Archive for the ‘Action/Adventure’ Category

I love sharing children’s books with ya’ll. Who doesn’t remember when they were young, the rush of that new book, opening it up to start the adventure, and getting lost in it. The library was my favorite place to go on the weekend. I’d carefully choose my books and when I got home, I’d rush to my room and spread them all out, close my eyes, select one, and start reading.

Karmack would have been one I brought home.

Karmack by J.C. Whyte

Title: Karmack | Author: J.C. Whyte | Publication Date: June 6, 2013 | Publisher: Muse it Up Publishing | Pages: 140 | Recommended Age: 7+

Summary:

A strange little creature enters the lives of three tough guys at Higgins Elementary. And from that point on, pranks come back like boomerangs, smacking the bullies right in their fifth grade butts!

Sully, the leader of the gang, is the only one who can see this creature, which he names Karmack. Sully learns that the creature’s job is to balance all the bad pranks the bullies have pulled over the years. Karmack warns that if this fails, “dreadful, awful doom” awaits them all.

Sully soon realizes that he must save not only himself but his friends, who have no idea why they keep getting boomeranged by Karmack!

“Karmack” won First Place in the 2014 Purple Dragonfly Writing contest, a national contest for children’s book authors, in the category of chapter books (e-Books).

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Purchase the Book

Amazon (US) * Amazon (UK) * Muse It Up Publishing

Barnes and Noble * Omnilit * Bookstrand

 

The Buzz About the Book

“Karmack is a well-written, middle grade book tackling the difficult topic of bullying from the perspective of the bully. The character development is absolutely brilliant as the reader witnesses the transformation of Sully from an aggressive, angry bully to a positive role model and respected leader among his peers. While the concept of karma is not for everyone, I found myself agreeing with the main message of how our actions have consequences, intended or otherwise. I would recommend this book to middle grade classrooms as a great book to generate discussion around bullying.” ~ Renee @ Mother Daughter Book Reviews

“A wonderful story about growing up and treating others with respect, Karmack is well paced, funny, and manages to teach important lessons without coming off preachy.” ~ Jess W., Amazon

“A fun read with important lessons for us all about Karma, and why bullies have more to balance than most people. Great for ages 9 up, child centered, non-preachy, action packed, great classroom read aloud.” ~ Carolyn W., Amazon

“What an AMAZINGLY FUN story! EVERYONE needs to read it! Full of FUN, FANTASY, and FANTASTIC REVENGE on a bully! Fun for ALL ages!” ~ Shauna W., Amazon

“Karmack is a captivating pre-teen fantasy and author J.C. Whyte has created a strong cast of characters that are well developed and quite likable. As the story progresses, the suspense builds to a delightful outcome that is sure to keep readers anticipating Whyte’s next round of literary treasures. We look forward to seeing more from this author.” ~ Literary Classics Book Review, Amazon

 

About The Author: J.C. Whyte

J.C. White Author of KarmackWhen J.C. Whyte was eleven, her 6th grade teacher gave a class assignment to write a poem about a sport. Realizing her classmates would probably choose popular American sports like baseball or football, J.C. decided to write about something different: golf. And to her complete surprise, the teacher found it comical; she was thereby encouraged to keep writing.

Then over summer break, students were told to choose 26 books from a reading list and write a book report on each. J.C. was horrified! She wanted to enjoy her summer, not spend it reading! You see, J.C. was a very slow reader and didn’t much enjoy the experience. Plus, kids back then didn’t have all the fun books to choose from today. But that same teacher who had assigned the sports poem told J.C.’s mother she could write 26 stories instead of reading them. That was absolute genius! Although she didn’t actually write 26 stories (perhaps six?), J.C. submitted one which made her teacher laugh out loud in class. And she got an “A” on her summer reading assignment. J.C. has never forgotten that wise teacher who let her play to her strengths.

So from the age of eleven, J.C. knew she wanted to be a writer. Yet by the time she reached college, she understood that writing stories seldom paid the bills. So she got her degrees in Journalism and Communications Management. Then for many years she channeled her creative energies in the field of Public Relations.

Marriage, kids, and several more degrees and occupations later (including stints as a travel agent and paralegal), J.C. entered law school – mostly for the challenge of writing creative arguments for the court. But while in law school, she became a columnist for the student newsletter, writing humorous pieces on the strange and quirky life of a law student. She was absolutely thrilled when one of these articles was chosen for publication in The National Jurist, a magazine distributed to law students throughout the US.

But after graduating and passing the Bar, J.C. realized within a few years that creative writing was still what made her heart sing. So now, as a grandma, she’s returned to writing. And with publication of her middle grade novel Karmack, she’s come full circle, back to where her writing journey began.

Website | Goodreads

 

* Book Blast Giveaway *

Amazon 25 gift card

Prize: One winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card or PayPal cash prize

Contest ends: September 18, 11:59 pm, 2014

Open: Internationally

How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.

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Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. One winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If a winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, J.C. Whyte and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com.

 

MDBR Book Promotion Services

 

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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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We’re so excited to share the cover of ARRGH! by Stacey Campbell, a middle grade fantasy adventure. This book releases September 24th, 2014.

 

Description:


Forced to remain silent after being kidnapped by pirates Christopher must find a way to save an innocent merchant ship’s captain and his daughter from the evil grasp of Captain Redblade proving that friendship and family are worth fighting for no matter the costs.
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About the Author:

Stacey R. Campbell lives in the Pacific North West with her husband, three daughters, three dogs, and a pet

IMG_1648 (1)turtle named Todd. She is a graduate of the University of Washington. At the age of seven Stacey was told that she would never be the writer she dreamed of being because she is dyslexic. Finally Stacey found that she could not look her children in the eyes and tell them that they could be what ever they wanted to be if she did not do the same. Now Stacey can’t stop writing and loves to help children pursue their own dreams. Stacey is the young adult author of Hush, A Lakeview Novel and Whisper, A Lakeview Novel. ARRGH! is Stacey’s first middle grade book.

For more books from this author, visiting information, and author events please visit Stacey at:

 

You can also learn more about Stacey R. Campbell on

 

Live in the Seattle area? Meet Stacey Campbell, YA author Martha Brockenbrough and others at the UW bookstore, Mill Creek, on October 9th at 7:00! There will also be a book launch for ARRGH!, Dec. 3rd at 7:00 at the UW Bookstore in the U district.
Giveaway:
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Paperbacks of HUSH & WHISPER (Young Adult)- US only
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ebook of ARRGH! (Middle Grade)- INT
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Click on the rafflecopter below to enter.
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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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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page.
•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

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My Teaser for today is from

Talking Waters

by Jane Zimmermann

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Genre: Adventure,Mystery

Teaser #1 from 1% into the book

John Harris loved to hear his daughter’s laughter drifting downstairs to his office while he wrote. The distant sound of teenage voices in the house and the deep steady breathing of the big brown dog at his feet created a perfect background for the author to work.

Teaser #2 from 14% into the book

As Erin looked through the thick branches to see what lay behind them, she spotted a flash of white in the dark woods. About fifty feet away from her stood a beautiful, young, totally white deer. It was magic, like something out of a fairy tale.

The fawn’s head was raised and its two big pink ears were at attention, looking just as surprised as the girl. For a fleeting moment, the two creatures stood looking right into each other’s eyes. All Erin could think of was a unicorn.

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I spotted this free on Amazon and really wanted to read it after I read the blurb, so I grabbed it. I am having a wonderful time with this story. Brings back some memories, for sure. Will be reviewing soon.

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Book Description:

Talking Waters is a story about history, mystery, friendship and more… Shy, sensitive Erin and her best friend Audrey, a sophisticated soon-to-be 15 year-old, are thrilled when Audrey’s parents rent a rambling old lake house for the summer. Dakota, Erin’s 16 year-old brother, completes the trio of excited teens at Lake Bonita. And of course, none of them would go anywhere without their dogs… The teenagers quickly settle into a laid-back summer routine of swimming, kayaking, putt-putt, and dog walks in the nature preserve. Dakota’s passion for history lands him a part-time job mowing the presidential lawns at Monticello while his sister develops a passion of her own for an albino deer and a scruffy looking local boy, both of whom she meets unexpectedly in the woods. It isn’t long before strange occurrences around the lake catch the attention of the teens and they find themselves unraveling a mystery that spans hundreds of years. Boys on skateboards and snooty wealthy twins, grumpy old fishermen, rescue dogs and show dogs, Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello and an amazing archeological discovery all play a role in our heroes’ summer adventure. The peaceful waters and heavily wooded hills of central Virginia unfold their secrets as our teenage protagonists prove that common sense and genuine concern for their friends (especially those with four legs) can lead to wondrous things. Although far from perfect, they meet unexpected challenges with integrity and creativity, while at the same time managing to survive the daily drama of teenage life. Erin, Audrey and Dakota share with us the wonder and passion of their teenage world.

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How about you? Got a tease? Tell me!

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Virtual Tour
Author: RJ Sullivan
Featured Book: Haunting Blue

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R.J.’s Bucket List (from the likely to the absurd)

 

My entire life I have always seen myself with one goal in mind–become a published author and build a reading audience. To that end, mission accomplished. So let’s just jump in and see what I can come up with.

 

10. To finally own a computer advanced enough that I don’t have to rebuild it every year. Come on, people. MS Word, Facebook, and the ability to watch YouTube videos, is this too much to ask?

 

9. “Six months on the New York Times Bestseller list.” Sigh. Sorry, what was I saying?

 

8. To live long enough to see Marvel re-acquire the rights to the film adaptation of Spiderman so that they can finally make a version that’s not for-gossakes an embarrassing atrocity. (And I’ll just add–a great Wonder Woman movie because the world needs a great Wonder Woman movie.)

 

Speaking of comics:

 

7. A comic adaptation of my own work: I’m a lifelong comic book fan. I grew up reading the adventures of Spiderman, Wonder Woman, and their SF and horror variants (Dracula, Star Wars to name two major ones) I would love to see Blue or Rebecca turned into a gothic comic book tale Black and white. With art inspires by Bernie Wrightson. Yeah! Or perhaps a full-color adaptation of Captain Sayuri Arai and the plight of her mining spaceship the Red Lotus. Hey, someone call me. Let’s do this.

 

6. Pay me for movies! Sure, why not? Or a TV series. Or neither. Maybe Haunting Blue becomes a Sy-Fy Channel original. Maybe they do an okay job. Maybe they completely butcher it. That’s okay. Notice this is not a wish list for a successful adaptation (though that would be nice, in spite of the odds against it) rather, to have an idea optioned by Hollywood that may or may never get made. A property that requires the studio to write a check every couple of years to keep renewing that idea. Or as I call it, living the life of Asimov. And I’ll be honest, should this unlikelihood come to pass, I will be a total mercenary. I will not be P.L. Travers, creator of Mary Poppins, who fought Walt Disney every step of the way (and in spite of the claims of the recent bio-pic, completely hated the result). Make the movie. Make the TV show. Make it good, make it bad. As long as my books are around, I don’t care. Just put the check in the mail promptly.

 

The rest of this is a “if money were no object” and gets a little silly.

 

Shut up, it’s my bucket list.

 

5. Travel to Japan–the language barrier has always been daunting to me, and I am by nature a homebody. But if I were to go anywhere outside of the country, it would be the place that brought us all the awesome genre goodness of Godzilla, Speed Racer, Ultra Man, (the components of) Robotech, Battle of the Planets, and so much more incredible media sci-fi.

 

4. Acquire the rights to build my own amusement park: Warcraft World–Where Orcs and Night-elves walk side by side across cobbled paths and over those funky wooden spiral ramps and staircases to rides, merchandise, and simulations all in tribute to the world’s coolest MMORPG on the planet. Warcraft World–for those who find The Magical World of Harry Potter too mundane.

 

3. The ultimate home theater. With big screen, THX sound, reclining theater seats, my own popcorn machine and pop dispenser, and room for a couple hundred of my best friends. I guess I need a bunch of great movies to show, too.

 

2. Media Producer– Create the movies geeks want, done right. Let’s start with a proper I, Robot and help people forget about the Will “Ah hell no” Smith movie, along with Dragonriders of Pern, Elfquest, and a for-gossakes version of Dune that’s not an embarrassing atrocity.

 

1. Cyndi Lauper performing at my birthday party.

 

Shut up, it’s my bucket list.

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MY REVIEW

My favorite part of this story is Fiona Felicity Shaefer, aka Fi Fi, aka Blue. She’s spunky yet vulnerable, lethal yet loving. And she’s only 17 years old.

Blue’s mother is a successful lawyer with little time to play mom so Blue is left to her own devices, hanging with college kids in Broad Ripple.

A great opportunity for her mom has them moving to the small town of Perionne and Blue isn’t too happy.  With only 1 year left, she has to finish her senior year of school among strangers.

Her blue hair and attitude makes her the enemy of the school bully, but it doesn’t take long for the dark side of her nature to emerge and she pounds him good. That’s when she meets Chip, a computer geek with electrifying eyes and an easy-going attitude.

There’s an urban legend in Perionne. A local man, Gunther is purported to have robbed the bank and then disappeared without a trace. Most believe he’s dead and there have been numerous reports over the last twenty years of his specter being spotted.

When Chip coerces Blue into doing something crazy, they find out first hand if the legend of Gunther is real and they just might not survive to tell.

The author told this story in two different points of view. You’ll read Blue’s story, which takes place in 2010. And you’ll read Gunther’s story from 1990.

It’s easy to follow as the author flashes from present to past and present again. I would be reading about Blue and be totally engaged. Then I’d be reading about Gunther and be thus enthralled. Whether in the present or the past, I couldn’t wait to see what was coming and it made for twice the fun.

I was thrilled to learn this is the first book in the Adventures of Blue Shaefer. I’ll be sure to check out further adventures, and I hope the author writes about Blue’s years in Broad Ripple. I’d like to know how she became so lethal.

