Archive for the ‘YA’ Category

Free For Everyone November 21st through 23rd!

Posted: November 21, 2012 in Action/Adventure, Contests, Creatures, fiction, Freebies!, giveaways, reviews, Series, Vampires, YA
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Freebie!

Chosen, The Amish Bloodsuckers Trilogy – Book One is free for everyone on Amazon from November 21st – 23rd! You can go here to get your copy.

I just recently did a review and giveaway of Chosen, read it here .

Right now I’m having a giveaway for Shunned, Book Two in this great series. It’s really heating up! Go here to read my review and enter.

You can get Chosen for free and start this series now.

Chosen (Amish Bloodsucker trilogy, #1)

With tongue firmly in cheek and genuine Amish-made stakes at hand, Jael the vampire slayer is ready to kick some serious bloodsucker butt. Seriously.
Move over Buffy – there’s a new slayer in town! Raised in the desert of Nevada, and destined for the Minnesota Loon Lake Amish Community, Jael Shetler is the Chosen One.
Trained by her uncle and father in twenty-one different forms of hand-to-hand combat – she also throws a knife with the speed of a bullet, and is accurate to within two centimeters of a cold, dead heart with her crossbow – she is a bloodsucker’s worst nightmare.
Her parents, forced to leave their plain and simple upbringing to escape the clutches of the new Bishop – an ancient and powerful vampire with plans to use the Amish Community as his own personal Jamba Juice – raise and train their daughter to continue the fight begun thousands of years earlier by another Jael, and to fulfill the prophecy in the Book of the Shunned.
Soon Jael is turning sweet sixteen and then … all hell will break loose.

Shunned (Amish Bloodsuckers, #2)

In Shunned, Jael leaves Nevada and her close friends, Brianna and Shadow, behind. She travels to the Loon Lake Amish community in Minnesota where she moves in with grandparents she’s never met and learns to live the plain and simple life… at least as plain and simple as she can handle. She may learn to milk a goat, but she is definitely NOT giving up her cell phone or crossbow!
While finishing out the school year at Loon Lake Public High School, she meets the guy of her dreams…someone to keep her company when she goes out staking vampires at night.
Her true purpose is to destroy the Bishop, the oldest and most powerful vampire of all. But first she must find out just what his diabolical plans are for the teenagers of the community, and put a stop to him and his undead followers before it’s too late.

I’m tellin ya, this series is great! I’m thrilled to be hosting The Amish Bloodsuckers Trilogy on fuonlyknew.

Reckoning, Book Three is set to be released on December 1st. Not long to wait now.

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Undermountain and Afterlife / Reviews and Giveaway

Posted: November 10, 2012 in Action/Adventure, Aliens, Creatures, fiction, giveaways, otherworldly, Paranormal or fantasy, reviews, Science Fiction, Series, YA
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I have a fantastic series to tell you about. The Undermountain Saga.

I’ll be reviewing Undermountain, Book One and Afterlife, Book Two. I tried not to put in any spoilers for book two. Just teased you a bit. And I also have a giveaway for you. US/Canada only.  Details are after my reviews.

Undermountain

by Eric Edstrom

Undermountain (The Undermountain Saga, #1)

It starts normally enough. Six teen-agers and their guide,  Harvin, are on a grand adventure, camping in the wilds of Canada. Harvin is gruff and unfriendly but very knowledgeable about the Rockies and its dangers. The kids are from all walks of life and couldn’t be more different. This trip is going to be interesting.

While collecting water Danny and Breyona see something amazing.  Racing along is this two-headed creature with four pointy legs and right behind him is this huge hairy beast best described as a Bigfoot. When Danny tells the group what they witnessed, the other kids laugh it off as a joke.

When they discover giant footprints on the bank of the stream, their guide passes them off as bear tracks. But Shiv isn’t so sure of that. He has books on the flora and fauna of the Rockies and can’t find anything that matches the prints.

