REview: Broken Bridges - Roy Kindelberger

Title: Broken Bridges
Author: Roy Kindelberger
Genre: Children's middle-grade
Publisher: Black Rose Writing (August 21, 2013)

Synopsis:

Twelve-year-old Rey is sent to an old rundown steel town near Pittsburgh, where he has to deal with his aging grandparents, isolated dad, missing mom, bullies, broken bridges, and horseradish sauce. While Rey sits on an airplane bound for Pittsburgh, he clutches a crumpled note. It’s been forty-one days since his mom left—no words since. Rey’s dad is sending him to Pittsburgh for the summer to stay with his grandparents, so his dad can pull his life together. Rey feels so alone. Somehow Rey has to find himself. He’s timid, unsure, yet has to make choices. These choices lead Rey to become more confident, as he makes the transition into his teenage years. Rey arrives in the middle of a heat wave. He quickly runs into trouble with some bullies and is in several difficult situations. Rey hangs out with his friend, Jason and discovers a mentor in his grandfather—bonds which are all put to the test when his grandfather becomes extremely sick and Rey has a final confrontation with the bullies. And then there are his parents. Will things ever return to normal?

Review:
I quite liked the book even though it is targeted to middle grade readers. I think most children/teenagers would identify with this. With Rey's mother gone and him being seemingly abandoned by his father too, to live with his grandparents, it is only natural that he would get into all kinds of trouble more to get attention. His run in with bullies and having to adjust to his grandparents draws a real life parallel.
Funny, sad and all in all a lovely story, I definitely recommend reading this book.



Author Bio:

Roy was born near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He loves sharing stories with his children and students. They are always looking out for a story, book, poem, or song that makes a difference in their lives.

Roy taught kindergarten for fifteen years. He now teaches second grade.

Roy lives with his wife, Laura and two wonderful children, Emily and Hailey in Bothell, Washington.
You can reach  him at: http://www.roykindelberger.com/


Author Links:
Website: http://www.roykindelberger.com/index.html Blog: http://www.roykindelberger.com/dagoblog.html Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roy.kindelberger


Buy Links: Black Rose Writing: http://www.blackrosewriting.com/~shop/broken-bridges/194121/
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/1612962424/ref=sr_1_1_olp?ie=UTF8&qid=1376951854&sr=8-1&keywords=Roy+Kindelberger&condition=new
Book Depository: http://www.bookdepository.com/Broken-Bridges-Roy-Kindelberger/9781612962429 Espresso Book Machine: http://net.ondemandbooks.com/odb/lsi/9781612962429

The Yogi's Curse Book Blast

The Yogi's Curse

Zoe and Zak are back in India. Again. And this time they’re attending Moonstock Himalayan Boarding School, which might seem fun except for the fact that the school is a little strange. Students ride elephants instead of school buses, snarling monkeys work as security guards, and angry parrots monitor the halls. And even when they manage to get used to the wildlife, the food is absolutely terrible.But living with a bunch of other kids their age can be a lot of fun too, or at least it seems that way until Zoe’s roommate goes missing. Following the directions written on a steamy bathroom mirror, Zoe and Zak fly through the clouds on their magic carpet to learn that the two of them have been chosen yet again. This time they’ve been asked to lift the Yogi’s Curse.It’s not going to be easy. Zoe and Zak don’t even know what the Yogi’s Curse is let alone how to lift it, but like it or not, they soon discover that a whole lot of people are depending on them. Now, if they’re going to save the day, they’re going to have to fool the monkey guards, avoid the nasty parrots, and maybe even develop a supernatural ability or two. Because lurking beneath Moonstock is a powerful new enemy. And if Zoe and Zak can’t stop him, nobody can.  

Buy Links: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

 
Author Bio:

Prior to writing novels, Lars Guignard wrote for film and television. As a teenager he attended boarding school in the Indian Himalayas and his experiences there provided the inspiration for the Zoe and Zak series which now include: Zoe & Zak and the Ghost Leopard and Zoe & Zak and theYogi's Curse. He now makes his home in the Pacific Northwest where he is busy completing the third Zoe & Zak adventure for release in Fall 2013. For news about new releases, please join his email list here: http://www.larsguignard.com/contact/ He can also be reached at the following places:

Blog | Twitter | Facebook

 

Giveaway:

5 x The Yogi's Curse ebooks.

Open internationally
Ends 31st October

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Pact book review

The Pact

Enter the world of Will Lesterall, a boy who’s grown up in the safety of his father’s castle. Tales of the outside world ruled by warring kings and creatures of nightmare have never seemed a threat, yet on the night celebrating the two hundredth year of the sacred Pact that has kept Fort Lesterall safe, a secret intrigue ripens, and in the course of a few hours Will is confronted with a choice greater than he can comprehend. Join an unlikely hero as destiny pulls him into the middle of an ancient conflict between fallen gods and ambitious women, one that demands blood, both holy and wicked, and the power of an ancient fire bound in steel. As swords clash below a watching wood, hope and betrayal war as fiercely as fear and valor. Whether he lives or dies, Will Lesterall will never be the same

Review

The 48 page novella is a dark intense read. It tells the story of a young boy whose home is protected by 'the pact' which is now broken.
At a dinner party at his home, it is time to fight mythical beasts to save themselves from the broken pact.
Filled with doom from the word go, it is a book that will keep you engrossed through all the 48 pages with the end leaving you wanting more - which will be answered in the inevitable sequel.

Great for a fantasy reader and even though I am not one, the book managed to hold my attention.

The Pact - Cosmic Book Blast

The Pact

Enter the world of Will Lesterall, a boy who’s grown up in the safety of his father’s castle. Tales of the outside world ruled by warring kings and creatures of nightmare have never seemed a threat, yet on the night celebrating the two hundredth year of the sacred Pact that has kept Fort Lesterall safe, a secret intrigue ripens, and in the course of a few hours Will is confronted with a choice greater than he can comprehend. Join an unlikely hero as destiny pulls him into the middle of an ancient conflict between fallen gods and ambitious women, one that demands blood, both holy and wicked, and the power of an ancient fire bound in steel. As swords clash below a watching wood, hope and betrayal war as fiercely as fear and valor. Whether he lives or dies, Will Lesterall will never be the same.

Buy Links: Kobo | Kindle | Other formats

  Author Bio: Graeme Brown is has been enchanted by the epic fantasy genre since he was a child, and consequently he started creating his own world with its stories at the age of thirteen. Influenced by writers like J.R.R. Tolkien, Robert Jordan, and George R. R. Martin, he has finally brought the first of those stories to life with his debut title, a short story called The Pact—48 pages that will whisk you away to a dark, medieval fantasy world with gritty realism. When he’s not writing, he can be found exploring number theory problems or writing computer programs, training for a marathon, or unwinding in a yoga hot room. He has also explored other facets of art, both as a hobby and a profession, including vector graphics, pen and ink, classical piano, and web design. Despite being a full time student and a junior editor for Champagne Books, he makes sure to do a little writing every day. He is presently busy with the first of many sequels to The Pact, A Thousand Roads. For more about Graeme, visit his website: http://www.graemebrownart.com/the_pact.html Author Links: Website: http://www.graemebrownart.com/the_pact.html Twitter: https://twitter.com/GraemeBrownWpg Blog: http://www.fantasywritingjourney.wordpress.com

Giveaway:

1st Prize $25 Amazon GC Runners up: 10 x The Pact ebooks Open internationally Ends 16th September a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review - The Yogi's Curse

Title: Zoe & Zak and the Yogi's Curse (Zoe & Zak Adventures #2)
Author: Lars Guignard
Genre: Children /Middle Grade



Synopsis:

Zoe and Zak are back in India. Again. And this time they’re attending Moonstock Himalayan Boarding School, which might seem fun except for the fact that the school is a little strange. Students ride elephants instead of school buses, snarling monkeys work as security guards, and angry parrots monitor the halls. And even when they manage to get used to the wildlife, the food is absolutely terrible.But living with a bunch of other kids their age can be a lot of fun too, or at least it seems that way until Zoe’s roommate goes missing. Following the directions written on a steamy bathroom mirror, Zoe and Zak fly through the clouds on their magic carpet to learn that the two of them have been chosen yet again. This time they’ve been asked to lift the Yogi’s Curse.It’s not going to be easy. Zoe and Zak don’t even know what the Yogi’s Curse is let alone how to lift it, but like it or not, they soon discover that a whole lot of people are depending on them. Now, if they’re going to save the day, they’re going to have to fool the monkey guards, avoid the nasty parrots, and maybe even develop a supernatural ability or two. Because lurking beneath Moonstock is a powerful new enemy. And if Zoe and Zak can’t stop him, nobody can.

Review

The sequel to the Zoe and Zak series, I enjoyed reading this as much as the first.

This time they actually go to school in India and that’s where the adventure starts. Zoe’s roommate goes missing and people do not notice this. It is as if she never existed.

Knowing Zoe and Zak, they decide to investigate and it is a again a wonderful magic carpet ride with mystical creatures trying to stop them.

An excellent book for middle grade readers. There is lots to keep them occupied and engaged. They will love the suspense and the mystery. The book is well written and enjoyable to readers across all ages.

A five star read. 

Author Bio:

Prior to writing novels, Lars Guignard wrote for film and television. As a teenager he attended boarding school in the Indian Himalayas and his experiences there provided the inspiration for the Zoe and Zak series which now include: Zoe & Zak and the Ghost Leopard and Zoe & Zak and theYogi's Curse.
He now makes his home in the Pacific Northwest where he is busy completing the third Zoe & Zak adventure for release in Fall 2013.

For news about new releases, please join his email list here: http://www.larsguignard.com/contact/
He can also be reached at the following places:
Blog: http://www.larsguignard.com/contact/
Twitter: @Lars_Gu
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LarsGuignardAuthor

Buy Links:
Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Zoe-Yogis-Curse-Adventures-ebook/dp/B00E4WFG2C
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zoe-Yogis-Curse-Adventures-ebook/dp/B00E4WFG2C

Blown Circuit Cosmic Blast

 

Blown Circuit

 

From the bestselling author of Lethal Circuit comes the long-awaited sequel.

 

Michael Chase is back.

 

He survived China. Barely.

 

But now he's got bigger problems. He has enemies. Deadly enemies.

 

Good thing Michael is in no mood to play nice.

 

Michael survived China. Barely. But now he's got bigger problems. A pair of coordinates broadcast on an obscure frequency have brought Michael to Istanbul, Turkey where credible chatter has emerged that a terrorist group plans to use a devastating device to hold the world hostage.

 

Designed by Nikola Tesla, arguably the greatest inventor of the Twentieth Century, the device is experimental, it is capable, and it has been missing for almost sixty years. If Michael is to prevent a catastrophe, he'll need to get to the device before the Conspiracy or risk upsetting the global balance of power forever. Of course, !nding the Tesla Device is one thing, knowing whom he can trust with it is another matter entirely.

 

To survive, he'll have to do both. If he doesn't, what started as a bad day is about to become a disaster.

 

Can Michael fight his way through the lies and deception to save the world?

 

If you can't get enough of the action of Lee Child and Vince Flynn, the intrigue of Robert Ludlum, and the adventure of Clive Cussler and James Rollins, you are going to LOVE Blown Circuit!

 

Purchase from Amazon  

Author Bio

 

Lars Guignard is a former film and television writer and graduate of both McGill University and the American Film Institute in Los Angeles. His bestselling novel, Lethal Circuit, has been a TOP 100 Amazon Spy Thriller since its release. In addition to the Circuit series, Lars is the author of the children's adventure series, Zoe & Zak and the Ghost Leopard, Zoe & Zak and the Yogi's Curse and the paranormal mystery series, Brood. Ever since attending high school in the Indian Himalayas, Lars has been an avid backpacker and traveler. He now makes his home in the Pacific Northwest where he is busy completing the third Michael Chase thriller for release in 2013.

 

For news about new releases, please join his email list here: http://www.larsguignard.com/contact/

 

He can also be reached at the following places:

 

Blog: www.larsguignard.com

Twitter: @Lars_Gu

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LarsGuignardAuthor

 

Giveaway

 

The author is giving away 4 prizes.

1st prize is $20 Amazon gift card.

3 runner up prizes of Kindle copies of Blown Circuit

 

Open internationally

Ends 15th September 2013

a Rafflecopter giveaway    

Book Review: Linked by Judy Serrano

Title: Linked
Author: Judy Serrano
Genre: Suspense/Thriller with a Twist



Synopsis:
Daphne Foster is a substitute teacher stuck in an English class, waiting for that dreaded parent-teacher conference. With much preparation and anxiety, she encounters the unforgettable Charlie Cross. His charm and good looks, win her over but rumors of his involvement with organized crime make his continued disappearances disturbing.
In walks Heathcliff Vanderpool, creating a love triangle of unusual sorts. Unknown to Daphne, Heathcliff and Charlie are old friends: Older than she could have imagined. With Charlie away on business, Daphne and Heathcliff discover a passion between them lying beneath the surface. As their souls link, pulling away from Charlie becomes next to impossible. Will his involvement in organized crime consume them both before she’s able to get free? When you become “linked,” the choice may not be your own.

Review:
As I have mentioned before, I am not a fan of the supernatural genre. But having read Judy Serrano before, I was looking forward to this one.
Daphne has it all covered as she begins her career as a teacher. However, when she meets Charlie everything changes. He is everything that is off limits to her - a student's parent and more than that, a vampire. She embarks on a torrid affair with him throwing caution to the winds.
When she meets Heathcliff, she realises that she may have much more in common with him.
I love the suspense in the story and of course against what I normally read, it was interesting to read about vampires and werewolves as the story is so well written.
A bits of the book drag and these could well be removed but all in all it was a good read and will be enjoyed by all supernatural fans.


Author Bio:

Judy Serrano graduated from Texas A&M University, Commerce with a BA in English. She is a member of Romance Writers of America and Dallas Area Romance Authors. She is a substitute teacher at the local school district and writes for various on-line publications. She is the author of Easter's Lilly, Brother Number Three, Relatively Close and Memoirs of a Mobster, which are romantic thrillers and part of The Easter’s Lilly Series.
Judy currently resides in Texas with her husband, four children (all boys) and five dogs. She is also a singer/songwriter in her spare time.


Author web links:
WEBSITE: www.JudySerrano.com
BLOG : www.JudySerranoAuthor.com
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/#!/authorjserrano
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/JudySerranoAuthor?ref=ts
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4792103.Judy_Serrano


Purchase Links:
Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Judy-Serrano/e/B004YRGTYG/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1360266695&sr=1-2-ent
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Judy-Serrano?store=allproducts&keyword=Judy+Serrano