A Thousand Nights by E. K. Johnston (Blog Tour Guest Post & Giveaway)

Welcome to my tour stop for A Thousand Nights by E. K. Johnston! Having read and enjoyed this story, I found the author's guest post about her characters to be really interesting and true. She doesn't give dream casts for her main characters, just a father and mother, but she does give some fabulous descriptions and a feel for this story. I hope you enjoy it and check out the other info and the giveaway below as well...

A Thousand Nights

by E. K. Johnston

YA Urban Fantasy

Hardcover, paperback, & ebook, 336 pages

October 6th 2015 by Disney Hyperion

Summary

Lo-Melkhiin killed three hundred girls before he came to her village, looking for a wife. When she sees the dust cloud on the horizon, she knows he has arrived. She knows he will want the loveliest girl: her sister. She vows she will not let her be next.

And so she is taken in her sister's place, and she believes death will soon follow. Lo-Melkhiin's court is a dangerous palace filled with pretty things: intricate statues with wretched eyes, exquisite threads to weave the most beautiful garments. She sees everything as if for the last time.But the first sun rises and sets, and she is not dead. Night after night, Lo-Melkhiin comes to her and listens to the stories she tells, and day after day she is awoken by the sunrise. Exploring the palace, she begins to unlock years of fear that have tormented and silenced a kingdom. Lo-Melkhiin was not always a cruel ruler. Something went wrong.

Far away, in their village, her sister is mourning. Through her pain, she calls upon the desert winds, conjuring a subtle unseen magic, and something besides death stirs the air.

Back at the palace, the words she speaks to Lo-Melkhiin every night are given a strange life of their own. Little things, at first: a dress from home, a vision of her sister. With each tale she spins, her power grows. Soon she dreams of bigger, more terrible magic: power enough to save a king, if she can put an end to the rule of a monster.

   

(Affiliate links included.)

Not If I See You First by Eric Lindstrom (Waiting on Wednesday)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

I have to be honest and say that the cover of this book isn't' one of my favorites. However, it did catch my eye. More so, the synopsis really caught my eye. A blind female MC, written by a guy? And this guy wrote and helped create Tomb Raider? A voice (just from the summary) that comes across as sarcastic, but smart and honest? Which all turns into an interesting and unique plot? I'm in. I like that there also seems to be a little mystery as well with the possibility of some romance. It's my WOW pick this week:

Benotripia: The Complete Trilogy by McKenzie Wagner (Blog Tour Promo & Giveaway)

Welcome to my tour stop for Benotripia: The Complete Trilogy by McKenzie Wagner! I'll be reviewing the entire series soon. Before then, check out the book and author info, as well as the giveaway below...

Benotripia: The Complete Trilogy

by McKenzie Wagner

MG Fantasy
Paperback & ebook, 320 Pages
September 8th 2015 by Sweetwater Books

Summary

Discover the land of Benotripia–where adventure is around every corner. Now you can own Mackenzie Wagner’s debut fantasy series in one complete volume. Written when Mackenzie was in middle school, this thrilling series is perfect for middle grade readers. Join Roseabelle, Jessicana, and Astro as they use their magical powers to battle the Darvonians and save their home!

Book 1: The Rescue

When her mother---the ruler of Benotripia---goes missing, Roseabelle knows she'll need the help of her best friends and their combined powers to survive the perilous journey ahead of her, rescue her mother, and save Benotripia! Written by a young author, this exciting adventure story pulls you into a true fantasy world. A suspenseful and addicting read!

Book 2: The Stones of Horsh

With the queen gone, the Darvonians have the perfect opportunity to invade Benotripia, find the Stones of Horsh, and harness their great powers. Only three children stand in their way: Roseabelle, Jessicana, and Astro. But this time, the Darvonians know not to underestimate these children, and the invaders come prepared. Roseabelle and her friends must survive long enough to save the stones.

Book 3: Keys to the Dream World

Roseabelle, Jessicana, and Astro are back! Roseabelle and her friends retrieved the Stones of Horsh but must now destroy the Darvonians’ power source if they are to survive. Return to Benotripia in this thrilling conclusion!

   

Fires of Invention by J. Scott Savage (Blog Tour Review)

Welcome to my tour stop for Fires of Invention by J. Scott Savage, the first book in his new Mysteries of Cover series! I loved this book! It's definitely worth checking out. Read all the book and author info as well as my full review below...

Fires of Invention

(Mysteries of Cove #1)
by J. Scott Savage

MG/YA Dystopian, Steampunk
Hardcover, Paperback, & ebook, 370 Pages
September 29th 2015 by Shadow Mountain

Summary

Trenton Colman is a creative thirteen-year-old boy with a knack for all things mechanical. But his talents are viewed with suspicion in Cove, a steam-powered city built inside a mountain. In Cove, creativity is a crime and “invention” is a curse word.

Kallista Babbage is a repair technician and daughter of the notorious Leo Babbage, whose father died in an explosion—an event the leaders of Cove point to as an example of the danger of creativity.

Working together, Trenton and Kallista learn that Leo Babbage was developing a secret project before he perished. Following clues he left behind, they begin to assemble a strange machine that is unlikely anything they’ve ever seen before. They soon discover that what they are building may threaten every truth their city is founded on—and quite possibly their very lives.

   

Weekly Update #134

Welcome to my Weekly Update where I post my blog's schedule for the week! I'm linking up to The Sunday Post, hosted by Kimba @ The Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

This is going to be a shorter post than usual. I've been crazy busy and just need to get this one up, so just including a schedule this week and not STS/BBB or what happened last week...

I also have a poll up, if you could take a minute and cast your vote:

What do you like or want to see more of on my blog?

Here's what to expect from me this week:

#TackleTBR Wrap-Up & Day 14 Update for September 27th

The Tackle Your TBR Read-a-thon is hosted by me (Tressa) here at Wishful Endings. It runs for two weeks, in which we all hope to have a blast with challenges, giveaways, and, most importantly, a ton of reading! See all the details, view the full schedule, and enter the giveaway here, share your goals (if you didn't on your sign-up) here, and join the Goodreads group here.

WRAP-UP

The Tackle Your TBR Read-a-thon has come to an end. That was a great two weeks of interaction, giveaways, and (most importantly) reading! I hope you all had a blast!

The giveaway will remain open through the end of Monday for you all to add your wrap-up posts or tell me where to find it. It's required to enter. I've included it below just to make things easier.

Daily Update for Sunday, September 27th (Day 14)

It was a busy day between church and having my family over for dinner and to celebrate some birthdays. I also had some tour things to do, so I got a really late start on reading. I did get some in though.

Read: 106 pages of Fires of Invention
Pages Read: 106
Total Books Read: 9

Total Pages Read: 2,833
Finished Books: Ash & Bramble, Bearskin, Not Without You, Finding Peace, A Thousand Nights, Out of the Ashes, Love in the Details, Westly, A Thankful Heart

Overall Progress/Goals

- I didn't quite get to everyone who signed up. This was a first for me hosting this RAT. I did get to visit over half and commented in the Goodreads group quite a bit.
- I read 100 pages every single day, but one. So pretty good here.
- I checked in on all the challenges and only missed completing one.
- I originally wanted to read 16 books. That's a pretty high number. I finished (or got as far as I was going to on) these books (linked to reviews or Goodreads):

  
  
   

I'm still reading:

   

Overall, I'm happy with my reading progress. For how extremely busy I was during this RAT, I did pretty well. :)

Now it's your turn. If you're posting your wrap-up on the Goodreads Group, just put "Goodreads Group" in the URL box, then name and email. Thanks!

GIVEAWAY

This is the giveaway I personally host and doesn't require any sort of challenge. To be eligible you need to have signed up in the linky and post a wrap-up at the end. You can follow me for extra entries.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Please leave some feedback in comments. What did you like the most? Do you have any suggestions for next year? Would you be interested in a mini-#TackleTBR?

I also want to say a huge THANK YOU to all the authors, challenge hosts, and all of you readers for joining in!

A Thankful Heart by David A. Christensen (Blog Tour Review)

Welcome to my tour stop for A Thankful Heart by David A. Christensen! This was a fabulous book if you want to look for more ways to have a grateful attitude and bring more happiness into your life and those around you. I plan on going through this book in November, a chapter per day. Check out all the info and my full review below...

A Thankful Heart:

31 Teachings to Recognize Blessings in Your Life
by David A. Christensen

Nonfiction, LDS
Paperback & ebook, 151 Pages
September 8th 2015 by Cedar Fort Publishing & Media

 
 

Summary

Enjoy a happier, healthier life—starting with an attitude of gratitude! Research and revelation have both declared that staying thankful results in a host of benefits and blessings. You will be grateful for this book which contains a full month of ideas, quotes, and scriptures to get you feeling more grateful and help you see the Lord’s hand in your life.

Earthman Jack vs. The Secret Army by Matthew Kadish (Blog Tour Grand Finale with Giveaway)

On tour with Prism Book Tours.

Tour Grand Finale for

Earthman Jack vs. The Secret Army

By Matthew Kadish

If you missed any of the fabulous guest posts, interviews, and excerpt for this tour, go back and check them out now!

Launch - Interview

Q: What is the Earthman Jack Space Saga?

My elevator pitch for the series is basically “Harry Potter meets Star Wars.” It’s about a fifteen year old kid from Ohio named Jack who one day suddenly finds himself at the epicenter of an intergalactic conflict between a benevolent Galactic Empire and an army of evil aliens called Deathlords. Jack is a bit of a slacker and an underachiever, but through the course of his adventure, he learns to be the hero the universe needs. Essentially, the Earthman Jack Space Saga is my love-letter to all the sci-fi I grew up geeking out over.

Coffee Books & Art - Excerpt

And though one would think Jack would be safe now that he’s entering into Princess Glorianna’s realm, nothing could be further from the truth. For new threats are lurking, just waiting to strike, and some of the threats cannot be fought as easily as a Deathlord Dark Soldier. (And let’s face it, those aren’t the easiest adversaries to begin with.)

Mythical Books - The Top 5 Ways To Deal With Harry Potter Withdrawal

It’s a bittersweet experience when one finishes reading a book series that is absolutely amazing. In a way, you’re glad, because you got to experience the entire story. But in another way, you’re sad, because now what the heck are you supposed to read? I know this was the case when I finished the Harry Potter series. But don’t worry, I made it through the withdrawal of Wogwarts and all the magical adventures of Harry, Ron, and Hermione, and you can too! Here are the top 5 ways you can deal with Harry Potter withdrawal… 

Teatime and Books - The Top 5 Ways You Know You’re A YA Fan

Let’s face it. Young Adult fiction can be like a drug. At first, you think its innocent enough. Then, the cravings begin. Soon, you’re mainlining at Barnes and Noble, tearing through the YA shelves like they’re going out of style. How do you know if you’ve taken your love of all things YA too far? Here are some of the most common signs that you’re a Young Adult superfan…

Colorimetry - 5 Things That Make A Sci-Fi Novel Worth Reading

Science Fiction is a lot like pizza. Even when it’s bad, it can still be enjoyable. But there are a few things which make some science fiction truly great. As a sci-fi author myself, these are the top 5 things I look for when reading science fiction and fantasy novels, which lets me know that what I’m reading is going to be great…

Letters from Annie (Douglass) Lima - 6 Star Trek Books All Sci-Fi Fans Should Read...

If you’re a Trekkie, then chances are you’ve picked up a Star Trek-themed book before. But the barrier to entry to some of these novels may be rather large if you aren’t a fan of the TV show. The good news is that some Star Trek novels are so good, they can appeal to any fan of sci-fi, even if they don’t like Star Trek! Here are the top 5 Star Trek books sci-fi fans should check out if they’re looking for a good read.

Katie's Clean Book Collection - Top 9 Heroes Of Sci-Fi & Fantasy Young Adult Fiction

I like my heroes in Young Adult fiction like I like my coffee – strong, sweet, and full of caffeine. (Okay, maybe not full of caffeine, but you get my drift.) And when it comes to science fiction and fantasy, the literary world has no shortage of great teenage heroes. Who are the best, you should ask? Well, you’re in luck, because I’m going to share with you the top 9 heroes of sci-fi and fantasy Young Adult fiction.

Christy's Cozy Corners - 5 Ways To Prepare For The Next Star Wars Movie

It’s no secret that new Star Wars movies are on the horizon, and fans are rabid about getting to see them. But waiting for them to hit theaters is enough to make even the Dalai Lama lose patience. So what’s a superfan to do in the meantime? Well, here are five things you can do right now to tide you over until the next Star Wars film hits the big screen.

Wishful Endings - Excerpt

     Anna bit her lip nervously. Something she always did that was so cute, it practically made Jack’s heart melt. “I don’t know how to say this,” Anna said. “I’ve been trying to figure out a way to bring it up, but… it never seemed like the right time.”

     “Hey, whatever it is, you can tell me,” said Jack. “No time like the present!”

     Anna sighed. “Look, Jack…” she said. “You’re a great guy…”

     Uh-oh, thought Jack, as alarm bells suddenly started ringing in his ears.

MichaelSciFan - Interview

Is there a message you want readers to get from the book, other than that Deathlords are evil jerks?

Well, obviously Deathlords being evil jerks is the primary message I want readers to walk away with. I think it’s important to illustrate just how big of jerks a race of aliens bent on killing everything is. Who cares about messages of personal responsibility, coming of age, friendship, loyalty, and the power of human belief and spirituality? Aliens are total jerks. Message, sent!

deal sharing aunt - Interview

4. What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

That the unicorn is the national animal of Scotland. I just so happened to see a Facebook meme about it while creating my novel, and according to Wikipedia, it’s totally true. HUGE surprise.

#TackleTBR Day 13 Update for September 26th

The Tackle Your TBR Read-a-thon is hosted by me (Tressa) here at Wishful Endings. It runs for two weeks, in which we all hope to have a blast with challenges, giveaways, and, most importantly, a ton of reading! See all the details, view the full schedule, and enter the giveaway here, share your goals (if you didn't on your sign-up) here, and join the Goodreads group here.

DAILY UPDATE

It's the last day of reading! Push through and get in what reading you can! We'll be posting wrap-ups/final updates on Monday. Be sure to link up yours for the giveaway I'm hosting.

On the schedule today...

No challenges or giveaways for the last day. Just reading. Of course, if you missed any of the giveaways that are still open, definitely go back and check them out:

Random Page Challenge @ My Love for Reading Keeps Growing
Alethea Kontis' Giveaway
Lisa Wingate Interview & Giveaway
Jessica Leake Giveaway (Could use some love!!)
Jemima Pett - Season Challenge & Giveaway
Scavenger Hunt @ Princessica of Books
TBR Shelf Challenge @ Singing Librarian Books
Bette Lee Crosby Favorite Read Challenge & Giveaway

Saturday, September 26th (Day 13)

We had a great time at the Grand Canyon today! I only got some reading in on the drive up and back though. Tomorrow I'm hoping to get some good reading in for a last big push even though we'll have family over for dinner and to celebrate some birthdays for a few hours.

Challenge/Giveaway: Bette Lee Crosby hosted a Favorite Read Challenge & giveaway. Go check it out! My favorite read so far was Out of the Ashes.

Read: 143 pages (finished) of A Thankful Heart and ~111 pages (36% on my Kindle) of Autumn Masquerade
Pages Read: 254
Total Books Read: 8

Total Pages Read: 2,727
Finished Books: Ash & Bramble, Bearskin, Not Without You, Finding Peace, A Thousand Nights, Out of the Ashes, Love in the Details, Westly, A Thankful Heart

Let me know how you did today here in comments (feel free to leave a link to your update if you posted one) or on the Goodreads group page here. 

#TackleTBR Day 12 Update for September 25th

The Tackle Your TBR Read-a-thon is hosted by me (Tressa) here at Wishful Endings. It runs for two weeks, in which we all hope to have a blast with challenges, giveaways, and, most importantly, a ton of reading! See all the details, sign up, see the full schedule, and enter the giveaway here, share your goals (if you didn't on your sign-up) here, and join the Goodreads group here.

DAILY UPDATE

Can you believe there are only two more days left of reading ahead?!! I hope you all give a big push!

On the schedule today...

It's out last giveaway and it's being held by Bette Lee Crosby here. You just have to share whichever book you've enjoyed the most during this read-a-thon. Easy and fun! Mine has probably been Out of the Ashes.

Friday, September 25th (Day 12)

Today was a busy day. We're going to see the Grand Canyon tomorrow for National Public Lands Day and we have family coming on Sunday, so I cleaned my house from top to bottom today. I'm tired. And I haven't gotten any reading done. :( However, I am pledged to read my 100 pages tonight and I will do it. I'm not sure which book yet, so I'll update tomorrow with what I read.

Challenge/Giveaway: Sydney over @ Singing Librarian Books hosted a TBR Shelf Challenge and giveaway of The Memory Weaver. If you haven't entered yet, there's still time!

The books on my list are all September releases, most of which I had eARCs for and all I have physical copies of. In other words, I really, really need to read these and also want to read them. They've been highly anticipated for a long while. Here they are:

1. Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas
2. Lady of Magick by Sylvia Izzo Hunter
3. Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between by Jennifer E. Smith
4. Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson
5. Falling Like Snowflakes by Denise Hunter

Read: 8 pages of A Thankful Heart and ~39 pages (11% on my Kindle) of What You Left Behind
Pages Read: 47
Total Books Read: 8

Total Pages Read: 2,473
Finished Books: Ash & Bramble, Bearskin, Not Without You, Finding Peace, A Thousand Nights, Out of the Ashes, Love in the Details, Westly

Let me know how you did today here in comments (feel free to leave a link to your update if you posted one) or on the Goodreads group page here.