Review – Sarana and the Dark King by Ivy Keating @ivy_keating #fantasy

Posted on September 29, 2021 by fundinmental

MY REVIEW

The opening pages immediately fill me with disgust for the Dark King, sympathy for the Queen and admiration for the nurse.

Sarana is a miracle. She was supposed to have died, but for the grace of one woman who was determined to save her. The Queen never recovered from the loss.

In fantasy books I have read, all too often, royalty is cruel, thoughtless and frightened of losing what they have. Is war inevitable because the muckety muck can’t think of anything else to keep those who would want to overthrow them busy? Gotta be careful. When you force someone into a corner, their fight or flight impulse rises to the forefront.

The Dark King is after tarilium, a rare metal. It’s a treasure hunt and he will do anything to find the pot at the end of the rainbow. Greed and power all too often dictate a ruler’s actions. Who and how many will die?

I have been reading more fantasy and science fiction the past couple of years and am so glad I found Ivy Keating again. I had read her Camouflage novel some time ago and really enjoyed it, so when she asked me to read Sarana and the Dark King, I said sure. I am glad I did. Watching Sarana grow and become the princess she was meant to be was exciting and frightening at the same time. I knew she would make it, after all she is the main character, but what about those around her and the dangers they face as they love and protect her? Well done Ivy.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Sarana and the Dark King by Ivy Keating.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos — 4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

The fearsome Dark King of Bounten, with a magical creature known as a Valomere by his side, is on a quest to find the rare metal tarilium. His brutal ways incite the powerful psychic Allani. But when news of his plans to invade the kingdom of Attaveer spread, a new opponent emerges—Sarana, the daughter of a farmer…or is she?

At birth Sarana was sentenced to death for her “cursed” white hair. The delivery nurse, Meriden, whisked the fair-haired babe to a loving home across the waters from Bounten. Her entire life she hid her appearance to avoid prejudice. Things changed when she discovered she too had a Valomere. She strived to learn the creature’s magic and master fighting skills with the hope of becoming a warrior. Her dreams came true when she was allowed to join the Attaveerian king’s network of spies–a group poised to help defend the kingdom from an invasion by the Dark King and his powerful army.

When word of the white-haired messenger reached the Dark King he vowed to stop at nothing to capture or kill his opponent.

The time for hiding is over.

Can Sarana save herself and her kingdom? Follow Sarana from death to destiny as she joins forces with psychics, Valomeres, and the power of inner strength, to defeat an evil king.

ABOUT IVY KEATING

Motivated by nature’s mysteries and the complexity of human behavior, Ivy writes science fiction and fantasy novels exploring the relationship between mankind and the natural world. A master’s degree in social work helps her explore the depths of her characters and the repercussions of their actions. Inspired by the landscape of New England, she wrote Camouflage.
She is currently working on an adult fantasy set in the Medieval period.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

MY IVY KEATING REVIEWS

Camouflage

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Books From The Backlog – Shadow Sight by E J Stevens @EJStevensAuthor #booksfromthebacklog

Posted on September 16, 2021 by fundinmental

Books from the Backlog is a fun way to feature some of those neglected books sitting on your bookshelf unread. If you are anything like me, you might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in your stacks.

If you would like to join in, swing by Carole’s Random Life in Books.

Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads

GOODREADS BLURB

Welcome to Harborsmouth, where monsters walk the streets
unseen by humans…except those with second sight, like Ivy Granger.

Some things are best left unseen…

Ivy Granger’s second sight is finally giving her life purpose. Ivy and her best friend Jinx may not be raking in the dough, but their psychic detective agency pays the bills—most of the time. Their only worry is the boredom of a slow day and the occasional crazy client—until a demon walks through their door.

Demons are never a good sign…

A demon attorney representing the water fae? Stranger things have happened. And things are about to get very, very strange as a bloodthirsty nightmare hunts the city of Harborsmouth.

There’s blood in the water…

Kelpies have a reputation for eating humans. Unfortunately, Kelpies are the clients. When an Unseelie faerie this evil stalks the waterways of your city, you have to make hard choices.

The lesser of two evils…

Goodreads Ratings: 3.57 · 1,820 ratings · 263 reviews

I added Shadow Sight by E J Stevens to my TBR on 1.24.13. I have read some of her work and I may have even visited Harborsmouth before. I can’t quite remember, but it sure sounds familiar. I feel it will be a good time and that’s all I really ask for. I do find it easy to get lost in books and fantasies allow me to let my mind run free.

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Gaslamp Faeries Series by Ren Ryder

Posted on June 22, 2021 by fundinmental

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

The father had taken Kal in. He had ‘the sight’. But, when he saw monsters from the other side, they saw him.

