Sunday Post #163

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~ It's a chance to share news ~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received and share new about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.

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Okay. I'm a slacker. I'm sorry. I really am. I know I keep apologizing and don't seem to get my kester moving afterward. I found out I had a few vitamin deficiencies and have started taking the supplements. Vitamin D is one of them. Wow. I'll tell ya, it really does kick your arse without that one. I've been starting to feel a bit better with a bit more energy to get through the day. So hopefully I get my butt in gear and keep on schedule with everything.

I do have two weeks worth of book items to share with you today. That's a lot. lol.

Along the news of kiddo and college searching... He's made a choice! Last weekend he signed a letter of intent for football and we visited again yesterday and made the deposit payment. We'll make another two trips this month, so we can figure out what all needs to be done next for loans for him and whatnot. This was the last place he visited and he loves it. It really is a nice campus, smaller yet plenty to do and the academic program he's going into feels well put together.

This last week I went to listen to Jaye Wells speak on creating her world in the Prospero's War series. Some really great information there. Got my mind thinking and going. I enjoyed the connections of the story and how she created it. Also the research she did for it. What great stories she had to share! We also got to ask questions of all sorts of reading, writing, publishing caliber. If you are wondering, there are more books in the series coming, it just takes time. She is such a nice person.

I feel like there should be more to share, but I just can't remember. That's terrible.

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The Fit Booker:

Goal:  Workout in any form of exercise (or on Wii Fit) 2x's a week. (to feel better and hope to drop a few pants sizes)

How did I do last week... Ugh. My memory is on the fritz. I think two weeks ago I only got 2 days in - weights and elliptical. This week I got 3 days in but 4 if you count the walk around campus yesterday. Monday was an easy go on the treadmill. Tuesday and Wednesday were weights and elliptical. I even got a walk in at lunch one day.

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What's Happening in Books:

Current Read:

The Perils of Prague by Doc Coleman
Content Editing Work

Current Audiobook:
Will start a new one Monday.

Current Podcast Book Listen:
Stonebriar Casefiles: Bad Alchemy by Laura Nicole Spencer (You can listen for free too!)

Finished Last Week: 

Not yet, slow going with reading at lunch.

Audiobooks from Audible:

The Feedback Loop by Harmon Cooper
Forgotten by Frances Pauli
TimeKeeper by Tara Sim


Finished Podcast Book Listen:

Nothing yet.

DNFed:

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Last Week on the Blog:

Cover Reveals: (click titles to go to post & learn more)

The Perils of Prague By Doc Coleman

Guest Posts:

Posts:

Mythical Monday - Shifters and Skinwalkers

Mythical Monday - Valkyries

Mythical Monday - Kundalis Dragons and Kundalini

Spellbound in a Flash:
Nothing new last week. I have pictures to touch up and share, but time has not been sharing lately.

Challenged Writers:
February Update on writer-ly items, with a picture of book working on.

Around the Internet...


Reviews:

Redemption Song by Craig Schaefer

"Craig draws me in, paying close attention to details as there is always something happening. Just when you think things can't get worse. It does. And keeps you wondering how Daniel's going to fix it all."

Treasure of the Dead by David Wood & Rick Chesler

"I always enjoy getting to spend any hour with Maddock and Bones. Their banter always brings a smile to my face while their adventures make my heart race. I enjoy the twist to the history that's created, a twist with a slight paranormal feel to it, as we go on the expedition not knowing what we'll walk into yet knowing it's going to result in danger and action."

Fall of Thrones and Thorns by Jennifer Ellision

"In the end this was a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. I like where the relationships are left. These are young adults with important lives to live. But where the major arc ends is fitting as well."

Every Kingdom Divided by Stephen Kozeniewski

"Something wonderful about this book, through all these characters live through and the moral you pick up on in the end, there is a lightness to the story that makes the traveling Jack's done seem as though it's a story to keep him safe from the firing squad."

Podcast Review:

Mama Bitchstress Reviews:

GIVEAWAYS:

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This Week to Come on the Blog:

I have a Mythical Monday scheduled, and I'll work to get two reviews finished and scheduled.

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Received Last Weeks:

(Note: Links to Amazon are buy links where I could earn commission, in case you are interested.)


For Review Consideration:

Exiled by Amanda Carlson
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Goodreads Synopsis:
Phoebe Meadows is on trial for her life.

After freeing her half-brother, Baldur, Phoebe is set to stand before the Council in Asgard to answer for her actions. The threat of exile if she’s found guilty looms, not to mention the added stress of meeting her real father for the first time. 

Upon entering Asgard, Phoebe discovers new allies in a half-brother she’s never met as well as an oracle who is in possession of valuable information. A little added help couldn’t have come at a better time, because when Phoebe is tossed into an unknown realm, she’s only armed with Gundren, a jewel, and her wits.

When Loki shows up, all bets are off. The trickster god throws a wrench in Phoebe’s plans and kidnaps Fen, her only ally. And just when she thinks she sees the light at the end of the tunnel, Phoebe finds she has to defeat one last obstacle: The Norns.

And they aren’t planning to go down without a fight…




Audio Books Requested for Review:

Buccaneer by David Wood
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Goodreads Synopsis:
For more than two centuries the Oak Island Money Pit has baffled researchers and foiled treasure hunters, and when Dane Maddock and Bones Bonebrake take up the search, they get much more than they bargained for. Danger lies at every turn as they search for a treasure out of legend that dates back to the time of Christ. Ancient wonders, hidden temples, mythical creatures, secret societies, and foes new and old await as Dane and Bones unravel a pirate’s deadly secret in Buccaneer.

Command Decisions by Terry Mixon
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Goodreads Synopsis:
Between a rock and a hard place! 

After winning a hard-fought victory, Commander Jared Mertz and Princess Kelsey discover another insidious foe blocking their way home. A remnant of the Old Empire still exists and seems allied with the savage, AI-dominated Pale Ones. 

With the existence of the Terran Empire at stake, another enemy, this one from Jared’s past, threatens everything they’ve worked so hard to achieve. Jared and Kelsey must fight for survival while the fate of humanity hangs in the balance.

Ghosts of Empire by Terry Mixon
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Goodreads Synopsis:
When on deadly ground, fight! 

Jared and Kelsey won the battle for Harrison’s World, but the enemy holds thousands of Fleet personnel prisoner. They must get their people back without revealing who they really are or the sentient AIs will eradicate the new Terran Empire. 

Coordinator Olivia West sees and opportunity to free her people from Harrison’s World now that the AI that had crushed them under its heel was no more. To do that, she must outwit the Fleet officers holding the keys to her planet’s destruction. 

But foes striking from the shadows will go to any length to derail their plans. Can the three of them settle their differences before the ghosts of the Old Empire return to haunt them all?


Purchased/Winnings/Gifts:

Book:

Countless Hues of Crimson by Pip Ballantine & Tee Morris
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Goodreads Synopsis:
From the writers of the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences
comes the erotic novel you haven’t been waiting for.

Anastasia Brassingware is a daughter of English aristocracy, but her station has been brought low by her father’s belief in ridiculous quick schemes. Now forced into penury, she must take any menial job.
A chance meeting with enigmatic pineapple merchant, Lord Heathcliff Redd, has changed everything. Drawn in by his brooding ways, the maiden discovers the pineapple merchant’s darker pleasures, and technological wonders that do more than just core his tropical bounties with ease.

Take caution, dear reader. This is a novel of shadow, of desire, and of wanton lust. This novella is not a collection of standing orders for a clandestine organization within Her Majesty’s government. No sir. No how. No way. Nowhere in this scintillating novel of erotic perversion are coded messages intended for agents that investigate the strange, the bizarre, and the unnatural. No. In this novella are pages of good British smut, just the way God intended. This is the story of a wide-eyed ingénue innocent to carnal pleasures, a wealthy English lord with a pineapple fetish, and fresh fruit bending to their will.

No standing orders whatsoever.

“I think a small part of me just died.” — Wellington Thornhill Books, Esq.

“It made me rather tingly.” — H.J. Rodwell 


Audio:

Free Ebooks:
(On my Kindle and Nook App) Links to books under title. They may or may not be free at this time.

The Complete Grimm's Fairy Tales by Wilhelm Grimm
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Goodreads Synopsis:
The Complete Grimm's Fairy Tales  includes all two hundred fairy tales and ‘legends’ by the German genre maestros, Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm AKA The Brothers Grimm.  Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, The Frog Prince, The Goose-Girl, Hansel and Gretel, Rapunzel, Rumpelstiltskin, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and more. 

Risen Gods by J.F. Penn & J. Thorn
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Goodreads Synopsis:
“It doesn’t matter what you believe. The time is here regardless, and they are coming. After so long, the gods are rising again.”

Ben Henare turned away from the gods of his ancestors to follow his own path, choosing the modern world over myths of demons and monsters.

But when New Zealand is shaken by earthquakes and dark powers are released, Ben must fight his way north through ice caves and oceans, battling the evil god Whiro and the creatures of the earth and sky. 

Lucy Campion is a trainee doctor, a rational scientist with no belief in demons. When her parents are killed and her sister is threatened, Lucy is tasked with carrying an ancient talisman north to where the oceans meet. But both human and supernatural foes stand in her way.

As the people they love are threatened and New Zealand begins to crumble, can Ben and Lucy find each other again and save the country from the wrath of the Risen Gods?

Risen Gods is a fast-paced, urban fantasy adventure set in Aotearoa/New Zealand, rich with Maori mythology of gods and goddesses, demons and devils. If you enjoy supernatural thrillers, download a sample or buy now.

Beautiful Chaos by Alex Tully
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Goodreads Synopsis:
While most seventeen year-olds work part-time delivering pizzas or whipping up frappuccinos, Brady O’Connell’s job is a little less conventional. Helping his dad with the family ‘business’ is a responsibility he doesn’t take lightly, especially when thousands of dollars are being exchanged. There are rules to be followed, timetables to be kept. But when his best friend Jay gets backstage concert tickets, and business interferes with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet their favorite band, Brady decides to break the rules, just one time.

And one time is all it takes to send his life spinning out of control. When an envelope full of cash ends up in the wrong hands—specifically in the hands of a pretty red-head named Vivienne—things get messy in a hurry. Where Vivienne goes, a whole lot of chaos seems to follow.

But sometimes…chaos is a beautiful thing.

Even Villains Fall in Love by Liana Brooks
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Goodreads Synopsis:
A super villain at the top of his game must choose between the world he wants and the woman he loves. 

If you believe the rumors you know that Doctor Charm, the wickedly sexy super villain, retired in shame seven years ago after his last fight with the super hero Zephyr Girl. The fact that the charming Evan Smith-father of four and husband of the too-beautiful-to-be-real Tabitha-bears a resemblance to the defeated Doctor is pure coincidence. And, please, ignore the minions. 
Everything is perfect in the Smith household, until Tabitha announces her return to work as a super hero. Evan was hoping to keep her distracted until after he rigged the 2012 presidential election, but-genius that he is-Evan has a backup plan. 
In his basement lab, Evan has a machine whose sole purpose is keeping Tabitha hungry for him. But children and labs don't mix. The machine is broken, and Tabitha storms out, claiming she no longer knows him. 
World domination takes a back seat to meeting his daughters' demands to get Mommy back right now. This time his genius isn't going to be enough-he's going to need both his evil alter-ego, and the blooming super abilities of his children to save his wife. But even his most charming self might not be enough to save their marriage.

Of Glitter and Gold: A Canary Club Anthology by Sherry D. Ficklin
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Goodreads Synopsis:
Set during the flamboyant anything-goes era of 1920's America, these three tales are filled with intriguing characters and rich imagery from the time period—with flappers, jazz music, gangsters, and lavish wealth. Escape to a different decade today with the compelling stories of the Canary Club Anthology.

Novelette 1- Gilded Cage
Masie, the flaxen-haired daughter of notorious bootlegger Dutch Schultz, returns home from boarding school to find her family in crisis. Her mother is dangerously unstable, her father's empire is on the brink of ruin, and the boy she once loved has become a ruthless killer for hire. To keep her family's dangerous secrets, Masie is forced into a lie that will change the course of her future—and leave her trapped in a gilded cage of her own making.

Novelette 2- All That Glitters
A dame with brains, moxie, and killer curves, June West isn't your average flapper. She's managed to endear herself to the son of one of the most powerful gangsters in New York, earning herself a spot in the limelight that she's always longed for. With the infamous playboy at her side, June has become accustomed to living the high life. Lavish parties, expensive clothes, sparkling jewels—nothing is beyond her reach. But when her carefully woven web of lies finally catches up with her, she must make an impossible choice… come clean about her past and risk losing everything, or find a way to bury her demons—once and for all. 

Novelette 3 - Nothing Gold
Dickey has been down on his luck since the day he was born. Flat broke and sick of being looked down on, he meets young socialite Lillian at a wild party. The connection is like a strike of lightning. From a wealthy New York family, this debutante is everything he's been told he can never have—and the only thing he wants. Determined to win her, he knows the only way to get her parents approval is with cold hard cash. So when a shot at the biggest score of his life comes around, he just can't refuse…

That Moment When - anthology
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Goodreads Synopsis:
Have you ever reached a moment in your life when everything changed? A point of no return, an event or discovery so momentous it changed everything you thought you knew about the world, and yourself? 

"That Moment When" is filled with exactly these kinds of moments. Inside you'll see a wide variety of fascinating stories from all of your favorite genres--from fantasy and paranormal to dystopia and beyond--and put them together into an epic young adult anthology of over 200,000 words (the length of three full novels). 

Some of them are complete stories to spark your imagination, others are just the beginning of a unique adventure. Some of the authors are just starting out, while others are celebrated NYT or USA Today Bestselling authors. We teamed up to make it easier for you to find your new favorite author. With 40 stories in this book, you're certain to find a tale that will thrill and excite you.

The Awakening by Melissa A. Craven
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Goodreads Synopsis:
Allie Carmichael has always believed life is simple.
You're born. You live. You die.
She has no cause to believe those rules don't apply to her.
All her life, Allie has suffered in silence as those around her shrink from her touch, too intimidated to take the time to get to know her. It's left her feeling like a pariah for fifteen years.
When an unexpected move to Kelleys Island brings Aidan McBrien crashing into her life, Allie is thrown by his reaction. He isn't affected by her touch. He doesn't stutter or make a quick exit. He smiles and welcomes her into his circle of friends.
For the first time ever, Allie knows what true friendship means. Finally, she has a real shot at normal--until "normal" crashes and burns when she wakes in agony on her sixteenth birthday. Aidan calls it her Awakening, a rite of passage he and their friends have all faced. Allie struggles in ignorance through the experience, uncertain of what is real and what isn't. When she emerges, she is different. She has always been different, but even among her extraordinary friends, she and Aidan are special.
As Allie struggles to maintain her tenuous grasp on the power that threatens to overwhelm her, she worries she will lose herself in this strange new world of ancient Immortal beings.
A dangerous world where she will have to fight tooth and nail to defend the power and freedom that is her birthright.

Join Allie and Aidan in this coming of age, urban fantasy set within our own world.

The Dwarven Guardian by J.T. Williams
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Goodreads Synopsis:
Shadows surround the dwarf kingdom of Harrodarr and war rages at its gateway. A siege has forced the dwarven army into a dangerous last stand and the outlook is grim for all within the mountain. But there is a chance for hope if they can grasp it fast enough. 

Nurocas is a Hammersong, one of the most elite of dwarven warriors renown for his fierceness on the battlefield. But now he has a new charge. A dwarf boy, chosen by their gods, must be escorted to a hidden refuge in the Far North. But they will be hunted by enemies both ethereal and of mortal blood. A genocide is rampant and all not of the blood of men are to be killed without mercy. 

Nurocas must move quickly to get the boy to safety but he will soon learn the world is far worse than even the dwarves understand and no one can be trusted.

Night of the Living Demon Slayer by Angie Fox
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Goodreads Synopsis:
Lizzie Brown is all for letting the good times roll…until a dark voodoo church rises up in the bayou outside of New Orleans. Now the ritual fires are burning long into the night and the dead are having a hard time staying that way.

Lizzie goes in undercover to put a stop to the madness. Good thing she’s got her sexy shape-shifter husband behind her, as well as her Grandma’s gang of biker witches. Too bad nobody’s watching Pirate the dog, who has become way too friendly with the phantom haunting a long-forgotten Victorian séance room.

Secrets and spirits abound. Nothing is what it seems. And when legions of the dead threaten the city, there may be no stopping them.

Beyond Cloud Nine by Greg Spry
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Goodreads Synopsis:
Ace star fighter pilot Brooke Davis lives for pushing hundreds of gees in orbital combat, but she’d give it all up in a moment to become the first human to fly faster than light. When Brooke stumbles upon a conspiracy involving terrorists, aliens, and the highest levels of government, she finds their goals seductive but their methods abhorrent. With the moral core of human civilization hanging in the balance, she must risk her shot at history, her family, and her life to prevent the schemers from forcing their nefarious brand of salvation upon the solar system.

True Calling by Siobhan Davis
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Goodreads Synopsis:
Welcome to Novo: Your new home in Space

For Ariana Skyee, Planet Novo was everything it promised to be until the authorities introduced "The Calling" as their response to repopulation. Now, all seventeen-year-olds are to participate in this Bachelor-style pageant to find their perfect match, marry, and have children.

But that’s not Ariana’s only concern. Thanks to the government-sanctioned memory erase, she has no recollection of Zane, the mystery boy who haunts her dreams. Things are further complicated when the pageant commences and her feelings for fellow Cadet Cal Remus intensify. Together, they start to realize not everything about their new home is as it seems.

Entangled in a dangerous web of deceit, Ariana sets out to identify the truth. Conflicted over warnings that Cal isn’t trustworthy and alarmed at the government's increasing interest in her, she doesn’t know where to turn. But her search for the truth comes at a high personal price. When her world implodes, discovering the past shapes her future with devastating consequences.

TWO DIFFERENT WORLDS. ONE SHARED DREAM.

Lovestruck by Siobhan Davis
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Goodreads Synopsis:
Everything changed the moment he found her… 

Cal Remus is in love. 

But the object of his affection barely acknowledges his existence. Worse: She acts like he’s the dirt sticking to the bottom of her shoe. Weaker men might give up. But not Cal. Hell no, he loves a good challenge and Ariana Skyee has made this the most intriguing challenge of all. 

Having read his father’s confidential military files, Cal should be concerned about the seemingly fragile new world order on Planet Novo and the events back on Earth. But he’s distracted. 

Securing Arianas love is his number one priority. 

He’s going to win her heart, or die trying. 



Free Audio Books/Stories:

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Reviews to Come:

Soulless by Skyla Dawn Cameron

The Sentinel by Chris Lester

The Muse by Chris Lester
Metamor City: Making the Cut by Chris Lester
Metamor City: Whispers in the Wood by Chris Lester

Lex Talionis by Starla Huchton

Spark by Starla Huchton
Heir to Kale by K.L. Bone

Tales from the Archives Vol 4 #5 - Old Sinner's Bones

The Death of Dulgath by Michael J. Sullivan

A Human Element by Donna Galanti

The Feedback Loop by Harmon Cooper

Forgotten by Frances Pauli

TimeKeeper by Tara Sim