I'm A Reader Not a Writer Blog Tours Presents: Jack Templar...Monster Hunter : A Tens List

Jack Templar: Monster Hunter

Orphan Jack Templar has no memory of his parents and only the smallest details from his Aunt Sophie about how they died. The day before Jack's fourteenth birthday, things start to change for him. At first it's great: A sudden new strength helps him defend his nose-picking friend "T-Rex" from the school bully, and even his crush, Cindy Adams, takes notice. But then a mysterious girl named Eva arrives and tells him two facts that will change his life forever. First, that he's the descendent of a long line of monster hunters and he's destined to be in the family business. Second, that there's a truce between man and monster that children are off-limits...until their fourteenth birthday! Jack has only one day before hundreds of monsters will descend on his little town of Sunnyvale and try to kill him.

As if that weren't enough, things get even more complicated when Jack discovers that the Lord of the Creach (as the monsters are collectively known) holds a personal grudge against him and will do anything to see that Jack has a slow and painful death. To stay alive and save his friends, Jack will have to battle werewolves, vampires, harpies, trolls, zombies and more. But perhaps the most dangerous thing he must face is the truth about his past. Why do the other hunters call him the last Templar? Why do they whisper that he may be the "One?" Why do the monsters want him dead so badly? Even as these questions plague him, he quickly discovers survival is his new full-time job and that in the world of monster hunters, nothing is really what it seems.


Top Ten Knights (fictional and or real)

1. Sir Hugues de Payens - Founder of the Knights Templar (and secret founder of the Black Watch, the original monster hunters.)
2. Sir Jacques de Molay - the last Grand Master of the Knights Templar. He was burned at the stake on Friday the 13th which is why we still view Friday the 13th as an unlucky day. History records his death as the result of political conflicts after the Templars grew too powerful, but in reality the Lord of the Creach, Ren Lucre, manipulated the French king to kill his adversary. Jack Templar was named after Jacques de Molay. 
3. King Arthur - possibly the coolest knight around. 
4. Aragon - Ranger and rightful King of Gondor in the Lord Of The Rings. What's not to like about a knight who turns away power and has an Eleven Princess girlfriend?
5. Sir Percivale - Central to the search for the Holy Grail, he didn't have the flash of Galahad or Lancelot, but he always got the job done. 
6. Sir Lancelot du Lac - Sure there was that whole thing with the Queen, but overall Lancelot was one tough guy...and he made up for things in the end. 
7. Sir William Wallace - Led a rebellion in Scotland...and got Mel Gibson an Oscar. 
8. Sir Roland - Yep, the famous poem The Song Of Roland was about a real knight....named Roland. 
9. Sir Galahad - The illegitimate son of Sir Lancelot, he was to become the greatest knight in the world and the one knight worthy of attaining the grail. 
10. Sir Rodrigo Diaz - Better known as "El Cid", he was the famous Spanish knight who created his own kingdom after being exiled from the Emperor's court. 


Author Jeff Gunhus

Jeff Gunhus grew up in Cyprus, Greece, and Saudi Arabia where there was a distinct lack of television. He quickly found books were the gateway to incredible adventures, fascinating characters and unbelievable discoveries. Now, with five children of his own (all who watch too much television, in his opinion), he has enjoyed revisiting his old books and reliving those adventures all over again.





Kirkus Reviews

"Gunhus brings young readers a monster-filled romp to read at their own risk. In the first few pages, Jack, the storyteller and main character, warns readers not to read about these real-world monsters that would seem to only exist in fiction. The tone is set--sarcastic, tongue-in-cheek and likable; rooting for Jack is easy...Gunhus masterfully introduces fully realized characters with whom readers can connect almost instantly. The pacing is quick but not rushed, and events seamlessly progress, complete with action, cliff-hangers and surprise reveals. "

Amazon Reviews

Watch out Percy Jackson here comes Jack Templar
Move over Harry Potter and Percy Jackson, there's a new kid in town - Jack Templar, and he will take you on a wonderful adventure of good vs evil, with friends and enemies at every turn. The twists and turns keep the reader on a roller coaster of entertainment in the way of JK Rowling and Rick Riordan. ~ Penny Brein

Fast paced adventure through and through
Written for middle school aged students, this book is action-packed from the beginning and will hold the attention of young readers. Not only that, as an adult reader, it was hard to put down, so parents will enjoy it as an easy read. ~ bluejellybean

Kids will love it!
Not only will kids love it, adults will too! I don't want to give the plot away but this is a book worth reading. This book is creatively written drawing in the reader to be a participant in the story. There is lots of action with enough blood and guts to be interesting without being gross. Girls will like it too with the strong female role models and the hint of romance. Even though this is a children's book, I couldn't put it down. I will definitely be adding this to my classroom library. I am looking forward to reading the book in this series and sharing it with my students. Awesome book! ~ pixiep


Purchase

Book Blast $50 Giveaway
Ends 2/15/13
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.


 

"Pivot Point"...YA Perfection

Pivot Point (Pivot Point, #1)Title:  Pivot Point
 (Pivot Point #1)
Author:  Kasie West
Format:  Print ARC
Length:  320 pages
Publisher:  Harper Teen
Rating:  5 stars

Knowing the outcome doesn’t always make a choice easier . . .

Addison Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not.

In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she’s unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she’s willing to live through . . . and who she can’t live without.  -Goodreads


My Thoughts
This is a very unique blend of the paranormal and contemporary aspects of YA.  
Addie is a girl on the verge of a great change in her life with the impending divorce of her parents.
Faced with the choice of living with either her mother or father, Addie chooses to use her unique ability as a Searcher to explore the possible outcome of each choice.

This story is one that engages readers from the start.  Divorce and the choices that must be made as a result provide readers with a great lead into a promising drama.  When such an emotional "hot button" is paired with likable characters, hints of danger, a bit of mystery, teen romance, and the paranormal; the result is YA goodness of the first order.

This is a book that does the one thing that most YA plots do not.  It puts the protagonist in charge of the outcome of her life, without taking away the mystery and journey involved in arriving at said outcome.  Readers are allowed to wonder, question, celebrate and worry along with Addie as she experiences both paths.

This is also a book in which the reader gets to choose a path and see if the path that they chose was the same as the one chosen by Addie in the end.

Nothing about this book is ever a given, and as such, there is no clearly right or wrong path.

This is a true masterpiece with a surprise ending that will both touch your heart and get you primed for the next book in what promises to be a great series.

Is Level 2 the Book for You?

Level 2 (The Memory Chronicles, #1)Title:  Level 2
(Memory Chronicles #2)
Author:  Lenore Appelhans
Format:  Print
Length:  288 pages
Publisher:  Simon & Schuster BFYR
Rating:  3 stars
 

Three levels. Two loves. One choice. Debut novelist, Lenore Appelhans has written a thrilling otherworldly young adult novel about a place that exists between our world (Level 1) and what comes after life (Level 2).

'I pause to look around the hive - all the podlike chambers are lit up as the drones shoot up on memories ... I've wanted to get out of here before, but now the tight quarters start to choke me. There has to be more to death than this.'

Felicia Ward is dead. Trapped in a stark white afterlife limbo, she spends endless days replaying memories, of her family, friends, boyfriend ... and of the guy who broke her heart. The guy who has just broken into Level 2 to find her.

Felicia learns that a rebellion is brewing, and it seems she is the key. Suspended between heaven and earth, she must make a choice. Between two worlds, two lives and two loves.

-Goodreads



My Thoughts
The beginning of the book is enough to draw you in.  The memory downloads, the back-stories surrounding Felicia's friends, and the beginning of Felicia's story.
The story starts to lose it feet when Felicia, who has "woken up" a la Matrix, to find that she is the female teen version of Neo, and Julian, the boy who broke her heart is her teen Morphious.
  
It is clear from the start that she doesn't like the boy who has made it his business to save her.  She instead pines for Neil,  her church going, choir singing, too good for words boyfriend, who she is convinced is somewhere in Level 2 and who she is determined to save.
  
This plot line is so at odds with the Angelic Matrix theme and the flashbacks that tell the part of the story that is built upon Felicia's past.
This book seems all over the place plot-wise.  A serious case of too much too fast.  As such, it is very hard to build a connection with Felicia.  If anything, Julian is the most well rounded character in the story.
There are twists and turns that make the plot better toward the end, but there is a great deal of teen angst to get through.
Overall, this is not a bad book,  it is just suffering from a bit of an identity crisis.  Due to the fact that this is the first book in a series, there is thankfully a great deal of room for the series to decide where it and it's readers are going. 

Book Blast: Jack Templar: Monster Hunter

Jack Templar: Monster Hunter

Orphan Jack Templar has no memory of his parents and only the smallest details from his Aunt Sophie about how they died. The day before Jack's fourteenth birthday, things start to change for him. At first it's great: A sudden new strength helps him defend his nose-picking friend "T-Rex" from the school bully, and even his crush, Cindy Adams, takes notice. But then a mysterious girl named Eva arrives and tells him two facts that will change his life forever. First, that he's the descendent of a long line of monster hunters and he's destined to be in the family business. Second, that there's a truce between man and monster that children are off-limits...until their fourteenth birthday! Jack has only one day before hundreds of monsters will descend on his little town of Sunnyvale and try to kill him.

As if that weren't enough, things get even more complicated when Jack discovers that the Lord of the Creach (as the monsters are collectively known) holds a personal grudge against him and will do anything to see that Jack has a slow and painful death. To stay alive and save his friends, Jack will have to battle werewolves, vampires, harpies, trolls, zombies and more. But perhaps the most dangerous thing he must face is the truth about his past. Why do the other hunters call him the last Templar? Why do they whisper that he may be the "One?" Why do the monsters want him dead so badly? Even as these questions plague him, he quickly discovers survival is his new full-time job and that in the world of monster hunters, nothing is really what it seems.


Author Jeff Gunhus

Jeff Gunhus grew up in Cyprus, Greece, and Saudi Arabia where there was a distinct lack of television. He quickly found books were the gateway to incredible adventures, fascinating characters and unbelievable discoveries. Now, with five children of his own (all who watch too much television, in his opinion), he has enjoyed revisiting his old books and reliving those adventures all over again.





Kirkus Reviews

"Gunhus brings young readers a monster-filled romp to read at their own risk. In the first few pages, Jack, the storyteller and main character, warns readers not to read about these real-world monsters that would seem to only exist in fiction. The tone is set--sarcastic, tongue-in-cheek and likable; rooting for Jack is easy...Gunhus masterfully introduces fully realized characters with whom readers can connect almost instantly. The pacing is quick but not rushed, and events seamlessly progress, complete with action, cliff-hangers and surprise reveals. "

Amazon Reviews

Watch out Percy Jackson here comes Jack Templar
Move over Harry Potter and Percy Jackson, there's a new kid in town - Jack Templar, and he will take you on a wonderful adventure of good vs evil, with friends and enemies at every turn. The twists and turns keep the reader on a roller coaster of entertainment in the way of JK Rowling and Rick Riordan. ~ Penny Brein

Fast paced adventure through and through
Written for middle school aged students, this book is action-packed from the beginning and will hold the attention of young readers. Not only that, as an adult reader, it was hard to put down, so parents will enjoy it as an easy read. ~ bluejellybean

Kids will love it!
Not only will kids love it, adults will too! I don't want to give the plot away but this is a book worth reading. This book is creatively written drawing in the reader to be a participant in the story. There is lots of action with enough blood and guts to be interesting without being gross. Girls will like it too with the strong female role models and the hint of romance. Even though this is a children's book, I couldn't put it down. I will definitely be adding this to my classroom library. I am looking forward to reading the book in this series and sharing it with my students. Awesome book! ~ pixiep


Purchase


Book Trailer




WARNING

Yeah, you read it right. I’m a monster hunter. Back before I actually became one, I would have thought that sounded totally awesome. And don’t get me wrong, in a lot of ways it is. But most of the time, I’m either running for my life or hiding in the shadows, praying the monster chasing me doesn’t pick up my scent. And I’m almost always scared to death. In a few pages, I think you’ll see why.
     But there are a few things I need to warn you about before I tell you my story.
     First, this isn’t a cartoon. These are bloodthirsty creatures who will stop at nothing to kill. They are scary. Very scary. Second, the only way to stop them is to kill them first…and that gets gross and messy. Third, this is all real.
     You think I’m kidding, don’t you? I can almost see you smirking as you read this. But this isn’t a joke. Monsters are real and the story I’m about to tell you really happened. If you’d rather walk through life believing that monsters are only found in books or on the movie screen, then you should shut this book right now and go do something else.
     I give you these warnings because the story I’m about to tell you isn’t for everyone. Not everyone can handle it. The blood. The gore. The monsters.
     This life was thrust onto me. I had no choice but to take up a sword and fight. But you can still walk away and pretend this dark world doesn’t exist. Or you can walk through the door that I’m about to open and find out the truth about the world around you.
     But I warn you (and this is a big warning), if you read this book, if you learn about the monsters that roam among us and the hunters who fight them, if you decide to learn the truth, then you will become fair game for the monsters to chase.
     Make sure you understand what I’m saying.
     If you read this book, you will be part of this world and the monsters will come after you too. You will start to see things that no other humans can see. The shadows will move when you walk near them. The creatures of the night will seek you out, testing the doors and windows of your house, looking for a way in.
     And, at some point, they will find you, just like they found me, and you will be forced to defend yourself.
     So, think carefully before you turn the page, because once you do, there’s no turning back.
     Ever.
     Once a monster hunter, always a monster hunter.
     See you on the other side.
     If you’re brave enough.


Book Blast $50 Giveaway
Ends 2/15/13
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
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Entangled Publishing Presents: A Little Bit Wicked





Title: A Little Bit Wicked
Author: Robyn DeHart
Genre: Historical Romance
Length: 229 pages
Release Date: December 2012
ISBN: 978-1-62266-816-8
Imprint: Scandalous






Marcus Kincaid has returned to England after a ten-year absence. His older brother died during that time, making Marcus the Earl of Ashford. Not only that, his younger sister is embroiled in a potential scandal that could ruin her chance at marriage. His aunt has already called in reinforcements—The Paragon.
Vivian March is known simply as The Paragon. She moves through every circle within Society, smoothing out scandals and stopping gossip in its tracks. Everyone in London knows that if she aligns herself with you, Society will forgive you your sins. What they don’t know is that she uses their secrets to cover her own jaded past.
But with every kiss and every touch that Marcus thrusts upon her, Vivian comes to believe life is infinitely more fun when you can be just a little bit wicked…


And now...a few words from our author about A LITTLE BIT WICKED!

 


What was your inspiration for A LITTLE BIT WICKED?

Really it all started with a line of dialogue that popped into my head, "My name is Vivian March and I am the Paragon." I was so intrigued by that and it started me on a line of questions and things just kind of snowballed from that. I started thinking about why she would be called that, if she came up with the name or if it was given to her. Was she really a paragon? What kinds of scandals did she deal with? And then I got to who is her worst nightmare? For Vivian it was Marcus, a man slightly from her past, but one that made her want things she didn't think she could have. 

 

Did you plan to write Vivian March as an older character or was that just the way that she evolved as the novel took shape?

No, I knew she was going to be older. I actually borrowed that from another book I wrote that will never sell. I really loved those characters and the dynamic between the two with her being older. And it fit so well with these characters and set up the Forbidden Love series. I wanted to capitalize on those taboo kinds of relationships and having an older woman/younger man was a great place to start. 

 

Have you ever been to England? If not do you plan to go.

If so, where were some of you favorite places?

I have, but it's been more than 10 years now. I went when I was still in college and while I knew I wanted to write historical romance, I hadn't settled on a time period and I didn't really know what to look for. I did the best "researching" while I was there, but I desperately want to go back. As for my favorite places. I LOVED Warwick Castle, it's everything I'd ever imagined a castle would be. Canterbury was also lovely. I really just loved it all. It's still my favorite vacation I've ever taken. Please don't tell my husband that though. :-)

 

Will we hear more from Marcus and Vivian in later reads?

If not...Do you have books coming out in the same vein?

Yes, book two, A Little Bit Sinful comes out in March (I think) and is about Marcus's younger sister, Clarissa and Justin Rodale, the gaming hell owner that she just can't seem to stay away from. Marcus and Vivian are in that book as well. 

 

 

Thanks so much for having me!

 

 



WTF Are You Reading would like to thank 
authoress extraordinare
Robyn Dehart
and 
Entangled Publishing 
for the opportunity to share
this 5 star romance with the
world! 
 


Author Information


I’m one of those writers who always knew that she wanted to be a writer. It took me a while, however, to figure out precisely what I wanted to write. Reading Kathleen Woodiwiss’ ”A Rose in Winter” sealed the deal for me and I’ve been reading and writing romance ever since. I should have known I was destined for this when my Barbies insisted on hosting elaborate masquerade parties, complete with stolen kisses in the moonlight.
I’m the youngest of three children, so of course I’m the favorite. I was raised in central Texas, in the beautiful Hill Country, right smack-dab between Austin and San Antonio. My parents were high school sweethearts and married a week after my mother graduated – they both needed their parents’ permission to marry since they were so young. So I blame them and their amazing marriage for the fact that I’m a hopeless romantic.
Somewhere along the line, I graduated from college with a degree in Sociology, only after completing an internship with none other than award-winning best-selling author, Pamela Morsi. It was one of the coolest experiences of my life and I learned more about the writing business than I could have hoped.
After college I worked a myriad of jobs: Computer Software Trainer, Recruiter, Administrative Assistant. But no matter what my day job, I come home to my real job and click, click, click away on my computer and get lost in my imaginary world where justice always prevails and the girl always gets her guy! It’s the coolest job in the world.
I’m married to the most amazingly supportive man. He’s so proud of my career, and loves to tell people, “My wife is a romance novelist.” We live in the Austin area, where my husband is a university professor. He’s ridiculously smart, but remains goofy enough to make me laugh every day. We’re the parents of two beautiful and precocious little girls who keep me quite busy during the day. We also have two very spoiled cats who are of no help at all when it comes to my writing, although they sometimes nap in the same room where I sit diligently working.
I’ve published seven historicals, all of which have received great reviews and a handful of them have won awards. I love to hear from readers,
so feel free to send me an email or you can find me online at The Sisterhood of the Jaunty Quills, or, Peanut Butter on the Keyboard, my newest blogging endeavor that’s all about writing moms or moms who write. You can also find me on my Facebook or my Facebook Author page and on Twitter. I’m everywhere!

Author Website:  http://www.robyndehart.com/

 
Thanks again for visiting my stop on A LITTLE BIT WICKED tour.
To see other posts in the tour or for more information about Robyn or Entangled Publishing
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