*Maincrest Media Award,
Winner, YA Fiction (2024)
*Outstanding Creator Awards, Best Fiction Book of 2023,
2nd Place
*Outstanding Creator Awards, Fantasy (1st Place),
Sci-Fi (1st Place), Romance (2nd Pl.)
*The Global Book Awards, Bronze Medal, Science Fiction –
Romance
*The BookFest Awards, Silver Medal, Science Fiction -
Romance
*The BookFest Awards, Bronze Medal, Fantasy –
Contemporary & YA – Science Fiction
*Royal Dragonfly Awards, Honorable Mention, Best Cover, Sci-Fi,
Fantasy & YA Fiction
*American Fiction Awards, Finalist, Romance – Paranormal:
Supernatural
*American Writing Awards, Finalist - Science
Fiction
*Halloween Book Festival, YA Horror – Honorable
Mention
*Literary Titan Book Award - August 2023
A
wild adventure that takes you on a journey from the California coast
to the depths of the Grand Canyon. Dive into this fast-paced,
suspenseful Sci-Fi fantasy novel that melds sizzling romance, action,
heart-stopping horror, and a high-stakes battle to save humanity.
After her father's tragic
death, eighteen-year-old Skye Conner and her mom visit her Nana on
the California coast. There, Skye stumbles across a mystical conch
shell in the surf. Suddenly her dull, empty life takes on a thrilling
and terrifying turn.
Skye has had to endure a
despondent mother drowning in grief, living in a private world of
darkness. Nana is a feisty, intelligent, take-no-bull grandmother
with a flaming sense of pride and heart of gold. Then comes a
handsome, mesmerizing alien on a mission to save the Earth. But are
his intentions sincere, or does he have another agenda?
Skye has finally found someone
to love, but can he be trusted? Changing Tide is a witty,
original page-turning thriller that will make you look at First
Contact in a whole new way.
Amazon
* B&N
* Bookbub
* Goodreads
What
readers are saying:
“…simply
elegant…from the plotline to the characters to the action to the
humor… (and) a story for anyone, young adult or adult, who enjoys a
good science fiction novel with some romance thrown in. I would
recommend the book to everyone.”
-FEATHERED QUILL BOOK REVIEWS
“…truly a breath of fresh
air! …A sci-fi romance like this was exactly what we needed.
…despite dealing with things like loss, coping, and mourning this
book is surprisingly fun and lighthearted…reading like a Disney
script.”
-OUTSTANDING CREATOR REVIEW
“Anyone who enjoys sci-fi
horror thrillers will find plenty to love about this book.”
-READERS’ FAVORITE BOOK
REVIEW
“I thoroughly enjoyed every
moment spent reading this book and was genuinely sad when it came to
an end.”
-ONLINEBOOKCLUB.ORG REVIEW
“…an enthralling fantasy
novel that immerses readers in Skye Conner’s captivating journey…”
-LITERARY TITAN
“…traverses science
fiction, fantasy, horror, and mystery seamlessly, entertaining you
with thrills galore.”
-READERS’ CHOICE BOOK REVIEW
“Nothing is as it seems… a
speculative sci-fi page turner that will keep you on the edge of your
seat. …brings in sci-fi and fantasy elements of magic seashells and
aliens to create a call to adventure.”
-INDEPENDENT BOOK REVIEW
--snippet
of a review from OnlineBookClub.org--
“Robert
Joncas has crafted a compelling narrative that keeps readers on the
edge of their seats. The pacing is well-balanced, and the author's
ability to evoke a wide range of emotions is commendable. Skye's
character development is particularly noteworthy, as readers witness
her transformation from a grieving and vulnerable girl into a brave
and determined young woman.
....Changing
Tide is a remarkable book that grabs the reader's attention from
the very first page. With its compelling characters, intriguing plot
twists, and seamless blending of genres, it is a true page-turner. I
thoroughly enjoyed every moment spent reading this book and was
genuinely sad when it came to an end. Without a doubt, I highly
recommend picking up Changing Tide by Robert Joncas and
awarding it a well-deserved 5 out of 5 stars.
--snippet
of a Review from Literary Titan--
In
“Changing Tide,” Robert Joncas masterfully entwines an evocative
narrative of a young girl, Skye, wrestling with her personal turmoil
while being swept into a journey far beyond her understanding.
Haunted by cryptic dreams and grappling with the tragic loss of her
father and her mother’s spiraling depression, Skye’s world is
painted with a brush of melancholy. However, a glimmer of hope
emerges as she rekindles a connection with Paul, an alluring figure
from her past, previously known for his childhood mischief.
Robert
Joncas showcases an exceptional ability to portray raw emotions and
delicate sentiments. His narrative is an intricate tapestry of
romance, familial bonds, suspense, and an unmistakably human touch
enveloped in a mantle of science fiction. The characters are vividly
constructed, each contributing a unique hue to the narrative palette.
Nana, Skye’s vivacious and fearless grandmother, was a particular
standout, embodying a captivating blend of loyalty and audacious
spirit.
The
narrative is particularly successful in illustrating Skye’s
internal struggle – her battle against emotional turmoil and her
hesitant forays into new friendships. The character development of
the alien entity is equally commendable, with its adaptation and
backstory revealed in a layered, compelling manner.
“Changing
Tide” is a warmly recommended read, particularly for young adults
who yearn for a slice of relatable, yet enchantingly fantastic,
reality. This novel embodies the essence of heartfelt storytelling
interlaced with an adventurous spirit, ensuring a riveting reading
experience.
I never thought anyone close to me would die. I know it seems unrealistic because, sooner or later, we all die. But dying is supposed to happen in the future, like getting old. When you're eighteen, you shouldn't have to think about death. The idea of death takes you to a dark place where no one young ever wants to be.
It was the second week of June, and the first faint evidence of dawn trickled into the room. I pulled the curtain back, and fog blanketed the beach, darkening my mood. But then, a peculiar light shone from the shoreline in the distance, casting an eerie glow, like a beacon, in the mist.
I pulled a pink tee shirt from the closet and grabbed a pair of shorts from the pine dresser. Finally, I jerked a purple hoodie over my head, slipped on my flip-flops, and ran outside.
The strange light in the distance glowed like a full moon on a cloudy night. I crossed the beach and drifted in that direction. The long lines of white waves that swept across the shore glowed with a warm, radiant light. I kicked off my sandals at the shoreline, treading barefoot in the cold surf. Shivering, I clutched the sweatshirt tight around my neck. The ocean swirled around my ankles. I felt tiny shells and bits of seaweed in the ribbed sand under my feet.
Last week, after my high school graduation, Mom and I had flown from Phoenix to Nana's house in Crescent Cove, a small tourist town on the California coast. It was a two-hour flight from Phoenix to Sacramento, then another forty-five minutes in a small plane to the nearest airport. It would have been almost ten hours in the car had we driven. Unfortunately, Mom was in no condition to help me drive, so Nana said she would pick us up at the airport.
By the time we picked up our luggage, Nana was waiting outside the terminal in her old VW van. The trip was hard on Mom. Dark circles of exhaustion were under her eyes, and her hair hung in matted strings against her pale cheeks. She collapsed into the front seat while Nana helped me load the baggage into the back of the van.
When we drove up to the house, I knew it right away, even though it had been five years since I'd last been there. The red shutters and gray wood shingle siding looked the same as I remembered. I knew the inside would smell of lemon polish, and everything would be spotless and scrubbed.
Without seeing it, I knew the old back deck would be the same: weathered but sturdy and always covered in sand. I could picture Dad grilling and sipping beer while Mom and I watched the waves crash on the shore. I had hoped coming here would be a distraction, but memories of Dad continued to flood my mind.
My stomach ached as I remembered the heavy black dress I wore to Dad's funeral on that scorching day in Phoenix. The air was sizzling, too hot. I'd had to take deep breaths to keep from passing out. Although a canopy shaded the gravesite, the temperature was over 100 degrees. I ached with grief that I couldn't at least see Dad one last time — to make sure it was really him who'd died in that horrible accident. The burning car wreck left his body unidentifiable. The funeral home cremated what was left of his remains.
As I followed the light through the surf, the sea surged with a rolling wave that knocked me over. It was as if something had stirred below the ocean and was rising from the deep. I threw my hands out to break my fall but landed in the shallows on my butt. I sat motionless in the surf, shivering in my wet clothes…
Robert
grew up in Southern California and has worked as a Real Estate Broker
in Flagstaff, AZ, for many years. He has a BS in Health Science and
graduated with Distinction from the prestigious UCLA Writers'
Program, where he studied under Author Lynn Hightower in her Master
Novel Classes. He is a member of the Alliance of Independent Authors
and the Horror Writers Association.
Website
* X * Bookbub
* Amazon
* Goodreads
