Blog Tour: Dinner with Lisa by R.L. Prendergast (Giveaway too!)

Welcome to The Wormhole and my day on the tour!

This tour is presented by Teddy of Premier Virtual Author Book Tours

It is my pleasure to feature R.L. Prendergast and Dinner with Lisa.

Publisher:   Dekko Publishing 
Date: November 1, 2011

Genre: Historical Fiction
Format: Soft Cover, and electronically on ipad, iphone, Kindle, Kobo, Sony eReader, and Nook.
269 Pages

In the disastrous economic times of the 1930s, Joseph Gaston, a young widower with four children, arrives in the small town of Philibuster seeking security for his family. Instead, he faces barriers everywhere. He does his best despite great adversity, but the strain of feeding and protecting his family whittles away his strength. Finally, destitution forces him to consider giving up his children in order to save them. Enraged by his situation, he attempts one last desperate act—on the night he learns about the mysterious Lisa.

Heart wrenching, humorous and historically authentic, Dinner with Lisa incorporates the crucial issues of the depression: poverty, unemployment, drought and racism. In the midst of love and loyalty, trickery and despair, the ultimate message of the novel is one of hope and the courage to survive even the worst odds.
 

"A powerful book set in the bleakness of the Great Depression, these characters bristle with life, feeling, pain and vitality; we care about what happens to them and it’s Prendergast’s dedication to ‘digging deep’ that fuels that authenticity." - Mark Weber, Red Deer Express, Alberta

"The character development is magnificent in this novel as are the descriptions of the town, its people and surroundings.  I felt as though I’d been pulled into the book and could almost walk alongside Joseph seeing the sights and smelling the odours of the town around him.  I read this novel is one sitting, I was glued from beginning to end and would highly recommend it to everyone!  Well done."- The Bookbag Lady Reviews

"What started as a grim look at the dirty thirties in Dinner With Lisa, became a heart wrenching but humorous and insightful look at the plight of many but one man and his family in particular during the depression era of the 1930s.  Prendergast paints a bleak picture of the economic depression of the 1930s with detail so vivid the reader has an image of the town and its residents perfectly etched in their minds.  My heart ached for the plight of many during this time and I cheered Joseph."-  My Bookshelf

"A wonderful work of art, this story has so many truths in it, for the 1930's and even for now - surely one can learn from Dinner with Lisa. A great read by a wonderful author."- Chelsea Halford, Chapters.indigo.ca reviewer

About R.L. Prendergast:

R. L. (Rod) Prendergast was the entrepreneurial kid you saw on your neighbourhood street selling lemonade on a hot summer’s day. Recognizing young Rod’s preoccupation with money, his mother bribed him to read with an offer of 25 cents per book—and instilled in him a lifelong love of reading. Although he continued down the path of industry—he started and sold his first business before completing his Bachelor of Commerce—he continued to read voraciously. After a number of years working in sales, marketing and management for several companies he spent a year’s sabbatical surfing and reading in New Zealand and, free of business pressures, he began to write. Those first words became the backbone of The Impact of a Single Event—which was long listed for the Independent Publishers Book Award for literary fiction, and which became a national bestseller in Canada. Spurred on by the success of his first novel, he took another sabbatical and wrote Dinner with Lisa. He is currently working on his next book.

Rod's Website
My thoughts:
As a teen I read a lot of historical fiction, but have gotten away from it over the years.  It was great to get back into it again, especially with this story.  Dinner With Lisa is a wonderful read.  It's a heartwarming yet heartwrenching tale of a man struggling to keep his family together when it seems the world itself is against him.  My heart broke for Joseph on the train when Clare stopped breathing, and his struggles became my own as I read.  I laughed and cried for him and his family throughout the story. 
Rod's ability to bring the economical hardships and the plight of the people to life is remarkable.  His characters are dramatic and realistic. 
If you enjoy history and a vivid, descriptively written story ~ this one is for you.

You can buy a copy of this book by clicking HERE.

Click HERE to buy a kindle version or if you are an Amazon Prime Member you can read it free.

You can enter to win a free ecopy of the book by filling out the form below:



Thanks for stopping by The Wormhole! Happy Reading.

Review: Feathermore by Lucy Swing

Feathermore by Lucy Swing

*** I received this ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review.

BLURB:
"When the one thing you live for is taken from you, do you let it go or do you fall?

Jade, like any other student at Brushwood High, awaits the start of the school year with a certain measure of dread. Worse, she is being threatened by a voice that only she can hear—a voice that lurks at the edges of her awareness, haunting her and warning her of something unknown. She has always been able to count on her two best friends, Claire and Nate, but can she confide in them now? About this? Would they even believe her?

Life takes a turn for the better when she meets Avan, a darkly handsome new student who, somehow, seems to drown out the voice and make her feel at ease.

But Jade soon comes to realize that good things don’t last forever. When everything spirals out of control, she is shattered by something she never saw coming. Dazed and despairing, she must now overcome tragedy and embrace her true existence and a new but dangerous love. Will she be able to save herself and those she loves, before it’s too late? Or will she let the surrounding darkness consume her?"

My Thoughts:
This story is original, nicely paced and well-written. The characters are carefully constructed and realistic (even considering the supernatural aspect of the story).  Jade is wonderful, although there are moments when she is just a little too teenage girl, you have to give her those moments because of what she is going through.  I was thrilled with the premise of the book, angels on earth - fallen, yet pure still, protectors who can change forms, ancient evil, and the ability to call animals to aid.  I enjoyed the storyline and was pleased with the way Lilith is portrayed and the way her character plays out her part in the book, she is truly cruel and evil.  I am still curious about Blake and his part.  Nate and Claire are fantastic characters and I am hoping for more back story in books to come.  Avan is great, wouldn't we all love to meet the guy so perfect an angel would fall from heaven to be with.  The ending is a shocker and a HUGE cliffhanger!  I can't wait for the next book.

AUTHOR BIO:
Lucy Swing lives in sunny Florida with her husband and two children.

She is a YA Paranormal/ Romance writer, whose works include: Feathermore #1 (Feathermore Trilogy), Bloody Valentine, the novella, and Bloody Valentine is also offered in "Death by Chocolate," an anthology consisting of 6 fantastic YA short stories with a chocolaty twist.

She is an absolute book hoarder and must always have a book at arms distance. Music is her muse, and there is always a soundtrack that plays along with her life.

Release day Blitz tour for Intuition by Jayne Fordham

This release day blitz is presented by Bewitching Book Tours.

Welcome to The Wormhole and my stop on the Blitz!

It is my pleasure to feature Intuition by Jayne Fordham.

Intuition
by Jayne Fordham

Synopsis:
Olive Morgan is not your typical psychologist. She can also access the memories of anyone she comes into contact with.

After an explosion in a Sydney shopping mall, Olive is enlisted alongside a team of 'Elite' consultants. She joins Canan Jones who can attune to the emotions of other people, including Olive. Initially, she distrusts the agency, but when another explosion threatens more lives Olive has no choice but to use her skill to prevent another disaster.

Is terrorism really at play or is the agency hiding the real reason behind these attacks?

Olive wants to solve the case, but her personal life is suffering. Despite having a boyfriend, she feels a connection brewing with Canan, who has an uncanny way of making her feel calm when life becomes overwhelming...

Intuition is a tale of supernatural suspense and the first book in the Elite Series.

...for your reading pleasure...an excerpt:

Excerpt from Intuition, Book One of the Elite Series

By Jayne Fordham

Olive’s phone rang before she could locate the remote control. The phone number on the screen was blocked; she had no idea who would be calling her.

         "Hello?" Olive asked tentatively.

         "Olive Morgan?" A stern voice asked.

         "Yes, that's me."

         "My name is Regent. I work for a confidential agency with the government.”

         “Um, hi,” she mumbled. She wondered if this was going to be some kind of sales pitch.

         “You better turn on the news. There’s something you need to see,” he said firmly.

         “Huh?” Olive was feeling a bit confused, but the man sounded quite serious, so she did as she was told. The remote had fallen between the cushions on the lounge, so she retrieved it and hit the power button.

         An image of an explosion flooded the screen. Olive stood up straight, her eyes glued to the display.

         “What’s that?” Nat cried, getting up from the table to come closer to the television.

         Olive turned up the volume on the news channel where a young woman was now on the screen with a microphone. There was black smoke behind her and people running all over the place.

         "An explosion in south-west Sydney has caused havoc,” the reporter announced. “It is feared that many are dead and many more injured. The circumstances are considered suspicious at this stage.”

         "Oh my gosh! This is so scary,” Nat gasped.

         Olive was shaking. An explosion so close to home. They thought it was suspicious; she felt her stomach recoil. She placed the phone back to her ear.

         “Who are you?” she asked suspiciously. 

About the author:
Jayne Fordham resides in Sydney where she works as a psychologist and freelance writer while working on another novel. Jayne has also authored the YA fantasy novel, A Season Of Transformation.

Author blog http://jaynefordham.com/
Book blog http://australianbookshelf.wordpress.com/
Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4810810.Jayne_Fordham
Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/AustBookshelf
Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Australian-Bookshelf/207587435934278

Purchase link ~ Amazon

Blog Tour: The Half Breed Vampire by Theresa Meyers (Giveaway too!!)

This virtual book tour is presented by Bewitching Book Tours.

You can see the entire tour schedule by clicking HERE.

Welcome to The Wormhole and my day on the tour.

It is my pleasure to feature Theresa Meyers and

The Half-Breed Vampire.

About Theresa Meyers:

Raised by a bibliophile who made the dining room into a library, Theresa has always been a lover of books and stories. First a writer for newspapers, then for national magazines, she started her first novel in high school, eventually enrolling in a Writer's Digest course and putting the book under the bed until she joined Romance Writers of America in 1993.

In 2005 she was selected as one of eleven finalists for the American Title II contest, the American Idol of books. She is married to the first man she ever went on a real date with (to their high school prom), who she knew was hero material when he suffered through having to let her parents drive, and her brother sit between them in the backseat of the car. They currently live in a Victorian house on a mini farm in the Pacific Northwest with their two children, three cats, an old chestnut Arabian gelding, an energetic mini-Aussie shepherd puppy, several rabbits, a dozen chickens and an out-of-control herb garden.

You can find her online on Twitter, Facebook, at her Web site or blogging with the other Lolitas of STEAMED!

http://www.theresameyers.com/

http://www.theresameyers.com/blog/

http://twitter.com/Theresa_Meyers

http://www.facebook.com/TheresaMeyersAuthor

http://www.ageofsteam.wordpress.com/

....and now - the book....

THE HALF-BREED VAMPIRE

Book Three in the Sons of Midnight mini-series

Harlequin Nocturne

                 

Ignorant of his true heritage, half-breed vampire Slade Donovan is fated to feel like an outsider among his clan. Until a mysterious woman arrives with the ability to unlock his secrets—and make him crave a future he never believed he could have….

As a Game Warden, Raina Ravenwing has only one mission in the Cascade Mountains: to track down a pack of rare wolves that is terrorizing her tribe. Her instant attraction to Slade is a distraction the beautiful wolf whisperer can't afford, unless she agrees to let him help her. Yet working so closely together only intensifies their passion…even as the unfolding truth of Slade's identity threatens everything Raina holds sacred and could potentially destroy both their worlds.

The author has offered this excerpt to feed your reading need...

He glared at Officer nature girl. Just because he had to help her didn't mean he had to like it. "What do you need?"

"I need your help tracking one of them down so I can find out if they've established a new pack from the groups further east, or if they are a new breed or rare mutation. And find out what's really going on with this rash of incidents."

Damn. Double Damn. Sure, waltz in on the Were territory and give them a 'hey, whatz up?' Why didn't she just ask him to go stake his balls to the ground and sunbathe nude? That would be less painful. Well, maybe. "So you want me to go on a nature hike with you?"

Raina restrained herself from making a smart-ass comeback. If nothing else she was a professional. She would have preferred to have Achilles go with her. At least he could be trusted and had some respect for her badge. With Donovan it was a whole other matter.

Everything about him shouted 'danger', from the rumble of his deep voice and dark good looks to his tiger-like topaz eyes. But it was his broad shoulders encased in black tight black t-shirt and military cut camo fatigues and wide jaw bisected by a devil-may-care dent in his chin that made him appear intriguing, which were an even greater danger to any female in sight. That was, if he'd been her type. Which he wasn't.

Something at the edge of her mind nagged her. She'd seen him before. He'd done something horrible. But no matter how hard she concentrated it floated in her memory just out of reach.

"It's a bit more complicated than that. There's an investigation currently underway. I need to track one down and put a locator on it."

He glanced away, sending not so subtle uninterested signals her way. "I'm sorry am I boring you, Mr. Donovan?"

He shook his head. "Locator. Please continue."

Raina was slightly surprised he had actually been listening. "I need to know if there's only one, or if there are more and if so, what the pack's territory is so I can advise the state game department of potential impact on the local farmers and the game in the area."

She didn't like the way he narrowed his eyes. The air around him swirled with a potent mixture of testosterone and wild side that were too intense to be comfortable. While his commander was at least polite, Slade Blackwolf, or Donovan, or whatever he wanted to call himself, was barely civilized.

He reeked of bad boy, something she'd tried scrupulously to avoid since graduating the police academy. If she got close enough she could probably smell motorcycle fumes and leather on him if she tried. But she had no intention of getting that close, now or ever. Getting mixed up with a bad boy was career suicide for a cop, especially a young female cop, no matter what department she worked in.

This was business, plain and simple. Being a game warden offered her an opportunity to help out her tribe in a practical way instead of all the hocus-pocus they kept insisting she was somehow tied to as part of their hopelessly outdated beliefs.

From what she'd been able to discover he was her best chance at finding the elusive wolves. So far everything else she'd tried had gotten her squat. And if things went on much longer it wouldn't be just the state she'd have to deal with, the Feds would get involved since her investigation was criss-crossing areas of the Wenatchee National Forest. She needed to find those wolves. Now.

"Sounds like a lost cause. Can't prove something's perfectly harmless when it's not."

Raina didn't like his belligerent attitude any more than his bad-boy demeanor. "Look, if you aren't capable of helping me-"

Between one breath and the next she found herself wedged up against the wall. A hard male body too dangerously close to her own in front and the rough edges of a cold brick wall digging into her back. Power, like smoke billowing from a forest fire, rolled off of him in waves. He pinned her, his arms on either side, a lethal look in his golden eyes that was mesmerizing like a wild animal's. She'd never been this close to an actual vampire before and it scared the hell out of her.

With an audible flick his sharp fangs appeared out of the gums just above his very normal looking teeth. His voice came out low, almost a growl. "I'm perfectly capable of doing anything you could possibly need done, Officer Ravenwing. But let's get one thing straight. You came to me. You need me. So if I tell you to jump when we're out there bushwhacking, you don't ask why, you just jump. I don't want have to explain to my commander why I came back with a dead game warden. Are we clear?"

Rania managed to gather enough moisture in her dry mouth to swallow, but words were beyond her. All she could manage was a nod, her heart pounding so hard her pulse throbbed in her fingers and toes.

All the resolve she'd made to keep good and gone from bad boys of any kind began to dissolve, running like heated honey through her veins. He was too close and it was too confining. She tried to push against him, her hands on his broad chest, and found herself falling forward and stumbling.

He'd dissolved beneath her touch into nothing but smoke, then reappeared on the other side of the room, in less time than it had taken her to blink. His large hand was where hers had been a moment before, his eyes darker than before.

His voice came out almost a growl. "Next time you touch me, it had better be because you want to."

 You can buy a copy of this book at these links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-A-Million | IndieBound

ebook: Kindle | Nook

You can enter to win this book and more:

Enter for your chance to win a copy (print or electronic) of the latest book in Theresa Meyers' Sons of Midnight mini-series, The Half-Breed Vampire, a Love Bites mug for your hot beverage of choice along with a bag full of decadent Bliss chocolate. US and Canada only. (5 winners will be chosen).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for stopping by The Wormhole - Happy Reading.

Blog Tour: Feathermore by Lucy Swing (great giveaway too!)

This blog tour is being presented by the author, Lucy Swing - click HERE to go to her site.

You can see more tour stops and dates by clicking HERE.

You can read my review of Feathermore later today - I am on page 127 and LOVING it!

Welcome to The Wormhole and my day on the tour.

It my pleasure to share this interview with Lucy Swing!

 When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

When I read the Twilight saga. I was OBSESSED. I had spent the years leading to Twilight busy and barely ever reading, when I got my first copy, once they had all been published, I could not put it down. The way Meyers made me feel, as if I were the heroine, and how in love I was with all the characters… I wanted to make someone feel that same way. I have always liked to write. I have numerous lyrics (from when I wanted to be a singer), scripts (from when I wanted to be an actor and/or director) and a million stories started that never got an end. So thank you Stephenie Meyer, I am now doing something I absolutely love.

 How many jobs did you have before you became a writer?
5

 How long does it take you to write a book?
Feathermore took me about two months to finish, and another two to revise, edit, etc. Bloody Valentine, a novella, took me about two to three weeks.

 What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?
I don’t know if it is interesting… to me it’s rather annoying, but I cannot write until I have cleaned the house. I need my space to be tidy before I can really give myself to the story.

 Where do you get your ideas or inspiration for your characters?
Most of the times they will resemble something I wish I could be/do. A world I would like to live in, or a love story I would have once enjoyed being a part of.

 What books have most influenced your life?
As I explained earlier, Twilight has been the one to bring me to where I am today.

 What are you reading right now?
I just started (3/6/2012) “Embrace” by Jessica Shirvington, once I am done will start “Unearthly” by Cynthia Hand.

 What do you like to do when you are not writing?
Spend time with my family. My inspiration comes at odd times, so whenever I have some down time I enjoy spending the time with my kids.

 What do you think makes a good story?
A good story MUST have characters one can relate to, or at least care about. Without that, readers won’t care about the story itself.

 Who would you consider your favorite author and why?
I can’t say I have one favorite author. Every author is unique in their own way and I love different things about them all. Some of my favorites are Alyson Noel, Kira Saito, Hope Collier, P.C. & Kristin Cast, Jessica Verday.

Fun random questions:

• dogs or cats? Dogs

• Coffee or tea? Coffee

• Dark or milk chocolate? Milk chocolate

• Rocks or flowers? neither

• Night or day? night

• Favorite color? blue

• Crayons or markers? crayons

• Pens or pencils? pencils

For more information on Lucy Swing please visit her website:
http://www.lucyswing.com/

GRAND PRIZE GIVEAWAY: Enter for a chance at the grand giveaway
(signed paperback copy and a necklace) US ONLY!


Thank you so much!

Quickie mini review - on page 127 -
The writing is fantastic.  The ideas are original and clever.  The story virtually flows from the pages, it is nicely paced.  The characters are wonderful.  I can't wait to learn more about Blake and his connection.  Lilith is terrifying.  I am so excited to see where is story goes that I can't hardly put it down.  DO NOT miss out on the opportunity to read this.  (Final review will post later today).  Happy reading.

Review: Dealers of Light by Lara Nance

Dealers of Light by Lara Nance

***I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

Amazon Product Description:
A malevolent group of Light-Dealers have surfaced in Cara Collin's hometown of Norfolk, Virginia. Led by an ancient Aztec demon, the "Takers" are torturing and murdering their way to world domination. As the horror spreads, Cara-who has the ability to send "Light" into others to augment healing-receives a special power from a patient making her a crucial weapon in stopping the Takers. But, she must figure out how to use the gift before the Takers make her their next target. When mysterious Rolf Van Harding shows up in town with information that may help her, she's torn between joining his quest and running for her life. When she discovers he's a powerful, ancient Light-Dealer she fears their growing passion will be a weakness-a weakness that could allow the Takers to murder the last remaining Light-Dealer capable of stopping them.

My thoughts:
Wonderful story! Creative, clever, and new.
The characters are strong, dedicated, and realistic.  They are carefully created, well-developed and easy to invest in emotionally.  Cara captures your heart in the first few pages and never lets go.  Rolf is that guy that we all can't help but love.
The story itself is original and entertaining.  The pages seem to melt together as the characters and their story virtually come to life for the reader. 
This is another fantastic read by Lara Nance.  I can't wait for more!