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Battle for the Throne by E. J. Willis

November 1, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Battle for the Throne by E. J. Willis
Tales From Falyncia Book One
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Historical, sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal, Young Adult (14 – 18 y.o.)
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Chamomile

The sword quivers in Alaina’s hand. With one final stroke she can slay the gladiator, win back her freedom … and lose the trust of her people forever.

The Kingdom of Falyncia is caught in a war between a guardian spirit and a powerful demon. Alaina barely escapes with her life, yet she vows to one day claim the throne. When she finally returns home, the enemy has her in his grasp. Now she must choose between freedom and staying true to her people. If she fails to kill the gladiator, torture awaits. Can she find the courage to face it? Or will the demon triumph again?

A lost princess must face powerful foes and lurking demons if she ever hopes to reclaim her throne and free her kingdom in this fun YA fantasy!

While this story was a bit slow to start, things quickly picked up and it turned out to be a delightful read! Well written, and I loved the world-building and fantasy elements in this one. Aliana is rescued by a winged-wolf who turns out to be her guardian spirit of sorts, and must learn to fight the darkness that haunts both her past and future.

I really enjoyed seeing her journey, and look forward to the sequel in this duology! I loved the lore around the Wildlands and enjoyed getting to meet the various characters along the way! While the MC is 17 through most of this story, I can see younger teens or even adult readers enjoying this one as well.

There is the typical violence with the medieval theme and a war to be fought to win back her kingdom, plus the mention of demon like creatures who serve the evil king, but reads much like any other fantasy and is a good fit for the more traditional YA fantasy like seen in Narnia, Eragon, or Percy Jackson.

Overall a quick and fun read, and one that I’m sure many readers would enjoy!

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The Jug and the Hare Bathhouse by Graham Williams – Spotlight and Giveaway

October 29, 2021 By 4 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Graham Williams will be awarding $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

The book deals with a timeless subject, which is as relevant today as it was at the time of King James – the abduction and sexual abuse of children. It is handled sensitively and a distinction is drawn between same-sex, loving partnerships and the cruel use of children bought and sold for the sexual gratification of often wealthy “clientele”.

The story and plot are exciting and well-balanced, with the right amount of tension to make you want to keep on reading. There is a real sense of being in London in the reign of King James and an atmospheric feeling about the taverns, shops and streets as well as the bathhouse itself, all linked to the river Thames and famous theatres of the time. The characters are great and very believable and the action scenes well-written and full of high adventure. It also comes to an uplifting and optimistic conclusion, with some surprising and joyful twists.

Read a sample from the book on Amazon.

About the Author: Being retired, I have the time now to write and tell stories
I am registered as blind, and I am profoundly dyslexic, and I rely on the wonders of technology to bring out my stories, and to live.
I spend many hours walking around London, as this is where I find most of my inspiration from. The places; sounds and smells of the city, I have a love for. To know one’s history is to know one’s self. I hope you enjoy them.

Amazon Author Page | Blog | Facebook | YouTube

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Filed Under: Guest Blogs, Mainstream Fiction

LASR Anniversary Scavenger Hunt: Temporarily Out of Luck by Vicki Batman

August 24, 2021 By Leave a Comment

Thanks for joining us on our 14th anniversary scavenger hunt! There are two ways to enter to win and it’s easy to play– first read the blurb below, then answer the question on the first Rafflecopter. You might win a $100 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC (along with other prizes). Follow and visit authors’ social media pages on the second Rafflecopter and you’re entered to win another $100 Amazon/BN GC (along with other prizes)!

Great job. What man? And murder.

Newly employed at Wedding Wonderland, Hattie Cooks is learning the industry from a woman she greatly admires. When her former brother-in-law is found dead in his luxury SUV, all fingers point to Hattie’s sister, who is planning her own I Dos.

Detective Allan Wellborn is caught between a rock and a hard place—Hattie’s family and investigating the murder of a well-connected Sommerville resident, the same loser who was once married to Hattie’s sister. Determining who’s the bad guy—or gal—isn’t going to be easy and sure to piss off someone.

Can Hattie beat the clock to find out who murdered Tracey’s ex before she is charged with the crime and her wedding is ruined?

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Scavenger Hunt:

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Filed Under: Guest Blogs, Romance Tagged With: ,

Temporarily Out of Luck by Vicki Batman – Spotlight and Giveaway

March 18, 2021 By 6 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Vicki Batman will be awarding a handbag, a $10 Amazon gift card, a $10 Starbucks gift card, and lots of goodies to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Great job. What man? And murder. Newly employed at Wedding Wonderland, Hattie Cooks is learning the industry from a woman she greatly admires. When her former brother-in-law is found dead in his luxury SUV, all fingers point to Hattie’s sister who is planning her own I dos.

Detective Allan Wellborn is caught between a rock and a hard place—Hattie’s family and investigating the murder of a well-connected Sommerville resident, the same loser who was once married to Hattie’s sister. Determining who’s the bad guy—or gal—isn’t going to be easy and sure to piss off someone.

Can Hattie beat the clock to find out who murdered Tracey’s ex before she is charged with the crime and her wedding is ruined?

Enjoy an Excerpt

Sometimes, I felt like a small white mouse housed in a cage with lots of small white mice, whose playground activities involved eating, sleeping, and continually revolving on the exercise wheel. Just like one rodent friend—who I named Mr. Happy-Go-Lucky, having a field day back-flipping from the top of the spinning wheel—something happened. Unexpectedly, I found myself airborne.

Not hurt, a sense of disappointment overcame me, plus a bit of confusion, and a whole lot of colorful adjectives too numerous to list. I, mostly known as Hattie Cooks, shook off the pine shavings and joined the rat race. Sometimes, life sucked.

But wallowing? Not a good solution.

Being positive? A better one.

In most cases, a pitstop was a good idea, and I found comfort in my chocolate stockpile. And in most cases, I found empty shelves, for I had little dough to supply my habit due to the loss of my adored job as an assistant buyer at Sommerville’s top-class department store, Tucker’s, and the subsequent low-paying temporary ones I reluctantly took in the interim. Due to the expenses of rent, food, utilities, budgeting became my new compadré. However, for my recent birthday, Mom suggested friends and family provide me with treats. They were generous—gifting lots and lots of my favorite M&Ms in vast colors and flavors.

Mom’s idea totally rocked as the best birthday gift ever.

From outside my door, I heard Allan Wellborn smack the doorframe.

“You know how to find me.”

I roused from my ruminations and banged my forehead against the wall.

About the Author:

Funny, sweet, and quirky, Vicki Batman’s stories are full of her hallmark humor, romance, and will delight all readers. She has sold many award-winning and bestselling romantic comedy works to magazines and most recently, three humorous romantic mysteries. An avid Jazzerciser. Handbag lover. Mahjong player. Yoga practitioner. Movie fan. Book devourer. Cat fancier. Best Mom ever. And adores Handsome Hubby.

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Amazon Author Page | Goodreads | Instagram | Bookbub

Buy the book at Amazon.

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Filed Under: Guest Blogs, Mystery/Suspense Tagged With: , , ,

Winter Blogfest: Diane L Bator

December 30, 2020 By 5 Comments

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win an ebook copy of The Bakery Lady. Simply comment on my post and tell me your favourite holiday treat!.

Pepto Bismol Christmas Cookies

Growing up, my mom always made Christmas special and I vowed that I would do the same when my three kids were born. Nothing says Christmas like a six month old and a cat rolling around beneath the tree knocking ornaments off, right? Or my personal favorite, Nerf wars around the Christmas tree. Now that they’re grown up and on their own, the tree is safer but the holidays will be much different. But there are some things will remain the same even if they’re done from afar.

Over the years, I’ve adopted a few recipes that I’ve made my own and now have to mail to my kids:

  • Nuts and bolts are a staple that everyone asks for. 
  • Who can resist caramel popcorn warm from the oven? It’s just as addictive cold too.
  • Gingerbread cookies are another favourite.
  • Pepto Bismol sugar cookies…

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Yup, you read that right.

One year I tried to make sugar cookies and tinted half the batch red to make into candy canes. The red didn’t work so well. It turned bright pink. The cookies, however, became an instant hit. The kids have stories of teachers who ate them in class while teaching, we have friends who ate them all before they even went home, and I can attest to eating more than my fair share. I’ve never made plain white sugar cookies since.

When the kids were younger, we also made gingerbread houses a few years in a row, including a large gingerbread church for a wonderful woman who used to babysit the kids. She shared it with her family for Christmas that year.  Those gingerbread houses were the inspiration for my novel The Bakery Lady where Christina Davidson struggles with building the perfect gingerbread house, or any gingerbread house for that matter! All I had to do was recall the very first house I built and a story was born.

While the instructions for the gingerbread houses require a little more detail. I’d love to share my Pepto Bismol Cookie recipe. I hope you enjoy!

Peppermint Christmas Cookies (aka Pepto Bismol Cookies)

Sift together in one bowl and reserve:

2 ¾ cups flour

1 tsp baking powder

½ tsp salt

Put:  ¾ cup soft margarine in large bowl.

Add: 1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp peppermint extract

Beat with mixer or wooden spoon until mixture is light and fluffy.

Beat in flour mixture blending until smooth.

Chill 1 hour or until firm.

Roll out onto floured surface to 1/8-inch thickness.

Cut with cookie cutters.

Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown.

Decorate as desired.

 

Happy Holidays!

Diane Bator

From the moment Leo Blue meets the local tattoo artist’s sister Christina, he’s drawn into a web of bread dough and lies. Christina Davidson has returned to Packham with a duffle bag full of secrets. Leo soon discovers her biggest secret is Christina’s alter ego and her husband, who stands accused of murdering an up-and-coming artist. He promises to help set things straight and plans to bring husband and wife together for Christmas—even if it costs him his sanity and the love of his life.

Diane Bator is the author of several mystery novels—and series. She’s a member of Crime Writers of Canada, Sisters in Crime Toronto, International Thriller Writers and the Writers Union of Canada. When she’s not writing, she works in a small, professional theatre which will one day be subjected to immortality in a whole new series.

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter

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Sommerville Holidays Too by Vicki Batman – Spotlight and Giveaway

November 25, 2020 By 4 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Vicki Batman will be awarding a handbag (US Only) to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Love blossoms in the small town of Sommerville in these heartwarming holiday tales, filled with fun and forever possibilities.

The Great Fruitcake Bake-off: When five-time baking champion Samantha Greene teams up with new neighbor, Dixon Roberts, for The Great Fruitcake Bake-off, they discover baking a prize-winning entry is complicated, bad guys are plotting to take the crown, and first prize isn’t just about a ribbon.

Christmas Romeo: When two feuding co-workers win Christmas river cruises at the company holiday party, they discover each other isn’t so bad after all.

Twinkle Lights: When the owner of a Christmas tree stand, which benefits the children’s hospital, has a heart attack, a do-gooder and a reformed high school delinquent turned lawyer show their holiday spirit and staff the business. The twosome meet the challenges of running the establishment; yet, when revenue goes missing, fingers are pointed.

Enjoy an Excerpt from The Great Fruitcake Bake-off:

“I’m not entering this year.” I pinned an unbreakable stare on Bethany, my co-worker and long-time friend, who lived in the same apartment complex as me. We arrived early for work and piddled over coffee in her cubical like we always did before diving into the nuts and bolts of company business. Standing firm, I crossed my arms. “Period.”

Bethany rolled her eyes in the “I’m so not believing this” fashion and tweaked the Santa garland decorating her cube’s walls. “Why not, Samantha? You should be proud to be the five-time winner of The Great Fruitcake Bake-off. You’re a-a”–her words trailed off as she searched the ceiling for the ultimate in descriptive–“legend.”

I twitched my black skirt in place, and then I tucked my shoulder-length hair behind my ear. I let loose a long exhale. “Is being a legend in the fruitcake world a good thing?”

About the Author:

Funny, sweet, and quirky, Vicki Batman’s stories are full of her hallmark humor and romance and will delight all readers. Along the way, she has picked up awards and bestsellers. She has sold many romantic comedy works to magazines, several publishers, and most recently, three humorous romantic mysteries. Avid Jazzerciser. Handbag lover. Mahjong player. Yoga practitioner. Movie fan. Book devourer. Chocaholic. Best Mom ever. And adores Handsome Hubby.

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Amazon Author Page | Goodreads | BookBub | Instagram | Mewe | Word by Word

Buy the book at Amazon.

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Filed Under: Guest Blogs, Romance Tagged With: , , ,

Ghastly Ghosts by Teresa Bateman

September 29, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Ghastly Ghosts by Teresa Bateman
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
Genre: Children’s (0 – 6 y.o.), Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal, Historical
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Old Dave inherits a lonely old house from his uncle―a nice enough place, if a bit lonely. One cold night he hears a voice: Ghastly ghosts in the old coal shed! At first he tries to ignore it, but he hears it again and again―Ghastly ghosts in the old coal shed! And when the fireplace runs out of coal, Dave has no choice but to brave the dreaded coal shed…and whatever dwells within. But Old Dave’s got an idea that just might work out for him AND the spirits.

Do ghosts make good roommates?

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I adored this story’s approach to creative problem solving. Most people will never live in a haunted house, but all of us have to deal with occasional conflicts with friends, family members, or whoever else is part of our lives. Old Dave demonstrated how to use humor and cooperation to find solutions that not only work for everyone but might actually make everyone’s lives a little better than they were before, too!

Speaking of humor, this was one of the funniest paranormal stories I’ve ever read. The ghosts were friendly enough to appeal to readers of any age, and their interactions with Old Dave only grew more amusing with each repetition of them doing something that he was sure could be explained away without admitting that there might be spirits on his property after all.

Loneliness can be a heavy emotion to deal with, especially when describing it to small children. I appreciated the way Old Dave’s wish for companionship was addressed. He was given time to show why he didn’t particularly enjoy living alone, but everything was explained in ways that would appeal both to preschoolers as well as to any older kids or adults who may give this book a try.

Ghastly Ghosts was a heartwarming tale that included just the right amount of spookiness for the Halloween season.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Outrun Battlefuture by Will SciFi

September 8, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Outrun Battlefuture by Will SciFi
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Young Adult (14 – 18 y.o.), Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Action/Adventure
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

WHAT IF YOU HAD TO ESCAPE WAR? ONLY PROBLEM – YOU’RE TRAPPED ON AN ISLAND.

In the year 2082, Noah lives peacefully with millions of kids who go to school and live on the island Trinity. The peace is shattered when news of student abuse is revealed, causing students to protest. As the situation worsens, riots happen, and war breaks out between students and the military which sends the island into absolute chaos.

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How far would you go for freedom?

The action scenes were well written and exciting. I especially liked the portions of the plot that described the battles that went on between the students and Heelers who were essentially a form of law enforcement for these schools. There were some pretty intense moments in these fights, and I couldn’t wait to see how everything would turn out.

I would have liked to see more world building in this novella. There wasn’t a great deal of time spent describing what Trinity, the boarding school where Noah and other children in this society lived between the age of five and eighteen, was like. Having a firm understanding of how kids were treated there was crucial for me to understand why Noah and his friends were so quick to revolt when they found out what had really happened to their missing classmates. The basic framework for a compelling story were definitely there. I simply needed concrete details to help me make the leap from what appeared to be a fairly contented life for them to outright revolution.

The dialogue felt natural to me. It was interesting to see how the characters’ speaking patterns changed depending on how much danger they were in at the moment. They went from speaking full sentences to getting their points across as quickly and quietly as possible. That’s exactly how people tend to react in frightening situations in real life in my experience, so it was nice to see it represented in fiction, too.

Anyone who loves gun battles and action in general should give Outrun Battlefuture a shot, pun intended.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , ,

LASR Anniversary Scavenger Hunt: Temporarily Employed by Vicki Batman

August 28, 2020 By 1 Comment


Thanks for joining us on our 13th anniversary scavenger hunt! There are two ways to enter to win and it’s easy to play– first read the blurb below, then answer the question on the first Rafflecopter. You might win a $100 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC. Follow and visit authors social media pages on the second Rafflecopter and you’re entered to win another $100 Amazon/BN GC!

New Job. New Love. And Murder.

Hattie Cook’s dream job is down the toilet and her new SUV violated. Desperate for cash to cover the basic necessities of rent and food, she takes a temporary job where she uncovers an embezzling scam tied to the death of a former employee–the very one she replaced.

When the police determine there’s more to the death of a former Buy Rite employee, Detective Allan Charles Wellborn steps in to lead the investigation. Overly dedicated, always perfect, he puts his job first, even if doing so ultimately hurts the one he loves.

Can the killer be found before Hattie’s time is up?

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Scavenger Hunt:

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Drop Dead Cowboy by Diane Bator

August 19, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Drop Dead Cowboy by Diane Bator
Publisher: BLW Publishing
Genre: Suspense/Mystery/Thriller, Contemporary
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Snowdrop

Audra Clemmings loves Halloween. At least until she sees the display of voodoo dolls in the shop next door that resembles nearly everyone in Sugarwood, Ontario–including her.

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This was not what I thought it was going to be. After some thought, I realized from the title it might be a romance which is not one of my favorite genres. In my mind I began thinking it might be about a “drop dead gorgeous” cowboy. I was pleasantly surprised to find out this was not the case. What this turned out to be was a light, and somewhat witty, cozy mystery. Any mystery is much more my thing.

Have you ever seen one of the episodes of Midsomer Murders? The town always seems to be having a festival. Drop Dead Cowboy is the same except this is a Halloween Festival with the skeletons, costumes, and all the makings of Halloween decorations. And even better, all the candy too. This Festival turned out to have a real murder as a decoration of sorts.

I mentioned Midsomer Murders because of its quaint village and Bator seems to draw the same type of picture here but with her own description. Her characters become fun and all have enough description to make the reading pleasant.

All in all this is an easy read. The type to curl up on the couch with.

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