This is my stop during the blog tour for The Lily Singer Adventures by Lydia Sherrer. This blog tour is organized by Lola's Blog Tours. The blog tour runs from 28 April till 14 May, you can view the complete tour schedule here: http://www.lolasblogtours.net/blog-tour-the-lily-singer-adventures-by-lydia-sherrer/
 
Start this series for cheap!
For a limited time book 1 and 2 in this series will be discounted so you can start this series for cheap. This discount only runs from 28 April till 30 April, so make sure to get your copies now!

Love, Lies and Hocus Pocus: Beginnings (The Lily Singer Adventures #1)
By Lydia Sherrer
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Age category: Young Adult/ New Adult/ Adult
 
Blurb:
Saving the world is such a bother when it makes you late for tea.
 
By day, book-loving wizard Lily Singer manages library archives. By night? She sleeps, of course. In between, she studies magic and tries to keep her witch friend Sebastian out of trouble. Much to her displeasure, he finds it anyway and drags her along with him.
 
From unmaking ancient curses to rescuing a town lost in time, Lily and Sebastian fight to avert magical mayhem. Meanwhile, Lily's mysterious past begins to unfold--a past hidden from her by those she trusts most. Will she be able to discover the truth despite them?
 
Beginnings is the first installment of the Lily Singer Adventures urban fantasy series. Full of unexpected twists and snarky humor, this story has been known to cause: loud snorts of laughter, inexplicable craving for tea, and loss of work productivity. If you enjoy magic-filled adventures like Harry Potter and Sabrina the Teenage Witch then you'll love Lydia Sherrer's delightful new series.
 
You can find Love, Lies and Hocus Pocus: Beginnings on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29541796-love-lies-and-hocus-pocus
 
Get Beginnings for free!
From 28 till 30 April you can get your copy of Love, Lies and Hocus Pocus: Beginnings for free on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Love-Lies-Hocus-Pocus-Beginnings-ebook/dp/B01DB5ITIK/

Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus: Revelations (The Lily Singer Adventures #2)
By Lydia Sherrer
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Age category: Young Adult/ New Adult/ Adult
 
Blurb:
The truth shall make you free...sort of.
 
Modern-day wizard Lily Singer prefers to stay tucked away in her library, studying magic and drinking tea. But with a troublesome witch friend and a past riddled with dangerous secrets, her chances of peace and quiet are slim.
 
Armed with only wits and magic, she must manage her argumentative cat, thwart a plot to steal a powerful artifact, and decide who, amid all this, she can trust. The past, both ancient and modern, is catching up with her. Will discovering its secrets reveal her future, or doom it? Perhaps some truths are better left unknown...
 
Revelations is the second book in the Lily Singer Adventures urban fantasy series. Full of unexpected twists and snarky humor, this story has been known to cause: loud snorts of laughter, inexplicable craving for tea, and loss of work productivity. If you enjoy magic-filled adventures like Harry Potter and Sabrina the Teenage Witch then you'll love Lydia Sherrer's delightful new series.
 
You can find Love, Lies and Hocus Pocus: Revelations on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29541880-love-lies-and-hocus-pocus
 
Get Revelations while it’s discounted!
From 28 till 30 April you can get your copy of Love, Lies and Hocus Pocus: Revelations for a discounted price. On 28 April the book will be only $0.99, on 29 April the price will be $1.99 and on 30 April the price is $2.99. Before the book goes back to its normal price of $3.99 on 1 May. So make sure to get your copy while it’s discounted on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DB5ISHC/

​The two newest book in this series
Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus: Allies (The Lily Singer Adventures #3)
What’s worse than fighting with allies? Fighting without them. To stop her father’s evil plans, wizard and archivist Lily Singer must reconcile old grudges, make questionable allies, and bend the law to fix a problem that's not even her fault. Can she and her friends work together to save the day? Or will they let their differences divide them?
 
Links:
- Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34031735-love-lies-and-hocus-pocus
- Amazon: http://smarturl.it/AmazonAllies
 
Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus: Legends (The Lily Singer Adventures #4)
Troublemaking witch friend and talking cat in tow, Lily Singer must pursue her father to England as he seeks to discover an ancient evil and steal its power for himself. But with a queen of the fae after the same thing, Sebastian’s past comes back to haunt him and the three friends have to think fast and act faster to defeat legends that are, unfortunately, no longer in the past.
 
Links:
- Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34031783-love-lies-and-hocus-pocus
- Amazon: http://smarturl.it/AmazonLegends
 
All four books in The Lily Singer Adventures series (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N1YD2OF/) are part of Kindle Unlimited. 

​Author of the Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus magical adventure series, Lydia Sherrer is a fantasy author whose goal is to leave this world a better place than when she found it. With an urban fantasy series, multiple short stories and a novella under her belt, Lydia has been writing for over a decade and enjoys nothing more than a good book, a cup of tea, and a comfy chair in the sunshine. When not writing she loves to play her ocarina (think Zelda), and also enjoys traditional archery, cosplay, larping, and art.
 
Growing up in rural Kentucky, she was thoroughly corrupted by a deep love for its rolling countryside, despite the mosquitoes and hay fever. She was instilled with a craving for literature early on, and her parents had to wrestle books away from her at the dinner table. Though she graduated with a dual BA in Chinese and Arabic, having traveled the world she came home and decided to stay there. She currently resides in Louisville, KY with her loving and supportive husband, and their very vocal cat.
 
You can find and contact Lydia Sherrer here:
- Website: http://lydiasherrer.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lydiasherrerauthor/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/LydiaSherrer
- Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15009385.Lydia_Sherrer
- Amazon: https://amazon.com/author/lydiasherrer
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/LydiaSherrer
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lydiasherrer/  
- Newsletter: http://lydiasherrer.com/subscribe/
 
Giveaway
There is a tour wide giveaway for the blog tour of The Lily Singer Adventures. These are the prizes you can win:
- 1st place is signed paperback copies of The Lily Singer Adventures Books 1 & 2 and ebook copies of Books 3 & 4 (US only)
- 2nd place is ebook copies of The Lily Singer Adventures Books 1-4 (open world-wide)
- 3rd place is ebook copies of The Lily Singer Adventures Books 1-2 (open world-wide)

This was quite a fast read. I read it in less than four hours, I think. But just because I happen to be a fast reader didn't mean the author himself didn't take his time. J.C. Roberts took his time in the build-up of this fun horror mystery and it had just enough action to keep the pages turning. It certainly is reminiscent of the Goosebumps series that I read as a kid. 

This was an excellent start to a series, or rather, the first case for Warren High's Paranormal Investigation Club. There were plenty of surprises and perhaps, its the superstitious part in me that shivered along with the characters, but I did not want to keep reading this book at midnight! Roberts did an excellent job with imagery. I'd recommend for those of us who want a throwback to the old Stine classics; or for those who want to introduce your children to a quick read that it's okay to be different, and to stand your ground amidst the sway of the crowd.

I laughed. I ducked under my covers. I was reminded that some walls we need to tear down ourselves. And like most people, however far removed we are from high school, we still remember who we were: the bully, the geek, the nerd, the popular kid...... and in Warren High: an Elephant never forgets.

​J. C. Roberts is a young author who was born and raised in Houston, Texas. From a young age, he's always been fascinated by old legends, mythology, and folklore and wishes to seek out their origins. For a short while, he was a teacher at a private school for children with social struggles called Focus Academy, where he primarily taught English and Mathematics. 

He has a pet prairie dog named Stormy, and enjoys practicing archery. When he's with friends, his favorite thing to do is play board games (his favorite being Betrayal at the House on the Hill) and he has a deep love for puzzles and mysteries, especially logic puzzles. His favorite author is Annette Curtis Klause, and he always loves corresponding with his readers. You can email him at [email protected] with any questions or comments you may have.

Social Media links:
https://jcrobertsauthor.com/
Twitter: @JCRobertsTweets
Facebook: @JCRobertsAuthor

I don't remember the last time I read a poetry collection. I can tell you it's been since high school since I've read the likes of Poe, and Frost. My favorite for a long time was e.e. cummings.  Sometime in college, I'm pretty sure I may have poured over Dickinson and  Browning....but I can't be totally sure, because "college," you know? Sidenote, what did we really learn in college anyway?
I read a book earlier this year, Tessa Hall's Unwritten Melody, and she interspersed poetry and song lyrics in her novel. It brought back my curiosity and admiration for poets, and poetry in general, so much so that I even started writing some. Although, I call myself a "closet poet," because I am one. I dabble with these words and string them along, and somehow it becomes alive. I love reading poetry like that. 
And reading through this very short collection, I am still amazed that poets have this ability to incite an emotion, or connect you so easily, with just a mere two or three sentences. 
Actually, let that sink in for a moment. A novelist can build you a fantastical world, and make you believe in these magical characters and creatures, and take you away on these grand adventures......but it's done within the length of an entire book. Fifty THOUSAND or MORE words.
Jennae Cecelia, in her short bursts of anger,
of pain,
of curiousity,
of empowerment,
of embracing,
of beauty, and self worth.
She said it with very few words. Cecelia didn't need to build us a world where women felt fear and pressured. We have our society to thank for that. Instead she took our story  - mine and yours - of heartache, of comparisons and standards of beauty, and used what we women know about those feelings of self worth, and gave us back more than our reflections on a looking glass. If eyes are the windows to our soul, and we barely make eye contact with everyone nowadays... than what are our reflections say about us tell only half of what we've been through. Peer closer. Really look at someone in the eye. There is always more to their story. But we get caught up in the physicality that we forget there's a person beneath all that falsehood, or bravada. We forget that in our own ways, EVERYONE is just trying to fit in and wanting to be loved, and accepted.

She tells us in so many words that we matter. Within these pages, I am known. I felt seen and embolden in my approach to life and beauty. Though I already know I am more than a daydream.  My hope is that you'll believe it too.....

Cheers, sisters!

***I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I am not required to write a positive one. These thoughts and opinions are my own.***

Jennae Cecelia is the self-published and best selling author 
of the poetry books,  Bright Minds Empty Souls and 
Uncaged Wallflower.

She has developed a strong passion for writing uplifting poetry that encourages her readers to reach their full potential.  I Am More Than a Daydream is the next
book in the positive poetry series titled, JC Collection.

To get in touch with the author:
Website: jennaececelia.com 
Instagram: @Jennaececelia
Twitter: @JennaeCecelia

I like the idea of having a collection of stories centered on magic and children. I like and appreciate the concept of projections; the act of projecting an item, or element, or voices, to other people. What I didn’t like was the feeling of having an intermission in the middle of watching these “wannabe magicians.” Do they get a Color? What’s going to happen to their morale if they don’t? What will happen to my favorite orphans? What are the magicians’ doing trying to make projections real?? Why didn’t I also ask for Volume 2???
I will point out that I felt like I got lost a bit in this world. I didn’t know who we were meeting next, or what was happening. But I like that as separated these kids were from each other – by societal ranks, or region, or by their own stories – I know that they’ll connect at some point and finally answer these questions.
I recommend this to anyone who loves magic, and fantasy, and projected monsters. I don’t know if the authors meant it or not, but I found a few life lessons here, about projecting falsehoods being easily uncovered, and that even if we can’t quite grasp a projection, it’s all very real to the person it’s projected to.

I was amused and entertained reading about the Magician’s Workshop but I’d like to definitely get a hold of Volume 2 to finish out the story!

***I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I am not required to write a positive one. These thoughts and opinions are my own.***

And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.

​No longer could I say I was lonely. But oh, how I wish I could! Who could have done such a thing to the Creator of the world? Who had so much hatred for Him?

​I am empty. Bereft. No one visits, no one comes near. The garden is a comfort in some ways. The beauty of the flowers, the trees, and the sky above. But I am lonely. Not like my brothers and sisters nearby. They have been used. They are filled with the bodies of their masters’ loved ones.
Yes, I am a tomb. The rock I am made from was created by God the Creator long ago. Sometime later, Joseph of Arimathea bought me and had men work on me until a beautiful place became hollowed out for my master's body and for his loved ones when they went to be forever with their Creator.

​Faith Blum is a 20-something author of multiple books in various genres. She loves to write, read, play piano, knit, crochet, sew, watch movies, and play games with her family.  She lives in Wisconsin with her family on a small family farm where they raise goats, chickens, turkeys, ducks, and have 2 dogs and a varying number of cats.
Faith’s goal in her writing is to encourage Christians in their walk with Christ. If you enjoyed this book, go to her website to sign up for her Monthly Newsletter so you can get an email with fun facts, giveaways, and so much more every month. You will also find links to her other Social Media sites on her website. She loves to hear from her readers, so feel free to contact her.

​Faith is offering a really neat giveaway for this tour. The ParLaGrace etsy seller has an April special right now for a really beautifully made block that says He Lives. Isn’t it pretty? You can enter the giveaway here:

At our book club meeting last night, a question was posed about how we view ourselves through other people's eyes. I once wrote about labels and how obsessed our society is about confining us to our assumed roles and identities. We even put ourselves in debt trying to fit into these assumptions by driving the "best" cars, and making sure we were in a "better" neighborhood, and ensuring our children have the "best" education by enrolling them only in the "highly esteemed" private schools. Labels follow us where we are in life. 
Christina Olson had labels following her: a sick child, the dutiful daughter, the spinster. I'm sure there are other "colorful" labels that I can put on her but one thing about this woman, and her seemingly sad existence were her choices (or lack, thereof) that led up to a fateful meeting with artist Andrew Wyeth. 
In our life, we demand a few things, and one of them is to be known. It doesn't necessarily have to be to the world, but to be known to the people around us. In our everyday, we put up fences around ourselves, and pretend we're better than we believe, and cast on different roles to change the labels people already had assigned us. What if someone takes all of our pretentiousness, or looks past at our ordinary and sees us. Sees us the way we can only hope to be. And in Andrew, Christina becomes one thing - a story; a painting with layers of wisdom, hurts, regrets, suffering. Her life isn't a blank canvas as much as it's a history lesson.
I've never read any of Christina Baker Kline's work but after this, I'm going to pick up a few more. This was moving, and in her descriptions, I was there at the farm, looking on at the sky, the dilapidated house, the sea, the woman with her back turned to me. in her words, I walk into the Olson home, see the lessons written in pictures, in old chests, in seashells, and forget about the labels I put on this woman in the famous painting, but take in all that is her. Through both Kline and Wyeth's eyes, Christina is not only seen and known, but we, the reader and art patrons are given a glimpse and a piece of (her) world. 

​Today is the cover reveal for Before I Shatter by Mandy Peterson. This cover reveal is organized by Lola's Blog Tours. The cover MSN Art Studio (Maduranga Sampath): https://www.fiverr.com/mnsartstudionew
This is an exciting rebranding of the original cover as the author prepares to release book 2 in the series.

Before I Shatter (Before I Shatter #1)
By Mandy Peterson
Genre: Science Fiction
Age category: Young Adult/ New Adult
Release Date: July 2016

Blurb:
Seventeen-year-old Vita is the next step in human evolution.
 
The daughter of two prominent scientists, Vita is content to live in the spotlight. After all, it affords her a lifestyle most only dream of: living in a Lunar Colony, luxurious gifts, and her unique ability to project her consciousness onto different planes without the aid of injections.
Succeeding where others have failed has a price. A growing population of Shells - people whose minds have shattered from the stress of experimentation - shows just how ruthless the Director can be in pursuit of his goal.
 
When Vita makes a startling breakthrough, the ambitious Director takes over her development, and he wants to see just how far she can go. It's up to Vita's young Processor, James, to catch her before she breaks.
 
But he's keeping a dangerous secret.
Someone is playing games with her.
 
A game where the loser ends up shattered.
Vita must make the choice:
Continue risking her life  for a cause she doesn't believe in
or make an unprecedented escape?
 
You can find Before I Shatter on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31142459
 
You can buy Before I Shatter on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Before-I-Shatter-Mandy-Peterson-ebook/dp/B01IQJM1QW/

​Mandy Peterson grew up all over Nebraska and eventually settled down there with a family of her own: husband, daughter, and son.
 
When she isn't writing about herself in third person, Mandy the high school librarian can be found digging through young adult and new adult lit. An avid reader of all genres (but she secretly told me she loves sci-fi the most), you will usually see her with her nose in a book or face to her Kindle app, iced or blended coffee drink in hand. A former roller girl and roller derby referee, she can also be found watching roller derby online or dragging her family behind her to cheer on teams in person all over their great state.
 
You can find and contact Mandy here:
- Website: http://www.mandypetersonbooks.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mandypetersonbooks
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/mandyrpeterson
- Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15491545.Mandy_Peterson
- Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Mandy-Peterson/e/B01IQJMGCG/
- Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/cqy2iT

​Giveaway
There is a cover reveal wide giveaway for the cover reveal of Before I Shatter. One winner will win a 10$ Amazon Gift Card.

This story begins with Emma Lee Baker's letter to her daughter, Honour Blue Baker, during her final few minutes on Earth. It then goes back to a few days from an event that changed both of their paths. 

Marian L. Thomas breaks down this story by giving us each woman's point of view. We get to see what each woman was thinking about, their view of each of their own heartache, and how they all fit together in the end.

The whole book was littered with little wisdoms and tiny gems that we, as a generation of millennial women, often forget about. We understand that our past can hurt, but we forget it's all behind us, and we get to decide if we want to live anchored to the chains of our past, or choose to only remember the good and wonderful parts of our memories. We know that there is wisdom in old age, but we forget that life needs to be lived, and often with consequences for the youth to understand. This book had the soul of our grandmother's stories, and you can recognize the wistfulness of wanting to change back time, to get back some years....to not have life be full of regrets. Thomas took me on a journey that these three women take, and I believe I am all the wiser for it. I could read the insecurities of my youth through Lorraine. In Honour's words, I could see a life full of regrets. And in Emma Lee's wisdom and brashness, I saw a mama who wanted to protect her child from the world.

She took me on a bittersweet journey of faith, hope, and love that endures in spite of all the barriers we put in its way. There are some encouraging words here about truly believing in yourself, and to look for opportunities where and when you can. 

After reading this book, I hope you, dear reader,  find some wisdom, and courage about needing to live life without fear, and to chase your dreams. I know I did....but then again, I believe in butterflies. 

*I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I am not required to write a positive one. These thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Everyone has a past they'd like to forget. Inspector Thomas Sullivan has a past that is about to catch up with him.Sent to the developing planet Beta Prime to clean up its corruption and crime, Sullivan is saddled with a wet behind the ears rookie detective for a partner. An already difficult job is made more so by the haunting presences of a mysterious young woman.

A crazed serial killer and the theft of life saving drugs are just the start of Sullivan's troubles. Betrayal by his own police force just might finish him off.

Faced with solving multiple crimes at once to save himself, who can Sullivan trust in his new home, the eternally cold Capital City?
-- an ex-con cabbie
-- a priest who knows too much about crime
-- the owner of a neighborhood tavern and diner with a shady past
-- a mysterious beauty who haunts Sullivan from his past
-- his idealistic and naive young partner

Desperate for redemption for mistakes in his past, can Sullivan even trust himself?

The debut novel from K.C. Sivils, The Predator and The Prey is a crime thriller set in the gritty urban setting of Capital City 200 years in the future. Fans of cross genre storytelling such as Joss Wheadon's space westerns and Alex P. Berg's Urban Fantasy/Crime noir stories should enjoy the adventures of Inspector Thomas Sullivan as he seeks to deliver justice to the innocent citizens of Capital City and the planet Beta Prime.

For some reason, I pictured Harry Dresden, of the Dresden FIles, as the futuristic Inspector. I know they have nothing in common, but as soon as the action hit the ground, I pictured Dresden doing the running. Obviously, it's just me. I probably still have Jim Butcher's book world residue dancing in my head. But just like Butcher, author K.C. Sivils knows how to start a series!

Within the first few pages, someone has died, and there's been some sort of cover-up, throw in a handful of dirty cops, and in the thick of it all is Inspector Thomas Sullivan. The book goes back and forth between his point of view, to that of a serial killer on the loose and his victims, and a mix of power hungry Elitists. This was such a fun read. I thought I knew who the killer was, and knew where the story was headed, but I was surprised at the outcomes. 

If you're looking for a quick read, this is a page turner. It is set in a futuristic, and distant world but the author won't let you get confused and be bogged down with new jargon. I read this on a kindle app, and at the beginning, there were some words that were underlined, which then took you to a link explaining the makeup of Beta Prime. Treat this as any other crime thriller, with an almost episodic action in each chapter but it works. I got sucked into this world and wanted to see when, and how Sullivan could catch the Predator and save the Prey.  

*I received this book in exchange for an honest review. However, these thoughts and opinions are my own. I'm not required to write a positive review.

Author of over twenty non-fiction books, including an Amazon Best Seller, Sivils has now ventured into the realm of fiction with his Inspector Thomas Sullivan series. Science fiction and classic crime novels have long been favorites of author K.C. Sivils. The combination of film noir and science fiction in director Ridley Scott’s adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s sci-fi classic Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep into the masterful Harrison Ford vehicle Bladerunner encouraged him to consume as much of both genre’s as possible. 
A fan of past noir masters such as Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler, Sivils also enjoys the current generation of storytellers like Renee Pawlish and Alex P. Berg.

Website: http://kcsivils.com/
Follow author K.C. Sivils on his Amazon page here.