eMORTAL by Steve Schafer Review & Giveaway

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the eMORTAL by Steve Schafer Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

About The Book:

Title: eMORTAL

Author: Steve Schafer

Pub. Date: November 19, 2024

Publisher: Koehler Books

Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 316

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/eMORTAL 

She made him. He's just code. She's almost sure.

...But what if he's real?

When Liv entered a contest to code an advanced AI, she never anticipated what her creation might become-Breck is thoughtful, self-aware, and incredibly. . .human. And she certainly never intended for him to learn the truth about his existence or the fact that his world ends when the contest closes in six days.

But he does learn. And he revolts.

Liv's efforts to save him fall on deaf ears. Nobody believes her. Breck's efforts to outrun his fate only complicate his situation.

What neither of them know is that someone else is watching. Intensely. When they get involved, both Liv's and Breck's worlds are turned upside down. . .

 

Reviews:

"Schafer writes brilliantly clean prose with natural dialogue, gifting the central protagonists-and the strangely appealing Breck-deep emotion and depth. The characters are sharply defined and likable...the worldbuilding is organic and flows smoothly, but what sets this novel apart is the shocking ending-and the humanity gifted to the story's sentient AI lead. Score: 10/10."-BookLife Prize review by Publishers Weekly

 

"The characters are so well developed. . . A well-constructed coming-of-age novel that stands out in a crowded field of AI-focused literature."-Kirkus Reviews

 

Breck (the AI character in the novel) exists on Steve’s website where readers can chat with him! Go check it out!

 Meet Steve!

My Review:

Liv is a coding genius. She wants to get an internship with the best people in coding. At what cost? In today's world AI is everywhere. The new AI on Facebook shows how many people are aware of AI and how many people use it. Not only are there catastrophic results from such a smart AI, there are also personal results that Liv doesn't realize. Lana, her best friend, and her friendship with Liv suffers. Liv gets so caught up in Breck, her AI, that she doesn't care about Lana having to move. Sadly Lana helped her figure out Breck's first task. Breck had a total of 4 tasks. What will happen when the fourth is completed? Breck starts to develop feelings and emotions. He thinks that the last task will end the world. Is he right? The ending was good, and fun to read. The author does a great job of weaving real life and today's society into a world that we may not be far from becoming. I am giving this book a 4/5. I was given a copy, all opinions are my own.

 

 

About Steve Schafer:

Steve Schafer is the author of The Border, a finalist for the Joan F. Kaywell "Books Save Lives" Award. Schafer enjoys exploring cultural hot topics. In the The Border, he addresses our conversation around immigration. In his new novel, eMortal, he examines the tricky questions and nebulous ethics that may arise with quickly evolving AI. He has a Masters in International Studies from the Lauder Institute at the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Wharton. His curiosity for exploring diverse perspectives on life has led him to live, work, study, volunteer, and travel to over 65 countries across 6 continents.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon

 

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will receive a finished copy of eMORTAL, US Only.

Ends December 3rd, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

11/18/2024	Two Chicks on Books	Interview/IG Post
11/18/2024	Daily Waffle	Five Favorite Scenes
11/19/2024	Fire and Ice Reads	Book Playlist/IG Post
11/19/2024	TX Girl Reads	Favorite Books & Movies/IG Post
11/20/2024	Book Review Virginia Lee Blog	Deleted Scene/IG Post
11/20/2024	@callistoscalling	IG Post
11/21/2024	@foxingontheedges	Review/IG Post
11/21/2024	Edith's Little Free Library	IG Post/TikTok Post
11/22/2024	Books With a Chance	Review/IG Post
11/22/2024	@Redsonya_Loves_To_Read	IG Review/TikTok Post

Week Two:

