The Accidental Highwayman Blog Tour, Review, and Giveaway

Check out More of the tour HERE

Synopsis 

The Accidental Highwayman is the first swashbuckling adventure for young adults by talented author and illustrator, Ben Tripp. This thrilling tale of dark magic and true love is the perfect story for fans of William Goldman’s The Princess Bride.

In eighteenth-century England, young Christopher “Kit” Bristol is the unwitting servant of notorious highwayman Whistling Jack. One dark night, Kit finds his master bleeding from a mortal wound, dons the man’s riding cloak to seek help, and changes the course of his life forever. Mistaken for Whistling Jack and on the run from redcoats, Kit is catapulted into a world of magic and wonders he thought the stuff of fairy tales.

Bound by magical law, Kit takes up his master’s quest to rescue a rebellious fairy princess from an arranged marriage to King George III of England. But his task is not an easy one, for Kit must contend with the feisty Princess Morgana, gobling attacks, and a magical map that portends his destiny: as a hanged man upon the gallows….

Fans of classic fairy-tale fantasies such as Stardust by Neil Gaiman and will find much to love in this irresistible YA debut by Ben Tripp, the son of one of America’s most beloved illustrators, Wallace Tripp (Amelia Bedelia). Following in his father’s footsteps, Ben has woven illustrations throughout the story.

“Delightful and charming. A swashbuckling adventure in the vein of Robert Louis Stevenson.” —#1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY

MY REVIEW

Wow, what a fun read based in the Eighteenth century where fantasy began.

Kit is a young servant to a well to go gentleman who is kind of eccentric. However, this life is much better than the life he grew up in as a performer in an on the road circus.  He is loyal to his master, and always does as he is told to please his master.  Little did Kit realize, his master is the famous Highwayman Whistling Jack, who is famous of stealing from the rich.

When Kit escapes the soldiers on his master's horse, he is mistaken for Whistling Jack, and finds himself on the run.  He takes the loyal dog, Demon, with him, and travels the instructions given to him by his master on his last breath.  His life will change forever, finding out that the world has more than the eye can see.

This is a fun old-style english historical fantasy.  I found the humor refreshing, and Kit's absolute loyalty extremely fun to absorb.  Who doesn't love a book about Fairies?  It brings this story to life with the imagination and adventure in this fast paced novel.  Kit can be gullible, but that is what I loved about him.  He is learning about life as he lives it, and catches on pretty quick to the hidden world that existed around him.  He is the perfect hero, whether it is accidental or not, being humble and always thinking of others before himself.

This IS a great read for all fantasy lovers.  Definitely worth every minute.  With several twists hidden in these pages, the obstacles are exciting as it builds up to the finale.

Give it a read, it would be great for all middle graders and up who enjoy old fantasy lore.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

After a childhood making art and a brief stint at the Rhode Island School of Design, BEN TRIPP worked as an experiential designer for over twenty years, creating theme parks, resorts, museums, and attractions worldwide. He is the author of the adult novels Rise Again, Rise Again: Below Zero, and the forthcoming Fifth Chamber of the Heart.The Accidental Highwayman is his first book for young adults.

WEBSITE: http://kitbristol.com/
TWITTER: @MrBenTripp
GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3398274.Ben_Tripp

The Trailers!

"A Giant Book"
The Accidental Highwayman Trailer One

The idea was to capture some of the settings and atmospheres of the novel by visiting haunted forests and sunny sheep-flecked meadows of England. In general none of this went off quite as planned. 

"The Author at Work"

The Accidental Highwayman Trailer Two

Ultimately the challenge of adventure proved too enticing and the sport
of Extreme Reading was born. What makes a book more interesting? Peril.

"A Pastoral Reading"
The Accidental Highwayman Trailer Three

The next idea was to go indoors where it was nice and quiet and shoot a  video there in the safety of the author's elegant writing room.

"Extreme Reading"

The Accidental Highwayman Trailer Four

25 Winners will receive an Exclusive 11x17 Poster, Envelopes 

and Bookmarks by Ben Tripp.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

November 18^th Tuesday: Jean BookNerd INTERVIEW & VLOG POST
November 19^th Wednesday: Teen Readers’ Diary THIS OR THAT
November 20^th Thursday: CBY Book Club 10 RANDOM THINGS
November 21^st Friday: Bookish REVIEW & TENS LIST 
November 22^nd Saturday: Sabrina’s Paranormal Palace REVIEW & FAVORITE BOOKS
November 23^rd Sunday: Such a Novel Idea REVIEW & GUEST POST 
November 24^th Monday: Swoony Boys Podcast REVIEW & INTERVIEW 
November 25^th Tuesday: Jenna Does Books REVIEW & EXCERPT
November 26^th Wednesday: Chapter by Chapter REVIEW & DREAM CAST
November 27^th Thursday: Spiced Latte Reads REVIEW

November 28^th Friday: Beneath the Moon and Stars REVIEW

November 29^th Saturday: Insane About Books REVIEW & EXCERPT

A Touch of Nerves Blog Tour, Random Things, Review and Giveaway

You can follow the whole Tour HERE

​

Synopsis 

A FRESH LOOK AT 21ST CENTURY TERRORISM

--New novel explores America’s role in the Middle East

When Army Captain Ben Hawkins discovers chemical weapons missing from a military research facility, he begins an investigation into preventing a possible terrorist attack. The suspects? Two rogue Iranian agents who blame the deaths of their family members on the United States. What Hawkins doesn’t expect is to find himself forced to decide whether to risk his career—and possible arrest—to stop the attack, even if it means working with a foreign agent.

D.C. Hampton’s debut novel, A Touch of Nerves, may be set on the battlefield of America’s “War on Terror,” but the book is a far cry from your typical action narrative. Inspired by his two sons who served in Iraq and the Persian Gulf during the Iraq War and his own time serving in the U.S. Army, Hampton brings depth and humanity to characters that might otherwise be painted in the two-dimensional “hero” or “villain” archetypes. With Hampton’s passion for history and global affairs, A Touch of Nerves brings a fresh perspective to the long history of tension between the United States and Iran.

“I wanted to write a story that was worth telling, realistic and suspenseful,” says Hampton. “I believe the book is entertaining, but it also sheds light on the complex relationship between Iran and the United States and explores the complex emotions and issues that drive some individuals to commit terrible acts.”

“The story includes a wealth of details as Hampton weaves a complex plot,” writes Kirkus Reviews. “A conceivable threat and suspense-filled plot keep readers engaged until the end. Hampton eschews the genre’s typical plot holes and vague facts and his handle on international relations gives the terrorists credible motivations.”

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY

My Review

A Touch of Nerves is the best title for this story. In the suspenseful plot, it will test your nerves, and make you dwell on what situations and investigations that might have transpired in the past, present and future.

Like I said, this story is suspenseful and truly planned out.   When Captain Ben Hawkins travels to a military facility to investigate some discrepancies, little did he know how it would change into a possible terrorist attack and definitely change his life, and many other lives in the story.  Ben Hawkins goes in deeper than he should, however his informant delivers.  

The story is unique, starting out with different stories, which beautifully blends into the major plot.  I found this very important for the entire story, because it guides you to the reasons the two Iranian terrorists believe their cause is important.  Technology is a big part of how information is obtained, and I found that very interesting. WOW, it is amazing.  Ben is a strong character.  He isn't scared to go beyond the rules to save the country he serves.  I do love how the author made this character more than an Army soldier, but also a human civilian by his dates with his fiance, and their conversations.  To me, this made the character more like a real person.

I really enjoyed this story.  I was pleased for stepping outside my box, and reading something different for me.  It has action that I love, and oh my, there is a twist at the end that I would have NEVER seen coming....well, I didn't see it coming.  haha

THANK YOU D C Hampton, and also to your two sons for your service.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

D.C. Hampton holds an MA and PhD in Audiology from Columbia University and has been published extensively in the field. He has done graduate work in history and has always been interested in international relations. Though he has been extensively published in medical and trade publications, A Touch of Nerves is his first foray into fiction.

Ten Random Things About Me

Favorite color:  Green

More of a country mouse than a city mouse

I prefer quiet places to noisy places—dinner at home rather than out at a restaurant

Love to play the piano—just don’t play it very well

Jazz, music of the 60’s, Latin music, classical…but no hip hop rap, please

I prefer participating to watching—playing a sport rather than watching

Spent a month in Vietnam in 1968—just not with the Army.

Independent—rules are OK if they make sense

Pretty good listener since I don’t feel the need to talk about myself; even this list is a challenge

I like subtle wordplays and puns more than outright jokes

WEBSITE: http://www.newshelves.com/amy_collin/author-press-room/d-c-hampton/
GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6857475.D_C_Hampton

Rafflecopter Link (Needs to be added on your post)
--Giveaway is open to International. | Must be 13+ to Enter

1 Winner will receive a Signed Copy of A Touch of Nerves by D.C. Hampton.

1 Winner will receive a $20.00 Amazon Gift Card.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Anomaly Release Day Blitz

Anomaly (Schrodinger's Consortium #1)

by Tonya Kuper

Release Date: 11/25/14

Entangled Teen

Summary from Goodreads:

Reality is only an illusion.
Except for those who can control it…

Worst. Birthday. Ever.
My first boyfriend dumped me – happy birthday, Josie!- my dad is who knows where, I have some weird virus that makes me want to hurl, and now my ex is licking another girl’s tonsils. Oh, and I’m officially the same age as my brother was when he died. Yeah, today is about as fun-filled as the swamps of Dagobah. But then weird things start happening…

Like I make something materialize just by thinking about it.
When hot badass Reid Wentworth shows up on a motorcycle, everything changes. Like, everything. Who I am. My family. What really happened to my brother. Existence. I am Oculi, and I have the ability to change reality with my thoughts. Now Reid, in all his hotness, is charged with guiding and protecting me as I begin learning how to bend reality. And he’s the only thing standing between me and the secret organization that wants me dead…

Buy Links:

Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Kobo Books│The Book Depository│iBooks

Excerpt 1 from ANOMALY by Tonya Kuper

I approached the mat. I’d never done any extensive sparring, but I wasn’t a total newb when it came to self-defense. The tae kwon do I’d practiced for years with Eli had to count for something. I hoped.

A heavy footfall pulled my attention back to Reid.

            An arm came at me from the side. Without thinking, I ducked, punched under the incoming arm, and swung my shin at the ankles in my sights. Reid’s legs swept out from under him, and his hands shot out to catch himself. He landed on all fours.

            I gasped for a breath of air, my chest heaving. Evidently I held my breath whenever I was attacked. Reid’s eyes locked on mine. Finally some eye contact. And then he gave me a shitty smile.

            “What the hell?” I snapped. Reid stood and didn’t stop moving until he was in my face. I didn’t let myself flinch. “Just because you’re pissed at me, did you really need to try and take me out? I know you think insta-immersion works best, but maybe it doesn’t for me. Maybe, just maybe—”

            “Will you shut up?”

            I hitched my hands on my hips. “So rude.”

            “Five days, Josie.”

That shut me up in a heartbeat. What the hell was wrong with me? I hadn’t lost sight of the goal. The awards ceremony was—I glanced at the wall clock in the living room—125 hours and fourteen minutes away. Reid shouldn’t take it easy on me. He couldn’t afford to.

“I’m sorry,” I began.

“Stop.” Reid didn’t budge, but he crossed his arms, too. “I was going to give you a compliment, but you won’t stop thinking or talking long enough for me to get a word in edgewise.”

            Oh, oops. “Proceed.”

            He shook his head, closing his clear eyes for a moment. “You are a piece of work.”

            “That doesn’t sound like a compliment.”

            Reid barked a short laugh. “Because it wasn’t. I was going to tell you that you did a good job earlier, you know, with the whole Pushing Pictionary thing. And this?” He pointed behind him, where I’d taken him down. “How did you know what to do?”

            “My parents made us take tae kwon do. Like, for years and years. I guess it just kind of comes naturally.” A hint of pride fluttered through my muscles. And with that pride, just a smidgen of hope. Like maybe I could do this. Maybe I could actually pull this off.

            “Mmm.”

            Reid stood so close that I had to angle my head up to him. My shirt was already sticking to my sweaty stomach. And he still didn’t have a shirt on. I had to make a conscious effort not to look at his body. I could barely focus on what he’d said.

            In no way, shape, or form had I lost sight—no pun intended—of the big picture. I remained focused on the end goal. Reid was just, well, a wee bit distracting, that’s all. And perhaps that was a good thing. Yes. If I could focus around Reid, then that would only better serve me in a real-world environment, when I faced other distractions.

            Yep, that was my story. And I was sticking to it.

            “Let’s work more on hand-to-hand combat. See what comes not-so-naturally, natural.”

            Giving him a nod, I pivoted toward the mats. Feeling his presence behind me and hearing the swish of his jeans as he moved, I stopped short. I twisted, throwing a punch toward his lower jaw. He shifted out of the way, grabbed my wrist in midair, and twisted it around my back. Thank the moon of Endor I was pretty flexible.

            He yanked my arm farther up my back. His opposite arm wrapped around my waist and tugged me into him, his bare chest pressing into my back.

Pain and exhilaration shot into my nervous system. I was stuck. My heart beat wildly, but I wasn’t scared. It had to be the rush of adrenaline into my bloodstream and the fact that a half-naked guy held me in a death grip.

            Reid’s exhale tickled the back of my neck as he steadied his breath. “Nice try.” His voice came out in a rough whisper. His arm tightened around my waist again, his fingertips singeing my skin through my tank as they dug through the material, drawing me in to his body.

            “What’s the matter, Josie? Can’t move?”

A chill danced down my spine when he pulled in a deep breath and his chest expanded against my back. I should’ve been shrugging out of his hold, but I didn’t. My body had locked up in response to his presence. And it pissed me off, because even though he could be an underwear model, I would’ve rather made out with a Romulan. Similar personalities.

About the Author

Tonya Kuper's debut, ANOMALY, the first in the Schrodinger's Consortium young adult scifi trilogy, releases November 2014 by Entangled Teen. She lives in Omaha, NE with her two rad boys and husband, is a music junkie, and a chocolate addict. Star Wars & Sherlock fan.

Author Links:

   

Random Facts About Tonya Kuper

Thank you so much for having me on your blog. I’m excited to be here! I thought instead of me answering the usual author question, readers may enjoy some absolute randomness.

So here is a list of random facts about me:

• I taught yoga for over three years. I haven’t practiced, let alone taught, in years.
• I once partied with Keith Urban’s band and road crew until four in the morning. Keith was in his room but his bald guitar player said I had the sexiest hair he’d ever seen. So that was…coo/interesting/weird.
• My kids have life threatening food allergies. My oldest son went into anaphylaxis when he was just over a year old and was gray by the time we got the ER. It seemed as if people came from the walls, appearing out of nowhere to save his life. Scariest day of my life.
• I have a reaction to a stomach medication that makes my brain think I have Parkinson’s Disease. Yeah, I found that out the hard way. My speech is slurred, my tongue presses to the roof of my mouth, my bottom jaw slides to the side. It’s pretty crazy.
• There was a movie, a biographical drama, in 2000 called The Perfect Storm, staring George Clooney and Mark Walberg and nominated for two Academy Awards. I sat next to the friend of the crew members lost at sea that served as one of the consultants for the film on the sailing/fishing elements. It was the most interesting plane ride!
• Anyone watch 24 starring Keifer Sutherland? Well, my friend and I were in NYC in 2011 and ended up at the same bar as him and Jason Patrick (his co-star in a play and Lost Boys, the vampire movie from the 80’s). And Keifer mooned us. Like, ten feet from us.
• I’m obsessed with accents. Southern drawl, East coast, Canadian, English, Irish, Scottish, whatever. So…cute men + accents = automatic points from me. It’s probably because I grew in rural Illinois then moved to Omaha, Nebraska after college, which is the call center of America because we have such a flat accent, basically no accent. It’s very…generic American.
• My family, between all four of us, is allergic to almost every mammal on Earth, therefore we have no hairy pets. We literally can’t be enclosed with most mammal dander. It’s so bad, we can’t even have the “hypo-allergenic” dogs. We had fish. They died. And they were boring. My boys wanted to interact with something – so we got a leopard gecko, a desert dweller. I had no idea they were so cute and have such personalities! I post pics and videos of Mo (short for Mo’o, the Hawaiin word for lizard/gecko) on my Instagram account every once in while.

GIVEAWAY:

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Book Blitz Organized by:

Soul Savers Series: Covers Revealed

Book Six & Seven in the Soul Savers Series  

  Title: Torment                                                     Title: Faith    

  Author: Kristie Cook                                       Author: Kristie Cook   Release Date: January 9th, 2015        Release Date: February 2nd, 2015 

 He’ll torment her soul until she breaks…and humanity until it falls.

When the Daemoni expose their existence to the human race, all Hell breaks loose. Literally. Not only do they walk the world freely, attacking at will, but they’ve infiltrated the highest levels of power in the human world. World War III erupts between countries and species, with Lucas, leader of evil on Earth, orchestrating it all. He even possesses direct control of thousands of human soldiers’ minds, putting himself in position to take over humanity.

Alexis, still young and inexperienced, must lead the Angels’ army to war. But every step she takes is trumped by Lucas, who single-handedly turns the humans against her Amadis. When Alexis and Tristan top every country’s list of Most Wanted Terrorists, they are forced to go underground to fight this war. And their first mission is to free the human soldiers by breaking the link that allows Lucas to control them.

But the Four Horsemen have apparently arrived, bringing the world into the apocalypse. Can Alexis and the Amadis prevent Lucas from taking over humanity? Or is he truly the Antichrist, and the events tormenting the world part of an age-old prophecy that can’t be stopped?

This highly anticipated sixth book of the Soul Savers Series will leave readers in shock, begging for the final installment, Faith..

iBooks:

 http://bit.ly/1qRJTVZ

  When her eyes see only darkness, her soul must uncover      faith’s light.

Evil reigns the world. Earth’s been ravaged. Only supernaturals roam the surface, while anyone else who escaped the fallout remains hidden deeply underground. The only signs humans survived at all come from those who serve the Daemoni. To finalize his conquest of humanity, Lucas prepares to rip down the veil between Earth and the Otherworld, opening the gates of Hell into the physical realm.

So why do the Angels insist on Alexis fighting a war that’s already been lost? Defending a world that no longer exists?

With a soul that’s been battered and beaten by both Heaven and Hell, Alexis holds onto a single conviction—her love for her family. Her only mission now is to save her husband’s and her son’s souls. Once she does, She’ll plead with the Angels to allow them off this world God has obviously forsaken.

But has He? And can she give up on her people so easily? On the souls of all humanity? Or will she find the faith she needs to defeat the Daemoni and win back the world? Just how far will she go to save the souls she loves . . .  and those she does not?

This epic finale of the bestselling Soul Savers Series will break readers’ hearts, put them back together, and leave them demanding more.

iBooks: 

http://bit.ly/1vbew8t 

Kristie Cook is a lifelong, award-winning writer in various genres, primarily New Adult paranormal romance and contemporary fantasy. Her internationally bestselling Soul Savers Series will be complete and all seven books available  by early 2015. She's also written a companion novella, Genesis: A Soul Savers Novella, currently available. Over 350,000 Soul Savers books have been sold, with Promise peaking at #54 on the Amazon Top 100 Paid list and at #1 in the Amazon Fantasy category, and Wrath peaking in the Top 10 on 5 international iBooks stores.

She has also written The Book of Phoenix trilogy, a New Adult paranormal romance series that includes The Space Between, The Space Beyond, and The Space Within. The full trilogy is available now.

Besides writing, Kristie enjoys reading, cooking, traveling and riding on the back of a motorcycle. She has lived in ten states, but currently calls Southwest Florida home with her husband, a beagle, and a puggle, but spends many weekends with her three sons at UCF, cheering on the Knights.

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Author's Website & Blog 

UK Fan Site

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The Book of Phoenix Trilogy

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Want to catch up on the rest of Soul Saver Series?  Click the link and it will take you to the Soul Saver Series Website where you can learn more about the books and where they are available.  

To get you started Book 1 Promise is Free!

(Un)Bidden (JotS #4) Release Day Blitz -

(Un) Bidden by Melissa Haag

Release Day Blitz

November 24, 2014

I left home because I didn’t want to end up in a cage like a lab rat. Hitching rides, begging for cash, and sleeping on the ground got old fast. That was the only reason I braved an overgrown path to a group of buildings. I’d hoped to find a bed and a decent night’s sleep. However, what I found was a place overrun by werewolves.

While on the run, Charlene finds herself surrounded by werewolves, creatures she can’t control with her mind like she can humans. Their existence has her believing she’s found a safe place to stay, a place where secrets are okay. However, she soon discovers she’s anything but safe. Charlene must learn how to use her abilities to influence the strange new species because if she can’t, the next bite she suffers might just kill her.

Read how the cycle begins, and have no doubt. Charlene’s past will shape the future of the Judgements.

BUY IT ON AMAZON: http://bit.ly/UnBiddenAM

Have you read the first book, Hope(less), in the series? It’s currently FREE!

Gabby's brain is like a human fish finder. It comes in handy when she wants to avoid people. Mostly men. They seem to like her a bit too much. It's lonely being different, but she's adapted to it. Really. She just wishes she knew why she is different, though.

In her search for answers, she discovers a hidden community of werewolves. She immerses herself in their culture, learning about their world until she meets Clay. He's unkempt, prone to mood swings, intense without saying a word, and he thinks Gabby is his.

It's going to take every trick she knows to convince Clay to go away, and every bit of willpower not to fall for him when she discovers the man beneath the rough exterior.

Delve into a riveting world of werewolves and young women with unexplained abilities, in Hope(less).

BUY IT AT:

Amazon:  http://bit.ly/HopelessAm

 B&N: http://bit.ly/HopelessBN

 Kobo: http://bit.ly/HopelessKobo

 Smashwords: http://bit.ly/HopelessSW

 iTunes: http://bit.ly/HopelessiT

~*~ABOUT THE AUTHOR~*~

Melissa Haag currently resides in Wisconsin with her husband and three children. Touch is her first published novel. She is currently working on book five of a separate six book series. To learn more about her upcoming projects, visit her at: http://melissahaag.com , and you can connect with her on: https://twitter.com/imagine2live  & https://www.facebook.com/author.MelissaHaag