Search for the Lost Realm ~ Virtual Tour with Giveaway

Search for the Lost Realm
By Kraig Dafoe

This a Varan's story and if ever there was someone less suited to be a hero it is Varan.  He's a carouser, heavy drinker, a thief, a womanizer just to mention a few of his undesirable qualities.

But Varan is a true representative of most of his world, a world that has lost the truth of where it came from when it listened to the lies of the demon Eldrok and offered its souls to the demon rather than to the creator.

When Varan finds a piece of the legendary and long forgotten Divine Tablet, his life is about to change.  He is about embark on a quest to gather the rest of the pieces so that the Divine Tablet may be restored or the world will fall into chaos that will further shatter it.

But is Varan's greedy heart ready to sacrifice rather than take?  Join in the Search for the Lost Realm and discover the truth for yourself.

This would definitely be for the YA reader.  I also think fans of the Inheritance Cycle books would most likely enjoy these books as some of the descriptive portions are written in a similar fashion (lots of details).  Many of the predicaments Varan finds himself in are of his own making or because he ignored his gut feelings.  There are lots of battle scenes which could and some cases cost Varan.

Don't skip the prologue as this explains the current situation on Kantania.

I was provided a copy of this book through Pump Up Your Book! in exchange for my honest review.

ABOUT SEARCH FOR THE LOST REALM

Search for the Lost Realm is an epic journey in which a young man named Varan wants to find a power which has been missing from the world of Kantania for thousands of years.

Varan sets out but soon discovers his true mission is to save the world's creator from a spiritual bond placed upon him by the powerful demon, Eldrok.

From demons to dragons and sorcerers to soldiers, battles erupt and Varan must hurry or the world could be lost to darkness forever.

This story does not consist of action alone as Varan faces dilemmas of the heart, struggles of the flesh and complex issues of the mind.

PURCHASE:

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | ITUNES

ABOUT KRAIG DAFOE

Kraig Dafoe was born in Potsdam, New York and grew up in Canton. He played high school football and joined the United States Army Reserves at the age of seventeen.

Kraig married at the age of nineteen and moved to Virginia Beach, Virginia where he worked as a Private Security officer for The Christian Broadcasting Network and also attended the Tidewater Community College for business.

After five years as a security officer, he became a Deputy Sheriff for the city of Chesapeake Virginia.

Kraig left the Sheriff’s office after nine years of service and pursued a couple of different business opportunities before he went on to publishing his debut novel.

Kraig is the father of five children and he currently resides in Kansas, raising his youngest son.

His latest book is the fantasy/adventure, Search for the Lost Realm.

Visit his website at www.kraigdafoebooks.com

Connect with Kraig:

FACEBOOK

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Pump Up Your Book and Kraig Dafoe are teaming up to give you a chance to win a $100 Amazon Gift Card/Paypal Cash!

Here’s how it works:

Each person will enter this giveaway by liking, following, subscribing and tweeting about this giveaway through the Rafflecopter form placed on blogs throughout the tour.

This promotion will run from April 1 – May 31. The winner will be chosen randomly by Rafflecopter, contacted by email and announced on June 1, 2013.

Visit each blog stop below to gain more entries as the Rafflecopter widget will be placed on each blog for the duration of the tour.

Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

 Link to all the tour stops on the Tour Home Page

When Love Calls ~ Review

When Love Calls
The Gregory Sisters
By Lorna Seilstad

Following the deaths of her parents, 20 year old Hannah Gregory is left with the care of her two younger teenaged sisters.  Caring for her sisters means giving up her dream of becoming a lawyer, but how is she going to support them all?

Hannah uses her determination and learning skills to get a job as a "Hello Girl" if she can follow the rules and pass the training stage.  But when lawyer Lincoln Cole insists on helping the Gregory girls after their farm is foreclosed on, Hannah's ire is raised and she blames Lincoln for the loss of their home.

Set in 1908 When Love Calls is a look at a different world, a world of switchboards and operators who must connect each and every call.  This is such a contrast to the world that we now live in where we can connect almost instantly through cell phones or over a computer.

Hannah is feisty and independent so becoming a Hello Girl is a real trial for her especially having to strictly follow the rules.  Hannah's antics are at times just too much.  She doesn't back down to anyone when she feels she is in the right and she is loyal to those whom she views as friends.

When Love Calls is a delightful step back in time, which were simpler but not necessarily easier.  What's a girl to do when union unrest comes knocking at her door and her sister hides who she is just to capture the heart of a boy?  Needing her parents guidance can Hannah learn to turn to God and rely on someone other than herself, someone like Lincoln?

I love Hannah's risk taking attitude, though she definitely got herself into a few situations that proved taking a risk is sometimes not the best choice.  I can honestly say that I would not have gone up to the top of the capitol and looked over the railing, UGHHH heights!!!

The references made to the story of Ruth added another dimension to the story.  We should all be like Ruth and allow God to cover us with His protection.

If you like historical fiction with a touch of romance you will love When Love Calls.  Take a set back in time as a whole new world of thought, invention, and equality begins to open up but not without a fight.  Enter the world of the Gregory sisters as they reach out to capture their dreams and to triumph over their losses, you will come away with some new friends!

I received a copy of a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Available May 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Tomes of Taria: Kaylen's Rising ~ Virtual Tour with Giveaway

Tomes of Taria: Kaylen's Rising
by Yves Robichard

Kaylen has dreamed about magic and casting spells, but for some reason he can't fathom his parents won't let him learn.  But this isn't the only thing that makes him stand out in the Cave Elf community of Caverna - his father was abnormally tall with l-o-n-g ears and his parents were the only ones who operated a flower/plant/seed/garden supply shop in the city.

But when some children throw a fireball at Kaylen and destroy the flower bed he has been working on, he questions his parents about his isolation.  To Kaylen's surprise his parents allow him to start going to school the next day but he is forbidden to use magic or bring weapons into their home nor is he to discuss what he has learned about them.  For the first time in his life Kaylen will step foot off his family's property!

But Kaylen learns that there is a threat to the Cave Elves from above a race known as humans has attacked them 10 years ago after having driven the elves into the caves of Taria hundreds of years before.  This race had destroyed the peace that had been Taria.

But Kaylen's parents are determined that he won't learn magic, so they requested special training for him - music!  Professor Lannor agrees to train Kaylen secretly in magic instead of music.  When Kaylen seems unable to form the simplest spell, Lannor makes a connection with Kaylen's green eyes that is about to change his life forever!

As battle with the humans looms Kaylen will be faced with a choice - does he embrace the violence of his new life or does he cling to the rearing of his younger years?  Can an outcast become a hero?  Only time will time if they have enough left for Kaylen to discover for himself who he is suppose to be!

The advice that Kaylen's father gives him Remember that respect, compassion, and peace are the key to happiness - not violence would be a piece of advice we would all do well to heed.  I believe that this is a book that would be well liked by both Middle Grade and YA readers.  This is a Fantasy world that won't bombard you with violence even though it deals with a war which is a plus in my opinion.

I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Available for Purchase at:

AMAZON | BARNES and NOBLE

Tomes of Taria: Kaylen's Rising

Kaylen Amdir has been living in the dark for fourteen years - in every sense. His people are hunted on the surface world, so they must struggle to survive within underground caves. His community hates his family but no one will say why. Unlike most teens, his parents keep him housebound, and forbid him from wielding weapons or learning magic. But when his parents finally change their mind and send him to school, Kaylen is suddenly exposed to the harsh truth. He has much to learn and understand all at once - including a mysterious magical ability.

With the threat of war with the surface-dwellers ever present, Kaylen will need to make new friends, and to stay true to himself if he is to survive what is to come...while something frightening stirs inside him.

ABOUT YVES ROBICHAUD

Yves Robichaud is originally from the small Acadian community of Grand-Barachois, New Brunswick, Canada. He has studied Business Administration and Information Technology, currently works for the federal government, and is the proud father of one son: Jeremy. Inspired by a love of fantastical, magical tales, Kaylen’s Rising is Yves’ first attempt to share this literary passion with his son and the rest of the world.

You can view his website athttp://www.yvesrobichaud.com.

His latest book is the Middle Grade Fantasy, Tomes of Taria: Kaylen’s Rising.

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The Judgement Stone ~ Review

The Judgment Stone
By Robert Liparulo

The Judgment Stone is the second book in The Immortal Files and it is just as heart-pounding as book 1 The 13th Tribe.  Jagger Baird is still head of security for a dig in Egypt, though now he knows who and what he is.

The Tribe, now under Nevaeh, is interested in Beth and how she changed Ben allowing him to die.  But while they keep St. Catherine's under surveillance they observe a new threat to the monastery that they can't understand.

After the attack (that killed several of the monks) Gheronda reveals the attackers id to Jagger.  The Clan, whom Gheronda viewed as worse than the Tribe, had attacked them for a shard of stone!

What the significance is is unknown to the monks so they call Owen, who has tracked the Clan over the years.  The dig that Jagger is at has unearthed a portion of the Judgment Stone - a piece of the first Ten Commandments.  Touching this stone will allow one to see into the Spiritual world and the Clan plans to use the stone to destroy those who follow God.

Owen and Jagger set off to get back what Owen refers to as the God Stone before the Clan corrupts it by using it for evil.  The Tribe makes its move while Jagger is gone.  What follows is a battle that is Spiritual.  When the evil that is the Clan is confronted the battle must be fought through faith and prayer.

The Judgment Stone is a Spiritual journey, a journey to discover the power of faith and a journey to find redemption.  If you read The 13th Tribe you won't want to miss The Judgment Stone!

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher through the BookSneeze program in exchange for my honest opinion.

Book Description

What if praying became a curse instead of a blessing?

Former Army Ranger Jagger Baird thought he had his hands full with The Tribe—the band of immortal vigilantes fighting to regain God’s grace by killing those opposed to Him. But that was before he encountered the ruthless group of immortals known as The Clan. The Clan is after a prize that would give them unimaginable power—a piece of the Ten Commandments known as the Judgment Stone.

Those who touch the Stone can see into the spiritual world: angelic warriors, treacherous demons, and the blue threads of light that signal the presence of believers in communion with God.

By following the blue beam radiating from those closest to God, the Clan plans to locate His most passionate followers and destroy them.

Jagger quickly realizes his high-tech gadgetry and training are no match for these merciless immortals. But how can he defeat an enemy who hunts believers through their prayers . . . and won’t stop until they’ve annihilated all those close to Him?

In this high-action thriller, best-selling author Robert Liparulo examines the raging battle between good and evil on earth . . . and beyond.

Afloat ~ Review

Afloat
By Erin Healy

Afloat was a book I just couldn't put down and stayed up late just because I wanted to know what happened next.  While some might find it difficult to get into this wasn't the case for me.  This is definitely an attention grabbing book - it grabbed mine and wouldn't let go.

Afloat is a story of redemption and second chances and is a contrast of hope and hopelessness and selfishness and selflessness.

How do we see the world and the events that shape it?  For one suffering is cause for cynicism but for another it is cause for hope.  Afloat takes a look at just such a situation when a series of events cause a group of people to be stranded on a floating residential complex.  A fluke of nature or deliberate negligence brings the construction aspect to Vance Nolan's dream to a sudden halt.  As
 they attempt to leave the work site a sudden and unprecedented storm begins flooding the area.  As everyone scrambles to get to safety another tragedy strikes.

Vance urges everyone to stay in the completed complex which has been constructed to withstand the situation that they now find themselves in.  But Tony Dean, the projects financial backer, is determined that everyone get out as soon as possible.  As the group tries to decide whom to follow, friendships and alliances are tested when it comes to trust.

Strange lights beneath the water may hold the key to what is happening to them, but not everyone can see the light.  Deceit can blind us to the truth and this is the case in Afloat. This is a battle between truth and deceit and the choice you make will determine whether or not you live.

After reading The House of Mercy, I was looking forward to Afloat and I was not disappointed and would recommend this title to anyone who likes books with suspense and the supernatural.  Sometimes you just need to trust in what you can't see rather than what your eyes tell you.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review by the publisher through BookSneeze.

Book Description

Who will you trust when dark waters rise?

Eagle’s Talon is an architectural marvel—shining residential units afloat in a protected cove of the gorgeous Rondeau River. The project is nearly complete, partially occupied, and ready to make investors rich when a sinkhole gives way. Then torrential rains and a flood leave a ragged collection of builders, investors, and residents stranded in one floating building, cut off from the rest of the world.

They’re bitterly divided over what to do next.

Architect Vance Nolan insists they should sit tight and wait for rescue. Developer Tony Dean wants to strike out into the darkness. And single mom Danielle Clement, desperate to protect her young son, Simeon, struggles to hold their motley band together.

Power failure, a pall of unnatural daytime darkness, explosions in the distance, then a murder ratchet tensions to a boiling point. But Danielle’s young son, Simeon, has spotted something strange underwater—beautiful, shifting lights in the dark water below.

In this watery world where everyone's secrets will eventually come to light, salvation may mean more than just getting out alive.

Another stunning exploration of the human spirit and supernatural possibilities from best-selling author Erin Healy.

The Revised Life of Ellie Sweet ~ Blog Tour with Giveaway

The Revised Life of Ellie Sweet

By Stephanie Morrill

Gabrielle Jane Sweet's life has a secret life, a life that she lives by the pen (or in this case the click of the keyboard).  Ellie wants to be called Gabrielle, but as her mother likes to say she just didn't look right for the name when she was born (talk about giving a complex way, to go Mom!).  

Ellie's friends don't want much to do with her anymore because she just isn't into guys, especially guys from the community college she doesn't know.  But Ellie still wants friends and Lucy still is, sort of.  To deal with her hurt and frustrations Ellie has taken to writing stories based on her life, but better.  In her stories she's the center of attention and everyone wants to be her or around her.  

But when she actually starts to attract the attention of two guys she is dumbfounded why would they be interested in her of all people!  Palmer is charming and every girl's dream and Chase is a bad boy with a dangerous reputation.  Ellie's always been the good girl who avoids the party scenes.  But Ellie can't tell her parents about Chase and Palmer won't tell anyone about Ellie.

Adding to the confusion that is Ellie's life is her writing.  Using her pain and her changing friendships Ellie has created a world where her life is more the way she wants it to be.  But if this gets out Ellie will pay the price.
Ellie is the kind of girl I can so relate to.  Staying home to study.  Late nights writing.  Not going to parties just so she can read a book (I have so used this reasoning when I've been asked to a party and it's the truth).  

The Revised Life of Ellie Sweet is an enjoyable book you will want to re-read and I am so looking forward to book 2!  Chase or Palmer who will Ellie chose?  Will you step out of the shadows or will you allow the fears of not measuring up to keep you hidden? Perfect for your favorite YA reader who loves clean teen fiction.

 I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Publisher: Playlist Fiction

Here is the blurb:

Ellie Sweet is a lot of things—good girl, novelist, silent adorer of the new boy at school, Palmer. But when “outcast” gets added to the list, she decides it’s time to take reality into her own hands … and tweak it as needed.

In the pages of her book, she’s Lady Gabrielle, favorite of the medieval Italian court. Her once-friends are reduced to catty ladies-in-waiting, and the too-charming Palmer—who in real life never spares her a second word—gets to be nothing more than a rake wracked by unrequited love for her. She even has a perfect real-life villain in the brooding Chase, who hails from the wrong side of town.

But just when she’s getting along great in her fictional world, the real one throws her a few curves. With Chase pursuing her, Palmer wanting to date her—but in secret—and the details of her manuscript going public, Ellie suddenly receives more attention than she ever really wanted. And when her former-friends discover what she’s been writing, they’re determined to teach Ellie a lesson about the severe consequences of using her pen as her sword.

Check-out this fun video of a speed drawing for the cover of Ellie Sweet: http://youtu.be/ZpFXytT5v4I

-Here is a link to Stephanie Morrill’s website: http://www.stephaniemorrill.com/

-Here is a link to Stephanie’s Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/stephaniemorrill

Get a copy of Ellie Sweet from Amazon

Visit all the tour stops

Blooming with Books • Colorimetry • Gillian Adams • Jill Williamson • The Life of a Teenage Writer • Once Upon an Inkling • Pages from My Journal • Rachelle Rea • The Ramblings of a Young Author • Shadow Writer World • Who YA Reading? • The Writings of Rosie • Worthy2Read

Team Novel Teen is a group of bloggers dedicated to spreading the word about clean teen fiction. Check out other posts about The Revised Life of Ellie Sweet by Stephanie Morrill by clicking on the links above, and click here for more information about Team Novel Teen.

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Where God Finds You ~ Review

Where God Finds You
40 Devotions Bringing Bible Characters to Life
By Anita Higman

Where God Finds You is definitely the type devotional that I really like.  Each of the 40 entries starts out with a Bible verse.  Then a short fictionalized story written from the Biblical character's point of view helps to set the stage for the Scripture selection that follows.  The devotional finishes up by applying the Scripture to our lives today with a few questions to make you think a little deeper about the Scripture and how to apply to your own life

A few of the lessons that stood out to me were Waiting on God and His timing has benefits.  God longs for more - He wants a relationship with us.  Satan uses the same lie today that he used on Adam and Eve - we will be gods.  Old fashioned values like loyalty, fidelity, and steadfastness should be a vital part of our day-to-day lives.  Since Eden we have willingly traded the eternal gifts of God for the mundane - we don't notice the daily miracles that God has given us.

Where God Finds You will touch your life and your day as you discover the hidden truths of the Bible that were right in front of you all along.  This is perfect for a personal study or for a group study.  I like that the book focuses on a variety of Biblical characters, some of whom are well known like Esther and Daniel to some who aren't even named or mentioned only briefly like Manoah's wife and Puah.  This is definitely one devotional I will read again and again.

I received a copy of this book from the author Anita Higman and Book Fun in exchange for my fair and honest review.