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Friday 18 May 2018

The Deadliest Sport by June Trop

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Book Details:


Book Title:  The Deadliest Sport: A Miriam bat Isaac Mystery in Ancient Alexandria
Author: June Trop
Category:  Adult fiction,  242 pages
Genre:  Mystery, Historical Fiction
Publisher:  Black Opal Books
Release date:  October 7, 2017
Available for review in:  ebook (mobi, PDF)
Tour dates:  May 14 to 25, 2018
Content Rating:  PG (mild religious oriented expletives, such as "Lord," some violent descriptions, such as the corpse, the gladiatorial arena)

Book Description:

Miriam bat Isaac, a budding alchemist in first-century CE Alexandria, welcomes her twin brother Binyamin home to fight his last gladiatorial bout in Alexandria. But when he demands his share of the family money so he can build a school for gladiators in Alexandria, Miriam explains that he forsook his share when he took the gladiatorial oath.

When she refuses to loan him the money for what she feels is a shady and dangerous enterprise, Binyamin becomes furious. Soon after, the will of Amram, Miriam's elderly charge, turns up missing; Amram becomes seriously ill; and the clerk of the public records house is murdered. Could Binyamin really be behind this monstrous scheme? If not he, who could be responsible? And is Miriam slated to be the next victim?
My review:- a really fantastic andintriguing novel. I especially loved the portrayl of Mirism as a strong and independent  girl. The plot was indeed full of twists and turns and I  couldn't  stop reading until the last page. Another good point about this book was characterization which was strong for both main and side characters.  I loved it
Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble
Add to Goodreads

Watch the trailer:

June Trop
Meet the Author:

June Trop and her twin sister Gail wrote their first story, "The Steam Shavel [sic]," when they were six years old growing up in rural New Jersey. They sold it to their brother Everett for two cents.

"I don't remember how I spent my share," June says. "You could buy a fistful of candy for a penny in those days, but ever since then, I wanted to be a writer."

As an award-winning middle school science teacher, June used storytelling to capture her students' imagination and interest in scientific concepts. Years later as a professor of teacher education, she focused her research on the practical knowledge teachers construct and communicate through storytelling. Her first book, From Lesson Plans to Power Struggles (Corwin Press, 2009), is based on the stories new teachers told about their first classroom experiences.

Now associate professor emerita at the State University of New York at New Paltz, she devotes her time to writing The Miriam bat Isaac Mystery Series. Her heroine is based on the personage of Maria Hebrea, the legendary founder of Western alchemy, who developed the concepts and apparatus alchemists and chemists would use for 1500 years.

June lives with her husband Paul Zuckerman in New Paltz, where she is breathlessly recording her plucky heroine's next life-or-death exploit.

Connect with the Author: Website ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest

BOOK REVIEW TOUR SCHEDULE:

May 14 - Working Mommy Journal - review / giveaway
May 14 - Rocksprings Crafts - review / author interview
May 15 - Library of Clean Reads - review / giveaway
May 16 - Cheryl's Book Nook - review / giveaway
May 17 - 100 Pages A Day - review / giveaway
May 18 - Booklove - review / giveaway
May 21 - Bri's Book Nook - review / author interview
May 22 - A Mama's Corner of the World - review / giveaway
May 23 - Readers Muse - review / guest post
May 23 - Reviews by Martha's Bookshelf - review / giveaway
May 24 - History from a Woman’s Perspective  - review
May 25 - Essentially Italian - book spotlight / author interview


Enter the Giveaway!
Ends June 2, 2018


Wednesday 16 May 2018

A Penny Lost by Aspen Bennet

A Penny Lost by Aspen Bassett

Book Details:


Book Title:  A Penny Lost by Aspen Bassett
Category:  YA Fiction, 232 pages
Genre:  Urban Fantasy
Publisher:  World Castle Publishing
Release date:  Jan 13, 2018
Format available for review:  print & ebook (mobi & PDF)
Willing to send books to: USA & Canada
Tour dates: April 23 to May 4, 2018
Content Rating: PG (There's a kiss and some mild violence)

Book Description:

Penelope Grace, usually forgotten under the shadow of her twin sister's perfection, tries her hardest to hide her freakish ability to see into anyone's soul.

Until she senses an unusual energy like a human-shaped void in the universe. When Penny investigates the source, she gets tossed through a crack in time along with the cute boy next door. The Void follows them through history, increasing the dangers as if testing Penny. But what is it testing for? And why does it claim to know her better than even she knows herself? Even as Penny searches for answers, she must fight to survive the tragedies of both the past and future in order to get back home.
My review:-
It was a really unique idea and I can shamelessly admit that I only wanted to read this book because of the absolutely pretty cover. I was slightly wary of the book subject but I shouldn't have been. I was swept along from the beginning and couldn't wait to finish the book and damn that ending! 
I can't wait to read the next book. The book is about Penny, your standard outcast and freak,who can see people's auras and feels overshadowed by her sister. It was a fantastic tale and I especially loved the characterization. Not to m
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Meet the Author:

Aspen Bassett works at a library, telling stories and suggesting books. When she's not working, she's usually sipping hot cocoa and wondering what would happen if she had superpowers. She's been published in multiple anthologies including Oomph: A Little Super Goes a Long Way and Inaccurate Realities.

Aspen grew up learning about chakras and auras and the true power of imagination which slips into her writing whether she intend it to or not. In college, when she wasn't busy working on her degree in Creative Writing, Aspen also got her certificate in Women's Meditation (basically general energy work). Now, she's working toward a diploma in Integrated Healing Arts with a certificate in Hypnotherapy.


Connect with the Author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram ~

BOOK REVIEW TOUR SCHEDULE:


April 23 - Working Mommy Journal - review / giveaway
April 23 - The Book Enigma - review / author interview / giveaway
April 24 - Adventures Thru Wonderland - review / guest post / giveaway
April 24 - Library of Clean Reads - review / giveaway
April 25 - Ishiee's Book Blog - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
April 25 - Bookworm for Kids - review / giveaway
April 26 - The Autistic Gamer - review
April 27 - Books for Books - review
April 27 - Rockin' Book Reviews - review / guest post / giveaway
April 30 - Sefina Hawke's Books - review
April 30 - Bound 4 Escape - review / giveaway
May 1    - Lovely Loveday - review / author interview
May 2    - Two Points of Interest - review / giveaway
May 2    - Laurie's Paranormal Thoughts and Reviews - review / giveaway
May 3    - Phytallic - review /giveaway
May 3    - Cheryl's Book Nook - review / guest post / giveaway
May 4    - JBronder Book Reviews - review / guest post / giveaway
May 4    - Book Paradise - review / author interview / giveaway
TBD       - Booklove - review / author interview
TBD       - Diary of an Avid Reader - review


Enter the Giveaway!
Ends May 12, 2018


                               AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
What made you write a book about a girl who could control spiritual energies?


I was taking meditation classes at the time the book idea popped into my head and so those key words like chakras and auras kept popping unto the page. I have a few friends who naturally can see spiritual energies and it was interesting to hear how much that changed their experiences growing up. When I created Penny’s character, I had to ask myself what would it feel like to be completely alone in how you view the world? 



If you could be any character in your book, who would you want to be? 

Zetta Noble. She’s technically a minor character, does not get the page time she deserves but she’s great, inspirational character. She represents absolute freedom physically, spiritually, emotionally, and mentally. She can be exactly who she is and doesn’t worry about what other people think. Not to say that I am that character, because I’m far far from it but if I could become anyone, I’m aiming to be someone as open and complete at her. 



What genre do you write and why? 

I write YA urban fantasy mostly because that’s what I enjoy reading. When I was growing up, books were a form of comfort and expression for me and I want to give back in the same way. Being a teenager and going through all these changes physically and emotionally, it was important to have something reliable like a great books series that I could use as inspiration. A well written book can save a life or someone’s sanity by merely being a source of a smile or comfort. 



Do you have another profession besides writing? 

I’m a Youth Services Library Advisor and really what that means is that I read picture books to preschoolers and I host teen events for the local kids. I literally get paid to make crafts with kids of all ages and that really makes me happy. Just last week, my job required me to test out a new slime recipe and it was awesome. 



Where do you write?
 
On my couch, using a dinner tray as my table. I have a writing table and a good quality office desk but, for some reason, I prefer sprawling out on the couch with the music playing and a blanket around me before writing. I wrote my first book in high school just half heartedly while watching TV with my family so maybe that’s where that stems from.

 

What is the last great book you’ve read? 

The Lockwood and Co series by Jonathon Stroud. Wow, that man can create a world! I finished each book as soon as they came out and have even read them aloud to my family during long road trips. We all love them. There’s something for everyone from humor to innocent romance to life threatening danger. The character development in those books are, in a word, perfection.



A Penny Lost leaves on quite the cliff hanger. Will there be more?
 
Yes! A Penny Lost is the first in a trilogy and, I’m proud to say, the sequel is already written and going through edits as we speak.  A lot of readers have expressed an interest in the second book coming out sooner rather than later but all I can officially tell you right now is that it will be titled The Me in Memory.