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.

---

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.

---

 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:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Above the Star ~ Review with Giveaway

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

Above the Star
The 8th Island Trilogy #1
By Alexis Marie Chute

Ella Wellsley is dying. Her mother, Tessa, has given up all hope that further treatments will help. Her father, Arden, disappeared several years ago, but Ella knows that he never gave up hope of a cure being discovered. His hope is her hope, and as long as Grandpa Archie is around, she will hold onto that.

When Archie stumbles upon a clue that may lead him to Arden, he plans a family trip to the Canary Islands.  What he finds leads him a most inhuman being who offers him the promise of a cure, but there is a price. 

What follows is the most unbelievable journey - the cruise ship that Archie and his family are traveling on is accidental transported to the island of  Jarr-Wyn. What follows is the most terrifying series of events that the Wellsleys had ever seen, and Archie is left with grief at the destruction and death his desire has wrought upon innocent bystanders.

Above the Star is but the first 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 slowly revealed. But this is a dying world, and those who call it home are fighting to survive. The fragile peace that exists between the races is threatened by the arrival of humans.  

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:  Above the Star 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:   Jun 2018
Tour dates: Jul 7 to Aug 10, 2020
Content Rating: PG: Battle scenes and death depicted.

---

Book Description:

When frumpy senior citizen Archie goes in search of his missing son in the Spanish Canary Islands, he stumbles upon a higher mission: locating a magical cure for his ailing fourteen-year-old granddaughter, Ella. Using a portal-jumping device called the Tillastrion, Archie and a stone-headed creature named Zeno are transported to Jarr-Wya, a magnificent yet terrifying island in a connected realm―along with Ella and her strong-willed mother, Tessa.

What they find on Jarr-Wya is an island tortured by a wicked Star anchored in the sea, and a raging three-way battle for dominion between the stone-wielding Bangols, the fiery Olearons, and the evil Millia sands. Ella's wit and resourcefulness emerge in this new world, while Tessa is forced to confront her long-buried secrets and a confusing new love triangle. When Ella is captured, Tessa and Archie―with the help of a company of peculiar allies―set out to save her and unravel the terrible mystery of her cure. A mesmerizing, stay-up-all-night adventure of three unlikely heroes, Above the Star reminds us that even the smallest act of bravery can transform our lives and the fates of the worlds around us.

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.

---

 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:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Heaven Came Down ~ Review

Heaven Came Down
The Oculus Gate #1
By Bryan Davis

Their arrival brought hope to a world in pain. But before long those who looked beyond the beautiful facade presented to the world saw something else. The heavenly visitors who came to earth were heralded by many as angels sent by God. But those who refused to worship the angels were soon destroyed.

Rebellion has arisen but they are in danger of falling to these beings who demand everything - even the human soul. The Garrisons - Ben, Jack, and Trudy - have joined the rebellion, seeking to save humanity and the world they call home from these insidious beings who are enslaving everyone.

Word has come to the last bastion of rebels that they are about to be targeted by the angels by a toxin that will kill all who are within the dispersal zone. With a desperate plan to save their people from this latest attack the Garrisons target the enemy's headquarters. But all is not as it seems and soon Ben, Trudy, Jack find themselves facing a situation they never expected - becoming hosts for their enemy.

With little time to act and even less support, the battle for humanity and the human soul has entered a critical juncture - one that once begun there is no chance of going back. Sometimes saving the world calls for the ultimate sacrifice - a sacrifice that few have the strength to carry through. But has such a time come? Only time will tell...

Heaven Came Down is the first book in The Oculus Gate series, and if this book is any indication it will be a stellar reading experience. The fate of many depends upon the actions of a few and as a reader one just can't help wondering at times who can be trusted. The book has a steady pace with periods of action that kept this reader turning the page. This is different from Bryan Davis's previous works but still written with the same quality and attention to detail that one has come to expect from him. The book ends so that the reader is left with questions but not hanging from a cliff until book 2 is released which is on the author's part an incredible kindness.

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:

Heavenly messengers, or deadly parasites?

In the chaotic aftermath of the apocalyptic war, the strange lights in the sky heralding the coming of unearthly beings seemed like an answer to prayer. When the heavenly visitors entered selected people and transformed them into angels who demanded obedience in exchange for the restoration of order, the majority accepted their new rulers.

But Ben Garrison and his siblings, Jack and Trudy, have seen a dark side to these so-called angels. They join a rebel faction with one goal: destroy the invaders and free the world from their tyranny.

When the rebels catch wind of an angel plot to invade the resistance region and spread a deadly contagion, the Garrisons embark on a crucial mission to swap the angel troops’ vaccine with a fake injection, stealing the real vaccine to save the rebels. The catch: Ben and Trudy, in disguise as doctors, must volunteer to become implanted by angels and fake their implantation.

The rebels’ plan, however, is soon exposed, jeopardizing the mission and their lives. Their only hope for rescue lies in an odd bounty hunter, a young angel priestess, and a mysterious spy embedded among the angels—a woman whose identity the rebels have yet to discover.

You can now pre-order this book in

eBook/Kindle edition at Amazon