Blog Tour: Her Loving Husband's Return by Meredith Allard

This virtual book tour is presented by Bewitching Book Tours.

Click HERE for more tour information.

Welcome to The Wormhole and my stop on the tour.

It is my pleasure to feature Meredith Allard and 

Her Loving Husband's Return.

About the Author:

Since 2000, Meredith Allard has been the Executive Editor of The Copperfield Review, an award-winning literary journal for readers and writers of historical fiction. She received her B.A. and M.A. degrees in English from California State University, Northridge, and she has taught creative writing and writing historical fiction seminars at Learning Tree University, UNLV, and the Las Vegas Writers Conference.

Her short fiction and articles have appeared in journals such as The Paumanok Review, Moondance, Wild Mind, Muse Apprentice Guild, Writers Weekly, CarbLite, and ViewsHound. She is the author of the Amazon Best-Selling Loving Husband Trilogy, as well as the historical novels Victory Garden, Woman of Stones, and My Brother’s Battle.

Victory Garden and Woman of Stones have also been Amazon Best-Sellers in the Historical Fiction and Religious Fiction categories.

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The Copperfield Review

Her Loving Husband’s Return

Book Three

The Loving Husband Trilogy

Meredith Allard

Book Description:

What would you do to return to the only one you have ever loved?

     James Wentworth’s secret is no longer a secret, and now he and his beloved wife, Sarah, have been separated.

     While suffering his own internment, James is reminded of his time with Japanese-Americans in the Manzanar Relocation Camp during World War II, and he cannot allow the past to repeat itself. With the help of his friends—Chandresh, Jocelyn, Timothy, even the irreverent Geoffrey—James learns what it means to return, and he is determined to return to his Sarah no matter the challenges—or the consequences.

     Will James and Sarah be reunited once and for all despite the madness surrounding them? Will James’s most fervent wish be granted? The changes in store for the Wentworths may be irreversible.

Smashwords Amazon BN

Her Loving Husband’s Curse

Book Two of The Loving Husband Trilogy

By Meredith Allard

How far will you go to protect the one you love?

Finally, after many long and lonely years, James Wentworth’s life is falling into place. Together with his wife, Sarah, the only woman he has ever loved, he has found the meaning behind her nightmares about the Salem Witch Trials, and now they are rebuilding the life they began together so long ago.

But the past is never far behind for the Wentworths. While Sarah is haunted by new visions, now about the baby she carried over three hundred years before, James is confronted with painful memories from his time with the Cherokee on the Trail of Tears. Through it all, the persistent reporter Kenneth Hempel reappears, still determined to prove that the undead walk the earth. If Hempel succeeds in his quest, James and Sarah will suffer. Will the curse of the vampire prevent James and Sarah from living their happily ever after?

Amazon—Her Loving Husband’s Curse

Smashwords

BN—Her Loving Husband’s Curse

Her Dear and Loving Husband
Book One of The Loving Husband Trilogy
By Meredith AllardBook Description:

How long would you wait for the one you loved?

James Wentworth has a secret. He lives quietly in Salem, Massachusetts, making few ties anywhere. One night his private world is turned upside down when he meets Sarah Alexander, a dead ringer for his wife Elizabeth. Though it has been years since Elizabeth's death, James cannot move on.

Sarah also has a secret. She is haunted by nightmares about the Salem Witch Trials, and every night she is awakened by visions of hangings, being arrested, and dying in jail. Despite the obstacles of their secrets, James and Sarah fall in love. As James comes to terms with his feelings for Sarah, he must dodge accusations from a reporter desperate to prove that James is not who, or what, he seems to be. Soon James and Sarah piece their stories together and discover a mystery that may bind them in ways they never imagined. Will James make the ultimate sacrifice to protect Sarah and prevent a new hunt from bringing hysteria to Salem again?

Her Dear & Loving Husband is part historical fiction, part romance, and part paranormal fantasy. With elements of Twilight and The Crucible, Her Dear & Loving Husband is a story for anyone who believes that true love never dies.

Amazon Print Amazon Kindle Smashwords Goodreads

Review: Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

FORMAT: 9 CDs, Unabridged

NARRATORS: Jenna Lamia & David Ledoux

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf--her wolf--is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human . . . until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human--or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

My thoughts:

I have wanted to read this book for a very long time and just got it on audio, so I listened to it. 

It took me a little while to become accustomed to the voices of the readers. Wonderfully written. Creative and original, this story puts a new spin on the old theme of werewolves. I loved that it is YA and will offer an opportunity for young readers to glimpse a taste of the mythological werewolf idea.
The characters are fantastic.

Lycan Unleashed by Tiffany Allee

Amazon Product Description:

Detective Astrid Holmes is a sensitive, a human capable of feeling the energy of otherworlders. When she is dispatched to the horrific murder scene of a local vampire, she expects it to be just another day on the job. But when evidence is stolen on her watch, she is removed--not only from the investigation, but from her job as a member of the Chicago police department's paranormal unit.

Astrid's only hope of reinstatement lies with her ex co-worker and almost-lover, Lycan Mason Sanderson. But convincing the OWEA agent to let her assist with the investigation isn't nearly as difficult as staying alive when the murderer realizes that Astrid may hold the key to unlocking his identity.

Fighting to take down a killer could have deadly consequences for Astrid and Mason, but working together puts their already fragile relationship in jeopardy.

My thoughts:

This was a fun, light read that was exactly what I was looking for in the midst of all my review books and tour books.  It is a murder/mystery paranormal romance.  The murder mystery part of the plot is interesting, nicely paced and carefully planned, but the main focus to me was about Astrid and Mason.  The characters are wonderful; the self-assured, strong, capable heroine and the mysterious, overpowering, sexier than he should be, tortured by his past hero.  Who could want for more.  The secondary characters are well done and add depth to the story.  I enjoyed the book, although it is book 3 and I had not read the first two.  It stands alone well, but I plan to go back and read books 1 and 2 before looking for book 4. 

Blog Tour: Harbinger by Phillippa (Pip) Ballantine

This virtual book tour is presented by Bewitching Book Tours.

Click HERE for more tour information.

Welcome to The Wormhole and my stop on the tour.

I am pleased to spotlight Phillippa Ballantine and Harbinger.

Phillippa has joined us for an interview:

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

Just one! I was a librarian for thirteen years, and I loved it almost as much as being a writer later on. Books, it turns out, were always meant to be my life.

? How long does it take you to write a book?

Usually, three months in the first draft stage, and the comes lots of editing!

? What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

I need a cat next to me. I call them my little furry muses. They call me a warm lap.

? What books have most influenced your life?

Watership Down. Although my Dad read me Lord of the Rings, I remember the characters in Watership Down, made me laugh, cry and demand more.

? What are you reading right now?

I’m reading a novel called Hapax by a young Canadian writer, K T Bryski. She’s got a great eye for setting a scene and making a reader care about her characters.

? What is your favorite comfort food?

I’m from New Zealand, so toast and Marmite are my comfort food. Makes me feel like a kid again, which I guess is the definition of comfort!

? What do you think makes a good story?

For me it is all about compelling characters. If I don’t like or find interesting the people I am going to spend a whole novel with, I will give up quickly.

? Who would you consider your favorite author and why?

I love CJ Cherryh. She’s been my heroine for longer than I can remember. She has had a varied career, writing many successful series. I guess what first drew me to her was her powerful, but relatable female characters. As a young reader I found that very compelling.

? What book, if any, do you read over and over again?

I am such a voracious reader I always find new books to read, and worry if I go back and get something I’ve already read I’ll miss out!

Fun random questions: 

• dogs or cats? Cats
• Coffee or tea? Tea
• Dark or milk chocolate? Dark chocolate
• Rocks or flowers? Flowers
• Night or day? Night
• Favorite color? Blue
• Crayons or markers? Crayons
• Pens or pencils? Pens

More About the Author:

Born in Wellington, New Zealand, Philippa has always had her head in a book. For this she blames her father who thought Lord of the Rings was suitable bedtime reading for an eight year old. At the age of thirteen she began writing fantasy stories for herself.

She first earned a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Political Science and then a Bachelor of Applied Science in Library and Information Science. So soon enough she found herself working in the magical world of libraries where she stayed for over a decade.

Her first professional sale was in 1997, and since then she has gone on to produce mostly novel length fiction. In 2006 she became New Zealand’s first podcast novelist, and she has voiced and produced Weaver’s Web, Chasing the Bard, Weather Child and Digital Magic as podiobooks. Her podcasts have won both a Parsec Award and a Sir Julius Vogel award.

Philippa is the author of the Books of the Order series with Ace- Geist, Spectyr, Wrayth and Harbinger coming in July 2013.

She is also the co-author of the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series with Tee Morris. Phoenix Rising debuted in May 2011 and The Janus Affair came out in May 2012. Phoenix Rising won the Airship Award for best written steampunk, and was the number eight best Science Fiction book of 2011 according to Goodreads.com. The Janus Affair was the seventh most popular science fiction book of 2012 on Goodreads.com. The series continues with Dawn’s Early Light in December 2013.

In addition she is also the author of the Shifted World series with Pyr Books, with the first book Hunter and Fox released in June 2012, and the second Kindred and Wings scheduled for August 2013.

When not writing or podcasting, Philippa loves reading, gardening, and whenever possible traveling. With her husband Tee and her daughter, she is looked after by a mighty clowder of five cats in Manassas, Virginia.

Website: www.pjballantine.com
Twitter: philippajane
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/pjballantine/  

Harbinger

Philippa (Pip) Ballantine
Release date July 30th
cover artist Jason Chan

Book Description:

The Deacons of the Order are all that stand between the wicked spirits of the Otherside and the innocent citizens of the Empire. They are sworn to protect humanity, even when they cannot protect themselves…

After the Razing of the Order, Sorcha Faris, one of the most powerful Deacons, is struggling to regain control of the runes she once wielded. The Deacons are needed more desperately than ever. The barrier between the world of the living and the world of the dead is weakening, and the Emperor has abandoned his throne, seeking to destroy those he feels have betrayed him.

Though she is haunted by the terrible truth of her past, Sorcha must lead the charge against the gathering hordes of geists seeking to cross into the Empire. But to do so, she will need to manipulate powers beyond her understanding—powers that may prove to be her undoing…

Review: Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Book Description:
Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she’s prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she’s about to find out.

When one of the strangers—beautiful, haunted Akiva—fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

My thoughts:
This book is fantastic!
I listened to this audio book in my car, NOT a good idea.  Gas prices are going through the roof and driving around JUST to listen to the story is not cost effective - but I did it anyway.

I fell in love with the characters - all of them ~ from the smallest support characters on up to Karou, Akiva and of course Brimstone.  The writing is vivid, descriptive and visual; you can see the sites and smell the smells.  

The wishmonger - is what Brimstone is called and you are given a completely different view of wishes and dreams.  Karou has been raised by Brimstone in his shop filled with secrets, stories and portals.  She is his errand runner - but oh so much more than that.  The constant question - "Who/what is she?" 

In this story, you learn the price of wishes and the difference between wishing and dreaming.  You see the faith in friendship.  You find out what being family means and feel the sting of betrayal; the agony of loss and the glory of love.  Above all of this - there is hope.

My advice: If you are planning to listen to Daughter of Smoke and Bone in your vehicle, be going on a long trip - hopefully with someone else who loves audio books - buy book 2 so you can have it along for the return trip because the end of book one leaves you screaming for more.

Blog Tour: Guardians by Heather Frost (giveaway)

This blog tour is presented by the author Heather Frost.

Click HERE for more tour information.

Welcome to The Wormhole and my stop on the tour.

It is my pleasure to feature Heather Frost and Guardians.

Heather Frost was born in Sandy, Utah, and raised in a small Northern Utah town. She is the second oldest of ten children, and she has always been an avid reader and writer. She’s a graduate of Snow College, and, more recently, Utah State University. She enjoys playing the flute, listening to all types of music, and watching a wide variety of movies. Ever since she wrote her first short story—at the age of four—she has dreamed of one day becoming an author. Guardians is her third published novel; her second book, Demons, is a Whitney Award Finalist. To learn more about Heather and the Seers Trilogy, or to send her a message, visitwww.HeatherFrost.com.

Book Description:

Kate Bennett has escaped captivity, but she has not escaped the hunt. The Demon Lord has one million dollars on Kate’s head, and every bounty hunter around is just waiting for the chance to break through her guardian force. Kate’s only shot at staying alive and protecting her loved ones is to lead the seers on a mission to the past and kill the Demon Lord before he comes to power.

But Patrick, Kate’s immortal guardian and the love of her life, knows what happens when she travels back in time: he has seen her die in his arms. With Patrick keeping a protective watch over her, Kate knows she can never lead her mission, but she cannot wait around to be captured by demons again, either.

This final installment of the Seers trilogy brings Kate Bennett’s tale to a surprising and exciting conclusion filled with love and heartache, danger and triumph, loss and redemption.

Click Here to buy a copy of Guardians.  Click HERE to buy book 2.   Click HERE to buy book 1.

Fill out this form for the chance to WIN a copy of book 3: Guardians.

My thoughts to follow.