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Friday, August 21, 2015

Book Review of Madison’s Song

Book Review of Madison’s Song
Sponsored by Author

Welcome to Books, Books, and More Books.  I am pleased to share this book with you.  Thank you for visiting and please come again.





About The Book

Title: Madison’s Song
Author: Christine Amsden
Genre: Dark Paranormal Romance

Her voice is enchanting; his soul is black…

Madison Carter has been terrified of Scott Lee since the night he saved her from an evil sorcerer – then melted into a man-eating monster before her eyes. The werewolf is a slave to the moon, but Madison’s nightmares are not.
Despite her fears, when Madison’s brother, Clinton, is bitten by a werewolf, she knows there is only one man who can help. A man who frightens her all the more because even in her nightmares, he also thrills her.

Together for the first time since that terrible night, Scott and Madison drive to Clinton’s home only to discover that he’s vanished. Frantic now, Madison must overcome her fears and uncover hidden strengths if she hopes to save him. And she’s not the only one fighting inner demons. Scott’s are literal, and they have him convinced that he will never deserve the woman he loves.

*Stand-alone companion to the Cassie Scot series

Author Bio
Christine Amsden has been writing fantasy and science fiction for as long as she can remember. She loves to write and it is her dream that others will be inspired by this love and by her stories. Speculative fiction is fun, magical, and imaginative but great speculative fiction is about real people defining themselves through extraordinary situations. Christine writes primarily about people and relationships, and it is in this way that she strives to make science fiction and fantasy meaningful for 
everyone.

At the age of 16, Christine was diagnosed with Stargardt’s Disease, a condition that effects the retina and causes a loss of central vision. She is now legally blind, but has not let this slow her down or get in the way of her dreams. In addition to writing, Christine teaches workshops on writing at Savvy Authors. She also does some freelance editing work. Christine currently lives in the Kansas City area with her husband, Austin, who has been her biggest fan and the key to her success. They have two beautiful children.



Links



Book Excerpts

“Silence,” David commanded.


Her throat continued to work, but no sound emerged. She felt like a fish being gutted, choking and spluttering as David returned to the work of cutting into the soft, sensitive flesh of her belly. Yet even as tears refilled her eyes and fear devoured her heart, some part of her recognized that her guts remained intact. Whatever David was doing to her with the dagger involved tracing shallow patterns across the surface of her skin.


Fight the pain. Take deep breaths. Ground and center. She was not in the empty living room of a house she had not quite moved into yet, she was at church, singing in the choir. Above her, Jesus hung from a cross, a crown of thorns atop his head, a soft glow surrounding him. She usually found the magic within that glow. She reached for it...


“Stop that!” David slapped her hard across the face.


Once again her eyes flew open. She saw the dagger dripping with blood – her blood. Had her feeble grab for magic actually made a difference? David seemed to have noticed something, but what? 


“You're just making this harder on yourself,” David said.


“What do you want?” Madison tried to ask. Her mouth moved, her lips forming the question, but no sound emerged. 


She didn't think he would answer; he couldn't even have heard the question, but to her surprise he only hesitated a moment before saying, “Your soul.”



Review: 

I love stories about shifters and this one is chock full of shifters and magic and love.  All three in one story are a bonus in my world.  It is also about family, real family, who would do anything for those they love.

I love this author and this book is just as good as I expected from her.

I give this book 4 out of 5 clouds.



This product or book may have been distributed for review; this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.

Monday, August 17, 2015

Book Review of Dwarves in Space

Book Review of Dwarves in Space
Sponsored by Enchanted Book Tours

Welcome to Books, Books, and More Books.  I am pleased to share this book with you.  Thank you for visiting and please come again.


About the Book
Title: Dwarves in Space
Author: Sabrina Zbasnik
Genre: Science-Fiction / Fantasy

Thousands of years after the jewelry's destroyed, the sword reforged, the dragon ridden, and the indecipherable prophecy translated into a recipe for sugared biscuits, the dwarves turned to that final frontier: space. And along came the elves, orcs, gnomes, trolls, ogres, and those vermin-like upstarts, humans.

Dwarves in Space is Tolkien merged with Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy in a horrific transporter accident.

The Elation-Cru is not the flashiest ship, nor the newest, or even has all of its bolts attached; but she can fly. Well, sort of wade through space, and that's when all the parts are working. She supports a sugar addicted dwarven pilot, an elven engineer, an orcish doctor, a silent djinn, and the lone human trying to hold the entire thing together with duct tape. Variel, the captain, has been hiding from a secret for the past five years and time's finally run out.

When she goes against her common sense and fights to save her onboard assassin/renter from a job gone sour, she finds herself before an ex-colleague that knew her in her previous life as the Knight of the realm. The entire ship is sent on a mad dash across the universe -- from a decaying space station, home to the wackiest species the galaxy has to offer, down to the Orc homeworld, which wouldn't be so bad if Variel hadn't spent most of her previous life fighting in the war against them. Chances of survival are nil and slipping fast.

Author Bio
S. E. Zbasnik has a degree in genetics, which means there may or may not be a horde of monkeoctopi doing her bidding to take over the world. Bringing that scientific approach to the fantasy world is her game, trying to put some common sense into magic and magic into common sense.

She currently lives with her husband and beloved dog, who dress up like Sherlock Holmes and solve mysteries in their spare time. She spends nearly of all her time in Nebraska but that's because it is impossible to leave without finding the lamppost. She lives in a house that has at least four walls and there are some other souls wandering forlornly calling to their lost lives within.

She loves and hates writing as she both loves and hates herself.

She's a huge video game nerd especially for Dragon Age, Mass Effect, and Bioshock as well as Doctor Who and makes fan art in her down time.

She's a neutral good assassin, so it's best to not get on her bad side.

 

Links  










Giveaway

Win a $10 Amazon gift card during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

(Link in case Rafflecopter doesn’t work: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b1f578953/)

Book Excerpts


 “Bys is the name, good person, and maps are my game,” the gnome was a littler larger than a fat house cat, its shoeless ankles kicking into the small stand he perched upon housing a scannable map. Variel passed her hand over it, but the PALM only blinked and shuddered, as if it wanted nothing to do with this place.

“No good, eh?” Bys rose to its feet and glanced up to her eyes, “Things neer updated anyway. What you want, my dear tallwalker, is directions.”

“Is that so…” Variel slipped into her noncommittal ‘Im just browsingvoice, “And you just happen to know where I could acquire some I take it.”

Bys slapped his suspenders in place — rather impressive as he forgot to put pants on — and grinned, the gnawing teeth of the gnomes displayed proudly. “Why yes, I believe I can direct you myself!” And then he giggled.

“I see,” she stepped back, knowing when she was part of the game. Every race had their angle, their almost subconscious drive that some scientists claimed was encoded in every strand of DNA. Most never translated it, letting the urge to exchange children for gold, building a house on top of chicken legs, or gnawing upon billy goats languish within the rest of their junk code along with vestigial tails and digesting milk. But there were always a few, usually ready to play it up for tourists, who got their jollies out of dressing the devolved barbarian when they could.

“Where are you going, young one?” Bys asked, as if Variel didnt easily have a good twenty years on him. “I assure you,” his high voice began to reach into dog toy levels of squeaking as he grew agitated, “I am the only one on this station who can guide you.”

“Uh-huh,” Variel turned to a Bugbear manning a small chips stand and asked, “Could you point me to the ‘Clear Veinsclinic?”

The Bugbear put down its tongs and glanced at her. The grease of the fry oil drenched its black coat until the goblin bear shone like onyx. “It is down the next aisle, to the right,” it mashed out through an elongated mouth, before it pulled out a lollypop and better enunciated, “Beside the shop that specializes in livers.”

For a moment Variel wanted to joke about whether they were selling, buying, or frying, but thought better of it. On Vargal the answer could be yes to all three. Instead, she nodded her head and thanked the Bugbear. It returned to its greasy life and Bys shook its tiny fist at the goblin that stole away its fun.

Review: 

            I am a huge fan of Doctor Who and “Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy,” both of which remind me of this story.  It also sounds a little like the start of a joke:  ‘A human, orc, elf, dwarf, and genie were on a space ship…”  The story manages to be both funny and tense, sometimes at the same time.

            I give this book 5 out of 5 clouds.


This product or book may have been distributed for review; this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.




Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Book Review of Sidhe

Book Review of Sidhe
       Sponsored by Enchanted Book Tours


Welcome to Books, Books, and More Books.  I am pleased to share this book with you.  Thank you for visiting and please come again.



