Showing posts with label Blog Tour. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blog Tour. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 3, 2017

Blog Tour: Savage by Nicole Conway




Welcome, welcome! I'm thrilled to say that, for my first post since I've been back, I'm presenting you with the blog tour for SAVAGE by Nicole Conway. As you guys know, the Dragonrider Chronicles is one of my absolute favorite series, so when the companion series was announced, I jumped on my chance to participate in the blog tour.

Believe it or not, this is my fourth tour for Nicole's books. The only book in the Dragonrider Chronicles that I didn't participate in the tour for was the last book, IMMORTAL, which came out during the surgery time of last year. 

So, without further ado, and because I'm dying to tell you about this book, here's my review!

But DON'T FORGET that this is a companion series, which means the descriptions as well as my review will contain spoilers to the first series! 




Title: SAVAGE (Dragonrider Legacy #1)
Author: Nicole Conway
Publisher: Month9Books
Release Date: September 26, 2017
Format Read: E-book
Rating: Four Stars

Description from Goodreads: Never send a hero to do a monster's job.

Forty years have passed since Jaevid Broadfeather brought peace to Maldobar and Lunthards. But that fragile truce will be tested as darkness gathers on the horizon. The vicious armies of the Tibran Empire have crossed the far seas and are threatening to destroy Maldobar completely. Not even the dragonriders can match the Tibran war machines. And after an attempt to awaken Jaevid from his divine sleep fails, the fate of Maldobar is looking grim.

Reigh has never known what it means to be a normal human. Raised amongst the gray elves in the wild jungle of Luntharda, he's tried everything to be fit in. But the dark power within him is bursting at the seams-- refusingg to be silenced. And while his adoptive father, Kiran, insists this power must be kept secret, Reigh knows he's running out of time.

As Maldobar burns, the world is desperate for a new hero. Destiny has called, and one boy will rise to answer.



So, having finished the last series, I had expectations from this new book. I LOVED the way the last book ended, and even though I knew that this series would be focused on a new character, I wasn't sure how I'd feel about having a narrator that wasn't Jaevid or Felix. Starting out with this new Reigh kid, I was hesitant. Being forty years after the last series, I was sad that I wasn't going to get any of these characters that I'd come to love, but after only a page or two, we find out that Kiran is actually a big part of the story! HUZZAH, KIRAN!

This excited me, so I kept reading (Like I'd stop???), and I'm so pleased that I did, because you guys, WOW. I adore this kid. Not as much as I adore Jae, yet, but I'm a bit more attached to Jae (After, you know, four-five years). 

Anyway, I want to start out with the characters. As per usual, Conway gave us wonderful characters. They're all so loveable, and relatable, and I'm left wanting more of them already. I can't wait to see what happens with Reigh and his "problem", as well as his emotional state from here on out, as he'd definitely had his share of ups and downs just in this first book.

I don't normally comment much on the descriptiveness of novels, as I don't feel like I need a lot of details on setting, etc. to fall in love with a story. I've said it before, and I'll say it a million times again, but characters are what make a story amazing for me. So setting really is meh. But THESE BOOKS. Conway's descriptions are so good, ESPECIALLY when she's describing Luntharda and the creatures within, and I can't get enough of it.

And I'll just go ahead and say, this is only book one and it's already broken my heart and repaired it about 75% of the way. I'm already so attached, it's ridiculous. But I do have a soft spot for these fantabulous novels, you know.

In a Nutshell, SAVAGE was a great contribution to the Dragonrider books, and I'm over the moon to know we'll have more time in this world. If you've read the Dragonrider Chronicles, then you HAVE to read this series, too. YOU GET TO SEE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE CHARACTERS AGAIN, PEOPLE! So if that's you, and you're ready for your mind to be blown and for that suspicious warning from Ulric at the end of IMMORTAL to be explained... well... you may wanna click on one of these buy links.






About the Author



Nicole is the author of the children’s fantasy series, THE DRAGONRIDER CHRONICLES, about a young boy’s journey into manhood as he trains to become a dragonrider. She has completed the first two books in the series, and is now working on the third and final book.

Originally from a small town in North Alabama, Nicole moves frequently due to her husband’s career as a pilot for the United States Air Force. She received a B.A. in English with a concentration in Classics from Auburn University, and will soon attend graduate school.


