SPECIAL GUEST POST & KICKSTARTER DISCOUNT!

E-Book $1 Special until Jan 14 – Or $50 Kickstarter reward for only $26!

Today we’ve got a special offer just for you, our dear readers!  We were approached by an indie author named Brandon Bosse who is running a successful Kickstarter to launch his new book, The Dreams of Phillip Aisling and the Numinous Nagwaagan.  He wanted to offer hidden discounts on his Kickstarter rewards to us.  It’s kind of like a secret coupon code to get the book’s Kickstarter rewards for less:

How to get these deals:

Step 1) Visit Brandon’s Kickstarter page https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bbosse/book-dreams-of-phillip-aisling-young-adult-fantasy

Step 2) Click the green “Back this Project” button

Step 3) OPTION 1: To receive the $1 e-book, select the “No thanks, I just want to help the project” option.  Make sure the amount is set to $1 and click Continue.  Brandon is sending a copy of the e-book to anyone who backs the project even just for $1.  But only our blog readers will know about this deal!

OPTION 2: To receive the Signed Paperback + the Book 2 Preview, select the “$25 or more” reward level and MAKE SURE to change the amount from $25 to $26 to indicate you are taking advantage of the $1 upgrade to the $50 reward level!  Click continue.

Step 4) Sign in to Kickstarter to complete the pledge.  If you’ve never supported a Kickstarter before it is easy and free to create an account.  You can even use your Facebook account to easily signup quickly.

Step 5) Review your pledge and click the PLEDGE button!  That’s it!

Book Review

The cover art looks amazing and inviting, but we know better than to judge a book solely by the cover.  However, the girls are very interested in reading and reviewing this book based on what they see on the cover :) The book hasn’t been released yet, but the synopsis is intriguing:

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Phillip Aisling is just like any other boy, or so he thought.  On the night of his 13th birthday he has a dream so vivid that he is convinced it was real!  He soon learns that he has begun training in a secret society of True Dreamers, who practice lucid dreaming to be able to fully control their dreams, giving them immense power.  But when his vivid dreams turn into vivid nightmares he never wants to fall asleep again!

In his struggle to understand his remarkable dreams and prevent terrible nightmares, he finds the True Dreamer’s Dictionary written to help young Dreamers make sense of their new powers.  It begins with a very peculiar poem:

“Through the portal of dreams come powers untold.

There are distant worlds for True Dreamers to behold.

You may not understand just what your dreams mean

Once you have broken through the barrier in between.

Each moment you sleep brings signs without number.

May this book bring meaning to visions of your slumber.”

The dictionary leads him to seek the guidance of the Oracle who gives him a numinous nagwaagan, or a magical dreamcatcher, to protect him from the draiths that are causing the nightmares.  With the protection of the nagwaagan hanging above his bed, he is finally able to safely return to dreamland. But his struggle to learn to control his new powers has only just begun!

Join Phillip and his friends on an epic journey to learn how to become a powerful True Dreamer.  Explore the possibilities of where our dreams might come from.  Are our dreams nothing more than glimpses into alternate realities within the multiverse?

Have you had a dream so vivid that you are certain it was real?  Wouldn’t it be awesome if you could control your dreams? Maybe you too are a True Dreamer!

About the Author

Hi I’m Brandon, author, traveler, and True Dreamer!  I come from Ohio but have traveled all over!  I began writing The Dreams of Phillip Aisling while studying in Germany in 2007 where I earned a Master’s degree in Neuroscience.  Inspired by my interest in virtual reality, I joined two different research groups (one in Germany and one in Australia) that were engineering implants for the retina to help blind people see again.  I imagine a day when retinal implants will be advanced enough to allow for a virtual experience indistinguishable from real life, but that day is pretty far away!  Meanwhile, virtual reality has made some dramatic advancements in recent years with the development of VR headsets like the Oculus Rift.

In a way, dreams have been a sort of “virtual reality” for people since ancient times.  Each night when you fall asleep your consciousness drifts through fanciful dream worlds and you experience things you would never experience in waking life like flying.  These dream worlds have been accessible to anyone who falls asleep at night (so basically everyone, ever).  Dreams feel just as real as reality when you’re in them, just like a virtual reality.  But, when you’re dreaming it is really hard to control what happens during the dream.  The Dreams of Phillip Aisling is about a boy who learns to control his dreams, but it is so much more than that, too!

One thing that I am particularly excited about for this book series is how accessible dreaming is to everyone.  Everyone dreams, right?!  Often when you read a fantasy novel, you're left with the feeling that you want to be the main character, like a powerful wizard!  Unfortunately for excited young readers that isn't really possible.  But anyone can become a True Dreamer like Phillip Aisling.  To begin training to control your dreams and become a lucid dreamer, all you have to do is fall asleep!

I’m a geek at heart!  I enjoy the fantasy and sci-fi genres the most, but I enjoy reading any book that makes you think.  I love RPGs, video games, VR, artificial intelligence, and programming.  Besides writing I also enjoy designing mobile apps and games.  My BIG dream for Phillip Aisling is to eventually create a virtual reality experience where you can join Phillip in his dreams and control what happens!

I’m offering this to you because I want you to discover and love my book!  So, in exchange for supporting my Kickstarter, I’m offering you a discount.  This opportunity is only good while the Kickstarter project is still live (until January 14th 2016), so please go help make this dream a reality!  

THANK YOU!

GIVEAWAY: Paperback copy of Before Life Happened by Isabel Curtis

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BOOK REVIEW: Claiming Excalibur (Legendary Saga #2) by L.H. Nicole

BLURB:

Aliana Fagan has done what many thought impossible: she’s awakened King Arthur from his fifteen-hundred-year sleep, reunited the Knights of the Round Table, and even beaten Mordrid and Morgana LeFay in battle.

But the Destined One’s quest has only begun.

Before the knights can "unearth and reclaim their lost relics" they must survive the trip to Charleston, South Carolina and meet the newest member of the Round Table. If King Arthur’s men thought Aliana and Lacy were tenacious, they'll be even more surprised by Dawn, the third member of the fem-trio. 

Deadly secrets, unexpected allies, and a traitor lurking in the shadows await Aliana and the new Round Table as they continue their search for Excalibur. Their only clue is a beyond confusing poem from a mysterious book that speaks of a terrifying creature guarding the legendary sword. Trying to build a somewhat normal relationship with Sir Galahad adds a whole new level of complexity to Aliana’s task, especially when several among them suspect the White Knight may not be wholly himself. Her friendship with King Arthur grows closer, and when circumstances become intense, he may finally get the chance with Aliana that he’s been pining for.

Mysteries, legendary quests, and haunting memories will either unite the members of the New Round Table or fracture their bonds. Aliana and her crew only have seven months before the planets align and Mordrid can seize the power he needs to conquer the seven realms. Can the Destined One keep her new family together and lead Arthur to his destiny of saving the realms? Or will a centuries-old plot for revenge finally spell the king’s end?

REVIEW BY: Arianna, age 13 years, 1 month

MAY CONTAIN SPOILER:

This book disappointed me because everything I was really set against happening, did happen. I really didn't want Aliana to kiss Arthur or have anything to do with the Queen. I was hoping for some happier things. 

My favorite character was Galahad because he is so loyal and brave. Throughout everything he stays strong and loves Aliana. 

My favorite part was when Dawn joins Lucy and Aliana because they act like normal girl teenagers and it kind of gives your mind and emotions a break from the dark and tense mood. 

I recommend this book to anyone who likes the tale of Camelot, romance and a special kind of magic. 

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 13 and up. 

RELEASE DAY LAUNCH WITH GIVEAWAY: Thief of Lies (Library Jumpers #1) by Brenda Drake

I'm thrilled to be taking part in Brenda Drake's Release Day Launch (hosted by Jen Halligan PR) for THIEF OF LIES (Library Jumpers #1)! Check out the book and excerpt below, and be sure to enter the amazing giveaways!

Thief of Lies (Library Jumpers #1) by Brenda Drake Publisher: Entangled Teen Publication Date: January 5, 2016

Gia Kearns would rather fight with boys than kiss them. That is, until Arik, a leather-clad hottie in the Boston Athenaeum suddenly disappears. While examining the book of world libraries he abandoned, Gia unwittingly speaks the key that sucks her and her friends into a photograph and transports them into a Paris library, where Arik and his Sentinels—magical knights charged with protecting humans from the creatures traveling across the gateway books—rescue them from a demonic hound. Jumping into some of the world’s most beautiful libraries would be a dream come true for Gia, if she weren’t busy resisting her heart or dodging an exiled wizard seeking revenge on both the Mystik and human worlds. Add a French flirt obsessed with Arik and a fling with a young wizard, and Gia must choose between her heart and her head, between Arik’s world and her own, before both are destroyed. Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Excerpt from THIEF OF LIES

We stepped into the Children’s Library and stopped in the center of the room. A massive light fixture designed to resemble the solar system dominated the ceiling. The hushed rumble of two male voices came from one of the reading nooks. I crossed the room, paused at the built-in aquarium, and inspected the fish. Afton halted beside me. “This is great,” I whispered, not wanting to disturb whoever was in there with us. “Fish and books. What’s not to love?” Spotting a sign referencing classic books, I searched the shelves for my all-time favorite novel. The male voices stopped and there was movement on the other side of the bookcase. I paused to listen, and when the voices started up again, I continued my hunt. Warmth rushed over me when I found The Secret Garden. With its aged green cover, it was the same edition I remembered reading as a young girl. The illustrations inside were beautiful, and I just had to show them to Afton. Coming around the corner of the case, a little too fast for being in a library, I bumped into a guy dressed in leather biker gear. My book and notebook fell and slapped against the floor. “Oh, I’m so sorry—” I lost all train of thought at the sight of him. He was gorgeous with tousled brown hair and dark eyes. Tall. He flashed me a crooked smile, a hint of dimples forming in his cheeks, before bending over and picking up my forgotten book. He held the book out to me. “Mistress Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow?” He’d quoted a verse from The Secret Garden with a sexy accent that tickled my ears. I stood there like an idiot, my heart pounding hard against my chest, unable to think of a response. The fact that he had read the book and could recite a line from it stunned me. And impressed me. Say something. Anything. “Good read there,” he said when it was obvious I wasn’t going to speak. He winked and nodded to a guy behind him before ambling off. When he reached the end of the row, he paused and glanced back at me, flashing me another killer smile, and then he disappeared around the bookcase. Tingles rose in my stomach. He looked back at me. The guy following his Royal Hotness gave me a final appraisal before departing. His stringy blond hair hung over his large forehead. It looked like he hadn’t washed it in weeks, and there was probably an acne breeding ground under it. He grinned, and I broke eye contact with him, making for the nearest window. Oh God, you’re so lame, Gia. You could have finished the quote or anything less tragic than not speaking at all. The response I would have said played in my head. With silver bells, and cockleshells, and marigolds all in a row. Why? Why hadn’t I said that?

About the Author

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest | Instagram

Brenda Drake grew up the youngest of three children, an Air Force brat, and the continual new kid at school. Her fondest memories growing up are of her eccentric, Irish grandmother’s animated tales, which gave her a strong love for storytelling. So it was only fitting that she would choose to write stories with a bend toward the fantastical. When she’s not writing or hanging out with her family, she haunts libraries, bookstores, and coffee shops, or reads someplace quiet and not at all exotic (much to her disappointment).

Giveaways!

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BOOK REVIEW: Illuminae (The Illuminae Files #1) by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

BLURB:

This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do.

This afternoon, her planet was invaded.

The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.

But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it's clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she'd never speak to again.

Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents—including emails, schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more—Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes.

REVIEW BY: Arianna, age 13 years, 1 month

MAY CONTAIN SPOILER:

This book was breathtaking and intense! 

My favorite character was without a doubt, Kady. Even with everyone she loved gone, she stayed strong and survived against all odds. Everything that could go wrong (i.e. mass death/destruction, a mad computer and people gone crazy) happened, but Kady got though it all and conquered everything. 

My favorite part is when Kady sacrificed herself for everyone else simply because she wanted to do the right thing. She is brave and wise, she did what no one else would!

I recommend this book for anyone who likes end of the world situations, romance and one big adventure!

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 13 and up. 

BOOK REVIEW: Legendary (Legendary Saga #1) by L.H. Nicole

BLURB:

Aliana Fagan spent her childhood traveling the world, dreaming of legendary heroes and mythical lands. But after the sudden death of her parents, she hides behind the safety of her camera and her art until a vivid recurring dream compels her to dig into her father's research about Avalon and Camelot. When she is hurled into a magical realm by forces she thought were only the stuff of fairy tales, she finds herself thrown into an adventure she could never have imagined. Nearly everything she thought she knew about Arthurian legend was wrong. The independent eighteen-year-old is shocked to find that the people of Avalon think that she is the Destined One, the only person who can summon King Arthur back to life from his hidden chamber. Most surprising of all is that it's up to her to lead the Knights of the Round Table on an epic quest-an adventure that will transport them across the seven magic realms to reclaim all that has been lost so they can defeat the evil Mordrid for good. But first, she must bring the ancient warriors into her world and reunite them with their lost brothers. Chaperoning the legendary knights-with-a-chivalry-complex as they navigate the modern world is a constant challenge, and she certainly never thought she'd be caught between her intense feelings for the noble Sir Galahad and her growing friendship with the King. To fulfill the prophecy, Aliana will have to discover the meaning of friendship, bravery, loyalty, true love, and forgiveness. But can she do it all in time to save the realms from Mordrid's impending Armageddon?

REVIEW BY: Arianna, age 13 years, 1 month

MAY CONTAIN SPOILER:

This book was really exciting! 

My favorite part was when Aliana woke up Arthur because the description of the scene and all of the detail is beautiful. 

My favorite character is Galahad because he is so loyal and brave. Throughout everything he stays strong and loves Aliana. 

I recommend this book to anyone who likes the tale of Camelot, romance and a special kind of magic. 

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 13 and up.