Saturday, December 30, 2017

Free Book and Giveaway: Wolf of the Tesseract by Christopher D Schmitz



Wolf of the Tesseract
by Christopher D. Schmitz
Genre: SciFi Fantasy
227 pages

While investigating a series of strange murders in her neighborhood, college student Claire Jones is kidnapped by a handsome werewolf who claims he’s rescuing her from the clutches of an evil sorcerer. But she can’t run forever and if Claire and her companion can’t reclaim an arcane artifact to end the warlock’s reign of terror, he will unleash the dark god Sh’logath’s cataclysmic power upon the universe, shattering dimensional barriers, and devouring all reality.

**FREE on Amazon Dec 28th- 30th!**


Christopher D. Schmitz is the traditionally published and self-published author of both fiction and nonfiction. When he is not writing or working with teenagers he might be found at comic conventions as a panelist or guest. He has been featured on cable access television broadcasts, metro area podcasts, and runs a blog for indie authors.
Always interested in stories, media such as comic books, movies, 80s cartoons, and books called to him at a young age—especially sci-fi and fantasy. He lives in rural Minnesota with his family where he drinks unsafe amounts of coffee. The caffeine shakes keeps the cold from killing them. His entire family is musically gifted, although he is, sadly, their only bagpiper.
Education: Schmitz also holds a Master’s Degree in Religion and freelances for local newspapers. He is available for speaking engagements, interviews, etc. via the contact form and links on his website or via social media.








Friday, December 29, 2017

Book Tour, Review, and Giveaway: Flowers in Winter by Mary J. Williams



Flowers in Winter
Hart of Rock and Roll Book 5
by Mary J. Williams
Genre: Contemporary Romance

A HART OF ROCK AND ROLL HOLIDAY ROMANCE



Tula Carson knows what her future holds. A good life. A secure life. Safe. Steady. Boring.
She has no one to blame but herself. She chose the path she's on. But, she wants something more. Something different. Now. Before it's too late.

Fleet Sherman is a Rock God. And he isn't afraid to enjoy the perks. Money. Fame. Beautiful women. As far as he's concerned, his life is perfect. Until he meets smart, funny, talented, frustrating Tula Carson. The one woman he can't resist. The only woman he can't have.

On the surface, Tula and Fleet seem worlds apart. She grew up loved. He just wants to forget his childhood. She's led a sheltered life. He's experienced everything life had to offer. Yet, from their first meeting, they clicked.

Tula has a chance to fulfill her dreams. But the first step is always the hardest. Will she jump, or play it safe?

Fleet doesn't believe he deserves a woman as good and sweet as Tula. For her sake, he has to let her go.

A love of music brought them together. Will their pasts tear them apart? Do they need a Christmas miracle? Or will they realize love is the greatest gift of all.

Grab this standalone book today.



Goodreads * Amazon

Review:
Tula Carson enters a songwriting contest for rock start Fleet Sherman. When she wins, she decides she doesn't want the publicity and bows out. Fleet is intrigued and pays her a visit to convince her to write with him  - and maybe more. 
This is a cute rock star romance. Tula is sweet and Fleet is the tortured rock god. They make a good pairing as Tula has some steel under her sweetness that keeps Fleet on track. I wish the book was a little longer as parts of it seemed rushed, but all in all, I enjoyed it a lot. 

I love books, I always have and always will. Writing is an extension of that and though it has taken me a while to get here, I now can officially call myself a published author.

I grew up on a ranch in Eastern Washington, so I wanted to set my books on the Columbia River in Washington state. Harper Falls is completely fictitious, but I think anyone from the area will know right where it would be if it did exist.

My hobbies are gardening, reading, baking(fattening desserts are my favorite), exercise(I don't love it, but it is necessary due to the desserts), and animals. I had a dog but when he died I couldn't bring myself to replace him. That is why I wrote Edgar, the dog into "If I Loved You", I consider him my surrogate puppy until I can get a real one.
I love to get feedback on my books so I hope everyone will feel free to leave a question or visit my website(it is a work in progress, but I'm getting there).





Follow the tour HERE for exclusive guest posts and a giveaway!





Monday, December 25, 2017

Merry Christmas!




The Holly and The Ivy is a traditional British folk carol. 

Lyrics:
1
The holly and the ivy,
When they are both full grown,
Of all the trees that are in the wood,
The holly bears the crown.
The rising of the sun
And the running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the choir.
2
The holly bears a blossom,
As white as the lily flower,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ,
To be our sweet Saviour.
The rising of the sun
And the running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the choir.
3
The holly bears a berry,
As red as any blood,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
For to do us sinners good.
The rising of the sun
And the running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the choir.
4
The holly bears a prickle,
As sharp as any thorn,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
On Christmas Day in the morn.
The rising of the sun
And the running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the choir.
5
The holly bears a bark,
As bitter as any gall,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
For to redeem us all.
The rising of the sun
And the running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the choir.
6
The holly and the ivy,
When they are both full grown,
Of all the trees that are in the wood,
The holly bears the crown.
The rising of the sun
And the running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the choir.

Thursday, December 14, 2017

Book Review: Seventh Decimate by Stephen R Donaldson

Prince Bifalt of Belleger has long fought in the war his country has waged for many years against their neighbor Amika. Magisters use sorcery, waging fire, wind, pestilence, earthquake, drought, and lightning, the Six Decimates, from safe perches while men on either side die below them. The people are suffering from the long war, crops ruined and homes destroyed. Belleger's only advantage is the use of rifles which Amika doesn't have (though they need magic to forge the iron), but otherwise, their army seems in the ascendant when suddenly, all magic disappears. The cause is the Seventh Decimate.
Bifalt is sent with a company of men by his father the king to find a book that holds the secret of the Seventh Decimate. They hope to finally win the war or at least negate Amika's use of sorcery. Belleger is hemmed in on all sides by impassable boundaries, but Bifalt plans to cross an endless desert to find the Last Repository, the library that holds the book he needs.
Donaldson has long been one of my very favorite fantasy authors; Mordant's Need is possibly my favorite fantasy series, and the Thomas Covenant books also have pride of place on my bookshelf. The Great God's War series looks to be another very enjoyable series, and I look forward to the next books.
Prince Bifalt is an antihero without the sympathy the reader could dredge up for Thomas Covenant because of his leprosy. Bifalt is a warrior who hates magic without much understanding of it; he only knows what he sees of it in battle. He's stubborn, makes a lot of mistakes, and is focused only on destroying Amica and preserving his own country. His worldview is extremely limited at the beginning of the book, and as he proceeds on his quest, Bifalt finds it hard to expand his perspectives despite traveling and meeting new peoples. Most of the book I and many of the characters just want to shake him to wake him up, but he's mostly stubbornly stuck in his own views.
"Regardless of his stature, his significance or meaninglessness, he had to be who he was. He had no other choice. The scale of the world did not change what he had to do, or why he cared about it."
Very slowly he starts to learn:
"A man is not a man at all if he cannot enter and enjoy every chamber of himself."
I love the way Donaldson writes. I always learn new words and I greatly admire how he uses them in his stories. The names of the two countries, Belleger and Amika, derive from Latin words for war and friendship for example. It makes me wonder about Bifalt's view of the two countries; he's wrong about so much, and I suspect this is a hint that his view here is flawed also. The three Magisters at the Last Repository are men, one who is dumb, one deaf, and one who is blind. The symbolism harks back to the old proverb "See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil". The Six Decimates have both evil and good sides though Bifalt is slow to see any positive.
I truly savor Donaldson's works, and there's a lot to think about in the Seventh Decimate. The various characters are interesting and the worldbuilding is excellent. War is brutal - the battles are called 'hells' - and there's always two sides to everything, much to Bifalt's dismay; he's determined to only see what benefits his father, the king, and his country. How can you not love a book with lines like this:
"Words could not contain his vehemence. Instead, he uttered them like splashes of blood from the cut of a blade."

I usually only review Indie or small publisher books on this blog, but occasionally I have to add one for a favorite author.

Book Blitz: Faith, Hope, & Love series by Linda Lee Williams


Now on sale $.99 for the series!

The Breadth of the Soul:
She doesn't know who she is or why she's come to Colorado Springs. Dustin has no idea why he's met her. Kayla whispers that her name is Ruby--if he can believe the voice of a spirit in the night. Separate tragedies, years apart, form an invisible bond between Ruby and him. A chance encounter over the Holidays? Or a match made in Heaven? Only Kayla knows for sure...

The Depth of the Spirit:
When an accident leaves Thomas crippled and in a wheelchair, he resigns himself to life as a bachelor--not an easy thing for a young man to accept. Then fate drops Margot in his lap. Margot understands the frustrations and challenges of Thomas' disability. She knows the pain of loss. Has serendipity brought Thomas and Margot together? Or has his dead friend's prophecy come true? Only Kayla knows for sure...

The Ascent of the Heart:
Lorena exists in the confines of her troubled past. When her nephew, Braedon, comes along, he frees her from her suffocating life. Then Artie arrives with a few liberating tricks of his own--good food, good company, and a not-so-deaf ear. In the wings, someone else watches and listens. Someone who bears Lorena's and Artie's most painful secrets and deepest wounds. Will the couple need a little heavenly help? Only Kayla knows for sure...

Book Release, Excerpt, & Giveaway: The Lost Macaw by B.L. Blair





Mystery
Date Published: 12/14/17

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The Lost Macaw is the fourth novella in the Lost and Found Pets series. Alexandra Prescott is a licensed private investigator specializing in finding missing animals. Reuniting pet and owner is more than just a job.

A former client hires Alex to find her lost parrot. The bright colored bird has flown away before, but this time there is evidence that Molly was kidnapped. The demand is simple—the bird for the pictures.

When her client suffers a stroke, Alex is left with a ransom note, a missing bird, and some very incriminating photos. She is in a race against time to solve the mystery of the lost Macaw.



