Friday, December 13, 2013

Grand Finale for The Legendary Tour!

The Chronicles of Giamo Durmius Stolo by Marshall Best

On Tour with Prism Book Tours...

The Legendary Tour Grand Finale

As the lighting blazed in a dancing, arcing column to the sky, a voice deep and powerful as thunder said, “My son, today my powers are bestowed upon you.”
                                                   
Special Tour Price!!!
$3 off each book through Createspace.
(Click on the cover to take you there.)
Guiamo (The Chronicles of G... Cumoro (The Chronicles of G... Morlanos (The Chronicles of... Inis Emain Ablach (The Chro...
Use coupon code: GS9D2K7C 

Combining legitimate legends with actual historical events, Marshall Best weaves an epic story that portrays the ancient world as it might have been, a world which the ancient historians recorded as fact; a time when gods ruled the earth and strange creatures dominated the land. It is the era of civilized conquerors exploring distant and primitive new lands. Scant recordings left to us today only touch on the fringe of the fantastic and brutal reality that existed in those distant lands of the west. 

Into this age, young Guiamo enters the world stage as the great game-changer, and by his hand the gods and beasts become destined to disappear into myth and legend.


Find out more about the writing of The Chronicles of Guiamo Durmius Stolo
and his world from where we stopped along the tour:

11/25: Launch

11/26: My Love for Reading Keeps Growing - Reviews of all four books

"With every book I keep thinking that it cannot get more intense but it seems that Marshall Best has a fabulous way of describing battle scenes.  I know I have said it before but I am still surprised at how much I love this series because it’s not something I would have read if not given this opportunity to review." 

+ Beck Valley Books - Guest Post

The Chronicles of Guiamo Durmius Stolo, like many stories before them, would never have come to be if it were not for the love of a father. Having written The Princess Meredith Bedtime Tales for his six year old daughter, Marshall Best decided to begin writing stories for his other children as well.  He began with 10 year old William, fashioning Guiamo, the main character in his series, after his son.

11/27: Cu's Ebook Giveaways - Guest Post

Marshall’s son, although a typical boy with a temper, is also very caring. He respects the older generation a great deal, looks out for the weak or downtrodden around him and is kind to children. These characteristics come out in Guiamo as he interacts with the brigands and their leader, Actus, the “Driven One”, as well as Suadusegus, Guiamo’s teacher. His actions toward them are anything but ordinary.

11/29: Mel's Shelves - Reviews of Guiamo and Cumoro

"The author has definitely done his research. I like the way certain details are brought back into the story later on so I feel that every part of the story is significant. I also love what I'm learning from Guiamo's character and how he deals with the situations he finds himself in."

12/1: Life as Leels - Review of Cumoro
* Review of Guiamo *

"I thoroughly recommend the entire The Chronicles of Guiamo series. I really don’t think there is “one audience” that this appeals to. Whether you be man, woman or young adult reader, I think this series appeals to all."

12/2: The Wonderings of One Person - Guest Post
Ancient history, especially, is filled with myths and legends galore of fantastical creatures, gods intermingling with man, fierce beasts and quests of heroes battling against evil. 

12/3: Tressa’s Wishful Endings - Guest Post


In this region, Old Irish is the oldest recorded language and can be tied back to around 500 A.D. which is much later than the period in which the stories take place. 

12/4: Bookworm Lisa - Guest Post

All battles in book one are real battles that Mr. Best has described as best he could.  As in other historical fiction novels, he takes known facts and fashions a story around those facts to fill in the gaps of what we do not know.  What makes it fantasy is the fantastical creatures and magic that accompany it.

12/5: Mythical Books - Review of Cumoro
* Review of Guiamo *

"What this volume brings extra? Action! Yes, action with a capital A! You will have full pages of atrocious battles, of bloody fights whose outcome will oscillate to one side to the other. There will be no more the elegant and brilliant Caesar's maneuvers that could win a battle like a game of chess. Will be the wild frays of those feral times and places."

12/6: All Fantasy Worlds - Review of Guiamo

"What this volume brings extra? Action! Yes, action with a capital A! You will have full pages of atrocious battles, of bloody fights whose outcome will oscillate to one side to the other. There will be no more the elegant and brilliant Caesar's maneuvers that could win a battle like a game of chess. Will be the wild frays of those feral times and places.

. . . One of the things I loved about this book is that the main character, Guiamo, needs to learn in order to become a great man."
 

12/8: Pieces of Whimsy - Guest Post

One fun example of something that was crafted by Credne was a clostellum or lock, with a very special key, clavicula.  The reason this is fun is that it shows how authors put a part of themselves into their stories.  Marshall Best is from a family with a long history in the locking industry.  He is involved in collecting locks and knows a lot about ancient locks as well.

12/9: Mother Daughter Book Reviews - Author Interview

4. What is YOUR favorite part of the book?
I really like the parts where Guiamo learns about the ancient gods, Roman, Greek and Egyptian, when they lived among us as the men and women they were in the ancient days.
12/10: My Devotional Thoughts

 
Did you answer this quiz correctly?
Q: What is special about the spear given to Guiamo by Mars?
A: It can understand Guiamo and take orders.
This is true when Guiamo commands it in the ancient tongue.

12/11: Colorimetry

Marshall hopes to travel to England and Ireland someday to see and experience the places in his novels.  We asked him to share where he would plan to visit... 

+ Jessica's Casserole - Review


"This series has a VERY well developed plot and distinctive characters. I had an easy time keeping the characters straight and following the story.  There was plenty of imagery that inspired my imagination to really get involved with the book."
+ Interview with author, Christy Nicholas, about Ireland

The Hill of Tara plays a major role in the Guiamo Chronicles books. Can you tell us a little bit about its history and the myths surrounding it?

The Hill of Tara is one of many sacred sites in Ireland. It has been the site, for hundreds of years, where the High King is crowned. For any potential king, he must pass several tests. One is that he must drive his chariot between two standing stones, which form a V. These two stones must widen to let him pass, an indication that the land has accepted him as High King. Another test is that he must drive his chariot over the Lia Fรกil, another standing stone, and it would screech in response. That screech showed to the surrounding countryside that Queen Madb, the goddess of the land, has accepted him as king...

12/12: Books for Kids - Guest Post

     "Now that part of the story pertains to a stone that was discovered that is red and white and looks like a big eyeball, and is involved with activities at a big lake. Then I turned to the map just north of Limerick, and there I found an enormous lake, Lough Derg... 
     Then I read the meaning of its name. It means “loch of the Red Eye.” Who would have thought such a coincidence would present itself so fittingly." 

+ Dalene's Book Reviews - Promo

12/13: Celtic Myth Podshow - Excerpt

Julius Caesar, in his writings, De Bello Gallico, tells of the Brittani coloring their bodies blue.  We see this portrayed in the movie Braveheart as well. Marshall Best, in his series The Chronicles of Guiamo Durmius Stolo, has a new twist as to why these warriors painted themselves blue.

Read more, plus an excerpt at Celtic Myth Podshow...

+ Grande Finale

The Chronicles:

In 60 B.C., ten-year-old Guiamo Durmius Stolo, an exceptionally gifted Roman orphan, is abandoned in Gaul . Left to fend for himself, Guiamo is set onto a path of legend. Recognized by the gods as having world-changing talents, he is given a weapon that changes his destiny and the world’s forever. 


Cumoro (The Chronicles of Guiamo Durmius Stolo, #2)

Guiamo Durmius Stolo sails in 55 B.C. with Rome’s 7th Legion as Julius Caesar invades Britain. But Caesar has not before encountered the Fomori, a dominion of wicked creatures which wage war against the human inhabitants and dominate much of Britain. Armed with his god-made spear, Guiamo joins with the tribal kings against their Fomori foe when Caesar departs. 




Having destroyed the Fomori in Britain , Guiamo Durmius Stolo decides in 51 B.C. to bring the Cruthin people, once slaves to the Fomori, to Ireland , but encounters the Fomori who reside there as well. Guiamo discovers that the gods venerated by the Druids are unworthy. The gods are displeased with him and begin to work against him.


In 50 B.C. Guiamo Durmius Stolo finds himself victor over the detested Fomori whose leader, Cichol, is slain and those few who survived are scattered. Guiamo explores the secret places where Cichol kept his most important secrets and discovers there the treasures of Cichol's master, the goddess Domnu.




The Author:

Marshall BestMarshall Best is an avid reader, father of six and business owner. In the past several years he has found his love of writing as well. What began as a desire to write a story for his children has evolved into a nine book series.

Marshall has done extensive research into the history behind the legends, people and places of England, Scotland and Ireland involved in his books. He loves being able to weave real people and legends into his stories making them come alive. He is definitely a writer that tends to the details often mapping out timetables, calendars, geneologies, etc. that pertain to his book to ensure that it is as realistic as possible. 


Marshall also enjoys putting real life issues into his books, delving into a bit of philosophy while entertaining with orcs, dragons, magic and battles. He is someone who loves a grand adventure but makes sure it's not a shallow one.

 
Tour-Wide Giveaway:

-One print set signed by author – world wide giveaway
-One complete e-book set – codes provided to smashwords
-Two winners: e-book of Cumoro and a $5 Amazon gift card each
-Two winners: e-book of Morlanos and a $5 Amazon gift card each
-Two winners: e-book of Inis Emain Ablach and a $5 Amazon gift card each
Ends 12/20. Please see restrictions on Rafflecopter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Blog Tour & Giveaway ~ Holding on Forever by Cecilia Robert

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Holding On Forever (Truly Madly #2)
Release Date: December 2013
 
Book Summary
 
Liese is finally moving on with Frey by her side. But sometimes letting go is the hardest part, and trusting is a risk one has to take. In between her practicum and spending time with Frey whenever he is town, she fights her insecurities, and wins. Then something happens and Frey's priorities momentarily shift, making her second guess their relationship. Suddenly, going back to their former best friends status has never looked so appealing.
 
Frey's life has never shined so bright now that Liese is his. But there is a part of him that is shrouded by memories he'd rather have them buried where no one can touch them.  Not even him. But even buried memories and people can't stay hidden for forever. What Liese doesn't know is that Frey isn't about to let go so easily, and he will throw in everything he's got to stop her from leaving him. He has waited an eternity for her. Giving her up is not an option.
 
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#1
 
Cherished.
 
Adored.
 
Ravished.
 
Those words didn’t even begin to describe how Liese felt while curled up in bed next to Frey. If there was a word to sum up her feelings, she’d hunt it down and hug it. Hold it close to her chest forever. She was pretty sure there wasn’t one, anyway. She pulled the pillow to her face, burying her nose into it, and breathed. Every part of her leaped to life, and her toes curled at smell the of lavender pillow spray tangled with the scent of sweat: hers and Frey’s.
 
There were several ways to die. An unexpected death, a violent death, a peaceful death.
 
Then there was death. The kind you woke up no longer the person you were the day before.

This was her death.
 
She’d died a little the moment she realized she was in love with her best friend. She’d died a little more when he told her he’d been in love with her for the past decade. Yesterday, she’d died completely when he’d made love to her for the first time, sharing the last piece of themselves, their vulnerabilities, fears, and above all, their hearts.
 
Yes. She had died and been reincarnated as a goddess. A well-loved goddess.
 
She shivered as the memory of his touch washed over her, how she’d melted in his experienced hands. It was official. His touch, her lullaby and wake up song, was the only thing she looked forward to every morning and every night.
 
Liese shifted within Frey’s warm arm circling her waist, and smiled.
 

No buy links yet…
 
Link to book one:
 
 About the Author

 Cecilia Robert  writes YA, NA and Adult. Her motto: Passion rules. She enjoys writing stories about people finding love in the most unexpected of places, and also about people finding their true purpose in life coupled with adventurous journeys, whether it's urban, fantasy, sci-fi, contemporary or paranormal romance. There's always a happy ever after, no matter how long it takes for the characters to get there. When she's not working in her full time job, she dons her supermom cape, or in most cases find herself trapped between the pages of a book in search for a hero who'll make her swoon with just a look or a word. Her favourite form of therapy is knitting. Best. Therapy. Ever.
 
Author Links:
 

Link to blog tour schedule:

http://yaboundbooktours.blogspot.com/2013/11/blog-tour-sign-up-holding-on-forever-by.html


***GIVEAWAY***
3 ebook copies of Holding On Forever (INT)
 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour Hosted by:
 

Release Day Book Blitz & Giveaway ~ Remembering Joy by Jenni Moen

 
Remembering Joy
by Jenni Moen
Release Date: 12/13/13
 
Book Summary from Goodreads:
 
Love is patient.
 
It can happen when you least expect it, where you least expect it, with whom you least expect it.
 
Love is kind.
 
But love may not grow out of kindness. It can happen with the person who hates you most because love knows no bounds.
 
And it keeps no record of wrongs.
 
Love doesn’t hold a grudge.
 
Love forgives.
 
Love forgets.
 
But when the healing of your heart 
breaks the hearts of the ones you love …
it may seem impossible to

Find joy.
 
Excerpt
 
Rubber Cat stalked in from the kitchen, and I was glad for the distraction. I groaned when he sprang from the floor and landed on my lap.
 
The cat, who had once been my only companion, continued his journey down the couch until he got to my feet. In a traitorous move, he nipped at my ankle, causing me to gasp and yank my legs back away from Adam. Rubber Cat gave me a victorious cat grin before beginning his nesting ritual on Adam’s lap. He turned in circles, first to the right, then to the left, and finally settled into my former spot. I stared at both of them, my mouth agape.
 
“Well, well, well. Just look at the two of you. Do you remember the first time you slept over here?”
 
“Of course, I do,” he said. “I popped your sleepover cherry.”
 
I tried to look disgusted, but a smile snuck out anyway. “Uhhhh, yeah,” I said, shaking my head. “I caught you feeding Rubber Cat in the middle of the night, and you told me that you’d never have a pet.”
 
“I still don’t have a pet. He’s your cat. I can barely tolerate him.”
 
“Rigggggghhhht. That’s why he just sold me out to sit on your lap. And who was it that bought him food last week without being asked and before he was even out, I might add?”
 
“Well, I’m not going to let him go hungry. He and I spend a lot of time here while you’re at work and I’m studying. We’ve come to an understanding.”
 
“Is the understanding that he’s going to sleep on your side of the bed? Because that’s my understanding.”
 
Adam shrugged. “Maybe. He gets cold on your side.”
 
“He gets cold? Really? He has fur. You know what I think? I think you like cuddling with him.”
 
“Fine. You win. He’s one sweet pussy, and it turns out that I have a soft spot for your sweet pussy. What’s your point?”
 
I nearly spit out a mouthful of wine. “Boy, you’re on a roll tonight. That’s one filthy mouth you have.”
 
“I don’t know what you’re talking about because I’m talking about Rubber Cat. You’re the one who’s filthy.” He jabbed me in the side with a finger and started to tickle me. “I should wash your mouth out.”
 
He pitched the cat off onto the floor and crawled over on top of me. He took the sloshing wine glass out of my hand and set it on the coffee table and then resumed his position over me. “Look what you’ve done to me. You’ve turned me soft. Only six months into this thing, and I’m a domesticated potty-training cat lover. I’m a fraction of the man I used to be. I used to be tough.” The gruffness of his voice was offset by the barely there laugh lines around his eyes.
 
“Not true,” I said quietly. “You’re still tough. It says so right there on your shirt.”
 
“That’s not what it says,” he said, looking down at the giant Captain America symbol on his chest.
 
“It’s implied. Super heroes have to be tough. It’s in their DNA.”
 
He shifted his weight from his hands to his elbow so that his mouth was hovering just over mine. The corner of his mouth turned up in a lopsided, lazy smile. “Hmmm. You know what’s not implied?”
 
“This?” I asked, arching my neck to kiss him lightly on the lips.
 
He brushed his thumbs across my cheeks. “I love you, Allie. You and me, we can take them all.”

 

Available from:

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Book One:
(linked to Goodreads)

Available from:
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About the Author
 
Jenni Moen lives in Oklahoma with her husband and three crazy, exuberant kids that have the potential to burn the house down at any moment.
 
When she’s not chauffeuring kids around town, performing her mom duties as a short order cook and maid, or vacuuming for her fastidious husband, she hammers away at her keyboard at her big girl job as a patent attorney. While vodka and exercise have provided some relief from the daily grind, it is reading … and now writing … that are her true escapes.

Author Links:
 photo iconwebsite-32x32_zps1f477f69.png  photo icongoodreads32_zps60f83491.png  photo icontwitter-32x32_zpsae13e2b2.png  photo iconfacebook-32x32_zps64a79d4a.png

***GIVEAWAY***
1 – Print book set of Remembering Joy and Finding Joy (US only)
3 – eBook sets of Remembering Joy and Finding Joy (INT)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Blitz Organized by: