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Archive for August, 2021

Population Zero

Posted in 3 Star Books on August 27, 2021| 2 Comments »

Population Zero

by Fran Lewis

August 1-31, 2021 Tour

Synopsis:

Population Zero by Fran Lewis
Imagine a forest so dense and so filled with trees that you cannot see anything but darkness. The smell of the dead leaves, the creatures that lived there, and the stench they created. Imagine smashed windows and abandoned satellite dishes and blocks of plaster all over the ground. Imagine… What might the world be like if humans were suddenly to disappear? In Population Zero by Fran Lewis, we experience several post-human worlds through the eyes of people who were allowed to visit for one day. A world covered in ice, a world in complete darkness, a world where deserts are plentiful, and others… Get a glimpse of what our planet would look like if humans stopped existing. Get a glimpse of the future.

Book Praise:

“Fran Lewis’s newest offering is a polished, razor-sharp double-edged sword. On one hand, it is reminiscent of the old Twilight Zone series and just as chilling. On the other, it is a poignant reminder of just how precious and fragile human life on this planet truly is. A riveting read.” — Vincent Zandri, New York Times and USA Today bestselling Thriller and Shamus Award winning author of The Girl Who Wasn’t There and the Dick Moonlight PI series. “Population Zero creatively focuses on the damage being done by Covid 19 as it ravages the human race, and our inability to deal with climate change.” — Allan Topol, national best selling author of The French Revenge

Book Details:

Genre: Science Fiction Published by: Atmosphere Press Publication Date: June 26th 2021 Number of Pages: 76 ISBN: 163752868X (ISBN13: 9781637528686) Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Read an excerpt:

My name is Ella, and I will be your guide and voice as you take the journey with me into the future. I am an ethereal being that is not alive but has been chosen by those above to help you, the humans, understand what is going to happen if you do not work together, follow the guidelines for the virus, and learn to live in harmony. Remember, these worlds are the imagination of the author, and she wants you to really think about what she has created. You can decide if you would want to live in any of the worlds she imagined in her mind. What if you were asked to be the only human to experience one of these worlds if you could travel back for a short while? Welcome to your future. Think about it and decide. Sometimes I think the world would be better off without humans. For many reasons in the worlds created, people fled and abandoned their homes. Desert areas became common, providing people with the sand, the hot sun, and not even a trace of water. Recent scenes show nuclear exclusion zones, urban neighborhoods burned out, and nowhere to escape. Think about this: A forest so dense and so filled with trees that you cannot see anything but darkness. The smell of the dead leaves, the creatures that lived there, and the stench they created are worse than the smoke from a five-alarm fire. Imagine a sandstorm that plows across a highway and darkens the daylight sky, making it hard for drivers to see even an inch in front of them. Smashed windows and abandoned satellite dishes and blocks of plaster all over the ground. The world — Population Zero…a look into the future. What if this really does happen? *** Excerpt from Population Zero by Fran Lewis. Copyright 2021 by Fran Lewis. Reproduced with permission from Fran Lewis. All rights reserved.

Author Bio:

Fran Lewis
‪Fran worked in the NYC Public Schools as the Reading and Writing Staff Developer for over 36 years. She has three master’s degrees and a PD in Supervision and Administration. Currently, she is a member of Who’s Who of America’s Teachers and Who’s Who of America’s Executives from Cambridge. In addition, she is the author of three children’s books and a fourth that has just been published on Alzheimer’s disease in order to honor her mom and help create more awareness for a cure.‪ Fran is the author of 19 titles and completed by the titled A Daughter’s Promise. Fran has 6 titles in her Faces Behind the Stones series and her magazine is MJ magazine. She was the musical director for shows in her school and ran the school’s newspaper. Fran writes reviews for authors upon request and for several other sites. Her network if MJ network on Blog Talk Radio. You can also find her reviews on just reviews on WordPress. Her latest titles are Sisters : two sisters from the Bronx, What If? and Silent Voices in her Faces Behind the Stones series and the present one Population Zero. ‬ ‪

Catch Up With Our Author: Tillie49.wordpress.com     Goodreads     BookBub     Instagram – @berthatillie49 Twitter – @franellena     Facebook

My Review

3 stars

Fran Lewis presents a very descriptive idea of what our world could look like post virus. No oxygen, no water, nothing but death all around. It is a bleak look at where our world could go. Of course, this is based after Covid and how it caused the world to end. There were a couple things that caught my attention and made the stories drag a little. But this is a quick read, and you will get through it shortly. If you like apocalyptic stories, you will find yourself right at home in this dark and dangerous world. It is an interesting look at a dark topic. I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and share this book.

Tour Participants:

Visit these other great hosts on this tour for more great reviews & guest posts! https://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=302525

Get More Great Reads at Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours

I would like to thank Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours for the opportunity to read and share this book.

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Shadowspeak

Posted in Uncategorized on August 20, 2021| Leave a Comment »

 

 

Realm of Skuggar Series, Book 1

Dark Fantasy

Date Published: February 21, 2021

Publisher: Fox Pointe Publishing LLC

 

 

Rune’s mother is uncaring and her brother is too young to protect her, so when Rune’s father sells her to the depraved city of Wraith at the young age of ten, no one stops him. His last words to her are of a debt he cannot pay. The shadows who’ve kept Rune company as long as she can remember seem to know what he speaks of and yet they keep their silence.

And so Rune grows up living in servitude to Wraith’s brothel and its manipulative mistress, Agata, all while having only the faintest recollections of her forgotten childhood. Years later when she finally escapes Wraith, a wild place wrapped up in hedonism and old world ritual, she vows to never return…

When a child prince is kidnapped by a masked killer in a neighboring kingdom, however, Rune no longer has a choice. Joined by Weylin, her old love and a fellow Wraith runaway, she returns to the accursed city and the shadows of her past.

Not all is as it seems as threads of memory begin to unravel, revealing old lies and dark secrets.

The debt of her past may be too high to pay.

The shadows are speaking.

Death is waiting.

Purchase Links

Amazon Paperback     Amazon Hardcover     Amazon Kindle     Publisher

Excerpt

I glance at the waiting shadows, my only friends in a world full of change and want and darkness.

Help. Please help.

The air in the circle grows thick as they press closer, seeking a way in. Their threads tangle and knot together, weaving among the circle’s branches …

Nothing.

The gray skuggi presses forward in determination, clawing at the resistance between us; a bead of sweat trails down my spine at its lack of success—at the futility and hopelessness.

And then Papa turns back to me.

“Rune … a debt … I cannot pay.” His eyes roll and I see their whites.

He speaks of the skuld.

A shadow snaps back, She cannot know of it—not yet.

About the Author

 

Raven Eckman is an author, freelance editor, and overall literary fangirl. She always knew books were her passion, well before her grandmother’s challenge to read a book a day when she was young.

She obtained her B.A. in English with a concentration in Creative Writing from Arcadia University. Since 2016, and the launch of her editing business in 2018: A New Look On Books, she’s been working with a range of authors, both self-published and traditionally published, on short stories and novels from horror to contemporary in YA and Adult fiction.

Shadowspeak is Raven’s debut novel. She is currently working on her second novel.

She lives in Pennsylvania with her fluffy pup, Atlas.

Contact Links

Website     Facebook     Twitter     Blog     Goodreads     Instagram     Publisher

Giveaway 4

Enter  HERE for your chance to win an eBook copy of Shadowspeak.

 
RABT Book Tours & PR
 
I would like to thank RABT Book Tours and PR for the opportunity to share this book.

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The Wars Between Us

Posted in General Information on August 10, 2021| Leave a Comment »

 
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The Wars Between Us (The Olason Chronicles) by J.A. Boulet
 
Publication Date: June 18th, 2021
Genre: Historical Fiction/ Historical Romance
 
Meet Zachary Olason, a bad boy struggling on the brink of alcoholism. During the Great Depression, Zack loses himself and spirals into nights of debauchery, riots and drunkenness. His twin brother, Adam, thinks lowly of him as his entire family struggles to help him.
 
But Zack is determined to make a mess of his life.
 
Until he meets a beautiful petite woman, half Cree and part British, who helps him to grow into a better version of himself.
 
Then just as he thinks life is getting better, he sinks to the bottom of hell. Will he survive from his own self-destruction?
 
The only way he sees out is to join the Canadian Navy.
 
The Battle of the Atlantic will either teach him or break him.
 
 
THE WARS BETWEEN US
 
With action packed adrenaline and steamy love scenes, The Wars Between Us will keep you gripped to your seat on a ride of addiction, unwavering love and the fight to stay alive during WWII.
 
Twitter Tags: @love_walk_life @RRBookTours1 #RRBookTours
IG Tags: @jabouletauthor @shannon_rrbooktours #thewarsbetweenus #rrbooktours
 
 
About the Author
 
 

J A Boulet was born and raised in Western Canada. Both her parents were landed immigrants from Hungary, a direct result of the mass emigration during the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. J A Boulet was born many years later as a Generation Xer and, more importantly, a first-generation Canadian.

She started writing poetry at the age of five. As she grew older, her high school teachers; noticing her talent, strongly encouraged her to write. She began writing short stories and astonished her teachers. During high school, she was intensely interested in Shakespeare and was often found reading with a book always in her hands.

Many years later, she finished writing several poetry collections, with romantic and major life event themes. She soon won poetry contests, participating in several poet strolls and was published in numerous poetry anthologies.

J A Boulet later wrote her first historical fiction novel, based in Budapest during WWII. She finished and copyrighted this rough first novel. It wasn’t perfect but the seeds of history were planted.

J A Boulet is currently active with several writer’s groups and colleges. She attended Photojournalism at Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in Calgary, Alberta.

Recently, she has published her newest historical fiction novel in The Olason Chronicles series, The Strong Amongst Us, an epic story beginning in 1875 following Icelandic explorers in Canada. The sequel, The Strong Within Us, is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2020.

J A Boulet lives in Canada with her two teenage sons and a crested gecko named Mossio. They spend their summers at their cottage on Lake Winnipeg, the area that inspired J A Boulet to write her two most recent novels. 

Follow her on Twitter, Reddit and Instagram for random excerpts and posts on history, love, fitness and relationships. Her Amazon author page can be found at Amazon Author Page Subscribe here for updates and special book offers.

 
I would like to thank R&R Book Tours for the opportunity to share this book.
 

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The Message on the 13th Floor

Posted in Uncategorized on August 5, 2021| Leave a Comment »

YA Paranormal Mystery

Date Published: May 25, 2021

Publisher: Fire & Ice Young Adult & New Adult Books

 

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When Meghan’s mother suddenly disappears without a trace, she and her two little sisters are the first to notice, and the only ones who seem to care…

The problem, of course, is that her mother likes to party, so when she goes missing, Meghan not only has to take care of everything at home, but she also has to search for her, because her mom has a bad habit of disappearing, so no one else is officially looking. That is until Meghan begins to receive mysterious messages, almost as if someone or something is guiding her to a haunted hotel in Manhattan, where people say an elevator game will take riders to the mysterious 13th floor. Some say it’s an entrance to hell, others a portal to another dimension. Either way, Meghan must brave the game in hopes of discovering the truth behind her mother’s disappearance.

Purchase Links

Amazon     Barnes and Noble     Kobo     Smashwords

iBooks     Google Play     Goodreads     Scribd

About the Author

Winter is an award-winning author who lives in the moment and loves nothing more than being surrounded by her family, her fur-babies, and a ton of great reads! When she doesn’t have her nose stuck in a book, she’s usually thinking up far away, fantastical worlds or she’s cooking up a storm in the kitchen!

Because of her love for all things literary, Winter pursued a Master of Arts degree in English Literature and Creative Writing. Professionally, she is a manuscript editor and, in her spare time, she enjoys posting book and movie reviews.

In her private time, she is an avid reader of science fiction, fantasy, and paranormal romances, and one day she hopes to inspire young readers in the same way her favorite authors continue to inspire her today.

Contact Links

Amazon Author Central     Facebook     Goodreads     Instagram     NetGalley

Pinterest     Twitter     Website     YouTube Channel

My Review

4 stars

Meghan Martin has just sworn into the Air Force. She has found her way out of her little town. But she is worried for her two younger sisters. Meghan’s mother has some issues and the main one is wasting money, addiction, and guys. This has led to Meghan stepping up and taking care of her sisters and running the house.

