Archive for June 4, 2015

What an EPIC read!

I can’t wait to tell you about The IX.

Come on in. Hurry! LOL

Not only is the title intriguing, the cover art is stunning too.

And the story, so freakin good!

To top it off, there’s a giveaway, so don’t forget to enter.

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Title: The IX
Author: Andrew P. Weston
Publication Date: January 26, 2015
Genre: Science Fiction

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My Review

Ever wondered what happened to those lost Roman Legionnaires? What about the  US cavalry, engaged in a secret mission for President Lincoln? And whatever happened to the Special Forces Unit from a future time who disappeared during their mission to stop a nuclear disaster?

The IX has the answers and they are out of this world. Literally.

I gotta say, this fascinated me. What a great way to explain the disappearance of thousands. And what a world the author built.

At the point of death, these people were whisked away to a distant galaxy by an alien race. The inhabitants of that planet are being killed off and face extinction. They need warriors, now. Told they fight or die, these people must work together, live by the code, “the enemy of my enemy is my friend,” if they are going to survive.

There’s no going back. There’s only the the Horde, an enemy that doesn’t hesitate to die by the thousands. They must be stopped or all perish. And what’s to stop them from finding Earth and doing to us what they are doing to these beings? And then to another planet, and another.

What a movie this would be! I’d kill, just kidding, to have a part in it. Even as an ugly Kresh!

My description is simplified. There’s so much happening. This book comes in at a whopping 565 pages. But don’t let that deter you. By the time you reach the end, you’ll be wishing it was longer.

Though I stumbled over some of the alien names and terms, laughed at my own attempts to pronounce them, I quickly came to recognize them, along with the numerous human characters. There are a lot, yet it doesn’t take long to recognize the individual voices.

The plot for The IX is mind blowing. The author gives you many sub plots, plenty of history, and an amazing world to explore. He was able to make this all flow easily. You’ll fly through this in to time.

The writing is superb. Ever read a book and see the entire story play out like on the big screen. Except for not being too sure what those nasty Kresh looked like, I could see this in vivid color and detail. Imagination is a wonderful thing, as is this authors talent.

5 Stars

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A snippet to tease ya!
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Thirty planets overrun in the space of just fifteen months. More than fifty billion souls lost. A history and a culture spanning more than twelve thousand years brought to this. It’s a bitter pill to swallow. And we risk it all on an idea…
What choice do we have?
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Synopsis
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Roman legionnaires, far from home, lost in the mists of Caledonia.

A  US cavalry company, engaged on a special mission, vital to the peace treaty proposed by Presidential candidate Abraham Lincoln.

A twenty-first century Special Forces unit, desperate to prevent a nuclear catastrophe.

From vastly different backgrounds, these soldiers are united when they are snatched away from Earth at the moment of their passing. Thinking they may have been granted a reprieve, imagine their horror when they discover they have been transported to a failing planet on the far side of the galaxy, where they are given a simple ultimatum. Fight or die. Against all odds, this group of misfits manages to turn the tide against a relentless foe, only to discover the true cost of victory might exact a price they are unwilling to pay.

How far would you be willing to go to stay alive?

The IX. Sometimes, death is only the beginning of the adventure.

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Author Bio

Andrew P. Weston is a Royal Marine and Police veteran from the UK who now lives on the beautiful Greek island of Kos with his wife, Annette, and their growing family of rescue cats.An astronomy and law graduate, he is a contracted writer of fiction and poetry. Creator of “The IX” – and the “Guardians” and “Cambion Journals” series, has also has the privilege of being a member of the British Science Fiction Association, and British Fantasy Society.When not writing, Andrew devotes some of his spare time to assisting NASA in one of their remote research projects, and writes educational articles for Astronaut.com and Amazing Stories.

Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads | Pinterest

 

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Tour Schedule
June 1
Hope. Dreams. Life… Love (“Cast the Movie” with Pictures)
The Shadow Portal (Author Interview)
June 2
June 3
Dee-Scoveries (Review & Guest Post)
June 4
fuonlyknew (Review)
Boom Baby Reviews (Character Interview)
 
June 5
I Am MoLaShae (Review)
Lisa’s Loves (Books of Course) (Review & Character Interview)
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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

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I have the most wonderful story to share with all of you furbaby lovers.

It’s Release Day for Vanessa Morgan’s Avalon, a truly  heartwarming tale.

Once you meet Avalon, you’ll look at your cat with different eyes.

I have my review and a fun excerpt to share with you.

And a giveaway, so don”t forget to enter.

But before we get to that, here’s something special.

Fans of The Big Bang Theory show should recognize this little tune:)

Soft kitty,

warm kitty.

little ball of fur.

Happy kitty,

sleepy kitty,

Purr,

Purr,

Purr.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eRqG0mkewM

I wonder if there’s a little bit of Sheldon in Avalon!

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Avalon

A Heartwarming True Cat Story

25505135

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My Review

The day Avalon crossed paths with Vanessa, her life as she new it ended. Was it fate?

I think it was. Avalon was a handsome cat, a Turkish Van, the breed Vanessa had been looking for. She new they were a possessive breed, but nothing prepared her for this cat.

He tortured the other cats in her household, threw up on her guinea pig, and flew into tantrums, tearing her house apart if she looked at another creature, especially another cat.

But there was another side to Avalon. Adoration. He adored Vanessa. He was hers. And as Vanessa’s life changed, she was his.

This story is about Vanessa as much as it’s about Avalon. She tells much about herself, her past, her thoughts, as the years pass.

Sharing her vulnerabilities, sacrificing opportunities, through good times and bad, Vanessa gave her all to Avalon.

Most pet owners soon learn they aren’t owners. Their pet is not a pet, it’s a member of the family. And sometimes they rule the roost.

The extremes Avalon went to astounded me. Puking on the guinea pig, terrorizing the other cats, letting his displeasure be known with  escalating howls, even kicking her boyfriend out, he was to be commended for his unswerving spirit.

The things Vanessa gives up for Avalon may seem like a bit much, but haven’t we all done things for our furry friends that may seem ridiculous to others? I know I have.

Vanessa feels like their paths crossed for a reason. Her and Avalon were meant to be together. And I believe her. Never have I heard of such a bond as they shared.

This story made me cry. But I smiled through the tears and when I finished it, I hugged my dog and my cat, gave them some special treats, and when we snuggled together at bedtime, I felt whole.

5 Stars

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Synopsis

Some cats need nine lives to make a difference. Avalon only needed one.

From Amazon bestselling author Vanessa Morgan, Avalon is the heartwarming and once-in-a-lifetime love story of a girl and her neurotic Turkish Van cat.

With humor, the author details how Avalon made other creatures cringe in distress whenever he was around, how he threw her dates out by means of special techniques, and how he rendered it almost impossible for her to leave the house. Avalon was so incorrigible that even her landlord ordered her to get rid of him. But beneath Avalon’s demonic boisterousness, Vanessa recognized her own flaws and insecurities, and she understood that abandoning Avalon would be the worst she could do to him. Thanks to her unswerving loyalty, Avalon transformed into a tender feline, and even landed a major role in a horror movie. In turn, Avalon made it his mission to be there for his human companion.

By turns jubilant and deeply moving, Avalon is a memoir for anyone who has ever been obsessively in love with a pet.

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Enjoy this peek inside the book!

Around three o’clock that night, Avalon was fed up with the strange
man in his bed. He plonked his rear down on Gilles’ pillow,
complaining fretfully in his ear while tapping him on the face.
After nearly an hour of incessant wailing and poking, more drastic
measures were required. The new solution: pushing Gilles out of bed.
Avalon succeeded.
Climbing back under the covers wasn’t an option. Unable to sleep,
Gilles got up. “I guess I didn’t pass the test.”
“Give Avalon some time. Maybe he was just irked because you took his
side of the bed.”
But Gilles had already understood that this wasn’t going to be a
one-time event.
For several minutes, Gilles and Avalon sized each other up. Then
Gilles said, “I’d better leave the two of you alone now. It’s clearly
what the little guy wants.”
I swear I could see Avalon smirking when Gilles put on his jacket and left.
Instantly, Avalon leapt onto me, and compensated for the evening
before. He entered a kiss-induced trance. This cat was all about
exclusivity, and when granted that exclusivity, his love was immense.
“Are you really that happy that Gilles is gone?”
In reply, Avalon looked at me with swoony eyes and purred loudly, then
swatted out his paw to urge me to continue to pet him, which I did.
A phone call interrupted our tender moment. It was Gilles.
“There won’t be any train to Brussels for hours,” he said. “Is it okay
if I come back to your place for a while?”
“Of course.” His return would offend Avalon, but I couldn’t possibly
leave Gilles outside in the rain for several hours.
As soon as Gilles appeared at the front door, Avalon’s pupils widened
to a pitch black.
Let’s see who’s the boss here, he seemed to be thinking.
Being a cat of action, Avalon went through his usual attention-seeking
routine: making a selection of irritating noises, scratching the
wallpaper, and pushing objects to the ground.
When that didn’t work, Avalon opened Gilles’ overnight bag and threw
out a piece of clothing. His eyes so dark and evil they could be
gateways to hell, Avalon stared at his adversary and waited for a
reaction. He then pulled out a box of gel wax. Again, he looked up at
Gilles to make sure he understood that all this bungling was meant to
get a message across. A third object followed, then a fourth, a fifth,
a sixth, until there was nothing.
Hell-bent on winning the game, Avalon took Gilles’ coat in his mouth
and towed it toward the front door. There, he used his right paw to
tap the keys hanging from the wooden doorframe.
Avalon’s message couldn’t be any clearer: there was room for only one
man in my life. A feline one.

Purchase links for Avalon

Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon FR

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Author Vanessa Morgan



Vanessa Morgan is an author, screenwriter, and blogger. Two of her
works, The Strangers Outside and A Good Man, have been turned into
films. Her short film script Next to Her is currently in
pre-production. When she’s not working on her latest book, you can
find her reading, watching horror movies, digging through flea
markets, or photographing felines for her blog Traveling Cats
(http://travelling-cats.blogspot.com). Avalon has appeared in several
of her books and films.


Social media links

Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest / Google +

Bloglovin / Amazon / Blog / Goodreads

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

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T4T-Banner

Hello and welcome to this week’s Two for Thursday Book Blitz #T4T
presented by Month9books/Tantrum Books!

Today, we will be showcasing two titles that may tickle your fancy,
and we’ll share what readers have to say about these titles!

You just might find your next read!

This week, #T4T presents to you:

To Bear an Iron Key by Jackie Morse Kessler and
Crown of Ice by Vicki Weavil

Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

*****

TBAIK-Cover-V1

This richly-imagined universe from an acclaimed fixture of YA storytelling introduces a the young witch Bromwyn, a strong heroine who wields great power. Five years ago, Bromwyn refused a gift from the powerful fairy king. Tonight, on Midsummer, that decision comes back to haunt her. When her best friend Rusty picks the wrong pocket, he and Bromwyn are all that stand between their village and the rampaging fairies who have pushed through the World Door. If they cannot outwit the fairy king and queen before the World Door closes at sunrise, the friends will lose everything–their village, Bromwyn’s magic, and Rusty’s life.

add to goodreads

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | TBD | iBooks

 

What Reader’s Are Saying:

If you want to get lost in magic and spend some time away from this grey, dreary world of reality, then look no further.” – Nicky Peacock, Author

 

“his was a really strong little book–a wonderful start to a brand new series, and I think it’s safe to say I’ll be looking for more of Jackie Morse Kessler’s work!”Kels, Literature Obsessed

 

“This is a great tale about the transitions in youth and of true friendship. It also depicts the emotional wounds caused from misjudgment and rejection.” – LuAnn, Rockin Book Reviews

about-the-author

JMK

Jackie Morse Kessler grew up in Brooklyn, NY, with a cranky cat and overflowing shelves filled with dolls and books. Now she’s in Upstate NY with another cranky cat, a loving husband, two sons, and overflowing shelves filled with dragons and books (except when her sons steal her dragons). She has a bachelor’s degree in English and American Literature, and yet she’s never read any Jane Austen (with or without zombies). She also has a master’s degree in media ecology. (The living study of technology and culture. Which is cool, but she still can’t figure out how to use Tweetdeck.)

Jackie spends a lot of time writing, reading, and getting distracted by bright and shiny new ideas. (She just came up with a new idea right now.) She has a weakness for chocolate and a tendency to let her cat take over her office chair.

Author Links: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

*****

Crown of Ice

Thyra Winther’s seventeen, the Snow Queen, and immortal, but if she can’t reassemble a shattered enchanted mirror by her eighteenth birthday she’s doomed to spend eternity as a wraith. Armed with magic granted by a ruthless wizard, Thyra schemes to survive with her mind and body intact.

Unencumbered by kindness, she kidnaps local boy Kai Thorsen, whose mathematical skills rival her own. Two logical minds, Thyra calculates, are better than one. With time rapidly melting away she needs all the help she can steal. A cruel lie ensnares Kai in her plan, but three
missing mirror shards and Kai’s childhood friend, Gerda, present more formidable obstacles. Thyra’s willing to do anything – venture into uncharted lands, outwit sorcerers, or battle enchanted beasts – to reconstruct the mirror, yet her most dangerous adversary lies within her breast.

Touched by the warmth of a wolf pup’s devotion and the fire of a young man’s desire, the thawing of Thyra’s frozen heart could be her ultimate undoing.

add to goodreads

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | TBD | iBooks

 

What Reader’s Are Saying

“Crown of Ice was great young adult fantasy novel. It offers an interesting and refreshing retelling of Snow Queen fairytale, but also so much more – realistic, confident and a bit bad heroine, magic, cute animals, subtle romance, …”Dragana, The Paisley Reader


“Crown of Ice, is a luscious and fantastical retelling of the Snow Queen.”Tina, Goodreads Reviewer

 

“A solid YA adventure with teenagers who learn so much about themselves, and each other. Even the expected happily ever after offers believable surprises that underscore the maturity and independence they each have gained.” All Things Urban Fantasy

about-the-author

Vicki Weavil 11

Vicki Lemp Weavil was raised in a farming community in Virginia, where her life was shaped by a wonderful family, the culture of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and an obsession with reading. Since obtaining her undergraduate degree in Theatre from the University of Virginia, she’s gone on to acquire two masters degrees, living in places as diverse as New York City and rural North Carolina. She’s currently the library director for a performing an visual arts university. Vicki loves good writing in any genre, and has been known to read seven books in as many days. She enjoys travel, gardening, and the arts. Vicki lives in North Carolina with her husband, son, and some very spoiled cats.

 

Author Links: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Tumbler

Giveaway

Complete the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

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