Blog Tour & Giveaway – The Salvation Project by Stewart Ross

Title: The Salvation Project (The Soterion Mission #3)

Author: Stewart Ross

Release Date: 20^th June 2017

Genre: Dystopian YA

Publisher: Blean Books

Format: Paperback

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35095911-the-salvation-project

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Salvation-Project-Stewart-Ross/dp/0957101929

 

Humanity’s hope of salvation lies within a single laptop…

A mutation in human DNA means no one lives beyond nineteen. Scientists working to reverse this pandemic died before their Salvation Project was complete, leaving behind the results of their research in a sealed vault – the Soterion.

122 years have passed. The civilisation of the ‘Long Dead’ is almost forgotten, the Soterion has been burned to ashes, and communities of Constants are tormented by brutal tribes of Zeds. Cyrus, Miouda and Sammy flee their burning city with a laptop rescued from the inferno. They believe it contains the key to the Salvation Project. But its batteries are dead, there is no electricity to power it, and murderous Zeds will stop at nothing to get it back…

Stewart was born in Buckinghamshire and educated in Oxford, Berkhamsted, Exeter, Bristol, and Orlando, Florida. He taught at a variety of institutions in Sri Lanka, the Middle East, the USA, and Britain before becoming a full-time writer in 1989.

With over 300 published titles to his credit, he is now one of Britain’s most popular and versatile authors. His output includes prize-winning books for younger readers, novels, plays, three librettos, a musical, and many widely acclaimed works on history and sport. Several of his books are illustrated with his own photographs.

Stewart also lectures in France and the UK, gives talks, runs workshops, and visits schools. He is an occasional journalist and broadcaster. His brother, Charlie Ross, is the celebrated auctioneer.

In his spare time Stewart enjoys travel, restaurants, sport, theatre, photography, art and music. He lives near Canterbury with his wife Lucy, and – occasionally – his four children and two grandchildren. Each morning he commutes 10 metres to work in a large hut in the garden.

Website: http://www.stewartross.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Booksmyth

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Soterion-Mission-194311443946577/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/jstewartross

Follow the Book Tour!

Wednesday 21^st June

YA Under My Skin

Bookish Outsider

Thursday 22^nd June

The Writing Greyhound

A Daydreamer’s Thoughts

Friday 23^rd June

Rachel Bustin

Chelle’s Book Reviews

Saturday 24^th June

Alejandra’s Life

Fiction Fascination

Sunday 25^th June

Tales of Yesterday

Fabulous Book Fiend

Monday 26^th June

Big Book Little Book

Tea Party Princess

Tuesday 27^th June

A Little But A Lot

Chouett

Wednesday 28^th June

A Books Eternal Glory

Portable Magic

Thursday 29^th June

OBC Mini Reviewers

Charlotte Somwhere

Friday 30^th June

Kirstyes

Crowded Bookshelf

Goodreads Book Giveaway

The Devil’s Poetry – Blog Tour and Review

 

The Devil’s Poetry by Louise Cole

Title: The Devil’s Poetry

Author: Louise Cole

Release Date: 13^th June 2017

Genre: YA Thriller

Publisher: Kindle Press

Format: Ebook

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35148705-the-devil-s-poetry

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B06XWL4XPJ

 

 

Questions are dangerous but answers can be deadly.

Callie’s world will be lost to war – unless she can unlock the magic of an ancient manuscript. She and her friends will be sent to the front line. Many of them won’t come back. When a secret order tells her she can bring peace by reading from a book, it seems an easy solution – too easy. Callie soon finds herself hunted, trapped between desperate allies and diabolical enemies. The Order is every bit as ruthless as the paranormal Cadaveri.

Callie can only trust two people – her best friend and her ex-marine bodyguard. And they are on different sides. She must decide: how far will she go to stop a war?

Dare she read this book? What’s the price – and who pays it?

Commended in the Yeovil Prize 2016, this is an action-packed blend of adventure, fantasy and love story.

Louise Cole has spent her life reading and writing. And very occasionally gardening. Sometimes she reads as she gardens. She can be seen walking her dogs around North Yorkshire – she’s the one with a couple of cocker spaniels and a Kindle. She read English at Oxford – read being the operative word – and hasn’t stopped reading since.

In her day-job she is an award-winning journalist, a former business magazine editor and director of a media agency. She writes about business but mainly the business of moving things around: transport, logistics, trucks, ships, and people.

Her fiction includes short stories, young adult thrillers, and other stuff which is still cooking.

Her YA and kids’ fiction is represented by Greenhouse Literary Agency and she is also published on Amazon as one of the Marisa Hayworth triumvirate.

Where to start with this book?!

I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!!

Now i could leave my review like that but i wont!!

Now don’t let the title put you off, it isn’t a poetry book or a book about the devil but a beautiful story about Callie. Her life has never been easy, loosing her Mother at a young age, felling like she never fits it and a Father that’s very distant with her on an emotional level.

Callie has always found comfort in her books, much to her Father’s dislike, so when a book thats been thrown into her hands calls to her…… yes, really calls to her, she grips it with both hands, and it doesn’t matter that an army of the Cadaveri will stop at nothing to have the book or that Jace has warned her NOT to read it, Callie just cant help herself and suddenly finder herself having to save the world!!

I loved the sweet relationship that blossomed between Callie and Jace throughout the book, Jace’s passion and dedication on wanting to do whats right for the Order and doing whats right for Callie is tested all the way through (think that’s what makes me love him as a character) and the test of friendship between Callie and Amber. Have to say I’ve never disliked a character as much as i disliked Ella, shes rude, pigheaded and thinks she knows everything……i did have a pang of guilt for disliking her so much towards the end of the book.

This book is so action packed it could give Jason Bourne a run for his money! Its fast paced, with twists and turns galore. You think its going one way then the author swiftly spins you around and into a whole new direction, which i loved! Its gripping, entertaining, and with just the right amount of romance to keep you hooked! Louise is a new author to me and if her books that follow are just as good or even better than this she’ll have a massive following in no time, with me in the front spot!! Now whens the next book out?!?

FOLLOW THE TOUR!!

Tour Schedule

Wednesday 14^th June

Alejandra’s Life

Summer Reads and Moonlight Dreams

Thursday 15^th June

YA Under My Skin

Life with KtKinnes

Friday 16^th June

Tales of Yesterday

Louise Bodle

Saturday 17^th June

Big Book Little Book

Sunshine Sarah

Sunday 18^th June

Fiction Fascination

No Safer Place

Monday 19^th June

Tween Book Blog

An Ocean Glimmer

Tuesday 20^th June

A Daydreamer’s Thoughts

Charlotte Somewhere

Wednesday 21^st June

A Books Eternal Glory

The Write Blog

Thursday 22^nd June

Bookish Outsider

My Self and My Shelf

Friday 23^rd June

Portable Magic

Just Kathryn

Saturday 24^th June

Book Murmuration

Tea Party Princess

Sunday 25^th June

Wee Bit Wordy

Monday 26^th June

Kirstyes

Miss Chapters Reviews

Tuesday 27^th June

OBC Mini Reviewers

United Book Blog

 

Review – Dougal Daley: It’s Not My Fault by Jackie Marchant

Title: Dougal Daley: It’s Not My Fault

Author: Jackie Marchant

Illustrator: Loretta Shauer

Release Date: 4^th April 2017

Publisher: Wacky Bee Books

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35003254-dougal-daley

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dougal-Daley-its-Not-Fault/dp/0995697221

I, Dougal Daley, am dead! Ok I’m not actually dead. But if I’m not careful I soon will be.

In this first book, football-loving Dougal Daley finds himself at risk from the mysterious creature living in the garden shed. Nobody believes him but as a precaution, he sets upon writing his will – rewarding those who help him and disinheriting those who get on his bad side. Meanwhile, as limbs and windows alike are broken by rogue footballs and unhinged canines, Dougal finds himself in all sorts of trouble. . .and NONE of it is his fault!

Dougal Daley was inspired by a messy bedroom and a random question from my son about writing a will. Dougal Daley has been huge fun to write about – you wouldn’t believe the disasters that happen around him (none of which are his fault of course)! When I’m not writing I love doing school visits and creative writing workshops. I also take time away from the writing world looking after guide dogs while their owners are away.

Website: https://www.jackiemarchant.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JMarchantAuthor

I originally studied performing arts and have a degreein Dance Performance – well you never know whenyou need a quick pirouette! I also worked in practicalconservation for a long time, and spent many yearsbattling balsam, identifying lichen, and searching forcreepy crawlies before I picked up my pencils andpaints and began exploring illustrating and writingfor children. In 2011 I won the Waterstone’s ‘PictureThis’ competition and I now illlustrate full time.However I am still happiest noodling around forfossils and shells on the beach!

