Wednesday, February 28, 2018

"The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper" by Fiona Ingram


EXCERPT and GIVEAWAY
The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper
(The Chronicles of the Stone Book 3)
by Fiona Ingram

The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper (The Chronicles of the Stone Book 3) by Fiona Ingram

The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper is the third book in The Chronicles of the Stone series by Fiona Ingram. Also available: The Secret of the Sacred Scarab and The Search for the Stone of Excalibur (read my blog post).

The Secret of the Sacred Scarab by Fiona IngramThe Search for the Stone of Excalibur by Fiona Ingram


The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper is currently on tour with BeachBoundBooks Promotions. The tour stops here today for an excerpt and a giveaway. Please be sure to visit the other tour stops as well.


Description
A plane crash! Lost in the Mexican jungle! Will Adam, Justin, and Kim survive long enough to find the Third Stone of Power?
With only a young boy, Tukum, as their guide, the kids make their way through the dense and dangerous jungle to find the lost city of stone gods, where the Stone of Power might be located. River rafting on a crocodile-infested river and evading predators are just part of this hazardous task.
Of course, their old adversary Dr. Khalid is close behind as the kids press on. But he is not the worst of their problems. This time Adam will clash with a terrible enemy who adopts the persona of an evil Aztec god, Tezcatlipoca, and is keen to revive the ancient tradition of human sacrifice. Adam, Justin, and Tukum must play a dreadful ball game of life and death and maybe survive. Will they emerge alive from the jungle? Will Dr. Khalid find the third Stone of Power before they do?

Book Video


Excerpt
They squelched through the soggy undergrowth, following Tukum as he headed away from the river. Hours seemed to pass as they wound their way back into the hot, green, endless tunnel that was the jungle. Just trees, ferns, more trees and more ferns, more insects buzzing and hovering, more birds screeching and monkeys constantly screaming as they leaped from branch to branch. Adam grew tired of the racket. Who would have thought the jungle was so noisy?
One good thing about the disgusting dye they wore was that it kept the insects away, even after their dunking in the river. Adam swatted the air in front of his face to chase away the occasional gnat, but no mosquitos had attacked. Back home, the “mozzies,” as they called mosquitoes, seemed to go for Adam. Gran always said they must like the taste of his blood.
Perspiration beaded on his forehead and trickled down his face. His feet felt like lead, making his legs ache as he mechanically lifted each foot and plonked it down in front of the other. The scarab in his pocket knocked against his leg each time he moved. It also seemed to weigh a ton now, but just having it was reassuring. Sweat coated his body, and his tunic, still damp from being in the river, felt coarse and scratchy. He wasn’t alone. Even Justin appeared to be tiring, his usual bold stride slackening with every step. Adam could hear him panting. Kim stumbled along next to Adam, looking exhausted. Once, she almost fell. When he reached out to help her, Kim shook her head.
“I’m okay. I must keep up. I’ve got to do this by myself.”
Only Tukum maintained the grueling pace without any signs of fatigue. He sped ahead, a slim shadow dodging through the trees and undergrowth. At one point, Adam imagined that Tukum had disappeared altogether. Panic rose inside him and he almost threw up out of sheer terror—the terror of now being so far off any beaten track, with no hope of rescue. Then Tukum reappeared. Kim and Justin, plodding along with lowered heads, didn’t even notice he had been gone from view for those few moments. Tukum waved to them. Adam waved back and tried to move faster, but every step was agony. A cramp stabbed in his side and his lungs were on fire as each breath came with a huge, burning gasp.
[Want more? Click below to read a longer excerpt.]


Praise for the Book
“Ingram's story educates as it entertains ... Following the tradition of classic adventure writers such as H. Rider Haggard, Jules Verne and Robert Louis Stevenson, Ingram makes the varied locales in which she sets her stories come alive so fully and vibrantly. Seeing her three young heroes grow as they learn, explore and solve the succession of challenges, setbacks and puzzles that come their way in those far-flung locales is a grand experience indeed ... these books are illuminating entertainment for adventurers of all ages, including those fortunate adults who still thirst for adventure and the thrill of the undiscovered.” ~ Jack Magnus, author and Readers Favorite reviewer
“Fiona Ingram’s masterful writing conjures up the colours, sights, sounds and smells of the Mexican jungle, creating a wonderful backdrop to this story. The book is also filled with a wealth of Maya and Aztec history, myth and legend, making this a real educational experience, but one which is combined with a thrilling adventure that young readers will surely devour. As for me, I’m already anticipating book #4, eager to know where the quest will take me next!” ~ Clio
“I enjoyed catching up with this group of young adventurers. Non-stop action, danger around every turn, as well as the magic and mystery surrounding the ancient jungles and people of Mexico will be sure to keep readers turning pages. If you've missed Books 1 & 2, I highly recommend getting those also.” ~ Cheryl Carpinello
The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper by Fiona Ingram will be an excellent addition to any home library. I recommend it as a great reading material for any lovers of fantasy, young adults, and Mayan and Aztec history buffs, no matter their age. It is refreshing, good paced, has lovable characters and mean enemies.” ~ Anna del C. Dye
“As this is the third in a series, I expected to feel a little lost coming in. I haven't read the previous books, but Fiona does a good job of catching the reader up to speed on the basics so you don't feel lost at all. Overall, it's an imaginative story that is filled with the history and legends of South America. And while I don't know if all the stories are true, it's enough to make me wish they were.” ~ Karlie Lucas


About the Author
Fiona Ingram
I am a children’s author, but up until a few years ago, I was a journalist and editor. Something rather unexpected sparked my new career as an author - a family trip to Egypt with my mother and two young nephews. We had a great time and I thought I’d write them a short story as a different kind of souvenir ... Well, one book and a planned book series later, I had changed careers. I have now published Book 3 (The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper) in my MG adventure series Chronicles of the Stone, with many awards for the first book, The Secret of the Sacred Scarab, and a few for Book 2, The Search for the Stone of Excalibur, and one already for Book 3! I also teach online novel writing for aspiring authors and I find that very satisfying. Relaxation time finds me enjoying something creative or artistic, music, books, theatre or ballet. I love doing research for my book series. I love animals and have written two animal rescue stories. I have two adorable (naughty) little dogs called Chloe and Pumpkin, and a beautiful black cat called Bertie.

Giveaway
Enter the tour-wide giveaway for a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card or PayPal cash.

Links

"With This Click, I Thee Wed" by Bonnie R. Paulson


EXCERPT and GIVEAWAY
With This Click, I Thee Wed
(ClickandWed.com Series Book 1)
by Bonnie R. Paulson

With This Click, I Thee Wed (ClickandWed.com Series Book 1) by Bonnie R. Paulson

With This Click, I Thee Wed is the first book in the ClickandWed.com Series of standalone romances by Bonnie R. Paulson. This book blast and giveaway is brought to you by I Am A Reader.


Description
“Uh, oh, what did I do?”
A lonely divorcee…
A rancher who can lose everything …
One website that matches them for marriage …
They have to learn about the importance of decisions and family or lose their one shot at love.
Stuck in a town where everyone knows her and her ex-husband, Rachel is distinctly aware of who chose his side – everyone – and who chose her side – no one. Even her hairstylist won’t schedule her.
But when she finds herself alone with a bottle of chianti and the internet, Rachel stumbles upon Clickandwed.com. The survey is easy and clicking “I Do” seems to be the magic button she’s been searching for.
Before she can snap out of her decision, she finds herself packed and flying across the country to meet her new husband.
Would her new life be better or worse than the hell she left behind?

Excerpt
Logan didn’t come into bed until well after the moon had reached its apex in the sky. I watched it ride the curve above the snow from my spot on the bed. The door closed downstairs and the muffled tick told me he’d made it home.
With my back to him, I hadn’t seen what he’d looked like when he crawled into bed, but the distance between us stretched like a canyon. Where had he been? Why hadn’t he called to tell me he was okay? Why hadn’t he answered my worried text messages?
When I woke up the next morning, he hadn’t been in bed or at the table for breakfast. Instead, an egg sandwich waited for me at my seat. I warmed it in the microwave while worry cooled my excitement to have him home.
I approached him in the barn after I ate. At least I knew he was home at that point. Kicking the snow with my boots as I got closer to the doors, I rubbed my lips together and searched for him on the initial barn floor. When I found him, he was spreading straw on the ground of the chicken pen he’d fixed up for the winter.
“Good morning, how are you?” I didn’t want to act nervous, or upset, or even worried.
He was a grown man, we shared house. There was nothing more to it. We’d set up a wall and neither of us was going to cross it. Our goals had to be reached with both of us working toward success.
Logan turned toward me, dark shadows under his eyes from the lack of sleep. “I’m good, thanks. Just getting to cleaning up the makeshift coop.” His smile wasn’t complete, and I felt like he was hiding more than just chicken poop in that wheelbarrow at his side.
“You were out late last night, was everything okay?” I offered a smile with my hands deep in my pockets. He didn’t have to tell me. I didn’t expect too much from him, but part of me was hurt that he’d keep secrets from me.
[Want more? Click below to read a longer excerpt.]


Praise for the Book
“First, there is no cliffhanger!! That is important to me so I am assuming it is important to others as well. This is a very unusual story. it starts off with the heroine being recently divorced from her dirt bag, cheating, lying ex-husband. She has moved back home since she has nothing to show for the years of marriage – he got everything and she is depressed. She moved back in with the two people who should love her and support her no matter what. That is not the case. I have never seen two more hateful and unloving parents as these two. They belittle and do everything in their power to let her know she is nothing more than an embarrassment and a disappointment. It is very easy to hate these two.” ~ Gatorfan
“I will start by saying that I have not read a book by Bonnie R. Paulson that I did NOT like. I love the way she writes and I love the things she writes about. I find that when I read her books that I get pulled into them and can’t stop until I reach the ending.” ~ Sue Ann B
“Being afraid that happiness is something not for either of them, yet finding it. In the most delightful way makes this a fun read.” ~ Kindle Customer
“This is really a good book and Bonnie R. Paulson has a way with writing!” ~ Amazon Customer
“I loved this book. Bonnie R. Paulson is one of my favorite authors.” ~ Kindle Customer

About the Author
Bonnie R. Paulson
Real people, real loss, real love.
USA Today Bestselling author, Bonnie focuses on the emotional thrill of the romance, the discovery of self and the dynamic forces at play to both pull and push love growth. With six children and her own eternal romance at home, Bonnie lives her own dream every day. She’s spoiled with blessings and wants to share the joy of ever-after possibilities with others.
Whether it’s a happy-ever-after or a happy-for-now, the emotions will leave you story drunk for days, if not years. Feel good romances with sweet twists. Or is it Sweet romances with bold twists? You decide. You’ll be able to say where you were when you closed the book. Surviving all things real and coming out better on the other side.
Some of her favorite authors are Robyn Carr, Pamela Kelley, and Christine Kingsley!

Giveaway
Enter the blast-wide giveaway for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card or PayPal cash.


Links

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

"The Boat House" by Jana D. Barrett


EXCERPT and GIVEAWAY
The Boat House
by Jana D. Barrett

The Boat House by Jana D. Barrett

The Boat House by Jana D. Barrett is currently on tour with YA Bound Book Tours. The tour stops here today for an excerpt and a giveaway. Please be sure to visit the other tour stops as well.


Description
Genevieve Vandermere-Anderson lives in an elite world carefully crafted by her stepfather. While other girls her age revel in the freedom of their first summer break from college, Genevieve has no choice but to return to her childhood home in Hilton Head, South Carolina to play sidekick to her vindictive stepfather. Forbidden from social media and isolated from her peers, she returns home disheartened and oppressed by the actions of her past, governed by secrets.
Though she is fearful of the repercussions, Genevieve decides it is time to start making her own choices. She sneaks out of her fortified house to attend the annual beach bonfire. There she meets a handsome stranger and follows him to an abandoned boathouse hidden in low country marshes. Little does she know that this small act of rebellion will be the catalyst for unraveling the truth about her regretful past, and the layers of deception her stepfather has masterminded.
When she begins to investigate the boating accident that tragically killed her mother and two other people, she discovers that her stepfather's suspicious behavior and control tactics are all part of a greater agenda.


Book Video



Excerpt
Click below to read an excerpt.



Praise for the Book
The Boat House is a great story about unraveling a mystery and finding the courage to keep digging when the clues suggest a much bigger crime” ~ Miss Kris
“Beautifully written ... and hard to put down. Filled with fantastic twist, turns and just enough clues to get your mind racing with scenarios! Enjoyed the coastal Carolinas/Georgian backdrop, and the connections you feel between your characters.” ~ SML-NC
“I loved the characters and the setting. It actually made me think of my childhood summer vacation s spent with my best friend. Couldn't wait to finish The Boat House but sorry it ended. Great job Jana.” ~ Vickie B. Moore
“Awesome book, hope this author writes more!” ~ Donna
“This novel was an incredible novel. The characters, the way their stories intertwined, I couldn't put it down. I can't wait for her second novel to hopefully hear about why next for G.” ~ Joe L


About the Author
Jana D. Barrett
Jana was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina. An avid reader, she loves to travel, cook and try exotic foods. She is a self- proclaimed 'city girl' who fell in love with a country boy. Jana, her husband and their daughter live on a retired pasture, with a lovely farmland view. An animal lover she has Siberian Husky named Blizzard, a barn kitty named Winter and an impolite group of wild turkeys.



Giveaway
Enter the tour-wide giveaway for a chance to win a $20 Amazon gift card.



Links


Monday, February 26, 2018

"Daddy 3.0: A Comedy of Errors" by Rob Armstrong


ON SALE for $0.99
Daddy 3.0:
A Comedy of Errors
by Rob Armstrong

Daddy 3.0: A Comedy of Errors by Rob Armstrong

Rob Armstrong stops by today to share an excerpt from Daddy 3.0: A Comedy of Errors, which is ON SALE for only $0.99 (save $2.00) to 31 March. Don’t miss out!

Description
What a mess. This was not supposed to happen.
This isn’t where Nick Owen thought he would be by this point in life. He used to be a busy web programmer. Now he spends most of his energy trying to stop his three-year-old twins from playing in a dirty sand pit. Nick thinks of himself as Daddy 3.0, a stay-at-home-dad - but he just wasn’t programmed for this.
He must navigate a new world of jungle gyms and playdates while supporting his surgeon wife. He tries his best to be there for the twins, but he can’t stop making a mess of things. He’s just about nearing the end of his rope when the Swing Incident happens. The Swing Incident, spoken of in hushed tones around Nick’s New York City apartment building, has caused the resident queen bee, nicknamed “Supermom,” to declare him an enemy for life. No matter what Nick does to get back into Supermom’s good graces, he fails spectacularly.
Now Nick’s going to have to learn to fight fire with fire and become the best superparent on the block. This hilarious new book by Rob Armstrong chronicles one man’s journey into the world of modern fatherhood - one botched haircut, playground fight, and dirty diaper at a time.
Stay-at-home-dads have a new hero, of sorts.
2017 Independent Author Network Winner - Best Comedy/Satire Novel

Book Video


Excerpt
My attitude about most everything was lousy. This negativity placed me on the wrong side of Supermom. Supermom was everything I was not. She was a walking checklist of desirable qualities: tall, skinny, tan, blond, blue eyed, and attractive. She wore stylish clothes, hailed from a well-heeled family from Connecticut, was married to a rising-star orthopedic surgeon, had graduated from Harvard with a degree in English, was an avid skier and tennis player, was a great cook, and was fluent in French. Her five year plan, after her son and daughter, ages four and three, reached school age, was to start and run a charitable foundation directed toward issues of poverty among women in sub-Saharan Africa. Supermom was the rare person who required no more than four hours of sleep a night, and she was able to utilize the extra hours each day for things such as keeping up correspondence with a seemingly endless list of people who often visited her. She was also the type of stay-at-home parent who would actually do rainy-day activities with her kids, such as painting, clay sculpting, and messy glue projects with feathers and glitter. Before the park incident, I had been on cordial terms with her, placing her in the category of being otherworldly—like a two-dimensional superhero character, ready to take on the world and never requiring a potty break.
Supermom was slow in meeting us that day, but she did unfortunately come. It was late afternoon, and the twins were fighting over a broken sand scoop. I said several times, “Claire. Maude. Can you play nicely and share?” Unfortunately, three-year-olds have short memories. My patience ran thin. Around me were packed kids, moms, and nannies, all of us trapped in a hot asphalt park, not yet ready to return to our cramped Upper East Side apartments. At any point in time, at least one kid could be heard crying or screaming. I had nowhere else to take the girls that didn’t cost money. In Manhattan, circling the block cost five bucks. I had an hour to kill until Liz finished up at the hospital and we could go to our Friday dinner at Mandarin Deli. She had been working a boatload of hours since starting her surgical fellowship at the Hospital for Special Surgery on July 1. It was one of those days—a crab-apple day. The problem was that now most every day was a crab-apple day.
The novelty of being a stay-at-home dad had worn off. I was still looking for work but had few job leads. That day, I had received another rejection call from another second interview. While I was feeling sorry for myself, a grimy boy, maybe four, peed in the sandpit. I looked around for his keeper, but no one seemed to be with the kid. The kid pissed for about five seconds before other people started to notice. The sandpit cleared. “Whose kid is this?” I shouted. “He can’t do that here.”
Ignoring me, he finished his business. Suddenly, a grandmotherly woman pushed through the crowd that had formed and screamed at the kid in a language with many hard consonants. She tugged at his arm and dragged him away. Eventually, kids began to settle back into the sandpit, keeping clear of the area of drainage until it dried. I suggested to my girls that they move on to the jungle gym. I got no argument.
My friend Good Heart had finally gotten to the park with her daughter, Sammie. “Some kid just peed in the sand pit. Do you believe it?”
“Our pediatrician told us to avoid the sand boxes in the parks. Rats play in them at night,” Good Heart said. “Do you let your twins play in the sand?”
“Not now, I’m not.” Good Heart had a gap-tooth smile, which she hoped to rectify as soon as her husband completed his medical fellowship and they could afford cosmetic dental work.
I lost sight of Claire and Maude, as they blended into the swarm of kids on the jungle gym, despite having distinctive curly blond hair. No matter what I was doing in the park, I instinctively looked for the kids every thirty seconds. The thought of not knowing where the kids were scared me. Good Heart understood my need to chase after the kids. I was learning that it was rare to have a full conversation with another adult.
Maude and Claire were hidden beneath the jungle gym, arguing with a slightly older kid over a bike with training wheels. Maude was straddling it, demonstrating her imagined ownership of it. She pulled against the boy’s grip on the handle bar. Her loyal sister yelled, “Our bike.”
I said, “This bike doesn’t belong to you. You have to ask him for a turn if you want to ride it.”
Maude kept pulling on the bike. She was not going to yield. The little boy started to stutter-cry.
“Can they have a turn for a little bit, please?” I asked.
“It mine,” he wailed. Fearing a confrontation with my spunky little Maude, I bent down to speak to the boy, thinking he might be more reasonable than my own child. “My kids are younger than you and don’t understand what it means to share. Can you be a big boy and show them how sharing is done?”
As soon as I said it, I knew I had screwed up. I had failed to heed the prime directive of parenting: do not impose your parenting style on another person’s kid.
“That’s my son’s bike,” a woman yelled. “And don’t you lecture my boy.”
“Sorry.”
“I don’t want ‘sorry.’ Just get your kids away.”
“You don’t have to be nasty. Everybody knows that when you bring a toy to the park, you kinda of have to be willing to share it.”
Second mistake. Do not impose your parenting style on other parents.
[Want more? Click below to read a longer excerpt.]


Praise for the Book
“Hilarious Daddy 3.0 ... story about a computer geek turned stay at home dad ... the best part someone asks towards the end, my husband is the oldest version 1.0, where can I upgrade him cheap … wish the author would have given a link for the upgrade” ~ Mathangi Sri, India
“It did not take me long to read this book simply because, once started, I didn't want to stop reading. The only thing slowing me down were the tears in my eyes from laughing so much. The situational comedy was absolutely hilarious. I kept thinking, ‘I'd love to see this movie.’ The quality of the writing added to the reading pleasure. If this is the first book, I look forward to his second, third and more.” ~ Chuck Hossack, PA
“An appealing comedy delivers many laugh-out-loud moments for the reader who has dealt with a fractious toddler or attempted to cope as an outsider in any type of clique.” ~ Kirkus Reviews
“This book is great I could not put it down.” ~ Liza Bergmann
“You have to love a dad who is just doing his best to keep home and kids under control AND keep his wife happy.” ~ Lisa Borowski
“This was incredibly enjoyable and made me feel a bond with the author. This is a simple, quick read, that is thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining.” ~ Amazon Customer
“You will laugh out loud, as you can absolutely picture the scenes. Anyone who has kids, whether a dad or mom, will relate with these experiences and thoroughly enjoy the ride.” ~ Eric Budin
“This novel, rich with detail and wit, brings the characters to life. I feel like I know Nick Owen and his chaotic children. Armstrong brilliantly chronicles the evolution of a man and his relationships. A must read!” ~ Amazon Customer

About the Author
Rob Armstrong
Rob Armstrong mines comedy from his own life as a stay-at-home dad.
After graduating from the Wharton School of Business, he worked in communication finance, before taking an “early retirement” to look after his two daughters.
Armstrong lives with his wife and daughters in the Greater Philadelphia area. He has served as treasurer of the local PTA and as an elected member of the school board.

Links