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.

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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.
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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.

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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/