Friday, July 26, 2013

Blog Tour: Review - IXEOS: Rebellion by Jennings Wright

With rebel leader Darian free at last, the humans and outsiders on Ixeos must find a way to join forces and defeat the Firsts. The problem? All slaves are tracked with GPS, the Firsts are the only ones with power, and roving gangs hate the rebels just as much as they hate the aliens. As Darian and the outsiders from Earth travel the globe through the mysterious tunnels in Paris, they learn that the Firsts are preparing to launch another wave of biological warfare. With a transporter that will allow the aliens to target any city, anywhere on the planet, the rebels know they must stop them at all costs. As things get more dangerous on Ixeos, the outsiders find that they're pushed to their limit. Will they fight for freedom, no matter the price?
I was really excited to read IXEOS: Rebellion by Jennings Wright which is the second book in the IXEOS Trilogy. I'd loved the first one. I was being introduced to a brand new world that was actually parallel to our own with one hitch. Firsts. Those were the group of aliens that had claimed Ixeos as their own and were using humans as slaves. The ones they'd captured anyway. The rest were either part of the resistance/rebellion, in gangs, or just trying to stay as far under the radar as possible. The goal of the resistance in book one was to free their leader, Darian. All of the action came to a head at the end of the book and just exploded and was an awesome read.

It was a little different starting this one. It was quiet and somber and a bit slow at the beginning. Which I suppose was appropriate given the last book. You need a chance to kind of gather your wits about you and take a few breaths before diving back in to the action. The imagery portrayed in the very first paragraph of this book just kind of grabbed me by the arm and said "You WILL read me. Now." It was amazing and sucked me right in. I love that in a story.

I liked coming back to Neahle and Clay and Marty. It's been a while since they'd followed those darn ducks through that tunnel and in to the underground of Ixeos. They've integrated pretty well and seem to be set in their own respective tasks now that the big raid is over. Only now, there's a whole new set of problems. The Firsts are "raising" children for some unknown purpose and seem to have started using bio-chemical agents on the streets of the cities and are taking out ANY living human within the limits.

For a while I found myself wondering when it was going to pick up. I didn't mind the pace of the story, but throw a lot of information at me and I start kind of tuning out. It picked up REAL quick when I least expected it. Which is good in a sense, but bad for the characters in the book. The resistance took some real hits and it was so sad to have to keep reading once I thought I'd figured out what was going to happen.

I loved the reference to A Bug's Life. It's pretty true after all. But scary when you think about the fact that, like Darian and so many other people say, it's going to get worse before it gets better. In the words of Urgl from the movie Neverending Story, "It has to hurt if it's to heal." And the rebellion is hurting. But, on the other hand, they are also taking great strides in moving forward and attempting to take back the planet and defeat the firsts.

There are a lot of new characters introduced in this installment. New arrivals to Ixeos and new outsiders. I like getting to see a little glimpse of all the people that make the machine that is the rebellion work. And they do. They all work together pretty cohesively. No one seems to try and take leadership from anyone else and everyone operates as a unit. Each person knows what they're good at and they do it.

I think Rod ended up being one of my favorite characters in this one. Surprisingly enough given what I knew about him from the last one. He really threw himself in to redeeming himself with the rebellion and with Hannah. And I really liked that I got to see more of Marty this time. He played a HUGE part in this particular novel.

The story is a pretty twisty roller coaster. Like I said it started out slow but picked up quickly. There were some definite high points for our characters. Points where hope seemed to be restored and everyone was ready and raring to go. Those points, however, were followed by the crashing lows that made them wonder if anything was going to work at all. Because, let's face it, if you let characters in a story like this stay happy for too long it would just kill the book wouldn't it? Haha.

I'd recommend this for anyone who read the first book in the series. For anyone who likes dystopian novels and sci - fi. If you HAVEN'T read book one yet, I highly suggest you do, or you'll be kind of lost. But it was a great read. Kudos again to our author, Jennings Wright, for a wonderful and suspenseful tale.

About the Author:

Born and raised in Rockledge, Florida, Jennings spent her early years reading anything she could get her hands on, when she wasn't spending time in and on the water. She won a prize in the 6th grade for her science fiction stories.

Jennings attended the University of the South and the University of Tampa, graduating with a B.A. in Political Science, and almost enough credits for B.A.s in both English and History. She spent time over the years doing various kinds of script doctoring, business writing, editing, and teaching writing, but mostly having and raising her family, homeschooling her children, owning and running a business with her husband, and starting a non-profit to Uganda.

Thanks to a crazy idea called NaNoWriMo Jennings got back into creative writing in 2011 and hasn't stopped since. She's written four novels and a screenplay in less than a year, with more ideas on the drawing board. She currently lives in North Carolina with her husband, also a writer, and two children, and travels extensively.

Monday, July 22, 2013

Blog Tour: Review - Along the Watchtower by David Litwack


A Tragic Warrior Lost in Two Worlds… The war in Iraq ended for Lieutenant Freddie Williams when an IED explosion left his mind and body shattered. Once he was a skilled gamer and expert in virtual warfare. Now he’s a broken warrior, emerging from a medically induced coma to discover he’s inhabiting two separate realities. The first is his waking world of pain, family trials, and remorse—and slow rehabilitation through the tender care of Becky, his physical therapist. The second is a dark fantasy realm of quests, demons, and magic that Freddie enters when he sleeps. In his dreams he is Frederick, Prince of Stormwind, who must make sense of his horrific visions in order to save his embattled kingdom from the monstrous Horde. His only solace awaits him in the royal gardens, where the gentle words of the beautiful gardener, Rebecca, calm the storms in his soul. While in the conscious world, the severely wounded vet faces a strangely similar and equally perilous mission—a journey along a dark road haunted by demons of guilt and memory—and letting patient, loving Becky into his damaged and shuttered heart may be his only way back from Hell.
I found this book to be particularly interesting because I am a fan of World of Warcraft. My fiance is a HUGE fan of WoW. When the opportunity to review Along the Watchtower by David Litwack came up I was excited. Here was something I knew. The fantasy aspect of it at least. I can't even imagine, however, what it's like to be a war veteran, let alone a wounded one in a hospital trying to recover from a traumatic injury.

Freddie has lost everything that means anything to him. First his family, then his squad, finally the use of his leg. What else could possibly be taken from him? Trying to escape from the literal pain and the horrifying realities of being awake, Freddie retreats in to a familiar dream world when he manages to fall asleep. When he dreams, he is Frederick, the Dauphin of Stormwind and future king. As part of the Alliance, he must over come the trials that come with the position he has inherited from his father who has recently passed on and save the kingdom from the Horde. When he wakes up, he's Freddie. Trying not to remember the day that put him in that hospital, or the times that led to the loss of his father, mother, brother Joey, and the disappearance of his brother Richie. He is a broken man. Completely broken... in more ways than one. But with the help of Ralph, Dinah, and most of all Becky, he starts to put the pieces back together again. Both when he's asleep and awake.

It's not easy to write two stories in one. Stories that seem to be so completely different but end up being incredibly similar after all. It's not easy to read about the kind of pain that Freddie was in at the beginning. And it was not easy to watch the pain he went through trying to rehabilitate. It was also nervewracking to watch Frederick trying to find a way to save the kingdom from certain doom at the hands of the evil Horde (insert sarcasm here a bit, because not all of the Horde is evil, i.e. Taurens).

Freddie was determined though. As was Frederick. Although Frederick seemed a little bit more quick to doubt himself. While Freddie was resigned to the fact that he HAD to put the work in. It's weird to talk about them like they are separate characters when, in essence, they are the same person, just different parts of him. But I did like how almost every chapter (if not EVERY chapter) skipped back and forth between perspectives. That way you got the full story behind each "characters" struggles to achieve their respective goals.

There were a few things left unanswered for me at the end. Or perhaps I just missed how it all got tied up. But other than that I would recommend this story to anyone. Especially WoW fans or people who find themselves in similar situations as Freddie. One way or another. Go check it out!

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Cover Reveal - Creatura by Nely Cab

Cover by PhatPuppy Art
New version features brand new content!
Isis can control her dreams. Or she could-until recently. The creature in her nightmares has been haunting her for months. As if being dumped wasn’t bad enough, now she dreads going to sleep. She decides to confront the creature and win back some of her peace; only, she finds that he’s not a monster and he’s not a dream. 

A sacrifice for love, a shocking discovery and a jealous ex-boyfriend blur the lines between reality and dreams, making it hard to tell who the real monsters are. 

Who would’ve known…that sometimes love is lethal?


Nely Cab was born on December 9, 1974, in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. She has lived and resided in South Texas most of her life. In 2001, the author relocated to Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, where she dedicated time to the study of culinary arts and the art of oil painting. After her return to the U.S., she resumed her employment in banking and in the following year transitioned to the field of Social Work. Later, Nely took up writing as a hobby and produced her first novel entitled "Creatura". The rights to "Creatura" were sold to a leading Young Adult publisher in a foreign country, where it is scheduled to appear within the next year.
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Monday, July 15, 2013

Book Blitz - The Burning Z by Clive Riddle

BB Book Tours


The Burning Z by Clive Riddle Expected publication: May 20, 2013 Zombies go to Burning Man. A mysterious meteor slams into the Black Rock desert and soon a growing number of zombies are on the loose. Bruce and Conner - hometown friends who experience sudden success early in their careers, followed by a long downward trajectory – encounter the z’s and embark on a quest across the desert to save Conner’s recently rekindled high school love who is attending Burning Man. Alan Gorman – the steadfast, retired Air Force physician with expert marksmanship and a prosthetic lower limb - endures his own odyssey trying to alert the authorities to the escalating zombie menace. It all leads to a climatic, costumed battle of the Alamo, inside Burning Man’s Black Rock City.