This also means that only Meghan will go looking for her. What she finds is the Bowery Hotel and a secret elevator game that will take you to the 13th floor. But the 13th floor is not what she expected, and she may not be able to save her mom this time.

I liked this story. There were a couple times the pace slowed and I found myself wandering. But I like the mystery and the ending was a good twist. I felt for Meghan and how she was wanting to escape her current life. Although tough, the path to find her mother was one heck of a ride.

I think that anyone that likes mysteries with a paranormal twist will like this book. It is the first book I have read by Winter Lawrence but it will definitely not be my last.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

Enter HERE for your chance to win an eBook copy of The Message on the 13th Floor.

RABT Book Tours & PR
I would like to thank RABT Book Tours and PR for the opportunity to read and share this book.

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Champion’s Quest: The Die of Destiny

Posted in Uncategorized on August 3, 2021| Leave a Comment »

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Champion’s Quest: The Die of Destiny

Publication Date: 8/3/21
Hardcover

ISBN: 978-1-62972-850-6

Retail Price: $17.99

Page Count: 304

Juvenile Fiction / Fantasy & Magic

Cover Illustration: Owen Richardson

Book Design: © Shadow Mountain

Art Direction: Richard Erickson

Design: Sheryl Dickert Smith

 

Synopsis:

Opportunity will always be within reach for those clever enough to claim it.

Lucas Silver’s life is about to change. He thinks it’s because he’s made plans to escape from his foster home and make his way to New York, but then he and some unlikely friends find Hob and Bogie’s Curiosity Shoppe and agree to play a game of Champion’s Quest.

When the four kids walk out the front door of the Curiosity Shoppe, they immediately discover they’re no longer in West Virginia, but transported into the game and a wild fantasy world of dangerous goblins, brutish ogres, and a powerful witch.

They must work together as a team, overcome their real-world weaknesses, and believe in themselves and each other if they are to outwit, outplay, and survive their foes in this ultimate quest to defeat a treacherous monster.

Amazon     Barnes and Noble     Goodreads

About the Author

FRANK L. COLE was born into a family of southern storytellers and wrote his first book at age eight. Some of his favorite stories involve ghosts and Bigfoot. Currently, along with his wife and three children,  he resides in the shadow of a majestic western mountain range. The Die of Destiny is Frank’s thirteenth published book.

He’s an active promoter of reading and using imagination and has presented to more than 250 schools nationwide. As part of his research for Champion’s Quest, he has acquired hundreds of role-playing campaign modules and loves immersing himself in those worlds.

Website     Facebook     Twitter

For author interview requests, please contact Callie Hansen at chansen@shadowmountain.com

Advanced Praise:

 “The Die of Destiny may be one of my favorite reads of the year. I was hooked from page one. With adventure, humor, friendship, and courage, readers will love this middle grade fantasy! By the end, my only question, was ‘Where’s the next book?’”

—Jennifer Nielsen, New York Times best-selling author

My Review

5 stars

Lucas Silver has had enough of foster homes and plans on escaping and heading to New York. But he is not alone, Miles, Jasmine and Vanessa go along with him. As they start their adventure, they find themselves in Hob and Bogies Curiosity Shoppe. There they agree to join a game of Champions Quest. When they group go to leave the curiosity shop, they find themselves in a real-life game of Champion Quest.

Lucas, Vanessa, Miles, and Jasmine are a group of kids that have nothing in common except they find themselves fighting goblins and witches. Lucas and Miles are from the foster home and are best friends and must work through their lack of self-confidence and other issues. Vanessa’s parents own the foster home and has a serious chip on her shoulder. Jasmine is the new girl in school.

The back of the book has a note about it being a combination of Jumanji and D&D, this is a perfect description of this book. I can’t blame the kids for wanting to escape their current situations, I would want to escape myself. Each kid has their own things going on in their lives and I just love watching them come together as a little family throughout their adventures.

This is a great story and I think kids of all ages will enjoy it. I hope they find a little of themselves in at least one of the characters and find an adventure to escape their own world for a while.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

I would like to thank Shadow Mountain Publishing for the opportunity to read and share this book.

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