July has been such a busy month!! I didn't have a chance last week to share free ebooks. The good news with that is that there are quite a few new ones to share with you. These are all free when I post them, but be sure to double-check that the price is still zero when you download them if you wish to get them for free. You can check out my new list HERE.
Also, I can't believe I haven't promoted this more but today is the final day to download The False Prince audiobook! I highly recommend listening to this book. You can read my review on it HERE.
I'm also excited about The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes which can be downloaded starting tomorrow. Here are the other offerings from SYNC and you can go HERE to download them:
July 25 – July 31, 2013
The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen, read by Charlie McWade (Scholastic Audiobooks)
The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain, read by Steve West (Blackstone Audio)
Aug 1 – Aug 7, 2013
Death Cloud by Andrew Lane, read by Dan Weyman (Macmillan Audio)
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle, read by Ralph Cosham (Blackstone Audio)
Also, remember that there are lots of giveaways going on and you can access them by clicking on the pictures on the side.
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Book Review: The 7 Principles of Fat Burning by Eric Berg, DC
The 7 Principles of Fat Burning is the handbook to the sensational Berg Diet that has empowered thousands of people to get healthy, lose weight and keep it off. It shows how to activate your fat-burning hormones with a tailor-made eating and exercise plan for your body type.
The 7 Principles is a highly practical book that provides clear explanations-aided by dozens of charts and illustrations-of the principles of healthy weight loss. Easy-to-understand health and nutrition information and simple tests to determine your correct body type are the keys to its success. Knowledge is power and The 7 Principles of Fat Burning gives dieters the power to take command by eating the healthy diet that activates the fat-burning hormones for their body type.
For years people have been told to lose weight to be healthy. The truth is, you need to get healthy to lose weight. The Seven Principles of Fat Burning shows you how. Dr. Berg thoroughly educates readers and puts them right where they should be: in charge of their own weight.
Losing weight isn't easy for me! I've needed to lose weight for many years and find some success here and there but never anything that will keep the weight off for good. I've given up soda, ice cream and eating past a certain time of night, lots of processed foods and eaten more fruits and vegetables and not lost one pound. It's discouraging, to say the least. So then I've allowed those bad habits to creep back in figuring that it didn't matter anyway.
When I saw this book up for review, I jumped at the chance to read yet another book about losing weight. Something about this book just seemed different to me and it was! I've heard some of this before but there's lots of new information to me and I like the way Dr. Berg presents it.
He tells you the four different body types and the best way to eat and exercise for each one. There's Adrenal, Ovary, Thyroid and Liver. I was then able to take a quiz to determine my body type. He also includes pictures for each body type so it wasn't hard to figure out which one I resemble the most and, sure enough, after taking the quiz, it matched.
He talks about triggers and blockers and there are lots of illustrations and charts to help understand what he's saying. He includes menus and recipes and has a Q&A section. The difference in his approach is to get healthy first and then the weight will come off so it's not just a diet but rather a lifestyle change.
Now, the big question: Am I doing it? Not currently. It's not an easy plan to follow. I have incorporated some of his suggestions and plan to give his program a try. I highly recommend this book to anyone that's looking to feel healthier and lose weight.
My Rating=5 stars
You can go to Dr. Berg's website and take the quiz online to find out what your body type is. You can find that HERE.
There are a few days left to win a copy of his book so be sure to enter the giveaway below!
Eric Berg, DC, 47 years of age is a chiropractor who specializes in weight loss through nutritional and natural methods. His private practice is located in Alexandria, Virginia. His clients include senior officials in the U.S. government and the Justice Department, ambassadors, medical doctors, high-level executives of prominent corporations, scientists, engineers, professors, and other clients from all walks of life.
He is the author of The 7 Principles of Fat Burning, published by Action KB Publishing in January 2010. In addition, Eric Berg is widely published in trade magazines, including Chiropractic Today and The American Chiropractor, and in consumer publications such as First for Women, Men’s Exercise, New Beauty, Upscale and Let’s Live. Dr. Berg trains chiropractors, physicians and allied healthcare practitioners in his methods, and to date he has trained over 2,000 healthcare professionals.
He has been an active member of the Endocrinology Society, on the advisory panel for the Health Science Institute, and has worked as a past part-time adjunct professor at Howard University. Eric Berg’s nonprofit foundation, Health Technology Foundation, is currently being approved nationally for the purpose of providing research to substantiate alternative healthcare technologies, giving cost-effective solutions and result-oriented healthcare. As a leader in natural health and food coaching, Eric Berg has appeared on many radio and television shows, including ABC, CBS, and as a monthly host on Channel 8’s Sports Talk. He has also had his own radio health show on WOL in 2005.
Monday, July 29, 2013
Guest Post: The Deception of Devin Miller by Kelly Martin
I want to thank Melanie for having me on her blog today. Not only today, but on the 23rd for the book blitz. She’s a good lady. I’m here to talk about my new book, THE DECEPTION OF DEVIN MILLER. I’ve made this tour a ‘list’ tour: basically, every stop I have a different list for you.
Here, I wanted to list my top 10 favorite book characters… and hope you are as big of a fangirl (guy) as I am…
1) Heathcliff—Wuthering Heights: The bad boy to beat all bad boys.
2) Damon Salvator—The Vampire Diaries (#1): Okay, maybe Damon is the bad boy to beat all bad boys ;)
3) Jace—Mortal Instruments: He’s just so snarky.
4) Will—Clockwork Princess. Basically Jace... in the past.
5) Mad Hatter—Alice in Wonderland. If the Mad Hatter is in it, I’ll watch it. I LOVE the Once Upon a Time version of him.
6) Sherlock Holmes—Sherlock books. My FAVORITE detective ever! And my favorite book series! I should have had him number 1, but I didn’t want you all to see my major fangirling. Seriously… its bad ;)
7) Clary—Mortal Instruments: I like how she’s not a crying damsel. She can take care of herself J
8) Brittany—B.I.G. IS BEAUTIFUL: A Love Story Okay, so this is my book… and it hasn’t come out yet (Sept 3rd). But I LOVE her! She’s chubby and awesome. Like me ;)
9) Devin Miller—The Deception of Devin Miller. She doesn’t have any memories so she has to go with her gut. A great lesson for us all.
10) Moriarty—Sherlock—The Final Problem. Sure, the character ONLY showed up on 2 books. One he was in and one he was sort of in. And he never had any dialogue (that I remember), but he will always be remembered as Sherlock’s greatest foe. If you haven’t, watch the BBC version for a wonderfully scary Moriarty by Andrew Scott. J
So there you have it: my top 10 favorite book characters. Are any of your favorites on the list?
I hope after you read Devin, she’ll become one of your favorites.
What is Devin Miller about anyway? One month ago, seventeen year old Devin Miller wrecked while intoxicated— or so she’s told by the sightly ticked off blue-eyed boy when she wakes up from a coma. The only thing Devin remembers is the darkness holding her down and the voices-- some happy, some upset, and one very agitated. She can't remember her name, her age, where she lives, or who in the world the blue-eyed boy is. But he knows her and against her better judgment, she offers to pay him for his memories so she can trick the ones closest to her into thinking she's fine.
That is her first mistake.
When Devin gets home, the deception is harder than she thought. People she doesn't know keep talking to her. Trey (the blue-eyed boy) doesn't show up like he said he would. And the police want to talk to her about her involvement with the car accident. Plus she keeps seeing flashes of the wreck, but none of them make sense. What would a red plastic cup have to do with anything? And why can't she seem to trust the people she is supposed to trust the most?
Facing DUI charges for a wreck she can't recall, Devin fights to remember exactly what happened the night of the crash: something the real driver desperately wants her to forget permanently.
Who is really doing the deceiving?
That is her first mistake.
When Devin gets home, the deception is harder than she thought. People she doesn't know keep talking to her. Trey (the blue-eyed boy) doesn't show up like he said he would. And the police want to talk to her about her involvement with the car accident. Plus she keeps seeing flashes of the wreck, but none of them make sense. What would a red plastic cup have to do with anything? And why can't she seem to trust the people she is supposed to trust the most?
Facing DUI charges for a wreck she can't recall, Devin fights to remember exactly what happened the night of the crash: something the real driver desperately wants her to forget permanently.
Who is really doing the deceiving?
Author Bio: Kelly Martin a southern girl who writes... a lot. She is the author of SAINT SLOAN and Grace Award winning, CROSSING THE DEEP. By day, she is a teacher. By night, she has her hair in a bun and her fingers on a keyboard. She loves God, is addicted to chocolate, and would rather write than sleep. Kelly loves a good mystery and believes in Sherlock Holmes.
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Blog Tour: Return to Cardamom by Julie Anne Grasso
About Return to Cardamom
Title: Return to Cardamom (Caramel Cardamom Trilogy, Book #2)
Author: Julie Anne Grasso
Publisher: Independent
Publication Date: July 17, 2013
Pages: 136 (Paperback)
Recommended Age: 9+
Summary: Life is sweet for Caramel and things are finally getting back to normal. Well, as normal as it can be for a telepathic elf who can train trees and control computers, but she soon finds life on Cardamom is not all cupcakes and apple cider. A saboteur is hiding in the rainforest canopy, and the elves’ precious cardamom export has been wiped out. Caramel is certain it’s another trick of Alexander222 and her Aunt Isabel, but no one will believe her, and the clock is ticking. She must expose the saboteur in time to save the crop or the Elves of Cardamom will lose their livelihood. Caramel won’t rest until her theory is proven. While she is on the hunt, she makes a shocking discovery, one that will change everything.
I read both books and I enjoyed book 1 but thought this book was better! For me, the series started out slow but started to pick up at the end of book 1. Book 2 started right where book 1 left off and didn't stop! The plot moved along well and some of the characters we met in book 1 came back. I was glad to see that her friends from The Forbidden Planet still have a role to play.
This is such a fun read for middle graders. I enjoyed the foreshadowing that was given and the teasers at the end of the chapters that will instantly make any child not paying full attention become instantly alert and ask for more (or continue reading)! Caramel is a strong character with a lot of good qualities and she continues to learn more about who she really is. She seems to be exceptionally good at whatever she tries which doesn't seem too realistic to me but I let that go and just enjoyed reading about all she could do. What I love about her is that when she gets stuck, she keeps going and the answers she needs come to her so she continues to move forward. It's too easy to second guess every decision when you feel stuck and try to think things through instead of acting on inspiration and moving forward.
Caramel has both her parents and grandparents around to guide her. Her Aunt Isabel has betrayed her family and continues to work against them and Caramel is so angry with her and she's discussing it with her grandfather and asks him if he's angry, too. He uses this opportunity to teach her about forgiveness and the choice we each have to allow anger to rule us or not. There are other good teaching opportunities as well which I think would also make good discussions with my own children.
Caramel also has some good friendships and it's fun to see how those grow. Jemm and Jorde are her friends on Cardamom and Micah, Sass and Kirra are her friends from The Forbidden Planet. I would recommend reading Escape from the Forbidden Planet first. We meet Micah, Sass and Kirra in that book. They are also in Return to Cardamom and the story will make more sense to read from the beginning. This is a series I would recommend for middle graders and look forward to reading book 3!
My Rating=4.5 stars
Purchase
Amazon (US) * Amazon (UK) * Amazon (Canada)
The Buzz About Book 1: Escape From the Forbidden Planet
"Julie Anne Grasso has created an action-packed story featuring a range of interesting and imaginative characters (i.e., elves, the Alexanders, and other creatures), intergalactic travel, advanced medical and scientific technology, and complex environmental and conservation issues. Escape From the Forbidden Planet contains an intricate plot which slowly unfolds until you're hooked and you are left on the edge of your proverbial seat wondering what will happen next." ~ Mother Daughter Book Reviews, 5 Stars"It's part geeky, part science, and part fun, all brought together to become this awesome book called Escape From The Forbidden Planet. I would recommend this book to reading age kids and adults who like sci-fi kids books. Definitely something different. I really enjoyed reading it!" ~ Michael S., Amazon, 5 Stars
"I loved this book. Super great series for middle graders. I loved Caramel. She has a great attitude and determination. I really admired how she was focused on getting home, saving her family but also made the best of being stuck on an alien planet. Definitely a book with great role models for kids. I really hope there is more to come where this came from. Kids need books like this with catchy stories, solid characters who have good values that they can relate to." ~ Unorthodox Mama, Goodreads, 5 Stars.
Amazon (US) * Amazon (UK) * Amazon (Canada)
About the Author
Julie Anne Grasso is an Australian author with a background in paediatric nursing. She spent many years literally wrapping children in cotton wool. Every day she witnessed great courage and resilience from the tiny people she cared for, which inspired her to write stories about a little girl elf just like them. Add in some very funky technology, her love of science fiction and desire to impart great values through her little girl elf named Caramel and there you have it, the Adventures of Caramel Cardamom Trilogy was the result.Julie lives in Melbourne with her husband Danny and their little elf Giselle. Most days she can be found sipping chai lattes, chasing a toddler, and dreaming up wonderful worlds that often involve consumption of cupcakes.
Book Website: http://www.julieannegrassobooks.com/
Author Blog: WhenIgrowupIwannawriteakidsbook
Facebook page: Julie Anne Grasso Books
Twitter: @Jujuberry37
Goodreads Author: Julie Anne Grasso
Return to Cardamom Blog Tour Schedule (2013)
July 17
July 18July 19
July 20
July 21
July 22
July 23
July 24
July 25
July 26
July 27
July 28
July 29
July 30
July 31
*** Return to Cardamom Blog Tour Giveaway ***
Prize: One winner will receive a copy (print in U.S./Canada & e-copy interntionally) + a $50 Amazon gift card or PayPal cash
Contest runs: July 17th to August 7th, 11:59 pm, 2013
Open: WW
How to enter: Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.
Terms and Conditions: A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. If you have any additional questions - feel free to send us an email!
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Friday, July 26, 2013
Book Excerpts: Along the Watchtower and There Comes a Prophet by David Litwack
I've been talking about this author and his books all week as part of a promotional blog tour through Novel Publicity & Co. Here are excerpts from each book to give you an idea on what they're about. The giveaway ends soon so be sure to enter ASAP!!
Please enjoy this gripping excerpt from Along the Watchtower by David Litwack. Then read on to learn how you can win huge prizes as part of this blog tour, including a Kindle Fire, $650 in Amazon gift cards, and 5 autographed copies of each book.
Becky
On the ground floor, the center of the hospital opened into a small courtyard, an insecure space with too many places for insurgents to hide. I took a quick breath and tensed.
“Wait up, Ralph.”
“It’s okay, Freddie. You’re safe here.”
“Give me a minute. It’s my first time out.”
I surveyed the perimeter. A few benches. A flower garden dominated by hydrangeas, but not like the softball-sized blossoms my mom used to grow. These were small and paler than the Cape Cod variety, which were a blue that could compete with the sky.
At once, I could see my mom, hands buried in the hydrangeas, grooming her flowers—one of the few memories I could bear to recall. Me and my brothers in the driveway shooting hoops.
Mom telling us to keep the ball out of her garden. She was happy then, surrounded by her family, her garden, and the ocean.
I looked past the hydrangeas to find purple asters and some lilies too. But no roses. For some reason, I’d been hoping for roses.
Despite the nice day, the courtyard was deserted, except for a woman about my age who sat on a wooden bench, finishing up a brown-bag lunch. Her eyes were closed and her head tipped back to take in the sun, making her appear to be dreaming. Sitting alone on the bench, her face seemed framed by flowers.
When she heard us coming, she sat up, straightened her scrubs, and smiled.
“Hey, Ralph. What do you have there? Another victim for me?”
“Becky,” Ralph said. “What’s up? This is Freddie, Lt. Williams, our newest patient. We’re trying to bring him back from the dead. Freddie, meet Becky Marshall, one of our physical therapists.”
I nodded a greeting to her, not much in the mood for small talk. She tilted her head to one side as if evaluating me. Then she gave me the kind of look that said we’d met before, if not in this world than in another, and that she intended to make a difference in my life.
“Is he ready for me?”
“Soon. If he’s assigned to you.”
My attention was drawn to a soda can on the bench next to her. I’d seen too many IEDs in soda cans.
She caught me fixating on it and grinned.
“Just my diet Pepsi, Freddie. See?”
She chugged what was left and tossed the can into a nearby trash basket. Then she crumpled the bag into a ball and to show off, stepped off exactly five paces and shot the bag into the basket in a perfect arc.
“Nice shot,” I said.
“I make that shot every time.”
“Yeah, right.”
She came close enough that our knees were almost touching and hovered over me, sizing me up.
“You’ll be mine,” she said finally. “I can tell. I get all the hard cases.”
As she walked away, light on her feet like a dancer, I fumbled for the wheel of the chair, trying to spin it around so I could watch her go. But Ralph had set the brake.
The Gardener
The white butterfly fluttered before her face. When she saw it, she reached out a hand and at once it landed on the curve of her wrist.“Now there’s a fine omen for you,” she said. “Light knows we need one these days.” She whispered some words and the butterfly flew off across the courtyard and out over the castle wall.
A fine omen? Perhaps. But I’d learned to be wary. I stepped forward, scuffling my boots to make noise. She ignored my presence. Not until I was a pace away did she turn.
It was hard to say if she was beautiful or even pretty. Soil from the garden had splattered her cheeks and marked her forehead with a splotch that looked like a raven. A muddied apron hid her shape. But I took note of a glint in her gray-green eyes, as if the flowers had conspired to lend their color. And her mouth was a crescent moon upturned on its side.
The corners of the crescent twitched when she saw me but only for an instant. Then she went back to her work as if I were invisible. Her hands cradled each bloom as she sliced off the heads with a small knife.
“Are you spirit or demon?” I demanded.
She made no answer.
I drew my sword, relieved it slipped so easily from its scabbard, and stretched it in her direction. She watched the point from the corner of her eye but kept her head down and continued to work. Finally, I nudged her with the tip.
She let out a yelp. Only then did I realize I’d thrust too hard, and the blade had slit her garment. I backed off at once, ready to apologize, but then recalled my encounter with the assassin. I poked again, more gently this time.
“Why do you keep doing that?” she said.
“To see if you’re real.”
She stood and faced me, feet set wide and planted squarely on the ground.
“Why shouldn’t I be real?”
She was tall for a girl, her head rising above my chin, and had a bearing unlike a servant. When I continued to challenge her, she reached out and eased the point of my sword to one side.
“Would you put that silly thing away?”
I began to back off, then remembered the circumstance and held firm. “Why didn’t you say anything when I first approached you?”
“Because we servants aren’t supposed to talk to you royals.” She lowered her gaze and turned back to the flowers. “I’m sorry . . . Milord.”
“What’s your name?”
“Rebecca.”
“Rebecca. My name is Frederick.”
She paled and then bent in a deep curtsy, her brashness collapsing into two whispered words. “The dauphin.” . . .
I wandered in a circle, hands folded behind my back, and inspected the flowers, unsure of what else to say. Then a thought occurred to me.
“Do you have roses in this garden?”
“No roses, Milord. I have asters and hydrangeas. Some fall crocus. And climbing the wall to the watchtower, sweet autumn clematis. A bit of monkshood underneath and tulips in the spring. But no roses.”
I must have looked disappointed. She came closer and reached out, but not enough to touch me.
“It must be lonely, Milord, a terrible burden. Every morning as I walk from my village to the gardens, I see the darkening clouds and wonder where my strength will come from. Then I remember. The dauphin will protect us. Save Him Oh Goddess, I pray. If only I could do something to help.”
I mumbled a thank you and turned to go, but stopped when I saw her examining her damaged apron.
“Are you here every day?”
“No, Milord, I have other gardens as well.”
“Come tomorrow, and I’ll bring you a new apron to replace the one I tore.”
She curtsied more deeply this time.
“I’d be so grateful, Milord, but I have nothing to give in return.”
“No need.”
“Ah, wait.” She took her small knife and clipped off a bulging blossom at the stem and handed it to me. “Now place it in water the first chance you get.”
I accepted the gift and admired her through its petals.
“Thank you,” I said. “Tomorrow at noon.”
As I walked away, I glanced over my shoulder to get one last look at the gardener. She was back at her work, resuming her song and snipping away, so light of hand and foot. As she blew away a curl that had drifted across her face, the summer dress rustled against her skin. I inhaled the scent of the flower and thought I caught the sun peeking through the clouds over Golgoreth.
And for the first time since my father died, goddesses seemed possible.
Please enjoy this series of excerpts from the deep, dark dystopia, There Comes a Prophet, by David Litwack. Then read on to learn how you can win huge prizes as part of this blog tour, including a Kindle Fire, $650 in Amazon gift cards, and 5 autographed copies of each book.
Excerpt One: The Longing
“Is this what you want me to do, Orah, run like a coward?”
“Not to run, but to be careful, especially with the vicar so near.”
“Only one in three are taken.”
“It’s not worth the risk, Nathaniel. Or have you forgotten the look of those who have been taught? The far off stare, the dreams seemingly ripped away.”
Dreams ripped away. What good were dreams if they stayed unfulfilled? Since coming of age the month before, Nathaniel had brooded on one thought — life was passing him by.
Excerpt Two: The Teaching
Thomas stared out, trying to see to the opposite wall. It had to be close, because he could feel his boots pressing against it. But try as he would, he couldn’t penetrate the darkness.There was no glimmer to help, only the darkest dark he’d ever known. No moon, no stars, no hint of light. A dark to haunt one’s dreams.
Sometimes, he’d startle to the grating of the ceiling cover being removed. Light would pour into the room, flooding him with exhilaration…He’d stand, stretch his stiff limbs and look into the plump faces of the vicars surrounding him, seniors all with their decorated hats. They, in turn, would look down on him sympathetically before beginning a litany of the horrors of the darkness…
Excerpt Three: The Secret
Nathaniel had forgotten his dilemma. The idea of the keep had awakened something in him he thought he’d lost forever.“But who’ll solve the puzzle?”
“The founders of the keep believed a new generation would arise that would seek the truth at all costs, even at the risk of their lives. Some few from that generation would take the lead.
These would be called seekers, and their task would be to solve the puzzle and rediscover the keep.”
“But what’s in the keep?”
“The chain started so long ago, Nathaniel. Even the keepers don’t know any more. The keep may not even exist.”
“Ancient magic?”
“More. Something the Temple fears. Something that might change the world.”
Nathaniel’s hands were shaking. I’d be a seeker if I could.
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As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, both Along the Watchtower and There Comes a Prophet by David Litwack are on sale this week. What’s more, by purchasing either or both of these fantastic books at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes.
The prizes include a Kindle Fire, $650 in Amazon gift cards, and 5 autographed copies of each book.
All the info you need to win one of these amazing prizes is RIGHT HERE. Remember, winning is as easy as clicking a button or leaving a blog comment--easy to enter; easy to win!
To win the prizes:
- Pick up Along the Watchtower at its discounted price of $2.99 on Amazon
- Get There Comes a Prophet at its discounted price of 99 cents
- Enter the Rafflecopter contest below
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- Leave a comment on my blog for a chance at a $100 prize.
There Comes a Prophet A thousand years ago the Darkness came—a time of violence and social collapse. Nathaniel has grown up in their world of limits, longing for something more. For what are we without dreams? Get it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or iTunes.
David Litwack, the once and future writer, explores the blurry line between reality and the fantastic. Visit David on his website, Twitter, Facebook, or GoodReads.
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Thursday, July 25, 2013
Congratulations Giveaway Winners!
Congratulations to Kim, Jinky, Christine and Vanessa who were the winners for the For Nick giveaway! They've all been contacted and responded. I hope you all enjoy this book as much as I do. Thanks to all of you for entering. And thanks to Taylor Dean for offering such a generous giveaway! I plan to do more giveaways in the future and hope you continue to enter. There's no such thing as too many books...
Book Review: Along the Watchtower by David Litwack
2013, 214 p, My Rating=4 stars
Content: Swearing, including "f" word
A Tragic Warrior Lost in Two Worlds...
The war in Iraq ended for Lieutenant Freddie Williams when an IED explosion left his mind and body shattered. Once he was a skilled gamer and expert in virtual warfare. Now he's a broken warrior, emerging from a medically induced coma to discover he's inhabiting two separate realities. The first is his waking world of pain, family trials, and remorse--and slow rehabilitation through the tender care of Becky, his physical therapist. The second is a dark fantasy realm of quests, demons, and magic that Freddie enters when he sleeps.
In his dreams he is Frederick, Prince of Stormwind, who must make sense of his horrific visions in order to save his embattled kingdom from the monstrous Horde. His only solace awaits him in the royal gardens, where the gentle words of the beautiful gardener, Rebecca, calm the storms in his soul. While in the conscious world, the severely wounded vet faces a strangely similar and equally perilous mission--a journey along a dark road haunted by demons of guilt and memory--and letting patient, loving Becky into his damaged and shuttered heart may be his only way back from Hell. (Amazon)
This book goes back and forth between Lt. Freddie Williams as he's recovering from an IED explosion and Frederick, Prince of Stormwind. Lt. Freddie Williams is having a hard time coping with his memories so he goes into the dream world when he closes his eyes. As Prince Frederick, his father, the king, has just died and his kingdom is protected by magic which is bestowed on the reigning king. With his father dead, the magic will start to fade. Prince Frederick has thirty days to overcome the trials to succeed his father to the throne. Not much is known about what he'll need to go through but he learns that the assassins that are after him aren't trying to physically harm him but their goal is to bring him to despair.
As Lt. Freddie Williams, he meets his physical therapist, Becky, and she helps him get his physical strength back. He finds himself opening up to her about his life and family and we learn what brought him to where he is today. He has lots of demons so will she be able to break through or will he emotionally keep his distance from her?
As Lt. Freddie Williams, he meets his physical therapist, Becky, and she helps him get his physical strength back. He finds himself opening up to her about his life and family and we learn what brought him to where he is today. He has lots of demons so will she be able to break through or will he emotionally keep his distance from her?
I thought the premise to this book was interesting: A soldier going through a traumatic experience and dealing with it through living in a dream world at nights. His life as a soldier deals with his physical ailments and life as a prince deals with his emotional issues and shows how they merge together to become one person. I liked reading about his relationships with the people he came in contact with at the hospital: doctors, staff and physical therapists. He has a hard time and takes some steps forward and then will relapse. He has so many questions about who he is now and how to move forward with his life.
I know that World of Warcraft is a big part of this book, too, but since I'm not familiar with the game at all, I probably missed a lot of references. This book is well written and I enjoyed it. There were parts that moved kind of slow and there was a little too much swearing for me, especially the "f" word.
Tomorrow I will share an excerpt from each of his books, Along the Watchtower and There Comes a Prophet, so you can see if these are books you would be interested in reading.
I know that World of Warcraft is a big part of this book, too, but since I'm not familiar with the game at all, I probably missed a lot of references. This book is well written and I enjoyed it. There were parts that moved kind of slow and there was a little too much swearing for me, especially the "f" word.
Tomorrow I will share an excerpt from each of his books, Along the Watchtower and There Comes a Prophet, so you can see if these are books you would be interested in reading.
The urge to write first struck at age sixteen when working on a newsletter at a youth encampment in the woods of northern Maine. It may have been the wild night when lightning flashed at sunset followed by the northern lights rippling after dark. Or maybe it was the newsletter’s editor, a girl with eyes the color of the ocean. But he was inspired to write about the blurry line between reality and the fantastic.
Using two fingers and lots of white-out, he religiously typed five pages a day throughout college and well into his twenties. Then life intervened. He paused to raise two sons and pursue a career, in the process — and without prior plan — becoming a well-known entrepreneur in the software industry, founding several successful companies. When he found time again to daydream, the urge to write returned.
David and his wife split their time between Cape Cod, Florida and anywhere else that catches their fancy. He no longer limits himself to five pages a day and is thankful every keystroke for the invention of the word processor.
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As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, both Along the Watchtower and There Comes a Prophet by David Litwack are on sale this week. What’s more, by purchasing either or both of these fantastic books at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes.
The prizes include a Kindle Fire, $650 in Amazon gift cards, and 5 autographed copies of each book.
All the info you need to win one of these amazing prizes is RIGHT HERE. Remember, winning is as easy as clicking a button or leaving a blog comment--easy to enter; easy to win!
To win the prizes:
- Pick up Along the Watchtower at its discounted price of $2.99 on Amazon
- Get There Comes a Prophet at its discounted price of 99 cents
- Enter the Rafflecopter contest below
- Visit the featured social media events
- Leave a comment on my blog for a chance at a $100 prize.
There Comes a Prophet A thousand years ago the Darkness came—a time of violence and social collapse. Nathaniel has grown up in their world of limits, longing for something more. For what are we without dreams? Get it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or iTunes.
David Litwack, the once and future writer, explores the blurry line between reality and the fantastic. Visit David on his website, Twitter, Facebook, or GoodReads.
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