Storming by K.M. Weiland

Storming
A Dieselpunk Adventure
by K.M. Weiland

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Published: November 2015
Publisher: PenForASword
Genre: Action, Adventure, SciFi, Steampunk
Paperback: 454 pages
Rating: 4

First sentence(s):
Flying a biplane, especially one as rickety as a war-surplus Curtiss JN-4D, meant being ready for anything. But in Hitch's thirteen years of experience, this was the first time "anything" had meant bodies falling out of the night sky smack in front of his plane.

In the high-flying, heady world of 1920s aviation, brash pilot Robert “Hitch” Hitchcock’s life does a barrel roll when a young woman in an old-fashioned ball gown falls from the clouds smack in front of his biplane. As fearless as she is peculiar, Jael immediately proves she’s game for just about anything, including wing-walking in his struggling airshow. In return for her help, she demands a ride back home . . . to the sky. Hitch thinks she’s nuts—until he steers his plane into the midst of a bizarre storm and nearly crashes into a strange airship like none he’s ever run afoul of, an airship with the power to control the weather. Caught between a corrupt sheriff and dangerous new enemies from above, Hitch must take his last chance to gain forgiveness from his estranged family, deliver Jael safely home before she flies off with his freewheeling heart, and save his Nebraska hometown from storm-wielding sky pirates. Cocky, funny, and full of heart, Storming is a jaunty historical adventure / dieselpunk mash-up that combines rip-roaring steampunk adventure and small-town charm with the thrill of futuristic possibilities.

PeekAbook:



My two-bits:

Lots of aerial scenes both stunt and serious flying in a small town setting with its set of colorful characters.

I liked the character growth with the main character, Hitch. He was one of those unsuspecting and unexpected heroes with a bit of a transformation that was fun to see.

For this story, I was more interested in character development than the steampunk part (which was on the light side).

A few illustrations are sprinkled throughout the book.

About the author:

K.M. Weiland lives in make-believe worlds, talks to imaginary friends, and survives primarily on chocolate truffles and espresso. She is the IPPY and NIEA Award-winning and internationally published author of the Amazon bestsellers Outlining Your Novel and Structuring Your Novel, as well as Jane Eyre: The Writer’s Digest Annotated Classic, the western A Man Called Outlaw, the medieval epic Behold the Dawn, the portal fantasy Dreamlander, and the historical/dieselpunk adventure Storming. When she’s not making things up, she’s busy mentoring other authors on her award-winning blog. She makes her home in western Nebraska.

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* review copy courtesy of author

Copenhagen (2014)

Copenhagen (2014)
Directed by: Mark Raso
Screenplay by: Mark Raso
-Adventure, Romance, Travel

Starring:
Gethin Anthony as William
Frederikke Dahl Hansen as Effy

My rating: 5

Per imdb:
When the girl of your dreams is half your age, it's time to grow up.

PeekInside:



My two-bits:
Really loved the shots of the quaint town of Copenhagen while the characters bike around town as the main character, William, is on his search to find out more about his father and grandfather. However, William comes to some reality checks about himself as well.

AND a cute romance begins. But an age difference complicates things.

Along with falling in love with this couple, I fell in love with the song, Vi To Er Smeltet Sammen (by Stoffer og Maskinen), which Effy sings during the karaoke scene. Band acoustic version is below.



Translated:
The Two of Us Have Melted Into One

The two of us have melted into one
We can no longer separate
But we were let down by my thoughts
You were changed into another than before
In my thoughts we'll change until the day we die

We are melted into one
We can no longer separate
Cause even though my thoughts have changed
And we no longer exist
My thoughts will change until the day we die

You are my pulse heavily throbbing
That makes my blood circulate
With every beat of every second
You'll follow the rhythm of my heart around

You are the centre of gravity of my thoughts
My lightness when I feel heavy
And if I float for no reason
You'll pound the rhythm of my heart around

You are my pulse heavily throbbing
That makes my blood circulate
With every beat of every second
You'll follow the rhythm of my heart around

You are the centre of gravity of my thoughts
My lightness when I feel heavy
And if I float for no reason
You'll pound the rhythm of my heart around

We can never go back
We can never go back
You whispered to me and said
You whispered to me and said

All alone and without a day
All alone and without a day
Cause we will never go back
Cause we will never go back

~*~
* sources: lyrics, movie river scene

* part of my Armchair Summer Travel (details) - check it out to enter Armchair Summer Travel Book Box Giveaway

* made me want to visit country? Denmark - YES

Race To Tibet by Sophie Schiller (with giveaway)

Race To Tibet
by Sophie Schiller

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Just released: January 26, 2015
Publisher: Tradewinds Publishing
Genre: Adventure, Historical, France
Paperback: 336 pages
Rating: 3.5

An intrepid band of explorers headed by Gabriel Bonvalot, France’s greatest explorer, and his partner, Prince Henri d’Orléans, attempt to be the first living Europeans to reach Lhasa. Before they leave Paris, Bonvalot meets Camille Dancourt, the beautiful, strong-willed wife of a French surveyor who disappeared in Tibet, who desperately wishes to join the expedition.

When the caravan sets out they face freezing temperatures, violent winds, mountain sickness, hostile Tibetans, duplicitous Chinese Mandarins, and a beguiling Tibetan Buddhist princess with a deadly secret.

When the explorers reach Tibet, they discover a land of mystery and intrigue, a land of danger that promises them only one thing: death. On the verge of collapse, Bonvalot realizes they must resort to deadly force if they ever wish to escape Tibet alive.

My two-bits:

For the most part, this story was a travelogue (without pictures). It went into the details and logistics of a caravan traveling to, in and around Tibet during the 1800s. Along with horrendous weather and terrain conditions to battle at times, local people and authorities in regards to paperwork, official documents and bribes created road blocks to contend with as well.

Despite different personalities and reasons to travel, the key characters of this story shared the same one-track mind and determination to get through the journey.

Although there was a woman in this expedition, not much of her experience is presented. I would have liked to read more about what she had to deal with during her travels. For instance, how did she deal with personal grooming i.e. the monthly periods?

I was also curious to know more about the different cultures they encountered and wanted more colorful descriptions of the people and surroundings.

There is also a side story of a missing person mystery that carries to the end.

The author's notes revealed how the two explorers came to be the focus of this story which was a fun trivia bit to learn about.

About the author:

Sophie Schiller was born in Paterson, NJ and grew up in the West Indies.

Among other oddities her family tree contains a Nobel prize-winning physicist and a French pop singer.

She loves stories that carry the reader back in time to exotic and far-flung locations.

She was educated at American University, Washington, DC and lives in Brooklyn, NY.

She is currently at work on a new historical thriller set in the Caribbean.

--~ Blog Tour Giveaway ~--
For 5 winners
Print/digital for US/Canada residents
Digital for other countries

You can enter the giveaway here or on the book blogs participating in this tour.

Be sure to follow each participant on Twitter/Facebook,
they are listed in the entry form below.

Entry-Form

Visit each blogger on the tour:
tweeting about the giveaway everyday
of the Tour will give you 5 extra entries each time!
[just follow the directions on the entry-form]

~*~
* review copy and giveaway courtesy of book tour - check out the other stops here for more details on this book and goodies sponsored by France Book Tours.

Silver: Return to Treasure Island by Andrew Motion

Silver
Return to Treasure Island
by Andrew Motion

Visit Andrew:
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Published: 2013
Publisher: Broadway Books
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, YA
Paperback: 416 pages
Rating: 4

THE RIP-ROARING SEQUEL TO THE GREATEST ADVENTURE EVER TOLD

Almost forty years following the events of Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island, Jim Hawkins and Long John Silver have seemingly put their maritime adventures to rest. Jim has settled on the English coast with his son Jim, and Silver has returned to rural England with his daughter Natty. While their escapades may have ended, for Jim and Natty the adventure is only just beginning.

One night, Natty approaches young Jim with a proposition: return to Treasure Island and find the remaining treasure that their fathers left behind. As they set sail in their fathers' footsteps, Jim and Natty cannot imagine what awaits them. Murderous pirates, long-held grudges, noxious greed, and wily deception lurk wickedly in the high seas, and disembarking onto Treasure Island only proves more perilous. Their search for buried treasure leaves every last wit tested and ounce of courage spent. And the adventure doesn't end there, since they still have to make their way home...

My two-bits:
I should start by saying that I have not read the classic, Treasure Island, so this review is based solely on this story.

The allure and adventure that of Treasure Island drives the characters in this story. Along with the riches of the island the characters experience the consequences that are linked to the treasure which may not be as expected.

I found this an entertaining read, but not as rip-roaring as described in the book blurb.

~*~
WHY not start out the new year with an adventure...

--~ Book Giveaway ~--
WIN my review copy of this book!

Open to US only.

Offer ends: January 12, 2014

TO DO:

TELL me a book that you are excited to read in the new year.

AND, leave your email.

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Contest has ended - winner is here

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At Drake's Command by David Wesley Hill

At Drake's Command
The Adventures of Peregrine James
During the Second Circumnavigation of the World
by David Wesley Hill

Visit David:
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Published: April 2013
Publisher: Temurlone Press
Genre: Adventure, Historical
Paperback: 426 pages
Rating: 5

Amazon | Barnes&Noble

fyi: Amazon Prime members with Kindles can get this for free here this month

Series:
At Drake's Command
Desperate Bankrupts - tba
Beyond Dreams of Avarice - tba

My two-bits:
In-a-word(s): chin up, lad
Enjoyable read of life at sea!

Because he is a young man and new to sailing and the sea, I loved following the main character, Perry, on his various adventures and learning about a sailor's life and survival during the 1500's.

There's a batch of colorful characters as most sea tales include which make for interesting encounters. How Perry handles himself and lessons he learns in dealings were quite amusing at times.

Looking forward to reading more of this series. And if you didn't already, check out an excerpt from book 2 here which gets into some mermaid lore.

--~ Book Giveaway courtesy of author ~--signup to win this book

~*~
* review copy (ebook) courtesy of author

* part of event: On A Sea Voyage