Vision of the Griffin’s Heart, Andy Smithson, Book 5

Four years ago, Andy Smithson discovered he is the Chosen one to break a 500-yr-old curse plaguing the land of Oomaldee when he unexpectedly and mysteriously found himself there. To do so, he must collect ingredients for a magical potion. Thus far he has gathered the scale of a red dragon, venom from a giant serpent, a unicorn’s horn, and the tail feather of a phoenix. Now he must ask a griffin for one of its talons. There’s just one problem…humans have poached griffin treasure, causing these mythical creatures to attack on sight.
 
Complicating matters, the evil Abaddon, sovereign of Oomaldee’s northern neighbor, is turning more and more citizens into zolt in his ongoing campaign of terror as he sets in motion the final steps of his plan to conquer the land. Things really start to heat up in book five!
 
If you loved Harry Potter, you’ll love the Andy Smithson series chalk full of mythical creatures, newly invented animals like zolt, herewolves, and therewolves, a complex plot with evolving characters, and positive themes including responsibility, diligence, dignity, friendship and more.
 
Purchase Kindle and Paperback 
 
The Buzz

5 Stars! - “A marvelous book in a great series!” – Erik Weibel (Age 14) This Kid Reviews Books Blog
“Readers of this series have come to anticipate a host of challenges, intense battles, and on an epic scale. In Vision of the Griffin’s Heart, you won’t be disappointed. For lovers of fantasy, I consider it a must read.” – Richard Weatherly, Author
“One of the admirable qualities I like about the entire series is seeing Andy’s growth from a self-absorbed kid to a more thoughtful teen as he learns how to deal with the various crises which face him, all the while knowing that the future may hold unpleasant consequences.  The watchword for Vision of the Griffin's Heart is “courage.” – Wayne Walker, Home School Book Review 

​Venom of the Serpent’s Cunning (Andy Smithson, Book Two) is available in Kindle and Paperback.
Download the professionally recorded audiobook at Amazon
It’s only $1.99 if you download the eBook first…Savings of $16!
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​Disgrace of the Unicorn’s Honor (Andy Smithson, Book Three) is available in Kindle and Paperback.

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​Resurrection of the Phoenix’s Grace (Andy Smithson, Book Four) is available in Kindle and Paperback.

​Power of the Heir’s Passion (Andy Smithson, Prequel Novella) ebook is FREE. Pick up a copy at Amazon, Google, B&N, Smashwords. It’s also available in paperback.
Download the professionally recorded audiobook at Amazon
It’s only $1.99 if you download the eBook for $.99 first…Savings of $1!

L. R. W. Lee credits her love of fantasy with her introduction to C. S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia. Later on, she enjoyed the complex world of Middle Earth brought to life by J. R. R. Tolkien in Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. The multiple dimensions of the worlds mixed with a layer of meaning, captivated her and made her desire to invent Young Adult Fantasy and Epic Fantasy worlds others could get lost in, but also take meaning away from. More recently, L. R. W. Lee has found inspiration from J. K. Rowling and her Harry Potter series as well as Brandon Mull and his best selling Fablehaven, Beyonders and Five Kingdoms series.

L. R. W. Lee writes to teach her readers principles that can transform their lives – overcoming frustration, impatience, fear and more. She also shows why responsibility, diligence and dignity are the keys to true success in life. She lives in scenic Austin, TX with her husband. Their daughter is a Computer Engineer for Microsoft and their son serves in the Air Force.

​Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon | Email

Title: The Guardian Herd: Stormbound
Author: Jennifer Lynn Alvarez
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Number of Pages: 320
Synopsis: Perfect for fans of the Warriors, Survivors, and Guardians of Ga'hoole series, this sequel to The Guardian Herd: Starfire, which Peter Lerangis called "an epic tale," will have readers eagerly turning the pages.When Star received his powers on his first birthday, he became the most powerful pegasus in Anok. However, many were afraid to follow him, and felt safer staying with their over-stallions. The rest unified with Star and formed River Herd.
But now, not only does a horrible plague threaten the five herds, but Mountain Herd's over-stallion, Rockwing, has plans to kidnap Morningleaf, Star's closest companion, and take back Sky Meadow. Star begins to question his ability to keep his herd safe, especially with the threat of Nightwing the Destroyer's return. As much as Star wants to rely on his friends again for support, he's afraid of the starfire he's inherited. Star can heal, but he can also destroy. And the question is, will his dark powers overcome him?

Stormbound is a wonderfully written tale that takes readers on an enchanting journey through Anok as Star adjusts to his new role as a leader of River Herd. Rockwing, who is envious of Star, hopes to take back what he believes to be rightfully his, Sky Meadow. Star is still unsure of his new found abilities and fears he may bring more harm than good to the herd. Can Star find the courage embrace his gifts and be the strong leader he needs to be?

The Guardian Herd is a fantastic series for middle grade readers. I found Stormbound to be a sensational story filled with amazing characters and gripping action. The author's imagination shines through as she creates a magical fantasy readers will find hard to put down.

I enjoyed Stormbound and highly recommend reading this series.

Jennifer Lynn Alvarez is an active horsewoman and volunteer with U.S. Pony Club, and she draws on her love for animals for inspiration when writing her books. Jennifer graduated from U.C. Berkeley with a B.A. degree in English Literature. Jennifer lives on a small ranch in Northern California with her husband, three children, and more than her fair share of pets. 

Please visit her website for more information: jenniferlynnalvarez.com
Follow on Twitter @JenniferDiaries
Visit her Facebook page: Jennifer Lynn Alvarez

​ELEGANTLY WASTED (Wasted #1)
 
On the eve of her high school graduation, proper socialite Francesca “Frankie” Fairholm rebelled against her elitist and controlling family to pursue the dark lifestyle of a contract killer for the enigmatic Osiris Corporation. Years later, with her training complete, she believes she's doomed to the life of a sociopathic lone gun until a botched hit brings two unlikely allies, her cousins Addison and Katharine.

Using Katharine’s etiquette school, Elegance, Inc., as a front, the trio weave through Frankie’s dark underworld, carrying out contracts, drinking too much wine, and trying not to get each other killed.

Trouble follows the team home when the death of the cruel Fairholm matriarch reveals more than they ever wanted to know about their family. As the funeral preparations play out, the trio begin to realize there is much more to their employer than meets the eye and their family connections run deeper than they ever imagined.
 
Elegantly Wasted: Amazon | Goodreads | Series Website

​UNCONTROLLABLY WASTED (Wasted #2)
 
“I needed to learn to be less melodramatic, but it was hard in this family.”


 
It’s been a year since Francesca Fairholm met the rest of the Osiris team and the company heads, her two half brothers Nero and Lex. As they groom her for leadership, it’s all Frankie can do to keep her cynical sarcasm in check as she starts training two new Strikers, avoids the romantic advances of Spark Dawson, and does her best to pry a little family history from her cold, distant Aunt Alexa.


 
With the pressure of her secret dual life building and her mother acting strangely, Frankie’s sanity is pushed to the brink when she makes a grisly discovery that shakes the young Striker to her core. Despite her cousins’ fear that her panic attacks signal a full mental breakdown, Frankie is positive she’s not crazy. Finding clarity in her personal investigation into Osiris’s origins, she uncovers more about the company than she would rather know.
 
As her life starts to unravel, things get deadly and, before she knows it, she’s facing down an old target’s pissed-off widow, an unstoppable mercenary, and the one thing she’s most terrified of admitting to herself.
It’s possible the whole situation won’t explode in her face. Yeah, like Frankie has that kind of luck.
 
Uncontrollably Wasted: Amazon | Goodreads | Series Website

​WASTELAND (Wasted #2.5)
 
Inside the halls of Osiris, the men and women who make the contract killing agency tick polish their weapons and hone their skills. But how did they start working for Nero and Lex in the first place, and when did they find out they were destined to kill people for a living?
 
Before Frankie Fairholm let you into her crazy, dysfunctional world of murder for hire, the lives of these men and women were already in danger. Their training was put to the test alongside their morals.
 
A troubled Catholic school girl with a penchant for murder, a naive con-woman in over her head, a driven socialite with a bad day that keeps getting worse, an assassin second-guessing his sworn oath... being a contract killer doesn’t mean you aren’t human, it just means your humanity is hard to find, and probably a bit tarnished.
 
Wasteland: Amazon | Goodreads | Series Website

TOTALLY WASTED (Wasted #3)
 
Welcome to family therapy, Fairholm style.
 
When Osiris headquarters fell, Frankie ran away with Spark Dawson, hoping the open ocean would wash the chaos of her life away. The Nameless, and her own primal urges, soon intrude and before Frankie knows it, she and Spark are traveling to Hong Kong to face what’s left of the company.
 
There she finds her entire family under the protection of the Sha Lù. Kat and Addi are pissed, Nero has given up, Judah won’t let anyone leave, and her mother and aunts are getting along for once in their lives. Things are weird.
 
Because Frankie’s life is never complicated enough, Spark becomes dead set on uncovering the deadly secrets Judah hid from him–and gets more than anyone bargained for in the answers he discovers.
 
Tensions are high and morality is low as Frankie starts unraveling the threads that bind them all together. As old ghosts haunt her thoughts and new enemies dance just outside her reach, she has choices to make that determine the future of everyone she knows. Now all she has to do is convince everyone she knows what she’s doing.
 
After all, if Osiris doesn’t fight the Nameless, they’ll all have to hide behind the Sha Lù for the rest of their lives...and the wine supply is running out.
 
Totally Wasted: Amazon | Goodreads | Series Website

10.  Pulp Fiction: I dig Quentin Tarantino and while this movie isn’t a “contract killer” movie per say, it does have my two favorite contract killers in it: Vincent Vega and Jules Winnfield. Their dialog is some of the best in recent film.
 
9. You Kill Me: Dark comedy really hits the mark… haha see what I did there? Great cast, great acting. If I had to pick a movie that mirrors concepts in the Wasted Series, it would be this… alcoholics anonymous meets Hitman.
 
8. Collateral: this movie triggered a concept for me in my own writing… what happens when a psychopath crosses paths with an ordinary dude who has to help him? Action, suspense… and Tom Cruise in probably one of his better roles.
 
7. Kill Bill: in a world with minimal female assassin leads, this movie reigns in a super powered punch. Not one, but a whole cast of killer women is a movie after my own heart. The bride on her revenge spree is one of the best stories Tarantino has told… and hey, the concept isn’t entirely his- it’s also the brainchild of Uma Thurman herself.
 
6. The Killers (1946): Film noir is what it’s all about here. While this movie has been remade a few times, the original is worth the watch. Two hitmen show up in a small town and hold a diner hostage waiting for a mark… based on a short story by Hemingway, the movie branches out where the short story ends and digs into the story of the target…
 
5. Bangkok Dangerous (2000): I’ve always been a fan of this film about a deaf assassin… super interesting concept that’s stylish and well acted. The imagery is beautiful, and while it has some flaws, I enjoyed the plot. Note: this is the original, not the Nicolas Cage version.
 
4. Léon: The Professional: I’m a major Luc Besson fan (hello, Fifth Element), and this movie is a favorite for obvious reasons. Little girl befriends a hitman after her family is killed. If you like watching wounded souls heal… this is the movie for you. Gary Oldman is also the best psycho there is.
 
3. In Bruges: This has been a steady favorite of mine for years. A movie I will always remember my little sister calling “in broojes.” Great storyline, great dialog, funny with good characters.
 
2. John Wick: I was super surprised to fall in love with this movie.  While I’m a confessed Keanu Reeves fan girl, I had a feeling it would be just another pointless action movie that, while fun, wasn’t much for content. I was wrong. THIS MOVIE. It sent me through the ringer of emotional trauma, and Reeves is pretty much my perfect assassin.
 
1. Grosse Pointe Blank: I will always have a spot in my heart for this movie, and it’s been my solid number one since I first saw it back in ’97. I believe this is why I was inspired to write a book about a contract killer who ends up developing a conscience. Martin Blank, the self-improving assassin, is the glue for my construction of a more unique contract killer: more vulnerable than threatening.

C. Elizabeth Vescio is the author of the Wasted Series and Adventures of the Dress. She published her first book, Elegantly Wasted in 2012. Cara is also a photographer, gamer, cosplayer and animal enthusiast. She lives in Las Vegas with her husband and four mutts. She’s passionate about Shakespeare, Paul Simon and Loki as portrayed by Tom Hiddleson.
 
Author Links: Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Wasted Series Website