Showing posts with label fantasy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fantasy. Show all posts

Thursday, January 11, 2018

Viewpoint - The Bachelor and Honesty

Happy Thursday, everyone! So, today, you're getting some randomness. Now and then, I'm going to throw these posts out there that talk about stuff. Stuff that's on my mind, that I've discussed with others and found interesting, and that I feel you might want to get into with me. Today is one of those days. Ready? Grab your coffee or tea, and let's get going!

I was watching The Bachelor (mine and the hub's guilty pleasure--oh, the drama!) the other night, and the hubs and I found ourselves, once again, amused by the women trying to do things to "stand out" among the crowd. They drive up in special cars or ride up on horses, wear costumes, bring gifts, and say crazy things. My husband and I find this rather hilarious. Of course, my brain started ticking, and I glanced over at him and said, "You know, if one of these girls really wanted to stand out, she'd forego the dress, extensions, false eyelashes, and makeup, and she'd show him what he'll really be looking at in a few years."

That got me thinking. Is the reason these relationships don't last unrealistic expectations that are set from day one?

What if those women wore their regular clothes and looked the way they looked when they're just bumming around the house? After all, that's what the man is going to see once the show is over.

Why not let them stay in the person's hometown and go on dates at local places? That's where they'll be going on dates once they're married.

Instead, these women put on their best faces, pretending to be something they're not, and jaunt all over the world on exciting adventures trying to win the heart of a guy they barely know.

I'm all about reality outside of books. I mean, you know what that person shows you in the few hours you get to spend with them. Some of the women leave without ever getting one-on-one time with the guy. How is that an opportunity?

While I love the drama and the crazy that happens on the show, I think we'd still get that, in a more raw form, if these ladies were just to all date the same guy with none of the glitz and glamor the show spends money and time on.

Once they leave, their hairdressers and makeup artists leave, too! Back to old Plain Jane.

Oh, and don't even get me started on the stuff they say (make up) to look better in the eyes of the guy. I mean, sit down and have a real conversation. Ask about him. Tell him about you. Don't lie. Lies in the beginning? What's the point? He'll find out eventually, and then what do they say? Oh, I didn't want to tell you that for fear of you judging me?

If someone can't accept you for exactly who you are, flaws and all, why would you want to be with them?

What a crappy romance story it would be if writers told it as the women doing anything to impress the guy!
Guy: "Oh, I can't be with you anymore because you own a dog, and I hate dogs."
Girl: "I can get rid of the dog!" Runs from the room crying because she loves that dog and doesn't want to get rid of it.
*Couple breaks up a year later because she gets tired of compromising.*

If it wouldn't work in real life, what in the world makes us think it'll work in the realm of reality TV?

I don't know about all of you, but I'd watch the show that put guys and girls in real situations with real time and honesty, with their actual selves, just to see what actually came of it.

What do you think? Does this drive you bananas, or do you think there's a reason ABC hasn't done a "real" reality TV Bachelor?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Saturday, April 9, 2016

Release Blitz - Superi: Revolution

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Release Blitz
Superi: Revolution
by Christina R. Williams & Clint Thurmon
Cover
Blurb
Anliac and Tristan’s fears become a reality when they are reclaimed by the tower. Through the transfusion of combined Superian blood, a second angeli is created, and now they are faced with an impossible task. Those in the tower will get their way, and in so doing, they will invite the very danger they’d hoped to ward against. While the heroes of Superi struggle to understand their own power, a Greek god will emerge from a gateway, and step onto Superian soil for the first time in thousands of years. While the threat of the gods looms over Superi, politics becomes an equal danger. With war on everyone’s breath, follow the Five as their new stations vault them into a position that could see them destroyed by either world. See them stand as one. Watch, as they spark a Revolution. Short over view: The Five didn't like the way things were done...so they changed it

Teaser1

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Other Books in the Superi Series



About The Authors
Christina R. Williams is a 35 year old Native American born in Claremore, Oklahoma. She lives in Southeast Texas, with her husband and three teenage kids. Co­author of the Superi series, she spends most of her time writing, but she is also an avid reader, and considers nature her muse.
 
Clint Joseph Thurman is a thirty one year old native Texan. He lives in Southeast Texas with his wife Crystal, and has an adopted daughter, four sons, and a second baby girl on the way. Clint works as the director of projects of high voltage construction. He enjoys an active lifestyle involving several forms of martial arts, as well as physical training and weight lifting. Highly ambitious, and extremely motivated, Clint has proven that one can have it all; a loving family, a great job, and the world of Superi placed between the covers of a book; making his dream a reality.
 
Author Links

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Friday, October 16, 2015

Book Review - Shadows on Snow

Happy Friday, good people of the blogosphere! Today, I have a book review for you all! Yay! I know you're excited. I'm still making my way through the list from 12 Days of Review Requests I compiled last year. First, I'll repost my list, and then we'll get on to the review. I have SO much to say about this book! Ready? Get your cup of Jo and a comfy chair, and let's get going!

