Blog Tour for Quest of Fire by Brett Armstrong @BArmstrongWV @YABoundToursPR

Posted on July 5, 2019 by fundinmental

Quest of Fire: The Gathering Dark
by Brett Armstrong
Genre: YA Epic Fantasy/Christian Fantasy
Release date: April 2019

Summary:

Jason is an expert at running from his past. When it catches up, he finds himself hiding in a peculiar inn listening to a tale from centuries past.

The story is Anargen’s, a teen who is pulled from all he loves to follow his oaths of loyalty to the fabled King of the Realms. Together with his mentor, Cinaed, he rides north on a special quest to mediate peace talks between ancient foes–the men of Ecthelowall and the dwarfs of Ordumair. Nothing goes as planned. Many on both sides of the dispute despise Anargen’s Order. Worse, an arcane evil has returned to the North. This “Grey Scourge” seeks to ruin the peace talks and ensure a lost treasure held by the dwarfs is never found by those for whom it is meant.

As Anargen’s story unfolds, Jason begins to wonder whether it is truly just a fable. He soon finds himself drawn into the conflict Anargen faced–a battle which has shaped and can destroy his world.

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About the Author
I’m a Christian, a writer, a full-time programmer, a husband, a dad, and quite often sleep-deprived. Not necessarily ranked in order of importance, except #1.

Author Links: Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

Blog Tour Organized By: YA Bound Book Tours

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Teaser Tuesday #95 – Trials of a Teenage WereVulture by Emily Martha Sorensen @CleanYAFantasy

Posted on June 20, 2017 by fundinmental

Welcome to Teaser Tuesday hosted by The Purple Booker, the weekly Meme that wants you to add books to your TBR, or just share what you are currently reading. It is very easy to play along:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! Everyone loves Teaser Tuesday.

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I have been reading Emily Martha Sorensen’s wonderful stories for a while now.

Take a look at Trials of a Teenage WereVulture and you will see why.

Cover by Rebecca Frank

Amazon / Goodreads

MY TEASE

“Oh,” she said. She sounded disappointed. “That’s not really a clan. That’s, like…a club. You might as well join Were Scouts.”

(24% on Kindle)

MY REVIEW

Looking for a fun, paranormal story about a young girl coming of age in the wereworld? Look no further.

Something’s wrong. The turning wasn’t what Lisette hoped for. Her wings are all wrong. She’s not a werehawk, she’s a Werevulture.

She went to Werepedia to see what’s what. She’ll be going to Flyer’s Education for flying lessons.

She loved her best friend, Kegan, and didn’t judge her for being different, but when she became different too, her feelings became mixed.

What clan would accept her? Let’s go to Wereconnection.com and find out. She may be the odd man out, but I have a feeling she’ll show us how valuable she would be to any clan.

We have a vampire pumpkin, wereporcupine, wereplatypus, werebutterfly, weretrees….and all the normal vampires, centaurs, mermaids and such.

Her instincts are good and we will find out how good as she investigates the Rarity Clan, who wanter her to join up with them.

It is Emily Martha Sorensen’s ability to surprise me with her creative writing and smiles throughout, even in the tough times, that keeps me reading her work. She has a wonderful ability to create such marvelous characters.

We can anticipate many things to come, but Trials of a Teenage WereVulture is filled with wit and humor, evil and danger. The creatures spark the imagination and I am left with a feeling we are all special in our individual ways. We all have much to offer to those who enter our lives.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Trials of a Teenage WereVulture by Emily Martha Sorensen.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos 4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB: Lisette was expecting to be a werehawk. Now she’s a werevulture.

Sure, she can still fly, but the garbage looks delicious. And everyone’s afraid of her! Okay, everyone’s afraid of her best friend, too, but her best friend chose to be a banshee.

Then the mysterious Rarity Clan invites her to join. They offer her friendship, and the ultimate secret: how to be turned a second time so that she could choose a different species instead. She could be a werehawk, or a vampire, specter, giant, lorelei, or whatever else she pleases. There’s only one catch, and it’s a big one.

The tool that’s used to do that is a weapon that could destroy the entire city.

Now available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iBooks, Google Play, Kobo, and Smashwords.

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A Book For All Ages – She’s Like A Rainbow by Eileen Colucci #EileenColucci

Posted on April 17, 2017 by fundinmental

She’s Like A Rainbow by Eileen Colucci is outside my comfort zone, but every now and then I need to shake myself up.

I have read so much murder and death, that they all began to run together and I needed a break. This ray of sunshine fit the bill.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

She’s Like A Rainbow by Eileen Colucci is an original and creative story that illustrates how we are more similar than different, with our own insecurities and problems dogging us. Teens and adults alike can learn a thing or two from Reema.

I had been looking for books outside my normal reading and when Eileen offered me a copy, I accepted. The cover was what first drew me in, but when I read the blurb I thought it would be a fun story.

The allusion to the legend of the White Buffalo fits Reema’s life. The baby starts out white and changes color when he gets older. Most of us are a collection of nationalities.

Reema is a strong and determined young girl who refuses to give up on what she believes to be the truth. She shows love, patience and persistence as she seeks the answers to her questions.

All the childhood angst, plus…

The writing is wonderful and touches on many issues, such as being Muslim, and adoption.

I would highly recommend this story to people of all ages.

4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

“The summer I turned ten, my life took a fairy tale turn.”

So begins Reema Ben Ghazi’s tale set in Morocco, SHE’S LIKE A RAINBOW. Reema awakes one morning to find her skin has changed from whipped cream to dark chocolate. From then on, every few years she undergoes another metamorphosis, her color changing successively to red, yellow and ultimately brown. What is the cause of this strange condition and is there a cure? Does the legend of the White Buffalo have anything to do with it? As Reema struggles to find answers to these questions, she confronts the reactions of the people around her, including her strict and unsympathetic mother, Lalla Jamila; her timid younger sister, Zakia; and her two best friends, Batoul and Khalil. At the same time, she must deal with the trials of adolescence even as her friendship with Khalil turns to first love. One day, in her search for answers, Reema discovers a shocking secret – she may have been adopted at birth. As a result, Reema embarks on a quest to find her birth mother that takes her from twentieth-century Rabat to post-9/11 New York.

Reema’s humanity shines through her story, reminding us of all we have in common regardless of our particular cultural heritage. SHE’S LIKE A RAINBOW, which will appeal to Teens as well as Adults, raises intriguing questions about identity and ethnicity.

ABOUT EILEEN COLUCCI

A native New Yorker, Eileen Colucci has been living in Rabat with her Moroccan husband for the past thirty-plus years. She is a former teacher and recently retired after twenty-eight years as a translator with the U.S. Embassy, Rabat. Her articles and short stories have appeared in various publications and ezines including Fodor’s Morocco, Parents’ Press, The New Dominion and Expat Women. SHE’S LIKE A RAINBOW, which was recently published, is her second novel.

Colucci holds a BA in French and English from the University at Albany and an MA in Education from Framingham State University.

When not writing, Colucci enjoys practicing yoga, taking long walks and playing with her chocolate Labrador Retriever, Phoebo. Now that she and her husband have four grandchildren, they spend as much time as possible in Virginia with their two sons and their families.

Author Links: Website│Goodreads

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Giveaway – A Strange Companion by Lisa Manterfield @lisamanterfield @KathyHabel

Posted on April 5, 2017 by fundinmental

A Strange Companion by Lisa Manterfield

Kat Richardson isn’t running away from grief; she’s just hiding out in a gloomy Welsh university town until she’s sure it’s gone. Now, one year, nine months, and 27 days after the climbing death of her first love, Gabe, she thinks she’s ready to venture out into the relationship world again. And Owen—a cake-baking, Super Ball-making chemistry student—appears to be a kind, funny, and very attractive option.

But the arrival of Kat’s newly adopted niece, Mai, forces her home to northern England, where she runs headfirst into all the memories of Gabe she’s tried to leave behind—and discovers that Mai stirs up an unnerving feeling of déjà vu. Before long, Kat’s logical, scientific beliefs about life after death are in battle with what she feels to be true—that reincarnation is real and Gabe has come back to her through Mai. The question now, is why?

Taking on the topics of love, loss, and how we deal with grief, A Strange Companion is a twisted love triangle among the living, the dead, and the reincarnated.

Excerpt

I ran my hand along the log, waiting for my fingers to find the small indentations I knew would be there. They didn’t. The initials and the heart that Gabe had carved into the bark of the log now lay beneath a smooth carpet of moss, as if our love was something lost to the past. I pressed my finger into the moss but not a single tear would come. I simply sat there on the log and remembered.
Grief, apparently, had a mind of its own. It had snuck up on me in unexpected places, but now that I needed it, it would not do my bidding. I pushed up off the log, wiping at my dry eyes. I would be home for three full weeks, plenty of time to go looking for grief. My hometown was filled with memories of Gabe and I’d keep looking until I found them all.

Praise for the Book

“This beautiful blend of heartbreak, finding one’s self, grief, forgiveness, loss, and second chances, is a perfect rainy day read. I cannot say enough good things about this book! Read it with a box of tissues, as you will cry your eyes out.” ~The Reading Wolf

Author Lisa Manterfield
Lisa Manterfield is the award-winning author I’m Taking My Eggs and Going Home: How One Woman Dared to Say No to Motherhood. Her work has appeared in The Saturday Evening Post, Los Angeles Times, and Psychology Today. Originally from northern England, she now lives in Southern California with her husband and over-indulged cat. A Strange Companion is her first novel.

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amazon or paypal $100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Giveaway

Ends 4/28/17

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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YA Graphic Novel – Finding Molly by Justine Prado #FindingMolly @YABoundToursPR

Posted on April 4, 2017 by fundinmental

I used to read comic books as a kid, but haven’t read many graphic novels recently.

This one sounded too good to pass up, so…

Finding Molly: An Adventure in Catsitting
by Justine Prado
Illustrated by Jenn St-Onge
Genre: YA Graphic Novel
Release Date: January 2017
Emet Comics

Summary from Goodreads:

Finding Molly: An Adventure in Catsitting is a graphic novel about Molly Sanchez-Talebi, an unemployed art school grad who hesitantly starts catsitting to pay the bills. She dreams of breaking out of suburbia and her artistic rut, but she has a lot of self-discovery to do before that happens. The comic follows her funny misadventures as she learns that maybe these (sometimes) friendly felines are just what she needs to get her life on track.

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Giveaway – Mermaids are Real in Ice Crypt by Tiana Warner @tianawarner @XpressoReads

Posted on July 25, 2016 by fundinmental

Ice Crypt by Tiana Warner

(Mermaids of Eriana Kwai, #2)
Publication date: July 25th 2016
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

From award-winning author Tiana Warner comes the sequel to Ice Massacre, the #1 Amazon Kindle Best Seller.

Meela has just returned from the Massacre—the annual attempt to wipe out the mermaids threatening her people’s survival. After forming an unlikely connection with Lysi, a mermaid she was trained to kill, Meela is determined to stop the war between humans and merpeople for good. She knows of a legendary weapon that could bring peace if she uses it against King Adaro, ruler of the Pacific Ocean. But her people have plans for future Massacres and refuse to help her uncover it.

While Meela works in secret to unearth the Host of Eriana, Lysi is held captive under Adaro’s tyranny. Sent to the battlefront, Lysi joins forces with a band of rebels that could either bring her freedom—or have her executed for treason.

Separated by the vast Pacific Ocean, Meela and Lysi must find a way to defeat King Adaro and end the war that has been keeping them apart.

Goodreads / Amazon

—

MY REVIEW FOR ICE MASSACRE BY TIANA WARNER

Grab book 1 – Ice Massacre – for only 99¢ until July 31st!

—

EXCERPT:

Hanging from the crooked branch of a maple tree wasn’t that glamorous—not what my people would expect from an honoured Massacre survivor. Legs swinging to try and get a foothold, strands of hair clinging to my face, I heaved myself onto the next branch.

This would have been easier if I’d had the use of both hands.

Out of breath and halfway up, I paused, deciding how best to continue. The tree had forked and my legs were splayed, one foot against each trunk. In my fist, the owlet gave a feeble hoot.

I glared at him. He could hardly be called cute, with his sparse white fluff and oversized feet.

“Your family reunion better be worth all of this,” I said.

I pushed off one trunk and wrapped my limbs around the other, then shimmied higher until I was level with the nest.

Two owlets peered back at me, identical to the one in my fist.

“Gaawhist,” I said. Home, sweet home.

I placed my rescue next to his siblings, where he toppled sideways and blinked a few times. I poked him to make sure I hadn’t squeezed him too tightly. He ruffled himself and settled in.

Maybe I couldn’t help everyone survive, but I could, at least, save this one life.

I just hoped the mother would return soon.

I leaned against the trunk and caught my breath, my thoughts turning back to what I’d come here for. I inhaled slowly, letting the sweet scent of maple buds calm me.

From this height, the wooden, mossy cabin below seemed less imposing. I could see how these grounds might have once been used for camping—back when seaside camping was not a life-threatening activity. Now, this cabin was one of many classrooms at the Safe Training Base. Once a place to connect with wilderness, now a place to learn the best way to slaughter a sea demon.

Author Bio:

#1 AMAZON KINDLE BESTSELLING AUTHOR Tiana Warner was born and raised in British Columbia, Canada. In her spare time, she enjoys riding her horse, Bailey, and collecting tea cups.

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GIVEAWAYS!
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—

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Ice Crypt

by Tiana Warner

Giveaway ends July 25, 2016.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

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Tales From Feyron by Diana L Wicker Tour Giveaway

Posted on November 3, 2014 by fundinmental

The Realm of Feyron has always been…

Publication Date: November 2, 2012

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy/Coming of Age

The Realm of Feyron has always been. It is the origin of all things magical, the axis point where all the worlds meet. Once, in days gone by, there were many gateways within the Temple of Pyli connecting the Worlds Beyond seeded with magic to their home. Now many gateways have flickered out, and Feyron weakens as the magic fades and the Guardians are lost.For the first time in over three hundred years a Dreamweaver has come of age and is tasked with contacting the Guardians. When she awakens in the night after a vision of her best friend lost and alone, injured in the snows at the top of the Crystal Mountains, she seeks out the Sacred Fire in the Temple in an attempt to call forth more information. A voice calls out from the fire, “Dreamweaver, you are summoned.” An image appears of an ancient path through the Mist Shrouded Forest leading to a hidden gate into the Crystal Caverns below the mountains. The Guardians have summoned her on a quest that will take her to the four realms of light within Feyron in search of answers and aid.

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~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT

The Dreamweaver’s Journey

Watching the full moon over the garden, she heard the call of a night bird and smiled. The warmth flowed through her, surrounding her, and as the halo of gold faded, a hawk swooped unnoticed from Soifra’s bedroom window, streaking across the garden and into the forest, following the cold breeze back towards its source in the Crystal Mountains. Once she was sure she was well enough away from the small homes that fanned out from the manor, she rose above the trees in her favorite form: the black dragon. In her elation, she began to sing, and somewhere ahead of her, something answered back.At first there was just one call off in the distance, and she wasn’t quite sure if she had heard it, or imagined it, or if it was an echo in the breeze, but then it came again, strong and sure, and it seemed closer. Soifra flew higher, calling out again, and this time she was sure she heard more than one song. The songs called to her, pulled her, filling her with elation, and she followed them higher and farther. She knew she had to see them, the real dragonkin, the guardian children. If she just saw them, she could go back and tell her grandmother the Guardians were real. They simply had to go to the mountains to find them.

She reached a height where the clouds were thick, and her world went grey, consumed by the cold mists around her. After trying to follow the songs for a short while, twisting and turning as different voices called from different places, she could no longer tell left from right, up from down, and she began to feel afraid. Heart racing, she could no longer think clearly, and in her panic she picked one call and began to follow it, faster and faster, desperate to leave the clouds, to be able to see. The calls suddenly stopped. She had begun to turn her head this way and that, straining to hear any sound, when she slammed into the side of the mountain with a bone crushing thud, and fell unconscious to the cold, crystal ledge far below.

Publication Date: May 10, 2013

The Guardians have awakened after the Time of Sleep and returned to renew the magic with the clans of Faie. At the request of the Guardian, Lord Grypos, Keeper of Knowledge, the Master Scholar travels through the Outer Gateway with craftsmen and apprentices to coordinate the repairs of the once great oasis that houses the ancient archives of knowledge known as the Island in the Sands.

As the summer wanes and the oasis begins to return to its former glory, the Guardian calls the Master Scholar to the meditation room in the wee hours of the night to discuss a journey. In the fire an image flickers of the red desert sands speeding past, a land of grey beyond the desert, and a cavern of twilight behind an obsidian wall. “Arwyn and Shyamal are to go there for me to seek out that which was once mine.”

What starts as a seemingly simple journey becomes an adventure with life threatening consequences as the two are unexpectedly joined by their friends on a journey far from home beyond the realms of light in a realm that few within the clans of Faie knew could even be reached.

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Publication Date: December 20, 2014

Old relics and have stories of their own. Sometimes they contain adventures waiting to be sparked and journeys bursting to begin.

The Box of Melodies was left with Clan Caris by Lady Oyisha, daughter of the mists, for care and keeping. A series of visions revealing the last desperate moments of a forgotten clan – the loss of their gateway to Feyron and the escape of a lone traveler holding the box – spurs a handful of adventuresome youth on a trek through the Lesser Forest where they inadvertently cause a ripple through the mists with unintended consequences.

A few of the youth find themselves on an unexpected journey to a World Beyond, lost in mist and shadow, where misunderstanding and suspicion lead to danger and darkness. Forgotten histories are discovered, clan secrets are revealed, and old alliances are remembered as the families of the lost seek to discover where the youth have been drawn by the memories within the Mists of Time.

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Diana lives in the balmy climate of the US south with her husband, two children, two dogs, two cats, and a cantakerous rabbit. She enjoys reading, sewing (clothing, costuming, and experimental toy making), and RPG games. (She grew up with the old school paper/pencil style of gaming, but has transitioned happily to the highly interactive world of video games.)

The idea for Feyron started with a map, a place for her daughter to tell stories and live out storytelling role playing adventures with her friends. The lore grew around the map, for every world needs lore if you are going to “live” there. The idea for a series, Tales from Feyron, grew out of the lore, for if you’re going to invent a world, you may as well play there too. The stories are continuing to grow through the various historical ages of Feyron and may yet “ripple” outwards to the Worlds Beyond touched by magic.

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