BLOG TOUR: Storming the Castle with Walden Pond Press!

Hi there!

How are YOU today?  Good I hope...but by the end of today's post, I think we can upgrade that to GREAT.  Why?  Well because this is Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers...and what day couldn't use a great big injection of bookish fun, right?  Right!  ^_^

Today, we're continuing the Children's Book Week celebration with a Walden Pond Press blog tour of epic proportions.  Why epic?  Simple...not only is it from a publisher that knows what readers want but it stars a series that is just getting started (hopefully ~fingers crossed~) and with TWO books under its belt, you can bet book 3 will be on my wish list from this moment on.  Curious?  You should be!  From the author that brought us The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom, comes this year's bookish spectacular and blog tour guest....

The Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle

by

Christopher Healy

About the book...

Prince Liam. Prince Frederic.Prince Duncan. Prince Gustav. You remember them, don't you? They're the Princes Charming, who finally got some credit after they stepped out of the shadows of their princesses—Cinderella, Rapunzel, Snow White, and Briar Rose—to defeat an evil witch bent on destroying all their kingdoms.

But alas, such fame and recognition only last so long. And when the princes discover that an object of great power might fall into any number of wrong hands, they are going to have to once again band together to stop it from happening—even if no one will ever know it was they who did it.

Christopher Healy, author of the acclaimed The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom, takes us back to the hilariously fractured fairy-tale world he created for another tale of medieval mischief. Magical gemstones, bladejaw eels, a mysterious Gray Phantom, and two maniacal warlords bent on world domination—it's all in a day's work for the League of Princes.

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Sounds good, right?

Oh but it is...or rather was but still is!

I enjoyed book one THOROUGHLY and with sequels, you always have that brief moment of hesitation before you embark on book two.  You can't help but wonder, or at least I can't, if it's going to be a good thing that the series continued or would it have been better to simply draw things to a close as they were and leave the magic created intact.  In this case, I'm thrilled that they cracked open the bookish magic once again because this follow up was amazing!

I don't think it topped book one but it certainly delivered the same level of adventure, whimsy and wonder as its predecessor.  It's one of those books that starts as fairy tale redo but with a twist making it something altogether familiar yet different...that actually works and works so well in fact that it delights audiences well beyond that of the target range.  Meeting up with the characters once again was an absolute delight as was getting to know them a little better.  You'd be surprised what the second impressions reveal about some of their true characters.  Interesting stuff.  Let us not forget the new faces we meet in this adventure.  From potential friend to foe and everything in between, they are a mixed bag you won't soon forget...and thanks to the fab folks at Walden Pond Press, I get the chance to introduce you personally to one of them!

Ready?  Don't be nervous.  He won't hurt you...even if he is involved in the League of Princes devious plans to steal back...and what about his own secrets...and let us not forget about his...  *-*  Okay, well, there are some secrets I can't divulge, but here's the who's who about a  new face in the game...

Name:  Little Taylor

Occupation: Tailor

Affiliation: The Sturmhagen Society for Superior Sewmanship

Kingdom of Origin: Sturmhagen

Current Residence: Flargstagg, Sturmhagen

Parents: Jessimum and Archibald 

Longtime Rival: Medium Taylor (also a tailor) 

Longtime Foe: Deeb Rauber

Likes: Sewing, acrobatics, wooing the ladies

Dislikes: Crowded taverns, second-rate thimbles, people who don’t understand the true value of a finely tailored garment

Signature Move: The Zigzag Running Chain Stitch

Quote: “Have no fear, ladies. Little Taylor has got this job all sewn up.”

Little Known Fact: Not so good at inseams. 

Trust me, this dude is dangerous with a needle and thread.

You should see the way he looped and knotted his way through the tavern.

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ARC for review courtesy of Kellie at Walden Pond Press an imprint of HarperCollins.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title as well as their full catalog of bookish wonders, be sure to stop by their official site, like them on Facebook, or follow along on Twitter.  To check out the rest of the stops on the tour, be sure to check out the official tour schedule.  Lots of fun to be had what with all the heroes and villains coming out to play.  Oh and don't forget to mark your calendars because Monday, June 3rd at 9PM EST there will be a Twitter Chat with author Marissa Meyer AND Christopher Healy!  Just follow the hashtag #talesretold and you'll be right in the middle of it all.  This book was released April 30th, 2013 so be on the look out for it on a bookstore shelf near you!

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So...are you still with me?  GOOD!  Well, good for me and GREAT for you.  There's another part of this tour that's not as well publicized ..TOTALLY on purpose.  It's a SECRET GIVEAWAY where only those in the know score a chance to win BIG now through 05/26!

Good thing you're in the know, huh?  ^_^

What do you win?

The first THREE entrants today will receive signed copies of THE HERO’S GUIDE TO STORMING THE CASTLE and EVERYONE who enters is eligible to win a $200 gift card to the bookstore of his or her choice!  

You will need this SECRET CODE to enter the giveaway: Prince Charming. 

Got that?

Good.

Now, to enter...CLICK HERE.

Until next time...happy reading!

^_^