Kay LaLone's Blog, page 37

My Review of Zoe & Zak and the Ghost Leopard

About the Book Title: Ghost Leopard (Zoe and Zak Series, Book #1)Authors: Lars GuignardPublication Date: July 21, 2012 Publisher: Fantastic Press Pages: 338 Recommended Age: 8+Summary (Amazon):

Zoe and Zak are lost in exotic India, where gods and magic still exist. Before they can find their way home, they just have to do one little thing… …Save a mythical creature from an ancient evil that wants to rule the world. When Zoe Guire goes along on her mom’s business trip to India, things get very weird, very quickly. An elephant god speaks to her from the bottom of a swimming pool… She and her classmate Zak get locked in a trunk and shipped off to a strange city near the foothills of the Himalayas… and a crazy snake charmer tells them they’ve been chosen to protect a mythical creature called the Ghost Leopard from an ancient evil that wants to take over the world. As they travel deeper into the majestic mountains known as the Realm of the Gods, things get even weirder. If she and Zak want to make it back to their parents, they’re going to have to tap into powers they never knew existed. Because if they don’t, things will never be the same for any of us ever again.
 

I give this book a five star review. Full of action and adventure, something every kid loves to read about. I enjoyed this adventure of hunting for the ghost leopard with Zoe and Zak. It was nice seeing India through Zoe's eyes. Great characters. I'm ready to read book two. Thanks, Lars, for a good read.   
 
Purchase
Amazon (Print) | Amazon (Kindle) | Amazon (Audiobook) | iTunes (Audiobook) 
The Buzz"Awesome! ~ I am 11 and I liked the book because I love adventures. It was a different kind of adventure from what I usually read and it was funny too. " ~ 5-Star Review from J. Olsen, Amazon "This was a fun read. This book was like a kid's version of Indiana Jones. It's also very educational as Zoe tells you real facts about what she sees and the history. I enjoyed it immensely. If you have a 10-12 year old child that loves adventure books, this is definitely a must read. " ~ 5-Star review from Simone Lilly-Egerter, Amazon"I'm sure this book was written for children who are around the age of the two children in the book, 11 or so. But, this 35 year old loved this book! It had action, adventure and imagination galore! It was exactly the kind of adventure that a lot of kids that age dream of." ~ 5-Star review from The Novice Christian, Amazon 
About The Author: Lars Guignard[caption id="attachment_14417" align="alignleft" width="154"] Lars Guignard[/caption] Prior to writing novels, Lars Guignard wrote for film and television. As a teenager he attended boarding school in the Indian Himalayas and his experiences there provided the inspiration for the Zoe and Zak series which now include: Zoe & Zak and the Ghost Leopard , Zoe & Zak and the Yogi’s Curse , and Zoe & Zak and the Tiger Temple . He lives in the Pacific Northwest where he dodges bears and cougars while hiking & skiing the magnificent Coast Mountain Range. For news about new releases, please join his email list here: http://www.larsguignard.com/contact/  
Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads 
Ask Lars Guignard a Question on Goodreads Fantastic Press is pleased to announce that Lars Guignard will be answering questions about Zoe & Zak and the Ghost Leopard throughout the day on Monday, December 16th, 2013 on Goodreads. If you have any questions for Lars or just want to introduce yourself, you can head on over to Goodreads and say hello now. Also, everyone who joins the Forum will earn an entry into the Ghost Leopard Blog Tour giveaway (see below for more details).
Click on the Goodreads Button below to go to the Mon, Dec 16 - "Ask Lars Guignard about Zoe & Zak and the Ghost Leopard" event and leave a question for the author anytime from now until December 16th, 2013.  
The Ghost Leopard Blog Tour Schedule (2013)November 15
Mother Daughter Book Reviews (Launch & Review)Jump Into a Book (Review)November 16
Brooke Blogs (Author Interview)November 18
Giveaway Breaking News for Indonesia (Review)November 19
Black Words - White Pages Kids (Review) Fantasy Fun With Kirsten Pulioff (Review)November 20
For the Love of Books (Review)Mary-andering Among the Pages (Review) November 21
Fiona Ingram (Author Interview & Review)November 22
Stitch Says (Review) November 24
When I Grow Up, I Wanna Write a Kid's Book (Review)November 25
Bibliothecary Prescriptions (Review)November 26
Bound 4 Escape (Review)Victoria Simcox (Review)November 27
We are the DinoFamily (Review)Sher A. Hart: Written Art (Review)November 28
The World of ContestPatti (Review) November 29
Best Kids' Reads (Review)December 1
Every Free Chance Book Reviews (Review)December 2
The Owl's Skull (Review) December 3
InkSpired: A Blog (Review)December 4
BeachBoundBooks (Review) December 5
Geo Librarian (Author Interview) December 7
Generation iKid (Review) December 10
That Girl Reads (Spotlight)December 11
Bookworm for Kids (Review)Cheryl Carpinello's Writing Pages (Author Interview)December 12
Books, Reviews, Etc. (Review)December 13
Leave No Book Behind (Review)Kay LaLone I Love Books (Review)December 14
Dalene's Book Reviews (Review) ** Be sure to look for the upcoming Blog Tour for Book 2 in the Zoe and Zak Series, "Yogi's Curse" coming December 15, 2013. ** 
* Ghost Leopard Blog Tour Giveaway * Prize: Three winners will receive a print (U.S. & Canada) or electronic (international winners) copy of Ghost Leopard by Lars Guignard. Contest runs: November 15 to December 17, 11:59 pm, 2013 Open: Worldwide How to enter: 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 Lars Guignard and Fantastic Press 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 Apocalipstick by Lisa Acerbo

 I give Apocalipstick a five star review. Romance. Action. Adventure. Jena lives in a crazy world, and has somehow found true love with Caleb. Gripping action scene when Caleb saves Jenna. Thank you, Lisa, for a good read.


Genres: Horror, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fiction
 
Blurb:
 
Jenna should be having the time of her life at college. Instead, her only desire is survival. She lives in a world gone insane after a virus kills most of the population. Being alive after the apocalypse is bad, but when the undead return, hungry for humans, times turn darker. For Jenna and a small group of survivors, the goal is to reach the High Point Inn. At the inn, Jenna develops feelings for Caleb, who, while exotic and intoxicating, is not quite human. Will this new utopia last?
 
 Link To Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18320279-apocalipstick?ac=1  Excerpt:   “By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes…” ran through Jenna’s mind, another remnant of her former life. Now the graveyard was the safest place. Evil openly roamed the streets and it was coming for her.   Jenna blinked the sweat out of her eyes and took a deep breath. She swayed with exhaustion. Angels, symbols of all things God and good, adornments of the dead, swam in and out of Jenna’s clouded vision. She placed a scarred hand on the peaceful, cold stone markers, embellished with the names of forgotten loved ones. Nowadays, loved ones wanted to come back from the grave and claw your face off, devour your insides.   Jenna wanted to lie down and give up. She was tired and had lost everyone she knew. Hair lank and greasy, mud splattered clothing, old and mismatched. Instead of admitting defeat, she forced herself to stay alert, pushing matted, raven hair out of her eyes with a dirty hand. Jenna could not remember a time in her recent history where she felt clean or had a moment in which she was not fighting to stay alive. Looking around the darkened landscape, she wanted to live. She shoved to her feet once again.   Buy Links:   Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Apocalipstick-ebook/dp/B00EDYQUSA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1382925462&sr=8-3&keywords=apocalipstick   Barnes & Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/apocalipstick-lisa-acerbo/1116538083?ean=9781629290188   Eternal Press http://eternalpress.biz/book.php?isbn=9781629290171

Interview: A Conversation with Author Lisa Acerbo
 
How would you describe your book in:
 
20 words or less: Life is bad after the apocalypse…the undead just made it worse.
 
100 words or less: Jenna should be having the time of her life at college. Instead, her one desire is survival. She lives in a world gone insane after a virus kills most of the population. Being alive after the apocalypse is bad, but when the undead return, hungry for humans, times turn darker. For Jenna and a small group of survivors, the goal is to reach the safe haven of the High Point Inn. At the inn, Jenna develops feelings for Caleb, who, while exotic and intoxicating, is not quite human. Will this new utopia last?
 
Have you always been a writer?                          
 
I have always loved both reading and writing. This love inspired me to major in English during college. While a full time teacher, I have also continued to write and publish. Before turning to fiction, my articles appeared in the Connecticut Post, Trumbull Patch and Hollywood Scriptwriter.
 
How did this book come to be? Why did you write it?
 
I grew up reading novels by Judy Blume, Dean Koontz, and Stephen King, among others.  While entirely different genres, these authors inspired me to want to read more and write fiction.  I love authors who can create vivid conflicts and life-like characters in relationships, romantic or otherwise.  I enjoy reading romances with action and adventure, and I hoped to create a book with those elements.
 
 
Who is your audience?
 
Apocalipstick is geared for older teens and college-aged audiences as it is set in a stark and violent post-apocalyptic world. Some of the scenes when Jenna battles the undead could be considered intense, but I hope people of all ages can enjoy the book.
 
How long did it take you to write this book and what kind of routine, if any, did you follow?
 
The book took a long time to complete, and it went through some major revisions along the way. I often write in creative, disorganized blasts (much like my life) and did not really have a routine, but I am currently trying to change that. My writing came in fits and spurts, mostly during the summer when I was off from teaching.
 
How is this book different from others that are available? What makes it unique?
 
The book contains a little bit of everything. It has zombies, paranormal romance, and horror. When I began the novel, I hoped that my audience could, on some level, relate to Apocalipstick.  Analogous to the characters in the book, we must fight daily battles, whether it is with school, jobs, illnesses, or family problems.  At times, we also feel detached, similar to the characters called the “others.”  There are even occasions when we might wonder about the possibility of zombies and question if humanity can become similar: dead to the world around us and passing the time waiting for our next meal. 
 Author Bio:  
 
Lisa Acerbo is a high school teacher and adjunct faculty at the University of Phoenix. She lives in Connecticut with her husband, daughters, three cats, and two horses. When not writing, she mountain bikes, hikes, and tries to pursue some type of further education--she's working towards an EdD.
 
 
Author Links:
Website http://www.Apocalipstickthebook.com
Email Apocalipstickthebook@gmail.com
Twitter https://twitter.com/Apocalipstick_
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Apocalipstick/131636053705754
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18320279-apocalipstick?ac=1
 
 
Giveaway:
 
Lisa is giving away a print copy of her book and a $20 Amazon gift card to two lucky winners! Open worldwide, must be 18 and over to enter. Entry dates: 11/19/13 – 12/17/13a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tumbleweed Christmas by Beverly Stowe McClure

About the BookTitle: Tumbleweed Christmas Author: Beverly Stowe McClure Publication Date: July 20, 2013 (original pub. date - August 28, 2011) Publisher: 4RV Publishing LLC Number of pages: 24 Recommended age: 3+ Summary (Back Cover): Christmas is the time for miracles, but sometimes a child must make her own miracle and one for her siblings.  
PurchaseAmazon | 4RV Publishing Bookstore | Barnes and Noble 
The Buzz"Through the storytelling of Beverly Stowe McClure and the book illustrations of Bridget McKenna, the reader is drawn to feel the pain of poverty and choices that must be made due to economic circumstance. We are drawn into Jackie's world by her giving spirit and root for her every word of the way. And when all is said and done ... We, too, believe in the miracle of a Tumbleweed Christmas. Timely for the season and its reason, but also gives us reason to keep the Spirit of Christmas alive year 'round." ~ 5 Star Review, Ruth C., Amazon"I can't think of a sweeter tale of the season than Tumbleweed Christmas." ~ 5 Star Review, Cheryl M., Amazon"This is a delightful 24 page book which shows the reader about selflessness. Many parent's give up much to make things work when they don't have a lot of money, and being creative is certainly a key in such situations. Jackie gave up what was dear to her the most to be able to give gifts to her family so they had something to open on Christmas day. In many ways, gift giving has gone out of control. The most expensive items are not necessarily the best. Sometimes it's the handmade items or drawings that come from the heart that are truly memorable. A gift from the heart is what truly matters most, and it doesn't have to be much. Children and parent's alike will enjoy this story because it touches upon one of the best gifts in the world that we can give--LOVE!" ~ 5 Star Review, Children's Book Reviewer, Amazon 
About the Author: Beverly Stowe McClure[caption id="attachment_15371" align="alignleft" width="200"] Beverly Stowe McClure[/caption] Beverly Stowe McClure is a former teacher turned writer. When she was a kid, writing was the last thing on her mind. She loved music and played clarinet in the junior high and high school bands. She also was a majorette. She still plays the piano to relax. Her cats don’t appreciate good music, however, and run and hide when she tickles the ivories. She lives in the country with Patches and Tiger (the cats), along with a variety of wild critters that stop by for a handout. Next to her sons, grandchildren, and great-grands, writing is her passion and joy. She also enjoys researching her family roots and snapping pictures of clouds, flowers, deer and birds, especially the roadrunner that visits on occasion and the hummingbirds that she feeds.  
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Shelfari | Library Thing 
* $25 Book Blast Giveaway *Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner's choice) Contest runs: December 11, 2013 to January 9, 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, Beverly Stowe McClure 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 * I was given this book free-of-charge by the author in exchange for our honest opinion. All opinions expressed are our own. The author contacted us to participate in our Book Promotion Program where we will tweet and share information about this book, the author, and the giveaway.*

My Review Of I Dream Of Zombies by Charlotte Gerber

 
Blurb:
Being a zombie counselor was not Rose Lee’s dream job.  However, there was a growing need for people who were willing to work with clients that smelled bad, were falling apart, and had a propensity for bad behavior.  She decided to put her college degree to work, and try to help out her fellow man, or rather fellow zombies.
When Rose meets a soon-to-be zombie waitress at the Crispy Biscuit, things go from bad to worse.  She has run-ins with zombie landlords, zombie hunters, undercover zombies and mercenaries, just to name a few. 
Rose tackles all of her problems straight on, whether she is taking out a thug in the supermarket parking lot or saving a cop’s life at the playground.  She battles the dark underbelly of post-apocalypse Hornellsville, and proves that she is more than just a pretty girl named after a famous stripper. I give I Dream Of Zombies a five star review. Rose is a strong, fun character who cares about helping zombies. This story has action, mystery, and romance. Thanks, Charlotte, for a good read. Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18740615-i-dream-of-zombies
 
Excerpt:
“Welcome to the Crispy Biscuit,” a nasal female voice said over the intercom. “Can I interest you in a Deluxe Chicken and Cheese breakfast biscuit?”
“No, thanks.  Give me a brown sugar biscuit with marmalade and a large Lava Java with two creams and two sugars please,” I said.
“Does that complete your order?” the voice asked.
“Yep, that’ll do it,” I said.
“Please pull ahead to the first window,” she said.
I did as instructed and rounded the corner with my 1990 Cadillac Brougham.  It was a gift from my father.  I’m not sure if it was really a gift, or rather his way of getting rid of the biggest, gas-guzzling vehicle he’d ever owned.  I had named the car Beulah.
I maneuvered up to the window, being careful not to hit the concrete pylon next to the service window.  Not because it would hurt my car, but rather because the car would probably take a chunk out of the pylon.
Eight feet of car hood later, the driver’s side window finally lined up with the service window.  “Five-o-five please,” the cashier said.  I handed her the money and was a little shocked when she almost dumped my order into my lap through the window.  “Sorry”, she said, her cheeks turning a deep shade of scarlet. 
“That’s okay, it is that kind of day,” I said, trying to reassure her with a smile.  It never hurt to be nice to the workers at the Crispy Biscuit.  Every once in a while they gave me an extra biscuit, and who was I to complain?
I noticed her hands as she went back to work.  I could have sworn there were the familiar quarter-sized brown patches on the tops of her hands.  I must have looked a little too long because the girl suddenly pulled the window shut, shot me the stink eye, and turned her back to me.
It didn’t take a rocket scientist to know what those patches were – zombie disease.  If that were true, all it would take to do the poor creature in was a whiff of pepper and BAM!  A very sticky, and somewhat messy, end.
I was torn between pulling into a parking space and running in to alert her manager or continuing on my drive to the jail.  I didn’t relish the thought of doing either; in one case the poor girl may be sent away to live out her life in a zombie asylum, and in the other, I had to figure out whether my client was worth the time and effort of sitting through a court hearing.
Life used to be so much easier before the ZA.
A sense of duty won out, since I’m required by law to report this kind of thing.  I pulled Beulah into a tight parking space and disembarked.  Luckily I had worn one of my sensible suits to work today and didn’t have to navigate the pot-hole filled parking lot in high heels.
I entered the restaurant and stood in line, waiting for my chance to speak with the manager.  The hostess greeted me after a few moments.
“Just one today?” she asked.
“No, I’m not staying,” I said. “I just have a quick question for the manager.  Is he or she in?”
“Let me check, hon.  I’ll be right back,” she said. 
I watched her walk away from me, her plump body crammed into a short yellow dress.  A starched white apron hemmed with lace helped to cover some of the bulges in front, but from behind it didn’t help her at all.  I gave a sigh and felt instantly sorry for her.  She probably didn’t make much money, and the management was probably a little too cheap to buy uniforms that fit everyone, especially the more curvy girls.
She returned a few minutes later with a rather unhappy-looking man with a bad comb over.  I could feel my stomach clench looking at him.  I didn’t like dealing with surly people, especially this early in the morning.
“What can I do for you mam?” he asked in a weak, raspy voice, probably a result from chain smoking.  I had a hard time looking away from him.  His skin had an odd, oily appearance and he had purple circles under his eyes.  His lips had a bluish cast to them; a candidate for a heart attack if I ever did see one.
“Um,” I stammered. “I think one of your waitresses may be sick.”
He narrowed his eyes and stared at me.  “Who is sick?” he asked, a little more loudly than was necessary.
“I think the girl who waited on me at the drive thru is a little under the weather, if you know what I mean,” I said.  I would have given the proverbial wink-wink to him, but I was afraid that he would misunderstand the signal. 
“No, I don’t know what you mean,” he said curtly.  “Explain,” he said, even more loudly than before.
I was beginning to feel uncomfortable and regretting my decision to come into the restaurant.  There was no turning back now, however, so I plowed ahead.
“I noticed that your waitress has brown spots on the tops of her hands.  I don’t need to tell you what that is a sign of, do I?  The last thing you need is a horrific accident in your restaurant, right?  You know what happens when a zombie gets around pepper.”
The situation was beginning to sink in with the manager, and he looked at the floor.  He nodded and then said, “I’ll look into it.”  He abruptly turned on his heel and walked away from me.  I turned and was about to leave the store when I saw my car pulling out of the parking space without me.
I ran towards the front door of the store, and just then the waitress from the drive thru turned and gave a little wave from the driver’s side of my car.  “Holy cheese and crackers!” I yelled.  “She stole my car!”
Other patrons who were enjoying their breakfast biscuits stopped eating and looked up at me.  “She stole my car!” I yelled again, pointing at the door. 
I turned and looked at the restaurant patrons around me, half wondering if anyone was going to help me.  Most of them just went back to eating, though a few looked at me expectantly for a moment or two before they also returned to their breakfasts.
If nothing else, people in Hornellsville were a calm lot. Buy Links: CreateSpace - https://www.createspace.com/4376850 Amazon:  https:  http://www.amazon.com/I-Dream-Zombies-Charlotte-Gerber-ebook/dp/B00G99RZGI

Author Bio:
Charlotte Gerber began her writing career after becoming disabled in 2004.  Since then she has been a writer and editor for LoveToKnow.com, and most recently covering disability issues for the New York Times on their About.com website.
Murder in Middleton, the story of a psychic teenager trying to solve a century’s old murder mystery, was her first book.  I Dream of Zombies, the story of Rose Lee, a zombie social worker, will be released on Halloween this year.
A holiday novella, A Very Merry Middleton Christmas, is scheduled for release during the holiday season this year.  Curiosity Killed the Cat, a murder mystery, is scheduled for release in 2014.
Author Links:
Website – http://www.charlottegerber.com
Twitter – https://twitter.com/gerberink
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CharlotteGerberAuthor
Giveaway Info: 
One lucky winner will win a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (Winner's Choice) gift card! Enter through Rafflecopter. The giveaway starts 11/14/13 and ends 12/13/13 at 12 AM, Eastern Time. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Dragon Defender by J. A. Blackburn

About the BookTitle: Dragon Defender (Dragon Defense League, Book #1) Author: J.A. Blackburn Publication Date: October 19, 2013 Publisher: Pip & Grey Number of pages: 242 Recommended age: 10+      
Summary (Amazon): For over a thousand years dragons have existed in secret . . . Peter Clark can build a robot from scratch and pick a lock in two minutes or less. But he can't figure out why his mother left or why his grandma refuses to talk about her. When Uncle Dominick shows up on Peter's twelfth birthday with a letter that hints at answers and an incredible story about dragons, Peter follows him, determined to find out the truth about his mother's disappearance. What he finds is a reality far different from what he ever could have imagined - where dragons live in hiding, hunted by poachers for their magical parts, and a small group of men and women work tirelessly to protect them. These are the Dragon Defenders. Peter's uncle is one. So was his mother. Now it's Peter's turn.
* Finalist in the Pacific Northwest Writers Association 2013 Literary Contest *  
PurchaseAmazon (Print) | Amazon (Kindle) 
The Buzz"We read an advance copy of this book on kindle earlier this year and our 5th grade son read it twice and is anxiously awaiting the next book in the series. Great adventure, really kept our interest reading it together at night. This was one of the kids books I most enjoyed reading myself as well. The characters and the plot are well developed, and appealing to a wide range of kids (both genders). The writing is sophisticated but easy to understand, not 'dumbed down' like many kids books. The subject of dragons was so well crafted that it's easy believe that dragons just might exist, after all." ~ 5 Star Review, Leigh A., Amazon"Reminiscent of the Fablehaven series (with just the right touch of Harry P.) this middle grade book is both an adventure and a pleasure...Fast-paced and full of wonder, this book takes middle grade readers on a vivid journey from the southwestern U.S. to Mexico; where jungles, ancient ruins and local folklore add to the enchantment that Peter finds when he discovers that dragons are in fact, real. As a former elementary school teacher, my strong feeling is that kids will eat this book whole, and then turn to searching for dragon eggs in their own backyards!" ~ 5 Star Review, Grace W., Amazon"Dragon Defender was an absorbing action packed read! The author pulls you in from the first page and I'm not sorry to say I read it all in the first day. I'm 33 but still! This is a fun book for a chapter a night with your 5 year old (my son is loving it so far) or for yourself. The characters are well developed so you feel like you're really there, and the dragon is so believable. I'd venture so far as to say I had to remind myself that dragons don't really exist.... or do they?" ~ 5 Star Review, MGC, Amazon 
About the Author: J.A. Blackburn[caption id="attachment_15386" align="alignleft" width="151"] J.A. Blackburn[/caption]   J. A. Blackburn lives in Seattle, Washington in a small white house overlooking the sea with her husband, Jason, her son, Camden, and their dog, Bella. Dragon Defender is her first novel.
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads     
* $50 Book Blast Giveaway *Prize: $50 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice) Contest runs: December 8, 2013 to January 6, 2014, 11:59 pm, 2013 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, J.A. Blackburn 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 Unwanted Christmas Guest By Penny Estelle

I can’t tell you how excited I am that my very first ever Christmas story is being released today.  The Unwanted Christmas Guest is a story about Elizabeth McMurphy, an up and coming high powered attorney, who is after vengeance.  Her sights are set on one of the richest and most powerful families in Colorado. Steve York is an obnoxious reporter that thinks the ice queen has gone too far and does all he can to get under her skin. When one of the worst blizzards in history, hits Colorado and leaves a hurt Steve York, stranded with Elizabeth in a mountain cabin, she must decide to either take care of him, or throw him out to fend for himself.   Excerpt “What’s going on here? Where the hell are my pants?”       Elizabeth practically jumped out of her skin. Steve stood in the bedroom doorway, wearing only some tight fitting pink sweats. “I found you after your car went nose to nose with a tree.” She crossed her arms. “The question is, what were you doing up here in a snowstorm? Were you coming up here to spy on me?”       “Jesus, my head hurts.” Steve groaned and sat at the kitchen table. “And don’t flatter yourself.” He brought up his hands to rub his eyes and push on his temples. He started to say something when a giggle and a round of undistinguishable sounds caught his attention. Steve stared at the little girl, a whisper of a smile on his pale face. “You have a daughter?”       She chose to ignore the question. “Again, Mr. York, you were headed…where?”       “I was going to see some friends in Granby, then on to Steamboat to spend the holidays with my family.”       “You figured on taking a short cut on Badger Springs Road?”       “Basically,” he muttered. “I had a phone in my pants pocket…” Steve looked down at the pink sweats. “Yours, I presume?” At her nod, he asked with a smirk, “And you’re the one that took my clothes off?”       “Junior, my neighbor.”       “If you’ll allow me to use your phone, I’ll call Triple A and get myself and my car out of your life.” He reached over to Katy and she latched onto his finger, the brightest smile ever illuminating her sweet face. Elizabeth quickly picked her up, as if he would contaminate her by his touch.  “Phones are out.”       “Internet?”       “Nope.”       “How the hell do you live here?” he asked irritably.

Please find The Unwanted Christmas Guest and my other stories with MuseItUp publishing @
https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=146&Itemid=82
 
Feel free to stop by and check out my other stories and/or leave me a message.  I love visitors!
 
www.pennystales.com
www.pennyestelle.blogspot.com
https://twitter.com/Pennystales
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5820078.Penny_Estelle
http://www.facebook.com/pennystales
http://www.amazon.com/Penny-Estelle/e/B006S62XBY

The Shadow Of The Unicorn The Legacy By Suzanne de Montigny

About the BookTitle: The Shadow of the Unicorn: The Legacy (The Shadow of the Unicorn, Book #1) Author: Suzanne de Montigny Publication Date: December 4, 2012 Publisher: MuseItUp Publishing Number of pages: 157 Recommended age: 9+    
Summary A loud, hissing sound filled the air. The unicorns looked up, their eyes filled with horror. Azaria, a unicorn colt, is intrigued when the young clairvoyant dinosaur, Darius, foresees a terrifying change in the world. When a giant fireball smashes into the earth, the unicorns struggle to survive the hurricanes and starvation that follow. Danger of a more sinister nature threatens when the creatures-that-walk-on-two-legs settle in the valley and their leader, Ishmael, discovers the healing power of the unicorns’ horns. Azaria, now a young stallion, must use his wits to save the herd from complete extinction.
* #1 in the Animals in their World list on Goodreads Listopia * * #1 in the Christmas Stocking Stuffers list on Goodreads Listopia * Winner of the 2013 Global E-book Award for Best Fantasy/Alternate History 
Book Trailer
The Buzz"Kudos to Ms. de Montigny for writing an original variation on the fantasy epic--unicorns intermingling with dinosaurs! The book's themes include the humane and environmental concerns that Watership Down and the films of Hayao Miyazaki have in common. If you have a middle grader or are just young at heart, pick up The Shadow Of The Unicorn." ~ 5 Star Review, Stuart W., Amazon"The Shadow of the Unicorn is a must-read for all unicorn lovers, but even more so for the ones, like my self, who hadn't read anything about them yet. It is a thrilling and encouraging story about a young unicorn that has to save his herd after a meteor nearly destroyed their environment and killed the dinosaurs. Suzanne de Montigny created a compelling universe with believable characters and a great adventure story to challenge them with. While the story finishes in this book, I can't wait to read about the new adventures the unicorns will face.." ~ 5 Star Review, Antje H., Amazon"This story pulled me in with a beautiful portrayal of a time and place where unicorns and dinosaurs live side by side. It moved me forward with unexpected twist and turns (a requirement in any good story). I found it hard to put the book down and was totally engaged in seeing the young characters (unicorns and dinosaurs) survive and grow because of the challenges they faced." ~ 5 Star Review, NW Harris, Amazon"I just finished reading The Shadow of the Unicorn. What a story teller Suzanne de Montigny is. She combined unicorns with dinosaurs and spun a tail of magic that kept me turning the pages, not to mention throwing in an evil that came in the form of a human! What an enjoyable story - and here I thought these mystic animals were extinct. I just didn't know what to look for!" ~ 5 Star Review, Penny E., Amazon"What a delightfully unique book. Unicorns and dinosaurs facing changing conditions. Darius is a young dinosaur capable of seeing the future. Azaria is a young unicorn who becomes a friend and learns from Darius. Yes, there are humans in this book. They are the villains of the story. Greedy beasts. I think both boys and girls will love this story. Very quick paced and easy to read. A delightful story, and I look forward to more from this author." ~ 5 Star Review, DM Lawrence, Amazon 
Purchase *Half of all proceeds go to the Third World Eye Care Society, a group of eye specialists who travel to third world countries with thousands of pairs of glasses and perform eye surgery for free.* Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | Smashwords | iTunes | MuseItUp 
About the Author: Suzanne de Montigny[caption id="attachment_15106" align="alignleft" width="167"] Suzanne de Montigny[/caption]   Suzanne de Montigny wrote her first unicorn story at the age of twelve. Several years later, she discovered it in an old box in the basement, thus reigniting her love affair with unicorns. The Shadow of the Unicorn: The Legacy, is her first novel. Suzanne lives in Burnaby, B.C. with the three loves of her life – her husband and two boys.
Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads       
* $25 Book Blast Giveaway *Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner's choice) Contest runs: December 2, 2013 to January 1, 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, Suzanne de Montigny 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 Twistedly True Tale Of Ruby Hood By Stephanie Greenhalgh

  Welcome to the Twistedly True Tale of Ruby Hood. Enter her world and run through her woods, all the while fighting to stay true to yourself. Stephanie Greenhalgh has put her own spin on the classic fairy tale. Bringing the world of teenage angst and the seduction of the hunt together. Take a look. And be sure to visit the other participating blogs, and enter the Rafflecopter for great prizes. (The more blogs you visit, the better your chance of winning!)The contest is open to international readers as well.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the small town of Woodsville, self-assured Ruby Hood becomes tangled in more than traditional teenage angst. With the Homecoming Dance looming, everything at Woodsville High appears normal, but things are not as they seem. Ruby meets a cute boy with a lopsided grin, Dylan Hunter. She flirts shamelessly with the football star, Kent Wolf, and finds herself in a barrage of harsh verbal altercations with his stunning yet wicked sister, Kayla Wolf. Thankfully, she finds solace in her friend, Lilly Fair. Through a series of odd and painful events, Ruby discovers her true calling and the responsibilities that come with her new power and position. Despite her heartache and sorrow, will Ruby find the inner strength not only to protect herself, but also to keep the Wood safe at all cost?
   Even though she currently lives in Las Vegas, Stephanie Greenhalgh is a Midwestern girl through and through. As an avid reader and learner, literature and school are more of a passion than a hobby. This two time UNLV graduate has four published short stories: "Betula's Angst", "Duality", "Angel 101", and "The Twistedly True Nightmare of Ruby Hood", all featured in anthologies. The Twistedly True Tale of Ruby Hood", is her first full length novel and debuted in August from Write more Publications.
When Stephanie is not writing, reading or running, she is teaching young people and sharing her passion of the written language.
 
You can find Stephanie on Amazon,Facebook, Twitterand her blog A Writer’s Perspective

 
Please visit our participating Blogs:
 
November 25th:  My Life with Books and Boys
November 27th: My Life as a Teenage Vampire
November 30th: Theresa Oliver
December 1st: Blogs About Writing
December 3rd:  I Love Books
December 8th: Vampires, Crime and Angels… Eclectic Me
December 9th: Jessica Baldwin

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Grace By K. C. Sprayberry

Blurb: Grace Winston yearns for one last family Christmas before she leaves for England, but first she has to convince her brothers and sisters it's worth their while to come home. While her parents are happy that she's been accepted at Oxford University, they are pining for their family to gather together for the holidays. Grace talks her older brothers and sister into coming home, but then they must convince their other siblings: a brother who attacked their father to get money to feed his drug habit, and a sister who recently gave up alcohol and is raising her four young children alone. While Grace manages to bring them all together, she is soon wondering if this was really worth all the trouble she's gone through, especially when no one acknowledges her efforts to make this a Christmas to remember--until she receives an early gift that leaves her certain that everything will turn out all right.

Excerpt: Grace Winston had celebrated her eighteenth birthday a mere three weeks ago, the same day as Thanksgiving. There were no thanks in her house, no special foods prepared to celebrate her becoming an adult, nothing to mark the day as unique.

Her parents hadn't said "Happy Birthday" until it was time to go to bed. Even then, the acknowledgement had sounded more like "goodnight."


It's not Mama and Papa's fault. They can't help how sad they are. My brothers and sisters should have come like they said they would. They're not even making false promises anymore. All of them claim that they have other plans for Christmas, and we need to get over our selfish desire to have the family together.

For as far back as she could remember, that day has been one where her whole family showed up, until her oldest brother, Adam, decided that he had too much work to spend a week at his childhood home. Mark begged off the next year, claiming his wife's job required him to appear at the White House. The others never bothered to make an excuse the year after that.

Bio: KC Sprayberry started writing young, first as a diarist, and later through an interest in English and creative writing. Her first experience with publication came when she placed third in The Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge contest while in the Air Force, but her dedication to writing came after she had her youngest child, now in his senior year of high school.

Her family lives in Northwest Georgia where she spends her days creating stories about life in the south, and far beyond. More than a dozen of her short stories have appeared in several magazines. Five anthologies feature other short stories. She has three books that are Amazon best sellers: Softly Say Goodbye, Who Am I?, and Mama's Advice. Her other novels available are: Take Chances, Where U @, The Wrong One, The Ghost Catcher, Family Curse … Times Two, and Secret From The Flames.



Links:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/KC-Sprayberry/331150236901202


Twitter: https://twitter.com/kcsowriter


Blog: http://outofcontrolcharacters.blogspot.com/

Website: www.kcsprayberry.com


Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5011219.K_C_Sprayberry


JacketFlap: http://www.jacketflap.com/profile.asp?member=kathispray


Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005DI1YOU


Google +: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+KcSprayberry/posts

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/kcsprayberry/boards/


Authorgraph: http://www.authorgraph.com/authors/kcsowriter


AUTHORSdB: http://www.authorsdb.com/authors-directory/5230-k-c-sprayberry

My Review Of The Mirage C. Warner-Thompson

  I give this book a five star review. I loved it. This story has great, loveable characters. Full of adventure, action, and romace. Thank you for a good read.  
Blurb:
Abbii can’t remember a time when Shadows weren’t chasing her.
 
Everywhere she goes they are there, hunting her down.
 
Since discovering the magical powers in her grasp, she has fought against members of the Forgotten- those pulled into Darkness willingly- and her friends have fallen into danger. Innocent people have lost their lives and the Shadows have spread. Abbii’s friends have fought to remain by her side, but something inside of her has changed.
 
She is filled with regret and pain of losing her best friend Jake, though she keeps it hidden well- not even Nate can see the damage. Her lack of emotion pushes him to leave and he is thrown into his own spiralling destiny.
 
Abbii has a choice- to stay by her friends’ sides and fight to protect their home, or leave the realm she knows and search for those that she has lost. Her heart is broken but her friends cannot help her. She has to choose between searching for Jake in the Dark, or whether to return to Nate’s side and keep the Light burning brightly.
 
The question is, will Light be able to save her from the Darkness within?

 
Author Bio:
Clemy was born in the UK in 1991 where she still lives, growing up alongside one younger and three older brothers.
Books and writing was an interest that she began to develop from the first years of secondary school, and on her thirteenth birthday, she began to plan and design the idea to write a fantasy novel. She finished secondary school with high GCSE's and then went on into further education to study English and all aspects of art and design. After six years of writing, planning and overall editing of the book, it was successfully completed, containing over 82,000 words, and self published in the first week of 2011.
With high expectations in herself, she immediately began to write a second novel in the series, while keeping her art and design a part of the process. The achievement of completing the first novel 'Purest Light,' allowed the ideas of the second to flow much easier and it was completed by early 2012. As she was writing the third and final book, New Beginnings, at the same time, the series was finished by its publication in 2013.
Writing is now a part of her everyday and she has now started her newest project, The Mirage, which is book two of three. 
Link:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClemyWarnerThompson
Twitter: https://twitter.com/clemychum
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5328411.Clemy_Warner_Thompson
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/CWarnerThompson
Lulu: http://www.lulu.com/shop/search.ep?type=&keyWords=c.warner-thompson&x=1&y=2&sitesearch=lulu.com&q=
 
Buy links:
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/374444
Lulu: http://www.lulu.com/shop/clemy-warner...