Blog Tour: Guest Post + Review + Giveaway- Colony East by Scott Cramer

Hello, everyone! I am excited to be part of the Colony East Blog Tour hosted by Candace @ Candace's Book Blog and CBB Book Promotions. The Toucan Trilogy is a different and thrilling dystopian and we've already had the author Scott Cramer stop by our blog once for an interesting Author Interview. You can check out more info about the tour right here.  Just look below for everything! 

COLONY EAST (TOUCAN #2) BY SCOTT CRAMER

GENRE: YOUNG ADULT SCIENCE FICTION/ DYSTOPIAN

AGE: 12+

PUBLISHED: OCT 2013

FIND THE BOOK: GOODREADS| AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | iTUNES | KOBO

NIGHT OF THE PURPLE MOON (TOUCAN #1)

Abby Leigh is looking forward to watching the moon turn purple, unaware that deadly bacteria from a passing comet will soon kill off older teens and adults. The lightning-fast epidemic sweeps across the planet when the germs attack the hormones produced during puberty.

On a small island off the coast of Maine, Abby must help her brother and baby sister survive in this new world, but all the while she has a ticking time bomb inside of her -- adolescence.

Night of the Purple Moon is FREE on Amazon & for Nook.  

MY REVIEW OF NIGHT OF THE PURPLE MOON (TOUCAN #1)

 COLONY EAST (TOUCAN #2):

In a terrifying world where an epidemic has killed off most of the world's adults, fifteen-year-old Abby struggles to keep her brother and sister safe.

When a new, deadly disease spreads among the survivors, Abby must make the dangerous journey to Colony East, an enclave of hidden scientists caring for a small group of children for reasons unknown.

Abby fears that time is running short for the victims, but she's soon to learn that time is running out for everyone outside Colony East.

GOODREADS SUMMARY: 

When the bacteria that killed most of world's adults undergo a deadly mutation, 15-year old Abby must make the journey to Colony East, an enclave of scientists caring for a small group of children for reasons unknown. She fears that time is running short for the victims, but she's soon to learn that time is running out for everyone outside Colony East.

ABOUT AUTHOR SCOTT CRAMER: 

 Scott Cramer has written feature articles for national magazines, covered school committee meetings for a local newspaper, published haiku and poetry, optioned a screenplay, and produced customer reference accounts for a big computer company. His pursuit of a good story has put him behind the stick of an F-18, flying a Navy Blue Angels’ fighter jet, and he has trekked through the Peruvian mountains in search of an ancient Quechua festival featuring a condor. He is the author of Night of the Purple Moon and Colony East. Scott and his wife have two daughters and reside outside Lowell, Massachusetts (birthplace of Jack Kerouac) in an empty nest/zoo/suburban farm/art studio with too many surfboards in the garage.

CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR: GOODREADS / FACEBOOK / TWITTER / WEBSITE

GUEST POST: 

This time, as part of the tour,  Scott has written an absolutely sweet Guest Post for us about his interactions with people from all over the world and I really hope he comes here to India once so we can have some yummy masala chai.

This is probably the sweetest Guest Post ever and I'd like to thank Scott for writing it for us! 

When I published my first novel, Night of the Purple Moon, about a year and a half ago, I could have never imagined how the number and scope of interactions in my life would change. 

I live on the east coast of the United States, outside the city of Boston. I frequent a Kindle Boards forum called Writer’s Café. It’s mostly indie authors sharing information. I remember getting a personal message from an author in New Zealand who said how much he liked the novel. We have become good online buddies. 

My cover designer, Sil Yordanova, is from Bulgaria. Jason, who does the mobi, epub, and paperback formatting, lives in Australia. I met Doctor Roland Stroud through a screenwriter’s forum. He is a doctor by day and editor by night. He lives in the state of Tennessee. Another editor, Laura, lives in Ohio. Nanci, my proof reader, lives in Georgia. 

Karol, one of my beta readers, lives in Portugal. She was a former literature professor and is an avid sailor. Emma, another beta reader, is from Sweden. Jim, the first official blogger to review Night of the Purple Moon, is from the UK. 

 Candace, who organized my blog tour, lives three thousand miles away in the state of Washington. I have great facebook friends who blog and live in Canada. Elle Casey, an author of increasing fame who I met on the Kindle Boards, lives in France. 

Sarika, of course, lives in India. If I am not mistaken, I am one of her first authors to be interviewed and/or do a giveaway. And this I can say for sure: She has the one and only blog in India where I have appeared. 

I know I am forgetting to mention people who live all over the planet who I communicate with monthly, if not weekly or daily. It is one of the greatest, unexpected thrills of being a writer. 

This is the craziest thing of all… to me at least… I have never actually met or spoken to any of these folks. If I ever make it India, though, which is very high on the list of places I would love to travel, I hope I can have tea with Sarika.

REVIEW: 

*NOTE: We (The Readdicts) received a copy of Colony East (The Toucan Trilogy #2) by Scott Cramer from Candace @ Candace's Book Blog in exchange for an honest review. We thank Candace and Scott for the book! 

The first book in author Scott Cramer's The Toucan Trilogy, Night of the Purple Moon (NoPM- my review) was a brilliant read. Having read quite a few dystopians, I thought that this one wouldn't be any different but I was proved wrong. In this series, a purple comet has killed the entire population above the puberty age and the only survivors are kids and scientists living in quarantine. I've hardly read any books with preteens as the protagonist so this was something very different and thrilling. 

We had the first ever Author Interview and giveaway on our blog for copies of Scott's book and I was honoured when he contacted me to proof read the second book, Colony East. I didn't think I would be able to do it but I was glad to know there'd be a blog tour and I was even gladder to be part of it and to get the opportunity to read book #2. Colony East took off right from where NoPM ended and it was just as exciting and thrilling as its prequel, and it was also a notch higher than it. 

While I found it really hard to believe everything the kids were going through in both the books, I had a more stronger emotional connect to them in the second book. They are a bunch of absolutely brave, courageous and smart people. I cannot even imagine what I'd do in such a situation. I admired their perseverance and will to make it through. They fought and they fought hard by not giving up and looking for the light at the end of the tunnel. They are sad, depressed, hungry and lost. But they still manage to keep going, stay strong and never give up. 

Author Scott Cramer's writing is really good and it makes Colony East an easy and exciting read. I am finding it really hard to summarise the story because there was a lot happening and most of it could probably be counted as spoilers. All I can say is that the storyline is gripping and it ended on a cliffhanger that has me wanting for more. I can't wait to see how things wrap up in the last book. I sincerely hope all the kids have natural and genuine smiles on their faces by the end of it. This is an absolutely different, exciting and thrilling series that has you at the edge of your seat throughout the journey. 

RATING:

GIVEAWAY:

Scott has generously offered to give away a $35 Amazon Gift card and 10, yes TEN, ecopies of Night of the Purple Moon and Colony East. Enter below! And good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Once again, it was an absolute pleasure to have Scott stop by our blog. I'd like to thank him and Candace for this awesome tour and thank you, readers, for stopping by! 

Review- Colony East by Scott Cramer

Goodreads Summary:

When the bacteria that killed most of world's adults undergo a deadly mutation, 15-year old Abby must make the journey to Colony East, an enclave of scientists caring for a small group of children for reasons unknown. She fears that time is running short for the victims, but she's soon to learn that time is running out for everyone outside Colony East.

The Toucan Trilogy by Scott Cramer:

My review of Night of the Purple Moon (Toucan #1)

REVIEW:

*NOTE: We (The Readdicts) received a copy of Colony East (The Toucan Trilogy #2) by Scott Cramer from Candace @ Candace's Book Blog in exchange for an honest review. We thank Candace and Scott for the book! 

The first book in author Scott Cramer's The Toucan Trilogy, Night of the Purple Moon (NoPM- my review) was a brilliant read. Having read quite a few dystopians, I thought that this one wouldn't be any different but I was proved wrong. In this series, a purple comet has killed the entire population above the puberty age and the only survivors are kids and scientists living in quarantine. I've hardly read any books with preteens as the protagonist so this was something very different and thrilling. 

We had the first ever Author Interview and giveaway on our blog for copies of Scott's book and I was honoured when he contacted me to proof read the second book, Colony East. I didn't think I would be able to do it but I was glad to know there'd be a blog tour and I was even gladder to be part of it and to get the opportunity to read book #2. Colony East took off right from where NoPM ended and it was just as exciting and thrilling as its prequel, and it was also a notch higher than it. 

While I found it really hard to believe everything the kids were going through in both the books, I had a more stronger emotional connect to them in the second book. They are a bunch of absolutely brave, courageous and smart people. I cannot even imagine what I'd do in such a situation. I admired their perseverance and will to make it through. They fought and they fought hard by not giving up and looking for the light at the end of the tunnel. They are sad, depressed, hungry and lost. But they still manage to keep going, stay strong and never give up. 

Author Scott Cramer's writing is really good and it makes Colony East an easy and exciting read. I am finding it really hard to summarise the story because there was a lot happening and most of it could probably be counted as spoilers. All I can say is that the storyline is gripping and it ended on a cliffhanger that has me wanting for more. I can't wait to see how things wrap up in the last book. I sincerely hope all the kids have natural and genuine smiles on their faces by the end of it. This is an absolutely different, exciting and thrilling series that has you at the edge of your seat throughout the journey. 

RATING:

Review- Caressed by Ice by Nalini Singh

Summary-

As an Arrow, an elite soldier in the Psy Council ranks, Judd Lauren was forced to do terrible things in the name of his people. Now a defector, his dark abilities have made him the most deadly of assassins - cold, pitiless, unfeeling. Until he meets Brenna . . .

Brenna Shane Kincaid was an innocent before she was abducted - and had her mind violated - by a serial killer. Her sense of evil runs so deep, she fears she could become a killer herself. Then the first dead body is found, victim of a familiar madness. Judd is her only hope, yet her sensual changeling side rebels against the inhuman chill of his personality, even as desire explodes between them. Shocking and raw, their passion is a danger that threatens not only their hearts, but their very lives . . .

Review-

Caressed by Ice is the third book in Nalini Singh's Psy-Changeling series. The first two books went pretty well for me but this book has just made me a solid Nalini Singh fan. There was such an impossibility in the love story between Judd and Brenna but it was so brilliantly done that I was amazed by the end of Caressed by Ice.

Judd is an Arrow, an elite soldier in the Psy Council who aren't officially supposed to be existing. After a few tragic events which take place in his life, he and his brother take shelter between the SnowDancers who are a wolf clan. Judd is cold. Like, really ice cold. He has a complete control over Silence and he knows that if he gives in to his emotions he may very well end up killing everyone around him.

Brenna is a SnowDancer. She was the victim who was kidnapped by a sociopath in the first book. Now, she is trying to recover past the mental rape and she just wants to move on. But she has two very overprotective brothers in her way. On top of that it seems like the cold Psy, Judd is the only one who really understands her.

I really liked Brenna. She was brave and courageous. But Judd was the real hero of the book. From the first page he captures you and as the ice around his cold heart melts he makes you feel all the things he does. Their love story was definitely not easy. Judd was stubborn not to give in to his feelings but Brenna was just as determined to make him feel. I loved it.

Caressed by Ice actually gets quite a few developments in the plot as well. We are introduced to the Ghost. There are several changes taking place within the Council itself and it looks like a revolution is about to happen. Meeting all the other members from the DarkRiver territory just made the book more enjoyable. I am completely immersed in the series and can't wait to see what happens next.

Review- Ohh! Gods Are Online.. by Rashma N. Kalsie and George Dixon

Goodreads Summary:

‘Ohh! Gods Are Online..’ is an experimental book wherein the Gods move from the realm of the fantasy to the real world in the quest of solutions to the human dilemmas as they decide the fate of their creation – Mankind. 

Christ lives on his own island where the dead souls are welcomed to the afterworld. The other God, Krishna, lives in the harsh real world as a humble pantry boy employed in a hospital – easing the final journey of the people who are dying. Buddy Roy, the Buddha, sends his calming waves to the world from afar. Ati, the God of Atheists, lives on his island with his own set of followers. While Gods go about their tasks they connect on Facebook to ‘chat up’ God things.

The Gods travel between the imagined worlds – Clacton-on-Sea, Jaywick, Frinton-on-Sea, the underwater World of Mermaids and the real world. Human stories of mortals are woven within the fabric of the main story of Gods. Sunderaman is the meanness in man that Gods must confront. Nick, the God of Evil, contrives to use Sunderaman as a pawn to oust the Gods. Somdev, the Godman, wants his share of the Gods’ world. Gods watch over as human characters live out their destinies. 

A fast-paced novel, ‘Ohh! Gods Are Online..’, moves between the worlds of men, Gods, and evil forces. Men are transformed to animals and Gods live like men. The characters slide from one life to afterlife and the next life.

Humour, philosophy, fantasy, mythology, and a compelling story are crafted together to write the novel. The novel was neither discussed, nor planned. The chapters were added in a two-year-long to and fro of the script between the authors. The story took many turns and twists as the writers played a game of challenging each other with new characters and plots. The story was neither planned, nor contrived, it was allowed to flow.

REVIEW:

*NOTE: We (The Readdicts) received a copy of Ohh! Gods Are Online.. by Rashma N. Kalsie and George Dixon from Srishti Publishers & Distributors in exchange for an honest review. We thank the publishing house for the book! 

Ohh! Gods Are Online.. had been sitting on my shelf since August 2013. I had no intentions of reading the book. I thought I'd just give it away to a reader who was actually interested in it. But then Janhvi and I got to clearing our piles by reading and reviewing all the pending review books. So I finally started reading Ohh! Gods Are Online.. and I honestly wish I'd just gone with my previous decision of not reading it. 

Ohh! Gods Are Online.. is a story in which gods live among humans as normal people and still, in thier own mystical and pretty way, carry on the godly tasks they need to perform. Each god is on Facebook and they are all in constant touch with each other so much so that they even plan a huge party via these virtual relations. Each god is given a colloquial name as their virtual identity
When it comes to god, I am on complete so-so grounds though my personal opinion hardly even matters. I know that there are many people who easily take offence at anything anyone says about the god they worship and this book might not exactly be pleasing to them. 

The book just didn't sit down well with me. Not because I have any problem with it, but I couldn't care less about it. 

It's actually a very amusing story because it's something different but unfortunately, it lacks more things than it contains. The writing, for example, was really- I hate to say this- abominable. And that made the execution of the plot really mediocre. It seemed like I was reading something written by someone who has written just for the sake of writing. It seemed very rushed and not at all well edited and that's just plain sad. 
I don't even have much to say about Ohh! Gods Are Online.. since there are tons of things about it I didn't understand and what I did understand, I didn't care about. It does have a good plot and a good lesson to learn by the end of it. If only it were well executed.
The only good thing that came out of reading this book is that I now know that I shouldn't read what I don't want to read. 

RATING:

Blog Tour + Giveaway: Love, Films and Rock 'n' Roll by Swayam Ganguly

Summary-

Fate throws together three young men travelling on a train from Jamshedpur to Kolkata. 
Sunil is a graduate from FTII who wants to make a mark in Tollywood by directing his first feature film. 
Sameer aka Sam, is a software professional working in Silicon Valley. 
Dipankar aka Dipsy, decides to focus on music after being expelled from IIT on a false charge of peddling drugs.
Dilemmas, disillusionments and desires blend to tell their tales in this delightful novel,which although reflective of the carefree ways and the fun loving spirit of the younger generation also attempts to encourage them to incorporate the sense of values which are synonymous with our Indian culture.
And they bind one and all through Love, Films and Rock n Roll!

Review-

Love, Films and Rock n Roll is the story of three young men who unexpectedly form a friendship while travelling together on a train from Jamshedpur to Kolkata. The story shows what's happening with each person and moves forward. I really enjoyed the book as it was different from what I usually read.

Sunil is a graduate from FTII. He wants to direct quality films in Tollywood. We see his journey where he learns from his experience on the sets of a movie. I really liked Sunil. He was a nice, hardworking guy trying to work in the business. I loved his story with Tanya. The long distance relationship they have in no way deters them from being together in the end.

Then there's Sam who's come back to get an arranged marriage. I think I liked his story the best of all. Sam was a fun guy with wit and sense of humor. It just so happens that he falls in love with Sonali, the matchmaker who's supposed to find him a bride. Sonali and Sam were great together and independently. I wish we'd gotten more of them.

And last but not the least there's Dipsy. He's a musician trying to make big with his band. There is ton of stuff about the Baul culture in his story. Here is where I have a slight complaint. The author has gone very in depth where this is concerned. It was interesting but the too many details dragged his parts a bit for me. I wanted to know more about Dipsy himself and his issues.

Love, Films and Rock n Roll is filled with abundance of all three. I loved how the author incorporated song lyrics in the way the guys thought and spoke. That was fun. The pace of the book is nice. The writing is easy and engaging. Though a little predictable, Love, Films and Rock n Roll made for an enjoyable read.

*Note: A copy of this book was provided by Alchemy Publishers in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.

About the author:

Swayam Ganguly is a media professional and creative consultant who has worked extensively in Bangalore and Mumbai and is currently based in Kolkata. Apart from writing fiction, the author has also worked on abridged versions of novels and other content for different publishers. He is also the Creative Director, Content, for the website of the Mumbai-based online toy store called Yellow Giraffe. He has an avid interest in music and films and has directed the popular award-winning, regional band hunt reality show called ‘Band E Mataram’.

Buy Links:

Flipkart   HomeShop18   Amazon   Infibeam

Alchemy Publishers Links:

Website   Twitter   Facebook

GIVEAWAY:

Now for the giveaway guys, Alchemy Publishers has been super generous. They're giving away FOUR copies of Love, Films and Rock 'n' Roll by Swayam Ganguly to four lucky winners from India.

So, go forth and participate from the rafflecopter below. May the odds be ever in your favor!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks guys!

Happy reading :)

Review- Love, Films and Rock 'n' Roll by Swayam Ganguly

Summary-

Fate throws together three young men travelling on a train from Jamshedpur to Kolkata. 
Sunil is a graduate from FTII who wants to make a mark in Tollywood by directing his first feature film. 
Sameer aka Sam, is a software professional working in Silicon Valley. 
Dipankar aka Dipsy, decides to focus on music after being expelled from IIT on a false charge of peddling drugs.
Dilemmas, disillusionments and desires blend to tell their tales in this delightful novel,which although reflective of the carefree ways and the fun loving spirit of the younger generation also attempts to encourage them to incorporate the sense of values which are synonymous with our Indian culture.
And they bind one and all through Love, Films and Rock n Roll!

Review-

Love, Films and Rock n Roll is the story of three young men who unexpectedly form a friendship while travelling together on a train from Jamshedpur to Kolkata. The story shows what's happening with each person and moves forward. I really enjoyed the book as it was different from what I usually read.

Sunil is a graduate from FTII. He wants to direct quality films in Tollywood. We see his journey where he learns from his experience on the sets of a movie. I really liked Sunil. He was a nice, hardworking guy trying to work in the business. I loved his story with Tanya. The long distance relationship they have in no way deters them from being together in the end.

Then there's Sam who's come back to get an arranged marriage. I think I liked his story the best of all. Sam was a fun guy with wit and sense of humor. It just so happens that he falls in love with Sonali, the matchmaker who's supposed to find him a bride. Sonali and Sam were great together and independently. I wish we'd gotten more of them.

And last but not the least there's Dipsy. He's a musician trying to make big with his band. There is ton of stuff about the Baul culture in his story. Here is where I have a slight complaint. The author has gone very in depth where this is concerned. It was interesting but the too many details dragged his parts a bit for me. I wanted to know more about Dipsy himself and his issues.

Love, Films and Rock n Roll is filled with abundance of all three. I loved how the author incorporated song lyrics in the way the guys thought and spoke. That was fun. The pace of the book is nice. The writing is easy and engaging. Though a little predictable, Love, Films and Rock n Roll made for an enjoyable read.

*Note: A copy of this book was provided by Alchemy Publishers in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.

Review- The Book of Why by Nicholas Montemarano

Summary-

'This is a self-help book. Didn't think it was, but it is. It's also a revision, a question, a confession, an apology, a love letter. This book is for you.'

Eric Newborn is used to dealing with people whose lives are in crisis; he's the bestselling author of several motivational books, and an inspirational speaker. When Eric's wife dies, he finds that grief renders him helpless. There is no easy cure, no platitude to comfort him, no replacement with which to fill the deep trough of his loss. So he retreats, with his female dog, Ralph, to his isolated home on Martha's Vineyard. 

Five years later, on a wild, storm-wracked night, a car crashes at the end of Eric's lane and a woman turns up at his door, seeking help. Sam is a fan who has tracked him down, convinced that Eric will sort out the co-incidences that have both destroyed and coloured her life. 

As Eric and Sam spin around one another like constellations in a greater universe, they set out to search for answers to their questions, and to find some meaning in the signs that we all see. 

A powerful love story and an evocative exploration of the mechanics of the soul, THE BOOK OF WHY is a tender, thought-provoking novel which also addresses intricate questions about the nature of human joy. 

Review-

I really don't know what to say about the Book of Why. I can't say that I enjoyed it but I can't even say that I really disliked it. It was a very different read for me as compared to the romances which I always seem to go for.

The Book of Why is Eric Newborn's story. He is the bestselling author of several motivational books and an inspirational speaker. But when his wife dies he stops believing in what he used to say. Now, he lives alone on a place called Martha's Vineyard with his dog called Ralph. He intends to spend the rest of his life doing nothing because he cannot get over the death of his wife.

Then on a storm wracked night, comes Sam, a woman asking for help. She does not believe in co incidences and thinks that everything happens for a reason. Just like her meeting with Eric. She wants to make him believe in his own books again and show him how he's affected so many lives. I don't really know what to think of Sam. She had this whimsical personality.

There is no real great conclusion at the end of the book. It is just Eric and Sam's journey at finding a few answers which I'm not really sure they get. Throughout the book we come to know about Eric from his childhood to how he grew up and met his wife. I think I enjoyed that part of the story best.

The thing I liked about The Book of Why was the writing. It was beautiful. The way the author strings together words was amazing. I think I may have given up on the book if not for the beautiful writing. I think this book means to give you a deeper meaning, which I did not get. I don't even know whom I could recommend it to, but if it looks good to you, you can give it a try.

*Note: A copy of this book was provided by Hachette India in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.