Angela Myron's Blog, page 5

Kaylen's Rising by Yves Robichaud

Kaylen has been in the dark for fourteen years – in every sense. His people are hunted, so they must struggle to survive within underground caves. His community despises his family, taunting him constantly. His parents keep him housebound, forbidding him from wielding sword or wand.

When he is finally allowed to attend school, the harsh truth reveals he has much to learn – including a unique magical ability. Kaylen can summon and control skeletons!

With surface-dwellers threatening war, he will need every friend he can make, and to stay true to himself if he is to survive what is to come.An Excerpt from the Book“Are you excited about our first mission?” asked Turin.

“Yes and no.” stated Avery. “I'm not sure that I want to come face to face with Locien, the Snake Dragon. I've heard stories about this creature destroying complete armies.”

“Let's hope Erynel's plan works and we can just go collect the scales while Locien is away so we don't have to face her,” said Kaylen.

“Erynel... why does she hate you so much, Kaylen?” asked Turin looking his friend in the eyes.

“I don't know—I seem to have that effect on people,” replied Kaylen, looking at Avery and smiling. 

Avery looked down, embarrassed.

Alysse sat there quietly, trying to take in as much as she could.

Everyone stopped talking when Erynel walked into the room. Kaylen was impressed as to how someone so young could command such a presence.

“Today, you all leave on your first major mission. Do not think of this as a social event or an adventure. We have a specific task, and if you wish to be admitted to the League of the Shadows, you will obey my commands at all times. This mission is a dangerous one. Chances are that not all of you will make it back alive. One single mistake can cost us dearly. Stay close to the group, and don't do anything unless I tell you to.”About Yves Yves Robichaud is originally from the small Acadian community of Grand-Barachois, New Brunswick, Canada. He has studied Business Administration and Information Technology, currently works for the federal government, and is the proud father of one son: Jeremy. Inspired by a love of fantastical, magical tales, Kaylen's Rising is Yves' first attempt to share this literary passion with his son and the rest of the world.

www.yvesrobichaud.com | Facebook | Twitter: @yvesr72 | Goodreads | Amazon

During this tour, the author will be giving away a $25 Amazon/BN giftcard. Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:  Goddessfish Promotions Blog.a Rafflecopter giveaway

Princess Madeline Trilogy by Kirstin Pulioff

Mother Daughter Book Reviews is pleased to be hosting a Book Blast showing off the new covers of the "Princess Madeline Trilogy" by Kirstin Pulioff. About the Books Title: The Escape of Princess Madeline (Princess Madeline Trilogy, Book #1) * Author: Kirstin Pulioff * Publication Date: November 4, 2012 * Publisher: Caliburn Books * Number of pages: 138 * Recommended age: 10+ Summary: Madeline, princess of Soron, awakens on her sixteenth birthday to find that her father has already made preparations for her betrothal. When she disappears unexpectedly, her suitors and knight champion rush to the rescue. But all is not as it seems, and the errant princess’s flight has put the kingdom at stake… Can Madeline find freedom or does it come with too high a price? Follow Princess Madeline in this adventure full of twists and turns as she tries to find her freedom and answers to her questions about life and love. Amazon  Title: The Battle for Princess Madeline (Princess Madeline Trilogy, Book #2) Author: Kirstin Pulioff Publication Date: May 21, 2013 Publisher: Caliburn Books Number of pages: 159 Recommended age: 10+ Summary: Princess Madeline rejected Prince Paulsen’s advances, but he’s not about to take it lying down. In the middle of Soron’s festival preparations, when his obsession jeopardizes the kingdom, mysterious figures from the kingdom’s past arrive. Can Madeline risk accepting their help or will their information about a family secret be too much for her to handle? Can Madeline trust anyone or will saving the kingdom come down to her own bravery? Amazon    Title: The Dragon and Princess Madeline (Princess Madeline Trilogy, Book #3) Author: Kirstin Pulioff Publication Date: November 26, 2013 Publisher: Caliburn Books Number of pages: 135 Recommended age: 10+ Summary: Princess Madeline is ready to celebrate. With the foundation of her future in place, it seems nothing can hurt her. Then the return of a mysterious green dragon threatens her kingdom and king. Will this challenge prove to be too much for Princess Madeline and Prince Braden or will they find the answers they seek hidden in cryptic messages from the past? Can Madeline save her kingdom from the dragon or is the real danger something else? Amazon The Buzz Book 1: "Well-written, fast-paced, and entirely appropriate for its target audience (middle grade fantasy), this short but succinct novel (novella? It was maybe a little between a novella and a novel) tells a delightful tale of a naive princess who learns the real meaning of freedom. Kirsten gives her characters a sufficient amount of depth to make them genuinely likeable, and she leaves room for much, much more to come." ~ 5 Star Review, Ally, Amazon

Book 1: "An inspiring thought provoking, and wonderfully written fairy tale by an author who transports us to a time in our imagination where everything is magical and possibilities are real." ~ 5 Star Review, kathyls, Amazon

Book 2: "Fairy tales are filled with knights and princesses and castles and a special magical feel that takes the reader far, far, away into another world, another place, another time. The Battle for Princess Madeline fits the bill to a tee! Author Kirstin Pulioff has created a special feel to the tale of Princess Madeline with her own special talent for using words to paint pictures in our minds." ~ 5 Star Review, Dii, Amazon

Book 2: "The story is well developed and easy to follow. The vivid scenes will transport young readers into the magical world of fairy tales with thrilling characters that have come to life. Another splendid read for young readers! I can hardly wait for a new book, Princess Madeline and the Dragon. " ~ 5 Star Review, Mrs. D., Amazon

Book 3: "The story is engaging on many levels, as is Pulioff's writing, but on this occasion I was mostly drawn into the action and the mystery as how to prevent the worst from happening. This is great entertainment and should do well across a wider age range." ~ 5 Star Review,ChristophFischerBooks, Amazon

Book 3: "Kirstin Pulioff has saved the best for last. 'Princess Madeline and the Dragon' is the final instalment in the 'Princess Madeline Trilogy'. I thought the first two books were finely wrought stories, but this novel surpasses its predecessors. Prophesies, family tragedies, magic and - of course - dragons, combine to produce a tale that is an instant classic. Written with a great deal of charm, 'Princess Madeline and the Dragon' will not disappoint Ms Pulioff's young fans. I look forward to seeing where next her imagination will take this natural storyteller. " ~ 5 Star Review, Diogenes, Amazon About the Author: Kirstin Pulioff Kirstin Pulioff Kirstin Pulioff is a storyteller at heart. Born and raised in Southern California, she moved to the Pacific Northwest to follow her dreams and graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in Forest Management. Happily married and a mother of two, she lives in the foothills of Colorado. When she’s not writing an adventure, she’s busy living one. Website | Facebook | Twitter Goodreads | Amazon Author Page    * $25 Book Blast Giveaway * Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice) Contest ends: April 4, 11:59 pm, 2015 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, Kirstin Pulioff 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

Raising Sleeping Stones by P.H.T. Bennet

Mother Daughter Book Reviews is very excited to be coordinating a Book Blast for a book that is taking reading in new directions. “Raising Sleeping Stones” by P.H.T. Bennet is a fantasy adventure whose story and app will help readers learn more about their own dreams. Read on for more information. About the BookTitle: Raising Sleeping Stones (The Orora Crona Chronicles, Book 1) | Author: P.H.T. Bennet | Publication Date: December 4, 2014 | Publisher: DreamKeeper Publishing | Pages: 364 (est.) | Recommended Ages: 9 to 14 You can purchase a copy of this innovative book/app for only 99 cents until April 2, 2015! Please note that the full functionalities of the app (e.g., music, hidden illustrations, and other interactive features) are not included in the e-book. The app is available through iTunes. Amazon * Barnes & Noble * iBooks Kobo * Smashwords * Goodreads  The Story

***Winner of a 2013 Newbury Comics Award!***

When sisters Kiva and DeeDee Stone discover a mysterious plot that threatens them and everything they care about, they have to take a crash course in the ancient art of DreamKeeping to survive. As two elder Dream Keepers lead them up the Varruvyen river to the Eyle of Return, they show the girls how to gain dream powers greater than anything they had ever imagined. But can they become strong enough to face the monsters that haunt their dreams at night, strong enough to fight the enemies that draw nearer each day? The answer lies somewhere in the broken history of Orora Crona, the Valley of Dreams lost centuries ago, and whoever can piece it together first will rule for centuries to come.   The Experience THE APP: Raising Sleeping Stones has been released as an electronic book in app form because it will do what dreams do by weaving together a story, music, illustrations, and interactive features to create a richer, more layered reading experience. STORY: The adventures of Kiva and DeeDee will become clearer and richer if you pause at the end of a chapter to think about the new clues you could use to start unlocking the mysteries of the earlier chapters ... or to predict what will happen in the next ones. DREAM TECHNIQUES: Kiva and DeeDee meet the DreamKeepers who teach them how to not only remember and explore their dreams, but also how to use them to develop incredible super powers including flying, changing shape, traveling to the past, living underwater, creating impossible buildings, looking into the future, and more. This may be a fantasy series, but most of the dream techniques the characters use in the book really work, so readers can actually get better at dreaming by following what the characters do. STORYSCORE: The music tells the same story at the same time as the words, but adds additional musical cues to help you figure out what's happening between the characters or who might be involved in the plot against them. The closer you listen to the music, the more secrets you can uncover. DYNAMIC ILLUSTRATIONS: The illustrations represent the main characters and events in the story; but, if you answer the questions at the end of certain chapters, you can unlock hidden layers to the illustrations, layers that show what lies beneath the surface of the story. TUMBLER & FACEBOOK: Readers will be able to share their ideas, questions, drawings, and/or their predictions about the book on Tumblr and will be able to find sound clips, albums of drawings, updates, and other extras on Facebook as well.   Video Preview   About the Author: P.H.T. Bennet P.H.T. Bennet began exploring the world of the dreams when he was a child and never bothered to stop when he grew up. He had the good luck to have two daughters, Juliette and Paola, who not only served as the inspirations for DeeDee and Kiva, but also shared their dreams and helped him turn their family dreamwork sessions into this book. His lucky streak grew when he married his lovely wife, Mim, who tolerates his turning on a light in the middle of the night to write down ever-crazier dreams and talking about them in the morning as long as he lets her sleep in, first. Though flying dreams are his favorite, he also loves the challenge of rewinding, replaying, and revising nightmares until they have much more interesting (and less brutal) endings, the thrill of breathing and swimming at high speeds underwater, the surprise of creating new works of art, the dangers in meeting, battling, and learning from his Shadow as it changes forms, the delight of returning to Paris, where he lived for 5 years, for delicious meals, and the peacefulness he gets from dream visits with his father, who passed away four years ago. He can’t wait to hear what readers favorite dreams are and what dream skills they hope the book will help them develop. Readers can either share them with him at phtbennet(at)raisingstones(dot)com or with everybody reading the book at http://raisingsleepingstones.tumblr.com Book Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads  * $25 Book Blast Giveaway * Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice) Contest ends: April 2, 11:59 pm, 2015 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, P.H.T. Bennet 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

New PWP Release: The Taking by Terra Harmony

Eighteen-year-old Serena reigns as queen of both the Undine of The Deep and the wolves of The Dry. The alliance between her maidens and the werewolves is shaky when all at once the basic necessities of food and shelter are taken away and both their worlds fall apart. After decades of war, the two societies must work together to face what lies ahead. A promised land is theirs for the taking, but first, they must survive each other.

Amazon | iTunes | Kobo | Smashwords 

About Terra Terra is author of the eco-fantasy novels in the Akasha Series, 'Water', 'Air', 'Fire' and 'Earth', as well as the Painted Maidens Trilogy. Terra was born and raised in Colorado but has since lived in California, Texas, Utah, North Carolina, and Virginia. Terra has served a 5½ year enlistment in the Marine Corp, has earned her bachelor's and master's degree and presently runs the language services division of a small business.

Terra currently lives in a suburb of Washington, DC with her husband of sixteen years and three children.

terra (dot) harmony11 (at) gmail (dot)com | facebook.com/terraharmony | harmonylit.com | twitter.com/#!/harmonygirlit

Stellarcadia by Julie Anne Grasso

Mother Daughter Book Reviews is pleased to be hosting a Book Blast for the third and final book in the "Adventures of Caramel Cardamom" middle grade science fiction trilogy by Julie Anne Grasso: "Stellarcadia". About the BookTitle: Stellarcadia (Adventures of Caramel Cardamom, Book 3) | Author: Julie Anne Grasso | Publication Date: December 24, 2014 | Publisher: Independent | Pages: 128 | Recommended Ages: 8 to 12 Book Description: Caramel Cinnamon is one lucky elf. She can hardly believe she’s invited to attend the first Intergalactic Youth Summit, on-board the Stellarcadia. Her friends can’t wait to go “hyper,” but even the thought of it chills Caramel to the bone. However, nothing could compare to the icy reception she receives upon her arrival. Keen to get to the bottom of it, Caramel stumbles on a dangerous conspiracy, but no one will believe her. In the exciting conclusion to The Adventures of Caramel Cardamom Trilogy, Caramel will have to do more than outwit her enemies, she will have to convince her friends to take her seriously. For ages 8-12. Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads  The Early Buzz

"The book is also a perfect mix of magic, science, and technology. Don’t be surprised if readers get to use their imaginations and learn something. Julie Anne Grasso has proven herself to be an original and versatile author..." ~ 5 Stars, Ilana W., Amazon

"Couldn't put it down." ~ Jemima P., Goodreads

  About the Author: Julie Anne Grasso With a background in paediatric nursing, Julie Anne Grasso spent many years literally wrapping children in cotton wool. Every day she witnessed great courage and resilience from the tiny people she cared for, which inspired her to write stories to encourage and entertain them. She lives in Melbourne, Australia with her husband Danny and their little girl, Giselle. Website | Blog | Facebook Twitter | Goodreads  * $25 Book Blast Giveaway * Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice) Contest ends: March 25, 11:59 pm, 2015 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, Julie Anne Grasso 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

Secrets: Diary of a Gutsy Teen by Barbara Becker Holstein

Following in the footsteps of The Truth, Secrets: Diary of a Gutsy Teen begins as the thirteen-year-old protagonist makes a move with her family to a new town. She has grown up a lot over the past year—and has made a list of everything that’s important to her now that she doesn’t want to forget when she gets older. But now, as she enters her early teen years, she begins to write down the secrets she wants to keep—and the ones she has no one to tell about. From new school experiences to a new baby in the family to a new crush, this new teen finally feels empowered on making her own decisions with confidence and keeping those secrets she holds dearest for herself.

In a positive and supportive diary-entry format, Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein encourages tween and early teen girls to carry the most precious parts of themselves into adulthood. A great book for mothers and daughters to read together, Secrets is aimed to improve communication, understanding, and self-esteem for young girls as they enter the rocky road of teenager-dom.

An Excerpt From thE Book Date: June 27
Dear Diary,

I can’t believe it. Today we moved, and I feel like I’m in a dream. I just keep walking around our new house and wondering when we will go home. It feels so different and strange.

 Everything is on one floor (that’s called a ranch house). The floors are all bare wood. My mom said our rugs would look terrible here so she let the people who bought our old house keep them. I think she was probably right. They were a dark maroon and the walls here are a light cream. I don’t think that would look good.

I went to the bathroom three times since we got here and every time I used a different bathroom. I can’t believe it. Three different toilets in the same house! Only my friend Susan, my rich friend, had more than two bathrooms in her house. And four bedrooms! And a family room. I can’t believe we have this much space now.

 When I look out of the windows I expect to see the shrubs and the Hudson’s house who were next to us on the left, but I don’t. Instead, I see a big open field that will probably have houses built on it by next year. That’s what my dad said anyway. And when I look out to the right I expect to see our clothesline and the Dixon’s driveway, but instead I see rose bushes and a wooden bench under a tree that the last owners said we could have.

Tonight, we had to eat supper off paper plates and use plastic forks, knives, and spoons because our boxes are still packed. My aunt made us a big picnic basket full of food and that’s what we ate for supper. It was delicious. There was fried chicken, potato salad and potato chips, cupcakes for dessert, and fruit salad. And at the bottom of the basket under the ice was a whole package of Hershey Kisses. Yum!

My brother already started to play with a kid next door who’s about a year older than he is. He’s so lucky. I have no new friends yet and that’s the truth!

About Barbara I have been a positive psychologist in private practice for the past thirty years. In the course of working with my clients, I originated the idea of THE ENCHANTED SELF(R), a positive psychology therapy where I teach people how to recognize and utilize their strengths, talents, skills and even lost potential. I have developed a number of methods, including using our memories to rediscover what is right about ourselves and our lives, rather than what went wrong, helping people to overcome adversity, experience positive emotions and live the good life!

Since developing this concept, I've been able to use many tools to bring the Enchanted Self to everyone, particularly women and girls. I've written many books, starting with THE ENCHANTED SELF, A Positive Therapy, and then Recipes for Enchantment, The Secret Ingredient is YOU!  My books for girls are very popular, as they are great fictional reads and also help deal with many of the questions that trouble kids as they move into the tween and teen years.  The Truth, Diary of a Gutsy Tween and Secrets, Diary of a Gutsy Teen are the first two books in this series.

