ISBN: 978-0956998514
ASIN: B005DLQC0I
Series: Outside Series
Publisher: Self/Indie
Pages/File Size: 300pages/521KB
Formats Available: Paperback, E-Book
BLURB from Goodreads
Book One in The Outside Series.
The future is divided by Perimeters: high-security gated communities where life goes on as normal. If you’re inside you’re lucky. If you’re outside, life expectancy takes a nose dive.
Riley is fortunate to have been born on the right side of the fence. But her life of privilege comes crashing down when someone breaks through and murders her sister.
She forsakes her own safety to go in search of the killer. Luc decides to go with her otherwise she’ll be dead before she’s past the security gate. But what awaits her outside is more unbelievable that she ever imagined.
Cut to the present day where Eleanor's world is falling apart. This time next year, civilisation won't be quite so civilised..
My Review of Outside
ISBN: 978-0956998569
ASIN: B00B12T7GY
Series: Outside
Publisher: Self/Indie
Pages: 312
Formats Available: Paperback, E-Book
BLURB from Goodreads
In the ravaged future, children are disappearing.
Riley lives safely behind her Perimeter Fence, but soon she’ll have to confront the terrible truth of what’s happening outside. An old enemy is approaching. Threatening to extinguish her way of life.
To save herself, she will have to fight to save another. She must put herself in the last place she ever wanted to be.
This is the terrifying sequel to the post apocalyptic thriller OUTSIDE.
Purchase Links
Sunday, 28 April 2013
IT'S MIDDLE GRADE GIVEAWAY TIME!
THIS GIVEAWAY CONSISTS
OF
16 MIDDLE GRADE BOOKS
SOME AUTHORS HAVE CHOSEN TO GIVE AWAY HARD COPIES
OTHERS ARE E-BOOKS
BELOW IS A LIST OF ALL THE BOOKS IN THE GIVEAWAY
BLURB from Goodreads
Unlike her rebellious sister Lucinda, fifteen-year-old Lexa prefers to spend her free time playing video games, fighting the forces of evil with her partner-in-crime Marlon. But when Lucinda steals an invisibility potion from their uncle’s storeroom, she unleashes chaos into their lives. Lexa and Marlon find themselves catapulted into a world far more dangerous than any video game, full of misleading illusions, sinister Conjurors and deadly Fey, and threatened by a man with a grudge known as the Puppeteer. Accompanied only by Lexa’s uncle’s unreliable (and rather dangerous) Chimera, Lexa and Marlon must navigate this world to find Lucinda- before they too fall under the spell of the puppet master…
BLURB from Goodreads
Michaela Cochran still believes in enchanted mountains and fairytale castles, but her happily-ever-after will never happen if she can’t convince her mother to accept the magical gift Michaela has inherited.Michaela Cochran and her family make the trip to her father’s ancestral home every year, but this year is special. Michaela is now twelve, the age when every girl in the family receives a special gift. When Aunt Sharon explains that Michaela’s gift is a magical ability to bring one of her drawings to life, Michaela begins making plans. What she wants most is a castle high on the mountain, where her family can live together. But if she can’t figure out how to resolve the growing hostility between herself and her mother, her gift is meaningless
Jinjing, a socially awkward, insecure and fearful girl living in Hong Kong, is about as far from a brave hero as you can get. But when a legendary golden dragon pulls Jinjing and three other kids—dishonest Pietro from Italy, moody Saburo from Japan and overconfident Kate from America--into another dimension, Jinjing discovers courage and strength she never knew she possessed.
A group of horrible monsters—the Four Fiends—have kidnapped the Earth’s Guardians. These ancient creatures protect the world from harm, and while they’re missing, life on Earth will spiral into chaos. The Golden Dragon tasks Jinjing and her new friends to find the Fiends and rescue the Guardians.
Now, Jinjing must unlock the courage hidden deep inside and lead the others through faraway lands in their quest to confront the Fiends. Can they pull together and save the Guardians? Or will their personal struggles overwhelm their combined strengths and doom the world?
BLURB from Goodreads
Caleb Reed is losing his mind, at least that’s what his father thinks.
If it were only the show - America's Funniest Home Videos - the same taped episode he's watched every night for the last six years - then perhaps his parental unit wouldn’t worry so much. But there’s far more to the thirteen year-old’s manic daily regimen that makes even Caleb himself question his mental health.
For starters, there's his obsessive worry about the abandoned mansion across the street, and then there's that curious note someone left on his doorstep. It's neatly folded, black ribbon wrapped, and signed by a stranger named Emily Dickinson.
"I'm nobody. Who are you?" it reads. "Are you nobody too?"
In time, more of these strange, poetic messages arrive, silently beckoning the agoraphobic seventh grader to venture further and further from the safety of his home in order to retrieve them. Are the notes from Iris, the YouTube obsessed eighth grader who has begun filming an indie film on his street? Has his deceased older sister returned from the grave to deliver some sort of message? Or are the pages actually from the pen of Emily Dickinson, the reclusive and long dead 19th century poet?
With his sanity in question, Caleb Reed's entire existence depends on finding an answer.
BLURB from Goodreads
Anna Olswanger's second book for young readers is an illustrated novel for middle grade readers based on a true story. In Greenhorn, a young Holocaust survivor named Daniel arrives at a Brooklyn yeshiva in the 1940s with only a small box that he won't let out of his sight. His obsessive attachment to the mysterious box excites the curiosity and unkind attention of the other boys. Free downloads of a Discussion Guide and Classroom Guide for Greenhorn are available from the publisher's website: www.newsouthbooks.com/greenhorn.
BLURB from Goodreads
Caramel Cinnamon thought the worst day of her life was the day her grandparent’s the King and Queen of the Elves of Cardamom went missing.
She was wrong!
The day she spills sticky toffee syrup onto her father’s computer, that's when her worst nightmare begins. Suddenly she finds herself marooned on a forbidden planet by an evil clone, with a very sticky secret.
Caramel is desperate to find a way to escape and rescue her grandparents. If she doesn't she will lose her dreams of returning to Cardamom to become a healer like her mum.
Luckily, she has a secret of her own and the lives of her family and friends depend on it!
A Hilarious Dog and Cat Chapter Book for All Ages
* What happens when a super smart cat and precocious dog finally decide to communicate with each other after three years of living under the same roof?
* Will they do well in the pet show?
* What REALLY happens when you leave your pets alone in the house?
Katrina von Cat the Master of Wisdom & Knowledge is an eight-year-old grey tabby cat who loves her toy mouse. Stanley is a three-year-old black Labrador/Rottweiler mix who does his best to ignore Katrina. Morty,a bunny, assists in the narration of their story.
BLURB from Goodreads
The Princelings of the East is the first of a trilogy telling of the adventures of Fred and George.When the King's Birthday feast is ruined by an unnatural power drain, our Princeling heroes leave their scientific experiments to set out in search of answers. They encounter the enigmatic businessman Hugo, the impressive Prince of Buckmore, the wise Lady Nimrod, the irrepressible barkeep Victor, but find themselves threatened by those with vested interests. The scene shifts from a rural, feudal setting to the towers and heights of the curious Isle of Hattan, but where, or when, are they? Time is of the essence in solving this puzzle, and our heroes must keep their wits sharp and their heads clear if they are to survive.
BLURB from Goodreads
Ten-year-old Orion Spence never expected to wake up alone on the HMS Exploricus after his birthday. After finally locating the first officer of the time-traveling airship and the rest of the crew, Orion gets the horrible news. His parents, who serve as captain and science officer, have been kidnapped by the evil Emperor Daaggerd. The emperor has taken Orion's parents in order to get control of the Exploricus and also the Ancient Book of Spells, a powerful book Orion's family is pledged to protect.
Orion joins forces with the ship's officers and begins a desperate chase across space and time to save his family. First, Orion must unravel the clues to the seven keys on each continent needed to open the book. Then, he must pass deadly tests of strength, honesty, leadership, and everything else that is important to be the keeper of the Ancient Book of Spells.
BLURB from Goodreads
Heath always looked forward to summer visits at Grandpa’s—long days in the wild Rocky Mountains, fishing with Dad on the Piedra River, and nights sleeping on the screened-in porch. Plus this summer, Dad promised to finally tell him the secret about old Mrs. Baylis—a mysterious Native American woman living down the dusty dirt road… But now, after Dad’s accident, it can never happen that way. Heath and his mother go to Grandpa’s, but only to spread Dad’s ashes in the river.
In the beginning, Heath feels like he's been swallowed by the raging Piedra, held upside down in some dark and unforgiving eddy. But one day, wandering along the riverbank, he meets Annie, a wild-eyed tomboy who shows him a hidden cave with a litter of orphaned coyote pups. Together they discover the cave holds another secret—one that might help them figure out the mystery of old Mrs. Baylis. During that summer in the mountains, Heath comes to realize there is both beauty and ugliness in the world, sometimes all tangled together. By opening himself up to Annie and the coyotes, he rediscovers hope and joy in this big, beautiful, mixed-up world.
BLURB from Goodreads
A door that leads nowhere… A key to open it. A map of a land that doesn’t exist, and a monster that does. Four sisters; a hypochondriac scientist, a mordant writer, and two feisty twins aspiring to be pirates, set off to retrieve their eldest sister who has been kidnapped into an unknown world. The four sisters must work together to outwit the monster Brakkus, face their fears, and unravel the clues of an ominous prophecy before time runs out: “Follow the river of blood and you will find a coffin of leaves... You will find her in the clutches of two great forces seeking power. They both prowl behind curtains of violence, but one can deliver only evil and the other, possible freedom. The one you seek is in the jaws of the deliverers, but you must hurry, for like meat thrown to dogs she will be ripped apart.
BLURB from Goodreads
Ten-year-old Stanley Delacourt loves his quiet life in the peaceful village of Meadowwood. At least, he does until his best friend is killed. Then the town library—where Stanley lives and works—is burned to the ground. The individuals responsible for both tragedies are a nasty group of soldiers. They work for the kingdom’s new leader, Christopher Siren. With the grown-ups too fearful to take action, Stanley vows to confront Siren. He plans to get answers and demand justice. Little does he know that his journey will involve sword-wielding knights, kidnapper fairies, and dark magic. Stanley has only two allies back home: a witch named Meredith, and a young apothecary called Sophie. Can they help him discover the reason behind Siren’s crimes and end this terrible reign? Or is Stanley set to become the next victim in the tyrant’s evil plot?
BLURB from GoodreadsMatthew and Mason are on vacation in Greece with their parents. While exploring the ruins at Knossos Palace on the island of Crete, they wander off and suddenly find themselves at Knossos in its prime, 4,000 years ago, when the Minoans were in power. Captured by guards, they barely escape execution and are forced to join a team of slaves who are training as bull dancers. That means they have to dance with a live bull in front of Minoan royalty. Mason is picked to be a bull leaper along with a girl named Bracche. They have to leap onto the bull's back and off again without getting gored. Will they be able to survive this ordeal, and is there any chance they can escape and take the other members of their team with them?
BLURB from Goodreads
Finn has never been on a cruise ship before, much less stowed away on one. He's never impersonated a fairy tale character, sought lost treasure or gotten to know his real dad. Annual visits to family in Germany are normally highlighted by skateboarding, playing soccer with cousins, and getting spoiled by his grandparents. But all that is about to change when a mysterious foreigner hands Finn his father's diary. He and best friend Burrito embark on the pursuit of his previously unknown inheritance -- a fortune in Nazi Gold.
BLURB from Goodreads
In the Window Room is a story about a young girl, Delany Calbefur, who's caused some trouble one fall, while she attended the Mayfield School for Girls. And she, as a punishment then, is made to leave the dormitory, and is forced to stay by herself in an old abandoned home on the outskirts of the school grounds. This story is about the dangerous and mysterious adventures she found there.
There are many... very secret, mysterious places in our world. Yet some of which, that hold no other foreseeable worth except that they are hidden, and those, by my judgement, should remain as such. However, there are certain other places, which if one can find them, that are both mysterious and immeasurably valuable. And it is of this latter kind that our story is concerned.
More specifically, the room that Delany Calbefur found, hidden away in the undiscovered corner of an old house, one Fall while she attended the Mayfield School for Girls, and the story of her adventures there is a tale that well deserves retelling. And so, within the pages of this book, I shall try my best at it.
BLURB from Goodreads
If Timothy Hayfield had known the mysterious secrets his grandmother had kept quiet all these years, and if he'd known the peril that would await him during a seemingly average summer's holiday in Mayfield, then he might have stayed behind. But who can tell what simple decisions may lead to grand adventures? In the undiscovered corners of his family's estate, he would find the fates of kings, and of worlds, that are hung in the balance. In places that would take him beyond our world, there would be battles, and valor, but only if Timothy wished it. For you see, this was choice, not a requirement: A simple decision that would make him a Prince of Earth.
BLURB from Goodreads
Soon to be twelve-year-old Miranda Moon's overactive imagination has landed her in trouble again. This time, she's been suspended from school. Since her Halloween weekend just got extended, her parents decide to take her and her straight-laced younger brother, Marcus, to her late grandparents' old cabin. That suits Miranda just fine. She's always felt there was something special about the place. Besides, she has a knack for making the best of things.
But when Miranda finds a curious water globe hidden in the cabin, she and Marcus are catapulted into a world even she never imagined. A world where everybody already knows their family name and magic flows through the trees. A world called Wunderwood. But their arrival happens to coincide with the release of a sinister warlock from a forty-year imprisonment. Thornton Crow resumes his deadly agenda to find the source of Wunderwood's magical power, the Tree of Mindala, and seize it for his own.
As Miranda learns of her own connection to Thornton, she realizes that it's up to her to end his cruel and relentless cycle of death that would steal not just magic, but also hope. With only the cryptic words of a prophecy to guide her, she holds the fate of the entire realm as well as the safety of Marcus and the newly found branches of her family tree in her hands. Miranda's signature optimism is put to the ultimate test when she chooses to carry out the task that will save Wunderwood... or doom it forever.
SO WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO TO ENTER?
THERE'S LOADS OF WAYS TO GAIN ENTRIES JUST USE THE
RAFFLECOPTER FORM BELOW
Saturday, 27 April 2013
JEANZ CHATS ABOUT MIDDLE GRADE BOOKS?
Well I thought as I had been asking authors the below questions that perhaps i should answer them too and let you know what I think. So below are the questions and my own answers.
Do you think children at schools these days are encouraged enough to read and/or do imaginative writing?
I don't think children are encouraged to read as much as they were when I was young. There's so much emphasis on technology, and this or that Tv or Dvd that's considered educational, as well as computers that I think simply reading a book well and understanding it is kind of being pushed to aside.
Did you read a lot at school and write lots of stories?
I read a lot at school. We always had a book on the go ourselves for individual quiet reading, then there was reading time at the end of the day, with the teacher reading aloud and the "good" readers sometimes reading a chapter or two aloud to the class. Then of course there was reading aloud, where you had to take it in turns to read aloud in class during "shared reading". Also the other lessons often had us reading aloud to the class too. Nowadays they seem to shove a book at the child and let them get on with it.
We also did a lot of "diary" style writing, the dreaded "what I did on my holiday" "what I did at the weekend" etc, as well as creating imaginary stories too.

Did you have a favourite author as a child?
I loved Enid Blyton! Though I started out with Joyce Lankaster Brisley's Milly, Molly, Mandy Stories, then went on to Enid Blyton's The Magic Faraway Tree, The Magic Wishing Tree and eventually went onto the St Clare's school, Mallory Towers and Famous five and Secret Seven books. I think Enid Blyton has a book or almost every age boy or girl, that would engage their minds and imagination. Though I have to say I preferred The Secret Seven books to the Famous Five. I remember saving up Birthday money, Christmas money and treat money to buy the next Secret Seven book in the series, there were plenty of them. I
remember the disappointment if the next one was out of stock and the joy when it came back into the store and you had enough money to buy it.
As I got older my Auntie Jean loaned me her Catherine Cookson books (and her friends) , so I like her as an Author, though I also read Virginia Andrews,
Flowers In The Attic and such too. I've always read a wide genre spread really. I think the books there are for Teens these days are brilliant, when I was that age you kind of jumped form children's straight into adult aimed books.
Do you have a treasured book from your childhood? If yes, what is it?
Neither I nor my family were overly religious but I remember having a big heavy childrens bible with full colour pictures. Attending a Church Of England school, I did use it.I actually still have the bible and my daughter used it whilst attending the very same school on more than one occasion. In fact I did really enjoy the subject of Religious Education, so much so if able I would have taken the subject as an O'Level/GSE (yep I'm that old lol). To be truthful I treasured all my books, I loved reading from a very young age and the habit has stayed with me into adulthood, I would still rather curl up with a good book than go out drinking, or shopping (unless for books!)to the cinema or other such activities. I also loved history books too.
Are there any New or Existing Children’s/Middle Grade Authors you are interested in for us to watch out for? Why should we watch out for them?
Wow, being on the other side of these questions I've just realised how difficult some of them are to answer. I have spoken to many fantastic Authors during my time blogging. I feel I should mention the first ever author I spoke to, who helped give me the extra push and courage to create my book read and review blog, and that was Patti Roberts. Patti organised fantastic giveaways for both my blog and my daughter Rachel's blog too. In that Giveaway were some great Indie, Self Published Authors whom I have enjoyed working with since to publicise their books, I'll mention just a few (so apologies if your name isn't here, it doesn't mean I don't love you and your books). So in that fantastic first Giveaway were Collette Scott, Samantha Towle, Julia Crane, Suzy Turner,and Mary Ting etc and many others too. But I see I have gone off trail from the question as it wants Middle Grade Age Aimed Authors in the question! So I would have to say Suzy Turner and her Morgan Sisters Series, and The Holders by Julianna Scott, both of which I have read and enjoyed. And I may not have read all the Authors in my Middle Grade Giveaway but their books sound great, that's why they are in the Giveaway after all! So if you are looking ffor a Middle Grade book for your youngster to read or a book for you to read to your youngster, or read a long with them why not enter the Giveaway. The winner should receive their E-Books just in time for the Spring Bank Holidays, what better way to entertain your children.
Do you think children at schools these days are encouraged enough to read and/or do imaginative writing?
I don't think children are encouraged to read as much as they were when I was young. There's so much emphasis on technology, and this or that Tv or Dvd that's considered educational, as well as computers that I think simply reading a book well and understanding it is kind of being pushed to aside.
Did you read a lot at school and write lots of stories?
I read a lot at school. We always had a book on the go ourselves for individual quiet reading, then there was reading time at the end of the day, with the teacher reading aloud and the "good" readers sometimes reading a chapter or two aloud to the class. Then of course there was reading aloud, where you had to take it in turns to read aloud in class during "shared reading". Also the other lessons often had us reading aloud to the class too. Nowadays they seem to shove a book at the child and let them get on with it.
We also did a lot of "diary" style writing, the dreaded "what I did on my holiday" "what I did at the weekend" etc, as well as creating imaginary stories too.

Did you have a favourite author as a child?
I loved Enid Blyton! Though I started out with Joyce Lankaster Brisley's Milly, Molly, Mandy Stories, then went on to Enid Blyton's The Magic Faraway Tree, The Magic Wishing Tree and eventually went onto the St Clare's school, Mallory Towers and Famous five and Secret Seven books. I think Enid Blyton has a book or almost every age boy or girl, that would engage their minds and imagination. Though I have to say I preferred The Secret Seven books to the Famous Five. I remember saving up Birthday money, Christmas money and treat money to buy the next Secret Seven book in the series, there were plenty of them. I remember the disappointment if the next one was out of stock and the joy when it came back into the store and you had enough money to buy it.
As I got older my Auntie Jean loaned me her Catherine Cookson books (and her friends) , so I like her as an Author, though I also read Virginia Andrews,
Flowers In The Attic and such too. I've always read a wide genre spread really. I think the books there are for Teens these days are brilliant, when I was that age you kind of jumped form children's straight into adult aimed books.
Do you have a treasured book from your childhood? If yes, what is it?
Neither I nor my family were overly religious but I remember having a big heavy childrens bible with full colour pictures. Attending a Church Of England school, I did use it.I actually still have the bible and my daughter used it whilst attending the very same school on more than one occasion. In fact I did really enjoy the subject of Religious Education, so much so if able I would have taken the subject as an O'Level/GSE (yep I'm that old lol). To be truthful I treasured all my books, I loved reading from a very young age and the habit has stayed with me into adulthood, I would still rather curl up with a good book than go out drinking, or shopping (unless for books!)to the cinema or other such activities. I also loved history books too.
Are there any New or Existing Children’s/Middle Grade Authors you are interested in for us to watch out for? Why should we watch out for them?
Wow, being on the other side of these questions I've just realised how difficult some of them are to answer. I have spoken to many fantastic Authors during my time blogging. I feel I should mention the first ever author I spoke to, who helped give me the extra push and courage to create my book read and review blog, and that was Patti Roberts. Patti organised fantastic giveaways for both my blog and my daughter Rachel's blog too. In that Giveaway were some great Indie, Self Published Authors whom I have enjoyed working with since to publicise their books, I'll mention just a few (so apologies if your name isn't here, it doesn't mean I don't love you and your books). So in that fantastic first Giveaway were Collette Scott, Samantha Towle, Julia Crane, Suzy Turner,and Mary Ting etc and many others too. But I see I have gone off trail from the question as it wants Middle Grade Age Aimed Authors in the question! So I would have to say Suzy Turner and her Morgan Sisters Series, and The Holders by Julianna Scott, both of which I have read and enjoyed. And I may not have read all the Authors in my Middle Grade Giveaway but their books sound great, that's why they are in the Giveaway after all! So if you are looking ffor a Middle Grade book for your youngster to read or a book for you to read to your youngster, or read a long with them why not enter the Giveaway. The winner should receive their E-Books just in time for the Spring Bank Holidays, what better way to entertain your children.
Friday, 26 April 2013
EXCERPT - THE DEVIL KNOWS BY K.C. CAVANAUGH
EXCERPT
"Are they talking about
admitting her?" Megan asked, trying to keep the horror out of her voice.
From their conversations the doctors hadn't thought hospitalization would be
necessary and she could receive her chemo as an outpatient. If the emergency
room doctors were considering hospitalization for anything other than
dehydration and nausea, then Anya was not in good shape. If so, all the
optimism and perky tones in the world wouldn't do her any good.
"I don't know,"
Bryan repeated, clearly frustrated. "I don't think the doctors know!"
"Okay, okay," Megan
said, trying to calm Bryan down. "I'll be there soon. Let her know,
okay?"
"Yeah," he said
weakly and mumbled that he needed to go and he'd see her soon.
The phone clicked, signaling
the call was disconnected and Megan had to fight the urge to put her head back
and close her eyes as she merged onto the interstate. Thankfully the rush hour
traffic was dissipating.
Minutes later Megan was
maneuvering through downtown, silently cursing every red light. She had been
able to see the hospital since she exited the interstate and was anxious to
reach her destination.
Finally, the light turned and
car in front of her rolled through the intersection. Megan made her right turn
into the hospital parking garage and felt her pulse begin to race.
It wasn't fear of being too
late, but the fear the unknown. Having just seen Anya earlier, Megan wasn't
sure what kind of state her best friend was going to be in.
The parking garage was across
the street from the hospital and Megan collected the ticket so she could
proceed further into the underbelly of the garage and begin her hunt for a
space.
Parking was a nightmare—almost as bad as the ones she had been suffering
at night. She reached the third level before she found a parking spot in a
distant corner of the garage. She quickly trotted to the elevator, waited for
what felt like hours, and wrote it down to street level.
PROMOTIONAL SPOTLIGHT & - THE DEVIL KNOWS BY K.C. CAVANAUGH
ISBN: 978-1482638387
ASIN: B00C7FBHI0
Publisher: Self/Indie
Pages: 230
Formats Available: Paperback, E-Book
BLURB from Amazon.co.uk
Megan has met her soulmate, her eternal love. The problem is, he is immortal. Not only that, he is a minion of the Devil sent to steal her soul by using her desire to save her best friend from death.
Jeremiah, a real devil of a man, is truely in love with Megan. But his work with the Devil requires him to ask the immortal question, "What would you give to save a life?" A better question might be, "What would you give to save a love?"
Eternal love and mortals, those words are not something that go hand in hand. By definition eternal love is, well, it's eternal and mortals are so fragile and break so easy. How can something that can die so easily ever really know eternal love? And how can something damned to eternal life ever know love at all?
About the Book by Around The Universe Book Tours
ASIN: B00C7FBHI0
Publisher: Self/Indie
Pages: 230
Formats Available: Paperback, E-Book
BLURB from Amazon.co.uk
Megan has met her soulmate, her eternal love. The problem is, he is immortal. Not only that, he is a minion of the Devil sent to steal her soul by using her desire to save her best friend from death.
Jeremiah, a real devil of a man, is truely in love with Megan. But his work with the Devil requires him to ask the immortal question, "What would you give to save a life?" A better question might be, "What would you give to save a love?"
Eternal love and mortals, those words are not something that go hand in hand. By definition eternal love is, well, it's eternal and mortals are so fragile and break so easy. How can something that can die so easily ever really know eternal love? And how can something damned to eternal life ever know love at all?
About the Book by Around The Universe Book Tours
“The Devil Knows” is a paranormal romance-drama. It starts off with
Megan learning that her best friend since birth has been diagnosed with
terminal cancer. Megan’s life is then consumed by the drive to find a way to
save Anya. She scours the internet looking for medical answers, as well as
those that seem far-fetched and impossible.
Soon, her computer
leads her to the possibility of making a deal with the devil. Megan wonders if
it’s even possible for her to give up her soul to save Anya. Not knowing where
to begin, she soon discovers clues and signs that seem to be left for her,
which leads her to an occult shop where she tries to find some answers.
But it doesn’t take
long for Anya to get worse, as it seems each day her condition deteriorates.
Even the doctors are baffled by the progression of the cancer, as it’s much
more aggressive than anticipated. During a trip to the emergency room with
Anya, Megan meets Dr. Carson who is Anya’s attending physician.
Quickly a spark between
Megan and the doctor ignites, even though there appears to be something that
just isn’t right about the emergency room doctor. Besides he treated Anya, so
that makes Megan feels weird. Plus there is the fact that she’s been thinking
about selling her soul, so a relationship is the last thing on Megan’s mind!
But after a few encounters, Megan realizes that Jeremiah Carson may not be
exactly who he has portrayed himself to be.
Who holds the answers
to curing Anya? Could Megan really sell her soul when it comes down to
it? Only the devil knows…
Purchase Links
GIVEAWAY
Thursday, 25 April 2013
FORTY DAYS - NEIMA'S ARK BY STEPHANIE PARENT

Series: Neima's Ark
Publisher: Self Indie
Pages: 123
Formats Available: E-Book
BLURB from Goodreads
The entire village knows Neima’s grandfather is a madman. For years the old man has prophesied that a great flood is coming, a flood disastrous enough to blot out the entire earth. He’s even built an enormous ark that he claims will allow his family to survive the deluge. But no one believes the ravings of a lunatic…
…until the rain starts. And doesn’t stop. Soon sixteen-year-old Neima finds her entire world transformed, her life and those of the people she loves in peril. Trapped on the ark with her grandfather Noah, the rest of her family, and a noisy, filthy, and hungry assortment of wild animals, will Neima find a way to survive?
With lions, tigers, and bears oh my, elephants and flamingos too, along with rivalries and betrayals, a mysterious stowaway, and perhaps even an unexpected romance, FORTY DAYS is not your grandfather’s Noah’s Ark story.
MY REVIEW
The cover depicts the book well, with the Ark in the background, with the storm going on around it. Then there's the dove that Neima nurses as it has a broken wing. The couple in the forground of the cover could be Kenaan forcing his unwanted attentions on Neima, or I'd prefer to think that it's Neima, and Munzir's son Jorin in a loving embrace. The fonts and placing of the book title, series title and author are all well placed and fit well with the cover, leaving the actual cover to do the "selling" of the book.
The blurb continues to "sell" the book so does it's job well. I sort of broke my own rule in that I say I don't read religious material. This book is literally based on the bible story of Noah's Ark. This story humanises the biblical story more by giving us characters and locations that are perhaps more readable. The story is told through the eyes of a young girl. You learn about the stubborness of the character of Noah, how he rules his family firmly, and to do as he says without question. We also have our main character who narrates the story as Neima, she is Noah's grand-daughter. So as we all know the story goes that Noah is "told" to build an Ark. So Noah sets about his task and manipulates and forces his sons & their families to help. He doesn't ask he demands they listen to him and do as he says. Naturally there are skeptics within the family as well as outside of it The family know better than to question Noah, but the villagers ridicule Noah and his family. One of the leaders of those in the village that oppose Noah is Munzir. No one believes that the rain will come as Noah says it will. Then when it does they blame Noah for building the Ark, saying he has cursed them. Munzir comes up with the idea of setting fire to and burning the Ark, though when he tries he cannot keep a fire torch lit long enough. Noah summons his family to the Ark. Then there's the torrential rain and the "living" on board the Ark, caring for and feeding all the animals that Noah ordered to be collected. This story also has the inter family politics, where one brother will agree with anything Noah says just to try and gain favour with Noah. Then there's the fact that Kenaan thinks he will marry Neima so thinks it acceptable to force unwanted kisses and grope her when he wishes. Then there's the friendships between Neima and Dreya her best friend, hoe does Dreya take the news that Kenaan will one day marry Neima when she herself covets him so much. There is also Jorin, son of Munzir who wants to be friends with Neima and perhaps more one day but his father would never stand for it, he hates to see Jorin even acknowledge Neima or any of Noah's family.
So most of you will know the story of the Ark but this book also tells of the lives of the family aboard the Ark, how they cope with the dark, the movement of the Ark, caring for the animals and each other, as well as coping with what is happening outside their safe haven.
There's also a stowaway on the Ark. Will Noah allow the stowaway to stay, as they are not of his family so were not chosen by the God who speaks to Noah? The ending leaves on a real cliffhanger.
So did I enjoy the book? Yes, I really did. Although I knew the story of Noah's Ark, this has an even more human side, and deals with perhaps sides of the story you would not first think of, like the living conditions on the Ark. Would I recommend the book? Yes, it makes you think even more than the biblical story. Would I read Bk2? Yes I definitely want to read book 2. Would I read more by Stephanie Parent? Yes, I liked her concept with this book being from Neima's point of view, and I also liked Stephanie's writing style, which was an easy, medium pace.
Purchase Link
PROMOTIONAL SPOTLIGHT & GIVEAWAY - FORTY DAYS - NEIMA'S ARK BY STEPHANIE PARENT
ASIN: B00BEA5MC6
Series: Neima's Ark
Publisher: Self/Indie
Pages: 123
Formats Available: E-book
BLURB from Goodreads
The entire village knows Neima’s grandfather is a madman. For years the old man has prophesied that a great flood is coming, a flood disastrous enough to blot out the entire earth. He’s even built an enormous ark that he claims will allow his family to survive the deluge. But no one believes the ravings of a lunatic…
…until the rain starts. And doesn’t stop. Soon sixteen-year-old Neima finds her entire world transformed, her life and those of the people she loves in peril. Trapped on the ark with her grandfather Noah, the rest of her family, and a noisy, filthy, and hungry assortment of wild animals, will Neima find a way to survive?
With lions, tigers, and bears oh my, elephants and flamingos too, along with rivalries and betrayals, a mysterious stowaway, and perhaps even an unexpected romance, FORTY DAYS is not your grandfather’s Noah’s Ark story.
Notes About The Book
FORTY DAYS is approximately 45000 words, the length of a shorter novel, and is the first installment in a two-part epic story. It does contain a cliffhanger ending.
Readers looking for a traditional, religiously oriented version of the Noah’s Ark story should be warned that FORTY DAYS may not appeal to them. The novel will, however, appeal to lovers of apocalyptic fiction, historical fiction, and romance, as well as anyone who’s ever dreamed of having a baby elephant as a pet.
Purchase Link
Series: Neima's Ark
Publisher: Self/Indie
Pages: 123
Formats Available: E-book
BLURB from Goodreads
The entire village knows Neima’s grandfather is a madman. For years the old man has prophesied that a great flood is coming, a flood disastrous enough to blot out the entire earth. He’s even built an enormous ark that he claims will allow his family to survive the deluge. But no one believes the ravings of a lunatic…
…until the rain starts. And doesn’t stop. Soon sixteen-year-old Neima finds her entire world transformed, her life and those of the people she loves in peril. Trapped on the ark with her grandfather Noah, the rest of her family, and a noisy, filthy, and hungry assortment of wild animals, will Neima find a way to survive?
With lions, tigers, and bears oh my, elephants and flamingos too, along with rivalries and betrayals, a mysterious stowaway, and perhaps even an unexpected romance, FORTY DAYS is not your grandfather’s Noah’s Ark story.
Notes About The Book
FORTY DAYS is approximately 45000 words, the length of a shorter novel, and is the first installment in a two-part epic story. It does contain a cliffhanger ending.
Readers looking for a traditional, religiously oriented version of the Noah’s Ark story should be warned that FORTY DAYS may not appeal to them. The novel will, however, appeal to lovers of apocalyptic fiction, historical fiction, and romance, as well as anyone who’s ever dreamed of having a baby elephant as a pet.
Purchase Link
GIVEAWAY
(1) e-book of Forty Days and $10 gift card to Amazon (INT)
(3) e-book copies of Forty Days (INT)

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