Thursday, September 6, 2018

Book Spotlight - Harbinger by Nicole Conway + Excerpt + Giveaway

Photo Credit - Amazon


About the Book:
Title: Harbinger (Dragonrider Legacy) 
Author: Nicole Conway
Pub. Date: August 14, 2018
Publisher: Month9Books, LLC
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook
Pages: 374
Find it: GoodreadsAmazonB&NiBooksTBD 

Victory is written in the blood of the brave. As the armies of the Tibran Empire continue to march across Maldobar, a path of scorched destruction and despair is left in their wake. Even with the formidable princess, Jenna Farrow, leading the charge, the strength of the dragonriders is waning. Tibran victory appears inevitable—especially after Princess Jenna and Prince Aubren are taken hostage by the infamous Lord Argonox. Separated from her brother and tortured for information, Princess Jenna refuses to bend to the iron will of Argonox. But her strength and resolve may only last so long. Held prisoner in his dark tower, it would take a miracle to set her free—or perhaps a pair of demigods and their dragons. With revived dragonrider legend, Jaevid Broadfeather, at his side, Reigh must now make a choice: face the truth about the origin of his dark powers, or turn his back on world in need. But throwing off a lifetime of shame and self-doubt is not so easily done—especially when the cost of failure means the destruction of the world. The long-awaited hero has awakened. The ancient spirits are stirring. The dark goddess has chosen her champion. But is he ready to embrace that rite and become the Harbinger Maldobar needs him to be?



About Nicole:

MY NAME IS NICOLE CONWAY and I love to write stories! I've been writing books since I was very young, and am blessed beyond measure to be able to do it now as a full time career. Although I sometimes step out into other genres, I primarily write Fantasy for teens and middle graders.


I graduated from Auburn University in 2012, which is also where I met my husband. As a military family, we move frequently and have lived numerous places all around the world. We have one very energetic son, Ethan. We also have two dogs (French Brittanys) named Joey (currently 5 months old) and Phoebe (4 years old) and a ball python named Noodle Nagini.


For inquiries on how to book me for a school visit, presentation, or interest in my future or current projects, please contact my amazing literary agent, FRAN BLACK, of Literary Counsel.



Giveaway Details:

1 winner will win a $10 Amazon Gift Card, International.

Rafflecopter link:



Tour Schedule:
Week Two:
9/3/2018- Reads and RecipesReview
9/3/2018- All the Ups and DownsExcerpt

9/4/2018- A Bookish DreamReview
9/4/2018- BookHounds YAInterview

9/5/2018- For the Love of KidLit- Interview

9/6/2018- Rhythmicbooktrovert - Review
9/6/2018- Two Points of InterestExcerpt

9/7/2018- Finding Magic In BooksExcerpt
9/7/2018- Patriotic BookaholicSpotlight



I heard him before I saw him—which was nearly always the case with Phillip.

“Good morning, my love!”

I stole a quick glance over the top of the book I was studying, one centered on aerial battle techniques, as Duke Phillip Derrick swaggered into the parlor and leaned against the arm of the sofa beside me. He peered over my shoulder, invading my space to see what I was reading. Or maybe he just wanted to see what I would do if he let his cheek brush mine.

“I’ve asked you not to call me that,” I muttered, fully aware of the futility of having this discussion again.

“I’ll stop when it stops being true,” he replied.

He probably thought he was being clever, using lines like that.

Calling him ridiculous would have been the understatement of the century. It was just a cruel, inconvenient coincidence that he also happened to be one of the better-looking men I knew. That hadn’t always been the case, however. When we’d been children, which hadn’t been all that long ago, he had been tall, gangly, and awkward. He’d had buck teeth, a face covered in freckles, and a regular riot of loose, black curls on his head that had stuck out all over the place.

Now, in his late twenties, he’d changed quite a bit. He didn’t have the buck teeth anymore. In fact, his were obnoxiously perfect and straight now. I got a good look at them every time he flashed me one of those roguish, coy smiles he most likely thought were charming.

There were still a few freckles dusted across his cheeks and nose, almost invisible now because of his tanned skin. His hair, however, was no less a mess than it had been when we’d been little. It was still as black as pitch, wavy, and tended to poke up if it was even the least bit humid. He wore it a bit longer now, almost to his shoulders, so that those loose curls framed his squared jawline in a pleasing way. Something about how they shone in the light made you want to run your hands through them, just to see if they were as soft as they looked.

Not that I’d ever tried it myself. I had a firm no-touching policy with Phillip. The cheek brushing was a test, I knew. If he tried that again, I’d be forced to smack him to reinforce my rules.

“More battle plans?” he asked.

“We know the Tibrans will strike again soon,” I replied. “Without Reigh here to help even the odds, we’ll have to try some new techniques. I only have four riders at my disposal, counting myself. That doesn’t leave us with much hope when the next attack comes. If the Tibrans have proven anything, it’s that they bounce back quickly and fiercely. We can wager with confidence that their next assault on this city will be far more brutal.”

“Ah.” Phillip shifted and looked down at his boots. “Well, for what it’s worth, I have the utmost faith in you.”

So much for keeping the conversation light.

Truth be told, I was no good with that sort of thing. Social grace and appropriateness might as well have been foreign tongues. Being aprincess didn’t grant me an innate sense of grace; and when it came to interacting with other nobles, I had a long track record of embarrassing myself.

It was easy to play it off like I didn’t care what they thought about me, most of the time. I think many people, even my own brother, believed that ruse—that it really didn’t bother me not to be very refined when comporting myself in court. But there were moments when I wished I could come up with the right things to say; moments when I wished I had just a single ounce of social confidence. Half the time, whenever I opened my mouth, it was the soldier in me who spoke rather than the princess.

I managed to smile back at him slightly, which was a huge mistake.

Phillip grinned and leaned in closer like he was trying to dazzle me with his sharp, vibrant green eyes. “You’re so lovely when you smile, Jenna.”

I immediately scowled. “Stop that.”

“Stop what?”

“Whatever it is you’re trying to do.” I raised my book up again and all but buried my nose in the crease of the pages. “Go away, please. I’m very busy.”

He sighed. I felt his presence withdraw from looming over my shoulder. For an instant, I dared to hope he really had gone away.

I should be so lucky.

The couch where I sat minding my own business and hoping for a few minutes of quiet to read and plan suddenly lurched. Phillip flopped down onto the opposite end of it, reclining back and staring at me while he scrunched up his mouth and rubbed his chin.

“You’ll fall for me one day, you know.” He sounded so sure. “Maybe not tomorrow, or next month, or next year—but eventually. My love for you knows no limits. I’ll wait forever, if that’s what it takes.”

I resisted the urge to hurl my book at him. One well-aimed shot and I was pretty sure I could break his nose with it. If I’d thought for even a second that might humble him a little, I might have tried it. “You’re impossible.”

“Impossibly handsome, maybe.” I could hear the smirk in his voice without looking.

I rolled my eyes. Like I said—ridiculous.

His antics weren’t a recent development, though. Phillip had been antagonizing me this way for years, baiting me for any response he could possibly get. I thought he honestly just liked getting me riled up and he’d discovered that flirting with me shamelessly was an easy way to do it.

This game of his had started when I’d turned thirteen. I’d grown from my own awkward childhood body into adolescence and finally become a figure of interest for young men in the court. Hooray for puberty, I suppose. Most girls would have been delighted to suddenly be regarded as beautiful. I was cautiously intimidated by those kinds of compliments, however, especially from the boys my age.

I wasn’t sure how many of them actually saw me—or were just looking for an easy leverage point to get to the crown. Fortunately, my father, King Felix Farrow of Maldobar, was protective. He wouldn’t allow most of the suitors who wanted to spend time with me to come anywhere near our family. I was grateful for that.

It felt like I might be safe to make some of my own life choices, after all.

And then Phillip began professing his undying love for me.

He was older, the son of a longtime family friend, and I’d known him literally since birth. He and Aubren, my older brother, had been partners in crime for as long as I could remember. We’d all played together as children. He was already inside my father’s barrier of family trust, so when he started to show interest in me, everyone just seemed amused by it. Perhaps they assumed we would be married eventually, anyway.

I found it completely annoying and humiliating—like he was making a joke out of me.

Now, more than ten years later, nothing had changed in that department. Phillip was one of the only men in my father’s court that still didn’t seem thrown by my determination to follow what I knew to be my destiny and become a dragonrider. It wasn’t a womanly thing to do— hefting swords, smiting enemies, riding in a dragon’s saddle. At least it wasn’t in Maldobar. I was undeniably good at it, though, and that only seemed to make my father even more irate. He’d been staunchly against it from the very beginning.

But when my dragon, Phevos, had chosen me— that had left no room for anyone’s objection, not

even the king’s.

I was born to be a dragonrider—in body, in heart, and now in destiny.

“Would you go for a walk with me?” Phillip asked suddenly.

I lowered my book so I could glare at him. “Why?”

He put on one of his rare, businesslike frowns. If he’d known I found that look slightly less annoying than any of his other expressions, he might have used it more often.

Of course, I would die before I ever told him that.

“I’m having the catacombs and undercrofts below city opened for anyone who wants to begin moving there in the event of another attack. I’ve encouraged those with young children, or any who might have difficulty moving quickly, to depart now. I’ve also opened two of the escape tunnels for anyone who may want to escape to the mountain passes. We know those paths are clear of Tibran forces—so far. They should be safe,” he explained. “Like you said, we have to accept the reality that the Tibrans are going to come back. I’d like to go see how everything’s progressing.”

I arched a brow. “That’s so … responsible of you.”

His brow puckered with a wounded expression. “I can do my job, you know. My love for you hasn’t blinded me from all the things your father expects of me as duke. I mean to take care of the people here as best I can.”

“And that’s the only reason? Worry for their welfare?”

Phillip made a snorting sound, as one side of his mouth curled up into a half smirk.

“That and the remote chance you’ll hold on to my arm or hand while we walk.”

I closed the book and narrowed my eyes. “Don’t count on it.”
 

Wednesday, September 5, 2018

Book Review - Death Logs In by E.J. Simon + Giveaway



It has been almost a year since Micheal Nicholas has taken over his brother's business.  He was finally able to identify his brother's killer but, now some of the most powerful people in the world wants Micheal dead. His only hope for survival may lie in his dead brother's hands.

Alex discovers that his brother, Micheal is in danger. Utilizing his brand new computer upgrade, Alex helps Micheal maneuver the dangers of the gambling business.  Micheal hires the beautiful Sindy Steele to help protect him but, he soon learns she is hiding a dark and deadly secret.

The second novel was a bit more fast-paced than the first novel.  However, there were a few inconsistencies in characters and small details that detracted from the overall story.  I thought it was interesting how  Micheal is slowly becoming Alex. It makes me wonder if Michael knew he wanted to become like Alex which is why he stayed away from his brother. Overall, a good second book to the series.

Book Details:

Book Title: Death Logs In by E.J. Simon
Series: Michael Nicholas Book 2
Category: Adult Fiction, 340 pages
Genre: Thriller & Suspense., Technothriller
Publisher: Endeavour Media (UK)
Release date: Dec 14, 2017
Content Rating: PG-13 + M (contains f-words, religious expletives and crude language)

Book Description:

Some of the most powerful people in the world want to kill Michael Nicholas. Only his brother Alex can save him—the problem is that Alex is dead.

It’s been almost a year since Alex Nicholas, a Queens-based underworld boss, was gunned down. After Alex’s brutal murder, Michael inherited not only his brother’s business, but his enemies. Michael is now a key player in a world he once feared. By day, he is the head of a Fortune 500 company. By night, the CEO of Tartarus, one of the world’s largest illegal gambling operations.

Before his death, Alex invested heavily in breakthrough artificial intelligence software so that he could live forever. It worked. In his virtual form, Alex can communicate with Michael and monitor information—and people—in ways the NSA would envy.

It is Alex who discovers Michael’s life is in danger. He detects plots that reach from the darkest corners of Queens to the highest officials in the Vatican—and they all want Michael dead.

Michael is now in a race to save his life, but he is never alone. Alex is there to help him navigate through this maze of life and death. Also protecting Michael from the forces closing in around him is Sindy Steele, a beautiful and lethal bodyguard.

How far is Michael willing to go to save his own life and that of his family? Guided only by a familiar face on a computer screen, will the information Alex discovers allow Michael to go from being the hunted to the hunter?



Buy the Book:


Meet the Author:




E. J. Simon is the author of three commercial fiction thrillers, Death Never Sleeps, Death Logs In and Death Logs Out. He has just completed his fourth manuscript, Death in the Cloud.

He is a member of the Authors Guild, the Mystery Writers of America and the North Carolina Writer’s Network. He holds an M.A. in Corporate & Political Communications from Fairfield University and a B.A. in Journalism from the University of South Carolina. He lives with his family in Cary, North Carolina in the United States. For more information, visit his website: www.ejsimon.com.

Connect with E.J.: Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Instagram

Enter the Giveaway!
Ends Oct 20, 2018


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Tuesday, September 4, 2018

Book Review - The Cleansweep Conspiracy: A Matt Tremain Technothriller by Chuck Waldron + Giveaway




Matt Tremain was an ordinary investigative blogger until he discovers a dark secret that threatens his beloved city, Toronto. He discovers that billionaire, Charles Claussen, who has government ties, wants to remove the city of "undesirables". Matt must decide whether he is prepared to deal with Charles's wraith when his plot is revealed. He must rely on a local TV reporter and a police detective for help in keeping him alive. Will Matt be able to stop Charles?

The novel had an interesting premise but, not necessarily a new idea. I thought it was an enjoyable read about how technology can be used for both good and evil. I found the novel to be relevant in today's political atmosphere. However, I thought the story fell flat, especially, since there was no indicating of time being changed along with one-dimensional characters.  The novel had the backbone of something great but, sadly, it didn't deliver for me.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**

Book Details:

Book Title: The Cleansweep Conspiracy by Chuck Waldron
Series: A Matt Tremain Technothriller Book 1
Category: Adult Fiction, 310 pages
Genre: Thriller / dystopian
Publisher: Bublish Inc.
Release date: April 2018
Tour dates: Aug 13 to Sept 21, 2018
Content Rating: PG-13 + M (Adult language)

Book Description:

In this riveting technothriller, investigative blogger Matt Tremain is covering devastating riots in Toronto when he learns of a plot to rid the city of “undesirables.” The operation is called CleanSweep, and appears to be led by billionaire Charles Claussen, who want to sweep Toronto clean of all street people and any citizens who don’t match his restrictive screening matrix.

Matt questions whether he has the courage, skill or influence to take on Claussen, but the murder of one of his sources convinces the blogger to put his life on the line. He gambles on the loyalty of a Toronto police detective and a local TV reporter for help. If his trust is misplaced, Matt will become yet another victim of CleanSweep, and the truth will be buried with him forever.


Buy the Book:



Meet the Author:



Chuck Waldron is the author of four riveting mystery, thriller and suspense novels and more than fifty short stories. Inspired by his grandfather’s tales of the Ozark Mountains and local caves rumored to be havens for notorious gangsters, Waldron was destined to write about crime and the human condition. Those childhood legends ignited his imagination and filled his head with unforgettable characters, surprising plots and a keen interest in supernatural and historical subplots.

With literary roots planted in the American Midwest and South, and enriched by many years living in the fertile cultural soil of metropolitan Ontario, Waldron now resides on Florida’s fabled Treasure Coast with his wife, Suzanne. While keeping an eye out for hurricanes, alligators, and the occasional Burmese python, visitors will find Waldron busy writing his next crime thriller.

Connect with Chuck: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook 


Enter the Giveaway!
Ends Sept 29, 2018


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Monday, September 3, 2018

Book Review - The Fairy Tales by Jan Pienkowski and David Walser

Photo Credit - Amazon
 Growing up I remember devouring books filled with fairy tales and mythology. It provided an escape from the otherwise, boring and dull world. It infused my imagination with dragons, wicked witches, and evil stepmothers along with the theory of "happily ever after". This book has the original retelling of "Snow White," "Sleeping Beauty," "Hansel and Gretel," and "Cinderella." Each of the stories is illustrated with silhouettes on top of marbelized backgrounds. I enjoyed reading the original versions of each of these classics but, I wasn't a fan of the artwork. Overall, an enjoyable book for any fairy tale fan who has not read the original story.