Website: http://lorettaschauer.tumblr.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Loretta_Schauer

This book, even though its not my usual kind of read had me in fits of laughter and really, how many kids write a will?! But i guess when a creature is after you you want to make sure your toys are going to the right people lol

In a typical boy style where nothing is ever his fault, Dougal is so over the top dramatic (like the boys in my class) i couldn’t help but laugh along with him. This book was fun to read and action packed from beginning to end

I loved the illustrations but then who doesn’t? It was like the doodles you see on comic books, there to add to the story as well as telling there own little one at the same time…… a picture can say a thousand words….. and these did 🙂

Massive thanks to Wacky Bee Books for our copy of the book and to Faye Rogers for allowing us to partake in the tour…… once all our gremlins had been caught…. better late than never!!

Be sure to stop by Heather Reviews tomorrow!

Review – The Adventures of the Owl and the Pussycat by Carol Rumble

Title: The Adventures of the Owl and the Pussycat

Author: Coral Rumble

Illustrator: Charlotte Cooke

Publisher: Wacky Bee Books – http://www.wackybeebooks.com

“The Owl and the Pussycat went to sea

In a box on the living room floor.

They sailed away for a year and a day

And these are the things that they saw…”

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35051621-the-adventures-of-the-owl-and-the-pussycat

Oh to be a child again!

With their wild imaginations and sense of adventure anything is possible and this story really brings those days to life.

A fun read about two children and their homemade ship out on the wild seas of imagination, and what an imagination they both have!!

We loved this story, anything to do with animals is a BIG hit in our house and there are tons of them in this book. Lily-May enjoyed pointing out all the different ones she spotted, some even new to her, we had to make the noise to go along with which animal we spotted.

The illustrations are out of this world! No detail is left out, i especially like the Puffin page with his stamped passport…….he definitely gets around.

The wanted sign for naughty seagull made me giggle.

This has to be one of the most stunning children’s books i have seen in a long time, both Carol and Charlotte should be proud of the end results and i hope to see many more books along the way……. definitely ones to watch!!

I have worked as a poet and performer for many

years and I’m proud to have my work featured in

Favourite Poets (Hodder). I have three published

poetry collections of my own and have

contributed to more than 150 anthologies. I am

also one of the writers of the popular Cbeebies

programmes ‘Poetry Pie’ and ‘The Rhyme

Rocket’. I have given workshops in some fairly

unusual venues as well…the grandest of which

being Buckingham Palace!

Website: http://www.coralrumble.co.uk/

I was thrilled and proud when my picture book The Adventures of the

Owl & the Pussycat was highly commended for the Macmillan Children’s

Prize in 2010. Since then I have gone on to illustrate many other picture

books and I enjoy making the occasional card too. When I’m not in my

studio I’m usually outside running or playing referee to my two kids.

http://charlottecookeillustration.blogspot.co.uk/

Make sure you check out all the blog stops on this adventurous tour!!

Review – The Everywhere Bear by Julia Donaldson.

A sweet story about a classroom bear that gets his very own adventure! From drains to seas to fishing boats to libraries, this bear sees it all!

My little one loved the fact that one of the school children had the same name as her (Lily) and she enjoyed pointing out the bear on every page. The illustrator, Rebecca Cobb, has done a wonderful job on the pictures, my personal favourite being the teacher putting bear in the washer after his big adventure.

***This book was sent by Tesco as part of their #PassTheStoryOn campaign ***

Review – The Hightway Rat by Julia Donaldson.

In true Julia style this book seems to rhyme, or to me it does, so i sat as “sang” this book, much to my youngest s amusement! Naughty Rat wants what everyone else has and intends on taking it all for himself…….and as we teach our children not to take Lily shouted ‘naughty rat!’ every time he took something. But does rat get away with it? You’ll have to buy the book to see 😀

Lily loved this book and i too am a HUGE Julia Donaldson fan, her books keep my little one entertained for ages and the pictures *WOW* Axel Scheffler is amazing! Lovely vivid colours and the detail is spot on.

***This book was sent by Tesco as part of their #PassTheStoryOn campaign ***

Henry the Hula Hooping Hippo by Kelly Robinson-Key.

Come and meet Henry the Hula Hooping Hippo by Kelly Robinson-Key.

 Blurb-

Henry was a hippo, a hippo that loved to dance,

He would dance around the desert whenever he had the chance.

Henry the Hula Hooping Hippo was written and illustrated by Kelly Robinson-Key. It is the first in a series of books about a Hippo called Henry and his animal friends. It is a wonderful story about a hippo that has to find courage to do something that he loves.

You can also listen to the author, Kelly, narrate the book over on her YouTube channel –

Henry is available to buy over at Amazon – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Henry-Hula-Hooping-Hippo-Friends-ebook/dp/B01G4EPXM0

~Minis~