Courage, Loyalty and Self-Sacrifice | Lucifer's Pride by G.P. Ching


Lucifer’s Pride
G.P. Ching
(Soulkeepers Reborn, #3)
Publication date: May 29th 2018
Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Young Adult
No one comes between the Devil and his pride.
To save his friends, Finn Wager opened a bridge between worlds. But the dark magic he used exacted a terrible price. Unable to remain on the Soulkeeper team, he joins a coven of magicians in New Orleans, vowing to undo the damage he’s caused. But when he tries to save the day, he ends up making everything worse.
Numbers dwindling, the Soulkeepers are more vulnerable than ever. The new Healer is reluctant to replace Hope on the team. Even if he decides to try, he’ll have to pass an initiation by the Immortals with life or death consequences. Meanwhile, the Soulkeepers are without the leader they need.
Twice, the Soulkeepers have evaded Lucifer’s clutches and injured his pride. Now it’s personal. He’ll stop at nothing to exploit their weaknesses, take back his power, and end the Soulkeepers for good. Unless through courage, loyalty, and self-sacrifice, they can find a way to become a team again.
For more information and preorder links visit: https://gpching.com/books/lucifers-pride/


Author Bio:
G.P. Ching is a USA Today bestselling author of science fiction and fantasy novels for young adults and not-so-young adults. She bakes wicked cookies, is commonly believed to be raised by wolves, and thinks both the ocean and the North Woods hold magical healing powers. G.P.'s idea of the perfect day involves several cups of coffee and a heavy dose of nature. She splits her time between central Illinois and Hilton Head Island with her husband, two children, and a Brittany spaniel named Jack, who is always ready for the next adventure.
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Dead the Most... | Risen by Cole Gibsen #BlogTour


About Risen: 
Fans of Vampire Diaries and Twilight will be thirsting for this latest vampire addiction…

My aunt has been kidnapped by vampires, and it’s up to me to save her. Only…I had no idea vampires existed. None. Nada. I’m more of a reader than a fighter, and even though I’d been wishing to escape my boring existence in the middle of nowhere, I’d give anything to have it back now if it meant my aunt was safe. 

Then there’s the vampire Sebastian, who seems slightly nicer than most of the bloodsuckers I’ve run into so far. Yes, he’s the hottest being I’ve ever come across, but there’s no way I can trust him. He swears he’s helping me get answers, but there’s more to his story. Now I’m a key pawn in a raging vampire war, and I need to pick the right ally.

But my chances of surviving this war are slim at best, when the side I choose might be the one that wants me dead the most. 


About Cole Gibsen: 
Growing up, Cole Gibsen couldn’t decide what she loved more—dogs or books. Rather than choose, she decided to devote her life to both! Dog trainer (wrangler) by day and author by night, she’s the author of more than ten books with more on the way. www.colegibsen.com 

Author Links: 
Author Website: www.ColeGibsen.com
Author Twitter: Twitter.com/colegibsen
Author Facebook: Facebook.com/colegibsen
Author Goodreads: goodreads.com/colegibsen 






Blog Tour Giveaway Widget: 



Excerpt from Risen: 

“Don’t say it like that, Charlie. I wanted to protect you.” She tugs on the edge of my cardigan, pulling me toward her. “I love you. You’re the most important thing in my life, do you understand?” 

There’s a desperation in her eyes that tightens my throat. Swallowing hard, I nod.

She lets go of me with a sigh. “Maybe I took it too far.” She sweeps her dreadlocks over her shoulder and twists them tightly. “All I’ve ever wanted was to keep you safe.” 

Safe. The world spirals, cold and slippery, down my spine. “What are you so afraid of?”

She opens her mouth only to shut it again. 

Jax growls. 

We turn as he claws at the door. 

“The only thing there is to be afraid of,” she whispers. “The monsters.”

He is so screwed | The Best Friend Incident by Melia Alexander



Title: The Best Friend Incident
By: Melia Alexander
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 290
Release Date: April 9th, 2018
Publisher: Entangled: Lovestruck

Summary from Goodreads: Stacey Winters is in love with love, but so far, she’s only found Mr. Dud, Mr. Cheater, and Mr. Boring. Even though her best friend Grant isn’t an option, at least being around him offers her a window into the male psyche—and sets the bar high for her future Mr. Right.

But then she accidentally crosses the friend zone and kisses him, and it starts to feel a little too much like he might be what she’s been looking for...
Grant Phillips doesn’t do relationships. A casualty of the foster care system, he knows people are just looking for a reason to bolt. "No attachments" is his hard and fast rule. There's only one exception: his best friend, Stacey. He refuses to jeopardize what they have.
But now that he knows how good it felt to kiss her, felt the addictive slide of her body against his, Stacey Winters is indelibly stamped onto Grant's brain—and not just as his friend.
He is so screwed. 



Review: I'm a big fan of romance that actually has a story to it and not just the spicy aspect. This book had a nice balance and really kept me interested the whole time. I loved the characters. Grant was adorable and Stacey was sarcastic and relatable. Great read for those who love a little spice in their lives. 

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.



Might Have More in Common | Puddin' By Julie Murphy


Title: Puddin'
By: Julie Murphy
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Pages: 336
Release Date: May 8th, 2018
Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Summary from Goodreads: It is a companion novel to Dumplin', which follows supporting characters from the first book in the months after Willowdean's star turn in the Clover City pageant. 

Millie Michalchuk has gone to fat camp every year since she was a girl. Not this year. This year she has new plans to chase her secret dream—and to kiss her crush. Callie Reyes is the pretty girl who is next in line for dance team captain and has the popular boyfriend. But when it comes to other girls, she’s more frenemy than friend. When circumstances bring the girls together over the course of a semester, they will surprise everyone (especially themselves) by realizing they might have more in common than they ever imagined.
 

Review: One of the things I love about Julie Murphy's books are the humor and the way we all can relate to something inside the pages. I love the unique writing as Murphy steps outside of the normal skinny, good looking characters, to dig deep into what the world is really like with average, run of the mill, sarcastic teenagers. Its a nice change. I have to say, I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first, but it still kept my attention throughout the whole story. Loved it!

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.



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Oven Baked... | #WeeklyMenu Week #242


Happy Monday! Its Spring Break and I am already going crazy. Somehow I need to go grocery shopping for the week with the boys and I'm not looking forward to it. We will make it through the week.

My writing has been struggling the last few weeks. I've been so angry. Angry that my house isn't mine any more, that I can't even spend my day off quietly. Someone is always there. I feel angry at work, because all this weight is being placed on my shoulders. I'm just angry all the time and I'm about to snap. I don't know if you've ever felt like this, but its affecting my normal every day life and I'm tired of it.

Hopefully, we can make it through this.

Enjoy this weeks menu!

Monday

- Spaghetti 

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday
- Kids night

Saturday

Sunday
Leftovers Night

To where the monsters lived | The Boy on the Bridge by M.R. Carey



Title: The Boy On The Bridge
By: M.R. Carey
Genre: Dystopian
Pages: 400
Release Date: May 2nd, 2017
Publisher: Orbit

Summary from Goodreads: Once upon a time, in a land blighted by terror, there was a very clever boy.

The people thought the boy could save them, so they opened their gates and sent him out into the world.

To where the monsters lived.


Review: I really love this dystopian world by M.R. Carey. Its nothing like what I'm used to with zombie stories. You think all the characters will get eaten, but then something you aren't expecting happens. Some are eaten, some are not. Some zombies are zombies and some are not. And then at the end, your world is turned on its head and a whole new zombie world emerges. Its amazing. Loved this book!

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.



Power of Broken People | Looking for Dei by David A. Wilson #Giveaway


Looking for Dei
David A. Willson
Publication date: March 23rd 2018
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
Fifteen-year-old Nara Dall has never liked secrets. Yet it seems that her life has been filled with them, from the ugly scar on her back to the strange powers she possesses. Her mysterious father refuses to say anything about her origins, and soon, she and her best friend must attend the announcement ceremony, in which youths are tested for a magical gift.
A gifted youth has not been announced in the poor village of Dimmitt for decades. When Nara uncovers the reason, she uses her own powers to make things right. The decision sets her on a path of danger, discovery, and a search for the divine. In the process, she learns the truth about herself and uncovers the biggest secret of all: the power of broken people.
Are you a book blogger or reviewer? Join the blog tour here!
EXCERPT:
PROLOGUE
Southside Orphanage
Fairmont – Capital of the Great Land 652PB (Post-Breshi)
The toddler blew at the dandelion bloom until its seeds broke free and floated away on a breeze that gusted past the man watching her from the bushes. His breath hitched as his burdens were lifted and briefly forgotten.
It had taken ten years to locate her. A life of study, prayer, and service to Dei in a monastery had not prepared him for so many years on the run, hiding under false names while he searched for the one he feared he might never find. His grizzled, greying goatee and unkempt hair might have labeled him a beggar or a desperate criminal, but the hope in his eyes told a different story.
Oblivious to the nearby threat, the girl dropped the crumpled dandelion stem and stumbled clumsily near a pile of stones. No more than two years old, she waddled across the overgrown orphanage courtyard, her cloth diaper askew. She plucked more flowers, her red hair dancing as she hopped after the seeds. She seemed to favor the world as her playmate, ignoring the twenty other children in the courtyard. She bumped into a small boy, fell down, and hopped back up with a baby-tooth grin before trotting off.
When she fell, a glimpse of her back jolted the man to his task. It was the blemish that beckoned him here—an ugly red scar stretching from upper back to waist, announcing her identity as the prophetic treasure he had sought for so long. The weight of the manuscript in his backpack grounded his thoughts, and he glanced around the area. There were no fences, plenty of bushes for cover, and a single matron leisurely surveying the yard. The woman sat on the aging building’s back steps, watching the little ones as they ran about. She wore a dress and would be unable to chase him. How long would it take for her to alert the authorities?
As he surveyed the grounds to plan his escape, the girl waggled her hand at a passing butterfly and giggled as it flew away. Fortune favored his plans when she ran to a group of dandelions just a few feet from his hiding place. Squatting, she grabbed several stems, preparing to blow and release the seeds.
The man looked over to the matron, who had turned away to manage a quarrel between two other children. Knowing this might be his only chance, he burst forward and scooped the babe up in one arm, then raced back through the bushes behind the orphanage. He ran as fast as he could, unable to avoid jostling the child in his arms. She began to cry at the shock of her abduction, still gripping the dandelion stems in one tiny fist.
Back at the orphanage, the matron in the dress looked toward the back of the yard. The only evidence of a disturbance was a cloud of dandelion seeds that drifted upon the air, scattering in the light breeze. She turned to the many children she cared for, oblivious to the crime that had just been perpetrated under her watch.


