Author Andrea Pearson: Happy Arbor Day! EBook Celebration

Awesome Arbor Day book deals

My friend Andrea Pearson decided it was time to celebrate--so she got a bunch of authors (including me) to offer discounts on their books for the next few days. There are almost three-dozen ebooks being offered to readers--including three of mine. You can find the whole list here, and check out my deals:

The Secret Sister’s Club: A Ginnie West Adventure

Author: Monique Bucheger
Original and discounted price: From $2.99 to $1.99
Number of days discounted: From April 26 through April 30
Genre and target audience: Middle-Grade Contemporary Family Drama
Book rating: G
Download it from Amazon, Nook
Book description: 

Twelve-year-old BFF’s Ginnie and Tillie, want to be sisters. Tillie's divorced mom plus Ginnie's widowed dad could equal a lifetime of round-the-clock girl talk and slumber parties. Too bad Dad vowed to never marry again. Ginnie and Tillie form a secret club and come up with the perfect mission to change his mind: ‘Operation Secret Sisters’.

Before long, Tillie seems happier about gaining a dad than a sister. Ginnie suspects that Tillie has turned ‘Operation Secret Sisters’ into a scam called ‘Operation Steal My Dad.’ Things get more complicated when Ginnie stumbles across her real mom’s hidden journals. Ginnie can finally get to know the mother she doesn’t remember and Dad doesn’t talk about.

When Dad discovers she has the journals, he takes them away. Ginnie needs to figure out what the big mystery is before her relationship with her father and her best friend are ruined forever.


Trouble Blows West: A Ginnie West Adventure

Author: Monique Bucheger
Original and discounted price: $3.99 to $2.99
Number of days discounted: Five
Genre and target audience: Middle Grade Contemporary Slice of Life
Book rating: G
Download it from Amazon
Book description: 

Putting her body in motion before her brain is in gear creates a mountain of problems for 12 year-old Ginnie West. She is certain that defending her twin brother, Toran, from the biggest bully in sixth grade was the right thing to do. But Ginnie couldn’t be more wrong.

She quickly figures out that Toran doesn’t appreciate being rescued by a girl any better than Charlie likes being knocked down by one. When Charlie seeks revenge on Ginnie, Toran sets aside his anger and helps her plot a playback prank at Charlie’s house.

Sadly, Ginnie learns that Charlie has a reason for being a bully when she sees his dad drop him to the floor like a ragdoll with one awful blow to the chest. Realizing he's a boy in big trouble, Ginnie switches gears and decides to be his ally, even if he won’t let her be his friend. 


Simply West of Heaven: A Ginnie West Adventure

Author: Monique Bucheger
Original and discounted price: From $3.99 to $2.99
Number of days discounted: Five
Genre and target audience: Middle Grade Contemporary Slice of Life
Book rating: G
Download it from Amazon
Book description: 

 Twelve-year-old BFFs schemed to get Ginnie’s widowed dad to fall in love with Tillie’s divorced mom. When their parents go along with the matchmaking, the girls are stoked. Sweet! Not long after though, Ginnie stumbles upon her late mom's journals, making life even more awesome sauce … until her dad confiscates the journals, determined to protect Ginnie from a danger he won’t name.
       
Ginnie is counting on her future sister's help to make Dad change his mind, but Tillie's not so sure the ghost of Ginnie's mom will make a good addition to their new family tree.  Besides, Tillie is too busy trying to keep the memory of her abusive, no-good , rotten-excuse-for-a-birth-father from bubbling to the surface to worry about what's bugging Ginnie.  He left six years ago and Tillie’s knows a better dad when she sees one … Ginnie’s dad.
       
The girls' world gets flipped upside-down when a blast from the past shows up and makes Tillie go nutburgers. Ginnie is torn between helping her best friend and what could be the answer to her prayers. Life gets complicated lickety-split in what is sure to be the most pivotal summer of Ginnie’s life.

Need a new read? Check out these great deals--including mine. :)
Author Andrea Pearson: Happy Arbor Day! EBook Celebration

Return of the Mystic Gray by Steve Westover

I just finished reading an intriguing book by Steve Westover: Return of the Mystic Gray. It is the second book in his Crater Lake series and is packed full of mystery, action, fun, and mayhem--lots of mayhem. It is well-written, contains an adventure of epic proportions, a lovable cast of misfits, and a great many twists and turns to keep the reader very engaged.

