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Friday, March 7, 2014

Book Review of Zenith

Book Review of Zenith
Sponsored by Enchanted Book Tours





Welcome to Books, Books, and More Books.  I am pleased to share this book with you.  Thank you for visiting and please come again.


Book blurbs and covers
Zenith – The First Book of Ascension
Can you see the story breathing?
Imagine
A mountain so great it takes a year to travel from base to summit
A sun so powerful it drives you into madness if you look at it
An ascent so vital it determines the fate of the world
A summit so precious it holds the key to the divine
The world of the great Mountain is unstable. Giant pillars erupt from the surface and yawning chasms form unpredictably underfoot. Since the Maelir first stood on its slopes in the distant past, they have sought to still its anger and control its power. Each year, twin brothers are chosen to make a perilous journey to the summit. If they survive they will be witness to Zenith, and the secrets will be revealed to them.
When Atreu and Teyth embark on their Ascent, their Talismans lead them onto conflicting paths that will ultimately set brother against brother. And this time the Ascent itself is in peril as unknown forces that have long craved the power of Zenith will stop at nothing to make it their own even if it means destroying the very thing that sustains all life the Mountain itself.


Equinox – The Second Book of Ascension
Can you see the story breathing?
The Keep
The most beautiful city on the great Mountain
The pinnacle of Maelir culture
The home of the Inner Sanctum
The place where secrets hide

The fate of the Mountain hangs in balance at the time of Equinox, and even the Keep can no longer remain untouched. The Maelir are desperate to defend it, the Faemir to demolish it, the windriders to claim it. But unknown to them all, a dark force has already emerged from the chaos to seize power.
As Atreu and Verlinden strive to decipher the power of the Talisman that has defined Atreu’s Ascent, Teyth and Valkyra are locked in a desperate battle that neither of them can win. At a time when darkness and light are in perfect equilibrium, when Maelir and Faemir must find a way to break the deadlock and avoid annihilation, the world’s fate lies in the Book of Ascension.

Eclipse – The Lost Book of Ascension
Can you see the story breathing?
What happens if after the winter solstice, the days keep getting shorter?
And shorter?
Until there is an eternal night?
What happens as the darkness grows?
And the creatures of dusk take control of the Mountain?
And the quest for the third Book is the only hope?
The Mountain is in its death throes as the Nazir send their wraiths to finish what the dusk-rats and grale had begun. Soon there will be no daylight to protect the Maelir and Faemir, and with each twilight there are fewer places to hide. Will the Mountain finally collapse under its own instability or will Atreu and Verlinden’s descent find the words of salvation in the Lost Book of Ascension?




Author Bio


Dirk Strasser has written over 30 books for major publishers in Australia and is an Active Member of the SFWA. He has won multiple Australian Publisher Association Awards, a Ditmar for Best Professional Achievement, and has been short-listed for the Aurealis and Ditmar Awards a number of times. His short story, “The Doppelgänger Effect”, appeared in the World Fantasy Award-winning anthology, Dreaming Down Under. His acclaimed fantasy series The Books of Ascension – including Zenith and Equinox – was originally published by Pan Macmillan in Australia and by Heyne Verlag in Germany and has been re-published by the Macmillan Momentum imprint, this time including the “lost” third book. His fiction has been translated into a number of languages. His short stories include “The Jesus Particle“ in Cosmos magazine, “Stories of the Sand” in Realms of Fantasy, and “The Vigilant” in Fantasy magazine.  His most recent sale was “The Mandelbrot Bet” to the 2014 Tor anthology Carbide Tipped Pens, edited by Ben Bova and Eric Choi. He founded the Aurealis Awards and has co-published and co-edited Aurealis magazine for over 20 years.


Links

Twitter: @DirkStrasser

Buy the books!

Book Excerpts
Zenith excerpt: Chapter Four

Metheus walked over to the fissure and beckoned Atreu to follow.
‘Stop there,’ commanded the old man. ‘Do not get too close.’ Metheus was a step away from the fissure. ‘Now, watch and believe.’
He approached the large crack, and Atreu stared as the old man closed his eyes and bent his head over into the steam. Atreu could just make out his lined features which were softened by the haze. Metheus was inhaling deeply. He then slowly stepped back from the fissure, his eyes still closed. Bending his neck back, he exhaled towards the ceiling.
Atreu gasped.
A cloud issued from Metheus’ mouth and floated upwards. As it floated it took the form of a small boy. And as soon as the image was complete, it changed. Now it was a serpent writhing with life. And then a fish. And a leafless tree. And a geyer with wings beating gracefully. And then something with long teeth dripping with blood. And then a woman. And finally an old man, fading as the image struck the webbing on the ceiling of the cave.
The air was shrouded in silence as Atreu slowly bowed his head and looked at the ground.
‘This is my art,’ said the ancient voice.
Atreu lifted his head and looked Metheus in the eyes. ‘I … I didn’t know,’ he stammered.
‘Come here,’ said Metheus. Atreu walked towards him, the old man put his hand on his shoulder and they both sat down. ‘You see, Atreu, it is in your breath that all answers are found. I have not devoted my life to nothing. You take what the Mountain offers you, and you create so that it belongs to both of you. Inhale, exhale. They belong together, you see.’
Atreu nodded. He was suddenly very aware of his own breathing.

