Blog Tour – Isle of Gold

Author: Seven Jane
Pages: 284
Genre: Historical Fantasy

Publish Date: 10/9/2018
Publisher: Black Spot Books
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Photo Credit: Seven Jane [Author]

Where to buy: AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY

*Thank you Black Spot Books and Jean Book Nerd for providing an e-copy of The Isle of Gold for me to review. This review is my honest opinion and has not been influenced by anyone.*

 

Synopsis

Mystery, Myth & Magic Meet in an Epic Adventure of Two Women Lost at Sea—
and the Secret that Binds Them Together

AN ORPHAN DISGUISED AS A PIRATE SETS SAIL FOR A MYSTICAL ISLAND IN HOPES OF UNRAVELING THE MYSTERIES OF HER PAST

The year is 1716—the Golden Age of Pirates. An orphan who sleeps in the dusty kitchens of a quayside brothel, Merrin Smith is desperate to unravel the secrets of her past and find the truth about the events that brought her to the Caribbean island of Isla Perla as a child. Disguised as a sailor, and with the help of her longtime friend Claudette, Merrin joins the crew of the pirate ship Riptide, helmed by the notorious Captain Erik Winters. Tenacious and rumored a madman, Winters is known as much for his ruthlessness as for his connection to the enigmatic and beautiful proprietress of the Goodnight Mermaid, Evangeline Dahl, who vanished from Isla Perla two summers before.

At sunset the Riptide sails for the mythical island of Bracile, a place hidden between air and sea and that exists only for a moment every two years, and which has never returned any man who has sailed for its shores. The journey will be perilous and long, and it will take Merrin far away from the only home she’s ever known. Because she can read, Merrin will serve as the Captain’s apprentice, deciphering old texts for clues to the island’s whereabouts as the ship sails through haunted, frozen waters and into the very heart of the ocean. As she struggles to navigate the rough, seafaring life aboard a pirate ship, Merrin must keep her identity hidden from the scrupulous gaze of not only Captain Winters, but also Mister Brandon Dunn, the ship’s surly, legend-spouting quartermaster, and Tom Birch, the charming boatswain Merrin can’t help but feel drawn to.

As the Riptide makes its way to Bracile, Merrin begins to suspect that the men she has worked so hard to deceive may in fact be more connected to her than she would have imagined, and that perhaps her own past might have more to do with the Dunn’s legends and myths than she ever could have guessed.

In The Isle of Gold [Black Spot Books, October 9, 2018] Merrin Smith must face perilous waters, cursed sea goddesses, and the embodiments of some of the ocean’s most terrifying legends as she not only struggles to survive her journey, but to find the answers to the mysteries of her past.

A story where history meets fantasy, The Isle of Gold is an epic, emotional adventure of two women—one desperate to save herself, and the other determined to be rescued—and the secret which binds them together.  

“For as long as men have sailed the ocean, they have told stories about the sea,” says Jane. “It’s a place of mystery, myth, and magic—and this makes The Isle of Gold a perfect setting for an epic adventure that is not only a tale of historical fiction, but of the very evolution of a woman’s spirit as she seeks to find herself in a world of unpredictability and uncertainty.”

“There is an old saying that ‘the cure for anything is saltwater—tears, sweat, or the sea.’ In The Isle of Gold, Merrin’s journey requires all three.”  

Review

I actually enjoyed this book. It was a nautical historical fantasy filled with burly sailors and captivating seas, my escapist mind was living the pirate’s dream. The story overall was very descriptive and captivated the ocean adventure so majestically. I was able to immerse myself into the story and feel the rocking of the boat and the salty sea foam that filled the air, along with the cold satisfying feel. The author also created a backdrop that gave nostalgia to those who fall for a pirate story. There was an overlaying mysteriousness to it that I found quick intriguing and was the main reason I continued to red on.

The supporting characters were captivating in their own developing and really helped to shape Mirren’s [main character] story. I enjoyed Mirren’s character because it was relatable. She was clever, which gave her the ability to use her skills to set sail with Captain Winters in her crew. She was great at keeping secrets when it came to the crew never finding out that she wasn’t a young lad. She continued to use her wit and intelligence to learn more about the quest to find Mistress Dahl and help Captain Winters. Lastly, she had a curiosity spirit about her that welcomed those reading to also pique their curiosity of the pirate code, the island of Bracile and the reason for the journey. Back to the supporting characters – the author was able to find such a great way to fully develop and have stories for the supporting characters that sometimes isn’t always executed. I loved learning more about Captain Winters and their crew and was able to understand their stance in life so much more.

The story was filled with myths, mysteries and magical curiosity. It was a quick, yet enjoyable read. There were times during the plot where pace wasn’t always clear or pace was slower than expected but the author was able to be it back to the larger picture. The story had a Pirates of the Caribbean vibe while still keeping it’s originality at the forefront. The romance was whimsical and quirky and it fit well into the story. Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a nautical fantasy but also readers who enjoy a strong world building novel.

About the Author

Seven Jane is an author of dark fantasy and speculative fiction. Her debut novel, The Isle of Gold, was published by Black Spot Books in October 2018.

Seven is a member of The Author’s Guild and Women’s Fiction Writing Association. She writes a weekly column for WFWA‘s Industry News newsletter, and is a regular contributor to The Nerd Daily.

She is represented by Gandolfo Helin & Fountain Literary Management and supported by Smith Publicity.

Praise for The Isle of Gold

“Part fairytale, part fantasy, part romance, Jane’s debut is full of colorful characters [and] a plot that will thrill the heart of any lover of magic, legends, and epic adventure.” —Booklist

“Jane weaves a tale of myth and magic . . . This tempting novel will entrance.” —Publishers Weekly

“A delightful, well researched and evocative historical fantasy that succeeds in bringing a fascinating era to life.” —Midwest Book Review  

Giveaway

–  1 Winner will receive a Signed Copy of THE ISLE OF GOLD and Swag by Seven Jane.

– 1 Winner will receive an Exclusive Swags for Upcoming Release.

Giveaway Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e849f7751584/

 

Follow the tour!

Tour Schedule: http://www.jeanbooknerd.com/2019/02/the-isle-of-gold-by-seven-jane.html 

 

Thank you Jean Book Nerd and Tor Books- for allowing us to be a part of this amazing tour. Please check out Jean Book Nerd’s site for more information about this tour and upcoming ones.

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Release Blitz – Blackout

Author [s]: Janine infant Bosco
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Self-published
Release Date: April 1^st, 2019
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Where to buy: Amazon|  Barnes & Noble*

*Sells for a limited time

*I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. These are my own thoughts and have not been influenced by anyone*

Synopsis:

After years of struggling with alcoholism and drug abuse, I got clean and put my best foot forward. I became the man worthy of Lacey Parrish’s love and made the girl with the sad brown eyes my wife. But I’m not the only one in our marriage with demons. Diagnosed a manic depressive, Lacey struggles daily with her mind, never willing to succumb to the stigma of mental illness.
The odds have always been stacked against us, but the stakes have never been this high. Pregnant with our child, Lacey is forced to choose between her mind and the baby we wished for.
I can take pain, but I can’t take hers.
Helpless and at the mercy of all the things that plague us, I turn to my past.
It’s always our favorite sins that do us in.
Leather.
Lace.
Me.
Her.
Suffering through hell, hoping love is enough for us to survive one more blackout.

Review:

This book was an emotional rollercoaster of a read that I was not prepared for. I own a couple of Janine’s books but this is the first I’ve had the pleasure to dive into and boy was it a good one to start with. This book is the reason I was teary eyed on the train this morning and the reason I didn’t want to sleep. It was a raw page turner and the author did so well with enticing her readers into wanting more, and feel more for Blackie and Lacey.

This first book is part of a duet and it focuses on Blackie. Blackie is currently a recovering addict and married to Lacey, a woman fighting the mental illness that plagues her father. Each have a struggle to fight with self but together they balance each other and are stronger together. I feel in love with Blackie and Lacey. Their relationships, although riddled with so many events, emotions and chaos, felt real. We knew Blackie and Lacey loved each other and would fight anyone trying to bring them apart. Lacey was the woman who would take Blackie form his darkest points and bring that bit of light and hope he always needs, the light that makes him rethink relapsing. We know that Blackie’s life is not perfect, which is something I really enjoyed. The author did not spare any expense to not tell his most vulnerable story. I felt it was the only way I was able to see him as a flawed human. Blackie is set to have more responsibilities with the possibility of being president of the Satan’s Knight as well as becoming a father. With that added responsibility pressure, along with the journey of Lacey’s pregnancy, the stress may be eating away at Blackie. Can Blackie handle it? – It’s something I want all of you to find out. Lacey’s character development was amazing. She had so much on her and still continued to gain strength through each obstacle. She shined throughout the story.

