The Word of the Muse - Spotlight and #Giveaway

This is my post during the blog tour for The Word of the Muse by Bridgette Dutta Portman.

The Word of the Muse, the thrilling conclusion to the Coseema Saga trilogy, is perfect for fans of space opera, portal fantasy, art-based magic, coming-of-age adventures, and novels about mental health, confidence, and finding the hero in ourselves.

This blog tour is organized by Lola's Blog Tours and the tour runs from 8 till 21 May. You can see the tour schedule here.

The Word of the Muse (The Coseema Saga #3)
By Bridgette Dutta Portman
Genre: Science Fiction/ Fantasy
Age category: Young Adult
Release Date: 25 April 2023

Blurb:
A daring rescue. A villain in pursuit. A battle for the suns themselves.

With Coseema off planet, Olive has bought herself some time—but the clock is ticking. After a risky rescue mission, she and her friends make their way to the center of the rebellion against Emperor Burnash, who is desperate to capture Olive and claim her power for his own. Without her journal, Olive must rely on her newfound courage to elude Burnash and help her friends. But that courage is put to the test as she and Coseema clash in a final showdown—one that will decide the fate of a star system.

The Word of the Muse, the thrilling conclusion to the Coseema Saga trilogy, is perfect for fans of space opera, portal fantasy, art-based magic, coming-of-age adventures, and novels about mental health, confidence, and finding the hero in ourselves.

Links:
- Goodreads
- Bookbub
- Amazon

Earlier books in the series:


- The Twin Stars (The Coseema Saga #1)
- The Silver Sail (The Coseema Saga #2)

About the Author:
Bridgette Dutta Portman is an author, playwright, and teaching artist. Dozens of her plays have been produced across the United States and overseas. She holds an MFA in creative writing from Spalding University, as well as a PhD in political science from the University of California, Irvine. She is past president of the Playwrights’ Center of San Francisco and is currently a member of Same Boat Theater Collective, the Pear Playwrights’ Guild, and the Dramatists’ Guild. She recently joined the board of the Pear Theatre in Mountain View, CA. The Twin Stars is her debut novel, and the first of a planned trilogy. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband Deepanshu and their two young children.

Author links:
- Website
- Newsletter
- Facebook
- Twitter
- Instagram
- Goodreads
- Amazon

Giveaway
There is a tour wide giveaway for the blog tour of Word of the Muse. One winner wins a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card (winner’s choice).

For a chance to win, enter the rafflecopter below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

For insider news and subscriber-only info, subscribe to my occasional Newsletter. I promise not to spam and your in-box will only see an email from me every 3 or 4 months or so - unless of course I have something really Newsworthy to share! I also promise that I never have and never will share your information or email address with anyone or any organisation.  http://madmimi.com/signups/196357/join

Pets in Space Book 7 - Book Blast and Review

This is my stop during the book blitz for Pets in Space 7. Pets in Space 7 is a limited edition anthology with 13 brand new action packed science fiction romance stories with pets as an integral part of the action.

10% of all pre-orders and the first month’s royalties of Pets in Space 7 will be donated to the Hero-Dogs.org charity.  (and as readers of this blog will know, I just love dogs, and all animals in fact and try to include at least one in my own stories!)

This book blitz is organized by Lola's Blog Tours. The book blitz runs from 4 till 24 October. See the tour schedule here: http://www.lolasblogtours.net/book-blitz-pets-in-space-7/

Pets in Space 7
By S.E. Smith, R.J. Blain, Grace Goodwin, Skye MacKinnon, Carol Van Natta, Honey Phillips, Carysa Locke, S.J. Pajonas, JC Hay, Kyndra Hatch, Leslie Chase, Winnie Winkle and Candace Colt
Genre: Science Fiction Romance
Age category: Adult
Release Date: 4 October 2022

Blurb:
Pets in Space® is back for a new year of adventures!

Pets in Space is back and better than ever! Featuring 13 original, never-before-released stories from some of today's bestselling science fiction romance authors, starring your favorite sci-fi pets. These furry, feathered, and slightly alien friends are always ready for a new adventure with their two-legged human and alien companions. From dogs to cats to sea creatures and unicorns, these romantic tales show that pets are more than just animals – they’re family.

This limited-edition anthology includes novellas by some of the biggest names in science fiction romance. New York Times Bestseller S.E. Smith and USA Today Bestsellers R.J. Blain, Grace Goodwin, Skye MacKinnon, Carol Van Natta, Honey Phillips, Carysa Locke, S.J. Pajonas, JC Hay, and Kyndra Hatch, plus Leslie Chase, Winnie Winkle, and Candace Colt.

The Pets in Space 7 authors continue their vital support of Hero-Dogs.org, the non-profit charity that

improves quality of life for veterans of the U.S. military and first-responders with disabilities.

Don't miss out — grab this limited-edition anthology before it's too late!

Links:
- Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61639224-pets-in-space-7
- Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/pets-in-space-7-a-science-fiction-romance-anthology-by-skye-mackinnon-and-kyndra-hatch
- Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B6Z1VZS9
- B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w?ean=2940185732106
- Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ebook/pets-in-space-7-a-science-fiction-romance-anthology
- Google Play: https://books.google.com/books/about?id=A3R8EAAAQBAJ
- Apple: https://books.apple.com/book/id6443174447
- All buy links: https://petsinspacebooks.com/PISA-7

Pets in Space links:
- Website: https://petsinspacebooks.com
- Pets in Space® Facebook Readers Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PetsInSpace/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/PetsInSpaceBks
- Newsletter Signup: https://petsinspacebooks.com/subscribe/

Hero-Dogs Charity
Proud supporters of Hero-Dogs.org, Pets in Space® authors have donated over $16,500 in the past six years to help place specially trained dogs with veterans and first responders. 10% of all pre-orders and the first month’s royalties of Pets in Space 7 will again go to Hero-Dogs.org. Open your hearts and grab your limited release copy of Pets in Space 7 today so they can continue to assist this worthy charity! https://www.hero-dogs.org/ 

MY REVIEW

Dogs, cats, sea creatures, feathered friends, dragons and unicorns, they're all amazing and easy to love. So many great stories and it's hard to choose my favourites, but I've picked just two for special mention.

The first one  is Wynter and the Stone Dragon. I loved this story. From the dramatic beginning to the satisfying conclusion it drew me right in. The romance which is only hinted at in the beginning of the story builds to a sizzling conclusion, but there are many pitfalls before the h.e.a. can happen.

The stone dragon himself is a unique and original take on dragons in general, and Wynter has a bond with him that is almost as important as the love interest. I won't put any spoilers here, but there are many twists and turns to the plot and enough action and suspense for a full length novel or novella.

An Entanglement of Griffins by Carol Van Netta - A young woman who can both empathise and talk telepathically to genetically engineered pet griffins, to put it simpl, and a pirate unused to actually living planetside, whose mission is to rescue her when her space flitter is shot down and the griffins she has been caring for at her sanctuary are kidnapped. This is just the start. There are many dangers ahead, friends and enemies and occasionally recalcitrant griffins, and some fascinating scientific innovations.  

Lark Sutrio and space pirate Pym Okaansson are far too busy working to save the griffins to admit to their mutual attraction, but it's there all the same, sitting quietly in the background. The story builds to a dramatic climax and an optimistic ending. I really enjoyed this original and satisfying SF romance.

These are just two of my favourite stories in this brilliant collection. The other stories in this collection are just as good. They are varied and unusual and whatever your taste in science fiction romance and alien animal preference, or choice of heat rating, there is sure to be something to delight you here. (And don't forget each purchase helps Hero-Dogs.org)

Five Stars

The Authors:
- S.E. Smith: https://sesmithfl.com/  
- R.J. Blain: https://www.thesneakykittycritic.com/  
- Grace Goodwin: http://gracegoodwin.com/  
- Skye MacKinnon: https://skyemackinnon.com/index.html 

- Carol Van Natta: https://author.carolvannatta.com/   
- Honey Phillips: https://www.honeyphillips.com/  
- Carysa Locke: https://www.carysalocke.com/  
- S.J. Pajonas: https://www.spajonas.com/  
- JC Hay: http://jchay.com/  
- Kyndra Hatch: https://kyndrahatch.com/
- Leslie Chase: https://leslie-chase.com/  
- Winnie Winkle: https://wwinkle.com/   
- Candace Colt: https://candacecolt.com/

 

 

For insider news and subscriber-only info, subscribe to my occasional Newsletter. I promise not to spam and your in-box will only see an email from me every 3 or 4 months or so - unless of course I have something really Newsworthy to share! I also promise that I never have and never will share your information or email address with anyone or any organisation.  http://madmimi.com/signups/196357/join

Under Fortunate Stars Review

I featured Under Fortunate Stars on my blog a while ago as part of Lola's Blog Tour for this book. I promised to review it here when I'd read it - so here is my review:

 

Stranded in the dark.

 In the final throes of the generations-long war with the alien Felen, smuggler Jereth Keeven's junk freighter breaks down in a strange rift in deep space, with little chance of rescue—until they encounter a science vessel that claims to be from 152 years in the future. Engineer Uma Ozakka has always been fascinated with the past, especially the desperate peace mission that ended the war with the Felen and ushered in a new age of collaboration—a mission Keeven's first mate, Leesongronski, is supposed to be leading right now. If Ozakka is right, more than the fates of two ships hangs in the balance....

Review

There is a great deal to absorb, enjoy and think about in this novel with its various twists and turns..

The story skips back and fore between timelines, which is something I got used to, although the number and variety of characters was, at times, a bit confusing, especially as sometimes forenames and sometimes last names are used. However, that's just something I personally found distracting as a reader, and might not bother other readers at all.

Having said that, the book was very well written and the science seems perfectly logical and feasible despite the anomaly of two sets of characters meeting up with a time difference between them of 152 years, and the disparity between events on board the Gallion and what history records happened all those years ago. This all adds to the mystery and intrigue.

Definitely not your usual time travel tale, there is a diverse cast of characters, who are all richly drawn and mostly likeable, despite their various flaws. There are moments of humour, and also poignancy and the ending is quite moving. I could see this being made into a movie and can recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good SF story with some edge of the seat mystery thrown in.

I give it Five Stars

 

 

 

 

Under Fortunate Stars - Spotlight and Giveaway

This is my post during the blog tour for Under Fortunate Stars by Ren Hutchings. Under Fortunate Stars is a timey wimey space opera for lovers of Star Trek and Firefly. 

(Space opera, my favourite genre 😃) I'm enjoying this book and will be posting my review here and elsewhere soon.

This blog tour is organized by Lola's Blog Tours and the tour runs from 10 till 23 May. You can see the tour schedule here.

Under Fortunate Stars
By Ren Hutchings
Genre: Science Fiction
Age category: Adult
Publisher: Rebellion Publishing

Release Date: 10 May 2022

Blurb:
Two Ships. One Chance To Save The Future.

Fleeing the final days of the generations-long war with the alien Felen, smuggler Jereth Keeven’s freighter the Jonah breaks down in a strange rift in deep space, with little chance of rescue—until they encounter the research vessel Gallion, which claims to be from 152 years in the future.

The Gallion’s chief engineer Uma Ozakka has always been fascinated with the past, especially the tale of the Fortunate Five, who ended the war with the Felen. When the Gallion rescues a run-down junk freighter, Ozakka is shocked to recognize the Five's legendary ship—and the Five's famed leader, Eldric Leesongronski, among the crew.

But nothing else about Leesongronski and his crewmates seems to match up with the historical record. With their ships running out of power in the rift, more than the lives of both crews may be at stake...

Links:
- Goodreads
- Bookbub
- Amazon
- B&N
- Waterstones
- Bookshop
- Rebellion Publishing

About the Author:
Ren Hutchings is a speculative fiction writer, writing mentor, and history grad. She spent most of the past decade working in game dev while also plotting twisty space novels. She loves pop science, unexplained mysteries, 90s music, collecting outdated electronics, and pondering about alternate universes. Ren always drafts out of order, and almost everything she writes ends up involving a dash of time travel.

Author links:
- Website
- Twitter
- Instagram
- Newsletter

Giveaway
There is a tour wide giveaway for the blog tour of Under Fortunate Stars. One winner wins a paperback copy of Under Fortunate Stars. Open International.

For a chance to win, enter the rafflecopter below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

For insider news and subscriber-only info, subscribe to my occasional Newsletter. I promise not to spam and your in-box will only see an email from me every 3 or 4 months or so - unless of course I have something really Newsworthy to share! I also promise that I never have and never will share your information or email address with anyone or any organisation.  http://madmimi.com/signups/196357/join