Jealousy Glass by Gwen Perkins Book Review/Blog Tour

Book Blurb:

"We came to stop a war before it came to Cercia. And it seems the war has come to us."

Responsibility and patriotism spur Cercia's new leader, Quentin, to protect his beloved country at all costs and he assigns Asahel and Felix to serve as ambassadors and secret agents to Anjdur. Their journey quickly turns awry and Asahel and Felix barely escape a devastating shipwreck, walk a tightrope of political tension, and rescue an empress before they learn they must face an enemy closer to them than they thought.

Will they be able to uncover an assassin's plot before it's too late? Will Asahel be able to unearth a secret that is vital to their mission? Will Cercia survive its own revolution? In The Jealousy Glass, Perkins boldly continues a series of unforgettable characters and events that will leave you begging for more.

My Thoughts:

Jealousy Glass is the second book in the Artifacts of Empire series by Gwen Perkins. I didn't read the previous book in the series, The Universal Mirror. I feel that put my at a disadvantage as far as fully enjoying and fully understanding the novel. There was background information I felt I was missing and I did feel like I started in the middle of a story. That is no fault of the authors, but mine alone for missing out on the first book. I was still able to follow the story and enjoy it to some extent, I do however recommend reading the first book if you plan on reading The Jealousy Glass. Overall, I thought this was a good adventure novel and I enjoyed getting to know the two main characters Asahel and Felix along the way. I will probably go back and read the first book, so I can continue the series when Perkins adds more to the series. I would recommend this book to someone who enjoys a good adventure type novel.

About the Author:

Gwen Perkins has always regarded the deep rainforest of the Olympic Peninsula as the one place that she feels most at home. Gwen grew up in small towns across the Pacific Northwest, going to slug races and strawberry festivals when she wasn't scribbling on any scrap of paper she could come by. She boasts the dubious distinction of going to a public school with only eight students, learning Irish sea chanteys from a man who sang with the Clancy Brothers, and catching tadpoles during classes.


Her adult life is generally just about as much fun.


She lives in the City of Destiny (better known as Tacoma, Washington). Her hobbies include wandering beaches, baking pies and lampworking. In between all of this, Gwen has written two novels in the Artifacts of Empire series: The Universal Mirror and The Jealousy Glass. The Universal Mirror has been nominated for a 2013 Endeavour Award.


She is presently at work on future novels in the Artifacts of Empire series while working on another series in collaboration with Wilson Fabián Saravia.

Buy The Jealousy Glass on Amazon

Read the first book in the Artifacts of Empire series The Universal Mirror



Connect with Gwen Perkins on Facebook
Connect with  Gwen Perkins on Twitter
Connect with Gwen Perkins on Goodreads

Check out the Artifacts of Empire website

*Disclosure- I received a complimentary copy of the book in hopes that I might mention it on my blog. I was not  required to render a positive review and all opinions are 100% my own.

The Company by Chuck Graham Book Review/Blog Tour

About The Company-

A meteor strike plunges the world into darkness. A stranger to the village of Brigos Glen restores power and light, supplied by three businesses, known as “The Company,” located beyond the forbidden mountains. The stranger reveals a plan so the Brigons can maintain thepower and share the light with outlying territories, which remain shrouded in darkness.

Now, seventy years later, The Company summons six Brigons, including the young engineer Sam Mitchell, to attend a conference in themountains of the forbidden Outlands. 

Responsible for compiling a report about Brigos Glen from his five companions, Sam learns how managers and villagers largely ignored theplan or compromised it to self-interest, forsaking their duty to share the light. They also took for granted The Company responsible for generating and transmitting the power.

In an ordeal fraught with failure, revelations, and judgment, Sam discovers the true identity behind The Company and learns the fate that may befall Brigos Glen . . . that is, unless he can stop it.

My Thoughts- 

I thought the concept of this book sounded fabulous, a modern day parable about the trinity. However, I found the book to be lacking. I felt like it was a drawn out story for an explanation that didn't occur until the last few pages of the book. I think there was a great idea behind the book and I liked the characters. I liked the entire concept of the book, just for me, I felt like there was something missing. I also thought it got off to a slow start, but I did appreciate the back story of how the "Last Day" went down. I felt like the book definitely picked up in the middle and continued to hold my attention to the very end.  I did think it was a good read overall, on a scale of 1 to 5, I would give it a 3. Of course, we all known opinions differ, so check it out for yourself and see what YOU think!

Purchase The Company on Amazon.

About Chuck Graham

Chuck Graham's legal career as an attorney in private practice spanned more than thirty-one years. He represented many local, national, and international clients, acquiring intricate knowledge about the often-overlapping structures of the corporate world. He also worked against those seeking to create racial division, including the Ku Klux Klan. He has served as a member of the state bar of Georgia since 1979 and an instructor to attorneys and judges through the Institute for Continuing Legal Education (ICLE). He received the Medallion of Appreciation from ICLE.

Chuck is also a speaker and the author of Take the Stand (Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1996) and the compilations, A Year of Encouragement (Xulon Press).


*Disclaimer- I received a free copy of The Company through Litfuse for the purpose of this review/blog tour. All opinions are 100% my own

Bridgeworld by Travis McBee- Book Review

William Haynes has it easy. He is smart, a star athlete and can have his pick of girls. He has the perfect life. A life any middle school aged boy would dream of. But something is missing. That is, until a strange man begins to follow him and he learns his parents have been keeping an enormous secret from  him- they are actually from another planet! William is offered the opportunity to attend school on Broglio at Bridgeworld, his parents alma mater. At Bridgeworld he will finally be challenged- academically and athletically- and finally feel that he is where he belongs.

I thought Bridgeworld was a pretty good read. I really enjoyed the prologue with Will's parents background story and how they ended up on Earth. It was also refreshing that although it was a fantasy novel, there were no super powers or magic going on and that the residents of "Broglio" look the same as the humans of Earth. I thought it was an original story and I really enjoyed that about it. I would say though, that this story is definitely meant for young boys. It is written from a young teen boy's view and I think they have the most to gain from reading Bridgeworld. I also think they would get the most enjoyment out of it and be able to relate to it on every level. I don't think that girls wouldn't enjoy it, there is a touch of a love story in it, not enough to gross out guys, but maybe just enough to satisfy a young girl. I would say overall though, this is a story that boys would specifically enjoy.

The ending was definitely leading into another story, Bridgeworld is definitely intended to be a series. I think those are the best types of young adult novels because then you really have time to connect with the characters and watch them grow! The 2nd installment in the Bridgeworld series will be available sometime in July.

Bridgeworld on Amazon.com
Bridgeworld on Goodreads.com

*Disclaimer- I was provided a copy of Bridgeworld by Hydra Publications for the purpose of this review. I was not required to write a positive review. All thoughts stated above are 100% my own.