Tuesday, January 5, 2016

Assets: Thief of Lies

Ready??

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I'm thrilled to be taking part in Brenda Drake's Release Day Launch (hosted by Jen Halligan PR) for THIEF OF LIES (Library Jumpers #1)! Check out the book and excerpt below, and be sure to enter the amazing giveaways!

Thief of Lies (Library Jumpers #1)Thief of Lies by Brenda Drake by Brenda Drake Publisher: Entangled Teen Publication Date: January 5, 2016

Gia Kearns would rather fight with boys than kiss them. That is, until Arik, a leather-clad hottie in the Boston Athenaeum suddenly disappears. While examining the book of world libraries he abandoned, Gia unwittingly speaks the key that sucks her and her friends into a photograph and transports them into a Paris library, where Arik and his Sentinels—magical knights charged with protecting humans from the creatures traveling across the gateway books—rescue them from a demonic hound. Jumping into some of the world’s most beautiful libraries would be a dream come true for Gia, if she weren’t busy resisting her heart or dodging an exiled wizard seeking revenge on both the Mystik and human worlds. Add a French flirt obsessed with Arik and a fling with a young wizard, and Gia must choose between her heart and her head, between Arik’s world and her own, before both are destroyed. Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Excerpt from THIEF OF LIES

We stepped into the Children’s Library and stopped in the center of the room. A massive light fixture designed to resemble the solar system dominated the ceiling. The hushed rumble of two male voices came from one of the reading nooks. I crossed the room, paused at the built-in aquarium, and inspected the fish. Afton halted beside me. “This is great,” I whispered, not wanting to disturb whoever was in there with us. “Fish and books. What’s not to love?” Spotting a sign referencing classic books, I searched the shelves for my all-time favorite novel. The male voices stopped and there was movement on the other side of the bookcase. I paused to listen, and when the voices started up again, I continued my hunt. Warmth rushed over me when I found The Secret Garden. With its aged green cover, it was the same edition I remembered reading as a young girl. The illustrations inside were beautiful, and I just had to show them to Afton. Coming around the corner of the case, a little too fast for being in a library, I bumped into a guy dressed in leather biker gear. My book and notebook fell and slapped against the floor. “Oh, I’m so sorry—” I lost all train of thought at the sight of him. He was gorgeous with tousled brown hair and dark eyes. Tall. He flashed me a crooked smile, a hint of dimples forming in his cheeks, before bending over and picking up my forgotten book. He held the book out to me. “Mistress Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow?” He’d quoted a verse from The Secret Garden with a sexy accent that tickled my ears. I stood there like an idiot, my heart pounding hard against my chest, unable to think of a response. The fact that he had read the book and could recite a line from it stunned me. And impressed me. Say something. Anything. “Good read there,” he said when it was obvious I wasn’t going to speak. He winked and nodded to a guy behind him before ambling off. When he reached the end of the row, he paused and glanced back at me, flashing me another killer smile, and then he disappeared around the bookcase. Tingles rose in my stomach. He looked back at me. The guy following his Royal Hotness gave me a final appraisal before departing. His stringy blond hair hung over his large forehead. It looked like he hadn’t washed it in weeks, and there was probably an acne breeding ground under it. He grinned, and I broke eye contact with him, making for the nearest window. Oh God, you’re so lame, Gia. You could have finished the quote or anything less tragic than not speaking at all. The response I would have said played in my head. With silver bells, and cockleshells, and marigolds all in a row. Why? Why hadn’t I said that?

Brenda DrakeAbout the Author

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Brenda Drake grew up the youngest of three children, an Air Force brat, and the continual new kid at school. Her fondest memories growing up are of her eccentric, Irish grandmother’s animated tales, which gave her a strong love for storytelling. So it was only fitting that she would choose to write stories with a bend toward the fantastical. When she’s not writing or hanging out with her family, she haunts libraries, bookstores, and coffee shops, or reads someplace quiet and not at all exotic (much to her disappointment).

Thief of Lies by Brenda Drake

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Friday, January 1, 2016

Happy New Year's!!

Photo by pippalou at morguefile.com

Happy New Year's!!

Book Talk...1/1/16

Book Talk…1/1/15
Traci Kenworth

1.      The Horse and His Boy C.S. Lewis 1954 Harper Collins. Shasta is a mere slave boy living in an abusive life until one night he overhears his father selling him to a Tarkhaan. The Tarkhaan’s horse who Shasta is startled to discover can talk tells him of a land called Narnia from which he was stolen as a foal. The two escape together. One night a lion chases them and another horse and rider together. The horse is another talking horse from Narnia as well and its rider is a Tarkheena escaping from an arranged marriage. They all team up to reach Narnai though Shasta and Aravis are quite suspicious of one another. Along the way they meet up with the Prince of Archenland who looks remarkably like Shasta and King Edmund and Queen Susan of Narnia.


This is another charming tale by Lewis. The characters are fun and interesting to get to know. Neither is quite as brave or as cowardly as they fear. Their journey is exciting and fraught with danger. I loved every minute of it!! These books are celebrated for a reason, I’m discovering. I hope if you haven’t read this book or if you have, that you’ll want to reread it (hey, there’s nothing like taking a journey with an old friend!). Highly recommended. 4. 5 stars.

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Reading Links...12/30/15

Reading Links…12/30/15
Traci Kenworth

Fantasy/Dystopian/UF/Paranormal/SF:
7.      https://coldhandboyack.wordpress.com/2015/12/26/day-3-of-legends-of-windemere-kindle-countdown-3-fantasy-novels-for-2-99/

MG/YA:
3.      https://kneadforbooks.wordpress.com/2015/12/21/dead-jed-3-return-of-the-jed-scott-craven/

Horror:
9.      http://www.fantasyliterature.com/reviews/pretty-maggie-moneyeyes/

Mysteries/Thrillers:
1.      https://writeitforward.wordpress.com/2015/12/22/prime-publishes-today-and-happy-festivus-eve/

Short Stories/Anthologies/Novellas:


Indie:

Craft:



Photo by ttronslien at morguefile.com

Monday, December 28, 2015

Writing Links in the 3s and 5...12/28/15

Photo by Schick by morguefile.com

Writing Links in the 3s and 5…12/28/15
Traci Kenworth

Fantasy/Dystopian/UF/Paranormal/SF:
3.      https://fantasyhandbook.wordpress.com/2015/12/22/a-little-end-of-year-clean-up/

MG/YA:
3.      http://www.adventuresinyapublishing.com/2015/12/best-craft-tips-of-2015-from-adventures.html#.Vn4DfhUrLIU

Horror:
2.      http://www.thisishorror.co.uk/5-must-read-horror-articles-21-december-2015/

Mysteries/Thrillers:
3.      https://margotkinberg.wordpress.com/2015/12/25/one-special-treasure-part-i/

Short Stories/Anthologies/Novellas:

Indie:
3.      http://www.thebookdesigner.com/2015/12/the-ebook-retail-universe/

Craft:
5.      http://blog.janicehardy.com/2013/03/is-your-description-helping-your-story.html



Friday, December 25, 2015

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!

Dear reader,

Hope all is going well for you and that you're snuggled up in warm clothing and blankets enjoying this time of year!! They say two-thirds of the country won't get snow this year, but Christmas isn't in the snow or in the gifts, it's in the heart. The child in each of us that longs for their dearest wish on that special day. It's the hope kept alive all year long that this year, just maybe everything will go just as planned. I wish you joy and good books!! May you all be blessed and be a blessing to all!!

Book Talk...12/25/15



Book Talk...12/25/15
Traci Kenworth

1. Revival by Stephen King Scribner 2014. Horror. One day while playing with his matchbox cars, a shadow falls over Jamie Morton that stays with him most of his life. The shadow being Reverand Charles Jacobs, the new Protestant preacher. Soon Reverand Jacobs is joined by his wife and son and things look to be rosy for all but not long after their move, Patsy Jacobs and her son Morrie are in a fatal accident. Reverend Jacobs is beside himself with grief and gives a sermon suggesting there is no God, there couldn't be, or he wouldn't allow such things to happen. The church's deacons meet quickly and Reverend Jacobs is let go. Jamie feels bad for him and ashamed that his family has turned aside from him after Reverend Jacobs healed his brother. Reverend Jacobs tells him a secret about lightning, a secret that will lead young Jamie and his girlfriend to a mountaintop and a severe lightning storm. Years pass and the sermon is forgotten by most but it has its effects on Jamie and his life takes a turn for the worse. At his lowest point, he runs into Reverend Jacobs again, now calling himself by another name. He cures Jamie of his problem, but there's a cost. As time goes by, Jamie learns of others saved by Jacob's Holy Rings in revival events. He begins to investigate things and doesn't like what he finds. Soon, he will be forced to confront Jacobs and when an old loved one comes under Jacob's influence, will he be able to save them? And end the revivals once and for all? 

The story was compelling and well written. No surprise there!! I did have mixed feelings about the ending and felt it could have gone a different direction ala Pet Semetary but it was a horrifying end and made you question things. I'm not sure he meant for us all to come to the same conclusion and I'm sure mine may be different from your thoughts but it is a good read. I enjoyed the cat-and-mouse struggle between the protagonist and antagonist. I DO recommend those who like horror or suspense read it however.