Kal made contact with a fairy and knew he would need to battle the Ourboros into submission to save his sister, Sammie. Her life weighs on his shoulders and he must save her.

There’s No Such Thing As Monsters by Ren Ryder was not what I expected, but isn’t there always a battle between good and evil when monsters are involved?

It was hard for me to connect to the characters, but I could seen some of the scenes playing out inn a Harry Potter, Supernatural sort of way. Some scenes seemed familiar, but isn’t that usually the case. I have read so many books, it’s hard to come up with a new approach to evil in a monster’s world.

I don’t have Book II, but I do have Book III, The Monster At The End of Its Road. We have a lot of magical monsters in this book, and I’m counting on there being a lot more in the next.

I enjoyed my time in New London and am looking forward to another visit.

GOODREADS BLURB

Monsters come in all shapes and sizes, and not all of them have sharp teeth and beady red eyes.
New London. A thriving metropolis at the forefront of technological advancement and a shining gem of civilization.
Faeries. Whether they come off cute and cuddly or downright predatory, they all bring misfortune or are heralds of it.

Experience is a harsh taskmistress, but her lessons sink the deepest. Having been taught the lesson at great cost, Kal’s rules for dealing with faeries are simple: don’t talk to them, don’t look at them, don’t give them the time of day.

So when the Other Side comes knocking one fateful, stormy day, Kal, at first, pretends not to notice. Was forgetting this rule his folly?

His way of life is in great danger. His little sister, Sammie, a natural mage, is taken by Ouroboros, a criminal organization made up of raving lunatics that profit off the misery and suffering of others, and have everything to do with all the crimes of magic in New London.

Kal will go to any lengths to save his sister, even to his death. Accompanied by his sylph companion, a mischievous pest, Kal dives deep into the dark underbelly of the city, but are his hands enough to dig his sister out from the muck?

The Monster at the End of its Road (Gaslamp Faeries Series, Book 3)

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Well, I missed Book II, but I am happy to say, it didn’t affect my enjoyment of The Monster at the End of Its Road by Ren Ryder. We have magical action from the opening pages, Kal and Bell fighting for their lives against vampires and other magical creatures.

When he came face to face with his sister…well…I wasn’t expecting that and I loved it. He is determined to save her…no matter what.

Some things smack of the real world, like the division between the rich and everyone else. Kal can’t walk away from setting New London free from the Ouroboros, picking up unusual magical creatures along the way. He won’t have to do it alone.

Action! Action! Action!

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Monster at the End of Its Road by Ren Ryder.

GOODREADS BLURB

Kal may be on his way to becoming a monster, but with Bell at his side, at least he’s in good company.

New London circa 1912. A few short months have passed since they stabbed Kal in the back and cast him into the abyss.

Ouroboros. A criminal organization with deep pockets and deeper connections that infest the highest ranks of the nobility. Ouroboros specializes in trafficking, crimes of magic, and deals in all that is immoral or illegal. Dark forces are brewing, and Ouroboros stands in the eye of the storm.

New London is a city that never sleeps… until now. Storefronts are closed, windows are shuttered, and doors are barred while dark entities terrorizing the streets at night bring indiscriminate death to all. And in broad daylight, a serial killer continues to wreak havoc on the magical community.

Kal will take Ouroboros apart brick-by-brick if he has to, while Sammie has so deeply entrenched herself with the enemy that there’s little hope of their relationship returning to its roots.

In a cruel twist of fate, Fin Macool gets his dearest wish granted, and he leaves Kal’s side. Alone, will Kal & Bell be able to defeat the sea of enemies arrayed against them?

ABOUT REN RYDER

My name is Ren Ryder. I’m twenty-six years old, sober, a neurodivergent Aquarius-introvert with a ton of anxiety, and my truest passion in life is writing. Since I wrote There’s No Such Thing As Monsters, I rescued six cats, got my first tattoos, and dyed my hair crazy colors. When I was younger, Fantasy gave me as many worlds as I needed to escape to until I could come back to face the world again. Now I hope my own writing shines a light for others, a light carried by my characters and the worlds they live in.

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Books From The Backlog – The Secrets of the Vanmars by Elisabeth Wheatley @wheatley_e #booksfromthebacklog

Posted on October 29, 2020 by fundinmental

If you would like to join in, swing by Carole’s Random Life in Books.

The Secrets of the Vanmars (Argetallam Saga #2)

Amazon / Goodreads

GOODREADS BLURB

Surviving exile and imprisonment should have been a victory, but the battle is just beginning. With a new awareness and tenuous control of her growing power, Janir returns home to find half the Brevian High Lords want her dead.

When Saoven is ordered by his king to remain close, it seems the elves suspect her as well. To make matters worse, whispered rumors claim that a Stlavish noble house, the Vanmars, are plotting to invade and Karile is sure that Janir’s childhood home is a part of it.

Ensnared in the machinations of kingdoms, Janir must confront the power that is her heritage before everything she loves is destroyed.

Goodreads ratings: 4.12 · 41 ratings · 19 reviews

I added The Secrets of the Vanmars by Elisabeth Wheatley to my TBR on 10.16.23 and I received it from the author. I have been reading Elisabeth Wheatley’s stories for some time now and I don’t know how I missed this one. I’ll be remedying that as soon as I get caught up on my review books. The Secrets of the Vanmars is the second book in the Argetallam Saga. It’s a teen/young adult novel of fairy tales and folklore and sword and sorcery. I love getting lost in a fantasy world and Elisabeth Wheatley makes it so much fun.

MY ELISABETH WHEATLEY REVIEWS

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Giveaway & Reviews for A Sea of Love Series by Alice Renaud @alicerauthor @SDSXXTours

Posted on September 29, 2020 by fundinmental

Beware. These are not your nice and gentle, pretty merpeople, but HE stands out from the rest, at least in Alex’s eyes.

She doesn’t know…

He’s forbidden to tell…

Could the old legends be true?

Is there one special woman, waiting for him to find her?

Could she be human?

It’s hard to come up with new and unusual moments in a familiar tale, but Alice Renaud succeeded. I was quickly drawn in by the world and characters. Some hot romance is in order and, even though it was heavy, it was also sweet and innocent. I loved this wonderful adventure in Alice Renaud’s fantasy world. An easy read and it left me wanting more. Just proves, predictable can be very enjoyable.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of A Merman’s Choice by Alice Renaud.

For centuries the shape-shifting mermen of the Morvann Islands have lived incognito among humans. But one of them, Yann, has developed some bad habits. Like rescuing humans, even when doing so risks revealing his true nature. When he fishes Alex out of the sea, he doesn’t expect her to reappear eight months later, and turn his life upside down by asking him to be her guide.
Alex is determined to fulfill a promise to her dying grandmother, by gathering pictures and stories of the Morvanns. But she soon discovers that, on these remote Welsh islands, legends have a habit of becoming true!
Over the course of a few days, Yann and Alex grow close. But some mermen hate humans. Their hostility, and Yann’s secret, threaten to tear the couple apart just as they are discovering that they are soul mates. Can Yann overcome the obstacles in his path and make the right choice?

Goodreads * Books2Read

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I immediately began reading Music for a Merman by Alice Renaud, after finishing Book I, A Merman’s Choice. I was so enchanted with the world Alice created, I had to know what comes next. I love that, without looking at the blurbs, I anticipated it would be Rob Regan’s story to be told next and I am really looking forward to it.

Rob Regan is a rookie cop….and a merman. A warrior of the Regan Clan.

A woman, lying the in the middle of the road, right in front of a digger that is part of a development that many in St-Sulien opposed. I love how Alice Renaud incorporated our current social media and click happy culture. These touches of realism add those elements that make a book special to me.

Oh yeah. I am buckling my seatbelt for a bumpy ride, when I visualized Charlie’s seductive smile. I think Rob will have his hands full and I anticipate some laughs along with some lovin’.

I love that Alice Renaud created characters that are opposite of the characters in Book I, A Merman’s Choice. It keeps the stories fresh and exciting. I do love a spunky, flirtatious, snarky girl having fun with the shy, naive, hunkalicious cop.

Even though I know where we’re going, Alice Renaud throws in a surprise or two along the way to a happy ever after.

Who’s next? We have done two of the three clans, so I foresee someone from the Dooran Clan being spotlighted next.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Music for a Merman by Alice Renaud.

“Rob Regor knew that humans were trouble. All the shape-shifting mermen of the Morvann Islands knew it. And human women were double trouble, especially when they were lying on the road in front of a digger.”
Rob has a mission. Go to the mainland. Work as a policeman. Find out as much as possible about the mainland humans. Report back to his father, the head of the Regor Clan. It should be easy.
Until he has to arrest Charlie. Rob can’t fight his attraction to the sexy eco-warrior, and it puts him on one hell of a collision course with his family and his Clan. Will he break the rules – or break her heart, and his?

Goodreads * Books2Read

Unfortunately, I got behind. Hurricane Sally came through with a vengeance and we were without power for five days. I WILL get to this ASAP, because I do LOVE my merpeople.

Caltha the fierce shape shifting mermaid has no time for romance… but Jonty the warlock has a few tricks up his sleeve!

Caltha Dooran is the toughest, fiercest shape-shifting mermaid in the western seas. She has three Clans to rule, and no time for romance. But when a warlock, Jonty, turns up and asks her to come with him to London to capture a water monster, she can’t say no. In London, away from her duties, her attraction for Jonty grows… and they soon fall under each other’s spell. But will his past and her responsibilities pull them apart, or can they find the only true magic, the one that binds two souls together?

**Only .99 cents!!**

Goodreads * Books2Read

Alice lives in London, UK, with her husband and son. By day she’s a compliance manager for a pharmaceutical company. By night she writes fantasy romance about shape shifting mermen, water monsters and time-travelling witches. Her first book, “A Merman’s Choice,” was published in January 2019 by Black Velvet Seductions. It is the first book in a fantasy romance trilogy inspired by the landscapes and legends of Brittany and Wales. The second book, “Music for a Merman,” is out now and the third, “Mermaids Marry in Green,” will be released on 1 November. Alice has also written a short story, “The Sweetest Magic of All,” included in the BVS “Mystic Desire” anthology, out now. Alice loves reading and writing stories, and sharing them with anyone who’s interested!

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Goodreads * Amazon

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Inferno Rising: The Blood King by Abigail Owen @AOwenBooks

Posted on August 20, 2020 by fundinmental

I have read Abigail Owen’s The Shadowcat Nation Series, The Svatura Series,The Fire’s Edge Series and now, The Inferno Rising Series. I even met her at the RWA Convention in Las Vegas a few years ago. I’ve tried to find the photograph, but I have so many and did a bad job of organizing them, so I am on the case…I will find it.

NEW RELEASE: 8.25.20

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I LOVE SKYLAR!

The Blood King is book II of the Inferno Rising Series and I am lovin’ every minute I am in their world. We have love and romance, danger and battles that have me flying the unfriendly skies, swooping, flipping, feeling the wind blowing through my hair, freezing, the feeling of freedom…well, everything has it’s good and bad. LOL

Saying Skylar is feisty is putting it politely. She doesn’t make it easy for anyone to get close to here but her sisters. They are Phoenix and they are highly desired for their abilities and because dragons believe whoever has a Phoenix will be high king.

Of course, I am looking for some romance…How about you? When Skylar meets Ladon Ormarr, the sparks start flying and never quit. I love how he ‘tames’ her. LOL Like that can be done. It won’t be easy , but they ride the rollercoaster of love to a happy ever after.

Maul, what can I say about Maul. Have you ever met a Hellhound? I love him!

Battles will be fought, lives will be lost. The battles are fierce, betrayal abounds, enemies become friends, new alliances are made, and their world becomes a better place. Saying a better place just popped into my head and I was going to change it, but seeing the place we live in now leaves me wanting, I’ll take fantasy land any day of the week.

I loved the haters to lovers premise, and the snarky banter, with sexual tension so thick you could cut it with a knife. BEWARE…it does get HOT.

I love that Abigail Owen has Skylar saying she had always wanted to fly with the Blue Angels. Now, as Sklyar watches the dragons in formation, she feels as if she is. I salute you Blues! They are very familiar to me. I love how she describes the dragons as moving together, like a flight of birds.

Well, this is the first time in a long time that I scrapped my notes and WINGED it. LOL

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of The Blood King by Abigail Owen.

GOODREADS BLURB

Ruthless dragon king Ladon Ormarr must keep his throne at all costs. And now, with war on the horizon, he’ll need a miracle. Luckily, the fates have dropped Skylar Amon right into his lap.

Except he may have met his match.

The feisty Amon sister has no fear — of him or any other dragon shifter — is brash, doesn’t stick to protocols, and regularly offends his warriors and advisers.

Skylar also has no intention of sticking around. She doesn’t believe in the whole destined mates thing and believes all dragon kings to be dangerous. But if it means taking out the High King who murdered her parents, she’ll put up with Ladon… temporarily.

But the fates have other plans. And when Skylar disappears in the middle of a battle, Ladon will burn down the world to find her.

ABOUT ABIGAIL OWEN

Award-winning paranormal and contemporary romance author, Abigail Owen was born in Greeley, Colorado, and raised in Austin, Texas. She now resides in Northern California with her husband and two adorable children who are the center of her universe.

Abigail grew up consuming books and exploring the world through her writing. A fourth generation graduate of Texas A&M University, she attempted to find a practical career related to her favorite pastime by earning a degree in English Rhetoric (Technical Writing). However, she swiftly discovered that writing without imagination is not nearly as fun as writing with it.

MY REVIEWS FOR ABIGAIL OWEN

Shadowcat Nation: Andromeda’s Fall / Sarai’s Fortune / Tieryns’ Fury / Seneca’s Faith
The Svatura Series: Blue Violet / Hyacinth / Crimson Dahlia / Black Orchid
The Fire’s Edge Series: The Mate / The Boss / The Rookie
Inferno Rising Series: The Rogue King

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Books From The Backlog – Godsworld by Alden Scott #AldenScott #booksfromthebacklog

Posted on July 16, 2020 by fundinmental

If you would like to join in, swing by Carole’s Random Life in Books.

Amazon / Goodreads

GOODREADS BLURB

Monsters do not exist. There is nothing hiding in your closet waiting for the lights to dim and your eyes to close. Santa Claus isn’t real, and neither is the Tooth Fairy.

From the lips of parents to the ears of their maturing children, these confessions have been passed down from generation to generation. Marcus believed in the world’s magic, and was crushed after learning it was a lie. With no good deeds rewarded, or bad behavior punished, he wandered through life destined for mediocrity.

That was before he awoke in a world surrounded by mythical beings, and thrust into a conflict between humans and the nightmares they created.

With his home world on the brink of destruction, and the population of legends losing their grip on sanity, Marcus has little time to bring peace between the opposing factions. Aided by an unlikely band of “fictitious” creatures, he reluctantly sets out to unravel the mysteries of Godsworld.

Goodreads ratings: 4.30 · 20 ratings · 7 reviews

I added Godsworld by Alden Scott to my Goodreads TBR on 10.6.12. I have no idea why I added it, but after reading the first paragraph of the blurb, I think I will enjoy it. I do like a good fantasy and ‘fictitious’ creatures sure does sound interesting. How about you? Do you believe in monsters?

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Giveaway – The 8th Island Trilogy by Alexis Marie Chute @_Alexis_Marie @iReadBookTours

Posted on July 7, 2020 by fundinmental

Join Us for this Book Series Tour from Jul 7 to Aug 10, 2020!

“A Wrinkle in Time meets The Princess Bride.” – Review by Lee Lee Thompson, The Perpetual You Magazine

“Chute’s novel weaves STAR WARS-like characters with a WONDER-like message to form an enrapturing read for booklovers of all ages.” – US Review of Books

“Fast and bizarre… Never a dull moment.“ – Foreward Reviews

SERIES DETAILS:

Series Title: The 8th Island Trilogy by Alexis Marie Chute
Category: Young Adult Fiction (13 to 17 yrs) (368 to 448 pages)
Genre: fantasy, adventure, coming of age, ya, adult
Publisher: SparkPress.
Release dates: Jun 2018; Oct 2019; Apr 2020
Content Rating: PG: Battle scenes and death depicted.

Series Description:

The 8th Island Trilogy includes Above the Star, Below the Moon, and Inside the Sun. Over the three books, we follow the adventures of a quirky family, the Wellsleys. The main characters are frumpy senior citizen Archie, his daughter-in-law, Tessa, and his ill fourteen-year-old granddaughter Ella.

Archie, searching for his missing son, accidentally transports his family—and a cruise ship full of people—to a magical planet. There, they uncover the truth: all worlds are dying. Yet hope is not lost. A way to restore all that will soon be destroyed is revealed, along with the realization that Ella will play a role no one could have imagined—especially not her.

On the mysterious island of Jarr-Wya, many races of creatures battle for dominion and magic lurks around every corner. When the world falls dark, that is when bravery must shine the brightest, and the Wellsleys will reveal the strength they never knew they possessed—as well as the power of love to save the day.

Books in the 8th Island Trilogy:

Book Details:

Book Title: Above the Star by Alexis Marie Chute
Category: Young Adult Fiction (13 to 17 yrs), 368 pages
Genre: fantasy, adventure, coming of age, ya, adult
Publisher: SparkPress.
Release dates: Jun 2018
Content Rating: PG: Battle scenes and death depicted.

Book Description:

When frumpy senior citizen Archie goes in search of his missing son in the Spanish Canary Islands, he stumbles upon a higher mission: locating a magical cure for his ailing fourteen-year-old granddaughter, Ella. Using a portal-jumping device called the Tillastrion, Archie and a stone-headed creature named Zeno are transported to Jarr-Wya, a magnificent yet terrifying island in a connected realm―along with Ella and her strong-willed mother, Tessa, who accidentally stow away on this not-so-secret quest.

