Friday, February 10, 2017

New Release and Giveaway - War and Pieces Adult Coloring Book by the Ferocious 5

Angels, I have something super cool to share with you today! The Ferocious 5 (a grouping of ferociously talented authors) are coming out with the first season of their Frayed Fairy Tales serial collection in April! Until then, they've released an adult coloring book... and are holding a COLORING CONTEST! Yes, you heard that right! See below for all the details.

xoxo
SJ


War and Pieces: Adult Coloring Book



Summary:

Inside the pages of this fun, adult coloring book, you'll find all the shoes from the covers of the Frayed Fairy Tales books, a name page for each of the queens, a page where you can design your own awesome shoe, and a cool F5 logo.

Be sure you grab Season 1: Episode 1 - You don't want to miss this series!
About the books:

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, there were zombies...

That's how it all started. Authors have created a major problem with stories like Cinder, The Dark Queen, and Asleep, and it's wreaking havoc here in Ever After. Our queens are fighting for their lives.

Rather like Mother Nature, keeper of the fine balance that's life in your world, tales that begin with "Once upon a time" were never meant to be messed with.

Now, Ariel is underwater with all the defenses she's been launching, Aurora hasn't slept in weeks, and Rapunzel is tangled in... Well, I can't even begin to tell you.

Rather than try, I'll let you see for yourself. You and I will talk again afterward--if I survive long enough. So, as our fateful story begins:

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away...



Where to Buy:



How to Enter:

From the publication of the War and Pieces coloring book until April 14, 2017, color as many shoe pages as you like (name pages won’t count, nor will the design your own royal shoe), scan or photograph them, and post them on Instagram, Twitter, and/or Pinterest. Be sure to tag your posts with:

#Frayed5 and #F5PinToWin

Each social media instance will count as one entry.

The Ferocious Five will review all entries and pick our three favorites for each cover.

On April 22, 2017, we’ll announce the finalists and share your images with the public.

From April 24, 2017 – April 30, 2017, the public will vote via social media likes and shares and select the winner for each cover.

Winners will be contacted by social media and will have one week to respond with their mailing address. If you don’t answer, the prize will go to the second place winner, and so on. Please add SevenAuthors@yahoo.com to your approved sender list.



What You'll Win:

Winners will receive a 5.5”x8.5” print of the book cover for their winning season, signed by all the F5 authors, permanent display of their artwork on frayedfairytales.com, and an exclusive War and Pieces swag pack.

Open internationally!



My Giveaway:

I'm holding a giveaway for a copy of this fabulous coloring book on my author Facebook page! Just look for the pinned post. The giveaway will run two weeks!


All the Pretty Covers:




Pre-order the first season NOW for $0.99:





Join the Facebook Group:





Check out the Trailer:




Monday, February 6, 2017

Re-release Day - Iris, Book 1.5 of the Captivated Series

Happy Monday, Angels! In case you haven't heard, my amazing publisher, Foundations, LLC, is re-releasing Iris, and today is the big day! Please see below for links to purchase your shiny new copies.

Also, don't forget to join us on Facebook here for the release party! I'll post a book trailer, some teasers, games, and giveaways!

Love to all
xoxo

SJ


Here's the Summary:

"I really loved this book. You never think you'll feel something for the bad guy, but this book sticks it to you." ~ Amazon Reviewer

***This novella is meant to be read after Captivate Me***

Set before the events in Book One of the Captivated Series, Iris explores the depths of family bonds, new bonds, and the lengths a person would go to save the life of a dying sibling. In this novella, get to know Iris and her two sisters more intimately, as well as Gabriel, the first angel-human hybrid who agrees to live under her protection.

Recommended for readers 16 and up due to mature content.



Where to Buy:



Available at the following retailers for $2.99:


Thursday, February 2, 2017

Book Review - Distant Thunder by Dennis Sharpe



Publication Date: August 21st, 2016
Genre: Paranormal Thriller/ Horror
My Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars


Where to Buy:



Here's the Summary:

You can take the dead girl out of the country…

Veronica Fischer, small-town bloodsucking madam, is an orphan or at least she finally feels that way. Jules, the one who made her, is gone and cleaning up after him isn't something she ever thought she'd have to do.

While her hometown seems to be turning against her, she’s forced to set off for the bright lights of the big city with a carload of her dysfunctional supernatural family, hoping not to have to face the Dragon of Chicago.

Now she has to rescue a sister she didn't know she had, keep Rachel—her adopted 8-year-old ghost—safe, and try to keep Pekin from unraveling under the onset of the coming storm. 

Sex, violence, and cryptic undead prophecy—all for fun and profit.


My Thoughts:

Wow! What a wild ride this was. There were a lot more elements to the story this time around, and while there was also more to keep up with, and by nature a lot of jumping around, Mr. Sharpe made it easy for us to follow what was going on. So not only were the different story lines well-crafted and entertaining, it was well-written. Bravo!

So lets get down to specifics, shall we? V was just as bad-ass and lovable this time around! I simply adore her character. And her scenes and romance with Garrett, while kind of sporadic in this one, felt a good bit deeper and a lot steamier! I was happy to see their relationship evolve.

Speaking of evolving - the antagonists in this one were a lot more sinister, and when we finally see who's behind it all (the coming storm, that is),  it's a complete shocker! And I'm not saying that with sarcasm. I seriously didn't see it coming. And to make things just a touch harrier, there's a crazy cat lady thrown in there too (pun intended), as well as an ancient vampire nicknamed the Dragon. I was glued to the pages to see how it would all end!

And of course, I can't end the review without talking about the supporting characters! We're introduced to some new ones like Lorelei, who, if I'm completely honest, was a fantastic addition to the story. She added unintentional humor and levity to otherwise bleak situations, but she was also a tad haunting. Her naive, childlike spirit in combination with her advanced gift of reading people made for one of the most interesting characters I've ever read. Frank, V's right-hand-man, was as broody and conflicted as ever, and Sunny was her typical petulant bad-ass self, as well! I really hope Mr. Sharpe continues this series forever and ever. Consider that my formal request ;)

So in short, if you were thinking Book Two would be just as riveting and entertaining as the first, you'd be wrong! It was so much more!


Favorite quote: 

"Fingers move like flames, dancing over exposed flesh, and I'm awash. Just touching him and being touched is a thousand little releases. I realize that there are now parts of my mind and my emotions, normally so well-guarded, that are completely open to him. I'm laid bare before him and thrusting myself upon him and yet I'm completely unafraid."



About the Author:



Born and raised in the middle of the American Midwest, Dennis Sharpe has been a writer as long as he can remember. His mother has told many people about the fantasy and science fiction stories he'd write on scraps of paper, and staple together as his 'books', before he'd attended his first day of formal education.

He has spent many late nights at diners and dives, drinking coffee with a tattered notebook to put a voice to his feelings of himself and the world around him, and other worlds that can exist only in fiction. The voices in his head don't ever stop talking to him, and so sooner or later he has to get out onto a page all that they've filled him up with.

Inspired by Neil Gaiman, Kurt Vonnegut, Frank Miller, Chrissie Pappas, Charles Bukowski, Stephen King, Issac Asimov, and countless classic literary influences, Dennis continues with the ability to write what at a glance might seem absurd, but quickly begins to resonate with our own thoughts and emotions. He writes people we know, love we've known and lost (and found again), and places we've been in our lives and in our heads. Even his fictional characters and worlds carry enough of the grey areas we experience in day-to-day life, to let us find the truth in his words, no matter how fantastic.

These days he can be found still writing, drinking coffee with friends, or spending time with his children (the true joys of his life), in Western Kentucky.

Blog: http://witlesslackey.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorDennisSharpe

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Witlesslackey