Review: 




This product or book may have been distributed for review; this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.


Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Book Review of Collision Course

Book Review of Collision Course
Sponsored by Premier Virtual Author Book Tours




Welcome to Books, Books, and More Books.  I am pleased to share this book with you.  Thank you for visiting and please come again.

Publisher: Black Rose Writing (Oct. 24, 2013)
ISBN-13: 978-1612962085
Category: Romance, Love Story
Tour Dates: February, 2014
Available in: Print & ebook, 252 pages

Blurb: 

Collision Course is a warm loving story about two college kids, Lincoln Comstock and Keli Holloway, who get off on a rocky road to romance.  In their creative writing course, Lincoln trashes Keli's first offering before the entire class, just to get her attention.  Keli is very sensitive about her creative efforts.  As a consequence, Lincoln has started his romance by shooting himself in the foot.

Lincoln's persistence pays off eventually as Keli agrees to be friends, just not romantic friends.   In their junior year, the friendship endures the student body presidential election in which Keli and Lincoln are actually pitted against each other.  After the election Keli finally agrees to go to the Christmas formal as Lincoln's date.

Just as the friendship is turning into love, obstacles get in the way. Can their love withstand a last collision?

Filled with excitement and love, Collision Course is a happy story that will leave readers smiling.

Praise for Collision Course:

"A must Read!  If you enjoy romantic novels this endearing story of college romance is just for you. I read the last 100 pages without stopping so I could find out how it ended. You will love Collision Course, by Chuck Gleason, from the first page to the last."- Leslie Gene, Amazon Reviewer

"Enjoyed it! I could not wait to see how it ended. The characters were believable. And I felt like when I was reading it I might have known some of them!"- Mary Plybon, Amazon Reviewer

"A love story with great appeal.  A very good and wholesome story of a young love affair. I loved it. I would like to see some more this author."-H.W., Amazon Reviewer

About Chuck Gleason:

Have we discovered a literary Grandpa Moses?

Author Chuck Gleason is eighty four years young and writing love stories at a prodigious rate.  He started dating Janet in 1945 when they were just fifteen.  They married in 1950 and are still in love sixty three years later!

Chuck achieved business success selling life insurance. With Janet's help, they developed a two market selling life style.  They lived on a Michigan lake in the summer and a Florida island in the winter. Their commute to work was only two seconds. They enjoyed this enviable life style for over twenty five years!

Chuck's speech, Are You Running Your Business or is Your Business Running You? has been delivered in twenty seven states and seven foreign countries.

They have two children, three grandchildren and one great grandchild.

"If you marry your best friend you'll have a wonderful life."

Website: http://chuckgleason.com/

Collision Course Web Tour Schedule

So Many Precious Books Feb 14 Review & Giveaway
Opie's Opinions Feb 17 Review                        
MN Girl In the World Feb 18 Review & Giveaway
Allison Merritt Feb 19 Interview & Giveaway
Reader's Muse Feb 19 Review                           
Reader's Muse Feb 21 Interview
Manic Mama of 2 Feb  21 Review                                                                             
Book Lover's Journal Feb 24 Review                                         
So Many Precious Books Feb 24 Guest Post
Giveaways & Glitter Feb 25 Review                                                        
Deal Sharing Aunt Feb 26 Review & Giveaway
Sweeps 4 Bloggers Feb 27 Review & Giveaway
The Wormhole Mar 3 Review                                         
The Wormhole Mar 4 Interview & Giveaway
Books, Books, & More Books Mar 5 Review                                          
New Age Mama Mar 10 Review  

Review: 

OMG!  I could not put this book down.  It is such a wonderful, realistic love story about a love that survives one problem after another.  Having a marriage like that myself, with a wonderful husband who has put up with more than his share of problems, I understand the kind of selfless love it takes to continue to love even when problems arise.  However, I have to say I’m not sure I would have been as forgiving as either party with some of the issues they had to endure.  However, it is a sweet, sexy love story.