I can see kids and adults of all ages enjoying this, boys and girls alike. I have not read the first book: Crater Lake: Battle for Wizard Island, which didn't make me enjoy this book any less. There will definitely be a third book-- or I can see Steve having a great many irritated fans. :) My only issue with it was the amount of carnage in a middle grade novel--not graphically written. However, when you have a bunch of contemporary kids battling ancient spirits, things are gonna get a little messy.

Steve has a unique "magic system" that presents unexpected trials and solutions to very intriguing conflicts. The reader is compelled to read on to see how things will be resolved. His cast of characters have been blessed (and cursed) with an interesting array of talents and gifts. What does breathing fire have to do with a flute? And how can the 'lamest' super power EVER, save the day? Well, you'll just have to read this wonderful book and find out, won't you? :)

Steve has sincerely crafted a story that will not soon be forgotten.  I love how how he lightly sprinkles admirable qualities such as loyalty, honor, duty, and selflessness in his story. I have every intention of reading the first book and the third. You should probably join, I think you'll be glad you did.

Laugh lots ... Love much ... Write on ... :)

Ethan and his friends are back in a brand-new adventure! With inherited powers they don't understand and can't quite control, they head back to Crater Lake to rescue their friend Jacob, train for an epic battle, and join forces with a powerful ally---the Mystic Gray. Filled with action, adventure, and mystery, this book is a thrilling addition to the Crater Lake series!

 

“Return of the Mystic Gray,” was released on April 9, 2013. The book is the sequel to 2012's “Crater Lake: Battle for Wizard Island.” The book is currently available on BooksAndThings, Amazon and BarnesAndNoble

 

Like its predecessor, “Return of the Mystic Gray” is set at Oregon's pristine Crater Lake and follows the exploits of Ethan, a pudgy and reluctant hero, and his band of misfit friends who are beginning to realize that their last Crater Lake adventure left them with inherited powers they don’t understand and can’t quite control. Though the kids live in different parts of the country, they are all drawn back to Crater Lake to resume their battle with the evil Chief Llao and hopefully find their lost friend, Jacob.

 

“Growing up in Oregon, I loved camping in the mountains with my fellow Scouts,” said Westover. “I even camped in the snow, cross-country skiing into camp and building snow caves. Many of those experiences inspired this book. Unlike the warm summer adventure the kids had in Book 1, they are now at Crater Lake in the dead of winter with miles of snow and frozen landscape. It’s beautiful, but treacherous.”

TODAY (APRIL 10) is the day for BEN WOLVERTON'S BOOK BOMB- fundraiser

UPDATES ON BEN: 

http://www.helpwolverton.com/

Please use this link to buy Dave's book, or anything else on Amazon today: http://amzn.to/17oRLRN

 That link is Dave's Amazon Affiliate account link, which is tied to Dave's webpage, and is treated essentially as advertising. 

Amazon pays Dave a percentage of everything you purchase through that link, in addition to the royalties owed on the books themselves. That link gets Dave money, even if you buy other people's products. Every purchase will help toward Ben's medical bills. 

WRITER FRIENDS: Please check out MILLION DOLLAR OUTLINES-- the book that has helped many of Dave's students become bestselling authors. Every serious writer needs it in their toolbox. (It's also a part of the book bomb) 

Thanks for also spreading the word on your own networks. ;) 

Nightingale

amzn.to

Grand Prize Winner of the Hollywood Book Festival, placed first in all genres, all categories. Winner of the 2012 International Book Award for Best Young Adult Novel of the Year!Finalist in the 

A Book Bomb for Ben Wolverton--son of David Farland

My friend, David Farland's son was in a horrible accident a few days ago. He has suffered extensive injuries and is need of several surgeries in addition to the brain surgery he had to make room for his swelling brain. His family has no insurance and the medical bills are accumulating quickly because of the seriousness of his injuries. Below is more information and a few ways to help. If you can't afford to contribute by buying a book or donating to his medical fund, I ask that you PLEASE share this link on your FB pages, tweets and blogs, or anywhere else you can think of. 

In the writing world, Dave is a giant of a man who freely shares his knowledge of the craft and has helped untold numbers of writers and other students now and in his days of being a college teacher. There is enough indifference in the world. A kind word, a prayer, and a quick share of this link will put more positive in the universe, something all humanity benefits from. I share this as  a parent and a friend, and ask that you would as well. Thank you. 

Ben Wolverton, age 16, was in a serious long-boarding accident on Wednesday the 4th, 2013. He suffers from severe brain trauma, a cracked skull, broken pelvis and tail bone, burnt knees, bruised lungs, broken ear drum, road rash, and is currently in a coma. 

We are having a book bomb on Wednesday, April 10th, on behalf of Ben Wolverton, who is the son of the New York Times bestselling author David Farland. 

You can learn more about Ben’s condition, or simply donate to the Wolverton family here: 

What is a Book Bomb?

For those that don’t know, a Book Bomb is an event where participants purchase a book on a specific day to support the author, or, in this case, a young person in serious need: Ben Wolverton. 

David Farland’s young adult fantasy thriller Nightingale has won seven awards, including the Grand Prize at the Hollywood Book Festival—beating out ALL books in ALL categories. It has been praised by authors such as James Dashner (The Maze Runner), Brandon Sanderson (Mistborn), and Paul Genesse (Iron Dragon series), and has received four and a half starts on Amazon. You can read reviews here:

(Book Synopsis)

Some people sing at night to drive back the darkness. Others sing to summon it. . . .

Bron Jones was abandoned at birth. Thrown into foster care, he was rejected by one family after another, until he met Olivia, a gifted and devoted high-school teacher who recognized him for what he really was—what her people call a "nightingale."

But Bron isn't ready to learn the truth. There are secrets that have been hidden from mankind for hundreds of thousands of years, secrets that should remain hidden. Some things are too dangerous to know. Bron's secret may be the most dangerous of all.

Nightingale is available as a hardcover, ebook, audio book, and enhanced novel for the iPad. 

You can purchase it on Amazon: 

Or Barnes and Noble:

on the Nightingalewebsite:

or, you can get the enhanced version, complete with illustrations, interviews, animations, and its own soundtrack through iTunes: 




If you are a writer, you may want to consider purchasing David Farland’s Million Dollar Outlines instead. Both books are part of the book bomb. Million Dollar Outlines has been a bestseller on Amazon for over a month and is only $6.99.

(book description:)

As a bestselling author David Farland has taught dozens of writers who have gone on to staggering literary success, including such #1 New York Times Bestsellers as Brandon Mull (Fablehaven), Brandon Sanderson (Wheel of Time), James Dashner (The Maze Runner) and Stephenie Meyer (Twilight).

In Million Dollar Outlines, Dave teaches how to analyze an audience and outline a novel so that it can appeal to a wide readership, giving it the potential to become a bestseller. The secrets found in his unconventional approach will help you understand why so many of his authors go on to prominence.

Get Million Dollar Outlines on Amazon:

Or on Barnes and Noble: 

Read one of the 26 reviews here: 


Would you like to just donate money? You can do that here:

If you can’t spare any money, but would still like to help, you can do so by telling others about Ben’s donation page, and/or this Book Bomb. Share it on facebook, twitter, pinterest, your blog—anywhere you can. We have an event page set up on facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/events/453677124707603/

Thank you!
Ben and his family greatly appreciate your support, and so do all who love and care about them.

Poaching Daisies by Carole Thayne Warburton

MY REVIEW:

I discovered a fun,  new author, Carole Thayne Warburton. Well, she's been around for awhile, but she is new to me.:) I am also seriously rethinking my former opinion that I don't care for the thriller, mystery genre because this is the second one I've read recently that I truly enjoyed. It wasn't the mystery so much as the characters Carole created in Penny, Aunt Iris, and Russ in that drew my interest. As a writer myself, sometimes it is hard to turn off the 'editor' side of my brain-- the side that nitpicks at my work and others' and just enjoy the story. 

While reading, Poaching Daisies, I'm happy to say I laughed a lot at the zany antics and beliefs of Aunt Iris, fell in love with the vulnerable, yet strong character of Penny, and that Russ is a man after my own heart-- and I am not a hunter, although I am an avid supporter of the right for lawful citizens to bear arms-- (which Iris has big issues with.) 

The characters felt real and although stereotypical in some beliefs, I enjoyed watching them grow and work together so that each benefited from the other's viewpoint, something that should happen more in 'the real world.'

This was a most enjoyable read and I am glad I took the journey with Penny, Iris and Russ. :)

Laugh lots ... Love much ... Write on... :)




BACK COVER:

Who is Trying to Silence Penny?

Penny Thorton's dreams of being a park ranger start to unravel her first
week on the job when she finds a dead bear in Yellowstone's back country.
Shots are fired as she runs away, but once she tells the authorities, all
evidence evaporates. Penny's aunt Iris, who is bent on eradicating an
invasive species of daisy from the park, puts that mission on hold when
more bears are killed and she becomes entangled in the mystery. After
several attempts on Penny's life, she and Iris learn to trust no one not
even their friends.

What other reviewers thought: 

This book has it all: romance, suspense, intrigue, and a pair of feisty
and fun heroines that will soon become your best friends. Warburton
doesn't disappoint in this delightful and fast-paced story. --Cami Checketts, author of Dead Running and Dying to Run

Poaching Daisies is an engaging story of mystery, romance, and
humor. . . . We want the good guys to win, but we're not always sure
who they are, and Warburton keeps us guessing until the very end. --Janet Kay Jensen, author of Gabriel s Daughter

Poaching Daisies is a great story with suspense, danger, clashing
personalities that lead to romance, and crushes that lead to being a bit
wiser. --Susan Dayley, author of Cold Pursuit

Ganwold's Child by Diann Thornley Read

http://www.amazon.com/Ganwolds-Child-Sergey-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B009SS3GM4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1362928277&sr=8-3&keywords=diann+thornley+read

I knew before I started “Ganwold’s Child” by Diann Thornley Read that I would enjoy it very much. I wasn’t disappointed, although I wouldn’t want to be one of Read’s characters. Yikes! She has a gift for keeping things moving and seldom gives her characters a break. 

Darcy Dartmuth, a military officer and mother, flees capture with her toddler son from a slaver’s ship, barely able to get the two of them to safety on an alien planet. Once there, mother and son are enveloped into a hunter-gatherer tribe that has no use for modern technology. Young Tristan grows up learning to hunt and provide the ‘gan’ way with his foster brother, Pulou.

When Darcy becomes infected with a local disease that will surely kill her, Tristan is compelled to do whatever it takes to save his mother, even when that means risking his own life by going into enemy territory and trying to contact the father he hasn’t seen in 16 years. Along the way, Tristan and Pulou are introduced to technology and ideals that are foreign to them, with sometimes frightening and sometimes humorous results.

I loved the way Diann weaved themes of loyalty, honor, duty, respect for one’s elders, country, self-accountability among the fast-paced action and world of intrigue, deception, instant gratification, power, military chain-of-command, keeping intact the humanity of each character as they struggled from pressures within and without. In worlds with such advanced technology, it is easy to get lost without an internal compass. At the same time, these themes are interwoven with such complexity that the ‘right’ way is not a simple decision, and often results in great personal loss and sacrifice.

I highly recommend “Ganwold’s Child” on many levels. It is a fast-paced, sci-fi thriller with plenty of fantasy elements to entertain young and old and certainly will appeal to those with military backgrounds as well as civilians who happen to enjoy a good read with a technology bent. It will also appeal to those who enjoy futuristic stories and those who embrace the honor code of the Wild West.

I am also looking forward to Diann's latest release: RUNNING FROM THE GODS. It will be available after March 16, 2013. 

Diann Thornley Read is truly a multi-talented, multi-faceted writer who knows how to weave a great tale. Do yourself a favor and check out the Sergey Chronicles available altogether in the Kindle OMNIBUS version
<---------------> Here OR Here <----------------->

The other two books of the Sergey Chronicles are also available individually.

Check out Diann’s website at www.diannthornleyread.com, find her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Diann-T-Read/291193624316145?ref=hl, follow her blog, “Hero Journeys,” at www.diannread.wordpress.com and on Twitter @DiannTRead, and find her books on Amazon at www.amazon.com/author/diann.t.read Diann is also on Goodreads.

Book 2, THE ECHOES OF ISSEL is available: here

<------ Book 3: DOMINION'S REACH is available: here

About Diann T. Read and Her Books

Originally from northern Utah, Diann Thornley wrote her first story at the age of five and never stopped writing. She taught herself to type—with two fingers—on her father’s ancient manual typewriter at the age of six because it was faster than pushing a pencil. After winning a statewide writing contest, junior high division, at the age of fourteen, she began her first novel, which was based on the Arthurian legends. This endeavor filled most of her high school years and freshman year of college, until a handful of friends introduced her to science fiction by “kidnapping” her to go see an obscure little movie called Star Wars. The rest, as they say, is history.

Ganwold’s Child, first book of the The Sergey Chronicles, took seven years to complete, due to completing college and entering the U.S. Air Force. Following a year-long tour of duty in the Republic of Korea, Diann finished Ganwold’s Child while stationed at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio. Echoes of Issel and Dominion’s Reach, the second and third books in the Sergey trilogy, were also written in Ohio.

Diann transitioned into the Air Force Reserves following Desert Storm, but her military career spanned 23 years and included deployments to Bosnia and Iraq. In December 2000 she married Jon Read, NASA rocket scientist and martial artist, and moved to Texas. Diann retired from the Air Force in June 2009 to return to her writing career and spend more time with Jon.

For Parents & Teachers

Diann wasn’t blessed with kids of her own, but she and Jon have nearly 40 nieces and nephews, and she teaches kids at church. She’s also had a warm spot in her heart for the American Indians as far back as she can remember, a warmth and appreciation that was deepened by having a Navajo foster brother during several years of her youth.

Diann writes, “I look at the youth of today and I know who they are. I see their potential as children of a loving God even when they don’t, when their circumstances may give them no reason to believe in God. I see what the world is becoming and the terrible challenges these kids face, especially non-Anglo kids. Do they have any inkling of how precious they are? Far too many of them don’t. It breaks my heart to know that suicide is the second leading cause of death among American Indian kids.

“With my books I hope to reach out to kids from difficult backgrounds, kids who struggle with their self-worth—especially boys, for whom there’s very little fiction available in the young adult market, but also to girls. I want to provide kids with heroes who maintain their integrity and moral values in the face of tremendous odds, even at great risk to themselves. I want kids to see that no matter where they’ve come from, no matter how terribly they have been abused or disadvantaged, their lives have worth and purpose, and they, like Ku (who would be American Indian if he came from our world) and Derry (who has her own tragic history) can overcome and discover their divine worth and potential.

“While I especially hope to encourage, inspire, and motivate at-risk kids, I hope adult readers will find new meaning for their lives as well.”

THE ALIAS by Mandi Slack

Hi Everybody!

I had planned to review this earlier, but had a little computer trouble-- my monitor got broke and I couldn't read much of anything for a few days. :( But it's fixed now and I got my read on. :)

I didn't realize that The Alias was a thriller until after I agreed to review it. I was a little worried about liking it since thrillers are not my genre of choice. No problem though, I found I liked it very much. :)

Kudos to you, Mandi. Of course it didn't hurt that I quickly found myself on a family farm with a loving aunt and uncle that embody the kind of family drama that I DO like to read (and write) about. Throw in a kid and a horse (and she did) and I'm there. :)

The Alias was a fast-paced read that touched me, even while quickening my heart beat in many places. I felt for Jacey on many levels, most especially as a mother who wants to protect her son no matter what, and as a woman forced to make difficult choices.

Alias blurb: After a long and difficult divorce, Jacey thinks the worst is over. Little does she know she'll soon be forced to go undercover to protect her family, and in the process, she'll risk losing her identity, her future, and her heart. With a lightning pace, a good dose of humor, and a plot that's full of suspense, this thrilling novel is an edge-of-your-seat read.


You can find Alias: here


You can find Mandi : here