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William L. Stuart

author of The Gemstone Chronicles Series

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The Gemstone Chronicles

Elements by Nia Markos – My Review!!

December 21, 2020 by Bill Stuart Leave a Comment

Elements – My Review!!

As an indie author, I like supporting other Indies by buying, reading, and reviewing their work. I took a look at The Independent Author Network looking for fantasy to read. I found Elements (The Crystal Series Book One) by Nia Markos. Here are my thoughts!

Elements by Nia Markos Cover

Synopsis (from the author):

“What would you do if you suddenly discovered that nothing about life was as you thought it was and all your choices seem to have been made for you centuries before you were born? That’s the reality young Alexa faces, and how well she copes will determine the fate of her world and that of the preternatural. Now, if only someone would explain what is going on!”

For eighteen-year-old Alexa finding a place to put down roots after being forced into a nomadic life by her paranoid mother was not as simple as she had believed. Her attempt to settle down in the coastal town of Beverly comes to an abrupt halt. Within months an explosion levels her apartment building, and all her preconceived ideas of her world come to an end.

Now on the run, Alexa can only follow Bet, her roommate, into the unknown, where the worlds of the Sidhe race of faeries, warlocks, daemons, and shadows, threaten her very existence.

Pulled into a prophecy that she together with Aidan, the Sidhe Prince, would right their worlds, Alexa finds herself fighting against the prophecy’s telling of her being bound to Aidan. What makes it worse is her increasing attachment to his brother Liam.

With her destiny set centuries ago, can she save their worlds in time, does she have a choice in whom to love, or will choosing her own path lead to their destruction?

What I liked about Elements:

There is much to like about Elements. It has a familiar feel to it (though I haven’t read any of Nia Markos’ work before). Being of Irish and Scot descent, stories of the Sidhe fascinate me and the way Nia Markos worked them into the story was excellent. Alexa is a good character, and Aidan plays his role well. Liam, too, figures prominently into the story. All told, an entertaining fantasy novel and a good start to the series.

What I didn’t like about Elements:

Although I enjoyed the story, Alexa and Aidan approach to their relationship and the constant reference to it got a bit old. In addition, Eliana’s character was too flat to me and needed to be fleshed out more.

Overall impression of Elements:

Nice story, good characters, the underlying conflict, and Alexa’s growth into her powers made Elements an enjoyable book! If you like YA fantasy, read this one!

My rating:

4 Stars

Connect with Nia Markos:

Find Nia Markos on her Amazon Author page, Goodreads page, or on her website! While visiting, please consider buying a book or two and leaving a review!

Connect with me:

Find me on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, and Pinterest and say hello! Let’s talk books, submarines, quantum physics, or conspiracy theories. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to the blog!

Filed Under: Recommendations and Reviews, The Gemstone Chronicles, William L Stuart

Water Creatures In America??

December 2, 2020 by Bill Stuart Leave a Comment

If my readers recall, Lana and I visited Scotland for our 30th anniversary and we had a blast. We visited St. Andrews, Rosslyn Chapel, Edinburg Castle (complete with tea), and much more. I even got a picture of me wearing a kilt standing next the River Ness in Inverness! Great memories, indeed. One of our favorite spots was Loch Ness. We drove around much of the loch (which is quite a trip given the loch is about 24 miles long). Unfortunately, we didn’t see Nessie, the most famous of water creatures, but it was still an amazing visit.

American Water Creatures:

Chessie:

Why am I bring up Nessie and Loch Ness? Did you know in the United States, we have sightings of our American versions of Nessie! Probably the most famous of the American unknown water creatures is Chessie. Said to reside in the Chesapeake Bay, Chessie was first sighted in 1936 by a military helicopter. Since then, there have been more sightings, including one that turned out to be a manatee! The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uses Chessie in their efforts to raise awareness of the Chesapeake Bay area and the need to protect its resources. I couldn’t find a picture of Chessie.

Champ:

 Similarly, Lake Champlain on the New York – Vermont border (and extending into Quebec, CA) has Champ or Champy. Champ was first sighted in 1819, when a Captain Crum claimed to see a sea serpent and the account made the local newspaper. Other sightings were reported and prompted P. T. Barnum to offer a reward for anyone who could bring him the monster. Apparently, he never had to pay the reward. Like Chessie, I couldn’t find a good picture of Champ to share.

Altamaha-ha:

Altamaha-Ha Water Creature Drawing
Altamaha – Ha Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)

My favorite of the American creatures is Altamaha-ha! This creature lives in the Altamaha River in Southeast Georgia near Darien. The river, which empties into the Atlantic near Brunswick, GA, is the third largest fresh water source feeding into the Atlantic. According to local legend, Altamaha-ha is 20-30 feet long, with the head of a snake. Others describe it as a mix between an alligator, a sturgeon, and a seal.

I’m sure there are legends of other water creatures in the U. S. and around the world. Please forgive me if I didn’t mention your favorite. While Nessie remains the most famous of them, I thought these others deserved a mention.

What do you think? Are these just myths or are they real? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Connect with me:

I’m on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, and Pinterest, so find me and let’s connect! Don’t miss a post, either. Subscribe to the blog! As always, shares, likes, and comments are welcome!

Filed Under: Cool Things, The Gemstone Chronicles, William L Stuart

Dragon Thunder by J. S. Burke – My Review!!

November 3, 2020 by Bill Stuart Leave a Comment

I read the first two books of the Dragon Dreamer series (The Dragon Dreamer and Dragon Lightning) and enjoyed both! When J.S. Burke released Dragon Thunder, I added it to my TBR list. It’s up now for review and here are my thoughts!

Dragon Thunder by J. S. Burke Cover
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08B49F7SM

Synopsis (from the author):

Drakor foresees the doom of dragons, but Mardor refuses to listen. No one thinks the youngster will challenge this huge, powerful ruler!
Now Drakor is the unexpected leader in a new world, where deadly problems grow faster than the unnatural storms. And as hard as it was to win that terrible fight, leading is harder. As Mardor incites a rebellious clan, Drakor questions everything. How can the clan survive if they can’t work together? And can he survive another brutal fight with that giant?

As the world plunges into winter, Arak and Scree offer their help. But Drakor’s seafaring friends face their own threats. Only one thing is clear: Everyone is in danger.

What I liked about Dragon Thunder:

I enjoyed the trip back to the worlds of dragons and octopuses! This one doesn’t involve Scree and Arak as much, but they play important roles. This book delves into the leadership growth of Drakor and the Ice Dragons. With lots of action in a new world, dangers that lurk around each corner, and challenges growing daily, Drakor’s trials make for good reading! If you enjoy a bit of dragon fantasy, read Dragon Thunder!

What I didn’t like about Dragon Thunder:

My only complaint was Mardor’s repeated insubordinate actions. One or two would have sufficed, but I thought more than that was unnecessary and distracted from the story.

Overall impression of Dragon Thunder:

As with the rest of the series, Dragon Thunder entertained me! I enjoyed getting to know Drakor more and liked the way he solved problems. If you like dragons, conflict, and a good story, read this one!

My rating:

5 Stars

Connect with J. S. Burke:

Find J. S. Burke on her website, her Amazon Author page, and her Goodreads page. While you’re there, consider leaving a review or a comment (and maybe buy a book of two)!

Connect with me:

I’m on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, and Pinterest. Find me and let’s connect! If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to the blog. As always, likes and shares are greatly appreciated!

Filed Under: Recommendations and Reviews, The Gemstone Chronicles, William L Stuart

The Gemstone Chronicles: An Update!!

September 21, 2020 by Bill Stuart Leave a Comment

I haven’t done an update on The Gemstone Chronicles in a while, but I have news!

The Gemstone Chronicles Book One: The Carnelian by William L Stuart

The Gemstone Chronicles Book One: The Carnelian:

My first book celebrated its eighth birthday in August. Hard to believe it has been that long since it was published. Along the way, it garnered an Indie BRAG medallion and a Readers’ Favorite Bronze Medal. Though it has yet to reach bestseller status, it has knocked on the door a number of times, so you never know!

The Carnelian is listed on www.YABooksCentral.com (along with the rest of the series) and has been viewed over 14,000 times! Not bad, in my opinion (though I may be a little biased about the book). Lastly, it has 92 ratings and reviews on Amazon with 4.4 Stars on average!

The Gemstone Chronicles Book Two: The Amethyst

The Gemstone Chronicles Book Two: The Amethyst:

The second book of the series also received an Indie BRAG medallion in 2020! Proud moment for me to have two books listed on www.bragmedallion.com!

I entered The Amethyst in the 2020 Readers’ Favorite contest and received Finalist recognition. No medal for this one, but still quite an honor!

The book has over 5,000 views on YA Books Central and 26 ratings and reviews on Amazon with 4.6 Stars on average

The Gemstone Chronicles Book 3: The Emerald:

I haven’t submitted The Emerald for any contests, but I think I will the next time Indie Brag opens for submissions and may submit to Readers’ Favorite in 2021. Stay tuned for the results!

As I mentioned above, the book is listed on YA Books Central and has over 4600 views. Amazon has 12 ratings and reviews with 4.8 stars on average.

The Gemstone Chronicles Book Four: The Ruby:

Like The Emerald, I have submitted the final book of the series for any contests. I plan to submit to both Indie Brag and Readers’ Favorite, so we’ll see what happens.

On YA Books Central, The Ruby needs a couple hundred more views to reach HOT status like the rest of the books, but it still has over 3,000 views. If you happen to be on the website, give it a look! Ratings and reviews wise, the book has 7, but all are 5 Star! If you’ve read it, reviews would be greatly appreciated!

There you have my update on the books. I’m working (slowly) on a new book, but that’s a topic for another post! Stay tuned for updates.

Connect with me:

Don’t miss any of my blog posts. Subscribe to the blog. Find me on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, and Pinterest and say hi and let’s connect!

Filed Under: The Gemstone Chronicles, William L Stuart Tagged With: BRAG medallion, fantasy adventure, fantasy author, fiction, Readers Favorite, The Amethyst, The Carnelian, The Emerald, The Gemstone Chronicles, The Ruby, William L Stuart Author

The Cloisonné Brooch by Kat Drennan – My Review!!

September 9, 2020 by Bill Stuart Leave a Comment

Every now and then I step outside my normal genres and read something new. This selection is no exception. The Cloisonné Brooch: A Serpent’s Coil Time Travel Romance was in my recommendations, so I decided to try it. Here are my thoughts!

Synopsis (from the author):

Tessa Madigan’s perfect world turns upside down when she finds a cache of old jewelry sealed in the wall of the Balboa Island home left to her by her Uncle Theo.


Most of the jewelry matches the description of artifacts stolen from a museum during WWII. The only piece missing is the Cloisonné Brooch. The smart thing would be to report the find to the authorities. However, metallurgist by trade, romantic at heart, Tessa can’t resist trying on a serpent bracelet from the cache. With a warm, almost imperceptible slither from her wrist to her biceps, the serpent tightens and a cloudy veil lifts from a window into the past. There is a slave girl being sold at auction, a sensual encounter with a powerful Praetorian guard, and her own hands drenched in blood. She rips the bracelet off her arm and vows never to put it on again.

Was it a kooky dream brought on by too much whisky during Friday Night fun with her boyfriend, Phillip? Or does the serpent’s coil have a dangerous, irresistible power? Wrapped in Phillip’s arms, she can believe in the dream. But the moment he leaves, she can’t shake the feeling she was involved in something terrible. Shaken to her core, she can’t help believing Uncle Theo hid the jewelry for a reason. What happened to the Cloisonne Brooch? Is she responsible for someone’s death in the ancient past? She can’t rest until she knows the truth.

What I liked:

The Cloisonné Brooch was a different take on time travel and I enjoyed it. Tessa’s dreams (or were they simply dreams?) made for a great transition between the past and present. Add to it the heat between Phillip and Tessa and Marcus and Kindra, throw in a splash of murder, a little ancient palace intrigue, and all the elements are there for a great story! No spoilers from me, so read the book and find out for yourself!

What I didn’t like:

I never really understood how one character (again, no spoilers from me) got to the present time and Kindra and Marcus’ fates were unsatisfying.

Overall impression:

The Cloisonné Brooch took a different approach to time travel. I enjoyed the interwoven story from today to the ancient past. If time travel romance is your go to genre, or if you are looking for something different to read, this is a book for you!

My rating:

4 Stars

Connect with Kat Drennan:

Find Kat on her Amazon Author Page, her website, or her Goodreads page! Check out The Cloisonné Brooch and her other books (maybe buy a few). While there, consider leaving a review or a comment. I know she’ll appreciate it!

Connect with me:

I’m on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, and Pinterest. Say hi and let’s connect!

Filed Under: Recommendations and Reviews, Reviews, The Gemstone Chronicles, William L Stuart Tagged With: book review, cloisonne, Constantine, Kat Drennan, romance, The Cloisonné Brooch, The Gemstone Chronicles, William L Stuart. Author

Trouble at Fatting House – My Review!!

August 11, 2020 by Bill Stuart Leave a Comment

I’ve read a couple of Diana J. Febry’s books, including Trouble at Clencher’s Mill, the first of Kate and Simon’s adventures. I enjoyed it and added Trouble at Fatting House to my TBR list. Here are my thoughts!

Trouble at Fatting House by Diana J. Febry Cover

Synopsis (from the author):

Simon and Kate land the perfect house-sitting job in a quirky, old farmhouse.
But, when the neighbours are murdered, they discover the house has a sinister past connected to an identical killing.
Following another attack, Simon disappears, and the police uncover disturbing secrets about his past.
Compelling evidence against Simon mounts, leaving Kate alone, unsure what to believe or who to trust. Is Simon the killer? Or a pawn in somebody else’s game?
As Kate closes in on the truth, she realises too late that the stakes are far higher than she ever imagined. 

What I liked about Trouble at Fatting House:

As with the first book, I liked Simon’s and Kate’s characters. Add in the new information regarding Kate’s deceased husband, the intrigue of the murders of the neighbors, and Simon’s disappearance, and you have all the ingredients for an entertaining cozy mystery. How does it all play out? You’ll have to read Trouble at Fatting House to find out!

What I didn’t like about Trouble at Fatting House:

The police actions were too stereotypical for my liking. Didn’t distract from the story much, but it was a small point. Other than that, no complaints from me.

Overall impression of Trouble at Fatting House:

I liked Trouble at Fatting House! While cozy mysteries are not my favorite genre, a little diversion from time to time is refreshing and this book provided it! If you enjoy cozy mysteries, read this one!

My rating:

4.5 Stars (rounded to 5 Stars)

Connect with Diana J. Febry:

Find Diana J. Febry on her Goodreads page or her Amazon Author page. Discover her many books (maybe buy a few) and consider leaving a review or a comment.

Connect with me:

I’m on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, and Pinterest. Let’s connect!

Filed Under: Recommendations and Reviews, Reviews, The Gemstone Chronicles, William L Stuart Tagged With: book, cozy mystery, Diana J Febry, ebook, fiction, mystery, review, reviews, suspense, The Gemstone Chronicles, Trouble at Fatting House, William L Stuart. Author

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