5.24.2018

Dagger's Sleep and Dissociate ~ Author Q and A with Giveaway

Today I'm playing host for Dagger's Sleep and Dissociate and their two talented authors.
That's right Tricia Mingerink and Sarah Addison-Fox are here for a fun author Q and A session. And they're each hosting a giveaway to celebrate the release of their newest books!



1) What is your favorite method of book brainstorming? A random comment, a thought, a dream, or…?  


Tricia: Most of my ideas are random thoughts that can be sparked by almost anything. If I get stuck and need to do serious brainstorming, I have one close friend who gets even crazier ideas than I do and she’s the one I call up for brainstorming sessions.
Sarah: Ideas for stories generally come from a combination of things. A name, a setting, a question that needs to be answered. As long as I have those elements to work with I generally plod along without too much brainstorming. I actually prefer to work that way. I’m a hardcore panster who doesn’t really know where the story is going from one moment to the next. If I’m working on something and get stuck for inspiration, I generally switch what I’m listening to or watch movie trailers. That usually works.
~*~
2) If you could live in any Genre which would be? and why this one?  


Tricia: Probably a portal fantasy, but one where I could go between the fantasy world and our world whenever I wanted. I love fantasy worlds, but I wouldn’t want to leave my family behind and there are things I love about this world, such as not having to worry about a dragon randomly burning your house down.
Sarah: Hmmmm. I’m going to cheat and copy Tricia’s answer. It would be great to leave the mess and mum stuff behind for a bit and go be a warrior princess somewhere. Although that’s pretty much what I do when I write!
~*~*~


3) What two authors (one from the past and one from the present) would like to spend the weekend with and how would you spend it?


Tricia: One from the past would be C.S. Lewis. The Chronicles of Narnia are still my all time favorite books. I’d love to spend the afternoon with him in Oxford sipping tea (even though I don’t even like tea, but I would put on a brave face) and listening to him talk.
One from the present? That’s a tough one. Many of my writer friends who are in the United States I’ve met in person or will meet at Realm Makers this year or have the hope I’ll meet them at a writer’s conference sometime in the future (Jaye L. Knight, Jill Williamson, and Serena Chase are authors I really, really hope I meet at a writer’s conference sooner or later). So ruling out the authors that I have a good chance of running into eventually, I’d have to go with Sarah Addison-Fox. Since she lives WAY over in New Zealand, it will take a lot of planning to actually meet her. I’d love to visit New Zealand and spend the day hiking in the mountains over there are seeing the Lord of the Rings filming sites.
Sarah: For the past, I’m going to go with Mary Shelley who wrote Frankenstein at age 18. Can you imagine what a conversation with her would have been like? I’d just chat to her and drink tea in front of a crackling fireplace and eat cake.
Aaaaw! Tricia! I’d love to meet you too! That’s my answer for the present. I’d like to meet Tricia and possibly coerce her into co-writing something with me. Although she’d be smiling and nodding politely as I talk her ear off. I tend to talk too much.  
Tricia: I tend to be quiet for the first little bit after you meet me, and I’m very good at listening and tend to have a lot of talkative friends. ;) But just wait until I’ve known you a little bit. Then getting me to stop talking is the hard part.
~*~*~*~


4) What is your all-time favorite book (not yours) that you want others to read and love as much as you do?


Tricia: There is no way I can answer this with just one book. Can I answer with a whole genre? There are TOO MANY books out there that are awesome and more people need to hear about, especially in the Christian speculative fiction genre. I’ve talked to a lot of parents and teens who were blown away after reading my books that Christian action adventure/fantasy exists and want to find more, though they don’t know where to start looking.

So here’s a start: The Blood of Kings trilogy by Jill Williamson, Follower of the Word series by Morgan Busse, the Eyes of E’veria by Serena Chase, the Ilyon Chronicles by Jaye L. Knight, the Songkeeper series by Gillian Bronte Adams, the Rising Shadows trilogy by Ashley Townsend, the Out of Time series by Nadine Brandes, the Legends of the Woodlands by Angie Brashear, and, of course, the Allegiance series by Sarah Addison-Fox.

Sorry, that’s a rather long answer. I’m rather passionate about the whole Christian speculative fiction genre and helping it reach readers.
Sarah: How cool is that? Tricia Mingerink recommending my books! All-time favourite book? I’d have to go with The Sunken Realm by Serena Chase. I don’t often re-read books but that is one I have no problem re-visiting. Mainly because it has romance, action and pirates. If I was allowed to answer with more, lots of the books Tricia mentioned would be on the list as well as Tricia’s Blades of Acktar series. But I’m following the rules. One of has to eh Mingerink?
Tricia: Me? Break the rules? Never, except for answering interview questions.
Hey, rules are meant to broken, especially if you have to only pick one book. I can never pick just one either and my list is always growing - just like with these two touring books! Favorites list grows by 2!
~*~*~*~*~


5)  What is the one question you wish was asked during an interview and how would you answer it?


Tricia: One question, huh? Something fun and not serious, like what is the oddest, true story I’ve included in one of my books. The answer would be at the beginning of Dare, Ginger the goat is actually based on my family’s goat who also happens to be named Ginger. When she was little, she really did sleep curled up on top of our horse when he laid on the ground to sleep. And my horse would let Ginger and our other goats climb all over him. It’s all of one sentence in the book, but Brandi mentions that Ginger in the book sleeps on Blizzard.
Sarah: That is the best question ever! My brain is in overdrive thinking now. I wish someone asked me more questions like that one!

But seriously, I wish people asked me why my books aren’t more overtly Christian. I’d answer that my mission is to reach young readers from all backgrounds and that is why the preach and conversion factor is minimal in my published work.
~*~*~*~*~*~


Now we'll learn a little about these two books Dagger's Sleep and Dissociate
Dagger’s Sleep:
 
About the Book:
A prince cursed to sleep. 

A princess destined to wake him. 

A kingdom determined to stop them. 

High Prince Alexander has been cursed to a sleep-like unto death, a curse that will end the line of the high kings and send the Seven Kingdoms of Tallahatchia into chaos. With his manservant to carry his luggage and his own superior intelligence to aid him, Alex sets off to find one of the Fae and end his curse one way or another.

A hundred years later, Princess Rosanna learns she is the princess destined by the Highest King to wake the legendary sleeping prince. With the help of the mysterious Daemyn Rand, can she find the courage to finish the quest as Tallahatchia wavers on the edge of war?

One curse connects them. A hundred years separate them. From the rushing rivers of Tallahatchia’s mountains to the hall of the Highest King himself, their quests will demand sacrifices neither of them could imagine.
Dagger’s Sleep is available for preorder on Amazon Kindle.

You can read my review of Dagger's Sleep here
DSC09450-2About the Author
Tricia Mingerink is a twenty-something, book-loving, horse-riding country girl. She lives in Michigan with her family and their pack of pets. When she isn't writing, she can be found pursuing backwoods adventures across the country.
You can connect with her on
Facebook, Pinterest, Goodreads, Twitter, Instagram, and her blog.



     


Dissociate:


About the Book:
Freedom begins with finding the truth.

Amidst the turmoil caused by Smyth’s arrest, Celeste is stuck in limbo, stripped of her citizenship, with no choice but to flee to a peaceful Kyraenean hideaway with the tumultuous Amaya Mason.

When bounty hunters threaten the local orphanage, Celeste and Amaya must work together and fight. Even if it means risking what they cherish the most.

His plans in tatters, his career in jeopardy, Mick Haynes is forced to leave Kyraenea with the enigmatic Torrance Kyle, the agent he still can’t trust.

Torrance is good at lying, and even better at hiding his pain, but is he strong enough to deal with the consequences of betraying his own father?

Can Celeste accept the truth, accept her place in the Haynes family or will lies chain her to the past and destroy her chance at a new life?


Dissociate is available for sale on Amazon here.

The first two books in the series Disowned and Dissemble are also available on Amazon.

You can read my review of Dissociate here
PictureAbout the Author:
Sarah Addison-Fox is a New Zealand-born home-schooling mother of two who loves action-packed fantasy with strong heroines. She has an astonishing amount of nail polish, has all her creative writing credentials shoved in a drawer somewhere, and has a husband who, after 27 years, can still make her blush. When she’s not working on her Christian YA fantasy series', she can be found fangirling on Goodreads or sending GIFs on Twitter.




Connect with Sarah online at:
Instagram: sarahaddisonfox/
Twitter: @Saddisonfox
Goodreads: Sarah Addison-Fox

Image may contain: 1 person, smiling, text
To celebrate the release of Dissociate and Dagger’s Sleep, Sarah Addison-Fox and Tricia Mingerink are hosting a day-long Facebook Festival. There will be plenty of games and giveaways, not to mention
Serena Chase, author of the Eyes of E’veria series, will be the guest of honor. It’s a party you won’t
want to miss! You’ll be able to stop by any time during the day to join the fun, no matter what time zone you live in!


Giveaways! 

Sarah Addison-Fox
and
Tricia Mingerink
are each hosting
a giveaway for their
books for the
blog tour.
Sarah Addison-Fox is giving away a paperback set of the first three books
in the Allegiance Series. The giveaway is open internationally where such giveaways 
are permitted and where Createspace ships. The books may or may not be signed depending on where the winner lives.

Tricia Mingerink is giving away a paperback of Dagger’s Sleep.
The giveaway is open internationally where such giveaways are permitted and where Createspace or the Book Depository ships. The book may or may not be signed depending on where the winner lives.


Blog Tour Schedule
Tuesday – May 22
Laura Grace – Author Interview
Reading Anyone – Book Review
Jaye L Knight – Book Spotlight
Quirky Faith – Book Reviews and Author Interview

Wednesday – May 23
Allyson Kennedy – Author Interview
Sam H. – Book Review
Addyson Huneke - Book Review and Author Interview
Ivie Brooks - Book Reviews

Thursday – May 24
Shantelle Mary - Book Review and Book Spotlight
Brie Donning - Book Review and Multi-Character Interview
Blooming with Books - Book Review and Author Interview (You're Here)
Julian Daventry - Book Review and Author Interview

Friday – May 25
Faith Thompson - Book Reviews and Author Interview
Hannah Gaudette - Author Interview
CM Williams - Book Review
Chloe Parker - Book Reviews

Saturday – May 26
JM Christian - Book Review and Multi-Character Interview
Abigail McKenna - Book Reviews
Liv Fisher - Author Interview
Book Wolf - Book Reviews and Author Interview
Liz Koetsier – Book Spotlight

Monday – May 28
Jessica Dowell - Book Review and Author Interview
Lila Kims - Book Reviews
Marie Elrich - Book Reviews
Faith Potts - Book Review and Book Spotlight


Facebook Festival begins 5pm EST May 24th through 9pm EST May 25th with
special guest Serena Chase

5.22.2018

The Weaver's Daughter ~ Review

The Weaver's Daughter
By Sarah E. Ladd

The Weaver's Daughter finds Kate Dearborne's life slowly changing as progress comes to a trade that was once done by hand - the weaving of cloth. But progress has brought mills with machinery that cut the time needed to weave and dye by hand. Worse this progress and the laws of England has allowed mills to add more machines cutting the workers needed to do such jobs. And where adult labor was once needed now younger children are employed - children who are expected work long hours for less pay.

Amberdale finds itself in a conflict one that finds the Dearborne family against the Stockton family and mill. As the years pass the conflict and animosity grow between the two slowly bringing this small Yorkshire village into it where sides are drawn. With her brother, Charles taking a job with the Stockton Mill Kate's life becomes even more complicated as loyalty to family is her father's guiding passion. And her brother's lack of loyalty has made Charles a persona-non-grata in the eyes of Silas Dearborne. And Kate finds herself in the middle of this war with her love and loyalty to both brother and father.