What they find on Jarr-Wya is an island tortured by a wicked Star anchored in the sea, and a raging three-way battle for dominion between the stone-wielding Bangols, the fiery Olearons, and the evil Millia sands. Ella’s wit and resourcefulness emerge in this new world, while Tessa is forced to confront her long-buried secrets and a confusing new love triangle. When Ella is captured, Tessa and Archie―with the help of a company of peculiar allies―set out to save her and unravel the terrible mystery of her cure. A mesmerizing, stay-up-all-night adventure of three unlikely heroes, Above the Star reminds us that even the smallest act of bravery can transform our lives and the fates of the worlds around us.

Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ Amazon.ca
B&N ~ Chapters Indigo ~ Target
Book Depository ~ Google Play
Add to Goodreads

Book Details:

Book Title: Below the Moon by Alexis Marie Chute
Category: Young Adult Fiction (13 to 17 yrs), 448 pages
Genre: fantasy, adventure, coming of age, ya, adult
Publisher: SparkPress.
Release dates: Oct 2019
Content Rating: PG: Battle scenes and death depicted.

Book Description:

Ella Wellsley is not your typical teenager. Cancer left her mute, but not powerless. Trapped in a parallel dimension, Ella rallies her strength to join her family―her mother, Tessa, her grandpa Archie, and her magical boyfriend―in locating the cure to her illness. This cure is entangled in the fate of all worlds, and threatened by the presence of an evil Star anchored in the sea. The Star has thrown life everywhere into chaos―and it is Ella who holds the key to unlocking its mystery.

Caught in a web of betrayal, mistaken identities, secrets, and love triangles, Ella, Tessa, and Archie must overcome their troubled pasts to ensure a future for all worlds. On this journey―armed with unearthly abilities and unexpected allies―each member of the Wellsley family will learn the power of love in the face of their greatest fears.

Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ Amazon.ca
B&N ~ Chapters Indigo ~ Target
Book Depository ~ Google Play
Add to Goodreads

Book Details:

Book Title: Inside the Sun by Alexis Marie Chute
Category: Young Adult Fiction (13 to 17 yrs), 384 pages
Genre: fantasy, adventure, coming of age, ya, adult
Publisher: SparkPress.
Release dates: April 2020
Content Rating: PG: Battle scenes and death depicted.

Book Description:

All worlds are dying, and it’s up to one broken and dysfunctional family from Earth―the Wellsleys―to save the day.

Cancer-ridden Ella celebrates her fifteenth birthday beneath an enchanted mountain, but it is what lies even farther below―the mysterious Star in the sea―that demands she grow up quickly. While Ella grapples with the sacrifice she must make and the lies she is forced to tell, her mother, Tessa, is hell-bent on protecting her.

Through bizarre encounters, love-sick Tessa realizes that she is not the lonely orphan she believes. Her husband, Arden, and father-in-law, Archie, are not the only ones with magical bloodlines. This revelation changes everything. As Archie chooses to embody his unexpected ancestry, he learns that leading the charge in the ultimate battle against evil won’t be as easy as he thought. He’ll need his family―and the strange allies he has gained―by his side to give Ella enough time to set things right.

Can they defeat the unstoppable Millia sands―and another unexpected foe―before everything they hold dear is destroyed? Or will their adventure tear them apart for good? The finale to The 8th Island Trilogy will hold you spellbound until the final page, and long after.

Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ Amazon.ca
B&N ~ Bookshop ~ Target
Book Depository ~ Google Play
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Meet the Author:

Alexis Marie Chute is an award-winning author, artist, photographer, art curator, filmmaker, and public speaker. She has received over 40 noteworthy distinctions for her visual and literary work. Her award-winning fantasy series The 8th Island Trilogy includes, Above the Star, Below the Moon, and Inside the Sun. The series has been described as “A WRINKLE IN TIME meets THE PRINCESS BRIDE” by The Perpetual You magazine, and “Fast and bizarre… never a dull moment” by Forward Reviews. The 8th Island Trilogy “weaves STAR WARS-like characters with a WONDER-like message to form an enrapturing read for blooklovers of all ages” – US Review of Books. Chute’s bestselling memoir, Expecting Sunshine: A Journey of Grief, Healing and Pregnancy After Loss, was a top Kirkus title of 2017 and received a plethora of other literary distinctions. The memoir was accompanied by the feature documentary of the same name, which has screened internationally for the last three years. Chute received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art and Design from the University of Alberta, Canada, and studied at Media Design school in Auckland, New Zealand. She graduated valedictorian with her Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA, USA. Chute is a highly regarded public speaker. She has presented on art, writing, bereavement, and the healing capacities of creativity around the world. Contact the Author/Artist for bookings info@alexismariechute.com When not in her art/photo studio or at her computer, Chute loves to spend quality time with her family, read fiction and non-fiction, watch reality TV, paddleboard, and canoe. She is not a winter person but lives in frosty Edmonton, Alberta, Canada with her husband and their three living children.

Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram ~ Pinterest ~ YouTube ~ LinkedIn

Tour Schedule:

July 7 – Splashes of Joy – series spotlight / guest post / author interview / giveaway
July 7 – Working Mommy Journal – book review of Above the Star / giveaway
July 7 – fundinmental – series spotlight / giveaway
July 7 – Corinne Rodrigues | Booksnista – series spotlight / giveaway
July 8 – Leels Loves Books – book review of Above the Star / giveaway
July 8 – Book Bustle – book review of Above the Star / giveaway
July 8 – Living in a Bookworld – series spotlight / giveaway
July 9 – Confessions of the Perfect Mom – book review of Above the Star / giveaway
July 9 – I’m Into Books – series spotlight / guest post / giveaway
July 10 – Falling Into A Good Book – book review of Above the Star / giveaway
July 10 – She Just Loves Books – book review of Above the Star / giveaway
July 13 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of Above the Star / giveaway
July 13 – Books and Zebras – book review of Above the Star / giveaway
July 14 – Olio by Marilyn – book review of Above the Star / giveaway
July 14 – Cheryl’s Book Nook – book review of Above the Star / giveaway
July 15 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book review of Above the Star / giveaway
July 15 – Blooming with Books – book review of Above the Star / giveaway
July 16 – Working Mommy Journal – book review of Below the Moon / giveaway
July 16 – Books and Zebras – book review of Below the Moon / giveaway
July 17 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of Above the Star / giveaway
July 17 – Writer with Wanderlust – series spotlight / guest post / giveaway
July 20 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of Below the Moon / giveaway
July 20 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book review of Below the Moon / giveaway
July 20 – Adventurous Bookworm – book review of Above the Star / giveaway
July 21 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of Inside the Sun / giveaway
July 21 – Stephanie Jane – series spotlight / giveaway
July 21 – Leels Loves Books – book review of Below the Moon / giveaway
July 22 – T’s Stuff – series spotlight / author interview / giveaway
July 22 – She Just Loves Books – book review of Below the Moon / giveaway
July 22 – Blooming with Books – book review of Below the Moon / giveaway
July 23 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book review of Inside the Sun / guest post / giveaway
July 23 – Confessions of the Perfect Mom – book review of Below the Moon / giveaway
July 24 – Falling Into A Good Book – book review of Below the Moon / giveaway
July 24 – Books and Zebras – book review of Inside the Sun / giveaway
July 27 – Book Bustle – book review of Below the Moon / giveaway
July 27 – Adventurous Bookworm – book review of Below the Moon / giveaway
July 28 – Working Mommy Journal – book review of Inside the Sun / giveaway
July 28 – Olio by Marilyn – book review of Below the Moon / giveaway
July 28 – Library of Clean Reads – series spotlight / giveaway
July 29 – 411 ON BOOKS, AUTHORS, AND PUBLISHING NEWS – series spotlight / guest post / giveaway
July 29 – Blooming with Books – book review of Inside the Sun / giveaway
July 30 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of Below the Moon / giveaway
July 30 – Cheryl’s Book Nook – book review of Below the Moon / giveaway
July 31 – She Just Loves Books – book review of Inside the Sun / giveaway
Aug 3 – StoreyBook Reviews – series spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Aug 3 – Leels Loves Books – book review of Inside the Sun / giveaway
Aug 4 – Confessions of the Perfect Mom – book review of Inside the Sun / giveaway
Aug 4 – Cheryl’s Book Nook – book review of Inside the Sun / guest post / giveaway
Aug 5 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of Inside the Sun / giveaway
Aug 5 – Adventurous Bookworm – book review of Inside the Sun / giveaway
Aug 6 – Olio by Marilyn – book review of Inside the Sun / giveaway
Aug 6 – Olio by Marilyn – series spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Aug 7 – Falling Into A Good Book – book review of Inside the Sun / giveaway
Aug 7 – Jazzy Book Reviews – series spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Aug 10 – Books for Books – series spotlight
Aug 10 –Book Bustle – book review of Inside the Sun / giveaway

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You can see my Giveaways HERE.
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Lost in a Fantasy – Blood and Ashes by Katie Zaber @Zaberbooks

Posted on July 1, 2020 by fundinmental

I shared Ashes and Blood by Katie Zaber for a tour, but I didn’t read and review it until the author asked me if I would like a copy. Of course, I said yes and I am so glad I did.

I have a thing for trees and love the cover. How about you?

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I was first drawn to Ashes and Blood by Katie Zaber when I saw the cover. I love trees, whether real or fantasy.

What would you do if you are ambling along a familiar trail, and all of a sudden, you find a tree that was never there before? I think I would run, but before they can decide to do the same, things begin to change with every step they take and they are whisked away, into another world.

Sarah, Dana, Ciara and Megan are in for the time of their lives and I am along for the ride. Katie Zaber did a fantastic job creating a world filled with wonder and magic. I quickly became immersed in her world, created in vivid detail with characters I immediately became involved with.

Of course, we have to have one who is in the spotlight and that will be Megan, though all peripheral characters have very important parts to play to make this book a whole. Each has their own personalities and talents that will come in handy. They are tight and their ‘family’ grows as the adventure moves along.

Action and adventure abound and they find their destiny in a place they never could have imagined. Of course, we have to have a bad guy, and he hits very close to home, but there is someone involved who never shows their face. Are they there to save her, or want her for themselves. AND why do they want her? I am curious about who this ‘person’ is and maybe I will find out in the next book, which I hope Katie is rapidly writing.

As I searched around, Ashes and Blood is the only book I have seen by Katie Zaber. If this is her debut novel, she did a bang up job and I can only imagine what is to come. I plan on being along for the ride.

If you are looking for a story to get lost in and escape the real world for a while, I highly recommend Ashes and Blood by Katie Zaber.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Ashes and Blood by Katie Zaber.

GOODREADS BLURB

“I’ll start at the beginning. Long ago, before roads, before we built structures, before medicine was discovered, before the government was created, before man gained any knowledge, there were The Five. Independent from each other, The Five had a mutual respect for one another. They knew their roles in the world and their duty. They were gods…”

An adventure begins when an otherworldly tree captures the attention of Megan and her friends. The environment morphs around them, transferring them to an exotic planet. Stuck in a rural town still maimed by the plague, a chance encounter with a familiar face gives Megan and her friends some security during their adjustment period.

While settling into new, promising lives, they are attacked and stalked by planet Dalya’s humanoid inhabitants, who focus on Megan. One dark night, after an epic, magical attack, the Fae King’s knight is sent to fetch Megan. When she wakes up a prisoner, she learns that there is much more to this strange world, and it is oddly more like her own than she ever would have expected.

ABOUT KATIE ZABER

Katie Zaber is originally from Southern New Jersey. Her childhood home is just minutes from the Long Beach Island Bridge. When not writing, Katie can be found at wine tastings, sun bathing at the beach, going for hikes, screaming at Six Flags, reading, or in her favorite place, her kitchen, baking desserts and breads. She currently lives in Morris County, New Jersey with her boyfriend.

Website

You can see my Giveaways HERE.
You can see my Reviews HERE.
If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Giveaway – Taste My Wrath by Debbie Cassidy @authordcassidy @XpressoTours

Posted on June 20, 2020 by fundinmental

Taste My Wrath
Debbie Cassidy
(The Iron Fae #1)
Publication date: June 18th 2020
Genres: Adult, Urban Fantasy

A dead earth, a handful of survivors, and a game that could wipe out humanity.

I was one of the few humans to be saved by the shining ones. Powerful beings who came from the stars just in time to stop the annihilation of mankind.

But they’ve been here before.

Earth was once their home and humanity has another name for them. Fae.

Now we live in iron cities paying for haven as workers and conscripted warriors.

We owe them after all.

Until they ask too much.

The Regency Tournament is about to begin. A test of prowess for the shining ones to determine which House will rule their people for the next century.

And we humans? We’re the prey.

But I didn’t survive earths almost destruction to be hunted like a beast.

If I’m going to go down, then I’ll be taking these pointy eared wankers with me.

And I have an advantage. A shadow companion—protective but tough. My mentor has trained me in the art of survival. With his smooth dulcet tones in my head, and his shadowy form at my back, I’ll no longer be prey.

And when I hunt the shining ones, they won’t even see me coming.

An Urban Fantasy Romance adventure. Experience the magic of the Fae set against a Post-Apocalyptic back drop in a dystopian world.

Goodreads / Amazon

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Author Bio:

Debbie Cassidy lives in England, Bedfordshire, with her three kids and very supportive husband. Coffee and chocolate biscuits are her writing fuels of choice, and she is still working on getting that perfect tower of solitude built in her back garden. Obsessed with building new worlds and reading about them, she spends her spare time daydreaming and conversing with the characters in her head – in a totally non psychotic way of course. She writes Urban Fantasy, Fantasy and Reverse Harem Fantasy. All her books contain plenty of action, romance and twisty plots.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

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