Saturday, September 1, 2018

Book Review - The Book of Extraordinary Deaths: True Accounts of Ill-Fated Lives by Cecilia Ruiz

Photo Credit - Amazon
The small booklet offers readers a glimpse into the extraordinary deaths of thinkers, monarchs, writers, artists, and "regular" people. The book injects a bit of dark humor into readers lives as they travel from the fifth century to present day deaths. I found the descriptions and drawings to be fun and interesting. My favorite facts were about the identical twins who died on the same day and learning how composers used to command their orchestra back in 1687. Overall, a brilliant book and a perfect coffee table book.

Thursday, August 30, 2018

Book Review - Crochet Animal Rugs: Over 20 Crochet Patterns for Fun Floor Mats and Matching Accessories by Ira Rott

Photo Credit - Amazon

 This book is packed with tons of fun, cute and quirky items to make for "kids" (but, really anyone can enjoy them). The book is loaded with over 20 fun animal-themed designs to crochet with in-depth instructions and photos. Animals include a panda, crab, bear, dinosaur, cat, elephants, monkey, giraffe and a cat. Each theme includes a rug, pillow, and an accessory to match. I found the designs to be fun and very cute. I haven't made anything but, I can't wait until I have some time to begin working on a few of the designs.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

Book Review - Death Never Sleeps by E.J. Simon + Giveaway

Photo Credit - Amazon

Alex and Michael Nicholas were never really close. They both had different career paths, life goals, and even personalities. However, when Alex was murdered, Michael decides to help run Alex's business. Micheal works with his cousin, Fat, and Skinny Lester to help keep Alex's business afloat.  Shortly afterward, he runs into a few complications that might cost him his life.

I wasn't sure what to expect when the book was listed as a "technological thriller". I honestly thought it was going to be a killer program running loose. However, jokes aside, the novel had an interesting concept and idea. While the book was interesting, it was a bit slow for me. I found myself impatiently waiting to find out more and what will happen. Overall, a good read but, a bit slow.

Book Details:

Book Title: Death Never Sleeps by E.J. Simon
Series: Michael Nicholas Book 1
Category: Adult Fiction, 291 pages
Genre: Thriller & Suspense., Technothriller
Publisher: Endeavour Media (UK)
Release date: July 2017
Content Rating: PG-13 + M (contains f-words, religious profanities and crude language)

Book Description:

Where does life end, and death begin?

Brothers, Alex and Michael, weren’t particularly close in terms of their careers in their later years. But when Alex is murdered, Michael finds it necessary to keep Alex’s business running, at least for the foreseeable future.

With very little knowledge about what Alex actually did for a living, little does he envisage the level of complication this entails. Working closely with his cousins, Fat and Skinny Lester, Michael starts to get a sense of what needs doing … in whatever way Alex would have dealt with things.

But, when Alex’s current wife, and his two ex-wives, surface and start to dish out demands, Michael finds himself going deeper and deeper into Alex’s personal space. All his ex-wives knew there was money left hidden … but only Alex knew of its exact location.

When Russell, an old friend of Michael’s, and Alex’s most trusted person, offers to help Michael find the money, Michael feels he can start closing up on Alex’s loose ends and move on with his own, increasingly complicated life.

Until … Russell is brutally murdered …

Someone else is after Alex’s money … and it’s not a friendly person.

But is Alex really dead? Or is he as dead as he has prepared himself to be?

Michael is beyond confused … is he imaging the conversations he’s having with Alex? But Alex was shot dead in his own restaurant, one filled with policemen. Surely, Alex is dead?

Whichever way Michael tries to rationalize things in his head, Alex’s support is beyond what he needs. Finding himself face to face with a crook, Sharkey, one who has no qualms about killing people, one Alex was in debt to, Michael takes on Alex’s advice … dead or not!

As the number of deaths rise, Michael and his wife, Samantha, are left on their toes. Would they ever feel safe again? Is anyone safe? And how far did Alex go with his new venture?




Buy the Book:





Meet the Author:




E. J. Simon is the author of three commercial fiction thrillers, Death Never Sleeps, Death Logs In and Death Logs Out. He has just completed his fourth manuscript, Death in the Cloud.
He is a member of the Authors Guild, the Mystery Writers of America and the North Carolina Writer’s Network. He holds an M.A. in Corporate & Political Communications from Fairfield University and a B.A. in Journalism from the University of South Carolina. He lives with his family in Cary, North Carolina in the United States. For more information, visit his website: www.ejsimon.com.

Connect with E.J.: Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Instagram

Enter the Giveaway!
Ends Oct 20, 2018


a Rafflecopter giveaway



Sunday, August 26, 2018

Book Review - The Byline Bible: Get Published in Five Weeks by Susan Shapiro and Peter Catapano

Photo Credit - Amazon

For the past two decades, writing professor Susan Shapiro has taught and inspired thousands of students. In this information-packed book, Shapiro shows writers how to crafting and selling short nonfiction pieces at every stage. The novel provides details on how to submit your piece, how to get it accepted and get paid.

I found this book to be very detailed while delivered in a humorous way. I thought this would be the perfect companion for anyone who is looking to get published in five weeks. It is also a good guy for anyone no matter their experience level.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy in exchange for an honest opinion**

Friday, August 24, 2018

Book Review - Toby's Trouble by Carole Brown + Giveaway


Photo Credit - Amazon
Toby Gibson is well loved by everyone in his community. He is an active member in the community and owns a thriving antique store. However, Toby thinks his store, Undiscovered Treasure, has a ghost.  When a few disturbances occur, he believes it could be an intruder. His childhood friend, Amy Sanderson, is drawn into the search for the culprit when her store, Bloomin' Life, was broken into. Amy and Toby must work together to solve the mystery but, Amy is deeply in love with Toby. However, Toby only sees Amy as a friend and a little sister.

The cozy novel is a fun read for those who like the genre. The mystery is easy to solve but, the reason behind the crime is revealed towards the end. Toby was a bit of a character that he keeps thinking of Amy as a sister and friend but, gets jealous when she does things he doesn't like. It was fun to read the first few times but, it got a bit repetitive after awhile. This is the fourth novel in the series and while it could be read alone, it would be more helpful to read the series in order for more background on the characters.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**

About the Book

Book Title: Toby’s Troubles
Author: Carole Brown
Genre: Romantic Mystery, Cozy Mystery
Release date: July 1, 2018

Everyone loves Toby Gibson. A co-owner of Undiscovered Treasures, a unique shop of antiques, collectables and junk, Toby is friendly, generous to a fault, the director of the local plays in Appleton and supports his church’s youth functions. But the minute his sister, Caroline and her new husband, take off for their honeymoon, a “ghost” begins to haunt the shop—or maybe it’s just an intruder. If so, Toby has no idea for what he is looking. To add to his troubles, he suspects Amy, not only is bidding for the property he’s wanted forever, but is in love with him. And he’s not interested.

Amy Sanderson who owns the only flower shop in Appleton—Bloomin’ Life—is drawn into capturing Toby’s “ghost” when her own business is damaged by a destructive intruder. Having loved Toby from childhood, she’s more than willing to join forces with him. But she has no interest in being his best friend or like a sister to him. And if she has to resort to schemes of outbidding him at his frequent auction attendences to get his attention, then so be it. She can be just as stubborn as the man who’s determined to ignore her love.

In between the break-ins, destruction of property, thefts and personal competitions against each other, Amy and Toby work together to find the thief who seems so determined to find a valuable item, he’ll stop at nothing.


About the Author

Carole Brown 
Besides being a member and active participant of many writing groups, Carole Brown enjoys mentoring beginning writers. An author of ten books, she loves to weave suspense and tough topics into her books, along with a touch of romance and whimsy, and is always on the lookout for outstanding titles and catchy ideas. She and her husband reside in SE Ohio but have ministered and counseled nationally and internationally. Together, they enjoy their grandsons, traveling, gardening, good food, the simple life, and did she mention their grandsons?


Giveaway

bc5a7b54-5686-4176-b7a2-619e232780a8
To celebrate her tour, Carole is giving away a grand prize that includes winner’s choice of one of the two attached mugs, winner’s choice of a print or kindle copy of Toby’s Troubles and a tote bag!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/d1c2/toby-s-troubles-celebration-tour-giveaway