Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Winter Reads: Always Watching by Lynette Eason


Revell; 336 pages; $14.99; Amazon
While I'm sure many people's New Year's resolution is to lose weigh; however, my only resolution is too quit procrastinating; which basically means I need to get caught up on my reviews on this blog. I have two piles of books that need to be reviewed. Many of the titles were read last year, but I never got around to writing the actual review. Well, this needs to stop. I am determined to get these books read (or reread), reviewed, and published on this blog.

Up first on my list is the Christian thriller Always Watching, book one in the Elite Guardians series, by author Lynette Eason. I'm not for sure if I've read any of her other titles before, but I have read so many books, so maybe I have just forgot it.

Anyhow, you can probably guess by the cover art that this is a action-thriller. The plot involves a bodyguard company called Elite Guardians Agency, which is owned by Olivia Edwards, that is assigned to protect a radio shrink, Wade Savage, who is being stalked.

Q&A with Gabriele Russo, author of Incompetent Gods





Now available from Fiery Seas Publishing is Incompetent Gods, book one in the Gods Inc Series, by author Gabriele Russo.





The author has taken a few minutes out of her busy schedule for a Q&A about her newest novel.


When did you become interested in storytelling?

Telling stories is my family’s official pastime, we love it. And the more embroidery you add, the better (although it does sometimes make it difficult to get a true medical history when you need one). Anyway, I’ve always had the desire to write stories, but for some reason, it never quite clicked until I discovered satirical fantasy.

What was your first book/story published?

Incompetent Gods is my first published book. Two more will follow in the next year: Inclement Gods and Incoherent Gods

What inspired you to write?

It all started with the back-story of one of my characters. A friend of mine had lost her keys, and her kids were becoming unbearable (I’m not very good with kids), so I decided to make up a story to distract them. I told them how the Carthaginian god Ba’al, weakened almost to the point of death after the Romans had conquered and destroyed his city, had then had then been recycled as the Lar of Lost Objects, the Eater of Socks, the Thief of Keys… To get into the spirit, we even sacrificed a few Monopoly dollars. The idea of a bunch of unmotivated deities working in a Dilbert-like company was born.

What character in Incompetent Gods is the most/least like you, and in what ways?

Friday, January 6, 2017

Book Blogger Hop: January 6th - 12th




Instructions: Select all code above, copy it and paste it inside your blog post as HTML


Welcome to the new Book Blogger Hop!

If you want schedule next week's post, click here to find the next prompt question. To submit a question, fill out this form.

What to do:

1. Post on your blog answering this question:

  This week's question is submitted by Ronyell @ Rabbit Ears Book Blog!

Where's your favorite place to read?

2. Enter the link to your post in the linky list below (enter your Blog Name and the direct link to your post answering this week’s question. Failure to do so will result in removal of your link).


3. Visit other blogs in the list and comment on their posts. Try to spend some time on the blogs reading other posts and possible become a new follower.  The purpose of the hop is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to your own blog.
  

My Answer: 

 No, I don't have a favorite place. I can read just about anywhere; though I do prefer to be in a quite environment when I'm reading.



Linky List:

Thursday, January 5, 2017

Review - Courageous by Dina L. Sleiman


Bethany House; 360 pages; $13.99; Amazon
After watching half of the one and only season on Camelot on DVD this week, it dawned on me that I had a religious fiction novel involving knights just sitting on my desk collecting dust.

What is the name of this novel?

It's called Courageous written by Dina L. Sleiman and published last summer by Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group - AKA, a book I signed up to review but forgotten to read it!

The novel is actually book three of the Valiant Hearts series, and though I had never read the other books in the series, I went ahead and read the title this week.

Set in the year 1219 (around the time of the Holy Roman Empire), the novel centers on Rosalind of Ipsworth, a young woman who joins a group of defenders who are trying to free captives from a Tripoli prison. Still haunted by her past, she is devoted to the cause and will do anything to help others in need.

The last thing Rosalind was looking for was "love," but that is exactly what she finds when Sir Randel Penigree enters her life.

Blu-ray Review - Middle School: The Worst Years Of My Life


Rated PG; 92 minutes; $39.99; Amazon

Now available on Blu-ray (with Digital HD) and DVD  from Lionsgate Home Entertainment is the family-friendly comedy Middle School: The Worst Years Of My Life. Directed by Steve Carr, the film stars Griffin Gluck, Lauren Graham, Rob Riggle, Thomas Barbusca, Andy Daly, and Adam Pally.


Based on the popular children book series by James Patterson and Chris Tebbets, the film centers on Rafe Khatchadorian (played by Griffin Gluck), a teenager who keeps getting himself kicked out of schools. Rafe's mother (played by Lauren Graham) has had just about enough of his trouble-making ways, and she hopes that transferring him to Hills Village Middle School might change his attitude.


Within minutes of arriving at his new school, Rafe makes enemies with the school bully, "the Killer" (played by Jacob Hopkins) and Principle Dwight (played by Andy Daly). After the principle destroys his sketch book, Rafe vows to disobey every school rule.

Griffin Gluck ("Rafe") stars in Lionsgate Home Entertainment's MIDDLE SCHOOL: THE WORST YEARS OF MY LIFE.

With the help of his new friend Jeanne (played by Isabela Moner) and his invisible friend Leo (played by Thomas Barbusca), he comes up with the "Operation R.A.F.E" plan, which involves exposing Principle Dwight for what he really is - a liar.

Andrew Daly ("Principal Dwight") stars in Lionsgate Home Entertainment's MIDDLE SCHOOL: THE WORST YEARS OF MY LIFE.

Tuesday, January 3, 2017

Q&A with author Laura Bickle, author of Nine of Stars



Now available from Harper Voyager is the contemporary fantasy Nine of Stars: A Wildlands Novel by Laura Bickle.



The author has taken a few minutes out of her busy schedule for a Q&A about her newest novel.


When did you become interested in storytelling?

I’ve always been scribbling, ever since I was old enough to hold a crayon. I didn’t believe, until a few years ago, that other people would want to read what I wrote. It’s incredibly exciting to hear from folks who’ve enjoyed the stories I tell.

What was your first book/story published?

The first book I wrote was an urban fantasy, EMBERS, through Pocket Books in 2010. It could be summed up as “Ghostbusters in Detroit with dragons and arson.” Since then, I’ve written in both contemporary fantasy and YA, but always about the monsters hiding under the stairs.

What inspired you to write Nine of Stars?

Several years ago, my husband and I took a trip to the Yellowstone area of Wyoming. The landscape was larger-than-life and perfectly magical…I knew I had to write a story in the vein of a contemporary weird western. Once I started asking the questions, the story came quickly: What if an alchemist founded a town here a century and a half ago? What happened to his failed experiments? What creatures might still lurk in the shadows?


Friday, December 30, 2016

Book Blogger Hop: Dec. 30th - Jan. 5th




Instructions: Select all code above, copy it and paste it inside your blog post as HTML


Welcome to the new Book Blogger Hop!

If you want schedule next week's post, click here to find the next prompt question. To submit a question, fill out this form.

What to do:

1. Post on your blog answering this question:

  This week's question is submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer!

Your New Year's Resolution is to read a classic novel that you have never read before. What book will it be?

2. Enter the link to your post in the linky list below (enter your Blog Name and the direct link to your post answering this week’s question. Failure to do so will result in removal of your link).


3. Visit other blogs in the list and comment on their posts. Try to spend some time on the blogs reading other posts and possible become a new follower.  The purpose of the hop is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to your own blog.
  

My Answer: 

 I have a hardcover copy of House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne that I have always wanted to read, but have never had the time to so. Maybe I'll try to read it in 2017.



Linky List: