Amy Mullen's A Stormy Knight

Book Blast! The Enchanted by Elaine Cantrell

One of my favorite things about Astraea Press (there are tons, btw) is our book covers. We have the best designers EVER. Check out this awesome novel by Elaine Cantrell!

Love Flourishes with Lynn Spangler

Feudlings in Sight Excerpt!!!

I hope you like it!

Charity watched them practice the spells for an hour, first just trying to get it right and then igniting it and pushing it away from them. The fire spread out like a flat flame-thrower. “That is cool,” Hunter said. “Nice job, Charity. We’ll definitely use that one day.”

Charity suddenly felt the two strands — from her heart and her mind, tangling around each other, frantically trying to grab the vision that appeared, uncalled for.

A girl, tall, warrior-like, with black boots and red and black hair. She was…protecting Charity. No, not exactly. She was fighting to get to Charity, screaming like a banshee. The field was buried in smoke and ash and dead bodies. Charity hurt. Her arm hurt, and she looked down to see it hanging at an awkward angle at her side. She was surrounded by Carules warriors, but somehow she sensed that they were the bad guys, and the girl, the majestic warrior who threw Edren flames, was trying to save her. Charity tried to step back, to see more of the landscape without losing the vision. She’d never done this before, and her invisible hands holding the threads shook with effort. The girl held Shane’s hand, and together they traced the spell — alable, throwing bright purple flames. Hunter fought like a demon behind them, with another boy who looked remarkably like the girl.

“Charity! Look out!” Charity’s eyes snapped open in time to see Hunter diving at her, red Edren flames shooting past her face. Her scream was cut short as he tackled her, cradling her head in his big hands as they rolled over and over through the dirt. She felt old metal cut her back and her legs, heard Shane swearing and yelling, and then Hunter pulled her to her feet. “Run!” he bellowed.

She spun away, sprinting through the field toward the abandoned building and beyond, the Council headquarters. Risking a glance over her shoulder, she saw a tall, blonde Edren leading several warriors as they attacked Shane and Hunter.

They weren’t trained. They didn’t know how to fight, and Shane might not be killed but Hunter could. She closed her eyes, praying, trying to send a vision, something.

Seconds later, Carules warriors exploded from behind the building in front of her, swarming past her. A portal opened next to Shane and he was pulled through by the Council, fighting their hands every step of the way.

“Hunter, come on!” Charles bellowed.

Hunter ignored him. He whirled around and raced toward Charity, grabbing her wrist as he caught up to her. But the doorway had already snapped shut so he pulled her recklessly through the warehouse back alley. There, in the shadows, he stopped, breathing hard, and peered around the corner, watching the field. “We’re chasing them into that old car factory,” he said breathlessly.

Charity shook like a small dog in a hurricane. Wrapping her arms around herself, she backed against the wall and sank to the ground. Hunter was bleeding profusely from his back, and he was burned in several places. “You got hit,” she murmured slowly.

“Yeah, a little. Shane can heal me.” Hunter mumbled, distracted by the battle in front of him.

Charity buried her head in her knees, willing herself to get up and escape back to the Council headquarters. But she was so tired, and something nagged at her memory…the vision she’d had before the attack. She couldn’t remember a thing about it.

Book Spotlight - Late for the Ball

OMG. Do you see this gorgeous cover? I can't get over it! It is brand new yesterday, released by Heather Gray. AND it's a short story so it's only .50! I am running out to buy my copy!

Back Cover Blurb:
Fulfilling one's destiny has never been so…compelling.

Myra is cast aside by her parents, betrothed to a man she's never met, and forced into a life she never wanted. In the midst of it all, she finds herself strangely drawn into something she doesn't entirely understand.
The earl is mocking, demanding and entirely unwilling to break the betrothal. He speaks in riddles, but by night's end, one thing is clear: He is not who he seems.

Follow Myra into a world of intrigue and hidden meaning. Will she unravel the mystery before time runs out?



Excerpt:
As she reached the top of the ostentatious entrance, the Ateliers' butler announced her to the throng. "Lady Myra Sedulous." His voice rang out across the ballroom as she entered. Her name wasn't generally important enough to warrant a deluge of attention. However, being late as she was, more than the normal one or two heads twisted in her direction. Not accustomed to this amount of notice, she made her way over to the refreshments. Myra moved swiftly to avoid conversation but kept her pace unhurried. She effortlessly carried off the look of graceful purpose so many debutantes strived for but failed to capture.
Myra was reaching for a glass of lemonade when a voice stilled her.
"You must be my betrothed." The words had the slightest accent. Myra tried but could not identify it.
Greek, perchance? If a man could sound both immovable and fluid at the same time, this man did. His voice was warm like a rich cup of chocolate yet chilly as the deepest days of winter. A thought flitted through her mind. Devour the chocolate or swear it off for life?
Myra turned to look at the man. Taller than any other at the ball, he was also broad-shouldered and fearsome in appearance. His hair was indeed darker than night. A deep olive color, his skin invited her to reach out and touch it. A shadow of growth covered his jaw, showing his utter disregard for the opinions of others. Determined to smile, she shifted her attention to his eyes and instead felt the corners of her mouth droop as their inky depths burned into her, making her feel transparent and bare. "And you are?" she asked, her voice quivering despite her best efforts to keep it steady.
The man had the gall to throw his head back and laugh. This was not, however, the laugh of a man meeting his betrothed for the first time. It sounded to Myra like the feral cry of a predatory animal. Surely prey about to be devoured could feel no less cornered than she did in that moment. "Why, I am the Earl of Allegory, of course. And you, my dear, are all mine."



Author Bio:
Aside from her long-standing love affair with coffee, Heather’s greatest joys in life are her relationship with her Savior, her family, and writing. Years ago, she decided it would be better to laugh than yell. Heather carries that theme over into her writing where she strives to create characters that experience both the highs and lows of life and, through it all, find a way to love God, embrace each day, and laugh out loud right along with her.



Buy Links:
Available in all electronic formats (for Kindle, Nook & other e-readers) for only 50¢ from Astraea Press



Where to Find Me: 
My Website – http://www.heathergraywriting.com
My Blog – http://www.heathergraywriting.com/blog
Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/heathergraywriting Twitter – http://twitter.com/LaughDreamWrite Goodreads – http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4051662.Heather_Gray

Win a Kindle Fire at the AP Fan Fest

It's super easy to enter. Check out the rafflecopter below!

AND to win all sorts of other awesome prizes and to ask author questions, go join the event HERE!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Along the Way Home Release by Christi Corbett

Christi is a fellow author at Astraea Press, and I love her to death. Her brand new novel, Along the Way Home, released YESTERDAY. It sounds so amazing. I can't wait to read it. Check it out!

First, I’d like to give a big thank you to Wendy for allowing me to host her blog. I truly appreciate her sharing her readers with me as I celebrate the release of my debut novel, Along the Way Home, a Sweet Historical Romance set on the 1843 Oregon Trail.

* * * *

I got the idea for this book while on a cross-country road trip. Allow me to set the scene:

My fiancé (now husband) and I were traveling from Green Bay, Wisconsin to Marysville, Washington.

We’re driving my 1992 Hyundai Excel (compact car) and the backseat and hatchback are loaded to the windows with all my worldly possessions. As an extra bonus, my husband is 6 feet 4 inches tall. Plus it’s February, and since the middle of winter in the Midwest is brutally cold we’re sporting layers of long underwear, flannel shirts, and puffy coats.

We decided to take our time and stopped off at a number of landmarks, including Mt. Rushmore, the Badlands, and Wall Drug.

By the time we reached the Montana border my hubby was ready to rip out the front seat and drive from the back one and I was beyond bored. Around mid-Montana I started whining about how long it was taking, how there was nothing to do but sit, and how the scenery never changed.

Mid-complaint it hit me—we were traveling in one hour what would take nearly three days to accomplish in the 1800’s. (Recall we’d just come from Wall Drug in South Dakota so I think “the old times” were fresh on my mind.)

I whipped out my notebook and the ideas just started flowing. Soon I had pages and pages of notes and ideas about a possible book.

Here’s the actual first line that started it all: A fantastic idea just occurred to me in light of the journey I have just taken…

Occasionally I will pull out that same notebook to see how far I’ve come. (For starters, I learned using the same word twice in one sentence is a big no no.)

The descriptions for the two main characters are completely different from what Jake and Kate are now and there wasn’t one mention of a covered wagon or the Oregon Trail, but the basic idea was there. Make it about a man and a woman who travel west, each for their own reasons, to start a new life.

And from that moment, a story was born.

I’d love to hear from you. What’s your best/favorite road trip story?

They lost everything but their dreams on the Oregon Trail…

Kate Davis is intrigued when her father reveals his dream of starting a horse ranch in Oregon Territory. Settlers out west value a strong woman, and though she manages the financials of her father’s mercantile her competence earns her ridicule, not respect, from Virginia’s elite society.

Jake Fitzpatrick, an experienced trail guide, wants land out west to raise cattle and crops. But dreams require money and he’s eating dandelion greens for dinner. So when a wealthy businessman offers double wages to guide his family across the Oregon Trail, Jake accepts with one stipulation—he is in complete control.

Departure day finds Kate clinging to her possessions as Jake demands she abandon all he deems frivolous, including her deceased mother’s heirlooms. Jake stands firm, refusing to let the whims of a headstrong woman jeopardize the wages he so desperately needs—even a beautiful one with fiery green eyes and a temper to match.

Trail life is a battle of wills between them until tragedy strikes, leaving Jake with an honor-bound promise to protect her from harm and Kate with a monumental choice—go back to everything she’s ever known or toward everything she’s ever wanted?

Advance Praise for Along the Way Home

…author Christi Corbett unfurls an unforgettable epic romance inside of an epic Western adventure. Beautifully crafted, this debut novel is a tender journey of the heart as well as a treacherous journey of many miles.

Eve Paludan, author of Taking Back Tara (Ranch Lovers Romance series)

A breathtaking account of courage and adventure along the Oregon Trail.

Jillian Kent, author of The Ravensmoore Chronicles.

A dash of action! A touch of intrigue! Loads of sweet, clean romantic promise…

Reid Lance Rosenthal, Winner of 15 National Awards, #1 Best Selling Author of the Threads West, An American Saga series.

EXCERPT: 

Jake is an experienced trail guide hired to lead a wealthy businessman, Elijah Davis, and his family across the Oregon Trail. This excerpt takes place Jake’s first day as he meets an unexpected traveler—the beautiful, headstrong woman he’d had a brief argument with weeks earlier.

Jake rode onto Elijah's property with a bedroll, four saddlebags, and two horses. As he approached the massive house he squinted, thinking once again his eyes betrayed him.

Supplies and crates were scattered across the lawn. A woman, her face obscured by a grandiose hat, called orders at an old man struggling to heft a trunk into a wagon so overloaded two of the sideboards were already split. He looked to the porch and noticed more luggage. Glancing back to the grass, he saw another wagon. Unbelievable.

Jake dismounted to gauge the full extent of their over-packing. A peek into a wagon revealed trunks stacked so ineptly the first hard jolt would bring everything tumbling down.

A boy with a coil of rope slung over his shoulder approached, climbed a wheel, and began to push up the doubled canvas. This must be Elijah's son.

"Helping your father pack?" Jake took the rope from him and tossed it into the wagon.

The boy nodded while flashing a wide grin.

Jake chuckled and stepped around him, intent on finding Elijah, but instead he ran right into the woman he'd seen earlier. Only this time a hat didn't obscure her face.

"You!" he said in disbelief.

Standing before him was the beautiful woman with the sharp tongue he'd met at the apothecary weeks ago. The same one who had been on his mind every day, no matter how hard he tried to forget her fiery green eyes and the temper to match. What was she doing here?

"Did you come for a reason?" Her fists slammed against her hips. "Or merely to ogle me?"

If she was surprised to see him she covered it well.

"So, do you remember me?" he asked, amused at her instant anger. "Or are you always this rude to people you've just met?"

"Do you always appear out of nowhere and scare women and children?" she responded in mimicking sarcasm. "I thought you were a friend of my father's until I noticed you poking around our wagons."

Jake recalled Elijah mentioning his daughter was grown. Could this wildcat be coming along?

"Would your father be Elijah Davis?"

"Yes." Her eyes narrowed with wary curiosity. "Why do you ask?"

"Name's Jake," he said with a tip of his hat. "I'm here to guide him and his family to Oregon."

He watched with odd satisfaction as she realized the man who'd overheard her conversation with her beau was the same man hired to bring her across the country. To her credit she recovered quickly.

"My name is Katherine, and this is my brother, Ben." She tucked an arm around the boy's shoulders and managed a hurried squeeze before he pulled away. Undaunted by the snub, she returned her attention to Jake.

"My father mentioned he hired someone to assist us. However—" she brushed imaginary lint from her sleeve "—you'll find I don't pay much attention to servants."

"I'm not a servant, ma'am," he corrected. "I'm your leader."

