Blog Tour : Beyond Time

Title- Beyond Time

Series-Dark Order of the Dragon Book # 2

By- Sandra Bischoff

Genre- Paranormal Romance

Published By- Bayou Brew Publishing

Publication Date-May 27, 2014

 Blurb-

Christian Lancelot Du Lac was never one to take a situation seriously. Growing up he had always been the comedic relief to Jared Bonatelli’s brooding nature. Now, just as The Dark Order welcomes Jared as its new Prince, Du Lac is informed that he must become a first in command the future King can truly rely on. When he repeatedly fails in his attempts to prove himself, Lance is thrown back in time to where his life began, Camelot. What he finds there is more than he could have bargained for.

Drawn to the forest surrounding Camelot, Lady Elizabeth Payne searches for something that seems just out of her reach. Tormented by a pair glowing eyes in the mist she steals away in the middle of the night to find their owner. Thieves, a wolf and the most infuriating savior she has ever met turn her simple world upside down. But it’s the attraction she feels to the newcomer that truly takes her by surprise. Learning that he is Christian Du Lac, the long lost son of the First Knight himself peaks her curiosity even more.

Now on the cusp of meeting her betrothed for the first time, Elizabeth’s heart has been claimed by another. But even a betrothal written in blood is no match for fate.

For Lance and Elizabeth, the odds are stacked against them. Their worlds are destined to remain forever apart. Can time heal all wounds or will the fates change their course and let the star crossed lovers find each other once again?

Quick note here, I was going to review the first book, but have done the second as it is the one being highlighted here!

*** Kj Says ***

 Wow, just wow. This book ramped up in a big way. Lance without a doubt is a hunkasaurus, and his background story is ahmazing. Meeting Elizabeth was a joy also, what a strong woman, she faces everything without a big show of fear. Camelot, King Arthur, Lancelot, sigh , sigh , sigh. Sandra Bischoff has grabbed my heart and she has it hostage. The first book was good, this book even better!

 This story is well written and holds enough history to fascinate the reader. The imaginings of this time period are always without a doubt some of the finest ever. Magic, battles, knights, ladies, the whole thing is wonderful. Oh the wonders that lay in store, and Sandra makes it as believable as it can be. I highly recommend this book to paranormal fans, it has a touch of vampires, shifters, magicians and others. Please do not hesitate to get this book, it just plain is good!

Sandi Bischoff lives in the historic town of Cornwall, NY with her husband, son and a menagerie of Dragons all of whom have their own distinct personalities. She is a Pharmacist by profession but finally found her true calling in a simple twist of fate. A friend approached her to write for a character in a forum on a popular networking website and over the next five years her passion had found its niche. She then went on to compose a few poems and short stories which she would post on her homepage at the same networking site. Recently one of those poems was chosen to be published in a compilation called Collected Whispers.

Her first manuscript entitled Beyond the Sun was another short story gone wild. It has recently been picked up by Bayou Brew Publishing and was released on April 1st.

        

Website

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Daughters of Zeus Audio Book Tour: Daughter of the Earth and Sky

Now available in audio format for your hearing pleasure!!

Here is my review of the second book of the series: Daughter of the Earth and Sky. 

"Love this series!"

Overall

Performance

Story

What made the experience of listening to Daughter of the Earth and Sky the most enjoyable?

It is so nice to be able to sit, listen and rest while listening to a wonderful story. It is also nice to listen while you do anything that you deem boring, makes time pass in a much more agreeable manner.

What did you like best about this story?

I love the depth of Hades and Persephone's feelings, and in this book they come to the forefront. I also love seeing Persephone deal with the issues that arise from being a Goddess.

What three words best describe Kaitlin Bevis’s performance?

Emotional, intense, rushed. To clarify slightly, I felt she rushed just a bit on this book, not enough to be unenjoyable, just faster than I liked.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Hades & Persephone finally say I love you to each other, my heart just overflowed.

Author info, book links and my ebook review available here!!

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Release Day Blitz: An American Girl in Italy

An American Girl in Italy

By- Aubrie Dionne

Genre- Contemporary Romance

Publication Date- May 29th, 2014

Published By- Harper Impulse

An Italian paradise is the last thing she wants... but the one thing she needs!

Surely any girl would kill for the chance to tour Italy’s most famous cities for the summer? To experience the warmth of the Tuscan sun, the culinary delights of the pizzerias and caffés and to stroll along the cobbled streets of the City of Love itself...

Any girl apart from ambitious oboist Carly Davis that is! For her, the Easthampton Civic Symphony’s latest European tour is one massive inconvenience. She can’t even put her smartphone down long enough to snap a picture of the Coliseum.

Only, there’s one Italian attraction that Carly hadn’t quite expected to be a part of the tourist route...

Tour guide Michelangelo is as dark and delicious as Carly’s morning espresso. And when she needs a few lessons in the language of love to land her an important gig, he’s a more than capable tutor.

But with her promising career back in Boston, can Carly really afford to lose her heart in Italy?

  

Release Day Blitz: He Found Me

He Found Me

By- Whitney Barbetti

Publication Date- May 29, 2014

When I was seventeen, I disappeared. I walked out the door of my apartment with a backpack and never looked back. I left the life of Cora Mitchell behind, seeking freedom from my real-life nightmare.

But my freedom came with a cost. I lived a fictitious life for the next six years, never letting anyone close enough to see underneath the façade that was Andra Walker.

I was content with my simple little life.

Until I met Julian.

And the moment I started allowing myself to open up, allowing someone to see through the superficial, was the very same moment the Monster from my past would return to find me.

    

Audio Book Tour: Daughters of Zeus Series by Kaitlin Bevis

Hi! This is something new to us, we are doing an audio book tour. So I am going to turn things a little upside down and see what happens. Please enjoy the post and support our lovely author!!

Kaitlin Bevis spent her childhood curled up with a book, and a pen. If the ending didn't agree with her, she rewrote it. She's always wanted to be a writer, and spent high school and college learning everything she could so that one day she could achieve that goal. She graduated college with a BFA in English with a concentration in Creative Writing, and is pursuing her masters at the University of Georgia.

Her young adult series "Daughters of Zeus" is available wherever ebooks are sold. She also writes for truuconfessions.com and Athens Parent Magazine.

Now in Audio Format and ready for your hearing pleasure:

*** Kj Says ***

"Love mythology!"

Overall

Performance

Story

Where does Persephone rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Since Persephone was the first audio book I have listened to since way back when I will say audio books have come very far since those days. So it will be rated first in line for now.

What did you like best about this story?

I love the enthusiasm with which Kaitlin Bevis speaks, the way her voice got excited, quiet or whatever needed to set the tone.

Have you listened to any of Kaitlin Bevis’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is the first for now, I am moving on to the next in the series so I will let you know.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Have you ever wondered what realizing you are a Goddess would feel like?

Any additional comments?

I would recommend having this audio book around for those times you would like to be reading but can't stop to read, such as; exercising, car trips, doctor's office. I am sure you get the point.

Purchase your audio book:

My post with the ebook review and other links!

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Author Interview: Aqua by M.A. George

Title- Aqua

By- M.A. George

Genre- YA Paranormal

Publication Date- April 16th, 2014 

Blurb-

Meet Layla McKelland: 

Novelist (unpublished, but cut her some slack…seventeen is a bit early to despair),

Slightly neurotic introvert (Alright, let’s be honest…there’s no “slightly” about it),

International Woman of Mystery, and…

Okay, just scratch the bio.

The only real “mystery” in Layla’s life is why her father has never been on the scene.  Or why her mother drags Layla to a new coastal home every year.

Nothing about the latest hometown seems too newsworthy…until a routine day at the beach leaves Layla questioning whether she’s read one too many paranormal fantasy novels.  The plot thickens when a random guy claims to know things about her father—a bizarre claim he backs up with an equally impossible stunt.  And Layla soon finds herself on the wrong side of a mysterious attempted drowning…on her own kitchen floor.

When all is done, Layla will attest that fact is far stranger than fiction.  And nothing in real life is ever as transparent as it seems…Not even water.

Especially not water.

      

 Author Interview

1. Where do you come up with the ideas for your books, they are so different than anything else out there?

Thank you, Kj!  I suppose it’s a testament to the bizarre inner workings of my brain.  These images just pop up somewhere in the back of my mind—almost like little snippets of a movie trailer—and I’m compelled to play through “the rest of the story” in my head.  Who are these characters?  What are their names?  Why did that guy just turn into a puddle, and is he really a psychopath or just misunderstood?  Once I have a premise in mind, thus begins the mad frenzy of typing to put the story into words.  

2. You make me want to write because I adore out of the box thinking, what advice would you give a beginner?

Best compliment ever.  Thanks!  Out-of-the-box thinking is definitely a great place to start.  I would say, don’t be afraid to run with your imagination.  Before I truly began writing novels, I spent far too long waiting for The Perfect Plot Idea to arrive.  I thought I needed to have the whole storyline brilliantly conceived before I began word one.  Now I realize that just taking an idea and running with it sparks off so many more creative ideas, and the story will take shape as you go along.  In other words, don’t wait for all the details to fall into place before you start.  Just start.  You might surprise yourself at how quickly the wheels start spinning.  And if you realize something just isn’t falling into place, you can always go back and ax it later.

3. Did you see the story in your head before you started writing or did it just blindside you one day?

New story ideas very randomly pop into my brain, usually when I’m not necessarily trying to think of a new premise.  I have absolutely no idea where they come from.  The idea for Aqua brewed in my head for a good while; because at the time, I was still working on completing my Proximity series.  I typed up a very rough outline with random thoughts, then shoved the file it into the “new projects” folder on my desktop until I was ready to turn my full attention to it.  We’re not going to talk about the initial working title for Aqua.  So bad.  Beyond bad.  Ridiculous, way-too-long, not-even-a-real-word bad. 

4. Are you a water baby, do you need to be near water?

I love the water and love to swim, but sadly I’ve never actually lived near a body of water (unless you count the dried-up creek behind my childhood home).  Nor have I ever lived in a home with a pool.  Scandalous, really.  I’m working on moving the fam to a quiet, secluded island somewhere in the Pacific.  All I have left to do is buy a winning lottery ticket and pack our bags.  Plus find an unoccupied island with magical access to a grocery store.  And an avocado tree.  I love avocados. 

5. Was there a lot of research with this book or did you wing some of it?

Plenty of winging it (that’s the joy of paranormal fiction), but actually a surprising amount of research went into Aqua too.  I read quite a bit about the Earth’s oceans—depth, temperatures, sea life, the history of deep sea exploration—and even wound up delving into biology and physics (I can actually quote the meanings of “homeoviscous adaptation” and “terahertz radiation”, but I’m pretty sure I’ll forget them by next week).  When I was looking for the right way to describe the language spoken by several of the characters, I listened to YouTube videos of people speaking Brazilian Portuguese and Ukrainian.   Sadly, I still cannot speak a lick of either.  And Google maps are the best thing ever.  LOVE the satellite images and street-level views.  While some of the locations described in the book are familiar to me, I’ve never actually visited Greenland.  Tried to talk the hubby into a field-research trip, but he didn’t go for it.  Maybe once I pick up that winning lottery ticket…

I want to take a moment and thank M.A. George for the wonderful interview and the terrific new book! Next up, my review of Aqua.

*** Kj Says ***

 Layla is just your ordinary 17 year old who just happens to move every year on her birthday. She is a book lover & writer, oh yes did I mention her homes are always near water? This year the move includes a cute boy, water, some questions to her sanity, water, and then full blown amazement. Come join the ride that is Layla’s life!

 M.A. George has a knack of writing her books so you feel like you are in the grasp of a warm loving friend. You sink into the storyline to absorb the words and you are almost unaware that you feel like you are living them. Finishing her book feels like something wonderful has ended and you really need it back…now. This book is absolutely awesome and I will gladly recommend it. Many thanks to the author for supplying me with her book to read and review.

About the Author-

M. A. George is part proud mother of two adorable children, part super top secret agent…Oops, probably just lost that job.

Writing is what keeps her up into the wee hours of the night.  Fortunately, she has a lot of energy (Read: caffeine is her friend).  She has a bit of an obsession with music (It does a fantastic job of tuning out rambunctious children while she attempts to focus).

She sincerely hopes people out there enjoy reading her work as much as she enjoys writing it.  And if anyone hears of work for a super top secret agent, she’s now available (Discretion guaranteed…).

          

Website

  

Book Blitz: The Coach's Wife

The Coach’s Wife

By- Barbara Casey

Genre- Mystery/Suspense

Publication Date- March 2014

Published By- Archebooks Publishing

Another deafening roar exploded from the coliseum, and when it did Marla threw down her partially smoked cigarette and ground it into the polished tile floor with the toe of her shoe.  Quickly she reached for another cigarette from the opened pack in her small red handbag.  She lit it, sucked the smoke into her mouth, held her breath, coughed, and then slowly released it.  Marla didn't smoke, but when she paced up and down the hallways of basketball coliseums, puffing on cigarettes seemed appropriate.  It gave her something to do with her hands, and it helped keep her sane. 

Marla Connors, recently married to head basketball coach Neal Connors, travels with her husband to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where the Piedmont State University Coyote team is playing in the NCAA Finals.  Marla has not been accepted by the Coyotes, that loyal bunch of fans who follows the university team, partly because she is almost twenty years younger than Coach Connors and a divorcée, but also because the fans are afraid she will distract her husband from his duties as head coach.  They see her as someone who married Coach Connors just for his money.  Only Gale, the older wife of assistant coach Stu Simmons, goes out of her way to be a friend to Marla.

The Coyote team is plagued with problems from the very beginning of the season, and when they finally manage to reach the NCAA Finals, it's even worse.  Their center is caught using drugs, Athletics Director Charlie Morgan, who is also in Albuquerque for the games, makes a pass at Marla in her hotel room, and Coach Connors comes down with the flu.  No one believes that State can win the big game.

 With so much happening, Marla can't shake the feeling that something evil is taking over her life.  She tries to convince herself that it is emotional anxiety left over from the abuse she experienced during her first marriage to Dr. Martin Andrews and that the stress from the tournament has brought it once again to the surface.  She soon learns, however, that the evil is real and it threatens not only everything she loves, but her very life.

Illegal drugs, illicit affairs, murder, and scandal that shakes the entire university system are woven inextricably into Marla’s life until eventually she comes face to face with her real tormentor.  It is only then that she realizes the full depth of her love for her husband--and his love for her.