She has previously worked as a freelance and graphic artist for promotional companies, but has now embraced writing as a full-time occupation.


Nicole enjoys hiking, camping, shopping, cooking, and spending time with her family and friends. She also loves watching children’s movies and collecting books. She lives at home with her husband, two cats, and dog.


Website • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads






Giveaway

Kindle Fire + Drawing Dragons Book + signed art from the Author

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Thanks for stopping by! Be sure to check out the rest of the tour... you can find the rest of it HERE!

Happily,
Stephanie

Thursday, June 16, 2016

Under-Appreciated Books Blog Tour Sign-Up!

Everyone has that ONE BOOK that they wish more people would read. The one that seemingly no one has heard of. The one that deserves all of the recognition in the world. The one that changed your life. The one that you just want to spread the word about.

Well, here's your chance.

Today I want to introduce to you the UAB Tour, or, the UnderAppreciated Books blog tour. I've recently been wondering about a lot of books that seem not to get much attention, and I've decided that this just won't do. It's time we take matters into our own hands.

I set up this blog tour so that we can all have a chance to spotlight the book that is the most UnderAppreciated in each of our opinions. There are six days to the tour, and I will be joining in and posting on one of the days, myself. I'm already trying to decide which book I want to promote for my tour date.

The tour will run from September 18-24th, that way everyone has more than enough time to get their posts put together, and all correspondences have more than enough time to arrive (been running into some technical difficulties lately with my emails).

If you're interested, please fill out THIS FORM. Submissions will close on the 29th of the month, and I will send out confirmation emails on the 30th. Please respond to the confirmations by the 2nd, to maximize everyone's time.

I'm so excited to get started on this! Feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have!

Happily,
Stephanie

Thursday, May 19, 2016

BLOG TOUR: Traitor by Nicole Conway


Hello, and welcome to today's stop on the blog tour for TRAITOR, book number three in the Dragonrider Chronicles! If you've been following the blog long, then you know I'm a big fan of this series-- I've participated in blog tours for all three of the books, as well as a couple blitzes and promos to help attract some attention to it-- so when the opportunity came around to participate in the TRAITOR tour, I jumped on it. 

So now, without further ado, I give you my review of Nicole Conway's third Dragonrider installment. Don't forget to stay tuned until the end... there's a giveaway!



Review


Title: Traitor (Dragonrider Chronicles #3)
Author: Nicole Conway
Publisher: Month9Books
Release Date: May 10, 2016
Format Read: E-book
Rating: Four Stars


Description from Goodreads: Can anyone survive being lost in Luntharda?

No amount of training has prepared Jaevid Broadfeather for the frontlines of battle. Now facing the true horrors of war, with Luntharda looming on the horizon, Jaevid has begun to question everything he thought about his heritage. The only thing keeping him going is his oath to protect his dragonrider brothers. But in an instant, even that slips through Jaevid's fingers as he steps from the safety of his dragon's saddle into the depths of his mother's wild homeland-- the kingdom of the gray elves.

Stranded in Luntharda with his partner, Lieutenant Jace Rordin, Jaevid must finally confront the demons of his own past as he uncovers the truth about a war that began before he was ever born. Armed with a new appreciation for destiny, and flanked by his trusted friends, Jaevid moves to make the final strike against an enemy that has hidden in plain sight for far too long.

One kingdom's traitor will become the world's last hope.


Having read both of the books that came before TRAITOR in the Dragonrider Chronicles, I was super stoked to get to read the third installment. I adore this series, and going through Blybrig Academy with Jae has been an experience I will never forget, so to watch him leave the nest and move on to the battlefront was something that I really enjoyed. Not that I doubted that I'd love TRAITOR, because I knew I'd enjoy it just as much as the first two books (which I did), but stepping away from the Academy scenario was equally interesting, refreshing, and well-done. 

From pretty early on, you know that Jaevid is going to have to go into the dark depths of Luntharda, and the whole time I was sitting here like HOW? HOW IS HE GOING TO DO THIS? JUST CASUALLY STROLL INTO THE FOREST? PEOPLE WILL NOTICE? HELLO?? But everything about the execution of this book was flawless. Things that I've been suspecting since book one have finally been brought to light and explained at a more in-depth level, and things that I thought were true ended up being very... NOT true, which is always nice, because reading a book and being able to predict everything is never as fun as the ones that surprise you.

The new characters added into the mix for this book were so great, as well as the ones brought back from past books (FELIX! YAS! <3). And while I'm still very upset over one of the deaths from book two, the addition of these new characters (Araxie, Jace, Prax, etc.) have made the pain a bit easier to bear. I still miss *insert spoilery character name here*, but I'm learning to cope. 

As for the plot, once again I thought it was spectacular. Conway creates this fantasy world where humans and elves co-exist (though they may hate each other) and turns it into such a beautiful place with her descriptions of the animals and the scenery and the plant-life that appear throughout the story. There were no cliche turnabouts in book three (Or any of the books, for that matter) and all of the plot points lined up and connected perfectly. 

Overall, TRAITOR was a fantastic third installment to the series, and I am stuck waiting for book four. I would give this one a four star rating, and urge you to check it out if you like dragons and elves and underdog characters in your fantasy series. 

P.S. I just want to say that I really dislike reading e-books, and here's why: I'm reading along, checking my page count like, "Oh, I still have thirty or so pages left" when suddenly I turn the page and BAM. Acknowledgements. And it left me on a cliffhanger, too, which was geniusly gorgeous.

P.P.S. AND THEN. I keep turning, because thirty or so pages seems like an awful lot of space left in the book for author info and all, and what do I find? A NOVELLA. AW YEAH. So now, I'm going to go read that because I NEED IT.

If this book sounds like something you'd be interested in, I have a few buy links for you:






About the Author


Nicole is the author of the children’s fantasy series, THE DRAGONRIDER CHRONICLES, about a young boy’s journey into manhood as he trains to become a dragonrider. She has completed the first two books in the series, and is now working on the third and final book.
Originally from a small town in North Alabama, Nicole moves frequently due to her husband’s career as a pilot for the United States Air Force. She received a B.A. in English with a concentration in Classics from Auburn University, and will soon attend graduate school.
 She has previously worked as a freelance and graphic artist for promotional companies, but has now embraced writing as a full-time occupation.
Nicole enjoys hiking, camping, shopping, cooking, and spending time with her family and friends. She also loves watching children’s movies and collecting books. She lives at home with her husband, two cats, and dog.




 Giveaway

Five (5) winners will receive a digital copy of TRAITOR by Nicole Conway (INT)




If you'd like to check out some of the other stops for this tour, click HERE


I hope you've enjoyed today's stop on the blog tour for TRAITOR (Dragonrider Chronicles #3) by Nicole Conway. Don't forget to enter the giveaway, and please check out the first book in the series, FLEDGLING!

Happily,
Stephanie

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Blog Tour: A Raven's Touch by Linda Bloodworth


Hello, and welcome to one of the stops on the blog tour for A RAVEN'S TOUCH-- a novel by Linda Bloodworth. My post for today will be a review of the book, and of course there will be teasers and author info as per usual.

So without further ado, let's get started!


Review:


Title: A Raven's Touch (Raven Wing #1)
Author: Linda Bloodworth
Publisher: Pronoun
Release Date: January 4, 2016
Format Read: eBook

Description from Goodreads: Bullied through high school, seventeen-year-old Justice St. Michaels is grateful for the help of her best friend Moira O'Fhey. Their only wish is to graduate high school, leave the sleepy town of Fallingbrook and all that happened behind them. The Heavens have other plans. Between the growths on her back and being involved in explosive school fights, nothing seems to make sense. When an unexpected encounter with Darien Raventhorn causes worlds to collide, it exposes the truth about Justice's real identity. To avenge a family death, Justice must embrace her birthright, and slay a demon before all Hell breaks loose.

After corresponding with Linda via Twitter, I decided to join the tour for A RAVEN'S TOUCH. I'd been eyeing the book for a while, but couldn't bring myself to purchase it due to my unwavering TBR stack, but seeing the tour sign-up was just the push I needed to do it. 

Let me start off by saying that A RAVEN'S TOUCH was not at all what I expected. I went into the story thinking something heavenly, since the description says "The Heavens" but what I got was so much more. If there was ever a "paranormal" story, it's this one-- there are a surplus of paranormal characters (Which I won't name due to shock value whilst reading) that appear all throughout the book, and it's pretty neat-o, I must admit. And then Darien showed up and basically captivated all of my attention from the time he enters the book, to the last page. 

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes paranormal romance. This is all kinds of paranormal, and the romance element is absolutely adorable. ALSO, there's a bit of a religious element to the book, which I loved to bits and pieces. A RAVEN's TOUCH is only available in eBook format, so you can find it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc. Buy Links are below.



About the Author:

Linda Bloodworth loves chips, like really, ketchup to be exact. Ketchup chips are only found in Canada. Lucky for Linda she lives in Toronto with her husband and three fur babies. In between writing, debating for hours about the Oxford comma, and the misunderstood semi colon; Linda enjoys camping and getting away from the city on day trips.



You definitely don't want to underestimate crazy.

That's all for my stop on the tour. I hope you've enjoyed yourself, and if you want more information, be sure to contact the author on Twitter. She's always fun to have a chat with.

Happily,
Stephanie

Sunday, March 8, 2015

BLOG TOUR: Fingers in the Mist


*Eerie music plays*

Welcome to stop number The Next One on the blog tour for FINGERS IN THE MIST by O'dell Hutchison!





About the Book:



Title: Fingers in the Mist
Publication date: February 24, 2015
Publisher: Month9Books, LLC.
Author: O’Dell Hutchison

      Sixteen-year-old Caitlyn Foster never believed in the legend of the Redeemers. That was before the trees started to whisper her name. Before a murder of crows attacked the town. Before she and her family came home to find a bloody handprint on their front door, marking one of them as a sacrifice. As Caitlyn’s friends are ripped from their homes, she knows it’s only a matter of time before the Redeemers come for her. Caitlyn has the power to stop the terror, but she’ll have to decide if she’s willing to sacrifice herself to save those she loves.



 Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | TBD





About the Author:




    O’Dell was born in a small rural town in Idaho. There were no Redeemers living there (that he knows of). After attending college in the Pacific Northwest, he found his way to the Houston area. By day, he is a Business Systems Analyst and at night you can either find him sitting at home, dreaming of random super powers he wishes he had, or directing plays and musicals at various theaters around Houston.

Connect with the Author:  Website | Twitter Facebook | Goodreads







An Interview with O'Dell:

1.) What was the most challenging thing about writing FINGERS IN THE MIST?

I’d have to say the opening chapters. After all was said and done, there were three completely different versions. The current one is definitely the tightest and serves the story best, but it took me a while to get there.

2.) If you could pull one character from your book, and bring them to life for a day, who would you choose and what would you do?

While Cait is pretty bad-ass, I’d have to go with Chastity. She’s totally the type of person I like hanging out with. No nonsense, fun, and tells it like it is.

3.) What other YA world do you think Caitlyn would best survive in, OR which YA world do you think would be the most interesting to see her in?

I’d like to see Cait pair up with Ridley from the Caster Chronicles. I think the two of them together could get into a lot of trouble (and kick a lot of ass in the process).

4.) What was your most favorite chapter or scene to write in FINGERS IN THE MIST?

Hands down, chapter eight. This is where it all starts to unfold. We’ve been warned about The Redeemers and it’s been creepy, but this is when they finally arrive. I did several edits, and cut a lot from the book, but, aside from a few grammatical tweaks, this chapter never changed.

5.) Are there any authors you look up to?

So many. Honestly, I admire anyone who has the guts to sit down and craft a story and then put themselves out there the way authors do. It’s a tough business. That being said, the horror authors I read when I was younger are the ones who inspire me today:  Stephen King, John Saul and Dean Koontz. I devoured their books in high school and college.

6.) Was becoming an author always part of your life goals?

Since about second grade. I was always a voracious reader. I was always crafting stories and even studied writing in college. It just took me a while to find the confidence, and the time, to finally attempt writing a book.

7.) Who was your favorite character to write? Least favorite?

I don’t know that I really had a favorite. I definitely enjoy Cait; I love the connection she has with Mitch. He’s her rock. I also really enjoyed writing Monique. She’s a little “b”, but writing her was so much fun. I ended up cutting all of my least favorite characters. I kind of figure if I don’t enjoy writing them, why put them in the book at all, right?

8.) Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

Stick with it. I went through many, many rejections. I self-published The Weeping, and was considering doing the same for Fingers in the Mist. I was told by several agents that the premise was overdone and it would never sell. When I pitched to Month9Books, I had decided that if it didn’t get picked up, I’d shelve it and come back to it later. Lucky for me, they all loved it.

9.) Can you tell us a bit about your writing process?

It’s kind of all over the place. I tend to put together a very loose outline of the overall story to start out. I have certain plot points that I know are important to the work and I use them somewhat like mile markers in the overall map. When I’m in the zone, I can pound out several chapters with no issues. Sadly, that doesn’t always happen. I struggle with overthinking things and this causes writer’s block. To combat that, I tend to write in random scenes. When I see a scene in my head, I just sit and write it out and worry about how I got there and how to connect them later. It’s messy, but it works for me.

10.) Gummy Bears: love or hate?

I’m a gummy bear fiend. Love them. Even better? Sour Patch Kids.

Thanks for having me on the blog today!










Giveaway Time!:

Five (5) winners will receive a digital copy of Fingers in the Mist by O’Dell Hutchison (INT)


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sunday, December 14, 2014

Blog Tour: THE NIGHT HOUSE by Rachel Tafoya


     In case you haven't heard, there's a new book on the block: THE NIGHT HOUSE by Rachel Tafoya. What's it about? Vampires. Also a blood prostitute. And a boy who takes the term "empath" to whole new level.



About the Book


Title: THE NIGHT HOUSE
Publication date: December 9, 2014
Publisher: Month9Books, LLC.
Author: Rachel Tafoya

Bianca St. Germain works at a Night House, a place where vampires like the aristocratic Jeremiah Archer, pay to feed on humans, and she doesn’t much care what others think of her. The money is good, and at least there, she’s safe. Bianca also doesn’t care that the Night House is killing her. All she cares about is: nauth, the highly addictive poison in vampire bites that brings a euphoria like no drug ever could.

But when Bianca meets James, a reclusive empath who feels everything she does, for the first time, she considers a life outside of the Night House and a someone worth living for. But Jeremiah has decided to keep Bianca for himself; he won’t allow her to walk away.

As she allows her feelings for James to grow, she struggles to contain nauth’s strong hold on her life. If they are to have a future, James must make her see what she’s worth, what she means to him, before Jeremiah and nauth claim her for good.


About the Author!


Rachel Tafoya studied creative writing while at Solebury School and was published in their student run literary magazine, SLAM. She attended a writing program for teens at both Susquehanna University and Denison University, and the Experimental Writing for Teens class and Novels for Young Writers program, both run by NY Times bestselling author, Jonathan Maberry. Rachel is the daughter crime author Dennis Tafoya.


Connect with the Author:  Tumblr | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads


Review

I've been waiting to read NIGHT HOUSE for a very long time. As soon as I heard about it, my interest was piqued, and when the opportunity to participate in the blog tour came about, I jumped at it. I received my eARC, devoured it in a few hours, and guys. We have an amazing new voice in the YA world.

Bianca St. Germain doesn't live a normal teenage life; she's one of the many girls that live at the Night House-- a feeding house for vampires. She'd get out if she could, but the truth is that she's addicted to the drug known as nauth, and the only way to get it is to let a vamp sink their fangs into her. A drug from a vampire's fangs may sound terrifying to some people, but it's what Bianca lives for.

James Fields has problems of his own-- he's an empath, but it's more than that-- he can feel people's emotions, their pain, their troubles. With only his adopted sister and his best friend aware of how much of a struggle it is for him to be around other people, he generally stays home and avoids large crowds at all costs. Except for one night. The night he met Bianca.

Now everything has changed. James' empathic abilities are tied to Bianca, and he feels everything she feels, just as she feels it, which means that he feels her pain and high from each bite. And things are starting to get rough around the Night House-- a powerful vamp called Jeremiah wants to own Bianca for himself, and it seems like he'll stop at nothing to have her.