Her eyes locked with his and told the lie of her next words.

"Well then, you simply must forgive my harshness." After a long pause, her innocent expression turned smug. "You see, I took you for yet another of the dishonorable men milling around town lately. A woman can never be too careful."

Jake bit his tongue so hard it stung. This woman was the sum of Valerie and all her kind: big skirts and little substance. Even worse, she was completely unsuitable for trail life. They were to leave in minutes, and she wore a dress fit for an evening of parlor games.

About Christi

I’m addicted to coffee, sticky notes, and the Oxford Comma. I live in a small town in Oregon with my husband and our twins. Our home’s location is especially inspiring because the view from the back door is a hill travelers looked upon years ago as they explored the Oregon Territory and beyond.

Along the Way Home is a Sweet Historical Romance. It released in ebook format on June 11, 2013 and will be available in print July of 2013. It is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Astraea Press (my publisher) and several other retailers.

When I’m not writing I love chatting with readers and writers alike. You can find me in one of the following locations:

Email: christicorbett@gmail.com

Blog: http://christicorbett.wordpress

Twitter: @ChristiCorbett

Facebook: Christi Corbett—Author

Cover Reveal!!! Kelly Martin's Deception of Devin Miller

OMG Look at this fabulous cover for my dear friend Kelly Martin's new book, releasing next month!!!

 

TA DA!!!

Wanna know more? Look, look!

One month ago, seventeen year old Devin Miller wrecked while intoxicated—or so she’s told by the very aggravated blue-eyed boy when she wakes up from a coma. The only thing Devin remembers is the darkness holding her down and the voices-- some happy, some upset, and one very agitated. She can't remember her name, her age, where she lives, or who in the world the blue-eyed boy is. But he knows who she is, and against her better judgment, she offers to pay him for his memories so she can trick the ones closest to her into thinking she's fine. That is her first mistake.

When Devin gets home, things start to spiral out of control. People she doesn't know keep talking to her. Trey doesn't show up like he's supposed too. And the police want to talk to her about her involvement with the car accident. Plus she keeps seeing flashes of the accident, but none of them make sense. What would a red plastic cup have to do with anything?

Facing DUI charges for a wreck she can't recall, Devin fights to remember exactly what happened the night of the crash: something the real driver desperately wants her to forget permanently.

FIND KELLY:

fb: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelly-Martin-Author/136506059763138http://www.kellymartinstories.com

twitter: https://twitter.com/martieKay

blog: http://www.kellymartinstories.com

goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6552501.Kelly_Martin

AND she's giving away FIVE e-file ARCs!!! Enter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review of Broken Prince!

My Thoughts:

I really loved this book. I haven't read the first one yet but I was lucky enough to get to read the second one and couldn't. put. it. down. I had all these things to do and all I wanted to do is read! Great book, with amazing characters, lots of emotion, and a fantastic world to explore. I was sucked right into the emotion of the story -- cheering the characters on and trying to decide who I loved the most (I still haven't decided. *happy sigh*).

I just bought my own copy AND a copy of the first one -- Broken Aro. I can't wait to read it!

Broken Prince

Book Two of the Broken Ones

About the Book:

Sometimes, when you're broken, you can heal on your own. Sometimes, you need the help of your friends, your family, and the people you love. Keeping those pieces together when the world seems intent on ripping you apart is the greatest challenge of all. Especially when the ones you love, the ones who hold you together, start falling apart themselves.

Arowyn and her family continue on their journey to return the Elven Prince, Shael, to his homeland before he fades and dies. A journey full of triumph and horror, love and sorrow, rips them apart with every fighting moment, and yet brings them together as a family. They don’t allow the prophecy to rule their lives. Some don’t believe, some don’t care.  Prophecies aren’t written in stone. Events can change. People can change. They are only words. From besieged cites, to the elusive Were and wild Fey, nothing quite prepares them to face their deadliest of enemies, one they didn't know existed.

Excerpt:

Damon knelt before them.

"Will she get better? Will she…" Prince’s voice trailed off.

Her eyes locked on Damon’s face as he regarded her thoughtfully. His hand came up and she flinched as it rested on the top of her head. No pain came. She felt…nothing. If he tried to speak to her, she couldn’t hear him.

"No," he said finally. "There has been damage to the brain. There is bleeding and swelling inside."

Prince’s cry startled her, almost as much as the sudden clutching of his arms around her. "Can you do anything," he choked out. "Please, I am responsible. I can not…I will pay–"

Damon chuckled. "It is not your life that needs saving." He stared at Prince for a long moment. "I see." He shook his head. "Perhaps I was wrong and she isn’t the one. I read so few pages of the book." He turned to Kei.

"No," the Fey said. "I don’t remember."

"Pity."

"Dragos, I beg of you," Prince began again.

"The Elven prince begs, and for a human. How very far you have fallen." He looked down at her again.

Blinking up at him, she tried to get her scattered thoughts to work. She’d barely comprehended what he’d said past the inference she was dying. The words sent an icy chill through her body. Terror crawled through her, speeding her heart. Sweat broke out on her forehead and all she could hear was her increasingly frantic breathing.

Kei startled her, leaning forward over her to press a kiss to her forehead. She tilted her head back, trying to see him.

"I’m with you."

Damon’s fingers brushes her cheek, drawing her attention back to him. "Do you wish to live, young Arowyn?"

Words refused to pass her lips. Somehow she managed to nod. She didn’t know what the cost would be, certainly there would be one. Right then, she didn’t care. Rot it all, she wanted to live!

"Very well." He regarded her thoughtfully for a moment. "Dragos rarely heal others. I do know the magic, but it is difficult. Your story has barely begun. I find I would actually attempt it, just to see what you might become and how it will unfold."

He sat back and gestured to the pile of furs next to him. "Lay her down. This will take some time and I’ll need no distractions."

Prince carefully set her amongst the furs, arranging her arms so her hands rested on her chest, tucking stray locks of hair behind her ears. Leaning forward, he rested his forehead for a moment against hers.

"Get well, Arowyn."

Bo appeared next, smoothing the hair back on the top of her head and squeezing one of her hands. "You can do this, pup."

Garen pressed his wet nose against her temple. If he spoke, she didn’t hear him.

Kei pushed the wolf aside and took her face in his hands. His eyes glowed with that strange orange inner light. Tears streaked down his cheeks. Despite the awkward position he leaned down and held her close for a moment. "Remember our promises," he whispered in her. "I’m always with you." He choked on a sob and squeezed her tightly again. "I love you," he whispered fiercely before quickly pulling away.

She wished she could speak. More than anything, she wanted to tell him she loved him, too. She wanted to tell all of them she did. Tears filled her eyes and slid down her face.

Damon knelt beside her and turned her head to look at him. "I will do what I can," he said. "However I can’t guarantee it will work. I have never tried to heal a human before. Understand?"

She managed a faint nod and pressed her quivering lips together.

He glanced up and gestured the others away. "Stand back and be silent." His eyes found hers again. "Don’t fight me this time, little one. Fall into my eyes…"

Blinking once more to clear the tears away, she tried to do as he asked. Damon’s eyes were strange enough she found it not difficult to stare. They had vertical slits and no whites at all. The iridescent color was a wash of blue-green with streaks of gold and red. The colors began to swirl, making her dizzy as she tried to watch them. A comforting thrum emanated from his chest, soothing her as his power wrapped around her. Her thoughts drifted into nothing.

 

 Available at:

eBook:  Introductory Price 2.99 (reg. 3.99)

Available at Amazon US, UK, DE, FR, IT, ES

Amazon US:  http://www.amazon.com/Broken-Prince-Ones-ebook/dp/B00D3ULYPO

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Broken-Prince-The-Ones-ebook/dp/B00D3ULYPO

Print 12.99 Available at:   COMING SUMMER 2013

About Jen:

Jen Wylie resides in rural Ontario, Canada with her  two boys, Australian shepherd and a disagreeable amount of wildlife. In a cosmic twist of fate she dislikes the snow and cold.

Before settling down to raise a family, she attained a BA from Queens University and worked in retail and sales.

Thanks to her mother she acquired a love of books at an early age and began writing in public school. She constantly has stories floating around in her head, and finds it amazing most people don’t. Jennifer writes various forms of fantasy, both novels and short stories.

My website: www.jenwylie.com

My blog: http://jlwylie.wordpress.com/

Twitter: @jen_wylie

Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4499919.Jen_Wylie

Facebook fan page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jennifer-Wylie/151266004895266

Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Jen-Wylie/e/B004HQ9XD8/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

 

Oz, Wonderland and Dreams -- Guest Post with Mikey Brooks!

My friend Mikey is a fabulous illustrator and author. He's celebrating the release of his brand new middle grade novel, "The Dream Keeper", and it sounds AMAZING. I can't wait to read it!

 Check it out!

Oz, Wonderland, and Dreams

I have always been interested in hidden worlds. Ever since I was little I used to believe that the gateways to these worlds were closer than we thought. One day while exploring the woods that surrounded our farm in Missouri I found the remains of an ancient house that had been blown away in a tornado. The only thing left was a bit of the foundation and a set of stone steps leading to an invisible door. I often imagined as I stood there that if I just took one step forward I’d find myself in a dreamland. A place where magic existed and adventure called.

It wasn’t hard for me to believe in the magic of Oz because I had seen Dorothy’s house. On occasion I had found numerous rabbit holes leading to wonderlands. I believed the woods were magic—and they were. Even today I find a lot of my inspiration from the mysteries hidden there.

I wanted to write something based off the classics I had loved as a child. What if Oz and Wonderland were the same place? They were both dreamlands after all. I also wanted a world that wasn’t limited to just a few people to enter—I wanted everyone to visit it. The ideas planted as a child carried on and became the inspiration for my book. I had found the way into a hidden world. It isn’t Oz, or Wonderland, it’s Dreams.

I am excited to announce the release of my middle-grade fantasy THE DREAM KEEPER. It is an action-packed adventure with a toe in both the real world and the fantastic. When an evil shifter takes over the gateway to the realm of Dreams, it falls to 14-year-olds Parker and Kaelyn to stop him. Their only hope lies with Gladamyr, the Dream Keeper, but can they trust a Nightmare to save their world?

I encourage you to go check it out. “Dreams: Dorothy called it Oz, Alice called it Wonderland, but Nightmares call it HOME.”

SYNOPSIS:

Loser—the most frightening word to ever be uttered in junior high school. Even the coolest kids are afraid of being associated with it. 14-year-old Parker Bennett is no exception. He can’t even be himself around his friends for fear they might not accept who he really is. When circumstances force him to team up with Kaelyn Clarke, the biggest loser in the ninth grade, Parker has to decide what is more important; protecting his social status or saving the world. Nightmare named Fyren has taken over the gateway to the realm of Dreams, with the intention of controlling mortals, and it falls on Parker, Kaelyn, and Gladamyr – the Dream Keeper – to stop him. They learn being called a loser is no longer a fear, when compared to the terror of real nightmares.

EXCERPT FROM BOOK:

Parker was about to assassinate the general of the goblin army. It wasn’t murder, it was an assignment. He tried to justify what he was about to do as he jumped from the rooftop and landed just above the battlement wall. It was the perfect spot to scout the camp. The goblins filling the keep were everywhere, sharpening blades and axes or gathering weapons for the impending battle. Parker noticed a large troll in the right hand corner of the space below, hammering solidly on a sword large enough to split three men into six. He spotted his target.

The general of the goblin army was a large brute with golden braids hanging down his chest. He was the one who had ordered the burning of Parker’s home village. The one who had ordered the death of Parker’s family and friends. This monster, this villain, was the reason Parker had set out on his journey to seek vengeance upon the unjust. This was the creature responsible for Parker swearing allegiance to the Mightercore army, who quickly gave him the role of assassin-scout.

Parker maneuvered his way down the wall, careful not to move too fast or his invisibility cloak would lose its power. He placed his foot in one crevice, then his hand in another. After a few moments of skilled climbing, Parker found himself precariously positioned just behind the golden haired brute, leaving only a small distance between him and his foe. In a quick session tactic, Parker could ignite his blade with the magic of the Mightercore and his target would be no more. He positioned himself to strike, raising his sword and whispering the incantation that would release the blade’s power—.

“Parker.”

He ignored whoever was calling his name; they did not matter. All he saw was the villain before him. The completed spell ignited Parker’s sword with a blazing haze of blue fire, and he had to act fast.

“Parker!”

The loud call startled him and he swung too late. The goblin general had already turned and he struck, forcing Parker back against the rocky battlements. Parker parried the attack and thrust forward with a low slash. The general sidestepped and lunged forward again. Parker parried and rolled away from the wall. A lightning spell was the only magic he had left. If he could find enough time to call out the incantation, he could have the general radiating electrons from every appendage.

He rolled until he was a good ten feet from his opponent, then quickly stood. Lifting his hand into the air, he called down the lightning. The sky filled with a brilliant white light, and the crack of thunder reverberated off the walls. Parker briefly closed his eyes then opened them, praying he had hit his target. As the white dust began to clear, he made out an image before him. He peered at it, his heart thumping.

The screen went black.

“Parker, I’ve called you three times. Now get off that machine and go do your homework.”

BOOK LINKS:

Hardback: http://www.amazon.com/Dream-Keeper-Mikey-Brooks/dp/1939993016

Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1939993032

Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/The-Dream-Keeper-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B00CPE0PT0

Paperback Create Space: https://www.createspace.com/4260677

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17727253-the-dream-keeper

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1115262781?ean=9781939993014

About Mikey

Mikey Brooks is a small child masquerading as adult. On occasion you’ll find him dancing the funky chicken, singing like a banshee, and pretending to have never grown up. He is the author/illustrator of several books including BEAN’S DRAGONS, the ABC ADVENTURES series, and author of the middle-grade fantasy-adventure novel, THE DREAM KEEPER. He spends most of his time playing with his daughters and working as a freelance illustrator. Mikey has a BS degree in Creative Writing from Utah State University. He is also one of the hosts of the Authors’ Think Tank Podcast.

EMAIL:

insidemikeysworld@gmail.com

AUTHOR LINKS:

Website: http://www.insidemikeysworld.com/

Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Mikey-Brooks/e/B00B8ICZ4W

Blog: http://writtenbymikey.blogspot.com/

Podcast: http://www.foreverwriters.com/category/podcast/

Goodreads at: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17727253-the-dream-keeper  

Facebook at: http://facebook.com/writtenbymikeybrooks

Twitter as: @writtenbymikey

WattPad: http://wattpad.com/MikeyBrooks

A Change of Plans Book Review

My amazing author friend, Donna K. Weaver, just released her debut novel, A Change of Plans, and I was lucky enough to read and review it! Check it out!

About A Change of Plans:

When twenty-five-year-old Lyn sets off on her cruise vacation, all she wants is to forget that her dead fiancé was a cheating scumbag. What she plans is a diversion uncomplicated by romance. What she gets is Braedon, an intriguing young surgeon. He's everything her fiancé wasn't, and against the backdrop of the ship's make-believe world, her emotions come alive.

Unaware of the sensitive waters he navigates, Braedon moves to take their relationship beyond friendship—on the very anniversary Lyn came on the cruise to forget. Lyn's painful memories are too powerful, and she runs off in a panic.

But it's hard to get away from someone when you're stuck on the same ship. Things are bad enough when the pair finds themselves on one of the cruise's snorkeling excursions. Then paradise turns to piracy when their party is kidnapped, and Lyn's fear of a fairy tale turns grim.

Title: A Change of Plans

Author: Donna K. Weaver

Release Date: June 1, 2013

Pages: 327
 Find it: Amazon | B&N | Goodreads | Rhemalda Store

Genre: New Adult Contemporary 

My Review:
Let me start off by saying I am a fantasy girl. Contemporary romance isn't my genre, but I love Donna and had to read her book. I expected to like it because she wrote it. But a few sentences in and I was hooked. I loved it, and not because my good friend wrote it.

There is a lot of emotion in this book - pain, healing, hope, despair. I don't cry, hardly ever, but I was bawling through a lot of this. The main character, Lyn, is hurting after her fiance broke her heart -- after death, so she never even got any closure. Braedon is adorable, and they have a connection right off that left me swooning. But she pushes him away. I wanted to throttle her, but at the same time, I understood. I've been hurt before and Donna drew her emotion out so well that I could completely empathize with Lyn.

Then, they get kidnapped by pirates, and eventually end up stranded on an island. This was my favorite part of the story. I loved the way their relationship grew and they were able to let go of the pain from their pasts. I can't tell you the rest because of spoilers, but holy hannah I had to read the whole last section in one sitting because I couldn't move away from the computer.

I suggest you pick this book up immediately, and find a quiet corner to curl up in and read for the next several hours. You won't regret it!

 About Donna

Donna K. Weaver is a Navy brat who joined the Army and has lived in Asia and Europe. Because she sailed the Pacific three times as a child, she loves cruising and wishes she could accrue enough vacation time to do more of it with her husband. Donna and her husband have six children and eight grandchildren who live all over the world. At fifty, Donna decided to study karate and earned her black belt in Shorei Kempo. After recording city council minutes for twenty years, Donna decided to write something a little longer and with a lot more emotion--and kissing.

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