Review: A Tale Of Light And Shadow ~ Secrets Of Neverak ~ by Jacob Gowans

Blurb-
Henry Vestin always believed that, despite being a carpenter with no training in swordplay or survival, he could lead Isabelle and his friends to safety. He thought he could defy an emperor and protect Isabelle from harm. He was certain that love and friendship would help them survive.

He was wrong.

The second volume in the Tale of Light and Shadow series follows Henry and his friends after the disastrous battle at the Iron Pass. Horrors await the band of travelers in strange new lands. Crippled and broken, Henry must rely on his friends more than ever. New allies and foes find them at every turn, but which are friendly and which are deadly? Isabelle, now a slave in Neverak, finds herself surrounded by enemies, uncertain about the fate of her friends, and relying on only herself to survive. The Emperor moves forward with his plans of conquest, spurred on by the Seer’s dark prophecy, but he has not forgotten those who defied him.

Return to the world of Atolas, where swords and daggers extend life or end it, where feuds and friendships influence kingdoms and courtships, and where magic is feared by all but a few.

    

Back with Henry, James, Ruther, and Maggie; things are not good and are about to get worse. They will be undergoing things that will push them to the limits of their endurance and sanity. Friendships as well as loyalties will be tested as they make their way to recue Isabelle.

 I loved this book even more than the first, adventure, love, intrigue, everything you could want in a well-rounded tale. I entered this book knowing the words would send me into the story and I would see all the wondrous things the author was showing me with his words. Mission accomplished Mr. Gowans; I saw, I breathed the same air, and went along with the characters for the time of my life.

 I highly recommend this book as well as the first book and the prequel, you won’t go wrong. Charge into a story that will amaze and delight you as it did me. I want to thank Jacob Gowans and Shadow Mountain Publishing for allowing me to read and review for them, I was absolutely entranced! Five glowing stars for Secrets of Neverak.

    

Jacob Gowans is a resident of Arizona, working as a dentist for the Indian Health Services. He is husband to a beautiful wife, and father to four children. When not working or writing, he enjoys watching sports, reading YA novels or long tomes, running, and chasing his kids around the house.

Psion Beta was his first novel, and he is currently working on books in two series: Psion Omega (Psion Series #5) and the sequel to A Tale of Light and Shadow. His favorite music artists are blink-182 (and their spin-offs) and Brandon Flowers. His favorite book is Alexandre Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo, and thinks the greatest film ever made is Dead Poets Society.

He was raised in Papillion, Nebraska, graduated from college with a Bachelor of Arts in theater studies, and moved to Cleveland shortly thereafter for dental school at Case Western Reserve University.

Website * Amazon  * Goodreads * Twitter * Facebook

GHBT- 'Ruined' by Allana Kephart & Melissa Simmons Book Release Blast

Ruined

The Dolan Prophecies Series #1.5 (Novella)

By- Allana Kephart & Melissa Simmons

Publication Date- August 27th, 2015

Genre- New Adult Dystopian/ Dark Faery Tales

Patrick and Maeve Dolan left the safety of their New York human settlement on a sultry summer night and never returned. Ambushed by the Winter Court guards during their search for information on how to free humanity from faery rule, they are now ensnared in the Winter King Landric’s web, and he has some questions of his own.

   

The Winter King is curious about the way the Dolans run their city. In a surprising turn of events, he’s determined to learn all about their 16-year-old son, Eirnin. Landric separates the couple, threatens and tortures to the best of his ability, but the Dolans won’t give up the information he’s after.

       

Murphy, one of King Landric’s guards has been a ward of the Winter Court for as long as he can remember. Trained from childhood to be as quiet and obedient as possible, he’s always been the perfect servant. At least, until Princess Lumi strolled into his life and made him question everything he believes in.

       

When the princess vanishes without a trace in the middle of the night, Landric is determined Patrick’s people had something to do with it. Without the only connection to kindness and humanity they had, Murphy and Patrick both find themselves falling into very different kinds of insanity.

       

Will Murphy follow his heart just this once, choose his own side and find Lumi? Will Patrick’s hope dwindle before he can escape and save his family? Or will their unyielding resistance be the death of them all?

   

GHBT- 'Turn of the Moon' by L.P. Dover Book Release Blast

Turn of the Moon

Royal Shifters Standalone Series

Genre- Paranormal Romantic Suspense

Publication  Date-  August 25th, 2015

One girl. Two wolves. Promised to one. Destined for the other.

To escape the cruel, overbearing, Kade, the Yukon Pack alpha she’s been promised to, Bailey Whitehill flees her home in search of a new life, one of freedom where she can make her own choices. However, Kade will stop at nothing to make her his and begins the hunt.

As Bailey starts her new life, everything she’s known to be true, is not. Time is of the essence and choices have to be made or consequences suffered. Not only does Bailey fear Kade, but another danger lurks deep in the recesses of the forest. Unbeknownst to her, that danger is what she’s been searching for all along. At the turn of the moon, her fate hangs in the balance . . . and it’s up to her to make the right choice.

GHBT- Frost Series by Liz DeJesus Tour- Book Soundtrack

First Frost

The Frost Series Book # 1

By-Liz DeJesus

Publication Date- June 22nd, 2015

Published By - Indie Gypsy

Fairytales aren’t real…yeah…that’s exactly what Bianca thought. She was wrong.

For generations, the Frost family has run the Museum of Magical and Rare Artifacts, handing down guardianship from mother to daughter, always keeping their secrets to “family only.”

Gathered within museum’s walls is a collection dedicated to the Grimm fairy tales and to the rare items the family has acquired: Cinderella’s glass slipper, Snow White’s poisoned apple, the evil queen’s magic mirror, Sleeping Beauty’s enchanted spinning wheel…

Seventeen-year-old Bianca Frost wants none of it, dreaming instead of a career in art or photography or…well, anything except working in the family’s museum. She knows the items in the glass display cases are fakes because, of course, magic doesn’t really exist.

She’s about to find out how wrong she is.

 

GHBT- Oncoming Storm Series by Jay Mims Tour- Excerpt

The Five Santas

The Oncoming Storm Series Book #1

By- Jay Mims

Genre- Mystery, Detective, Cozy

Dan Landis is a private investigator who makes his living peeping in windows and taking compromising photos to make a quick buck. But, even adultery has an off-season, and to make some quick cash, Dan’s been hired by a department store to work as a loss prevention agent.

Then he finds Santa stuffed behind a dumpster. One Santa leads to another, and before he knows it, Dan’s up to his sugar plums in murder, intrigue and holiday cheer. It’s up to Dan to save Christmas, find the Kringle Killer and choose the perfect gift for the quirky blonde in his life.

   

GHBT- 'The Path' by H.K. Savage Book Blast

The Path

By- H.K. Savage

Genre- Paranormal Romance

Magick is real. And there is a secret world complete with its own agency, Veritas, to control those who would wield their power over “regulars”, or threaten the secrecy that keeps them all safe from the persecution that nearly destroyed them. For Cassie, a mixed blood witch, it’s the only world she’s ever known though she’s never embraced her role as agent for Veritas. For Drew, a witch born to a non-magickal family, it answers so many of his questions. It is also the cause of so much loss and pain. And now, as he and Cassie attempt to find his missing brother, rumored to be working with a rogue witch and cult leader, it threatens to take the last of his family. Or will magick save it?

   

GHBT- 'Juliana' by Vanda Cover Reveal

Juliana

By- Vanda

Genre- LGBT/Literary Fiction/Historical

Expected Publication Date-  September 14, 2015

It’s 1941 and Alice “Al” Huffman comes from the potato fields of Long Island with her childhood friends to make it on the Broadway stage, only to find she has no talent. She meets Juliana, the glamorous, perpetually-on-the-brink-of stardom nightclub singer whose voice sounds to her like “warm milk slipping down the whole of my body.”

Juliana, a sexual risk-taker with a secret, easily reels in a mesmerized Al who has never felt a love like this before.  Al is determined to hang onto Juliana no matter what. The only problem is that Juliana is more a woman of her time than Al could ever have expected.

Through Juliana, Al enters a secret world that includes men who wear frilly bathrobes and grass skirts and women who smoke cigars and wear pants with the zippers in the front.  Cameo appearances are made by Liberace, Ethel Merman, Talulah Bankhead, Lauren Bacall, Angela Lansbury and other 1940s celebrities.

GHBT- 'Macyn's Awakening' by S.L. Stacker Release Day Blitz

Macyn’s Awakening

 Macyn McIntyre # 2

Genre-  Romantic Suspense

By- S.L. Stacker

Macyn McIntyre’s search for Richard Jacobs and those involved in her abduction reveals much of her adult life isn’t as she was led to believe. With help from her past and present, she uncovers secrets about those close to her—secrets that may result in certain death for those involved.

New partnerships are forged as others end. Enemies become allies, and friends become enemies. The web of lies carefully constructed by others begins to unravel, allowing Macyn to close in on Jacobs. The deeper she dives into the past, the more she finds herself questioning her actions. Is she doing the right thing? Should she forget about this crazed man and concentrate on her new life with Devon? Death, a marriage proposal, and a phone call will make the decision for her.

Macyn’s Awakening proves life, happiness, and love are worth fighting for.

   

GHBT- 'Bittersweet' by Tyffani Clark Kemp Cover Reveal

Bittersweet

Bittersweet Trilogy #1

By- Tyffani Clark Kemp

Genre- Mature YA Sci Fi/Romance

Expected Publication Date- ?

Welcome to Mother Cora’s, where the offspring of the Kaveesh learn to coexist with humans.

One hundred and twenty years ago, the Kaveesh came to Earth to save the dying planet from a disease that gorged itself on anything in its wake. Buildings crumbled to dust. Soil and plant life were consumed. Two-thirds of the Earth’s population perished.

The only thing the Kaveesh asked in return was to help save their dying race. Breeding programs began and the half-breeds were born.

Lirabel is a half-breed and an overachiever. Despite a few setbacks, she’s scheduled to graduate early from Mother Cora’s and become the Half-breed Ambassador to the Humans.

Enter Jonas. They were best friends until he broke her heart and disappeared five years ago. Now, he’s back, but Lirabel couldn’t care less. There are more important things to worry about…

Like finishing her last year of school and becoming ambassador. Or the half-bred students losing control of their Kaveesh strengths who are being sent into quarantine. Or how the breeding programs are still up and running.

And somehow, Jonas’ bittersweet return is connected to it all.

GHBT- 'Songbird' by Victoria Escobar Book Release Blast

Songbird

By- Victoria Escobar

Genre- New Adult Contemporary Romance

Bianca ran from her past with the hope of being forgotten. Instead of living her dreams, she wasted her skills at a famous entertainment hall in Nashville. An offer to wrangle country music’s infamous bad boy, Nicholas Walker, proved too good to refuse.

However, life on the road presented its own challenges. Walker acted like an overgrown toddler that missed his nap. The band supported her takeover but the massive crew protested answering to a woman. On top of tip toeing around egos, discretion needed to be maintained while feeding Walker’s infamous sexual appetite.

She never expected Walker to focus his wandering eyes on her. When her past returned fighting Walker didn't seem as vital as keeping him alive. Walking away should be easy, but first they must all make it through unharmed.

Add it to your To Read Shelf!

Get Your Copy Here! 

  

GHBT- 'Spyder' by David Fingerman Book Blast

Spyder

By- David Fingerman

Genre- Suspense

Meet Spyder-a street-wise antihero of inner city society. Experience his strange wisdom, and his twisted sense of humor.Thirty-year-old Spyder doesn't waste time thinking how much lower he can sink. When he finds his girlfriend dead as the result of drugs he supplied, Spyder contemplates his life and decides it's time to do what he's avoided most of his days-join mainstream society. All he needs to do is kick the drug habit, find a job, a place to live, and earn some money. Easy. He's done it hundreds of times, but never all at once. As always, Fate steps in and knees him in the groin. All the dregs he's ever known want their say. George won't stop his pestering, Sal needs a huge favor, Coon is hunting for a certain arachnid, and Spyder's dealer doesn't want to lose one of his best customers. As things spiral out of control, Spyder tangles himself in a web so tight that even he might never be able to escape.