Virtual Tourist 07/15/22

 

Table of Contents

News/Musings	StoryOrigin Swap 1
Virtual Tourist – Sherlock Holmes Chapter One	StoryOrigin Swap 2
Forward to the Future Giveaway	BookSirens Bundle
Reviewers Corner!

Greetings!

The heat has been unrelenting. Since late June, we’ve hit over 100 degrees almost every day. Eek! Doing my best to keep cool! 😎 Are you?

News/Musings

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If you’ve not signed up yet, make sure to throw your name in the ring for a chance at the three-hardcover prize pack to celebrate the release of The JOY of Murder! The main prize is US only, but the freebie ebooks in cozy/mystery/thriller are for everyone! So don’t miss out. https://www.gloriaoliver.com/giveaway

Both the hardcover and paperback versions of The JOY of Murder are LIVE! The ebook versions are still open for pre-order. If you’re new to the newsletter, you can read sample chapters here.

Don’t forget to send me a copy of your order to get Romeo’s Revenge – A Daiyu Wu Mystery short story as a BONUS! It will be available now through the first week of the ebooks going live. So hurry before it’s too late!

More book reviews keep pouring in for The JOY of Murder—you’ll find a sampling of them at the website. They’ve been great so far!

On a totally different track, I’m taking an ad course this week. It has homework and even extra credit! Not the best month to do it, but what the hey! Lol

Extra content today:

1) StoryOrigin Swap 1 (UBL)

2) StoryOrigin Swap 2 (UBL)

3) Forward to the Future Group Promo

4) BookSirens Book Review Bundle for July 2022

 

Scroll on down to get all the deets. 😉

Pool of Memories and Serpents

StoryOrigin Swap 1 (UBL)

He devoured a dark dragon spirit, and now it will consume him from the inside out.

Less than a month into Hidekazu’s journey to find where all the dragons disappeared to, he and his travelling companion are attacked by a dark spirit belonging to one of the very creatures they’re hoping to find.
Instead of receiving answers, Hidekazu is forced to tap into the power he can’t control to save his partner’s life. Only by surrendering to the darkness inside of him again, this time Hidekazu might not be able to return… or stop himself from feasting on the innocent spirits who get in his way.

Pool of Memories and Serpents is a fantasy tale filled with magic, dragons, and wonder, and is a supplementary novella in the Yumihari World. This story can be enjoyed after reading the Yokai Calling series or on its own.

Sherlock Holmes Chapter One

Started a new game called Sherlock Holmes Chapter One. I was a little reticent as I was not impressed with the previous game for Sherlock called the Devil’s Daughter. But it looks like Frogwares has things under control again. Yay!

Pics currently uploaded can all be seen here.

This Sherlock game is from the POV of a young Holmes. He’s gone back to the island of Cordona to find closure over his mother’s death many years before.

What’s rather awesome about this version is how they handled not having a Watson. They gave Sherlock an imaginary friend called Jon. (He refers to Sherlock as Sherry!) Why Jon exists is actually an integral part of the main storyline. Plus, he’s a total hoot! (Unless you use the wrong search criteria at the archines. DOH!)
They’ve added combat to this incarnation. It’s tricky, multiple waves of bad guys (which you are supposed to disable and apprehend not kill—sometimes not so easy to do), but gets repetitive after a time. Luckily, there’s not a ton of it.

Our first view of Cordona as Sherlock’s ship docks at his old stomping grounds.

This is Jon. He’s Sherlock’s wilder and more emotional side. He’s a riot!

The hotel Sherlock first stays at in Cordona. Awesome detail!

The first of many in-jokes. The portrait on the right is Sir Author Conan Doyle, the creator of the Sherlock Holmes stories. 😁

The first case revolves around a stolen jewel during a seance!

There are some truly gorgeous vistas. The island is multicultural, so each area has a flavor. Some are more affluent than others.

Gravesite of Violet Holmes, Sherlock’s mom.

​Finally, took one where you could see Sherlock’s young face! Lol. (Later on, I take some of him in his costumes! Yes, there are disguises!)​

The Poisoned Clergyman

StoryOrigin Swap 2 (UBL)

Poppy adores Constable Dyngley, but he is engaged. When his fiancée hires Poppy to clear her name, can Poppy put her jealousy aside?

Welcome to book two in the exciting new series The Perfect Poison Murders from bestselling author E.L. Johnson!

When Poppy’s uncle is called away, in his place arrives Mr. Ingleby, a pretentious clergyman with a passion for pies, a penchant for puddings, and a distaste for poor and sick parishioners. It’s not long before Poppy wishes he was gone, especially when she learns he has been gossiping to the neighborhood about the humble fare served by her and her aunt.

But when the tart-loving clergyman dies at a local baking competition, it is clear that Mr. Ingleby has been poisoned by one of the bakers present. But who?

Poppy and her favorite constable, Henry Dyngley, must work together to find the poisoner among the bakers. But her romantic hopes for their future are dashed when he introduces her to his fiancee, who begs for Poppy’s help to clear her name as a murder suspect.

Can Poppy and Dyngley find the true poisoner, or will the murderous baker pull off a sweet crime? Can Poppy overlook her jealousy to save Dyngley’s fiancée, at the risk of losing the man she adores? It is a bittersweet feeling to know you may do the right thing, only for someone else to reap the benefit.

Forward to the Future Giveaway! Freebie ebooks through the month of July.

BookSirens books for reviews for the month of July 2022.

🌟 Shout out to Reviewers Corner! 🌟

Thanks this month go to:

Kathryn, Kat M, Jetagen, JArens16, Kuzlin, Jan, Kritika, Mrs LIR Linda, TooLittleReading, mydoxie, and Kavab12!

(Do you want your name in here, too? All you need is to post a one or two-sentence review at Bookbub, Goodreads, Amazon, or send me a link if it’s posted elsewhere and I will add you here next round!)

I can’t wait for the release to be over! Lol. Soon, soon!

 

Gloria

Mind Sieve 07/01/22

Table of Contents

News/Musings	StoryOrigin Swap 1
Mini Movie Reviews	Movie/Show Previews
StoryOrigin Swaps 2	Just for Fun!
StoryOrigin Swap 3	Forward to the Future Giveaway

Greetings!

Have you been melting in the heat? It’s been super hot down here in Texas. We’ve hit 100 degrees several times just in June. 😱 What will July and August bring? 😋

 

News/Musings

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First off, the JOY of Murder Release Celebration Giveaway is LIVE! Enter the giveaway by filling out the KingSumo form and feel free to share for more chances to win. Loads of freebies from cozy/mystery/thriller authors are also up for grabs on the same page. 😁 Good luck!

The paperback edition of The JOY of Murder is LIVE! I hit the button early due to the holiday weekend, but they processed it super quick! So it’s out!

Only nineteen or so days before the ebook also comes to life. Though you can still pre-order it at your usual retailers. Here is the UBL Link. No matter your preference, send me a copy of the receipt and the BONUS story – Romeo’s Revenge is yours!

I’ve started working again on The Secret Humankind, which will be the first book in a new urban fantasy series called the Discoveries of Julia Xero. It’s been fighting me tooth and nail, but I am stubborn. Bwahaha! 😎

 

Two more 5-star reviews of The JOY of Murder! Squee!

★★★★★ – This was a strong sequel to the Daiyu Wu Mysteries series. I had enjoyed the first book a lot and was looking forward to this book. It was a really well done mystery and the characters that I enjoyed were back.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review by Kat M at Goodreads

★★★★★ – Daiyu Wu was fortunate to have been born to loving parents. In the Chinese culture, girl babies are not looked upon fondly, and blind girl babies are considered evil omens and should be put to death. But her parents hid her from the authorities and ultimately came to Dallas, Texas, where they raised her. At one point, she came upon the orphan, Jacques, and convinced her family to help raise him, keeping him as her confidant, friend and helper. In this second book of the series, her new friend, Truman Pierce (or as Jacques likes to think of him, the popinjay) asks her to help prove his mother’s innocence of murder…a crime for which she was recently arrested and held without bail. But can Dai and Jacques investigate this without Dai’s family finding out what she has been doing. This series takes place in the 1930’s. Dai is a very strong female character, who refuses to allow her blindness become a disability, instead relying on the strengths of her other senses. I really enjoy the relationship between Dai and Jacques, as well as the developing characters of Truman and even Dr. Aiden Campbell. And of course, who could resist the antics of Prince, the Scottish terrier/Pomeranian mix pet. Looking forward to more adventures with this group. Disclosure: I am voluntarily reviewing this book and all opinions are strictly my own.

Review by Kuzlin at Bookbub

 

Extra stuff I’ve shoved in here:

1) One StoryOrigin Swap (UBL)

2) Two StoryOrigin Swaps (Freebies!)

3) Forward to the Future Giveaway (More Freebies!)

 

More deets on all of these in their sections. 😊

 

StoryOrigin Swap 1 (UBL)

Years

What would you sacrifice to save the world?

In the future one thing keeps the entire planet going, the Gaia Machine. The only problem is that it feeds on the life force of people to run. This has led to certain people being born with the Gaia Gene, the ability to go into the machine for a full fifty-year cycle without fear of aging.

Cheyenne Meekai has the Gaia Gene and whether she wants to or not she’s going to have to save the world, but it might cost her everything in the process. The years served in the machine fly by for the person inside but outside life moves on, meaning when she gets out everyone she knows will either be elderly or dead.

Fifty years is a long time especially when you’re only sixteen, can she save the world and still have some sort of life, or will the demands of the Gaia Machine be more than she can handle?

Find out in this exciting Young Adult Science Fiction novel that will be sure to keep you reading every page until the very end.

Mini Movie Reviews 🎥

★ – Why did I go see this? Why?!

★★ – Showed promise but on execution, crashed

★★★ – Enjoyable, just don’t look under the hood too closely

★★★★ – A great film, totally worth seeing!

★★★★★ – 🤯 Too fabulous for words!

Jurassic World Dominion

It was awesome seeing all the characters together from the franchise. As always, the special effects were great. Some fun chase scenes and combat. Higher stakes on several fronts, but no real surprises. Hubby had hoped for more.

Rating: ★★★.75 out of 5 (Hubby’s Rating: Better for Matinee)

 

Lightyear

The explanation at the beginning of the film was perfect! This is the movie the toy in Toy Story was based on. ROFL. It was a fun film, loads of action, and some surprises. The sequence where Buzz kept testing the engine, creating a four-year gap between him and his friend was super poignant. A fun ride all around.

Rating: ★★★★ out of 5 (Hubby’s Rating: Worth Full Price of Admission.)

 

Movie Previews 🎥

Sandman Trailer – this is based on the graphic comics. Never read them, but it does look interesting!

Blackbird Trailer – this one looks intense!

The Deer King Trailer – the animation looks great, and I’ve enjoyed other films by him. Should be fun!

Story Origin Swap 2 (Freebie)

Dead Cell: New Earth

The first wave of colonists found alien life. The third wave doesn’t want peace. They want control.

A short prequel to the cyberpunk Dead Cell series on Amazon Vella

Tani’na and the few half-breed descendants of First and Second Waves of colonists are infected with Chromata, a sentient lifeform native to New Earth. But it isn’t the enemy.

First Wave, sent a century prior, made peace with the inhabitants. Some of Second Wave joined them when they arrived decades later. Most remain loyal to the Thyterion empire which is destined to arrive as the third and final wave. Emperor Riscerman wants the planet cleansed for their arrival. Tani’na wants revenge for the death of her mother and sister among thousands of others who perished in the Silacia settlement bombing.

Commander Worton must pay for following such heinous orders. Tani’na and her Father’s First Wave army storm the city and the state-building to retake control. Tani’na knows what must be done, and she’s the only one who can do it.

Just for Fun!

THE ALAN PARSONS PROJECT – SIRIUS Mammagamma – his fab instrumentals paired with gorgeous images! Nice!

Disney Music – Lava (Official Lyric Video from “Lava”) – This is so adorable!

Footloose Dance-Off! | The Umbrella Academy – I haven’t watched the new season yet, but this dance-off was a riot!

Story Origin Swap 3 (Freebie)

Death at the Fete

A traditional New Year celebration… What could go wrong?

The story continues – what trouble do Vino and Kiyama find themselves in next?

Kiyama Fernando and Vinodhini Dias are involved in another murder mystery – this time in the sweltering heat of the hottest month of the year. When Vino is invited to judge a beauty pageant as part of the Sinhala New Year celebrations in the small town of Parkaduwa little do the friends know that jealous rivalries and social bias will soon lead to murder.

Set in the tropical island nation of Sri Lanka this is perfect for those who wish to visit an exotic location and meet some memorable characters!

Forward to the Future Giveaway – free science fiction reads for July 2022

Have an awesome 4th of July! 🎆🎇🎆🎇

Gloria