Can all of this be enough for Bianca to finally get clean?

THE NIGHT HOUSE was everything I expected and more. An incredible debut from Tafoya-- a mixture of romance and vampires unlike any we've loved before-- I give it a 4.5/5 stars. If you have the chance, go out and snatch up a copy. You will not regret it.





Giveaway Time!

Five (5) winners will receive a digital copy of The Night House by Rachel Tafoya (INT)

Friday, August 22, 2014

BLOG TOUR: Avian by Nicole Conway


     Dragonriders! Welcome to stop 6 on the AVIAN Blog Tour! We've got a tour-wide giveaway going on, so don't forget to check it out!






Title: Avian (The Dragonrider Chronicles #2)
Publication Date: August 26, 2014
Publisher: Month9Books, LLC
Author: Nicole Conway

What kind of power is lurking inside him? 

After a year of training to become a dragonrider, Jaevid Broadfeather has been sent home to rest during a three-month interlude. But when he returns to find the king drake has chosen BEckah Derrick as his new rider, Jaevid realizes something big is about to happen. Every fiber of his being is pushed to the breaking point as Jaevid battles through his avian year, preparing for the final graduation test of the battle scenario. But there is more standing in his way than a few pushups and fancy sword moves.

Jaevid must face a new fear as he is tormented by a gruesome nightmare of a mysterious gray elf warrior murdering the royal family of Maldobar. It seems obvious to him that this is some kind of message about how the war started long ago- until Felix assures him the king is very much alive. With his strange powers growing stronger by the day, and that violent dream replaying in his mind every night, Jaevid no longer wonders if he will pass his avian or not... he wonders if he'll even survive it.

The truth will soon be let loose.


Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Chapters Indigo! | TBD | IndieBound | iBooks





She has previously worked as a freelance and graphic artist for promotional companies, but has now embraced writing as a full-time occupation.

Nicole enjoys hiking, camping, shopping, cooking, and spending time with her family and friends. She also loves watching children's movies and collecting books. She lives at home with her husband, two cats, and dog.

Nicole is the author of the children's fantasy series, THE DRAGONRIDER CHRONICLES, about a young boy's journey into manhood as he trains to become a dragonrider. She has completed the first two books in the series, and is now working on the third and final book.

Originally from a small town in North Alabama, Nicole moves frequently due to her husband's career as a pilot for the United States Air Force. She received a B.A. in English with a concentration on Classics from Auburn University, and will soon attend graduate school. 

Author Links:  Website | Twitter | Facebook





Review of Avian by Nicole Conway!



     A couple of months ago, I participated in the blog tour for the first book in the Dragonrider Chronicles-- Fledgling by Nicole Conway. I absolutely adored the story about dragons and their riders, so when the opportunity arose for me to take part in the tour for Avian, I snatched it up.
     After a surviving his first year of Blybrig Academy as a Fledgling, Jaevid Broadfeather returns home for a three-month break, only to find his family gone and the house empty. He knows this is how one chance to show everyone that he can take care of himself, despite his small size. But when he receives a letter from Beckah asking for his help, he leaves the house and goes to her. Jae soon finds out that something odd is going on around the kingdom- animals are turning against humans for no reason, and Beckah has a secret that must be kept at all costs. Amongst this, the halfling has to return to Blybrig for his second year as an Avian. If he can make it through the intense training, he'll find himself on the battlefield, fighting the war of the humans and Gray Elves.
     With a sequel just as good as the first book, I have high hopes for this series. The plot was superb, there were plot twists aplenty, and each character was distinctly their own person. I have no complaints for this book; other than something terrible happening to one of the characters I'd taken a particular liking to, it was fantastic. If you want a story about dragons and their riders, this is definitely one for you to pick up!







GIVEAWAY!

Let's discuss this giveaway, shall we? 
Winners will be drawn September 26, 2014!
Four (4) winners will receive a digital copy of Avin by Nicole Conway (INT)
One (1) winner will receive a digital copy of Avian by Nicole Conway AND a $10 Amazon Gift Card or B&N Gift Card - Winner's Choice (INT)







Tour Schedule!



Here's the link to the Tour Schedule. Check out some of the other stops-- There are interviews, too!