ELEMENTALS-The Prophecy of Shadows, by Michelle Madow

Elementals: The Prophecy of Shadows
by Michelle Madow
Release Date: January 26th 2016

Summary from Goodreads:

Filled with magic, thrilling adventure, and sweet romance, Elementals is the first in a new series that fans of Percy Jackson and The Secret Circle will love! 

When Nicole Cassidy moves from sunny Georgia to gloomy New England, the last thing she expects is to learn that her homeroom is a cover for a secret coven of witches. Even more surprisingly … she’s apparently a witch herself. Despite doubts about her newfound abilities, Nicole is welcomed into this ancient circle of witches and is bedazzled by their powers—and, to her dismay, by Blake—the school’s notorious bad-boy.

Girls who get close to Blake wind up hurt. His girlfriend Danielle will do anything to keep them away, even if she must resort to using dark magic. But the chemistry between Blake and Nicole is undeniable, and despite wanting to protect Nicole from Danielle’s wrath, he finds it impossible to keep his distance.

When the Olympian Comet shoots through the sky for the first time in three thousand years, Nicole, Blake, Danielle, and two others in their homeroom are gifted with mysterious powers. But the comet has another effect—it opens the portal to the prison world that has contained the Titans for centuries. After an ancient monster escapes and attacks Nicole and Blake, it’s up to them and the others to follow the clues from a cryptic prophecy so that they can save their town … and possibly the world.

Excerp

“There’s a reason we’re required to take Greek mythology.” Blake scooted closer to me, as if about to tell me a secret, and I leaned forward in anticipation. “Did you know that we—meaning everyone in our homeroom—are descended from the Greek gods?” 

I arched an eyebrow. “Like Zeus and all of them living in a castle on the clouds?” I asked.

“Exactly.” He smirked. “Except that they’re referred to as the Olympians, and they call their ‘castle in the clouds’ Mount Olympus.”

“So you’re saying that we’re gods?” 

“We’re not gods.” He smiled and shook his head. “But we have ‘diluted god blood’ in us. It’s what gives us our powers.”

BUY LINKS:

[ Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBookstore | Kobo ]

"Elementals is going to blow your mind!"

-Crossroad Reviews, ★★★★★

"Five glittery stars for being such a compelling read!"

-Andrea Heltsley, Goodreads Reviewer ★★★★★

"A perfect mixture of magic and mythology. An entrancing story of trust, friendship and well naughty boys. WITCHES are not the only thing walking the earth!"

- BenjaminOfTomes, BookTuber ★★★★★

About the Author

Michelle Madow grew up in Baltimore, graduated Rollins College in Orlando, and now lives in Boca Raton, Florida. She wrote her first book in her junior year of college, and has been writing novels since. Some of her favorite things are: reading, pizza, traveling, shopping, time travel, Broadway musicals, and spending time with friends and family. Michelle has toured across America to promote her books and to encourage high school students to embrace reading and writing. Someday, she hopes to travel the world for a year on a cruise ship.

Author Links:

   

GIVEAWAY:

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Charlotte's Library: Secrets of the Dragon Tomb, by Patrick Samphire--a...

Charlotte's Library: Secrets of the Dragon Tomb, by Patrick Samphire--a...: Secrets of the Dragon Tomb , by Patrick Samphire (Henry Holt and Co., January 2016), is my favorite book of 2016 thus far.  It is the sort...

Changes at Thornton Berry Shire Press

I'm putting out a test post to make certain my new email subscribers list is actually working!   And since none of my posts have gone out to any of my email followers in the past few months..geez!!  I am sending this today to make sure everyone is on the same page again.

The main thing to know right now is that the URL will be changing in about a week...from benjaminmctish.blogspot, to thorntonberryshire.blogspot..yay!  Time to get things in order.

So stay tuned, we have some very special author interviews coming up next week...and lots more to share here at Thornton Berry Shire Press...thx so much for your support!

NEW ADDRESS/URL FOR THORNTON BERRY SHIRE

After much consideration, I have decided to commit to Thornton Berry Shire Press as it's own entity.  In doing so the URL will be changed from benjaminmctish.blogspot to thorntonberryshire.blogspot.  In which case my McTish Blog will carry this old URL..which makes so much more sense now.

When I began this blog it was strictly to promote my YA/Adventure Series, Benjamin McTish...however, the joy I have when it comes to promoting other authors and works for YA fantasy/et al,  has created a blog that has become something bigger than I had imagined...so the URL needs to reflect this commitment.

Make any changes necessary in your bookmarks and such so you have no issue returning to Thornton Berry Shire Press.  I will give it a little time for everyone to catch up before making this change..just wanted to give you a heads up..thx for your support, June

AEGIS INCURSION by SS Segran REVIEW

From YA Bound Book Tours we're bringing back one of my

all time favorite reads ever...

Aegis Incursion, and Author  S.S. Segran.

This is a huge promo to introduce the series in all forms.

There's a terrific giveaway at the end of this post, so make

sure to include your name...you won't be sorry.

I'm including my 5 Star Review from this past summer.

LOVED this book!  Can't wait to read the next...follow

along with the tour and leave us a comment to let us

know you were here...thx!

Aegis Incursion (The Aegis League Series #2)

by S.S. Segran
Release Date: March 23rd 2015
INKmagination Books

Summary from Goodreads:

On a bright July morning in 1948, a B-29 Superfortress flying a top-secret research mission over Nevada crashes into the calm waters of Lake Mead and sinks, remaining lost for half a century.

It has been nearly a year since five friends - Jag, Kody, Mariah, Tegan and Aari - mysteriously reappeared in a small town in Yukon several weeks after their small plane went down in Northern Canada. All were found in good health but with no recollection of what happened to them after the crash.

A baffling contagion is spreading across the bread-basket of North America destroying vital crops. As this dark shadow marches across the globe, widespread famine and riots bring desperate nations to the brink of war.

These seemingly unrelated events set the stage for a battle between the forces of darkness and those destined to become the 'bearers of light'. From ravaged fields in the Great Plains to clandestine installations around the world, the Aegis League must race against time to save humanity.

Add to Goodreads

Aegis Rising (The Aegis League Series #1)

Buy Links:

Amazon

MY FIVE STAR REVIEW

Okay, so I did not read the first book. I was told this could be read as a stand alone book, and they weren't kidding. Absolutely no mis-step in getting into the story whatsoever.

Wow! What an incredibly imaginative story…very scientific in theory, I'm wondering if the author has some kind of background in physics or something? If not, she surly did her research, just the little nanomites alone are something else. And then of course there's all the supernatural excitement included, so this makes for a really fun read.

The book is fast paced and a challenge to put down once you get rolling, very easy to follow along with the story, no confusions, yay. Very visual, super action packed! The main characters, the kids, are wonderfully crafted individuals, great distinctive personalities…they are believable and enjoyable to picture…even if they are modern day super-heros! Like I said, I believed their stories…very well done.

The one thing that bugged me, and this is me being me, is in the beginning the author would use the term, "the five" incessantly…literally, several times in a paragraph. Even when it was obvious that no one else was involved in the scene but the teens, she would say  "the five". Instead of saying, "they all walked outside", it was always, the five walked outside, the five sat down, the five looked at each other. It really annoyed me for a while, then it seemed to diminish as the story went on..thank goodness. So unless I'm unaware of the fact that they are known as  "the Five",  like the X-Men or something, and I missed this "title"..then of course I apologize and take it all back…otherwise it just bugged me for a while…and if I'm being totally honest, a couple of the  "other-worldy" names were very difficult to pronounce and sometimes slowed me down when I was on a roll, attempting to figure out how to hear their names in my head. However, this did not bother to the detriment of the story in the least.

Needless to say, I'm absolutely eager to get to the next installment to see where our heroes end up…oh! and it looks like I'll go back and read the first book in the series to get the actual background of the story…however, that's just for something else to read, not because it's necessary to enjoy this book. Well done SS Segran!


About the Auth

An avid reader since early childhood, S.S.Segran had written many short stories before embarking on 'AEGIS RISING', the first book in the Aegis League Series. In crafting the premise for the novel she drew from the captivating imagery of the Pacific Northwest, the intriguing wonders of nature and the amazing potential of the human mind. She enjoys drawing and horseback riding. S.S.Segran is a proud member of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets in British Columbia. She is an ardent fan of parkour and freerunning.

S.S.Segran is also the founder of Aegis League, a non-profit organization whose goal is to support youths living in places and conditions that deny them opportunities to grow. The mission of the organization is to provide resources that help these youths explore their potential. This includes life-skills training and micro-loan funding to help them launch small businesses in the communities where they reside. For more information please visitwww.aegisleague.org 

Author Links:

Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook

GIVEAWAY:

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BOOK BLITZ AND REVIEW

From YA Bound Book tours todays Book Blitz is from Author

Stephanie Greenhalgh...an old favorite of ours here at

Thornton Berry Shire Press,

The Truly Twisted Tale of Ruby the Hood.

Enjoy the tour and don't forget to enter your name in 

the Giveaway!

The Twistedly True Tale of Ruby Hood
by Stephanie Greenhalgh
Release Date: October 1st 2013
Write More Publications

Summary from Goodreads:

In the small town of Woodsville, self-assured Ruby Hood becomes tangled in more than traditional teenage angst. With the Homecoming Dance looming, everything at Woodsville High appears normal, but things are not as they seem. Ruby meets a cute boy with a lopsided grin, Dylan Hunter. She flirts shamelessly with the football star, Kent Wolf, and finds herself in a barrage of harsh verbal altercations with his stunning yet wicked sister, Kayla Wolf. Thankfully, she finds solace in her friend, Lilly Fair. Through a series of odd and painful events, Ruby discovers her true calling and the responsibilities that come with her new power and position. Despite her heartache and sorrow, will Ruby find the inner strength not only to protect herself, but also to keep the Wood safe at all cost?

MY FOUR STAR REVIEW ON GOODREADS

Buy Links:

Amazon│Barnes and Noble

Book Trailer:

About the Author

A born and raised Midwestern girl, Stephanie Greenhalgh currently resides in Las Vegas. As an avid reader and writer, literature and learning have always been more of a passion than a hobby. This two time UNLV graduate spends her days teaching elementary school and her weekends and summers writing stories. The first book in her Ruby Hood series debuted in 2013, and the sequel,The Twistedly True Guardian Tale, will release in summer 2015. Stephanie also has four published short stories and a self published novella, If the Silver Slippers Fit. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, friends and lovable Labrador retrievers.

Author Links:

   


GIVEAWAY:

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BOOK BLAST FOR TRIPTYCH

Triptych

By- J.M. Frey

Published By- Dragon Moon Press

Genre- Sci Fi, Time Travel, Alien Invasion

IN THE NEAR FUTURE, humankind has mastered the arts of peace, tolerance, and acceptance. At least, that's what we claim.

But then they arrive. Aliens--the last of a dead race. Suffering culture shock of the worst kind, they must take refuge on a world they cannot understand; one which cannot comprehend the scope of their loss.  
Taciturn Gwen Pierson and super-geek Basil Grey are Specialists for the Institute--an organization set up to help alien integration into our societies. They take in Kalp, a widower who escaped his dying world with nothing but his own life and the unfinished toy he was making for a child that will never be born.
But on the aliens' world, family units come in threes, and when Kalp turns to them for comfort, they unintentionally, but happily, find themselves Kalp's lovers.
And then, aliens--and the Specialists who have been most accepting of them--start dying, picked off by assassins. The people of Earth, it seems, are not quite as tolerant as they proclaim.

   

About the Author-

J.M. is an actor, voice actor, and SF/F author, fanthropologist and professional geek. She’s appeared in podcasts, documentaries, and on television to discuss all things geeky through the lens of academia. She also has an addiction to scarves, Doctor Who, and tea, which may or may not all be related. Her life’s ambitions are to have stepped foot on every continent (only 3 left!), and to perform a duet with John Barrowman.

Her debut novel TRIPTYCH was nominated for two Lambda Literary Awards,  won the San Francisco Book Festival award for SF/F, was nominated for a 2011 CBC Bookie, was named one of The Advocate’s Best Overlooked Books of 2011, and garnered both a starred review and a place among the Best Books of 2011 from Publishers Weekly.

Her sophomore novel, an epic-length feminist meta-fantasy titled The Untold Tale, (book one of the Accidental Turn Series), debuts December 2015, followed by two more in 2016. The Skylark’s Song, book one of The Skylark’s Saga, a steampunk action novel about a girl vigilante and her mysterious rocketpack, will be published in summer 2017.

Links-

Website- http://www.jmfrey.net

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/JMFrey.Fanpage/

Twitter- https://twitter.com/scifrey

YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/user/JMSciFrey

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/j.m.frey/

Pinterest- https://www.pinterest.com/scifrey/

Wattpad- https://www.wattpad.com/user/JmFrey

Goodreads- https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4718800.J_M_Frey

NEW TO YOU Reading Book Challenge

Another year of good reads coming my way...yahoo!  From Anna at Herding Cats and Burning Soup...this years book reading challenge.  You can choose from specific book genres if you prefer...me, I'm sticking with New To You.  I found some very cool authors/books last year, can't wait to find some more this year.  Good Luck and Good Reading!

EERIE by CM McCoy BOOK BLITZ

 From Bewitching Book Tours…Eerie, by CM McCoy…this looks like a good one!

Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Omnific
Date of Publication:  15 Dec 2015
ISBN: 1623422337
ASIN: B0176M19RM
Number of pages: 450
Word Count: 117k
Cover Artist: Omnific with art by Robin Lynne Schwind

Book Description:

Being a ParaScience freshman is a nightmare come true
Hailey’s dreams have always been, well...vivid. As in monsters from her nightmares follow her into her waking life vivid. When her big sister goes missing, eighteen-year-old Hailey finds the only thing keeping her safe from a murderous 3,000-year old beast is an equally terrifying creature who’s fallen “madly” in love with her.
Competing to win her affection, the Dream Creature, Asher, lures her to the one place that offers safety—a ParaScience university in Alaska he calls home. There, she studies the science of the supernatural and must learn to live with a roommate from Hell, survive a tunneling earworm, extract a carnivorous splinter, evade the campus poltergeists, and hope the only creature who can save her from an evil immortal doesn’t decide to kill her himself.

Excerpt

Several buildings dotted the campus, some log, some stone, and one that looked like a giant igloo. Each bore an ornately carved wooden signpost with large, bubonic-looking knots.

“Eureka Hall is here on the north-east corner.” Fin opened the outer door for her and showed her inside.

“I’m on the third floor,” she told him.

“I know.”

Up the stairs they went, and Fin explained Eureka’s layout.

“So, this is the only co-ed dorm on campus.” The stairway opened onto a large landing that split the building in two. “To the right are the boys’ rooms and to the left are all the girls’ rooms. The girls have their own showers, which are conveniently located almost directly across from your room, next to the laundry closet. In front of us is the Spruce Room, which is a community study hall slash TV room slash kitchenette.” 

He opened the door to the Spruce Room and turned on the lights.
“Nice,” she said, taking in the giant TV, five fluffy couches, desks, and tables.

“This,” he said pointing to a large presidential-looking suite adjacent to the Spruce Room, “is where your Resident Assistant lives.”

“Okay,” Hailey said with a nod.

“If you have any problems—you get locked out of your room, you have an issue with your roommate, you need more Yeti spray—any problems, Hailey, you come and knock on this door, okay?”

“Okay.”

“And I’ll answer.”

“O—what?”

Fin smiled.

“You’re my RA?” Hailey said brightly. 

“Yup.”

Yes! He’d be right down the hall and could help her get her bearings and explain these in-betweens and answer her questions, and oh crap! What about Tomas and these ghost traps? She had to disable them. 

“I need to go to the library,” she blurted.

“Of course you do.” Fin threw a confused hand in the air.

“I need a German dictionary and a book that explains these ghost traps,” she continued very seriously. She did not want Tomas getting stuck. “The campus map shows the library, but it doesn’t give the hours and—”

“Stop. The library is closed. Besides, you need to unpack all your stuff,” he said holding up her tiny bag.

She took it and frowned.

“Go check out your room, make sure your key works, meet your roommate, take a shower, et cetera, et cetera. I’ll swing by later with a German dictionary.”

He unlocked the door to his giant room. 

“And don’t worry about ghosts,” he said over his shoulder. “You’re not gonna get any ghosts in your room.”

Hailey wrinkled her brow. 

“Oh?”

“They’re afraid of your roommate,” he said quickly through the crack in his door, shutting it before Hailey even had a chance to gasp.

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About the Author:

C.M. McCoy is an Irish dancer and former military officer living in the Great White North. Though B.S.'d in chemical engineering and German, she's far happier writing stories involving Alaska and a body bag (with an awkward kiss in the mix.) While working 911 dispatch for Alaska State Troopers, she learned to speak in 10-codes, which she still does...but only to annoy her family. In the writerly world, she's the PR Manager at Inklings Literary Agency. Her debut novel, EERIE, is a paranormal adventure with romance and released 15 Dec 2015 through Omnific Publishing/Simon and Schuster.

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The Benjamin McTish Series: Goodreads Giveaway! Ebook deal!

The Benjamin McTish Series: Goodreads Giveaway! Ebook deal!: Here's a chance to win a print copy of Books One and Two in the Benjamin McTish YA Fantasy/Adventure Series….a new ebook promotion on Am...

EBOOK COUNTDOWN DEAL

Both McTish books are on the countdown deal from Dec. 6th thru the 13th….get your copy for only .99 cents!
Book Three, Benjamin McTish and the Hidden Caverns of Bristonbel is due to hit the stands at the end of February 2016 (after several seriously pushed back publication dates), and Book Four, Benjamin McTish and the Secret Tomb of Loddington will be released in late Fall 2016…so TWO books coming your way this coming year!  Keep the Magic Alive!

Amazon Deal

Amazon Deal