Saturday, 28 October 2017

Storm Child Book Review





16-year-old Eridale Storm must leave the only home she’s ever known and brave the dangers of the unknown wilds to escape capture by Imperial soldiers.
The only safe place is with her mother, who abandoned her to lead the freedom movement when Eridale was just a child. On her journey, Eridale learns that she holds a key role in the confilct between the Empire and the Freedom Fighters. Her choices could lead the people back to freedom or shackle them under the imperial throne forever.
Can Eridale face the heritage that will define the rest of her life?






Melanie is an author, designer, photographer, and flight attendant all rolled into one. She has told stories all her life and finds her passion in sharing the plots that spin through her head. She now lives in Portland, Oregon, with her two dachshund-chihuahua dogs. She loves the beauty of the Pacific Northwest that feeds her imagination.
When no one is listening, Melanie loves to belt Broadway songs in her living room and car. Someday she hopes to be on a flight where someone is reading her book.

Connect with the Author here: 



5 out of 5 stars


When I first saw this book I will be completely honest and admit I thought it might just be a watered down version of the Hunger Games... 

Post Apocalyptic world where small towns are scraping by for survival while the ruling class is living it up - Check 
Teen girl with a bow and arrow trying to protect her little sister - Check
Cute boy trying to help her even though the rest of the town won't - Check

And looking at that small list I made based off the book blurb, cover, and first few paragraphs you would understand my first impression. However first impressions are not always correct as this is where the similarities end.

Author Melanie Mason was able to take the items from the list above and make a story and world of her own creation, and a fantastic creation it is too. There is intrigue, adventure, mystery, betrayal, survival and a bit of romance (but it is quite understated, which I found refreshing, the heroine is only 17 for heaven sakes, thank you Melanie for letting her grow up a bit first)

The world which Melanie Mason describes is well done and I am able to understand and appreciate where they are at all times geographically. Her descriptions of the deserts of Southwest America definitely bring back memories of hiking those same trails and I am able to appreciate the book a bit more knowing what the area around her would look like.

Overall this book is a fun read, I finished it all in one setting much to the chagrin of my family. It was clean, exciting and offered a refreshing take on the teen post apocalyptic genre. I look forward to the rest of the series!

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a light enjoyable read perfect for the beach, or better yet a long airplane ride where you might be fortunate enough to have Author Melanie Mason as your flight attendant.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book and the views are my own
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Q & A With The Author


What writers inspired you to become an author?

I have been telling stories since I was a child. I'm the youngest of six and growing up my nearest neighbor friend was two miles and a busy highway away. So it was either play with my siblings (yeah right, I was the obnoxious younger sister, go away!) or play with myself and my imagination. I could come up with just about any scenario and play it out by myself. And with a mom who sewed, I had just about all the costumes and dress up clothes I could want. I'm certain that childhood was the foundation to my writing.

Now I feel very inspired from above to write the stories that I write. Books, events, history, just about anything can catch my attention and poof, a story is born.

As for writers, there are so many who have influenced me. C.S. Lewis, Lloyd Alexander, J.R.R. Tolkien, Phyllis A. Whitney, Mary Higgins Clark, Carolyn Keene, Robin McKinley, Anne McCaffrey, and David Eddings all had a role in my younger years. Even recent authors like Stephenie Meyer, J.K. Rowling, Lisa Mangum, Suzanne Collins, Marissa Meyer, Marie Lu and many, many others have inspired me to keep going on this path. It would take pages for me to list all the authors whose stories have affected and inspired me.

What organizations do you recommend for those wanting to become writers? Any advice you'd like to share about writing?

I started out with ANWA (American Night Writers Association). The ladies there were awesome and helped to mentor me. They really encouraged me to be my best writer and I learned and continue to learn so much from them. Check it out.

My advice to anyone who wants to write is to start writing. Your first draft will NEVER be perfect. You will change it. ALOT! So you might as well just get it out. The more you write, the better you will become.

My other piece of advice is to read, ALOT! Read what you want to write. Read professional and non professional books. Read famous authors and read unknowns. The more you read, the more you will learn what to do and not do.

Any special appearances or events coming up that you want to mention?

Not yet, but check out my website www.melaniemasonauthor.com for any upcoming events. I will be putting together a series of book signings in several places (Utah, Arizona, California, and Oregon).

If you could travel to any time in history, when would you visit?

Wow. That's a tough one. I think maybe the late 30s because they had great movies, dancing was something you did a lot, and the clothes were amazing.

If you could have dinner with any of your characters, which ones would you choose? What food would you serve?

Probably Guinolen. I'd want to pick her brain about her choices and what she would change or not change if she could. As for food, I'd probably introduce my mother's homemade raspberry cheesecake recipe to her and see how it compared to food at Storm Castle.

If you could travel anywhere, on earth or off, where would you go?

New Zealand because that country is just beautiful or Fiji because it's an island that is warm and has amazing beaches where I can just sit and read.

What color would you wear if you had only one choice?

Red. Always red.

Describe your dream writing spot.

Strange as it sounds, a secluded beach house on the Oregon coast. I love the ruggedness of the OR coast and listening to the waves crash against the rocks and even the storms that roll in are just the thing to spark my imagination and get me lost in a world. Of course said house would have a fireplace. I'm going to be realistic and say a gas fireplace, because I know I'm not going to chop wood and haul it in, I'll be too busy writing.



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Monster Mash Countdown Blitz Day 12





Jessica Parker’s adventures in the written world, have occurred as long as she can remember. Reading stories of dragons, magic, romance and the power of one person, inspired Jessica to write stories of her own. Jessica is currently working on a fairy tale series and the sequel to The Bride Trials
Aside from reading and writing, she enjoys spending time with her family, camping, driving four wheelers, swimming, scuba diving, movies and cooking.
Connect with the Author here: 


What if the greatest deception comes from our own heart?

Despite knowing little in expressions of love, Anessa, Queen of the seven covens would set the world on fire if it meant gaining the attentions of Rothe. Despite his past and state of exile, she is determined to remain loyal to the only man to ever claim her love… even if it means stealing the magic mirror of Eventyr. 
But when the shocking truth of Rothe’s intention rises to the surface, Anessa realizes that his dark obsessions are far more than she is prepared to forgive. Caught between the pains of betrayal and the need to gather her courage to face the man she once thought she loved, Anessa steels herself to do whatever it takes to see him fail.
Even if it means making the princess Snow White sleep forever. 
Can Anessa protect the royal family? Or will her own broken heart prove, once and for all, that it really is as evil as the stories say?



~ Amazon ~ Amazon UK




Top Ten List:

1. Family is my ultimate favorite. Everything I do is for them.

2. I could eat Sweet & Sour chicken every day.

3. I'm a sucker for a book with a good romance plotline.

4. My favorite vacations growing up involved camping. Give me trees and mountains I'll be happy.

5. Chocolate, do I need to say more?

6. Books, I have always loved books. Growing up my parents couldn't send me to my room as a punishment because I'd just read.

7. I love scuba diving! The world under the water is amazing.

8. My favorite movie at halloween time is Hocus Pocus. Who doesn't love a story about witches?

9. Fairytales are the stories I'll never have enough of.


10. Star gazing. There is something magical about staring up into the darkness and seeing a fraction of the universe. 




To view our blog schedule and follow along with this tour visit our Official Event page 



Friday, 27 October 2017

Monster Mash Countdown Blitz Day 11




USAT Bestselling author, Nichole Giles, is the author of The DESCENDANT series and The WATER SO DEEP series. Her dreams include owning a garden full of fairies, riding a unicorn, and taming her pet dragons. She loves traveling to tropical and exotic destinations, driving with the convertible top down, and playing music at full volume while she sings along.


Connect with the Author here: 
~ Facebook ~ Amazon
Twitter ~
~ Instagram ~ Bookbub ~




Recently forced into the underwater city of Atlantis, Emma Harris has managed to avoid marrying the merman who brought her, but her grandfather—the Sea King—insists that joining with the abusive Merrick is inevitable. When Emma discovers a poison that might restore her human lungs, she goes in search of the rare creature that carries it, prepared to try the poison no matter the cost, so she can return home to her family—and to James.

Since his girlfriend went missing, James’ depression has destroyed his chance at a basketball scholarship and incurred the wrath of his uncle, who was once his strongest supporter. When the police inform him that he’s a suspect in Emma’s mysterious disappearance, James sells his beloved motorcycle to buy a boat so he can find Emma and prove his innocence before going on trial for a murder he didn’t commit.

With destiny against them, it’s only a matter of time before both are imprisoned forever.


~ Amazon ~ Amazon UK




Top Ten List:

10 Random Facts about Nichole Giles

1.     I am the oldest of eleven children: two biological sisters, four biological brothers, and four step-brothers.
2.     I don’t like to read books that don’t involve some kind of romance, kissing scenes included.
3.     I must have lived during the regency period in a past life, because I love corset-style dresses and costumes. For Halloween, I’ll probably dress up, even though my kids won’t.
4.     My favorite food in the world is steamed snow crab. Even better if it’s Cajun spiced!
5.     Whenever I struggle with creating or writing, I like to go for a drive with my convertible top down. I’ve even been known to do this with snow flurries in the air.
6.     Nichole’s ultimate dream house: on a white-sand beach, with lots of windows, palm trees in the yard, a huge patio, and within walking distance to a number of friends’ homes. Also near great shopping. It should also have a dedicated library where I can write.
7.     I have a growing collection of fairies and mermaids. Statues, paintings, miniatures, etc. I love to be surrounded by fantastical creatures.
8.     When I was in high school in Arizona, my friends and I haunted a local hangout, where I became highly proficient at playing, and winning, air hockey.
9.     During my junior year, I had the opportunity to go to New York with my choir, where we sang in Carnegie Hall. We also toured the city, largely without supervision. #shenanigans
10.I have kissed a stingray, petted a shark, high-fived a sea otter, and hugged a dolphin, and spied seahorses and lobsters in the wild, but I have never wrestled an alligator or tried to housebreak a lion—and I don’t think I ever will.

Thanks for hanging out with me for ten random facts. You can learn more about me and my books at www.nicholegiles.blogspot.com



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Thursday, 26 October 2017

Monster Mash Countdown Blitz Day 10





Lord Belmont’s life ended in Clovis, in the impenetrable darkness beneath the ground where forbidden rites were once held. Lady Gwendolyn was his love, body and soul, and the Demon in Blue Light killed her.

Every year, on the anniversary of Gwen’s death, he returned to Clovis to stand in the cold desolation, hearing the wind moan through the lonely passes, feeling her loss all over again.

On this anniversary, he wasn’t alone in Clovis. He heard the noises rustling in the brush. He smelled the raw river of Shadow tech. Then he saw it:


The claws …
The flicking tail …
The maniacal, glittering eyes fixed on him …
“I’ve been waiting for you,” it said in a grating voice as it attacked.
* * * * *

Far away, across the cosmos in a city of wondrous crystal towers, two people watch in horror as the desperate scene at Clovis unfolds. They had worked so hard, sacrificed so much, even argued for it before the gods. They convinced the gods they were right, that they knew best, and everything would go well.

But, things weren’t going well at Clovis.

If this situation went poorly, then ages worth of work would be lost, and, just possibly, the universe might come to an end.
   

 ~ Amazon ~ Amazon UK





Ren Garcia is a Science Fiction/Fantasy author and Texas native who grew up in western Ohio. He has been writing since before he could write, often scribbling alien lingo on any available wall or floor with assorted crayons. He attended The Ohio State University and majored in English Literature. Ren has been an avid lover of anything surreal since childhood, he also has a passion for caving, urban archeology and architecture. His highly imaginative "League of Elder" book series is published by Loconeal Publishing

  



Connect with the Author here: 

Facebook ~ Website ~ Amazon ~




Top Ten List:

10:  Ren was once engaged to a woman 25 years his elder.

9:    Ren visited New York City and admired the World Trade Center towers just a month or so before the tragedy of 9/11.

8:    The FBI once put a gun in Ren's face.

7:    Bad hearts run in Ren's family. He's already outlived most of his paternal grandfathers, all of whom died in their 30's.

6:    Ren's poor eyesight went undiagnosed until he was in the 3rd grade. Up until that point, he was considered "mentally challenged".

5:    Ren broke his neck playing volleyball in college.

4:    Ren often sleeps on the floor, finding it more comfortable than the bed.

3:    Ren was once held at gunpoint and frisked by the guards of the Prince of Saudi Arabia.

2:    Ren was introduced to his wife via Match Makers International.

1:    In a vast extended family of exclusively brown-eyed people, Ren somehow managed to get blue eyes.



To view our blog schedule and follow along with this tour visit our Official Event page