Author Bio:
David A. Willson has worked as a restauranteur, peace officer, and now, author. Taught by his mother to read at a young age, he spent his childhood exploring magic, spaceships, and other dimensions. In his writing, he strives to bring those worlds to his readers.
Much of his material is inspired by the “Great Land” of Alaska, which he has called home for over 30 years. He lives there with his wife, five children, and 2 dogs. He is passionate about technology, faith, and fiction—not necessarily in that order.
Looking for Dei is Willson’s debut novel, set in a land where many more adventures will take place. Stay up to date with his ongoing efforts through the Looking for Dei Facebook page or visiting the website at davidawillson.com.

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Not Everyone Plays Fair | Plastic Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg



Title: The Plastic Magician 
By: Charlie N. Holmberg
Genre: Urban/Historical Fantasy
Pages: 236
Release Date: May 15th, 2018
Publisher: 47North

Summary from Goodreads: Wall Street Journal bestselling author Charlie N. Holmberg returns to the enchanting world of The Paper Magician.

Alvie Brechenmacher has arrived in London to begin her training in Polymaking—the magical discipline of bespelling plastic. Polymaking is the newest form of magic, and in a field where there is so much left to learn, every Polymaker dreams of making the next big discovery.

Even though she is only an apprentice, Alvie is an inventor at heart, and she is determined to make as many discoveries—in as short a time frame—as she can. Luckily for her, she’s studying under the world-renowned magician Marion Praff, who is just as dedicated as Alvie is.

Alvie’s enthusiasm reinvigorates her mentor’s work, and together they create a device that could forever change Polymaking—and the world. But when a rival learns of their plans, he conspires to steal their invention and take the credit for it himself.

To thwart him, Alvie will need to think one step ahead. For in the high-stakes world of magical discovery, not everyone plays fair…
 


Review: Another fantastic magical adventure by Charlie Holmberg. Its always a treat to enter the world of the magicians and learn as they learn. This was a short read that I read cover to cover in one day. If you enjoyed the previous books by Holmberg, or are looking for a new twist on magical fantasy, I would recommend this series.

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.



As Far Away As It Seems | Yellow Locust by Justin Joschko #Giveaway

   
Hello Readers! Welcome to the Cover Reveal for
Yellow Locust by Justin Joschko
presented by Month9Books!
Celebrate this reveal by entering the giveaway found at the end of the post!
   
 
Selena Flood is a fighter of preternatural talent. But not even her quick fists and nimble feet could save her parents from the forces of New Canaan, the most ruthless and powerful of the despotic kingdoms populating America-that-was. Forced to flee the tyrannical state with her younger brother Simon in tow, Selena is now the last chance for peace in a continent on the verge of complete destruction. In her pocket is a data stick, the contents of which cost her parents their lives. Selena must now ensure it reaches the Republic of California—a lone beacon of liberty shining across a vast and barren wasteland—before it’s too late. Between New Canaan and California stretch the Middle Wastes: thousands of desolate miles home to murderers, thieves, and a virulent strain of grass called yellow locust that has made growing food all but impossible. So when Selena and Simon stagger into Fallowfield, an oasis of prosperity amidst the poisoned plains, everything seems too good to be true—including the warm welcome they receive from the town’s leader, a peculiar man known only as The Mayor. As Selena delves deeper into the sinister secrets of this seemingly harmless refuge, she soon learns there is a much darker side to Fallowfield and the man who runs it. Before long, she must call upon the skills she honed in the fighting pits of New Canaan to ensure not only her own survival, but that of her brother, in whom the Mayor has taken far too keen an interest. And she’d better act fast, for an all-out war inches ever closer, and New Canaan is never as far away as it seems.
Yellow Locust by Justin Joschko Release Date: May 8, 2018 Publisher: Month9Books
Available for Pre-order:
   
Justin Joschko is an author from Niagara Falls, Ontario. His writing has appeared in newspapers and literary journals across Canada. Yellow Locust is his first novel. He currently lives in Ottawa with his wife and two children.  
 
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Chicken and Waffles Galore | #WeeklyMenu Week #241



Well, Happy Monday. Its been a crazy long week and we're about to start another. My baby boy is now registered for Kindergarten. He is super excited and so am I. Although, I might break down when the time comes to put him on the bus, but that is many weeks away.

I was watching Master Chief Jr. this week and they made chicken and waffles. My kids love both chicken and waffles, but have never had them together, so this week for kids night is chicken and waffle night. Cross your fingers the kids don't think its terrible.

Enjoy this weeks menu!

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday
Leftovers Night

Happily Ever After... | The Trade by Ashlyn Hope


Title: The Trade
By: Ashlyn Hope
Genre: Contemporary Romance 
Pages: 234
Release Date: March 5th, 2018
Publisher: Pizzicato Publishing

Summary from Goodreads: Her name is Tyra, and she’s a footballsexual. 

The muscles, the chiseled faces, the masculine posturing, and the tight pants all make her heart pound, and since her high school days stealing kisses from the varsity running back, she’s been hooked on the guys of the gridiron. She’s addicted to these dudes, and she’s not the only one. She’s one of a group of local girls who go out together and try to score with these guys every chance they get. 

So, yes, Tyra’s a jersey chaser. But when she meets the hunky big name quarterback who was traded to the team, she’s met her match. He’s handsome, smart, and sweet, and he and Tyra have a lot in common – including a growing desire to settle down. 

As their relationship heats up, Tyra will consider swapping out her football groupie ways for a real relationship. But that’s not going to happen if her past doesn’t block her happily ever after from happening.

Review: Girls just want to have fun... or a relationship... This was a fun read, that kept me entertained throughout the story. We follow Tyra as she turns from jersey chaser to girlfriend. The writing was good and the story was easy to follow.

There were a few things that made my rating lower. The fact that the main character was unrelatable  and totally full of herself made me not like her much. She gave off the vibe of a support character than a main heartthrob, but toward the end of the book, it cleaned up a bit. Also, the steamy scenes came on quickly and ended quickly. A little more build up and sustainability would have been more interesting to me.

All in all, it was entertaining and I'm glad I read it.

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.



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Through These Pages | The Gift for All People by Max Lucado


Title: The Gift for All People
By: Max Lucado
Genre: Religious
Pages: 144
Release Date: February 16th, 2016
Publisher: Multnomah

Summary from Goodreads: A New View on the Old Rugged Cross
 

Are peace, joy, and significance on your wish list?  How about redemption, forgiveness, the salvation of your soul?  Each of these descriptors bring us to the main event:  grace.  Saving grace, God’s immeasurable gift intended for all.  Regardless of accomplishments or station in life, despite sins of the past, anyone can receive the free gift of grace.
Yet too often we take God’s incomparable gift for granted—despite the fact that God’s very Son paid for it with his body, breath, and blood. Understandably, we often find ourselves caught up in the daily routine of life, not taking time to reflect on the enormity of God’s mercy.
So here’s a suggestion:  give yourself the gift of a few moments spent in the world of God’s grace.  Read pastor Max Lucado’s unique, stirring insights into God’s role as grace-giver. Spend some time reflecting on the gift of grace, in all its magnificent meaning.
Let grace, the gift for all people, speak to you personally through these pages.



For All People—Even You
 
God loves you more than you can imagine.

Is that hard to believe?   Many of us consider ourselves unworthy due to past sins and mistakes, wrong turns and missteps.,
But God’s gift of grace is limitless.  Though we are undeserving, he offers grace.  Though we are weak in our faith, he extends strength through grace. God’s endless grace is a free gift.  It cannot be earned.
No matter who you are or what you’ve done, the all-powerful God waits for you to choose him, to choose life in his presence—here and in heaven.


 “[God] simply wants you home with him. And to bring you home, he offers you a gift. My prayer is that through these pages you’ll see his gift like you’ve never seen it. If you’ve already accepted it, you’ll thank him again. And if you’ve never accepted it, you will. For it’s the gift of a lifetime, a gift for all people.”
 
—Max Lucado
 


Review: When that time comes in your life when it feels like the world is crumbling around you and you are alone and out numbered, where do you turn? The last year of my life has been rough, but this book was a wonderful reminder that I am not alone. I was never alone. Max Lucado has written a beautiful book that highlights how God has always had our backs, even when we start to lose faith. It was a short read with a powerful message. Loved it!


Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.



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