Hi, lovelies! It gives me great pleasure today to host S. R.
Cronin and her new book, “Layers of Light”!
For other stops on her Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tour, please click
on the banner above or any of the images in this post.
Be sure to make it to the
end of this post to enter to win a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Card AND
a Kindle eBook copy of “Twists of Time,” the third book in the 46. Ascending
Book Series!! Also, come back daily to
interact with S. R. and to increase your chances of winning!
Thanks for stopping
by! Wishing you lots of luck in this
fabulous giveaway!
Layers of Light
by S. R. Cronin
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GENRE: Science Fiction/Fantasy
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BLURB:
A
Texan teenager develops an unusual ability when she becomes an exchange student
in India. Once human trafficking touches her world, her mysterious talent shows
hope for locating her friends. If she only knew what the talent was and how to
use it.
A
stranger makes her an unexpected offer. He will train her to find her missing
friends, but she will need trust in ideas she barely believes and more courage
than has ever been expected of her. Also, she’ll never be normal again.
She
accepts his offer, intending to show those guilty of unspeakable crimes just
how powerful a young woman can be.
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EXCERPT TWO:
“Just
wear what makes you comfortable,” Teddie said.
“No.”
Michelle shook her head. “If she really wants to get into this class, she needs
to show up looking good. These are young guys; they’re not going to turn away
an attractive female they think they can hit on.”
“It’s
not right for her to do that,” Teddie said.
“Come
on. She’s already at a disadvantage having to plead to get in, in the first
place. She’s a way better climber than anyone in this class is gonna be. She
should use any advantage she can get.” Michelle was as adamant.
“It
might work against her,” Usha said. “Attractive women make some men nervous,
and it doesn’t help that she’s foreign and underage. I think she should look as
ugly as she can, so they think of her as another male.”
“I
don’t think she should try to look anything,” Teddie said. “She needs to ignore
the fact that she’s female.”
“How
the hell does she do that?” Michelle answered with a gesture at Haley’s long
shapely legs.
“This
is just stupid,” Haley spoke up as she pushed the entire pile of rejected
outfits onto the floor. “I want to climb mountains, not play inane mind games.
Did you know slime mold has over five-hundred different genders? Right now, it
would be easier to be slime mold.”
“You
wish to be mold?” Usha was incredulous.
“She’s
joking, Usha.”
“Jeans
and a flannel shirt. No cleavage, no makeup.” Haley had made up her mind.
“Good
hair and tight jeans?” Michelle suggested.
“Good
hair and my normal jeans which aren’t exactly unflattering.”
“And
your best smile,” Teddie added. “When they see how bad you want this, who is
going to deny you?”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MY BOOK REVIEW:
I was thrilled to catch back up with the Zeitman family and join
them on another adventure!
This book is jam packed with science fiction, fantasy, action,
adventure, mystery, suspense, intrigue, and real-world issues!!!
This book is intriguing, captivating, compelling,
well-researched, with complex characters, and skillfully crafted plot points!!!
This
is the fourth book I’ve read from the talented writer, S. R. Cronin. Over the past few months, I have had the
privilege of delving into her Book Series, 46. Ascending and reading the first
three books. I really enjoyed them, so I
was excited to read her latest work – which also happens to fall in the same
series. “Layers of Light,” is Book Four in
the 46. Ascending Book Series.
Like with the rest of this book series, this book follows the
Zeitman family. This particular book
focuses on the daughter, Teddie and a semester she studies abroad in India with
her best friend, Michelle.
I
really like Teddie’s persistence to want to help her friends and rescue them. Teddie is still new to her family’s hidden
special talents as well as being unfamiliar with her own gift and how to use
it. Teddie’s special ability is being
able to have a psychic connection by communicating telepathically and have out
of body experiences. This is exactly the
type of skill she needs to track down her missing friends that have recently
been taken before they are gone forever.
However, Teddie isn’t sure how to control this power so when a stranger
offers her guidance to train her, she knows she must trust him, if she going to
be able to save her friends in time.
I found myself
completely wrapped up with the characters and immersed in their storylines!!!
I couldn’t help but cheer for Teddie and the safe return of her
friends!!!
Like
with the other books in this series, there are many characters thrown at you at
the beginning of the book and it’s somewhat difficult to determine who to pay attention
to and remember all their details. However,
it isn’t long before the book mellows out enough that you’re able to catch up
and realize what you need to know. Besides,
that’s Cronin’s writing style and although perhaps chaotic at first, I’m not
sure I’d change it, because that’s her signature.
I really enjoyed reading this book as it shined
light on the grotesque, but ever so realistic issues of current day human and
sex trafficking. As a Community Health Professional
this topic has always been near and dear to my heart and I’ve had the personal opportunity
to work with trafficking victims. This
is a real matter that is affecting our country – yes, the USA, and it is NOT
something that is going away overnight. It will take years – decades at least to overcome
– but it’s something we need to stop saying doesn’t happen here and that it only
happens overseas. And we need to stop
saying it only happens to prostitutes and drug addicts and party girls; because
straight-A schoolgirls are being taken. I
live in Portland, Oregon, which has one of the highest human and sex trafficking
rates in the country. Anyone – male or
female can be taken and thrown into human and sex trafficking!!! I really appreciated that this book painted
an honest, genuine account and didn’t sugar coat what these victims truly go
through. There are some very dark
elements of abuse on mental, physical, and emotional levels that stay with
these survivors for the rest of their lives.
It’s important not to forget them or what they've been through. It's important to finally do something and get involved.
Cronin’s book’s provide
real-life quandaries that inspire you to think, empathize, and connect with the
characters.
There is so much going on
in this book – and all in just 330 pages!!!
I love the in-depth
amount of research the author did while constructing this book. It was clear she was very familiar and
well-versed on the culture, customs, and traditions of India and Thailand. The author provided so much detail and such
vivid descriptions it made the scenes easy to picture.
I think one of my favorite things about Mrs. Cronin’s writing is
her research. I always seem to learn
something from her books, and I know when she writes something in context there
is no need to check her references. She always
seems to find a way to tell a sci-fi fantasy story with real facts and intriguing
educational content.
Mrs. Cronin’s tenacity for providing accurate and authentic
facts truly takes her writing skills to the next level.
This book genre is marketed as a science fiction/fantasy book
and yet the author found a way to throw in adventure, mystery, intrigue, and suspense
elements into the book. It definitely
added a fascinating extra component to the story!
I
really liked all the additions to the book besides the story. This book included a map of Southern Asia. This book also included a list of resources
the author used while researching and writing this book that includes songs,
cultural, historical, and scientific information, etc. The website links and books are listed for
easy access to follow up on the data. Also,
at the end of this book is a list of all the places mentioned in the book and a
short description of how they played into the book. In addition, at the end of this book is a
list of characters names and their role in the book. These additions provided readers a little
something extra. Plus, it allows the
reader the chance to decide if they want to follow up with more information instead
of having too much information forced on them.
This
book is book four in the 46. Ascending Book Series. It can be read as a standalone. There is a total of six books in this book
series and all them have already been released for sale. All six books feature the Zeitman family and
their special abilities. According to
the author, all of these books in this series can be read as a standalone.
All in all, I really enjoyed reading this book and would
absolutely recommend it! I think all
science fiction and fantasy readers will like this book too! So, add it to your TBR List and get to
reading - you won't be disappointed!
I will be reading and reviewing additional books in this series and look forward to sharing my take on those books with you soon!
**WARNING** Please note that this book does contain non-graphic
mature content and references to human trafficking and the sex trade.
Did you find this review helpful?
If so, please, please, please mark it as
helpful on Amazon here:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/review/R37TLGLAGOIUFK
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NEED HELP???:
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call 911.
If you believe you may have information about a trafficking
situation:
Call the National Human Trafficking Toll-free Hotline:
1-888-373-7888
Text the National Human Trafficking Hotline: 233733
Chat the National Human Trafficking Hotline via:
Submit a tip online through the anonymous online reporting form
via:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GET INVOLVED!!!:
January is considered Human Trafficking Awareness Month, but you
can help ANYTIME!!!
A21 Website:
They provide safe houses, career instruction, and counseling for
recovered victims.
The National Human Trafficking Website:
Youth Ending Slavery Website:
The Covenant House Website:
https://www.covenanthouse.org/homeless-issues/human-trafficking
Unicef USA Website:
The Muse – Take Action: 7 Ways to Join the Fight Against Human
Trafficking Article:
https://www.themuse.com/advice/take-action-7-ways-to-join-the-fight-against-human-trafficking
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR BIO:
Sherrie Roth grew
up in Western Kansas thinking there was no place in the universe more
fascinating than outer space. After her mother vetoed astronaut as a career
ambition, she went on to study journalism and physics in hopes of becoming a
science writer.
She
published her first science fiction short story long ago, and then waited a lot
of tables while she looked for inspiration for the next story. When it finally
came, it declared to her it had to be a whole book, nothing less. One night,
while digesting this disturbing piece of news, she drank way too many shots of
ouzo with her boyfriend. She woke up thirty-one years later demanding to know
what was going on.
The
boyfriend, who she had apparently long since married, asked her to calm down
and explained how, in a fit of practicality, she had gone back to school and
gotten a degree in geophysics and spent the last 28 years interpreting seismic
data in the oil industry. The good news, according to Mr. Cronin, was that she
had found it to be entertaining and ridiculously well-paying. The bad news was
the two of them had still managed to spend almost all of the money.
Apparently
she was now Mrs. Cronin, and further good news was that they had produced three
wonderful children whom they loved, even though, to be honest, that was where a
lot of the money had gone. Even better news was that Mr. Cronin turned out to
be a warm-hearted, encouraging sort who was happy to see her awake and ready to
write. "It's about time," were his exact words.
Sherrie
Cronin discovered that over the ensuing decades Sally Ride had already managed
to become the first woman in space and apparently had done a fine job of it. No
one, however, had written the book that had been in Sherrie's head for decades.
The only problem was, the book informed her it had now grown into a six book
collection. Sherrie decided she better start writing it before it got any
longer. She's been wide awake ever since, and writing away.
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CONNECT WITH S.
R.:
Blog – 46 Ascending:
Blog – Face Painting for World Peace:
Blog – Fire Dancing for Fun and Profit:
Blog – Treasure Hunting for a Good Time:
Blog – Leaving the Nest to Touch the Sky:
Blog – Touching the Sky to Save the World:
Email:
lola.zeitman@gmail.com
Facebook:
Twitter:
Goodreads Author Page:
Goodreads Book Page:
Amazon Author Page:
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BOOK BUY LINKS:
Amazon Kindle eBook:
Amazon Paperback:
The Book Depository Paperback:
BAM! Books-A-Million Paperback:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY INFO:
S. R. will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC and a
kindle copy of Twists of Time (the third book in the 46. Ascending Collection)
to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.
**This post contains affiliate links and if clicked and a
purchase is made, I may receive a small commission to help support this
blog. This does not cost you anything,
it just helps pay for all those awesome giveaways on here.**
This contest is sponsored
by a third party. Fabulous and Brunette is a registered host of Goddess Fish
Promotions. Prizes are given away by the
sponsors and not Fabulous and Brunette. The featured author and Goddess Fish
Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.
Sherrie ~ Good morning! Welcome back! As always it is a pleasure to have you here! Congrats on your new book and good luck on the book tour! I really enjoyed reading and reviewing your book, thanks for providing the copy! :)
ReplyDeleteHi Ally. Thanks for hosting me and thanks for the review. Also a huge thank you for posting the info on how to help fight human trafficking. I truly appreciate your passion for reaching out to these victims! And, as always, it is a great pleasure to be here on your blog.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good book.
ReplyDeleteThanks Rita!
DeleteNice review. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDelete