I’ve been very busy this week editing my next book, The Lost Sentinel, which I’m hoping to publish in the next few months.
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There are still a couple of days left to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for Visions of Zarua, my debut epic fantasy. It’s an international giveaway and all you have to do follow me on twitter etc. It’s all set up via BrizzleLass who reviewed the book in December.
Don’t forget, Visions of Zarua is still free to read on kindle unlimited UK and US.
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I’m still editing The Lost Sentinel, but I wanted to share the blurb to see what people think. It’s a work in progress, so any comments will be gratefully received.
The Lost Sentinel
Silent Sea Chronicles
Book 1
Tagline
The magical island of Kalaya is dying, along with it’s Sentinel. With the Kalayan people turning their back on magic, can Tei help the exiles find their new Sentinel before it’s too late?
Blurb
Tei’s always hidden her magic to avoid persecution from the Assembly who govern Kalaya. She lives happily as a tailor’s daughter until an old friend of her father’s visits bringing news they’re in danger. They flees for the Turrak Mountains where other exiles of magic have made their home. On the journey, an enemy attack leaves her father wounded. He sees her into the care of two exiles, Rike and Garrick, and on his deathbed makes a shocking confession that changes Tei’s life.
Tei must put her trust in these strangers, especially when mysterious masked riders seem determined to stop her reaching Turrak.
Struggling with self-doubt, Tei joins the exiles in the search for their lost Sentinel. But the masked riders want the Sentinel too, and time as well as hope is running out.
Can the exiles save the island magic and reunite the Kalayan people before ignorance destroys them all?
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Are you intrigued? Let me know.
Additional question – 8/1/17 I changed the series title from Bloodlines Trilogy to Silent Sea Chronicles. Blood seems to feature so often in books that I wanted to go for something more original. Any thoughts on Silent Sea Chronicles?
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I’m taking a bit of a break from social media for now, just so I can get The Lost Sentinel ready for publication. I’ll still post the odd book review and photo, and respond to all comments, so keep in touch.
And a belated Happy New Year to everyone!
Want to win a paperback copy of Visions of Zarua?
There are two giveaways running at the moment for my standalone, epic fantasy.
UK Goodreads giveaway – Only 3 days left to enter.
International Rafflecopter giveaway via Brizzlelassbooks who also posted her review yesterday – 12 days left to enter.
I’m so proud of how well this book has been received by book bloggers and reviewers over the last year. Why not check some of the reviews on goodreads, as well as Amazon UK and US where it’s free to read for all Kindle Unlimited subscribers.
Please consider leaving a brief review if you do read Visions of Zarua. Reviews really make my day and help other readers discover indie authors like me.
Here’s a taster of the most recent reviews:
A Thoroughly Enjoyable Sword and Sorcery Based Epic Fantasy, 28 Dec. 2016
A dark story with many twists and great characters, 17 Dec. 2016
A super fantasy read, December 4, 2016
Thanks for reading and good luck to all those that enter.
I’m really pleased to share this review of Visions of Zarua. Plus there’s an international giveaway to win a paperback copy. Head on over to BrizzleLassBooks. Good Luck everyone!
I’ve read more in 2016 than I have in years thanks to taking up the Goodreads reading challenge and joining Rosie’s Book Review Team.
Here are some of the books that have stayed with me long after I finished reading them.
Favourite Children’s book – Fire Bed and Bone by Henrietta Bradford
I loved this book and shared it with my family. It was an interesting experiment to get the different opinions from a 9-year-old and an 11-year-old and my husband (whose age I’m sure he wouldn’t want me to mention!).
Favourite YA book – The Sapphire Legend by E.L. Tenenbaum
This fantasy book took me by surprise and I have been longing to read the sequel. I definitely will in 2017.
Favourite Indie and fantasy – The Crown of Stones by C.L. Schneider
I was drawn to the cover of this book from the start and the book didn’t disappoint. A great fantasy, and another trilogy I hope to finish in 2017.
Favourite Thriller – Distress Signals by Catherin Ryan Howard
This book led to some very late nights! A compelling thriller and I bet you won’t see the twist coming!
Favourite Romance – Late Summer in the Vineyards by Jo Thomas
I loved this book for the atmosphere and the wonderful feel good factor it had.
Favourite Audio book – Look Behind You by Sibel Hodge
This was a thriller I just couldn’t stop listening to. It had that all important mystery element, and like the main character I didn’t know who to trust. It reminded me of ‘Before I go to Sleep’. Both truly great reads.
In all I read 33 books during 2016. Now I can’t wait to see what books 2017 has in store.
Have you read any of these books, and if not have I inspired you to add them to your TBR lists?
To get in the Christmas spirit, I’m giving away a paperback copy of my standalone, epic fantasy Visions of Zarua. I opted for UK only this time, but I’ll run another international giveaway in the new year.
Two wizards, 350 years apart. Can they save the realm of Paltria from Zarua’s dark past?
The ebook is still available free on Kindle Unlimited UK and US.
Here’s some recommended reads by the Happymeercat. I’m overjoyed to see Visions of Zarua is included on the list.
I’m hoping to compile my own list over the next few days, but in the meantime, enjoy the Happymeercat’s suggestions.
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So I was looking for a picture of a meerkat with books but all I found was this! So here is some news followed by (meer)cat’s recommended reads this Christmas! First to the news. Like last …
I did share this on Instagram the other day, but it’s just so sweet I had to share it again.
A Wedding in Cornwall by Laura Briggs
Novella – 92 pages
Romance.
Disclaimer – I won a copy of this book in Rachel’s Random Reads competition back in the summer.
It’s the career move of a lifetime, and Julianne can’t believe it’s hers: a position as an event planner at a country house in Cornwall, England, beginning with the wedding of a celebrity! If her old firm’s senior planner back in the States hadn’t fallen suddenly sick with the chicken pox, Julianne would never have found herself chosen for a life in one of England’s most beautiful coastal counties, surrounded by rugged shores, quaint cottages, elegant gardens and a house to die for.
But life in Cornwall isn’t exactly as Julianne imagined it. Her first bride-to-be is a resentful, petted snob, the groom is immature and bored, and the Cornish staff of Cliffs House has a difficult time believing that an event planner from a mid-level position can handle a wedding this big. And then there’s a personal matter — the handsome, sometimes charming, sometimes standoffish gardener Matthew Rose. He and Julianne have a strangely complicated relationship somewhere between friendship and attraction. But with a secret in his past, and a scheming bridesmaid plotting to have Matthew all to herself, will Julianne find a way to untangle her feelings and the problems of planning a perfect Cornish wedding?
My Review
This was a sweet little novella that I would’ve easily devoured it in one sitting if life didn’t get in the way.
The author admits from that start that she’s never been to Cornwall and this did fill me with apprehension, but I need not have worried. There were one or two details that might leap out at people who know the area well, but for me I was transported to Cornwall. I especially liked the visit to The Lost Gardens of Heligan, which is a family favourite of ours.
The lead character, Julianne, was likeable and her story flowed from scene to scene. There were no chapters, which I found unusual but it helped keep me involved in the story and I didn’t want to stop reading. I also really liked the love interest in the story, Matt.
With Julianne’s job being an events planner, there were lots of little details like the types of flowers in the displays and food being served, touches I really enjoyed.
The story built up to a satisfactory conclusion and I’ve just seen there is a sequel – A Christmas in Cornwall – perfect for this time of year.
I recommend A Wedding in Cornwall to those who enjoy a light romance story and who like a quick read.
Rating 4 stars.
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