My Books!

Thursday, November 30, 2017

The Alpha's Arrangement

Title: The Alpha's Arrangement: A Howls Romance
Author: Ryan Michele
Genre: Shifter Romance
Release Date: July 25, 2017
Izzy needs a fresh start, and moving to the mountains of Montana is just what she was looking for. When she finds the perfect home, she can’t wait to begin her new life and get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Little does she know that her home comes with a surprise.

Carter is known for getting exactly what he wants. When his mate shows up in his small town, the scent of her drives his instincts to claim her immediately. The problem is, she’s human and knows nothing about the shifter-wolves that live among her. Treading lightly isn’t his way, but he’ll do anything for his mate.
He has something up his sleeve to get her in his bed and in his life. Will Izzy resist? Or will she find out that, with the power of an Alpha, she’s unable to? 
**The Alpha's Arrangement is a hot new wolf shifter book sure to melt your kindle. Enjoy!!**

Ryan Michele found her passion in making fictional characters come to life. She loves being in an imaginative world where anything is possible and has a knack for special twists readers don’t see coming.
She writes MC, Contemporary, Erotic, Paranormal, New Adult, Inspirational, and many more romances. And whether it’s bikers, wolf shifters, mafia, or beyond, Ryan spends her time making sure her heroes are strong and her heroines match them at every turn.
When she isn’t writing, Ryan is a mom and wife living in rural Illinois and reading by her pond in the warm sun.
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The Bennu Project

Hello! This is one of my tour stops during my two week book tour for The Bennu Project by Tyrone Givens. This virtual book tour is organized by Write Now Literary Book Tours. This tour runs November 23-December 6, 2017.  Follow the tour here.  Book your own tour here WNL

ASIN: B00VP4N6X8
ISBN-10: 1620309580
ISBN-13: 978-1620309582
Genre: Post-Apocalyptic Sci-Fi

About The Book
On a dangerous run to scavenge supplies from a remote excavation site in the Meza Ruins, Azubuike and his friends encounter a unique piece of technology left by their ancestors. Once exposed to the device, Azubuike’s reality is altered in ways that could unravel his mind. The team has no way of knowing the danger—or benefit—posed by this ancient technology which triggered a series of events forever changing Azubuike and his friends. Has he unlocked the secret to end the alien occupation of his world or will this device result in the extinction of his people?

The Bennu Project is a genre-defying novel with the suspense of mystery, metaphors of science fiction and accuracy of historical relevance depicting the rise-and-fall of several Nile Valley civilizations.

About The Author
Fed up with the stereotypical caricatures used to falsely portray the Black culture, Tyrone Givens is committed to creating heroes and heroines as positive images for our children. To reverse the less-than-flattering qualities that diminish self-esteem, self-worth and cultural value, this master storyteller entertains readers with science fiction plots infused with historical facts often omitted from school curriculums.

Givens, a homeschool educator whose high school-aged children are attending college, is a multi-lingual, federally-licensed airplane pilot. The Bennu Project is the culmination of his passions: empowering Black children, accurate depiction of our history and rebuilding our community.
Connect Socially
InstaGram: @thebennuproject
Buy Links
Ebook

A Word From the Author


Tell us about yourself.
Fed up with the embarrassingly stereotypical caricatures used to falsely portray the Black culture, I committed to creating heroes and heroines to provide positive images for our children. To reverse the less-than-flattering qualities that diminish self-esteem, self-worth and cultural value, I entertain readers with science fiction plots infused with historical facts often omitted from school curriculums.
I am a home-school educator whose high school-aged children are attending college. I am a multi-lingual, federally-licensed airplane pilot. The Bennu Project is the culmination of my passions: empowering Black children, accurate depiction of our history and flying.
TyroneGivens.com
What type of jobs or careers have you worked in the past?
I sub-contracted for many years because entrepreneurism is liberating. I have military experience and I am contemplating launching an air tour business.
Who are your favorite authors?
·      Dr. Maulana Karenga, professor and chair of Africana Studies at California State University, holds two Ph.Ds. including social ethics with a focus on the classical African ethics of ancient Egypt.
·      Dr. Ivan Van Sertima, a Guyanese-born associate professor of Africana Studies at Rutgers University, was a literary critic, linguist and anthropologist.
·      Dr. Chancellor Williams, an African-American sociologist, historian and writer, is noted for his work on African civilizations prior to encounters with Europeans
·      Dr. Cheikh Anta Diop was a historian, anthropologist, physicist and politician who studied the human race’s origins and pre-colonial African culture.
·      Dr. Frances Cress Welsing was an American Afrocentrist psychiatrist. Her 1970 essay, The Cress Theory of Color-Confrontation and Racism, offered her interpretation on the origins of what she described as white supremacy.
·      Robert Bauval is a Belgian author, lecturer and Ancient Egypt researcher, perhaps best known for his Orion Correlation Theory regarding the Giza pyramid complex.
What are your favorite books?
·      The Destruction of Black Civilization by Dr. Chancellor Williams
·      Civilization or Barbarism by Dr. Cheikh Anta Diop
·      The Isis Papers: The Keys to the Colors by Dr. Frances Cress Welsing
When did you realize that you wanted to write?
As I homeschooled my two teenage sons, finding books with historical African facts of interest to high school students was a challenge. I created a lesson plan ranging from pre-colonial Africa to current events. After completing the plan, I put the information in a book—The Bennu Project—to share with parents who struggle with teaching certain historical topics to their children.
Tell us about your journey to publication.
As a self-published author, I initially struggled with understanding the industry. Although I have lots more to learn in this ever-evolving industry, three of the lessons I learned on this journey are:
·      Writing and publishing are much easier than marketing and promoting
·      A detailed marketing plan is essential to sell beyond your warm market
·      Before you get overwhelmed, hire a mentor. Valerie J. Lewis Coleman of Pen of the Writer (PenOfTheWriter.com) worked with me to build my virtual brand. She critiqued my manuscript, book cover and web presence to better present The Bennu Project.
My books are available on multiple online platforms including Amazon.com/author/aha-mena and prominently displayed at The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. In 2017, The Bennu Project won the Dayton Book Expo Top-Selling Fiction Award.
Are you a full-time writer? If so, describe your day?
I am not a full-time writer because my commitments as husband, father and provider are time-consuming priorities.
Tour hosted by WNL Book Tours

Book Review: West From the Cradle


West from the Cradle
by Brigid Amos

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GENRE: YA Historical Fiction

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BLURB:

Travis Cooper was not meant to be a prospector. Small for his age, he has never been much help on the family farm in Missouri. How could he survive the journey west to take up such backbreaking work? But when he sees a copy of the California Star in the fall of 1848, everything changes. One shining word jumps off the page: GOLD! Now staying alive is a struggle. Keeping his partner from getting himself killed is even harder!

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EXCERPT:

Travis paid for the nails and was almost out the door when Hillerman called to him and beckoned for him to come back to the counter. “Come here a second, son. I want to show you something.” Reaching down behind the counter, the shopkeeper pulled out a stack of newspapers. “Melvin Ellerbee brought me these newspapers from St. Joe. It’s this one I wanted you to see.” Hillerman handed Travis the newspaper on the top of the stack.

“California Star,” Travis murmured. “This newspaper’s from California?”

“It’s from San Francisco to be precise. That newspaper was sent out this way by the editor, a Mr. Brannan of San Francisco, to recruit new American Californians. Clever fellow, that Brannan. What I wanted you to see was this article by Victor something or other. His name’s French I guess. Here, look!” Hillerman pointed to an article on the front page.

As Travis skimmed the article, one shining word jumped right off the page. “Gold?” he asked, looking up at the shopkeeper for confirmation.

“Gold!” Hillerman said. “They found gold in the American River. I figure there’s more where that came from, and there must be plenty of other rivers and streams out there that have it in them.”

“Those folks are lucky, aren’t they? I’d call that being in the right place at the right time.”

“They’re lucky all right. But so will be those who emigrate out there this spring. It sounds like there’s plenty to go around.”

Travis put the newspaper down and searched Hillerman’s face. “Is that what you’re thinking of doing? Going out there to California?”

My Review:
Brigid Amos struck gold herself when she wrote this novel of the California gold rush. West From the Cradle is a YA book, but adults would also enjoy it. The book is the story of a great adventure. Young Travis, an undersized boy who can't even pull his own weight on the farm, ends up on the California gold fields where he faces illness, bad guys, hunger, and the weaknesses of his partner. There are lots of authentic details in the story. Ms. Amos even included a few Indians and their customs. The book is interesting from start to finish, and if you're looking for a fresh read with something to offer besides fluff this one is for you. 5 stars

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Brigid Amos’ young adult historical fiction has appeared in The MacGuffin, The Storyteller, Wilderness House Literary Review, and Words of Wisdom. Her first novel, A Fence Around Her, was published by Clean Reads in 2016. A produced playwright, she co-founded the Angels Playwriting Collective and serves on the boards of Angels Theatre Company and Women Writing the West. She is also an active member the Nebraska Writers Guild. Although Brigid left a nugget of her heart behind in the California Gold Country, most of it is in Lincoln, Nebraska where she currently lives with her husband.


Buy the book:

Amazon:  getBook.at/WestfromtheCradle

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/west-from-the-cradle-brigid-amos/1126943650

iTunes:  https://itun.es/us/jleOlb.l

Kobo:  https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/west-from-the-cradle

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/741413

Connecting with Brigid Amos:
Join Brigid’s mailing list:  http://www.brigidamos.com/mailing-list-signup.html
Like Brigid on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/brigidamoswriter/?fref=ts
Follow Brigid on Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Brigid_Amos
Visit Brigid’s website:       http://www.brigidamos.com/

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

Brigid Amos will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Book Review: Deadly Choices


Deadly Choices
by Karen Randau

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GENRE: Mystery/Thriller

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BLURB:

In book 3 of the Rim Country Mysteries, an elderly woman stumbles into the campsite as Rita, Cliff, and Rita’s long-lost mother Willow enjoy s’mores and folk music around the fire. The action heats up when Willow falls for the key suspect, Rita’s old friend and mentor. Rita discovers her mother isn’t the woman she thought she was, and Rita must overcome a spate of life-threatening obstacles before anyone else dies.

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EXCERPT:

“You’ve become an accomplished musician.” I envisioned Willow sitting in a circle with other artists who lived at the commune where she retreated after my father’s death.

We all leaped to our feet when a gunshot sounded in the distance.

“What was that?” Willow looked like a spooked gazelle ready to sprint to higher ground.

“Someone’s target practice, I imagine.” Cliff used his calming police detective’s voice but took a step toward the trail where Lucy McMann had gone earlier.

“So late at night?” Willow sounded unconvinced.

“Yeah.” Cliff rolled his tongue against the inside of his cheek. “Seems strange.”

I hoped my smile wasn’t too taut to hide my concern from Willow. I stood beside her and watched the beam from Cliff’s flashlight as he walked several yards down the trail. When he returned, he tried a nonchalant tone to ask for another s’more. Despite emoting confidence, he sang with less gusto, often squinted into the surrounding darkness, and monitored the path leading into the forest.

An hour later, I heard a feeble cry for help and stood to face the trailhead.

A white-haired woman in a red gingham shirt stumbled from the forest. She collapsed next to our tent and rolled to her back. I gasped at the arrow protruding from her chest. Light from the fire flickered on the arrow’s bloody shaft.

Cliff rushed to her. “It’s the woman we met earlier. Lucy McMann.”


My Review:

Deadly Choices is book three in the Rim Country mystery series. Our heroine Rita is at it again with her detective husband Cliff. The mystery to be solved this time includes Rita's mother Willow who has some major revelations to share. I think Deadly Choices is a good read. I liked the main characters and the way they related to each other. It's nicely written and kept me turning the pages to find out what happens next. In one place Rita was in hot water for sure, and I was so into the story that I became anxious for her and read ahead to see how it ended. It's a nice read that I think you'd enjoy. 5 stars. 



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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

A native of the southwest U.S., Karen Randau pens the Rim Country Mystery series set in the quaint fictional mountain town of Rim Vista, Arizona, below the Rim of the Colorado Plateau.
The series features fast-paced stories with intricate plots, lots of action, and a pinch of romance, told from the point of view of protagonist Rita Avery.

Karen has traveled internationally and witnessed famines, violence, and hopeful people working to overcome abject poverty. She draws on both her creativity and personal experience to weave together an interesting cast of characters with rollercoaster-like twists and turns.

Links:

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

Karen Randau will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.





a Rafflecopter giveaway


Creating Places


Creating Places
by Randy Ellefson

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GENRE:   Non-fiction

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BLURB:

Creating a unique, immersive setting one place at a time.

CREATING PLACES (THE ART OF WORLD BUILDING, #2) is a detailed how-to guide on inventing the heart of every imaginary world - places. It includes chapters on inventing planets, moons, continents, mountains, forests, deserts, bodies of water, sovereign powers, settlements, and interesting locales. Extensive, culled research on each is provided to inform your world building decisions and understand the impact on craft, story, and audience. You’ll also learn how and when to create history and maps. Experts and beginners alike will benefit from the free templates that make building worlds easier, quicker, and more fun.

Learn the difference between types of monarchies, democracies, dictatorships and more for realistic variety and believable conflict. Understand how latitude, prevailing winds, and mountains affect climate, rainfall, and what types of forests and deserts will exist in each location. Consistently calculate how long it takes to travel by horse, wagon, sailing vessels, or even dragon over different terrain types and conditions.

CREATING PLACES is the second volume in THE ART OF WORLD BUILDING, the only multi-volume series of its kind. Three times the length, depth, and breadth of other guides, the series can help fantasy and science fiction creators determine how much to build and why, how to use world building in your work, and whether the effort to create places will reap rewards for you and your audience.


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EXCERPT:
The term “tidal locking” will make many of us think of tides, but these are unrelated phenomenon. Our moon is tidally locked to the Earth. The same side is always facing us because the moon rotates on its axis in the same number of days it takes to orbit us. This might seem coincidental and unique, but most significant moons in our solar system are tidally locked to their planet; those nearest experience this first. Tidal locking is an eventual result caused by gravity. Early in a moon’s orbiting, it might not be tidally locked, but ours may have become locked in as few as a hundred days (its proximity and size having much to do with this).  A moon that is not tidally locked may have recently formed or been captured by the planet. Either way, the stabilization process hasn’t completed.

As world builders, we have some leeway to claim a satellite is locked or not. Most people are unfamiliar with the concept and we should only mention it if locking has occurred, as readers will assume the opposite without being told. Note that a close, large moon like ours will almost certainly be locked; during the brief period when ours was not, it and the Earth were molten and devoid of life.

Normally, only the satellite is locked to the planet, but they can become mutually tidally locked, as happened with Pluto and its moon, Charon. This means that each of them only sees one side of the other. If we stood on our moon, we’d see all sides of Earth as it rotates, but from Earth, we see only one side of the moon because they are not mutually tidally locked. If they were, the moon would stay in the exact same spot in the sky. About half the planet would see it, while the other half wouldn’t even know it existed unless traveling to the far side of the world. This would eliminate most tides (see next section) except those caused by the sun.


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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Randy Ellefson has written fantasy fiction since his teens and is an avid world builder, having spent three decades creating Llurien, which has its own website. He has a Bachelor’s of Music in classical guitar but has always been more of a rocker, having released several albums and earned endorsements from music companies. He’s a professional software developer and runs a consulting firm in the Washington D.C. suburbs. He loves spending time with his son and daughter when not writing, making music, or playing golf.
Creating Places universal buy link: http://www.books2read.com/creatingplaces 
The Art of World Building Podcast http://www.artofworldbuilding.com/podcast (launching a week before the tour)
The Art of World Building Website: http://www.ArtofWorldBuilding.com
Author Website: http://www.RandyEllefson.com
FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/RandyEllefsonAuthor
NOTE: The book series has a new podcast where even more details are discussed. This podcast is free to listen! Follow along here: http://www.artofworldbuilding.com/podcast

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE:

Randy Ellefson will be awarding an ultimate world builder's package to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.




Enter for a chance to win an ultimate world builder's giveaway