Ken McGorry - Ghost Hampton: A Novel

Friday, October 28, 2016

20. Ghost Hampton: A Novel by Ken McGorry (2016)
The Ghost Hampton Series Book 1
Length: 456 pages
Genre: Paranormal Mystery
Started: 5 October 2016
Finished: 28 October 2016
Where did it come from? Many thanks to Dorothy at Pump up Your Book for sending me a copy of this book to read.
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 28 September 2016
Why do I have it? I like paranormal mysteries and Ken McGorry is a new author for me.

Living in the town of Southampton, New York, Lyle Hall had acquired a reputation for being a notoriously tough real estate lawyer. It was a reputation that was certainly well-deserved, as he was known to be a difficult person to deal with - both in and out of the courtroom. He was definitely not the type of person who has ever allowed feelings of sentimentality to get in the way of him doing whatever was in his client's best interest. And if it just so happened that Lyle Hall's own best interests were also met during his career, then so much the better.

However, ever since his catastrophic car accident a year ago, Lyle has undergone a Scrooge-like transformation. The accident was indeed life-changing; it took the life of an elderly woman, and has left Lyle paralyzed from the waist down. After having a near-death experience himself and spending two months in a coma, Lyle Hall has awakened to find that he developed a strange and disturbing new 'talent': he has somehow become empathetic to other people's pain. This recent development in his personality is disturbing for Lyle, because while he certainly understands why the residents of Southampton are grieving, angry, and even hostile towards him; he is nevertheless powerless to make them understand that their assumptions about the accident are completely wrong.

Late one October night - while being driven back home - Lyle passes by a dilapidated Victorian mansion that has recently been slated for demolition. Known around town as "Old Vic" - the ramshackle house has apparently had quite a colorful history as a former brothel. Lyle cannot honestly describe how he feels just driving by Old Vic - but he intrinsically understands that if he mentions the disembodied pleas for help that he hears - nobody will believe him. Returning alone to the property two days later, Lyle sees an apparition standing on the porch of the house.

The vision of the mysterious young woman identifies herself as Jewel, and she looks to be about twelve years old. But she's been dead for at least a century. Jewel has been chosen to make a desperate appeal to Lyle for his help. In return, she shows him an appalling vision - his only daughter Georgia's epitaph - which, if it is to be believed, means that she will die in four days!

Whether or not Jewel is using this terrifying vision in order to force Lyle's assistance - he has no idea - yet the nightmarish vision serves as the catalyst that shocks Lyle out of his complacent convalescence and back into the real world. However, Lyle's court injunction to save the crumbling Old Vic backfires on him. When Lyle's former courthouse nemesis - a newspaper columnist with a hidden agenda - publishes a sensational story designed to embarrass Lyle, the resulting rumors of a possibly haunted house brings with it a flurry of national media attention. Soon a horde of paranormal-obsessed demonstrators - paranormal investigators and ghost-hunting paranormal enthusiasts alike - descend on the town of Southampton.

Rapidly swept up in the national media frenzy, Lyle finds himself trapped between the proverbial rock and a hard place when he meets the extraordinary Miranda Silkwood. Silk, as she is known to her fans, is a gorgeous yet highly devious television reporter. While his new nemesis may only be scheming to make her big break into the legitimate news business - biding her time working with an online media conglomerate dedicated to all things paranormal - Lyle nevertheless finds himself being seduced by Silk's offer of an exclusive media contract. Faced with an impossible situation - to either sit down with Miranda Silkwood for an exclusive interview; or continuing to try and protect his Georgie's wellbeing without her knowledge - Lyle initially stumbles badly.

I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I appreciated just how much Lyle Hall may have changed personally because of his accident, but also understood that he faced an extraordinary dilemma: proving to his neighbors that he is now an entirely different person. I would certainly say that this story is a lot like A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens - however, Ghost Hampton: A Novel focuses more on what happens after Lyle Hall undergoes his Scrooge-like transformation. I would certainly give this book an A! and am curious to see how this story will develop in future books.

A! - (90-95%)

May you read well and often

Blog Tour For I, Angus by Mike Hartner From November 1, 2016 to January 27, 2017 - Come Join Us!

Thursday, October 20, 2016

Hello Everyone! I am extremely happy to announce that Mike Hartner will be touring the blogosphere to promote his historical novel I, Angus. This virtual book tour is being hosted by Pump up Your Book and will last from November 1, to January 27, 2017!

I, Angus Blog Tour Information:

Meet Mike Hartner

Mike Hartner was born in Miami in 1965. He’s traveled much of the continental United States. He has several years post secondary education, and experience teaching and tutoring young adults. Hartner has owned and run a computer firm for more than twenty-five years. He now lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with his wife and child. They share the neighborhood and their son with his maternal grandparents.

Mike’s latest book is I, Angus (The Eternity Series Book 4).

Connect and Socialize with Mike!

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads


About I, Angus:

During a time of civil strife and purging the North has lost more men to Wars then it ever did to Nature. Angus has grown up learning that his life is better off with only him and a family. But is that really in the Grand Plan.

The North needs someone to build community. But first, Angus needs to be forged…beaten, shaped, bolded and trained. Watch as Angus hits both lows and highs across the lands of England, Scotland and France, before meeting a challenge of new land.

Purchase your copy from Amazon and Barnes and Noble!

I, Angus Book Publicity Tour Schedule:


Tuesday, November 1 - First Chapter Reveal and Tour Kick-Off at Pump Up Your Book
Wednesday, November 2 - Book Featured at I’m Shelf-ish
Thursday, November 3 - Book Featured at The Writer’s Life
Friday, November 4 - Book Featured at As the Page Turns
Monday, November 7 - Book Featured at Literarily Speaking
Monday, November 14 - First Chapter Reveal at The Dark Phantom
Tuesday, November 15 - Book Featured at The Literary Nook
Wednesday, November 16 - Book Featured at Confessions of an Eccentric Bookaholic
Thursday, November 17 - Book Featured at Mello and June, It’s a Book Thang!
Monday, November 21 - First Chapter Reveal at Read My First Chapter
Wednesday, November 23 - Book Featured at The Bookworm Lodge
Monday, November 28 - Book Featured at Bound 2 Escape
Wednesday, November 30 - Guest Blogging at The Story Behind the Book
Monday, December 5 - Interview at PUYB Virtual Book Club
Tuesday, December 6 - Book Featured at A Title Wave
Wednesday, December 7 - Book Featured at E-Romance News
Friday, December 9 - Interview at My Bookish Pleasures
Monday, December 12 - Interview at I’m  Shelf-ish
Wednesday, December 14 - Interview at The Literary Nook
Friday, December 16 - Guest Blogging at Lori’s Reading Corner
Tuesday, January 3 - First Chapter Reveal at Beyond the Books
Thursday, January 5 - Book Review at Emeraldfire’s Bookmark
Friday, January 6 - Interview at The Writer’s Life
Monday, January 9 - Guest Blogging at Book Cover Junkie
Thursday, January 12 - Guest Blogging at Dear Reader, Love Author
Monday, January 16 - Book Featured at Hooked From Page One
Tuesday, January 17 - Interview at As the Pages Turn
Wednesday, January 18 - Book Featured at SheWrites
Thursday, January 19 - Guest Blogging at Write and Take Flight
Monday, January 23 - Book Featured at BlogHer
Tuesday, January 24 - First Chapter Reveal at The Book Rack
Friday, January 27 - Book Featured at Books, Books, the Magical Fruit

May you read well and often

D. L. Richardson, author of Welcome to the Apocalypse, chats about Amazon's Kindle Scout Publishing Program for Independent Authors

Monday, October 17, 2016


I'm delighted to announce that the science fiction novel, Welcome to the Apocalypse by D. L. Richardson recently been nominated by Amazon's Kindle Scout Program for possible publication. Starting on September 28th and lasting until October 28th, Welcome to the Apocalypse by D. L. Richardson will be part of its own campaign for publication. Yes, from September 28th to October 28th, Welcome to the Apocalypse by D. L. Richardson will be subject to the voting process. Your vote counts, so be sure to vote today!

Meet D. L. Richardson

Debbie Richardson is a writer of speculative fiction. Her favorite authors influence her to write: Dean Koontz, Stephen King and Anne Rice. She wanted to be a musician first but decided writing had better hours. She wants to be as prolific as her favorite authors and she loves meeting readers and sharing her writing tips with other authors. When she's not writing she's reading, killing weeds in the garden, walking the dog, or apologizing to her piano and guitar for neglecting them.You can read about her other books on her website www.dlrichardson.com.

Connect and Socialize with D. L.!



Synopsis from Amazon:

Kill or be killed just got real in this game.

It's launch day of a game that'll entertain cosplayers and doomsday preppers. Kelly, Jack, and Reis enter simulation pods to survive a virtual apocalypse, yet instead of "game over" they enter a new game. Then another. Each new day brings a new battle. Surviving the games is easy, it's "kill or be killed". But fatigue and cyber sickness are setting in and the pods are designed for three days. With no communication to or from the operators, they can only hope they're rescued before it's too late.

Cast your vote for this book through Amazon Kindle Scout!

I would like to welcome D. L. Richardson, author of Welcome to the Apocalypse, a thrilling science fiction novel that has recently been nominated by Amazon's Kindle Scout Publishing Program for possible future release, to Emeraldfire's Bookmark. Ms. Richardson was kind enough to write a guest post for me and here it is below in her own words:

'Why You Should Nominate my Novel For Publication'
by D. L. Richardson

Hello! My sci-fi novel Welcome to the Apocalypse has been approved for a 30-day campaign with Kindle Scout, an imprint of Amazon. I'm hoping you can help me WIN nominations.

How the campaign works is similar to 'So You Think You Can Dance' or 'American Idol' or 'X-Factor'. Readers get to vote on a book in the program. Votes count towards publication. Yes, we writers have finally got ourselves a 'So You Think You Can Write' competition. Can you imagine what that would look like on TV? A whole bunch of people sitting at computers.

Anyway, why should you vote? If the book is published through Kindle Scout, every reader who nominated gets a free ebook of Welcome to the Apocalypse, an advanced copy prior to publication. They get to say they helped get a book published. Plus, you can enter the Giveaway to win $50 cash prize.

Whether I get this book published or not, I thank you for all your help.

VOTE NOW AND WIN CASH!
Campaign starts September 28th and ends October 28th!

Readers can win cash simply by voting. Bonus points for sharing your nomination.


May you read well and often

Michael Phillip Cash - Schism: The Battle For Darracia

Friday, October 14, 2016

Reread. Schism: The Battle For Darracia by Michael Phillip Cash (2013)
(Revised Author's Edition 2015)
The Battle For Darracia Saga Book 1
Length: 188 pages
Genre: Science Fiction
Originally Read: 20 June 2014
Reread Finished: 14 October 2016
Where did it come from? Originally I received two copies of Schism from Michael Phillip Cash and Red Feather Publishing back in February and April of 2014. Then, back in June of 2015, Susan at My Book Tour sent me a copy of the Revised Author's Edition to read. Many thanks also to Dorothy at Pump up Your Book for sending me a copy of the Revised Author's Edition to read in September of 2016. I downloaded a copy of this book from Amazon also in September of 2016.

So, back on February 8th, 2014, Mr. Cash was kind enough to send me a copy of Schism to read. Schism by Michael Phillip Cash is the first book in The Battle For Darracia Saga, and after the book began to win awards, I received another copy of the book from Red Feather Publishing on April 2nd, 2014. Despite starting to read this book a few times since I received it, I found that I unfortunately had to set it aside at times.

Having said that, I was thrilled to finally get the chance to read Schism by Michael Phillip Cash for the first time in June of 2014. It actually took me a total of eleven days to read - from June 9th, to June 20th, 2014. Actually, here is my review from June of 2014.

I had signed up to take part in a virtual book tour for The Battle For Darracia Saga being held in November of 2015. Despite Susan at My Book Tour sending me an ebook copy of the entire saga in June of 2015, I wasn't able to contribute a full book review to the tour, although I did post two guest posts from Mr. Cash as well as a book release post. Here are the links to Mr. Cash's guest posts: his character interview with Crown Prince V'Sair, his advice to fledgling writers, and my book release post - all posted in November of 2015.

Finally in September of 2016 - first on September 17th, 2016, then three days later on September 20th, 2016 - I downloaded a copy of the entire saga from Amazon and then Dorothy at Pump up Your Book sent me a copy of the entire saga to read for Mr. Cash's upcoming virtual book tour in October of 2016. I actually read Schism for a second time from September 16th, to October 14th, 2016. Granted, it took me a total of twenty-eight days to finish this first book, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and look forward to reading Collision very soon - hopefully as soon as I possibly can.

May you read well and often

Book Review Campaign For The Blue Witch by Joni Parker - Come Join Us!

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Hello Everyone! I am extremely happy to announce that Joni Parker will be touring the blogosphere to promote her fantasy novel The Blue Witch. This is Ms. Parker's second virtual book review campaign with Pump up Your Book! It will last until January 15, 2017 so come join us for all the fun!

The Blue Witch Book Review Campaign Information:


Meet Joni Parker

Joni Parker was born in Chicago, Illinois, but left the windy city at an early age when her family moved to Japan. Upon return to the United States, her family moved to Phoenix, Arizona where she graduated from Camelback High School and began college. However within months, Joni quit college and joined the Navy where she became a Photographer’s Mate.

After 3 years in the Navy, she returned to college and got married. She got a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and an MBA before she returned to the Navy. As a Commissioned Officer, Joni attended the US Army Command and General Staff College, completing a Master of Military Arts and Sciences Degree. She retired from the Navy with over 22 years of service and spent several years traveling the United States in a motorhome with her husband.

When he died unexpectedly, Joni returned to work for the federal government in a civil service job. Five years ago, she started writing and retired once more to devote more time to her new passion. She currently lives in Texas.

Her latest fantasy book is The Blue Witch - Book Two in The Chronicles of Eledon Series.

Connect and Socialize with Joni!


About The Blue Witch:

The second installment of The Chronicles of Eledon finds Lady Alexin in Avalon, seat of King Arthur’s throne. The mortal world is far from what she’d imagined, and the mortals are less than hospitable. Trouble abounds when Alex is accused of being the “Blue Witch” and sentenced to die for treason. In addition, the mysterious death of one of Arthur’s courtiers by seemingly magical means complicates her situation.

Back in Eledon, trouble is brewing. Civil unrest and the threat of war demands Alex’s presence to assume her responsibilities as Keeper of the Keys for the Council of Elders. Only too glad to escape the noose, Alex executes a series of quests to prove her abilities to handle the keys and their strange magic.

But can she save the Elves from Civil War? And commute her own death sentence by finding the Holy Grail?

Purchase your copy from Amazon!

May you read well and often

Introducing Dinosaur Lake IV: Dinosaur Wars by Kathryn Meyer Griffith!

Monday, October 10, 2016

I'm delighted to tell you all that the first book in Kathryn Meyer Griffith's thrilling Dinosaur Lake Series - Dinosaur Lake - is currently free to download from Amazon. Also, with the recent publication of the fourth and final installment of the Dinosaur Lake Series - Dinosaur Lake IV: Dinosaur Wars - back in September, Ms. Griffith has one teeny, tiny, little favor to ask of you all. If you'd be kind enough to write a brief but honest review of the books in the series for her on Amazon, she would be absolutely delighted. Just email Ms. Griffith at rdgriff@htc.net, and she'll be happy to send you a complimentary copy of any of the books to read.

Dinosaur Lake by Kathryn Meyer Griffith is the first book in her Dinosaur Lake Series, and I had the pleasure of reading Book 1 way back in March of 2014! Here is my review. You can also download the other two books in the series - Check 'em out! ;)

Meet Kathryn Meyer Griffith

Since childhood I’ve been an artist and worked as a graphic designer in the corporate world and for newspapers for twenty-three years before I quit to write full time. But I’d already begun writing novels at 21, over forty-two years ago now, and have had twenty (ten romantic horror, two horror novels, two romantic SF horror, one romantic suspense, one romantic time travel, one historical romance and three murder mysteries) previous novels, two novellas and twelve short stories published from Zebra Books, Leisure Books, Avalon Books, The Wild Rose Press, Damnation Books/Eternal Press; and I’ve self-published my last five novels with Amazon Kindle Direct and my dinosaur novels are my best-sellers.

I’ve been married to Russell for thirty-six years; have a son, James, and two grandchildren, Joshua and Caitlyn, and I live in a small quaint town in Illinois, which is right across the JB Bridge from St. Louis, Mo. We have three quirky cats, ghost cat Sasha and Cleo, and live cat Sasha (Too), and the five of us live happily in an old house in the heart of town. Though I’ve been an artist, and a folk singer in my youth with my brother Jim, writing has always been my greatest passion, my butterfly stage, and I’ll probably write stories until the day I die…or until my memory goes.

2012 EPIC EBOOK AWARDS *FINALIST* for my horror novel The Last Vampire - Revised Author’s Edition ~ 2014 EPIC EBOOK AWARDS *FINALIST* for my thriller novel Dinosaur Lake.

Connect and Socialize with Kathryn!



Dinosaur Lake by Kathryn Meyer Griffith (2012)
Length: 451 pages
Purchase your copy from Amazon and Audible!

Dinosaur Lake Blurb:

Ex-cop Henry Shore has been Chief Park Ranger at Crater Lake National Park for eight years and he likes his park and his life the way it's been. Safe. Tranquil. Predictable. But he's about to be tested in so many ways. First the earthquakes begin, people begin to go missing, then there's some mysterious water creature that's taken up residence in the caves below Crater Lake and it's not only growing in size, it's aggressive and cunning and very hungry.

And it's decided it likes human beings. To eat.

And it can come up onto land.

So Henry, with the help of his wife, Ann; a young paleontologist named Justin; and a band of brave men, must not only protect his park and his people from the monster but somehow find where it lives and destroy it before it can kill again.

Now Dinosaur Lake by Kathryn Meyer Griffith is a 2014 EPIC EBOOK AWARDS *FINALIST* in their Suspense/Thriller category.


Dinosaur Lake II: Dinosaurs Arising by Kathryn Meyer Griffith (2014)
Length: 248 pages
Purchase your copy from Amazon and Audible!

Dinosaur Lake II: Dinosaurs Arising Blurb:

Prehistoric creatures have again invaded Crater Lake National Park…and this time there’s more than one.

Henry Shore has been Chief Park Ranger at Crater Lake National Park for thirteen years now and thought the days when he’d had to fight a rogue dinosaur that lived in the caves below the lake were long over.

Until one of his park rangers, to save a visitor’s life, is in a deadly struggle out in the woods with a new breed of dinosaur worse than the last one. It’s as big as a man, but this one is a young one. And growing.

Then more of the creatures begin to show up everywhere, threatening people and destroying the tranquility and safety of his beloved park.

A tourist trolley filled with fifteen people is snatched up off the crater’s rim by another version of the younger one…but this one has grown into a giant with fangs, claws and a deadly tail. And this one has wings. Ugly Gargoyles, Henry calls them. For this one isn’t alone. They’re flying beyond the park’s boundaries into the neighboring towns.

So Henry, with the help of his son-in-law, a paleontologist named Justin, and a band of brave park rangers, and a few good soldiers, must not only protect his park and his people from monsters once more but find their lair and destroy it and them before the creatures kill again.


Dinosaur Lake III: Infestation by Kathryn Meyer Griffith (2014)
Length: 285 pages
Purchase your copy from Amazon!

Dinosaur Lake III: Infestation Blurb:

Chief Park Ranger Henry Shore has dealt with and fought real live dinosaurs at his beloved Crater Lake National Park for over six years. With the help of his rangers, a few brave FBI friends and army soldiers he’d been victorious over a prehistoric lake creature and years later some particularly fiendish, and clever, specimens of the flying variety. He and his newspaper publisher wife, Ann, thought their park was finally rid of the monsters and they could reclaim their tranquil life in a place they cherished.

Not so. For suddenly across the park new and even more malevolent mutant species of dinosaur begin to appear and create havoc, attacking the park’s visitors and threatening its peace. And this time the primeval scourge isn’t confined to just their park. The creatures have moved into the nearby towns, across the western United States and up into Canada.

They are so much more aggressive, smarter and hungrier than any that have come before and the infestation is spreading further and faster than Henry and Ann can even imagine. This time there’s no easy way to defeat the dinosaurs. There’s too many of them and they’re too devious. This time it’s full out war and the victor will someday claim Earth.


Dinosaur Lake IV: Dinosaur Wars by Kathryn Meyer Griffith (2016)
Length: 362 pages
Purchase your copy from Amazon!

Dinosaur Lake IV: Dinosaur Wars Blurb:

For seven long years Chief Park Ranger Henry Shore has been dealing with and fighting anachronistic dinosaurs in his beloved Crater Lake National Park and in the surrounding town of Klamath Falls. It began with one lone leviathan, the one he tongue-in-cheek called Godzilla. Henry and his band of heroes defeated it but others followed: the flying varieties he named gargoyles, the mutant T-Rexes and roaming velociraptors that were so much smarter than their ancient ancestors. 

He, his rangers and the National Guard soldiers, fought all of them, but still the dinosaurs, cunningly destructive and blood-thirsty, kept coming. No one knew where they came from or what the future would now hold for a besieged humanity, they only knew the monsters were spreading like a voracious wildfire and had to be stopped before they ravaged the world. Eventually, he and his wife, Ann, their family and friends, retreated into a fortified ranger headquarters where they continued to battle the proliferating dinosaurs. 

Will Henry’s son-in-law, Doctor Justin Maltin, a brilliant paleontologist, find a way to exterminate the creatures and save them...save the world? And, more importantly, would he be able to do it in time? Dinosaur Lake IV Dinosaur Wars is the fourth and final book of the Dinosaur Lake Series.

May you read well and often

Sylvia Little - Mystery at Raven Abbey

Saturday, October 8, 2016

18. Mystery at Raven Abbey by Sylvia Little (1952)
Length: 183 pages 
Genre: Contemporary Mystery 
Started: 15 August 2016
Finished: 8 October 2016
Where did it come from? This was a birthday present given to me by a friend when I was ten years old.
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 1 June 1988
Why do I have it? I like contemporary mysteries and Sylvia Little is a new author for me.

Sixteen-year-old Leslie Braithwaite and her brother Gerry; nicknamed Boy, and sixteen-year-old Betty Scott and her brother John; nicknamed J. S. are getting ready to start the school term at both 'Raven Abbey School For Girls' and its counterpart: 'Friars School For Boys'. The mystery begins approximately a week before school starts, when the four friends decide to go sightseeing around the town. They happen to meet someone who they all know rather well, but who acts like he doesn't recognize them. While this chance meeting is certainly a very curious occurrence, Leslie, Boy, Betty and J. S. have no way of knowing just how much this meeting will prove to be the catalyst for a mystery that will eventually involve both Raven Abbey and Friars.

While Leslie and Betty must contend with various petty squabbles, directing the mid-term co-ed school drama, and scheduling hockey tryouts; Boy and J. S. find themselves embroiled in a strange case of possible embezzlement. Soon, Leslie and Betty are also drawn into their own investigation - that of the rumored sightings of Victoria Maitland - a former Raven Abbey student from the Class of 1899, who reputedly drowned in 1900. When a person of interest is discovered to have a ties to both Raven Abbey and Friars, Betty and Leslie must help their brothers to solve both mysteries.

I just have to say that I really enjoyed reading this book. I've had it on my bookcase for over twenty years - and despite starting to read it several times over the years - I have only managed to finish it recently. I don't know exactly what it was that caused me to spend so much time reading this book, but I still found it quite intriguing, if somewhat dated.

I did have some trouble getting into this story, as the characters nicknames were slightly strange to me, but I suppose that since this book was written in 1952 - my feelings are to be expected. Having said that, this is definitely a book that I want to keep on my bookshelf. Reading it was a pleasant trip back into my childhood and I would give this book an A!

A! - (90-95%)

May you read well and often

Cyci Cade - Tut Reborn

Thursday, October 6, 2016

17. Tut Reborn by Cyci Cade (2016)
Length: 432 pages 
Genre: Historical Fantasy 
Started: 27 September 2016
Finished: 6 October 2016
Where did it come from? Many thanks to Dorothy at Pump up Your Book for sending me a copy of this book to read.
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 13 August 2016
Why do I have it? I like historical fantasy and Cyci Cade is a new author for me.

According to Egyptian history, in 1323 BC, Egypt's youngest pharaoh died at the age of nineteen after ruling his country for a decade. You may think you know the true story of the Pharaoh Tutankhamun and of ancient Egypt, but what if the actual story didn't end quite the way you had always believed? Suffused with love; permeated with conspiracy; and immersed in treason - Tutankhamun's spectacular story unfolds in a myriad of surprising ways; ways that you can't even begin to imagine. As a matter of fact, what if Tutankhamun's story never ended at all?

After the Pharaoh Akhenaton is murdered, his nine-year-old son Tutankhamun succeeds him to become the new pharaoh. Right from the beginning of his reign, the boy king faces many enemies and struggles to prove himself even to his own councilors. Although he eventually becomes capable enough to vanquish the numerous enemies who threaten his kingdom, Tutankhamun may never actually defeat the enemy that resides within his own palace. 

When the pharaoh falls in love for the first time in his life, the woman who captures his heart wields an awesome power indeed. Yet Tutankhamun has always had to make difficult decisions and to sacrifice his own personal happiness in order to protect Egypt. He realizes fairly quickly that when matters of the heart and the duties of the pharaoh are in conflict - his duties toward Egypt must always take precedence over his emotions.

When the cruel Pharaoh Khufu is resurrected, and becomes a vessel for the god of Chaos, Tutankhamun faces an impossible situation. He must fight this usurper of his throne - the embodiment of true Chaos - but does he have the strength and wisdom to fight against such fantastical deities and unimaginable odds? He must call upon the powers of the gods Horus, Thoth, Ra and Anhur to aid him in the impending battle, and in order to save the woman he loves and the people of his kingdom.

I have always enjoyed reading historical fantasy as long as the chosen historical era is accurately portrayed. I also enjoy reading anything about King Tutankhamun and his reign. In my opinion, Tut Reborn by Cyci Cade is a fascinating glimpse into the culture of ancient Egypt. I was also just as intrigued to see how Egyptian mythology could be woven into this story as a plausible yet equally fantastic element of the plot. I would certainly give this book an A!

A! - (90-95%)

May you read well and often

Blog Tour For One of Windsor: The Untold Story of America's First Witch Hanging by Beth M. Caruso From November 1, 2016 to November 30, 2016 - Come Join Us!

Monday, October 3, 2016

Hello Everyone! I am extremely happy to announce that Beth M. Caruso will be touring the blogosphere to promote her historical novel One of Windsor: The Untold Story of America's First Witch Hanging. This virtual book tour is being hosted by Pump up Your Book and will last from November 1, to November 30, 2016!

Ms. Caruso is also doing an awesome giveaway - she is giving away a Free Kindle copy of One of Windsor: The Untold Story of America's First Witch Hanging to one lucky winner at the end of her Blog Tour. Be sure to fill out the Rafflecopter form below, and I wish you all the very best of good luck in taking part!

One of Windsor: The Untold Story of America's First Witch Hanging Blog Tour Information:

Meet Beth M. Caruso 

Beth M. Caruso grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio and spent her childhood writing puppet shows and witches’ cookbooks. She became interested in French Literature and Hispanic Studies, receiving a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Cincinnati. She later obtained Masters degrees in Nursing and Public Health.

Working as a Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand, she helped to improve the public health of local Karen hill tribes. She also had the privilege to care for hundreds of babies and their mothers as a labor and delivery nurse. Largely influenced by an apprenticeship with herbalist and wildcrafter, Will Endres, in North Carolina, she surrounds herself with plants through gardening and native species conservation.

Her latest passion is to discover and convey important stories of women in American history. One of Windsor is her debut novel. She lives in New England with her awesome husband, amazing children, loyal puppy, and cuddly cats.

Connect and Socialize with Beth!

Website * Facebook


About One of Windsor: The Untold Story of America's First Witch Hanging:

Alice, a young woman prone to intuitive insights and loyalty to the only family she has ever known, leaves England for the rigid colony of the Massachusetts Bay in 1635 in hopes of reuniting with them again. Finally settling in Windsor, Connecticut, she encounters the rich American wilderness and its inhabitants, her own healing abilities, and the blinding fears of Puritan leaders which collide and set the stage for America’s first witch hanging, her own, on May 26, 1647.

This event and Alice’s ties to her beloved family are catalysts that influence Connecticut’s Governor John Winthrop Jr. to halt witchcraft hangings in much later years. Paradoxically, these same ties and the memory of the incidents that led to her accusation become a secret and destructive force behind Cotton Mather’s written commentary on the Salem witch trials of 1692, provoking further witchcraft hysteria in Massachusetts forty-five years after her death.

The author uses extensive historical research combined with literary inventions, to bring forth a shocking and passionate narrative theory explaining this tragic and important episode in American history.

Purchase your copy from Amazon and Barnes and Noble!


Pump up Your Book and Beth M. Caruso are giving away a free Kindle copy of One of Windsor: The Untold Story of America's First Witch Hanging!

Terms and Conditions:

• By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
• One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive both books
• This giveaway ends midnight November 30.
• Winner will be contacted via email on December 1.
• Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!


One of Windsor: The Untold Story of America's First Witch Hanging Book Publicity Tour Schedule:


Tuesday, November 1 - Book Feature and Tour Kickoff at The Writer’s Life
Wednesday, November 2 - Character Interview at Pimp That Character!
Thursday, November 3 - Interview at The Dark Phantom Reviews
Monday, November 7 - Book Featured at Bound 2 Escape
Tuesday, November 8 - Book Review at Books, Reviews, ETC.
Wednesday, November 9 - Book Review at 100 Pages A Day
Tuesday, November 15 - Book Featured at Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews
Wednesday, November 16 - Interview at My Bookish Pleasures
Monday, November 21 - Guest Blogging at The Story Behind the Book
Wednesday, November 23 - Book Review at Emeraldfire’s Bookmark
Monday, November 28 - Book Review at fuonlyknew
Wednesday, November 30 - Book Review at A Holland Reads
Wednesday, November 30 - Book Review at Confessions of the Perfect Mom

May you read well and often

Reading Wrap-up For September at Emeraldfire's Bookmark

Saturday, October 1, 2016


Hello everyone out there and I hope that you all had a terrific reading month for yourselves. I am known as Emeraldfire around the Internet and this is my new personal reading blog.

Anyway, I started out September with about two hundred unread books lying around the house and ended the month with...umm...uncountable amounts of books unread. All of the books that I acquired this month came from authors, Apple I-BooksPaperback Swap and Amazon.

Let me try to break down the influx for you:

Changes to the TBR pile

Read from my TBR pile (Yes! I am a reading machine :))
- Across the Long Sea by Sarah Remy
- The Prophecy of Shadows by Michelle Madow

Added to my TBR pile (oh well, you win some and you lose some! :))
- The Gladiator's Girl by Amy Hearst
- The Gladiator's Goddess by Amy Hearst
- The Sevenfold Spell by Tia Nevitt
- The Magic Mirror and the Seventh Dwarf by Tia Nevitt
- The Battle For Darracia: The Complete Saga by Michael Phillip Cash
- Ghost Hampton: A Novel by Ken McGorry
- Time and Again by Jack Finney

Taken off my TBR pile and sent to a new home (Yay! Happy Dance! :))
- Witches Protection Program by Michael Phillip Cash
- Across the Long Sea by Sarah Remy
- The Prophecy of Shadows by Michelle Madow

Well, there it is...the breakdown! All in all, a very good reading month for me, considering. Here's a further breakdown:

Books Read: 2
Pages Read: 597
Grade Range: A+! to A!

So, there you go! The reading month that was September. I hope that you all had an equally good reading month; if not a little better. :) See you all next month! :)

May you read well and often