Book Review/Giveaway - The Nexus Games by Shami Stovall

The Nexus Game

by Shami Stovall

 

GENRE: Fantasy

 

 

BLURB:

 

Special Forces Soldier Alex Kellan has three problems. He’s on forced medical leave, he’s alone on Christmas, and two men are actively stalking his every step.

 

Things get worse when Kellan wakes up in a twisted world where people have magical abilities and high-tech weaponry. It turns out, Kellan’s stalkers want him to participate in a deadly competition—whether or not Kellan agrees.

 

Forced to compete in the infamous Nexus Games, Kellan must risk everything to survive the competition and save the other members of his ragtag team. Their new motto quickly becomes: Situation Normal: All Fouled Up.

 

A litRPG thriller with high-tech magic, set in a game for the ultimate prize.

 

 

Excerpt:

Kellan unlocked his apartment with a quick click.  

He stepped into his 700-square-foot abode and then hung his keys on the ring by the door. The sterile living room, complete with one couch, a lonely TV, and a cheap coffee table, had all the welcoming charm of a motel lobby. No pictures hung on the walls, no plants filled the corners. Everything was neat, but everything amounted to three plates and a fork stacked in the attached kitchen sink.           

Mavis followed Kellan inside and took note of the surroundings. She walked, scanning every inch, until she stopped behind the dusty couch.         

“Quaint,” she said.         

“Thank you. I decorated it myself.”           

Mavis pointed to the dark-green suede couch, the off-white coffee table, and then to the black flat-screen television. “I see you have an eye for cohesion.”          

“What can I say? I don’t like to discriminate. All colors are equal.”           

Again, Mavis snorted and laughed.           

Kellan peeled off his wet sweatshirt and shoulder holster, tossing both onto the kitchen counter. Mavis followed suit and removed her own sweatshirt. She had changed her outfit after work. As a bartender she wore form-fitting jeans and a black T-shirt. As a civilian, she wore a pair of low-riding cargo pants and plain gray T-shirt.           

Not much of a difference.           

He understood why the tips would be higher in her bartending outfit, but he also understood the need to be comfortable. Women’s clothing baffled Kellan from time to time. He had seen torture techniques less sadistic than some fashionable high-heels, and he appreciated the fact Mavis wore a practical pair of black flat top shoes.          

She gestured to the walls. “No pictures?”          

“Nope.”          

“None? Why not pictures of your family? Your mother and father?”           

“I thought it would be depressing to have pictures of tombstones on the wall.” It was a dark joke, but Kellan couldn’t take it back now that he had said it. With a chuckle, he tried to play it off.

 

My Thoughts: Even though I'm not a big fantasy reader I like to step outside my comfort zone from time to time and see what happens. While I wasn't blown away with The Nexus Games I still enjoyed reading this book because it reminded me so much of The Hunger Games which I loved very much. The world was awesome and actually my only real issue with it was the length at almost 600 pages and it took so long for the real action to get started.

 

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Shami Stovall is a multi-award-winning author of fantasy and science fiction. Before that, she taught history and criminal law at the college level, and loved every second. When she’s not reading fascinating articles and books about ancient China or the Byzantine Empire, Stovall can be found playing way too many video games, especially RPGs and tactics simulators, or hugging John.

 

If you want to contact her, you can do so at the following locations:

 

Website: https://sastovallauthor.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GameOverStation/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SAStovall/

Email: s.adelle.s@gmail.com

 

 

Shami Stovall will be awarding a $25 Amazon or BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

 

RAFFLECOPTER:

 

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Book Excerpt/Giveaway - Audley Enough by Lesley Whyte Reford and Patricia Lavoie

 

Audley Enough: A Portrait of Triumph and Recovery in the Face of Mania and Depression

by Lesley Whyte Reford & Patricia Lavoie

 

 

GENRE: Non-fiction, Biography/Memoir

 

 

BLURB:

 

Audley Enough follows Audley's journey through "The Matrix," specifically his mental health. The book describes his adventures into his mania and depression that occurred during the peak employment years of his life, from 27 to 38 years old. It takes one through the spiritual essence of his being, and gives one steps to travel through mania and depression. After reading his book, one comes out stronger with multiple coping tools. The book is about Audley refusing to let his bipolar diagnosis define him, nor stop him from leading a mentally, healthy, and productive life.

 

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EXCERPTS:

While interviewing Audley for this book, I was fascinated to learn from him just what a “mad” manic state was like from his point of view. He described it as a state of exhilaration; extreme high energy; racing thoughts; exaggerated self-confidence where there are no boundaries; and, a feeling of immortality. As Audley says, “You feel dangerously good.” For him, it had the semblance of a religious experience in which he had a surreal feeling of grandiosity. Audley recalls manic periods when he honestly believed he was “the chosen one” or a “Jesus-like figure.” This is apparently a common delusional state which some bipolar patients can reach, believing they are in this world to have a unique influence on mankind. (In hindsight, Audley laughs that when he went to the psychiatric hospital and was introduced to other bipolar “Jesus-like” figures, he was rather put off that he wasn’t the only “chosen one.”) At one point, Audley also believed he was an Egyptian pharaoh and completely transformed his appearance to reflect his manic mindset. Another episode brought him into practicing the Jewish faith. Despite the overwhelming rush that these periods provided for him, Audley would soon realize that he would have to sacrifice these “feel-good” euphoric feelings in order to live a normal and stable life. Fortunately, after returning to his medication, these delusional phases were eventually brought under control.

 

For Audley, however, the tradeoff of the mania for stability always came with a steep price. The descent from a manic state often makes sufferers lethargic and bored. As Audley states, “It kills your creativity.” Audley says he experienced weight gain from the medication, tremors, and a blank dead-like stare in his eyes. Naturally, for many bipolar sufferers, the lure to the manic state is far more appealing and so many return to their dysfunctional state by stopping their medications. The cyclical nature of the illness is one of its biggest challenges.

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Audley Coley is a mental health coach, a philanthropist, the subject of a book and a Friend of the Bell Let’s Talk campaign. He  is often called upon to host forums on mental health awareness and was more recently seen on CBC’s You Can’t Ask That describing his life with bipolar disorder and on Facebook, hosting the live broadcast to the Alianait Arts Festival for the Nunavut community alongside his lovely daughter.

 

His ability to soar above mental illness is something he credits to many things. His support system: a strong Jamaican, God-fearing, and closely knit family, first. Sports and physical activity come in at a close second. Audley has always been extremely active. He played hockey, soccer and was a dancer/choreographer, most of his life. At the fine age of 62, he can be found at the Atwater Club teaching a class that could put people half his age to shame. Just ask his Yummy Mummies who subscribe to his workouts and carefully crafted playlist. And then, it’s about food for Audley. He perfected his culinary skills working as a chef in Frobisher Bay (Iqaluit) and today, cooking is truly his labour of love. He takes his vitamins (his medication) regularly and frequently visits to Up House, a place where he goes to get centered and to give back to those who once gave to him. The last and perhaps most important box he checks off on his self-care list is REST.

 

Audley’s objective is to tell his story often so people may recognize themselves, to provide hope for families of those affected, to share a recipe for success that he knows works and to have the opportunity to change someone’s life in the same way that Patty Duke’s openness changed his.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

 

LESLEY WHYTE REFORD is a seasoned writer who has a passion for communications and storytelling. She obtained her Master’s degree in Public Administration (MPA) from Queen’s University in 1993 and went on to build her career in Corporate Communications and Public Relations in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. As she raised her two sons, Lesley put her career on hold but continued with her writing when time allowed. Engaging in small contract freelance opportunities and volunteer work, Lesley published a centennial book commemorating the Montreal Children’s Hospital’s contribution to the Montreal community titled “100 Years of Stories” in 2004. In 2013, she collaborated with Audley Coley to author “Audley Enough”, an inspiring resource to share his journey with bipolar disorder and help combat the stigma of mental health issues. Lesley is currently a full-time grant writer at One Tree Planted, Inc., a global reforestation non-profit organization.

 

PATRICIA LAVOIE has been writing and producing feature films and television series for many years including seventeen seasons with Sesame Street (CBC) in Canada where she honed her pre-school expertise. She developed the original concept for and produced the first Heritage Minutes, a multi-million dollar television and cinema project based on anecdotes of Canadian history, as well as many award-winning preschool and family productions for broadcasters such as CBC, Radio-Canada, YTV, Treehouse, Animal Planet, TVOntario, TFO, Télé-Québec, Discovery Channel USA and PBS.

 

Ms. Lavoie also co-produced several feature length films with international partners in Australia, New Zealand, France, Japan and the USA. Her online game productions were created for PBS, National Geographic, CBC, Radio-Canada and Treehouse.

As a broadcaster, Ms. Lavoie also served as interim Director of Yoopa, a multiplatform brand comprised of a television channel, an online community for children and parents and a magazine for parents.

 

Audley Enough is her third book.

 

CONNECT WITH AUDLEY COLEY

 

WEBSITE - Audley Coley (audleyenoughbook.com)

 

FACEBOOK - Audley Coley | Facebook :  https://www.facebook.com/Audley-Coley-105730245370234

 

INSTAGRAM - Audley Coley (@audleycoley) • Instagram photos and videos : https://www.instagram.com/audleycoley

 

TWITTER - Audley Coley (@audley_coley) / Twitter  : https://twitter.com/audley_coley

 

GOODREADS - Audley Coley (audleycoley) - Montreal, QC, Canada (15 books) | Goodreads : https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/147728134-audley-coley

 

LINKEDIN - Audley Coley - Motivational and Keynote Speaker on Mental Health & Wellness - Audley Coley | LinkedIn :  https://www.linkedin.com/in/audleycoley/

 

PURCHASE LINKS AUDLEY ENOUGH                  

 

AMAZON.COM - https://amazon.com/dp/022887128X

 

AMAZON.CA - https://amazon.com/dp/022887128X

 

AMAZON KINDLE - https://amazon.com/dp/B09PGRX8PW

 

INDIGO CHAPTERS - https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/audley-enough-a-portrait-of/9780228871286-item.html

 

BARNES & NOBLE - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/audley-enough-lesley-whyte-reford/1140837677

 

BOOK DEPOSITORY - https://www.bookdepository.com/Audley-Enough-Lesley-Whyte-Reford-Patricia-Lavoie/9780228871286

 

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Lesley Whyte Reford & Patricia Lavoie will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway