Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Little Girls by Ronald Malfi Book Review




Title: Little Girls
Author: Ronald Malfi
Publisher: Kensington
Pages: 384
Genre: Thriller/Suspense
Format: Kindle/Paperback/Audible




From Bram Stoker Award nominee Ronald Malfi comes a brilliantly chilling novel of childhood revisited, memories resurrected, and fears reborn…

When Laurie was a little girl, she was forbidden to enter the room at the top of the stairs. It was one of many rules imposed by her cold, distant father. Now, in a final act of desperation, her father has exorcised his demons. But when Laurie returns to claim the estate with her husband and ten-year-old daughter, it’s as if the past refuses to die. She feels it lurking in the broken moldings, sees it staring from an empty picture frame, hears it laughing in the moldy greenhouse deep in the woods… At first, Laurie thinks she’s imagining things. But when she meets her daughter’s new playmate, Abigail, she can’t help but notice her uncanny resemblance to another little girl who used to live next door. Who died next door. With each passing day, Laurie’s uneasiness grows stronger, her thoughts more disturbing. Like her father, is she slowly losing her mind? Or is something truly unspeakable happening to those sweet little girls?

My Review

Sadie Russ - a girl who has haunted Laurie as long as she can remember. Sadie died, a tragic accident when Sadie and Laurie were little girls. But truth be told, Laurie was happy to see Sadie die. They were good friends but as the years went by Sadie became cruel and began to bully and torment Laurie to the point where she felt their was no escape. So imagine Laurie's surprise when she goes to her father's house after a freak accident causing his death, and meets Abigail, a dead ringer for Sadie.

Abigail and Susan, Laurie's young daughter, strike up a friendship, a friendship that causes Laurie to be concerned and uneasy. Add that to the fact that her father was terrified in his own home and made sure all the windows were nailed shut, the 'belevedere', or room at the top of the stairs that she was forbidden to go in, and caused his ultimate demise, is padlocked shut at his insistence, and both caretakers were scared of him and the house, and you have the makings of a great ghost story.

What really caused Laurie's fathers death? Was it the vengeance as he kept telling those who cared for him? Or was it something more sinister?

This was a well told tale, one that kept me going until the last page. ***SPOILER ALERT*** Watching how Laurie, her husband and their young daughter change as a result of staying in the house is interesting. There has been some distance between her and her husband, but it becomes more clear that she is being isolated and their bond is strong. The haunting feelings that Laurie feels as soon as she steps into the house, and how it escalates the more time she spends there was what really kept me going. Was Abigail truly Sadie? Their encounters (Laurie and Abigail) seem to suggest that she is indeed the girl from Laurie's past. And when the true past of her father is uncovered, you see why Abigail/Sadie is back, and exactly why she is after Laurie.

The only complaint I have is how the book ended. I know what happened, but it just seemed way to abrupt. Other than that I would recommend this for someone looking for a steady decent into madness, madness caused by secrets from the past that won't stay buried.

3 1/2 stars
Read More »

Friday, June 26, 2015

Interview with T. Frohock, author of In Midnight's Silence

In Midnight's Silence

In Midnight's SilenceTitle: In Midnight's Silence: Los Nefilim: Part One
Author: T. Frohock
Publisher: Harper Voyager Impulse
Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy
Format: Kindle 

 The fate of mankind has nothing to do with mankind…

 Born of an angel and a daimon, Diago Alvarez is a singular being in a country torn by a looming civil war and the spiritual struggle between the forces of angels and daimons. With allegiance to no one but his partner Miquel, he is content to simply live in Barcelona, caring only for the man he loves and the music he makes. Yet, neither side is satisfied to let him lead this domesticated life and, knowing they can't get to him directly, they do the one thing he's always feared.
They go after Miquel.

 Now, in order to save his lover's life, he is forced by an angel to perform a gruesome task: feed a child to the daimon Moloch in exchange for a coin that will limit the extent of the world's next war. The mission is fraught with danger, the time he has to accomplish it is limited…and the child he is to sacrifice is the son Diago never knew existed.

 A lyrical tale in a world of music and magic, T. Frohock's In Midnight's Silence shows the lengths a man will go to save the people he loves, and the sides he'll choose when the sidelines are no longer an option.

  ORDER INFORMATION

  In Midnight's Silence is available for purchase at  
amazon
BNHarperCollinsadd-to-goodreads-button3


