Portals – Enter at Your own Risk – Review and Giveaway

Posted on June 26, 2014 by fundinmental

Take a gander at this beautiful cover and tell me, does it make you want to enter the portal?

Are you curious about what’s on the other side? Come with me and let’s see.

Six fantasy shorts by six wonderful authors.

Portals

Genre: Fantasy Anthology (mixed sub genres)

Release Date: June 5, 2014

Keywords: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Sword and Sorcery, Urban Fantasy, Steampunk, Short Stories, Picture Prompt

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MY REVIEW

Each story allows you to enter a portal and travel to other dimensions, other worlds. There are dragons, legends and quests, and magical creatures abound. Even though they were all about portals, doorways to other worlds, they all had unique individuals with stories of their very own. I enjoyed each and every story. It amazes me that so much fun, suspense and tension can be created in short stories such as these. As I came to the end of each one, I felt a little let down. I wanted the stories to continue. ^_^

I rated Portals as a whole, then each story separately.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos Easy peasy, a solid 4 Stars – Would Highly Recommend To Others

I received an ARC copy for review in conjunction with a tour.

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Maronda’s Quest by Christy Thomas

I love dragons. I laughed on the very first page – men! Would she battle the dragon? Would she step through the Portal of Life and meet her mate while on a quest? Is the Portal of Life a blessing or a curse? Maronda will find out. It is her eighteenth birthday and life as she knows it will change. Today is the day. It twisted here, there and everywhere. I always love a good dragon story, throw in some love story and a quest, what more can you ask for? Love it. 4

Entrance of Lost Souls by Echo Shea

Mary Anne, a dryad, loved slipping back and forth through the portal even though she wasn’t supposed to. My job was to convince her, and all the other fae, to go back where they belong. I am a troll and I deal with supernatural creatures of all forms. I am a guardian of the worlds. There has to be order in the world, no matter what. But sometimes things are not as they seem. Can you hear the wail of the banshee? Another story with twists I didn’t see coming. After all it is fiction, so we can be what ever we want. Who says we have to follow the same road as everyone else. Love it. 4

Mexmur: The Huntress by Anna Simpson

The marks above the archway say that the portal will open below two moons. But if they think I will let them sacrifice me, they have another thing coming. They need to think again. My journey began when the foot pushed me through the portal. I love dragons and legends and Mexmur has both! And a quest for the Huntress. She is strong, spirited and the hunter’s daughter, so I have every confidence that she will succeed. Love it. 4

Where Once Were Hearts by Havva Murat

Bartholomew went through the gate heading to his Uncle’s manor to mooch off him. Was he wrong? Well….he sure didn’t count on her. She could have been Satan’s mistress. He found her dead and gave her a mechanical heart, with the help of some magic. Sufficiently creepy. There is plenty of horror, steampunk and romance in this short story. Love it. 4

Ordinary World by Laurie Treacy

People were afraid of you if you were different. They can be cruel and dangerous. My question is, who or what is my new neighbor? It is right before Halloween, so I think we can see where this is heading. Just because her name is Salem didn’t mean she was a witch, even though her family Bible was the Grimoire. Or did it? Curiosity would cause her to see the portal, she knew from reading what it was. Of course she would end upon the other side, even though we all know she shouldn’t. Love it. 4

The Lunatic Queen by Michael Siciliano

Their world was dying. They had seen only darkness for more than a year. The land was dying. They were starving. Pavel and Tamara were going to risk it all to save everyone, but they would only have one shot at it. The characters were brave, overlooking their fear, knowing they had nothing to lose. So their journey through the portal began. Would their determination prevail? It was filled with all the scariness you can imagine in the supernatural world. Love it. 4

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Description

No matter what world you call home, or what your station in life, there are just some paths that weren’t meant to be tread.

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Ordinary World by Laurie Treacy

Imagine a new neighbor moves next door, a creepy guy who gives fifteen year-old Amy Silva the willies? Amy wonders what the stone archway in the backyard is for. Her life becomes even more stressful when her family reveals they’re witches.

Could Amy’s new neighbor have anything to do with a local girl’s disappearance or be a threat to her magical loved ones?.

Maronda’s Quest by Christy Thomas

The Grand Wizard has decreed Maronda enter the Portal of Life to embark upon a quest of great importance, but despite her Ma’s claims it is a blessing, premonitions of danger persist.

Lenox works to prove his worth to wed her, his true love, but it appears a wizard plots to remove him from Maronda’s life forever. To secure their future together, Lenox decides to accompany her on the quest, even if forbidden. He must ultimately choose between using his dragon fighting skills which could lead to his death, or give Maronda her greatest desire.

In the end, it’s Maronda who must learn to live with the consequences of his decision..

Mexmur, the Huntress by Anna Simpson

Long ago a dragonkeeper betrayed his charges. To bring back magic, to set things right, Mexmur is sent through the portal.

Can she succeed armed with only a poem, talon and blade..

Entrance of Lost Souls by Echo Shea

A guardian to the entrances between worlds, Gladys has been called to bring a little girl back from Fairyland. Passing through the Entrance of Lost Souls is no fun, neither is hunting down a deranged banshee, but what is a guardian to do?

And, is the banshee really kidnapping the girl…or saving her from something else?.

Where Once were Hearts by Havva Murat

After losing both his parents, his entire fortune and his childhood sweetheart, Master Bartholomew Battlesby sets out into the wilds of Northern England to make the acquaintance of his only surviving relation, the landed recluse, Mr. Horatio Grimsby who has an eerie penchant for both tinkering and clockwork. But, on finding his relation dead, with a gaping hole in his chest, and the beautiful, but scornful, Miss Evangeline Witherop ruling in his place, Bartholomew learns there is more than one way to lose your heart.

Can Bartholomew reignite the spirit of love and mercy within Miss Witherop, or will he suffer the same fate as his poor, heartless cousin?.

The Lunatic Queen by Michael Siciliano

The land of Mershinka has been thrown into perpetual night. Their King is dead and a moon witch, known as The Night Queen, rules from the royal palace in Grosnov. An endless fog shrouds the land, killing crops and starving the populace. Cold-eyed enforcers put down rebellions while volksa, twisted wolf-creatures, roam the mists looking for prey. Many have given up hope and wait for the inevitable end. All seems lost.

Two teenagers, Pavel and Tamara, devise a plan to kill Vazya the Night Queen when the moons Kainsk and Seresnya are down, end the stifling enchantment, and bring the sun back to their dying land. But, they need a watch to tell time, a compass to guide them through the mists, weapons to fight off Vazya’s minions, and all the courage they can muster.

Purchase Links

Will be sent as soon as they’re available

Tour Schedule

GIVEAWAY

taiwan flag smiley animated gif Pictures, Images and Photos Book Blitz and Tour-wide Giveaway

Paperback copy of Portals and a $10 Amazon gift card.

Ends 7/03/2014

ENTER THE RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY HERE

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code. No purchase necessary, but you must be 18 or older to enter. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter, and announced on the widget. Winner well be notified by emailed and have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. The number of entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Roane Publishing’s marketing department.

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Circle of Dishonor by Carla Swafford – Book Blast Giveaway

Posted on June 26, 2014 by fundinmental

I wanted to participate in the tour for Circle of Dishonor because of the title and the blurb.

I thought it would be action packed – and it is.

Circle of Dishonor is an erotic novella that will introduce you to The Circle Series.

John “Ice” Takahashi’s final job for The Circle has an unexpected hitch in it; he’s fallen for an innocent civilian and his enemies know it. With his mission in a shambles, he’ll do anything to protect her, including kill. So how can a man without honor prove he’s worthy of her love?

Lena Matthews feels like she’s playing with fire by dating the mysterious Master J. He’s exotic, dangerous, and exactly what she needs in her boring life. With the bad guys bearing down on them, she discovers a whole new world of sensuality that binds her heart to his forever.

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MY REVIEW

Circle of Dishonor is a erotic novella. As a novella, the story is laying the groundwork for future stories, so I allowed for that in my rating. I did not expect the whole story and felt the novella accomplished its goal – I want to read more about him and her.

People’s eyes are drawn to him when he enters a room, not just because of his looks but the aura that surrounds him. He has a southern accent that can fool people into believing he’s something he’s not.

Lena was taking tai chi classes, but could not overcome her clumsiness. What could she say? She is a klutz. She was easy going but restrained.

She had been watching John for weeks. She would sit at the coffee shop, pretending to look at her computer as she watched him through the window. His body is poetry in motion as he performs his tae kwan do routine.

But today was different. He approached her at the coffee shop. As they talked over a cup of tea, he knew she belonged to him.

I don’t know if he’s good or bad, I’m thinking he’s a good man, but a bad boy. Ya know what I mean? I guess it’s not really love at first sight, considering they have been watching each other for weeks and he really is more than he seems to be. A lot of people will find her actions totally unbelievable, but you would be surprised what happens in the real world.

I love when books take place in locations I am familiar with. After being attacked, they end up staying at his beach house in the Gulf Shores/Orange Beach area, right around the corner from me and places I visit often. It’s not long until they are found. I can visualize the events taking place in the house and on the beach as they struggle to survive.

I figured from the cover the book would be HOT. It sure is! I grabbed the book because of the blurb. I found the novella had a lot of action, but I was hoping it would be more of the fighting kind, than the sex kind. I did find the need to read straight through to see how it would end. It took me 65 minutes. I enjoyed the read and I know erotica lovers will want this on their reading list.

I received an ebook in return for an honest and unbiased review for the tour.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos 3 Stars – Would Recommend To Others

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EXCERPT

Lena Matthews felt like a perverted voyeur.

Sitting in a coffee shop across the courtyard from the martial arts studio’s glass storefront, she stared at the tae kwon do class as they kicked and jabbed. Most of the students wore white pajama-like uniforms, except for the teacher. He stood out in black with his shaggy dark hair and ripped body. The man looked good enough to lick.

For the last five weeks after her tai chi class, she’d claimed the same chair and watched his every move. Behind her, others in the coffee shop chatted about the class and the mysterious man leading it.

From what she’d overheard, his name was John Takahashi, and the students called him Master J.

Master? Oh, yeah. She could imagine he’d master many things. With his strong hands and long muscled arms and legs, he likely controlled any situation or person. He could easily lift and hold her against the wall as he stroked her to a climax. She whimpered and squeezed her knees together.

A shake of her head knocked out the dirty thoughts racing through her mind. She knew better. He’d never be attracted to an ordinary person like her. The woman he chose would be totally the opposite of her: young, athletic with honey blonde hair. Lena was about as interesting as watching bread turn to toast.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Carla Swafford is a lithe twenty-nine year old with long auburn hair and sparkling dark eyes who loves dancing with her gypsy friends. Geez! Can you tell I love writing fiction? Now for the real stuff: I’m married to my high school sweetheart and live in Alabama. I swear my stories are more exciting.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Kobo / iBooks

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Click here to get your copy of Circle of Dishonor by Carla Swafford

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GIVEAWAY

Carla will award one copy of CIRCLE OF DISHONOR at every stop to a randomly drawn commenter, and a $25 Amazon/BN GC to one randomly chosen winner via Rafflecopter during the tour. Please click the banner to see the other stops on this tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found by clicking on the image below: