Action/Adventure | fuonlyknew

April 2026
M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21	22	23	24	25	26
27	28	29	30

Archive for the ‘Action/Adventure’ Category

The Mystic Princesses and the Whirlpool ~ Blast Giveaway

Posted: December 3, 2014 in Action/Adventure, Book Blast, Children's books, Fantasy
Tags: Author PJ LaRue, The Mystic Princesses and the Whirlpool

Book Description: Join Exciting Princess Adventures and Learn Life Lessons Along the Way

Have you ever wanted to ride a dolphin or dreamed of playing on a rainbow as if it were a waterslide? How would you feel if someone tried to kidnap you, and you were forced to move to Hawai’i to hide and live with people you don’t know? That happened to Harmonie. Come meet Harmonie, her new Mystic Princess friends, and find out what happens when her enemies, the Children of Ares, find her again.

Purchase * Goodreads

The Buzz About the Book

“The Mystic Princesses and the Whirlpool has a delightful plot. P. J. LaRue uses mythological characters to tell a lively story of bravery and friendship. The book teaches important lessons on strengths and weaknesses, conservation and safety. This is the first book in the Mystic Princesses series, and I cannot wait for the next princesses’ adventure to come. Young girls will love The Mystic Princesses adventure on their bedside table.” ~ Kelly Santana, Readers’ Favorite Book Reviews

“A lovely book for children with colourful pictures and any child who reads it will be looking for a sequel.” ~ 5 Star Review, Diane, Amazon

“‘The Mystic Princesses and the Whirlpool’ is a confidence boosting book for children, giving them important information. It is the first in a series and I look forward to reading more about Harmonie and her friends.” ~ 5 Star Review, Mary C., Goodreads

“This early chapter book is perfect for children ages six through ten. It does not portray wimpy princesses, but strong, respectful and independent female role models involved in many adventures in which they learn to overcome their weaknesses, act against bullying, and cooperate with friends and family to promote human welfare and peace. Short chapters interspersed with illustrations will maintain interest if the book is read aloud for younger children. Introduce your little princess to this one.” ~ 5 Star Review, Barbara M., Amazon

“The short chapters would make this ideal for younger girls who are newer to reading Chapter Books. The colourful illustrations are excellent, and compliment this warm story nicely. A new series for girls, offering a fun way to learn valuable life lessons.” ~ 5 Star Review, M.J. Kinsmen, Amazon

About the Author: PJ LaRue

PJ LaRue wrote poetry in high school, but she discovered writing children’s books and short stories later in life. Her writing inspirations are hiking, photography and environmental consciousness, but she links these interests to much larger social issues. A person very close to PJ was molested as a child, making PJ passionate about providing child safety tips. And, PJ was bullied in the third grade by girls much larger than she, who demanded that PJ give them her lunch money. As a result, PJ is committed to spreading the word that bullying must be stopped.

One of PJ’s goals is to help educate children, parents and caregivers, in a fun way, using her children’s book series, The Mystic Princesses. Because PJ loves to travel, the princesses will visit many locales, learning about environmental concerns along the way.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Pinterest | Google+ | Goodreads

About the Illustrator: Aristides Rodriguez

Aristides Rodriguez has worked with clients to create websites, social media graphics, print graphics, and logos. His print media projects include cards, posters and magazine ads. He is comfortable working with a team, but has also designed client projects independently. While in school, Aristides participated in job shadows to Central Florida design community members including Disney Event Group, Orlando, SeaWorld, Orlando, and large offset and digital printing companies. Currently, Aristides is a Winter Park Tech Advisory Board member.

Website

* $25 Book Blast Giveaway *

Amazon 25 gift card

Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice)

Contest ends: December 17, 11:59 pm, 2014

Open: Internationally

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

Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A 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 the 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 PJ LaRue and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send an email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Teaser Tuesdays #90 ~ Come Along With Me

Posted: December 2, 2014 in Action/Adventure, Children's books, Fantasy, Series, Teaser Tuesdays
Tags: Author Linda lee Schell, Come Along With Me

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

TeaserTuesdays2014e

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!

~~~

My tease is from

Come Along With Me

A Gracie Book: Volume #1

by Linda Lee Schell

22576187

Here is my tease from page 16 of the paperback.

“My name is Gracie. I’m from a different place in a different space.”

and from page 41

…Gracie wondered aloud, “Do you think our little girl will blow our cover?” “No, Gibson replied. “But she’s got something up her sleeve. I just don’t know what.”

~~~

I hope you don’t mind if I share my review.

Gracie is a wee kangaroo from the thirty-sixth universe. And she’s so excited. She’s finally going to visit St. Petersburg, Russia.

When something goes wrong, she winds up on a farm in St. Clair, Pennsylvania. Not quite what she planned.

Once you meet Gracie, you’ll see why her travel plans went haywire. She’s a precocious little roo, plus she’s clumsy and absent minded.

She’s also very brave and arrives in time to save a rather bedraggled city cat from the ferocious farm dogs.

From then on, Gracie and the cat, Gibson, are in cahoots. Each trying to help the other. Gracie wants to go home. Gibson is trying to make the best of it and make the farm his new home.

This was very wordy in the beginning. The prose felt strange yet familiar. Then I got it. It felt like in Willa Wonka or Alice in Wonderland. Otherworldly and zany. I began to suspect much of this was coming from Gracie, the kangaroo from somewhere else. She is a bit rattle-brained and silly.

The last third of the book flowed more easily. And the plot came forward. There’s several other animals that help or hinder the two pals, and one little girl who teaches Gibson how to earn his keep.

I’d say because of the sometimes peculiar use of words, this would be better suited to the upper range of young children. But, I may be wrong. Kids now a days learn to read before starting school, so they may follow the context better than I give them credit for. But there is a rather dark scene on the farm, something that even shocked me. This book is suggested for kids 8 to 12 and I’d recommend it to those closer to 12.

As I read this adventure I was sure it would be a 3 star rating. But that last third of the book sucked me in and by the time I reached the end, I wanted more. I felt that connection to the characters and wanted to know what kind of pickle they would land in next. I don’t give half star ratings and that’s why it went up to 4 stars.

4 Stars

~~~

Synopsis

Come Along With Me will transport eight-to twelve-year old children, their parents, and their grandparents to another world when they read Come Along With Me, an adventure about friendship and caring, the unfortunate consequences of jealousy, and the power of hope.

Meet Gracie, a ditzy dwarf kangaroo from the Thirty-sixth Universe–a creature who lives in a perfect realm. Because she is bored, Gracie longs for an adventure to St. Petersburg, Russia, a place she imagines is filled with beauty and enchantment. Much to the tiny ‘roo’s surprise, her ability to transport herself to the land of the czars has failed. She ends up at a dairy farm in St. Clair, Pennsylvania, where she saves the life of Gibson, an abandoned Maine coon cat.

The unlikely pair become fast friends. While Gracie tries to find her way back home, Gibson carves a life for himself on a farm with his newly adopted mistress, the farmer’s young daughter. There’s one hitch: The overworked farmer demands that Gibson earn his keep. Gibson’s task is thwarted somewhat when he experiences strange visions. But are these visions the result of a thrashing he received from the farmer’s two dogs? Or, maybe Gibson sees parallel universes?

As outsiders the little kangaroo and the cat from the city negotiate the perils of farm life. They meet two malicious rats who hate anyone who is happy. The two devoted friends must contend with stampeding cows and a barnyard of critters that have little use for newcomers.

Will Gibson keep his sanity and become the little girl’s pet? Will Gracie ever see the splendor of the Russian Versailles? Will the farmer survive the evil machinations of the rats, Bratwold and Eastman? Drift back to the days of Barbie dolls, hula hoops, and Sputnik to find out.

~~~

About the author

Linda’s favorite genre is fantasy/adventure, and her goal is to expand the imaginations of children while simultaneously exposing them to a variety of cultures and histories.

Combining childhood innocence with historical verisimilitude and a dash of magical fantasy–that was Linda’s impulse behind writing her first book, Come Along With Me.

Linda was born in Youngstown, Ohio and moved in 1977 to St. Clairsville, Ohio. Her husband of forty-four years and one son now live in Venice, Florida.

Linda is the daughter of an Ohio dairy farmer and an elementary school teacher. Her working years were in a competitive sales and business environment.

Active in Rotary and the Chamber of Commerce, she is a Paul Harris Fellow.

Entering the work force at age sixteen Linda is now retired, and is seriously devoting her attention to writing children’s books.

You can find her on Goodreads HERE.

Other books in The Gracie Series

20728903

~~~

How about you? Got a tease? Tell me!

stick out tongue photo: rr-sticking-out-tongue roadrunner-stick-out-tongue.gif

Teaser Tuesdays #86 ~ Kitty Hawk and the Curse of the Yukon Gold

Posted: October 21, 2014 in Action/Adventure, Teaser Tuesdays
Tags: Author Iain Reading, Kitty Hawk and the Curse of the Yukon Gold, series

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

TeaserTuesdays2014e

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!

~~~

My Teasers for today are from

Kitty Hawk and the Curse of the Yukon Gold

16145727

First tease from page 30 of the paperback

“A hawk,” I whispered, barely able to talk. I was too choked up with emotion and tears.

“A hawk,” my mother whispered back. “Just like you.”

Just like me.

Second tease from page 110 of the paperback

“I don’t understand,” Will said, finally recovered enough from his shock to speak. “Who is she? Where did she come from?”

Charlie answered coldly. “All I know is that I saw her sneaking down here from up by the bridge, so I followed her to just there, outside the camp where she’s been listening to the three of you for the last half hour.”

“So what?” Buck asked. “We didn’t say anything. Why would you grab her like this?”

~~~

Synopsis

Kitty Hawk and the Curse of the Yukon Gold is the thrilling first installment in a new series of adventure mystery stories that are one part travel, one part history and five parts adventure. This first book of the Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency Series introduces Kitty Hawk, an intrepid teenage pilot with her own De Havilland Beaver seaplane and a nose for mystery and intrigue. A cross between Amelia Earhart, Nancy Drew and Pippi Longstocking, Kitty is a quirky young heroine with boundless curiosity and a knack for getting herself into all kinds of precarious situations.

After leaving her home in the western Canadian fishing village of Tofino to spend the summer in Alaska studying humpback whales Kitty finds herself caught up in an unforgettable adventure involving stolen gold, devious criminals, ghostly shipwrecks, and bone-chilling curses. Kitty’s adventure begins with the lingering mystery of a sunken ship called the Clara Nevada and as the plot continues to unfold this spirited story will have armchair explorers and amateur detectives alike anxiously following every twist and turn as they are swept along through the history of the Klondike Gold Rush to a suspenseful final climatic chase across the rugged terrain of Canada’s Yukon, the harsh land made famous in the stories and poems of such writers as Jack London, Robert Service and Pierre Berton. It is a riveting tale that brings to glorious life the landscape and history of Alaska’s inside passage and Canada’s Yukon, as Kitty is caught up in an epic mystery set against the backdrop of the scenery of the Klondike Gold Rush.

Kitty Hawk and the Curse of the Yukon Gold is a perfect book to fire the imagination of readers of all ages. Filled with fascinating and highly Google-able locations and history this book will inspire anyone to learn and experience more for themselves as Kitty prepares for her next adventure – flying around the world!

~~~

I won this book in a giveaway. I’m having such a grand time with it. Action, adventure, and lots of it!

I also love the quirky cover art. I’m always drawn to these kind.

The writing is exciting and I’m sure I’ll be following this series.

~~~

How about you? Got a tease? Tell me!

stick out tongue photo: rr-sticking-out-tongue roadrunner-stick-out-tongue.gif

Lycanthor the Werewolf: The Dragon Fyre Blade Adventures by Aiden Storm ~ My Review

Posted: September 18, 2014 in Action/Adventure, Children's books, Fantasy, reviews, Series
Tags: Author Aiden Storm, illustrated children's fantasy book, Lycanthor the Werewolf

About the Book

Title: Lycanthor the Werewolf (The Dragon Fyre Blade, Book 1)

Author: Aiden Storm

Illustrator: McCartney Leopardi

Publication Date: July 1, 2014 | Publisher: Dreaming Empire

Pages: 71 | Recommended Ages: 7 to 12

22906748

MY REVIEW

Jack is bored to tears. The thirteen year old has been shuffled off to spend the summer with his great-aunt Alberta.

His dad says he’ll have lots of fun things to do, but all it’s done is rain, and the only entertainment is old reruns on the tube.

His aunt suggests he explore the old house. It was built in 1872 and back then people included hidden rooms. Maybe he’d stumble upon one. So he ends up in the attic.

Nothing but some old junk there, but he does spy a mural that extends all the way around the room. It reveals a landscape with strange beasts and an active volcano. Climbing up to get a closer look, he’s startled by a bird and puts his hand up to the wall to steady himself, falling into another world.

Thus begins Jack’s amazing adventure. He becomes friends with Jasyra, the king’s daughter, and along with her friend, Evooku, embarks on a quest to recover the six shards of the Dragon Fyre Blade.

When the sword was broken, the Demon Emperor scattered the six shards throughout the kingdom and the quest will be fraught with danger as the group has to confront the spells and creatures that protect the shards.

Jack will have to face Lycanthor, a monstrous werewolf. He is no longer bored.

This book is a fun read aloud to share with your children but I see no problem with them reading it alone. I have no young children but my teen age son and I read it aloud, taking turns as different characters, masking our voices and such. We had a grand time.

The author created a magical world with fun illustrations, lots of action, and a quest that continues into future books. The story will be continued as Jack and his new friends must complete the quest to recover all of the shards and return the Dragon Fyre Blade to its former glory. All to save the kingdom from the evil Demon Emperor.

When I was young I created an imaginary world that I entered through an old tree stump in my yard. It was filled with magical beings and I spent many a summer day sitting on that stump and letting my imagination take me away.

This all came back to me as I read this book and I’m looking forward to more in this action packed adventure.

4 Stars

Summary:

Thirteen year old Jack is spending the summer at his Aunt’s house in the country. Unfortunately, it’s done nothing but rain and he’s stuck in her old mansion without cable or internet. Bored and alone, he sets out to explore the house. When he reaches the attic, he finds an intricate and unusual mural painted on the walls. Life for Jack gets turned upside down when he stumbles and is transported through a portal into a magical world.

For Jasyra, the daughter of the High King, life couldn’t be worse. Her father has been turned to glass, her kingdom has been taken over by the Demon Emperor, and she and her friend, Evooku, have been exiled. The only way to save the land is to reassemble the Dragon Fyre Blade, but the Demon Emperor has hidden all six pieces and each is guarded by great mythical beasts. There is only one person who can help restore peace, but it has been said that he is not of their land.

When Jack awakens in the Great Forest of Karandur, he encounters Jasyra and Evooku. He discovers the only way home is to band together to fight the evil Lycanthor, a giant werewolf that guards a piece of the Dragon Fyre Blade. But first they have to make it through an enchanted land full of danger.

The Queen of Light appears to Jack and delivers a gift, as well as a revelation. He, Jasyra and Evooku form an unlikely friendship along the way and lasting bonds are made when they realize they are Karandur’s only hope. Will the trio be able to defeat Lycanthor and save the kingdom from an eternity of despair?

The Dragon Fyre Blade: Lycanthor the Werewolf is the first book in a series of six and is written for children 7 – 11 years old.

The Buzz About the Book

“I am eight years old and I liked this book because of how the author described everything so well. It is a very exciting, adventurous and magical story about a 13-year-old boy named Jack and his usual companions as they struggle against Lycanthor the werewolf to get the Dragon Fyre Blade pieces to help them defeat the Demon Emperor. My favourite part was when the author described the mural painting that Jack fell into. It was unique and painted vivid pictures in my head. The book was magical and interesting to read which made it so much fun. I think this is a great book for anyone who is looking for a magical adventure, and I can’t wait to read the second book!” ~ 5 Star Review, Carolyn, Amazon

“Couldn’t put this book down. I had me on the edge of my seat for the whole book. I read it so fast I was sad when it was over. I can’t wait for book 2!! ” ~ 5 Star Review, Pedroluis, Amazon

“My nine year old son is a fairly reluctant reader but we came across The Dragon Fyre Blade: Lycanthor the Werewolf at amazon and decided to read it based on the reviews. It reminds me a lot of the Beast Quest series of books and has an action-packed approach that my son enjoyed. You find yourself cheering for Jack, Jasyra and Evooku the heroes of the tale. There are several cliff hanger chapters that had my son wanting to read more… A worthwhile read for boys.” ~ 5 Star Review, nickalous, Amazon

“This is an enchanting and amazing book. I read it to my daughter and we both loved it. It is a mythical tale and it is so gripping. The story line is great and the characters are very well formed.” ~ 5 Star Review, PaigeTurner, Amazon

“Aiden Storm has written a book that will no doubt be a hit with 8 to 12 year old readers. The first book in a new series, Lycanthor the Werewolf sees a modern day boy named Jack set forth to retrieve the ancient Dragon Fyre Blade. It’s a lighter read filled with magic, action and a terrifying werewolf. The heroes have to use all their skills and abilities to battle the beast. Highly recommend this book for anyone with boys. It’s a natural choice for reluctant readers.” ~ 5 Star Review, Nita, Amazon

About the Author: Aiden Storm

Aiden grew up a city boy, but always loved getting out into the country. As a kid, his great uncle always took him to old castles, famous battlegrounds and long hikes in the wilderness. These days, Aiden lives in old cottage next to the forest with his dog Blade. When not writing Aiden spends time exploring the woods, dead certain they’re full of fantastical creatures, long lost relics and ancient magic…

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

~~~

Thanks so much to Mother Daughter & Son Book Reviews and the author for gifting me a copy for my honest review.

~~~

Teaser Tuesdays #79 ~ An Apex Predator Novel ~ Shark Station Nyet by Carolyn McCray

Posted: September 2, 2014 in Action/Adventure, reviews, Teaser Tuesdays, thriller
Tags: Apex Predator Series #2, Author Carolyn McCray, Shark Station Nyet

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!

~~~~

My Teaser for today is from

Shark Station Nyet

An Apex Predator Thriller Novel

by Carolyn McCray

22081312

Genre: Action / Adventure / Horror

Teaser from the first chapter in the eBook

Putin seemed kind of paranoid about a lot of things.

“Well, we got wind late last year that he asked his scientists to come up with some weaponized sharks. And what Putin wants, Putin gets.”

Trying to wrap his head around the concept of weaponized sharks, Callum frowned. Were not sharks weaponized enough? His lack of an arm and speaking Russian after a coma kind of confirmed that. The 100+ fatalities at Salechii only reinforced the concept.

Teaser #2 from the prologue in the eBook

A large black eye studied her from the porthole as she studied it. Then with a powerful push of its tail the shark moved away so quickly that she wondered if it had ever really been there.

~~~

I was getting my review together for Salechii and noticed in my highlights that this book series would be updated as each new story became published, at no extra charge! How cool is that! So, I crossed my fingers and checked, and yep, there was the newest addition, Shark Station Nyet, So needless to say, I was up late last night reading.

~~~

Book Description:

**Warning, if you ever hope to swim in the ocean again, this book is NOT for you!
Shark Station Nyet, the highly anticipated sequel to the blockbuster, Salechii!

From the #1 bestselling author in Action/Adventure, Men’s Adventure, Techno-thrillers, War, And Thrillers, Carolyn McCray comes the next greatest thing since Jaws!

A shark-fest for all of you Jaws, Jurassic Park, Shark Week and Sharknado lovers!

~~~

I’m including my review of the first book today. I am just lovin me some sharks!

Salechii

Apex Predator #1

18746153

My Review

Deep Blue Sea and Jurassic Park came to mind when I read the description for this book. I thought, this could be fun, and it was.

The very idea is probably impossible, but maybe not. They’ve built islands to make huge, fancy hotel resorts. Why not a shark park? So just let yourself go with it.

So they build the theme park, stock it with every kind of shark, and some other creatures. Then a category 5 hurricane blows it all to kingdom come.

As the island sinks, the sharks come out to play and things get very bloody very fast. Lots of people die and those lucky enough to still be alive have to brave the shark infested waters to escape the same fate.

One young boy is leading a group of survivors to safety, but where is safe on a sinking island?

There is tons of action and some cool robots. Not sure why the robots are in this story but they are put to good use. The story is fast and furious and there are plenty of colorful characters, including some of the critters in the park.

I live on the Gulf Coast and have been deep sea fishing. I’ve seen some of the monsters that rule the depths and even though the odds of being eaten by a shark are in my favor, I no longer swim in the ocean. I just don’t tempt fate. And after reading this book, I don’t think I’d visit the park either.

This series is addictive and bloody fun. Whether you love them or fear them, the sharks rule.

I bought this by itself, but I’d recommend you buy the collection to get the short prequels and sequels that come between each new novel in the series. You also get each new book free as the author updates the collection!

4 STARS

Synopsis

Salechii: A Shark Park is supposed to be all about learning to respect and protect sharks, however after a Level-5 Hurricane hits and the sharks get out of their pens, the only lesson learned is how fast can you swim?

~~~

18760672

Synopsis

Included in this volume are…

Bullies, the prequel short story to Salechii

Salechii, the first full length book in the Apex Predator series

Open Water, the bridge short story between Salechii and Shark Station Nyet.

These three volumes will be downloaded immediately upon purchase.

In the summer of 2014 these other volumes will be uploaded at NO additional charge. In essence you are pre-ordering the rest of the series, for FREE. Follow the instructions in the afterword to sign up for the new and super easy Auto-update feature so you don’t miss a word!

Being added to the collection in Summer 2014…

Shark Station Nyet, the sequel to Salechii

Churn, the bridge short story between Shark Station Nyet and The Shayu Situation

In the Winter 2014 will be added…

The Shayu Situation, the final book in the Apex Predator Trilogy

Blood in the Water, the wrap up short story to the trilogy

If you are glued to Shark Week, Sharknado, Jaws, or Jurassic Park, the Apex Predator Thriller Trilogy is going to be your new feeding frenzy!

~~~

How about you? Got a tease? Tell me!

stick out tongue photo: rr-sticking-out-tongue roadrunner-stick-out-tongue.gif

Book Blast and Giveaway for Karmack by J. C. Whyte ~ Winner of the Purple Dragonfly Book Award

Posted: August 27, 2014 in Action/Adventure, Book Blast, Children's books, giveaways
Tags: Author J.C. Whyte, bullying, children's book, Karmack

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.

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).

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

When J.C. Whyte was eleven, her 6^th 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 *

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.

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.

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

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

Cover Reveal and Giveaway for ARRGH! by Stacey Campbell ~ Ahoy Mateys

Posted: August 22, 2014 in Action/Adventure, Children's books, Cover Reveal, Fantasy, giveaways
Tags: ARRGH!, Author Stacey Campbell, middle grade fantasy adventure

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.

Amazon

About the Author:

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

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:

www.Staceyrcampbell.com

You can also learn more about Stacey R. Campbell on

Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads

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:

Paperbacks of HUSH & WHISPER (Young Adult)- US only

ebook of ARRGH! (Middle Grade)- INT

Click on the rafflecopter below to enter.

***

~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

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

Teaser Tuesdays #74 ~ Talking Waters by Jane Zimmermann

Posted: July 15, 2014 in Action/Adventure, Contemporary Literature, Mystery, Teaser Tuesdays
Tags: Adventure, Author Jane Zimmermann, mystery, Talking Waters

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!

~~~~

My Teaser for today is from

Talking Waters

by Jane Zimmermann

12767496

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.

~~~

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.

~~~

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.

~~~

How about you? Got a tease? Tell me!

stick out tongue photo: rr-sticking-out-tongue roadrunner-stick-out-tongue.gif

RJ Sullivan’s Blog Tour , Top Tens List and My Review ~ Haunting Blue

Posted: July 14, 2014 in Action/Adventure, Blog Tour, reviews, Supernatural, YA
Tags: Adventure, Adventures of Blue Shaefer Series, Author RJ Sullivan, ghost story, Haunting Blue, YA

Virtual Tour
Author: RJ Sullivan
Featured Book: Haunting Blue

~~~~~

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.

~~~~~

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.

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.

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

Amazon Links for Haunting Blue:
Kindle Version ~ Print Version

~~~~~

About RJ Sullivan

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

~~~~~

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

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

Transport Tour with Author Peter Welmerink’s Top Tens List of things you SHOUDN’T do when the zombie apocalypse happens

Posted: June 27, 2014 in Action/Adventure, Blog Tour, Guest Post, horror, Zombies
Tags: Action, Author Peter Welmerink, Horror, Transport, zombies

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

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!

~~~~~

Peter Welmerink’s

Top Ten Things You SHOULDN’T Do

When the Zombie Apocalypse Happens

(In the World of TRANSPORT)

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

~~~~~

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.

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.

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

~~~~~

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

~~~~

Author Links:

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

***

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

~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

Follow Blog via Email

Recent Posts

categories

Find me on X

Follow me via Bloglovin

Say hi on Facebook

My Pins

Books I’ve Read

Archives

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Archive for the ‘Action/Adventure’ Category

Purchase * Goodreads

The Buzz About the Book

About the Author: PJ LaRue

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Pinterest | Google+ | Goodreads

About the Illustrator: Aristides Rodriguez

* $25 Book Blast Giveaway *

About the Book

The Buzz About the Book

About the Author: Aiden Storm

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

“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).

Purchase the Book

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

Barnes and Noble * Omnilit * Bookstrand

The Buzz About the Book

About The Author: J.C. Whyte

Website | Goodreads

* Book Blast Giveaway *