I had forgotten the author was 84 and male so I was totally surprised when I read the author bio again.  This story is fresh and sexy, neither of which I would expect from my 84 year old grandfather…just saying.  I cannot wait to see what else comes from his pen.

I give this story 4 out of 5 clouds, only because I thought they forgave a little too much.  Sometimes love isn’t enough, although I wish it was.


This product or book may have been distributed for review; this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.


Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Book Review of Descending: A Gina Harwood Novel

Book Review of Descending: A Gina Harwood Novel
                  Sponsored by Innovative Book Tours


Welcome to Books, Books, and More Books.  I am pleased to share this book with you.  Thank you for visiting and please come again.
BLURB:



Described as a cross between the X-Files and Call of Cthulhu, the second title in Indi Martin’s Gina Harwood promises even more suspense and surreal action! In Descending, Gina discovers a mysterious portal in an ordinary wall that leads somewhere few humans were meant to go, while a group of friends set out to make a music video in a creepy old house that goes terribly, horribly wrong.

Descending: A Gina Harwood Novel (Book #2 in the Gina Harwood Series) will be released on 2/28/2014






BIO: Infected with terminal wanderlust, artist, author, and traveler Indi Martin spent her childhood voraciously devouring fantasy and science fiction alongside her father. She is perhaps best known for her graphic novel serial "Dissolution," as well as penning the paranormal mystery Gina Harwood novels. Indi currently resides in Maryland. She is a founding member of Tortoise & Hare Creations.

ONLINE LINKS:
Blog: dissolutionnovel.blogspot.com (Graphic novel I do weekly as a webcomic, sometimes I speak about the novels, but it's not necessary to include)
Twitter: @tortoiseharecreations


Excerpt/Other: 

First Chapter: 
1


Gina Harwood tried to calm her breathing, which was teetering on the edge of hyperventilation. Her heartbeat pounded heavily in her ears, a nonstop drumming flurry that caused her to clap her hands to her ears and squeeze her eyes shut, counting in her head to quiet herself.  Experimentally, she cracked one eye open again and peered across the room at the hole that had suddenly appeared in her wall. Her strawberry hair was slick with fear-sweat, dangling limply in her face and partially obscuring her vision, but not enough for her to miss the hellish black void that didn’t belong. She peeled her hands away from her ears and ran them roughly through her hair, pulling the damp locks away from her face. Forcing her trembling hands down to the recliner arms and her other eye fully open, she glared at the blackness that stood beyond the peeling plaster. Anger boiled inside her, shoving her fright aside, but re-quickening her heart.
That shouldn’t be there, she thought, quite logically. It wasn’t there before and it shouldn’t be there now. She nodded. That seemed true.
Standing at the edge of the hole, she looked back at her recliner, wondering briefly why she didn’t remember padding across the hardwood floors. Looking back into the abyss, she noticed a dull yellow glow emanating from deep below her. As she watched, the light expanded slightly, revealing edges that seemed to shimmer sickly, as though covered in some viscous liquid. She realized she was peering down a staircase.
Startled by the discovery, Gina took a few involuntary steps backward from the precipice.
“This is a dream,” she murmured weakly, wincing at the smallness of her voice. Steeling herself, she cleared her throat. “This is a DREAM,” she announced, clearly and strongly.
There was no indication that her surroundings cared a whit about her announcement. Her apartment still looked real and normal, except for the unwelcome portal that looked as though it had erupted forcefully from behind her wall. Unwilling to turn her back to it, she minced sideways until she reached the kitchen bar. Reaching over, she flipped the switch up. Cold white light immediately illuminated the room, blinding her, so she turned it back off again. Gina was not a total stranger to lucid dreaming, even lucid nightmares, and she stared in surprise at the switch. Light switches usually did not work, at least not as expected.
Frustrated, she grabbed her cell phone off the counter. “This definitely won’t work,” she whispered, glancing sidelong at the dull glow emanating from the hole in her wall. At her touch, the screen flickered on, reading 2:09am on October 10th. Gina’s eyebrows shot up in surprise and she brought the phone to her ear, tapping the speed dial as she did so.
She heard a faint click as the line went active.
A thin spiderweb of grey cracks started pulsating out from the hole, sending bits of drywall and paint flakes into the air.
She heard the first familiar ring in her ear, frozen.
The cracks accelerated across her walls and ceiling, seeming to burn her scant pictures with invisible fire. Gina heard herself gasp as she watched one curl up and blacken to ash in an instant.
A second ring. Her hand gripped the phone to her head with such force that it made her ear ache, but she was only dimly aware of the pain. Her apartment tore itself apart around her. Deep, thunderous cracks sounded as her hardwood floor panels split and burst up into the air.
“...Hello?” Gina’s eyes widened as Snyder’s familiar but groggy voice answered the phone. Fear was finally fully loosed from its bonds, shooting ice water through her veins as the apartment destruction suddenly quieted around her, as though mindful that she were on the phone.
“Muh... muh...” she stammered with lips that felt too thick, trying to force her voice into a whisper, thoroughly unnerved by the sudden silence.
“Harwood? What the hell, it’s two in the morning, are you ok?”
“Morgan,” she managed. “Help.” Her voice was still barely more than a whisper, her tongue fighting against forming words.
An animalistic keening sound erupted, loud and alien. Startled, Gina dropped the phone with a loud clatter, watching helplessly as the battery and backplate skidded across the floor and the comforting screen light blinked out of existence. “SHIT,” she cried, noticing with frustration that her voice had no issues being loud and clear now. The cry sounded out again, a long whine following by an inhuman click-hiss. Gina whipped her head around, scanning behind her for the source of the noise, while her feet propelled her backwards toward the hole.
BAM! She heard the sound and saw the bedroom door reverberate from the force of whatever hit it. BAM! Turning her head, she saw her front door also straining against something trying to force its way in. Her body hit the wall with a soft thud and her fingers ran their way along the portal’s nearest ragged edges. The air beyond the wall was neither warm nor cold, nor thick as she’d expected from the impenetrable blackness. It felt like nothing at all.
The creatures outside her living room threw themselves against the doors in a strangely syncopated rhythm. She heard herself shriek as the handle of the front door was ripped out by something awful and nameless, some sickly oozing thing with claws and suckers that moved in twitches and undulations. Unthinking, Gina leapt through the hole, surprised to be standing on something that seemed solid enough. She could barely make out the faint edges of the black staircase, but threw caution to the wind as she bounded down the steps toward the yellow glow. Keening cries of anguish followed her descent, floating eerily down through the hole and seeming to dissipate in the darkness.
Gina slowed a bit as she could see the staircase’s end, a torchlit platform with two ornately carved, massive stone doors.  Two cloaked figures stood guard in front of the gate, heads down under ponderous, heavy cloaks whose stitching seemed to dance at the edges of her vision.
“Gina...”
She stopped in her tracks, confused.
“Morgan?” she called out tentatively, though she knew neither man was her partner. The two figures raised their heads to reveal ancient-looking men with long, braided beards and clouded white eyes. Their faces were etched with age, but their expressions were blank. She shivered.
“Harwood, wake up.”
She awoke with a start, eyes flying open, to see Morgan Snyder squatting in front of her. He was gently shaking her arm. Gina shook her head and looked around, fighting off an intense feeling of wrongness. She was sitting on her recliner. There was no hole in her wall. Her pictures still hung, safe and sound, and not charred to ashes. She shook her head again. “What the hell?” she whispered slowly.
Snyder sighed and stood up. Gina saw that he was wearing only boxers under a long brown coat and grinned, some of the shock and confusion floating away as reality reasserted itself. “That’s what I’d love to know,” he muttered, following her gaze and whipping his coat shut. Gina noticed he was slightly flushed in the soft lamplight. “You call me in the middle of the night sounding scared off your head and when I get here, you’re dead asleep.”
Startled, Gina noticed her phone sitting on the end table next to her. Swiping her finger across the screen, she viewed her call log, frowning. “Huh,” she said. “I did call you.” She looked back up at the current time. “Damn, you got here fast.”
“Oh? Even after the long drive and the stop for donuts?” he retorted, faintly mocking. Since inclusion with the Unit, they’d been provided their own cushy living quarters on “base.” It had taken some getting used to for her, as she’d been living independently since she was sixteen. Now she knew virtually all of her neighbors and saw them nearly every day, unless she or they were on assignment somewhere. His run over had taken him three minutes, according to the logs. Even so close, he’d have had to be moving like lightning. “It’s not exactly far,” he finished, tiredly, eyeing the door.
“No, I uh... I guess not,” she stammered, feeling suddenly exhausted as the adrenaline started to wear off.
“If you’re okay...?”
Gina nodded, eyes down and embarrassed.
“Good. I’m going to try to rescue what’s left of my sleep then. You can tell me what this was all about in the morning.” Belting his coat up, Snyder strode across the room to the open door.
“Morgan, please stay,” the words escaped Gina’s lips before she knew what she was doing and her mind fumbled around for something to undo the sentiment. “...safe,” she finished lamely, clamping her mouth shut to prevent any more damage. ‘What am I doing?’ she thought, confused.
He cocked an eyebrow at her. “I think I’ll be alright in the next five minutes, and then I’ll be in bed,” he replied without much edge to his voice. He took a half-step back towards her. “Are you sure you’re okay? I could...”
“No, I’m fine,” she chuckled mirthlessly, scrambling for words. “I’m sorry I woke you. I don’t really remember doing it.” This was a blatant lie. She remembered the dream as clearly as any she’d ever had. In fact, it felt more real to her than Morgan Snyder standing in her door with only his underwear on, offering to... ‘stay? Was he going to offer to stay?’ she mused foggily. An ache started in her belly and worked its way up through her body and she observed it clinically. Did she want him to?
“Okay.” His face hardened back into the all-business visage she was so used to seeing on her partner’s face, and she winced. She opened her mouth to call after him, but he’d already walked out the door and was closing it behind him. “Lock up,” he ordered gruffly, and then he was gone.

