DEEPLIGHT by Frances Hardinge Official Nerd Blast

Print Length: 432 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1419743201
Publisher: Amulet Books (April 14, 2020)
Publication Date: April 14, 2020
Sold by: Amazon Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B07WWHFFQL

Praise for DEEPLIGHT

★ “Equal parts dazzling fantasy, swashbuckling adventure, and tender coming-of-age tale.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

★ “Monsters and mortals collide in this fantasy adventure that explores the hypnotic allure of fear, the adamant grip of the past, and the redeeming power of stories.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Glorious thematic complexity inhabits a wildly inventive world, with the menacing roils of a dangerous sea threatening the archipelago and touches of steampunk rounding out the fantastical elements." —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Chilling and provocative, this dark fantasy will appeal to thrill seekers and cerebral tweens." —Booklist

OFFICIAL NERD BLAST FOR DEEPLIGHT BY FRANCES HARDINGE

This is a Nerd Blast, you will post the promotional info we provide you with, including the giveaway. No reviews required. Please mark your Calendar.

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea meets Frankenstein in Frances Hardinge’s latest fantasy adventure

The gods are dead. Decades ago, they turned on one another and tore each other apart. Nobody knows why. But are they really gone forever? When 15-year-old Hark finds the still-beating heart of a terrifying deity, he risks everything to keep it out of the hands of smugglers, military scientists, and a secret fanatical cult so that he can use it to save the life of his best friend, Jelt. But with the heart, Jelt gradually and eerily transforms. How long should Hark stay loyal to his friend when he’s becoming a monster—and what is Hark willing to sacrifice to save him?

You can purchase Deeplight at the following Retailers:

 

Photo Content from Frances Hardinge

Frances Hardinge is the winner of the Costa Book of the Year for The Lie Tree, one of just two young adult novels to win the major UK literary prize. Known for her beautiful use of language, Hardinge has written many critically acclaimed novels, including Cuckoo Song, Gullstruck Island, Fly by Night, Verdigris Deep, and Fly Trap. She lives in England. Visit the author at franceshardinge.com.

      

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AVATARS INC Edited by Ann VanderMeer Blog Tour

Published March 13th 2020 by XPRIZE

Avatars Inc
ISBN: 139781734336214
Edition Language: English

Praise for CURRENT FUTURES: A SCI-FI OCEAN ANTHOLOGY

“Ann VanderMeer’s outstanding Current Futures: A Sci-Fi Ocean Anthology, is a selection of stories about climate change and the future of our oceans, all by some of the best writers working today...on the XPRIZE’s website, it is as indispensable as anything on this list.” —Jonathan Strahan, Reviews Editor, Locus

“Ann VanderMeer’s Current Futures: A Sci-Fi Ocean Anthology is a required-reading, online-only “sci-fi ocean anthology” sponsored by XPRIZE.” —Liza Goren Trombi, Editor-in-Chief, Locus

**In 2020 the most recent anthology from XPRIZE, Current Futures: A Sci-Fi Ocean Anthology, was named to the Locus Recommended Reading list of 2019**

**4 Short stories from Current Futures: A Sci-Fi Ocean Anthology were included in the Short Stories section of the Locus Recommended Reading List of 2019**

Mars 2080

While on a mission to mars in the year 2080, a young astronaut encounters a decommissioned robotic Avatar unit, partially buried in the Martian dust.

She poops open the cranial casing to find its central processing chip, still intact. She holds the chip up to her visual display unit to reveal its contents. Within moments, she is flooded with what-seem-to-be “memories” from the life of the avatar.

This is Avatar Inc’s 24th successful mission, as part of an overall campaign to physically retrieve, preserve and archive the memory cards from their most valuable robotic avatar unitis.

They searched the world, and deep into the solar system, to acquire the chips that contain avatar memories spanning the 21st century.

These are those memories.



CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS
CREATOR: Eric Desatnik
SL Haung, Sarah Pinsker, JY Yang, Kelly Robson, Nino Cipri, Jeffrey Ford, K Chess, Indrapamit Das, Robert Reed, Paul McAuley, Julianna Baggot, Ken Liu, Merc, Fenn Wolfmoor, Pat Cadigan, Tom Sweterlitsch, James S.A. Corey, Adrian Tchaikovsky, Johanna Sinisalo, Tade Thompson, Dr. Harry Kloor, Charles Yu, Aliette de Bodard, Julie Novàkovà, and Madeline Ashby

Photo Content from Ann VanderMeer

Over a 30-year career, Ann VanderMeer has won numerous awards for her editing work, including the Hugo Award and World Fantasy Award. Whether as editor-in-chief for Weird Tales for five years or in her current role as an acquiring editor for Tor.com, Ann has built her reputation on acquiring fiction from diverse and interesting new talents. As co-founder of Cheeky Frawg Books, she has helped develop a wide-ranging line of mostly translated fiction. Featuring a who’s who of world literature, Ann VanderMeer’s anthologies include the critically acclaimed Best American Fantasy series, The Weird, The Time Traveler’s Almanac, Sisters of the Revolution, and the forthcoming Big Book of SF (Vintage).

My Review

I have never read an anthology book before and I was delighted to dive into this one.  I found it satisfying to read a quick story a little at a time, to enjoy each one, knowing that there will be a new one to come.

I found it fun to dive into each short story, and discover each authors take on the idea of the avatars in this Sci-Fi setting.

I do find it a little difficult to write a proper review, since each story is different. However, I can tell you how much I enjoyed it.  Some stories are a little more complex than others, however all unique with imagination!

Give it a go!  It is worth it!

        

MAY 25th MONDAY Insane About Books REVIEW

MAY 26th TUESDAY A Dream Within A Dream SPOTLIGHT

MAY 27th WEDNESDAY Author Kelly Riser SPOTLIGHT

MAY 28th THURSDAY BookHounds SPOTLIGHT 

MAY 28th THURSDAY Reading Adventures of a Book Dragon SPOTLIGHT 

MAY 29th FRIDAY Casia's Corner REVIEW

MAY 30th SATURDAY Crossroad Reviews REVIEW

MAY 31st SUNDAY Movies, Shows, & Books REVIEW

*JBN is not responsible for Lost or Damaged Books in your Nerdy Mail Box*

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LARK'S LABYRINTH by Cathy Cash Spellman Official Kindle Force

Print Length: 674 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1461177367
Publisher: The Wild Harp & Company, Inc. (November 28, 2017)
Publication Date: November 28, 2017
Sold by: Amazon.com Services LLC
Language: English

Praise for LARK'S LABYRINTH

"Politics and religion collide as Spellman delivers another fast-paced, suspenseful, and totally enjoyable thriller... The author constructs a blistering story--replete with political and religious intrigue--that never slows down and will keep readers turning the pages of this spectacular thrill ride." ―Publisher's Weekly

Praise for CATHY CASH SPELLMAN

“...Almost impossible to put down. The Author has the ability to produce one powerful scene after another and the action draws you helplessly on...” ―Publisher’s Weekly on So Many Partings

“...A cross between The Thorn Birds and Ragtime...” ―ALA Booklist on So Many Partings

“Flows along with an inexorable narrative current that propels the readers from one involving episode to the next.” ―Booklist on So Many Partings

“An energetic plot that never takes a breather.” ―Kirkus Reviews on Paint the Wind

“A western extravaganza.. a plot teeming with outsize characters.” ―Publishers Weekly on Paint the Wind

“I have never read a book or connected with an author who has touched me so deeply – as a mother, a grandmother, and another psychic kindred soul!” ―Elizabeth Taylor on Bless the Child

“This book has really touched my heartstrings as both a mother and grandmother. And Cathy Cash Spellman is one hell of a writer!” ―Maureen Stapleton on Bless the Child

“With a seductive, at times spellbinding style, author Spellman (An Excess of Love) incorporates ancient myths into an entrancing romantic thriller.. Spellman succeeds in capturing the reader’s close attention as an unrelenting sense of foreboding drives the narrative forward with power.” ―Publisher’s Weekly on Bless the Child

The Spear that pierced Christ’s side on the Cross has played a secret, but major role in history. Charlemagne, Constantine, Otto the Barbarian, The Knights Templar and Adolf Hitler all owned it... and believed it gave them the power to rule the world.

What if they were right?

The first time Dr. Cait Monahan ever heard of the Spear of Longinus was the night her husband was murdered because of it. That was when the terror began.

…right before the U.S. Government, the CIA, Neo Nazis, the Vatican and a secret cabal of 13 powerful global manipulators sent their assassins after her and her 9 year old.


 ...just before a lethal secret propelled her across Europe following a riddle that hadn’t been solved since the Holocaust.

…just before Cait Monahan became entrapped in an interdimensional labyrinth that her own husband may have helped design.

Now she’s a player in a game that has led to mystery, magic, mayhem and murder for over 2000 years, and only the help of a tribunal of long dead men may be able to save her.

Vibrant and cerebral, filled with intrigue, Conspiracy Theory and more ancient secrets than the Dead Sea Scrolls, Lark’s Labyrinth pits characters you’ll care about against a mystery you’ll want to solve.

Inside Lark’s Labyrinth is a secret men have killed for …now a woman, her sister, her child and their small band of friends are all that stand between us and the dark, insidious power that’s a hairsbreadth away from ruling the world.

EXCLUSIVE PROMOTIONAL BLAST
FANTASTIC NEWS BOOK NERDS!! We have an awesome PROMOTIONAL BLAST for LARK'S LABYRINTH running from now until 11:59pm (PST) on the last day of the blast.

KINDLE FORCE - A PROMOTIONAL BLAST CREATED BY JEANBOOKNERD
A special promotional price ($.99) for LARK'S LABYRINTH'S E-book will be set for the duration of the event. Make sure you get your copy!

You can purchase Lark's Labyrinth at the following Retailers:

  

Photo Credit: Dakota Cash

Multiple New York Times and International Bestsellers, a Paramount Movie, book sales in 22 countries, Cathy Cash Spellman writes stories about love, friendship, adventure, and history. Known for her big sprawling sagas and memorable characters, Cathy writes the kind of stories women like to lose themselves in, and then remember long after the book is done.

Her books range through several genres: contemporary, historical, mystery, mystic and romance. Several take place in two time-frames, both current and historical.

Bless the Child was a Paramount movie in 2000, starring Kim Basinger and Jimmy Smits, and Paint The Wind has been optioned for film and TV.

Cathy is an Astrologer, Martial Artist (Black Belt Goju Ryu Karate) and has expertise in Chinese Medicine, several alternative healing modalities and many metaphysical disciplines.

She has written for Self, Harper’s Bazaar, Town & Country, Mademoiselle, Cosmo, Penthouse, Mode, Kung Fu and many other magazines about women, health, empowerment, sexuality, spiritual philosophy and Astrology. She blogs for The Huffington Post and The New York Times.

        

*JBN is not responsible for Lost or Damaged Books in your Nerdy Mail Box*

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THE SWEENEY SISTERS by Lian Dolan tour and Giveaway

Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: William Morrow (April 28, 2020)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0062909045
ISBN-13: 978-0062909046

Praise for THE SWEENEY SISTERS

"This is a big-hearted belly-laugh of a book, told with wit and poignancy. Family secrets, laughter and tears, shocking reveals, and an uplifting ending make this a story to savor--and share." —Susan Wiggs, New York Times bestselling author of The Oysterville Sewing Circle

"Dolan uses her experience in podcasting with her own sisters to craft believable women characters who worry about real problems and use wry humor to push through dark moments . . . . A warmhearted portrait of love embracing true hearts." —Kirkus

An accomplished storyteller returns with her biggest, boldest, most entertaining novel yet—a hilarious, heartfelt story about books, love, sisterhood, and the surprises we discover in our DNA that combines the wit of Jonathan Tropper with the heart of Susan Wiggs.

Maggie, Eliza, and Tricia Sweeney grew up as a happy threesome in the idyllic seaside town of Southport, Connecticut. But their mother’s death from cancer fifteen years ago tarnished their golden-hued memories, and the sisters drifted apart. Their one touchstone is their father, Bill Sweeney, an internationally famous literary lion and college professor universally adored by critics, publishers, and book lovers. When Bill dies unexpectedly one cool June night, his shell-shocked daughters return to their childhood home. They aren’t quite sure what the future holds without their larger-than-life father, but they do know how to throw an Irish wake to honor a man of his stature.

But as guests pay their respects and reminisce, one stranger, emboldened by whiskey, has crashed the party. It turns out that she too is a Sweeney sister.

When Washington, DC based journalist Serena Tucker had her DNA tested on a whim a few weeks earlier, she learned she had a 50% genetic match with a childhood neighbor—Maggie Sweeney of Southport, Connecticut. It seems Serena’s chilly WASP mother, Birdie, had a history with Bill Sweeney—one that has remained totally secret until now.

Once the shock wears off, questions abound. What does this mean for William’s literary legacy? Where is the unfinished memoir he’s stashed away, and what will it reveal? And how will a fourth Sweeney sister—a blond among redheads—fit into their story?

By turns revealing, insightful, and uproarious, The Sweeney Sisters is equal parts cautionary tale and celebration—a festive and heartfelt look at what truly makes a family.

You can purchase The Sweeney Sisters at the following Retailers:

        

My Review

The Sweeney Sisters is a story about three sisters that grew up with a father what was a famous author.  When he passes, they are left to go through his life work, handle his estate, and find the memoir he was writing before he passed.

After his wake, and the reading of his will, they discovered that he had an affair and there is an older sister.  They are shocked, mind blown, and hesitant on what this other sister's intensions are.

This was a fun read, and discovering each sister's different personalities a pleasant experience.  They each are complex in different ways. How each sister dealt with the surprise of another sister was real with emotions.

Secrets are revealed. Emotions are high. 

This story shows true values of family, and how no family is perfect.

It was a joy to read. A fast read great for sitting out on the deck on a sunny day.

Photo Content from Lian Dolan

Lian Dolan is a writer and talker. She’s the author of two Los Angeles Times best-selling novels, Helen of Pasadena and Elizabeth the First Wife published by Prospect Park Books. Her next novel, The Sweeney Sisters, will be published in 2020 by William Morrow. She’s a regular humor columnist for Pasadena Magazine and has previously written monthly columns for O, The Oprah Magazine and Working Mother Magazine. She’s also written for TV, radio and websites.

Lian is the producer and host of Satellite Sisters, the award-winning talk show she created with her four real sisters. On Satellite Sisters, she’s interviewed everyone from Nora Ephron to Madeleine Albright to Big Bird. Satellite Sisters began life as a syndicated radio show and is now a top-rated podcast for women. The recent book by the Satellite Sisters, You’re the Best: A Celebration of Friendship, is popular with book clubs.

A popular speaker who combines humor and heart, Lian has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, CBS Sunday Morning and The Today Show and many local TV stations. She’s been a featured speaker at the LA Times Festival of Books, the Santa Barbara Celebrity Authors Lunch, the Literary Guild of Orange County Festival of Women Authors and dozens of other events at libraries, book stores, schools and women’s organizations across the country. In 2020, she’ll be on the faculty of the Erma Bombeck Writers Workshop.

Lian graduated from Pomona College with a degree in Classics. She lives in Pasadena, California with her husband, two sons and a big German shepherd.

        

WEEK ONE

APRIL 27th MONDAY JeanBookNerd INTERVIEW

APRIL 28th TUESDAY Casia's Corner EXCERPT

APRIL 29th WEDNESDAY BookHounds INTERVIEW 

APRIL 30th THURSDAY Crossroad Reviews REVIEW

APRIL 30th THURSDAY TTC Books and More GUEST POST

MAY 1st FRIDAY Books and Zebras REVIEW 

MAY 1st FRIDAY Two Points of Interest REVIEW

WEEK ONE

MAY 4th MONDAY Nay's Pink Bookshelf REVIEW

MAY 5th TUESDAY Ya It's Lit REVIEW

MAY 6th WEDNESDAY Gwendalyn's Books REVIEW

MAY 6th WEDNESDAY Insane About Books REVIEW 

MAY 7th THURSDAY Book Queen Reviews REVIEW 

MAY 7th THURSDAY Reading Adventures of a Book Dragon REVIEW

MAY 8th FRIDAY Movies, Shows, & Books REVIEW

*JBN is not responsible for Lost or Damaged Books in your Nerdy Mail Box*

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THE SHADOW WAND by Laurie Forest Official Nerd Blast and Giveaway

Series: The Black Witch Chronicles (Book 3)
Hardcover: 640 pages
Publisher: Inkyard Press (June 9, 2020)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1335015299
ISBN-13: 978-1335015297

Praise for THE BLACK WITCH Chronicles 

"I absolutely loved The Black Witch and will have a very hard time waiting for the second book! Maximum suspense, unusual magic--a whole new, thrilling approach to fantasy!" ―Tamora Pierce, #1 New York Times bestselling author on The Black Witch

"This briskly paced, tightly plotted novel enacts the transformative power of education, creating engaging characters set in a rich alternative universe with a complicated history that can help us better understand our own. A massive page-turner that leaves readers longing for more." ―Kirkus Reviews, starred review on The Black Witch

"Fans of Harry Potter and Tamora Pierce will gobble down the 600-plus pages and demand the sequel." ―Booklist, starred review on The Black Witch

"...fans will be delighted and begging for the next title-and the cliff-hanger ending promises us there will be one." ―Booklist on The Iron Flower

OFFICIAL NERD BLAST FOR THE SHADOW WAND BY LAURIE FOREST

This is a Nerd Blast, you will post the promotional info we provide you with, including the giveaway. No reviews required. Please mark your Calendar.

Elloren Gardner hides the most powerful secret in all of Erthia - she is the Black Witch of Prophecy, and destined to triumph...or be used as the ultimate weapon of destruction.

Separated from everyone she loves, isolated and hunted, Elloren must turn to the last person she can trust, her fastmate, Commander Lukas Grey. With the Mage forces of Gardneria poised to conquer all of Erthia, Elloren has no choice but to ally with Lukas and combine their power to keep herself out of the hands of the Gardnerian leader Marcus Vogel...the holder of the all-consuming Shadow Wand.

With just weeks to train to become a warrior, and no control over her magic, Elloren finds unexpected allies among those under orders to kill her. It's time to step up. To fight back. And to forge onward through the most devastating loss yet.

You can purchase The Shadow Wand at the following Retailers:

 

Photo Content from Laurie Forest

Laurie Forest lives deep in the backwoods of Vermont where she sits in front of a wood stove drinking strong tea and dreaming up tales full of dryads, dragons and wands. The Black Witch (Book 1.0, The Black Witch Chronicles – OUT NOW) & Wandfasted (Book 0.5, The Black Witch Chronicles Prequel) are her first published novels. Coming in 2018 are Light Mage (Book 1.5, The Black Witch Chronicles) & The Iron Flower(Book 2.0, The Black Witch Chronicles). She is currently ensconced in the woods, hard at work on The Shadow Dryad (Book 3.0, The Black Witch Chronicles).

        

*JBN is not responsible for Lost or Damaged Books in your Nerdy Mail Box*

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