About the Book
 
Title: Sidhe (The Incubus Saga – Book Three)

Author: Amanda Meuwissen

Genre: Urban Fantasy / Paranormal Gay Romance

Nathan Grier returns from the Veil a changed man. The consequences of his time with Malak, the dark sidhe king, and the deal made to free him may be more than he can bear. The weakening of the Veil and new enemies foretell of a greater battle still ahead. With Nathan’s brother Jim now an Awakened changeling, and Nathan’s role in Malak’s plans finally revealed, Nathan’s love for fae hunter and incubus, Sasha Kelly, may not be enough to save him after all.







The Previous Books in the Series

Incubus (The Incubus Saga - Book 1)


Nathan Grier only ever wanted a normal life, but for him, life, family, and love are anything but normal. On the other side of the Veil, dark and light fae exist outside the knowledge of most humans. Nathan was born human, but his twin brother Jim is a changeling. On the run since they were children, time for both of them is running out. Turning to fae hunter Sasha Kelly for help, Nathan must soon face his growing feelings for the other man while trying to save himself and his brother from a fate worse than death.

-----





Changeling (The Incubus Saga - Book 2)


Nathan Grier’s dark fae bounty looms overhead. As he faces the very real threat of becoming a slave to the bounty’s owner, his brother Jim uses his changeling abilities more and more trying to save him. Every changeling throughout history turns evil once their powers manifest, meaning time may be running out for both of them as Jim nears True Awakening. Fae hunter and incubus, Sasha Kelly, is prophesized to save Nathan, but while Nathan has embraced his feelings for the other man, he fears their time together will be cut short—either from his impending fate…or Jim’s.



Author Bio

Amanda Meuwissen is the author of The Incubus Saga and the novelette The Collector. She also serves as COO and Managing Editor for BigWorldNetwork.com. She oversees editing and series selection, and is featured as a narrator for several BWN audiobooks and series. Amanda lives in Minneapolis, MN, with her husband, John, and their cats, Helga and Sasha (no connection to the incubus of the same name).

Links


Buy the Books:



Book Excerpts

“Nathan, it’s us,” Sasha tried to say calmly, inching closer with hands held up in seeming surrender.  Jim did the same.
Nathan knew he had to be a pitiable sight with that weakly held knife, but he’d use it, damn it, he would.  Somehow he’d use it. 
His back hit the corner of the room. 
“Playing that game?” Nathan scoffed. “I know better.  You haven’t been them in…in so long, I…I don’t even remember.  I don’t remember…”
“Nathan,” Jim pleaded, moving closer with one hand outstretched.  He looked so strange to Nathan, almost believable with those dark blue eyes so caring, so concerned.  “I can’t imagine what it must have been like, but it’s over.  You’re not in the Veil anymore.  We got you out.  You’re safe.  With us.”
“Please believe us, Nathan,” Sasha said. “Just look at us.”  He gestured to himself; to Jim.  Sasha too looked so normal, so honest and how Nathan remembered him.  “It’s really us.  You’re safe, Nathan.  Please recognize us…”
He recognized them.  But it had to be a trick.  Another damn trick like all the others. 
“I gave you what you wanted,” Nathan said again.  He was so cold.  Nothing looked right.  Nothing felt right.  He couldn’t understand why this was happening when he had finally given in.
“Nathan, it’s us,” Sasha said more firmly, like maybe Nathan just couldn’t hear them.
“Malak took you and we’re so sorry,” Jim said. “We wish we could have gotten you out sooner, but you have to know us.  Please tell me you still know us…”
“Malak…?” Nathan glared at the false images before him, knife still held firm, warning them not to get closer.  “It had nothing to do with that, you know that, you know.  I didn’t…I didn’t go to the Veil.”
Jim and Sasha stopped their progression toward him, their eyes wide and disbelieving.  They shared a pained look, not knowing what to say until finally Jim spoke, slow and gentle.
“Nathan, don’t you remember?  Malak said killing the spriggan instead of banishing it broke the deal. That’s why we couldn’t win, why we couldn’t save you.  You went to the Veil, Nathan.  You’ve been in the Veil.  But you’re out now.  I don’t know what Malak did to you there, but we got you out.”
It almost made sense, as if a second reality were trying to push into Nathan’s mind: memories of what Jim was saying, memories he knew weren’t fabrications, and yet…how could he remember things happening two different ways?
The Veil?  Had that been the Veil?  To him it had felt like life.

-----

Review: 


            This book was an interesting take on the supernatural world and the war between good and evil.  It took fae, the devil, and God and shook it all up and stood it on its head.  The story is a good mix of fantasy, romance, and adventure.

            I would recommend reading all three books in order, but you can follow the story even if you only read Sidhe. 

            I give this story 4 out of 5 clouds.



This product or book may have been distributed for review; this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.

Sunday, August 2, 2015

Book Review of Between Two Worlds

Book Review of Between Two Worlds
Sponsored by Enchanted Book Tours

Welcome to Books, Books, and More Books.  I am pleased to share this book with you.  Thank you for visiting and please come again.



About the Book


 Title: Beween Two Worlds

Author: Christy Santo

Genre: Time Travel

Rebecca dreams her present time and lives her past.


It is 2006 and Indiana University graduate student Rebecca Harrison attends a Halloween party. Unknown to her she will have her world turned upside down when she leaves it. An unexpected accident rips her from 2006 Indiana and abandons her in 1983 Fanwood, New Jersey her hometown. She struggles to relive the past and exist as another woman with the same name and birthday as her. Can she find a way to return to her present time or will her past become her future?

Author Bio

Christy Santo was born and raised in Fanwood, New Jersey.  She has lived in Bloomington, IN since 2002 and runs her family's Internet retail business. Between Two Worlds, is her second book and she is currently working on a third book.  



Links

Twitter: @CJSTheWrite
Amazon Author Central at this link:http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00J8ULVO2 (US) 
Amazon Author Central http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00J8ULVO2 (UK)
Watch the Trailer: https://youtu.be/hqtuZl3PEbU


Giveaway

The author is giving away 25 eBook copies during the tour!
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Book Excerpts


This night I dream just like the night before. Once again, I see myself in a hospital bed.  The traction is present, and so is the swelling, but this time I notice it is down. My mom sits nearby in a chair with Pastor Tommy sitting next to her. I can tell mom is quite upset but her tone of voice is surprisingly controlled as she speaks with the Pastor. 

“I know it was an accident. The young man was preoccupied when he exited the dorm house, but I wish he had chosen to look up to see if he was alone. He knew there was a party on the other side of the house, and people would be coming and going. Knowing this, how could he not have checked? It wouldn't have taken much time - mere seconds to see Rebecca was on the stairs,” my mom says angrily.

“Yes, it wouldn't have taken long, but in hindsight, many of us don't consider looking ahead as we head out the door. This time this act led to an unfortunate accident. Rebecca got lucky he immediately called for help,” says Pastor Tommy in his comforting Georgian drawl.

“At least she is alive, thank goodness.” My mom pauses several moments before saying, "There is so much swelling, and her neck bones - who knows if she will keep the movement in her legs. The surgeon told me the swelling has to go down before he can do surgery. For days it has been waiting and more waiting!” New tears form and drop from her eyes. Seconds later the hospital room fades, and I awake to the alarm clock going off. 


Review: 

            This was an interesting take on time travel.  I have never read a book where the person traveled to where they had lived before.  Usually this is taboo in time travel, but this book covered it in an interesting manner.

            I give this book 4 out of 5 clouds.



This product or book may have been distributed for review; this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Book Review of Between Heaven and Hell





Book Review of Between Heaven and Hell


Sponsored by Enchanted Book Tours

Welcome to Books, Books, and More Books.  I am pleased to share this book with you.  Thank you for visiting and please come again.



About the Books

Between Heaven & Hell, Book 2

Title: Between Heaven & Hell

Author: Astrid V. Tallaksen

Genre: Urban Fantasy / Paranormal Romance

 Being a fallen angel used to be easy. A quiet life with the people she loves is all Sara ever asked for. Unfortunately, the apocalypse didn't get the message. After nearly losing everything, she's managed to put her life back together and start living what she hoped was happily ever after with her small family. Now she wants nothing more than to hide away and pretend the end of the world is a distant rumor. Her life has already been torn apart once. Doesn't she deserve a break?

                The apocalypse finds its way back to her doorstep when a letter arrives. Is it a friendly warning, a dire threat, or a simple reminder that she can't run away from what's to come? Sara refuses to take heed and pays dearly for her avoidance. With her family in danger and the preservation of free will hanging in the balance, she finds herself with no other choice. Sara must follow the path forged for her, a path that may take away everything she holds dear and leave her in pieces at the end. She's caught between Heaven and Hell, and the last person she'd ever have considered trusting might just be her greatest ally.


At Death’s Door, Book 1
Title: At Death’s Door

Author: Astrid V. Tallaksen

Genre: Urban Fantasy / Paranormal Romance

The world is a pretty straightforward place. Even for medium Sara Stone things seem pretty simple, aside from the whole talking to spirits bit. But when the spirits get too hard to handle and Sara ends up admitted to a mental hospital, the world starts to seem a lot less straightforward. First her family disappears, including her four year old son. Then she gets the sneaking suspicion that not only are the staff at the mental hospital somehow connected, but they also have no intention of ever letting her leave the hospital.

                Everything changes when Sara has her first visitor in three months. Daniel is handsome, friendly, and a complete stranger. When he promises to spring her from the hospital and swears that everything she's experienced is completely real, Sara has no choice but to believe him. But once she reaches a run-down Victorian house in the tiny Alabama town her rescuer calls home, the last thing she expects to discover is that every memory she has is a lie.

                Daniel reveals a world filled with angels, demons, and an impending war humans know nothing about. Sara wants to ignore her role in the whole mess – all that matters is solving the mystery of where her son has gone. But the forces of Heaven, Hell, and the Heart have other plans for her. Can she find her child before the world comes crashing down?

  
Author Bio

Astrid V. Tallaksen grew up with a heart for stories of creatures and places outside of this world. Her love of reading quickly became a love of writing. She spent several years creating content and helping writers to improve their craft on the online world of Althanas, a creative writing workshop in the guise of a roleplaying forum. A self-avowed nerd, Astrid loves science fiction, comic books, and eighties fantasy movies in the vein of The Princess Bride and Labyrinth. Her geekiness extends to annual volunteer work at the massive sci-fi convention known as Dragon*con every year in Atlanta, Georgia. In the odd times that she's not immersed in geekdom or writing, Astrid loves to sing karaoke, crochet, and spend time with her family and pets.

Links


Links to purchase At Death's Door:


Links to purchase Between Heaven & Hell:




Review: 

            This is the second book in the series, and it’s even better than the first one.  And I didn’t think that was possible.  It is also the saddest book I’ve read in a very long time, but left me hopeful that the final book would have a happy ending.

            In this book Sara/Azreal, the angel of death, loses those she holds most dear and finds someone new to care for.  It is a tragedy of Shakespearean levels, but ends with a hint of hope.

            I give this book 5 out of 5 clouds and anxiously await book 3.



This product or book may have been distributed for review; this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Book Review of Gifted

Book Review of Gifted
   Sponsored by Enchanted Book Tours


Welcome to Books, Books, and More Books.  I am pleased to share this book with you.  Thank you for visiting and please come again.


About the Book

Title: Gifted: The Hayven Series


Author: J.A. George

Genre: YA Romance / Fantasy / Dystopian

“Why do birds fly? Why do lions hunt deer? Why does the sun shine and the moon glow? Because it must. I wish I could tell you why, I truly do. It mustn’t be easy, such pressure weighted on such young shoulders, but we do not always choose the lives we must lead.” 

Avery Gray had no choice but to be different. She was not born that way; she was chosen. 

After having met a special, silver-haired woman, and the handsome and enigmatic Theodore-James Connors, Ava finds herself in Hayven, a city separated from the rest of the world, where only gifters – ordinary people with extra-ordinary gifts – can go. With Theo, his friends, Hayven, her gift, and the ability to ‘travel’ in different colours, Ava must now accept that she can no longer classify herself as normal. As friendships develop, and Theo and Ava become closer than she anticipated, it turns out her new gifted life comes with a catch. With no choice or say on the matter, Ava must save a city she is starting to fall in love with; a city that has almost begun to feel like home. 


Author Bio

J.A. George is the author of the four-part series, GIFTED: THE HAYVEN SERIES. Jessica spent years of her life reading book after book before sitting on her bed one morning, opening her laptop and typing Chapter One into her word document. Now, not only does she read book after book, she now writes book after book too. When she's not writing, she's trying to break her record of finishing a tub of Oreo ice cream in less than forty-five minutes.
You can contact her at Jess.george@hotmail.co.uk


Links



Review: 

            OMG, I cannot wait for book 2.  This story was incredible.  All the things I would love to be real are real in this story.  Magic and other worlds where people have special gifts.  I would love to be friends with the people in this story because they all sound like really interesting people.

            I give this story 5 out of 5 clouds and anxiously await the follow up.



This product or book may have been distributed for review; this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.