THE LEGEND OF HOLLY CLAUS 

BY

BRITTNEY RYAN

Santa Claus is the King of Forever, Land of the Immortals. When one special boy writes to Santa asking what no other child has ever asked, a miracle occurs: Santa and Mrs. Claus are blessed with a daughter. But the birth of Holly Claus also brings about a terrible curse--from an evil soul named Herrikhan. Holly's heart is frozen, and the gates to Forever are locked, barring exit or entry.

As she grows into a beautiful and selfless young woman, Holly longs to break the spell that holds her people hostage. With four faithful and magical animal friends, she escapes to the wondrous world of Victorian New York, where she will face countless dangers, adventures, and a miracle all her own.

My thoughts

What a joyful holiday book.  Certain to become a classic.  I loved this book.   I think everyone should have a copy to read to their children at Christmas.  Holly will warm your heart.  I read this on my tablet, you should have either the book or a tablet to fully appreciate the illustrations.  I heartily recommend this book. You will laugh, you will cry, and you will love Holly and her friends.

link to the authors Goodreads page

TODAY'S FEATURE AUTHOR IS LAURA LEE,

AUTHOR OF ANGEL

about the book

Since the loss of his lively, charming wife to cancer six years ago, minister Paul Tobit has been operating on autopilot, performing his religious duties by rote. Everything changes the day he enters the church lobby and encounters a radiant, luminous being lit from behind, breathtakingly beautiful and glowing with life. An angel. For a moment Paul is so moved by his vision that he is tempted to fall on his knees and pray.

Even after he regains his focus and realizes he simply met a flesh-and-blood young man, Paul cannot shake his sense of awe and wonder. He feels an instant and overwhelming attraction for the young man, which puzzles him even as it fills his thoughts and fires his feelings. Paul has no doubt that God has spoken to him through this vision, and Paul must determine what God is calling him to do.

Thus begins a journey that will inspire Paul’s ministry but put him at odds with his church as he is forced to examine his deeply held beliefs and assumptions about himself, his community, and the nature of love.

My thoughts

This is an interesting book.  It is not a book I would have chosen to read.  I am glad I read it.

It is a love story.  Love is love! Remember that.  Love is always a gift to be treasured.

This is a very well written story about personal discovery.  Paul's discovery of who he is, and the meaning of love.  It is a story of conflict, tolerance, and relationships.

If you are not offended by gay relationships, I urge you to read this book.  It is well written, it is not merely a male/male erotica story.  It is a story of love.  True love.

connect with Laura Lee on GOODREADS

Website http://angelthenovel.carbonmade.com/

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre – Contemporary Fiction / LGBT

Rating – PG13

Today's featured author is Lenore Skomal, author of BLUFF.

about the book:

"To the medical world, I was a host body, surviving only to bring a new life into the world. And while I wanted to die more than anything in the world, I never wanted this. No, I never wanted to cease to exist. This was the worst death of all.”

Jude Black lives in that in-between, twilight place teetering on death but clinging to life in order to bring her baby into this world. Only she knows the circumstances surrounding her mysterious fall off the bluff that landed her in the hospital being kept alive by medical intervention. Only she knows who the father of her baby is. In this poignantly crafted literary novel, the mystery unfolds and the suspense builds as the consequences of Jude’s decisions threaten to reveal everyone's deceptions, even her own. Bluff offers a sensitive look at essential questions such as the value of human life, the consciousness of those in a coma and the morality of terminating life support. At the core is the story of a tragically misunderstood woman who finds peace, acceptance, understanding and even love on her deathbed.

Sounds pretty intense, right?

Lenore has sent us a guest post.

Like most novelists, I believe having a great story line is the best place to start but it certainly doesn't make the novel complete.  For BLUFF, a story about a 40-year old pregnant coma patient teetering on death, the plot needed to be vetted by medical professionals.  I knew this was going into the writing and thankfully my skills as a journalist came into play.

It was absolutely essential for me to interview trauma surgeons, palliative care physicians, ICU nurses, pediatric care physicians, rape counselors as well as hospital administrative staff in order to get the most authentic information to provide the bones of what would be the storyline.

My goal was for the reader to feel the stress of the E.R., to hear the way doctors really talk to and about patients, to taste and smell the sights and sounds of the ICU and to experience the time warp that only hospitals create.

Toward that end, I made sure to interview those who are in those situations each day.  And while none of them had to deal with a pregnant coma patient, they all took great care to put themselves in that hypothetical situation.

Because of my parent's deaths- both of whom died in hospitals after long term illnesses-I had my own perceptions about the linoleum floored halls and protocol, which I drew from liberally.  But there were large gaps in terms of the medical handling of having my protagonist, Jude, fall from a cliff and end up in a coma.  In order to reconstruct the accident and the resulting injuries, I had long discussions with a trauma surgeon.  The exactitude was important to me, not only as an author but also as a former journalist.  After all, I was asking a lot of my readers, in terms of taking a leap of faith when it came to accepting the seemingly highly implausible premise of the narrative coming from a coma patient.  Having an accurate and reliable description of detail, starting with her fall and proceeding through the time spent in the hospital was essential for several reasons.

First and foremost, it added much needed credibility. I didn't want to lose my readers, especially those who were sticklers for precise details. (I also didn't want to bore the snot out of them, so I edited these parts continually to streamline yet not gut them).

As a writer, I know how easy it is for someone to get derailed because something in the story doesn't smack real.  I also believe that with authenticy comes the stability of boundaries.  The reader can trust me because I am not just making up crap in my head and trying to slam it down their throat.  They can feel safe with my storyline because it is believable, it is real, and that's where the trust comes from. 

And in the end, I do believe we have a responsibility to maintain that trust with our readers, or run the risk of losing them for good.

Thank you Lenore for your guest post.

You can find out more about Lenore at http://www.LenoreSkomal.com

BLUFF is available from Amazon.com

Lenore is part of a book blog tour through

ORANGEBERRY BLOG TOURS.

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre – Mystery & Thriller / Technothriller

Rating – PG13 

(4.0 / 48 reviews)

Connect with Lars Guignard on Facebook & Twitter

Website http://www.larsguignard.com/

WARNING: “You will not be able to let it go until you read to the very last page.”

From Bestselling Amazon Author, Lars Guignard, comes the #1 turbo-charged, Techno-Spy Thriller, Lethal Circuit.



A Chinese satellite is on a crash course with Earth. It contains enough plutonium to irradiate a large city. 
And that’s the good news…

Michael Chase is a twenty-six year old backpacker, a recent college grad, an amateur. He flew to Hong Kong to find his missing father. Four hours later, he’s running for his life. The Chinese Secret Police want him dead. The Conspiracy wants him dead. And the one person who he thinks is on his side, may want him dead too. If Michael is going to live, he’ll need to find a hidden piece of Nazi technology lost since World War II. And he’ll have to do it before anyone else. Because if he doesn’t, a little plutonium is going to be the least of his problems.

Can Michael Chase team up with a beautiful but deadly MI6 agent to find a lethal piece of Nazi technology that will save the world?

If you can’t get enough of the action and suspense of Lee Child, the intrigue of Robert Ludlum, and the adventure of Clive Cussler and James Rollins, you are going to LOVE Lethal Circuit!

Praise for Lethal Circuit

*Watch for the soon-to-be-released explosive sequel to Lethal Circuit - Blown Circuit. The action is about to blow sky high!

**If you were looking for a chilling paranormal mystery try Lars’, Brood. It’s a wild and frightening ride deep into the Alaskan wilderness where fish are being bred for more than their meat.

***If you’re a kid or a kid at heart, try Lars’ children’s chapter book, Ghost Leopard. Join Zoe and Zak as they journey high into the Himalayas in a magical adrenaline fueled adventure to a place few have been, and even fewer have returned to tell about it.

About the author

Lars Guignard is a former television writer and graduate of both McGill University and the American Film Institute in Los Angeles. His work can be seen on television screens across the globe in such cult classics as Beastmaster and Big Wolf on Campus. His bestselling novel, Lethal Circuit, has been a TOP 100 Amazon Technothriller since its release.

Lars’s work has also been produced for film and published in magazines. Ever since attending high school in the Indian Himalayas, Lars has been an avid backpacker and traveler. He now makes his home in the Pacific Northwest where he is busy completing the next Michael Chase thriller for release in 2012.

*SPECIAL OFFER*

From now till 31st December 2012, Lars Guignard is offering a 25% discount for a paperback copy of the following books.

GHOST LEOPARD 25% off

Coupon code is CQ3XXT28

Purchase link is https://www.createspace.com/3883138

LETHAL CIRCUIT 25% off

Coupon code is J5B45PUZ

Purchase link is https://www.createspace.com/3775071

Giveaway Details

- $50 Amazon.com gift card or cash via PayPal and 1 ebook copy of Lethal Circuit

- 2 ebook copies of Lethal Circuit

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Open to anyone who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent’s permission. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and emailed after which he / she will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

Today's featured author is S.M. Boyce
author of TREASON

YA Epic Fantasy

Title: Treason (Grimoire Trilogy #2)

Author: S. M. Boyce

/Date Published: 10/27/12

Ourea has always been a deadly place. The lichgates tying the hidden world to Earth keep its creatures at bay—for now.

Kara Magari ignited a war when she stumbled into Ourea and found the Grimoire: a powerful artifact filled with secrets. To protect the one person she has left, she strikes a deal that goes against everything she believes in. But things don’t go as planned. 

Braeden Drakonin can no longer run from who—and what—he is. He has to face the facts. He’s a prince. He’s a murderer. He’s a wanted man. And after a betrayal that leaves him heartbroken, he’s out for blood.

To survive, both Kara and Braeden must become the evil each has grown to hate.

This Virtual Book Tour will be from November 1 - November 24

My thoughts

This is book 2 of the Grimoire Trilogy.  

Even better than the first!

You have to read Lichgates or you'll be lost with Treason.

This is a long book, took me several days to complete, but I loved every minute of it!

S.M. Boyce has a great writing style. You can really see into the minds of the characters- even the bad guys!

The ending (no I'm not giving it away) is a bit of a surprise.  

You'll love Kara and Braedon, as well as the other others.

I look forward to book three.

*book was given by author for honest review.  We are part of the RABT .  This did not influence my review in any way.

About the author

S. M. Boyce writes fantasy and paranormal fiction. Boyce is a sarcastic twit, but she still has friends because some people seem to like that. She’s currently working on the YA epic fantasy series the Grimoire Trilogy. Lichgates, the first in the series, is already available. Treason (book 2) releases October 27. Feel free to connect with her online or check out her blog.

CONTACT

Website

Twitter: @theSMBoyce

Facebook

Goodreads Author Page

RABT is offering a giveaway of TREASON, please follow this link  https://sites.google.com/a/myaddictionisreading.com/fall-tours-2/s-m-boyce

purchase link

http://www.amazon.com/S.M.-Boyce/e/B005WL2N8O/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1


Guess what...we are not done.  We have a guest post by S.M. Boyce


Why Book Covers are So Important 

First off, thanks for having me! I’m here on my Treasonous Blog Tour to share a dreadful mistake I made early in my writing career. Learn from me.
Please.
Here’s the lesson: People judge books by their covers.

Yeah, that’s probably not really a surprise to you. But here’s something I didn’t know until a bit late in the game: the covers themselves sell books.

Sometimes, people will buy a book specifically because of the cover. There are entire Goodreads shelves and Listopia lists dedicated to beautiful covers.
While I haven’t bought a book just for the cover, I will admit that it’s pretty tempting when eBooks are only a few dollars.

But even if someone doesn’t buy a book for only the cover, the cover image is the first line of defense when it comes to sales. When a reader skims through dozens or even hundreds of books, only the most attractive will catch their eye. You don’t need science for that one. Eye-grabbing covers can trump even the most well-written back cover copy.

The bottom line is: authors must have great covers that both represent the book’s genre and catch potential readers’ eyes. It’s a hard mix.

When I first released my debut, Lichgates, I modeled the cover after a book of magic featured in the book called the Grimoire. The idea was people would finish the novel and then realize they were holding the Grimoire the whole time. Nifty, right? I thought so.

Problem is, the Grimoire itself wasn’t all that pretty. It’s a brown leather book with a four-leaf clover symbol engraved on the front. So while the idea was a neat one, I wasn’t thinking in terms of marketing or sales. A cover is meant to draw readers in, not spark a neat thought after they finish the book.

So I sat down with my husband and reworked the covers for the entire series. After some intense discussions, we’d redesigned them such that they were visually appealing and sparked a certain level of curiosity in those to whom we showed the designs. Check out the before and after below.


Before

After

So what do you think? Do you like the old one better, or the new? Neither? It’s okay. I can take it.

While we’re at it, what are some of the most beautiful covers you’ve ever seen? Have you ever bought a book just for the cover?


Boyce’s Books
Lichgates (Grimoire Trilogy #1)
Treason (Grimoire Trilogy #2)