces in connection with the death of a D.C. call girl, Arnie knows it’s only a matter of time before the FBI puts the pieces together. As he makes plans to disappear and leave his life in Annapolis behind forever, he meets a beautiful, mysterious woman who takes an interest in him. The perfect final victim. He can’t believe his luck.Only luck has nothing to do with it.Allison McNeil has returned to Annapolis, a city that she promised herself she would never come back to, not while the cruel memories of her time at the United States Naval Academy still haunt her. But she’s willing to do just about anything to get close to Arnie, even if it means having to face down the demons of her past. Her plans work and soon she and Arnie find themselves locked in a dangerous dance of seduction and betrayal. But Arnie isn’t the only one who carries a secret and the dark truth about Allison McNeil makes a final confrontation between them inevitable. Neither of them know it, but they’re on a collision course that only one of them will survive.
Buzz About “Killer Within”“I have been following the writing and character development skills of author, Jeff Gunhus, for some time. His growth and attention to detail really shine through in this novel. KILLER WITHIN is a huge success! The intermingled multiple mystery plotlines and detailed descriptions of the locale in which this novel takes place combine to make this a breathtaking, scary and interesting work. Once I picked it up I was hard pressed to put it down. Can’t wait for Gunhus’ next novel! ” ~ 5 Star Review, Gloria Frost, Amazon“KILLER WITHIN is an absorbing study of both a killer’s mind as well as his pursuer’s motivation. The cat-and-mouse game between the two main characters moves to its conclusion with the outcome unclear until the last pages.” ~ IndieReader“A balanced blend of heart-pounding visuals and soul-searching introspection, Killer Within, Gunhus’s second novel, reaches beyond ordinary expectations for the genre. Gunhus exhibits a distinctive style typically found in seasoned authors like Dean Koontz and Stephen King.” ~ Forward Clarion Reviews, 5 Stars My Review: Suspense. Plot twist. Page turner. Arnie is trapped in a situation and what he chooses to do changes him. Allison chooses to let situations make her a stronger person. I was trapped in this world waiting to see if Allison will be okay. About the Author: Jeff Gunhus Jeff Gunhus grew up in Cyprus, Greece, and Saudi Arabia where there was a distinct lack of television. He quickly found books were the gateway to incredible adventures, fascinating characters and unbelievable discoveries. Now, with five children of his own (all who watch too much television, in his opinion), he has enjoyed revisiting his old books and reliving those adventures all over again.Website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook

Wisconsin Vamp By Scott Burtness Blog Tour

Virtual Book Tour Dates: 6/25/14 - 7/23/14

Genres: Fiction, Horror, Comedy  






Blurb:
“Midwestern nice” is hard to pull off when you’re a bloodthirsty monster.
Poor Herb isn’t even sure how he got vamped in the first place. With no one to guide him, Herb fumbles into his newfound abilities, courting disaster with each bumbling step. Sure, there are some perks. The local stripper wants him, he can do this whammy mind-control thing, and he is getting a lot better at bowling. But he can’t drink beer, the bodies are piling up, and his best friend Dallas is getting suspicious. When Herb and Dallas go for the same girl, keeping his dark secret becomes the least of Herb’s concerns.
Booze, billiards, babes, blood, bake sales, bowling, bar fights and karaoke. Who would’ve thought that being undead would make life so interesting?


Excerpt:Red tears flowing freely, he sat in the middle of the carnage, trying to sort-out just how in the hell he managed to get half a petting zoo into his house. The phone rang and rang again, causing Herb’s head to swing in a dazed circle, bringing his eyes to bear on where the phone stuck out from beneath most of a dead grouse. “Um, hello. You’ve reached the Knudsen residence. Um. The Knudsen, Herb, I mean me, well it’s a recording of Herb. Me. Oh crap. Does this rewind? Uff dah. Aaah crap. Oh, ok. Sorry! Can’t take your call! I’d sure love to, and I hope I can take your call again. Later. When I call you back. Um. Ok den, thanks! So wait for the beep… um, the beep. It should be this one. Oh for chrissakes…” Beeeep!It had been a long time since Herb had listened to his answering machine greeting, and found himself wondering when the suave and self-confident message he remembered had been replaced by a drunken Ole impersonator. “Herb? Herb! Are you there? Why aren’t you at work? Ronnie’s furious and Hector is exhausted ‘cause he’s been here since like five o’clock last night.” Lois’s voice floated from the tinny speakers of the RadioShack machine, leaving Herb in awestruck wonder. She called me, thought Herb. She’s worried about me and she called. A smile cracked the caked blood around Herb’s mouth as he leaned toward the voice.“Ronnie’s making me call since you haven’t picked up your phone all morning. He’s been calling and calling and thinks you’re trying to ruin him or something. You’d better call back or get your ass in here pronto, ok Herby? Seriously, it’s like 10:45 in the A. M. Just…”Herb knocked the remains of the grouse off the phone and grabbed the receiver. “Lois! Hi, Lois. Um. Wow. Hi there. It’s Herb. Me. I’m Herb. Um…” Herb squeezed his eyes shut, slowly pounded his forehead on the lifeless grouse and took a deep breath.“So. I’m here. You called. Me. Lois. Um, how are you?”“How am I? Oh just peachy, thanks so much for asking. It’s busier than heck here but our morning cook has apparently decided to take the morning off, which means the exhausted overnight cook can’t leave since Ronnie only knows how to make Rice-A-Roni.”“Ronnie.”“That’s what I said.”“No, Ronnie calls it ‘Rice-A-Ronnie.’ He ah. Adds cilantro, dill, some mayo. He thinks it makes it fancier.”“Roni, Ronnie, whatever. Hector burned his hand when he dozed off near the deep fryer half an hour ago. Seriously, I don’t know what your deal is, but you really gotta get to work.”For a few treasured moments after the phone was slammed into the cradle, Lois’s voice flittered on Cupid-wings through the fog in Herb’s brain. Gone were the dead animals, the blood-soaked couch, the gore-spattered Brett Favre bobble-head doll. Even Lady, Jerry and Pam’s poor little pug, flew from his conscious mind like dandelion fluff on a warm summer breeze. Herb bobbed in a sea of bliss, looking at the phone that had recently held her angel voice. Gently setting the receiver down on its cradle, he caressed it with a grimy finger. A red 11 blinked at him from the answering machine, a stark reminder of the ten angry Ronnie’s and one blissful Lois waiting for his attention. Herb quickly stumbled to his feet, hit play and delete in rapid sequence, turning Ronnie’s messages into a staccato of angry reproachment.“Come on, come on!” Jittering with anticipation, he hit play, delete. Play, delete. Reaching the final truncated message, he stopped, quivering in anticipation, and gently, reverently hit play. Lois’s voice again filled his senses, buckled his knees, and sent him sliding back to the floor. Oblivious to the fact that he was sitting in a half-congealed puddle of blood, Herb smiled, contentment incarnate. She had called him. Called his phone to talk to him. And she was waiting for him. All he had to do was get in the Pinto, go to work and… Reality crashed down like kitchen knives from an overturned drawer.

Buy Links:Amazon Goodreads



About the Author:
Scott lives in the Midwest with his wife, Liz and their Staffordshire Terrier, Frank. Raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, he spent many summer weekends in rural Wisconsin where a friend’s dad had about 50 acres of wooded land near a small town. Those magical summer days of Scott’s youth were spent shooting pop cans with a .22, playing Frisbee golf amongst the trees and sticking the collected wood ticks to rolls of duct tape on the fridge. Wisconsin came to represent idle days and entertaining nights, simple times complete with good friends and beef jerky.
Years later (1998 to be exact), Scott had made a mess of college and moved to Chicago, IL. For six years, Scott drove back and forth between Minneapolis and Chicago. More than once, he wondered what it would be like to just take the next exit, drive north into the woods and settle down. He dreamt of running a small bar or bowling alley, living in a little rambler in the trees, and amassing a daunting collection of cassette tapes and flannels. Somewhere in those musings, the seeds for Wisconsin Vamp were planted, although Herb Knudsen wouldn’t appear for many, many years.
Scott moved to Los Angeles, CA in late 2003. He quickly realized that only people who had written a screenplay were allowed to live in L.A., so he set about whipping one up. Looking for some easy subject matter, Scott catalogued the things he enjoyed. Drinking, bowling, karaoke, pining for cute waitresses and funny horror flicks topped his list. After not nearly enough consideration, Scott wrote half a screenplay about the things he enjoyed, set in the northwoods of Wisconsin and featuring a very atypical vampire named Herb.
Since he didn’t finish the screenplay, he was politely asked to leave L.A. Returning to Minneapolis with his wife, he converted what he had to novel format. The rest is, as they say, is available for the reasonable price of $2.99.



Author Links:
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Giveaway:Win one of three autographed copies of Wisconsin Vamp, each will include a Wisconsin themed postcard from the main character, Herb. This giveaway is restricted to USA only, please! Enter through Goodreads.


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    Goodreads Book Giveaway      
               
     
          Wisconsin Vamp           
          by Scott Burtness           
         
            Giveaway ends July 23, 2014.          
         
            See the giveaway details            at Goodreads.          
             
      Enter to win

My Review Of Book 1 and Book 2 Of The Boulton Quest Series By N. D. Richman

About the BooksBrothers, Bullies and Bad Guys: Book 1 in the Boulton Quest Series Title: Brothers, Bullies and Bad Guys (Boulton Quest Series, Book 1) |Author: N.D. Richman | Publication Date: April 10, 2013 | Publisher:Independent | Pages: 201 | Recommended Ages: 9+
Summary: * Honourable Mention, 2013 Hollywood Book Festival Awards *One troubled, the other trouble
One regrets, the other hates
One builds, the other destroysTheir parents are kidnapped in a home invasion and Christopher and Michael must unite or die in their quest to find them. Adventure turns to mystery when the brothers follow a hunch leading them over the Pacific Coast Mountains, across the ocean, and to a fortified island where they fight for their lives with tragic results.
Buzz About “Brothers, Bullies and Bad Guys”“The author has linked the sub-plots along with the main plot very well, making the story flow. The characters are smart and they will impress readers with how they overcome obstacles with a lot of skill. The theme will interest children and all the adventure and mystery will give them a lot of excitement while reading. The other characters also lend good support to Christopher and Michael and make the plot interesting. An enjoyable story and very effortless story telling that makes it an engaging read.” ~ 5 Star Review, Mamta Madhavan for Readers’ Favorite“There’s quite a lot to like about this book, starting with the unpredictable nature of the adventure plot. It unfolds in a cinematic way that’s interesting, and the misadventures of the brothers are good for a laugh. The second part I really enjoyed was the characters of Chris and Michael. Their bravery and skill should hopefully empower young people to read more books, develop more skills, and be nice to their peers.  The writing, throughout the thriller portions of the book, was very effective.” ~ AIA Reviewers, Amazon“As a story to get teenage boys reading, and to keep them reading, this book does a great job.” ~ Jayem, Amazon My review: Chris and Michael are brothers. When intruders enter their home they are thrown into a wild, traumatic adventure that changes there lives. Good read. Sinners, Survivors and Saints: Book 2 in the Boulton Quest SeriesTitle: Sinners, Survivors and Saints (Boulton Quest Series, Book 2 |Author: N.D. Richman | Publication Date: April 22, 2014 | Publisher:Independent | Pages: 160 | Recommended Ages: 9+
Summary:  Christopher and Michael become multi-millionaires and their greed endangers Katherine’s life. While Christopher, Michael and Thomas are racing to rescue her, Robert Cain’s army steals the mysterious machine and his frightening intentions become clear. Can Michael beat his inner demons? Will Katherine lose the will to survive? In this exciting sequel to Brothers, Bullies and Bad the future becomes clear, and it seems things can only get worse.


My review:  Michael seeks revenge. He wants Robert to pay for killing his mother. Robert has other plans that put Michael, Chris, Katherine, and Thomas in danger. Page turner. Great Adventure. 
Purchase the BooksAmazon (US)  |  Amazon (CAN)  |  Amazon (UK)Barnes & Noble  |  Chapter Indigo  |  Smashwords
About the Author: N.D. Richman Camping, hiking, fishing, hunting, and getting into trouble:  What a great way to grow up!  One of my favourite memories is sitting on the handlebars of my brother’s bike, my dog on my lap, as he careened down the steep mountain trails above our home in Kamloops, BC. My brother and I had caves, tree forts, frog filled ponds, and cactus patches to play in, and sling shots for protection. Somehow I survived my childhood and proudly moved on to fatherhood. My children, Christopher, Michael, Thomas, and Katherine, kindly donated their names, characters, and ideas to the Boulton Quest  series of books.
Website  |  Google+ (Author)  |   Google+ (Book)Twitter  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  Pinterest  |  Tumblr

Flight Of The MIte Book Blast

Title: Flight of the Mite | Author: Grayson Smith | Illustrator: Alana Kyle | Publication Date: 2013 | Publisher: Peppermint Toast Publishing: Independent | Pages: 32 | Recommended Ages: 3 to 8 | Reviewed by: Renee and Dominic (Mother and Son) Information About The Book: A tale of wonder and imagination, Flight of the Mite is a children's read-aloud picture book, written by Grayson Smith and illustrated by Alana Kyle. As a tiny mite stares in wonder at the nighttime stars, she becomes certain that if she were only able to travel to them, she would meet a world of wondrous creatures. She determines to build a flying contraption, and through persistence, ingenuity, and wise counsel, journeys to the nearest star. There she encounters the Others of her dreams and finds herself on an adventure where she learns that her imagination is her most important tool! This story of imagination, courage, and determination is perfect for the little mite in your life! Flight of the Mite is the first book published by the independent small press, Peppermint Toast Publishing, out of New Westminster, British Columbia. Peppermint Toast Publishing strives to work with emerging authors and artists towards the high-quality and environmentally-friendly publication of children's picture books and literature, in profit-sharing partnership with local charitable organizations.  
PurchasePeppermint Toast Publishing is happy to be contributing $3 from the sales for each copy of Flight of the Mite sold, going to help sick kids get better at BC Children’s Hospital. Visit their Online Store to purchase your copy!
Peppermint Toast Publishing | Amazon (Canada)  
The Buzz About the Book Mother and Son Review by MDBR : "Flight of the Mite is a delightful, rhyming picture book featuring an adorable little mite who dreams big as the main character; a magical story underscoring the importance of imagination in children's development; and absolutely gorgeous and whimsical illustrations. I highly recommend this book to children ages 3 to 8 and I think it would be a great choice for reading aloud to children in a classroom or library setting.""This is our new favourite story to read and will be a book that we will be keeping to pass down to future member of our family." ~ Raincity Parent "This wonderful piece of children’s literature is well crafted and appropriate for children and adults, the message is clear, embrace diversity, ones weakness may actually be strength. The most interesting and entertaining part is that there is a consistent rhythm and rhyme to the story, keeping the powerful message light and playful." ~ Active Lee Dadding" I have read the sweetest story!...The combination of these two talents [i.e., the author and illustrator] working together has left us with a sweet rhyming story about a little mites big imagination." ~ Moments in Mommyland"I recently received a new children’s book to review called Flight of the Mite. So of course I went to the best critic in the house – my 4 year old son[...]. We sat down to read the story together and discovered a delightful tale about imagination and discovery... The illustrations are delightful and [my son] insisted that we stop to discuss some of them along the way. There was more than one “wow!” over a picture of the mite climbing a dandelion." ~ Prenatal to Parenting 
About the Author: Grayson SmithGrayson Smith was born in Alberta, but attended a boarding school in Germany for 11 years. After high school, he attended SFU, where he obtained a degree in Criminology and met his beautiful wife, Linda. Throughout university, Grayson wrote stories when he should have been paying attention in class. After completing his degree, he became a police officer, and still enjoys that job thoroughly. As of 2012, Grayson gets to re-envision the world through the eyes of his baby son, Josiah. Writing is a wonderful way for Grayson to express the silliness and vagary that simmers beneath his well-practiced outer layer of respectability and professionalism.    
About the Illustrator: Alana KyleAlana Kyle was born and raised in the Lower Mainland. As a small child, she was sweet, quiet, and frequently lost inside her own head. Ever since she was young, she was motivated by her love of artistic creativity and attention to detail, and remains captivated by storybooks and imagination. Alana attended and graduated from Emily Carr University of Art + Design with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, and also obtained a three-year diploma of Illustration and Design from Capilano University. She works as an illustrator and graphic designer, and lives in Coquitlam.  
Links to More InformationPeppermint Toast Publishing | Twitter | GoodreadsFacebook (Peppermint Toast Publishing) | Facebook (Flight of the Mite) 
* $25 Book Blast Giveaway * Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice) Contest ends: August 19, 11:59 pm, 2014 Open: Internationally How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, Grayson Smith and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com. a Rafflecopter giveaway

What If Book Blast

  Title: What if...? | Author: Jessica Barondes | Publication Date: January 7, 2014 | Publisher: Sense and Sensability Press | Pages: 145 | Recommended Ages: 10+ | Reviewed by: Renee (Mother) Summary: Life is complicated for the average tween, but try being the smallest girl in 7th grade and navigating the choppy waters of middle school without a mom. Such is the plight of Penelope “P” Ziegler, until she decides to take matters into her own hands and find a wife for her hopelessly quirky dad. Despite Dad’s objections, P is sure—with all her heart—that there’s a woman out there who will make them both very happy!  
* FREE BOOK *You can grab your FREE COPY (electronic) of What if...? by Jessica Barondes from July 18 to 22, 2014 from Amazon. Just click on the book cover below.
The Buzz About the Book" What if...? is a bittersweet and sometimes comical tale of a tween girl, P, who must come to terms with the loss of her mother as she navigates the world of dating, puberty, school, and friendships. P will absolutely warm your heart and the ending is guaranteed to leave you teary-eyed. While I sometimes felt that the themes were more appropriate for teens, I also came to realize that tween girls will also really enjoy reading about the world that they are just on the cusp of entering. *shudder* Ages 10+." ~ Renee @ Mother Daughter Book Reviews"What a treat to fall in love with a character from the first second you begin to read her story. P has wit, charm, pluck, charisma--and a lot of things to learn. I totally loved her voice, world, friends and the many ways in which she drove her father Georgy insane. Full of laughs and love this charming book is a wonderful read--no matter what your age." ~ 5 Star Review, Blue, Amazon"This is a charming and delightful read from start to finish, filled with characters you really care about, especially the unique girl "P" at the center. You don't have to be in this age group or life situation to relate to the sweet and heartfelt story about wanting the best for those you love. It's timeless and inspiring and may bring a tear to your eye!" ~ 5 Star Review, Susan A., Amazon"Witty, intelligent and edgy coming-of-age book for girls (and parents!). This little book is a real gem. I bought it for my nieces too in hopes that they will appreciate their moms more! (and give their dads a chance to be a true hero, like the dad in this book!) I would bet that school libraries, teachers, parents and girls will rate this book a favorite for years to come." ~ 5 Star Review, Louann B., Amazon"I was absolutely enchanted from the first page. This book made me cry! It was delightful. The story so sweet and the characters endearing and so real. By the time I got to the end, I just wanted to burst out in applause. This book is a joy to read at any age but perfect for the "tween" reader." ~ 5 Star Review, Jen W., Amazon"Both my 11-year old daughter and I loved this wonderfully written book. Charming and exciting from beginning to end, this book is a real treasure." ~ 5 Star Review, Susan L., Amazon 
About the Author Jessica Barondes grew up in La Jolla, California and now makes her home in Los Angeles with her husband Ben and their teenagers Jonah and Ellie. Jessica is also a screenwriter whose credits include Little Secrets , Lucky Seven , and Wish Upon a Star , a Disney Channel classic, which was a winner at the Heartland Film Festival. Jessica is currently working on several new movie projects and is an associate producer of the new family film Cowgirls n' Angeles: Dakota's Summer .
Goodreads | Amazon Author Page   
* $100Book Blast Giveaway *Prize: $100 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice) Contest ends: August 16, 11:59 pm, 2014 Open: Internationally How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, Jessica Barondes and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com. a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Cost Of Crude Blog Tour

Virtual Book Tour Dates: 7/14/14 – 7/28/14Genres: Mystery/Thriller, Suspense, Romance, Crime





Blurb:
Gwynn Reznick’s life is shattered when her best friend and co-worker at Wilton Oil & Gas Company dies in a car crash. She doubts it was an accident. Her suspicion is confirmed when a private investigator, Ruben Dordi, shows up at her door. His team has discovered a trail of unusual deaths and disappearances among Wilton employees. To make matters worse, Gwynn is under constant surveillance by those responsible for her friend’s death. But that doesn’t deter her from getting involved in the investigation. Danger lurks in every corner of the Wilton Tower. One false move could turn a risky situation into a death trap. As the investigation team digs deeper, they begin to unravel a sinister plot that threatens a catastrophic pipeline disaster. Will they solve the crime before it is too late?