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Author Info:

Clive Riddle is a life-long Californian, married and father of three, living in Modesto, California. At age 26 Riddle became CEO of a regional HMO. After a decade, he went on to found MCOL (www.mcol.com), a leading health care business information company. Riddle has authored a variety of health care reference books and business articles. He is a noted speaker at national events regarding key health care business issues. Dorris Bridge is his first novel, The Burning Z is his second. Find out more about Clive at www.CliveRiddle.com
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Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Book Blast & Giveaway: IXEOS Rebellion by Jennings Wright

ixeos reb  
Ixeos Rebellion With rebel leader Darian free at last, the humans and outsiders on Ixeos must find a way to join forces and defeat the Firsts. The problem? All slaves are tracked with GPS, the Firsts are the only ones with power, and roving gangs hate the rebels just as much as they hate the aliens. As Darian and the outsiders from Earth travel the globe through the mysterious tunnels in Paris, they learn that the Firsts are preparing to launch another wave of biological warfare. With a transporter that will allow the aliens to target any city, anywhere on the planet, the rebels know they must stop them at all costs. As things get more dangerous on Ixeos, the outsiders find that they're pushed to their limit. Will they fight for freedom, no matter the price? 

Ixeos The McClellands are enjoying a lazy summer vacation at the beach when they are lured from our world into Ixeos, an alternate Earth. Finding themselves lost in a maze of tunnels under Paris and surrounded by strangers, they discover that they have been brought to Ixeos for one purpose: to take the planet back from humanoid aliens who have claimed it. With the aid of the tunnels and a mysterious man named Landon, the teens travel the world seeking the key that will allow them to free Darian, the long-imprisoned rebel leader. But the aliens aren't the only problem on Ixeos -- the McClellands have to deal with brutal gangs, desperate junkies, and a world without power, where all the technology is owned by the aliens, and where most of the population has been killed or enslaved. The worst part? There's no way home.

 
Author Jennings Wright Born and raised in Florida, Jennings spent her early years reading anything she could get her hands on, when she wasn't spending time in and on the water. She won a prize in the 6th grade for her science fiction stories. Jennings attended the University of Tampa, graduating with a B.A. in Political Science, and almost enough credits for B.A.s in both English and History. She attended graduate school at the University of West Florida, studying Psychology. She spent time over the years doing various kinds of business writing, editing, and teaching writing, but mostly having and raising her family, homeschooling her children, owning and running a business with her husband, and starting a non-profit. Thanks to a crazy idea called NaNoWriMo Jennings got back into creative writing in 2011 and hasn't stopped since. She currently lives in North Carolina with her husband, also a business owner and writer, and two children, and travels extensively with her family, and her non-profit in Uganda.
iXEOS R copy

   
  Book Blast Giveaway $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 7/28/13 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, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.    a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Blog Tour: Guest Post Blind Sight by Ermisenda Alvarez

Ermisenda Alvarez on Dreams, Imagination, and Perspectives

Blind Sight Through the Eyes of Leocardo Reyes by Ermisenda Alvarez


I had a dream; I wanted to write novels. I have been writing since I joined a Harry Potter guild on Neopets at twelve years old. You could write short pieces to receive points. Writing didn't stop there. 

I had a vivid imagination; I wanted to know more. Often, after finishing a book I pondered about how the story could have been retold from a different perspective, maybe a different character. What if we were able to read the story of Snape over the course of seven novels rather than Harry Potter? 

I had chance on my side; I met Eliabeth and we were two young women crazy about writing. So, what did we do? We wrote. How did we write? The nature of our friendship began on a role-playing site whereby we wrote from different characters to create scenes and stories. 

We had a dream, vivid imagination and each other. What more did we need? Not much else as we embarked on an amazing journey and wrote Blind Sight despite living half the globe away. 

Writing a novel was a dream I have had for a long time but I was so excited to write a two-sided novel that followed two different perspectives. It was an ambitious choice for us to make but one of the best. We have not only challenged ourselves but have provided readers with a new way of reading. For those who only wish to read one side, that is okay, but for those of us who are interested in the power of different perspectives and multiple stories we have another side to offer. 

The power of multiple stories cannot be emphasized enough in our daily lives. How many times have we heard one story about an acquaintance but once we have met them, we receive a second story, in which might completely contradict the first. Is either one wrong? Maybe not. But your understanding of the person, or novel in the case, is enriched. 

Growing up in a Spanish family and living in Australia has taught me a lot about language in my, so far, short life. My very first language was Spanish, but when school started English became my "mother" tongue. A simple saying can dramatically change through translation, those of you who know more than one language will understand this perfectly. I have had to translate pieces of Spanish into English for friends and even though the words I have translated make sense in English, only I can grasp the full meaning and implications of the phrase. 

Staying open minded, listening to varied opinions and soaking up what we can from the zillions of stories out there in the world is part of life. Eliabeth and I have channeled the essence of that concept into our first two-sided novel. We live on an earth with billions of people. 

We all think differently, we see the world differently and together, we are the characters of humanity. I am inspired by dreams, imagination and people. The story of Leocardo, Aniela, and Odette in Blind Sight can be enjoyed through one color, one perspective but, why limit yourself? There is not only another color to live through but together, a new range of shades to enjoy. 

Ermisenda Alvarez

This post is part of the Blind Sight Blog Tour. Blind Sight is an urban fantasy novel written in two volumes, each telling the story through a different character's perspective.

  preview on Barnes and Noble preview on Amazon

Blog Tour: Guest Post Blind Sight by Eliabeth Hawthorne




The Inspiration for Blind Sight? Literature and Bad Table Manners

There are two sides to every story. 

That's the major premise behind how Blind Sight is written. Anyone who has ever listened to grandparents talk to each other without their hearing aids knows how funny those conversations can be. What one of them says is not always what the other one hears. Or trying to understand someone when their mouth is full, I wanted to capture the misunderstandings that occur when the perspective is limited to a single point of view, but I couldn't do it alone.

I was first inspired by Tom Stoppard who turned Shakespeare's tragedy, Hamlet into the comedy Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. Tom Stoppard's play follows the plot of Hamlet through the point of view of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, giving them their own voice and own plot so that even though it is the same plot, it is a very different story. It was exactly what I expected out of Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

I made a few futile attempts to write the same story from different perspectives and eventually let the idea drop. I couldn't get the two sides different enough to where it felt like two different voices, but then I met Ermisenda on an RP site of all places. She was a brilliant writer, but more than that, she made me a better writer. We played off each other in a way that I just can't explain unless you've ever found that other RPer with whom you just click. 

 It was a true partnership, making Blind Sight a superior novel to anything we could have put together individually. It wasn't working from an already written manuscript and trying to put a new spin on it, we worked together every step of the way, literally RPing scenes over MSN and Skype since we live half a world apart. 

Eliabeth Hawthorne



This post is part of the Blind Sight Blog Tour. Blind Sight is an urban fantasy novel written in two volumes, each telling the story through a different character's perspective.

 preview on Barnes and Noble preview on Amazon

Friday, July 5, 2013

Follow Friday #50


Thanks to Parajunkee and Alison Can Read for hosing Feature and Follow Friday as always!

This weeks question is an interesting one...

Q: Today’s is the US’ Independence Day. Share your favorite book with a war in it, or an overthrow of the government.


A: First, I know Independence Day was yesterday, but I didn't get around to this yesterday. :-P Second, I don't think I've read many books with war or overthrown government in them.There was War Horse by Michael Morpurgo, but I felt so bad for that horse the entire time I wanted to throw my book out the window every time something happened to that poor animal. Then there's The Hunger Games, which I love, but I don't know if it's my favorite.

I don't know if this is considered either one of those novels, but I would have to go with Graceling by Kristin Cashore. Or maybe that whole series, because I love them. Katsa is usurping the rule of her uncle, King Randa by working with her friends to save people rather than kill them, which is what he thinks she was more or less born to do. Not to mention she has to save Bitterblue from King Leck and then find some way to defeat him.

What's your favorite "war" book? 

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Book Blast & Giveaway: Siding With Plato by Michelle Manning



Brooke Aarons can't get to college fast enough. Leaving behind her small town life, she intends to transform herself into a brilliant psychologist with no distractions along the way. But when she finds herself on a double date with the school's star football player - and worse, enjoying it - Brooke has to wonder if she's the one who needs her head examined. James Cartwright's easy life, endless bucks, and long line of willing girls should make him a non-starter for Brooke, but as she learns, the psychology behind a bad crush is a whole lot messier of a subject. Maybe Plato was right. Maybe love is a serious mental disease. If so, Brooke doesn't have long to find a cure before James' attention proves to be a terminal condition.
Buy the Book
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About the Author
Michelle Manning was born and raised in Valencia, CA, attended Arizona State University, and graduated with a degree in journalism. After bouncing between New York and Los Angeles working in the entertainment industry, Michelle is releasing her debut novel,Siding With Plato.
Visit her website at www.michellemanningwrites.com.
Connect with Michelle
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