Freckles: The Dark Wizard by Jerry Harwood - Book Tour - Book Review - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Hi, lovelies!!  It gives me great pleasure today to host Jerry Harwood and his new book, “Freckles: The Dark Wizard,” here on FAB!!  For other stops on his 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 ONE of TWO Autographed Print Copies of the Featured Book!!  That’s right – there will be TWO lucky winners!!  Also, come back daily to interact with Jerry and to increase your chances of winning!!

Thanks for stopping by!!  Wishing you all lots of good luck in this fabulous giveaway!!

Please note that this giveaway is only open to US residents.  Sorry INTL – please check out the other giveaways on this blog for your chance to win!!

Freckles: The Dark Wizard

by Jerry Harwood

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GENRE:  MG Fantasy

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BLURB:

At Flame Rock Middle School, you show off your big biceps, post your dimples on InstaWitch, grow a cheetah tail, or use your fairy wings to fly down the hall. For Simon, wearing his peers' opinions can be a literal event. Especially since Simon has the visible mark of a weak wizard... freckles. What will happen when Simon learns he has dark magic and can conjure a dragon? Will he become one of the bullies he hated or choose a different path?

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EXCERPT ONE:

At least at school Simon was visible. Dean Abacus stood at the front door. He didn’t tolerate middle school foolishness, or at least not whenever he could stop it. As students approached he would welcome them. He would also clear his throat if anyone was out of dress code, had misshapen features, or was trying to pass as some humanoid animal combination.

Dean Abacus harrumphed as one boy walked in. He had tried to hide a pair of eagle wings with a large coat. The coat shrank two sizes as the wings avaporated. Evaporated is when something turns from a liquid into a vapor. Avaporated is when a wizard turns from his or her projected form to the person’s natural form. A person would also avaporate if a local wizard’s or group of wizards’ projection was stronger than the person. Adult wizards seldom had such issues, but young wizards in middle school often found their imagecast informed by others. Adults, such as Dean Abacus, were powerful enough to avaporate any form they thought to be too silly whether it was by the students’ doing or someone else’s. They also tried to keep students from avaporating into anything too dangerous. The dean, while stern, also had a soft side. Dean Abacus tilted his glasses down to the edge of his nose and looked at Simon’s sister.

“Tabitha? Purple hair?”

“Dean, it isn’t against dress code. I mean, what if this was my natural color?”

Dean Abacus smiled and then looked to Simon. “Oh, Simon, how are you this morning!”

“Just glad to be off the bus,” Simon mumbled.

“I didn’t even see you get off the bus. But come on in. You will need to return your color to normal.”

Dean Abacus harrumphed again and Simon watched his faded skin return to its normal, pasty white. As color returned, so did the freckles along his arm. “And those torn jeans will not do.”

The dean pointed his finger and Simon’s jeans mended where the goat had gnawed a hole.

“You boys and your weird fashions,” Dean Abacus said, largely to himself.

Entering the hallway, Simon saw Danzig, and his stomach churned. Simon could see Danzig’s lips curling in preparation to call him names. Simon changed direction and walked over to the corner where the lost and found table was. He shuffled through smelly t-shirts, single socks, and twelve vacuum-packed frogs. He tried to look like he was genuinely looking for something. Danzig, with his buddies Krull and Cedrick, finally made their way down the hall. Simon waited another minute before heading toward his homeroom, just in case the three boys were waiting on him.

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MY BOOK REVIEW:

This book, "Freckles: The Dark Wizard," is a fun, intriguing, entertaining, empowering middle grade read!!

This book portrays many strong, valuable life lessons and morals that are sure to teach, inspire, and resonate with young readers.

This book follows Simon, a seventh grader at Flame Rock Middle School. Simon, is covered in freckles, a sign of a weak wizard, which often makes him the perfect bullying target.

I really enjoyed the story line and the author's concept of cleverly crafting a fun and exciting fantasy read full of important, relevant lessons about growing up, individuality, being true to yourself, self-confidence, self-awareness, bullying, peer pressure, and many others.

Mr. Harwood's skills of working with children as a teacher and camp director uniquely allow for him to quickly connect with young readers and create a compelling read they are sure to enjoy.

All in all, I really enjoyed reading this book and would absolutely recommend it!! I think all young, middle grade readers will like this book too!! So, add it to your TBR List and get to reading – you won’t be disappointed!!

**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book and have voluntarily provided an honest and unbiased review in accordance with FTC regulations**

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AUTHOR BIO:

Jerry Harwood was born in Ooltewah, TN. His mother was an elementary school teacher and he spent his afternoons reading books in her classroom or the nearby library. He has experimented with other occupations: camp director, program director at a counseling center, college professor and middle school teacher. Jerry has backpacked Europe, taught in a Ukrainian University, worked in Rwanda after the genocide, is a first responder, sort-of remodeled a VW Thing, and has a love for Cherry Coke Zero that is only surpassed by his love for his wife, six children, and grandson.

Jerry attended college at UT Chattanooga where he was in university honors and majored in Latin and classical literature.  He has two master’s degrees, nearing completion on a third.  He lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he is an active member of the Chattanooga Writer’s Guild, the Atlanta Writer’s Club, and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

Feel free to share your thoughts on the book with Jerry at JerryHarwoodBooks@gmail.com or visit his website at www.jerryharwood.com.

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CONNECT WITH JERRY:

Website:

https://www.jerryharwood.com

Blog:

https://www.circumlocution.net

Email:

JerryHarwoodBooks@gmail.com

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20295900.Jerry_Harwood

Goodreads Book Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58999909-freckles

Amazon Author Page:

https://amzn.to/3bmd3dp

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AMAZON BOOK BUY LINKS & BOOK SALE INFO:

**Freckles: The Dark Wizard eBook is on SALE for ONLY $0.99 during the book tour!!!**

Amazon US Kindle eBook:

https://amzn.to/3byaDsa

Amazon US Paperback:

https://amzn.to/3HXY99A

Amazon US Audiobook:

https://amzn.to/3a40281

Amazon CA Kindle eBook:

https://www.amazon.ca/Freckles-Dark-Wizard-Jerry-Harwood-ebook/dp/B09G3D38Q6

Amazon CA Paperback:

https://www.amazon.ca/Freckles-Dark-Wizard-Jerry-Harwood/dp/1734787414

Amazon CA Audiobook:

https://www.amazon.ca/Audible-Freckles-The-Dark-Wizard/dp/B09NMRY2ZC

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GIVEAWAY INFO:

Jerry will be awarding TWO Autographed Print Copies of the Featured Book, “Freckles: The Dark Wizard,” (U.S. only), to TWO randomly drawn winners via Rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**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 fabulous community outreach projects and 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.