A PaulB Review: Elijah’s Ghost (A Wizard’s Touch #4) by Amber Kell

Rating: 4  stars out of 5

“It only takes one event to change the world.”

Elijah's Ghost cover

Elijah Trenton is an average student at wizard school. His true abilities are found out after an accident in one of his classes. He must learn how to live life with his new found skills and the attention of Devin Stewartson, his crush in one of his classes. He must also deal with family and enemies who want to use this power for their advantage while trying to keep himself and his friends safe.

Elijah’s Ghost is the fourth installment of Amber Kell’s “A Wizard’s Touch” series. While you can read the book as a stand-alone, there are parts of the plot which reference past events in the series.

The book starts out in the middle of a History of Spell Casting class, where Elijah Trenton is listening to his professor drone on and on. The only things that make the class bearable are the professor’s assistant who summarizes the class on cue card, his roommate Porter and his crush, Devin Stewartson, one of the “D” triplets introduced in earlier books. Elijah is surprised when the assistant yells at him to take cover, as it is the first thing she has ever said. After making sure Porter and Devin are safe, all hell breaks loose in the classroom, with the professor ending up dead.

Up until this point, everybody has considered Elijah an average wizard at best, including Elijah himself. He has failed to master the basic spells needed to pass his classes and hopes to just graduate and teach Magic Theory, considered the most basic of all classes. When the Headmaster of the school questions what has occurred, it is learned that Elijah is a necromancer. His world is then turned upside down.

Enrolled in new classes and a new tutor hired by his father, Elijah and the school learn not only can he interact with the dead, but is the most powerful necromancer to come along in ages. Because of his strength Elijah is unable to banish his avatar. Devin suggests that they talk to Jaynell, the powerful wizard who lives at the local wolf pack house for help.

Once at the pack house, Elijah discovers that it is haunted. Elijah then attempts to cast the spirit out. Back at the school, Elijah and Devin have a romantic encounter, but Elijah is troubled because Devin did not act the same as he had before they went to the pack house. Porter tells Elijah that Devin is possessed by the spirit Elijah tried to cast out and only killing the spirit will free Devin. Porter does this but the result is killing Devin. Elijah must now go to Hades and reclaim Devin’s soul for him to live again.

I enjoyed how Elijah slowly starts to accept his powers through the book. He has been beat down from family and fellow classmates as lucky to be at wizard school. When he discovers his powers, he feels like a screw up because he has not recognized his gifts to date. As he begins to learn of his powers, the negative feelings are still there even though everybody is telling him how special his powers are.

The courtship between Devin and Elijah was well done. Devin is tentative with Elijah because Elijah’s world has been turned upside down with his new skills and he wants Elijah to have time to adjust. Elijah is tentative because of his own low self esteem and knows Devin is bisexual. An encounter with a girl after one of Devin’s brothers clears up earlier misunderstandings and Elijah realizes Devin wants him.

I enjoy how Ms. Kell brings in new elements into her series, this time including ghost to go along with the wizards and weres. She includes characters from previous books in the series, but they play a supporting role. With Jaynell and Elijah now on board, Ms. Kell has set up future books for a potentially cataclysmic showdown with a future (or past as we are dealing with the paranormal) powerful enemy. I look forward to see where she takes these characters forward.

 

Cover Art by Posh Gosh. Well done cover depicting Elijah, Devin and Elijah’s avatar “puppy.”

Sales Links:   Totally Bound Books       Amazon   Elijah’s Ghost

Book Details:
115 Pages
Published September 19, 2014 by Totally Bound
Edition language English
Series A Wizard’s Touch #4

Books in this series include:

Jaynell’s Wolf (A Wizard’s Touch, #1)
Kevin’s Alpha (A Wizard’s Touch, #2)
Farren’s Wizard (A Wizard’s Touch, #3)
Elijah’s Ghost (A Wizard’s Touch, #4)

A Wizard’s Touch: Volume One (A Wizard’s Touch #1-2)

In the Author Spotlight: Ashley Ladd on Business or Pleasure! (contest)

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spotlight on books

Business or Pleasure cover

Ashley Ladd is here today to talk about her latest book, Business or Pleasure and her inspiration behind its inception.  She has also brought along a pdf ebook copy of Business or Pleasure to giveaway.  To enter the contest, please leave a comment and an email address where you can be reached.  Contest will run until August 31st!  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

The Time Is Now By Ashley Ladd

The time is now to do what burns in your gut—not tomorrow, next week, next month, next year, when the kids grow up, or when you retire.
I’ve been writing for years and have more than seventy published books to show for it. During this time I’ve also earned my BSBA and MBA, raised five children, and worked full-time. I still cook dinner for my family, clean house, take my kids to their sporting events, and hang out with my friends. In fact, tomorrow night I’m going out to dinner then to a movie with my two best friends and my adult daughters. Sunday I’m going to my grandson’s fifteenth birthday party.

Saturday, however, I’ll write and promote. Ditto for tonight.

At least three people have told me they would write a book too if only they had the time. I don’t say anything as I listen to them about their too busy lives. One of them had no children, no husband, no other responsibilities that took up her after work hours (that I could glean). Another one watched three hours of recorded soap operas every night. Yet another had grown children who didn’t live at home anymore.

I wondered why they didn’t have time to write their books.

Sadly, one of them died before writing her book. I’m not aware the other two have started theirs.

Two years ago, my dad started suffering from dementia. It’s a horrible disease that robs people of their senses. He was 84.

Worse, my mother contracted cancer and died in her fifties.

And now my husband is disabled and unable to work and barely able to get out of bed and he’s only in his fifties.

My point? You never know how long life is going to give you to accomplish the things that are important to you.

So whatever it is you yearn to do—write a book, earn a college degree, climb a mountain, lose weight… start working on your goal now if your health, pocket book, and time truly permit.

You’d be surprised about being able to find the time if you truly long to do something. I know a young lady who has three very young children who makes the time to write.

I understand that if you’re sick, caring for small children or a sick parent, or holding down three jobs, you might not be able to start right this minute, but that’s not the case for most people. Most people have a couple free hours daily or at least weekly to devote to their dreams.

If you’re passionate about your dream, go for it!

In my new release ‘Business or Pleasure’ Tommy’s dream is to build his real estate career. He’s working on it but his father has different ideas. His dad wants him to give up his dream to join the family business. A battle of wills ensues between Tom and his dad over this issue. If Tom wants to realize his dreams, he has to learn to stand up for himself.

Meanwhile, Guy’s father is coming down with dementia. His dad doesn’t want to give up his independence but it’s becoming clear that he needs more supervision than he’s been getting. Unfortunately, it’s too late for him to follow his dreams.

What a shame.

Who wants to look back on their life with regret? Not me! I’d rather look back on my life and know I tried and I failed than know I never tried at all. I think I’ve done that. I’ll die satisfied.

  • Author Bio:

Ashley Ladd bioAshley Ladd lives in South Florida with her husband, five children, and beloved pets. She loves the water, animals (especially cats), and playing on the computer.

She’s been told she has a wicked sense of humour and often incorporates humour and adventure into her books. She also adores very spicy romance, which she weaves into her stories.

 

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Business or Pleasure coverBusiness or Pleasure Blurb:

Tommy Boudreaux is extremely attracted to Guy Rogers even though he’s a passionate vegetarian and animal rights activist and Tommy’s family owns the most popular barbecue joint in town.

Guy Rogers is extremely attracted to his new realtor, Tom Boudreaux. As a passionate vegetarian and animal activist, he’s ecstatic that Tom is a kindred soul. He could never be with a carnivore. Unfortunately, Tommy isn’t really a vegetarian or an animal activist. He never said he was, either, he just didn’t eat meat when he was with Guy. And maybe he emptied his house of all meat and dairy products before inviting Guy over. In fact, Tommy’s family owns the most popular barbecue restaurant in town and, if his family has their way, he’ll manage the new location.

When Guy finds out that Tommy eats meat and his family owns a restaurant that’s a monument to eating meat, he’s livid and doesn’t know if he wants anything else to do with Tommy.

But then Guy’s life gets crazy—his dad’s paranoia blossoms into violent dementia, he gets arrested for picketing a doggy mill, then he winds up in even more legal trouble. When Tommy sticks by him through all his trouble and does everything he can to help him, Guy wonders if he’s been too militant and narrow-minded. Perhaps he can learn to live with people who have opposite views.

Business or Pleasure Excerpt:

Guy finished his meal, wadded up his napkin and dropped it on his plate. “Do you think it will take long to find more houses for me to look at?”

“I’ll make you—it—my priority. Just give me a couple days.” Damn! A Freudian slip.

Guy reached over as if to put his hand on Tommy’s, but stopped in midair. His eyes softened and hope flickered. “I’d like it if you made me, not my business, your priority.”

Tommy’s throat went dry and his heart flipped over. “Do you mean what I think you mean?”

Book Details:

Title:  Business or Pleasure by Ashley Ladd
ebook
Published August 22nd 2014 by Totally Bound
ISBN139781784301491

OutWrite in DC and the Week Ahead at ScatteredThoughtsandRogueWords!

Soooo…..I spent Saturday at the OutWrite LGBT Book Festival at the DC Center in Washington, DC.  That was great fun!!! It’s going on today so if you have a chance stop by, check outwriteLGBT Book Fairout all the books and authors who are happy to talk to you after the panels or at the tables set up for them.   This is a  wonderful festival that happens every year.  Just look at the various panels,  Author Readings and Workshops available to attend!  This is the complete schedule for the weekend! Today there is the Flicker and Spark Poetry Brunch going on.  It started on Friday with a keynote speech by Martin Duberman  and continued with so much more, including a panel with David Pratt who wrote Looking After Joey!

So a shout out to David Pratt and Rafe Haze, Wilde City Press authors!  Augusta Li, Rowen Mcallister, Pearl Love, Marguerite  Labbe, authors at Dreamspinner Press, Ellis Carrington, Michael Murphy too! Shout out to Madeleine Ribbon, Andrew Q. Gordon of Wayward Ink Press and authors of many wonderful books.  If you are in the area next year, make sure to add it to your calendar of things to do!

If you live nearby, put this on your list of things to do each year.  It’s definitely on mine!

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There are a few winner announcements to make:

  • Winners of Angel Martinez’s Endangered Fae books are:Jenf27 for Finn and Lee Todd for Semper Fae!
  • Winner of Mickie B. Ashling’s Forget Me Not Tour is A. L. Boyd!
  • Winner of Tara Lain’s Audio Book of The Panther or the Pack is Wendy Hoffman.
  • Winner of S.A. McAuley’s Damaged Package contest is Paula L.
  • Winner of Charley Descoteaux’s Nesting Habits of Strange Birds Contest is Serena

Congratulations to all the winners.  Happy Reading and Happy Listening!  Thank you to all who participated in the blogs and contests.

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This Week at ScatteredThoughtsandRogueWords…

Monday, August 4:

  • Book Blast for Sean Michael’s Blue Collar Tour and contest
  • Review:  dr.a.g  (a bookthefilm photography book)

Tuesday, August 5:

  • TB Book Tour for Morticia Knight and Rockin’ The Alternative (contest)
  • TB Book Tour for Carol Lynne and her CV latest, Snake Charmer (contest)
  • Lillian T. MacGowan’s Smoke and Mirrors Book Tour and Contest

Wednesday, August 6:

  • The Flesh Cartel’s Final Episode by Rachel Heimowitz and Heidi Belleau Tour and Contest
  • Laura Harner’s Prevailing Winds Book Tour and Contest
  • Review:  Moving Mountains by Laura Harner

Thursday, August 7:

  • Book Blast:  Cain Berringer’s tour was cancelled.
  • Review:  Prevailing Winds by Laura Harner

Friday, August 8:

  • Review:  Delsyn’s Blues by Lou Sylvre
  • Review:  Bottoms Up Anthology

Saturday, August 9:

Review:  My Favorite Uncle by Marshall Thornton

 

And my call is still out for another reviewer.  If you would like to review for SCTW, send me an email and let’s talk!

Winner Announcements and the Week Ahead in Reviews, Book Tours and Giveaways

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 It’s been a busy week at ScatteredThoughtsandRogueWords with May ending and June  just beginning.  It feels like summer is about to begin.  Vacation for some, beach for some, and plenty of wonderful books to read and listen to for all.

Up this week I have cowboys, a mad historical impersonation, chefs, a mystery, and some mad knitters.  Two long awaited sequels are here.  One is Amy Lane’s Blackbirds Knitting in a Bunny’s Lair.  For those of you who have been following this Granby series and want to  know what happened to Jeremy Bunny, here is your answer.  And Sue Brown continues with her Isle of Wight series with Isle of Waves.  Don’t miss a day this week.

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Congratulations to the following winners of 3 Authors Book Contests.  They have been notified.  Thank you to all who left comments!  Happy Reading!

 

 Winner Announcements!

Winner of RJ Scott’s Giveaway is penumbrareads(at)gmail(dot)com

Winner of Katey Hawthorne’s Fairy Bound giveaway is MHupp20032003 (at) yahoo (dot) com

Winner of S.A. McAuley’s Powerless Book Giveaway is H.B.

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The Week Ahead at ScatteredThoughtsandRogueWords:

Monday, June 2:             Let It Ride Book Tour with L.C. Chase (contest)

Monday, June 2:             Let It Ride (Pickup Men #2) by L.C. Chase

Tuesday, June 3:             Book Blast/Contest: Their Plane From Nowhere by Princess So

Wed., June 4:                   Dinner at Home by Rick R. Reed

Thursday, June 5:           Blackbird Knitting in the Bunny’s Lair by Amy Lane

Friday, June 6:                 On Tour with D.T. Peterson and The Cove (contest)

Friday, June 6:                The Isle of Waves by Sue Brown

Sat., June 7:                      The Actor and the Earl by Rebecca Cohen

Mother’s Day and the Week Ahead in Reviews, Book Tours and Stuff!

 

 

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It’s Mother’s Day and I am taking the day off for family events and such.  So without much further discourse, here is the week ahead in reviews, author guest posts, book tours and contests.  It looks to be a wonderful week:

This Week’s Schedule:

Monday, May 12:              Author Spotlight: Kimber Vale on Double Takes

Tuesday,  May 13:             Riptide’s Hostile Ground Book Tour with Aleksandr Voinov and L.A. Witt

Wed., May 14:                    Daylight Again by SE Jakes

Thursday, May 15:            Double Takes by K. Vale

Friday, May 16:                  Author Spotlight: RJ Scott

Sat., May 17:                       One Night by RJ Scott