Friday, July 22, 2016

Great Summer Countdown




I am retired high school English teacher. A devourer of books growing up, my profession introduced me to writings and authors from times long past. Through my studies and teaching, I fell in love with the Ancient and Medieval Worlds. Now, I hope to inspire young readers and those Young-at-Heart to read more through my Quest Books set in these worlds.
I also conduct Medieval/Short Story Writing Workshops in Elementary/Middle School classes. Contact me if you are interested in holding a workshop for students: ccarpinello@mac.com.

Q&A With the Author:


5.    What is your favorite part of writing?

When I’ve finally figured out the path that my characters need to take, and I get the rewriting finished.

6.     Do you have any advice for other writers?


Keep plugging along even when what you envisioned isn’t working. There is a path to the solution, you just have to keep writing and thinking.

Connect with the Author here: 


At the dawn of Camelot, one young girl is about to take her place beside the greatest king in England’s history…. 



She is a mere child of twelve. But in these medieval days, this is the age when childish things must be put away and greater responsibilities accepted—all in preparation for a betrothal of marriage. 


For young Lady Guinevere, on the advent of her thirteenth Birth Day, the whole idea is quite unbearable. After all, what could be better than spending her youth playing with her best friend Cedwyn, roaming the grounds around the castle looking for mythical creatures or hunting rabbits? 

However, the wizard Merlyn—her teacher and friend—knows that destiny has a way of catching up with a person. His arrival sets in motion a series of events that will lead Guinevere to her destiny whether she is ready for it or not. 






~ Amazon ~ Amazon UK


Snippet:

Guinevere stood by the door.  In between glares at Cedwyn, she kept looking out into the bailey courtyard.
            "Hurry up, Cedwyn.  Merlyn’s going to leave without us,” she whispered, not wanting to wake Brynwyn.
            "I'm comin'," he replied, pulling on his other shoe.
            Ready at last, the two hurried toward the castle gate and Merlyn.  The sun was just starting to peek over the horizon.
            "Humph!  About time!" Merlyn said as they reached him.  "Not able to get enough sleep?  Maybe dreaming of dragons?!"  He chuckled as Cedwyn's expression betrayed the fact that he had had a very restless night.  "Well, it's daylight now.  Dragons sleep in the light so we should have a very uneventful trip.  All we have to do is find King Pellinore and that darn bratchet dog!  Let's hurry up now.  We have plenty of forest to cover and who knows what we will come across," he finished as he marched out of the castle gate and toward the forest, his long strides threatening to leave them behind.
            "Do dragons really sleep in the day?  Merlyn, how come you said we would have an unev'ntful trip when we don't know what we will come across?" Cedwyn asked as he and Guinevere hurried after Merlyn.
            Merlyn just chuckled and motioned them to follow.  "One never knows what the forest will reveal, but at least it won't be dragons!"
            "What does he mean, Guin'ver?"  Cedwyn asked, confused by Merlyn's double talk.
            "I'm not sure, but let's not let him get too far in front."  She glanced ahead.  Merlyn was just ducking under the edge of the forest canopy.  Nervously, she looked around, mindful of the last time that she and Cedwyn had been in the forest.  Thankfully, nothing appeared to be moving in the tall grass on either side of them.
            "Do you think we’ll run into that wild pig again?  Will it remember that you were the one that shot it?"  Cedwyn asked.  He had additional questions, but Guinevere turned and put her finger to her lips.
            "If you keep talking so loud, it will find us.  So be quiet and hurry.  Merlyn's already out of sight."
            Cedwyn looked up the path, but Merlyn was nowhere to be seen.  He started to panic.  Once they stepped under the dark green forest canopy and out of the sunlight, Merlyn’s flowing grey robe appeared just ahead of them.  Cedwyn heard Guinevere's sigh echo his.
            Merlyn waited until they caught up before choosing a hidden path through the scrub brush.  The trio moved in deeper in the forest, Merlyn in the lead.  Guinevere came next.  She followed somewhat hesitantly, her and Cedwyn’s run-in with the boar still vivid in her mind.  Her heart raced faster at the thought of meeting another one.
            Cedwyn came last, at times having to run to keep up with Merlyn's pace.  Of course, it would have been easier if he hadn’t kept stopping to investigate the brown and green vegetation all around.  He wasn’t looking for the bugs, worms, or small creatures common around the castle.  No, what Cedwyn watched for was whatever Merlyn referred to when he told them that he didn't know what the forest had in store for them.  He wanted to be ready, but for what he wasn't sure.
            "Guin'ver?" he asked as he caught up to her where the path widened.  "What do you think Merlyn thinks might be in the forest?"
            "I don't know," she replied, catching herself looking around.  "Let's just stay close.  Merlyn can take care of anything that comes near.”
            "Now, I wouldn't be so quick to say that, Lady Guinevere,"  Merlyn said as he stopped.



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Broken Pieces

Title: Broken Pieces
Series: Broken Series #4
Author: H D'Agostino
Photographer: Kelsey Keeton of K. Keeton Designs
Cover Models: Cameo Hopper, Grant Lorscheider, and Eric Wadkins
Genre: Contemporary Romance Love Triangle
Release Date: July 11, 2016

One drunken night a nameless one-night stand changes everything for Alison Tanner. Her world suddenly turns on its side, and she has a whole other person to consider. One that will rely on her for everything and love her unconditionally. One that will cause her more guilt that she can imagine because she can’t answer the most important question of all… where’s my daddy?

Time passes and Ally moves on, finding love in one of the most unlikely places. But things are never that simple. What happens when the nameless stranger comes walking back into their lives? How will this affect their child, and is this new love strong enough to weather the storm?
Our hearts don’t always want what’s easy. Sometimes they send us on a path that will eventually break us. Which path will Ally choose, and who awaits her at the end of that journey? Join Ally and the rest of the gang in Broken Pieces, the final book in The Broken Series.
**NOTE: This is NOT a menage romance, it is a love triangle**

“Emotions are involved, hearts are broken, and clarity comes to light but in the end...:” ðŸŒŸðŸŒŸðŸŒŸðŸŒŸðŸŒŸStar from Author Skye Turner
“Stress, Agony and lots of hot Weston scenes made the book a great read!!!” -  ðŸŒŸðŸŒŸðŸŒŸðŸŒŸðŸŒŸ Star from Twinsie Talks
My Review:
I've really enjoyed this series so far. And Broken pieces left off in a way that says there ill be more. I have to say I will be awaiting the next. This book is Alison's story.
After a little fun me time Ally gets a major wake up call, 6 of them actually. One with lines, one with a plus sign, one with the actual word: PREGNANT. What?! Ally freaks out. Alone (it was a one nighter), in school, and her mom will not be happy.
One year later her life is turned upside down yet again. She has begin dating Joey, a really nice guy that works at the gym that her best friend owns. One night she decides to take the risk with him, and goes to his place for dinner. Ally has also decided tonight is the night shell tell him about Caleb. Suddenly their movie night is interrupted by none other than his brother. and her one nighter! Of all the people in the world to have walked through that door.
My only complaint with this story was it felt a little more repetitive than the others. Both repetitive of previous books, and the back switching POVs. A little less repetition would have, made it perfect..
I received this book in exchange for an honest review

 
Heather D’Agostino is an avid reader turned Bestselling Author of the Contemporary Romance Series The Broken Series, The Shatter Series, The Second Chances Series, The Cook Brothers Series, and Romantic Suspense series The Witness Series.          
She attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte where she received a Bachelor’s of Arts in Elementary Education with a minor in Mathematics.
She currently lives in Central New York with her husband, two children, two dogs, and three cats. When she’s not writing she can usually be found at the dance studio, soccer field, or one of the many other places that she plays ‘Supermom’.

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CLOSER

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Closer

by Emerald O’Brien
Publication Date: July 22, 2016
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Suspense
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 Purchase: Amazon
Chloe Forrester has planned her life out perfectly. Newly engaged to her adoring boyfriend, Harrison Scott, she finally feels as if the pieces of her life are coming together. But when Paxton Potter, a man with a grudge against her fiance, accuses him of betrayal, Chloe’s trust in Harrison starts to waver. After a young woman’s body is found, a dangerous and unlikely connection is formed between Chloe and Paxton. With each dark secret uncovered, Chloe has a choice- turn a blind eye or dig deeper. But in order to understand something or someone, you have to look closer. Each decision she makes has a consequence, as new truths are revealed about her enemies and the people she loves. With Chloe’s future dangling by a thread, she must be ready to sever ties to the life she thought she knew in order to survive.
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About Emerald O’Brien

EAuthorBW Emerald O’Brien is a Canadian writer who grew up just east of Toronto, Ontario. Through both elementary school and high school, she enjoyed classes that involved English and the Arts. Emerald thrived when given the ability to express her creativity, writing both short stories and scripts for plays. Her passion for writing remained as Emerald studied Television Broadcasting and Communications Media, graduating from the program at Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ontario. She published her first novel,Darkness Follows, in 2014 . Emerald still loves to take writing courses and workshops when possible. To date, she has published five novels and one boxed set.
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