Excerpt

“Your little old lady is quite interesting, Alex,” Halie said.
“What do you mean?”
“She didn’t exist until about thirty years ago.”
“What?!”
“I did a preliminary background search on her. In general, she is clean. No debt. The house is paid off as is her car. The one thing that jumped out at me was the fact that she had a safe deposit box at four different banks.”
Luke raised one eyebrow. I got a sinking feeling. I had noted the bank accounts but hadn’t really given them much thought.
“Yeah,” I said, “I saw those.”
“So why does an eighty-year-old woman need four safe deposit boxes?”
“Why does she need more than one?” Luke muttered.
“Exactly,” Halie said. “So I dug a little deeper.”
“What did you find?”
“About thirty years ago, Joseph and Trudy Kearns purchased the house on Carriage. Back then, it was a new neighborhood, and the prices were cheap. They paid cash. They also opened a bank account, and Joe got a job working for the city. Those are the first records I can find for either one of them.”
“Trudy would have been fifty at that time. Her husband probably a few years older. What about birth certificates? Social security cards?”
“They had them, but conveniently, they were issued from a small county in Virginia where a massive flood destroyed all their records. The county office was in the process of moving the old paper records to electronic when the flood hit.”
“Let me guess. The Kearns’s records did not survive the flood.”
“Nope.”
“So the only records for them are the ones they had in their possession.” I paused a moment. “Do they look real?”
“Yes,” Halie replied.
“So they could be authentic.”
“Or really good forgeries. In some ways, it was easier back then.”
“Anything else?” I asked.
“Not really. Like I said, she’s pretty clean. Lives on a fixed income of social security and a small pension from her husband’s job. It isn’t much because he only worked for the city for twelve years before he had to retire.”
“This isn’t looking good.”
“I’ll keep digging. See if anything else turns up.”
“Okay, thanks Halie.”
After ending the call, I looked a Luke. He had a perplexed look on his face that I had a feeling mirrored mine.
“Who the hell is Trudy Kearns?”


About the Author

B. L. Blair writes mystery/romance stories. Like most authors, she has been writing most of her life and has dozens of books started. She just needs the time to finish them.
She is the author of the Holton Romance Series, the Leah Norwood Mysteries, and the Lost and Found Pets Mystery Series. She enjoys reading books, writing books, and traveling wherever and as often as time and money allows. She is currently working on her latest book set in Texas, where she lives with her family.

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Saturday, December 9, 2017

Book Release and Excerpt: Second Chances by Kimberley O'Malley




Contemporary Romance
Date Published: 11/30/17
Publisher: Carolina Blue Publishing

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 Dr. Charlotte Avery is the newest resident of Windsor Falls, North Carolina. Just back from the war-ravaged plains of Africa, Charlie only wants to settle into her new life and to reconnect with Elizabeth Fitzgerald, her best friend from residency. What she doesn’t expect, or need, is the instant attraction she feels for Elizabeth’s brother-in-law, Brendan. A single dad, Brendan Fitzgerald isn’t interested in anything that will further complicate his life. Will they be open to a second chance?

Excerpt:
Elizabeth nodded, a suspicious smile spreading across her face. “Speaking of the Fitzgeralds, how’s it going with Brendan?”
Charlie tried to act cool but failed miserably. She glanced around to ensure they were alone. Gossip mills thrived in hospitals. “Fabulous.” She felt a blush spread across her cheekbones.
Elizabeth clapped her hands together. “I knew it! Tell me everything.”
“Shush. I don’t want to be the next topic of conversation around here. Besides, it’s very new. As in this week.”
“Really? I would swear there were sparks with you two from the moment you met.”
“Oh, there were. But we’re both being cautious for obvious reasons.”
Elizabeth tilted her head. “Obvious reasons?”
Charlie blew out a long breath and turned her chair to face Elizabeth. “He’s very careful about dating because of the girls. And I, well, that’s a long story.”
Elizabeth rolled her chair closer until her knees bumped Charlie’s. “And you? What?” Her mouth turned down and her shoulders drooped. “I know there’s something going on with you. Something you haven’t been able to tell me yet. I’m here for you.”
Tears sprang to her eyes. She took Elizabeth’s hands in hers. “I know that, Elizabeth. And I’m thankful. The time has never been right.” She glanced at her friend’s pregnant belly. “But, I’m dealing with it. Really.”
Elizabeth grasped her hands and squeezed. “My being pregnant has nothing to do with this, Charlie. I’m here for you, no matter what. As you were there for me in Los Angeles.”
Charlie pulled her hands free and swiped at the tears that had leaked from her eyes. She offered up a watery smile. “I know, Elizabeth. And I will tell you. Everything. But in my own time.”

“Okay, then. So, back to juicy details about Brendan.” She screwed up her face. “On the other hand, he’s like a brother to me, so not so juicy.”

About the Author

Kimberley O’Malley is a recent transplant to Charlotte, North Carolina from the frozen North. She is learning to say y’all but draws the line at sweet tea. Sarcasm is an art form in her world. When not writing, she is a full-time nurse and part-time soccer Mom, but not necessarily in that order. She shares her life with an amazing husband of more than twenty years, two teenagers, and one very sweet Shetland Sheepdog, Molly.


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