Taking it One Book at a Time: Blog Tour

Showing posts with label Blog Tour. Show all posts

Monday, April 29, 2019

{Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway} Birth - By Donna Russo Morin

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BIRTH - By Donna Russo Morin
(Once, Upon a New Time, #1)
Publication date: February 15th 2019
Genres: Adult, Fantasy

New worlds don’t appear. They are born from the labor of those who envision them.

Count Witon has grown weary of the constant war between the races. Together with his wife Belamay, and Persky – first of a rare Human / Elf breed – Witon plans to create a new society: a utopia for anyone who longs for peaceful coexistence.

They recruit pilgrims from every city and species; most to success, some to failure. Together, they set off to a small, yet promising island, found by chance in the middle of the churning ocean.

But the journey there is fraught with challenges, and none of them is as dire as the one they face once they reach their destination. Will they have the strength and determination to give Birth to this New Time?

Once, Upon A New Time is a medieval fantasy with a double-edged sword: one of blood, the other of lust.

Goodreads / Amazon

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Review

I LOVED THIS!

If anyone who truly knows me, knows how much I love anything that is blends races together, whether that be human, elf, fae, shifter, etc, there is just such an element of unknown that feeds into their story line & creates such depth in a character. So when I read the synopsis for Birth it was Persky who grabbed my attention and had me convinced this was going to be an amazing read!

Immediately from the gate I was drawn in, this world, these creators are so intriguing, they are ever trying to change & create a "perfect" place....but who's idea of perfect? Their journey throughout the majority of the book is what makes it so different, because when you read anything that has different specifies, or races, there are always stereo types that will immediately come to mind from previous novels we've read. Breaking these are often hard, but Donna was able to ease this bridge and beautifully intertwine their lives, love interests and common goals.

Though the 2nd book in the series doesn't have a release date yet, I know that the author has amazing things in story. If she's able to keep up this amazing world dynamic and character development then I'm prepared to have my mind blown for the rest of the series!

5/5

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About the Author

Donna Russo Morin is an award-winning historical fiction author. Donna has dabbled as a model and actor, working on Showtime's Brotherhood and Martin Scorsese's The Departed. Branching out with her storytelling skills, Donna is now a screenwriter. A graduate of the University of Rhode Island, Donna lives on the south shore of Rhode Island close to the ocean she loves so very much. She is the proud mother of two sons, Devon and Dylan, her greatest works in progress.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

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GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, April 25, 2019

{Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway} The Masks of Under Series - By Kathryn Ann Kingsley

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KING OF FLAMES - By Kathryn Ann Kingsley
(The Mask Under #1)

Release Date: March 5, 2019

Publisher: Limitless Publishing, LLC

Everything about my life has been pretty normal working as a forensic autopsy technician. Until the day I woke up with a mysterious symbol tattooed on my arm.

Suddenly normal no longer existed. The barrier between Earth and a world called Under, dissolved...

Now I’m trapped with dozens of other people. Held prisoner by the creators of myths and legends, where the realm is ruled by two masked kings who want to turn us into creatures like them.

But even though I didn’t choose to be here, this new world manages to pull me deeper, affecting me differently than other humans. Unfortunately King Edu, also known as the King of Flames, notices this and I’m now considered a threat.

If I want to survive King Edu and the dangers of Under, I need to escape. The only problem is, there’s another masked king who seems to have an interest in me. Aon, the King of Shadows, wants me here in this world, and he wants me alive.

I just need to figure out why.

READ FOR FREE ON KU!

Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, TBD

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KING OF SHADOWS - By Kathryn Ann Kingsley

(The Masks of Under #2)

Pub. Date: March 26, 2019

Publisher: Limitless Publishing

Some call him a madman. Others call him a warlock. Both are true.

But if it wasn’t for Aon, I’d be dead. I was mere seconds away from dying by Edu’s hands when the King of Shadows appeared in a flash of lightning, saving me from Edu’s murderous plans.

Now I’m under his protection, living in his home. The more time I’m forced to spend with him, the more I start to piece together the puzzle of why Aon and Edu are at war.

Despite how everyone else seems to hate Aon, there’s something that pulls me towards him—like gravity, refusing to let go. My heart is telling me to believe what he says is true, yet there’s this prickle of warning in the back of my skull cautioning me against falling for the King of Shadows.

In the world of Under trusting the wrong person can get you killed. Only the strong survive out here, and that’s what I intend to do.

Survive.

READ FOR FREE ON KU!

Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, TBD

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Review

Was it just me or does this series throw off some serious BDB vibes, with a little bit of Anita Blake? I know some of you must the screaming at me right now, 'There are no vampires, how can that be?!'....sometimes it's about characters, chemistry and badass-ness!

The chemistry that there was between Lydia and Aon was underling in Kind of Flames, it was like the a slow burning fire that I was just waiting for someone to throw some gas onto! Well, guess what, someone did that in book #2! BOOM!

One thing that I enjoyed was how much Lydia evolved, from the beginning of the 1st book to the end of the second, she didn't just learn to survive, she found a purpose. Lydia did struggle with a few different issues through these books, and I was worried for a minute she might now grow, but with her new sense of purpose and now knowing who she can trust pushed her along, things are going to get so good in her future!

The series is going to be a total of 6 books, and that poses a problem, since there are only 2 currently out....why do I have to wait soooooo long for the things I want?! Ugh, life!

4/5

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About the Author

Kat has always been a storyteller.

With ten years in script-writing for performances on both the stage and for tourism, she has always been writing in one form or another. When she isn’t penning down fiction, she works as Creative Director for a company that designs and builds large-scale interactive adventure games. There, she is the lead concept designer, handling everything from game and set design, to audio and lighting, to illustration and script writing. Also on her list of skills are artistic direction, scenic painting and props, special effects, and electronics. A graduate of Boston University with a BFA in Theatre Design, she has a passion for unique, creative, and unconventional experiences. In her spare time, she builds animatronics and takes trapeze classes.

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Tour Stops

Week One:

4/15/2019- BookHounds- Excerpt

4/15/2019- Dorky Girl and Skeletor- Spotlight

4/16/2019- Lone Tree Reviews- Excerpt

4/16/2019- Jaime's World- Excerpt

4/17/2019- Bri's Book Nook- Review

4/17/2019- ❧Defining Ways❧- Excerpt

4/18/2019- Down the rabbit hole- Review

4/18/2019- Writing on the Sunny Side of the Street- Excerpt

4/19/2019- Lisa Loves Literature- Spotlight

4/19/2019- A Dream Within A Dream- Excerpt

Week Two:

4/22/2019- Two Chicks on Books- Interview

4/22/2019- Parajunkee- Excerpt

4/23/2019- Books a Plenty Book Reviews- Review

4/23/2019- Owl Always Be Reading- Excerpt

4/24/2019- Smada's Book Smack- Review

4/24/2019- Reese's Reviews- Review

4/25/2019- A Gingerly Review- Review

4/25/2019- Taking It One Book at a time- Review

4/26/2019- TheSecret Reader- Review

4/26/2019- Book Briefs- Review

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Giveaway

3 winners will receive ebooks of KING OF FLAMES & KING OF SHADOWS, International.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, April 22, 2019

{Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway} Beyond the Wild Wood - By E.M. Fitch

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Beyond the Wild Wood - By E.M. Fitch

(Of the Trees 3)

Publication Date: April 15, 2019

Publisher: Month9Books

The faery queen has forbidden Aidan from stalking his prey, but Cassie should have known that nothing would keep him from what he wants: to steal her away forever into the realm of the Fae.

Cassie struggles to pick up what’s left of her life, keeping true to her promise to watch over her best friend’s son. But despite the faery queen’s promise of safety, the shadow of Aidan is ever present in her mind, haunting her dreams and turning forest shadows into nightmares. The rest of her friends are getting ready for college, but not her. The Fae haven’t left yet. Cassie knows because Laney lingers still, drawn to the son she gave up, the foliage at his window sill bright green and flourishing at her touch.

Laney’s son is safe in the arms of his adoptive parents, and the babe has Cassie to watch over him from afar. That should have been enough for the new faery, but it wasn’t. She couldn’t let her son go. Laney watches him from afar, motionless, ageless, addicted to his tiny movements and contented sighs. The thought of leaving him is unbearable, even if she knows leaving is the only way to keep her best friend safe from Aidan’s grasp.

When the faery queen’s threat of departure becomes all too real, Aidan takes matters into his own hands, throwing the Fae into a battle that risks their very existence. His action impels Laney to choose which side she really belongs on—human or faery—and forces Cassie to decide just who she can trust, at last, with the truth.

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Review

Jumping into Beyond the Wild Wood I had not been able to read the first 2 books in the series. Though there were a couple of storylines that were unclear in the beginning, I was able to catch up and follow the story the entire time. This is something that I absolutely admire in an author, when they can give their readers a glimpse into the previous novels without running on and on about them.

Starting Beyond the Wild Wood, the tone was set for something huge! There is a showdown coming and it has been leading up to this point for a very long time. As I'm introduced to Cassie for the first time there is a sense of loss, vengeance, and determination. There is something so fierce in her that emanates from her soul, and that's probably the things I loved the most about her. Cassie seems to have grown up a lot from the beginning of her journey in this series, and you can just see it by her thought process, decision making and her intuition.

My absolutely favorite part of this entire book was the ending! It was explosive, unexpected and completely AWESEOME! I cannot wait to grab the next book in this series, I feel like it could go anywhere, which is extremely exciting.

5/5

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About the Author

E. M. Fitch is an author who loves scary stories, chocolate, and tall trees. Her latest novel, OF THE TREES, is a Young Adult horror/fantasy inspired by haunted cemeteries and the darker musings of W.B. Yeats. Its sequel, AT WOODS EDGE, will be released in the coming year from Month9Books. She is the author of the Young Adult zombie trilogy: THE BREAK FREE SERIES. Her story, BETWEEN SHADOWS, was recently featured in the Fragments of Darkness anthology; and her new collection of short stories entitled THE VEIL: GHOSTS, GOBLINS, GHOULS is coming soon! She has been published in Pulp Metal Magazine, Under the Bed Magazine, and her short stories RELEASE and THE CREEP were featured respectively in CHBB’s Lurking in the Shadows and Lurking in the Mind anthologies. When not dreaming up new ways to torture characters, she is usually corralling her four children, or thinking of ways to tire them out so she can get an hour of peace at night.

Website • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads

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Giveaway

One (1) winner will receive a Starbucks Gift Card

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, April 16, 2019

{Blog Tour: Review + Playlist + Dream Cast + GIVEAWAY} Smoke and Key - By Kelsey Sutton

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Smoke and Key - By Kelsey Sutton
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Release Date: April 2nd 2019

Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Fantasy, Mystery, Historical, Fiction, Paranormal, Magic, Horror

A sound awakens her. There's darkness all around. And then she's falling...

She has no idea who or where she is. Or why she's dead. The only clue to her identity hangs around her neck: a single rusted key. This is how she and the others receive their names—from whatever belongings they had when they fell out of their graves. Under is a place of dirt and secrets, and Key is determined to discover the truth of her past in order to escape it.

She needs help, but who can she trust? Ribbon seems content in Under, uninterested in finding answers. Doll’s silence hints at deep sorrow, which could be why she doesn't utter a word. There's Smoke, the boy with a fierceness that rivals even the living. And Journal, who stays apart from everyone else. Key's instincts tell her there is something remarkable about each of them, even if she can't remember why.

Then the murders start; bodies that are burnt to a crisp. After being burned, the dead stay dead. Key is running out of time to discover who she was—and what secret someone is willing to kill to keep hidden—before she becomes the next victim…

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Review

Everything.....

This book is everything....

When you fall into Under you don't know where you are, who you are, and are simply given a name based on what you bring with you. A ribbon, doll, or a Key...

Too many questions, that is a constant for Key, she wants answers to her questions, but she can never seem to remember completely. She can always feel that she is getting close, but it's almost as if something is pushing her away from it. The reason for this ties itself so well into the end of the novel it'll have you like....

Throughout the entire book I appreciated the journey that Key went on, there were a couple of times I wanted more, but then it was like the author heard me and suddenly that growth, or plot twist was there like, BAM! The author did an amazing job of finding the find line between morbid and the after, which is extremely hard to do. Death is already emotional, but giving those who are in this state of limbo purpose, emotion and a reason to "live", was such a breath of fresh air.

As this novel came to an end, I totally thought (and hoped) there would be an entire series centered around these characters, sadly it is a stand along...for now...

Though I don't want to give too much away, because I feel as though spoilers could happen with every page, I will say that there are a million plus reasons to pick this novel up and here are a few; Journal, Smoke, Ribbon, Key...

4/5

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Playlist

Moonlight Sonata - Beethoven

Can't Help Falling in Love (Elvis) - Piano Guys

End of Me - Apocalyptica ft. Gavin Rosdale

Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin

Within You - David Bowie

I Won't Give Up - Jason Mraz

Highway to Hell - AC/DC

Human - Christina Perri

A Thousand Years - Christina Perri

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Dream Cast

Key

Smoke

Ribbon

Journal

(yes, Clint Eastwood, he just FITS)

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About the Author

Kelsey Sutton is a young adult and middle grade author. She lives in Minnesota, where she received a dual bachelor's degree in English and Creative Writing from Bemidji State University. She will soon have a master's degree from Hamline University. Her work has received an Independent Publisher Book Award, an IndieFab Award, and was selected as a Kirkus Reviews Best Teen Book of 2013. When not writing, Kelsey can be found watching too much Netflix, ordering a mocha at the nearest coffee shop, napping with her rescue dogs, or browsing a bookstore.

You can visit her online at www.kelseysuttonbooks.com, like her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter or Instagram.

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Tour Schedule

April 10th

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