When the heir to the Stockton fortune returns from the war on the Iberian Peninsula he is haunted by what he's experienced. Looking forward to spending time with grandfather and sister Henry is unprepared for the labor war brewing on his very doorstep. With his grandfather's dark moods and paranoia and his Mollie sister removed to London Henry's homecoming is not what he expected.

As the animosity between weavers and mills grows across England Henry finds himself forced to look at the issue from the varying points of view as they are presented to him. Progress is coming whether the Stockton Mills implements them or not. As feelings escalate Henry and Kate must decide where they will stand before Amberdale is destroyed by those who call it home. 

The Weaver's Daughter reminds me of Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South (which I now need rewatch and/or reread) with the added twist of those who are doing the wool work all by hand in opposition to the machinery-driven mills. I liked how the author presented both sides of the issue from the varying perspectives of several characters giving a balanced view of the situation that was facing all whose livelihoods and very way of life was in doubt. This is also a look at class and social status in England in the early 19th Century.

If you enjoy Historical Romance Fiction that has a bit of mystery in it (murder, sabotage, etc.) give this book from Sarah E. Ladd a try. If you've never read her books before this is an excellent one to start with as it is complete and not part of a series. This would be an excellent weekend or summer read especially if you have some time off. I will admit I read this book in one day - it was one of those "I can't put it down books" so I was willing to forego a little sleep to see how it ended.

I was provided a review copy of this book by the publisher through TLC Book Tours with no expectations of a positive ~ all opinions expressed are my own.



About the Book:

Kate’s loyalties bind her to the past. 
Henry’s loyalties compel him to strive for a better future. 
In a landscape torn between tradition and vision, 
can two souls find the strength to overcome their preconceptions?

Loyalty has been at the heart of the Dearborne family for as long as Kate can remember, but a war is brewing in their small village, one that has the power to rip families asunder — including her own. As misguided actions are brought to light, she learns how deep her father’s pride and bitterness run, and she begins to wonder if her loyalty is well-placed.

Henry Stockton, heir to the Stockton fortune, returns home from three years at war hoping to find a refuge from his haunting memories. Determined to bury the past, he embraces his grandfather’s goals to modernize his family’s wool mill, regardless of the grumblings from the local weavers. When tragedy strikes shortly after his arrival, Henry must sort out the truth from suspicion if he is to protect his family’s livelihood and legacy.

Henry has been warned about the Dearborne family. Kate, too, has been advised to stay far away from the Stocktons, but chance meetings continue to bring her to Henry’s side, blurring the jagged lines between loyalty, justice, and truth. Kate ultimately finds herself with the powerful decision that will forever affect her village’s future. As unlikely adversaries, Henry and Kate must come together to find a way to create peace for their families, and their village, and their souls – even if it means risking their hearts in the process.

Available at:
Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes and Noble

About the Author:

Sarah E. Ladd received the 2011 Genesis Award in historical romance for The Heiress of Winterwood. She is a graduate of Ball State University and has more than ten years of marketing experience. Sarah lives in Indiana with her amazing family and spunky Golden Retriever.

Connect with Sarah

Website | Facebook | Twitter

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TOUR STOPS:


Monday, May 14th: Running Through the Storms
Tuesday,  May 15th: A Bookish Way of Life
Thursday, May 17th: Read. Eat. Repeat.
Friday, May 18th: Laura’s Reviews
Tuesday, May 22nd: Blooming with Books (you are here)
Wednesday, May 23rd: From the TBR Pile
Thursday, May 24th: View from the Birdhouse
Friday, May 25th: All of a Kind Mom
Monday, May 28th: A Chick Who Reads
Tuesday, May 29th: Diary of a Stay at Home Mom
Thursday, May 31st: Reviews from the Heart
Friday, June 1st: The Sketchy Reader
Wednesday, June 6th: Girls in Books
Thursday, June 7th: Broken Teepee
Monday, June 11th: What is That Book About
Tuesday, June 12th: By the Book
Wednesday, June 13th: A Holland Reads

5.21.2018

Buckaroo Buckeye ~ Spotlight with Giveaway

Book Details:
Book Title: Buckaroo Buckeye: A Little Nut with Big Dreams
Author: Kristin Anderson Cetone
Illustrator: Nadia Komorova
Category: Children's Fiction (Ages 3-7), 36 pages
Genre: Friendship, Social Skills and School Life, Bullies, Growing Up and Facts of Life
Publisher: KLAC Enterprises, LLC
Release date: September 1, 2012
Tour dates: May 21 to June 15, 2018
Content Rating: G

Book Description:

Winner of the Mom's Choice Silver and OneBookAZ Awards!

There's a new cowboy in town! Hit the trail with Buckaroo Buckeye, a lovable little nut who falls from his tree in Ohio, as he dodges the bumps and bullies along the way in a magical journey to find his true place in the world.

Created by Reading Specialist Kristin Cetone, Buckaroo Buckeye teaches children 4-8 to:
• Learn to ignore bullies
• Improve their self-esteem
• Connect with reading
• "Dream, Believe and Achieve" no matter their size!

Your child will be inspired by Buckaroo's determination in this touching story with unforgettable characters illustrated by Nadia Komorova. Get yours today!
Buy the Book:
Amazon
Add to Goodreads


Watch the book trailer:
Meet the author:

Buckaroo Buckeye grew out of author Kristin Anderson Cetone's imagination and joy of reading.


Born in Dayton, Ohio, she traveled many miles before putting down roots in the Arizona desert. Influenced by family, education, life experiences, and a desire to teach others, Mrs. Cetone discovered her purpose---just like Buckaroo Buckeye did.


Her true calling and passion is writing and helping others become successful readers. She created Buckaroo to encourage children to believe in themselves and follow their dreams while dodging the bumps and bullies along the way. Reading will help guide the way. Being a Reading Specialist, she has also created Nuts About Reading™ an informal, supplemental, online reading service. She shares her insights and suggestions to help parents strengthen their children's reading process and become successful readers.


Her joy now is to inspire and help kids to find the Buckaroo Buckeye in themselves.


Connect with the Author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest ~ Instagram

Giveaway:
Prize: Win a signed copy of Buckaroo Buckeye
plus a $5 Amazon.com gift card
(open to USA and Canada - 1 winner)

(ends June 23, 2018)
a Rafflecopter giveaway


BOOK SPOTLIGHT TOUR SCHEDULE:



May 21 - Rockin' Book Reviews - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway

May 21 - Blooming with Books - book spotlight / giveaway

May 22 - Library of Clean Reads - book spotlight / giveaway

May 23 - Words and Peace - book spotlight / giveaway
May 24 - Brooke Blogs - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
May 25 - Hall Ways Blog - book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
May 28 - #redhead.with.book - book spotlight / giveaway
May 29 - Cheryl's Book Nook - book spotlight / giveaway
May 30 - Books Direct - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
May 31 - Writers and Authors - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
June 1 - Bound 2 Escape - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
June 4 - This and That Book Blog - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
June 5 - A Mama's Corner of the World - book spotlight / giveaway
June 6 - 100 Pages A Day - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
June 7 - Books are love - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
June 8 - Svetlana's Reads and Views - book spotlight / giveaway
June 11 - Nighttime Reading Center - book spotlight / giveaway
June 12 - The Autistic Gamer - book spotlight / giveaway
June 13 - The Book Girl - book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
June 13 - JBronder Book Reviews - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
June 14 - Jaquo Lifestyle Magazine - book spotlight / author interview
June 15 - Bookworm for Kids - book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
June 15 - KC Beanie Boos Collection - book spotlight / giveaway