The Release Club 1 - Misty Provencher - Review HERE
Dry Stories - Kate Baggot - Review HERE
Fragile Creatures - Kristina Circelli - Review HERE
8 Weeks - Bethany Lopez - Review HERE
Moonlight - David Rose - Review HERE
Refuge - Violet Haze - Review HERE
From the Wreckage - Michelle G. Miller - Review HERE
Shadows on Snow (A Flipped Fairy Tale) - Starla Hutchton -  Review Below

Currently reading: Bound by Duty - Stormy Smith - Amazon Kindle $2.99

The Tree of Everlasting Knowledge - Christine Nolfi - Amazon Kindle $0.99
Facade: A Vampire Love Story - R. M. Webb - Amazon Kindle $0.99
Siren - Jennifer Melzer - Amazon Kindle (Pre-order) $3.99 Grab a sample on Drive!
Queen of Someday - Sherry Ficklin - Amazon Kindle $5.99
At One's Beast - Rachel Barnard - Amazon Kindle $2.99
Unseen - Stephanie Erickson - Amazon Kindle $2.99
The Heart Thief - S. Lee Benedict - Amazon Kindle $4.99
Kindling Flames-Gathering Tinder - Julie Wetzel - Amazon Kindle FREE
Kinetic: Book One of the Kinetic Trilogy - C. M. Zimmer - Amazon Kindle $2.99
Destiny Finds Her - Miranda Lynn - Amazon Kindle $2.99
To Get Me to You - Kait Nolan - Amazon Kindle $2.99
The Lady of Souls - Jenn Gott - Amazon Kindle $4.99
Sticks and Stones - Shawn McGuire - Amazon Kindle $0.99
Good Luck With That Thing You're Doing: One Woman's Adventures in Dating, Plumbing and Other Full Contact Sports - Karen Yankosky - Amazon Kindle $2.99
Desprite Measures-The Caledonian Sprite - Deborah Jay - Amazon Kindle $2.99
The Last Guardian Rises - Rebecca Trogner - Amazon Kindle $0.99 

About the book up for review today:

Title: Shadows on Snow: A Flipped Fairy Tale
Author: Starla Huchton
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy/Fairy Tale
Length (print): 251 pages
Buy Link: Amazon Kindle $2.99

Blurb:
Once upon a time, a dark evil crept into my kingdom, stealing my loved ones and the happy life I knew. The world turned against me, and I swore to become stronger, to keep myself safe.

Once upon a time, there was a handsome prince, hair dark as ebony, skin as pure as the freshly driven snow, and I became the only one who stood between him and death.

Once upon a time, our stories intertwined, and now, healing my heart may be the only way to save us all from the evil that threatens to destroy what little we have left.

***Will not appear in review elsewhere. I freaking LOVE this cover. I'm so glad the author chose to take it in this direction and not put a hot prince on the front. Crazy good work. I'd like to see the Ws kerned a bit closer to the Os, but that's just being nit-picky, and who the hell has time for that?***

On to the review!

I picked up a copy of this book last year during my 12 Days of Review Requests event. Starla pitched the book to me, I downloaded a sample, and I got hooked. So, I ran out and bought it, and I've been waiting to dive in forever as I plowed through my TBR for the year. Ms. Huchton has gained a rabid fan. Anyway, now that you know how I came about it, let's get to the good stuff!

From a Reader's Perspective:
Ever have those titles that you can't stop thinking about/wondering what's going to happen next when you're not in the process of reading? Yeah, this was that book for me. I loved everything about the main character, Rae, and the prince. I'm not a fan of romance, but this book kept it on a real level. I could feel Rae's struggle with her past, and I watched as the prince was kind and gentle enough to help her move past it.

Pacing was bang on. I was never bored while reading.

Character development... Well, let me say you'll be rooting for the good guys and so, so angry with the bad guys. I loved Rae. Just loved her. I felt the spark of her duty and her damaged self so clearly through the pages. Leo was everything Snow White was in the original: Handsome, kind, and a whole lot naive. He was perfection. Secondary characters were there, and in your face, but they weren't overdeveloped to the point that I grew to care too much about what happened to them (this is a good thing).

World-building was beautiful. Author gave me just enough to let me see the scene and insert my own imaginings as to what things looked like. I never panned past a section (you know, those ones that bog you down in flower color and fabric type).

From an Editor's Perspective:
I only found two errors (TWO!). But I did highlight a line I found beautiful, which I'll share: "My strength allowed me to help others while giving me freedom to control my own destiny." How awesome is that?

Rating:
1 Star for hooking me from page one.
1 Star for giving me a heroine I could root for who was damaged but strong.
1 Star for pacing.
1 Star for a sweet fairy-tale that rang true with the original.
1 Star for editing.
Overall, 5 out of 5 stars. Recommended for fairy-tale fanatics (like me), or those who love a good story with lots of magic.

Have you read it? What did you think?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Tricia Zoeller - The Darkling Chronicles




Young Adult/New Adult series The Darkling Chronicles
Ebooks: Shadow Blues, Shadow Fire, and Shadow Thief
Paperback collection: The Darkling Chronicles, Shadows 1




Shadow Blues
The Darkling Chronicles #1
(Novella)

LOVE

At the age of four, Patrick Benjamin Solomon becomes Anka Rehmling’s human charge. By eight, he can SEE her. At thirteen, he breaks her heart, and by eighteen, she finds herself fighting for his life.

As a darkling shadowcaster, Anka casts shadows in the human world, harnessing some of the earth’s UV light to bring back to Montenai—a world full of darklings, nymphs, satyrs, phantoms, and dragon lords. Her job is crucial to preserving the vitality and balance in her town of Shadowland. However, Anka has trouble following the strict rules set by the Shadowland Council, a ruling body comprised of three dragon lords.

The lords’ decree states all shadowcasters will abide by the rules or face the penalty of harsh punishment, banishment, or death. Torn between her world and Ben's, Anka must choose to defy the Council or turn her back on love.




Shadow Blues
The Darkling Chronicles #1
Excerpt

My hand shook as I reached out and pushed the hair off Ben’s sweaty forehead. When he sat up suddenly, I took a step back. Could he see me? He looked around the room with cloudy eyes that passed right over me.
When he turned on the lamp, I flicked my fingers, casting a shadow on the wall of a bird flying. He gasped before looking around once more. Now, he knew something was here. 
After peeking in the corner, the closet, and under the armchair for where the shapes came from, he shrugged his shoulders. He used his hands to create a barking dog. I used my magic to create a meowing and hissing cat with fur standing on end. I barely stopped myself from snorting out loud from his goofy face as he scanned the room. He looked scared but excited.
Anka Rehmling, you are in big trouble. I’d just broken three shadowcaster rules. I tried not to think about it. Instead, I focused on my superhero, ninja, and dinosaur forms, complete with sound effects. Ben looked so happy, I told myself it would be okay just this once. He had been sick all day.
Each pull of my magic started in the pit of my stomach. The energy swirled out to my arms before releasing from my fingertips like thread. That’s how Dad explained it. Then, it snapped as it broke free and became the shadow on the wall or floor. It wasn’t a bad feeling, but felt normal, right.
When Ben grew tired, I watched him lie back in bed and drift off to sleep, a smile on his face. He had light hair with white skin that burned and freckled in the sun. My skin and hair were darker, like the shadows I cast.
In human years, we were both eight. However, shadowcasters, by nature, acted more mature than humans. Our world expected us to be responsible from a young age. The Shadowland Council had assigned Patrick Benjamin Solomon under my charge at the age of four. I cast shadows in his world and would for my lifetime, as long as my strength held. “That’s a lot of responsibility riding on your shoulders”—direct quote from Dad. I removed my hand from 
Ben’s arm as I thought about what I’d done.
Dad.
Shadowcaster rules flooded my head.
Cast true to form. Don’t talk. Don’t touch the human.
My heart pounded in my ears. I hadn’t cast true. My palms grew sticky. I’d created my own make-believe shadows. Technically, I hadn’t talked, just made sound effects. However, I’d touched him. This realization caused fear to spark in me like fire; then it burned out, and I was so tired. I couldn’t wait to go home.
My family shadowcasted for the Solomons. The Council assigned my dad to shadow Ben’s dad. My mom followed his mom. Bianca and I took shifts with Ben. I covered him by day; she watched him at night. Other shadowcasters rotated in if we needed a break.
As a shadowcaster, I didn’t go to school but trained with my dad. My grandparents, Nana and Pops, ran the household since Mom and Dad worked so much.
Ben’s sigh brought my attention back to him. He looked peaceful. Maybe his fever had broken. When Mrs. Solomon slipped into the room to check on him, my mother followed, casting her shadows. My mother was really tall—five-foot-ten. She wore a flowing dress of purple, the family color. Jeweled combs sparkled in a ring on her head, which was the darkling custom.
As I watched Mrs. Solomon worrying over Ben, I felt jealous. He had a normal life. Not every darkling had the ability to cast shadows, and so it was a privilege and honor to serve the Council. However, the other young darklings went to school and played during the day. Most of them would never journey to the human world, but they benefited from the power shadowcasters brought back to Shadowland.
My mother’s brown eyes found mine. I met them briefly before looking away. Had she heard my sound effects?
  
Shadow Fire
The Darkling Chronicles #2
(Novella)

COURAGE

As a darkling shadowcaster, Bianca Rehmling works under the three dragon lords of the Shadowland Council, casting shadows for her human charge on the earth’s plane and harnessing energy to bring back for the balance and wellbeing of her kind. She’s always been a law-abiding darkling, as opposed to her younger sister, Anka. When Anka broke shadowcasting rules over the summer, she suffered the wrath of the council, something Bianca never wants to witness again.

To protect her sister, Bianca harbors some dark secrets, ones that could cause the decline of Shadowland. When a deadly illness called Shadow Fever strikes the village, Bianca fears her own rule-breaking has caused a fatal imbalance in the world of Montenai. She hasn’t been doing her job, her duty, and the dragon lords suspect.

Family or duty? With loved ones suffering, and the dragon lords breathing down her neck, Bianca keeps her nymph friends close and her enemies…closer. When an unlikely ally offers to help, Bianca must decide whether to trust him or brave the heat alone. 




Shadow Fire
The Darkling Chronicles #2
Excerpt

Pops wore an orange shirt with white musical notes on it, which caused me to smile. I sat on a tall stool at the coffee bar and ordered a tea, while my short legs dangled in the air.
He gave me a puzzled look as he placed orange blossom tea in front of me.
“Just need something a bit lighter today,” I said. Darklings rarely drank tea unless they required some energy from the herbs.
Pops began to buff the nymph glass counter in the same spot. A muscle twitched in his cheek. We were all under some major strain.
“I’m reporting to the temp pool today.”
He stopped his work. “Are you sure you’re ready for that?” Bushy eyebrows raised, he didn’t blink.
“You know I should have reported days ago.”
“I don’t want you going anywhere near that Wishing Tree.” Pops leaned in and whispered, “Do you understand?”
“If I don’t report, Lord Akton will hang me from the ceiling.”
Pops flinched like I had hit him. His face blanched from a light brown to yellow.
“See? No choice.”
His lower jaw jutted forward, and I thought he might explode. He placed the rag down on the bar top and leaned on the glass, undoing the results of his previous hard work. After a long breath, his expression shifted to one less murderous. “Make sure to call first and set up an appointment with Lord Bulosk. He seems the sanest of the lot, which isn’t saying much.”
I nodded and covered his hand, hoping to be reassuring. I don’t think my hand shook, but my insides quivered like human Jell-O. I never understood the allure of that food.



Shadow Thief
The Darkling Chronicles #3
(Novella)

SURVIVAL

Natcha is a creature of fire, drawing in shadow to cloak herself from the dangers of the world. She has never known what she is or where she came from, but she knows her wings and claws make her different. The sea cliffs of Montenai are her home, the Aglatian Sea her playground, and the phantoms her family.

All her life, she has hidden in the Faunlier Mountains with her sister Nalene. Only the oath she swore as a child to a darkling father to watch over his son draws her toward the turmoil in Shadowland.

When unrest among the darklings, satyrs, nymphs, and dragon lords begins to bleed into her own life, Natcha wagers the welfare of one against the welfare of many. To protect all she holds dear, she must incur the wrath of Shadowland’s leaders and become… the Thief.





 Shadow Thief
Excerpt

My breath caught when we reached the river. Alexander Salva was not where I’d left him. 
The frogs croaked so loudly, I couldn’t hear myself think. Where did he go? His satchel lay crumpled on the bank.
Panic twisted the features of Zack’s face as he scanned the water. “Dad?” He paced the small opening between the trees. “Dad!” His voice cracked, and tears streamed down his cheeks. “What have you done?” he asked the river.
My vision is better than my hearing. I spotted movement twenty yards out and spread my wings. Mr. Salva’s eyes widened at my approach, the whites showing under the starlight. He could see me. Soaking wet, he trembled on a wide boulder. Sand and grit clung to his black beard.
“Demon,” he hissed.
“What?”
"You look like a fledgling. I guess that’s the sick way of the dark. It tries to confuse me with a young face.” He had been holding something down at his side but drew the object up in front of him. The heavy, steel longsword shook in Mr. Salva’s hand.
My cloaking was still on. I knew by the soft whisper it made in my ears. Why could Mr. Salva suddenly see me? I stood still. Nalene had told me my shimmering wings were pretty, not symbols of evil. Why did he think I was a demon? My heart raced in my chest. I didn’t know what to do with an armed, drunk darkling who was apparently scared of me.
“I’m just a hatchling. You look like you need help.” My eyes darted back and forth from him to the immense sword with beautiful etchings of stars running up and down its blade. Where did he get it? I didn’t remember him carrying anything when he spoke to Lord Akton. He had the satchel when he left the pub.
“I don’t need your kind of help! The tree told me what I needed to do. I’ve lost everything because of this sword, and I will not let you or the demons within this vessel destroy my family or Shadowland.”
The Wishing Tree talked to him? Why hadn’t he confided in the lords? “What did the tree say?” My voice trembled.
Maneuvering the sword’s tip much closer to my face, he tilted his head.
I put my hands up. “Mr. Salva, could you please lower that away from me. I like my face the way it is.”

His jaw dropped. “A demon who knows my name? I’m more cursed than I ever imagined.”


PURCHASE LINKS:


Cover Reveal for the Part 2 of the series
Ebooks: Shadow Ice and Shadow King
Paperback collection: The Darkling Chronicles, Shadows 2


 Shadow Ice
The Darkling Chronicles #4
(Novella)

SACRIFICE

So much pain to bear for something new to come.

Despite a rocky start in life, Nalene has survived twenty years in the sea cliffs of the Aglatian Sea. She struggles daily to master her water energy rather than succumb to it. An icy constitution has forced her to rely on her sister for care, protection, and guidance.

But the tides are turning and powers shifting in Montenai. Once a sickly creature with no purpose, Nalene emerges a strong, willful guardian. This reclusive orphan has everyone’s attention, including a new seer who predicts “only one can survive” the battle to come.

Challenged by dragon lords, championed by outcasts, Nalene meets strife at every turn. As a crisis of faith wages within her, she forges ahead because she won’t give up on hope. What is she willing to sacrifice to fulfill her destiny?

    
Shadow King
The Darkling Chronicles #5
(Novella)

HOME

A family tragedy at the age of twelve thrusts Serena into the world of shadowcasting. She relishes the dragon lords’ protection and training but loves her new job and human charge even more.

Because of her great-great-grandfather’s alliance with a vicious nymph queen, Serena finds other Montenaians refuse to trust or accept her. It doesn’t help that she has the same birthmark and orange spark in her eyes as the relative who brought shame to the Brisson name.

Stepping through the portal to Paris allows Serena to escape her family’s reputation as well as her mother’s harsh traditions. Every day Serena pushes to be “worthy of the dragon,” regardless of her brother warning her the path leads to horrible loss.

For years, the lore of dragon and astrei has molded the practices and beliefs of Montenaians. No one has felt this more than the phantom, Serena. This Drifter’s history is the key to Shadowland’s fate. Can she protect them from a dangerous future and still find her way home?

AUTHOR BIO:
 
Tricia Zoeller writes fantasy stories filled with mystery, magic, and mayhem. After a decade of working as a speech-language pathologist, she succumbed to the voices in her head and wrote her first book, urban fantasy FIRST BORN, published in May 2013. FIRST BORN is a paranormal mystery about a shapeshifter in Atlanta. It is the first book in the Lily Moore Series.

THE DARKLING CHRONICLES is her young adult series that delves into alternate planes, portals, and mystical creatures.

She lives in Marietta, Georgia with her husband, Lou, her little yappy dog, Lola Belle, and her big orange mutant cat, George. Her two stepsons, Joseph and Robert, make stopovers as well, making sure to keep life an adventure.

Writing has always been a part of her life—like breathing and chocolate. For more information about Tricia and her books, visit:

www.triciazoeller.com
Facebook: Tricia Zoeller, Author
Twitter: @tzoellerwriter


AUTHOR MEDIA LINKS:
http://on.fb.me/1BtBJl4




a Rafflecopter giveaway

What do you think? Is it awesome or what?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo 

Saturday, March 14, 2015

Cover Reveal - Always Remembered

ALWAYS REMEMBERED

(The final Never Forgotten Novel.)

The third and final installment of the Never Forgotten Series by Kelly Risser will release in digital format on May 19, 2015. We have the official cover reveal here for you. Don't forget to flip over to the book page to pre-order your copy today.

Ebook - Always RememberedALWAYS REMEMBERED:

One clue… what does it mean?
Ken, the leader of the Blue Men of the Minch, has kidnapped Evan. Before they left, Evan was able to leave a package for Meara—her grandfather’s necklace wrapped in a cloth napkin with one word written in blood. Azuria. Unfortunately, Meara doesn’t understand it and neither does her dad or Kieran.
When Dad and Aunt Brigid attempt to rescue Evan, Meara and Kieran begin to train the clan on how to fight and defend their home. A war is brewing, and Meara is determined their people must prepare for the battle. The training sessions are long and arduous, but the Selkies work hard to learn.
Meanwhile, Evan wakes and finds himself in Belle Tresor, the home of sirens. He’s bound to his blue form, unable to transform to human, and Ken has plans to use Evan’s powers to destroy the Selkies. Thankfully, he’s not alone. He befriends a siren named Deanna and several Blue Men. Can he trust them to help him escape or do they have ulterior motives?
As both sides prepare for an ultimate confrontation, the stakes are high and friendships are tested. Some will rise to be victorious. Some will be destroyed. But love and loyalty will be always remembered in this exciting conclusion to the Never Forgotten series.

Pre-Order Your Copy Today Here.


Never-2BForgotten-2B1
ebook-2B-2BCurrent-2BImpressions
If you haven't started reading this series, we recommend you read the first novel today because it's amazing and it's free! Check out Never Forgotten by Kelly Risser.

What do you think? Are you gonna check it out? You should!!

If you recall, Kelly is one of the authors of Fractured Glass. What's better than a free read by an author you already love?

Go get it!

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Monday, February 16, 2015

Featured Author - Kristina Circelli - Publication Spotlight

Howdy, everyone! Today I have an amazing roundup of novels for you by my featured author, Kristina Circelli. If you missed the interview, it's a must read, check it out here. So sit back, relax, grab a cup of Jo, and let's get going!

Title: Beyond The Western Sun (The Whisper Legacy Book 1)
Genre: Native American Fiction
Length (print): 290 pages
Amazon Link: FREE

Synopsis:
A gripping journey into the heart of Native American legend, Beyond the Western Sun follows the epic struggle of Whisper, a young female Cherokee apprentice, on a harrowing adventure into the Land of the Dead to save the captive son of Ian Diavya. Together they face insurmountable odds, conquer terrible demons, and in the process, find a strength and courage within themselves neither knew possible. What they don’t know is that these early adventures are only tests, for to save Ian’s son, they must also stop the evil-minded Raven-Eater from unleashing his Army of the Dead to destroy the living world. To do that, it will take courage, humility, and extraordinary self-sacrifice.

An epic saga of hope, redemption, and undying love, Beyond the Western Sun is what all fantasy adventures must strive to be: a complex, intricate examination of human emotion set within the context of worlds known only in our imagination. And in this regard, Beyond the Western Sun is a stunning achievement. Melding fantasy and legend in an epic quest, the third novel of her young career signals the arrival of Kristina Circelli as a master storyteller. Creating the indelible character of Whisper, vividly portraying the worlds that she and Ian must traverse to accomplish their goal, and capturing their human frailties, hopes and fears with depth and touching sincerity, Ms. Circelli reminds us with stunning precision the greatness we are all capable of, and the heavy price our actions can rend.

Title: Walk the Red Road (The Whisper Legacy Book 2)
Genre: Native American Fiction
Length (print): 301 pages
Amazon Link$2.99

Synopsis:
Deep in the heart of the Land of the Dead, the half-breed struggles to be free.

Eighteen years have passed since she destroyed the Raven-Eater and took her place as the rightful heir of the Fire Tower. Now, Whisper must face her most treacherous enemy yet in Walk the Red Road. Book Two of The Whisper Legacy takes readers on a deep exploration into spirit realms on the brink of self-destruction, where betrayal and death lurk around every shadow.

Guided by Kamama and protected by Hunting Hawk, Whisper embarks on a journey of discovery that will show her the way to the Red Road, and to the child who threatens to end her reign. But when Smoke Speaker breaks his sacred vow and the Great Spirit steals from Whisper what is rightfully hers, she must decide which bloodline she will follow-the gentle heart of her mother, or the spiteful vengeance that once drove the Raven-Eater.

Continuing the realm-crossing saga of Beyond the Western Sun, Walk the Red Road spirals into a journey to the Self, revealing the pains of betrayal and the struggle to accept both halves of one's soul in order to become whole. This sequel by accomplished author Kristina Circelli exposes the deepest, darkest parts of her extraordinary characters while reminding us all of the delicate balance between faith, love, and legacy.

Title: Into the Shadow Realm (The Whisper Legacy Book 3)
Genre: Native American Fiction
Length (print): 251 pages
Amazon Link: $2.99

Synopsis:
Destiny. Adventure. Redemption. Legend.

She destroyed the Raven-Eater and declared war on the Great Spirit. Now, Whisper must embrace her dark destiny yet again, traveling deep into the shadow world to right the wrongs committed by her own hand. In a place where strength and hope do not exist, her every power and belief will be tested, reminding her of the lover she left behind – and the child she abandoned.

In her absence, her enemies thrive. Sun Woman seeks revenge on the living realm. Creator's servant seeks to destroy the heir to the Land of the Dead. And the third rises from the dead while luring Whisper closer to her own destruction.

Into the Shadow Realm takes readers on Whisper’s final quest through the shadows to reveal her path – and the sacrifices she must make to save the ones she loves. In Book Three of The Whisper Legacy, author Kristina Circelli weaves figures of Whisper’s past into stories that tell her future, completing her journey of warfare, power, and self-discovery.           

Title: The Never
Genre: Fantasy
Length (print): 278 pages
Amazon Link$2.99

Synopsis:
*Due to mature content, The Never is recommended for readers ages 18+*

“Out of nothing, we create something.”

Arianna has spent her entire life being called a dreamer, an artist who created a world no one else can see. And for her entire life, she has taken the medication that keeps that world – and the one who brought her there – at bay.

Now an adult, Arianna reawakens that part of herself kept locked away in the darkest corners of her mind. When she hides her medicine from her fiancé’s ever-watchful eye, he returns – the shadow in the night who collects her for an adventure known only in her fantasies.

But something is different about this world called The Never. It is no longer the cheerful place filled with light and laughter that she knew as a child. Now, the sea creatures drag their visitors into the depths of murky waters. The natives battle to the death against the tribe of children. And the pirates, led by the feared captain called The Hunter, seek out Arianna for their own sinister plans.

As Arianna goes deeper into The Never, she discovers just what her connection to the land means – and must choose between her life rooted in reality, and the world where anything is possible.

Title: The Helping Hands (Helping Hands #1)
Genre: Action and Adventure
Length (print): 236 pages
Amazon Link$3.95

Synopsis:
The kidnappings of seventy-one children began the legend, but five friends with troubled pasts and courageous futures created it. Melanie O’Conner and her friends earned their reputation as rough and tough gang members, but the Hell Hounds were a mere front to their true operation. Fueled by the pain of a past filled with foster homes and cold-hearted guardians, Melanie lives with a deep, undying devotion to saving the lives of children who are victim to child abuse. Bringing them to a secluded island called the Treehouse, Melanie and her gang feeds, schools, and cares for them all, leaving the parents nothing more than a message claiming that their child has been taken. Now, four years into the project dubbed the Helping Hands by the five members of the cover-up gang the Hell Hounds, Melanie has to fight to keep the nosy, self-interested reporter Stephanie Mathews from exposing the truth being her project. And Melanie is willing to do anything to save the lives of innocent children from their abusive parents, even if that means risking her own.

Title: Shadows in the Night (Helping Hands #2)
Genre: Action and Adventure
Length (print): 254 pages
Amazon Link: $3.95
Synopsis:
Melanie O’Conner is being released back into society after her arrest seven years ago. Fighting to keep hold over new Helping Hand gangs across the country, she struggles to find the balance between her past and “normal” life. But transitioning into that new, normal life doesn’t come easily. Her friends have gangs of their own, past acquaintances have moved on, and now someone is after her, vowing to kill those she loves so she can watch them die… Melanie is forced to watch the Helping Hands run into traps, thwarted by abusive parents and thugs wanting money, until they lose sight of what O’Connor has taught them. When Tyler turns away from her, a close friend is murdered, and the Helping Hands are threatened by shadows lurking in the night, Melanie must make a decision - give up her project and save her friends, or embrace her past, and fight to the death.


Title: The Iron Fist (Helping Hands #3)
Genre: Action and Adventure
Length (print): 259 pages
Amazon Link: $3.95 

Synopsis:
When one of their own was murdered, everyone feared it would be the end to the Helping Hands. But as they are now learning, the real difficulty lies not in mourning the loss of a friend, but in protecting the project that took his life.

Kelly Mitchell is dedicated to just one thing - protecting her little sister from their stepfather’s wrath. When her family moves to San Francisco, she struggles to keep her home life a secret, avoiding the charms of her neighbor, Robbie Anderson. But when her stepfather sets her up and sends her to a juvenile detention camp, Kelly will attain her own protection in the service of Melanie O’Conner.

Forcing herself back into society as a reformed rebel, Melanie finds herself surrounded by a life filled with friends, security, and family. But the illusion of a life without disaster is shattered upon the discovery of a new, unplanned gang of Helping Hands, and two cops threatening to put her back in prison.

When faced with the copycat gang that brings the FBI to her front door, when Kelly and her sister plead for an escape from the iron fist of their abusive stepfather, when Tyler lands in the hospital and faces death, Melanie must decide which is more important - having a normal life away from the burdens of her past, or protecting the project that granted her that life.

Whatever choice she makes, someone must suffer the consequences.

Title: Abandon (Helping Hands #4)
Genre: Action and Adventure
Length (print): 307 pages
Amazon Link$3.95

Synopsis:
Melanie O Conner is no stranger to having enemies. But after fifteen years heading the clandestine Helping Hands project, she will soon learn that those enemies come in many forms, including ones she never would have suspected.

Her enemies’ current goal: destroy The Helping Hands and everything they stand for. And so, Project: Abandon is launched. Children are killed just as her Helping Hands gangs prepare to save them. Someone attacks Melanie during a visit to her hometown. And when she thought it couldn’t get any worse, the ones she loves most are kidnapped or even murdered.

Now, Melanie must rely on her strengths, street smarts, and courage to face her tormentors before they tear down the framework she worked so hard to build - and before they take her family away from her one by one. It is up to her to save those still alive - or die trying.



Title: The Sour Orange Derby
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Coming-of-age
Length (print): 210 pages
Amazon Link: $2.99 

Synopsis:
One lone tree is all that remains of the cherished Standridge family orange groves, a legacy that goes back as far as the Civil War. But for young Colly Standridge, that solitary tree is at the center of a magical world.

Inspired by real people, The Sour Orange Derby follows the lives of Colly, who dreams of becoming a professional baseball player, and K.B. Standridge, an imaginative old man who spends his days creating stories for his grandchildren to enjoy while searching for a new family legacy – and finds it in his last beloved orange tree.

A story about love and healing steeped in southern traditions, The Sour Orange Derby is a tale of one family joining together to celebrate life and history, and how their last remaining orange tree holds them all together when the young boy’s fight with cancer threatens to tear them apart.

Kristina Circelli, accomplished author of The Helping Hands and The Whisper Legacy series, is proud to take readers on a literary journey into her childhood, offering a glimpse of the magical worlds and imaginative stories created by her beloved grandfather.

Title: A Single Swim
Genre: Non-Fiction/Environmental Science
Length (print): 110 pages
Amazon Link: $1.99 

Synopsis:
On August 13th, 2011, sixteen-year-old Courtney Nash passed away after contracting Naegleria fowleri, a brain-eating amoeba that lurks in warm waters. This is her story.

A Single Swim follows Courtney's life and death, while taking a closer look into an amoebic infection very few people ever hear about - until it's too late. Tracing as far back as 1960s, Naegleria fowleri and the resulting infection of this parasite have taken more than a dozen lives, with a fatality rate of nearly 100%.

Through an examination of Courtney's case along with stories of other victims across the United States, A Single Swim offers a glimpse into our waters' rare silent killer. From ecology to symptoms, hospital care to awareness, find out what can happen ... after a single swim.

Title: Fade into the Woodwork
Genre: Contemporary Suspence
Length (print): 168 pages
Amazon Link: $1.99 

Synopsis:
Abducted in broad daylight, locked away in a basement cage, starved for food and light - how would you escape your prison?

Valentina Murdoch finds herself asking that same question after she is attacked and kidnapped one ordinary morning. Brought to a secluded hideaway in the middle of the woods to await her fate at the hands of "the boss," she has but days to survive.

Utilizing her love of action movies to create a plan, Valentina plots her escape while battling a crippling fear of the dark - for the dark is where her childhood nightmare lurks, waiting for her one moment of weakness. But as the clock winds down and her husband's search for her threatens his own life, Valentina realizes that her true fight lies within herself.

Will she have the strength to survive, or will the dark - and all the figures that haunt it - finally win?

Title: Damsel Not
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Length (print): 225 pages
Amazon Link: $2.95 

Synopsis:
In the days of old, one knight fought to save the maiden he loved – a battle that ended in a bloody promise for the future.

In the days of the 21st Century, Izz doesn’t believe in prophecies. A recent widow, she struggles to find the passion that once fueled her life – a passion that is reignited the day a knight in disguise cuts into her life in a flash of swordplay and seductive grins.

Izz doesn’t want to love him. The guilt of moving on nearly crushes her, yet she finds herself unable to resist the touch, the feel, the scent of the man who leaves her breathless with just one look. But each day Izz finds herself drawn to Cade, the more danger she finds herself in, for someone believes Izz to be at the center of an ages-old prophecy – and will do anything to stop it.

When threatening messages turn even more dangerous, Izz must rediscover a part of herself she’s never known before and fight to save her knight in shining armor. With only a sword passed down throughout the generations to guide her, Izz must prove to her adversary that unlike maidens of old, she will never be a damsel in distress.

Title: Fragile Creatures
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Length (print): 274 pages
Amazon Link: $2.99 

Synopsis:
Seventeen-year-old Evangeline Frost had a great life, until the car accident that killed her father and turned her mother into a bitter alcoholic. Unable to bear the guilt, Evangeline attempts to take her own life, saved only by the memory of her beloved father.

Left with no other options, Evangeline is enrolled in a program for troubled teens at Kindred Hides Wildlife Preserve. There she meets Caster, a keeper as annoying as he is caring; Jett and Lettie, who treat her more like a daughter than troubled teen; and Ruke, a prized giraffe in mourning for his lost mate.

Immersed in the preserve with her new friends, Evangeline finally begins to heal. But the haunting memories of the accident and her mother’s unforgiving words threaten to destroy her progress. Only her new friends and their unconditional support, along with her own special connection with Ruke, can save her.

Evangeline must learn that there is redemption for her father’s death, and that the bonds between human, animal, and life are not as fragile as she once thought.

Title: Dungeon: a short story by Kristina Circelli
Genre: Contemporary short story
Length (print): 40 pages
Amazon Link: $0.99

Synopsis:
Locked away from civilization. Starved for a freedom yet to come. Lost in the world they created for themselves.

They were friends once, before they were prisoners. Then they were allies, dependent on one another for daily survival. When they escaped, if they escaped, more than just that bond built on desperation, loneliness, and familiarity would be tested.

Their existence - one small, cramped room with a cracked table in its center. Their reality - secrets and lies and a struggle to balance the present with the past.

They were the four. They were the prisoners of the Dungeon.


How's that for one hell of a bibliography? Which ones look most interesting to you?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo