Thursday 28 September 2017

Nicholas Sansbury Smith Author Interview and Giveaway!

So to finish out the Nicholas Sansbury Smith feature, I have an awesome interview with the man himself! I'm honoured he would take the time out of his very busy schedule to answer some questions for me!! So please welcome Nicholas to the blog.


Nicholas Sansbury Smith is the USA Today bestselling author of the Hell Divers trilogy, the Orbs trilogy, and the Extinction Cycle series. He worked for Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management in disaster mitigation before switching careers to focus on his one true passion—writing. When he isn’t writing or daydreaming about the apocalypse, he enjoys running, biking, spending time with his family, and traveling the world. He is an Ironman triathlete and lives in Iowa with his fiancĂ©e, their dogs, and a house full of books.Nicholas would love to hear from you. Connect with him at the following places

Website: http://nicholassansburysmith.com/
Tumblr: http://thefuturewastelands.tumblr.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Nicholas-Sansbury-Smith-124009881117534/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/greatwaveink
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1362969.Nicholas_Sansbury_Smith


Hi Nicholas, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Hello! Thank you for the opportunity to interview. I’m 33 years old and live in Iowa, in the heartland of the United States. I grew up in the city but I come from an immigrant family that worked in the coal mines and had a farm here in central Iowa. I have a masters degree in Public Policy from Drake University and undergraduate degrees from the University of Iowa in Political Science and American Indian Studies. I spent the first ten years of my career working for the government in work ranging from politics to disaster mitigation and recovery. My experience working with FEMA really shaped a lot of my stories, and I left that job to pursue my passion for writing. Now, when I’m not working on a story I’m spending time with my family or traveling. I also love to run, bike, and swim. I finished two Ironman triathlons in 2014 and continue to train nearly every day. I live in Des Moines, Iowa with my fiancee and our two dogs in a century old house that’s full of books. 

How long have you been writing?
Since 2013 when I self published my first novel. Since then I’ve written 17 novels. 16 of which are currently published. 

What was the push that got you to finish your first book?
Friends and family telling me to publish it. I’ve never had any delusions about my work being good, and it really took encouragement to realize people might like my writing style and story ideas. My first book ended up being a flop out the gate, but it picked up when my second novel took off. 

Who was your biggest inspiration?
Joe Haldeman and Hugh Howey. 

You have had some interesting jobs, care to tell us a little about them?
When I worked at HSEMD and with FEMA I worked in disaster mitigation, meaning protecting our infrastructure and lives from natural and man-made disasters. I also specialized in safe room construction from smaller rooms to massive auditoriums or school classrooms built to protect against tornadoes. It was in that role I learned about the hundreds of threats we faced in Iowa alone. Working there was an eye opening experience, and really helped shape my writing. I try to make my books as realistic as possible. I continue to use my knowledge and research skills from that job to create my stories. 

One thing I love about your books is your characters, where do you find inspiration for them?
 I’ve traveled quite a bit and I’m a people person. The best advice my editor ever gave me was to listen to conversations around me and pick everyday people to become characters. Sometimes I just sit at the coffee shop and study/listen to people who become characters. I also write characters after people I know. Friends. Family. Co-workers, etc. My major characters usually reflect traits or memories of people I’ve had relationships with at some point in my life. 

Apollo is awesome!! Was he based on a dog you had?
Nope, but back when I was doing triathlons I fell in love with the breed and eventually I will adopt a German Shepherd. Right now we have a Shi Tzu and a Pitbull. Adding another dog into the mix might not be the best idea. : )

What POV do you like writing in best?
Third person. That allows me to get into the minds of multiple characters which is very important in writing thrillers. 

How has your writing career changed since you started?
As my brand has grown it’s become more and more difficult to focus on just writing. I spend a lot of time doing interviews, marketing, and continuing to grow my brand. Managing my time is the biggest thing that’s changed. I used to spend way more time writing. 

What does your writing process look like?
I edit in the mornings and write in the afternoons and at night. I always start a book with a detailed outline to provide a map of the story. That’s how I’ve been able to increase my word count and keep pumping out books so fast. This year I’ll have written six books! 

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I usually have to be at a coffee shop or around other people to work. I don’t know why, but I just can’t seem to focus when I’m by myself. 

What are your writing goals for the next year?
I plan on closing out the Orbs and Trackers series and focusing on two new series. I’m not sure if the Extinction Cycle is over, but would like to continue that one at some point. 

What writer have you met that made you go fanguy?
Joe Haldeman. The guy is a genius and very humble. 

What is the most frustrating aspect of the publishing world?
The con artists and scammers on Amazon. I wish they would crack down more. 

What are you working on now?
Hell Divers 3: Deliverance and Trackers 4: The Damned. 

Name the five biggest distractions from your writing.
The internet. The internet. The internet. My dogs. The internet. 

What character from your books would you most like to be stuck in an elevator with?
Raven Spears. 

Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?
Yes. I’m very accessible on Facebook. Typically I hear things about the Extinction Cycle or Hell Divers. People asking me when the next book will be out. I also hear from a lot of Vets about the ECycle and how much they enjoyed the stories. Those are the most humbling emails and messages. I’m thrilled readers enjoy the series so much. 

For someone new to your books, which do you recommend starting with?
Extinction Horizon or Hell Divers if you want science fiction. Trackers if you enjoy thrillers. 

Some Get to know me Questions

What do you like to do when you're not writing?
I love the outdoors. Whether it’s hiking or exercising. I’m an adrenaline junkie so anything that’s exciting. I really love high stakes poker and try to get to Vegas a few times a year. 

What’s the best vacation you ever had?
My wedding in January. We’re getting married in Mexico and I know it’s going to be the best experience of my life. : ) 

What’s your favourite rainy day movie?
I don’t watch movies during the day, but if I were going to I would say The Matrix. 

If you could be any age again for a week, which would you choose and why?
Probably 18. I think I would be able to perform in sports way better if I had the knowledge and drive I have now. Back then I had the ability, just not the heart. Now I have the heart, but my body has really slowed down since I turned 30. 

If you could have personally witnessed one event in history, what would it be?
DDay. I know it sounds crazy but that’s the first thing that comes to mind. If I could have been there, I would have. 

What's you favourite place to read?
In my leather chair. 

When you walk into a book store, where do you head first?
Science fiction!

If you had a million dollars, what would be the first thing you would buy?
A bug out cabin off the grid. 


Thank you so much for stopping by Nicholas!! Don't forget to enter the giveaway guys, these books are incredible and I can't recommend them enough!! 

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Witch Queen’s War by Eric Asher Book Blitz and Giveaway!


Witch Queen’s War
Eric Asher
Publication date: September 28th 2017
Genres: Adult, Urban Fantasy

There’s a turning point in every war, but I didn’t expect this one to be in my front yard. Allies of the Fae king have moved against the military stationed in Saint Charles. Our unsteady alliances are threatening to fracture, providing the water witches and vampires an opportunity to strike. With losses on both sides, things are far more dire than we realized, and the return of a long-forgotten enemy has made that clear. Thankfully, I know a very grumpy parrot.


EXCERPT:

Streets filled with fear and terror and blood. This wasn’t what our home was supposed to be. No matter how close war had come before, no matter what we’d fought on the streets of Saint Charles, we’d always managed to keep the commoners safe.
The tourists weren’t the only beings in danger here. The military had seen too many Fae, too many things they didn’t understand. Now they were targeting our allies, and in that action, they were targeting their own allies. They’d set their sights on the Fae who stood with the commoners.
I raised my hand in a useless protest, too far away to reach anyone in time.
The tank fired.
Flames and death and smoke screamed from the barrel of that awful weapon. Aeros raised his fists, and a u-shaped wall of stone sprang up between him and the shell. The wall cracked in the following explosion, sending waves of shrapnel and debris into the air. Angus had barely escaped, grabbing two of the kids who had been too close to the line of fire, and launching into the air with them.
One of the kids he’d had to leave behind screamed and went down, clutching his leg. Aeros glanced at the child, then turned back to face the tank. The Old God dropped into the earth, vanishing into a circle of green light. The tank adjusted its aim, centering on the wall.
The next shot might take the wall of stone, but it was going to kill the half dozen people sheltering behind it too. If they thought firing on the wall would hurt Aeros, they were wrong.
“No!” I shouted, sprinting forward. If I could get close enough, raise a shield, do something. I wasn’t that fast. No one was that fast. “Run!”
Angus dove back into the panicked crowd.
A loud thunk sounded from the tank, the same sound I’d heard before the first shot. I wasn’t going to make it to them in time. Where the hell was Aeros?
He answered with a fury, rising beneath the tank. One stony fist grabbed the barrel and bent it toward the ground before Aeros flipped the tank over and slammed it into the earth. Stone flowed over the armored metal shell, and the tank screeched as Aeros tore it apart.
“They are children!” the Old God roared. “My stone will bear your names for all time, and the world shall call you monsters.”
“Aeros, no!” I shouted.
He paused with his fist raised above the exposed soldiers, his eyes flashing between me and the terrified men below him.
“Don’t kill them,” I said.
“He’s dead!” A voice screamed, cracking and rising into hysteria. I turned to see a child tugging at the arm of an older man. The child’s wails were the endless, undefined cries of a survivor. There are the cries of grief, and then there are the primal chords of loss no person can put into words. These were the hiccupping, terrible sobs of lives broken, and a world that would never be the same.
“Murderers.” Aeros turned away from the soldiers and looked down at me. “They should be held accountable. Would you not slay them if they were Fae or vampire?” He walked back toward the screaming boy.
I stepped up onto the flattened edge of the tank. “Okay, look, that’s a big talking rock who wants to kill you now. Congratulations on pulling that off. You also just murdered someone’s grandfather, so screw you very much. Now …” I called on the dead things around me, let the decayed ruin of the gravemakers flow up from the earth to coat my arms and chest. “I suggest you get your tanks the hell out of here before I decide to let my friend flatten you like tin cans.”
The nearest soldier’s hand reached for his sidearm. All he found was a mangled strip of metal.
I let the gravemaker chaff close over my head. “Draw that gun, and I’ll eat your soul.”
The man next to him had a smarter approach. He placed his hand on his companion’s arm, preventing any further attempts to draw his weapon. When the first man tried to protest again, the smart one grew more forceful.
“Stop it. Don’t you see the thing standing in front of us? Do you want to hug your family again, or you want to die here?”
The man with the gun stopped fidgeting. I backed away, letting them climb out of the ruined tank. The wails of the child behind me cut through the silence of the men before me.
“Never forget that sound.” I turned away at that point, not wanting to see what the men would do. Or maybe I just didn’t care anymore. How had it come to this in just five days?


Author Bio:
Eric is a former bookseller, guitarist, and comic seller currently living in Saint Louis, Missouri. A lifelong enthusiast of books, music, toys, and games, he discovered a love for the written word after being dragged to the library by his parents at a young age. When he is not writing, you can usually find him reading, gaming, or buried beneath a small avalanche of Transformers.

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Wednesday 27 September 2017

Hell Divers by Nicholas Sansbury Smith Feature and Giveaway!

I haven't read this series yet but it's in my queue!! This sounds amazing and has some pretty impressive ratings. Have you read them? Would you? 

29343106
More than two centuries after World War III poisoned the planet, the final bastion of humanity lives on massive airships circling the globe in search for a habitable area to call home. Aging and outdated, most of the ships plummeted back to earth long ago. Enter the Hell Divers—men and women who risk their lives by diving to the surface to scavenge for parts that keep their homes in the air. When one of the two surviving airships is damaged in an electrical storm, a Hell Diver team is deployed to a hostile zone called Hades. But there’s something down there that’s far worse than the mutated creatures discovered on dives in the past—something that threatens the fragile future of humanity.
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29343106-hell-divers

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Hell-Divers-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B01BW6CG1Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1505468497&sr=8-1&keywords=hell+divers

31434700
Ten years ago, Hell Diver Xavier “X” Rodriguez fell to Earth. Those he left behind went on without him aboard the airship he once called home.
Michael Everheart -- the boy once known as Tin -- has grown into a man and the commander of Hell Diver Raptor Team. While Michael dives to help keep the Hive in the air, Captain Leon Jordan rules with an iron fist at the helm of the ship. But unrest stirs under his strict leadership as a prophecy of hope sweeps the lower decks.
When a mysterious distress signal calls the Hell Divers to the surface, Michael and his loyal team begin to uncover long-buried truths and the secrets Captain Jordan will do anything to keep. They dive so humanity survives… but will they survive the ultimate betrayal? 



35480139
They will dive, but will humanity survive?Nicholas Sansbury Smith’s USA Today bestselling trilogy began with his acclaimed novel Hell Divers, an Audible Editors Best Audiobooks of 2016 Top Pick and a finalist for the 2016 Foreword INDIES Award for Best Science Fiction Book of the Year. The high-octane adventure finally comes to an end in Hell Divers III: Deliverance. Will the heroic Hell Divers locate the man that can lead them to a new home, or is humanity doomed forever?

Tuesday 26 September 2017

Trackers 2: The Hunted by Nicholas Sansbury Smith Review and Giveaway!

33843988Title: The Hunted
Series: Trackers #2
Author: Nicholas Sansbury Smith
Pages: 352
Published: June 20th 2017
Source: Bought
The deadly hunt continues in book two of the bestselling Trackers saga...
Five days ago North Korea detonated three nuclear warheads over the United States, triggering an electromagnetic pulse that crippled the country. A second attack destroyed the nerve center of America in a nuclear blast that flattened the nation's capitol. As the government falls apart in the aftermath, the survivors must decide how far they will go to save the ones they love.
Police Chief Marcus Colton has struggled to maintain order in the isolated mountain town of Estes Park, Colorado, with the help of expert tracker Raven Spears and stranded pilot Major Nathan Sardetti. Together, they fought the evil terrorizing the town-but new threats are rising and old rivalries are coming to a head.
Charlize Montgomery, newly promoted to Secretary of Defense, is caught between loyalty to her country and love for her son, Ty. When the Marines sent to find Ty in Colorado discover a scene of unspeakable carnage, the straightforward rescue mission turns into a deadly chase as the hunters become the hunted.

My Thoughts

After the events in book one, both Raven and Nathan are pretty banged up but Nathan has no choice but to go and save his nephew, Ty. Colton gives Nathan some supplies but also asks Raven to go with him. They set out into a world forever changed by the EMP. Apart from trying to navigate a land decimated by the detonation, they are also trying to navigate through fires and dead bodies, but the biggest threat seems to be humans! They quickly realise that Ty may have been taken by professionals, but just who they are and what they want remain a mystery.... that is until they are ambushed and they manage to capture one of the thugs.

Meanwhile, Nathan's sister and the new Secretary of Defense is trying to evade the North Korean sub, while also trying to track it, and has to try to heal the injuries she received when the bomb detonated at the bunker. She is also dealing with the fact that her son is still missing and she hasn't heard from her brother. All she sees everyday is her beloved US coming undone. How can they bounce back from this?

On top of that, Colton is dealing with his own problems back at Estes park. When their food and supplies are stolen, Colton is fired from being the chief of police, but he knows that Don isn't the best choice and has to take steps to try to keep the town together.

I started this straight after finishing book 1 and in a way I'm sorry I did because now I have to wait till book 3 comes out!!! Plus with the news at the moment about the North Korea threats and the violence that is happening from supremacist groups, it just makes this book a little too real!! It scared the crap out of me, not in a horror book way, but in a real life scenario. The author has created an all too real feeling book and one that is something that could happen!!

I only started reading this authors work at the start of the year, even though I did have his books on my kindle for ages, but he has quickly become one of my favourites. He has created some of the most memorable characters I have ever read!! They are extremely well written and developed and I loved pretty much all of them. He made it so easy to become invested in both the story and the characters. On finishing the book my first thought was oh god, this is too close to the truth, then I cried because..... well something happened that made me go NOOOOOO, then I went damn you Nicholas Sansbury Smith, then I just sat there and thought what can read now that can top this! It's a testimony to this authors writing skills because it made me feel so many emotions!!!

Anyway, this book was amazing. It's action packed, filled with so many tense and edge of your seat moments that you will not be able to put it down, and absolutely terrifying! I bought both the ebook and the audio and know I will have to get the physical books for my shelf, it's just that good!!! Highly recommend this series and this authors work.



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Charm by J.A. Armitage Release Day Blitz and Giveaway!


I am so excited that CHARM by J.A. Armitage is available now and that I get to share the news!
If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful book by USA Today Bestselling Author J.A. Armitage, be sure to check out all the details below.

This blitz also includes a giveaway for a Cinderella Prize Pack courtesy of J.A. So if you’d like a chance to win, click on the link at the bottom of this post.

About The Book:

Title: CHARM
Author: J.A. Armitage
Pub. Date: September 26, 2017
Publisher: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Pages: 291
Formats: eBook
Find it: AmazonGoodreads

You all know the story of Cinderella... The kingdom needs an heir and Princess Charmaine is quite aware that the job rests solely upon her shoulders. The problem is, she has no intention of ever getting married, let alone pushing a child out of her ladyparts. When her elder sister dies, Charmaine has to take her place at the ball designed to find her a husband. The problem is, she doesn't want to choose between a hundred eligible bachelors. She just wants to live her life in peace and find love in her own time. 
Cynder knows about the impending war between his people and those of his masters, but working as an underpaid servant in the palace kitchens leaves him with little power to do anything about it. On one hand, he's a staunch supporter of his own royal family, but he can't deny the attraction he feels for the daughter of the king and queen he works for. 
Charm is the first in the Reverse Fairytale series by USA Today bestselling author J.A.Armitage. Take everything you think you know about fairytales and turn it on its head.

Excerpt:

My mother smiled. Her smile had a way of putting people at ease. I’d seen her use it countless times on nervous subjects. That’s what made her a good queen. She flicked her eyes towards my father who just nodded and then she turned back to me. Reaching forward and taking my hand in hers she spoke softly to me. Another trick of hers to keep me calm. I wondered briefly what exactly she would need to keep me calm for.

You already know

The little voice was persistent.

“We cannot cancel the ball. Too much is at stake and, while it is unfortunate timing, it would be madness to stop it at this late stage. Your father and I have talked extensively about this and we have decided that you are to take Grace’s place.”

I opened my mouth in shock. We had only just begun the official mourning for Grace and here they both were, asking me to take her place at some stupid party.

“You mean dance with the men?”

“Not just dance with them. We need concrete ties. The country is in a period of great instability and we need a leader to take our place when we are gone. We need you to choose a husband.”

About J.A.:



Born in Leeds, I lived a very normal life until I got bored one day and decided to travel the world. Since then I've worked on a Banana Plantation, cleaned ACDC's dressing room and been a professional clown.I climbed to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and the top of Kilimanjaro. Nowadays you'll find me being a climbing frame for my two young children, working in a school, and renovating my home.Did I also mention I wrote some books?I hope you enjoy them!
For my free books, just sign up to my newsletter here http://www.subscribepage.com/v7o8k4

Giveaway Details:

*****CHARM GIVEAWAY*****
I'm giving away a Cinderella swag pack, print copies of Charm and a $20 Amazon voucher.


1st prize: Cinderella Swag Pack with NYT bestselling book, DVD and print copy of Charm

2nd Prize: $20 Amazon Giftcard and Ecopy of Charm

3rd Prize: Print copy of Charm

Just click the link below to take you to the entry form

GOOD LUCK :)

Savage by Nicole Conway Release Day Celebration and Giveaway!


Savage (Dragonrider Legacy #1) by Nicole Conway
Publication Date: September 26, 2017
Publisher: Month9Books
 
Welcome to the Release Day Celebration for
Savage (Dragonrider Legacy #1) by Nicole Conway
presented by Month9Books!
Grab your copy today!
 
Happy Book Birthday, Nicole!
 
 
Savage begins the Dragonrider Legacy series, a thrilling companion to the international bestselling Dragonrider Chronicles.
Never send a hero to do a monster’s job.
Forty years have passed since Jaevid Broadfeather brought peace to Maldobar and Luntharda. 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 fit in. But the dark power within him is bursting at the seams—refusing 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.
 
 
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.
 
 


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Monday 25 September 2017

Trackers By Nicholas Sansbury Smith Review and Giveaway!

32495780Title: Trackers
Series: Trackers #1
Author: Nicholas Sansbury Smith
Pages: 340
Published: January 11th 2017
Source: Bought
The end of the world is just the beginning of the hunt.... 
Estes Park police chief Marcus Colton and tracker Sam "Raven" Spears have never liked one another, but when a young girl goes missing in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colton hires Spears to help find her. Their search ends after a night of devastating horror. When word reaches Estes that the nation has been hit by a coordinated electromagnetic pulse attack, Colton and Spears are forced to work together again. But they quickly realize they aren't just tracking a killer - they are tracking a madman. As the United States descends into chaos, the hunters become the hunted. 
Halfway across the country, Senator Charlize Montgomery awakes to find the nation's capital has gone dark. Forced to set off on foot, she treks across a city that has woken to a new world, and as the night progresses she learns the EMP attack was just the beginning. 

My Thoughts:

Estes Park police chief Marcus Colton, has a missing girl on his hands and knows there is only one person capable of finding her, and that's tracker Sam "Raven" Spears. Raven is the best and, even though he has been in trouble with the law, Colton knows Raven will do his all to help. Raven, Colton and Raven's dog set out to hopefully find the girl alive.  

Meanwhile, Major Nathan Sardetti, is on his way to visit his nephew when he is called back to base. A plane has entered US space and the pilots are not responding. The plane is coming up as a Chinese plane. Nathan is a fighter pilot and goes up to investigate. He is not far over Estes Park when he realises something is really wrong because, for 1 thing, it doesn't look like the plane it's supposed to be, and for another, it's rising steadily. Before Nathan and another pilot can do anything, there is a blast of light and the electronics and everything on board fail. Nathan has some time to eject before his plane crashes.

Nathan's sister, Senator Charlize Montgomery wakes up to the news that there has been a nuclear bomb denoted in the atmosphere causing an EMP to happen. It's not just in one place, there have been a few bombs detonated and things look bad. While fighting to keep the US government going, she is also trying to find her son Ty, who was at a camp near where one of the bombs detonated. She is also worried about her brother, Nathan who she knew was on the way to Ty.

After finishing this authors other series about Variants, I wasn't too sure how he could top that. But top it he did. Now this one isn't as action packed as the other series, but it is just as gripping and just as scary, not monster scary, but real thing that could happen scary! Especially with the tension that is happening with North Korea!!

This has so much happening in it that it is impossible to put down.  We not only have an EMP attack and all the ramifications that happen with that including Nuclear fallout, but we also have, what looks like a serial killer, running loose in Estes Park!! Plus, it doesn't look like an ordinary serial killer either, this killer seems to be trying to bring and old Cherokee legend alive. It's a legend that frightened Raven when he was young and it's even more terrifying now.

One thing I've noticed about this author is his ability to create characters that you immediately connect with. Every single one of them were well written and developed and they are characters you can easily care about. The book starts with when Raven was a soldier, he had a secret mission in North Korea and it's stayed with him. Now that North Korea has attacked, Raven is racked with guilt that the mission he was on could have caused all this! I loved Raven, and his dog!!! I also loved Colton and how genuine he was. There are also a wider variety of characters, but those 2 were my favourite, though I'm starting to like Nathan too.

Anyway, this book is incredibly scary because it's a threat that could happen. You can tel that the author did his research with how descriptive he is, not only with the EMP, but also the effects it has, and I particularly loved how descriptive he was with the Cherokee parts. It was fascinating!! I read this as slowly as I could because I wanted to savour it, and I have to say that I'm glad I went and bought book 2, because I seriously needed to dive straight in after finishing this one. With it's amazing characters and it's exceptional story telling, this is a must read!!!!



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Freefall by Joshua David Bellin Nerd Blast and Giveaway!


Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books (September 26, 2017)

29838368
Synopsis
In the Upperworld, the privileged 1% are getting ready to abandon a devastated planet Earth. And Cam can’t wait to leave. After sleeping through a 1,000-year journey, he and his friends will have a pristine new planet to colonize. And no more worries about the Lowerworld and its 99% of rejects.
Then Cam sees a banned video feed of protesters in the Lowerworld who also want a chance at a new life. And he sees a girl with golden eyes who seems to be gazing straight though the feed directly at him. A girl he has to find. Sofie.
When Cam finds Sofie, she opens his eyes to the unfairness of what’s happening in their world, and Cam joins her cause for Lowerworld rights. He also falls hard for Sofie. But Sofie has her own battles to fight, and when it’s time to board the spaceships, Cam is alone.
Waking up 1,000 years in the future, Cam discovers that he and his shipmates are far off-course, trapped on an unknown and hostile planet. Who has sabotaged their ship? And does it have anything to do with Sofie, and the choices—and the enemies—he made in the past?
AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY

Praise for FREEFALL

Brings new meaning to “star-crossed lovers”—read it for the intriguing concepts that play out behind the romance. —Kirkus Reviews

Completely new and unique dystopian/light science fiction. The story shifts from present to past and back again in a way that reveals a little at a time, keeping the reader completely hooked. This book will appeal to teens and adults alike. —Entrada Book Review

Bellin created a fantastic world, one highlighting social, racial, and economic inequalities that you see today, but translated it into a very dystopian-esque setting, where corporations run the world. —Lauren, from YA Bookers

Another engaging novel from master world-builder and storyteller, Joshua David Bellin. I am a fan for life, and I look forward to reading his next story. —Margo Kelly, YA author of Who R U Really? and Unlocked

[Bellin] has all the chops to turn such a dystopian scenario, where the world is firmly under the thumb of greedy, soulless corporate overlords, into a page-turning space opera that is pure pleasure from start to finish. —Kat Ross, YA author of the Fourth Element series



ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Joshua David Bellin
I’ve been writing novels since I was eight years old (though the first few were admittedly very short). I taught college for twenty years, wrote a bunch of books for college students, then decided to return to writing fiction. SURVIVAL COLONY 9 (2014) is my first novel, with the sequel, SCAVENGER OF SOULS, published in 2016. A third book, the deep space adventure FREEFALL, releases in 2017.
I am proud to be represented by the fabulous Liza Fleissig of Liza Royce Agency.
I love to read (mostly science fiction), watch movies (again, mostly sci-fi), and spend time in Nature (mostly catching frogs and toads). I’m the world’s worst singer (just ask my kids), but I play a pretty mean air guitar.
Oh, yeah, and I like monsters. Really scary monsters.

Photo Content from Joshua David Bellin

WEBSITE: http://joshuadavidbellin.com/
TWITTER: @TheYAGuy
GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7393959.Joshua_David_Bellin
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/joshuadavidbellin
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/joshuadavidbellin/

--Giveaway is open to International. | Must be 13+ to Enter
- 3 Winners will receive a Signed Copy of FREEFALL by Joshua David Bellin.

Sunday 24 September 2017

Audiobook Review: Extinction Aftermath by Nicholas Sansbury Smith and Giveaway!


Extinction Aftermath Audiobook
  • Written by: Nicholas Sansbury Smith
  • Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot
  • Length: 10 hrs and 31 mins 
  • Unabridged Audiobook


  • Release Date:10-21-16
  • Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
  • A new monster emerges.Newly christened as the leader of Delta Force Team Ghost, Master Sergeant Joe Fitzpatrick arrives in Normandy over 70 years after Allied Forces joined the fight against the Nazis. The war to free survivors and eradicate pockets of adult Variants and their offspring is underway by the European Unified Forces. But as the troops push east, rumors of a new type of monster spread through the ranks. Fitz and his new team quickly realize that the fight for Europe might be harder than anyone ever imagined.They thought the war for America was over, but the war, for some, has just begun.Back in the States, Captain Reed Beckham and Dr. Kate Lovato are settling into a new life on Plum Island. Across the United States, the adult Variants have all been wiped out, and the juveniles are on the run. But survivors soon realize there are other monsters at home, and they may be human.

My Thoughts: 

Wow, I'm speechless!!!! I have read and loved every single one of these books and couldn't wait for this one, well the author has surpassed himself with it. It was breathtakingly brilliant. So many emotions while reading!!!!

So this one sees Team Ghost, with Fitz at the helm, taking their efforts to Europe. They have made contact with some people in France and set off to help, but Europe is overrun with not only Juveniles, but Adult Variants. Plus their Variants are extreme!! They have evolved to be even more monstrous than any Team Ghost have ever seen.

"“All it takes is all you got, Marine,” Fitz said, echoing the motto of Sergeant Jose Garcia. He finally understood why the French and European Unified Forces weren’t here waiting for them with wine and cheese on the beach. Europe had fallen into darkness because the juveniles here had grown up. They were adults now, and they were smarter, bigger, and more deadly than any Fitz had faced back in the States."

Meanwhile, Beckham and Horn are enjoying retirement.... ha, not really, this is Beckham and Horn we are talking about!!! They were born to fight!! When President Ringgold tells them that the country is under attack again and this time it's not the Variants but someone who is willing to start the virus back up again, they know they need to help!

So again, I'll say wow!! Seriously, this book was phenomenal. Every single book has been action packed, but this one seemed even more so because both Team Ghost and Beckham and Horn are in deeper than they have ever been, especially Team Ghost. The Variants in Europe had longer to evolve since they didn't spread the Variant Weapon till the Juveniles were more established, so most were fully grown. How can you kill something that has evolved weapons and protection of their own!! Well, read it and see ;) 

I have said it with every book in the series, I love these characters. They are so well written and developed, that it's hard not to become invested in them. Beckham and Horn, Kate and Pat, Fitz and Apollo, they are characters that stay with you, you feel what they are feeling and you root for them continually! And when they get hurt, you gasp and cry along with them!! This book hurt my heart though. Things happen that made me stop for a second and go noooooooooo, noooooo, nooooooooo!! 

I don't know what else to say about this other than it's perfection. Action packed, thrilling, addicting, captivating, entertaining and amazing, this is a must read!!! I CAN NOT wait for the next book, though I don't know if my heart can take it!!! Buy it, you won't be disappointed. 

There isn't much else I can say about Bronson Pinchot that I haven't expressed in my other reviews of the series! He has been consistently good with his characters and the way he portrays them. He reads it extremely well and knows how to bring the story alive. Highly enjoyed his performance.

Story: 

Performance: 

GIVEAWAY:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Saturday 23 September 2017

Wanted: A Superhero to Save the World by Bryan Davis Blog Tour and Giveaway!


Welcome to my stop on the Wanted: A Superhero to Save the World blog tour!! I love this author's books, I've read maybe 11 of his, but maybe more ;) There are two giveaways for the tour but for the Grand prize you need to do a little work! At each stop, the blog post will have a number that you need to find, (mine is in pink), add all the numbers together and enter the total into the giveaway below, but wait till you have every number!! Hope you have fun on the scavenger hunt and learning more about this awesome book!!

Title: Wanted: A Superhero to Save the World
Author: Bryan Davis
Pages: 256
Published: October 1st 2017


About the Book
Eddie Hertz is smart, real smart. He has to be. What other twelve-year-old patrols the streets of Nirvana alone, hoping to foil the schemes of the evil Mephisto? Since Eddie is small for his age, he trusts in his Batman-style gadgets belt and acrobatic skills as well as lots of experience, like knowing how to swing across dark alleys without being seen.
Eddie has a dream, to become like Damocles, Nirvana’s great superhero. To make that dream come true, Eddie invented a device that is supposed to give him superpowers, but using it on himself is dangerous, maybe even fatal. He doesn’t have the nerve to try it.
When Mephisto unleashes an earthquake machine on the city, Eddie gets a surprising teammate — his quirky eight-year-old sister, Samantha, who comes up with an unexpected way to help Eddie in the frantic battle to prevent the biggest earthquake of all.Since Damocles has lost his ability to help in physical form, Eddie and Samantha are the only hope for Nirvana and the world.
Available on Amazon

Character Interview: 


Interview with Jack – Store clerk at Electronics Depot
Natalie: Thank you for the interview, Jack. Would you please tell me how you know Eddie and Samantha Hertz?
Jack: Sure, I always called them Megahertz and Kilohertz. Really funny, right? Anyway, Eddie used to come to our store all the time looking to get parts for stuff he’s working on. Since his mom doesn’t have much money, Eddie used to trade for the parts. He had this cool Virtual Reality helmet he invented, and he’d let me play with it. You know, I get a few hours on it and he’d get the parts, usually components we’re selling on the cheap to clear out for new models, like solar cells or computer chip sets. So, wanting to be a nice guy, I helped him out, you know, because his mom works hard to make ends meet.
Natalie: Yes, I heard about their father.
Jack: Yeah, really tragic. The way Eddie tells it, he was a great dad. Not too many of them around anymore.
Natalie: And how do you know Samantha?
Jack: One day Eddie brought her into the store, and she had her hair all tied up real cute, you know, pink ribbons, the whole nine yards. That made me suspicious right away. I mean, what little girl gets dolled up so early in the morning just to go to an electronics store, right?
Anyway, Eddie said he wanted a computer/projector combo we had on sale, but I said that it’s worth a lot more than hours on a VR helmet, you know what I mean? Then he offered to trade the helmet itself for the stuff he wanted. Well, that helmet’s worth thousands. It’s like beyond state of the art, so I said sure. But Eddie knew it was worth a lot so he wanted some cash on top of the other stuff.  Reasonable, right? So I went to the boss’s office and told him what it’s worth. The boss said to give Eddie, I don’t remember, maybe a couple of hundred for it, even though it’s worth a lot more.
When I came out, Eddie knew exactly how much we said it was worth, even though there was no way he could’ve heard what we said in the office. I don’t know what happened, but Samantha was grinning like she was about to get cheese fries, or like someone told her to look as cute as possible so I couldn’t argue too much with Eddie. Anyway, the boss and I were busted, so we gave Eddie quite a bit more money, still not as much as the helmet was worth, but Eddie took it.
To this day, I feel like it was a setup. Somehow Eddie must have invented a listening device, and Samantha had something to do with it. Maybe I’ll never know.
Natalie: That’s quite a story, Jack. Have you spoken to either of them since that day?
Jack: Yeah, they both came into the store not long after the big quake. Eddie wanted a whole new computer system, the best we had. As you can imagine, the quake ruined most of the store’s inventory. The ceiling collapsed and crushed a lot of stuff, and we were still cleaning up. Wanting to be a nice guy, I gave him a super deal on a great computer. It just had a bent case. I told him he could pay it off over six months, no interest. Well, he handed me a wad of cash. I asked him what happened? Did he get an inheritance or something? Or maybe he robbed a bank? And again, Samantha just grinned at me, but now she wasn’t wearing pink ribbons. She had a cape, you know, like Superman. Or Supergirl, I guess. That’s the last time I saw either of them.
Natalie: Thank you very much, Jack. I appreciate all the information about Eddie and Samantha Hertz.
Jack: Not a problem. But if you figure out what they’re up to, shoot me an email. Okay?
Natalie: That’s not likely, Jack. I think they’re both too smart to reveal their secrets.

About the Author:
Bryan Davis is the author of the Dragons in Our Midst, Oracles of Fire, Children of the Bard, the Reapers Trilogy, Dragons of Starlight, Tales of Starlight, and the Time Echoes Trilogy, fantasy/science fiction/dystopian novels for youth and adults. His first novel, Raising Dragons, was released in July of 2004, and several books in that series have hit various bestseller lists, including Eye of the Oracle, which hit number one on the CBA Young Adult best-seller list in January of 2007.Bryan was born in 1958 and grew up in the eastern U.S. From the time he taught himself how to read before school age, through his seminary years and beyond, he has demonstrated a passion for the written word, reading and writing in many disciplines and genres, including theology, fiction, devotionals, poetry, and humor.Bryan is a graduate of the University of Florida (B.S. in Industrial Engineering). In high school, he was valedictorian of his class and won various academic awards. He was also a member of the National Honor Society and voted Most Likely to Succeed.Bryan and his wife, Susie, work together as an author/editor team to create his imaginative tales.
Author writing blog – www.theauthorschair.com
Twitter - @bryandavisauth


Giveaway 1:
Giveaway is the winner's choice of any Bryan Davis book, plus a Wanted: A Superhero to Save the World T-Shirt and bookmark
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway 2:

Grand Prize - the items from the first giveaway PLUS a complete Bryan Davis book series of the winner’s choice or a $50 Amazon gift card.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour Schedule: 


Wednesday, September 20th


Tour Kickoff @ The Author’s Chair


Book Spotlight @ Backing Books


Book review and YOU WRITE: About Bryan Davis @ Zerina Blossom’s Books


Book Spotlight and Review @ The Spooky Bookshelf


Book Spotlight and Author Interview @ Scattered Scribblings


Book Review and Character Interview @ Light and Shadows

Thursday, September 21st


Book Spotlight and YOU WRITE: About Bryan Davis @ Red Lettering


Spotlight and Author Interview @ The Reader Addict


Spotlight and YOU WRITE: About Bryan Davis @ target verified


Book Review and Character Interview @ Hidden Doorways


Book Review @ Ashley Bogner


Book Review @ The Page Dreamer

Friday, September 22nd


Book Spotlight and Character Interview @ Story of Fire


Book Review @ Inkwell


Book Spotlight and Character Interview @ Liv K. Fisher


Book Review @ writinganyone


Spotlight and YOU WRITE: About Superheroes @ Dreams and Dragons


Author Interview and YOU WRITE: About Bryan Davis @ March to a Different Drum


Book Spotlight @ Author Jaye L. Knight


Saturday, September 23rd


Author Interview @ Jessi L. Roberts, author


You are here: Book Spotlight and Character Interview @ Book Lovers Life


Book Review and Character Interview @ Verbosity Reviews


Book Spotlight, Author Interview and YOU WRITE: Superheroes @ Creature of Graphite


Character Interview @ Wanderer’s Pen


Book Spotlight and Author Interview @ Adventure Awaits