Sage Nestler's Blog, page 26
February 10, 2018
Pre-Order: Kallista by Sian B. Claven
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There is an awesome new horror novel coming out on February 15 that you just have to check out! The novel is called “Kallista” by Sian B. Claven, and the ebook is now available for pre-order. I am so happy to be sharing with you another great female horror author for Women in Horror Month! I know that you will love her work. Check out the thrilling blurb below!
Much love,
Ashley
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★★★★NEW RELEASE★★★★
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I told you watch your back.
An itch that needs to be scratched.
A case that needs to be solved.
A mastermind killer on the loose.
A sister who wants answers.
Delve into the mind of The Butcher who has an itch that needs satisfying. The only way to satisfy it is to take another life. Follow Kallista, the middle child of the Metz family and younger sister of Tatum, while she pursues him, going over each case she thinks is related to him, trying to find out the truth.
Is she having a psychological break every time she sees the apparition of one of his victims, or is she actually seeing spirits that are trying to tell her what really happened?
The Butcher can’t get away with it again. His body count is getting too high. Sooner or later the odds won’t be in his favour and they’re not in Kallista’s either; but she’s too busy obsessing over him to see the obvious coming for her.
Death comes to those who do not see.
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February 7, 2018
Behind Broken Glass Walls: New Review
After looking at my books on Goodreads today, I came across a new 5-star review for my novel, Behind Broken Glass Walls! There is nothing that makes me happier than knowing that my work has impacted someone in some way. Please read on to for the lovely review! Thank you all so much for your support.
Much love,
Ashley
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Well, this certainly was a book that had me sitting on the edge of my seat, tissues in one hand, and a glass of wine in the other. Heavy, heavy subject matter, but oh my, so incredibly GOOD!
I thought the Author handled it brilliantly. The taking of such innocent, young lives in a school massacre is not an easy topic to talk about, let alone write an entire novel on. But the Author did it, and did it exceedingly well. It was handled with tact, dignity, and an enormous degree of compassion, for both the victims, and the perpetrator.
As the reader you are given a rare insight into the mind of a mass murderer. Yes, I know, those words sound harsh, because they are harsh. And at no time in the story do you ever forget that despite the fact the killer is only a child, she still needs to be labelled as a mass murderer. She murdered seventeen students, and there is no escaping that horror. It was an evil, monstrous thing to do, and something no parent should ever be forced to live through.
But here’s the thing that got me thinking while I was reading this story. Rarely do children commit such vile acts unless provoked. Adults yes, adults often do despicable things to each other, but children, not often, and not without reason.
Now while nothing excuses what the lead character Drachea did to those poor innocent children, you have to ask yourself, what type of emotional torment and hell was she in to make her feel this was her only way out? How cold and dead was she inside to enable her to take lives in such a cold blooded way? And what the hell had happened to her to make her become like this?
Bullying and sexual assault. ‘Boys will just be boys’ was the way the Principal of Drachea’s school described it to her mother. I’m sorry, but sexual assault goes way beyond ‘boys being boys’, and to have someone in a position of authority condoning that type behaviour is an insult to the entire female population. How dare someone trivialize such a violation of our bodies and our rights. Especially when those bodies are children. Had the principal taken the assault against Drachea’s best friend Emmalynne more seriously, he could have perhaps prevented the horror that was to follow. But no, he waved it away, ‘boys will just be boys’.
Again, nothing excuses what Drachea did, she was wrong, her actions were wrong, but it’s very clear that her mind was wrong. Should her mother have picked up on her strange behaviour? I don’t think so, and even if she had, what could she have done? I think Drachea was gone long before any shots were fired. The damage had been done, she’d shut down and shut everyone out.
I loved this book, even though at times it was so difficult to read. I would have to walk away sometimes, just for a break, the emotion too much and too raw.
It deserves all the fives stars I’m giving it, and I believe it is a book that should be read by everyone, especially those who have children, you can learn so much from it, and from so many different perspectives. That’s another thing the Author has done brilliantly, she has been able to show the reader how this horrific incident impacted each individual life it touched, so you walk away knowing what it feels like to be the mother of the murderer, the father, the best friend, and the victims.
This is a story that will stay with me long after I finished reading.
February 5, 2018
Women in Horror Month – Feature 1
February is Women in Horror month, and I am so excited to share the month with you! As a female horror author and horror fanatic myself, I am very passionate about female representation in horror.
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To kick off the month, I am introducing to you the table of contents for a new horror collection that will be featuring my poem “In the Shadow of the Damned”! This collection is called “Death’s Garden”, and it is filled with short stories and poems by numerous horror authors (many of whom are female).
Enjoy!
Much love,
Ashley
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Table of Contents
1 Sugar and Spice by Jill Hand
2 Flesh Floret by Sara Tantlinger
3 Hell is More Than Half of Paradise by O.R. Dalby
4 Eve of All Souls by Susan A Sheppard
5 Song of the Soil by Steven Wynne
6 In the Shadow of the Damned by A.M. Nestler
7 The Plague Trees by Ross Baxter
8 Death’s Garden by Michael H Hanson
9 The Final Coupling by Shaun Avery
10 Eternal Blossom by Mathias Jansson
11 Green Growing Things by Dale W Glaser
12 Nursery by Chad Lutzke
13 Rhymes With Orange by Gregory L Norris
14 Plant Them Deep by Jordan King-Lacroix
15 How Does Your Garden Grow by JG Faherty
16 Relief by R. Bratten Weiss
17 Monstrous Veg by Liam Hogan
18 Roaches in the Wormwood by David Shultz
19 Cornographic by Jonah Buck
20 Seeds of Guilt by Claire Smith
21 The Master and The Mushroom by Max D Stanton
22 The Bodies Never Ripen in the Grapeyard by Kurt Newton
23 Fleurs Du Mal by Edward Ahern
24 The Garden by Alan Rozinski
25 Queensfield by John McCallum Swain
February 1, 2018
Cover Reveal: It Started With A Kiss by Cathy Johns, C.J. Welles, J.A. Collard, and Stacey McCoy
With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, I am excited to reveal to you a new cover for a collection of romance novellas! It Started With A Kiss is brimming with steamy romance stories to keep you company this Valentine’s Day. Enjoy!
Much love,
Ashley
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(¸.•´ (¸.•` COVER REVEAL
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TITLE : It Started With A Kiss
AUTHORS : Cathy Johns, C.J. Welles, J.A. Collard, Stacey McCoy
GENRE : Romance
COVER DESIGN : V Designs
RELEASE DATE : February 14th 2018
BLURB : Four talented authors have teamed up together to bring you four sexy, hot, romance novellas.
Be captivated as they take you into the lives of their main characters and how all it took was just one kiss to change their paths forever.
Be prepared for some sultry, sexy and steamy romance to hit the pages of It Started With a Kiss.
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January 27, 2018
Series Spotlight: The Blood of Dragons
I am SUPER excited to share with you a new high fantasy novel that is just waiting to sweep you away! Heshayol is the sequel to Anaerfell, which I won in a giveaway awhile back, and I fell in love with it from the start. If you love dragon-centered novels, then you are going to fall in love with The Blood of Dragons series. Enjoy!
Much love,
Ashley
Heshayol: The Blood of Dragons Book 2
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Over a millennium ago, at their father’s command, Tyran and Drast sent the Horned God to the Netherworld in hopes of gaining everlasting life. Instead, they sparked a chain of events that led to the near destruction of the Ash Tree and the liberation of the old gods. Now, with the world waning, the two brothers are freed from Anaerfell to travel to the frozen realm of the dead and resurrect their enemy with hopes of restoring balance. Tyran and Drast journey between time and space with limitless magic at their fingertips to face demon legions, forsaken immortals, and the realization that the malevolence of their father is not yet done.
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They knew killing a dragon wasn’t going to be easy. Especially not one that was also a god. But they never expected to be punished so brutally, or for so long. Death is no escape when you’ve already slain the Horned God to the Netherworld.
Pre order only $2.99 and for a limited time you can get the first book Anaerfell for only $.99.
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Authors
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Joshua Robertson is an award-winning author in epic, dark fantasy. You may recognize him as the dude whose dragons were said to destroy George R.R. Martin’s and Christopher Paolini’s dragons in a very biased Twitter poll. His first novel, Melkorka, was released in 2015, and he has been writing fantasy fiction like clockwork ever since. Known most for his Thrice Nine Legends Saga, Robertson enjoys an ever-expanding and extremely loyal following of readers. He currently lives in North Carolina with his better half and his horde of goblins. Learn more at http://www.robertsonwrites.com or connect with him on Instagram @RobertsonWrites.
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J.C. lives in the Midwest with his wife and two dogs. He recently earned his MA in English Literature and is working on his debut novel for his own fantasy world. Despite growing up with Dungeons & Dragons, Lord of the Rings, and a collection of both Dragonlance and Forgotten Realms novels, J.C. has an abiding love of classics and spends his free time reading anything he can get his hands on.
Heshayol https://www.amazon.com/Heshayol-Blood-Dragons-Book-2-ebook/dp/B078Y8G2VX/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
Website http://www.robertsonwrites.com
Amazon http://amzn.to/1HOhIth
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4452549.Joshua_Robertson
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJoshuaRobertson
Twitter http://www.twitter.com/robertsonwrites
Newsletter https://www.subscribepage.com/thriceninelegends
January 26, 2018
Book Review: Forever My Girl by Heidi McLaughlin
Title: Forever My Girl
Author: Heidi McLaughlin
Rating: 1/5
Genre: Romance
Synopsis:
I was never supposed to be a rock star. I had my life all planned out for me. Play football in college. Go to the NFL. Marry my high school sweetheart and live happily ever after.
I broke both our hearts that day when I told her I was leaving. I was young. I made the right decision for me, but the wrong decision for us. I’ve poured my soul into my music, but I’ve never forgotten her. Her smell, her smile.
And now I’m going back.
After ten years.
I hope I can explain that after all this time.
I still want her to be my forever girl.
Short Review
Forever My Girl is a cliche love story between a cheerleader and football player turned musician years after they graduate high school. Despite the small twists presented in the novel, I couldn’t get past the cliche romance of two stereotypically “hot” people, and the degradation of women throughout.
Full Review (Contains Spoilers)
Forever My Girl was turned into a movie that released on January 19,2018, and due to recent hype surrounding this novel, I just had to read it. However, it did not live up to my expectations.
Our “heroes” of the novel are Liam and Josie, an all American couple consisting of a cheerleader and football player. However, the novel takes place many years into the future after Liam dumps Josie and cuts all ties with her to pursue his music career. Well, surprise, surprise, Liam ends up becoming famous, but still holds onto his passion for Josie. He also manages to criticize every girl he meets along the way due to the way she dresses, the makeup she wears, or what her body type is. Following the death of his former high school buddy, Liam returns to his small town in the hopes of seeing Josie again only to find that she has a son – of whom he is the father of. However, Josie is now engaged to another guy who they went to high school and whom Liam accuses of always trying to steal his girl. Yet, Liam doesn’t take into account the fact that Liam left Josie in the dust without a good reason or sense of closure. The rest of the novel is followed by a defamation of Josie’s current fiance (Nick), and Liam swooping in to finally take care of a son who he just met by throwing money around.
Okay, I am not necessarily against the cheerleader/football player love story, but this novel didn’t work more me. Heidi McLaughlin tried to take this cliche couple and age progress them, but she ended up just making them older, with the same teenage attitudes that they had before. Even though I knew that I should have been rooting for Liam and Josie to get back together, I couldn’t help but be on Nick’s side. Nick helped Josie raise her son for 6 years before Liam returned, and as soon as Liam returned, Nick was made the villain for “stealing” Liam’s girl. All the readers are offered in this context were small angry outbursts from Nick before he is written out of the plot completely by suddenly leaving Josie. Also, Liam mentions that his and Josie’s son, Noah, never asks about Nick once he leaves, despite Nick having raised Noah for 6 years. This was completely unbelievable to me, and it seemed to be a cheap trick that McLaughlin used to create a setting that was perfect for Liam and Josie to get back together. McLaughlin also didn’t write Noah properly since she gave him the dialogue of a 20-year-old and makes him unbelievably passive throughout the complete change he experiences in his home life. After Nick leaves, Josie moves in with Liam in the house he was just able to buy out of nowhere in their small town. Even though this was a “happily ever after” novel, it was unrealistic and filled with multiple bouts of weeping and plot holes that did nothing to progress the novel forward.
I also need to address the issue from Liam’s perspective. The fact that Forever My Girl was written by a woman disturbs me, considering throughout the novel Liam tells the reader how a woman should and shouldn’t look or act. McLaughlin goes on to describe in detail how a woman shouldn’t “try too hard”, but how she needs to be skinny and well kept at all times. I honestly felt like Liam’s character was judging me throughout the novel with his multiple criticisms of women. Liam was also a self-pitying character, and I didn’t find him attractive at all. He was manipulative of Josie, yet McLaughlin tried to make the reader feel bad for him. Nevermind the fact that he dumped Josie without warning and cut all ties with her, yet he is angry when he finds out that she had his son without telling him. To be honest, if this book was not being turned into a movie, I would not have finished it.
While Forever My Girl tries to capture the all American romance in a new light, I found it to be cliched and outdated. The shaming of women throughout each chapter sat wrong with me, and I do not recommend this novel due to the derogatory language used when speaking of women. I am saddened that this is the first review where I have not been able to recommend the book to anyone. I just cannot support a book that belittles females across the board. The editing was also poor, and numerous spelling and grammar errors were spotted throughout. Forever My Girl is officially my lowest rated novel receiving 1 out of 5 stars.
January 21, 2018
Pre-Order: Call of the Wolf by Rebecca Murray
Do you like paranormal fantasy? I happen to ADORE this genre, and I am so excited to share with you a new novel available for pre-order! The novel is called Call of the Wolf by Rebecca Murray, and it is the first in a trilogy.
Much love,
Ashley
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(¸.•´ (¸.•` PREORDER ONLY 0.99 CENTS
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TITLE : Call Of The Wolf
SERIES : Dark Blood Trilogy Book One
GENRE : Paranormal Fantasy
RELEASE DATE : January 30th 2018
BLURB : Emilie and Melaina are the only two immortal witches that have been chosen by the Lamia to take the gift of eternal life. Two sisters, but two very different souls. One wields magic so dark and evil that even the devil himself fears her. The other holds the purest of magic with a darkness buried deep within.
When Emilie is set amongst the wolves to find out the latest game they play she finds herself swept away by the magic of the youngest wolf Maccon.
But Emilie holds her own dark secret, one so enormous, it threatens to destroy all that the Lamia have protected for centuries. A secret that could bring a new rule over all of the Forsaken. A secret that if discovered would bring forth the ultimate war between nature’s monsters.
Will Emilie answer the call of the wolf or will the White Witch be consumed by the darkness threatening her world?
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AUTHOR LINKS :
Website: www.rmurrayauthor.com
Email: contact.rmurrayauthor@gmail.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rmurrayauthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rmurrayauthor/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RebeccaMurrayAuthor/
Facebook readers group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rebeccasforsaken/
January 15, 2018
Book Trailer: Blood, Ink &Fire by Ashley Monsour
In our December Literary Vacation Club box, we featured Blood, Ink & Fire by Ashley Monsour. This novel is a sweeping epic that focuses on what life would be like if we didn’t have any books. I fell in love with Monsour’s immense imagination and artistry in her novel, and I was so happy to be able to feature her gorgeous work!
Below is an exclusive book trailer for Blood, Ink & Fire created by Alex Pettyfer, owner of Upturn Publishing.
Enjoy!
Ashley
Would you like to read Blood, Ink & Fire?
I have 2 BOOK BUNDLES LEFT in our shop!
January 10, 2018
Book Review: Kiss My Boots by Harper Sloan
Author: Harper Sloan
Rating: 4/5
Synopsis:
In this second of the sultry, Western-set Coming Home series from New York Times bestselling author Harper Sloan, Quinn Davis might finally have a shot at her own happily-ever-after—but will she let love in, or will she tell it to go ahead and kiss her boots?
Quinn Davis prefers to live her life quietly. She’s the stereotypical tomboy with two overprotective big brothers who have always been there to protect her, especially from devilishly handsome cowboys with silver tongues. That is, until Tate Montgomery comes riding into town. Their first meeting, however, is far from something out of a fairy tale and only further convinces Quinn that men aren’t worth her time.
The only place Tate Montgomery ever truly felt at home growing up was during the long, sweltering summer months he spent at his Gram and Paw’s farm in Pine Oak, Texas. Now, Tate has returned to his childhood sanctuary seeking a fresh start—but if he’s being entirely honest, he’s not just back for the wranglers and Stetsons. During those summers, Quinn was a friend-turned-young-love who Tate lost when life threw him a curveball and he cut all ties to his past; but all it takes is one glance at the raven-haired beauty he did his best to forget for him to realize just how much he’s been missing….
Short Review
Kiss My Boots is a gorgeous portrayal of long lost love and reconciliation. Harper Sloan creates vivid characters that find their way to your heart, and I will think of them long after my reading of Kiss My Boots.
Full Review
Harper Sloan is a master of erotic romance, but I continue to read her work due to her realistic and admirable characters. I started The Coming Home Series with Lost Rider, and I knew that I had to continue the series.
Kiss My Boots is the second novel in The Coming Home Series and it follows Quinn, the youngest Davis sibling. Quinn hasn’t found a serious relationship since her first love, Tate Montgomery, due to the heartbreak that his leaving caused. However, nine years later Tate resurfaces in the small town of Pine Oak, Texas and changes Quinn’s life forever.
Quinn is not your stereotypical romance heroine – a gorgeous, girly woman who melts at the touch of her man’s hands – and I really appreciated that. Instead, Quinn is a tomboy who loves working on cars and trucks more than anything, while also having a feisty attitude that relates her well to rebel girls. When Tate came back to town looking to have his Pa’s truck rebuilt by Quinn, Quinn did not immediately fall into his arms. Instead, she held onto the heartache that he caused years earlier, and she made him work for her trust again.
Like many of Sloan’s books, the erotic scenes in Kiss My Boots were classy and gorgeous, while also being few and far between. The romance plot took up most of the novel, and that made it clear to me that Sloan did not rely on erotic scenes to entrance readers. The chemistry she created between Tate and Quinn was inspiring and I rooted for them to work out.
However, the best part of Kiss My Boots is how well Sloan connected Maverick and Leighton (from Lost Rider) into the storyline. Even though Kiss My Boots mainly focuses on Quinn, Sloan kept Leighton and Quinn’s friendship strong. The change in perspective was seamless, and I enjoyed watching both couples grow. The support of the eldest Davis sibling, Clayton, was also admirable and added an extra spark to the story.
Overall, Kiss My Boots is a rich addition to The Coming Home Series. I liked it even more than Lost Rider! Apart from a few spelling and grammar errors, the editing of the novel was satisfactory, and I can’t wait to dive into the third installment of the series – Cowboy Up!
January 7, 2018
Book Review: The Gazebo by Emily McGlashan
Author: Emily McGlashan
Rating: 4/5
Synopsis:
Growing up and trying to be accepted as part of a crowd when you are already in a minority, is never easy but for teenager, Lola Tarapachii, life is far more complicated than just the usual adolescent angsts. With an alcoholic mother and a severely depressed older brother, Lola has to face responsibilities far beyond her years. An unexpected fire in the school dining hall, leads to Lola making life-changing relationships with an eclectic family of youths who accept her for who she is, share her troubles and help her tackle the hardest decision she has ever had to make…
Short Review
The Gazebo is an excellent take on the tumultuous teenage years. The characters jump off of the page and are extremely relatable, no matter your age.
Full Review
Author Emily McGlashan is a young writer, but her work is well beyond her years. The Gazebo presents the experience of Lola Tarapachii, a minority teenager, and her experience with prejudice at school. Lola’s story is also presented through her home life – having to take care of an alcoholic mother and a brother with severe depression – and the novel illustrates how Lola’s life is deeply impacted by the adult responsibilities that have been thrown at her.
I found The Gazebo to be a gorgeous novel that relates to anyone who has ever felt like an outcast, and I was impressed by McGlashan’s unabashed way of confronting the dark side of the teenage years. One of the best things about The Gazebo is that since McGlashan is young, she represented the teenage years in a realistic way that many adult authors don’t grasp quite as well. I could tell that McGlashan used her own experiences to guide her writing and bring out the truth in oppression, and I couldn’t help but fly through this novel. As someone who has dealt with severe depression for a large part of my life, I appreciated the character of Lola’s brother and the realistic nature of his condition. Lola’s struggle with wanting to care for her brother, but feeling helpless herself, illustrated the struggle of those who care for loved ones with mental illness, and this is not a position that I see often in literature. The Gazebo is a beautiful take on the minority experience, and how the teenage years deeply affect us into adulthood.
I adore authors who don’t sugarcoat life, and the heartbreaking moments in The Gazebo will stay with me for years to come. Even though this novel is less than 100 pages it packs an emotional punch, and it changes the reader’s perspective. The only reason I didn’t rate The Gazebo 5/5 is due to some inconsistent language, run on sentences, and punctuation, but the weight of the story heavily overpowers the flaws. If you are looking for a gorgeous novel that will profoundly affect you, then The Gazebo is a novel that you must read.
