The Unknown Territory: Gateskin Chronicles Book 2
By Janice Spina
Book Blurb:
The adventures continue in this eddition of Gateskin Chronicles. Many new characters and creatures are introduced. Spells abound with magic all around. Many visitors come to Sovorotskina looking for asylum from the evil King Kaposkaran of Parotovina. Will King Gateskin accept them all or even be able to trust them not to be spies for the evil King?
Serena uses her powers to assist when wolves come their way. Other creatures are also about and threaten the safety of the village.
Kaposkaran finds himself in trouble when his village is attacked by creatures. Will he turn to Gateskin for help? If he does, what will Gateskin do?
There is a spy about in Sovorotskina. Will the spy be discovered and somehow stopped from undermining the magic of King Gateskin and his family?
(Blurb and Book Cover from Goodreads)
My Review:
King Gateskin, his family, and the people of Sovorotskina are back to fight off the enemy, evil King Kaposkaran of Parotovina. I have waited for this second book in the Gateskin Chronicles with great anticipation. As in everything, Janice Spina writes, her writing is always age appropriate and filled with imaginative characters and great stories. The characters in The Unknown Territory: Gateskin Chronicles Book 2 are beyond fabulous! The existing characters are consistent with the first book, The Legend of the Taken Ones: Gateskin Chronicles Book 1. The new characters follow in the tradition of the former characters with the addition of some fabulous new creatures in The Unknown Territory. If they’re good, they’re very good, but if they’re followers of King Kaposkaran, they’re diabolical. But can Kaposkaran be so evil that these followers are willing to risk life and limb to escape Parotovina and join forces with Gateskin?
Appropriate for both young adults and adults, I promise you will not be able to put down The Unknown Territory: Gateskin Chronicles Book 2. It is mesmerizing! I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Gateskin and the people of Sovorotskina in Book 3.
There is no way I can rate this anything but a five-star book!
About the Author:
Janice Spina is an award-winning author with 37 books of which 18 are children’s books with life lessons in rhyme. Her children’s books have won 12 awards. She has also written for MG/PT/YA and has two magical/mystery series for both boys and girls which have won 17 awards.
She writes under J.E. Spina and has five novels and a short story collection for 18+ in multi-genres. Two of her thriller/crime/suspense/mystery novels were finalists in Authorsdb First Lines Contest.
Her Motto is Reading Gives You Wings to Fly, Soar with Jemsbooks.com all year through! Her logo is JEMSBOOKS for all ages!
Janice’s goal is to encourage children of all ages to ready daily to help increase their vocabulary, heighten their creativity, inspire them and hopefully foster a love of reading in them that will last a lifetime.
She loves to hear from readers and avidly welcomes reviews of all her books wherever they are purchased.
(Bio from Goodreads)
(Author Photo from Amazon.com)
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The Fault Between Us
By Bette Lee Crosby
Book Blurb
April 18, 1906 – A devastating earthquake rocks San Francisco and Templeton Morehouse fears her husband is lost forever. A powerful and compelling story from USA Today bestselling author Bette Lee Crosby.
Chances were a million to one that a girl born and raised in Philadelphia would encounter a stranger from California on the trolley and fall madly in love, but that’s what happened. Templeton was not only taken with John Morehouse, but also with his tales of life in San Francisco. As an aspiring fashion designer, the dazzle of a city called the Paris of the West, with its towering department stores and European couture was too much to resist.
Despite her family’s objections, she and John are married and, on their way back to California, before the month is out. To ease the heartbreak of such a move, Templeton promises to return for a visit every summer. She intends to keep that promise, but when her design business grows more demanding, the trips back to Philadelphia become less frequent and she makes foolish choices she will come to regret.
Now, when she is on the verge of having everything she’s ever wanted, a devastating earthquake tears across San Francisco and she discovers the father of her baby is missing.
Book Blurb from Goodreads
My Review
Though the story starts in 1903, when we meet Templeton, who is an aspiring clothing designer in her hometown Philadelphia and whose dream is to own her own business when it wasn’t yet acceptable for a woman to run a business. She is determined to be successful even if it means she never marries. But then, John Morehouse walks into her life. She and John marry, and he whisks her off to San Francisco where he lives. With his blessings, Templeton starts her own business.
As with anyone’s life, things don’t always go as planned, and life for John and Templeton was no exception. They dealt with family issues, job stress, sorrow, and loss, and so many other issues we still face today. It’s a story filled with love and tenderness, hope, and the strength of family bonds.
Bette Lee Crosby is one of my favorite authors! Her books never disappoint me. The stories are beautifully written, and her characters are well drawn with thought to how the character fits the story. What I love most is that she is a storyteller. As I read Ms. Crosby’s books, her voice comes through with great consistency. I always feel as though she is sitting in the room with me and telling me the story. The Fault Between Us is no exception.
I give it a solid five stars. If we were on a scale of one to ten stars, it would be a ten-star book.
This ARC was given to me by the author through BookFunnel in exchange for an honest review.
About the Author
USA Today Bestselling and Award-winning novelist Bette Lee Crosby’s books are “Well-crafted storytelling populated by memorable characters caught up in equally memorable circumstances.” – Midwest Book Review
The Seattle Post Intelligencer says Crosby’s writing is, “A quirky mix of Southern flair, serious thoughts about important things in life and madcap adventures.”
Samantha from Reader’s Favorite raves, “Crosby writes the type of book you can’t stop thinking about long after you put it down.”
“Storytelling is in my blood,” Crosby laughingly admits, “My mom was not a writer, but she was a captivating storyteller, so I find myself using bits and pieces of her voice in most everything I write.”
It is the wit and wisdom of that Southern Mama Crosby brings to her works of fiction; the result is a delightful blend of humor, mystery and romance along with a cast of quirky charters who will steal your heart away. Her work was first recognized in 2006 when she received The National League of American Pen Women Award for a then unpublished manuscript. She has since gone on to win twenty awards for her work; these include: The Royal Palm Literary Award, the FPA President’s Book Award Gold Medal, Reader’s Favorite Award Gold Medal, and the Reviewer’s Choice Award.
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The Legend of the Taken Ones: Gateskin Chronicles Book 1 – by Janice Spina
Book Blurb
This is Book 1 of a fantasy series that will have six books in all. In this book learn about the three children of King Gateskin and his wife, Queen Solinara. The children have had powers since they were quite young..
Serena was three years old when she learned of her power to move objects with her mind. Her brother, Simon, can fly and their sister, Catalina, can become invisible or blend into her surroundings. They live with their parents in Sovorotskina, the Land of Light.
With these powers comes responsibility. The children must try to use their powers for the common good and responsibly to help others. The three children befriend a Sprite named Spindle who accompanies them on their adventure. Along the way they meet up with their aunt and uncle, their mother’s brother and his wife, Wizard Hotenfaran and Fairy Procelina. The group must travel into the evil land of Parotovina, Land of Darkness, to save King Gateskin, who was kidnapped, and also rescue some of the descendants of their friends and fellow Sovorotskinans who were captured and taken by the Evil Ones. These descendants have been waiting a long time to be free to return to the villages of their ancestors.
The children have many trials and adventures along the way. Will they be able to rescue their father and fellow Sovorotskinans without endangering their own lives? Will the evil King Kaposkaran and his Queen Beregina stop Serena and her siblings from being successful or will they turn Serena and her siblings to their dark ways?
Book Blurb from Amazon
My Review
The Taken are the children of the Provence of Noella who have been missing from their homes for many, many years. They were captured by the Parotovinans to be raised under the evil king wizard. Now, King Gateskin of Sovorotskina, Land of Goodness and Light, through his wizardry learns that the Evil Ones are planning to capture the children of the Provence of Noella once again. With the help of his children, a tree sprite named Spindle, wizards, and fairies, King Gateskin goes to Parotovina to gain release of the Taken Ones. Along the way they will encounter dangerous situations.
Those who enjoy stories of wizards, fairies, sprites, and adventure will find this un-put-downable! This is not my normal genre, but I was mesmerized. The characters are beautifully detailed, and the plot is captivating. The Legend of the Taken Ones: Gateskin Chronicles, Book 1 is a five-star book!
The author gifted me an ARC and I have given my honest review.
Meet the Author
Janice Spina is an award-winning author with 15 children’s books, Louey the Lazy Elephant, Ricky the Rambunctious Raccoon, (Louey and Rick both won Silver Medal from Mom’s Choice Awards), Jerry the Crabby Crayfish (won Pinnacle Book Achievement Award), Lamby the Lonely Lamb (won the Silver Medal from MOM’S Choice Awards), and Jesse the Precocious Polar Bear, Broose the Moose on the Loose (won a Pinnacle Book Achievement Award), and Sebastian Meets Marvin the Monkey, and Colby the Courageous Cat (Pinnacle Book Achievement Award), Jeffrey the Jittery Giraffe (Pinnacle Book Achievement Award), Clarence Henry the Hermit Crab, Lucy the Talented Toy Terrier, The First Star, Drystan the Dragon and Friends Series, Book 1 – 3, Davey & Derek Junior Detectives Series (Book 1-6) is a middle-grade/preteen series and Abby & Holly Series Books 1-6 (Books 1, 2, 3, 4, won Pinnacle Book Achievement Awards, Book 1 won a Bronze Medal from Readers’ Favorite Book Awards). Book 1, The Case of the Missing Cell Phone (won the Pinnacle Book Achievement Award and an Honorable Mention from Readers’ Favorite Awards). Book 2, The Case of the Mysterious Black Cat, won the Pinnacle Book Achievement Award and Book 3, The Case of the Magical Ivory Elephant, also won the Pinnacle Book Achievement Award and a Silver Medal from Readers’ Favorite Book Awards, and Book 5 won a Pinnacle Book Achievement Award and a Silver Medal from Authorsdb Cover Contest, Book 6 won a Pinnacle Book Achievement Award and a Finalist Award with Book Excellence Awards and A Finalist in Reader’s Favorite Book Awards. Janice’s other books have also been Finalists in Red City Review Book Awards and Authorsdb First Lines Contest and received 5-star reviews from Readers’ Favorite Book Awards.
Janice has published three novels under J. E. Spina, Hunting Mariah, a thriller/mystery, (Finalist in Authorsdb First Lines Contest), Mariah’s Revenge (Sequel to Hunting Mariah), also a Finalist in Authorsdb First Lines Contest), a paranormal/mystery/romance novel, How Far Is Heaven, and a short story collection, An Angel Among Us, all available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. She is working on more dragon books, and Book 6 of Abby & Holly, a mystery series for MG/PT/YA girls to be published in 2020. She needs to edit a YA fantasy series which will be published in 2021 and beyond. Her husband is her illustrator and cover creator. He’s working on book 3 of six books of Drystan the Dragon series for children which be coming over the next few years.
She has written over a hundred poems and two other novels. The two novels need editing before publishing. Janice says, “There is always another story swimming around in my head. If I don’t write them down they are lost forever.”
Her logo is JEMSBOOKS for all ages on which is her motto:
“Reading Gives You Wings To Fly! Soar with Jemsbooks!”
Janice’s and John’s joint goal is: To encourage children of all ages to read and to instill this love of reading in them to carry them throughout their lives and thus giving them ‘wings to fly!’
She loves to hear from readers and appreciates reviews. She says, “It’s like Christmas each time I receive a review!”
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Announcing the Launch of
Murder at the Bijou — Three Ingredients I
Introducing the second “three things” serial, in novel form — Murder at the Bijou — Three Ingredients I.
Yes, that’s the cover. (I love making covers!) I kept it similar to the one for the first serial, The Three Things Serial Story, but with different 1920s photos.
For those of you who are not familiar with my blog serials…
Ages ago I developed a writing exercise. I asked friends to give me three completely random things. Then I would write until I had mentioned all the things. I brought that exercise to my blog (Teagan’s Books), but I had the readers send me their things. I let the random things drive every detail of a serial story, setting, plot, and characters. That resulted in The Three Things Serial Story, which gave birth to this culinary mystery. However, this time the “things” are food related — or ingredients.
About the Book
As with the first serial, Murder at the Bijou — Three Ingredients I is a spontaneously written, pantser story. I wrote by the seat of my pants and let the “ingredients” readers sent each week drive a new serial story. This is the “bookized” version of that serial.
This time the Jazz Age setting is Savannah, Georgia where our flapper, Pip, is “sentenced” to live with her grandmother and learn to cook. Pip gets caught up in a layered mystery that includes bootleggers, G-men, and the varied challenges of being a young woman in changing times. She meets new friends, including some animal characters.
If you have not read The Three Things Serial Story, be warned. This adventure contains a bit of a spoiler, but does not go into detail about it.
Murder at the Bijou — Three Ingredients I is available through and Amazon and Create Space. If you don’t have a Kindle, Amazon also offers a free app that will let you read Kindle books on your computer or other device. The purchase links are below. But first, here’s a snippet.
Excerpt
Rutabaga Limbo
Either I woke up feeling horribly nauseated, or the queasiness woke me. I’m not sure which. I opened my eyes to complete darkness. There was no light, no sound. The way my stomach tossed reminded me of a small boat on the ocean. It was as if I sailed in a lightless limbo.
Oh… that was a bad train of thought to have with an unsettled belly.
Think of something else! Anything else, I told myself.
I stood unsteadily. The sound of a cricket came to me. Good. The utter silence had been very disturbing. I became aware of the cool moist earth beneath my palms.
Where the Sam Hill was I?
I sat back on my heels, focusing all my senses. My eyes might as well have been closed — it was that dark. Bare ground was beneath me. The air had a musty odor. A sickly sweet scent clung to my bobbed hair.
The cricket’s chirping was the only sound. Still sitting, I turned. My eyes widened and strained, trying to see in that heavy darkness. When I looked up I was rewarded with the sight of a thin line of pink light.
The faint glow allowed me to see vague outlines a few feet away. I stumbled over something and stooped down to let my hands figure out what it was. I felt a burlap bag and round lumps. Rutabagas? I felt around and found another bag. That one felt like potatoes. I moved closer to the wall and a tall shape. Yes, a ladder, my questing hands confirmed for my still foggy brain.
Gazing up at the line of pinkish light I realized I was in a root cellar.
But how did I get there?
***
Purchase Links
Amazon USA
Author Bio
Image by Chris Graham
Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene, a southerner by birth, was “enchanted” by the desert southwest of the USA when she moved there. Now a resident of a major east coast city, she longs to return to those enchanting lands.
Teagan had always devoured fantasy novels of every type. Then one day there was no new book readily at hand for reading — so she decided to write one. And she hasn’t stopped writing since.
Her work is colored by her experiences in both the southern states and the southwest. Teagan most often writes in the fantasy genre, but she also writes 1920s stories and Steampunk. Her blog “Teagan’s Books” contains serial stories written according to “things” from viewers.
You can also visit me at:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Teagan-Riordain-Geneviene/e/B00HHDXHVM
Twitter: https://twitter.com/teagangeneviene
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeagansBooks
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/teagangeneviene/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoM-z7_iH5t2_7aNpy3vG-Q
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teagangeneviene
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Pale carpets
Lovely words and photos about the surprises of nature from Sue Vincent.
The wind roars through the branches; the sound seeming to echo of a far–off sea. The trees are all clothed in green and ochre, though some have yet to unfurl their leaves. The joyous abandon of the cherry blossom floats on the wind like pastel snow and just as ephemeral. The earth at their feet is strewn with petals, a carpet of pink and white, a bright fantasy against the wet tarmac and vivid green of rain-washed grass. I wish I had the camera, but it isn’t really a morning for photography. The rain hammers down and the trees bend and bow in the wind that robs them of their fading glory, making way for the playful majesty of the chestnut flowers.
The weather here is a wonderful thing, constantly changing. It is something of a national preoccupation, largely because it is almost completely unpredictable. We complain about it all…
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New Novel – LUBELIA ALYCEA is now here!
Introducing Janice Spina’s new novel, Lubelia Alycea: One Hundred Years, a historical romance.
I am excited to announce my newest novel – a historical/romance is now available on Kindle and soon in paperback on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
The beautiful cover was designed by my husband, John. It is a photo from a trip we took to Madeira, Portugal in 2018. It is a gorgeous island, lush and green.
Blurb:
Lubelia Alycea leaves her native country of Madeira, Portugal to travel to her new home – America.
This is the story of how a strong, resilient young girl grows into a formidable woman. She must survive many tragedies in her lifetime, separation from family, sickness, death, betrayal, and a lost love. Will she find happiness and a new love in her life?
Will she be strong enough to face the storms ahead and still keep her family together? Will the secrets in her life destroy her and all that she holds…
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Introducing… Word Weaving—A Word Craft Journal of Syllabic Verse
Colleen Chesebro and Jules Paige have introduced a new and exciting project – the Word Weaving Poetry Journal!
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Smorgasbord Children’s Reading Room – #Paranormal Ghosts in Trouble and #Mystery Felix Finds Out by Elizabeth Merry
Sally Cronin shares Elizabeth Merry’s children’s books – a fascinating collection.
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The Gift
I’ve read this over and over. I hope you enjoy this beautiful poem by Lauren Scott as much as I do.
Tranquility embraces –
the sun’s exit advances.
Listening to whispers
among the trees,
our time here is a gift,
and when we depart,
the gift will belong
to someone else.
Lauren Scott (c)
Photo: Loon Lake, CA
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