Along with the character development, we get so many extra steamy encounters with them. Their love making is something that is almost poetic. It is intense [in a good way] and sensual which made it believable. It didn’t feel scripted or staged or something the characters had to do for doing’s sake.

This story line of addiction, mental illness, and uncertain futures reeled me in and did not let me go. The first book is left at a cliffhanger which left me yearning for more. It was filled with heartache, humor, love and exploration of the unknown. I cannot wait to continue this story and dive into more stories of the members of Satan’s Knight MC Club.

About the Author:

Janine Infante Bosco lives in New York City, she has always loved reading and writing. When she was thirteen, she began to write her own stories and her passion for writing took off as the years went on. At eighteen, she even wrote a full screenplay with dreams of one day becoming a member of the Screen Actors Guild.

Janine writes emotionally charged novels with an emphasis on family bonds, strong willed female characters, and alpha male men who will do anything for the women they love. She loves to interact with fans and fellow avid romance readers like herself.

She is proud of her success as an author and the friendships she’s made in the book community but her greatest accomplishment to date would be her two sons Joseph and Paul.

 

Here’s a first look excerpt from Blackout:

Blackout, Book One Excerpt: “That’s Not How This Works”
©Copyright 2019 Janine Infante Bosco

Learning our baby might be born with a heart defect if Lacey remains on her medication was the final card to fall. Now, all that’s left is a mountain of debris and I don’t know how to drudge through any of it.
“Just go,” Lacey says, keeping her back to me as she fills a water glass. It’s the third time she’s poured herself a refill and I wonder if she’s wishing it was something harder. God knows I’m fixing for something.
Scotch.
Whiskey.
Tequila.
I’d fucking drink turpentine right now.
“I’m not going anywhere, Lace, that’s not how this works,” I tell her, bracing my hands on the kitchen island. We both know what happens if I leave, the problem is she’s too wrapped up in her grief to realize she’s sending me straight to hell because if I do as she says, I’ll either go to a bar or drive out to Queens to score some drugs.
“Stop pretending like either of us know how anything works,” she hisses, dropping her glass into the sink. There’s truth to her words. A truth we’ve both been too fucking naïve to accept.
She turns to me, crossing her arms over her chest as she gives me her dark eyes.
“Every time we take a step forward, we take three back. We’re a fucking joke, Blackie. Two lost souls who will never get it right and now, we’re bringing a baby into the world. If that’s not fucking selfish, I don’t know what is.”
“You didn’t think it was selfish the first night I came in you,” I fire back, slamming my fist against the counter. My anger gets the best of me and I lose my patience. Everything, all the shit with the club, Jack’s failing mind, my addictions, and her fucking illness, it all comes crashing to the surface.
“I told you that night, I was worried about you getting pregnant and not because I thought we didn’t deserve to be parents or because I didn’t want to have a baby. I was concerned for you, for your fucking mental health but you told me there were people like you all over the world having kids.”
“People like me,” she repeats.
Ignoring the hurt in her eyes, I continue my rant.
“You fucking promised me you’d get in touch with your shrink. You swore you’d tell her we were trying for a baby—”
“I didn’t know I’d get pregnant so quickly,” she spats.
“You pissed on your fucking word,” I shout over her.
As soon as the words leave my lips, I regret them, but there’s no taking them back.
Maybe she was right.
Maybe I should’ve fucking left.
At least then I wouldn’t have to watch the painful expression fill her pretty face.
It’s funny.
I can take pain, but I can’t take hers.
Exhaling, I swipe a hand over my face and bow my head.
“Shit, I’m sorry, Lace.”
“Don’t be sorry for expressing how you truly feel,” she spats, furiously wiping at the tear that escapes the corner of her eye.
“I don’t know what the fuck I feel,” I admit, gripping the edge of the counter again. Frustration claws at me as I keep my eyes pinned to her. “All I know is the last thing I want to see is you lose yourself to your maker. I don’t understand why you won’t just talk to the doctor before you make a decision.”
“And I don’t know what’s so hard to comprehend. You know, it’s my body, therefore it’s ultimately my decision, but it’s our baby, Blackie. It’s not a dream anymore. It’s not a what if—I’m pregnant and I can’t understand how you would risk our child being born with a heart defect.”
Her words slap me in the face, and I clench my jaw, trying to keep my emotions in check. There shouldn’t be a choice. We shouldn’t have to choose between Lacey’s mental stability and bringing a healthy baby into the world, but once again life’s got us by the balls. No one gets a say in the cards they’re dealt. You get what you get. You either play your fucking hand or you fold. Some people, go all in. They risk everything they got and pray they don’t lose. Others, they’re more cautious and maybe that’s because they’ve lost in the past. Maybe, just maybe they want to hang onto what they got and don’t want to press their luck.
I already visit one wife in a cemetery.
I don’t want to visit Lacey in the fucking psych ward.
“Let me ask you something,” I say hoarsely, pausing to swallow the lump suffocating me. “Have you thought about what happens after the baby is born? More specifically, have you taken a fucking second to think about what happens to you?”
She doesn’t answer me as she diverts her eyes away and I take the opportunity to paint her a picture.
“The baby is born, and she’s perfect. She’s got a full head of dark hair and the prettiest brown eyes either of us has ever seen. She’s everything we dreamed of and yet, I’m the only one living the dream. You don’t look at her the way I do. You don’t hold her and feel the same things I do. To you, she just exists, and you don’t understand why. You forget the sacrifices you made bringing her into the world. You forget the dreams you had for her. You forget it all.”
“Stop,” she orders, balling her fists at her side.
“No,” I growl. “I won’t stop. You won’t get to experience the joys of motherhood, Lacey. You won’t hold her in the middle of the night when she wakes. You won’t get to watch her grow or teach her how to walk. You won’t even give a fuck because you and your maker will be one. She wins and your child, the precious baby you fought to bring into this world, she fucking loses.”
Suddenly, Lacey spins around and takes the glass from the sink. Before I realize what she’s doing, she turns back to me and throws it across the room. It misses me by an inch and crashes against the floor.
“Get the fuck out of here,” she cries.
When I don’t move, she advances towards me and stands across the other end of the island.
“I want you to leave!”
“I’ll go,” I tell her. “But I won’t fucking apologize for a word of what I just said. Children are born with birth defects every day, Lace. Sometimes the doctors catch them early on and sometimes they don’t find out until the baby is already in the mother’s arms. That don’t make them broken or any less loveable.”

 

GIVEAWAY

One winner will receive:  Kate Spade necklace (US only)

 Rafflecopter: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/ba3ffd552184

 

Book two of the Leather and Lace Duet debuts on May 6, 2019

Follow the Author:

Website: http://www.janineinfantebosco.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/janineboscoauthor
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/janinebosco
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2b98hQM
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/janine-infante-bosco

Blog Tour – Boss by Katy Evans

Author [s]: Katy Evans
Pages: 224
Genre: Romance
Publisher: Harlequin Desire
Release Date: March 1, 2019
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Photo Credit: Harlequin Desire

Where to buy: Amazon| Book Depository

*Thank you harlequin Desire and Lady amber’s Book Reviews for providing me with a free copy to read and review!*

This review is my honest thought and have not been influenced by anyone.

Synopsis:
“We play by my rules now.” —Kit, the new boss

Who does Kit Walker think he is? The trust-fund heir waltzes in and wants to boss me around, but if I catch him misbehaving, his father will yank his inheritance. Stalemate, right? Not when our chemistry is irresistible! Ironically, we run the top dating app. Could this be my “perfect match”…or the perfect scandal? —Alexandra, the one in charge

Review:

A scandalous office affair … Sign me up!

So we meet Alexandra Croft, a 24 year old that takes pride in her ambitions and the fact that she is on the favorable lit of her company’s CEO. However, a new CEO comes into town, Kit Walker, and takes ownership of his father’s role once his father has retired. Angered by this, Alexandra is on a mission to show Kit Walker who the boss is around here. With Kit trying to prove to his father that he can run the business and Alexandra bent on proving it wrong, tension builds between the two and Alexandra now will fight to fall for his charm and continue her plan in proving he’s not fight to be a boss.

Now going into this I knew this would be a steamy office romance and I was not wrong – which I am so okay about. Yes, the office romance trope has been played but I still enjoyed going back into the romance world and that being the one trop I read first – I know I am a weird reader. Kit, an inexperienced boss gets schooled and mentored by Alexandra.

I actually enjoyed how contrasting and complimenting the characters were to each other. Alexandra felt like the fire to Kits cool and sexy vibes. However, the chemistry at times between the two characters felt mediocre on the emotional front. It was obvious they have a lot of sexual chemistry and I was able to read through each lustful encounter. There were some notable scenes that gave me hope towards seeing some more emotion, but it was something I definitely wanted more of. I think a bit more would have made the overall chemistry more believable in my eyes.

This was the first book I’ve read form the author and it was pretty good. I enjoyed the flow of the story as well as the quick pace vibe it gave me. It was well written, didn’t beat around the bush too much and you knew where everyone was for the most part standing. I also enjoyed the flirtation throughout the novel, loved the tension building scenes right before the actions and was able to devour this story in one sitting. There were a few inconsistencies in character development, such as what the author wanted Alexandra too be. Alexandra’s character flipped flopped between a fierce, independent woman to a woman craving all the lustful desire. I would have wanted the two identities to be intermingled into one because let’s face it, you can have a woman who is both independent and craves what she wants sexually.

Overall, it was a good read and I would recommend to those who are lovers of romance and those who want to pick up a quick steamy romance to start them off in the genre.

About the author:

Katy Evans is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of over a dozen novels, starting with her blockbuster debut romance, Real. She writes sexy contemporary romances with smoldering hot alpha males.

 

Author Links:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6997072.Katy_Evans

Web: http://www.katyevans.net/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorkatyevans

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKatyEvans/

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2EDXWJy 

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/47xljj

The Dysasters

Author [s]: P.C. & Kristin Cast

Pages: 320 pages
Genre: Contemporary Fantasy
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Release Date: February 26^th, 2019
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Photo Credit: Goodreads.com

Where to buy: Amazon| Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:
Foster Stewart knows she’s different. Her life has never been “normal.” Talking to plants and controlling cloud formations aren’t things most seventeen year olds are into. Tate “Nighthawk” Taylor is perfect. Star quarterback and all around dreamy boy next door he never thought about his “extra” abilities. What quarterback wouldn’t want night vision? That’s not weird, right? It’s cool!

But on the night of their first meeting a deadly tornado brings them together and awakens their true abilities – the power to control the element air. Unbeknown to Tate and Foster, they are the first in a group of teens that were genetically manipulated before birth to bond with the elements. Which truly sucks for Foster, as she has to face the fact that Dr. Rick Stewart, her beloved scientist father, betrayed her and now wants to use her and the others for his own nefarious world domination plot.

Foster and Tate must stop Dr. Stewart and his minions before he destroys their lives and the world.

Review:

Characters

Tate and Foster are a power duo and I am all here for their relationship. We meet Tate and Foster at a football game when danger strikes and tornados rip through the area where they are at. We know that Foster has a mind trick going on but we learn more about her ability to control wind during the interaction with Tate. Can we say this was an enemies to lovers relationship – I wouldn’t say so. I think it was more of “we both control air and are bonded together weirdly through that because of a mad scientist” kind of relationship that made their interactions more interesting. I loved that Foster was assertive and strong. I also loved that both Foster and Tate complimented each other’s traits.

The other set of frequent characters mentioned in the story are the Core Four which consists of Eve, and her four bothers. They all control a different element and frankly those elements are destroying them. They are the older creations of Dr. Stewart’s genetic modifying. I will have to say that I did not enjoy them. However, who really enjoys a villain?  They were all in their thirties but their actions and emotions confused me into thinking they were much younger. They didn’t feel developed enough to feel like there was a reason for them to be villains. Yes, they want to find a way to be free of the burden of their ‘father’ and his greedy obsession with power, but should they really believe his word?

Magic/World Building

I enjoyed that there was a X-Men and Avatar: Last Airbender vibe to their magic. They control and can manifest a power – that should be great, right? Well, there were times where it didn’t completely make sense. For example, how did Dr.Stewart managed to mutate their genetics,. Why does it only truly manifest at age eighteen? Those were some of the questions I had throughout the story that I hope will be answered n the next book. I will say it was unique. You don’t get a lot of stories where teens can control the elements so I’ll give them that.

In terms of the world,  I think they did well with keeping the natural storms to areas that they occur in.

Plot

This could be a promising story and something I can really get into. There are a couple of things that I would personally have wanted to see worded differently or told differently but it was bad enough to completely give up on it. There were some plots [i.e. when events involving elemental manifestation occurs] where the timelines did not always add up. I wasn’t sure whether this was something intentional or just an oversight.  As a whole, the authors did well is making an interesting story line that gave some lead way for imagination.

Overall thoughts

It was an enjoyable read. The humor added helped deal with the more dramatic parts of the storyline. I do want to understand more of the backstory of how the genetic modification caused them to gain this power. It was a quick read and pleasant new story from two authors I’ve been reading for a long time.

{Nerd Blast} The Cold is in Her Bones by Peternelle van Arsdale

Age Range: 12 and up [Middle Grade]
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Publication Date: January 22, 2019
ISBN-10: 1481488449
ISBN-13: 978-1481488440

 

Where to buy: Amazon | Barnes and Noble  | BOOK DEPOSITORY

 

Praise for THE COLD IS IN HER BONES

“A dark and enchanting tale about friendship, pain, revenge, and the power of love, The Cold Is in Her Bones is the perfect read for Greek mythology fans and YA readers alike.” ―Bustle

“Fiercely written and beautifully feminist, The Cold is in Her Bones reminds us of the power of loyalty and love in the face of ignorance and fear. I loved this tale of dangerous girls with wild hair and tangled hearts.” ―Lisa Maxwell, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Magician

“A fresh, eerily compelling tale of betrayal, revenge, and the ties that bind. When van Arsdale paints a world, you can feel the fog against your skin.” ―Elly Blake, New York Times bestselling author of The Frostblood Saga  

SYNOPSIS

 

One girl must uncover secrets of the past to save her friend from a terrible curse in this dark and mesmerizing story of love, revenge, and redemption inspired by the myth of Medusa.

Milla knows two things to be true: Demons are real, and fear will keep her safe.

Milla’s whole world is her family’s farm. She is never allowed to travel to the village and her only friend is her beloved older brother, Niklas. When a bright-eyed girl named Iris comes to stay, Milla hopes her loneliness might finally be coming to an end. But Iris has a secret she’s forbidden to share: The village is cursed by a demon who possesses girls at random, and the townspeople live in terror of who it will come for next.

Now, it seems, the demon has come for Iris. When Iris is captured and imprisoned with other possessed girls, Milla leaves home to rescue her and break the curse forever. Her only company on the journey is a terrible new secret of her own: Milla is changing, too, and may soon be a demon herself.

Suspenseful and vividly imagined, The Cold Is in Her Bones is a novel about the dark, reverberating power of pain, the yearning to be seen and understood, and the fragile optimism of love.

PHOTO CREDIT: ELENA SEIBERT 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

Peternelle van Arsdale grew up in Newark, New Jersey, where she attended public school through the eighth grade. After that she attended three high schools in three different towns in four years, was deeply unpopular, and counted the seconds until graduation. She majored in English literature at Bryn Mawr College, and then landed in book publishing, thinking it was a good way to be paid to do what she liked to do anyway (she was only partly wrong). She worked her way up from editorial assistant to executive editor of adult fiction and nonfiction, and eventually struck out on her own as an independent editor.

Her first young adult novel, The Beast Is an Animal, is being developed by Amazon Studios for a feature film produced by Ridley Scott’s Scott Free and directed by Bert & Bertie. Her essays have been published by LitHub, Hypable.com, and Culturefly, and her short fiction has been published by The Whitefish Review.

Her second novel, The Cold is in Her Bones , will be published in January 2019. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, where she continues to edit and is at work on her third novel.

Giveaway!!

—Giveaway is open to International. | Must be 13+ to Enter

– I Winner will receive a very Exclusive Watercolor (THE COLD IS IN HER BONES) from Peternelle van Arsdale.

LINK: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e849f7751567/

My Dad, The Earth Warrior

Author [s]: Gary Haq
Pages: 276 pages
Genre: Middle Grade Fiction
Publisher: Gazzimodo
Release Date: June 5th, 2018
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Photo Credit: Goodreads.com
Where to buy: Amazon| Barnes & Noble
*Thank you Bookstasters for a review copy in exchange for my honest review*
Synopsis:
One boy.
A geeky dad.
A freak accident!

Dad wakes up from a bump to head claiming to be a Warrior sent to protect Mother Earth – and is soon up against a ruthless energy tycoon.

Hero is forced to go along with Dad’s new persona. And when Gran mysteriously disappears, Hero and Dad embark on a dangerous rescue mission.

Can Hero save Gran and his old dad back before it’s too late?

My Dad, the Earth Warrior is an extraordinary heart-warming and funny tale of a Dad and son on a thrilling mission to save Mother Earth! It is a story of personal growth, environment and discovering the warrior spirit that lies in all of us.

A funny, heartfelt, quirky middle-grade adventure that will appeal to fans of Frank Contrell-Boyce, Phil Earle and David Walliams.

Review:
In My Dad, The Earth Warrior we are introduced to Hero, one of the main characters of the story. Hero is a fan of soccer and wants so desperately to go to the World Cup. Hoping his dad has bought tickets, Hero anticipates himself preparing for the day. However, there are some things about his dad he doesn’t like, one of the main things being how engrossed his dad becomes in the encyclopedia collection that was handed down to him. Hero feels alone because his mother is no longer in the picture [she passed] and his dad checks out into his book world. We then meet this rambunctious, takes no stuff grandmother who has returned from another adventurous journey. All things are going as good as they can until a earthquake rocks Leaford and they end up in a whole new adventure.

My biggest highlight of the book was the relationship building between Hero and his dad. Hero saw his dad as a boring nerd who didn’t notice him. He then sees him as this weird being who somehow doesn’t realize he is not being himself. After the earthquake, that caused the events leading to his dad’s behavior, Hero slowly realized that maybe he was wrong about his father. He started to figure out that his dad is more than his books and that the loss of his mom, his father’s wife, possibly gave his father. I was happy that the relationship was more than took a an experience, a rescue and a truth serum to bring together. Their relationship isn’t perfect but it does allow the reader “to not judge a book by its cover”.

Overall the characters were well developed. There was a clear distinction between the the protagonists and antagonists. The villains weren’t written as too unbelievable. They were monopolizing and manipulative and had the one goal of fracking in their next location. Hero’s friends were the perfect companions to Hero’s chaotic adventure and appreciated their friendship throughout the story. Their friendship felt real and imperfect, which is how every friendship is.

This book also gave a strong message about caring for the environment. I really enjoyed how the author was able to make it so that a younger audience can definitely learn while they leisurely read. The message was also a real message about the consequences of fracking and is something that was well written into the story line. I was able to receive the message all while still investing in the other components of the story.

This was a good middle grade book and I’ve read quite a couple in the last few months. It was well written, and imaginative. It had pretty good background building – although at times I wasn’t always sure of the location of Leaford. The pictures and word art added a lighter feel to some of the more dramatic parts to the story and gave way to a good storytelling experience.

If you want to give a middle grade child a book they would enjoy and get a good environmental lesson in, this is the book! It is the kind of human story you need sometimes.

Blog Tour – The Ruin of Kings by Jenn Lyons

Author [s]: Jenn Lyons
Pages: 560 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Tor Books
Release Date: February 5^th, 2019
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

PHOTO CONTENT FROM Tor Books

Where to buy: AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY

Synopsis:
There are the old stories. And then there’s what actually happens.

Kihrin is a bastard orphan who grew up on storybook tales of long-lost princes and grand quests. When he is claimed against his will as the long-lost son of a treasonous prince, Kihrin finds that being a long-lost prince isn’t what the storybooks promised.

Far from living the dream, Kihrin finds himself practically a prisoner, at the mercy of his new family’s power plays and ambitions. He also discovers that the storybooks have lied about a lot of other things things, too: dragons, demons, gods, prophecies, true love, and how the hero always wins.

Then again, maybe he’s not the hero, for Kihrin isn’t destined to save the empire.

He’s destined to destroy it . . .

Uniting the worldbuilding of a Brandon Sanderson with the storytelling verve of a Patrick Rothfuss, debut author Jenn Lyons delivers an entirely new and captivating fantasy epic. Prepare to meet the genre’s next star.  

Review:

The Ruin of Kings was a complex fantasy that had such great world building and character development.  

I enjoyed have the ever growing backstories of the Characters. You were able to see through their lends and invest in them a lot more. This book began with the Main character Kihrin retelling his life prior to his capture. This was crucial in understanding how he was able to fit into the grand scheme of things. Kihrin was an conflicted character and becoming invested n him meant trying to figure out what was the next step for him, which was the biggest mystery. I enjoyed the idea of a lost prince trope. It was told differently in this story and I think it’s mainly due to the main character having a different perception on what a long-lost prince should feel, be and do. Let’s not forget that there is a dragon [yes dragon!], demons and other otherworldly creatures that add both suspense and comedy to part of the story.

The world building was amazing. It had a twist of Westeros feel to it, which sold me into the story because I am a huge Game of Thrones Fan. Yes, there was a monarchy element, but it was tainted and complex which gave it that extra fantastical spark to it. It is well detailed and written and gives enough to leave room for the reader’s imagination.

I will say the plot was a bit hard to get to. The story was not in a chronological order which gave some confusion. There were parts that I devoured and enjoyed every single word of it. I was intrigued with how this story was going and wondered during the first half if it was a good idea. I have to say it was pretty redeemable the second half and I felt okay to be invested in it. I think the plot works for the story and Jenn did a good job making this complex story still sound good.

I gave this a 4 star rating because I really loved the character development and world building – those were my biggest selling points and allowed me to continue reading to the end. Overall I am excited to see where this story leads readers.

Praise for The Ruin of Kings

“[A] jaw-dropping, action-packed story of betrayal, greed, and grand-scale conspiracy . . . Lyons ties it all together seamlessly to create literary magic. Epic fantasy fans looking for a virtually un-put-down-able read should look no further.” ―Kirkus, starred review

“Rich, cruel, gorgeous, brilliant, enthralling and deeply, deeply satisfying. I loved it.” ―Lev Grossman, author of The Magicians

“It was one hell of a ride. I gobbled it up and was hungry for more.” ―Glen Cook, author of The Black Company

“The Ruin of Kings is a fascinating story about a compellingly conflicted young hero in an intriguingly complex world.” ―L. E. Modesitt, Jr., author of the Recluse series

“A thriller plot of revenge and loyalty with a get-under-your-skin and keep-you-reading-all-night mysetery at its heart. I loved it.”―John Gwynne, author of Malice

“The Ruin of Kings revs up with the glitz of a high-speed, multi-level video game, with extreme magic and a teen hero with angst.” ―Janny Wurts, author of The Curse of the Mistwraith  

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  PHOTO CONTENT FROM JENN LYONS

Jenn Lyons lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband, three cats, and a lot of opinions on anything from the Sumerian creation myths to the correct way to make a martini. At various points in her life, she has wanted to be an archaeologist, anthropologist, architect, diamond cutter, fashion illustrator, graphic designer, or Batman. Turning from such obvious trades, she is now a video game producer by day, and spends her evenings writing science fiction and fantasy. When not writing, she can be founding debating the Oxford comma and Joss Whedon’s oeuvre at various local coffee shops.

Giveaway!!

– 2 Winners will receive an Exclusive THE RUIN OF KINGS by Jenn Lyons Gift Box (ARC, A Dragon Pint Glass and a Dragon Bookmark).

– 2 Winners will receive a Copy of  THE RUIN OF KINGS by Jenn Lyons .

-Giveaway ends February 19th

 

Click Here: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e849f7751554/

 

Follow the tour!

Tour Schedule: http://www.jeanbooknerd.com/2018/11/the-ruin-of-kings-by-jenn-lyons.html

Thank you Jean Book Nerd and Tor Books- for allowing us to be a part of this amazing tour. Please check out Jean Book Nerd’s site for more information about this tour and upcoming ones.