Book Tour Review & Giveaway – The Old Dragon’s Head by Justin Newland.

 

Book Details:

​Book Title:  The Old Dragon’s Head by Justin Newland
Category:  Adult Fiction (18 +),  257 pages
Genre: Historical Fantasy, Supernatural Thriller 
Publisher:  Troubador Publishing Ltd.
Release date:  November 2018
Content Rating: PG-13 +M. Mild sex and cruelty. Mature themes.

Book Description:

The Great Wall of China may be constructed of stone and packed earth, but it is home to a supernatural beast – the Old Dragon. Both wall and dragon protect China’s northern borders from Mongol incursion. Just beyond the fortress of Shanhaiguan, the far eastern end of the wall protrudes into the Bohai Sea – that’s the Old Dragon’s Head.

​Bolin, a young man working on the Old Dragon’s Head, suffers visions of ghosts. The local seer suspects that he has yin-yang eyes and other supernatural gifts. Bolin’s fief lord, the Prince of Yan, rebels against his nephew, the Jianwen Emperor. In the bitter war of succession, the Mongols hold the balance of power. While the victor might win the battle on earth, China’s Dragon Throne can only be earned with a Mandate from Heaven – and the support of the Old Dragon. In every era, a man endowed with the powers of heaven – the Dragon Master – is born. Only he can summon the Old Dragon, providing he possesses the dragon pearl. It’s the year 1402, and neither the Old Dragon, the dragon pearl, nor the Dragon Master, has been seen for twenty years. Bolin’s journey of self-discovery is mirrored by that of old China, as both endeavour to come of age. When Bolin accepts his destiny as the Dragon Master, heaven sends a third coming of age – for humanity itself. But are any of them ready for what is rising in the east?

Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ Amazon.ca
B&N ~ Book Depository ~ Waterstones
Chapters ~ Kobo ~ BookBub
add to goodreads

My thoughts…

The Old Dragon’s Head follows the story of Bolin who is coming to terms with having strange visions about ghosts and wondering what to make of it all. The story is full of mystery, humour, fantasy, power struggles and treachery.

Although this is mainly Bolin’s story,  the author has also created other wonderful characters such as  Feng,  Bao, Luli and her son and as Bolin goes looking for answers we find  plenty of  little subplots that come together and keep you on your toes. The tension rises all the way through the book and It is really well paced. I was totally engrossed in finding out as to where the story was going, what secrets from the past were next to be revealed and what consequences they would lead to. 

The Old Dragon’s Head is a special tale and Justin Newland is a wonderful storyteller as he seamlessly weaves a tale of love, loss and legend, transporting you back to an ancient time. It is an enjoyable mix of history, destiny, and the supernatural.  It has a little bit of everything in there which I really enjoyed.  I highly recommend it.

My Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Meet the Author:

JUSTIN NEWLAND’s novels represent an innovative blend of genres from historical fiction and crime, to supernatural thrillers and mystery. His stories deal with the themes of war, religion, and evolution and speculate on the human’s spiritual place in the universe.

Undeterred by the award of a Doctorate in Mathematics from Imperial College, London, he found his way to the creative keyboard and conceived his debut novel, The Genes of Isis (Matador, 2018), an epic fantasy set under Ancient Egyptian skies.

Next came the historical fantasy, The Old Dragon’s Head (Matador, 2018), set in Ming Dynasty China in the shadows of the Great Wall.

His next historical fantasy, The Coronation (Matador, 2019), speculates on the genesis of the most important event in the modern world – the Industrial Revolution.

His fourth, The Abdication (Matador, 2021), is a supernatural thriller in which a young woman confronts her faith in a higher purpose and what it means to abdicate that faith.

His work in progress is a two-book series, The Island of Angels, set in Elizabethan England, and is an epic tale of England’s coming of age. The first novel, The Mark of the Salamander, travels with Sir Francis Drake across the wide open seas of discovery from 1577-1580 and is due to be published in September 2023. The second, The Midnight of Eights, culminates in the repulse of the Spanish Armada in 1588.

He regularly gives talks to historical associations and libraries and enjoys giving radio interviews and making podcasts. Born three days before the end of 1953, he lives with his partner in plain sight of the Mendip Hills in Somerset, England.

connect with the author: website ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ pinterest ~ bookbub ~ goodreads

Enter the Giveaway:

THE OLD DRAGON HEAD Book Tour Giveaway https://widget.gleamjs.io/e.js

Book Tour Spotlight – High Wire by Kam Majd.

Thriller

Date Published: March 13, 2023

Publisher: ‎ Mindstir Media

 

A WOMAN STANDS ACCUSED

BUT THE COST TO PROVE HER INNOCENCE

MAY JUST BE HER LIFE

 

“Absorbing and seductive.” – Publishers Weekly

“Plane riveting…like (Grisham and Crichton’s novels).” – New York Post

 

Captain Kate Gallagher has a plane to land and a daughter to get home to. But first, she’s got to contend with a confrontational co-pilot, blizzard conditions, and something far more treacherous-a plane contaminated with a lethal computer virus. When the controls refuse to respond to her commands, she has two choices: Turn the plane around or trust her instinct.

One day later, the world’s press is picking through the mangled remains of Flight 394 and crying pilot error. To clear her name, Kate must endure humiliation and blame, and the risk to herself and her family, until she comes face to face with the madman who created the virus. There, she uncovers a shocking conspiracy that has already zeroed in on a new target: another plane, another deadly disaster.

With only seconds to save the 262 passengers on board, Kate Gallagher will fight her way back into the pilot’s seat and up into the air, in a life-and-death race against time, and a computer virus that is wired, running, and ready to kill again. And the price for saving all those lives may be only one… hers.

 

“Satisfying and credibly suspenseful.” – School Library Journal

“A thrilling ride all the way from the brilliant set-up to the gripping payoff.” – Patrick Massett (Friday Night Lights, The Blacklist)

About the Author

Kam Majd is an Edgar® Award-nominated author of character-driven, edge-of-your-seat suspense novels. He has climbed in and out of cockpits for 44 years, 35 of which have been at American Airlines, with his most recent position as a 777 captain. Born in Iran, and educated around the world in India, England, and the United States, Majd and his wife Lori now live in Southern California with their two daughters, Megan and Sydney, nearby.

 

Contact Links

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

TikTok: @KamMajdBooks

 

Purchase Link

Amazon

B&N

AudioBook Tour & Giveaway – Chris Crossed Murder by Lauren Carr.

 

Book Details:

Book Title:  Chris Crossed Murder (A Chris Matheson Cold Case Mystery #4) by Lauren Carr
Narrator: Mike Alger
Category:  Adult Fiction (18 +), 10 hours, 13 minutes
Genre:  Mystery
Publisher:  Acorn Book Services
Release date:   Mar 21, 2023
Content Rating:  PG-13 (Lauren Carr’s books are murder mysteries, so there are murders involved. Occasionally, a murder will happen on stage. There is sexual content, but always behind closed doors. Some mild swearing (a hell or a damn few and far between). No F-bombs!

Book Tour Spotlight & Giveaway – Clarissa: A Clean & Wholesome American Historical Romance by Jean Jacobsen.

 

Book Details:

Book Title:  Clarissa: A Clean & Wholesome American Historical Romance by Jean Jacobsen
Category:  Adult Fiction (18+) ,  324 pages
Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: Jean Jacobsen
Release date:   Feb 2020
Content Rating: G: Wholesome

Book Description:

Tragedy brings them together. Will love tear them apart?

New York City, 1832. Clarissa Tanner is carefree and lighthearted until the sudden death of her parents. Forced to pay off family debts or lose her horse farm, she’s given one choice: auction off her beloved horses or reluctantly enter 1830s New York Society social season to face the dreaded marriage market.

Nicholas is a man on a mission, searching for his missing brother. Fearing Liam may be the victim of foul play, Nicholas needs to keep a low-profile while conducting his search. He takes a position as a dance instructor, providing refresher lessons to the beautiful but distracted Clarissa.

​Clarissa and Nicholas find a connection through grief and movement as they fight their attraction to one another. Will they give in to their desires and find true love or will family obligations keep them apart?

Buy the Book:
Amazon 
Bookbub

Meet the Author:

Jean Jacobsen is an award-winning storyteller of Sweet, Historical Romance. Featuring strong female characters, roguish heroes, and 19th Century adventure tales. She pens stories that transcend the heart and always have a happy ending. Because of Jean’s deep passion for history, she includes real events from the time period, making her stories come to life as they transport you to a by-gone era. Join her on the next adventure.

connect with the authors: website ~ facebook ~ bookbub ~ goodreads 

Enter the Giveaway:

Clarissa by Jean Jacobsen Book Tour Giveaway

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Audiobook & Book Tour Spotlight & Giveaway – Snow Storm by Mike Alger.

 

Book Details:

Book Title:  SNOW STORM by Mike Alger
Category:  Adult Fiction (18 +) 
Genre:  Mystery / Thriller
Publisher:  Publish America
Release date:   July 2002
Content Rating:  PG – I wavered between G and PG…there’s no explicit language, but there is some mild-violence.

Book Description:

He smiled. “Kidnapping? Naw… you don’t have to worry about that. Oy’m not here to kidnap you. Oy’m here to kill you.”

You ever had one of those days? You know the kind. You wake up one morning, and all of a sudden an internationally feared assassin wants you dead? I hate it when that happens. And what do you do when the forecast for your friendly neighborhood TV weatherman looks like murder?

​KRGX meteorologist Greg O’Brien is having one of those days. He just hopes it’s not his last.

Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ Audible 
Add to Goodreads

Meet the Author:

One of the most popular and recognizable faces on television sets in Nevada and California; Mike Alger is the Chief Meteorologist for KTVN-TV Channel 2 (CBS) in Reno, Nevada. The award-winning weatherman is a holder of the American Meteorological Society’s Certified Broadcast Meteorologist Seal of Approval. He is happily married with two children.

​
connect with the author: website ~ acx ~ facebook ~  twitter

Enter the Giveaway:

SNOW STORM AudioBook Tour Giveaway https://widget.gleamjs.io/e.js

Book Tour Spotlight – Distant Secrets by Richard L Cole.

Autobiography

Date Published: February 14, 2023

Publisher: ‎MindStir Media

 

Do you ever wonder who you really are? Richard Cole was front page news a few weeks after his birth in 1944, but this was something he never knew. He did know he was adopted and he did wonder who he really was. But, as a young adult, he wondered much more about finding success, a simple goal that seemed so elusive.

He was 19 when he married his high school sweetheart and took off, full speed, into the adult world. Harsh reality and his failure to focus on long-term goals made his desire to succeed just an unlikely dream.

He finally took control of his life and made the climb up to a nice middle-class life. Along with his wife, two really cute kids, and a new suburban home, they were the picture of a perfect little family. Then the dream evaporated and Richard’s life began a downward spiral that ended with him alone and subsisting on food stamps and unemployment checks. But Richard had met someone on his way down, someone who stuck with him during the bad times. She gave him a reason to keep trying, and hope that things would get better.

This lighthearted autobiography takes you along on Richard’s quest to find success in life and shares his discovery of the distant secrets that surrounded who he really was.

 

“Find yourself getting stuck in a zigzag of life’s twists and turns, unsure of where you’ll land? Richard Cole certainly has and Distant Secrets maps out his journey through hardships and gains and everything in between. He opens up to share his intimate world of experiences and the “moments of stunning mental clarity” that have guided him along the way.”

-J.J. Hebert, USA Today best-selling author

About the Author

Richard Cole held a wide variety of short-term jobs until his late thirties. He finally settling down with Motorola as a computer systems analyst and later a data center manager. During that period, he turned his wild bird feeding hobby into a little business and went on to opened his first Bird Watcher Supply Company store in 1988.

Richard’s wife, Nancy, operated the retail store and Richard continued his corporate job, helped at the store part-time and worked to perfect his special blends of wild bird feeds. He left the corporate world in 1990 to open their second retail store.

The Bird Watcher stores grew to five locations and Cole’s Wild Bird Products was formed to produce and distribute their bird feeds which now attracts a national following. Richard and Nancy sold their retail stores when Richard turned seventy. Cole’s Wild Bird Products is still owned and operated by the Cole family.

 

Contact Links

Website

Facebook

Instagram

 

Purchase Links

Amazon

B&N

Cover Reveal – The Gingerbread Christmas Village by Kiley Dunbar.

Blurb

The annual Wheaton gingerbread exhibit (a model village made of gingerbread) and grotto has been an important part of the sleepy Cotswold hamlet’s Christmas celebrations for decades.

For years the gingerbread exhibition drew visitors from across the region and each year the model town grew more elaborate and ambitious but recently, interest has been dwindling. The gingerbread grotto needs to be rehomed or close forever.

Sixty-five-year-old Margi, the event’s founder, has had enough of village life (and its total lack of eligible men) and is planning to sell up and head to Birmingham to live closer to her niece.

She has lost her spark and her Christmas spirit and decides this will be her last gingerbread village, but despairs when she finds her only support is her old friend, Izzy, her niece Lucy from Birmingham, and Fern, the shy young farmer’s daughter. Oh, and Patrick, the gorgeous, reliable school caretaker.

As if this wasn’t enough, Lucy is determined to get her out dating again and persuades her to try some online dating apps but Margi’s had her heart broken too many times and wonders if she has just missed her chance.

Can they save the Gingerbread Grotto and can Margi get her old spark and her Christmas spirit back?

Published on 31st August 2023.

Book Tour Spotlight & Giveaway – Mother Knows Worst by Sofia Bella Roma.

 

Book Details:

​Book Title:  Mother Knows Worst by Sofia Bella Roma
Category:  Adult Fiction (18+),  280 pages
Genre: Literary Fiction, Novel
Publisher:  Mascot Books
Release date:  December 2022
Content Rating:  PG -13 

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Pinnacle Award Winner!

“Author Sofia Bella Roma tells an absorbing story about two people from very different backgrounds falling in love and struggling to navigate the circumstances and people around them. Infusing romance, humor, and plenty of drama, Roma weaves an engaging narrative that keeps hold of the reader until the last page. Mother Knows Worst is not just a dramatic comedy but also a novel that showcases the challenges people sometimes face in adapting to other cultures, especially in relationships involving in-laws. The characters have their own idiosyncrasies, which make them very intriguing to read. Rose and Anil’s dynamic feels genuine, as do their respective struggles and conflicts. Recommended to readers who savor drama novels revolving around relationships.” – Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers’ Favorite

“A lively, thought-provoking journey into one young woman’s marriage, cross-cultural encounters, and life. Mother Knows Worst is recommended not just for novel readers seeking stories of women’s experiences, but for reading groups interested in the psychological entanglements between different cultures and generations.” – Reviewed by Midwest Book Reviews

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Book Description:

After trying her hand at acting, Rose decides to change career paths and enter law school.

She enrolls in law school in a sleepy New England town, only to find that the practice of law is not all she will study. This quirky thirty-something Italian girl falls in love when she lays eyes on Anil, a handsome intellectual from India. The two discover a deep connection and quickly begin a romantic relationship. What could go wrong as their romance blossoms? Their future looks bright. They have each other. They have great friends. They also have Anil’s mother. Inspired by true events, Mother Knows Worst is a humorous and heartfelt novel. Rose is on a path to finding herself, love, and relationships, taking the reader on a delightful and often comedic journey as she explores two cultural worlds colliding.

BUY THE BOOK:
​Mascot Books
Amazon ~ B&N
add to goodreads

Meet the Author:

Sofia Bella Roma is a lawyer in North Carolina. She has been practicing law since 2009. She was first licensed to practice law in Massachusetts and then went on to become licensed attorney in North Carolina. Sofia has spent most of her career telling stories. She regularly performs to judges when litigating her cases. Mother Knows Worst is Sofia’s debut novel. This book tackles common problems in relationships and takes on mother-in-law drama with a quirky point of view. Sofia knows firsthand about difficult relationships since she has been practicing law as a divorce attorney. She currently lives with her son and their pet lizard. She has a love for the arts and enjoys making people laugh.

Enter the Giveaway:

MOTHER KNOWS WORST Book Tour Giveaway

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Book Tour & Giveaway – She Who Rides Horses by Sarah V. Barnes.

Book Details:

​Book Title:  She Who Rides Horses: A Saga of the Ancient Steppe (Book One) by Sarah V. Barnes
Category:  Adult Fiction (18+),  267 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction 
Publisher:  Lilith House Press 
Release date:  March 2022
Content Rating: PG.  It contains two kissing scenes and the death of an animal.

Book Description:

Set more than 6,000 years ago, She Who Rides Horses: A Saga of the Ancient Steppe (Book One) begins the story of Naya, the first person to ride a horse.

Daughter of a clan chief, bolder than other girls but shunned by the boys because of her unusual appearance, Naya wanders alone through the vast grasslands where her people herd cattle and hunt wild horses for their meat. But Naya dreams of creating a different kind of relationship with the magnificent creatures.

One day, she discovers a filly with a chestnut coat as uncommon as her own head of red hair. With time running out before she is called to assume the responsibilities of adulthood, Naya embarks on a quest to gallop with the red filly across the boundless steppe.

​Unwittingly, she sets in motion forces and events that will change forever the future of humans and horses alike.

BUY THE BOOK:
Amazon 
Barnes & Noble ~ Bookshop.org
add to goodreads

Meet the Author:

Sarah V. Barnes, Ph.D. is both an historian and a horsewoman. When Sarah is not writing stories, she practices and teaches riding as a meditative art. She also offers equine-facilitated coaching and wellness workshops.

Sarah holds a Ph.D. in history from Northwestern University and spent many years as a college professor before turning full-time to riding and writing. She has two grown daughters and lives with her husband, her dogs and her horses near Boulder, CO.

connect with the author: website ~ facebook ~  goodreads

Enter the Giveaway:

SHE WHO RIDES HORSES Book Tour Giveaway

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Book Tour, Spotlight & Giveaway – Girl On The Run/The Doktor’s Daughter by Nancy McDonald.

Book Details:

Book Title:  GIRL ON THE RUN (The Doktor’s Daughter) by Nancy McDonald
Category: Middle-Grade Fiction (Ages 8-12),  174 pages
Genre: Historical fiction
Publisher:  Iguana Books
Release date:   September, 2021
Content Rating:  G. It’s middle grade. No foul language. No sex scenes.

Book Description:

It’s 1933 in Berlin. The Nazis have seized power, and for thirteen-year-old Amelie Meyer life is changing in ways she never could have imagined.

​Her new teacher is picking on Jewish students, her friends are starting to shun her for not joining their Aryan youth group and her father is getting remarried. As tensions mount at home and school, Amelie embarks on a perilous journey – with nothing less than her whole future at stake. 

Buy Now:
Amazon ~ Amazon.ca
 Barnes & Noble ~ IndieBound
Abe Books ~ Book Depository ~ Books-A-Million
Add to Goodreads