Off the Bookshelf: THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE, by Talia Jager

 

Book One of the Gifted Teens series

Kassia and her friends attend the Glendale Institute, where they are trained in their various unusual gifts, taught discipline, and ultimately as they find out, are protected from someone who wants to either control them or destroy them.

Kassia has a dangerous gift, and has a difficult time controlling it. When she resorts to violence to defend her friend who has been cruelly attacked, the two of them need to flee the institute to protect their fellow students. Kassia's actions have opened the door to danger, alerting their enemies to where they are.

Several friends join the girls on their quest for a hiding place and ultimately for help. They all are forced to grow up quickly, and in the end, learn to not just work together, but make sacrifices for each other.

Storytellers Episode: Ye Olde Dragon's Library podcast: chat with author DEBORAH CULLINS SMITH

 Today's guest on the Ye Olde Dragon's Library storytelling podcast is my partner in crime, the second of the "Two Olde Dragons Writing Wyrd Stories," DEBORAH CULLINS SMITH.

We talk about how she got started writing, how she got dragged, kicking and screaming, into writing science fiction/fantasy, focusing on horror, and the process of researching and writing her Realm Award-winning novel, MINA: Warrior in Shadows, and her trilogy, Last of the Long-Haired Hippies.

Deborah describes herself as what happens when Stephen King meets Billy Graham in the Twilight Zone!

Join us for this two-parter author chat!

https://yeoldedragonbooks.com/ye-olde-dragons-library-storytelling-podcast/

Off the Bookshelf: JUST ONE DAMNED THING AFTER ANOTHER, by Jodi Taylor

 

The Chronicles of St. Mary's, Book 1

Narrated by Zara Ramm

The book that started it all!

I started this series with the free short stories in audio from Audible, but I quickly became hooked, devoured all I could get to, and had to move on to willingly paying for my "fixes." 

Fun, quirky, dry British sense of humor, snarky in places. This is learning about the time-traveling historians from the inside, as a newcomer. Major fun as Max goes through training, and all the political scheming and bickering and in-fighting, through her first assignments, the accidents and injuries and deaths, and then learning that some people just can't be trusted. And then sweetly bitter revenge and justice.

Love this roller coaster ride that kept my attention the whole way through. I deliberately saved it for a long drive, so I wouldn't have to stop for "real life" and have waits of several hours before I could keep listening.

Warning: Contents can be addicting!

Storytellers Episode: Ye Olde Dragon's Library: Chat with DEBORAH CULLINS SMITH

Today's guest on the Ye Olde Dragon's Library storytelling podcast is my partner in crime, the second of the "Two Olde Dragons Writing Wyrd Stories," DEBORAH CULLINS SMITH.

We talk about how she got started writing, how she got dragged, kicking and screaming, into writing science fiction/fantasy, focusing on horror, and the process of researching and writing her Realm Award-winning novel, MINA: Warrior in Shadows, and her trilogy, Last of the Long-Haired Hippies.

Deborah describes herself as what happens when Stephen King meets Billy Graham in the Twilight Zone!

Join us for this two-parter author chat!

https://yeoldedragonbooks.com/ye-olde-dragons-library-storytelling-podcast/

New Release sample: LIARS' QUEST

 

“Is this judgment?” Ash whispered, pausing in raising her hand to knock. She grinned, knowing how Granny Phlox would react if she posed that question to her. Granny had a wry, commonsense view of A’theosius and what the creator expected of people. She shook her head and thumped three times on the frame of the door.

Silence.

Ash held her breath. Granny should have called out. Had she grown deaf since the last visit? Or was she ill?

The latch rattled. The door slid open. Lantern light spilled out, over the shoulder of Hazel.

“Ashlyn. Good.” She chuckled when Ash gaped at her. “Did you think you could keep your secret from me?”

“My name—” Ash shook her head. She was going to say her name wasn’t Ashlyn, but a sensation like a warm breeze swirled around her, and she heard echoes of a woman calling to her, laughing, calling her Ashlyn. Tears warmed and blurred her eyes at the sudden certainty she heard her mother’s voice. “I haven’t used my name for … years.”

“Yes, well, change is being forced upon us.” Hazel stepped back, pulling the door wide open. “We don’t have as much time as I would like. You are blessed with powerful friends. Whether they are powerful enough … well, only A’theosius knows.”

“Is that my pup?” Granny Phlox’s creaky voice emerged from the shadows, twined with a warm chuckle that always hinted she was ready for mischief, and could outdo her twelve charges in any sort of trouble they might try to make.

New Release (re-release, actually!) ODESSA FREMONT, Guardians of the Time Stream, Prequel

 The Guardians of the Time Stream: set during the reconstruction of the United States in the decades following the Civil War.

 Technology is on the rise, with locomotives and steam-powered industry, airships and other experiments in slightly anachronistic technology. A fascination with travel around the world and the exploration of other cultures, especially ancient cultures, is on the rise.

 

The Guardians, who call themselves the Originators, are descendants of travelers from our far distant future, who traveled into the distant past to prevent another group of time travelers from altering the world to suit their vision. And as Ess Fremont grows up and learns her heritage, her family's history and their secrets, she takes her place in the battle to protect the world.

Prequel: ODESSA FREMONT

Ess Fremont already hated her boarding school before discovering the headmistress was trying to steal her inheritance. With her archeologist grandparents presumed dead in South America's turmoil, and her older brother missing, she struck out for freedom.

 

Guided by her grandparents' maxim to always help where she was able, and aided by their inventions, Ess made her mark. First step: reveal a Resurrectionist plot to the Secret Service before the Southerners could re-start the Civil War.

 

Disguised as a boy, Ess headed West. Sharp eyes, scientific principles, and engineering knowledge put her in the right place at the right time to do the right thing. Powerful allies included President Lincoln, the Secret Service, circus performers, train inspectors, and Pinkerton agents. Not bad for a girl between her fourteenth and seventeenth birthdays.

 

If she could only find her missing brother and uncover the secrets their grandparents kept from them…

AVAILABLE NOW!

The Guardians of the Time Stream series was originally published by Desert Breeze Publishing. When they closed their doors, I got my rights back. The series is now being released in paper, ebook and audiobook, with new cover art.

Look for Book 1: The Blue Lotus Society, to be re-released in September. Book 2: Sanctuary, in November. And Book 3, Music in the Night, in January.

From Ye Olde Dragon Books: www.YeOldeDragonBooks.com

Storytellers Episode, Ye Olde Dragon's Library: A.S. NORRIS

This week's guest on the podcast is A.S. Norris, talking about his Wayward Mage series, with his interesting main character, Jack Wartnose.

Find out how he got the name, where Norris gets his ideas, his plans for future books (lots of books!) and discussions of character growth, good adventure novels, and his promise to readers that he will finish the series and not leave them hanging!

Listen to the episode right on the website:  

https://yeoldedragonbooks.com/ye-olde-dragons-library-storytelling-podcast/

 You can find him online:

Website: asnauthor.com.

And on social media, Facebook and Twitter: @asnauthor.

New Release sample: LIARS' QUEST

“He wouldn’t try to destroy my magic, would he?”

“If he finds out you have any. I’d suggest pretending to be far less than you are, until this whole ridiculous inquiry is over.”

“Could you take me as your servant? Take me to the warrior maidens?” Ash sighed and spread her arms. “I’m not exactly built to be a warrior, but … isn’t there something I could do to be useful?”

“I will confer with Aunt Charlotte. Right now, Granny Phlox wants to see you. She might have some words of wisdom to help you through this. And it’s only common sense to get you away from the castle, from the curious and those who are angry you fooled them so easily.”

Leena squeezed Ash’s shoulder, then gave her a gentle shove forward. She stumbled a few steps and looked back once. The older girl nodded to her and stepped back, clearly not going the rest of the way with her. This reluctance to return to the only childhood home she remembered was ridiculous, Ash knew, but she couldn’t help it. Her legs wobbled for a few steps before she silently scolded herself to stop being a ninny. Granny Phlox was stern, but she was never cruel, and more than once she had turned into a whirling fury to defend the children given into her charge. If they were her pups, then she was a she-wolf, unhindered by her blindness.

Ash took several deep breaths and focused on the muffled thud of her heart in her ears as she approached the door of the cottage. She wished now she had come back more often to visit Granny Phlox, especially after nearly all the boys who had been brought here with her had gone away, either adopted or apprenticed. Three boys who had been infants when Lady Charlotte brought them here still lived in the cottage and spent their days tending the cows and chickens and pigs in the nearby fields and byres. That was no excuse for neglecting the old woman who was the only mother she could remember.
 

New Release Coming: DETOURS

 The next book in the Tabor Heights series, DETOURS, will be released in paper, ebook and audio on July 15.

What is Tabor Heights?

Welcome to Tabor Heights:

A friendly little town on Ohio's North Coast, where sweet romance is always in the air.

Here you'll be able to explore the lives of the members of the congregation of Tabor Christian Church in the space of two years. The stories overlap, and there's no one right place to start.

Just like any small town, you come in, you meet someone, you hear their story and get to know them. As you get to know these new friends, they introduce you to other people, and tell you about other interesting stories in town.

It's the same way with Tabor Heights. Start with the story that interests you the most, and then branch out.

Settle back and enjoy your visit.

Welcome!

DETOURS is Year 1, Book 2

A year in the life…

 

Roommates Bekka, Kat, and Amy have a lot in common: Theater students, pursuing writing careers, supporting each other in crises and heartaches. Amy keeps breaking up with her boyfriend. Kat never dates a boy more than twice. Bekka is too busy with part-time jobs and writing to even want a relationship. Especially seeing how miserable her roommates are in their love lives.

 

All that changes when Shane shows up. Bekka lets herself dream, even through the turmoil of Amy's boyfriend following his dreams and the effect on Amy, and the damage done by Kat's stepfather, and the destruction of her mother's marriage and dreams. Life is hectic -- especially when a con man tries to steal Bekka's chance at making her own dreams come true. Can't she have at least one miracle? The problem is that she and Shane never seem to meet up -- and then somehow Kat and Shane start dating, and once she dumps a guy, he never comes back. Bekka can't help hoping, though…

From Mt. Zion Ridge Press: www.MtZionRidgePress.com

The Tabor Heights books were originally published by Desert Breeze Publishing. When they closed their doors in 2018, Tamera Kraft and I started Mt. Zion Ridge Press, and spent the first couple years figuring out what we were doing, and re-releasing our orphaned books. The Tabor and Quarry Hall books were originally released by us in ebook only, with the original Desert Breeze artwork. NOW, we've designed new artwork, and have added audiobook to the offerings.

Hope you enjoy the re-released series, which will happen every other month .... for the foreseeable future!

New Release: PLANTWISE

 

“Her duties could send her away, though,” Glynna said. She neatly folded her legs and floated down until she sat facing them, so they made a little triangle. “Those of us with great Giftings have greater obligations to sacrifice.”

“Yes, and you show great wisdom and devotion in wanting to prepare against that day, Princess of Westerland. What I am about to show you is within your skills and strength. But be warned: the stronger the magic and the more powerful the blessing, the greater the danger of it turning to poison and curse. Your heart will be too tightly tied into this gift for your kingdom, and the heart can destroy when it is broken.” He tapped two fingers to his breastbone, then gestured at Arden’s chest. “You must be strong. You must be pure. And you must fight against bitterness, no matter how tempting.”

What he told them to do surprised Arden with the simplicity. Glynna laughed, when she confessed that surprise to her on their long walk home to the palace.

“The most effective and useful magic is often the simplest,” her teacher agreed.

The plan, however, could not be implemented now. Arden needed time to gather up the energy this task would require, a little at a time. She needed to weave together the life and beauty and purity of Westerland all through the growing season and the harvest.

Storyteller Episode, Ye Olde Dragon's Library: TIM FRANKOVICH

 

Today's guest on the Ye Olde Dragon's Library storytelling podcast is Tim Frankovich, discussing his newest project, THE CERTAINTY OF BLOOD.

And two previous series he's been working on, dealing with magic and dragons and technology:

You can find Tim online here:

Website: https://timfrankovich.com

Amazon Author site: https://www.amazon.com/Tim-Frankovich/e/B013NN6FPY

Facebook: Facebook.com/timfrankovichauthor

Twitter: @timfrankovich

Instagram: calledtimbysome

Make sure to join us on the podcast. You'll have even more books to add to your shopping list the next time you go online!!!

New Release sample: LIARS' QUEST

 

“The leach potion wasn’t a tonic after all?” she asked, after they had walked for several minutes and were nearly to the other side of the cow pasture. “Tonic implies something good for you.”

“Exactly. The leach potion wasn’t called the leach potion until the demand for it spread beyond the kingdom where it originated, and a small battle erupted, to force the alchemist who created it to share the recipe, so others could make it in their countries. Several wizards joined forces and took apart the falsely labeled tonic to discern the ingredients and process. That was when they realized it had been designed to kill magic before it could finish blooming into life, not help ease the process.”

“You think your father made your mother drink it?” Ash asked, her voice dropping nearly to a whisper.

“Oh, he wouldn’t have been that open. He put it in her food for maybe years. Killing her magic weakened her body and mind.” Leena’s mouth twisted, as if she fought not to say something. They climbed over the stone wall of the cow pasture, and ahead of them was the thatched cottage where Ash had lived when she first came to Castle Fairhold. “Just see the difference between Lathia and me, from prolonged dosing with the foul stuff. Mother’s family couldn’t do anything to help her, by the time they realized something was wrong, but they were able to do something for me. My patron had me cleansed, and I wear several defensive charms. Every once in a while, my father tries to slip some potion into my food, but he’s essentially given up on me as a lost cause. He couldn’t interfere when mother’s relatives helped me petition to join the warrior maidens, and he’s such a hide-bound fool, he thinks he can’t marry me off to better his fortunes. Everything rests on Lathia now, which is why he’ll do everything dirty and dishonorable anyone could imagine, to punish you and exonerate her.”

New Release: PLANTWISE

 

Arden sensed the thrumming of what she could only describe as joy, pulsing through the ground, spreading outward from the massive old oak where he sat. A new perfume filled the air, constantly changing, never lingering long enough for her to describe it. With Glynna close beside her, she followed that thrumming, that perfume, through fields bursting with emerald life, to her favorite stream, and the oak where she liked to sit on a wide branch and daydream and let the trees and fields and flowers sing to her.

She stepped around the oak and saw the man. For two heartbeats she was startled, but then she knew who he was. Outwardly, he was just a thin young man with a thick cap of nut-brown hair, skin a shade lighter, green eyes, a thin dusting of beard, and slightly dusty traveling clothes of roughspun and leather. His smile wiped away her momentary trepidation and made her feel breathless as she went to her knees next to him.

“Don’t leave Westerland, dearheart,” he murmured.

“I don’t want to, but if my father …” She flushed hot and couldn’t meet his smiling eyes. “Am I being silly?”

“It’s never silly to love, to join your soul in delight and abandon to another soul.” He winked. “I’ve only recently been blessed with that gift, and it takes my breath away whenever I think of her. I’m constantly wondering how I could be so lucky that she loves me.” He laughed, and Arden laughed with him.

Storyteller Episode: Ye Olde Dragon's Library: JF (Jennifer) ROGERS

 This week's guest on a storyteller episode of Ye Olde Dragon's Library is JF Rogers.

J. F. Rogers lives in Southern Maine with her husband, daughter, pets…and usually an imaginary friend or two. She has a degree in Behavioral Science and teaches a 5^th & 6^th grade Sunday School class. When she’s not entertaining Tuki the Mega Mutt, her constant companion and greatest distraction, she’s likely tap tap tapping away at her keyboard, praying the words will miraculously align just so. Above all, she’s a believer in the One True God and can say with absolute certainty—you are loved. Connect with her at jfrogers.com.