A great adventure, an urban legend, and a bit of clean romance await you. I’d recommend this book to all adventure lovers.

4 STARS

Haunting Blue Book Synopsis:

Punk, blue-haired “Blue” Shaefer, is at odds with her workaholic single mother. Raised as a city girl in a suburb of Indianapolis, Blue must abandon the life she knows when her unfeeling mother moves them to a dreadful small town. Blue befriends the only student willing to talk to her: computer nerd “Chip” Farren.

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Chip knows the connection between the rickety pirate boat ride at the local amusement park and the missing money from an infamous bank heist the townspeople still talk about. When Blue helps him recover the treasure, they awaken a vengeful ghost who’ll stop at nothing–not even murder–to prevent them from exposing the truth behind his evil deeds.

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Haunting Blue is Book One of the Adventures of Blue Shaefer.

Amazon Links for Haunting Blue:
Kindle Version ~ Print Version

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About RJ Sullivan

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Haunting Blue is the first book of the adventures of punk girl Fiona “Blue” Shaefer. This is the 2014 revised edition by Seventh Star Press. Seventh Star also released Haunting Obsession, a Rebecca Burton Novella, and Virtual Blue, the second book in Fiona’s tale. R.J.’s short stories have been featured in such acclaimed collections as Dark Faith: Invocations by Apex Books and Vampires Don’t Sparkle. His newest project is the Red Lotus series of science fiction novelettes.

R.J. resides in Heartland Crossing, Indiana. He drinks coffee from a Little Mermaid mug and is man enough to admit it. www.rjsullivanfiction.com

Author Links:
Website ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Twitter

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Tour Schedule and Activities
7/14 Jess Resides Here Interview
7/14 Beauty in Ruins Guest Post
7/14 fuonlyknew ~ Laura’s ramblins and reviews Top Tens List
7/15 Deal Sharing Aunt Top Ten’s List
7/15 John F. Allen Writer Character Post
7/15 Armand Rosamilia, Horror Author Guest Post
7/16 The Rage Circus Vs. The Soulless Void Review
7/16 SpecMusicMuse Interview
7/16 Workaday Reads Post on Artwork of Haunting Blue
7/16 I Smell Sheep Character Post
7/17 Bee’s Knees Review Review
7/17 Library Girl Reads & Reviews Guest Post
7/17 Come Selahway With Me Guest Post
7/18 A Haunted Head Author Interview
7/19 Nerd With A View Top Tens Post
7/19 Coffintree Hill Guest Post
7/20 Willow’s Author Love Review

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

 Peter Welmerink
Featured Book Release:
Transport
June 23 to June 29 , 2014

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Most of you know of my addiction to zombies! I can’t resist when I spot a new story.

And I just fell in love with the cover art for Transport.

When I discovered the author was from Michigan, that sealed the deal. I was born there and wouldn’t mind revisiting, zombies and all.

Author Peter Welmerink has put together a really fun Top Tens List.

Take your time, browse the post, and check out the awesome illustrations!

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Peter Welmerink’s

Top Ten Things You SHOULDN’T Do

When the Zombie Apocalypse Happens

(In the World of TRANSPORT)

 

  1. Stand in front of oncoming military vehicles, which are there to protect and assist you, to protest their presence. Plus, they might not stop and, if you are unfortunate enough to be standing before the HURON, 72 tons of armored vehicle will reduce your waist line to, ummmm, about a millimeter or so.

 

  1. Wear a dress, pants, shirt, or undergarments made of raw meat, even if you are a big fan of Lady Gaga.

 

  1. Ingest a lot of beans the night before, and then try and sneak through a quiet, zombie-infested, poorly-soundproofed auditorium the next day. Okay, one of my kids came up with this one. Still, sounds like something NOT to do.

 

  1. Move out to the country. You will eventually either get attacked, or someone will “crop dust” your homestead with flesh-eating chemicals, reducing you and the undead into piles of red goo.

 

  1. Run out to the big university communal. There might not be zombies within its walled confines, but the crazed geneticists inside may want to combine your biological essence with a dead cat or mutated bull. Unless you’re into that sort of thing.

 

  1. Use “weapons” which shoot foam bullets. Nerf guns are fun to shoot and play with, but not recommended for use in repelling actual undead.

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  1. Buy a house on Grand Rapids west side. It becomes an enclosed retention area for the city’s undead populace once the outbreak is in full bloom.

 

  1. Use any type of two-wheel or four-wheel vehicle to drive over and through a pile of zombies. Tires will spin on the gore-slop, unless you can totally floor it and run your rubber right down to pavement before being overwhelmed by flesh-biters. Try to spray a crimson rooster only if you have the horsepower and ample time for such shenanigans.

 

  1. Have a staring contest with a local Grand Rapids undead civilian. You’ll lose. They either don’t blink or do not have eyes to stare into. And the idea is just insane anyway. If you are silly enough to do such a thing, try it on a Feral zomb. You’ll still lose… along with your face, neck, appendages and, most likely, your life. Okay, one of my kids came up with this one too.

 

  1. Die, or become infected and die. The name of the game is live and survive, or, if not, make sure you go out with a big enough BANG to put yourself into some type of subatomic form.

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Book Synopsis for Transport

The HURON, a 72-ton heavy transport vehicle and an army of four; tracked, racked and ready to roll, to serve and protect the walled metropolis of Grand Rapids—both her living and her undead. Captain Jacob Billet and his crew patrol the byways, ready for trouble.

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William Lettner, the North Shore Coalition High Commissioner, has enemies from the mainland to the lakeshore and needs to be covertly transported home after his helicopter is shot down en route to Grand Rapids. He has no love for a city that gives unliving civilians the right to survive. Lettner’s venomous outbursts assaults Billet and his crew along every mile travelled as they are assigned to safely bring him through the treacherous landscape outside the city back to his hometown.

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The HURON and her crew will have to face domesticated zombies and the feral undead; marauders holding strategic chokepoints hostage; barricaded villages fighting for survival, and a group of geneticists who’ve lost control of one of their monstrous experiments if they want to complete their mission.

The crew will need to stay strong and trust one another in order to finish the mission and bring their “precious” cargo home, even knowing, all the while, the terrible deeds Lettner has done.

Travelling through West Michigan was never so dangerous.

Amazon Links for Transport

Print Version ~ Kindle Version

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About the author: Peter Welmerink was born and raised on the west side of pre-apocalyptic Grand Rapids, Michigan. He writes Fantasy, Military SciFi, and other wanderings into action-adventure. His work has been published in ye olde wood pulp print and electronic-online publications. He is the co-author of the Viking berserker novel, BEDLAM UNLEASHED, written with Steven Shrewsbury. TRANSPORT is his first solo novel venture. He is married with a small barbarian tribe of three boys.

Find out more about his works and upcoming projects at:
http://www.peterwelmerink.com

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Author Links:

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

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Tour Schedule and Activities

6/23 The Rage Circus Vs. The Soulless Void Review
6/23 The Tiffany Apan Blog Interview
6/23 Beauty in Ruins Guest Post
6/24 Come Selahway With Me Character Post
6/25 Deal Sharing Aunt Excerpt
6/25 Sheila Deeth Post on Art of Transport
6/27 Bookishly Me Review
6/27 fuonlyknew ~ Laura’s ramblins and reviews Top Ten’s List
6/28 Bee’s Knees Reviews Review
6/28 Alexx Momcat’s Gateway Book Blog Top Ten’s Llist
6/29 L. Andrew Cooper’s Horrific Scribblings Review

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

 

 

Welcome to the Cover Reveal for

The Three Thorns (The Brotherhood and The Shield #1)
by Michael Gibney

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presented by Month9Books!

What do ya think? Doesn’t it look like a fun adventure?!

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

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add to goodreads

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Title: THE THREE THORNS
(THE BROTHERHOOD AND THE SHIELD #1)
Publication date: August 26, 2014
Publisher: Tantrum Books/Month9Books, LLC.
Author: Michael Gibney

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Three brothers born to a once powerful King were abandoned at birth and cast out into the old world as orphans – alone and unaware of the other’s existence or their royal heritage.

In the new world, by order of the false King, three of the most lethal assassins are sent to kill the children before they come of age and avenge their father’s throne.

But when the brothers find one another, Benjamin, Tommy and Sebastian must resist the temptation of magic and power if they are to defeat the unspeakable evil that has threatened them since birth.

The Three Thorns is book one in an exciting children’s fantasy series called The Brotherhood and the Shield from debut author Michael Gibney.

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Michael GibneyMichael Gibney began working in restaurants at the age of sixteen and assumed his first sous chef position at twenty-two. He ascended to executive sous chef at Tavern on the Green, where he managed an eighty-person staff. He has worked in the kitchens of Morgans Hotel Group, 10 Downing in Manhattan, and Governor in Brooklyn’s DUMBO, among many others. Over the course of his career, he has had the opportunity to work alongside cooks and chefs from many of the nation’s best restaurants, including Alinea, Per Se, Eleven Madison Park, Daniel, Jean Georges, Le Bernardin, Bouley, Ducasse, Corton, wd~50, and Momofuku.

In addition to his experience in the food service industry, Gibney also holds a BFA in painting from Pratt Institute and an MFA in nonfiction writing from Columbia University. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Connect with the Author: Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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Chapter-by-Chapter-header---Giveaway

An ebook copy of The Three Thorns and a $10 Amazon Gift Card

Click on the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!

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(Winners will receive their book on release day)

 

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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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Welcome to the Cover Reveal for

Curse of the Granville Fortune by Kelly Hashway

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presented by Month9Books!

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

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Granville fortune

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Find the fortune, break the curse!

The hunt is on for an ancient treasure tied to nine-year-old J.B.’s family history. He’s been having visions that make him sweaty, lightheaded, and certain he’s turning into some kind of freak—or worse, going insane. But things are worse than he imagined. The visions stem from a family curse. An ancient ancestor was accused of stealing the massive Granville fortune, and now J.B.’s entire family will suffer.

To break the curse, J.B. must find and return the Granville’s stolen property. But he’s not the only one searching for the treasure. As he sets out on his journey through a dark and foreboding forest, he’ll battle his worst fears and fight terrifying creatures along the way. And when he meets two others who share the missing pieces of his visions and suffer from the same curse, the three soon realize they need to work together to break the curse before it’s too late.

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Chapter-by-Chapter-header---About-the-Author

Kelly Hashway

Reading is a thing of magic. It has allowed me to enter into worlds I never would have known. I’ve cried, laughed, and been scared right alongside my favorite characters. And my hope is that one day kids will do the same for my characters. I want kids to see that reading is one of the greatest gifts. Luckily, my daughter already agrees with me!

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Connect with the Author: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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Chapter-by-Chapter-header---Giveaway

$10 Amazon Gift Card and an eBook copy of Curse of the Granville Fortune.

Click on the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!

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(Winners will receive their book on release day)

 

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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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Welcome to the Super Book Blast and Giveaway for Randy Anderson’s careful.

Adventure and healing in South America.

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by Randy Anderson

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BLURB:

For two decades Tyler Gibbons has been keeping a secret from his family. At the tender age of sixteen, Tyler embarks on a student exchange program. Sent to the Andean city of Ambato, Ecuador, he finds daily adventure as he tries to fit in at school, connect with his host family, and navigate through a world of beaches, volcanoes, and jungles. But tucked deep inside this year are events so profound, so unexpected, they forever shape the man he will become.

Now, 25 years later, his mother pulls these soaring tales from her son, exposing, for the first time, the source of a deep unhappiness. While these memories contain the wounds of an unresolved past, they also possess the power to heal his painful present.

Thoughtfully crafted and boldly told, Tyler’s journey takes the reader on a wild South American adventure, while illuminating a mother’s unyielding power to heal her child.

Careful Book Cover Banner copy

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Excerpt

The boat came to a stop at a shallow riverbank. We were greeted by an olive-skinned man in his forties with shoulder-length hair and an unruly beard. He resembled a castaway, but with more muscle.

“Welcome to the Amazon,” he said, helping the ladies off the boat. “My name is Xavier. I will be your guide for the next two days. Please take only what you need for one night and leave the rest with the boatsman. He will take your things to camp by boat.”

“From here we will hike two hours to camp. There you can relax in the hammock, go swimming, and enjoy a nice dinner in the evening.” Xavier was very welcoming with his choppy English. We’d learn later that he was born in Bolivia and educated in Germany. His love for the study of biology would take him to exotic places all around the world. He was a charismatic free spirit.

“First thing first,” Xavier said. “Everyone needs to put on these boots.” He pointed to a line of knee-high rubber boots. “They are not the most ideal for hiking, but it’s been very wet, so the ground is soft. Do not be surprised if you sink one half . . . maybe one meter into the earth.” We were looking around in disbelief. “If this happens, do not panic. Just relax. Don’t wiggle. Signal for my attention. I will come and help you free.”

“Help us free?” I whispered to Peter.

“Yes, help you free.” Xavier’s ears were keen. “It is sometimes very difficult to free yourself from this earth, so use caution. Now we go.” He began walking up the bank and suddenly stopped.

“Also, you will see me eat things. Do not eat things unless I give them. If you do, you may die. I’m very sorry for this but it is your own fault. Don’t eat anything unless I give you,” he repeated. “I won’t give you everything I eat. Why? Because not all are good. Eating plant is not about good plant and bad plant. It is about good plant at good time. Not good plant at bad time. And there is never good time to eat bad plant. So no eating unless I give it. Okay? Now we go.” We all nodded and started following him up the hill. Once again he suddenly stopped.

“Also, do not touch things. Sometimes, plants have defenses that will make you very sick, or will make you die. Sometimes plants have insects on them that will sting or bite you. This can also make you very sick or die. Sometimes plant isn’t plant but insect. These are very cool and most won’t sting or bite you. If you see this, do not touch but alert me so that I can show you. Okay?” I was relieved that at least one thing wasn’t going to kill me.

“It’s like we’re marching into certain death,” Peter said as we laughed.

“Also,” Xavier said, “one last thing, and then we go. Sometimes, plants or bug touch you. This happens. Plants grow over trail, bugs fly through air and hit you. This will happen. Mostly you’ll be okay. Maybe, once in a while, this makes you sick or kills you. It’s very sad and I’m sorry. This is not your fault.” He paused for a second. “Oh, the animals. I almost forgot the animals! The jungle is full of many animals. Do not touch the animals. Some are very dangerous. Not as dangerous as the plants and bugs, but there is still danger. Watch where you step. The snakes and rodents will sometimes use our trail. The snakes are dangerous. The rodents are unpleasant. Either way, try not to step on them. Sometimes a snake will drop from the tree. This is bad. But not very often. If you feel pee, don’t look up. Monkey pee stings the eyes. Very bad. Okay, now we go.”

Finally Xavier’s disclaimer was over and we were off on our certain-death march. Whatever fear of the forest he’d put into our hearts vanished under the beauty of the canopy. The sounds of life we’d been hearing beneath the rumble of the bus amplified tenfold. The jungle was electrifying. Sunlight filtered down to the ground in ever-changing locations, spotlighting endless shades of green.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Randy Anderson

Randy Anderson is a novelist and playwright. His first book was published in 2011. On Making Off recounted his adventures running The Beggars Group, a downtown theater company that produced over two dozen productions at the turn of the millennium. He is also the author of several plays including; Kill the President, The Dwelling, and Yippie! Randy currently lives in Brooklyn where he writes, reasons, and reacts. You can contact him at www.onmakingoff.com, or on twitter @onmakingoff.

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Randy will be awarding an eCopy of Careful and a $25 Starbucks GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

So be sure to show some comment love!


Click on the banner below to follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning.

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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’m excited to be hosting a stop for the Artifact Hunters tour that features Nefertiti’s Heart and Hatshepsut’s Collar by A.W. Exley.   This series is new adult / Mystery / Steampunk, recommended for ages 16+ (there’s some mature content). The tour runs March 3-14th.  Check out the tour page for the full list of tour stops.

Nefertiti’s Heart (Artifact Hunters #1) by A.W. Exley

Page Count: 284 pages

Published: February 4th, 2013 by Curiosity Quills Press

Genre: NA/Mystery/Steampunk

Recommended Age: 16 and up

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*****

Read my review HERE.

Cara Devon has always suffered curiosity and impetuousness, but tangling with a serial killer might cure that. Permanently.

London, 1861. Impoverished noble Cara has a simple mission after the

strange death of her father – sell off his damned collection of

priceless artifacts. Her plan goes awry when aristocratic beauties start

dying of broken hearts, an eight inch long brass key hammered through

their chests. A killer hunts amongst the nobility, searching for a regal

beauty and an ancient Egyptian relic rumored to hold the key to

immortality.

Her Majesty’s Enforcers are in pursuit of the murderer and they see a

connection between the gruesome deaths and Cara. So does she, somewhere

in London her father hid Nefertiti’s Heart, a fist sized diamond with

strange mechanical workings. Adding further complication to her life,

notorious crime lord, Viscount Nathaniel Lyons is relentless in his

desire to lay his hands on Cara and the priceless artifact. If only she

could figure out his motive.

Self-preservation fuels Cara’s search for the gem. In a society where

everyone wears a mask to hide their true intent, she needs to figure

out who to trust, before she makes a fatal mistake.

Links:

Hatshepsut’s Collar

(Artifact Hunters #2) by A.W. Exley

Page Count: 274


Published: November 13th, 2013 by Curiosity Quills Press

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*****

My Review

I like character driven stories, whether movies or books. Sometimes I don’t quite connect with them. I don’t know why, maybe it’s just one of those days. I didn’t connect with some of the characters in Nefertiti’s Heart, the first book in this series.

While reading Hatshepsut’s Collar, the magic happened, and in a big way.

Not only did I fall in love with Nate and Cara and their growing romance, Nan and Nessy kept my curiosity piqued and gave me many a chuckle.

One that really stood out was Loki, the Trickster, Nate’s pirate captain and best friend. He’s quite the devilish charmer. You have to keep your wits about you with him.

The story takes place not too long after the first book. The author does a good job recapping past events and catching you up, then it’s a hip hop from England to Russia as Nate and Cara try to protect the queen from the influence of Hatshepsut’s Collar and prove Nate’s innocence after he’s accused of high treason.

I want to talk about Nate and Cara a bit more.

While I liked her in the first book and felt for her, I really came to love her in this second book. She’s stronger, more determined and confident, and she’s one of those people who’s very presence is felt when she enters a room. She reminds me of a feline, purring one moment and spitting mad the next. Her love for Nate is tested when she learns his huge secret. It was an ‘oh no’ moment for me.

Nate is sexy and sardonic, sure in his love for Cara, but fears what his secret will do to their relationship. It’s still blooming and while the bond forged between them by Nefertiti’s Heart is powerful, he can’t be sure what Cara will do.

Now to the romance. I read both books back to back and while referring to my notes, I mistakenly mentioned the romance between Nate and Cara in Nefertiti’s Heart was steamy erotic in my review. That wasn’t so and I corrected it. It was meant to be mentioned in this second review as the romance is steamy from the get go.

I also mentioned in my review of book one that I felt the second book might be even better and it is. The authors writing just seemed to reach inside me and grab hold. I’m thinking I should reread the first book and see how I feel afterward. Sometimes your mood can affect how you receive a story.

An adventure wrought with danger, some humor to take the edge off, and steamy romance await. Hatshepsut’s Collar is a great continuation in this series and I very much recommend it.

5 STARS

****

A couple teasers to whet your appetite.

“Could you saddle a horse, please? A real one..”

And this from Cara to Nate:

“Despite you being an arrogant, dangerous, pig-headed man, I love you. Our hearts are bound. I can’t conceal anything from you. You only have to look inside for answers.”

****


An ancient Egyptian artifact is driving Queen Victoria insane, and that’s not top of Cara Devon’s growing list of problems.

Viscount Nathaniel Lyons is a man of numerous secrets, but there is one in particular that threatens his fledgling relationship with Cara. Stunned by Nate’s revelation, and before she can absorb the ramifications of his actions, he is arrested, charged with treason and imprisoned in the grim Tower of London. He stole something the mad queen wants, and only has days to deliver, before his date with the executioner.

Although sorely tempted, Cara can’t let him die on Tower Green, not when their connection means she would share his fate.

Only together can Cara and Nate figure out how to wrestle Hatshepsut’s Collar from around the queen’s neck, before she plunges Britain into a world war. The search for answers sends Cara to the opulent Winter Palace of St Petersburg and the frozen depths of Siberia, with every step shadowed by an enemy with his own dark plans.

Links:

Goodreads | Amazon US | uk | de fr | it | es | Kobo

Anita Exley’s Biography:

Books and writing have always been an enormous part of A.W. Exley’s life.

She survived school by hiding out in the library, with several thousand fictional characters for company. At university, she overcame the boredom of studying accountancy by squeezing in Egyptology papers and learning to read hieroglyphics.

Today, Anita writes steampunk novels with a sexy edge and an Egyptian twist. She lives in rural New Zealand surrounded by an assortment of weird and wonderful equines, felines, canine and homicidal chickens.

 

Author Links:
Facebook | Goodreads

*****

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Giveaway:

Steampunk Dragon Jewelry Box,  Butterfly Hairclip, Full set of paperback books in the Artifact Hunters series & A pair of custom Nefertiti’s Heart / Hatshepsut’s Collar bookmarks with drawn character art (US/CA)

Google Chromecast, Full set of paperback books in the Curiosity Quills anthologies (Primetime & After Dark ’13) (US/CA)

12 ebook prizes – READ AN EBOOK A MONTH Any 12 ebooks from the CQ catalog in the format of your choice (INT)

Click on the rafflecopter below to enter.

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This tour was organized by CBB Book Promotions.

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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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Did you know Excalibur had a twin brother sword named Caluvier?
Neither did I!
That’s not the only surprise waiting for you in Full Moon Rises. How about gremlins and giant vampire bats.
Check it out!
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Before the Full Moon Rises
Series- Chronicles of the Secret Prince Book # 1
By- M.J. Bell  
 
Deston Lespérance grew up believing faeries and monsters are just stories told to children at bedtime. However, when his mother mysteriously vanishes and he stumbles into the mystical realm of Tir na-nÓg, he discovers the shocking truth that these beings are not only real, they hold the key to his future. With a new friend, Margaux, and Excalibur’s twin brother sword, Caluvier, at his side, Deston races against time to find his mother and the Light Crystal before the full moon rises on the autumnal equinox. The odds are stacked against them and the obstacles they run into push the limit of what two teenagers can handle: an attack by gremlin-like creatures; captured by 6 foot tall vampire bats; hunted by a giant wolf, and almost lost forever in the mist of Avalon. Yet Deston doesn’t give up, for he vowed to do whatever it takes to get his mother back—even if that means fighting the devil himself. The thing is … when he made that pledge he had no idea how close he would have to come to doing just that!
 
 
 

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