Thursday 16 August 2018

Raven's Eye Book Tour




Adam Gowans is the youngest of five Air Force brats, out of which his siblings have voted him the weirdest. He loves anything that deals with stories, including movies, novels, television dramas, music, video games, manga/manhwa, and webtoons.

In his mid-twenties, he lived and taught English in South Korea for four years before returning to the States to live, like many LDS authors, in Utah.

His first novel is On Angelic Wings, which has a planned sequel, but the sequel will be released after two other novels that are calling for his attention.





Ever since magic caused his mother's death, Ha-Neul, crown prince of Balhae, hates witches and the magic they wield. He has instituted harsh laws against all magic users.


Lisa is a young witch working undercover as a servant in his palace, hoping to gain freedom for her people. The last thing the two expect is to fall in love. But when Ha-Neul learns that Lisa is not only a witch, but the daughter of the Prince of Vires, land of witches, he banishes her. Distracted by heartbreak, he is caught off-guard by a military coup.

In hiding and on the run, Ha-Neul swallows his pride and travels with his siblings to Vires, planning to beg Lisa's aid, only to learn that she has mysteriously vanished.

Now his only hope in reclaiming his kingdom and reuniting with Lisa lies in the remote Northern Mountains, a country no one has ever penetrated and rumored home of a powerful magic source. There, Ha-Neul learns that a being powerful beyond comprehension has been carefully guiding his destiny. But if Ha-Neul can't let go of his hatred of all things magic, and accept the new path offered to him, it will mean the destruction of his entire world.




Excerpt from the book:


Lisa made her way through the palace hallways with her head down but her eyes as straight ahead as possible, just as any musuri was supposed to do. When she stepped out of the elevator into the royal children’s wing, she hoped she wouldn’t run into the princess again. They had enough run-ins that Lisa didn’t want to repeat them, and she was more concerned than ever that she might lose her temper, considering the princess had just dishonorably dismissed her favorite nain, or personal assistant, for donating half her wages to support those in need of welfare in Vires, a land of witches.
Due to the splashes of color on her hanbok, the Balhaen traditional clothing, her faint reflection in the glass enclosing the garden caught her eye as she walked by. Navy blue colored the trim on the apron and the sash that bound it to her long skirt, or chima—also the same color as the trim and sash.
Lisa refocused on her duties and stopped at a tapestry to run her finger down its left side, allowing it to pop forward and slide to the right to reveal a storage closet filled with cleaning supplies and a cart. Lisa took the cart laden with cleaners, fresh rags, and dusters, then closed the door. She walked a little farther and stopped at a wooden sliding door beautifully carved with cranes flying low near water. She knelt beside it and knocked.
“Eorin Wangja-Mama,” she called to the prince in a humble tone using Hasoseoche, the palace speech. “May I enter?”
Lisa listened for a few moments, but no response came from within. She slid the door open a crack. She couldn’t see the prince in the large living room. Lisa opened the door the rest of the way, stood, and wheeled in her cart. The room was a mess. Toys—mostly action figures, vehicles, and large toy stations from several popular children’s programs—clothes, and blankets were strewn around the floor or, in the blankets’ case, hung to form a fort.
“Wangja-Mama, are you not here?” she said with a playful lilt now that she was in the safety of his room.
Silence answered her.
Lisa picked the clothes up off the floor and tossed them into three different woven baskets in the corner of the room: one for shirts, one for pants, and one for everything else. As she worked, she whistled a merry tune, one with lots of notes so she sounded like a cartoon bird as it flew, just as the prince liked her to, because she didn’t believe for a single moment that she was alone in the room. She approached the fort—taking care of where she stepped, moving toys around with her toes so she didn’t smash them—to gather a suspiciously large pile of discarded shirts. When she bent down, a hand shot out of the fort and snatched her wrist. Lisa laughed in response.
“You almost scared me that time, Eorin Wangja-Mama.”
A childish giggle she recognized as the prince’s came from the fort.
“Come out, Wangja-Mama.”
The finely dressed thirteen-year-old boy—though his clothes had wrinkles—crawled out of the fort. His short, neatly trimmed black hair stood up in odd places. His chocolate-brown eyes shone brightly against his dark, caramel-cream skin. The childlike demeanor surrounding him testified to his being mentally young.
“I really didn’t scare you?” His voice came out breathy and childish as he spoke to her in Hapsyoche, the speech of the wangsil, or royal family, reserved for palace servants and among themselves.
She smiled. “Almost, Eorin Wangja-Mama, almost.”
He smiled in return, showing perfectly straight teeth. “Can I help again?”
“Can I stop you from helping, Wangja-Mama?” Even as Lisa spoke, he grabbed a rag and bottle from the cart. She added in a whisper, “I’m going to get in trouble again.”
He started dusting the top of his giant wardrobe. Lisa shook her head and resumed gathering the dirty clothes.




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Wednesday 8 August 2018

Book Review: The Immundus





Would you sacrifice your humanity to save mankind?

IT’S THE YEAR 2828, and Domus is the last remaining country. Divided into twelve walled cities known as genuses, Domus spans what’s known as the purist lands—lands unaffected by the genetic modifications that killed all other species of mammals. But outside the walls of each genus the Immundus threaten the welfare of those within. From a young age, all citizens of Domus are trained for combat against these intruders.


At sixteen, Nia Luna knows little of the Immundus, except for the citywide alarms that ring any time an Immundus nears the genus walls. What she does know is that her own species is dying—their numbers dwindling as a mysterious disease called allagine kills many before their eleventh birthday. The same disease that ravaged her family when it took her sister.

When Nia is recruited into Genesis, a research company pioneering the path to a cure, she knows that her dream to find a cure for allagine is finally within her grasp. But within weeks of starting at Genesis, Nia witnesses something she shouldn’t have—something that changes everything. As she sets down a dangerous path that uncovers national secrets, Nia will have to decide not only what kind of person she wants to be but also how far she’s willing to go to save humanity.

In addition to the Amazing Give away below Author Christina Enquist is offering another chance to win $50!!! 
Find the flyer with all detail, terms and conditions, below the Giveaway!



I grew up in Salinas, California, the same hometown of John Steinbeck, one of America’s greatest writers. I loved to read (and still do) and frequented the John Steinbeck Library as a child. I discovered at an early age that I also enjoyed writing. In sixth grade, my teacher, Mr. Graham gave the class an assignment to write a story for a contest. The contest required that we create our book binding as well, which we did with cardboard, glue, and wallpaper. My book was called “Mully Mully” about a creature who lived in an underwater lake city. I was sad when I didn’t win, but I cherished my book so I kept it all these years. It wasn’t until a few years ago that I decided to put other stories, roaming around in my mind, down on paper again, or actually, in my case, into a computer.
I took a non-traditional route to writing, considering I have a doctorate in Educational Leadership. Aside from writing, I work full-time as a Training & Development Coordinator at Kaweah Delta, a  teaching hospital, and some semesters I also teach at College of the Sequoias in Visalia, California, where I currently live. When I’m not at my full-time and part-time job, I enjoy writing, reading, watching TV, and spending time with my husband and pets (cat-Smokey, dog-Princess).
The Immundus is my debut novel.





4 Out of 5 Stars


The Immundus is a fantastic Post-Apocalyptic YA Novel. As with most books of this genre, the fight for survival is at the forefront of the book. But in this book, the fight is against centeries of genetic manipulation which has created a disease that kills children when they hit puberty. Inside the city walls they fight to stop this disease before it kills off the entire species all while preparing their surviving children to battle the Immundus which live outside the city walls. 

This book, like almost all other books of this genre, has its love interest. However, I was quite pleased with how it was done. It showed what is quite a solid relationship built on trust, friendship, and still caring about each other despite knowing the other's flaws. It was nice to not have a convoluted love triangle.

As for warnings; The stress of the post-apocalyptic world and man's inhumanity to man is alive and real. There is the death of several people, most off "screen" but there are a few on screen. The ones that are on screen are not gory or detailed. I don't recall any strong language or anything else that needs a warning. This book is really quite clean and I would recomend it to anyone who enjoys the Post-Apocoliptic YA Genre.





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Saturday 4 August 2018

Great Summer Reads Countdown Blitz Day 24





Laurie (L.C.) Lewis will always be a Marylander at heart—a weather-whining lover of crabs, American history, and the sea. She admits to being craft-challenged, particularly lethal with a glue gun, and a devotee of sappy movies. Her ninth published novel, her first romance novella, Sweet Water, was inspired by a visit to Oregon’s magnificent coastline, and time spent with Mother Eugenie, upon whom the character Mother Thomasine is based. 

Laurie’s women’s fiction novels include The Dragons of Alsace Farm (2016), Awakening Avery (2010), and Unspoken (2004), written as Laurie Lewis. 

Using the pen name L.C. Lewis, she wrote the five volumes of her award-winning FREE MEN and DREAMERS historical fiction series, set against the backdrop of the War of 1812: Dark Sky at Dawn (2007), Twilight’s Last Gleaming (2008), Dawn’s Early Light (2009), Oh, Say Can You See? (2010), and In God is Our Trust, (2011).

She is currently completing a political suspense novel planned for a summer 2017 release, a re -release of a romantic comedy, and she’s working on another historical fiction novel for a 2018 release. She loves to hear from readers.





Matthew Grayken is young, successful, and dying, which is why he’s about to propose to a total stranger. He isn’t interested in love. He needs a caregiver, a companion, and someone to be his legal voice when he can no longer speak for himself.



Lonely, compassionate nurse Mikaela Compton is intrigued by Matt Grayken’s tender request, but when their friendly marriage turns into love, she rejects the inevitability of Matt’s death and prays for a miracle instead.


Mikaela succeeds in reigniting Matt’s will to fight, but his body is losing the battle, and her determination to save him causes her to betray the fundamental promise she made him--to help him die peaceably.


Their last hope at saving Matt's life will require a sacrifice from each of them, and force them to decide how far out on a limb they're willing to go for love.




Author Interview:
         
1)     What is your favorite book that is not yours?                     
a)      From  Sand and Ash by Amy Harmon. It's a difficult, brilliant book.
2)     Do you write in multiple genres? Which genre is your favorite to write? 
a)     Yes. I love the challenge of writing emotional but clean romance but I do love the research of historical fiction.
3)     How young were you when you started writing?
a)     I can't remember a time when I didn't write. When I was a kid, I wrote episodes of my favorite TV shows, casting me playing opposite my favorite teen idols like Bobby Sherman and David Cassidy. 
4)     If you could meet any author, past or present, who would it be and why?   
a)     I'd love to sit down with Nicholas Sparks. Anyone with that many bestsellers would make a great mentor.
5)     How long does it take you to write a book, and what was your fastest book to write?
a)      I'm slow. I usually plan for two novels a year, but historical fiction novels take a full year at least because of the research. I've been working on a WWII novel for over a year because the research requires live interviews with the main character--an 88-year-old French WWII survivor who survived the Nazi invasion of her small town.
6)     What is your favorite thing to do in the summertime?

a)     I love the ocean, so heading to the beach with family is my very favorite thing to do in the summer. I love everything about the water--the sound of the waves, the smell of the sea, it's movement and the way its color changes with the sky. Ahhhhhh. . . .





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Friday 3 August 2018

Great Summer Reads Countdown Blitz Day 23




TJ Amberson hails from the Pacific Northwest, where she lives with her husband and nutty cocker spaniel. Her most recent novels include The Kingdom of Nereth, The Council of Nereth, Fusion, and Love at Lakewood Med. When she's not writing, TJ can probably be found enjoying a hot chocolate, pretending to know how to garden, riding her bike, playing the piano, or surfing the Internet for cheap plane tickets.
  

With a love of writing in multiple genres, TJ Amberson strives to provide well-written, age-appropriate, and original novels for tweens, teens, and new adults.



~ Facebook  ~ Website ~



Savannah Drake would be thrilled about starting her final year of medical school if it weren't for one thing: she has to spend a month working in the emergency room with cold, aloof Dr. Wesley Kent as her mentor. 

When her first day in the ER proves to be a humiliating disaster, Savannah is ready to swear off emergency medicine forever. Gradually, though, she finds that the unpredictable, emotional experience of caring for patients in the emergency room is affecting her far differently than she expected--and Dr. Kent turns out to be anything but the arrogant attending physician that she assumed him to be. 

But just when Savannah finally admits to herself that she is falling for Dr. Kent, she learns that things at the hospital are not all what they seem. 

Faced with a seemingly impossible choice, Savannah must decide between her future career and everything that she has come to care so much about.




Author Interview:

1.      What is your favorite book that is not yours?
Les Miserables

2.      Do you write in multiple genres? Which genre is your favorite to write?
Yes, I write books of several genres. Exploring different voices and styles is one of my favorite parts of writing. So far, I have published a young adult historical fantasy (THE KINGDOM OF NERETH), a young adult contemporary lite sci-fi (FUSION), and a clean medical romantic comedy for adults (LOVE AT LAKEWOOD MED). I am currently finishing a young adult paranormal romance (BETWEEN), writing the sequel to the historical fantasy (THE COUNCIL OF NERETH), and starting another rom-com. I wrote a little more about the pros and cons of being a multi-genre author on my blog: http://tjamberson.com/index.php/2018/04/07/take-the-risk/
My favorite genre to write: I don't have a favorite - I love them all!

3.      How young were you when you started writing?
Early elementary school

4.      If you could meet any author, past or present, who would it be and why?
L.M. Montgomery - I grew up reading her novels

5.      How long does it take you to write a book, and what was your fastest book to write?
 Varies widely! A few months to a couple of years. My fastest book so far is in progress right now (a romantic comedy)!

6.      What is your favorite thing to do in the summertime?

A long walk on a sunny day





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Thursday 2 August 2018

Great Summer Reads Countdown Blitz Day 22




"Sally Britton is sixth generation Texan, received her BA in English from Brigham Young University, and reads voraciously. She started her writing journey at the tender age of fourteen on an electric typewriter, and she’s never looked back.


Sally lives in Arizona with her husband, four children, and their dog. She loves researching, hiking, and eating too much chocolate."







“I didn’t really understand what love was. 
I didn’t know what it meant, that I should’ve fought harder for it.”

Banished from home by her angry father, Julia Devon travels to Bath to fulfill her role as family spinster by assisting her cousin, Lady Macon, in caring for her dying husband.


Nathaniel Hastings’s life runs in a predictable pattern, until a routine visit to one of his ailing patients brings him face to face with Julia, the woman who broke his heart five years before in London.


Julia and Nathaniel find themselves unlikely allies as they work together to tend to the family’s needs, fend off Lady Macon’s scheming brother-in-law, and avoid confronting the pain of their shared past. But could this accidental meeting be their second chance at love?"




Snippet:

Author Interview:

1.      What is your favorite book that is not yours?
My FAVORITE book is probably The Princess Bride by William Goldman 

2.      Do you write in multiple genres? Which genre is your favorite to
write?
At the moment, I'm only writing regency novels, but I plan to put out a
Western Romance series and possibly a heist trilogy. They're all fun to write,
but any story I dream up always has a huge element of romance involved. So
romance is my favorite. 

3.      How young were you when you started writing?
The first story I remember writing, I was about fourteen years old. But I was
making up stories and telling them to my sisters at bedtime long before then. 

4.      If you could meet any author, past or present, who would it be
and why?

I would love to meet L. M. Montgomery. She wrote the Anne of Green
Gables series, and The Blue Castle. Those books were such a huge part of
my childhood and my desire to be a writer. I felt like Anne most of the time,
too. I used big words, I was smart but smart wasn't always good. I'd just love
to chat with her about how much her books meant to me and find out more
about her. 

5.      How long does it take you to write a book, and what was your
fastest book to write?
I can write a 60,000 word novel in a month. I'm more comfortable with a 6-8
week timeline, though. The fastest book I ever wrote is actually out in the
world, His Bluestocking Bride. I wrote it in a month, but it took me a few
weeks to clean it up after that rush job. And I put it off for almost a year. 

6.      What is your favorite thing to do in the summertime?
My FAVORITE thing to do in the summer is lay around and be lazy! Isn't
that awful? But the year is always so busy and full. I like slowing life down,
relaxing, making lots of trips to the library and the pool.





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