Wizard for Hire: Apprentice Needed by Obert Skye -- blog tour

Wizard for Hire: Apprentice Needed

Author: Obert Skye

Publisher: Shadow Mountain

Published: April 2019

ISBN13: 9781629725291

Hardcover/ebook: 416 pages

FTC FYI: I received an ARC from the publisher, all views and opinions expressed are my own.

Goodreads Summary

Ozzy Toffy’s adventure, which began in Wizard for Hire, continues when one dark and windy night, he gets out of bed, jumps out his window, and walks straight into the ocean.

More than ever, Ozzy could really use the services of Rin, the wizard he hired to help find his parents — but Rin is missing, despite Ozzy’s continual attempts to contact him. And Clark, the mechanical bird his father left him, is as peculiar and vain as ever.

When a mysterious package arrives, Ozzy and his good friend Sigi are sure that the plane ticket and thumb drive they find inside are from Rin. Trying to get Clark through security at the airport proves complicated — as most things are with Clark. But when they arrive in New York, they discover there’s even more adventure in store for them.

Will Rin return and save the day? Will Ozzy figure out why he keeps walking into the ocean? Can Sigi find a way to trust her delinquent father? Will someone please appreciate Clark the way he’d like to be appreciated? For once?

Wizard for Hire: Apprentice Needed is a story filled with humor and excitement that shows us the magic in everyday things. 

My review

I really enjoyed this sequel. I liked just as much, if not more, than the first one. Obert Skye's writing is unique and very styled. I like the way he interprets humor in his books too. This book is such a fun adventure. I really loved it.

5 out of 5 stars.

Purchase links

Amazon e-book / Amazon hardcover / Deseret Book

Author links

Goodreads / Amazon author page

The Spitting Post by Jason R Barden -- book blitz

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Book Blitz for

The Spitting Post

By Jason R. Barden

The Spitting Post
By Jason R. Barden
Dark Fantasy
Paperback & ebook, 220 Pages
December 8th 2017 by The Wild Rose Press

Vincent Carpenter’s life is a wreck. He has given up his dreams. He has lost his job after an economic disaster. His ten-year marriage is crumbling. Then he awakens in a maniacal land of frighteningly vivid realism with skull trees, glowing forests, ravenous beasts, and other psychologically haunting adversity.

While traveling through this demented unearthly world, he has a chance encounter with a beautiful maiden dressed in green; before he can start a conversation, she disappears into the unknown. Vincent must try to find her at a fantastical place known as the Spitting Post. But first he must overcome many macabre misfortunes and face nightmares that question his sanity. Will he reach her? What will the Spitting Post reveal? Will he suffer more disappointment and tragedy? Or will he find peace at last?

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Excerpt

I was lost in thought when again I heard the violin’s call. It was close this time—too close. I stopped and surveyed the land with terrified eyes, growing more anxious with each passing note. The ambient tune working itself into a manic frenzy. Can’t they shut up? With that racket the beast would find us, and I knew what would happen when it did. There would be no more violin playing for that musician, and I would never find The Green Maiden.

I scanned the countryside for the insane violinist and spotted him on a small hill just to my right. When I saw his ghastly appearance, I almost wished I hadn’t found him. He was a stout man dressed in total blackness with a red violin resting against his shoulder. His skin was a brilliant white, as white as a bed sheet. On his head was a black top hat, and he wore a twisted grin on his porcelain face.

“What are you doing?” I yelled. “It will hear us!”

The man said nothing and kept playing his maddening melody.

“Are you crazy?”

The man opened his mouth wide and without moving his lips, he said, “Precisely.”

Then he began to cry tears of blood, yet still he played. The blood rolled down his face and pooled on the grass. Then I came to a grotesque realization. He was not playing for amusement; he was calling the beast.

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About the Author

Jason R. Barden began writing poetry around the age of thirteen. At age thirty-three, he transitioned into dark fantasy and horror fiction. His first novel The Spitting Post is available at Amazon and other online retailers. In addition to writing, he enjoys hiking and photography.

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Blitz Giveaway

1 winner will receive a $10 Amazon eGift Card

Ends April 21, 2019

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Miss Adeline's Match -- blog tour/giveaway

Miss Adeline's Match

Author: Joanna Barker

Publisher: Covenant

Published: April 1st, 2019

ISBN13: 9781524408800

Paperback/e-book: 263 pages

FTC FYI: I received a copy from the publisher. All views and opinions expressed are my own.

Goodreads Summary

Miss Adeline Hayes is the perfect lady's companion: pleasant, conversational, and unceasingly proper. But when her closest friend, Charity Edgeworth, breaks off her arranged marriage without explanation, even Adeline's superior skills are put to the test. Charity's father banishes the two young women to the country, sending Adeline with a charge to find Charity a husband or suffer dire consequences.

As Adeline takes on the role of reluctant matchmaker, she discovers more than one obstacle in her path. Not only does Charity prefer escaping in books to socializing, but Adeline soon finds her own attentions distracted by the standoffish—and irritatingly handsome—Mr. Evan Whitfield. Amidst an eventful foxhunt and the unexpected arrival of Charity's former betrothed, Adeline simply doesn't have time for a battle of wits with Evan. But the two are continually drawn together until Adeline begins to question her tightly guarded convictions about love and marriage. 

However, when secrets are revealed and truths made known, Adeline must face her most fearsome obstacle yet: herself. 

My review

First of all, this cover is amazing! It really sets the tone for this book. I absolutely loved this book. It is enjoyable from start to finish. The setting is fabulous too. The authors plants intriguing seeds that kept me reading and reading (without giving away everything at once.) Adeline is a wonderful character, who plays her part of lady's companion, almost too well. I love the progressive way Adeline and Evan's relationship was written. This book is full of charm and hope. 

5 out of 5 stars. 

Purchase links

Amazon e-book / Amazon paperback / Deseret Book / Seagull Book

Author links

Amazon author page / Website / Facebook author page

Tour schedule

*April1^st: http://mybookaday.blogspotcom/, https://brightlystreet.com/, https://www.rockinbookreviews.com/,

*April 2^nd: http://empowermoms.net/, http://lifeiswhatitscalled.blogspot.com/, https://www.lovebugsandpostcards.com/

*April 3^rd: http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com/, http://booksaresanity.blogspot.com/, http://melsshelves.blogspot.com/

*April 4^th: http://heidi-reads.blogspot.com/, http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/, https://ldsandlovinit.blogspot.com/ , https://www.singinglibrarianbooks.com/ ,http://katiescleanbookcollection.blogspot.com/

*April 5^th: https://www.wishfulendings.com/, http://www.kindleandme.com/, http://bonnieharris.blogspot.com/, http://sweetlymadejustforyou.com/ ,http://minreadsandreviews.blogspot.com/, http://literarytimeout.blogspot.com/

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A Monster Like Me by Wendy Swore -- blog tour

A Monster Like Me

Author: Wendy Swore

Publisher: Shadow Mountain

Published: March 5, 2019

ISBN13: 9781629725550

Hardcover/e-book: 304 pages

FTC FYI: I received an ARC from the publisher. All views and opinions expressed are my own.

Goodreads Summary

There are trolls, goblins, and witches. Which kind of monster is Sophie?

Sophie is a monster expert. Thanks to her Big Book of Monsters and her vivid imagination, Sophie can identify the monsters in her school and neighborhood. Clearly, the bullies are trolls and goblins. Her nice neighbor must be a good witch, and Sophie’s new best friend is obviously a fairy. But what about Sophie? She’s convinced she is definitely a monster because of the “monster mark” on her face. At least that’s what she calls it. The doctors call it a blood tumor. Sophie tries to hide it but it covers almost half her face. And if she’s a monster on the outside, then she must be a monster on the inside, too.

Being the new kid at school is hard. Being called a monster is even harder. Sophie knows that it’s only a matter of time before the other kids, the doctors, and even her mom figure it out. And then her mom will probably leave — just like her dad did.

Because who would want to live with a real monster?

Inspired by real events in the author’s life, A Monster Like Me teaches the importance of believing in oneself, accepting change, and the power of friendship.

My review

This is a very sweet book with a wonderful message. I loved the beginning of each chapter. Some of the entries, I felt, could be over a younger reader's head, but I enjoyed each one. I appreciated Sophie's enduring journey of self discovery. What she learned about herself and how she thought she was a "monster". Autumn, "the Witch", and Mom were wonderful, as was Kelsi. As much as I enjoyed the book, the ending where Sophia was "breaking her spell" brought tears to my eyes. It hurts my heart knowing how children and people are treated for their differences. I loved how this book was based on true events that the author experienced. This book has a wonderful message of courage, love, bravery, and believing in the magic that is in all of us. 

5 out of 5 stars.

Purchase links

Amazon e-book / Amazon hardcover / Deseret Book

Author links

Goodreads / Amazon author page / Website / Twitter

Author's Note

Sophie’s story is dear to my heart because I know how it feels to be bullied because I looked different from everyone else. When I was a child, I had a hemangioma on my forehead that stuck out so far my bangs couldn’t cover it, no matter how hard my mother tried. Because the tumor was made up of blood vessels, I could feel my heart beating inside it when I was playing hard or really upset.

The incident at the grocery store where the hydra lady says, “Hey, look kids! That girl doesn’t need a Halloween costume. She’s already got one!” is an exact quote of what a woman once said to my mother and me. Another woman told a classroom full of kids that I had the mark of the devil. Kids asked if it was a goose bump, or hamburger, or if my brains had leaked out. My dad had to chase away some bullies who had followed me home, called me names, and pushed me into the street. Sometimes, after a bad day of bullying, I wished I could just rip the mark off my face and be like everyone else—but it was a part of me, and wishing didn’t change that.

My parents decided to take an active role in educating the people around me so they would know what a hemangioma was and understand that it wasn’t icky, or gross, or contagious. Whenever we moved to a new place, my dad would go with me to the elementary school and talk to the kids about my mark and let them ask questions. After those talks, kids befriended me and noticed when bullies came around. Like Autumn, my school friends would speak up when they saw someone being mean to me, and sometimes they would stand between me and the bullies until they left me alone. I didn’t let the bullies stop me from doing what I wanted to do. I climbed trees, went swimming, wrote poetry, brought my tarantula and snakes to show-and-tell, and played in the tide pools.

This is my message to anyone who experiences bullying: Don’t let the bullies define you! I’ve been there, I know it hurts to be teased, but don’t let it stop you from doing what you want. Find something you enjoy—a hobby, talent, or challenge—and practice that skill. Know that someone out there, maybe even someone in your same school, needs a friend as much as you do. Be that friend. Stand up for each other. And know that you are not alone.

You can always find me at WendySwore.com, and I would love to hear your stories and what you thought of the book.