Hi peeps! I have to admit I’m excited and a little sad to introduce Andrew Q. Gordon and the stunning cover to his last Champion of the Gods story When Heroes Fall, excited because YAY!!! 😛 a new amazing fantasy with Farrell and the guys, but also very sad as it’s the last story in the series 😥 , Andrew shares a brilliant guest post with us and we have a wonderful excerpt, so check out the cover, enjoy the guest post and love that excerpt! ❤ ~Pixie~ p.s. Andrew’s also giving away free copies of The Last Grand Master to newsletter signups!
When Heroes Fall
(Champion of the Gods 05)
by
Andrew Q. Gordon
It took the Seven to create the world, each to rule Their own, until Neldin sought to rule it all.
The Six defeated Neldin three millennia ago, but time has no meaning to a god. Before the dust settled from the first conflict, both sides set in motion plans for the next one. As Champion of the Six, Farrell, with Kel’s help, gathers those loyal to the Six to meet Meglar and his army.
But Neldin plotted as well, and like the Six, His plans all lead to the final confrontation between Champions.
Kel teaches Farrell that weapons and power will not be enough—victory requires something from within each Champion. But Neldin also knows this and unleashes a final surprise at a critical moment that claims some of those Farrell loves most.
With the fate of Nendor riding on his actions, Farrell must ignore the pain and find the will to win. If not, his world and everyone he loves will fall to Meglar’s darkness.
Release date: 14th May 2019
Pre-order:
.•.•.**❣️ DSP Publications ❣️**.•.•.
Hi peeps, we have Andrew Q. Gordon popping in today with his upcoming release Kings of Lore & Legend. We have a fantastic guest post from Gordan and there’s a fabulous excerpt…. AND all you readers can get a free copy of the first book in the series The Last Grand Master so check out the post and get your free copy now! <3 ~Pixie~
Kings of Lore & Legend
(Champion of the Gods 03)
by
Andrew Q. Gordon
Dumbarten should have been the end of Farrell’s efforts to find his distant ancestor Kel, but the Six have other plans. Farrell is told to continue his search for answers in Agloth, the temple city to Seritia. Forced by the Goddess to ride across the vast continent of Lourdria, Farrell and his companions learn that Meglar’s reach extends well beyond the borders of Ardus. And Agloth, despite being dedicated to the Goddess of Love, is also home to a millennia-old curse that Farrell must end if he wants to complete his task.
Answers don’t come easily, and Farrell determines he must travel to the Dwarf Kingdom of Colograd to continue his quest. When an ally of Meglar’s threatens Agloth, Farrell cuts short his time in Colograd and rushes back to defend Seritia’s home. The attack seems doomed to fail, but the death of one of his companions distracts Farrell at a critical moment. Battling against his crushing grief, Farrell struggles to save Agloth, his friends, and himself. And even if he survives, he still hasn’t found Kel or his answers.
Genre: Science Fiction/ Other Paranormal/ Suspense
Length: Novel (240 pages)
ISBN: 978-1-63476-162-8
Publisher: DSP Publications (6th October 2015)
Heat: Low
Heart: ♥♥♥♥♥ 4 ½ Hearts
Reviewer: Pixie
Blurb: Forty years ago the Spirit of Vengeance—a Purpose—took William Morgan as its host, demanding he avenge the innocent by killing the guilty. Since then Will has retreated behind Gar, a façade he uses to avoid dealing with what he’s become. Cold, impassive, and devoid of emotion, Gar goes about his life alone—until his tidy, orderly world is upended when he meets Ryan, a broken young man cast out by his family. Spurred to action for reasons he can’t understand, Gar saves Ryan from death and finds himself confronted by his humanity.
Spending time with Ryan helps Will claw out from under Gar’s shadow. He recognizes Ryan is the key to his reclaiming his humanity and facing his past. As Will struggles to control the Purpose, Ryan challenges him to rethink everything he knew about himself and the spirit that possesses him. In the process, he pushes Will to do something he hasn’t done in decades: care.
Review:This book is a 2nd edition and there are some minor editing changes and additional dialogue.
Will/Gar has spent the last forty years exacting vengeance on the guilty for the innocents they have killed. His Purpose, Vengeance, demands it as payment for strength, youth and mental powers. Vengeance: an entity that feeds on the souls of the guilty.
When Gar meets Ryan he begins to lose the cold shell he has encased himself in and Will begins to emerge. Emotions and feelings he hasn’t felt in years shock him. So what is it about Ryan that has drawn Will out of his long sleep?
Ryan has been cast out by his family and meets Gar. He’s not quite sure what to make of the man. Getting to know Gar and the real man behind the façade, Will, leads to Ryan discovering something about himself that he finds a hard time getting his head around. Ryan challenges Will to rethink what his Purpose wants.But when the FBI get involved Ryan might be in more danger than ever before.
This is a brilliant, unique, slightly dark, gritty story that you just can’t put down. Will was taken as a host by an entity nearly forty years ago. Since then he has buried himself beneath a cold emotionless façade, Gar, to carry out the vengeance that he has been called to do. When Gar meets Ryan there is something about the young man who calls to him and Will begins to re-emerge.
Ryan is confused by Will, but can’t help falling for the man who saved his life. When he discovers what his Purpose requires, he asks if there is another way to give it what it wants. Things get more complicated when Will tries to discover what it is about Ryan that ease’s him.And then Will discovers he is being tracked by an overzealous FBI agent who will stop at nothing to get Will.
I have to admit to being dragged into this story from the very first page. The opening scenes grip you as it leads you straight into meeting Gar and his Purpose Vengeance. As we progress through the book we can see the changes in Gar/Will as Ryan breaks through his shell. We see Will, a man who buried his emotions to dull the pain of loss, still getting to grips with his Purpose and evolving his relationship with the entity. Finally beginning to understand just what the entity needs and requires.
With Ryan you see a man who still has a long way to go before he is confident and secure. But, also someone who will sulk and act like a brat when he doesn’t get his own way, which causes problems for Will.
The police and FBI angle was really good. And while Will is willing to bargain with Detective Griffin, he wants nothing to do with Agent Barrington. These are aspects of the story you do not want to miss. The characters bring this story alive giving us a darkish, gritty story of vengeance and justice. There are entities from other planes, the innocent demanding vengeance, justice and revenge, the guilty paying for their crimes and two men feeling an instant connection and finding more in common than they thought.
This isn’t a book to miss if you want a unique storyline, great characters, vengeance galore, confusion, love and a brilliant ending.
Hiya peeps, we have Andrew Q. Purpose visiting today with his re-release Purpose, we have a fantastic guest post, a great excerpt, a fabulous giveaway and my review, so check out the post and click that rafflecopter link <3 ~Pixie~
Purpose
by
Andrew Q. Gorgon
Forty years ago the Spirit of Vengeance—a Purpose—took William Morgan as its host, demanding he avenge the innocent by killing the guilty. Since then Will has retreated behind Gar, a façade he uses to avoid dealing with what he’s become. Cold, impassive, and devoid of emotion, Gar goes about his life alone—until his tidy, orderly world is upended when he meets Ryan, a broken young man cast out by his family. Spurred to action for reasons he can’t understand, Gar saves Ryan from death and finds himself confronted by his humanity.
Spending time with Ryan helps Will claw out from under Gar’s shadow. He recognizes Ryan is the key to his reclaiming his humanity and facing his past. As Will struggles to control the Purpose, Ryan challenges him to rethink everything he knew about himself and the spirit that possesses him. In the process, he pushes Will to do something he hasn’t done in decades: care.
Title: A Closed Door Series: Love, Loss, Laughter & Lust Anthology Author: Andrew Q. Gordon Genre: Contemporary Length: Novella (58 Pages) Publisher: Wayward Ink Publishing (October 8, 2014) Heat Level: Moderate Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥4.5 Hearts Blurb: Outed at thirteen, Orin Merritt left home after high school hoping to escape the hell his life had become. Ten years later when a tornado destroys his childhood home and kills his parents, Orin finds himself in an entirely new nightmare. One he can’t run away from.
Blaming himself for failing the two people who always loved and supported him, he returns home and confronts his past in the person of his one-time best friend, Thomas Kennett. Thomas not only rejected him when Orin came out, he led the group that tormented Orin into leaving.
As he struggles to deal with his grief, Orin also labors to fulfill the pledge he made to his parents before their death. In the process, Orin learns that sometimes when you go away to find yourself, you leave the answers you’re looking for behind.
Review: This is part of the anthology called Love, Lost, Laughter and Lust. It is probably the best one I have read about in a while. I am not much for short stories or anthologies but this story comes really close to being perfect.
This story is one of those types that will tear at your heart-strings because it is a story that could be real. So many stories that you hear about best friends and their reactions to what happens when you tell them something they don’t like or don’t agree with. For a short story it has a lot of details and heart in it.
Orin’s best friend Thomas had asked him when they were kids if he was gay. He had told him yes, thinking that his best friend would always be there for him. What he had not told him was that he loved him. However Thomas had reacted in fear and hate. He had managed to tear Orin’s heart out. He bullied him through middle school and high school. He had made his life a living hell.
After graduation he managed to escape and make a life for himself. He had never intended to go back, but a tornado had changed his mind. It had killed his parents and destroyed his child hood home. When he came home to fix it all, Thomas was there.
Thomas was a deputy for the sheriff’s department and had always regretted what he had done to Orin. He had been a coward and feared the reactions he would get if it came out that he was gay also. He knew he had to make things right. He had to show Orin that he was in love with him and would fix it all.
This is a story that you could believe was actually happening in front of you. At first I thought it would be the type where the parents were the cruel ones and in a way I went to the bully part. However it still didn’t take away from the fact that as soon as I started reading it I could not put it down. It turned out so much better than what I had thought. The parents had been loving and cherished their son. They had loved him unconditionally. It was the best friend that had betrayed him, and the best friend who needed to prove himself ten years later.
I had a blast with this and look forward to reading more by this author. It was the first book that I have read by Andrew and I was quite impressed. It was well told with a lot of heart in it. I would definitely recommend this book to others. Trust me this is a story that you should read.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Hi guys, we have Andrew Q. Gordon popping in with the blog tour for his newest release The Eye and the Arm, we have a great excerpt, a fantastic giveaway and my review, so enjoy the post and click that Rafflecopter link <3 ~Pixie~
The Eye and the Arm
(Champion of the Gods 02)
by
Andrew Q. Gordan
After defeating Meglar at Belsport, Farrell returns to Haven to recover from his injuries, but Khron, the god of war, has other ideas. He gives Farrell a new mission: free the survivors of the ancient dwarf realm of Trellham from their three-thousand-year banishment. To fulfill Khron’s near impossible task, Farrell will need the help of his distance ancestor, the legendary wizard Kel. But Kel has been dead for a thousand years.
Farrell finds information hinting that Kel is alive, so he moves his search to Dumbarten, Kel’s birthplace. To reach Dumbarten unannounced, Farrell and Miceral disguise themselves as mercenaries on board a merchant vessel. Their journey is disrupted when pirates attack their ship. While attempting to subdue the attack, Farrell is struck down by one of Meglar’s minions.
Unconscious and trapped in his own mind, Farrell’s only chance for survival rests with Miceral and the peregrine king Rothdin entering his thoughts and helping him sort fact from illusion. To reach Farrell, they will need to rely on an untested spell from one of Kel’s spellbooks. If they succeed, Miceral can guide Farrell home safely. If not, Farrell will destroy not only himself, but Miceral, Rothdin, and everyone around him.
Blurb: Forty years ago the Spirit of Vengeance—a Purpose—took William Morgan as its host, demanding he avenge the innocent by killing the guilty. Since then, Will has retreated behind Gar, a façade he uses to avoid dealing with what he’s become. Cold, impassive, and devoid of emotion, Gar goes about his life alone—until his tidy, orderly world is upended when he meets Ryan, a broken young man cast out by his family. Spurred to action for reasons he can’t understand, Gar saves Ryan from death and finds himself confronted by his humanity.
Spending time with Ryan helps Will claw out from under Gar’s shadow. He recognizes Ryan is the key to his reclaiming his humanity and facing his past. As Will struggles to control the Purpose, Ryan challenges him to rethink everything he knew about himself and the spirit that possesses him. In the process, he pushes Will to do something he hasn’t done in decades: care.
Review: Will/Gar has spent the last forty years exacting vengeance on the guilty for the innocents they have killed. His Purpose, Vengeance, demands it as payment for strength, youth, and mental powers. Vengeance: an entity that feeds on the souls of the guilty. When Gar meets Ryan, he begins to lose the cold shell he has encased himself in and Will begins to emerge, emotions and feelings he hasn’t felt in years shock him, so what is it about Ryan that has drawn Will out of his long sleep. Ryan has been cast out by his family and meets Gar, not quite sure what to make of the man, getting to know Gar and the real man behind the façade, Will, leads to Ryan discovering something about himself that he finds a hard time getting his head around. Ryan challenges Will to rethink what his Purpose wants, but when the FBI get involved Ryan might be in more danger than ever before.
This is a brilliant, unique, slightly dark, gritty story that you just can’t put down. Will was taken as a host by an entity nearly forty years ago, since then he has buried himself beneath a cold emotionless façade, Gar, to carry out the vengeance that he has been called to do. When Gar meets Ryan, there is something about the young man who calls to him and Will begins to re-emerge. Ryan is confused by Will but can’t help falling for the man who saved his life, but when he discovers what his Purpose requires he asks if there is another way to give it what it wants. Things get more complicated when Will tries to discover what it is about Ryan that ease’s him, and then Will discovers he is being tracked by an overzealous FBI agent who will stop at nothing to get Will.
I have to admit to being dragged into this story from the very first page; the opening scenes grip you as it leads you straight into meeting Gar and his Purpose Vengeance. As we progress through the book, we can see the changes in Gar/Will as Ryan breaks through his shell. We see Will, a man who buried his emotions to dull the pain of loss, still getting to grips with his Purpose and evolving his relationship with the entity and finally beginning to understand just what the entity needs and requires. With Ryan you see a man who still has a long way to go before he is confident and secure, but also someone who will sulk and act like a brat when he doesn’t get his own way, which causes problems for Will.
The police and FBI angle was really good and while Will is willing to bargain with Detective Griffin, he wants nothing to do with Agent Barrington, these are aspects of the story you do not want to miss. The characters bring this story alive giving us a darkish gritty story of vengeance and justice. There are entities from other planes, the innocent demanding vengeance, justice, and revenge, the guilty paying for their crimes and two men feeling an instant connection and finding more in common than they thought.
This isn’t a book to miss if you want a unique storyline, great characters, vengeance galore, confusion, love, and a brilliant ending.
Blurb: In a war that shook the earth, the Six gods of Nendor defeated their brother Neldin, god of evil. For the three thousand years since, Nendor and the Seven Kingdoms have known peace and prosperity.
But then a new wizard unleashes the power of Neldin. Meglar, wizard king of Zargon, uses dark magic to create an army of creatures to carry out his master’s will.
One by one, the sovereign realms fall. Soon the only wizard who can stop Meglar is Grand Master Farrell, the Prince of Haven, the hidden home of refugees. An untried wizard, Farrell carries a secret that could hold the key to defeating Meglar—or it could destroy the world.
While helping Nerti, queen of the unicorns, Farrell saves Miceral, an immortal muchari warrior the Six have chosen to be Farrell’s mate. But Farrell approaches love with caution, and before he can decide how to proceed, Meglar invades a neighboring kingdom. Farrell and Miceral find themselves in the middle of the battle. Farrell pushes himself to the limit as he and Miceral fight not only to stop Meglar but for their very survival.
Review: The Seven Kingdoms are being systematically conquered by the dark wizard king, Meglar. he won’t stop until he has them all under his rule and there is nobody powerful enough to stop him. Farrell is a young Grand Master wizard and he knows that the Gods have plans for him. he will one day have to face Meglar, but first he has to help some of the Gods’ followers.
This story is absolutely brilliant, an action-packed high fantasy that drags your imagination along on an epic journey. Farrell is the Gods’ Chosen, he knows that one day he will have to face the dark Grand Master, Melgar and is preparing for that day. When he is asked by the Gods to help a neighboring Kingdom and informed that he will meet his mate, he is determined to do as the Gods ask. Meeting Miceral in the midst of battle surprises him, but the safety of a nation comes first. This is the beginning of an adventure filled with magic, danger, negotiation and love.
I really don’t think that I am able to really do justice to this story. I have to admit that I am floundering as to get my thoughts into words…this book dragged me in and didn’t let go until the last page and even then I wanted more. The storyline is fantastic, the characters are brilliant and the action is incredible. I loved every magic filled minute. Farrell is a character that is secure in his position as a wizard and a prince, but when it comes to love is unsure and scared. Miceral knows that Farrell is the one for him and has no doubts. he has to ease Farrell’s doubts and convince him that Farrell is more than enough for him. For some people it will seem that they connected very quickly, but when it has been ordained by the Gods, well, how can you complain?
There are lots of incredible details in this story, even during the battles. they give you enough so you can picture in your mind exactly what it must look like. With some stories we can become bogged down with details, but with this story there is always just enough to fuel the imagination. Farrell and Miceral’s relationship is great. they are well-suited and are a great support for each other. when they have the joining ceremony it is a beautiful moment in the book. The interaction between all the characters is brilliant and each one is drawn into the story in their own right and they fit perfectly. There is so much I want to say about this story, but to be honest; I would ruin it because this is just one of those books that you have to read for yourself.
I have to recommend that everyone gives this book a shot, because this story is filled with everything that you could ever want from a high fantasy; magic, magical creatures, great battles, rescues, escapes, and an assortment of great characters, a brilliant storyline and an ending that leaves you wanting more.
Blurb: Jay Walker has two wishes: to perform the play of his dreams alongside his best friend at Wellington’s Tory Street Theatre, and to meet that special someone. Someone he’d go to the ends of the earth for. Someone who might only exist in fairy tales.
When Jay meets accordion busker Lethe Cross, it’s like living a dream come true. Lethe’s music captivates Jay, and he resolves to meet the man who plays so beautifully. But then he discovers Lethe’s life is more like a nightmare. The phrase “down on his luck” can’t begin to cover it. Determined to help, Jay does some snooping for answers—and winds up on the wrong end of a centuries-old curse. The good news is there’s a way to break it. The bad news is it might cost Jay his life.
Review: Jay and his best friend, Gristle, have one dream together, to perform at Wellington’s Tory Street Theatre. and Jay has another dream, to meet his soul-mate. Lethe, an accordion busker turns out to be that person, but there is more to Lethe than meets the eye and Jay does his best to support Lethe when he learns the truth. But, something in the shadows wants them to fail and will do anything to ensure it.
This is a story that will leave you with more questions than answers, but still oddly satisfied with the end result. Jay and Gristle have been best friends and brothers for twelve years, when Jay meets Lethe, he discovers that there are things out there that he never imagined, but it doesn’t stop his feelings for Lethe. Lethe has never had anyone want him just for being him before and the two begin to fall in love, but something tragic happens that could drive a wedge between them and Jay tries to break Lethe’s curse, but it could cost him his life.
I just want to say before we go any further that Gristle was my favorite character. He was full of life and made Jay live his life with a touch of excitement and anticipation. Even though he was the best friend and straight, he gave this book a lot of character throughout the first part of the book and I will never, ever forgive the authors for the shock they gave me in part two… never, because I carried that shock throughout the second half and I felt everything that Jay did. I could fully understand Jay’s need to do the play the way he did and his need longing and guilt was so well written.
We get to know the characters as best we can, but we aren’t given much background about them, which left me feeling a bit frustrated. How did Jay and Gristle become such good friends? What’s their back story? Why was Lethe’s bloodline cursed? These are things that the more I read, the more I wanted to know the answers to. The characters are brilliantly written with the emotions laid out bare for us to see. Jay’s sacrifice towards the end was breath-taking, the ultimate gift of love with just a touch of selfishness thrown in. Although there is romance and love between Jay and Lethe we don’t see any sex scenes, it’s all off page and surprisingly you don’t feel like you missed out.
I am going to recommend this to those who want something a bit different in their paranormal, as it is just hints and lingering feelings. Who want a soul touching story of two young men fighting to make a go of it when the curse goes against them, of a love between friends that brings tears to your eyes and a happy ending with a challenge still lingering in the future.
Title: Purpose
Title: A Closed Door
and Lust. It is probably the best one I have read about in a while. I am not much for short stories or anthologies but this story comes really close to being perfect.
