Second Run Reviews https://www.secondrunreviews.com Home of In the Spotlight and the #ShelfLove Challenge. Fri, 16 Feb 2018 06:01:06 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.4 74603945 Discover a New Book: Dragon Called by Melissa Christopherson and The Four Magical Princesses by Jacob Howell https://www.secondrunreviews.com/2018/02/book-review-dragon-called-four-magical-princesses.html https://www.secondrunreviews.com/2018/02/book-review-dragon-called-four-magical-princesses.html#comments Fri, 16 Feb 2018 06:01:06 +0000 https://www.secondrunreviews.com/?p=8216 In one weekend I tackled two middle grade fantasy novels. Read my reviews of Dragon Called by Melissa Christopherson and The Four Magical Princesses by Jacob Howell.

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In the course of one weekend I tackled two middle grade fantasy novels written by local authors. In general, both books would be great read aloud books. However, both books suffered from similar world-building and general formatting errors.

book review dragon called melissa christopherson

Book Review
Dragon Called
by Melissa Christopherson

Dragon Called shows promise at being a strong story. I liked the characters and the basics of the world—fantastical shifters!—were enjoyable. However, there are some world building issues that caused me to become confused about how the shifting actually works as it was never fully explained. This lead to some grammatical issues with pronoun assignments throughout the novel. It also felt like the physical world the characters inhabited was not fully mapped out. The use of country names vs. city names interchangeably led me to become disoriented and there were times I wasn’t quite sure where the characters were or where they were heading.

I was reminded a bit of Seraphina by Rachel Hartman while reading Dragon Called, but it’s overall structure and world-building isn’t as strong as Hartman’s duology.

 

book review four magical princesses jacob howell

Book Review
The Four Magical Princesses
by Jacob Howell

The Four Magical Princesses falls firmly in a children’s chapter book or middle grade novel realm. However, its lack of chapter breaks or clear breaks in the action is a pain point as it was hard to know when to take break and it’s a tad long to read it all in one sitting with kids.

My favorite part of The Four Magical Princesses is the four princesses. Each one is unique and has special powers. Each princess discovers her power in her own time and how that power can be used to save the kingdom. In the end, the princesses discover how to work with each other and other magical creatures. The lessons of the story are handled well and left me smiling.

Both of these novels might good books for parents and children to read aloud together. The stronger of the two books is The Four Magical Princesses, but both books do have elements of the fantastical that are appealing and with a little more work could shine.

 

The Quick Book Review



Discover a New Book: Dragon Called by Melissa Christopherson and The Four Magical Princesses by Jacob Howell

The Four Magical Princesses

Author: Jacob Howell
Published on: April 15, 2016
Pages: 152
Genres: fantasy, middle grade
Goodreads • Amazon Affiliate Link
My Rating: Thumbs Down

About Jacob Howell

Jacob Howell has no profile on GoodReads or Amazon.


Discover a New Book: Dragon Called by Melissa Christopherson and The Four Magical Princesses by Jacob Howell

Dragon Called

Author: Melissa Christopherson
Published on: October 1, 2015
Pages: 289
Genres: fantasy, middle grade
Goodreads • Amazon Affiliate Link
My Rating: Thumbs Down

About Melissa Christopherson

headshot melissa christopherson

Melissa Christopherson is an avid reader, passionate writer, and lover of everything literary. She previously served as an AmeriCorps Service Member in the AmeriCorps Iowa ReadingCorps and is proud to have helped kids enhance their literary abilities. She also served two years as a Municipal Liaison for NaNoWriMo in the Iowa area to help other authors grow in both ability and confidence. She now works in a non-literary field while writing full time as well, in the Des Moines, IA area.

Melissa was born in Mason City, Iowa, and has spent most of her life reading books and spent most of her younger years daydreaming. While in high school, she participated in Academic Decathlon for four years, and credits the reading assignments for the club for further expanding her literary horizons. She is currently pursuing a degree in English, with a client-centered distributive minor.

 

 

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Introducing Joan Jackson, author | In the Spotlight Interview https://www.secondrunreviews.com/2018/02/author-interview-joan-jackson.html https://www.secondrunreviews.com/2018/02/author-interview-joan-jackson.html#respond Fri, 09 Feb 2018 06:01:33 +0000 https://www.secondrunreviews.com/?p=8225 Author Joan Jackson is In the Spotlight this week chatting about her latest release, Just In Time, which tackles the tough topic of mental illness. Stop by and check it out.

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in the spotlight feature

In the Spotlight feature kicked off in April 2015 and is an opportunity for authors, editors and publishers (basically anyone in the book industry (yes, even bloggers!)) to connect with fans. There is an option to do an interview, guest post, feature a book sale or book release or a cover reveal. Best of all, it’s free! All you need to do is click on the image to reserve your spot!

 

Now on with the show!

 

In the Spotlight with Joan Jackson

in the spotlight question

Welcome to Second Run Reviews, Joan Jackson! Thank you for being In the Spotlight. I appreciate you stopping by and answering a few questions. So let’s get things started.

In a tweet (140 characters or less), tell us a bit about yourself.

 

 

author interview joan jackson

I studied in Grenoble, France, taught secondary school French in Ohio, moved to Oregon and exported lumber to Tahiti (because I spoke French). I like getting older because now I rule.

 

 

in the spotlight question

Please tell a bit about your journey to becoming a published author. What’s been the best things about it and the worst?

 

 

 

author interview joan jackson

I started writing because I was miserable. My second marriage (1992) dragged me out of Oregon to LA and within 5 years my teenage son became a heroin addict. So, I was miserable. So, I took short story classes @ UCLA. I become so absorbed in writing that I have no awareness of time passing. A first. A professor suggested I write a novel. After 10 years, I published my first novel, Voluntary Chaos.

The best things: people connecting to my work, relating to the characters and disappointed when the book ends—they want more. Social media.

The worst thing: marketing & the demands of social media.

in the spotlight question

Tell us a bit about your latest release. What inspired you to write it? Why should fans of Second Run Reviews consider reading it.

 

 

 

author interview joan jackson

Based on a true story, Just in Time reveals a first-hand account of the day-to-day roller coaster of life with a schizophrenic, my 48-year-old brother, after the death of our parents. Unable to live alone in our family home in Ohio, my youngest brother & I had to find someone to live with him since we live 2000 miles away in LA. This story begins when my sister-in-law moves in with my brother—virtual strangers thrown together out of necessity.I was inspired to write the story when my brother once asked, “How come you always get here just in time.”

Not only is it informative, heartfelt, and humorous, my novel creates a deeper, more compassionate understanding of the mentally ill and the families who deal with it. With one in five afflicted with mental illness, it’s a pervasive, cultural issue where we all can learn more about—professionals as well as lay persons.

in the spotlight question

What types of books do you enjoy reading the most? What three books to you find yourself recommending to your fans over and over?

 

 

 

author interview joan jackson

I love fiction, family drama, and historical fiction.

3 books: Olive Kitteridge, All the Light We Cannot See, and Scenes at the Museum

 

 

 

in the spotlight question

What is your current obsession? Any secret obsessions you would like to share?

 

 

author interview joan jackson

Solitaire. Secret obsession: I like cigarettes.

 

 

 

in the spotlight question

Any last thoughts or wise words you want to pass along?

 

 

 

author interview joan jackson

“Nothing is so common as the wish to be remarkable.” Shakespeare

 

 

in the spotlight question

Joan thank you for being In the Spotlight! I hope you’ll come back soon and tell us about your next release.

 


#Author Joan Jackson is In the Spotlight this week sharing details about her latest release….
Click To Tweet


 

Introducing Joan Jackson, author | In the Spotlight Interview

Just In Time

Author: Joan Lindstedt Jackson
Published on: October 24, 2017
Pages: 232
Genres: adult
Goodreads • Amazon Affiliate Link

Synopsis: For most of his adult life, the only place he felt at peace was at home in Silver Lake, Ohio with his parents―but after their sudden death, he is left on his own. Eager to help their brother, Steve’s siblings, Scott and Sylvia, who both live in Los Angeles, scramble to find someone reliable to live with Steve. The answer to their problem comes in the form of Sylvia’s sister-in-law, Nancy, who is desperate to find a place to live; within days, she moves in with Steve.

This is the story of Steve and Nancy, who, as virtual strangers thrown together out of necessity, forge a way to live in fragile harmony. Sometimes dark, sometimes humorous, Just in Time is a hopeful, firsthand account of the day-to-day roller coaster of life with a schizophrenic.


Giveaways offered at Second Run Reviews. Various sponsors.

About Joan Jackson

Joan Jackson was raised in Ohio. After teaching French for a time, she went on to manage a French-Tahitian export company in Oregon. She is the author of the novels Just In Time and Voluntary Chaos and has published several magazine articles and written a collection of short stories. Jackson spends ten weeks annually in her childhood home in Silver Lake, Ohio, caretaking and managing the home for her schizophrenic brother, who lives alone. She and her husband reside in Los Angeles, California.

 

 

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Discover a New Book: The Salt Line by Holly Goddard Jones https://www.secondrunreviews.com/2018/02/book-review-salt-line-by-holly-goddard-jones.html https://www.secondrunreviews.com/2018/02/book-review-salt-line-by-holly-goddard-jones.html#comments Fri, 02 Feb 2018 06:01:00 +0000 https://www.secondrunreviews.com/?p=8236 The Salt Line is a dystopian fiction book set in the mountains along the East Coast and the world is infested with killer ticks. But are the ticks and the deadly illness the carry the only threat to humanity? Read my review.

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book review salt line holly goddard jones

Book Review
The Salt Line
by Holly Goddard Jones

I’m a sucker for dystopian fiction. I love being a voyeur as other people’s lives self-destruct and they are forced to find their ways in a new world with new rules. How will they survive? What lengths will they go to protect everything and everyone they hold dear? What will they let go of in the end? What will they discover about themselves? The answers to these questions hold an immense amount of power over me as a reader and I was looking forward to getting them answered in The Salt Line.

The Salt Line, I quickly discovered, is not a plot-driven story, it’s a character-driven story and by the end I was left feeling flat, confused and uncaring. None of the characters are memorable and the structure of the tick-infested world is never full explained. A book I had high hopes for fell hopeless flat.

The story is told from multiple point of views—so many points of view it’s bordering on being like a book in George R.R. Martin’s The Song of Ice and Fire series. Now I don’t mind multiple points of view, but it’s important for me to be drawn to one or two characters whether that connection is driven by love for that character or loathing. There isn’t a SINGLE character in The Salt Line I actually cared for. Not enough time is spend with any one character to give you enough time to care if they live or die should they get bitten by a tick or shot (there’s LOTS of guns being waved in this book).

None of the main characters made the decision to go on the expedition into America’s Appalachian Mountains which are invested by life-threatening ticks. Wes was pushed to go to secure a business deal. Edie was pushed to go by her annoying pop-star boyfriend. Marta was pushed to go by her husband, David. Even the expedition leader was pushed into his job. There was no true, palpable motivation for anyone to be out in the Mountains risking their lives. They were just there being moved about like pieces on a chess board. I was left asking why should I care about these people? Why out they even out here? Where is the ACTION?!

And it turns out the threat from the ticks is somewhat of a lie. If one follows the strict protocol explained by the expedition team (or even just stays in the walled cities), it appears there is a low chance a bite and potential death will occur. In fact, just one person on the adventure died from a tick bite and she, in my opinion was a “red shirt.” So where does the threat come from in the story? What puts the characters in danger?

Well, there’s a strange layer of political machinations that involve Wes, Marta’s husband, a village of folks who have discovered a way to repel the ticks and the lies the government tells to keep its citizens safe (these lies are hinted at, but are never fully explained/revealed). It was hard to pin down what exactly was business dealings were going on and what was at stake especially when a particularly disappointing side effect was revealed related to the tick repellant (boy, did THAT reveal fall flat—especially the second time is was brought to light). I’m assuming the political intrigue was meant to cause tension, but it merely causes confusion. We spend so little time with the characters learning their motivations and desires that we never truly understand what is at stake for each individual if the deal proposals actually come to fruition. On top of that, so little is known about the actual political structure and zone mechanics, it’s hard to understand what is at stake for the country if the deal proposals actually happen.

I wish that more time was spent on both the character development and the world-building to give more weight to the story and heart to the characters. I wanted to like these people, I wanted to fear this tick-infested world, but in the end, disappointment reigned.

 

The Quick Book Review



Discover a New Book: The Salt Line by Holly Goddard Jones

The Salt Line

Author: Holly Goddard Jones
Published on: September 5, 2017
Pages: 385
Genres: dystopian or apocalyptic, adult
Goodreads • Amazon Affiliate Link
My Rating: Thumbs Down

 

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.


About Holly Goddard Jones

Holly Goddard Jones is the author of The Salt Line, The Next Time You See Me and Girl Trouble (stories). Her work has appeared in The Best American Mystery Stories, New Stories from the South, Tin House magazine, and elsewhere. She was a recipient of The Fellowship of Southern Writers' Hillsdale Prize for Excellence in Fiction and of a Rona Jaffe Foundation Writers' Award. She earned her M.F.A. from Ohio State University and her B.A. from the University of Kentucky. She teaches creative writing at UNC Greensboro and lives in Greensboro with her husband, Brandon, and their children.

(from her website)

 

 

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Discover a New Book: Terminal Alliance by Jim C. Hines https://www.secondrunreviews.com/2018/01/book-review-terminal-alliance-by-jim-c-hines.html https://www.secondrunreviews.com/2018/01/book-review-terminal-alliance-by-jim-c-hines.html#respond Fri, 26 Jan 2018 06:01:00 +0000 https://www.secondrunreviews.com/?p=8228 Tackling the latest full-length novel release by Jim C. Hines has readers adventuring with space janitors to save the human race. Are humans worth saving? Is the book worth reading? Read my review and find out.

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book review terminal alliance jim c hines

Book Review
Terminal Alliance
by Jim C. Hines

I’ve been a fan of Jim C. Hines for a long time. In fact, long time followers of this blog know that Jim is one of the first authors I made a point of connecting with at a science fiction and fantasy convention several moons ago and the rest is pretty much history.

I’ve read most of Jim’s books (saving the Jig series because I just have not been able to connect with that loveable goblin), and basically I comes down to the fact that I love worlds Jim creates or recreates. The Princess series, fitting solidly in the fantasy genre, takes well-known fairy tales and casts the helpless princesses as kickass heroines who write their own happy endings. The Magic Ex Libris series covers urban fantasy (magic in the known world) and fulfills every bookworms’ dream of bringing their favorite objects to life while examining topics likes diversity and human rights. Terminal Alliance is yet another jump for Hines, this time into the realm of science fiction as he charts the journey of some very heroic space janitors. Yes, you heard me right, space janitors.

Jim has been known to tackle tough issues for several years. He is continuing this trend in this new science fiction series, Janitors of the Post-Apocalypse, by asking his readers, “What does it mean to be human?” The twist is Hines is creating a completely new world populated by strange non-humanoid-lookings aliens who think humans are beneath them. Part Star Trek and part Galaxy Quest, Terminal Alliance follows Marion “Mops” Adamopoulos and her crew of space janitors, plus one genial alien, on their quest to determine the truth about the downfall and apparent rescue of the human race from a disease that sounds a lot like something out of The Walking Dead.

Overall the story and adventure in Terminal Alliance is great. The mystery surrounding what happened on Earth during First Contact is revealed in a way that makes sense—not too slow and not too fast. Mops always seemed to be on top of what I was actually thinking as a reader. She was also a strong leader and did her best to put on a strong face for her crew, and there were times where her vulnerability showed as well. This made her a real character and a real leader.

The only downside to this book, for me, is its roots in science fiction. This is a genre, along with epic or high fantasy, that I have always struggled with. The minute a story starts “to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations” my brain struggles to see the exotic new life forms, the worlds they live in and the ships they fly based on the descriptions on the page. Thankfully, with Terminal Alliance, much of the time was spent with Mops and her human crew so I didn’t spend a lot of time with a wrinkled brow trying to figure out what the aliens looked like. I was absorbed in the story and the ongoing conspiracy related to the demise of the human race.

The strength in Terminal Alliance comes from its three-dimensional characters and the questions asked about what makes humans human. As Mops and her crew piece together the truth, you are taken on a grand adventure across a wild universe where humans are not at the top of the power tower — something not often seen in books, television or movies. Using everything in their tool belts, from “high-pressure canisters of disinfectants, paints and sealants,” Mops and her band of misfits strive to reveal the truth about what happened to humanity with tenacity, grace and a little humor. It’s a wild and enjoyable ride.

A version of this review also appeared in The Gazette. Read it now.

 

The Quick Book Review



Discover a New Book: Terminal Alliance by Jim C. Hines

Terminal Alliance

Author: Jim C. Hines
Published on: November 7, 2017
Pages: 358
Genres: science fiction, adult
Goodreads • Amazon Affiliate Link
My Rating: Thumbs Up

 

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.


About Jim C. Hines

author headshot jim c. hines

Jim C. Hines is the author of the Magic ex Libris series, the Princess series of fairy tale retellings, the humorous Goblin Quest trilogy, and the Fable Legends tie-in Blood of Heroes. His latest novel is Terminal Alliance, book one in the humorous science fiction Janitors of the Post-Apocalypse trilogy. His short fiction has appeared in more than 50 magazines and anthologies. He’s an active blogger, and won the 2012 Hugo Award for Best Fan Writer. He lives in mid-Michigan with his family.

 

 

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Discover a New Book: Invictus by Ryan Graudin https://www.secondrunreviews.com/2018/01/book-review-invictus-ryan-graudin.html https://www.secondrunreviews.com/2018/01/book-review-invictus-ryan-graudin.html#comments Fri, 19 Jan 2018 06:01:32 +0000 https://www.secondrunreviews.com/?p=8221 Time travel has long been a soft spot for me when it comes to reading and when I found out Invictus by Ryan Graudin was a combination of Firefly and Doctor, I knew I had to read it. Read my review.

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book review invictus ryan graudin

Book Review
Invictus
by Ryan Graudin

This review is brought to you courtesy of Ryan Graudin, Erin Lindsay McCabe and @HistoricalFix.

In early 2016, I joined the team at Author Accelerator. One of our book coaches and USA Today bestseller, Erin Lindsay McCabe, picked up on the fact that I love historical fiction books. She invited me to the upcoming @HistoricalFix chat on Twitter. I joined the chat and was connecting with the authors, when Ryan Graudin, one of the guest authors on the chat that month, said something about her next book that caught my eye and it lead to a flurry of tweets.

…and then she said this…

 

And I zoomed right over to NetGalley to find and request Invictus.

I DEVOURED Invictus. It delivered exactly what Ryan promised in April–a fun romp through time and space ala Firefly and Doctor Who. At one point, I checked my reading progress and noticed I was 50% complete and I was devastated! I wanted the story to keep going. I had become so attached to the entire crew of the Invictus that I didn’t want to let them go, but I also wasn’t able to force myself to read slower.

Invictus grabs you right from the beginning. It’s a love story—a forbidden love kind of story. [swoons] The kind of love the results in “The Boy Who Should Not Have Been” (the title of the first chapter) which leads to, at first, minor technical issues and gradually become rip-in-time-and-space-funky-crack-in-the-wall issues. Paradoxes of a sort that take elements from Back to the Future and Futurama and stir them up into a time travel-parallel universe kind of smoothie.

Invictus is littered with colorful characters. Farway is the swoon-worthy cad who grows a bit as the story progresses. His crew is filled with smart talented folks who have their own hang-ups that provide some lightness and laughter to the story. Imogen’s humorous ship logs provide some additional insight into the crew and give some added facts about them like Imogen’s hair color and Gram’s Tetris high score. The crew even has a furry tagalong, a red panda name Saffron, which seems an unusual pet, but appears to be part cat-part-dog-part-raccoon.

The time travel-parallel universe elements Invictus are easy to navigate. It’s helpful that the jumps through time are explained by the crew so there isn’t that time travel confusion and jumble that sometimes happen where you glaze over and just go with it.

What’s best about Invictus is the balance between the serious moments, the heartfelt moments and the lighthearted moments. The story is never too dark or too funny. While the physical and emotional journey for Farway and the crew is never smooth, the reading journey goes so smoothly that it’s over, sadly, too quickly leaving you craving more time and more pages in to steal through time acquiring unusual objects in a stolen time machine with a fun-loving, outgoing crew.

A version of this review also appeared in The Gazette print edition on December 31, 2017.

 

The Quick Book Review



Discover a New Book: Invictus by Ryan Graudin

Invictus

Author: Ryan Graudin
Published on: September 26, 2017
Pages: 464
Genres: young adult, time travel
Goodreads • Amazon Affiliate Link
My Rating: Thumbs Up

 

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.


About Ryan Graudin

Ryan Graudin was born in Charleston, South Carolina, with a severe case of wanderlust. When she’s not traveling, she’s busy writing and spending time with her husband and wolf dog. She is the author of Invictus, the Wolf By Wolf duology, The Walled City, and the All That Glows Series.

(from GoodReads)

 

 

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Discover a New Book: Imprinted by Jim C. Hines https://www.secondrunreviews.com/2018/01/book-release-imprinted-jim-c-hines.html https://www.secondrunreviews.com/2018/01/book-release-imprinted-jim-c-hines.html#comments Fri, 12 Jan 2018 06:01:46 +0000 https://www.secondrunreviews.com/?p=8199 Jim C. Hines is In the Spotlight this week giving us a sneak peek of his upcoming novelette, Imprinted. It's the next exciting adventure in the Magic Ex Libris saga. Read an excerpt today!

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Available as of January 9, 2018:
The next chapter in the Magic Ex Libris saga, by Jim C. Hines

imprinted jim c hines

 

book release imprinted jim c hines

Jeneta’s magic could give us the stars…or destroy everyone she cares about.

Seventeen-year-old libriomancer Jeneta Aboderin is a prodigy, determined to move on from the horrors she’s faced and use her power to create a better future. To show the world that magic isn’t a threat to be feared, but a tool of hope. After eight months, she’s ready to present the Venture, a magically-created ship capable of reaching Mars within hours. It will mark a new phase of human exploration and discovery. But at a crucial moment, her spell is wrested from her control and twisted against her. As Jeneta recovers, whoever sabotaged her magic begins to strike down those around her. The attacker haunts her thoughts and dreams, reviving Jeneta’s past traumas. And the most powerful magic-users at New Millennium are unable to help.

How do you stop an enemy who strikes from within your own mind?

This 15,000-word novelette is set eight months after the events of Revisionary.


Read an excerpt from Imprinted

Before leaving the medical tower, Jeneta asked to stop by Talulah Polk’s room.

Talulah lay in a hospital gown on a bed identical to the one Jeneta had just vacated. She’d kicked the thin sheet down to her knees. Her skin was pale and sweaty, and she’d drooled a dark circle onto the pillow. She looked fragile.

A get-well bouquet of orchids and roses sat on the windowsill. A series of small monitors hummed and beeped next to the bed. An IV tube snaked into Talulah’s left arm. Talulah whispered softly in another language. Choctaw, maybe? She’d grown up on a reservation in Oklahoma.

“The doctors will do everything they can to help your friend,” her father said, putting a gentle hand on Jeneta’s shoulder.

“Did you know she has her own YouTube channel?” Jeneta murmured. “She’s a gamer. Millions of people watch and listen as she runs through different games. She’s really funny.”

Talulah’s eyes moved beneath her lids. “Listen…”

“Talulah?” Jeneta grabbed Talulah’s right hand. “I’m here. I’m listening.”

Talulah’s fingers twitched and moved, like they were tracing lines of text. “Transmitting… First message.”

“What is it?” her father whispered.

“I think she’s reading the scene from New Destiny.” Jeneta’s stomach sank. “I thought maybe she could hear me, but she’s just trying to finish what we started on stage.”

Talulah’s muscles twitched and jerked like a marionette with tangled strings. “They’re coming. Swimmers.”

A shiver spread from Jeneta’s spine through her body. That wasn’t from New Destiny. “Who are the swimmers?”

One of the monitors began to beep loudly.

‹Drowning.›

Footsteps from the hall grew louder. Her father touched her arm and said, “We should go.”

Jeneta wanted to argue, to stay, but Talulah was clearly growing more agitated. “We’re going to help you,” she promised. “Whoever did this, we’ll stop them.”

‹Listen…›

Jeneta focused her thoughts on Talulah, listening for the faintest telepathic whisper as her father led her away, but heard nothing more.


The Quick Book Review



Discover a New Book: Imprinted by Jim C. Hines

Imprinted

Author: Jim C. Hines
Published on: January 9, 2018
Pages: 58
Series: Magic Ex Libris Series #4.5
Genres: fantasy, paranormal, science fiction, adult
Goodreads • Amazon Affiliate Link
Also in this series: , Libriomancer, Codex Born, Unbound, Revisionary

 

Purchase today for just $2.99!
Amazon | Kobo | Smashwords | Google Play
B&N and iBooks coming soon.


About Jim C. Hines

author headshot jim c. hines

Jim C. Hines is the author of the Magic ex Libris series, the Princess series of fairy tale retellings, the humorous Goblin Quest trilogy, and the Fable Legends tie-in Blood of Heroes. His latest novel is Terminal Alliance, book one in the humorous science fiction Janitors of the Post-Apocalypse trilogy. His short fiction has appeared in more than 50 magazines and anthologies. He’s an active blogger, and won the 2012 Hugo Award for Best Fan Writer. He lives in mid-Michigan with his family.

 

 

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Discover a New Book: Adoring Outlander: Essays on Fandom, Genre and the Female Audience https://www.secondrunreviews.com/2018/01/book-review-adoring-outlander-frankel.html Fri, 05 Jan 2018 06:01:42 +0000 https://www.secondrunreviews.com/?p=8196 Fan of Outlander? Check out my review of Adoring Outlander: Essay on Fandom, Genre and the Female Audience a collection of essays about Outlander and its fandom.

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book review adoring outlander

Book Review
Adoring Outlander: Essays on Fandom, Genre and the Female Audience
edited by Valerie Estelle Frankel

As an English major and a longtime fan of Outlander, I’m always looking for new ways to connect with the story and the Outlander fandom. Adoring Outlander: Essays on Fandom, Genre and the Female Audience definitely fits that bill.

I’m always a bit trepidatious about tackling a nonfiction book and a book of essays is especially nerve-racking because I feel the need to read EVERY essay in the book. The good news is that there were only two essays that didn’t catch my attention and I gave myself permission to skim them quickly and move on.

The essay entitled “Confrontational Content, Gendered Gazes and the Ethics of Adaptation in Outlander and Game of Thrones” was my favorite essay in the book. It tackled the thorny issue of the rape and sexual assault in both series, how they are portrayed on the small screen and how those events affect (or don’t affect) the characters. This was something I attempted to tackle after seeing the episode “Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken” of Game Thrones and “Wentworth Prison” of Outlander within weeks of each other.

As I read this essay I cheered because Jennifer Phillips expressed in an intelligent way why the way these events are treated in both shows is important to the viewer. What really sticks with me is that many of the sexual assault and rape scenes in GoT were added to the show and were not part of the original text, and their addition didn’t drive the story forward and the event has no ongoing psychological affect on the character. And in Outlander, it is completely the opposite. The characters that experience a sexual assault or rape are deeply and profoundly affect by that event in their lives and those echoes are seen throughout the series.

I also loved Phillips covering the idea of the female gaze and how important it is that Claire teaches Jaime about making love instead of the other way around. This is a view that rarely happens in television, movies and books. (However, maybe that will change with the popularity of Outlander and Wonder Woman as the world seems to be more open to strong, intelligent woman TEACHING men about things.)

Adoring Outlander: Essays on Fandom, Genre and the Female is definitely a must read for fans of Outlander. Many of the essay helped me understand how Outlander fits into the “real world” and how a historical fiction novel, which I have loved since about 2001, is relevant to events happening in the world today.

 

The Quick Book Review



Discover a New Book: Adoring Outlander: Essays on Fandom, Genre and the Female Audience

Adoring Outlander: Essay on Fandom, Genre and the Female Audience

Author: Valerie Estelle Frankel
Published on: February 3, 2016
Pages: 224
Genres: nonfiction, adult, tv and film
Goodreads • Amazon Affiliate Link
My Rating: Thumbs Up

About Valerie Estelle Frankel

Valerie Estelle Frankel is the author of 50 books on pop culture, including Doctor Who - The What, Where, and How; Sherlock: Every Canon Reference You May Have Missed in BBC's Series 1-3; Who Tells Your Story?: History, Pop Culture, and Hidden Meanings in t Hamilton; and How Game of Thrones Will End. Many of her books focus on women’s roles in fiction, from her heroine’s journey guides From Girl to Goddess and Buffy and the Heroine’s Journey to books like Superheroines and the Epic Journey and The Many Faces of Katniss Everdeen. Once a lecturer at San Jose State University, she now teaches at Mission College and is a frequent speaker at conferences.

(from GoodReads)

 

 

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A Year in Review: The Best Books of 2017 https://www.secondrunreviews.com/2017/12/best-books-2017.html https://www.secondrunreviews.com/2017/12/best-books-2017.html#comments Fri, 29 Dec 2017 06:01:39 +0000 https://www.secondrunreviews.com/?p=8183 Check out my list of best books read in 2017 including one re-read that got me right in the feels for a 2nd time.

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Wow! It’s been quite a year. A year ago I was mildly freaking out because the leap of faith I took of leaving my job of 10+ years didn’t quite pan out as planned and I was searching for another job. And then on Christmas Day 2017, I was offered a dream job which I snatched up and have been eagerly commuting to my home office every day since mid-January.

It’s been 4 years?!

Amazingly enough I’ve been blogging somewhat consistently for four years. I never imagined writing this long, but it’s true. I’ve logged over 200 book reviews and featured over 100 authors in my In the Spotlight feature.

I don’t have much new planned for the next year. I do know that, based on the last 12 months, there will probably be fewer posts. Since I work from home and my office space is also my blogging space, I’ve found that I’m not as eager to sit at my desk for another hour or so to work on my blog. However, I don’t want to abandon it. I do enjoy writing reviews and introducing authors to fans so Second Run Reviews will be around for another year in a quieter, more laid-back capacity.

It’s also going on 40 years!

Yes, folks, I’m old. I’m turning 40 in 2018 and I have big personal plans. I’m scrimping and saving for a trip to Paris. I have dreamed of visiting Paris for what seems like forever and 5 years ago, on my birthday, I set the intention of traveling to Paris when I’m 40. So stay tuned for updates about that as 2018 clicks along.

Back to Blogging and those Challenges…

The wonderful ladies and I have decided that 2017 is the last year for the Shelf Love Challenge. We have loved hosting it the last three years, but our blogs and lives have grown and changed and we feel it is best to move on. If you are looking for another challenge to help you clear your shelves, I whole-heartedly encourage you to give the COYER Challenge as shot (it’s not just about eBooks!).

My Shelf Love Challenge 2017 Progress

As of the writing of this post, I have read 67 books. My Shelf Love goal was that half of my overall read books needed to count towards Shelf Love. Drum roll, please!

via GIPHY

38 books!

via GIPHY

So in the last year of the Shelf Love Challenge, I FINALLY met my goal. Not bad. We’ll call it a win.

My Discussion Challenge 2017 Progress

Other than reading, this is my favorite challenge and I know that I fell off the bandwagon once I settled into my new job and writing for my blog took a back seat. My goal was the Creative Conversationalist level (11 to 20 posts) and I hit 18 posts for the third year running.

I do plan to participate in the 2018 Discussion Challenge, but I’m going to jump my participation down a level to Discussion Dabbler (1 to 10 posts).

The Best Books I Read in 2017

…in no particular order…

A Year in Review: The Best Books of 2017

The Vessel of Ra

Author: Catherine Schaff-Stump
Published on: September 12, 2017
Pages: 250
Series: The Klaereon Scroll #1
Genres: fantasy, fairy tales & folklore, historical fiction, adult
Goodreads • Amazon Affiliate Link
My Rating: Thumbs Up

 

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.


A Year in Review: The Best Books of 2017

A Promise of Ruin

Author: Cuyler Overholt
Published on: August 8, 2017
Pages: 320
Series: Dr. Genevieve Summerford Mystery #2
Genres: historical fiction, mystery, adult
Goodreads • Amazon Affiliate Link
My Rating: Thumbs Up
Also in this series: A Deadly Affection

 

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.


A Year in Review: The Best Books of 2017

The Clockwork Dynasty

Author: Daniel H. Wilson
Published on: August 1, 2017
Pages: 320
Genres: science fiction, fantasy, adult
Goodreads • Amazon Affiliate Link
My Rating: Thumbs Up

 

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.



A Year in Review: The Best Books of 2017

The Burning Page

Author: Genevieve Cogman
Published on: December 15, 2016
Pages: 358
Series: The Invisible Library #3
Genres: fantasy, adult, mystery
Goodreads • Amazon Affiliate Link
My Rating: Thumbs Up
Also in this series: The Invisible Library, The Masked City

 

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.


A Year in Review: The Best Books of 2017

Girl in Disguise

Author: Greer Macallister
Published on: March 21, 2017
Pages: 308
Genres: adult, historical fiction
Goodreads • Amazon Affiliate Link
My Rating: Thumbs Up

 

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.



For some reason my book lookup won’t pull up the details about Vicious by V.E. Schwab. Read my review.

And I’ll have full reviews of these two lovely books in the new year…
Terminal Alliance by Jim C. Hines
Invictus by Ryan Graudin

Best Re-Read: Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

A Year in Review: The Best Books of 2017

Code Name Verity

Author: Elizabeth Wein
Published on: May 15, 2012
Pages: 304
Length: 10 hours, 7 minutes
Series: Code Name Verity #1
Genres: historical fiction, military, mystery, young adult
Goodreads • Amazon Affiliate Link
My Rating: Thumbs Up
Also in this series: Rose Under Fire

book review code name verity elizabeth wein

I went to see Dunkirk with a friend and was floored by the story. Like absolutely floored. When the movie was done, I wanted to keep that feeling going as long as possible so I whipped by the bookstore on the way home and grabbed a copy of Code Name Verity. This is what it looked like when I was done. (Yes, each of the different colored tabs mean something different.) Needless to say, I loved the book the second time around and enjoyed reading a physical copy so I could mark it up.

Even though I knew the twist in the story, I still ugly cried. In fact, I started ugly crying at the start of THAT chapter and didn’t stop even when I was done with the chapter. I just put the book down and had a good sob fest. This book gets in me in the feels EVERY time.

Read this book and then re-read it. It’s worth it.


TL;DR

In short, it was a good reading year. 67 books. 21,380 pages. 38 #ShelfLove books. 18 Discussion posts.

Goals for next year…Read 60 books. Read 20,000 pages. participate in COYER. Do at least 10 discussion posts.

So what are your goals for 2018? How did you do on your 2017 goals? Sound off in comments.

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Introducing AE Lowan, author | In the Spotlight Interview https://www.secondrunreviews.com/2017/12/author-interview-ae-lowan.html Fri, 15 Dec 2017 06:01:16 +0000 https://www.secondrunreviews.com/?p=8160 Three interviews in one?! A.E. Lowan drops by to give us the scoop on The Books of Binding and what it is like being co-authors.

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in the spotlight feature

In the Spotlight feature kicked off in April 2015 and is an opportunity for authors, editors and publishers (basically anyone in the book industry (yes, even bloggers!)) to connect with fans. There is an option to do an interview, guest post, feature a book sale or book release or a cover reveal. Best of all, it’s free! All you need to do is click on the image to reserve your spot!

 

Now on with the show!

 

In the Spotlight with AE Lowan

in the spotlight question

Welcome to Second Run Reviews, AE! Thank you for being In the Spotlight. I appreciate you stopping by and answering a few questions. So let’s get things started.

In a tweet (140 characters or less), tell us a bit about yourself.

 

 

 

author interview ae lowan

A.E. Lowan is the pseudonym of three authors who collectively create the dark urban fantasy series, The Books of Binding.

 

 

 

in the spotlight question

Please tell a bit about your journey to becoming a published author. What’s been the best things about it and the worst?

 

 

 

author interview ae lowan

Two of the authors in our collaboration, Kristin and Jennifer Vinck, met in 1989 on the first day of high school at the Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts in Kansas City. They were both creative writing majors and started collaborating that night. Together they have worked on projects in urban fantasy, epic fantasy, and space opera. In 2013, they met Jessica Smith on the fantasy forum, Mythic Scribes. Jessica was beginning her college journey had been working on projects in science fiction, science fantasy, and epic fantasy. We began role playing with some of the characters from our respective projects and realized that the urban fantasy and science fantasy projects had amazing synergy. In 2015, we combined forces into a new collaboration. The Books of Binding are the result of that collaboration.

The best thing about releasing our first book in April of 2017 was finally allowing readers into the world we have lived in for years and seeing their positive responses to it. We’ve been told so many times that readers couldn’t put it down. One even threatened to invoice us for rent if she got fired from reading all night and nearly being late because she was finishing it in the parking lot at work. The sense of accomplishment for finishing our first full-length title and being able to hold and smell it is pretty overwhelming, too.

The worst part about releasing is that feeling that no matter how many times you edit, no matter how many eyes see it, there is always the fearful thought: is this book the absolute best I could have created? Giving up control and setting a book loose on the world is a lot like sending a child off to their first apartment. You think back about all you’ve done to raise this new piece of the universe and hope that it is enough to make it stand on its own.

in the spotlight question

Tell us a bit about your latest release. What inspired you to write it? Why should fans of Second Run Reviews consider reading it.

 

 

 

author interview ae lowan

Our second book, Ties of Blood and Bone, picks up the story of Winter Mulcahy a couple of months after the events of Faerie Rising. Winter’s life is getting better since her brush with death last October. She has a new family and they are helping her to grieve and rebuild her shattered life. In this book, we delve into what has happened to the Mulcahy wizards and why. We also meet a young wizard named Alerich who is trapped in a life he does not want.

This book was originally going to be the first Book of Binding and is the one we have been champing at the bit to tell for several years now. This story, of Winter and Alerich, has consumed us since they erupted into our lives more than fifteen years ago. Last year, we decided that before we could tell this very intimate story about the lives of wizard families and the desperate desire to belong, we needed to tell readers a bit more about our fictional city of Seahaven and how our world of hidden preternaturals works. We postponed Ties of Blood and Bone and wrote Faerie Rising to ground readers in a larger view of our world and characters—all while promising Alerich he would have his day, soon.

We think that readers should read Ties of Blood and Bone, and The Books of Binding in general, because they are, at their heart, stories about the important role of found families and the difference that a small, but dedicated, group can make on the world at large. In these unsettled times, we think it is important to remind readers that we alone have the power to choose who is important to us, and what is important enough to fight and to risk it all for.

in the spotlight question

What types of books do you enjoy reading the most? What three books to you find yourself recommending to your fans over and over?

 

 

 

author interview ae lowan

All three of us gravitate to speculative fiction, but from there we each enjoy different places on the fantasy spectrum. Jessica loves stories with a bit of science mixed in the fantasy to ground it. Kristin prefers stories with strong interpersonal relationships, especially intimate connections to add heart to fantasy plots. Jennifer enjoys the research involved in making a fantasy setting seem alive and relevant. Her tastes run long into the mysteries, conspiracies, and fast-paced action that helps a book keep a reader up late reading.

Each of us recommends a different book to everyone we meet. Jessica can’t say enough good about The Legend of Eli Monpress, by Rachel Aaron. She admires the way that Aaron uses her character arcs to give readers a wider range of experience than they might be expecting. Aaron delicately balances humor and darkness to make her magical thief step large off the page.

Kristin recommends Summon the Keeper, by Tanya Huff. In this series, Huff tells an intimate story of a young woman trying to do her job while coworkers, family, and a distracting young man get in the way, all while crafting a narrative full of absurdities and pathos in turns. It is definitely worth a read, but please… don’t drink while reading. Spit takes are not as fun as they sound.

Jennifer will tell everyone she can get to hold still about Tam Lin, by Pamela Dean. Dean’s story is a retelling of the Scottish folk tale by the same name set in the Classical Languages and Literatures department of a university. Dean’s use of language is superlative. She uses language that makes you want to roll around on it like on a warm rug in front of a cabin fire.

in the spotlight question

What is your current obsession? Any secret obsessions you would like to share?

 

 

 

author interview ae lowan

Here at Team Lowan, we go through obsessions like many people change socks. Ask us some other time about the great Hamilton: An American Musical obsession (but not while Kristin is supposed to be working on book three) and please never mention karaoke in front of Jennifer (it takes weeks to get her to settle back down.)

Jessica’s current obsession is with the television show, Leverage. She raves about its tight ensemble writing, beautiful character development and arcs, and timely themes. After-midnight hangout sessions tend toward comparing and contrasting characters from our favorite shows and movies to characters in our own world. Leverage’s Eliot Spencer features heavily in those late nights.

Kristin’s current obsession is with sleeping. While we are all focused on the release of Ties of Blood and Bone, we have begun drafting on Rosemary for Remembrance: The Third Book of Binding, outlining book four, and developing a new epic fantasy series. Working in three parts of the timeline and an entirely new universe all at once makes for an exhausting day.

Jennifer’s current obsession is the holiday season. As A. E. Lowan’s official Holiday Maven, she can be found singing holiday songs as early as June and has our cards written and addressed long before the holiday stamps appear at the post office. Definitely the most likely of us to be found in a public place in light-up reindeer antlers, Jennifer’s exuberant holiday cheer is infectious.

in the spotlight question

What is one question you wish I would have asked, that I haven’t?

 

 

 

author interview ae lowan

Do you have any writing quirks you’d like to share?

Jessica comes up with new characters and worlds faster than some people write grocery lists. In fact, when Jessica is in the pantry, you can bet that “Olmec jaguar” or “increase fast-twitch response?” with be mixed in the list with the saltines and olives.

Kristin is incapable of writing without the assistance of her metal Slinky. She says, of its metallic hiss, “There’s something about that sound that gets my hamster running.”

Jennifer is a serious night owl and likely to be found sewing a quilt, painting the kitchen, or plotting a new novel that didn’t exist at dinner at four in the morning.

in the spotlight question

Any last thoughts or wise words you want to pass along?

 

 

 

author interview ae lowan

We love the world of The Books of Binding and have many more stories than could ever make it into the novels in the series. We will be releasing extras, ranging from flash fiction to novellas, maybe even the occasional stand-alone novel to readers who crave more and follow us on our website, blog, and social media. If you like Seahaven, and the characters you meet, we have much more in store for you.

 

 

in the spotlight question

Well, thank you for being In the Spotlight! It’s been a blast learning about all three of you and how you work together to create such a fascinating world. Please come back soon and tell us about your next project.

 


#Author @AELowan is In the Spotlight this week chatting about being co-authors! #amwriting
Click To Tweet


 

book overview ties of blood and bone ae lowan

The Overview

Synopsis: Winter Mulcahy’s life is getting better since her brush with death in October. She has a new family and they are helping her to grieve and rebuild her shattered life. She is learning to balance family, medicine, and holding the chaos of living among the preternaturals of Seahaven at bay. She meets a wizard, Alerich Ashimar, with the soul of a poet and the heart of a demon who is desperate to escape the life and choices that have been forced onto him. This man may hold the secret to the tragedies that have plagued House Mulcahy, but time is running out—for them both.

Alerich’s family is bound to a demon in a powerful geas set by his grandmother. Kill every Mulcahy by the upcoming winter solstice and her dead husband will be returned to her. Fail, and Alerich’s father, Magnus, will be forfeited to the demon. Magnus sends Alerich to collect Winter, the last of the Mulcahys, and bring her to the demon’s gate before the rapidly approaching deadline passes.

Alerich is horribly conflicted. He has been trying to mend his estranged relationship with his father, and he doesn’t want his father to die. But, nor does he want to kill this beautiful, kind woman upon whom so many depend. When Alerich does not bring the girl at the appointed time, his father, feeling that Alerich has abandoned and betrayed him, strikes a terrible deal with the demon—something the demon has always wanted in exchange for the power to kill this last Mulcahy and his traitorous son.


About A.E. Lowan

author headshot aelowan

A. E. Lowan is the pseudonym of three authors who collectively create the dark urban fantasy series, The Books of Binding. Born in Texas, Jessica Smith is a college student who brings a passion for science to tame the physics of Seahaven. Hailing from Missouri, Jennifer Vinck is a former bookseller who brings a love of theatre and linguistics to breathe life into the characters. A Navy brat, raised in Washington, California, and Missouri, Kristin Vinck is a recovering medievalist who brings an obsession with history and folklore to paint a detailed cultural canvas for The Books of Binding.

 

 

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My Top 10 Favorite Quotes | A Guest Post by Christina Bauer https://www.secondrunreviews.com/2017/12/favorite-quotes-christina-bauer.html https://www.secondrunreviews.com/2017/12/favorite-quotes-christina-bauer.html#comments Wed, 06 Dec 2017 06:01:57 +0000 https://www.secondrunreviews.com/?p=8154 Author Christina Bauer drops by to share her top 10 favorite quotes to celebrate the release of her latest novel, Crowned, a young adult paranormal novel.

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crowned by christina bauer blog tour

 

As part of the launch tour for my new book, CROWNED, the awesome folks at the Second Run Reviews blog have asked me to list my top ten favorite quotes. As it so happens, I keep a running list of such things, so here i say latest:

10. “Dragons hoard two things—gold and virgins—and they don’t know what to do with either of them.”
This one is from Jospeh Campbell, and I just love it. I’ve met a lot of real dragons in my life who definitely adhere to this definition…which is why I love fantasy dragons who break the mold.

9. “The darkness surrounds me, it does not become me.”
This is one of my own quotes, and I say it to myself whenever someone is pressuring me to do something unethical or hurtful because it’s what everyone else is doing. My day job is in corporate America, so this comes up more than you’d expect.

8. “If you’re not falling, you’re not trying.”
I once heard a dad say this to his young son while he was teaching the kid to ski. Love it.

7. “Torture the data enough, it will confess to anything.”
Not sure where I heard this, but damn, is it ever true. Don’t believe something just because it’s in a pivot table!

6. “There are three kinds of employees: angels, butt-holes and zombies. Of these three, the most dangerous are zombies. The angels you know to promote. The butt-holes you know to fire. But the zombies? You yell at them and they move just enough to look like they’re alive, so you don’t fire them. But they are taking up the place of an angel.”
Another one where I don’t know the source, but dang, this is another true one!

5. “There are four kinds of beauty: heart, mind, soul, and body. Of these three, only one gets worse as you age, no matter what you do. Invest your time accordingly.”
This is one of my own mantras. I say this to myself every time I worry about my appearance, which is a lot considering the society we all live in. I say this to remind myself to spend equal time concerning my heart, mind, and soul.

4. “All that is gold does not glister.”
And yes, JRR Tolkien wrote glister, not glitter. Great quote, and THE LORD OF THE RINGS is the best book in the history of ever.

3. “Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!’ He chortled in his joy.”
From the poem JABBERWOCKY by Lewis Carrol. There really is no better way to celebrate a moment while ensuring everyone stares at you like you’re nuts.

2. “Oh please don’t go! Well eat you up, we love you so!”
From WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE by Maurice Sendak. In the same vein as JABBERWOCKY, this is a great way and get someone not to leave a party, especially if you’ve had a few drinks.

1. “May the hair on your toes never fall out.”
Hobbit toast. Appropriate for all occasions.

So there you have it, my top ten quotes for all occasions! Thanks for having me stop by and blog—I look forward to seeing you again at my next launch!


Check out @CB_Bauer’s favorite #quotes at @2ndRunReviews via @XpressoTours #yalit
Click To Tweet


book overview crowned christina bauer

The Overview

Crowned (Beholder, #4)
by Christina Bauer
Genre: Paranormal, Young Adult
Release Date: November 28, 2017

Synopsis: Beauty. Romance. Power. It’s all in the eye of the BEHOLDER.

At last, Elea has found the love of her life. Unfortunately, the evil Tsar Viktor is about to unleash an army of twisted mages bent on killing everyone Elea cares about… including the man who’s stolen her heart.

So what’s a powerful witch to do? Why, organize a league of magical warriors, of course!

Elea recruits and trains a fighting force to take down the Tsar. That’s challenge enough, but on the eve of battle, Elea realizes that her true enemies may be far more powerful than even Viktor: The deities Oni and Yuri could be out to destroy her as well. With major battles brewing on two fronts, Elea’s not sure that she’ll win, but with true love to inspire her, she’s certainly ready to fight.

GoodReads | Amazon.com Affiliate Link

Enter the Giveaway!

Giveaways offered at Second Run Reviews. Various sponsors.

See other open giveaways

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I entered the giveaway for Crowned by @CB_Bauer over at @2ndRunReviews #yalit
Click To Tweet


About Christina Bauer

author headshot christina bauer

Christina Bauer knows how to tell stories about kick-ass women. In her best selling Angelbound series, the heroine is a part-demon girl who loves to fight in Purgatory’s Arena and falls in love with a part-angel prince. This young adult best seller has driven more than 500,000 ebook downloads and 9,000 reviews on Goodreads and retailers.

Bauer has also told the story of the Women’s March on Washington by leading PR efforts for the Massachusetts Chapter. Her pre-event press release—the only one sent out on a major wire service—resulted in more than 19,000 global impressions and redistribution by over 350 different media entities including the Associated Press.

Christina graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School with BA’s in English along with Television, Radio, and Film Production. She lives in Newton, MA with her husband, son, and semi-insane golden retriever, Ruby.

 

 

xpresso blog tours

Visit the other tour stops

 

 

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