Path of Totality - 5-Star Review

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the PATH OF TOTALITY by Heather Kreke Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

About The Book:

Title: PATH OF TOTALITY

Author: Heather Kreke

Pub. Date: October 24, 2022

Publisher: Cranberry Creek Press

Formats:  Paperback, eBook, audiobook

Pages: 344

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/PATH-OF-TOTALITY

Read for FREE with a Kindle Unlimited membership!

2023 Selah Award Finalist in YA Fiction
2023 Selah Award Finalist in First Novel

World War III has erupted on American soil. Seventeen-year-old Jadzia’s life will never be the same again.

As a mandatory draft takes effect, Jadzia finds herself on the front lines of the war, torn apart from her family. But when her best friend is killed, Jadzia is desperate to find her way back to them. She abandons her platoon and sets out on her own.

Jadzia must navigate a dangerous cross-country journey, facing betrayal, violence, and the constant threat of death. Along the way, she meets Ryker–the son of a faith leader whose places of worship have been attacked. Despite the chaos, Jadzia finds refuge and friendship among Ryker’s unlikely group of individuals … even though their faith is a little old-fashioned. And Ryker's insistence on helping her doesn't make it easier for Jadzia to resist her growing feelings toward him.

But the military is determined to capture Jadzia and all outlaws. When survival seems impossible, will sacrifice be their only route to freedom?

This action-packed YA dystopian novel is perfect for fans of The Out of Time Series and The Gifting Series.

 

REVIEW

I've been looking for a good dystopian to sink into, and boy, did this fit the bill! Heather Kreke effortlessly weaves an immersive story of what could happen if a religious war broke out in the US in the future. And when I tell you that it was immersive, buddy I literally lost track of time reading this and COULD NOT put it down! I may have even been a few minutes late to a meeting because I was finishing the last few pages. Sorry, not sorry!

The characters had great development and you really want to know what is going to happen to them next. I really hope that there is a sequel because I'm dying to know what happens next! Even though the end gave some closure, there is a little bit of a cliff hanger that leaves plenty of room to continue the story. 

What surprised me about the story were the subtle Christian notes that were woven in. They were done with a deft hand and very purposely added so they helped move the story along. I would not call this a "Christian" fiction book because that is not the main focus of the story, but I really appreciate those touches. All in all, this is a great young adult book that is enjoyable for adults as well. This is one of my new favorites for sure!

 

About Heather Kreke:

Heather Kreke is passionate about showing teens and young adults they can find hope in God’s plan for their lives—even through the darkest times. She is the Blog Manager for Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, and a Coordinator for the Blue Ridge Readers Connection. In her spare time, she teaches writing classes, shoots archery, and camps with her family. Married since 2004, Heather has three daughters. She loves connecting with readers on her website heatherkreke.com, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

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Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a signed finished copy of PATH OF TOTALITY, three pieces of character art, a bookmark, a branded candle, and a book necklace., US Only.

Ends May 2nd, midnight EST.

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Tour Schedule:

Week One:

4/17/2023	Writer of Wrongs	Excerpt
4/17/2023	Two Chicks on Books	Excerpt/IG Post
4/18/2023	The Momma Spot	Guest Post
4/18/2023	Reads by Radus	Excerpt/IG Post
4/19/2023	#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog	Excerpt/IG Post
4/19/2023	latenightbookreader	IG Review
4/20/2023	Rajiv's Reviews	Review/IG Post
4/20/2023	@jael_and_jenessa_reads	Review/IG Post
4/21/2023	Kim's Book Reviews and Writing Aha's	Guest Post/IG Post
4/21/2023	Author Z. Knight’s Guild	Review/IG Post

Week Two:

4/24/2023	Cara North	Review/IG Post
4/24/2023	A Blue Box Full of Books	IG Review/LFL Book Drop Pic
4/25/2023	Brandi Danielle Davis	Review/IG Post
4/25/2023	@evergirl200	Review/IG Post
4/26/2023	OneMoreExclamation	Review/IG Post
4/26/2023	Living in a Fictional Reality	Review/IG Post
4/27/2023	@jypsylynn	Review/IG Post
4/27/2023	Country Mamas With Kids	Review/IG Post
4/28/2023	Confessions of the Perfect Mom	Review/IG Post
4/28/2023	Breysreviews	Review/IG Post

The Blast - 4 Star Review

The Blast

by Sarah Perlmutter 

Release Date: 12/15/14

200 pages

Summary from Goodreads:

After a series of blasts force Beatrice Hicks and her family into their prepper bunker, they emerge to discover they are among the survivors of a nuclear apocalypse. Fighting against rogue groups and coping with deaths are just some of the adjustments Beatrice must make to survive, but how will she maintain her humanity after the blast?

Review:

If you have followed my blog for any length of time, then you know that post-apocalyptic dystopians are by far my favorite books on the planet.  So, I have become a bit of a snob about them.  I'm happy to say that The Blast stood up to the challenge of keeping my interest.

Beatrice is exactly the type of character that I would expect to come out of experiencing a nuclear apocalypse at a young age.  She's a little salty on the outside, still a warm and caring person inside, but has emotional baggage none the less.  

There are a few little details that take it out of the realm of possibility/reality such as how little time they waited to venture outside after the blast went off. But that is just my over analytical mind talking there. The story still makes you want to know what is going to happen to the characters next, and that is what matters more.  

Praise for THE BLAST:

“This is the most impressive and heartfelt apocalypse story I’ve ever read in my life!”

“A real tour de force… [It’s] refreshing to have a YA book which focuses on the important things in a person’s life – family, love and death.”

“What a beautiful story. A wonderful look at the human ability to survive, rebuild, and grow through survival.”

“One of the best post-apocalypse stories I have read.”

“This book easily stacks up against my favourites and has an originality that many books seem to lack these days. [The] writing style is impeccable and this book is utterly breathtaking!”

Add to Goodreads

Buy Links:

Amazon

About the Author

Sarah Perlmutter is the Wattpad featured author of THE BLAST, a young adult post-apocalypse novel. 

Outside of the young adult genre, Sarah has published poems and flash fiction through Mash Stories, Millennial Garbage, the Pittsburgh History and Landmark Foundation, and the Western Pennsylvania Writing Project.

When she is not writing, Sarah enjoys spending time with her husband and cat, cooking food that is far too spicy, making arts and crafts, and teaching high school English.

For more information about Sarah and her writing, check out her website.

Author Links:

Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook│Pinterest

Book Tour Organized by:

YA Bound Book Tours

Forager

Forager - PROMO Blitz

By Peter R. Stone

Dystopian

Date Published: November 2013

Eighteen-year-old Ethan Jones lives in Newhome, a town built upon the decaying ruins of post-apocalyptic Melbourne, ruins haunted by the ferocious Skel, a nomadic tribe of degenerate savages.

The Skel are ramping up their attacks on Newhome's foraging teams and infesting Melbourne's ruins in ever greater numbers. Is this part of a larger plan that could spell the town's doom?

Meanwhile, the last thing Ethan expects when he and his companions rescue a two-car convoy from the Skel is a Japanese teenage girl with an outlandish dress-sense, who after they take her back to Newhome, goes to great lengths to ingratiate herself into his life. But is it in gratitude for saving her life or is she seeking something more?

And what a quandry she places him in, for he knows the rules, that no man is permitted to be alone with an unmarried woman. But how can he drive such a gentle soul away when she touchs his heart so deeply, even though she clearly carries the pain of a broken heart.

At the same time, Newhome's police force, the Custodians, are suspicious of Ethan's foraging team's successes and are pulling out the stops to find out which member of his team has the illegal mutant ability that gives them an edge over the other teams. Should these peacekeepers discover Ethan is the mutant they seek, they will haul him away and dissect him like a frog.

EXCERPT

Michal, our driver and my best friend, clambered into the truck first, having to duck his head down just to get through the door since he easily topped six-foot-four; and at seventeen I suspected he hadn't even finished growing. I clambered in beside him while Leigh, David and Shorty climbed into the back seat.

Michal looked down at me, clearly displeased about something. "You gotta be more careful, Ethan."

"Me?" I asked, not having the slightest inkling of what he was referring to.

"Yes, Ethan, you," he confirmed as he turned the key in the ignition and pumped the accelerator gently to get the engine started. The truck was pretty old and I doubted it had a single part that hadn't been replaced or refurbished at some stage. 

"I'd wager my bottom dollar they're here 'cause they want to find out why our team brings in more metals than the others."

Our team was one of many that foraged in the ruins outside for non-corrosive metals, such as gold, platinum, copper, bronze and lead, that had survived the decades since the Apocalypse. We would take them back to the Recycling-Works where they would be sorted, melted down, and handed over to the factories.

"What do you mean?" I replied, feigning ignorance.

"Them other three goons," he whispered as he jerked his head back to indicate our workmates in the back seat, "they ain't too bright. They think you just know the best spots to look, but not me. I've seen you."

That sent icy tendrils of dread creeping back into my gut. "Seen me what?"

"You can drop your act with me, okay?" he said softly as he shifted the truck into gear and drove it out of the Recycling-Works yard and towards the town gates. 

"I've heard about people like you, and you're secret's safe with me. Just don't keep hitting pay dirt every day from now on, 'cause those Custodians, they're not here to protect us from the Skel like they claim, otherwise they'd have brought a Bushmaster instead of that G-Wagon."

Peter R. Stone

Peter Stone, an avid student of history, was reading books on Ancient Greece from the age of four. Periods of interest include the ancient world, medieval era, Napoleonic times, and the Second World War. He still mourns the untimely passing of King Leonidas of Sparta and Field Marshal Michel Ney of France.

A product of the Cold War Generation, Peter Stone studied the ramifications of a nuclear missile strike when he was in his senior year of high school, learning the effects of nuclear fallout and how to (hopefully) survive it. He has ever been drawn to post-apocalyptic and dystopian novels and films, and eagerly devoured The Day of the Triffids and John Christopher's Tripod Trilogy when he was a child. He is also an avid fan of science fiction, and his favorite books include the Lensmen Series by E.E.Doc.Smith, anything by Alastair Reynolds, and the Evergence trilogy by Sean Williams.

Peter Stone graduated from Melbourne School of Ministries Bible College in 1988. He has been teaching Sunday School and playing the keyboard in church for over twenty-five years. His wife is from Japan and they have two wonderful children. He has worked in the same games company for over twenty years, but still does not comprehend why they expect him to work all day instead of playing games.

Authors Website

Buy Link

Amazon

Giveaway

Soft Cover Copy of Forager

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Sanctuary

Link to blog tour schedule: http://yaboundbooktours.blogspot.com/2014/01/blog-tour-sign-up-sanctuary-by-pauline.html

Sanctuary

by Pauline Creeden

Release Date: 09/10/13

Summary from Goodreads:

In a heart-racing thriller described as Falling Skies meets The Walking Dead, Jennie struggles to find a safe place for what’s left of her family. But it seems as though there is no place sacred, no place secure. First the aliens attacked the sun, making it dimmer, weaker, and half what it used to be.

Then they attacked the water supply, killing one-third of Earth’s population with a bitter contaminate. And when they unleash a new terror on humankind, the victims will wish for death, but will not find it…When the world shatters to pieces around her, will Jennie find the strength she needs to keep going?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18684843-sanctuary?ac=1 

Buy Links:

http://www.amazon.com/Sanctuary-Pauline-Creeden-ebook/dp/B00FI2W6CK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394297623&sr=8-1&keywords=pauline+creeden 

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sanctuary-pauline-creeden/1117001506?ean=9781491072066 

http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/sanctuary-72 

http://www.bookdepository.com/Sanctuary-Pauline-Creeden/9781491072066

Review:

There were a lot of characters to follow in Sanctuary, but they were all really interesting. I've read a number of books before that had multiple points of view, and if not done well they can make a book so confusing! This was not the case with Sanctuary at all! Each of the characters' points of view were carefully woven together and clearly labeled. I never had to look back to see who was talking. Plus the multiple view points made the story so much more interesting. 

Plus, it had kind of a Red Hill feel to the story since it was more about how the characters survived rather than how others succomed to the disease and died. I'm not saying it is a copy of Red Hill, because it's not. Sanctuary is young adult, but has enough complexity for more mature minds to enjoy. It's centered around a virus started by aliens that has zombie like qualities, but the circumstances make you wonder if there is a cure for the victims. Could a person survive the bite of the aliens and return to normal after the infection?

This is one of those stories that sucked me in from the first page and made me whine at the last page because I wanted more.  I'm really hoping for a second book to see what happens next.

About the Author

In simple language, Pauline Creeden creates worlds that are both familiar and strange, often pulling the veil between dimensions. She becomes the main character in each of her stories, and because she has ADD, she will get bored if she pretends to be one person for too long.

Pauline is a horse trainer from Virginia, but writing is her therapy.

Armored Hearts, her joint effort with author Melissa Turner Lee, has been a #1 Bestseller in Christian Fantasy and been awarded the Crowned Heart for Excellence by InDtale Magazine. Her debut novel, Sanctuary is scheduled for release September 30, 2013, and has already been nominated for two awards in YA Science Fiction.

One of Pauline's short stories has won the CCW Short Story contest. Other short stories have been published in Fear & Trembling Magazine, Obsidian River and Avenir Eclectia. An urban fantasy short will appear in The Book of Sylvari: An Anthology of Elves from Port Yonder Press, and a vampire short will appear in Monsters! from Diminished Media Group. 

Author Links:

http://paulinecreeden.com/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5284782.Pauline_Creeden

http://www.twitter.com/P_Creeden

http://www.facebook.com/PaulineCreeden

***GIVEAWAY***

$25 Amazon gift card (INT)

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/MjM0OGI5ZGJmNWUwNzllYTYzNjAyYzhhZGU0MDc0OjIzNg==/

RULES AND RESTRICTIONS:  

Contest is void where prohibited. Entrants must be 13 or else have parent or guardian’s permission to enter. Winners will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to respond  oranother winner’s name will be selected. Winning entries will be verified for authenticity.

Blog Tour Organized by:

YA Bound Book Tours

The Arrival - book blitz

The Arrival (The Eslite Chronicles #1)

by C.M. Doporto 

Release Date: 11/15/13

Summary from Goodreads:

Can Miranda save the human race?

An elegant, sophisticated alien species on the verge of extinction has invaded Earth and confined an entire generation of young women, after negotiating a treaty with the world’s governments. Eager to help the aliens reproduce, but frightened by her imprisonment at Nidus, the Eslite medical compound, sixteen-year-old Miranda Mays endures callous scientific experiments in the Eslite’s quest for survival.

When Miranda discovers the ultimate consequences of her egg donations, she organizes a rebellion, enlisting fellow donors in her cause. But soon she realizes the mysterious headmaster, Dimas, knows of her plot. And there’s something about him that bothers Miranda, though she can’t describe it. The fate of humanity hangs in the balance, so she can’t back down. But will Dimas expose her defiance?

Teen Sci-Fi/Dystopian ages 12 and up.

About the Author

CM Doporto lives in the great state of Texas with her husband and son enjoying life with their extensive family along with their Chihuahua, Mexican Redhead Parrot, and several fish.

She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from The University of Texas at Arlington. She briefly worked in the area of Public Relations and Advertising and then pursued a career in the field of Human Resources. CM considers herself a life-long learner and returned to school and earned her Master of Art’s Degree in Organizational Development from Dallas Baptist University.

She writes Young Adult and New Adult Sci-Fi/Urban Fantasy stories about ordinary women who do extraordinary things, become a heroine, and find love along the way.

***Author Links***

   

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