Shadow Swarm - Blog Tour and Giveaway

Review and Giveaway- Shadow Swarm by D. Robert Pease

My Review: Shadow Swarm is a great novel! It fits into the high fantasy genre- with the character's names. I was so glad that there was a list to keep track of who was who and what everything meant. It is something I love and hate about the fantasy realm. I enjoyed reading about Aberthol's adventures. I connected with his struggle to find out who he was and how to save people. It quite a change in doing things that he had to find out himself. His companions were quite the characters! And who can resist a dragon!  My favourite character was Lexy, who had so much spirit. He was really fun to read about.  I thought the story-line was epic and well written. There was a lot of details, but the novel didn't over describe events either. Although one of the negatives is that the story doesn't reveal all- like how Aberthol is reborn- I am hoping that it is made clear in a new story. 4.5 stars and I am excited that this is part of a series. I personally would love to read more of Pease's works.

About the Book - About the Author - Prizes!!!

About the prizes: Who doesn't love prizes? You could win one of two $50 Amazon gift cards or an autographed copy of Shadow Swarm! Here's what you need to do...

1. Enter the Rafflecopter contest
2. Leave a comment on my blog

That's it! One random commenter during this tour will win the first gift card. Visit more blogs for more chances to win--the full list of participating bloggers can be found HERE. The other two prizes will be given out via Rafflecopter. You can find the contest entry form linked below or on the official Shadow Swarm tour page via Novel Publicity. Good luck!

  About the book: 

Aberthol Nauile doesn’t know that he once led legions in a war that raged since the dawn of time, against an enemy that cannot be killed. He doesn’t know that he rode on a dragon with his father, and saw his mother die while giving birth to him. He doesn’t know that he once saved his great, great, great grandfather by defeating the black enemy on the slopes of a volcano. Aberthol doesn’t know that he beheld the creation of the world, as his grandfather eight generations before took the planet ravaged by a war of the gods and began anew. All he knows is that he awoke in a coffin in a tomb, and now the whole world thinks he is their savior. All he really wants to know is his name, and why he keeps hearing voices in his head.Get Shadow Swarm through Amazon or Barnes & Noble. 

About the author: 

D. Robert Pease has been interested in creating worlds since childhood. From building in the sandbox behind his house, to drawing fantastical worlds with paper and pencil, there has hardly been a time he hasn't been off on some adventure in his mind, to the dismay of parents and teachers alike. Also, since the moment he could read, books have consumed vast swaths of his life. From The Mouse and the Motorcycle, to The Lord of the Rings, worlds just beyond reality have called to him like Homer's Sirens. It's not surprising then he chose to write stories of his own. Each filled with worlds just beyond reach, but close enough we can all catch a glimpse of ourselves in the characters he brings to life. Connect with D. Robert on his website, Facebook, Twitter,or GoodReads.
a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Disclaimer- I received a free review copy. It did not affect my review.

The Undiscovered Goddess- A Review

"An inspiring, funny tale about one woman's journey to become a better person." ~Kirkus Review

Who knew a Cosmo quiz and a bottle of wine could change a woman’s life?
Holly, housewife and frazzled mother of three, is determined to discredit the lackluster result of a Cosmopolitan magazine quiz. After buying a workbook geared toward helping her find her inner goddess, Holly sets off on a year of self-discovery, journaling through each exercise as she goes. Facing inner demons, yoga, an explosive colon cleanse and REALLY spicy curry, the lessons are hard on her emotions, not to mention her digestive system. But does she succeed in the end? Beyond the superficial, what important lesson does Holly’s inner goddess have the power to teach her…and what can Holly teach you?

My Review: 

I was intrigued by the premise of the book. Based on a self help book and the title drew me in. Right away, I found it difficult to connect with the main character- She was so self centered.  She did grow over the course of the novel but I did find it difficult to care about her. Overall, the book was well written. It was a great idea- self help books are a great way to find out more about yourself. I really appreciated the ending. I thought it brought the whole story together.

Most chick lit readers should enjoy this story. In many ways, it is true to life- a bored housewife who is tired of life. She isn't happy with how things are going.  Instead of changing externally, she changes internally, which is good.


I give this book a 3 star rating because I skimmed through parts of the book.

Quote:
 “Suffering is my teacher. If I pay attention to it instead of trying to numb it out, maybe it can lead me to its root.”

I really like the truth explored in this quote. 


About the author: 

Michelle Colston, mother, writer and all around American neurotic. What first began as a hobby, writing irreverent jokes and “Get to Know Your Friend” emails, has developed into a full-fledged vocation. Michelle draws inspiration from the simple experiences of day-to-day life such as; womanhood, friendship, wrangling a family, a messy house and a writing career—all while trying to refrain from using the F-word excessively. 
She keeps a weekly blog atwww.theundiscoveredgoddess.com and is currently working on a new series of upscale women’s fiction. 















Thanks netgalley for the review copy.

Shadows of Asphodel- Review

Shadows of Asphodel  by Karen Kincy is the charming story of a mercenary and a necromancer. As it is based on alternate history with diesel engines and magic - it is also diesel punk. Did I just call diesel punk charming? Well, it definitely is ! The characters are very charming and full of depth. Ardis and Wendel are great together. Other characters are just as interesting. I love how magic is blended into a tale of assassins.  Also, The history of the world war comes alive in a new way. I really like reading historical fiction through the lens of diesel punk.

What I liked: 

Ardis and Wendel- Both characters are equally strong and passionate. They are full of surprises and keep you guessing. 

The setting: I love history.  So I really enjoyed this take on the world war. I also liked how the diesel punk added to the overall story. 

The ending: I wasn't expecting it- either! Very well done. 

 I recommend this to fans of YA and NA as well as paranormal and steam and diesel punk. 

4 stars!

About the Author:

Karen Kincy (Kirkland, Washington) can be found lurking in her writing cave, though sunshine will lure her outside. When not writing, she stays busy gardening, tinkering with aquariums, or running just one more mile. Karen has a BA in Linguistics and Literature from The Evergreen State College.


I recieved a review copy through CBB. Thank you. http://www.candacesbookblog.com

Kindle Fire HDX Giveaway!

Enter to win 1 of 2 great prizes. Winner’s choice of a Kindle Fire HDX or $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 Paypal Cash! The first prize is available via the rafflecopter below. The 2nd is available only to bloggers who post about this giveaway. You can find info on how to enter the 2nd giveaway in the rafflecopter.  

Win a Kindle Fire HDX, Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash ($229 value)

All New Kindle Fire HDX 7" Giveaway

The winner will have the option of receiving a 7" Kindle Fire HDX (US Only - $229 Value)

  Or $229 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)

  Or $229 in Paypal Cash (International)

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Disclosure: Ashleigh Loves Books is not responsible for prize.

Fractured- New Release and contest

 

To celebrate the release of Fractured we have a teaser tour for you all to go along with a great giveaway! Fractured is a New Adult Contemporary Romance by Leanne Pearson.  It just released June 1st, 2014.

Fractured by Leanne Pearson

For twenty three year old Katrina Smith, the events of one day irrevocably changed her life. Life in Christchurch, New Zealand, couldn't have been better. She was in love with a wonderful man, had a job she enjoyed, and had her life mapped out before her... What dawned as a typical summer’s day, changed into a day of devastation and overwhelming loss. An insidious danger lay beneath the benign land surface, seismic tension, like a ticking time-bomb, was counting down to a catastrophe. And Kate and her boyfriend, Daniel, were in its path. It took mere seconds for the world to be ripped out from under her. Suddenly, Kate was deluged by a vortex of Post Traumatic Stress, guilt and crippling anguish. Dominic Dell’Antonio, an American marine working in New Zealand, was a man hiding from his own demons which lurked behind depthless blue eyes that read so much, yet yielded so little. He kept himself aloof and isolated. Nightmares regularly plagued him. As Kate slipped under a suffocating wave of heartache, she blocks out the world behind self imposed walls, drowning in the torrents of grief. Quiet, yet commanding, Dominic connects with Kate on some inexplicably deeper level. He wants to protect her. He wants to make her his. Two damaged and guarded souls drawn together through tragic circumstances. Two lonely hearts drawn to one another to find comfort.

Goodreads | Amazon | iTunes

TEASER 1:

I have to take a deep breath. Having this fragile, yet exquisite woman lying in my bed two feet away is pure torture. She's facing me, legs tucked up towards her chest; eyes closed. The moonlight streaming through the window is casting a muted light over her delicate features. Her blonde hair is fanned across my pillow in soft waves. Forcing myself to focus on her face, I dare not let my eyes roam south. Her sweet musky scent hits my nostrils, and I have to clench my fists, talking myself down from the really stupid impulse I have to reach down and run my hand through those golden locks. Despite the outdoor temperature, this woman has set my body on slow burn. I feel drawn to her. From that first moment our eyes met, I felt it. An inexplicable pull.

TEASER 2:

 He leans across the table and moves the hair out of my face to touch my cheek. I inwardly cringe; my ugly scar now fully exposed.

"So easy to coax a blush outta this gorgeous face, ain’t it?" he murmurs.

My cheek tingles where his fingers brushed across it and butterflies take flight in my stomach. Oddly, I have the urge to cry though, as his touch stirs memories of a forgotten longing: The yearning to be touched intimately. Held. Comforted. That must be it. I'm lonely. It's the only logical explanation for the confusing feelings I’m experiencing around this man.

"My face is scarred, Dominic. It's an ugly reminder I have to look at every day."

Dominic takes my hand in his, and my breath hitches. He pins me with his eyes.

"It's not somethin' I even notice, sweetheart. It's invisible to me. What I do see is an exquisitely beautiful woman who has experienced unimaginable loss and hurt, but she survived. Don't allow this to define you. Every time you look in the mirror, let that scar be a reminder that you've been given another chance at life."

"I can't, Dominic. Every time I look at it, it reminds me of what I've lost."

About the Author:

Leanne Pearson grew up in Durban, South Africa. She later immigrated to New Zealand, where she now lives with her husband and two children. During her down time, if she's not reading, she can be found relaxing outside, sipping on an apple cider, soaking up the sights and sounds of rural New Zealand. Leanne has had a few feature articles published in the newspaper over the years and has had a flair for creative writing from a very young age.

Connect with the Author:

 Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.

The Myth of the Spoiled Child.

Alfie Kohn is a prolific author who writes a strong critique of education and parenting. His many books and articles include The Homework Myth and Unconditional Parenting and the Case against Grades. 

His newest offering is The Myth of the Spoiled Child:Challenging the conventional wisdom about Children and Parenting.

From the book Flap

Somehow, a set of deeply conservative assumptions about children -- what they're like and how they should be raised -- have congealed into the conventional wisdom in our society. Parents are accused of being both permissive and overprotective, unwilling to set limits and afraid to let their kids fail.  Young people, meanwhile, are routinely described as entitled and narcissistic. . . among other unflattering adjectives.    

In The Myth of the Spoiled Child, Alfie Kohn systematically debunks these beliefs -- not only challenging erroneous factual claims but also exposing the troubling ideology that underlies them.  Complaints about pushover parents and coddled kids are hardly new, he shows, and there is no evidence that either phenomenon is especially widespread today -- let alone more common than in previous generations.  Moreover, new research reveals that helicopter parenting is quite rare and, surprisingly, may do more good than harm when it does occur.  The major threat to healthy child development, Kohn argues, is posed by parenting that is too controlling rather than too indulgent.   

With the same lively, contrarian style that marked his influential books about rewards, competition, and education, Kohn relies on a vast collection of social science data, as well as on logic and humor, to challenge assertions that appear with numbing regularity in the popular press.  These include claims that young people suffer from inflated self-esteem; that they receive trophies, praise, and A's too easily; and that they would benefit from more self-discipline and "grit."  These conservative beliefs are often accepted without question, even by people who are politically liberal.  Kohn's invitation to reexamine our assumptions is particularly timely, then; his book has the potential to change our culture's conversation about kids and the people who raise them. 

My Review
I really enjoyed reading this perspective. I think Kohn has hit the nail on the head. So often, kids are described as indulgent and entitled. Indeed, he shows it is not a new phenomenon but rather a belief that has been felt by adults since at least the 1950's. This shows that our attitude towards children seems to stem from a rather cynical view of children, rather than children being parented wrongly.

Using a vast array of social studies data Kohn shows the method behind the madness and what is to be done. I think the research done in the book demonstrates a deep understanding of children. To that end, this book should be read by parents and educators.  Of course, you may disagree with him but I do feel like there is a lot of validity to his statements.

This book is engaging and well written. It is an easy to read book, but is beyond simple. As well, the research is great. Perhaps as a millennial I see this phenomenon too easily- we were always judged for being narcissistic and not caring about the world at large. The Myth of The Spoiled Child adds to the discussion. As well, it is a great addition to your library!
5 stars!


Links to Goodreads and Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/The-Myth-Spoiled-Child-Conventional-ebook/dp/B00G1SD9PI

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17318455-the-myth-of-the-spoiled-child

Thanks Netgalley ~ 

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