ARC Harper Teen Review: Reign of Shadows (Sophie Jordan)

Hardback Edition, 304 pages
Expected publication: February 9th 2016 by Harper Teen

Seventeen years ago, an eclipse cloaked the kingdom of Relhok in perpetual darkness. In the chaos, an evil chancellor murdered the king and queen and seized their throne. Luna, Relhok’s lost princess, has been hiding in a tower ever since. Luna’s survival depends on the world believing she is dead.But that doesn’t stop Luna from wanting more. When she meets Fowler, a mysterious archer braving the woods outside her tower, Luna is drawn to him despite the risk. When the tower is attacked, Luna and Fowler escape together. But this world of darkness is more treacherous than Luna ever realized.With every threat stacked against them, Luna and Fowler find solace in each other. But with secrets still unspoken between them, falling in love might be their most dangerous journey yet.With lush writing and a star–crossed romance, Reign of Shadows is Sophie Jordan at her best.

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Sophie Jordan took her adolescent daydreaming one step further and penned her first historical romance in the back of her high school Spanish class. This passion led her to pursue a degree in English and History.
A brief stint in law school taught her that case law was not nearly as interesting as literature - teaching English seemed the natural recourse. After several years teaching high school students to love Antigone, Sophie resigned with the birth of her first child and decided it was time to pursue the long-held dream of writing.
In less than three years, her first book, Once Upon A Wedding Night, a 2006 Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Nominee for Best First Historical, hit book shelves. Her second novel, Too Wicked To Tame, released in March 2007 with a bang, landing on the USA Today Bestseller's List.

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I mean...that cover..SERIOUSLY?? WOW....Of course the first thing that grabbed my attention about this book is the amazing, breathtakingly beautiful cover. I love everything about it... the rich, bold colors just grab the readers attention. 

Reign of Shadows is a young adult fantasy with a swoon-worthy romance intertwined into the story. Luna, the princess of Relhok, was saved seventeen years ago when an eclipse caused the entire kingdom to be covered in darkness and an evil chancellor used this as an opportunity to kill Luna's parents, the king and queen of Relhok, and take over the kingdom. Luna was rescued and hidden away in a tower far away from the her kingdom in hopes of surviving and eventually regaining her kingdom. 

The eclipse that occurred was permanent and caused "flesh-hungry" creatures that live in the dark to come out and take over the world. Luna is locked away in the tower and can only venture out for short amounts of time because of the creatures and other things that live in the dark. It is one of those times when she is outside the tower walls that she runs into a young man named Fowler... and this is where the story truly begins.....

The dark, creepy world building really fascinated me and the idea that their whole world was cloaked in darkness was very intriguing. I loved learning how the characters survived and have learned to adapt to this new, dark world. 

I absolutely loved Luna and Fowler and their love story. Their love blossomed beautifully and really gave the reader time to see their relationship begin. 

"Whatever it took, whatever words I had to say, I would make her understand that she didn't have to do this. That we could be together in Allu. We would.

 

"Let her go," Mirelya murmured as though she could read my thoughts. Maybe the old woman could. 

I shook my head. "Never."

"She's trying to do the right thing. Let her go."

Swinging my pack over my shoulder, I passed her and headed for the door, calling back, "She can try all she likes to do the right thing. But so will I."

When I first started reading this book I was not expecting the intense, brutal scenes that occurred...I was expecting a fantasy story but nothing like this...and I really enjoyed it. The harsh reality and ruthless fight scenes really brought out the emotions and helped connect the characters. I am a huge fan of survival stories and this book is ALL about survival and as soon as I figured that out...I was completely engrossed in the story. The beginning was a little slow for me and was really just introducing the characters and the world...but once the survival aspect was introduced....it was a complete "can't put down...turning pages late into the night" kinda book!!! 

The only problem I had with this book was the way it ended....The last chapters were so fast-paced and intense and I couldn't wait to read the next page....and then WHAM....major cliff-hanger....and I am NOT a fan of cliff-hangers. I am now absolutely dying to get my hands on the sequel and have no idea how I will wait so long.......

**The quotes from this book have been taken from an Advanced Reading Copy and are subject to change when the final book is printed. Please refer to the final, finished copy for exact quotes!**

**I want to say Thank You to Harper Teen for the opportunity to review this book!!**

Children's Book Review: Flossopher and the Brushing Trees (Dr. Mike King & Rick Ellis)

FLOSSOPHER AND THE BRUSHING TREES

An Adventure for Young Tooth Brushers

by “Dr. Mike” King

Illustrations by Rick Ellis

Flossopher knows everything there is to know about taking care of teeth. He lives in the Brite forest,
where his job is to make sure that all his friends keep their teeth clean and sparkly.

Flossopher and the Brushing Trees is an adventure book for young tooth brushers; a children's book that teaches the importance of taking care of your teeth. The Brite Forest is where Flossopher lives with his friends. The evil Cavidorg plots to steal the magic Brushing Crown from Sparkla, the mother of all Brushing Trees. Without the toothbrushes that the Brushing Trees grow, no one will brush, and everyone's teeth will turn rotten. That way Cavidorg's plant, Denture-Con, can make even more fake teeth for the world. Flossopher must find a way to defeat Cavidorg and keep all the teeth in the Brite Forest clean and healthy.

“My favorite children’s book that shows the importance of brushing and taking care of your teeth!”

~Dr. Charles Kaner, Chief of Dental Perio Division, Mt. Sinai Hospital

Mike King, also known as “Dr. Mike,” is a pediatric dentist who uses jokes and magic tricks to entertain his patients. He wrote this story because even though Flossopher and Cavidorg are made-up characters, the cavity bugs are not. And he’s determined to outwit them. He writes screenplays and does stand-up comedy in New York City (performing as "The Fifth Dentist" -- as in, Four out of five dentists recommend sugarless gum, well-he's the fifth!), where he lives with his wife, Sophie, and their daughter, Annabelle. You can find out more about Dr. Mike and his practice at FunDentists.com, and more about his book at Flossopher.com. Check out SidsTreasureDenver.com to explore his upcoming play - The Fifth Dentist: In Search of Sid's Treasure or http://thefifthdentist.com/ for more about his standup act.
Rick Ellis is a cartoonist-illustrator who has worked on several children’s books and is the cartoonist for the syndicated cartoon strip Half Baked Comics. With his wife and five children, he enjoys life and all the beauty and humor that life provides. You can view more of Rick’s work at HalfBakedComics.com.

*Note: a portion of the profits from books sold will be donated to Smile Train (http://www.smiletrain.org/). 

FLOSSOPHER AND THE BRUSHING TREES

An Adventure for Young Tooth Brushers 

by “Dr. Mike” King // Illustrations by Rick Ellis

The Fifth Dentist 

Summer 2015 // Ages 3+

*$11.95-Hardcover // ISBN 978-0-9909484-0-7

Flossopher.com

The first thing that grabbed my attention was the beautiful, bold, and bright colors throughout the book. The illustrations are captivating and keep children engaged and interested in the story that is being told. 

Flossopher and The Brushing Trees is a cute story that teaches kids the importance of keeping their teeth clean and healthy while also engaging them in a cute story that will keep their attention. 

I loved the addition of the interactive game that has children search through the book to find the hidden"tooth-care kits". 

Yet, my favorite part about this entire book is that part of the profits from every sale will be donated to Smile Train to help provide dental needs to children who need it. 

Overall, Flossopher and The Brushing Trees is a very cute story that can help parents introduce teeth cleaning and the importance of maintaining healthy teeth to young children. 

CBB Promotions Blog Tour, Guest Post, and Giveaway: Lindsey: Love and Intrigue (Kimberly Kolb)

Welcome to my tour stop for Lindsey: Love and Intrigue by Kimberly Kolb. This is a young adult mystery and the tour runs Nov. 16-27th with reviews, interviews, guest posts and excerpts. Check out the tour page for the full schedule.

Fifteen-year-old Lindsey Morgan Brooks is still considered the new kid in the small town of Emit, Michigan. Both of her parents are lawyers, but her father has built his reputation prosecuting some of the worst criminals in New York and Chicago. Now, as a high school junior, she is trying to choose her own path.
Lindsey feels the demands and pressure from school, gymnastics, and her parents as she battles insecurities to build friendships while steering clear of the many land mines in high school-such as the group of popular girls she has dubbed the "Fab Five" Busy with activities and consumed with thoughts of her secret crush, Chris, she takes little notice of what's happening around her.
She gets a flat tire, gets caught with the lights-out and starts receiving strange text messages-things she assumes are just high school pranks gone too far. Her father wants her to be able to handle herself, so she should be able to handle this.
 But while she steals a glimpse at Chris, who is watching her?

Goodreads | Amazon

Kimberly Kolb earned a bachelor of science degree in industrial organizational psychology from the University of Illinois. She began writing while waiting for her daughter to finish ballet and tap classes. Kolb lives with her husband and three children north of Chicago. This is her debut novel.

Kimberly Kolb received the Editor's Choice and Rising Star Award from iUniverse.

Website | Facebook 

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$50 Amazon gift card (INT)

Ends Dec. 2nd, 2015

Prizing is provided by the author, hosts are not responsible. Must be 13 or older to enter and have parental permission if under 17. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary to win.

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This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.

CBB Promotions Blog Tour, Guest Post, & Giveaway: The Dead Circle (Keith Varney)

Welcome to my tour stopp for The Dead Circle by Keith Varney! This is an adult contemporary apocalyptic zombie thriller. This tour runs November 16-27 with reviews, interviews, guest posts and excerpts. Check out the tour page for the full schedule.

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Something is terribly wrong in Detroit.
When Chris and Sarah bought an abandoned library to renovate and live in, they expected to be on the ground floor of the revival of Detroit. But unbeknownst to them, the city is about to fall. The devastation begins with a single woman who mysteriously tears off her clothing and starts walking the perimeter of an empty lot. Within minutes, hundreds of disparate people inexplicably form a giant human circle that slowly revolves like a hurricane of flesh. They twitch and spasm, contorting their naked bodies in a primordial death dance. They’re oblivious to everything, even the unfortunate souls who fall beneath their feet.
Bewildered citizens and authorities are desperate to know what’s causing the bizarre event… at least until it starts to rain.
Chris and Sarah abruptly find themselves trapped in a forsaken city. To survive, they must evade the horrifying illness, find food and shelter in a suddenly primitive world… and have a battle plan for when the circle stops spinning…

     Website | Facebook | Amazon KDP | Createspace

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Originally from small town Vermont, Keith Varney is an award-winning musical theater writer and actor. He has written Book, Music and Lyrics in various combinations for I GOT FIRED (Best American Musical – DIMF), ELWAY: THE MUSICAL, THE OTHER SEX, JOSHUA: THE MUSICAL, PIE EATER & SCOOBY DOOSICAL. He has also written songs for Submissions Only, Hot Mess in Manhattan, See You Lighter, My Mother is a Sex Therapist & Dystopia Gardens. As an actor he has performed professionally in musicals including Les Miserables, The Producers, The Full Monty, Titanic and I Got Fired (Best Actor in a Musical - DIMF). He has a degree in classical voice from the Eastman School of Music. He now lives in Astoria NY with his wife Jillian, who is a Broadway actress. “The Dead Circle” is his debut novel. For more information, please visit www.keithvarneywriter.com.

Website | Facebook | Twitter @keithvarney 

What gave you the inspiration for this book?

Although it probably sounds cheesy, the idea for the book came in a dream. I had a dream that featured thousands of naked people marching/dancing in a giant circle in the middle of a city. How I describe it in the book is pretty much what I dreamt, including the weird primitive movements, the rain, and the shadows thrown on the side of the buildings. That gave me the iconic image of the book and the main mystery: why is the entire population of a city naked and writhing around and around in an empty lot?

Then there was the second part of the dream that took place on the balcony of a small library. The abandoned library gave me a location for our main characters to live. Also included in the dream was a moment in the finale that I won’t mention because of spoiler issues, but I will say that’s when I woke up scared shitless.

I have gotten in the habit of writing everything I dream down as soon as I wake up—partially as fodder for my writing and partially as fodder for my therapist who will probably have a field day with this book. The world that my subconscious created stuck with me. It felt very visual and cinematic so I decided to turn it into a screenplay. 

I had an interesting situation and obstacle for my characters, but then I had to solve a bunch of mysteries. What was happening? Why was it happening? What would I do if I were in this position? What would it feel like? Once I answered these questions I pretty much had the story. 

I really enjoyed the characters in the screenplay but I felt like I wanted to go a little deeper. So as a fun adventure, I turned it into this novel. 

$50 Amazon Gift Card 

10 ebook copies of The Dead Circle

Open Worldwide

Ends Dec. 2nd

Prizing is provided by the author, hosts are not responsible. Must be 13 or older to enter and have parental permission if under 17. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary to win.

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This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.

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Me, My Shelf and I Pre-Release Blitz & Giveaway: Coming Apart At The Seams (Jenna Sutton)

Enter to Win a 

Kindle Fire HD 7" and

Kindle Ebook of ALL THE RIGHT PLACES

COMING APART AT THE SEAMS

Riley O'Brien & Co #2

Jenna Sutton

Releasing Dec 1st, 2015

Berkley

Love can take some time to break in...
Teagan O’Brien, heiress to the Riley O’Brien & Co. denim empire, is anything but a spoiled rich girl. She’s worked hard to secure her place in the family business and can hold her own, in and out of the office. Only one man has ever been able to get under her skin—sexy football star Nick Priest. Years ago they crossed the line from friends to lovers, but he left her heartbroken. Since then, she’s been determined to keep him at arm’s length—no matter how tempting he looks in his jeans...
Nick has fortune, fame, and looks that make most women hot and bothered. But he doesn't have the woman he really wants. He knows he screwed up when he walked away from Teagan, and now that he has a second chance, he’ll do whatever it takes to win her over—no matter how tongue-tied he gets...

Pre-Order

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Jenna Sutton spent most of her career as an award-winning journalist covering business-related topics including healthcare, commercial real estate, retail, and technology. Nowadays she writes about hot, lovable guys and the smart, sexy women who make them crazy. It’s the culmination of a lifelong dream, and she feels so lucky to be able to do it.

Jenna has a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Texas Christian University and a Master’s degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from Northwestern University.

Jenna and her husband live in a 103-year-old house in Texas.

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Waiting On Wednesday: Riders (Veronica Rossi)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at 

Breaking the Spine

and spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Hardcover, 384 pages
Expected publication: February 16th 2016 by Tor Teen

For eighteen-year-old Gideon Blake, nothing but death can keep him from achieving his goal of becoming a U.S. Army Ranger. As it turns out, it does.
Recovering from the accident that most definitely killed him, Gideon finds himself with strange new powers and a bizarre cuff he can't remove. His death has brought to life his real destiny. He has become War, one of the legendary four horsemen of the apocalypse.
Over the coming weeks, he and the other horsemen--Conquest, Famine, and Death--are brought together by a beautiful but frustratingly secretive girl to help save humanity from an ancient evil on the emergence.
They fail.
Now--bound, bloodied, and drugged--Gideon is interrogated by the authorities about his role in a battle that has become an international incident. If he stands any chance of saving his friends and the girl he's fallen for--not to mention all of humankind--he needs to convince the skeptical government officials the world is in imminent danger.
But will anyone believe him?

What book are you looking forward to? 

Tasty Book Tours Book Blast: I'll Be There (Samantha Chase)

I'LL BE THERE

Montgomery Brother's #6

Samantha Chase

Releasing Dec 1st, 2015

Sourcebooks Casablanca

Book #6 in New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Samantha Chase's popular Montgomery series
This Montgomery Has a Head for Business
Working for Zach Montgomery is challenging on many levels-coming from a wealthy and powerful family, he lives by his own rules and doesn't answer to anyone. But Gabriella Martine has no intention of backing down. She's used to handling stubborn men, and it doesn't hurt that Zach is smart, charismatic...and gorgeous.
And a Heart for Adventure
Zach's perfect world is turned upside down when a climbing accident leaves him broken, angry, and maddeningly dependent. In his slow quest for recovery, Gabriella is always there to help...but as Zach comes to see his beautiful assistant in a new light, he is forced to re-evaluate what it really means to be a man worthy of Gabriella's love.

Pre-Order Today

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New York Times and USA Today Bestseller/contemporary romance writer Samantha Chase released her debut novel, Jordan's Return, in November 2011. Although she waited until she was in her 40's to publish for the first time, writing has been a lifelong passion. Her motivation to take that step was her students: teaching creative writing to elementary age students all the way up through high school and encouraging those students to follow their writing dreams gave Samantha the confidence to take that step as well.When she's not working on a new story, she spends her time reading contemporary romances, playing way too many games of Scrabble or Solitaire on Facebook and spending time with her husband of 25 years and their two sons in North Carolina.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

Haven't Started the Series?

WAIT FOR ME/TRUST IN ME 

are now available in a duo!

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CBB Promotions Blog Tour, Interview, & Giveaway: The Soul Summoner (Elicia Hyder)

Welcome to my tour stop for for The Soul Summoner by Elicia Hyder. This is an adult contemporary fantasy. The tour runs November 9-20 with reviews, interviews, guest posts and excerpts. Check out the tour page for the full schedule.

Book Title – The Soul Summoner
Series – The Soul Summoner Series Book 1
Publisher – Forge Creek Press
Release Date – November 9th, 2015
Genre – Contemporary Fantasy
Rating – PG13
Length –  290 Pages

Blessed–or cursed–with a connection to the souls of others, Sloan Jordan can see the best in people… and the worst. For twenty-seven years, she's kept her ability to judge the innocent from the wicked a secret, but eleven young women have been murdered in the mountains of North Carolina, and Sloan may be the only hope of finding their killer.She has just agreed to help Detective Nathan McNamara with the case, when a stranger--who is as alluring as he is terrifying--shows up at her doorstep with a dark past and another puzzling mystery: she can't see his soul at all.Now, Sloan is on the hunt for a deadly psychopath with two irresistible men. One of them would die for her, and the other would kill to keep her safe.

Book Trailer | Amazon 

Goodreads

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 Elicia Hyder is the author of several contemporary fantasy novels such as The Soul Summoner, The Siren, The Angel of Death, and The Daughter of Zion as well as a few contemporary romances, The Bed She Made and To Be Her first. Elicia studied American Literature and Creative Writing at the American Military University. She lives with her husband and five children in central Florida.

Website: www.eliciahyder.com

 Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Instagram | Pinterest

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1. What gave you the inspiration to write this book?

This novel actually started as a joke many years ago with a scene sort of like the opening of the novel in a restaurant with my best friend. She has always said that I have an ability sort of like Sloan’s and that if I talk about someone, they will show up. It’s happened enough over the years that I can’t help but wonder if it’s more than a coincidence. I told my husband about a few years ago while we are on vacation at Disney, then later that same day we were talking about a mutual friend from high school. That afternoon while walking Main Street at Magic Kingdom, I got a Facebook friend request from that old friend of ours. Neither of us had seen or heard from him in over a decade. It creeped me out pretty bad. And from that, the novel was born.

2. Who is your favorite character in the book?

Oh… I love Warren Parish and Nathan McNamara so much that it’s hard to pick a favorite between them, so I have to say Virginia Claybrooks, the guard at the jail. That woman cracks me up.

3. Which came first, the title or the novel?

The Soul Summoner was always the working title for the book, and I never expected it to be the actual title. But after a year of working on it, there’s no better fit for the plot, so the name stuck.

4. What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?

The Brewgrass Festival scene is my favorite because I’m a proud Asheville girl and The Brewgrass Festival is a very real event. Asheville is such a unique and eclectic place, so just reading that scene takes me home. 

5. Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you've learned as a writer from then to now?

The most important thing I’ve learned as a writer is to tell your story honestly. It’s easy to get hung up worrying about what your family, friends, or readers might think about what you write, but if you bend to those fears, then your writing loses its authenticity. Authenticity and honesty is what moves a reader; it’s what makes a story more than just words on a page No one’s opinion is worth losing that.

6. What do you like most about the cover of the book?

The cover has a few subtle details about the plot and about me that only superfans of this series will understand. When I did the cover reveal to my launch team, my phone immediately started ringing with questions like, “Did you do that on purpose?” I love the connection between me and my readers that it represents.

7. What new release book are you looking most forward to in 2016?

Ha! The Siren (book two of this series) is coming in early 2016! 

8. What was your favorite book in 2015?

I battled cancer in 2015, so I did a lot of reading during my months confined to the couch on chemo. It’s hard to pick a favorite, but Remember When, by T. Torrest and Blue Honor by Kelly Williams are the first that come to mind. I couldn’t put either of them down.

9. What’s up next for you?

The Soul Summoner is a four-book series with two companion novellas. I still need to finish one of the novellas and write book four. Now that I’m healthy again, I plan on finishing the series soon!

10. Is there anything that you would like to add?

Early readers of The Soul Summoner get to enjoy a few bonuses that are in the back of the book. There is a link to another free novel, The Detective, and a link to a giveaway for a Kindle Fire. (I give away a lot of stuff on my website.) Of course, there’s no purchase necessary for the giveaway; details can be found on my Facebook page.

$50 Amazon Gift Card (INT)

Ends November 25th

Prizing provided by the author, hosts are not responsible. Must be 13 or older to enter and have parental permission if under 17. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary to win. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.