Where do you draw the line?

 I see a lot of friends excited about the newest Hunger Games that is releasing today. I’ll admit I’ve read the books and I’ve watched the first two films. They left me not feeling too good. I loved the archery and a few of the characters, yet what’s honestly entertaining about watching children kill one another, in detail? Where are the good “parent” figures . . . there was none? And what’s the purpose of the story? Just think about it for a second . . . And the biggest question, where is God?

I watched an interview on Suzanne Collins, and really liked what she wanted to show and teach in her series, yet I feel like it has been buried under something much different. 

I admit some books I’ve reviewed had some major flaws that didn’t settle will with me. I use the excuse that it’s just fiction. I’ve turned down books and refused to purchase others, some even from my favorite authors. No more dystopian please! It’s just so depressing. 

So my question is, where do you draw the line on books and movies? I believe we don’t think about this enough. This is something that’s been bugging me lately, especially being a “fantasy” writer. I sadly don’t freely admit that I’m a fantasy writer; I don’t like the questions that usually follow. So I hide it, because who likes to be looked at as being even stranger. ;-) 

I like what Bryan Davis says in the video above. I was not a fan of him when I first came across him. Somehow I kept collecting books by him and letting them sit on my shelf. A few years ago I had a rough year of family members in the hospital. His “Dragons of Starlight” series comforted me. Sounds silly, but his writing honestly has God all over it. 

I like books/movies that have a bigger purpose to them, that point to someone bigger and something deeper. Just my two cents and something I pray I’m doing with TROH, even with all its ugliness and many flaws. 

I pray you too take this to heart. 

~Philippians 4:8 

Servants and Thieves by Derrick Tribble and GIVEAWAY . . .

About the book:
Author: Derrick Tribble
Book: The Wanderers of Time series (Book One)
Genre: Science-fiction/Young Adult/Christian.
Pages: 308
Age range: Highly recommended to ages 13 and up

"Our parents are gone, and it's my fault."

"What?"

"I prayed for something interesting to happen . . . and it did."

It was supposed to be a fun trip to London, packed with sightseeing, fine dining and family time. But a freak lab accident robs them of their parents, and now Amy and Ben must dive into an adventure bigger than space and time. They go through the same mysterious arch their parents vanished into, and emerge into the Victorian era.

As they search for their parents, Amy and Ben encounter an eccentric and deadly crime lord who wants the secret of time travel -- a secret he thinks they have -- and he will stop at nothing to get it. To survive, Amy and Ben must stand up for what's right, persevere in the midst of their trials, and develop character that leads to hope.

Can these two 21st century teens overcome Queen Victoria's London, and discover the way home?

About the Author:
Derrick Tribble lives in the foothills of California, where the air is clear and fresh, and the trees are big. He shares his house with his wife and two children, and two strange cats. When not writing, he can occasionally be found working or playing the drums.
For more information on Derrick and his writing visit his website http://derricktribble.com/ and become a fan at facebook.com/derricktribblethatauthorguy



My Review . . .
You know how it feels when you find a book and it feels like treasure? Will that’s how Servants and Thieves was . . . a treasure. I stumbled upon this book from a friend and thought it sounded interesting. Time traveling into the Victorian era, along with a Christian touch. Why not give that a go?

The main characters Ben and Amy were great.  They felt real! I really enjoyed following Ben and Amy on their point of views and liked the switch off between them every other chapter. He also did a good job on humor and how some of us (girls) can be a little dramatic.

This book brought back old memories on why I fell in love with Christian Speculative fiction. Perhaps it’s just me, but I've been a little bored the last two years. Wanderers in Time, brought back that spark on why this genre is so good. If you enjoy tales of adventure with depth and heart, some fun history and real characters; then you’ll really enjoy book one of this wonderful series.  Highly recommended to ages 13 and up! Forewarning though . . . you’ll want to purchase book two right away.

Because I liked this book so much, I’m doing a GIVEAWAY!

(NEW UPDATE) Share about this giveaway with your friends and family. If we make it to 75 entries then “the author” will give a complete signed set of the Wanderers of Time series to the top winner, and I will give a signed copy of book one to winner two. Please share your link on where you shared, such as facebook, Pinterest, your blog, a comment on another blog/website, etc . . .  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can purchase Servants and Thieves 

at Amazon Paperback

or Amazon Kindle

Unbound by J. B. Simmons and GIVEAWAY . . .

About the book:
Author: J. B. Simmons
Book: The Omega Trilogy (Book One)
Genre: Hybrid fantasy/sci-fi/End-times/Thriller/Christian.
Pages: 298
Age range: YA, yet I recommend if for readers sixteen and older. One curse word, which wasn't too bad and it does have romance, but it’s all pretty clean.

He must be released for a little while.

But the one who sees doesn’t believe. 

Elijah Goldsmith has nightmares he needs to ignore. Why would a rich kid from Manhattan dream three straight nights about a dragon and the destruction of St. Peter’s Basilica? He’s never even been to Rome.

It’s bad timing, too. He’s graduating soon and applying to be a spy in the International Security Agency. That’s where he meets Naomi. She’s the kind of girl who makes boys like Elijah want to share their secrets. Were they brought together to learn what his secrets mean? There’s more to their sparks than they think.

This is 2066, the year the world ends.

About the Author:
J.B. Simmons writes thrillers with an apocalyptic twist, and political philosophy clothed in fantasy. His latest novel, Unbound, tells the story of a rich kid from Manhattan with nightmares of a dragon and the world ending in 2066. In his Gloaming books, J.B. carries the torch of Tolkien and C.S. Lewis into an underground city with an exiled prince.
J.B. lives outside Washington, DC, with his wife, two toddlers, and an intriguing day job. He wakes early, runs a lot, and fuels it all with coffee or leftover juice boxes. He'd love to hear from you:
Via email: jbsimmons.light@gmail.com
On the web: jbsimmons.com
On Twitter: @jbsimmonslight
On Facebook: facebook.com/JBSimmonsAuthor
On GoodReads: goodreads.com/jbsimmons

My Review:
J. B. Simmons is truly a very gifted writer. I don’t mean this lightly. I LOVE his style of writing.  It pulls you in and doesn’t let you go. . .  forewarning.

Unbound is his third published work, book one of a new series, and so far my personal fav from him.

Being aware of the world’s craziness and living in the 21st century where technology has taken over, I enjoyed how Mr. Simmons wrote the future so believable. It’s not like Star Wars, indeed futuristic, but strangely real.

Unbound is told through Elijah’s point of view and he is a fun character. He’s Jewish, but holds no faith, is training to be a spy, and has these crazy dreams that mean something really big. Right away you like him and I enjoyed following him in this adventure. It was great being in his head.  All of Mr. Simmons character’s felt real and he did a really nice job on having a variety of people with different backgrounds. 

This book is for YA, yet I recommend if for readers sixteen and older. One curse word, which wasn’t too bad and it does have romance, but it’s all pretty clean.

Cons . . . I don't mean this in any disrespect, I really don't,  but the only con I can give is the authors view pertaining to certain events in the book of Revelation, such as the 1000 Years of Peace, which I believe has not come to pass.  Now I believe in the book of Revelation just with different opinions from what is told sometimes in Unbound.  He has some great history and it all flows in nicely, but I want to warn the reader to be a little cautious about some of it. I wasn't too pleased with the ending. With that being said, please look into the book of Revelation for yourself and decide. Remember Unbound is fiction, woven with some truth, so don't take it all as literal. J. B. Simmons is indeed a Christian, I don't doubt that. :-) He has written a great tale and I have enjoyed it, but with all end-time fiction a warning of caution is good to have.


 I look forward to book two,and I look forward to more books by J. B. Simmons.

Because I liked this book I’m doing a GIVEAWAY and since J.B. Simmons is pretty awesome he is graciously adding two signed paper copies into my giveaway.  So THREE lucky winners.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can purchase Unbound in Kindle and paperback here

http://www.amazon.com/Unbound

Cover Reveal for Orphan's Song by Gillian Bronte Adams. . .

I'm excited to share this beautiful cover reveal with you. Gillian Bronte Adams is a talented writing friend and I've been eagerly waiting for one of her epic stories to be published. I've been spoiled with her blog for the last few years with her fun short stories, great character in custom challenges and teasers on her Orphan's Song, and Out of Darkness Rising (also being published sometime this year.)
Orphan's Song comes out this fall through Enclave (formally Marcher Lord Press.) But if you would like to support her and a few other great writers (it's so much fun giving a little love to authors) you can receive it and other great stories a little earlier. Truly, check out Enclave's Kickstarter project here . . .  https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/enclave/enclave-publishing-fall-releases  Such cool prizes!

Every generation has a Songkeeper – one chosen to keep the memory of the Song alive. And in every generation, there are those who seek to destroy the chosen one.
When Birdie’s song attracts the attention of a notorious Khelari soldier, she is captured and forced into a centuries old conflict plagued with ancient secrets and betrayals. Rescued by traveling peddler Amos McElhenny, Birdie flees the clutches of her enemies, determined to discover the truth behind the Song’s power.

Ky Huntyr has stolen many a thing in his time as a street-wise thief and senior member of the Underground—a gang of orphans banded together to survive—but he never thought he would be guilty of successfully stealing a priceless treasure from the Khelari and bringing their wrath on his comrades. Haunted by the tragic consequences of his raid, Ky joins Birdie and Amos in hopes of drawing the Khelari after him to keep the Underground safe.

But war soon threatens all of Leira, and the enemy is closing in. When Amos’ shadowed past threatens to undo them all, Birdie is forced to face the destiny that awaits her as the Songkeeper of Leira.

Author Bio: Gillian Bronte Adams was born with a pen in her hand, a sword at her side, and a saddle beneath her feet. As a speculative fiction writer from the great state of Texas, she delights in combining epic adventure and fantasy with themes that point to the greatest story of all—or, as she refers to it, writing to the echoes of eternity. During the day, she works as the Equine Director at a Christian youth camp, while at night, she kicks off her boots and spurs and transforms into a novelist. You can find out more at her blog: http://ofbattlesdragonsandswordsofadamant.blogspot.com/
(You know you want to check it out.)
or
facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/gillianbronteadams.
("Like" it. You won't regret it!)

The Word Changers by Ashlee Willis and GIVEAWAY ...

About the book:
Author: Ashlee Willis
Book:  The Word Changers
Publisher: Conquest Publishers
Genre: Medieval/Fantasy/Christian.
Pages: 328
Age range: 13 and up.

Her parents’ marriage is falling apart. Fifteen-year-old Posy feels her life is falling apart with it. Retreating to an old library down the street, she selects a mysterious book in a secluded corner and is magically drawn into its story…

Posy finds herself in a kingdom ruled by a cruel and manipulative king and queen who have attempted to usurp the role that belongs only to the Author of their story. The princess has fled and the kingdom is teetering toward rebellion. Posy is joined by the Prince Kyran as they fight with the characters of the story against their slavery to the Plot.

Posy and the prince search beyond the borders of the story for the runaway princess. They visit mysterious places, face horrifying monsters, and fight fierce battles. They make both friends and enemies as their journey leads them into many dangers. But some of the worst dangers, Posy soon finds, lie deep within her own heart.

Now Posy must find the courage and forgiveness needed to save the story and, most important, heal the heartache she knew in her own world.

About the Author:
Ashlee has a passion for three things: God, family, and books, and is happiest when all three can be enjoyed together.  Ashlee graduated from Central Christian College of the Bible with a Bachelor of Science in Christian Education. She divides her time chiefly between homeschooling her young son, reading about fantasy worlds she wishes she could visit, and dreaming up fantasy worlds of her own to write about. She loves taking walks in the woods, drinking tea with friends, and spending time with the ones she loves most.  Ashlee lives in the heart of Missouri with her husband, son, and cat, where she is busily at work on her next book, also a fantasy for young adults.

Find Ashlee on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads, or email her at AshleeW@zoho.com.

My Review:
Ashlee Willis kindly asked me if I would review her fantasy debut, The Word Changers. Reading the short synopsis instantly made me say, yes!

Her characters were real feeling, even her fantasy creatures and the wonderful owls. Oh, I can't look at owls the same. I quickly bonded with her main characters Posy and Kyran. I realize, even though I'm a girl, that  main female characters are hard to write well and readers at times don't enjoy them as much as a main male character. I honestly liked Posy and enjoyed following her on this adventure. At times she felt older than fifteen, but understandably for what she was going through.

I especially loved the sibling relationship between characters. Anyone with a sibling will enjoy it too.

The coverart is beautiful and fits the book very well. The inside interior is just as lovely and made it even more enjoyable to read.


The Word Changers has a deep and moving message that was done with great care. So much of our youth struggle with the things Posy and Kyran went through. Divorce and bad relationships with parents is sadly so thick in our Christian families and the world. I highly recommend this tale to any young adult, especially those with struggling families. And to those who don't have struggling families, you'll still enjoy this tale.

The ending was a little bittersweet but well done. I'll be sure to keep an eye out for more tales by Ashlee Willis.


(I received a paperback copy of The Word Changers  from the author; however, it does not influence my review. The opinions in my review are entirely my own. Thank you!)

Giveaway... PLEASE know that I have ONE paperback copy along with an owl key-chain for the winner. This Giveaway is open to everyone. Enter in below. If Rafflecopter won't let you enter, let me know in your comment and I'll personally enter you in.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Purchase THE WORD CHANGERS now on 

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

or Smashwords.

Please be sure to check out the author's website everyday this week and enter her very special GIVEAWAY ...
http://ashleewillisauthor.wordpress.com/

Light in the Gloaming by J. B. Simmons and GIVEAWAY...

Today is the last GIVEAWAY for February... I know it's late in the day, but I still technically made it.

What a great month of beautiful stories. I hope I've talked you into buying some or adding them to your "to read list". And to those that have won, I hope you enjoy them.

I'm really excited to share today's book with you all. I saved it for last because it's my biggest giveaway for this month. THREE blessed winners thanks to the author Mr.Simmons for giving two e-book copies, with my paperback copy. So please let others know and earn 5 extra entries (you can do that once a day). :-)

This tale is a special one to say the least! Check it out and don't miss out...

About the book:
Author: J. B. Simmons
Book: Light in the Gloaming (Book One)
Publisher: CreateSpace (J. B. Simmons)
Genre: Medieval/Epic Fantasy/Christian.
Pages: 268
Age range: I say MATURE readers. 16+ The reading is detailed and deep, yet wonderful. There are some mature themes in it. Graphic battles scenes, especially in the Gloaming and Prince Tryst is brutal. I don't remember any bad words, but there are some horrible things mentioned.

“The Gloaming was worse than the grave…”

Or so Tryst believed when he banished the former prince to this secret and brutal exile. Now Tryst sits on the throne of Valemidas. He feasts with nobles and prepares an army to conquer the world.

But things are never as stable as they seem. Old loyalties remain. Tryst’s half-sister wants vengeance for the disappeared prince she loved. What happens if a man survives a place worse than the grave?

Alliances will crumble, battles will rage, and souls will transform in the Gloaming.

J.B. Simmons lives outside Washington, DC, with his wife, two kids, and an intriguing day job. He likes to drink coffee and run marathons, both of which help when chasing around his three-year-old boy. While he carries forward the torch lit by heroes like J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, he also finds inspiration in history's great books and thinkers, from Plato to Locke and Machiavelli to Nietzsche. J.B.'s main characters champion these competing philosophies and bring them to battle.




My Review
J.B. Simmons kindly wrote to me in December and asked if I would like to review his book. I LOVE offers like this, but I always make sure it's a book that holds value, and Light in the Gloaming sounded special, so I accepted and I'm so glad I did.

The very first page pulls you in and won't easily let you go. It usually takes me a few chapters to get into a book, but Light in the Gloaming had me hooked from the start.

Light in the Gloaming has a political story between kingdoms and people like Game of Thrones, but without all the garbage it holds. I'm sorry to you GOT fans, but that series does hold a lot of garbage. Light in the Gloaming holds hope and a beautiful message that you will appreciate! It's unique and has some lovely twist and turns, with characters you won't easily forget, even the villain.

I really loved how Mr. Simmons wrote his book. I haven't read a tale with this kind of split writing before. I'm not a huge fan of first person writing, but Mr. Simmons did something in my opinion unique. His two main characters Prince Tryst, and Prince Andor, where told in first person where the rest of the book was told in third. It made you get deeper into the story and the characters. Very well done!

The only negative thing I can say is that I wish it was slightly a larger book( I'm excited for book two that is being released very soon). I only say that I wish it was longer because I really enjoyed it and felt the story was epic enough to be a bigger novel. Mr Simmons writing is well done and his story flows well, nothing really lacks, I just wanted more.

Sadly I don't think I would have ever ran into this tale if Mr. Simmons didn't kindly write to me and gave me such a great offer. There are so many wonderful tales out there by talented writers just waiting to be read. I HIGHLY recommend this tale to anyone except children. It's a tale that I wouldn't pass up and one that will stay in my head for a long time. I greatly look forward to book two and hopefully other tales from J. B. Simmons.

(I received a paperback copy of Light in the Gloaming  from the author; however, it does not influence my review. The opinions in my review are entirely my own. Thank you!)

Book Two (Isn't the cover-art beautiful!?!)
(coming March 2014.)

“I could still see traces of the Gloaming in him…”

Another fallen prince starves and unravels in the Gloaming. An agreement binds his sister to a nobleman and a spy who will try to break him free. No one knows the true stakes of their plotting. No one knows the history of the Gloaming and the power it holds. The restored prince strives to uncover the truth, but an eminent threat consumes his attention.

A foreign nation, believing in the divinity of their boy-king, sails to conquer Valemidas. As the foreign forces bear down, other forces will rise to meet them. The strength of love, the faith of an old priest, and the Gloaming of princes will each fracture and forge anew until a victor is declared between darkness and light.

Giveaway... PLEASE know that I have ONE paperback copy and TWO e-books copies, so there will be THREE winners total. This Giveaway is open to everyone. Enter in below. If Rafflecopter won't let you enter, let me know in your comment and I'll personally enter you in.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can purchase Light in the Gloaming at...

Amazon Paperback

Amazon Kindle

Barnes and Noble

And don't forget to check out...

J. B. Simmons Website ( he often shares some great writing tips)

J. B. Simmons Facebook Fan Page

The Victor by Marlayne Giron and GIVEAWAY...

About the book
Author: Marlayne Giron
Book: The Victor
Publisher: Tate Publishing & Enterprises, L.L.C.
Genre: Medieval/Fantasy/Christian
Pages: 276
Age range: Barnes and Noble and Amazon says 9 - 12 Years. I say MATURE readers only 16+

A benevolent King;
...his sword of power;

...a ruthless traitor bent on revenge;

...and the faithful son who stands in his way with the woman destined to share his throne.

Who shall emerge as the victor in this epic struggle between good and evil to govern the lives of hapless men?

My Review:

I found out about the Victor years ago and instantly wanted a copy. Medieval fantasy… my favorite! It’s a book that I don’t regret buying, or giving away to others. It’s a tale I think many would really enjoy and one that more people I believe, need to know about.


Yet, this is a tale that I recommend for mature readers only. This doesn't mean the book is bad; it just has mature topics in it that wouldn't be right for a younger reader. Graphic battle scenes, tragic graphic death scenes, mentions of alcohol, and one bad word (d*mn) used from what I can remember twice in it. I don’t normally like graphic scenes or bad language, but this tale wouldn't be the same if it didn't have it (perhaps the cursing could have been cut out ;-) )

The story theme is built on tragedy and the spiritual theme that is beautifully woven within will make you cry and touch your heart.

Marlayne Giron has written a tale that cannot be easily forgotten. There are very few tales that really touch me and The Victor is one of them.  The Victor is one you’ll think about long after you’re done reading it.

I HIGHLY recommend The Victor but only to mature readers.

Thank you Marlayne for sending me a signed copy… I will cherish it forever!

Giveaway... PLEASE know that this is a paperback giveaway only and open to everyone. Enter in below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can purchase The Victor at...

