Reece Evhans's Blog, page 2

Book Review: The Lost Heirs by A. Moran-Soley

Genre: MG/YA Fantasy

All-ages approved. A clean, cringe-free read.

In The Lost Heirs, A. Moran-Smoley has created a world of adventure and secrets, where things are not always what they seem. 14 year-old Eric is just trying to stay out of trouble at his boarding school when he finds himself sucked into a mysterious world called Eshla. Joel, the reluctant prince of this strange new land, needs Eric’s help to retrieve the missing stones that will free his brothers from their rock prisons; only an earthling can travel back and forth between the two worlds. Eric enlists the help of his three friends and travels back in time to 1927 to retrieve the first stone.

What I Like:

I’m a huge fan of British boarding school stories, so this one grabbed me from the get-go. I loved the four main characters and felt like I was there with them as they struggled to find the Bel-Arayba stone. I really enjoyed how British the whole story was—hey, I’m American and things like “jumpers” and “whilst” are exotic. I found the whole story very original and engaging. The author excels at description and setting without becoming too wordy and the story was well paced.

Not So Much:

There was nothing I didn’t like in this book. It could have been longer and I wouldn’t have minded a bit. I would love to see this book hit the mainstream with professional editing, covers, movie deal, etc. It’s definitely got the potential.

Overall:

Highly recommended! A fun, fast read—would be a great read-aloud with the kids! I will be on the lookout for Book 2.

Guest Blog: Greeting From The Wild, Wild West by Reece Evhans

revhans:

I was a guest blogger over at A Woman’s Wisdom. Thought I’d reblog it here.

Originally posted on A Woman's Wisdom:

One of the most frequent questions people ask me (and other writers, I’m sure) is “where do you get your ideas and inspiration for your books? Well, I get ideas from many diverse places—people-watching at the mall, true crime shows, and most of all, the places I visit.

Living and writing in the southwestern United States can certainly be an adventure. I live in Albuquerque, New Mexico, which is neither new nor Mexico, but can be great fun. Hey, we’re the land of Breaking Bad, Walter White, and Jesse Pinkman. Just last night at a busy intersection, I passed the tour RV, which was decorated for the season. Nothing says “Merry Christmas” like a mobile meth lab with holiday lights! On a side note, I teach high school English, and the chemistry teacher at our school usually makes cookies, not meth, in her spare time. Hmmm.

Because it’s so interesting…

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The Seeker Series

I decided to do a post all about a great series of books–MINE!! LOL!! But, really, folks. I think they’ve got a little something-something going on. So, without further ado:

Ally Moran is psychic. She also may be the next Oracle, a powerful Seer descended from ancient Druids. She would like to be able to forget all that and just concentrate on making it through high school.

Jack Ruiz is 18 and still a junior in high school. He’s back on track after a few rough years, determined to keep his head down and graduate.

The Seeker Series follows their adventures through high school and into college, as they help friends in trouble, solve cold cases, dodge stalkers and try to discover if Ally really is the next Oracle. They might just fall in love along the way.

Book 1

The Stern and Wild Ones

16 year-old Ally has always known about things—things she shouldn’t really be able to know. Suddenly, she starts having terrifying visions about a former friend who is in desperate trouble. As her powers begin to develop, the adults in her life think she and her psychic abilities might hold the key to unraveling an ancient mystery.

Although she’s psychic, she still a normal girl with normal problems, including her attraction to a mysterious boy with a troubled past. Jack may have been in trouble with the law, but Ally sees something in him worth fighting for.

Can this unlikely couple work together to find the answers to Ally’s visions before someone gets killed? Can they possibly find love along the way?

                     Available on:

                                                                    amazon.com

                                                                     wattpad

Book 2

The Charge of a Star

Meet Ally, a 17 year-old who also happens to be psychic. Oh, and she’s getting more psychic with every passing day, so much so that she’s been sent to Ireland to check in with the Seer Council to see what’s up with her freaky new powers.

Jack is her 19 year-old boyfriend, a former trouble-maker who is back on track and trying desperately to graduate. His plans did not include falling in love with psychic trouble-magnet.

Just last month they worked together to save a friend in deep trouble and ended up exposing a steroid ring at their school. Now there’s a new guy at school who seems just a little bit too interested in Ally for Jack’s liking. And why does Ally keep dreaming about a kidnapping? Last month seems like a cakewalk compared to this semester. Ally’s trying to solve a mystery, but Jack is just trying to keep her alive.

Available on:

amazon.com

 

Book 3

A Spirit Too Delicate

Coming Early 2015

Ally and Jack are starting their first year in college and are hoping for peace and quiet for the first time in their relationship. It may be too much to hope for when Ally’s long-lost father shows up.

Meanwhile, Rémy and the mysterious Mina have accompanied Ally home from France so they can figure out what the newest prophecy could possibly mean. Is Ally the next Oracle?

Things really start to get crazy when Ally discovers she has a stalker following her. Jack and Rémy will try to keep her safe against ever-increasing danger.

Book 4

The Final Chapter in The Seeker Series

Coming 2015

WHY Are We Writers? Understanding the Why Behind the Buy

revhans:

What a great post! I write because I have to do something with the stories swirling around in my head. I hope others enjoy reading my stories, but I gotta write them!

Originally posted on Kristen Lamb's Blog:

 

Now that NaNoWrMo is finished, congratulations to those who WON. I only made it to a little over 34,000 words *sad face*, but I did it with Shingles so I am grading myself on a curve :P . As a writer, being delusional is totally acceptable. I’m actually not too far from finishing the novel, so I’m happy I tried.

Anyway….

For those who might be tempted to go back and edit? I recommend stepping AWAY. Work on something different or the odds of you seeing the problems aren’t too great.

Which is why we are shifting gears here on the blog and we’re going to talk about branding and social media. Oh, the cries of despair! Hey, I am here. No worries *hands paper bag*.

Here’s the thing. Nobody has to do social media. I won’t force you. The only writers who need to create a brand and…

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Book Review: The Ghost Files by Apryl Baker

Mattie is 16 and sees dead people. No, really. She thinks it may stem from the time her mother tried to kill her and succeeded in killing herself. Her father is an unknown, so she’s been in the foster system for most of her life. So, yeah, she’s dragging some baggage around. She’s just trying to live a normal life, but ghosts keep popping up. What’s a girl to do? She mostly ignores them until the day one of them turns out to be a friend of hers. Now it’s personal and Mattie finds herself hunting for a serial killer. She gets some help from the gorgeous Officer Dan, a rookie cop working his way through college. Things heat up quickly and Mattie finds herself fighting for her own life.

What I liked:

The whole premise is loads of fun and Apryl does a great job with the backstory on Mattie’s abilities. She’s created a full mythology and it will be fun to see what she does with it throughout the series. It’s a complex storyline with lots of room to grow.

I loved her dialogue. She has a gift for making it seem natural. You find yourself in the room with the characters.

Yeah, not so much:

Just a personal preference, but Mattie seemed a bit conceited. I would have liked to see a little more humility and self-doubt. The fudgepops didn’t work much for me, either. A bit annoying.

I’m not sure I bought the Officer Dan being-in-college-while-still-a-cop-at-age-20. Maybe a little more depth to his story would set me straight. I did like him, however; he’s another great book boyfriend.

Lastly, what happened to Jake? He kinda drops off the planet. Maybe that’s wrapped up in Book 2?

 

Final Recommendation:

Oh, heck, yeah! Give it a try! I think you’ll really like it if you’re into YA paranormal. I’m going to download Book 2 as soon as I finish this review. It’s a great start to a fun-filled series. Thanks, Apryl! Keep writing and giving us great stories.

Book Review: Hidden Monster by Amanda Strong

Photo links to amazon.com

Hidden Monster is the story of Samantha, a 17-year-old girl who is kidnapped and held captive for several weeks. She is kept drugged and tied to a bed by her masked kidnapper. And that’s just the first chapter! The story really gets going when she escapes and tries to return to a normal life. Her new neighbor, Blake, is more than happy to try to help her, but he’s got secrets of his own. I can’t say too much more without some major spoilers, and one of the best things about this book is the “What the what?” moment when the real story comes out. It’s a lot of fun and keeps you turning pages.

This was such an enjoyable and surprising book! I did not know what to expect when I started it and it turned out to be so much fun. Strong’s forte is in creating complex, imaginative plot lines and Hidden Monster takes you on a roller coaster ride from the very first scene. Her characters are wonderful, as well. Samantha is a strong protagonist and I was rooting for her until the very end. Blake is a truly swoon-worthy book boyfriend and I look forward to seeing how life turns out for them in the rest of the series, which I hope Ms. Strong will hurry up and write. Hint. Hint.

If you enjoy YA fantasy with more than a touch of romance, this book is definitely for you.

Unmasked by E.M. Kaplan

Photo links to amazon.com

Unmasked is the story of Mel, a member of the Masks, a group of stoic, unemotional beings who serve as counselors to arbitrate disputes. The only problem: she doesn’t quite fit in. She’s too…well, everything to be a proper Mask. It’s also the story of Ott, a man from the far, frozen north, who falls in love with Mel. Their world is being attacked by trogs, a mysterious group of troll-like creatures. What do they want, besides death and destruction? It’s up to Mel, Ott, and their friends to figure it out before their world, as they know it, is destroyed.

Kaplan excels at world-building, creating a setting that pulls you in and holds you captive until the very last page. Her descriptions are lively and I felt myself reaching for a mug of tea and an afghan to ward off the cold of the frozen lands she imagines. Her characters are full of life, making you care about their futures. You are in for some lovely writing when you delve into this novel. I frequently found myself stopping to enjoy the rhythm of the prose rather than rushing through the story.

This book has it all: powerful plot, romance, handsome rogues, evil monsters, and magic.

Highly recommended for anyone who wants a high-quality read.

Book Promotion: The Charge of a Star by Reece Evhans

revhans:

Check out this great promotion from a fellow blogger!!! Thanks so much to A Woman’s Wisdom for featuring my book!!! #AHA

Originally posted on A Woman's Wisdom:

Reece Evhans lives in Albuquerque, NM with her incredible husband and two ridiculous mutts, Greta and Sodapop. When she’s not writing, she’s teaching high school English and social studies. She is a voracious reader and would like to be an accomplished world traveler. She’s hoping to need many research trips for future writing projects.

The first two books in THE SEEKER SERIES are now available. She is currently working on Book 3, due in the winter 2014.

Reece Evhans is running a book promotion on 21st/22nd October and is offering her second book in the series The Charge of a Star FREE for those two days.

Reece is offering a free ecopy of the first book The Stern and Wild Ones to the first person to comment below and then send me an email at awomanswisdom@hotmail.com.

Book 2 The Charge of a Star is FREE on 21st and 22nd October

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10 Tips to Organizing a Kick Ass Online Book Event

revhans:

Great post about organizing an online launch event. I recommend following Kristen’s blog.

Originally posted on Kristen Lamb's Blog:

Today, one of our WANA instructors is here to talk about a topic that makes most of us want to throw ourselves in traffic. BUT Angela Ackerman, our marketing maven is here to demystify Sasquatch the book launch party….

The Book Launch—WTH? What AM I THINKING?

The book launch. The discoverability blog hop. The big Christmas sale. You know you need to do it, that it will be good for your book, but the MOUNTAIN of work looming makes you want to run for Netflix and Big Bang Theory reruns.

After hosting many successful online events, I’ve learned a few tricks to making it through them alive. It involves a lot of coffee, frozen pizza for the family, and these ten steps.

1) Pick a Theme

Via Tumblr

Every event needs something jazzy to make it stand out. Pick a theme for your event that makes it fun and different…

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COVER REVEAL-THE OATH by APRYL BAKER

The Oath

Book 2 of The Coven Series

By Apryl Baker

Release Date: 10/07/2014

Summary from Goodreads:

She killed herself.

Everyone asked why, but when I got my hands on my sister’s diary, I understood exactly why.

I stared at the girl in the mirror as I removed my nose ring. Gone was the black hair, replaced by golden blonde locks that made my sapphire blue eyes shine and my California sun-kissed skin glow. The Goth chic clothes had been put away and I wore a pink tank top and a pair of khaki colored Capri’s. Stylish sandals completed the outfit. I wanted to barf.

The snotty little would-be witches would pay for what they’d done. By the end of the week, they’d all be praying to whatever god they worshiped to hide them from the hell coming for them.

May the Fates have mercy upon them, because they would pay the same price they’d demanded of her.

Their lives.

Add to your Goodreads to be read list now!

Available for pre-order now!

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Apple | Kobo

Read book 1of The Coven Series, The Promise!

Summary from Goodreads:

Armed with kick-ass shoes, can CJ stop a maniacal coven leader, save the town, and still get Mr. Melt In Your Mouth Gorgeous while surviving the darkness coming for her?

The smoke from the fire burned her eyes, its heat caressed her skin and the taste of fear choked her. She was going to burn just as her ancestor did all those centuries ago in New Salem Village. How could she have been so wrong about everything?

Cassie Jayne Bishop grew up the only non-believer in town of Coven. When a stranger comes to the sleepy town of New Salem, everything she thought was true unraveled around her. Ethan made her question everything, even her sister’s death. Clues start to pile up and Cassie is determined to find out if the Coven was the real reason her sister died.

What she uncovers terrifies her to the very depths of her soul….

Buy Links:

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Apple | Kobo | B&N

About the Author

So who am I? Well, I’m the crazy girl with an imagination that never shuts up. I LOVE scary movies. My friends laugh at me when I scare myself watching them and tell me to stop watching them, but who doesn’t love to get scared? I grew up in a small town nestled in the southern mountains of West Virginia where I spent days roaming around in the woods, climbing trees, and causing general mayhem. Nights I would stay up reading Nancy Drew by flashlight under the covers until my parents yelled at me to go to sleep.

Growing up in a small town, I learned a lot of values and morals, I also learned parents have spies everywhere and there’s always someone to tell your mama on you. So when you get grounded, what is there left to do? Read! My Aunt Jo gave me my first real romance novel. It was a romance titled “Lord Margrave’s Deception.” I remember it fondly. But I also learned I had a deep and abiding love of mysteries and anything paranormal. As I grew up, I started to write just that and would entertain my friends with stories featuring them as main characters.

Now, I live Huntersville, NC where I entertain my family and watch the cats get teased by the birds and laugh myself silly when they swoop down and then dive back up just out of reach. The cats start yelling something fierce…lol.

I love books, I love writing books, and I love entertaining people with my silly stories.

You can reach me at any of these places:

Facebook | Twitter | Wattpad | LinkedIn | Google+

PS: DO NOT GET IN MY WAY IF THERE IS A SALE ON AT TARGET – my home away from home!