Danny and Breyona have another close encounter with the hairy bigfoot when it fishes Danny out of the stream, saving his life. They run away and hide in the woods, stopping to spy on the creature. It’s not chasing them. Instead it’s pacing back and forth on the bank, holding it’s hand to its head and muttering to itself. No wait, it’s talking into a cell phone and it’s speaking English.

It’s not long before everyone has a close encounter. The four-legged creatures, called Shriekers, which I visualize as the bugs from Starship Troopers, are hungry and they hunt as a pack. The kids are on the menu and running for their lives. Separated from their guide they are quickly surrounded and things look really bad. Seemingly from out of nowhere a bigfoot appears and quickly subdues several of the shriekers. He doesn’t kill them. Instead he calms them somehow.

Several more of the hairy creatures take care of the rest of the pack and turn their attention to the humans. Then, the one Danny recognizes from before speaks, “Be at ease. I cannot harm you.”

Definitely not a bigfoot!

Here are a couple quotes I really liked:

“I’m sorry I didn’t believe you about … bigfoot,” Wa said. “But you need to work on your delivery.”

– A barrage of swearing came flying in. Breyona. “I’m gonna kill you, and after I kill you, I’m gonna kill you again. I’m gonna keep on killing you until your dead. Do you hear me, you furball?”

Everyone will love this story. It’s action packed, you’ve got alien creatures and a huge secret. I wish I could tell you more. I really want to, but that would be spoiling it.

One scene in particular sticks in my mind. It ‘s when they base jump from a cliff and the cliff is inside the mountain. Can you just picture it?

The author does a beautiful job of describing this secret world, you’ll feel like you’re there. I’d love to visit.

Anyone looking for a grand adventure will love Undermountain. It’s so well written, flows seamlessly and rushes along to a great ending. There’s never a dull moment and I eagerly turned each page, excited to see what was coming next. That’s what makes this story so great. There’s always something new and surprising and it makes me wish I could be there.

         I loved it and you will too.

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[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8j926g4C1A]

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And now for my next review.

Afterlife

Book two

Afterlife (The Undermountain Saga, #2)

I really love the cover art for these books. They compliment the stories and are just incredible.

All of my favorite characters are back, human and hairy. And of course, since there’s a second book, you know our hero’s will be seeing their alien friends and enemies again.

It’s been more than six months since they returned from  the mountain, bringing something away with them that’s changed them forever.

Now they are having a reunion of sorts. All meeting up again at Danny’s grandma’s house.

I can’t wait for you to meet Grandma. She is amazing and I just love her. So much character in such a tiny, frail looking body. You’ll see what I mean.

Everyone is there except for Breyona. She’s running late. Then the doorbell rings.

Danny froze as a surge of excitement filled him. The doorbell rang again, followed by two sharp knocks.

“Are you going to stand there like a lump or are you going to open the door?” Grandma asked.

Danny smiled. It had to be Breyona. He turned the knob.

The door smashed into his face and sent him stumbling backward. He tripped and fell over the porcelain frog and landed hard on his back.

A man wearing a black track suit and gas mask barged in. “Okay, nobody move.”

Another man in a gas mask rushed in and pointed a spray can at Danny.

Grandma stepped forward and kneed Track Suit in the groin. He bent double, swearing in a high-pitched rasp.

“Sit on him, Bronson,” Grandma said.

Didn’t I tell you. You can’t help but want to hug her. She is such a tough old bird. But not tough enough. They all succumb to the gas.

Breyona is four hours late when she finally pulls up to Grandma’s house. Once everyone is awakened, they discover that Danny and Wa are missing.

The whole thing was caught on security cameras and they watched it play out on Grandmas computer. The men came there looking for something Danny had. Something they needed badly.  And they got it. They take the unconscious Danny and bring Wa along for leverage.

It looks like the enemy isn’t done with them and it’s time to go back under the mountain.

This time they may not be so lucky.

Eric is at it again. Filling the pages with excitement, danger, intrigue and plenty of humor. This series is so addicting. And it just keeps getting better. He builds this incredible secret society, fills it with amazing creatures, and opens you up to a whole new world. I swear I can hear the sounds of this city and see all the wonders with my own eyes.

It’s a fast read from beginning to end, pulling you along with it. You won’t want to stop until you reach the conclusion, and maybe not even then.

           Still lovin it!

Great news for you. There will be more!

And now for the giveaway. Eric is offering two paperback copies of Undermountain. US/Canada only.

To enter is easy. Just leave your email address and answer this question, “Do you believe bigfoot exists?”

Giveaway ends November 24th.

Not required but I’d love it if you followed me on twitter and my blog

You can find Eric’s contacts below.

Did you like this post? Please hit that tweet and like button! Thank you.

For all of my giveaways go here

About the Author

Eric is an author, songwriter, husband, father, and guitarist. He is the author of Undermountain and Afterlife, the first two entries in YA science fiction series The Undermountain Saga.

Eric loves working out with kettlebells and eating pretty much anything with peanut butter.

Eric has a featured article just published: http://www.kalkion.com/news/1736/scie…

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5408492.Eric_Edstrom

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/ekedstrom

Facebook.com/erickentedstrom

www.ericedstrom.com

Newest release

To order any of these books, just click on the cover.

The photo and comments of Shaggy below, were copied from Eric Kent Edstrom’s blog.

Is This Hanameesovenama (aka Shaggy)?

The brilliant concept artist Cristof Grobleski created this stunning conceptual image of Hanameesovenama, one of the villains from The Undermountain Saga.
Hanameesovenama, of the bigfoot Council of the Strict (click for bigfoot sized view)

View more of Christof’s wonderful artwork here.

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New Release! ARC Review of Creator Class

Posted: October 18, 2012 in Action/Adventure, Book Promos, fiction, otherworldly, Release day, reviews, Science Fiction, YA
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If you could peek into the future, would you?

KM Breakey gives much more than that with this story.

The year is 2083. Of the 16 billion people who inhabited Earth, only a little over one billion remain.

This extermination was not done by the Hand of God, nor was it done by Mother Nature. No. this was done by men.

That’s no surprise. We are one of the few living creatures on the planet who regularly wage war on each other. But this was not caused by war. Rather, it was by design. One man’s attempt to stave off humanity’s very extinction.

There were too many people on the planet. people were starving, wars were rampant and the violence and corruption were pandemic. Something had to be done. Hence the culling. Fifteen billion lives were extinguished in the name of Earthism – The Greatest Good for the Greatest Number.

But greatest for who? If you were a P-Classer(slang for the People), you can say ignorance is bliss. They have no idea of the existence of C-Classers(the Creator Class). However, the C-Classers are very aware of the People. They keep close tabs on all of them, using PST’s or Personal Safety Trackers, which all P-Classers are required to have.

There are one million C-Classers and one billion P-Classers. The C’s keep the People ignorant of their existence. They look on them as necessary to keep the gene pool fresh. To ensure man’s survival.  And the C’s have it pretty good. Living large, enjoying  all of the benefits of the upper class. Enjoying freedom. Sound familiar? Not all of man’s foibles were left behind.

For the P-Class, life is much different. Creative thinking is discouraged. There are no competitive activities, no one is allowed to stand out, stand apart. The Creators fear we would just make the same mistakes all over again.

The population in all of the 450 Areas, spread world-wide, are tightly policed. Culling is done to keep the ratios of boy, girl, and young to older in balance. Pregnancy is controlled and encouraged, as long as you don’t go over your quota. If you do, the offender is culled. Nice word, eh?

One young man is breaking all of the rules in P-Class. Shawn, a perfect male specimen, athletically built, handsome, and intelligent, is cursed. He’s cursed with a curious and questioning nature. He’s also a bit of a rebel as he thinks for himself. Free thinking is a big no-no. He’s already been flagged numerous times for his damning statements. Too many more, and he’ll be subject to termination, but he just can’t help himself. Curiosity killed the cat. Satisfaction brought him back. But does Shawn have nine lives?

The specter of a dull life loomed. A life of meaningless tedium was impossible to embrace, but his recklessness wouldn’t be tolerated forever. Others had vanished without a trace. The risk of termination was real. Or worse. The rumors were discussed in whispers. Conscription into dentured servitude. Slavery. But for whom? The mystery (and fear) ate into his soul.

Was his restlessness intrinsic? Or the result of careless commentary by an anachronistic grandmother? Didn’t matter. It was there. And strong. Not to be denied.

In a few weeks, Academy would start. Not less than two years, not more than four. His window was closing. Wheels were turning. A spouse would arrive(okay, there was a thrilling aspect to that; he had an eye trained on multiple candidates). Then children, middle age, and….

There had to be more.

Didn’t there?

Shawn is soon to find out the answer to that very question. Two men are waiting for him in his house. Pedro and Sarge are from Protective Services. They are there for Shawn. But this is an unusual task for the two men. Their orders were explicit. Do not terminate. Extract the subject and transport him safely to C-Class. He is being relocated.

Good for Shawn. He’s not being terminated. Bad also. He has to leave right now, taking only what he can carry. He does manage to leave a hidden message for his family stating that he is alive and will be okay. Not much, but all he could do at the time.

Now Shawn will see what he knew deep down inside. There is more to this world. So much more. Will this be the happiness he wished for, or the crushing of his soul?

This is the second book by KM Breakey I’ve read. The World Clicks was fascinating. You can read my review here .

I had no idea what this book was about when KM sent it to me. I loved his first book, so I didn’t hesitate to read this one.

This is not my usual genre to read. It’s Action/Adventure, Science Fiction and YA all rolled up in one.  I got into the swing of it and was captivated.

KM does a superb job of world building. It’s amazing how he was able to make me visual it and become involved in each different class they live in. His story has a ring of truth to it. Our society is guilty of many of the prejudices and indulgences that occur in this book. The politics are not too far-fetched either. I could see it happening.

Shawn was my favorite. He is the main character in this story and quite the rebel. The author weaves many colorful characters into this adventure. Some of them are self-centered and act entitled and snobby, some are quite funny and made me laugh a lot, and some of them were despicable and dirty dealers.

It’s odd that I was drawn to two of the characters, Pedro and Sarge. They are Protective Services Officers and, for the most part, the bad guys. I must have connected to them because of how well the author wrote them in.

There is something for everyone in Creator Class. It is very unique and fresh. There are dark periods in it, but also much humor and empathy. This book reads like real life. Life in a near future.

It makes one ask the question, “Will man ever learn?”

  5 Stars because I loved it! Super writing, super world building!

I don’t usually use the book blurbs, but I feel this will add to my review and pique your interest even more!

Book Summary

Decades have elapsed since The Creators inflicted their vision on the planet. The population menace is tamed, resources are plentiful, and climate concerns abate. A sustainable world order has been achieved.
But Shawn Lowe chafes at P-Class restrictions. Movements are tracked, conversations scrutinized, conformity enforced. It’s wrong. The Laws of Earthism are wrong. When a treasonous outburst cements Shawn’s fate, an unexpected communication from Creator Class sparks changes he could never have imagined.
A new life. A new family. Boundless opportunity. Destiny, it seems, has been rewritten. But an evil nemesis emerges, and a lust for vengeance points Shawn down a treacherous path.
Creator Class is the first book in The Creator Class Series.

Author Bio

K.M. Breakey was born in Toronto, Ontario, and educated at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, British Columbia. He is an IT professional, writer and dreamer. He is the author of Creator Class and The World Clicks. To learn more, visit www.kmbreakey.com.

Creator Class is now available. Click on images below to purchase K M Breakey’s books.

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