Excerpt:Gwynn awoke slowly with tape covering her mouth again, her wrists firmly tied together, and her body aching. She saw the back of man dressed in a Wilton security guard uniform sitting a few feet from her. Glancing down, she saw she was lying on a cot and her blouse had been torn, the rose pin gone. She managed to move her forearms over her bra and found the bug was also missing. The bandage, a tracking device waiting to be activated, was still securely attached to her arm. With her hands and mouth bound, she couldn’t pull it up.She smelled a musty odor and wondered where they had taken her. Looking around, she saw a high ceiling with rusty metal trusses, several broken insect-infested skylights, and walls covered with masonry and metal siding. Pigeons fluttered around in the large open space, their droppings marked the walls. Old abandoned equipment stood in the center of the room, puddles of water on the cement floor. Off in the distance, she saw large double doors standing ajar with daylight shining through the opening.The security guard turned around. He was the guard with the deep set eyes who had stared at her when she entered the Wilton Tower.“You’re finally awake,” he said, rising to his feet. “Now don’t go away while I get Luke.” He gave her a malicious smile as he turned and strode toward the door.She held onto the side of the cot with her bound hands, raised herself up to a sitting position, and saw the rope tightly wrapped around her ankles. Her feet were bare. She swung her legs over the edge as Cromer walked toward her.His eyes were locked on her as he yanked the tape off of her mouth. “You’re moving around too freely. Looks like I have to sit down with Todd and criticize his hostage binding technique.”She sat silently, immobile, staring at him.“Don’t tell me you’re going to be difficult like your friend, Julie,” he said with a stone, cold, emotionless face.She took a few deep breaths but remained silent.“When I questioned Taylor, he was very concerned about his girlfriend, Cindy. She’s also your friend. Will you be as concerned about her as Taylor was?” Gwynn felt her stomach churning as she continued staring at him.Cromer picked up a chair, lowered it down next to her, and sat, looking at her intensely. He loosened his necktie, and then pulled a knife from under his sport coat. He ran the side of the blade against his fingers. He leaned forward and caressed her neck with the tip. Gwynn forced herself not to move as he wielded the knife around her.“You’re in for a treat; a technique that was used on me in Iraq.” He popped off her buttons with the tip of the blade. “I screamed, bled tears, and begged for death. Like you’ll be doing if you don’t answer my questions.”She flinched and pressed her lips together. “I suppose I should be thankful for that experience. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be the well-adjusted person I am today.” He pushed the tip into her side.Gwynn couldn’t prevent a scream from escaping as the blood ran down her blouse.“That’s just to give you a little taste.” He stood and took off his sport coat, revealing a gun in a holster strapped across his shoulder, ready for the final assault. He hung it over the back of the chair and sat down. “Now that we’ve had some fun, let’s get down to business.” he said, rolling up the sleeves on his blue shirt. 

Buy Link:
Amazon 

About the Author:



Inge-Lise Goss was born in Denmark, raised in Utah and graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Utah. She is a Certified Public Accountant and audited oil and gas companies for over twenty years. She now lives in the foothills of Red Rock Canyon with her husband and their dog, Bran, where she spends most of her time in her den writing stories dictated by her muse. When she’s not pounding away on the keyboard she can be found reading, rowing, or trying to perfect her golf game.



Connect With The Author:Website FacebookTwitter GoodreadsAmazon Author Page

Giveaways:There are two different giveaways available on this tour!
The first giveaway is for five print copies of The Cost of Crude! This giveaway will run until July 30, 2014 and is restricted to USA only entry. Enter through Goodreads!


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Goodreads Book Giveaway The Cost of Crude by Inge-Lise Goss Giveaway ends July 30, 2014.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads. Enter to win

The second giveaway will run 7/14/14 – 7/28/14. One winner will win a $25 Amazon GC and a signed copy of The Cost of Crude, while two other winners will each win an e-book copy of the book (Open Internationally). Enter through Rafflecopter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway