Luke Irontree minds his business and leaves mortal humans alone. But if you’re a vampire, he has a magic sword and a silver-inlaid stake for you.
Every night, the immortal vampire slayer haunts the streets of Portland, hunting vamps and protecting innocent people from becoming vampire chow. Then, he goes home alone to his quiet house and his cat, Alfred. This is his life.
But when he runs into a local werewolf pack, he has two choices – continue his lonely hunt or a take a chance on making friends. Allies would make the job easier, especially with hordes of bloodthirsty vampires flooding the streets. However, trusting means opening himself to betrayal and loss.
Luke might not have a choice though. With homeless people disappearing off the streets, 20-somethings being snatched from night clubs, and heavily armed vampires flooding the streets, he must risk everything if he wants to save Portland from becoming a vampire wasteland…
This box set contains 3 full-length novels plus an exclusive bonus novella and novelette.
They stand between the balance of light and darkness. Invited into their ranks, will a lonely teen answer the call to be a hero?
Marston Ames’s parents have ruined everything. Forced to move away from all his friends for his dad’s new job, the unhappy fifteen-year-old is sure his life is over. And just when he believes things can’t get worse, a man from his dreams attempts to kill him in the waking world.
Barely escaping before stumbling upon a magical portal, Marston transports to another realm. There, an invitation to join an ancient order standing against evil seems like the solution to his isolation… until he discovers a terrifying connection to his nightmares.
Can Marston embrace a fate beyond his wildest imagination without summoning his doom?
The Keeper is the action-packed first book in The Keepers of the Balance YA fantasy series. If you like relatable characters, adventures full of surprises, and coming-of-age tales, then you’ll love Shana Dow’s captivating page-turner.
Sometimes, your case takes a left turn. Or three or four. Marten Mingenstern and Boog Eggstrom are provisional inspectors, fresh out of Inquisitor’s Guild training and eager to prove themselves. Assigned the mundane task of tracking down stolen jewels, they instead uncover a mysterious cult set on destroying the city. After a thief explodes, they earn the enmity of a vicious noble, the Chief Inquisitor gets bought off and goes rogue, they are seized by barbarians, and they are sentenced to death at least a couple of times. In a final, frantic race with prophecy, they face ruthless fanatics, a city turned against them, and terrible forces long buried.Flames Over Frosthelm is the first novel about the Inquisitor’s Guild, the investigative arm of the government of Frosthelm, a medieval city-state where criminals thrive, nobles scheme, and dark secrets lurk. Expect intrigue, mystery, swordplay, adventure, politics, romance, and the strong bonds of friendship. And a little magic along the way. Described as Princess Bride meets CSI, this new novel is a tale of classic adventure with a healthy dose of humor.
A tragic origin story rooted in fantasy and Greek mythology
Kore, a daughter of Demeter and Zeus, has never been so happy. She lives on Mount Olympus and has grown into a powerful young spring goddess. She spends her days frolicking through nature with the other immortals her age, and she’s even fallen in love with a handsome god of sunlight. Her life is perfect—that is, until the night she catches the eye of Hades, King of the Underworld.
When Kore refuses Hades’s advances, he kidnaps her and forces her to marry him. He even changes her name to Persephone—stealing the last bit of agency she still has. In the end, Kore is forced to let go of the world above.
To survive her new role as Persephone, Queen of the Underworld, Kore will have to embrace the darkness and grow into the vengeful goddess she was always destined to be.
***WRATH OF PERSEPHONE is a War on the Gods newsletter exclusive***
I hope you all are getting ready for the Monster Dance! All the scary movies, treat or treaters you could want. Living in a secure apartment building, we don’t get kids showing up for candy. Which I do miss. The neighbors above me had 2 small boys so they would come down for candy, but they moved out this year, so now it’s is ALL MINE! Bwawawawa. Have a safe and scary Halloween.
Published by Bayou City Press / The book is available worldwide in digital and print format
Whiskers Abroadis a lively travelogue featuring a trip to Japan shared by two main characters, Audrey and her cat Ashi, who alternate recounting their versions of events. During a twelve-day trip, the pair visit several cities. Adventures abound. Audrey is still trying to find her place in the universe, while Ashi believes Audrey would sink beneath the waves were he not present to rescue her. Audrey’s daily horoscope offers tantalizing clues as to what’s in store for the pair. Written by Carrie Carter and designed by Stacy Vickers, Whiskers Abroad is both an amusing travel story with unforgettable characters and a useful guide for tourists going to Japan. Lavishly designed, Whiskers Abroadwill delight both your eyes and your sense of adventure.
“ Whiskers Abroad is simply a delight, offering respite and inspections that bring readers into Japan from different perspectives, capturing a writer’s journey through new foods, a different culture, and a cat’s eyes. It’s very highly recommended for its ability to reach beyond the usual travelogue audiences to immerse all ages in its fun adventure”. Diane Donovan, Midwest Book Review
About Carrie
Carrie Carter has a profound love for Japan, cats, sumo, dioramas, and eating unusual foods. She has traveled with her husband Jim to Japan fourteen times, so her numerous holidays across her favorite country were the inspiration for her first book, Whiskers Abroad: Ashi and Audrey’s Adventures in Japan. Carrie has run multiple marathons including the Tokyo Marathon, and, as expected, Carrie and Jim live with an adorable cat named Frenemy, who was unhappy at not being selected as the model for the book.
She started and has been playing in an ‘80s band, Molly and the Ringwalds, for over two decades now! In addition to playing the keyboard, Carrie also plays the recorder and bagpipes.
Carrie lives in Houston, TX, and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin. At home, she loves to cook, design/create Halloween costumes, daydream about meeting Jacques Pepin, and watch Elvis movies, although not necessarily at the same time. She dislikes overly dramatic music used in reality TV shows. Currently, Carrie is working on her second book, a sequel to Whiskers Abroad, where Audrey and Ashi explore further into Japan and get themselves into even more interesting predicaments.
To request additional review copies or an interview with Carrie Carter, please contact Mickey Mikkelson at Creative Edge Publicity: mickey.creativeedge@gmail.com / 403.464.6925.
How medieval monastic practices—with their emphasis on a healthy soul, mind, and body—can inspire us to live fuller lives today
We know that they prayed, sang, and wore long robes, but what was it really like to be a monk? Though monastic living may seem unimaginable to us moderns, it has relevance for today. This book illuminates the day-to-day of medieval European monasticism, showing how you can apply the principles of monastic living, like finding balance and peace, to your life.
With wit and insight, medievalist and podcaster Daniele Cybulskie dives into the history of monasticism in each chapter and then reveals applications for today, such as the benefits of healthy eating, streamlining routines, gardening, and helping others. She shares how monks authentically embraced their spiritual calling, and were also down to earth: they wrote complaints about being cold in the manuscripts they copied, made beer and wine, and even kept bees.
How to Live Like a Monk features original illustrations by Anna Lobanova, as well as more than eighty color reproductions from medieval manuscripts. It is for anyone interested in the Middle Ages and those seeking inspiration for how to live a full life, even when we’re confined to the cloister of our homes.
MY REVIEW:
First off, I want to say I don’t believe in a higher being, but I do believe there’s a right and wrong way we should live our lives. So I picked up a copy for inspiration. I was expecting it to be preachy and full of overzealous religious content. I was wonderfully surprised to find that it wasn’t.
There were lots of illustrations and pictures that related to each chapter’s topic. The writing was straightforward, down-to-earth, and well edited.
We, as ‘Moderns’ have a misconception of what the medieval monastic lifestyle was really like. Yes, it was hard, but they were also educated, and cared about the world around them. Something, us ‘Modern’s’ have forgotten over the centuries.
They also had a very waste-not, want-not mentality. Some orders even shared their underwear. Eww. There were other humorous anecdotal examples that showed their lifestyle wasn’t all hardship. In fact, because of their isolation from the rest of the world, they experienced the same emotional issues we do today. Stress, anxiety, feeling disconnected were all problems that had to be addressed to keep their orders healthy and thriving.
As I was reading through the book, I couldn’t help compare it to the 10 Commandants. Those stone tablets were designed to show our ancestors how to live in harmony and not kill each other off. How To Live Like A Monk is our modern version of them.
If a minimalist lifestyle appeals to you, whether religious or not, this book is for you. I give it 4 stars.
A compelling read about acceptance and understanding by critically acclaimed children’s author, Jane Baird Warren
The book is published by Scholastic Canada and is available in paperback format
Some family secrets feel too big to share…
When her teacher assigns a family tree project for parents’ day, Lizzie knows it won’t be long until Scotch Gully’s gossips start up again. Most folks in her conservative town are used to the fact that she’s the only kid with an unmarried mom, but when Lizzie’s family tree research uncovers a shocking secret about her grandmother, Lizzie knows that certain townsfolk will start their back-fence talk about her family once more. She turns to Harry ― who’s been like a grandfather to her ― for help and advice, but Harry has problems of his own. Someone has arrived at his farm claiming to own it, and is forcing Harry out. Now Lizzie must face losing Harry and the place that’s been her second home. Lizzie finds a surprising ally in David, the new owner’s son. Together, their sleuthing uncovers the keys to saving Harry and his farm, but sharing the secrets she and David have uncovered will put Lizzie’s complicated family on centre stage.
Told in the alternating voices of Lizzie and David, How to Be a Goldfish is a compelling, heartfelt, humorous read about acceptance and understanding, and will provide a gentle introduction to discussions about alternative families, homosexuality, feminism, forced adoptions and social justice.
About Jane Baird Warren:
Jane Baird Warren is a first-generation Canadian with fresh-off-the-boat parents. Literally! Her father came on a boat from Norway and her mother from Scotland. Jane grew up surrounded by a rich and often confusing blend of accents and began collecting new words like some kids collect action figures. At nine she read the dictionary front to back and announced she was going to be a spelunker because she like the word.
Jane left Canada in 1998. For twenty years she travelled extensively in Europe, Scandinavia, the Middle East and Asia as well as South America and Africa. During her travels she completed an MFA in Creative Writing (she loves writing on airplanes). Jane also has a Bed and a BPE and has worked as a teacher, personal trainer, and coach. She currently volunteers as a developmental editor for emerging writers. Jane has been featured on CBC radio and has published short fiction and poetry in more than a dozen literary magazines in North America and the UK. She is represented by Elizabeth Bennett at Transatlantic Literary Agency.
In her fiction and in real life, Jane is fascinated by people — the good ones, the bad ones, and the ones who are ugly inside — but what she values most in both worlds is kindness and courage. She is currently obsessed with the notion of family secrets and how uncovering the truth changes how kids (adults, too!) see and define themselves. She has ridiculous memory for trivia, which she’d always believed was the most useless superpower a girl could have. Until she started writing.
You can find more information about Jane Baird Warren on her website. https://janebairdwarren.com Drop by and leave a note. She loves visitors.
To request additional review copies or an interview with Jane Baird Warren, please contact Mickey Mikkelson at Creative Edge Publicity: mickey.creativeedge@gmail.com / 403.464.6925.
A stunning debut novel by award-winning journalist and author, Ken MacQueen
The book is published by Wild Rose Press and is available worldwide in print and e-book format
He seeks redemption, others want revenge
Jake Ockham had a dream job, vetting nominees for the Sedgewick Medallion—the nation’s highest civilian award for heroism. His own scarred hands are an indelible reminder of the single mother he failed to pull from a raging house fire; her face haunts him still. Obligations drag him back to his hometown to edit the family newspaper but attempts to embrace small-town life, and the hot new doctor, are thwarted by unknown forces. The heroes Jake vetted go missing and he becomes the prime suspect in the disappearances. Aided by resourceful friends, Jake follows a twisted trail to the Dark Web, where a shadowy group is forcing the kidnapped medalists to perform deadly acts of valor to amuse twisted subscribers to its website. To save his heroes, Jake must swallow his fears and become one himself…or die in the attempt.
“An edge of your seat thriller. MacQueen, a journalist, ratchets up the suspense and tightens the grip to the explosive end.” –Robert Dugoni, New York Times Bestselling Author of the Tracy Crosswhite series.
“I’m not sure how Ken MacQueen pulled it off, writing a debut novel like he’s been doing it forever. Hero Haters is simply brilliant from start to finish. I can’t wait to see what he’s got coming next.”
-Dietrich Kalteis, winner of the 2022 Crime Writers of Canada Award of Excellence for Best Crime Novel
“Gripping from the first page. A thrill ride with all the right moves.” -USA Today bestselling author Rick Mofina
“MacQueen shares an original premise which reads as if it could’ve been ripped from the pages of one of the newspapers he wrote for. Told at a break neck pace with crackling dialogue, relatable characters and genuinely unexpected twists, it’s a compelling thriller that will be a challenge for you to put down before reaching the last page.” -Daniel Kalla, international bestselling author of The Darkness in the Light, The Last High and The Far Side of the Sky
“HERO HATERS will keep you turning the pages all night, but you’ll be sorry to say goodbye to Jake Ockham and friends. I hope we haven’t seen the last of them – or Ken MacQueen.” –Owen Laukkanen, critically acclaimed author of Deception Cove, Gale Force and the Stevens & Windermere series
“Ken MacQueen has a fine eye, a graceful touch—and a terrific sense of humour. Hero Haters is brisk, tense, refreshing, alarming—and ultimately most satisfying. A great and impressive debut. -Roy MacGregor, award-winning journalist and bestselling author
About Ken MacQueen:
Before turning to fiction, Ken MacQueen spent 15 years as Vancouver bureau chief for Maclean’s, Canada’s newsmagazine, winning multiple National Magazine Awards and nominations. He travelled the world writing features and breaking news for the magazine, and previously for two national news agencies. He has written extensively on crime, politics, disasters, both natural and man-made—and, being Canadian, on the shifting fortunes of the late Queen Elizabeth II and her clan. All of this is potential fodder for future fiction, though the Queen as action hero always seemed unlikely. MacQueen covered nine Olympic Games and drew the athletic prowess of Jake Ockham, his protagonist, from tracking elite rowers in training and on podiums in Athens, Beijing and London. Hero Haters, set in the Pacific Northwest and rural Pennsylvania, is his debut thriller. He and his wife divide their time between North Vancouver and British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast.
To request additional review copies or an interview with Ken MacQueen, please contact Mickey Mikkelson at Creative Edge Publicity: mickey.creativeedge@gmail.com / 403.464.6925.
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