Below the Moon ~ Review with Giveaway

Join Us for this Book Series Tour from Jul 7 to Aug 10, 2020!

Below the Moon
The 8th Island Trilogy #2
By Alexis Marie Chute

Ella Wellsley is dying the search for the cure to her cure continues. Ella's friendship with Luggie is strained when book two opens following the tragic events of  Above the Star, which cost the lives of many.

Jarr-Wyn continues to change Archie who accidentally brought everyone to the planet Jarr with him. Is there something more to Archie's change or is it simply the unique properties of the planet at work? With his son, Arden found, though now in the form of the Olearons, Archie's quest is partially fulfilled and he is determined to see Ella cured. But the Olearon Lord has plans of his own and he is willing to use the love of the  Wellsleys to his advantage.

War is coming and if they are not careful the Wellsley family is going to find themselves caught in the middle as the various races seek to control the power of the Star and destroy all others.  

Below the Moon is the second book in The 8th Island trilogy, a series that promises to reveal more as it continues. The storyline is excellent if a bit bloody and violent. Not bedtime reading by any stretch of the imagination unless your dreams are never troubled literary influences (I for one am not so I will admit to staying up late to read this). The book is intriguing, as the history of this world is further revealed and the secrets of the Wellsleys are revealed. Secrets that could change Jarr and all the worlds, known and unknown, forever. Will they be able to save them or will they be the catalysts of destruction?  

If you are a fan of Scifi, fantasy, and parallel worlds, this is a book you don't want to miss. The unimaginable is real, and the impossible is probable, but not everything seen with the eyes is real until it is. 

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I offer my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

Book Details:

Book Title: Below the Moon by Alexis Marie Chute
Category:  Young Adult Fiction (13 to 17 yrs), 368 pages
Genre:  fantasy, adventure, coming of age, ya, adult
Publisher:  SparkPress.
Release dates:   Oct 2019
Tour dates: Jul 7 to Aug 10, 2020
Content Rating: PG: Battle scenes and death depicted.

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Book Description:

Ella Wellsley is not your typical teenager. Cancer left her mute, but not powerless. Trapped in a parallel dimension, Ella rallies her strength to join her family―her mother, Tessa, her grandpa Archie, and her magical boyfriend―in locating the cure to her illness. This cure is entangled in the fate of all worlds and threatened by the presence of an evil Star anchored in the sea. The Star has thrown life everywhere into chaos―and it is Ella who holds the key to unlocking its mystery.

Caught in a web of betrayal, mistaken identities, secrets, and love triangles, Ella, Tessa, and Archie must overcome their troubled pasts to ensure a future for all worlds. On this journey―armed with unearthly abilities and unexpected allies―each member of the Wellsley family will learn the power of love in the face of their greatest fears.

Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ Amazon.ca
B&N ~ Chapters Indigo ~ Target
Book Depository ~ Google Play
Add to Goodreads

Series Description:

The 8th Island Trilogy includes Above the Star, Below the Moon, and Inside the Sun. Over the three books, we follow the adventures of a quirky family, the Wellsleys. The main characters are frumpy senior citizen Archie, his daughter-in-law, Tessa, and his ill fourteen-year-old granddaughter Ella.

Archie, searching for his missing son, accidentally transports his family—and a cruise ship full of people—to a magical planet. There, they uncover the truth: all worlds are dying. Yet hope is not lost. A way to restore all that will soon be destroyed is revealed, along with the realization that Ella will play a role no one could have imagined—especially not her.

On the mysterious island of Jarr-Wya, many races of creatures battle for dominion, and magic lurks around every corner. When the world falls dark, that is when bravery must shine the brightest, and the Wellsleys will reveal the strength they never knew they possessed—as well as the power of love to save the day. 

"A Wrinkle in Time meets The Princess Bride."