I really love to teach and educate about happiness and how to benefit from positive psychology in ways that let us lead lives of meaning and happiness. You can find me all over the place on the web. In particular, www.enchantedself.com, www.thetruthforgirls.com, on Facebook at Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein: Psychologist & Author, on Pinterest at http://www.pinterest.com/barbarabecke... and on You Tube. Just look for me on You Tube via Barbara Becker Holstein.

During this tour, Barabara will be giving away a $20 Amazon/BN Giftcard. Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:  Goddessfish Promotions Blog.
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BROKEN DREAMS by Nancy Pennick

Two friends...
Blood sisters till the end... 
Until they're not.

One cold night in a boarding school dorm, two fourteen-year-old girls make a blood sister pact. Friends forever. As young schoolgirls, they're determined to find true love, learning the hits and misses along the way. As graduation nears, the girls have different outlooks for the future. Lucinda longs for adventure. Anna chooses city life and marriage. Finding their way back together, the girls head west for an experience of a lifetime until a handsome cowboy bursts into their lives, changing the course of their friendship forever. An Excerpt from the Book “It’s perfect.” Anna’s jaw dropped. “The whole outfit.” She pointed from the top of Lucinda’s head down to her cream Mary Jane shoes. “This is definitely the year we find you a boy.”

“Oh, no. I like to play the field.” Lucinda stuck out her tongue, looped her arm through Anna’s and marched her out the door.

“If I’m not mistaken, you had your eye on someone last year. Let’s make a blood sister pact for the year. You’re going to meet him, this mystery man. Remember, we promised to help each other make our dreams come true.” Anna wasn’t giving up. She knew Lucinda very well and wouldn’t be fooled by the distractions. 

“And who is my mystery man?” Lucinda pretended she had no idea. She gave no clue to his identity last year, and Anna was determined to find out.

“Well, from what I gathered last year, his name might be Gerald?” Anna decided to test Lucinda and watch for a reaction. “Peter?” Her face remained blank. “Roy?” A slight twitch at the corners of Lucinda’s mouth gave her away. “It’s Roy. I knew we went to the library a lot more than necessary. He worked there shelving books, didn’t he?”

“You got me!” Lucinda held her hands up in defeat. “It’s hard to meet boys when we’re at one school and they’re at another, even though we’re all on one campus. A girl’s gotta do, what a girl’s gotta do. Remember that, Anna. It’s our blood sister saying like a secret handshake.” About Nancy Born and raised in Northeast Ohio, Nancy currently resides in Mentor, Ohio with her husband and son, plus a delightfully entertaining lovebird. Her writing is influenced by all the years of working with young people as a teacher and raising her own son. When not writing, Nancy loves to travel with her husband and enjoys a good cup of tea. Broken Dreams is a stand alone companion piece to her young adult Waiting for Dusk series.

Publisher- Fire and Ice

Links to me:
Twitter | Facebook | Blog | Amazon Author Page | Goodreads

Nancy's Other Books:
Waiting for Dusk
Call of the Canyon
Stealing Time

FREE short story: Taking Chances: A Waiting for Dusk Story

During this tour, Nancy will be giving away a $20 Amazon/BN Giftcard.  Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found on the Goddessfish blog here.
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$200 Valentine's Day Giveaway

I've joined up with Kindle Book Review and a bunch of great authors to participate in a $200 giveaway this February. That'll make for a pretty gift for a lucky Valentine! Today through February 14th, enter to win using the form below, or visit KBR to enter. Good luck! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Award Eligibility

'Tis the season for award nominations, and here be the post that mentions my eligible works. Yar.

But first! Let me mention some other people who would be thrilled to be in the running with me:

LH Nicole
Sheila Larkin
Kellie Sheridan
Erica Crouch
Bill Ferris
Chuck Wendig

I'll think of more. I will. (If you have a book that's eligible, feel free to send me a note or put it the comments below.)

My award-eligible works:

The John W. Campbell Award:
Ennara and the Fallen Druid

The Andre Norton Award:
Ennara and the Book of Shadows

The Hugo Award: Best Novel Category
Ennara and the Book of Shadows

The Nebula Award: Novel Category
Ennara and the Book of Shadows

Many thanks to SFWA members for their consideration. Wish me luck!

Ennara in Audiobook

Hey! Ennara and the Fallen Druid is now available in audiobook, narrated by the talented Crystal Nicole Marcano. I love how the book comes alive with this wonderful actress' voice. Check it out!