Be Careful What You Joust For new serial fantasy

Be Careful What You Joust For

Pentavia Book 1

Ryan Hauge and Ivy Smoak

March 2018

Fantasy serial

Series

Create Space

ISBN  978-1985876057

450 pp

ebook $.99

print: $15.99

About the Book

The fiercest knights in the realm are coming together to compete in the Joust for Arwin's Lance, a tournament that will divide even the closest alliances. The winner alone will have the power to start or prevent a war from unfolding across the peaceful lands of Pentavia.

House Hornbolt, a prominent family that desires peace above all else, is hosting the tournament. The Hornbolt's have always been strict followers of tradition. The first born son wears the armor of a knight. The second takes the priestly Oath of Arwin. And the daughters get married off to the most eligible suitors.

The eldest son is the favorite to win the tournament. But the rest of the Hornbolts aren't as eager to follow the paths laid out for them. What if the second born wants to be a knight too? And what if the eldest daughter just gave her heart to a common thief?

Customs are meant to be broken. But that's not all that threatens to shatter House Hornbolt, not when a secret deeper than the late king's grave is unearthed right before the joust.

The fate of Pentavia hangs in the balance as war becomes imminent. And the scales are about to tip.

One wrong move and everything could fall to pieces.

My Review

Revenge, magic, secret lives and lies combine in an adventurous romp that continues in the next book.

Hauge tries his hand at epic fantasy, influenced by the major players. The kingdom’s several factions ally, fight, commit acts of treason and murder, and intermarry while life goes on for their subjects who serve and provide for them, all in an attempt to be the only one. Of the four main faction, two are pretty much out of the picture. The story opens with a not quite sympathetic character, the Lady Isolda, whose secret life is about to get interesting.

Be Careful… is a lengthy first part of an adventure as Isolda tries to unravel the long-past murder of her father, King Bogdin of the House Talenov, and avenge his name. Her grown and growing children, her husband Garrion of the House Hornbolt, and several players all have speaking voices, so that Be Careful… is really more a series of stories that intertwine.

The book is full of good and complex character portrayals, magic and magical armor, hidden identities—all the fun setting details which bring story to life. Many little subplots raise the stakes to create an intriguing tale for hardcore fantasy readers.

Warning—this is a series in which some principal players bite the dust while others carry on in the next book, in progress, according to the author.

About the Author

Ryan Hauge is the author of the highly anticipated Pentavia fantasy series. Drawing inspiration from his toy business and the countless computer games he grew up playing, he weaves tales of mystery and intrigue.

When he's not writing, you can bet that he's distracting his wife from her work, handling a toy emergency, or whipping up something delicious in the kitchen.

He lives in Wilmington, Delaware with his wife, Ivy Smoak. They do everything together, including writing the Pentavia Series.

WWII Fiction from Carole Brown

A Flute in the Willows
Carole Brown
Story and Logic Media Group
December 2017

2.99 Ebook
12,99 Print
Buy on Amazon

About the Book

Both rebels in their own way, Josie and Jerry Patterson must figure out how to keep the other's love...and keep the German enemy at bay.

She has two loves—her skating and Jerry, her husband. But when he returns home looking like a skeleton trying to return to life, she's scared. What happened in Germany to change a man so much? Has another woman captured his heart?

Jerry has vowed to let Josie live her own glamourous life...especially after what happened in Germany. But when his wife's life is threatened, Jerry realizes he can't stand by and do nothing. Jerry has to risk all for the very soul and life of himself—Josie.

These two damaged, rebellious people learn the hard way that leaning on God instead of their own selves and abilities is the only true way to love and happiness.

A Brief Interview with the Author

Carole, what do you love about this book?

A Flute in the Willows was one of my hardest to write. Yet I loved how it came together and ended. I was able to bring several pertinent topics (to today's world) such as PTSD and marital relationships. Then Josie and Jerry Patterson appealed to me and touched my heart because of their selfish ways and the hardships they had to endure to learn that God's way is the best. They came from different backgrounds, yet both ignored God. Josie because of her self-regard in wanting to succeed with her own desires and lack of comprehension of the love her family had for her. Jerry, though came from a family with a father who was so busy with his own work that he ignored his loved ones and belittled Jerry when he didn't achieve what his father felt he should.

Introduce us to a minor character.

One of my favorite characters in this series is Papa Ossie. Oswald Rayner is big, handsome, loud, and a widower, but he adores his daughters and does his best to lead them right. In A Flute in the Willows he's especially noticeable because he's not only trying to save Josie, his second, and most rebellious daughter, but her husband too. His advice is down to earth and not always easily swallowed, but it's given with so much and care that he doesn't overstep the boundaries, but instead, helps them both to consider better ways that will yield what they need. Because Josie is so much like him, he understands her moves and ways which helps him in giving the advice he knows can help her—if she accepts it.

He's a great father and character, and though not a perfect person, he's realistic and likeable, and that's what counts.

Share two things you learned either about the era/genre or about publishing while writing this book.

In each of these WWII era books, the research will overlap, but I positively found it swooningly interesting. I adore the early 1900s history. If I have to pick out two...

The fashion of the day was quite engaging. I particularly enjoyed learning about the hats worn then, the variety and, for the men's, the meaning of the styles and tilts.

The spy business. Romance, danger, secrets, travel and results all gave me pause for thought. It wasn't that the spies were always hidden, checking out people,etc. Sometimes, spying in plain sight, parties and women, meeting the well-known, high society activities: all were a part of a spy's life. It was invigorating and alluring, but also detrimental too. The cost was high if caught. Shame, prison and death were to be expected.

But the study of it was an eye-opening time.

What are you working on now?

I'm finishing up book four of my Appleton, WV Romantic Mystery series: Toby's Troubles.

Toby Gibson's sister—Caroline Gibson Carrington, co-owner of Undiscovered Treasures—just got married to his best friend and left him holding the reins of the shop. The problem is, a ghost (or is it a real live person?) is searching for something in his shop late at night, and it's getting tiresome. On top of that, one of his friends is trying to outbid him in purchasing the property between their businesses. And he suspects she's in love with him.

He's much too busy to dwell on love with Amy Sanderson, until the ghost/person invades her property searching for...what? A new handsome man in town and a gorgeous blond that looks a bit like his friend steal their attention, but the question is: do either of these have anything to do with the break-ins?

Can Toby catch the person interrupting his sleep? Do they both find the love of their lives or is it right under their noses?

Coming late summer...

How do you overcome your biggest challenge to publication?

By never giving up! Writing the book, sometimes, seems the easiest part. Publication, not so much. With more books coming out than ever before, it can be discouraging. Being a hybrid author (both traditionally and Indie), means that I have both methods available to me. Some authors refuse to consider Indie publishing, but others use it and succeed in their endeavors. I see advantages in both.

About the Author

Besides being a member and active participant of many writing groups, Carole Brown enjoys mentoring beginning writers. An author of ten books, she loves to weave suspense and tough topics into her books, along with a touch of romance and whimsy, and is always on the lookout for outstanding titles and catchy ideas. She and her husband reside in SE Ohio but have ministered and counseled nationally and internationally. Together, they enjoy their grandsons, traveling, gardening, good food, the simple life, and did she mention their grandsons?

Connect with Carole:

Personal blog: http://sunnebnkwrtr.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaroleBrown.author

Amazon Author Page:  http://www.amazon.com/Carole-Brown/e/B00EZV4RFY/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1427898838&sr=8-1

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/browncarole212

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/carole-brown

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sunnywrtr/boards/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5237997-carole-brown

Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=67381031

Google+:    https://plus.google.com/u/0/113068871986311965415/posts

Stitches in Time:  http://stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com/

christian fantasy and allegory from RA Denny

Refugees, book 1 of 6

RA Denny

Young Adult Inspirational fantasy

2017

Free ebook

 Buy on Amazon

About The Book

"An epic journey of a lifetime." That's what three young individuals from three different corners of the world have dreamed about. They were destined for greatness since the moment they were born. But what if they don't want it? What if they're not ready? What if their desires no longer align with the prophecy?

The problem is, they have no choice. The star has appeared. Their destiny has already begun to unfold. 

It's not the send-off that they've been dreaming of. Forced out. Banished. Raided. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. Now they must discover who they really are while embarking on the most exciting journey of their lives. One star. One impossible task. One chance to save the world they love.

My review

Denny’s inspirational fantasy is quite intriguing. Four unique sentient species, one of them predator, make up Denny’s world, which is full of rumor and suspicion. One special cult of wise men who worship one true God must draw these clans together when the prophetic star of destiny appears.

Working for generations behind the scenes, non-webbed humanoids and others of varying species, the webbed-footed, armor-plated, and extraneous-skinned gliders, have been secretly teaching them each other’s languages, besides the lessons of the Creator. At the sign of the star, the predator humans begin the backlash by slaughtering as many of the others unlike themselves as they can in surprise gruesome attacks. They even convince some of armor-plated beings to turn on each other.

Of the three sentient species, one young adult of each has been groomed to fulfill the prophecy. Each is given a talisman and instructed to find each other in the capital city, to which they travel under great peril. Barely able to escape, let alone understand the other races are sentient, let alone exist, the three must travel in great faith to complete their mysterious mission.

Readers familiar with the Bible will recognize frequent references to Scripture and its use. Fill with song and poetry similar to the classics the author admits influenced her, readers of epic questing stories and fantasy will be intrigued.

The copy I received had text that was bolded and centered. I’m not sure if all of the copies are set up that way, but while unique, was somewhat distracting. Giving the three heroes first person voices was also interesting, but until the reader gets a good feel for what is going on, this introduction to the story, mostly because of the rapid switching of viewpoints, often scene by scene and no evenly dispersed, can be confusing. A good summary would be more helpful than a character list, because after the first couple of chapters, the character list isn’t very useful anymore.

This free book is the first of six which are all available at $2.99 each.

 

About the Author

R.A. Denny started writing epic fantasy novels when, after watching the first Hobbit movie, she began excitedly spouting off information about C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien’s writer’s group called the Inklings and how their greatest fantasy novels were created. For several years, she continued her day job as a criminal prosecutor and escaped by night to the world of the Tzoladian Empire. Then, she decided to just do what she loved. She completed writing her six-book epic fantasy series: Mud, Rocks, and Trees. The series should be read in this order: Refugees, Seekers, Captives, Warriors, Visionaries, and then Deliverers. 

R.A. enjoys ancient history, board games, and LEGO. She rides horses, raised flying squirrels and lives with two cats. Learn more about R.A. on her website or you can find her on Facebook@R.A. Denny author

New from Keely Brooke Keith and the Uncharted series

All Things Beautiful

Uncharted Beginnings book 3

Keely Brooke Keith

Historical fiction with fantasy elements

April 2018

Edenbrooke Press, Nashville, TN

Buy on Amazon 

Buy on Barnes and Noble 

$3.99

$12.99

 About the Book

It’s 1868 in the settlement of Good Springs, and Hannah Vestal is passionate about writing fiction and keeping her stories to herself. By lantern light she slips into her story world and dreams the adventures she’ll never experience. When her father asks to read her work, she decides to have it printed secretly for his 50th birthday. Hannah tries to arrange the printing with the settlement’s pressman, but the witty and dapper Henry Roberts won’t make it easy for her to prove her writing is worthy of his ink.

If Henry Roberts did nothing else for the rest of his life but print and bind books, he would die a satisfied man. In order to secure settlement support for his printing press, the elder council says Henry must print an error-free copy of the New Testament before the settlement’s 8th anniversary celebration. He is determined to meet their challenge, but when the enigmatic Hannah proves to be a beguiling distraction, Henry longs for something more than a life at the letterpress.

My review

In this third stand-along novel in the Uncharted series, Keith’s marooned but making the best of it culture at long last has time to invest in events not directly tied to survival—reading for knowledge and pleasure, finishing a library building, developing new material to read, perhaps a way to share news and information. The year is 1868, seven years after Landing. Five and a half years earlier, Hannah Vestal promised her dying mother to put the family first. The oldest in a family which includes two brothers and three sisters, Hannah’s time is controlled by running a busy household. The villagers have sorted themselves into their mutual trades, so each family isn’t responsible for self-sustenance. Hannah makes candles which she can trade for things like paper on which to write her story. Since losing her mother’s encouragement, Hannah shares her story with her friend, the village teacher, Olivia. Olivia helps her find the strength to complete her story and have it printed.

Meanwhile, the printer, Henry Roberts, has exchanged his birthright farming with his younger brother Simon who is more suited to caring for the animals and crops. Their father, who ran the printing press, invested Henry with the press, but Henry had been hurt years earlier while helping build the family barn. Now, with pain in both damaged hand and pride, and two unsuccessful passing love interests behind, he decides bachelorhood is his fate. His almost obsessive-compulsive need for order and realism doesn’t translate to the finest of courtly personalities, and when Hannah, courage screwed on, approaches him for a book publishing deal, his business-like response causes both of them to review their lifestyle choices. With the aid of loving family and friends, Hannah and Henry meet their challenges and come out stronger on the other side. Keith ends this story with a lovely tie-in to the contemporary Uncharted series.

Told through alternating perspectives, All Things Beautiful is a revelation of what matters in life. The story is an exploration of the depth of heart and soul and the willingness to see and grown beyond our capabilities. Well-done. Recommended for those who enjoy historical drama with a faint twist of unusual circumstances. This is a stand-alone story with good set-up of the situation, so readers can jump in anywhere and enjoy any story of The Uncharted stories.

About the Author

Keely Brooke Keith writes inspirational frontier-style fiction with a twist, including The Land Uncharted (Shelf Unbound Notable Romance 2015) and Aboard Providence (2017 INSPY Awards Longlist). Keely also creates resources for writers such as The Writer’s Book Launch Guide and The Writer’s Character Journal. Born in St. Joseph, Missouri, Keely grew up in a family that frequently relocated. By graduation, she lived in 8 states and attended 14 schools. When she isn’t writing, Keely enjoys playing bass guitar, preparing homeschool lessons, and collecting antique textbooks. Keely, her husband, and their daughter live on a hilltop south of Nashville, Tennessee.

Two weeks left to enter the April giveaway

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New Sci Fi epic series

The Foundry

Frank Dravis

c. Jan 2018

$3.49 ebook

$12.89 print

Buy on Amazon

About the Book

A storm of greed and lust for global domination is rolling through the forests of Mount Mars, on the planet Dianis. The assault crashes against the walls of an idyllic town called Wedgewood. Over the walls Paleowright soldiers and their troglodyte allies climb and meet the human defenders sword against teeth, and shield against claws. In a staggering retreat, the defenders fight the first battle to save their planet from tyranny and galactic exploitation. Outnumbered, the citizens and mercenaries of Wedgewood stand shoulder to shoulder and send the rally call to their brethren. 

For IDB Chief Inspector Achelous, if Wedgewood falls the plans to protect the planet from Nordarken Mining fail as well. Those plans rest on the forge in Wedgewood's foundry. Ruthless in its insatiable demand for a rare mineral, Nordarken ignores the federation law – ULUP -- that protects the isolated, primitive planet. Destroying whole cultures to satisfy their avarice is just the cost of doing business, but for Achelous, a ULUP enforcer, it's his job to protect the defenseless. 

The politics authorizing ULUP are complex, and Nordarken is a master of manipulation. Ordered to leave Dianis, Achelous and his team face an excruciating dilemma. In a surprise, as the story of Dianis unfolds, Achelous learns he is not alone against both the global and galactic powers. Marisa, a trader princess, and Christina, an Ascalon Defender, respond to Wedgewood's rally call, but as provincials, they are unaccustomed to stellar intrigue. 

The defense of liberty for Dianis starts here, in The Foundry. 

My Review

Epic in length and subject, Dravis’s sci-fi fantasy far distant future world is at heart a passionate treatise on environmental protection.

When a valuable mineral is found on a distant planet that also features beings with untapped powers that could affect the tide of galactic war, the race is on to plunder Dianis’s resources no matter the law.

The Foundry features Archelous, a man living a mysterious double life as an embedded native on an undeveloped world while also trying to defend that world from intergalactic turmoil. Dravis’s world-building skills are finely developed, as are his very real complex characters. While I love sci-fi fantasy, I occasionally found the details overblown and admit to skipping through some parts to pick up the threads of what, at first, was a story within a story. But unlike other lengthy books I had to put down for a time due to other projects, I found I was able to pick up the story again within a page of reading.

My caveat to readers is that you will want to set aside goodly chunks of time to immerse yourself in this complicated and challenging story. Characters from a number of different environments and philosophies unite to protect not only one world, but ethics in general. Told in numerous points of view throughout, readers may occasionally need to backtrack to determine the new speaker as there is little attempt to separate these viewpoints and introspection can be muddled. The characters are unique and fresh, however, and quite engaging as they battle for justice against their own kind as well as all manner of sentient beings. Archelous is heroic, but I found myself rooting for Outish. And to learn who those folks are, you’ll just have to read.

About the Author

Living along the Mississippi River, Frank Dravis has leveraged his many life experiences to write The Foundry, the first book in the Dianis, A World In Turmoil series. He was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan where he and his father cruised the Great Lakes. His father often chose to go out on the lake when it was empty, on the roughest days. Frank spent six years in the US Navy chasing Soviet submarines during the Cold War. His love of the sea is reflected in The Foundry, a love he has shared with his wife and two girls. Frank's care for Earth and the stewardship of their land in Wisconsin are reflected in the culture and ethos of the Timberkeeps. 

He has two degrees, a Bachelor of Computer Science and a Master of Business Administration. Those degrees have been integral to his professional life where he has worked in a variety of roles from software engineer, to marketing executive, to chief information officer, at such prominent firms as SAP and Organic Valley. The technical and scientific acumen he gained through those endeavors is demonstrated in the series in the effort to make the Dianis brand of science practically possible somewhere in the galaxy today. Follow the Turmoil series on Facebook. 

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Unbreakable by Ruth Buchanan great clean chick romance

Unbreakable

Ruth Buchanan

2018 Harbourlight, Pelican Ventures

contemporary romance

$4.99  eBook

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Barnes and Noble

About the book

With her leg finally back at full strength and her emotional life taking on a whole new shape, Rachel Cooper feels fit to handle the confluence of four major events: the end of another school year, the beginning of a new relationship, the stress of helping to plan a wedding, and Coach's insistence that Rachel overcome a mental block and master the flying teep kick.

Meanwhile, Rachel draws the focus of some strong male attention. While she isn't sure what it all means, she's determined not to write an alternate story in her head by pitting herself as the main character in yet another imagined thriller.  But in her determination not to make the same mistake a third time, Rachel ignores danger signs. Will Rachel manage to separate fact from fiction before it's too late?

My  review

This is one of those stories that encompasses all the fun of chick lit, light romance, good clean stalking, and a couple of good laughs.

New Year’s resolutions are made to be broken—unless you’re Rachel, and have been taking yourself way too seriously for the past couple of years. A high school teacher (and thank you from ALL of my heart for not villainizing teachers!), Rachel is a rare good woman who has the loving support of friends and sister on her quest to learn to take care of herself and find a good man—someone who can handle a little blood now and then and appreciates all of her friends, especially the pal who asks her to stand up with him at his wedding.

Unbreakable is the third book in a group of stories featuring Rachel Cooper and her antics. While it was obvious there were previous tales, it wasn’t necessary to have read them first. Instead, the mention of the other stories did what they were supposed to, which was make me curious to read them.

Readers who enjoy quirky and spunky female characters who manage to find themselves in predicaments, and love some clean wholesome romance, will enjoy Ruth’s stories.

About the author

Ruth Buchanan is a Christian freelance writer who holds degrees in ministry and theology. She writes fiction, non-fiction, plays, and sacred scripts. She’s an eager reader, an enthusiastic traveler, and the world’s most reluctant runner. Ruth loves Jesus, family, church, friends, and coffee. She lives and works in South Florida. Find her on Twitter: @Ruthette