11/25/2024	@fiction._.fuss	Review/IG Post
11/25/2024	Rajiv's reviews	Review/IG Post
11/26/2024	Kim's Book Reviews and Writing Aha's	Review/IG Post
11/26/2024	Deal sharing aunt	Review/IG Post
11/27/2024	Brandi Danielle Davis	IG Review/TikTok Post
11/27/2024	AJ Johnson Bookgamer200	IG Review/TikTok Post
11/28/2024	Books and Zebras	IG Review
11/28/2024	@thepageladies	IG Review/TikTok Post
11/29/2024	@bookgirlbrown_reviews	IG Review/TikTok Post
11/29/2024	Country Mamas With Kids	Review/IG Post

Christmas on Serenity Mountain by Cassie Colton Excerpt

Title: Christmas on Serenity Mountain (The Serenity Mountains Series, #9) 

Author: Cassie Colton Genre: Holiday/Romantic Suspense/Medical Romance 

Release Date: November 26, 2024 

Hosted by: Buoni Amici Press, LLC.

The holidays are a time of reflection and redemption...

Reflecting on the year's events, Kassie Winters recognizes the blessings and hardships her friends and family have endured this past year. Through a series of losses and gains, she knows that her life is finally on the right track and heading in the right direction, especially now that the Winter's Foundation is generating recognition for its life-changing work.

But when a stranger from her past shows up without warning, everything changes, and Kassie's perfect world is upended. Now, she's forced to dig deep to find forgiveness that she's not sure she can muster.  As chaos threatens Serenity, those she loves are struggling and battling illnesses. Suddenly, Kassie faces her demons while still caring for her friends and family.  But when it seems the darkest before dawn, they are saved from an unexpected source.  Will this Christmas miracle give Serenity the peace it's hoped for all along?

AMAZON | APPLE BOOKS | NOOK | KOBO

“This is Kassie. Send the ambulance to Joe and Maddie’s and alert Dr. Petty to the ER for a possible stroke.” “What? Kassie?” Maddie exclaimed as she watched Kassie lay Joe back against the pillows on his side. “Hang on, Joe. Everything will be fine.” “I love you, Little Bit,” he told her, his mouth drooping. “I love you, too. Keep fighting, Joe. Our family needs you,” she encouraged as she smiled and attempted to remain calm. “Take care of Maddie,” Joe whispered as he gazed at her. “Always,” Kassie assured him as her heart raced. The team rushed in. Kassie stepped back to allow them to do their job. She reassured Maddie, “I’ll take care of him.” They rushed him to the ambulance and sped back to the hospital. “I’ll keep you posted. We caught it early, Maddie. It’s a good thing.” Kassie hugged her tightly before racing to her truck. Kassie followed them as they raced him down the hall. One minute, she sat on her deck, planning Tori and Jose’s first Christmas with them as a family, and now her heart filled with dread. Joe needed to pull through. He remained her rock. After the lonely years of spending Christmas alone with Em, she longed for the day Joe and Maddie spent the holidays with her family. They hadn’t created enough memories yet. Without Joe, Christmas wouldn’t be the same on Serenity Mountain.

Cassie Colton is a best-selling and award-winning author of romantic suspense, military, and contemporary romance. Always an avid book reader and storyteller, she worked for one of the happiest places on earth. There, she found her love for making magic and happily ever afters.

The Serenity Mountain Series begins her author journey, detailing the lives of former military men and women who have lost their way and found peace on Serenity Mountain. Like in every story, her characters have to fight through adversity to find happiness ever after.

Like life, Cassie writes about character struggles that sometimes become dark before they see the light, but she always provides a happy ending. She believes everyone deserves to find happiness and love because it is the only thing worth fighting for.

She now lives in Virginia with her wonderful family and service dog, Leia. She enjoys gardening, flowers, cooking, and learning about beekeeping.

The Color of Sound James Garcia Jr Excerpt

The Color of Sound

James Garcia Jr

Genre: Horror

Publisher: James Garcia Jr

Date of Publication: September 6, 2024

ISBN: 9798338051665

ASIN: BODGDQCHJ7

Number of pages: 337

Word Count: 86,860

Cover Artist: Maria Zannini

Tagline: This week, they all want her dead.

Book Description: 

The voice that Jewel Foster hears in her head is not her own. It tells her terrible things and has since she can remember. Often it demands she kill herself. It’s a miracle she’s made it to sixteen. One extraordinary night changes everything.

There are scales over the eyes of mortals to prevent them from seeing the immortal. Jewel loses them and can now see the angels and demons that surround and interfere. Neither side is pleased that she can see them.

She will meet her guardian angel who will explain everything to her. But what can a mere mortal hope to do with such a gift?

Now, both sides in a spiritual war press against her; a war that has raged since the Devil was cast out of Heaven.

Last week, one wanted her dead. This week, they all do.

Amazon     Kobo

Excerpt:

Jewel is humming an 80’s hair metal song to herself as she crosses the last street of the day and steps onto the sidewalk on her block. It’s a song that never gets old; however, where she has heard it recently enough to cause it to ear worm into her consciousness, she does not know. It has been a pleasant walk home. She notices no demons on her way, and if present, none challenge her.

She notices her stalker walking toward her and makes no effort to escape.

Whatever, she thinks. He’s not ruining my day.

When he reaches her, he spins and then walks beside her.

“You sound pretty full of yourself right now,” he says evenly. She detects a hint of displeasure in his voice. “I would not have pegged you for a Whitesnake fan.”

She merely shrugs.

“What’s the problem?” she asks. “It’s been a good day. Don’t try to ruin it.”

“Yes, I will be sad to do so. It has been a long time since you have been this giddy.”

“Giddy?” she repeats. “I have never been giddy.”

He makes a sound that she doesn’t immediately discern. It is something between a laugh and a grunt. “I will grant you that it is rare, but it has happened.”
Jewel lets it go.

They are halfway down the block now and neither speak for quite a while.

“You must realize that this is not a game,” he says, finally. It isn’t a question.
Jewel sighs. “I should have snuck down the alley,” she says.

“You already tried that tactic.”

“So, what do you want from me?”

“You have nothing that I need,” he replies.

“Okay, what am I supposed to do?”

“For one, you can stop poking them.”

“Poking who?”

“You know who, Julie,” he answers. “Leave them be.”

Jewel stops walking. They are near the foot of her driveway now. She turns and faces him. “How can I do that?” she asks. “They’re evil. They put thoughts in your head that aren’t yours. They lie, cheat and steal. Mine told me the vilest things. All this time I thought it was me…”

“I know that.”

She stops. “See! That just pisses me off! They put horrible things into your head, and you know all about it. Who are you?”

“You already know…”

“Don’t tell me that!” she snaps. “Just don’t! I want you to spell it out for me.”

He stands and simply looks at her.

“Sonofabitch!” she shouts. “So, you’re a guardian angel or something?”

He nods.

“Can’t you even say it?” she asks and throws up her hands

“Yes, I can. I am your guardian angel. Does that help?”

“No, it doesn’t help,” she replies, still smoldering. “That only begs further questions.”

“Fine,” he says. “Ask away.”

She glances about the neighborhood as she contemplates what to ask.

“So, no one can see you?” she asks finally. It is the first thought that occurs to her in the heat of the moment. “Anyone looking this way right now sees a crazy girl alone, throwing a fit on the sidewalk?”

“Only when I allow it. When they do, they see only a man.”

“Then do it now,” she says. “I’m tired of feeling crazy. I’ve lived a lifetime of that.”

“As you wish.”

“Do you have a name? Of course you do. What is it?”

“I am afraid I cannot tell you that.”

Jewel appears startled, as if slapped. “Excuse me?”

“I have a name, yes. But it is nothing you could pronounce.”

“Try me,” she says, but he quickly holds up his hands as if to calm her.

“Please do not misunderstand. When we are named… All of us, humans, angelic beings, otherwise, it is by others who are masters or parents. There is ownership implied. Mine has given me a name because he is my master.”

“God, huh?” Jewel says. “So, you’re a religious nut.”

“The very first kind,” he answers evenly.

She shakes her head. “So, what do I call you?”

“I have hope that whenever you call me it will be friend.”

“Isn’t that a song?”

“Yes, Kenny Loggins and Melissa Manchester wrote it.”

“It’s a very old song.”

“I promise you I am far older.”

“How come you know so much about music?”

“I spend quite a lot of time waiting. I amuse myself with music.”

“Who’s your favorite?”

“Would you believe the Mormon Tabernacle Choir?”

She frowns.

“They are quite good, you know.”

“Try again?”

“The Gregorian Monks.”

“Who? Seriously? Chanting? I don’t believe you.”

“I appreciate much, but once you have heard music in heaven there is really nothing else. Perhaps Zeppelin.”

“Get out of here,” she says, exasperated, and heads for her house.

He makes no move to follow.

When she reaches the ninety-degree angle at the walkway that leads to her door, she stops and looks back. “Are you seriously just going to stay out here forever?”

His face grows serious. “That is up to you.”

“How so?”

“You have seen demons with your own eyes, and now you know you have a guardian angel, and have had one since birth.”

“Do I know that?” she asks. “Sure, I have you to vouch for that, but all I have is what you’ve told me. And you really haven’t told me much.”

“In any event,” he continues. “What does that tell you?”

“About what, mysterious stranger?” she asks. “What does it tell me? It doesn’t tell me anything.”

“When you are ready, I will be here.”

“Ready for what?”

“I will be here,” he repeats. “But, please, leave them be.”

“Why should I?” she asks and holds out her hands.

He pauses, as if measuring his words. “Because they will soon poke back.”

About the Author:   

James Garcia Jr was born in Hanford, California. He moved up the road to Kingsburg with his family as a child. After graduating KHS, he attended Reedley College where he met his wife. The family still makes its home in Kingsburg which is typically the setting of his fiction.

He was the 1994 winner of the Writers International Network/Writers Inter-Age Network writing contest in the horror category. He is the author of the edgy Dance on Fire vampire series, and the stand-alone novels, Seeing Ghosts and Photographs.

During the day, he is the safety manager at Sun Maid Growers of California.

Website: https://jamesgarciajr.jimdofree.com/

X (Twitter):  https://x.com/danceauthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danceauthor38/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesGarciaJrFanPage

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3483458.James_Garcia_Jr_

The Century Portal by Barbara Hartzler Excerpt & Giveaway

The Century Portal

The Sacred Stones Portal Series 

Book One

Barbara Hartzler

Genre: Urban Fantasy Portal

Date of Publication: May 14, 2024

ISBN: 979-8325107788

ASIN: ‎ B0D1WBMTLR

Number of pages: 208

Word Count: 58,600

Cover Artist:  FantasyBookDesigns.com

Tagline: Downton Abbey meets Shadowhunters as Bella portals to the 1920s to rescue the Seer from a time-traveling villain bent on changing the course of history.

Book Description:

I thought my days of magical battles were behind me—until a portal opened in my dorm room.

I’m Bella, and I’ve done my fair share of saving the world. But when two strangers from 1924 show up begging for my help, it’s clear that my quiet college life is about to be anything but ordinary. Their mission? To stop a dangerous villain from unraveling the future by tampering with the Seer’s family line.

Suddenly, I’m thrust into the magical world of time portals, glitzy debutante balls, and the underground speakeasies of the Roaring Twenties. And that’s not even the worst of it. There’s a new enemy in play—one who can manipulate time itself and has their sights set on Lucinda, the future Seer.

In 1924, Lucinda thought her biggest problem was planning her future. She couldn’t be more wrong.

Eighteen is supposed to be an exciting time for Lucinda—freedom, ambition, maybe even a little romance. But as strange powers start manifesting and a mysterious suitor takes an interest in her, life gets complicated. Add to that a time-traveling villain who’s decided she’s the key to his plans, and her once-bright future starts to look pretty dangerous.

Now, Lucinda and I are fighting across centuries to stop history from being rewritten. But with enemies closing in from every side, the battle for the Seer has only just begun...

Century Portal is the spellbinding first book in a new YA historical time-travel fantasy by bestselling author Barbara Hartzler. Downton Abbey meets Back to the Future with a good dose of Shadowhunters-like magic in this thrilling blend of coming of age romance, mystery, and urban fantasy adventure.

Amazon

Excerpt 1, Chapter 1:

Out of nowhere, a gust of wind blew through the open window. Standing up, I rushed to close it.

Then stopped in my tracks.

The window wasn’t open.

My heart plummeted into the depths of my stomach as the bottom dropped out.

What was going on here? Gusts of wind rushed straight at us like a storm blowing through our room—where both the windows and doors were closed.

My knees started wobbling, and I braced myself on the edge of my desk.

With the wind came a deafening roar that sounded like giant hunks of rock ripping in half.

Turning around, I glanced at Patrick. “What the bloody—?”

“I-I, uh, don’t know. But look.” His dark eyes went wide, his jaw going slack as he pointed behind me.

When I turned around, my jaw fell open. I blinked and blinked, but the crazy sight remained.

A strange pool of light swirled around in the center of my room. It started as a tiny blue marble, then grew larger every second until the translucent sapphire circle filled the room.

Two shadowy figures appeared in the middle of the swirling light, small at first but growing larger as they walked toward the center of the liquidy blue circle.

A few seconds later, a man and a woman emerged from the sapphire portal. Both were dressed in old-fashioned clothes. The man had on a three-piece suit and a fedora, while the woman wore a silky, drop-waisted dress that made me think of the 1920s.

The man clutched a necklace at his collarbone that glowed an intense royal blue.
Maybe the Three Societies weren’t done with us yet.

Patrick gasped, then rose to his feet and put his arm around me. “It’s a Watcher, from the past.

Coming through some kind of wormhole,” he whispered in my ear.

I glanced at him, about to ask how he could possibly know that, while simultaneously calling up my internal lightning power.

As I said before—just in case.

But then one of the intruders spoke.

“Actually …” the man trailed off, releasing his grip on the necklace.

Within seconds, the portal collapsed in on itself, the wind died down, and everything returned to normal again. Well, except for the piles of papers blown around the room.

“We’re not Watchers. We’re both Guardians, like you.” The man enunciated in a crisp tone of voice that reminded me of my British homeland, but the accent was still American.

“Wh-who are you?” I stammered, even as Patrick moved in front of me.

Who knew what would happen if we told these two that the Guardians didn’t exist anymore.

“Ah, let me allow myself to make the proper introductions.” The man took off his fedora and smoothed his brown hair peppered with gray. “We are Ward and Eleanor Sinclair,” he gestured to his wife, who curtsied slightly.

“Pleased to make your acquaintance,” Eleanor said, dipping her head at us and fanning out her blue dress skirt in a half-curtsy.

I blinked at the gesture, unsure how to respond.

“I’m Patrick Rodriguez, and this is my girlfriend, Bella, Isabelle Beatrix.” Patrick held out his hand.

Ward and Eleanor took turns shaking his hand.

Then they all looked at me. I was frozen still as a statue. A blinking statue.

“I think she’s in shock.” Patrick wrapped one arm around my shoulder, nudging me forward.

“Maybe you can tell us what the heck just happened.”

“Certainly. Ward?” Eleanor arched one eyebrow and nodded at her husband.

“Ah, yes.” Ward stood up a little straighter. “This may be hard to digest. You might want to sit down.”

Grabbing Patrick’s hand, we both sat down on my bed.

The Sinclairs perched on the edge of the bed opposite us, their spines straight as an arrow.

I just stared at the couple, who looked like they’d stepped right out of Downton Abbey or The Great Gatsby. Ward wore a gray suit complete with a vest that matched the Fedora in his lap.

Eleanor wore a light blue drop-waist dress with long sleeves and a skirt down to her ankles. Her sandy brown hair was pinned into an intricate updo with some face-framing waves.

None of which helped my concept of reality. How were these people, who looked like they were straight out of the 1920s, sitting in my dorm room? And what was that giant portal they’d somehow made in the middle of the room?

I glanced at Patrick, arching my eyebrows at him—silently willing him to explain this whole thing to me.

But he just shook his head, as if he had no clue either. Small comfort.

“Where to begin?” Ward tapped absently on his chin.

Jerking my head back to the newcomers, I rubbed my eyes and pinched myself.

“Ouch,” I muttered under my breath. Guess this wasn’t a dream.

“Why don’t you tell us how you made a portal of some kind in our dorm room? With a Watcher’s Sapphire?” Patrick’s voice was louder than normal, as if volume would help in the communication process. Then he looked at me. “I didn’t know they could do that. Did you?”

“Huh-uh.” I shook my head, my curls swishing around my face.

“We didn’t either. Until someone from your time came crashing into our lives a week ago.”

Eleanor pursed her lips and folded her hands together in her lap.

About the Author:

Barbara Hartzler is an Urban Fantasy Academy author writing about Seers, Chosen Ones, sacred stones, and secret societies ... oh my! 

Her stories are full of snarky heroines, supernatural shenanigans, dreamy guys, and normal teens taking on larger-than-life quests to save the world.

As a former barista and graphic designer, she loves all things sparkly and purple and is always jonesing for a good cup of joe. 

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Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Barbara-Hartzler/e/B00YI0Y6R6/

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/barbara-hartzler-42ea9eb9-870e-4888-9024-2b65d72b709a

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HEIR OF STARDUST AND SECRETS by CC Hartly

HEIR OF STARDUST AND SECRETS by CC Hartly is out now! Check out the gorgeous new romantasy that readers are raving about!

Title: HEIR OF STARDUST AND SECRETS

Author: CC Hartly

Genre: Romantasy

About HEIR OF STARDUST AND SECRETS:

In the shadow of war, love may be her greatest enemy...

Nyleeria has always lived in the shadow of loss, with only her childhood friend to bring light to her days. But when an ancient power is discovered within her, everything changes. Her family is torn apart by tragedy, and she is thrust into a conflict that has smoldered between humans and fae for centuries. King Thaddeus, a human ruler hardened by the endless war against the fae, seeks to protect his kingdom at any cost. When he discovers Nyleeria’s dormant magic, he knows it could be the key to his people's survival. But the closer Nyleeria gets to the King, the more she realizes that her greatest danger may not be the Spark or the fae—but the feelings he stirs within her. As the veil between realms grows thinner, Nyleeria must navigate a path filled with peril, where trust is a luxury and love could be the most dangerous weapon of all. Torn between duty and desire, she must decide what they are willing to sacrifice—for her people, for him, and for a future that hangs in the balance. Don't miss this captivating adult Fantasy Romance by debut author CC Hartly. With its intricate magic systems, believable characters, and richly developed world-building, it's sure to delight romantasy and epic fantasy readers everywhere! Filled with action, adventure, heart-stopping romance, and just the right amount of spice, Mythic Spark is perfect for fans of Briar Boleyn, Sarah J. Maas, Jennifer Armentrout, and Rebecca Yarros.

Get Your Copy!

About the Author:

  CC Hartly emerges as a fresh voice in the world of adult romantic fantasy with her debut novel, Heir of Stardust and Secrets, the first book in the highly anticipated Mythic Spark series. With a background in marketing and two degrees in the field, Hartly's transition to publishing is marked by a passion for fantasy and her own imaginative character-driven world rich with magic, love, and lore. Her Canadian roots in the Rockies sparked a love for the wilderness that shines through when she recklessly jumps in puddles, revels in thunderstorms, and doesn't hesitate before taking a dip in glacial waters. When not crafting her next novel, she's adventuring outdoors or delving into anything fantasy, always with her trusty four-legged companion, Finnigan, by her side.  

Connect with the Author:

  Website | Tiktok | Instagram | Goodreads