Amazon Paperback

Amazon Kindle

Barnes and Noble

Merlin's Shadow by Robert Treskillard and GIVEAWAY...

Okay, this month I'm going to do reviews and giveaways EVERY Saturday and the last Friday of this month. I wanted to do this in January as some of you might recall, but my blog gave me constant issues (which are now fixed) and I got an extra day a week at work (which added up to be a lot, but I'm grateful for it). So, this month is going to be packed full of giveaways on some epic fiction books that you might never heard of.

Today's book is a special one and one if you haven't read or heard of, then you are surely missing out on an epic tale!

About the book:
Author: Robert Treskillard
Series: The Merlin Spiral
Book Two: Merlin's Shadow
Pages:448 pages
Publisher: Zondervan
Genre: Fantasy/ YA/ Christian
Age Range: 14+

Betrayal. 

After destroying the sinister Druid Stone and freeing his people from its dark control, Merlin finds himself to
be a royal advisor without a king. Along with his friend Garth and Natalenya, his betrothed, Merlin treks north with the orphaned Arthur in hopes of keeping the young ruler safe from soldiers misled by their turncoat captain. Relentlessly pursued by his nemesis Vortigern, Merlin and his band make for the fortress of Dintaga.

But dangers multiply when Merlin realizes that Vortigern is not his only enemy. Even his own sister appears bent on Merlin's destruction. As the threat on all their lives increases, Merlin discovers their only hope is sailing to the lands of eternal darkness and once again cleansing the world from an ancient and powerful evil.

My Review:

I must say that Mr. Treskillard did another beautiful job. I am not a Arthurian fan... not one bit, but I sure have enjoyed Mr. Treskillard epic tale on this story that has been done so many times. I root for this Merlin and Arthur.

"Merlin's Shadow" continues off where book one "Merlin's Blade" ended. I highly recommend reading book one first, but book two has a lovely recap for those who haven't read book one and to help those who have forget since than.

I personally enjoyed book one more, yet was blessed by this tale just as much. Mr. Treskillard writing flows beautifully and his characters are those you can relate to and love.

Mr Treskillard's version of Merlin  goes down as one of my all time favorite characters I have ever read... even though he disappointed me a little at times in Merlin's Shadow. ;-) Poor Natalenya!

I greatly look forward to book three and will be sweetly sad when this series is completed.

(I received an ARC of Merlin's Shadow from the publisher and the author; however, it does not influence my review. The opinions in my review are entirely my own.THANK YOU Mr. Treskillard.and Zondervan for an ARC of Merlin's Shadow.)

Giveaway... PLEASE know that this is a paperback giveaway only and open to everyone. Enter in below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway



You can purchase Merlin's Shadow on Amazon!

You can buy Merlin's Shadow on Barnes & Noble!

You can find out more about Robert Treskillard

You can find out more about
Merlin's Spiral Seris and enter the EPIC contest

Became a fan of him
and Merlin's Spiral on Facebook

Paradox by Brian McBride and GIVEAWAY....

Okay, this month I'm going to do reviews and giveaways EVERY Saturday and the last Friday of this month. I wanted to do this in January as some of you might recall, but my blog gave me constant issues (which are now fixed) and I got an extra day a week at work (which added up to be a lot, but I'm grateful for it). So, this month is going to be packed full of giveaways on some epic fiction books that you might never heard of.

Today's giveaway is on a book that I should have written a review on around Christmas, but never got around to it. I consider Brian to be a friend and he asked for reviews on his debut novel Paradox around Christmas, but I didn't have time to help out. Today I do and I think it's great timing. ;-) Take a look and enjoy...

About the book:

Four troubled teens, two worlds, one God, one goal: to defeat the Darkness before it’s too late.

When David, his twin sister Alicia and their two best friends, Jake and Hannah stumble through a portal and into another world, Paragon, they discover that they are not who they thought they were… they are descendants of an ancient race known as Starcrafters, and they've been endowed with God-given abilities – impossible abilities.

They train and learn to harness their abilities. Now, they are ready to take on the Dark Prince.

Their attack on the prince is interrupted when they are taken by a group known as the Renegades who are after universal domination by means of an artifact known as the Paradox Stone.

They must escape the Renegades, retrieve the stone, and defeat the Darkness; all while learning to trust one another and work as a team, and to put their faith in the one true God.

About the author:
Brian McBride, seventeen-year-old native to Oregon, though recently moved to California, is a passionate writer, and an avid reader. Paradox is his first book in a series of high fantasy novels, The Starcrafters' Saga. When he's not reading or writing, he spends his time hanging out with friends and family, and playing the piano, drums, and the bass guitar. He runs a Christian book blog, Shattering the Darkness, and loves finding new teenage authors like himself.
Brian's writing centers around fantastic thrills, intriguing adventure, and mysterious twists, and ultimately, the destiny that belongs to each and every person on planet Earth.

My Review:
If you haven't heard of the Starcrafter's series or Brian McBride, than you're missing out. Honestly take some time to look into his writing. You'll be sure to become a fan.
I've followed Brian's blog for years and when I saw that he was coming out with his long awaited book Paradox, I just had to get it.
Brian is young, yet his writing is well thought out and holds a nice style. I'm always impressed by teen writers. There were a few times I wish he would have added a little more information and not skip ahead,  but for the most part his story flowed well and was an enjoyable read. Brian is a great villain writer!
I think a lot of people could relate to his characters David, Hannah, Alicia, and Jake. I really liked the message he wove into it and can tell he was passionate to share. This was indeed a Christian fantasy and intended more for teens, yet I in my twenties enjoyed it.
I look forward to book two and more tales from Brain McBride in the future. Well done, my friend!


Giveaway... PLEASE know that this is a paperback giveaway only and open to everyone. Enter in below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway





You can purchase Paradox on Amazon!

You can buy Paradox on Barnes & Noble!

You can find out more about Brian McBride

Became a fan of him on Facebook

SmorgaSword and Giveaway...

Okay, this month I'm going to do reviews and giveaways EVERY Saturday and the last Friday of this month. I wanted to do this in January as some of you might recall, but my blog gave me constant issues (which are now fixed) and I got an extra day a week at work (which added up to be a lot, but I'm grateful for it). So, this month is going to be packed full of giveaways on some epic fiction books that you might never heard of.

First up is an epic (yes, I love that word) collection of stories by a talented writer that deserves more attention. I reviewed this book almost exactly a year ago and I noticed no else has since on Amazon.

Now Philip is a friend of mine, so I might be a little bias, but I honestly think others will  truly enjoy this book of tales if they were more aware of it.

About the book:
SmorgaSword is a story buffet, a selection of twelve unique short stories. Take a wild ride into the Great Red Spot of Jupiter, survive a post-Apocalyptic urban battle, follow the adventures of a superhero from another universe, catch the bad guys with the unlikeliest of detectives, explore strange and distant futures, and find fairytale happy endings along the way.

--The Menu--

-The Prison-

In a future utopia where science is everything, a young technician commits the unthinkable crime of irretrievably destroying data, and he is sentenced to an unusual punishment.

-The Tyrant-

A mind's eye view of the rapid rise and fall of a dictator.

-Morning Glory-

An orphan girl befriends a strange child who is more than he seems.

-Jump!-

A girl in another universe jumps to ours, and finds she is invincible. But all she wants is to jump back to her own world.

-Bull Elephant-

After an apocalyptic disaster, the survivors of an urban gang threaten the lives of farmers eking out a living in the debris of civilization.

-Venus Flytrap-

A special young lady leads the FBI on a not-so-merry chase to find a mysterious informant who seems to know everything.

-The New Outside-

A boy and girl try to escape from an artificial world where plants and animals are unknown.

-The Monster of Jupiter-

Two scientists get a closer look than planned at the Great Red Spot.

-Area X-

A conspiracy theorist tracks down a secret government facility, only to find something he wasn't expecting.

-Daughter of Eagles-

A wise woman gives a young princess a magic gift.

-The Empty Room-

A housemaid in nineteenth-century England finds a haunted room, which can be wonder or terror to those who go there.

-The Awakening of Trevor Still-

The chef's favorite. A modern fairy tale, a romance with a twist.

My Review:

SmorgaSword... is that witty or what! Mr. Nelson has written a very lovely book of tales. There is something for everyone in this buffet of stories and all will bless you. Many of his stories within SmorgaSword hold a deep value within them and I had to smile over some of them. I loved Bull Elephant and Daughter of Eagles! Beautifully written.

I'm not much of an e-book fan yet. I just love the physical copies and all the details you get on them. Pretty pages and full cover art. This e-book is one of the nicest put together ones I have seen. It was broken up in four sections like a dinner. Pretty brilliant Mr. Nelson! It had a few "dinner" like illustrations above some of the chapter headers... I haven't seen that in too many e-books. I loved the way it was laid out and can tell it was greatly thought out.

I greatly recommend SmorgaSword for anyone that likes a good adventure with a heart! I look forward to more tales from Mr. Nelson in the near future.

Giveaway... PLEASE know that this is an eBook giveaway only. It's not available in paperback... yet. Enter in below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway To purchase SmorgaSword by Philip Nelson go to http://www.amazon.com/SmorgaSword-Philip-Nelson

To find out more about the author check out his blog at http://thetowerperilous.blogspot.com/

GIVEAWAY and a Review on Outcast by Jill Williamson...

About the Book:
Author: Jill Williamson

Series: The Safe Lands
Book Two: Outcast
Pages:416 pages
Publisher: Zondervan

Genre: Dystopian/ YA/ Christian

Age Range: Mature 14+

Uncovering the truth could cost them their lives...

Since entering the Safe Lands, Mason has focused on two things: finding a way to free his village from captivity, and finding a cure for the disease that ravages many within the walls of the Safe Lands. After immune-suppressive drugs go missing in the clinic, Mason discovers his coworker, Ciddah, may know more about the Safe Lands than imagined ... and may have an agenda of her own. At the same time, Mason's brother Levi is focused on a way to free the remaining Glenrock captives, while Mason's younger brother Omar decides to take the rebellion against the Safe Lands into his own hands as a vigilante.
Soon all three brothers are being watched closely---and when Mason stumbles onto a shocking secret about the Safe Lands meds, his investigation just might get those closest to him liberated.

About the Author
Jill Williamson is a chocolate loving, daydreaming, creator of kingdoms and the award-winning author of several young adult books including By Darkness Hid, Replication, The New Recruit, and Captives. She's a Whovian, a Photoshop addict, and a recovering fashion design assistant, who was raised in Alaska. She loves teaching about writing. She lives in Oregon with her husband, two children, and a whole lot of deer. Visit her online at jillwilliamson.com, where adventure comes to life.
My Review...
Ever since I read Replication, I have been a fan of Jill Williamson’s tales. She has the ability of writing a great cast of characters set in a unique, yet fun world. What I love about her most is her ability to write “real” life like characters. Her characters are never one dimensional, their layered and I love getting to know them.

Outcast is book two of her new series, The Safe Lands. It starts off where book one ended, so I highly recommend reading it in order. If you don’t, you’ll be lost.

I liked book two more than book one, but I’m still not a huge fan of her Safe Land series. I don’t mean this in a negative way. There is a lot I appreciate in her dystopian tale; such as her characters Shaylinn and Omar and her fresh story theme on this genre. I just don’t care for this genre and I know that’s why I’m slightly disappointed with it compared to her other tales.

The Safe Lands series hold a lot of issues that our youth struggles with in today’s society on morals. Though Jill Williamson does a magnificent job on writing about these mature and ugly topics, I would still recommend this series for mature 14+ readers ONLY. With that said it’s a great tale that makes you think hard on what you would do in a world that claims to give you anything, yet holds no hope or recognition of God. I recommend giving this dystopian series a try, yet a forewarning on the mature content.

(I received an ARC of Outcasts from the publisher and the author; however, it does not influence my review. The opinions in my review are entirely my own.)

My review on Book One Captives

To purchase Outcasts please go to... Amazon Paperback or Amazon Kindle

To find out more about the author Jill Williamson please go to jillwilliamson.com 

I'm doing a GIVEAWAY for one lucky person. To join in the giveaway please follow the Rafflecopter below.


a Rafflecopter giveaway