Review: 

Totally creepy and exciting is how I would describe this book.  Gina, a telepath, and her partner, Morgan, investigate paranormal activity with a clandestine group.  Gina is still learning to control her powers and block out unwanted activity.  Helping her learn to do this is Victor, a vampire.  She has prophetic dreams and unintentionally links with her partner on occasion.  According to Victor because she doesn’t want to stop.  Now she may have to learn and quickly…

It’s funny because even in her dreams when she gets into a place where she needs to wake up or is in danger, she calls her partner.  I raced through this story.  The initial few chapters were a bit challenging because it flips back and forth between Gina’s story and a group of kids who are making a music video in a haunted house.  Eventually both stories come together, but they get totally creepy before they do.

couldn't put it down and can’t wait for the next book.  I give this book 4 out of 5 clouds.



This product or book may have been distributed for review; this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Giveaway and Book Review of Even Hippies Get the Blues

Book Review of Even Hippies Get the Blues
Sponsored by Enchanted Book Tours

Welcome to Books, Books, and More Books.  I am pleased to share this book with you.  Thank you for visiting and please come again.


Even Hippies Get The Blues
Author: Michel Lee King
Official Release Date: February 21, 2014
202 Pages
Humorous Romance/Literary Humor
Target Audience: Adult Women, New Adult

Blurb : 
“Sometimes peace can only come through chaos.”
Amy thought she had it all together. Her goals were set and she was working toward them seamlessly while practicing her peace-loving philosophy.
Her world of blissful ignorance crumbles when Travis, a blond paramedic with a body that can stop a truck, waltzes in to open her eyes... Just after Murphy, and his pesky law, paint a target on her back.
How many times can a waitress be interrogated in one day? Just how much orange acrylic paint can get caught in dreads before an interview? How does one retain their composure while dripping paint nude in their living room and staring down a trespassing police officer?

About the Author:

Michel Lee King writes fiction that has a tendency to mix the light and dark elements of life and focusses primarily on the Literary Fiction and Fantasy genres.
Michel is a peace-, and fun-, loving person living in the shadow of Mount Rainier in Washington state. She is happily married, has one son, two dogs, and a cat. When not consuming copious amounts of coffee, she is writing, editing, or enjoying the outdoors with her family.
She can be found online through her website: www.MichelLeeKing.com, Twitter: @Michel_Lee_King, or on Facebook: King.Michel.Lee


 
Giveaway:


a Rafflecopter giveaway



Excerpt/Other: 

Excerpt : Amy wakes tangled in her yellow sheets and unable to extricate herself:

Laying in my womb-like chrysalis, I returned the phone call. On the third ring, my best friend answered. “Hey Amy. How’s it going? Why didn’t you answer?”
I started laughing hysterically at the situation. “I’ve been taken hostage by my sheets and they won’t let me go.”
A long pause followed my announcement. Finally I heard a soft chuckle. “Should I call the police? Or search and rescue?”
“Both,” I snorted mid laugh.
Her chuckle intensified. “Oh my god, you’re serious aren’t you?”
“Yes. I’m lying here, on the floor, wrapped up like some sunshine burrito, and I can’t get out.”
I had to hold the phone away from my head because she was laughing so hard. “Why are you laughing at a time like this? My dignity is at stake!”
Rustling met my wheezed outburst before the line went dead. Staring up at the stained ceiling, I gave in to the hilarity of my plight. Who else could get themselves this stuck in cotton?
Calmed somewhat, and out of breath, I gave the sheets an honest fight. Sadly, they were winning. Sweating, and only slightly less trapped, I inched my way into the kitchen where the aromatic wonder that was my customary French roast tempted my bruised ego

Review: 

Humorous book with a unique viewpoint that uses humor to share important life lessons.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.



This product or book may have been distributed for review; this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.