Review by Lee Lee Thompson, The Perpetual You Magazine

"Chute's novel weaves STAR WARS-like characters with a WONDER-like message to form an enrapturing read for booklovers of all ages."
US Review of Books

"Fast and bizarre… Never a dull moment. "
Foreward Reviews

 SERIES DETAILS:
Series Title:  The 8th Island Trilogy by Alexis Marie Chute
Category:  Young Adult Fiction (13 to 17 yrs) (368 to 448 pages)
Genre:  fantasy, adventure, coming of age, ya, adult
Publisher:  SparkPress.
Content Rating: PG: Battle scenes and death depicted.

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 Meet the Author:

Alexis Marie Chute is an award-winning author, artist, photographer, art curator, filmmaker, and public speaker. She has received over 40 noteworthy distinctions for her visual and literary work. Her award-winning fantasy series The 8th Island Trilogy includes, Above the Star, Below the Moon, and Inside the Sun. The series has been described as "A WRINKLE IN TIME meets THE PRINCESS BRIDE" by The Perpetual You magazine, and "Fast and bizarre… never a dull moment" by Forward Reviews. The 8th Island Trilogy "weaves STAR WARS-like characters with a WONDER-like message to form an enrapturing read for booklovers of all ages" – US Review of Books. Chute's bestselling memoir, Expecting Sunshine: A Journey of Grief, Healing, and Pregnancy After Loss, was a top Kirkus title of 2017 and received a plethora of other literary distinctions. The memoir was accompanied by the feature documentary of the same name, which has screened internationally for the last three years. Chute received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art and Design from the University of Alberta, Canada, and studied at Media Design School in Auckland, New Zealand. She graduated valedictorian with her Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA, USA. Chute is a highly regarded public speaker. She has presented on art, writing, bereavement, and the healing capacities of creativity around the world. Contact the Author/Artist for bookings info@alexismariechute.com When not in her art/photo studio or at her computer, Chute loves to spend quality time with her family, read fiction and non-fiction, watch reality TV, paddleboard, and canoe. She is not a winter person but lives in frosty Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, with her husband and their three living children.

Connect with the author: Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook  ~  Instagram ~
                                              Pinterest ~ YouTube ~ LinkedIn

Tour Schedule:

July 7 – Splashes of Joy – series spotlight/guest post/author interview/giveaway
July 7 - Working Mommy Journal – book review of Above the Star/giveaway
July 7 - fundinmental - series spotlight/giveaway
July 7 - Corinne Rodrigues | Booksnista - series spotlight/giveaway
July 8 -Leels Loves Books – book review of Above the Star/giveaway
July 8 –Book Bustle – book review of Above the Star/giveaway
July 8 - Living in a Bookworld – series spotlight/giveaway
July 9 - Confessions of the Perfect Mom – book review of Above the Star/giveaway
July 9 – I'm Into Books – series spotlight/guest post/giveaway
July 10 - She Just Loves Books – book review of Above the Star/giveaway
July 13 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of Above the Star/giveaway
July 13 - Books and Zebras – book review of Above the Star/giveaway
July 14 – Olio by Marilyn – book review of Above the Star/giveaway
July 14 - Cheryl's Book Nook – book review of Above the Star/giveaway
July 15 – Rockin' Book Reviews – book review of Above the Star/giveaway
July 15 - Blooming with Books – book review of Above the Star/giveaway
July 16 – Working Mommy Journal – book review of Below the Moon/giveaway
July 16 - Books and Zebras – book review of Below the Moon/giveaway
July 17 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of Above the Star/giveaway
July 17 - Writer with Wanderlust – series spotlight/guest post/giveaway
July 17 - Rajiv's Reviews - book review of Above the Star/giveaway
July 20 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of Below the Moon/giveaway
July 20 - Rockin' Book Reviews – book review of Below the Moon/giveaway
July 20 - Adventurous Bookworm – book review of Above the Star/giveaway
July 21 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of Inside the Sun/giveaway
July 21 - Stephanie Jane – series spotlight/giveaway
July 21 - Leels Loves Books – book review of Below the Moon/giveaway
July 21 - Merlot Et Mots - book review of Below the Moon
July 22 – T's Stuff – series spotlight/author interview/giveaway
July 22 - She Just Loves Books – book review of Below the Moon/giveaway
July 22 - Blooming with Books – book review of Below the Moon/giveaway
July 23 - Rockin' Book Reviews – book review of Inside the Sun/guest post/giveaway
July 23 – Confessions of the Perfect Mom – book review of Below the Moon/giveaway
July 24 - Books and Zebras – book review of Inside the Sun/giveaway
July 24 - Rajiv's Reviews - book review of Below the Moon/giveaway
July 27 –  Book Bustle – book review of Below the Moon/giveaway
July 27 - Adventurous Bookworm – book review of Below the Moon/giveaway
July 28 –  Working Mommy Journal – book review of Inside the Sun/giveaway
July 28 - Olio by Marilyn – book review of Below the Moon/giveaway
July 28 - Library of Clean Reads – series spotlight/giveaway
July 28 - Merlot Et Mots - book review of Above the Star
July 29 – 411 on Books, Authors, and Publishing News – series spotlight/guest post/giveaway
July 29 - Blooming with Books – book review of Inside the Sun/giveaway
July 29 - Rajiv's Reviews - book review of Inside the Sun/giveaway
July 30 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of Below the Moon/giveaway
July 30 - Cheryl's Book Nook – book review of Below the Moon/giveaway
July 31 – She Just Loves Books – book review of Inside the Sun/giveaway
July 31 - Pen Possessed - series spotlight/giveaway
Aug 3 – StoreyBook Reviews – series spotlight/author interview/giveaway
Aug 3 - Leels Loves Books – book review of Inside the Sun/giveaway
Aug 4 –  Confessions of the Perfect Mom – book review of Inside the Sun/giveaway
Aug 4 - Cheryl's Book Nook – book review of Inside the Sun/guest post/giveaway
Aug 5 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of Inside the Sun/giveaway
Aug 5 - Adventurous Bookworm – book review of Inside the Sun/giveaway
Aug 6 – Olio by Marilyn – book review of Inside the Sun/giveaway
Aug 6 - Olio by Marilyn – series spotlight/author interview/giveaway
Aug 7 - Jazzy Book Reviews – series spotlight/guest post/giveaway
Aug 10 - Books for Books – series spotlight
Aug 10 - Merlot Et Mots - book review of Inside the Sun/author interview
Aug 10 –Book Bustle – book review of Inside the Sun/giveaway
TBD – Falling Into A Good Book – book review of Above the Star/giveaway
TBD – Falling Into A Good Book – book review of Below the Moon/giveaway
TBD – Falling Into A Good Book – book review of Inside the Sun/giveaway

Enter the Giveaway:

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The Key to Everything ~ Review

The Key to Everything
By Valerie Fraser Luesse

Peyton Cabot's father came home a changed man - the war and its horrors were too much - they broke him. Seeking to numb his pain he has sought refuge in bourbon, but it just may be his downfall.

There was nothing Peyton could do to stop the accident from happening and now his father's body was as broken as his spirit. With another family tragedy on top of his father's injury, Uncle Julian seeks to seize control of the Cabot family fortune and further destroy Peyton's father. Peyton's willing to do all he can to help his mother and protect his father, even if it means the summer he planned to spend with Lisa is only a lost dream.

When Peyton's parents send him to spend time with Aunt Gert in Saint Augustine his summer is about to become one he never imagined. Hoping to get a chance to better know the man his father used to be Peyton sets out to follow the journey his father made when he too was just fifteen years of age. Can he learn what his father discovered all those years ago? Or have too many changes come?

As Peyton pursues his journey he grows into a person he hopes his father would be proud to call son. But, as his mother tells, this journey is more than pedaling a bike. Peyton has choices to make - choices that will stay with him long after he puts his bike away and returns to his life. He makes discoveries about his family that will forever alter how he sees them.

This is an excellent read and one I would have no hesitation recommending to most readers. It is set in the post-WWII South but it has a timeless message that is for any era. There's right and there's wrong and those who pick the right with no thought of gain are few and far between.

The Key to Everything is well-paced with an emotional tug throughout most of the book. It is a celebration of family and of life. Sometimes we have to risk everything to obtain that which is most important and the journey from here to there often helps us to see more clearly just what is truly important. Valerie Fraser Luesse brings her characters to life so that reader has no choice but to be drawn into their lives and care about what matters to them. In my opinion, this book is worthy of more than one read and I applaud the author's work.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.


About the Book:

"Promise me you'll never come back here, Peyton.

It's too much-it's just way too much."

Peyton Cabot's fifteenth year will be a painful and transformative one. His father, the heroic but reluctant head of a moneyed Savannah family, has come home from WWII a troubled vet, drowning his demons in bourbon and distancing himself from his son. A tragic accident shows Peyton the depths of his parents' devotion to each other but interrupts his own budding romance with the girl of his dreams, Lisa Wallace.

Struggling to cope with a young life upended, Peyton makes a daring decision: He will retrace a journey his father took at fifteen, riding his bicycle all the way to Key West, Florida. Part declaration of independence, part search for self, Peyton's journey will bring him more than he ever could have imagined--namely, the key to his unknowable father, a reunion with Lisa, and a calling that will shape the rest of his life.

The Woman in the Green Dress ~ Review

The Woman in the Green Dress
By Tea Copper

The Woman in the Green Dress is an excellent read. The book takes place in two time periods 1853 and 1919 with the majority of the story taking place in Australia.

Fleur Richards is a newly-wed widow who has inherited her late husband's properties in Australia. Fleur doesn't believe Hugh is dead as she never properly received notice. But once she arrives in Australia all is as confusing as it was when she first received word of her altered state while in London. Fleur is on a mission to make sure that Hugh's rightful kin get his holdings. But finding the truth of the matter and discovering who her husband truly was is no easy task. She will have to delve into the past to get to the truth.

Della Atterton has removed herself from Sydney following the death of her parents. She is carrying on the work her father entrusted to her. But when she receives unsettling news that points to someone misusing her father's business and threatening the local population she finds herself returning to Sydney.

Captain Stefan von Richter has made a name for himself in his service to the man who saved his life. He has a definite sense of right and wrong, which is aroused when he witnesses a display of excessive cruelty, though he is but a visitor to Australia he refuses to allow the evil he has seen continue. But the prejudices of those who have taken Australia and called it home are not easily swayed.

This book is a historical romantic mystery that offers a glimpse into the past of Australia, a past that subjugated those deemed less worthy as little better than animals (or in some cases less than). When people turn a blind eye to this behavior they lower themselves to perpetuate this continuance of hate and evil.  This is an excellent but harsh read. Della and Stefan are people who are to be admired as they try to stop and right the wrong they see. And Fleur is a woman of determination who wants to do the right thing and learn more about her husband. If you like a story that will intrigue and capture your attention you have found it.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.


About the Book:

A cursed opal,

a gnarled family tree 

a sinister woman in a green dress 

emerge in the aftermath of World War I.

After a whirlwind romance, London teashop waitress Fleur Richards can’t wait for her new husband, Hugh, to return from the Great War. But when word of his death arrives on Armistice Day, Fleur learns he has left her a sizable family fortune. Refusing to accept the inheritance, she heads to his beloved home country of Australia in search of the relatives who deserve it more.

In spite of her reluctance, she soon finds herself the sole owner of a remote farm and a dilapidated curio shop full of long-forgotten artifacts, remarkably preserved creatures, and a mystery that began more than sixty-five years ago. With the help of Kip, a repatriated soldier dealing with the sobering aftereffects of war, Fleur finds herself unable to resist pulling on the threads of the past. What she finds is a shocking story surrounding an opal and a woman in a green dress. . . a story that, nevertheless, offers hope and healing for the future.

This romantic mystery from award-winning Australian novelist Tea Cooper will keep readers guessing until the astonishing conclusion.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

About Tea Cooper

Tea Cooper is an Australian author of historical and contemporary fiction. In a past life she was a teacher, a journalist, and a farmer. These days she haunts museums and indulges her passion for storytelling.

Connect with Tea

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Tea Cooper’s TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS:

Tuesday, June 16th: She Just Loves Books and @shejustlovesbooks

Wednesday, June 17th: Cheryl’s Book Nook

Thursday, June 18th: @meetmeinthestacks

Friday, June 19th: Reading Reality

Monday, June 22nd: Into the Hall of Books

Monday, June 22nd: Run Wright

Tuesday, June 23rd: Blooming With Books

Wednesday, June 24th: Living My Best Book Life and @livingmybestbooklife

Thursday, June 25th: From the TBR Pile

Friday, June 26th: Probably at the Library and @probablyatthelibrary

Monday, June 29th: Christian Chick’s Thoughts

Tuesday, June 30th: Beauty in the Binding and @beautyinthebinding

Wednesday, July 1st: Girl Who Reads

Wednesday, July 1st: @bibliolau19

Thursday, July 2nd: Christian Bookshelf Reviews

Friday, July 3rd: @rendezvous_with_reading

Friday, July 3rd: @booktimistic

Monday, July 6th: Buried Under Books

Monday, July 6th: Drink. Read. Repeat and @drink.read.repeat

Tuesday, July 7th: Careyloves and @careylovestobook

Wednesday, July 8th: Books Cooks Looks

Thursday, July 9th: Pacific Northwest Bookworm and @pnwbookworm

Friday, July 10th: Read Eat Repeat and @readeatrepeat1

Monday, July 13th: @babygotbooks13

Tuesday, July 14th: Running Through the Storms

Wednesday, July 15th: Bloggin’ ‘Bout Books

Wednesday, July 15th: Sincerely Karen Jo

Thursday, July 16th: @lostinastack

Friday, July 17th: Wellreadtraveler and @wellreadtraveler

TBD: Monday, June 15th: Hallie Reads

The Nutcracker Conspiracy ~ Review with Giveaway

"Wow - this is one INCREDIBLE novel that I could not put down. It had me on the edge of my seat and I can honestly say that I never saw the end coming. It was full of suspense, action but also humour (done in a way  that only Lauren can accomplish)." - 5-Star Review of THE NUTCRACKER CONSPIRACY by Working Mommy Journal The Nutcracker Conspiracy A Thorny Rose Mystery #4 By Lauren Carr Read by Mike Algers When Jessica Faraday's best friend finds herself suspect number one in her husband's murder, Jessica is determined to prove Amy's innocence. There is just one problem Amy looks good for the murder of Dean. Just days before at a wedding Dean told Murphy Thornton that he was about to publish a book based on the Nutcracker Conspiracy - a conspiracy in which 12 people had so far died to keep hidden.  When Dean is killed Murphy, Jessica, and Tristan find themselves digging into an assassination attempt that occurred 3 years ago. Could Dean's death be tied to his research into the thwarted attempt on the President's life?  The deeper they dig the more questions they have. And when the Nutcracker Conspiracy has links to a case that Murphy is currently involved in at work he realizes something even more sinister is at work.  One fun note is that Gnarly is visiting while Mac and Archie are overseas. Yes, that Gnarly and he is his full of trouble thieving self. He also helps out in more than one instance so he adds a light note throughout. For fans of Lauren Carr's Chris Matheson series he makes a guest appearance.  Get ready for a mystery with more turns than a winding road as the truth is searched out. Murder, espionage, and treason what more could you want? Maybe a little revenge on an ex-girlfriend? Yes, Tristan has a little bit of mental revenge on his with a little help with his technical skills. This is not a cozy mystery or a gentle read and is most definitely in the PG category for violence and suggestive scenes. But if your taste in books runs towards mystery, suspense, and murder you will devour this book! There are suspects aplenty and a few characters that one just can't help disliking. The narration is well presented by Mike Alger. There is no drag and it progresses at a good pace for the reading, good for a long commute or just eye-resting listening enjoyment. I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own. Book Details: Book Title:  The Nutcracker Conspiracy (A Thorny Rose Mystery #4) by Lauren Carr Category:  Adult Fiction (18 +),  388 pages Genre:  Mystery Publisher:  Acorn Book Services Release date:   January 30, 2020 Content Rating:  PG-13 (Lauren Carr's books are murder mysteries, so there are murders involved. Occasionally, a murder will happen on stage. There is sexual content, but always behind closed doors. Some mild swearing (a hell or a damn few and far between). No F-bombs! Book Description: Three years ago, the nation gasped in horror when the President of the United States barely escaped an assassination attempt that left two dead—the vice president’s wife and the attempted assassin.  Even after numerous investigations proved otherwise, conspiracy theorists argue that the assassin was acting on orders from the CIA, FBI, and every federal agency within a hundred miles of the capital. Aspiring Author Dean Conway is the last person Lieutenant Commander Murphy Thornton wants to spend his Saturday afternoon when they end up at the same wedding reception table. While their wives tend to bridesmaid duties, Murphy is trapped listening to Dean’s latest work-in-project—completing the manuscript of an investigative journalist who’d disappeared months earlier. “She was number twelve,” Dean says. “Twelve?” Murphy asks. “Twelve witnesses connected to or investigating The Nutcracker shooting have died either in an accident or suicide.” Two days later, Dean dies suddenly―but not before sending a text message to Murphy:  “13” Buy the Book: Amazon ~ Audible BookBub ~ Add to Goodreads Meet the Author: Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, Chris Matheson Cold Case, the Thorny Rose, and now the Nikki Bryant Cozy Mysteries—almost thirty titles across five fast-paced mystery series filled with twists and turns! Book reviewers and readers alike rave about how Lauren Carr’s seamlessly crosses genres to include mystery, suspense, crime fiction, police procedurals, romance, and humor. ​A popular speaker, Lauren is also the owner of Acorn Book Service, the umbrella under which falls iRead Book Tours. She lives with her husband and two spoiled rotten German Shepherds on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV. ​Connect with the author: Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook  ~  Instagram ~ Books on Audible Tour Schedule: June 8 – She Just Loves Books – audiobook review / giveaway June 9 –Mystery Suspense Reviews – audiobook review / giveaway June 9 – Mystery Suspense Reviews – book spotlight / guest post June 10 –Rockin’ Book Reviews – audiobook review / guest post / giveaway June 10 -T's Stuff – audiobook review / guest post / giveaway June 11 –Sefina Hawke's Books – audiobook review June 11 - Bound 4 Escape – audiobook review / giveaway June 11 - Rosepoint Publishing - audiobook review June 12 –Splashes of Joy – book spotlight / guest post / author interview / giveaway June 12 -Nighttime Reading Center – book spotlight / giveaway June 12 - Locks, Hooks and Books – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway June 15 –Buried Under Books - audiobook review - giveaway June 16 – Dab of Darkness Audiobook Reviews – audiobook review /giveaway June 17 –Jazzy Book Reviews – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway June 17 - Blooming with Books - audiobook review / giveaway June 19 – Stephanie Jane – book spotlight / giveaway June 22 – Hall Ways Blog – audiobook review / giveaway June 23 – Books for Books – audiobook review June 24 – JBronder Book Reviews – audiobook review / guest post / giveaway June 25 – Thoughts in Progress – audiobook review / giveaway Enter the Giveaway: