Well, I think Sci-Fi Summer was a true success, and so we will be back again next year! I will now have six official read-a-thons each year...A Winter's Respite, Spring into Horror, SciFi Summer, High Summer, FrightFall, and Christmas Spirit! Exciting!
I hope everyone enjoyed this inaugural event and met your goals, and if not that, at least had loads of fun. I'd like to thank you all so much for joining me. Be sure to add your wrap-up link below and please double check that your name is listed in the sign up/starting line linky at this post so you will be eligible for the giveaway. You will also need to fill out the form on the midweek check-in page if you would like to enter (if you haven't already). You have until Friday, June 10 at 11:59pm CST to add your wrap-up link and to fill out the form. I will email the winner within a few days following the deadline so keep a look out in your email inbox (or spam folder, just in case) for an email from truebookaddict AT gmail DOT com.
Hope to see you next time at the High Summer Read-a-Thon, coming in July (18 - 24). Sign up coming soon!
Good luck in the giveaway to all...and thanks again for joining me!
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Is it midweek check-in time already? Wow! This week has been so weird. I apologize for not stopping by and visiting everyone yet (although I have interacted a bit in our Facebook group). I am slowly making my way through the linky as of tonight (or this morning, since it's after midnight now).
I have not had a chance to read my book choice, Contact by Carl Sagan, but hoping to catch up this weekend. Be sure to leave an update in the comments, or a link to your blog update, or stop by the group, (or Twitter) and update us.
GIVEAWAY!!! I'm giving away your choice of 3 books for $10 from the Bargain Bin at BETTERWORLDBOOKS.COM to one winner. (Please keep in mind these are used books...generally.) They have a great selection and it's one of my favorite places to shop for books because 1) great prices 2) free shipping, even internationally, and 3) because this...."We've re-used or recycled over 216 million pounds of books and raised over $18 million for global literacy and local libraries. Every book you buy or donate expands our collective impact." Win-Win! (This giveaway is open internationally) Fill out the form below if you'd like a chance at the giveaway.
This is the prize promotion page for all the prizes being given away for the read-a-thon. We have several amazing book prizes donated from some very generous authors...and me! At the end of this post, you will find details regarding how the prizes will be awarded at the conclusion of the read-a-thon. You will also find the form to fill out if you're interested in winning a prize.
Note: The fine authors who so generously donated books would greatly appreciate a review, if you win, on your blog and/or on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you!
Yosemite Rising: A Zombie Novel by Julie Dawn ( 1 2 3 4 5 eBook copies {All formats - International} ) A legend that will change the world.
It’s been 150 years since the Ahwahnee Indians lived where Yosemite National Park now stands. Their last surviving Chief appears to Elizabeth Hutchings, a twenty-year-old biology student, the very day her parents die. Within 24 hours, she too is clinging to life as his whispers echo in her thoughts.
An ancient prophecy has begun. A plague rips through the world’s population, taking everyone and everything she has ever cared about. As agents of a mysterious organization called Meadowlark hunt her, she must find the strength to fight the infected even as she struggles to keep herself alive.
Just when she thinks she can’t go on, a man from her past arrives. He holds the key to understanding the prophecy. If she can unravel its secrets, she not only may change her own fate—but the fate of the entire world.
About the author
Julie Dawn grew up in southern Jersey, spending the summers collecting bee stingers in her feet. After graduating from Richard Stockton College, she dipped her toes in the environmental field for a few years, got married, moved to North Carolina, and finally got to become a mom. Four years of living in state parks was enough to make her relocate to the Oregon Coast. Under bright stars, she started writing again, determined to change the world one story at a time.
Fanny Price: Slayer of Vampires by Tara O'Donnell ( 1 2 3 eBook copies {All formats - International} )
The classic Jane Austen novel gets a chilling twist as a series of secret letters reveal a menace to Mansfield Park more frightening than a visit from Aunt Norris. Discovered by modern day descendants, this tale of terror told by Fanny Price, who wrote to but never dared to send to her seafaring brother William, chronicles her struggles to defeat the double trouble danger brought on by Mary and Henry Crawford.
This sinister set of siblings with sharp wits and even sharper fangs manage to cast a spell of amiability that hides their deadly desire for Bertram blood. Armed with surety of purpose and a specially sharpened keepsake,can Fanny put aside her creepmouse manners in order to protect the only true home she knows and love,as well as her beloved Edmund? Or does she have enough difficulty keeping Lady Bertram awake during tea time? While Fanny may speak softly, she does find herself carrying a big stick suitable for staking!
About the authorTara O'Donnell is also the author of other books such as The Hench Woman's Handbook and The Austen Avenger,all of which have cover art specially designed by her sister Stephanie O'Donnell. She also has a pop culture blog called Living Read Girl (livingreadgirl.blogspot.com), where she talks about movies and TV as well as books. Tara has had humorous pieces published in Galley Cat's Longest Literary Remix series and the anthology Bad Austen: The Worst Stories Jane Never Wrote. Her interests include the works of Jane Austen,Gilmore Girls and the adventures of Wonder Woman,plus vampires and cats (not in that exact order!).
***********
(WINNERS - Carol, Christian)
Amador Lockdownby Coral Russell One signed paperback - U.S. AND One eBook - International "You always save the best lies for yourself." Something has moved into the Amador Hotel. Hector, Marcos, Bev, and Tony of the Paranormal Posse are called in to either debunk the haunting or get rid of whatever is causing the problems. With the surprise arrival of Hector's son, he tries to keep his professional and personal lives separate, but whatever is haunting the Amador Hotel has other plans. Finalist in Horror Contest 2013 About the author
book whorshiper kpop listener kdrama addict trytheworld kinda person peace lover wannabe 바둑 Master bias @bbangSH83 Go here for a #free #ebookhttp://www.blog.kybunnies.com/read-for-free/
BookBunny group READING CHALLENGE: IndieRead2016
On a more professional note, I have a Masters in Teaching English to English Language Learners and taught ELL students for ten years.
I've lived in Korea and traveled to Canada and Mexico and visited 47 out of the 50 United States. The last three are on the bucket list...
I have a tremendously supportive family that indulges my writing whims.
NaNoWriMo Winner 2015 - first draft of Crowning Fantasy Book 2 finished
Crowning Fantasy Book 1 released May 2015
Sacrifice named Best of 2013 by Indie Reader 5 star review. Available through Library Journal's Self-e program Ohio.
Amador Lockdown Finalist in Horror Contest 2013
Sweet Trade of the Red Coral 1st Place in Pirate Themed Contest 2011
Peace on the Peninsula won the 2003 McCaleb Peace Initiative
The Beach by Jaye Francis One Kindle eBook - International
Alan loves the beach. More than a weekend respite, it is his home, his refuge, his sanctuary. And for most of the year, he strolls the sand in blissful solitude, letting nature—and no one else—touch him. But spring has given way to summer, and soon, the annual invasion of vacationers and tourists will subdivide the beach with blankets, umbrellas, and chairs, depriving Alan of his privacy and seclusion—the fundamental touchstones of his life.
Resigned to endure another seasonal onslaught of beach-goers, Alan believes there is nothing he can do but prepare for the worst.
But fate has other plans.
Delivered to him on the crest of a rogue wave, the strange object appears to have no purpose, no practical use—until Alan accidentally discovers what waits inside. Now he must attempt to unravel an ageless mystery, unaware that the final outcome will change his life, and the beach, forever.
In the companion novella Short Time, you’ll meet a respectable but bored middle-class executive, who exchanges his future for six months of excess and extravagance, only to discover out the price he must pay for his hedonistic indulgence is beyond anything he could have imagined. (Goodreads)
Excerpt from The Beach by Jaye Frances: The breeze was too warm for a sweater and the water too cold for swimming.
Useless weather, he thought. Good for nothing.
The mild transition between spring and summer didn’t appeal to Alan. He was already missing the winter seas and the raw, wet air that hurt your lungs if you drew it in too fast. In spite of his disfavor with the calendar, he still had the beach and today it was just the way he liked it—empty, not another soul for as far as he could see. The beach was his church, and he worshiped best alone.
He walked at a slower gait than usual, taking it all in, knowing that within a few weeks the crowds would return, littering the sand with their ice cream wrappers and cigarette butts, and contaminating the clean, salty air with the ear-stench from a hundred black and silver boom-boxes bought on sale from the local drug and notions.
Several summers ago he had tried to teach them, to show them how their seasonal invasion—their thoughtlessness and stupidity—was damaging the beach and the wildlife that lived there. They had responded with blank expressions and glassy-eyed indifference, some arrogantly turning up their radios to drown him out, to push him out of earshot.
As bad as the tourist-filled days were—so bad he never ventured outside in the afternoon—the evenings were far worse. That’s when he found his precious beach wounded and bleeding, the sand punctured with empty beer cans and still-glowing cigar stubs. Even more vulnerable, the higher dunes were frequently left suffocating in tons of grease paper, used Kleenex, and the occasional disposable diaper—damning evidence that raging human scum had f*cked his beach.
One night, after trying to diffuse his anger with a fifth of Johnnie Walker Red, he had admitted the truth—if only to himself: He would kill them if he could. Club them with the very same shovel he used to pile up their wretched trash, and then let the birds pick their bones.
He pushed the thought from his mind. They would be here soon enough. Right now, he had the beach to himself, and he would savor the solitude for a couple more days, maybe a week, depending on this useless weather.
Alan was taking his usual late afternoon walk along the shoreline. As he inhaled the salt-laden mist and felt the tightly-packed sand crunch under his feet, he easily imagined the light breeze at his back gently urging him toward a large outcropping of exposed granite at the south end of the strand.
As he covered the final hundred yards separating him from the rocky projection, he slowed his pace. No matter how many times he saw it, he couldn’t help but appreciate the enduring strength of the weather-worn monolith. Dark and craggy, it was an unremarkable monument. But for Alan, its stubborn and defiant stand against the elements gave it character and personality, and he always approached it with a kind of pantheistic reverence.
About the author
Jaye Frances is the author of “World Without Love,” a suspense thriller series with an erotic edge, including Betrayed, Reunion, and Redemption. Her other books include The Beach, a sci-fi supernatural tale about the possibilities—and horror—of wishful thinking; The Kure, a paranormal-occult romance novel; The Possibilities of Amy, a coming-of-age story of first love; and Love Travels Forever, a collection of poignant short stories. When she’s not consumed by her writing, Jaye enjoys cooking, taking pictures – lots of them—and sipping a glass of merlot with a side of dark chocolate. Jaye lives on the gulf coast of Florida, sharing her home with one husband, six computers, and several hundred pairs of shoes.
Niedermayer & Hart by M.J. Johnson 5 6 7 8 9 10 eBook copies - International
Jim Latimer reads of fellow photographer John Loxton's suicide in a daily newspaper. An old friend offers Jim an opportunity to take over Loxton's next assignment. He enters the orbit of Niedermayer & Hart, porcelain dealers with elegant headquarters in Hove. Jim's friends Ruth and Erich sense something isn't right and try to warn him. He is brought face to face with a terrifying manifestation of evil that had its inception in mediaeval Acre.
A band of unlikely vigilantes takes on an implacable enemy.
This is a story of friendship, courage and steadfastness, taking the reader on more than one journey before it arrives at its conclusion in the Berwyn Mountains of North Wales.
More than just a fight for life - these friends are playing for the highest stakes of all. (Goodreads)
The prologue to the supernatural/thriller Niedermayer & Hart by M J Johnson.
Praise
"It was a thoroughly engaging read for me, and the story filled up my mind with fear, danger, history, myths, loss and love."
Aditi, Software Technician, West Bengal, India
"When I was just three pages in I sensed the invisible hand reaching out from between the pages. By the end of Chapter One I was quite happily in its vice-like grip. And it held me to the end. Great stuff. Five stars."
Andrew, Script Editor, New York
"To be honest I'm not sure how I came by a copy of this story but boy am I glad I did."
Bernadette, book review
"The author has a sample of this book on his website. I didn't even read the whole thing. I read the prologue and rushed off to buy it. I was intrigued and needed to find out more. If you love a well-told, absorbing story, give this one a try."
Brinda, Wisconsin, USA
Learn more about the author and read more reviews at the author's website.
The Awakening by D.B. Coulson 2 signed paperbacks - U.S. only
A Story of Terror and Dark Romance set in the French Quarter of New Orleans
On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina had reached maximum strength as the storm surged through the city of New Orleans. Driven by hurricane force winds, a heavy, metal trash barrel crashed into the door of a tomb at St. Louis No. 1 cemetery, ripping the hinges from the stone. Andrea, Sonja and Nicholas, a terrifying menage a' trois from a rural valley outside of Sighisoara, Romania, escaped from the tomb and the secret U. S. military project Operation Voodoo, and found shelter in the Iberville Housing project bordering the French Quarter.
As the world descended into the horrors and massive death of World Wars I and II, a clever and nurturing Mother Nature devised a plan for these three children to remain vibrant and very much alive by creating a natural strain of living vampires. News of these three special children soon spread. Captured by the Nazis in 1941, they were confined to an experimental hospital for genetic engineering. Now, after decades of persecution, they are free...and very hungry.
Please join us in the five-book series, LES TROIS SOURIS AVEUGLES, as alpha male Nicholas, his artistic lover, Sonya, and their beautiful, intelligent and very lethal childhood companion, Andrea, find their way as they awaken to a new life of romance, hedonism and acquired wealth in the French Quarter of New Orleans.
About the author
D.B. Coulson was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma in a time when Tulsa was purported to be the oil capital of the world. His father was employed in the vast boundaries of the "oil patch" as a land man so moving around from town to town chasing that "black gold" was a way life. D.B.'s father was an accomplished artist and musician when he was not chasing down oil rigs and dodging tornados, so the love of music and art came easy to D.B. as a boy and young man. Being a good athlete in football and wrestling, a young D.B. had to make a choice between music and sports in college. Music won out and the road to creative writing and song writing powered by a vivid imagination became the preferred pathway of life. Playing rhythm and blues music in a very successful rock and roll band kept D.B. on the road where he learned to appreciate the life of a traveler and musician. The love of travel and adventure became part of his soul as he traversed the American Southwest in his earlier years.
In the late sixties he spent a week in New Orleans in the French Quarter, where he fell in love with the European, French-designed walking district known as the Vieux Carre' or Old Square as we say it in English. To this day the French Quarter of New Orleans is still one of his favorite haunts. Powered by an education in world history, philosophy and art, D.B. decided to see this great world he had read so much about and left America for Europe, where he traveled extensively in the late eighties.
Loving the road, the sights and scenery of this wonderful Earth, he discovered that there are many sides to human behavior as he frequented the pubs, taverns, art galleries and music halls along his journey. Not all roads are paved with flower beds and scented vines, he discovered. Some roads are treacherous, with dank dark corners and hard hearted characters that would prefer to do harm as much as good. Discerning between good and evil is a daunting task as one travels the more interesting and less traveled highways and byways of life. This LES TROIS SOURIS AVEUGLES series is but one of the offerings of D.B. Coulson from his travels around our world as he delves into the unknown in search of the good, the bad and the bizarre of what this planet Earth has to offer.
WINNER - JORDAN The Vagabond's Son: Prelude to a Legacy by L.F. Falconer One signed print copy - International Epic Fantasy Finalist, 2015 Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards
Once upon a time there was a boy who lived inside a nightmare …
Book One in The Legacy of Skur series by L.F. Falconer, this uncommon, biographical dark fantasy takes an introductory glimpse into a world locked in the midst of imposed evolution, and not all the magical folk who inhabit the Black Wood are creatures of the light.
Born to an outlaw and favored by the goddess, after Adalanto escapes a childhood of brutality, he is suddenly thrust into a society he never knew existed. Struggling to adapt, he battles the ghosts of his turbulent past, while rising to a position of power. Yet in the midst of civil insurgency, he betrays the king he has sworn to protect and takes to the woods in rebellion, coming across the one with the power to change his life for better, or for worse.”
Praise
“Falconer took me by storm. I was so engrossed in this book that I literally could not put it down.”--- Jennifer Hass, Reader Views
“I found myself turning the pages faster than usual and actually ‘felt’ something.”---Lance Carney, author, Ripped Tide
“Worthy to be in the company of the likes of Quentin Tarantino and Tim Burton. Brava, Ms. Falconer!”—Stephen Fisher, Readers’ Favorite
In my youth I developed a talent for reading other people’s minds and with practice, forcing my will upon them. I have never encountered anyone capable of resisting my thoughts and for a time I enjoyed the fruits of my power. A terrible tragedy led me to a darker place and then I wielded my ability not simply to satisfy my desires but to torment and judge the throng of humanity around me.
Years passed until I realised that my life lacked meaning and I lived without purpose. It wasn’t a difficult change to make. And with that choice I have one final act to inflict upon the world and they will remember my name with fear for ages to come.
Stealing Lazarus’s miracle gifted him immortality. Combined with his natural ability of invading and controlling people’s minds this made him one of the most dangerous people on Earth.
But the miracle came with a price. His punishment was to be imprisoned within the walls of an ancient monastery and tormented by an invisible fire that burned his body perpetually. To escape the pain he retreated deep into his own mind.
The Last True Demon is the concluding book in The Third Path trilogy.
Stealing Lazarus’ miracle granted me immortality. Unfortunately, as I discovered upon a cold slab of stone, it didn’t make me indestructible. According to a dark prophecy I should have been the one who could stop the Antichrist bringing his Father to the Earth.
I learned the hard way as he ripped the miracle from my flesh. Now I’ve passed over and I’m in the ruins of the Garden of Eden with the Friar, Hammond, and Venet, a wounded angel. There’s a slim chance we can save humanity. All we have to do is find God and convince him to intervene and save us all.
WINNER - CECILY Books 1 and 2 of the Mitchell & Morton series (Faust 2.0, The Church of Virtual Saints) Two books (signed) - ONE winner - International
Faust 2.0
The Internet witnesses the emergence of a new entity.
Is it the rebirth of an ancient evil in a new realm? Or something more dangerous?
A sexy looking avatar is granting wishes for people across the Internet. But nothing is ever truly free and for those accepting the gifts a terrible price must be paid.
Sarah Mitchell must learn the truth of this creature and stop it while it can still be stopped. She must also find out why a mysterious lawyer is present at every step.
The Church of Virtual Saints
While experimenting with human consciousness Adam Samuels discovers a being which transforms his life. It’s a religious experience beyond anything possible in the conventional world, and together the two lay down the plan for humanity's ultimate quest - to become like God.
But some consider the development a threat to mankind itself, and will stop at nothing to put an end to it.
Despite the destruction of the artificial intelligence known as Misty Felice, GCHQ investigator Sarah Mitchell and hacker Dan Emmet each continue to suffer from its twisted legacy.
WINNERS - CHRISTIAN, FRANCES, CAROL, FIONA, NADIA) Dishonor Thy Wife by Belinda Austin1 2 3 4 5 eBooks - International
A Suspenseful, Sexy, Psychological Thriller. A Tale of Obsession, Secrets, and Revenge.
After six years of a sexless forced marriage, Ronni finds she enjoys herhusband spying through the keyhole of her bedroom door. She begins toperform for him, even remembering his past violent outbursts, becauseBrad returned home to Austin from a Philadelphia business trip a changed man, or so she thinks.
Once Ronni has a taste of forbidden passion, she is addicteduntil Brad begins acting like a Jekyll-Hyde. She believes Brad may bebipolar, never realizing that something far more sinister is going on.
What happened at a Philly medical convention sets off a chain of events that begs the question, does a woman really know the cracksbeneath her husband's skin?
About the author
Belinda loves to create novels with twists and turns, and love stories that will squeeze your heart. Her goal is to entertain and touch you by making you laugh, cry, get angry, i.e. go through the emotional experience that makes us all human and by doing so, humanize her characters.
Her aim with her books is to grab the reader by the shirt collar and drag him or her into the novel, and not let go until the end. She hopes that the reader will not just read her story, but experience it, with chills, blood pounding, brain bursting, etc.
WINNER - JANE A $5 AMAZON DIGITAL GIFT (One winner)
WINNER - FIONA YOUR CHOICE OF 3 BOOKS FOR $10 FROM THE BARGAIN BIN AT BETTERWORLDBOOKS.COM (One winner)
Giveaway Details
This is a read-a-thon participant only giveaway. To be eligible, you must have signed up, participated and added a link to the official read-a-thon wrap-up post (I will give everyone until Wednesday {4/27} at 11:59pm CDT to complete their wrap-ups) AND filled out the Google form below to show your interest in winning. We have a total of 33 prizes. This means there will be 33winners. I will award prizes on a first come, first served basis. I will draw the 33 winners with random.org and email all 33 at the same time. The first person who emails me back with their choice gets that prize. I will mark off the prizes as they are taken. In the event that we end up with left over prizes, you will have a chance to win a second (and perhaps third) prize. All eBook prizes will be sent to winner via email (or you will be given a coupon code) so please specify what format you require in your email. Winners will be chosen after the wrap-up post deadline (see above). Good luck!
Well, it has come to an end and I missed it all. I started getting sick last Sunday and progressively became worse as the days went by. I finally went to the doctor on Thursday and found out I have the flu. Unfortunately, my reading was scarce at best and I'm still not 100 percent. The doctor said it could last 10 days and then I'll still be weak. What a joy. I'd like to thank everyone who wished me well on Facebook and in our Facebook group. Much appreciated.
I hope you all had a relaxing read-a-thon and met the goals you set for yourselves. Even if you didn't meet your goals, if you had fun, that's all that matters. I'd like to thank you all for joining me. Be sure to add your wrap-up link below and please double check that you were signed up HERE so you will be eligible for the giveaway. You will also need to fill out the form on the prize page if you would like to win a prize. You have until Wednesday, Janunary 27 at 11:59pm CST to add your wrap-up link.I will draw giveaway winners as soon as I can. Please be sure to note the system of drawing winners in the giveaway details on the prize page). And now for a big round of applause for the author and publicist who so generously donated our prizes. Bravo! And thank you!
Hope to see you next time at the Spring into Horror Read-a-Thon, coming up in April (April 18 - 24). Good luck in the giveaway to all!!! And thanks again for joining me!
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Hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving! I'm a day late with this check-in because of the illustrious holiday, but it was such a wonderful holiday this year and I didn't work (Yay!) so it was extra special for me. I haven't had any time to read, as work has been a mess so I may have to be content to just host this time (which I love doing and wouldn't change) and hope to get some Christmas reading in for the reading challenge.
How is your reading going? I hope you're enjoying it. Feel free to update me in the comments or leave a link to an update post.
Giveaways
I was very generously offered two eBook copies of the Christmas horror novella, Twelfth Night Krampus from Erin at Oh, For the Hook of a Book. Although this is horror, it is based on an East European legend (see below).
Author Cat Cavendish praises...
"An adult fairytale well told in the best Grimm tradition. As with the Dark Servant, the author draws on the old German/Austrian/East European traditions of the Santa Claus’s demon helper. In the folk tales, Krampus punishes naughty children. Manochio keeps faith with the tradition but develops it and presents us with a new classic tale for Christmas. Here the equally bloody and demonic Frau Perchta – also hellbent on punishing those who have transgressed in her eyes – finds herself directly competing against Krampus. This is a macabre, dark tale with a timeless quality about it. An atmospheric landscape, complete with Bavarian castle; characters that could have stepped out from your worst nightmares. Loved this. It kept me thoroughly and enjoyably entertained in a dark, scary way. "
Twelfth Krampus Night, Summary
Dark servants clash!
Medieval maiden Beate, who’s grieving over the mysterious evisceration of her best friend, Gisela, must escape a Bavarian castle under siege by sadistic creatures.
Standing in her way—beyond towering walls and crossbow-toting guards—are Saint Nicholas’s demonic helper, Krampus, and Frau Perchta, a belly-slitting hag who prowls the countryside during First Night festivities to punish naughty teens. Beate wants out. Krampus and Frau Perchta want in, determined to breach the castle to snag their prey. Beate has no idea why these monsters want her, but she must use her wits to save herself from horrors both human and inhuman—lest she wind up like Gisela.
Please enter for the above giveaways in the form below. You will be able to mark your choice of which you want to enter for. This giveaway is only open to read-a-thon participants.
This is the prize promotion page for all the prizes being given away for the read-a-thon. We have several amazing book prizes donated from some very generous authors, and a couple of prizes from me! At the end of this post, you will find details regarding how the prizes will be awarded at the conclusion of the read-a-thon.
Note: These fine authors who so generously donated their books would greatly appreciate a review, if you win, on your blog and/or on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you!
(Winners - Jane H., Febri, Melissa W.)
Crowning Fantasy by Coral Russell ( One 3 Digital copies-Kindle, ePub or PDF-International )
"Be satisfied in your ignorance for there is no safety in knowledge."
Enter the world of Varlid, a sprawling fantasy story about power, loyalty, betrayal, and the courage to change. A great power struggle is poised to erupt across Varlid. A meek creature inherits power beyond her comprehension. A giant succumbs to a curse which will either liberate or defeat his kind. Tiny wizards practice the dark arts to save their race. The old order stews in bitterness and vows revenge. The rich sit on their thrones convinced they are invincible.
Join the Crowning Fantasy as the inhabitants of Varlid struggle to find refuge and fight to save Varlid from chaos.
About the author
Book worshiper, Kpop listener, Subtitle reader, Vintner, Just Dance Junkie, Family feeder, Keurig sipper, cats and dog lover, wannabe Go Master.
Crowning Fantasy Book 1 released May 2015
Sacrifice named Best of 2013 by Indie Reader 5 star review. Available through Library Journal's Self-e program Ohio.
Amador Lockdown Finalist in Horror Contest 2013
Sweet Trade of the Red Coral 1st Place in Pirate Themed Contest 2011
Peace on the Peninsula won the 2003 McCaleb Peace Initiative
Memory House by Bette Lee Crosby(1 ebook - International)
IS IT POSSIBLE FOR A MEMORY TO OUTLIVE ITS OWNER?
Ophelia Browne knows the answer is yes. She knows because she’s been granted the unique gift of finding and caring for those forgotten memories. But now she’s nearing ninety, and Browne women seldom live beyond ninety.
Before time runs out Ophelia must find a successor. Someone who can take hold of the gifts and keep the memories from fading.
When broken-hearted Annie Cross shows up on the doorstep of The Memory House Bed and Breakfast, Ophelia knows she is the one. The two women forge a bond of friendship as they sip magical dandelion tea and share stories. When Annie starts to sense the memories Ophelia is delighted, but then a thread of violence begins to unravel and Ophelia fears things have gone too far.
About the author
USA Today Bestselling and Award-winning novelist Bette Lee Crosby's books are "Well-crafted storytelling populated by memorable characters caught up in equally memorable circumstances." - Midwest Book Review
The Seattle Post Intelligencer says Crosby's writing is, "A quirky mix of Southern flair, serious thoughts about important things in life and madcap adventures."
Samantha from Reader's Favorite raves, "Crosby writes the type of book you can't stop thinking about long after you put it down."
"Storytelling is in my blood," Crosby laughingly admits, "My mom was not a writer, but she was a captivating storyteller, so I find myself using bits and pieces of her voice in most everything I write."
It is the wit and wisdom of that Southern Mama Crosby brings to her works of fiction; the result is a delightful blend of humor, mystery and romance along with a cast of quirky charters who will steal your heart away. Her work was first recognized in 2006 when she received The National League of American Pen Women Award for a then unpublished manuscript. She has since gone on to win nineteen awards for her work; these include: TheRoyal Palm Literary Award, the FPA President's Book Award Gold Medal, Reader's Favorite Award Gold Medal, and the Reviewer's Choice Award.
Crosby's published works to date are: Memory House (2015), Passing through Perfect (2015), Wishing for Wonderful (2014), Blueberry Hill (2014), Previously Loved Treasures (2014), Jubilee's Journey (2013), What Matters Most (2013), The Twelfth Child (2012), Life in the Land of IS (2012), Cracks in the Sidewalk (2011), Spare Change (2011).
Buy the book and read more about the author and her other books HERE.
Set of 3 Sandra Byrd historical novels (paperback - U.S. only - One winner) (Winner - Jenna)
To Die For: A Novel of Anne Boleyn
Starred Review "Told through the eyes of Anne Boleyn’s best friend, Meg Wyatt, this stunning novel by French Twist series author Byrd re-examines Boleyn’s life from her beginnings to her rise and eventual fall in the Tudor court. Meg has her own tale of young love and pride, having turned her back on her childhood love when he accepted a religious calling. She travels with Anne to court and finds her life intimately tied to Anne’s changing fortunes. Byrd’s novel adds a depth to the character of Anne Boleyn that is often missing in other novels, and she brings the history to life in exquisite detail. Readers might indeed find themselves sympathizing with the young queen. Highly recommended for fans of Philippa Gregory." —Library Journal
The Secret Keeper: A Novel of Kateryn Parr
"A young woman with the gift of prophecy becomes entangled in Henry VIII’s court in this engaging novel. [. . .] Byrd (To Die For) crafts a well-researched historical novel that engrosses readers in Juliana’s world and the juicy details of the Tudor court. [. . .] Anglophiles and history buffs alike will surely enjoy this bird’s-eye view into royal politics, love, and scandal." —Publishers Weekly
Roses Have Thorns: A Novel of Elizabeth I
"The book spans nearly 24 years, and readers will be very caught up as the story unfolds and they see some of the familiar players of Elizabeth’s court through the eyes of a gentle and affectionate friend to the Queen. With this well written novel, rich in history and everyday court life during the Elizabethan period, I can now count Sandra Byrd as one of my favorite writers of historical fiction." —Historical Novel Society
The Lure by S.W. Hubbard (1 Kindle copy - International)
BLACK MARKET ADOPTION SCAM ROCKS A SMALL TOWN
In a small Adirondack Mountain town, secrets are hard to keep. No wonder Trout Run, NY is shocked when sweet, dowdy Mary Pat Sheehan dies from complications of childbirth. No one even knew she was pregnant. How did she hide her condition? Who is the father?
And where is the baby?
Mary Pat’s devout parents are frozen in denial, but Police Chief Frank Bennett is determined not to let this scandal be swept under the rug. The more he digs, the more convinced he becomes that Mary Pat’s baby is very much alive. That someone is criminally responsible for Mary Pat’s death. And that other vulnerable young women are at risk.
When Frank uncovers a highly profitable black market adoption ring operating on his turf, he is determined to root it out. But cooperation is hard to find. For loving couples desperate to create a family, the lure of a healthy white infant is impossible to resist. And for wily manipulators desperate for cash, the lure is even stronger. Now Frank must navigate the dangerous intersection of love and greed. And one wrong turn could spell death to those he most wants to protect.
The Lure was originally published in 2004 as Swallow the Hook.
About the author
S.W. Hubbard is the author of the Audrey Nealon estate sale mysteries, Another Man’s Treasure and Treasure of Darkness. She is also is the author of three Police Chief Frank Bennett mystery novels set in the Adirondack Mountains: Take the Bait, The Lure (originally published as Swallow the Hook), and Blood Knot, as well as a short story collection featuring Frank Bennett, Dead Drift. Her short stories have appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine and the anthologies Crimes by Moonlight, The Mystery Box, and Adirondack Mysteries. She lives in Morristown, NJ, where she teaches creative writing to enthusiastic teens and adults, and expository writing to reluctant college freshmen. To contact her or read the first chapter of any of her books, visit: http://www.swhubbard.net. Follow her on Twitter @swhubbardauthor or like her Facebook author page, SW Hubbard author. Connect with S.W. Hubbard on Pinterest and Goodreads too.
French Restitution by Sara Claridge (one two three eBook copies - International)
She’s chasing stolen money…
Stranded in rural France while on the hunt for her mother’s latest boyfriend and the money he stole only confirms what Madeleine Symthe already knows – love is just an illusion. But when an enigmatic Frenchman with secrets of his own comes to her rescue, Madeleine’s beliefs are tested to the limit.
He’s pursuing her heart…
For electronics magnate Jean-Luc Delacroix, the captivating English woman is a pleasant distraction, but a deeper relationship isn’t part of his agenda. As they close in on the embezzler, can Jean-Luc persuade Madeleine that his love is everlasting, even if it means letting her go?
Sara Claridge writes contemporary romantic suspense. Born in West London, she inexplicably moved to France six years ago on a whim. When not writing at her desk in the eaves of an old farmhouse, she can be found in the garden. Usually with a glass of red wine in one hand, and a good book in the other.
(Winner-print - Autumn ) (Winners-eBook - Carol S., Lianne, Ellen, Mallory, Aleksandra )
Shadow Out of the Sky (1 print copy {U.S. only}and One Two Three Four Five eBooks {ePub or mobi - International})
An evil entity invades and terrorizes a small town by possessing children, forcing their hands to kill and slaughter each and every adult, while a small group fight to survive in this apocalyptic tale.
The entity's plan is to shove the human race into extinction so a new world can Shift forward, a new world designed by four demons called The Reckoning that flying inside their own transparent spheres.
(Winners - Autumn, Michelle, Hazel, Carol S., Aleksandra) Sectors(Three FourFive PDF copies - International)
And read the continuing adventures of the Sectors protagonist. Access the free read every 3rd Wednesday of the month at the publisher's website.
About the author
Residing in the sunny side district of Southern Indiana with his lovely wife, their two dogs, servo bed bugs programmed as snooze alarms if the six-foot clown alarm clock called Chainsaw Freckles doesn’t wake him up by the scream of its chainsaw, Brick Marlin juggles working a full-time job at UPS while honing his craft of writing in the early mornings. His latest novel, Shadow Out Of The Sky, has already gathered great reviews, as well as his previous works, Blue Lights In A Jar, Sectors and Raising Riley.
(Winners - Ellen, Tressa ) Saving Toby by Suzanne McKenna Link (One Two eBooks - Kindle from Amazon or any format from Smashwords- International)
Genre: Contemporary Romance/New Adult
Loving someone through their hard fall from grace takes a lot of grit.
In school, Toby Faye was a moody kid who sat in the back of class and looked like he wanted to be anywhere but there. Claudia might have forgotten him if it weren't for the two fatal circumstances surrounding his family. In their small town, the Faye name was infamous.
An unexpected job offering drops Claudia back into Toby's life, and that of his widowed mother. Older now, Toby is a mass of muscles and unruly hair, a real head-turner. The reunion sparks a heated, palpable connection between the two.
Despite Claudia's attempt to stay away from Toby, his blue-grey expose a need she cannot ignore. Toby's world is a place where sadness lingers and old wounds run deep. Moved by the family's plight, Claudia vows to help Toby and his mother move past the hurt.
When a local hate crime is linked to Toby and his friends, doubts are cast. Old friends become enemies. Animosity between Claudia's father and Toby, strains the father-daughter relationship. Taking Toby's side means Claudia will be forced to face situations she never imagined she might. She will have to be tougher than she's ever had to be. Does Claudia have the grit to love Toby through his fall?
Saving Toby is the first book of a two-part series that follows the emotional and inspirational tale of a young couple's journey to find themselves.
Reviewers Rave:
- "I was gripped from start to finish. I was completely in love with Toby."
- "I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I couldn't put it down!"
- "I found a new author that I really like, that's for sure."
- "I highly enjoyed it and can not wait to read the next installment."
- "Saving Toby was an outstanding read! From start to finish each character captures your heart! The message of finding your own personal happiness in order to have happiness with another person is beautifully entwined throughout the book."
Suzanne McKenna Link works for a family of newspapers that cover events in and around the South Shore of Long Island, New York. She lives in the town of Sayville with her husband and two children. She is currently finishing up the sequel to Saving Toby, Keeping Claudia.
(Winners - Bonnie, Aleksandra) Yosemite Rising: A Zombie Novel by Julie Dawn (1 signed print copy with custom bookmark {U.S. only} and 1 eBook {ePub - International} - two winners) A legend that will change the world.
It’s been 150 years since the Ahwahnee Indians lived where Yosemite National Park now stands. Their last surviving Chief appears to Elizabeth Hutchings, a twenty-year-old biology student, the very day her parents die. Within 24 hours, she too is clinging to life as his whispers echo in her thoughts.
An ancient prophecy has begun. A plague rips through the world’s population, taking everyone and everything she has ever cared about. As agents of a mysterious organization called Meadowlark hunt her, she must find the strength to fight the infected even as she struggles to keep herself alive.
Just when she thinks she can’t go on, a man from her past arrives. He holds the key to understanding the prophecy. If she can unravel its secrets, she not only may change her own fate—but the fate of the entire world.
About the author
Julie Dawn grew up in southern Jersey, spending the summers collecting bee stingers in her feet. After graduating from Richard Stockton College, she dipped her toes in the environmental field for a few years, got married, moved to North Carolina, and finally got to become a mom. Four years of living in state parks was enough to make her relocate to the Oregon Coast. Under bright stars, she started writing again, determined to change the world one story at a time.
(Winner - Melissa C.) All Fall Down(1 autographed print copy - continental U.S. or Canada OR an audio book from Audible) Note: book is currently free on Amazon for a limited time - see Amazon link below)
Winner of the RONE Award for Best Suspense
"Ms. Bellon is a master builder of international suspense with just a smidgeon of romance to whet the readers' appetites. All Fall Down is an energetic read that guarantees satisfaction for the romantic as well as the adventurous reader." ---Erin Murdock, InD'Tale Magazine
Ring around the rosy, a pocket full of posies, ashes, ashes we all fall down . . .
That simple rhyme turns negotiator Claire Michaels’ current hostage situation into an international incident. Claire just wants to help get everyone out safely, but as the crisis escalates she realizes she’s dealing with an al-Qaeda operative who has the means to become another bin Laden---with the potential to attack America. Claire has her own personal reasons for wanting to stop al-Qaeda, but time is slipping away as negotiations break down. Can she overcome her scars of the past in order to get the hostage out alive and possibly stop an assault on U.S. national security?
Navy SEAL Rafe Kelly is on leave to recover from a knee injury he suffered during his tour in Afghanistan and he doesn’t expect to be fighting terrorists on his home turf. But when he is taken hostage and his brother is kidnapped, Rafe teams up with a hostage negotiator in order to stay alive and get his brother back. The terrorist is always one step ahead of them, however, and the situation quickly turns from desperate to deadly. Will Rafe be able to save himself and his country without anyone he loves getting caught in the crossfire?
(Winner - Julie)Ashes Ashes(1 Print {U.S. or Canada} OR Audio book from Audible OR Ebook copy {International}, winner's choice)
Are you ever really innocent until proven guilty?
Sophia Naziri is wanted for questioning in the murder of a U.S. senator. She’s worried the police will show up on her doorstep any moment, but when Detective Colby Black appears, it’s to help her put out a kitchen fire, not take her in. Yet. His easy smile and persistence in getting to know her pushes all her troubles to the back of her mind, until a hit man tracks her down. Getting arrested becomes the least of her worries and the handsome detective could be her only way out---if she tells him the truth.
Colby Black’s sniper skills have been a blessing and a curse to him. As a member of a Hostage Negotiation Team, he can use them to save people, but sometimes he can’t protect the innocent despite his best efforts. When a hostage situation goes bad, he tries to put it behind him by helping out his mysterious next-door neighbor, Sophia Naziri. But she pulls Colby into a web of lies and conspiracy that will force him to use every skill he has in order to survive. Faced with the moment of truth, can he trust anyone around him---including the woman at the center of it all?
Julie Coulter Bellon is the author of more than a dozen romantic suspense novels. Her book All Fall Down won the RONE award for Best Suspense and Pocket Full of Posies won a RONE Honorable Mention for Best Suspense.
Julie loves to travel and her favorite cities she's visited so far are probably Athens, Paris, Ottawa, and London. She loves to read, write, teach, watch Castle, Hawaii Five-O, and eat Canadian chocolate. Not necessarily in that order.
Julie offers writing and publishing tips as well as her take on life on her blog ldswritermom.blogspot.com You can also find out about all her upcoming projects at her website juliebellon.com
(Winner - Elle) Greenshift by Heidi Ruby Miller (1 print copy - International)
GREENSHIFT is the first book in a new series set within the world of Ambasadora. This space thriller contains an ensemble cast and elements of futuristic romance, military science fiction, a galactic empire, cyberpunk, and space opera.
In this caste-ruled society, celebrity, beauty, and power mean everything and multiple partners are the norm. Love and jealousy are considered emotional fallacies, nothing more than fleeting moods and sentiments biased by hormones. But sometimes people just fall in love...and that can be deadly.
Mari's rare eye color makes her a pariah within Upper Caste society, which is why she prefers plants to people...except David, the former Armadan captain who shuttles scientists around on a refurbished pleasure cruiser.
But someone else is interested in Mari and her distinctive look--an obsessed psychopath who tortures and murders women for pleasure.
When the killer chooses Mari as his next victim, the soldier inside David comes alive, but it is Mari who must fight for her own life and prove she isn't as fragile as the flowers she nurtures.
"The action and romance are seamlessly woven together, transporting us and leaving us petulant for more when the story is over."
-from the foreword by Dana Marton, New York Times best selling author of THE THIRD SCROLL
"I love sci-fi romance and am always on the lookout for a new author. This was a great introduction to a new world with characters that were memorable and believable."
-Cyberclipher, Amazon reviewer
"I knew from page two of Greenshift that I had a writer-crush on Heidi Ruby Miller. I mean, holy crap, this girl can write! This is how you write Science-Fiction."
-Cary Caffrey, best selling author of THE GIRLS FROM ALCYONE
"Miller's characters blaze with life and lust and depth, and her world is a dichotomy of the glamorously sensual and the brutally dangerous."
-Mary SanGiovanni, Bram Stoker nominated author of THE HOLLOWER trilogy
"...I loved the world building in this, the attention to detail and the portrayal of the characters. Heidi has a talent for making them so real. The writing is flawless and descriptive, and all the premises and reactions believable and consistent. The bad guys completely gave me the creeps..."
-Pippa Jay, author of KEIR
"GREENSHIFT gives readers a delightfully malicious villain and a thrilling climax that had me on the edge of my seat and left me gasping for breath when all was said and done. Fans of Sci-Fi Romance are sure to enjoy this romance and action-packed novel."
-S.A. Sullivan, author of THE HAUNTED HOUSEWIVES OF ALLISTER, ALABAMA
"No spoilers here, but if you love planet hopping, space crafts, incredibly thought out societal pecking orders, stuff called scent bots and voyeurs, and characters you simply cannot resist rooting for...read this."
-T. K. Toppin, author of THE LANCASTER RULE series
Heidi Ruby Miller uses research for her stories as an excuse to roam the globe. With degrees in Anthropology, Geography, Foreign Languages, and Writing, she knew early that penning fast-paced, exotic adventures would be her life. She's put her experiences and studies to paper in her far-future AMBASADORA series and into her two new thriller series.
******************** (Winners - Hazel, Lianne, Suzanne, Carol, Jane H. ) One Two Three Four Five eBook sets of the Miss Taken series, Books 1 and 2 by Cleo Scornavacca and One Two three Five bookmark sets (5 winners - International)
Miss Taken
Love........................The Ultimate Loss of Control
Rain and Raven Medici are identical twins. Although they come from a loving close-knit family their childhoods couldn’t have been more different. Raven went to school and was exposed freely to the outside world. Rain on the other hand was born with a blood disorder and denied many normal childhood experiences.
Once grown, Raven becomes a lawyer at their dad’s firm Kane & Medici in NYC. Rain along with her only childhood friend Tommy Conte, builds a very successful business as professional photographers. Traveling between Europe and Manhattan, and enjoying a world that was kept from her, Rain vows never to be controlled again.
Dominick Kane is a product of his upbringing. He’s powerful, self-assured and knows he can achieve anything he desires. Nothing gets in his way. There is only one thing he has ever failed at. A relationship with his father Vincent Kane. Upon his father’s death, Dominick vows revenge. The events he sets in motion put him on a collision course he himself will be unable to control.
In a bizarre twist of fate, Dominick kidnaps Raven as part of his plan for revenge. Only to discover afterward, he has taken Rain by mistake. Rain knows she can never survive being confined again. So she strikes a bargain with the devil and agrees to help Dominick get back what he feels rightly belongs to him. His father’s share of Kane & Medici.
Dominick decides to use the strong attraction growing between Rain and himself to control her in every way imaginable. Too bad no one ever taught Dominick you can’t control the heart. Nothing could have prepared him for the effect Rain would have on his.
Will this plan of revenge turn into unconditional love? Or will Dominick and Rain’s need for control ultimately destroy them and any possible chance for a real future together…………...
Identity
People aren’t always who you believe them to be.
Dominick Kane and Rain Medici started their relationship with one another in the most unconventional way.
He kidnapped her.
With the kidnapping now behind them, life returns to normal, right?
Not a chance.
The push, the pull and their fights for control that we’ve come to love about Dominick and Rain still exist. And so does their passion.
People aren’t who you think they are. Familiar faces are not so familiar. The past and the present collide, opening up all of those old wounds and struggles once again.
Now, everything you thought you knew, gets blown out of the water.
Can Dominick and Rain finally heal what’s broken? Or will new discoveries push them even further apart.
Will love win out and bring them back together? Or will ghosts of the past ultimately destroy their love once and for all...
About the author
As far back as I can remember, I've loved books. I love reading them and finally, I've admitted to myself that I love to write them.
Since the day I started to write Rain and Dominick's story, I've never looked back, nor do I regret one single moment of it.
When I write, much of the time the story plays in my head as a movie and sometimes even includes background music. We can all use a little background music.
I try to add elements of things I love. And share them with the readers. I'll continue to create characters and stories that you can laugh, cry, love, hate and even become slightly crazy about.
Let's face it, we can all use some crazy every now and then.
ONE TWO WINNERS WILL RECEIVE... A $5 AMAZON DIGITAL GIFT OR YOUR CHOICE OF A BOOK FROM THE BARGAIN BIN ($5 LIMIT) AT BETTERWORLDBOOKS.COM
Giveaway Details
This is a read-a-thon participant only giveaway. To be eligible, you must have signed up, participated and completed a wrap-up post at the end and link it here at Seasons of Reading at the official read-a-thon wrap-up post (I will give everyone until Tuesday {7/28} at 11:59pm CST to complete their wrap-up posts). We have a total of 34 prizes. This means there will be 34winners. I will award prizes on a first come, first served. I will draw the 34 winners with random.org and email all 34 at the same time. The first person who emails me back with their choice gets that prize. I will mark off the prizes as they are taken. All eBook prizes will be sent to winner via email (or will be given a coupon code) so please specify what format you require in your email. Winners will be chosen after the wrap-up post deadline (see above).
Good luck and thanks for joining me for the read-a-thon!