What are you most proud of accomplishing so far in your life?
Surviving for half a century is quite the accomplishment, especially considering how I abused my body when I was young. I also still have use of most of my mental faculties, which assists me with functions such as balancing my checkbook and writing. 
How has your upbringing influenced your writing?
My parents were teachers and encouraged me to read and think for myself.
When and why did you begin writing?
I’ve been telling stories since I was old enough to talk. I’m a very good liar.
Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
When I was in college, I took a creative writing course in college, and enjoyed writing.
When did you first know you could be a writer? 
When I was in college and enjoyed writing.
What inspires you to write and why?
People. I love watching people work through problems.
What genre are you most comfortable writing?
Historical fantasy and dark fantasy.
What inspired you to write your first book?
Mostly the epic fantasies I was reading at the time.
Who or what influenced your writing once you began?
Tanith Lee, Stephen King.
What do you consider the most challenging about writing a novel, or about writing in general?
It’s like a giant word puzzle, or a 70K essay. I love working through the themes to make a story resonate with the readers.
Did writing this book teach you anything and what was it?
I learned a lot about the political intricacies of the Spanish Civil War.
Do you intend to make writing a career?
Yes.
Have you developed a specific writing style?
Most people refer to my style as lyrical, and I think that fits very nicely.
What is your greatest strength as a writer? 
My ability to dig into the emotional depth of characters.
What is your favorite quality about yourself?
My sense of humor.
What is your least favorite quality about yourself?
When my sense of humor turns rancid and becomes sarcasm.
What is your favorite quote, by whom, and why?
It changes daily depending on my mood. Today it is: “My weaknesses have always been food and men—in that order.” –Dolly Parton


T. Frohock has turned her love of dark fantasy and horror into tales of deliciously creepy fiction. She currently lives in North Carolina where she has long been accused of telling stories, which is a southern colloquialism for lying.

For More Information

Visit T’s website.
Twitter
Google Plus
Read More »

Never Die Alone by Lisa Jackson Book Review




Title: Never Die Alone
Author: Lisa Jackson
Publisher: Zebra
Pages: 480
Genre: Thriller/Suspense
Format: Kindle/Hardcover/Paperback




Never Drop Your Guard

It should be the best day of their lives. Too bad they never get to see it. On the cusp of their twenty-first birthday, he strikes. His victims are always twins, their ritualistic murders planned in exquisite detail, down to the moment when they breathe their last together…

Never Close Your Eyes

A possibly innocent man is in prison, and Brianna Hayward needs to convince the New Orleans police. Not just to free her cousin, but to save others who will suffer until the true culprit is found. Reporter Jase Bridges is intrigued. It’s a story that could make his career—as long as Brianna never guesses the secret in Jase’s past…

…Or You’ll Never See Him Coming

Detective Rick Bentz had doubts about the “21” conviction when he worked the case in L.A. Now the real murderer may be loose in Bentz’s backyard. Twin sisters from All Saints College have vanished on the eve of their twenty-first birthday. And as Bentz and his partner, Reuben Montoya, desperately follow the trail, a killer prepares to unite his next victims in death forever…

My Review

I have been a huge fan of Lisa Jackson's for quite some time so when I saw her latest novel available on Netgalley I jumped at the chance to read it. And I wasn't disappointed.

This book centers around two killers - the 21 killer, who abducts twins right before their 21st birthday and kills them, and Father John, a killer who dons the attire of a priest and murders his victims with a specialized rosary.

Brianna Hayward is a twin...a twin who lost her sister to a drowning years before. She runs a group, The Twinless Twins Group, for twins who suffer the same loss. Her cousin has been convicted as the 21 Killer but she believes he is innocent, not that he doesn't have issues that would lead people to believe he might have done it, including the intense dislike he had for his twin sisters who were killed. But, when her friend and fellow twinless twin Selma's twin girls go missing the night of their 21st birthday, Brianna knows that her suspicions are right, and 21 has struck again.

Jase Bridges is a distraction she isn't sure she is ready for. Her high school crush turned crime reporter, she knows that working together to find the girls and prove that her cousin is innocent might be her best chance. Now if she can only squash the feeling that seem to be surfacing, she'll be just fine. But Jase has a dark secret of his own, a secret involving Brianna's twin from years ago, one that is threatening to come out unless he can keep his drunken father at bay.

This book kept me turning pages until the very end. I didn't guess all of the twists, only a few. The only thing that was a slight disappointment is that one of the killers isn't found...on to the next book I'll go.

4 stars


Read More »

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Poetically Baring My Soul by Jerald Brown Book Blast!

Poetically Baring Your Soul

Poetically Baring My SoulTitle: Poetically Baring My Soul
Author: Jerald Brown
Publisher: Jerald Brown
Genre: Poetry
Format: Paperback

 Poetically Baring My Soul is a poetry book that offers a honest inscription of trials, feelings, thoughts, and revelations. It creates a visual image from personal accounts within the expressions of the writings. Poetically Baring My Soul invites all those who have an acceptance of faith, a honesty and even accountability of self, and a vivid appreciation of metaphors and wordplay, to embrace the poems inside.

  ORDER INFORMATION Poetically Baring My Soul is available for purchase at  
amazonBN

  I was born and raised in Danville, Il, a small town about 2 hours outside of Chicago. My parents, J.W. and Dizer Brown instilled values and principles of life in me at an early age. I enlisted into the Army 10 days after graduating high school and the discipline I received added to my upbringing, shaping me into the man I am today. My love for poetry began through hip hop. I had aspired to become the greatest rapper of all time! Alongside the music, I would write little poems about anything from my surroundings, to my feelings, to my experiences. Eventually, those "little poems" turned into pieces of my life. Poetically Baring My Soul is my very first book. It provides a testimony to the trials and tribulations I've faced, my growth into manhood, and expressions of my spirit, soul, and body. I wrote this book to honor God with this gift, glorify Him, and to connect with others who may share in my walk through life. I am a man of faith. I am confident that my poems will explain my purpose, provide insight, and give readers a honest look into my heart.

For More Information

Visit Jerald’s website.
Facebook
Twitter
Read More »

Beautiful Criminal, Hot as Blazes, Her Foreign Affair and A Brilliant Deception

Beautifl Criminal et al book banner

  Beautiful CriminalTitle: Beautiful Criminal Author: Shady Grace Publisher: Lyrical Press Genre: Contemporary Romance Format: Kindle  Long days, precious nights… Mima Etu lives a quiet life with her sled dogs in the stunning Canadian Rockies. But that all changes when she stumbles upon a plane crash while out on a supply run. She’s shocked to discover the pilot is still alive—though barely. With the sun setting and the temperatures quickly dropping, Mima knows he’d never survive the trip to the nearest hospital. So she takes the stranger back to her cabin. As he heals, his vague answers to Mima’s questions about the flight tell her he has secrets. But more disturbing is the consuming, immediate attraction she senses between them. Before he lost control of his Cessna and plunged into a pilot’s hell, Gabriel Miller was on a deadly mission with precious cargo. Now he’s awakened in the comfort of a log cabin with a gorgeous woman tending to his every need. Her soft-spoken beauty sparks his longing for a different kind of life….and it isn’t long before they surrender to a blazing passion. But their blissful days are numbered. For the owners of the cargo are bent on finding Gabriel—and once they do, they don’t intend to leave any witnesses behind. PRE-ORDER INFORMATION Beautiful Criminal is available for pre-order at  Amazon, B&N,  Kobo and Google Play

Shady Grace

Shady Grace makes Northern Ontario her home, where the bush is so thick you can't see two feet past the tree line. Perhaps the mystery of the woods was what initially sparked her need to write. She adores strong alpha males who fall for fiery, independent women, in settings with humorous dialogue and action-filled plots. Shady believes love and sex should be exciting and unforgettable. Being able to write about it is better than cheesecake. Shady Grace is the new pen name of multi-published erotic author BL Bonita, who earned a starred review fromPublishers Weekly for Dark Sun Rising. Visit her website at shadygrace.weebly.com, and find her on Facebook at facebook.com/shadygraceerotica.

For More Information

Visit Shady’s website. Connect with Shady on Facebook , Pinterest, and Goodreads   Hot as BlazesTitle: Hot as Blazes Author: Dani Jace Publisher: Lyrical Press Genre: Contemporary Romance Format: Kindle When the Heat Gets Started JoAnn Mercer was on the verge of surfer stardom when her career took a nosedive thanks to a backstabbing ex. Now she’s back home in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, staying clear of men, desperately in need of a job. Joining the local firefighting squad seems like the perfect solution, until she realizes one of her coworkers is an old crush… It Will Never Stop Ray Andrews never runs away from a fight. He served his country in Iraq, and he’s battled more fires than he can count. But what he can’t fight is the desire burning between him and JoAnn Mercer. He’s wanted Jo for as long as he can remember, but a promise made years ago has kept them apart. Finally free of obligations, Ray is ready to prove he’s the only man for Jo. But after the trauma of her past, can he convince her to love again? PRE-ORDER INFORMATION Hot as Blazes is available for pre-order at  Amazon, B&N,  Kobo and Google Play   Dani Jace lives in coastal Virginia and enjoys writing headstrong, flip-flop casual heroines and everyday heroes who work with their hands―and other body parts. Claiming the Outer Banks of North Carolina as her second home, she includes the scenic and legendary chain of barrier islands as a setting for many of her tales. When not working on her next novel, she’s dipping her toes in the ocean, reading or checking out the newest action flick. Her husband, son and black Lab, plus her many imaginary characters make life complete.

For More Information

Visit Dani’s website. Connect with Dani on Facebook and Twitter.   A Brilliant DeceptionTitle: A Brilliant Deception Author: Kim Foster Publisher: Lyrical Press Genre: Contemporary Romance Format: Kindle Fresh from pulling off her latest heist, Cat Montgomery believes she’s ready to leave her thieving lifestyle behind. But old habits die hard. When she’s recruited to retrieve the Lionheart, a legendary medieval ring made from the finest gold and excavated from the grave of Robin Hood, Cat’s determined to end her career with a bang. Or so she thinks…until the Caliga Rapio, a mysterious brotherhood of thieves, beats her to the punch. Now she has to hightail it to Venice to swipe it back. With two old flames thrown into the mix and an Interpol agent hot on her tail, things are about to get a lot trickier. Cat’s troubles only worsen as she realizes the legend of the Lionheart runs deeper than she could have possibly imagined… PRE-ORDER INFORMATION A Brilliant Deception is available for pre-order at  Amazon, B&N,  Kobo and Google Play  

[caption id="attachment_641" align="alignleft" width="243"]Tamea Burd Photography Tamea Burd Photography[/caption]

 

Some writers receive their calling in childhood, and chart their course from there. I received mine at a rather more inconvenient life stage: while I was in first-year medical school. Growing up, reading and writing fiction had always been my first love. My second just happened to be performing dissections in biology class. And because my scientific inclinations received just a smidge more encouragement from guidance counsellors, teachers, parents, random people on the street…well, you can see how these things happen. But it wasn’t a mistake going to medical school. Throughout my years as a medical student and a resident I continued writing. That’s because: no matter what path one chooses, no matter how sensible and practical, a burning desire to write can never be fully quashed. I am now a practising physician, a writer, and a mom. I’m also an active health blogger and writer. (You can read those blogs here, and here.) After thirteen years stitching people’s lacerations, treating their sore throats, and checking their blood pressure, I recently became a published author. I have a wonderful agent, Sandy Lu of L. Perkins Agency, and a 3-book deal with Kensington Books. My first novel was published in June 2013, and the sequel was released in June 2014.

For More Information

Visit Kim’s website. Connect with Kim on Facebook  and  Twitter.   Her Foreign AffairTitle: Her Foreign Affair Author: Shea McMaster Publisher: Lyrical Press Genre: Contemporary Romance Format: Kindle Twenty-two years ago, she ran out on the love of her life—and took a secret with her. When Randi Jean Ferguson fell for Courtland Robinson while studying abroad in London, she was ready for a life of tea and crumpets. But when she discovered Court was being forced into a shotgun wedding, there was no way she could stay—or tell him she was also pregnant with his child. Now widowed, Randi is just starting to consider finding Court—when he shows up at her door. With his son. Randi’s not ready to reveal everything to Court, but if she doesn’t will both their children end up scarred? The best thing to come out of Court’s unhappy marriage was his son. But he’s spent the last twenty-two years thinking about Randi, his California girl, his first—and only—love. Now a widower, he takes a chance he’s only fantasized about and seeks her out. At last he’ll solve his heart’s greatest mystery—but that won’t be the only surprise in store for him. PRE-ORDER INFORMATION Her Foreign Affair is available for pre-order at  Amazon, B&N,  Kobo and Google Play Shea McMaster lives for traditional romance. Born in New Orleans, raised in California, Shea got moved to Alaska in 1977, where she attended high school before running back to California to get her English degree from Mills College. Alas, once back home she met and fell in love with her own forever true hero, a born and raised Alaska man. Since then she’s had a love-hate relationship with America’s largest state. With her one and only son half way through college, and mostly out of the house, Shea is fortunate to spend her days engaged in daydreaming and turning those dreams into romantic novels and novellas featuring damsels in distress rescued by their own brains and hunky heroes. She also writes under the steamy romances under the name Morgan O’Reilly. For More Information Visit Shea's website. Connect with Shea on Facebook    
Read More »

Monday, June 22, 2015

The Good, the Bad and the Living by Patty Bryant, author of Full Circle



Full CircleTitle: Full Circle
Author: Patty Bryant
Publisher: iUniverse
Pages: 298
Genre: Mystery
Format: Ebook/Paperback
 Purchase at AMAZON

 It looks like someone left the door to the nether region open again, and reporter Molly Martindale has got another batch of otherworldly supplicants who need her help.

 Not long ago, Molly quite literally went to hell to help secure peace for her friend Dennis, who was born Buddy Parker in the 1920s in her beloved, adopted hometown of Oxbow, Florida. Oxbow has always felt charmed to Molly—that is, if she doesn’t count the ghostly visitors who turn her world upside down or the recent return of her ex-boyfriend Greg Richards, who brings with him the scourge of illicit drugs and a burning need to get even with her.

 Molly is working on acquainting her best friend Dana with Dennis’s memory. He is the father Dana has never known but always resented. Molly must tread carefully, all too aware that she could easily lose her best friend in the process. What’s more, things heat up when Dana meets Glenn Morrison, the wheelchair-bound veteran Molly kind of thinks of as “hers.” But soon Molly finds herself threatened from all sides, as residents of hell plead for her help yet again.

 In this sequel to Bitter Secrets, only time will tell if she can deal with worldly and supernatural problems as she fights her newest unholy foes—the advent of drugs into her world, decades of lies involving the powerful St. Claire family, and the shadows of her past.

   amazon  

The good, the bad and the living
I think any writer will tell you the same thing. Characters – especially the really good ones – take on a life of their own. They live and breathe. They have a pulse. They practically think for themselves. The stronger the character, the more life they have. The writer’s just along for the ride.
I have only written two novels but this perception is so strong I can’t see how it could be otherwise.
Take Buddy Parker, one of my own favorites. His story begins in my first novel, Bitter Secrets, and continues in the sequel, Full Circle.  His character is rough around the edges, in a warm but hard-bitten way. A life of hardship and loss has beaten him down but has not cost him his humanity. For me, Buddy may be the quintessential hero. Nothing slick or pat about this man. No Gregory Peck or Cary Grant would ever play him on screen. Life has been hard on him and it shows. He’s not the great guy you’d invite over to dinner or to share a round of golf. Most people cross the street rather than meet him on the sidewalk. But Buddy’s got character – deep and unseen.  His dog Lil’ Bit and a bottle have been his only friends for years, but if eyes can see below the surface, Buddy is a lost soul who’s protected himself from a thoughtless world by layers of emotional scar tissue. He’s lost his family. Twice. The second time he made the choice to walk away when he knew he could only deprive them of a normal life.
The man had guts and a very big heart.
Sure, Buddy’s a hero, all right, but only a couple the other characters that reside in my stories, and the reader, will ever know.
Now here’s a contrast for you.  Anderson St. Claire has always been provided with the good things. He’s handsome. Women love him and men respect him – or at least his stature in life. He has a loving and supportive family, money, brains, education, a gift for dealing with people.
But Anderson has lost a part of his humanity. Or maybe he just never developed it. Other humans are useful to him, they’re in his way or they’re just window dressing. Each is dealt with accordingly. As a young man he came up in Chicago, closely associated with the gangsters of the late 1920s and ‘30s.  He knows how to make money and how to use it to his advantage. The family moved to Miami in the early ‘30s where he perfected his style, then on to little Oxbow about a hundred miles away when the “heat” in Miami came too close.
Anderson is at the top of the social scale in Oxbow– a small, out of the way country town just perfect for him to play the role of benefactor and satisfy his need for social status while staying out of the limelight of bigger cities.
For me, both characters are riveting. Both are simple. Both are complex. They have traveled very different paths. They live in the same town, but not in the same world.
Good and bad cross over in life and in the writer’s mind. Sometimes they’re hard to separate.
Maybe that’s the way a good story should be. Like in the real world. The good and the bad mesh.
When a man does a good thing for a questionable reason, is he good or is he bad?

When a man does a questionable thing for a good reason, what is he?

Patty Brant honed her writing skills as a small-town newspaper reporter and editor in a rural South Florida county. Born in Canton, Ohio, she lives with her husband and daughters in Clewiston, Florida. Her first book, Bitter Secrets, earned a finalist position in the 2013 Indie Excellence Book Awards.  
Read More »

Becoming Ellen by Shari Shattuck Book Review




Title: Becoming Ellen
Author: Shari Shattuck
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons
Pages: 304
Genre: Fiction
Format: Kindle/Hardcover

Returning in the bestselling tradition of Jennifer Weiner, Shattuck brilliantly illustrates the deep friendship between two absolutely unforgettable women in this touching yet funny novel.

Ellen Homes is done being invisible. Well, sort of.

Living with her closest friends, Temerity and Justice, has helped her step out of the shell of invisibility she once hid away in. She still seeks refuge in solitary time and observing from afar, but she has pushed herself to open up to others in ways that bring her unexpected happiness.

But when a terrible bus crash upends her normal routine, Ellen finds herself on a whirlwind crusade for the unseen and downtrodden. Only this time, helping others—including two young children with no one else to turn to—will mean facing a pain from her past that she’s long tucked away.

Picking up where Invisible Ellen left off, Becoming Ellen returns us to the touching, poignant, and compassionate world of Ellen Homes as she learns how to navigate the world she has decided to become a part of.

My Review

Let me start off by saying that I had no idea there was a book before this. And after seeing that, and reading about it I now feel that my feelings about this book may have been a lot different if I had read that one first.

This book is about Ellen, a socially awkward woman who lives with Temerity (a blind woman) and her brother Justice. Ellen works the night shift at Costco cleaning because it is a way for her to have sanctuary and not have to deal with people. I know from reading this book that she was in foster care, finding this out after the bus accident with the little girl and her mother that got hurt. I also know that Ellen has lost quite a bit of weight recently, and has some scarring which is way less noticeable than what she thinks. She also journals about everything. What I don't know is how to relate to her as a character, and I think reading the first book might have put her into perspective a little.

The writing and storyline are both good and so are the characters - I just couldn't relate to Ellen at all and that made this book a struggle to read. I think I will pick up Invisible Ellen and see if that changes my opinion, and it may change this review and rating. But as for now this is where I stand.

3 stars


Read More »

Saturday, June 20, 2015

The Case of the Sin City Sister by Lynne Hinton Book Review




Title: The Case of the Sin City Sister
Author: Lynne Hinton
Pages: 336
Genre: Mystery/Suspense
Format: Paperback/Kindle/Hardcover/Audio

She's not your average nun. And now Sister Eve Divine's risking it all, searching for a mission person in Vegas.

Sister Eve Divine recently discovered she’s got a gift: turns out she’s a natural at private detective work. But is it a temptation or a calling? As Eve wrestles with this question, she’s taking a leave of absence from the convent, investigating a case with her PI father.

But something else troubles Eve. It’s been weeks since Eve heard from her sister, Dorisanne. And Eve’s gut tells her that something sinister has happened to her difficult sibling. There’s only one place Eve can find the answers she’s looking for: in Dorisanne’s world, under the bright lights of Sin City—Las Vegas,

Late night visits to the casino and some clever clues hidden in an address book set Eve on a trail that soon reveals that Dorisanne’s life is darker and more complicated than Eve ever expected. In the end, Eve’s ability to understand her sister—and herself—may be a matter of life and death.

My Review

I thought I was in the mood for a more light hearted mystery so I decided to pick up The Case of the Sin City Sister. This is the story of Eve (a nun), her father Captain, their detective friend Daniel, and Eve's sister Dorisanne. Dorisanne has always been more of a black sheep and no one has heard from her in a little bit. This causes some concern from her sister but her father doesn't seem to upset about it. But, when Eve decides to head to Vegas here her sister lives, you realize that she isn't just being her usual self.

While I didn't mind this story, I felt that the characters were a little hard to relate to. I found Captain to be extremely believable. For someone who is a private investigator, the no nonsense attitude was dead on. ***Spoiler Alert*** And when you find out that Daniel and Dorisanne were in a fairly serious relationship until Daniel broke it up because he was Captain's best friend and old enough to be Dorisanne's father, that was believable too. Even if Captain would have reacted the way Daniel feared, he would have eventually gotten over it.

Dorisanne and the trouble that she was in was well written and believable too. Marrying a man 3 months after her breakup with Daniel, it was a terrible marriage and he was no good. She falls into a scam because he owes money to loan sharks, and this causes loads of problems for Dorisanne, her husband and some of their friends and acquaintances.

The real issue I had was with Eve. While some of the writing for her was fine, there was quite a bit I just didn't click with. It could have been me, but she wasn't a character that I really enjoyed reading about. It had nothing to do with her being a nun, it just seemed that her character was lacking something.

I don't think this was an awful book, but it isn't one that I would highly recommend. And I know that this is the second book in the series, but I didn't feel like I missed anything from the first one. But maybe I did.

3 1/2 stars


Read More »

Friday, June 19, 2015

A Crying Shame, the Uninvited and Them by William W. Johnston Book Feature

William Johnstone ACS, TU and Them Banner

A Crying ShameTitle: A Crying Shame
Author: William Johnstone
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Genre: Thriller/Horror
Format: Kindle 

 Each night they emerged from the murky depths of the swamp to claim another victim—a lovely, innocent, fertile female who would be carried off in huge hairy arms and plunged into a nightmare world of terror. Her screams would echo in the darkness. Her face would contort in the throes of horror and pain. But once taken, each became a mother of an unholy child, a link in the chain of madness and evil, a spawn to carry on the devil's name!

  PRE-ORDER INFORMATION
  A Crying Shame is available for pre-order at  Amazon, B&N,  Kobo and Google Play


The UninvitedTitle: The Uninvited
Author: William Johnstone
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Genre: Thriller/Horror
Format: Kindle

 It was like any other spring day in the quiet, peaceful community of Lapeer Parish, Louisiana. But for Sheriff Vic Ransonet it was the beginning of a nightmare. People were disappearing without a trace. Animals were being eaten right down to the bone. Lush fertile fields of crops were being stripped bare. But the sheriff knew the evil that lurked in the barns, sheds, and homes of the sleepy parish. He had seen the creatures with his own eyes. He had heard the clicking of their jaws, the signal that they were on the move to feed their ravenous appetites. And if he couldn't stop them, then every man, woman, and child would die, and Lapeer Parish would be wiped off the map.

  PRE-ORDER INFORMATION
  The Uninvited is available for pre-order at  Amazon, B&N,  and Google Play

ThemTitle: Them
Author: William Johnstone
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Genre: Thriller/Horror
Format: Kindle

 Jake Silver was a teenage misfit, a misunderstood genius who'd been cruelly tormented by his own sadistic father and others in his little Louisiana hometown. Jake was the perfect disciple for Them. They'd come from another world; disembodied begins who understood Jake's need for revenge.  .  .They would offer Jake the power to finally take it.  .  .All they wanted in return was his help in bringing others of their kind to Jake's world. It begins so slowly, so innocently, even Jake didn't see the danger.  .  .until it was too late to realize that he had helped unleash a devastating power in the universe--and opened a gateway for a horrific struggle between mere human beings and.  .  . Them

  PRE-ORDER INFORMATION Them is available for pre-order at  Amazon, B&N,  and Google Play  

William JohnstoneWilliam W. Johnstone was born in Southern Missouri, the youngest of four children. Raised with strong moral and family values by his minister father, and well-tutored by his school teacher mother, Bill quit school when he was fifteen. He was kicked out of the French Foreign Legion for being under age and joined the carnival. But still valuing his education, he returned home to finish his high school education in 1957. He went on to work as a deputy sheriff, did a hitch in the army, and began a career in radio broadcasting, where he worked daily on his verbal and storytelling skills for the next sixteen years on the air. Much of his knowledge of the early frontier began from listening to family experiences told to him by his Grandparents. His love of animals is displayed in many of his books as well as finding several Huskies and Malamutes roaming freely around his home. As an avid gun and knife collector, hours of research are devoted to the types of weapons commonly used during the eras of his writings. One little known fact, is his love for music ... from "rockabilly to classical". Bill has written and recorded several songs which may be released for his fans in the future. He started writing in 1970, but it wasn't until late 1979 when The Devil's Kiss was published that William W. Johnstone became a full-time writer. Since that time he has written over two hundred books in a variety of genres including action, suspense, western, science fiction, and horror. Two of his books, Eagle Down and Dagger, were written under the pen name of William Mason. To the true William W. Johnstone reader, he is a best-selling author admired for the great diversity in his writing talents. Though most known for his western adventures, Johnstone was also a visionary writer. His prophetic stories within his Ashes Series, Code Name Series, and his science fiction books, predicting the Gulf War and the political climate we live in today, was ahead of its time when it was writte

   For More Information Visit William’s website.
Read More »

Wicked Ride, Waking the Dragon and Brand of the Pack Book Feature!




Title: Wicked Ride
Author: Rebecca Zanetti
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format: Kindle 
“Non-stop action and a hero to die for!” —Alexandra Ivy
If you love the Dark Protectors, these wicked hot Realm Enforcers are for you!
Alexandra Monzelle is a hard-fighting, heat-packing Seattle vice cop, and she’s not much interested in being protected. Her short skirt and sex-kitten heels are tools to lure her suspects into talking about the deadly new drug hitting the streets. She can take care of herself and then some. Unfortunately, she can’t seem to get that through to Kellach Dunne.
Kellach is a fresh import from Dublin, and he’s landed at the heart of a vicious motorcycle club that deals in guns, narcotics, and mayhem. He’s all male, all rough power—and all interference in her damn investigation. Maybe he’s one of the good guys. Maybe not. Lex knows an affair with an immortal like him would risk everything. No matter how delicious he looks…
PRE-ORDER INFORMATION
Wicked Ride is available for pre-order at  Amazon, B&N,  Kobo and Google Play


New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Rebecca Zanetti has worked as an art curator, Senate aide, lawyer, college professor, and a hearing examiner – only to culminate it all in stories about Alpha males and the women who claim them. She writes dark paranormals, romantic suspense, and sexy contemporary romances.
Growing up amid the glorious backdrops and winter wonderlands of the Pacific Northwest has given Rebecca fantastic scenery and adventures to weave into her stories. She resides in the wild north with her husband, children, and extended family who inspire her every day–or at the very least give her plenty of characters to write about.

For More Information

Title: Waking the Dragon
Author: Juliette Cross
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format: Kindle
The Gladium Province is on the verge of civil unrest as humans and Morgons, the dragon-hybrid race, clash once more. But amid disorder can also arise passion…
When the bodies of three human women are discovered in Morgon territory—with the DNA of several Morgon men on the victims—it’s just a matter of time before civil unrest hits the Province. But for ambitious reporter Moira Cade, it’s more than just a story, and it may mean risking her own life.
Descending into the dark underworld of Morgon society, Moira is paired with Kol Moonring, Captain of the Morgon Guard, for her protection. Fiercely independent, Moira bristles at his dominance, and defies his will at every turn. Yet resistance proves futile when passion flares between them, awakening powerful emotions within both, body and soul. But as the killings continue, can their fiery newfound bond survive an even greater evil—one that threatens all of humanity, Morgonkind, and Moira’s very soul?…
PRE-ORDER INFORMATION
Waking the Dragon is available for pre-order at  Amazon, B&N,  Kobo and Google Play

Juliette calls lush, moss-laden Louisiana home where the landscape curls into her imagination, creating mystical settings for her stories. She has a B.A. in creative writing from Louisiana State University, a M.Ed. in gifted education, and was privileged to study under the award-winning author Ernest J. Gaines in grad school. Her love of mythology, legends, and art serve as constant inspiration for her works. From the moment she read JANE EYRE as a teenager, she fell in love with the Gothic romance–brooding characters, mysterious settings, persevering heroines, and dark, sexy heroes. Even then, she not only longed to read more novels set in Gothic worlds, she wanted to create her own.

For More Information


Title: Brand of the Pack
Author: Tera Shanley
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format: Kindle
The last of her kind
As the last of the Silver Wolves, and the only female with the ability to produce werewolf offspring, Morgan Carter is a wanted woman. Male suitors from all packs vie for her, and threaten the safety of her young niece, Lana. But there is only one man Morgan wants . . .
The last of his control
Greyson Crawford has been through hell and back for Morgan. And he’d do it again. But until she learns to trust him, and lets him claim her as his own, he can’t fully protect her. When a force more powerful than either have known threatens to tear them apart, can Greyson convince Morgan to accept him as her mate once and for all, before it’s too late?
PRE-ORDER INFORMATION
Brand of the Pack is available for pre-order at  Amazon, B&N,  Kobo and Google Play

Hybrid author, Tera Shanley, is the twisted mind behind the zombie-rific Dead Rapture series. Schooled in weaponry and with an alpha male of her own, the dystopian romance genre was a natural draw. She has several books published through Omnific Publishing/Simon & Schuster and Lyrical Press/Kensington. A happy inhabitant of cozy, small town Texas, she spends her days chasing around her rambunctious family, spending time outdoors, reading, and typing up the stories her characters demand she write.
For More Information
Visit Tera’s website.
Connect with Tera on Facebook  and  Twitter.
Read More »

Thursday, June 18, 2015

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini Book Review




Title: The Kite Runner
Author: Khaled Hosseini
Pages: 343
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Format: Paperback

The unforgettable, heartbreaking story of the unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father's servant, The Kite Runner is a beautifully crafted novel set in a country that is in the process of being destroyed. It is about the power of reading, the price of betrayal, and the possibility of redemption; and an exploration of the power of fathers over sons-their love, their sacrifices, their lies.

My Review

Ok, here we go again. Another book that has received so many 5 star reviews, and after reading it I am not exactly sure why. It takes a lot for me to give a book 5 stars. And to each their own. Let me talk just a little about this one.

I want to first say that the author is a fabulous writer. Some of the best writing I have read in recent years. And maybe because I grew up in America, it makes it that much harder for me to try and relate. Or, maybe it really has nothing to do with culture at all, as their are bad people who make bad decisions all over the world.

Baba was an extremely unlikable character. Not only did I hate how he treated Amir, I also couldn't understand his need for constant attention, attention he never bestowed on his son except for after the Kite Running. ***Spoiler alert*** Then, when Ali and Hassaan tell Baba they are leaving, he breaks down sobbing, the first real sign of emotion you see from him throughout the entire book. Just didn't care for him at all.

Rahim Khan. Now this was a character I really liked. He was always looking out for everyone and seemed to genuinely care.

Ali and Hasaan. Again, I really like both of these characters. Unfortunately, the main character is the one I had the biggest issue with.

Amir. Where do I even begin? I loathed this character, and no matter how he was brought up, or what his age, I just couldn't understand how he could be so cruel. He always accused Assef of being the bully and cruel, but in reality he wasn't any better. And I'm not even talking about what happened to Hassaan. It was everything he did in his life from that point forward. Even in the end, when he goes back to Afghanistan, he doesn't do it because he wants to. He does it because Rahim sends for him. So I never liked him and that made the book less than enjoyable for me.

Would I recommend it? I would. It is obvious from the reviews that I am in the minority. But this one just wasn't for me.

3 stars

About the Author

Khaled Hosseini was born in Kabul, Afghanistan, and moved to the United States in 1980. His first novel, The Kite Runner, was an international bestseller, published in thirty-eight countries. In 2006 he was named a goodwill envoy to UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency. He lives in northern California
Read More »

Eight Author Revelations by Seth Mullins, author of The Edge of the Known Trilogy


Title: What Casts the Shadow
Author: Seth Mullins
Pages: 240
Genre: Metaphysical
Format: Paperback/Kindle
A troubled young rock musician, a mystic mentor, and a generation of lost souls longing for a new voice to emerge from the wilderness…
When an altercation outside of a performance venue nearly proves fatal, Brandon Chane begins to realize how far his life is spinning out of control. His efforts to channel his pain, frustration and thwarted loves into his music may not suffice to save him. Then he meets Saul, a crisis counselor with the soul of an ancient medicine man, and a far-reaching journey of healing – one that may teach him how to steer away from the very edge of the abyss – begins.
For More Information:
What Casts the Shadow is available at Amazon.
Pick up your copy at Barnes & Noble.
Title: Trust in the Unseen
Author: Seth Mullins
Pages: 234
Genre: Metaphysical
Format: Paperback/Kindle
“We’d all thrown our fates to the wind, trusting in the unknown – in the Unseen, as our EP so proudly proclaimed – and that leap had thus far landed us in a place where we couldn’t even grope our way forward in the dark anymore.”
Brandon Chane was beginning to realize that discovering his voice was only the first step of the journey. Now he must somehow learn to trust the depths from which it comes, and the unknown horizons that it may sweep him away to, even as every part of his personal world seems to be falling apart.
For More Information:
Trust in the Unseen is available at Amazon.
Pick up your copy at Barnes & Noble.
Humanity's Way ForwardTitle: Humanity’s Way Forward
Author: Seth Mullins
Pages: 246
Genre: Metaphysical
Format: Paperback/Kindle
“The echoes of those scars can clearly be heard in Edge of the Known’s music. But one can also discern, quite distinctly, that other inexplicable thing that is within us all, the undying flame that transcends our wounds and sufferings…” Brandon Chane had always seen life through the eyes of an outcast, a misfit, a young man at odds with the world and with himself. Now they’re calling him a wounded healer; a shamanic Pied Piper for the throngs of alienated youth; a thief of fire. He wonders if he and his band can escape the claims that the world has suddenly laid upon them. But what about the cherished dream that he’s struggled so desperately to fulfill, the dream that finally seems to be coming to fruition?”
For More Information:
Humanity’s Way Forward is available at Amazon.
Pick up your copy at Barnes & Noble.
Eight Author Revelations

1. I’ve been recording my dreams in journals for more than 20 years.
I think our dreaming reality is just as valid as our waking. It’s not really in
our nature – more just a cultural habit – for us to make such a big distinction
between the two.


2. I knew that I was an artist by age three, and
understood that it was my destiny to be a writer by the time I was ten or
eleven.


3. Every year I vow that I won’t be putting myself
through the darkness of a Vermont winter ever again – and yet I’m still here.
4. I get out into nature at least three or four times a
week, regardless of the season.


5. As a child, I conceived the idea that the way to pass
through this ‘unsafe’ world unscathed was to be small and not make a ‘splash’.
That belief turned into one of my biggest stumbling blocks along the road to
becoming an author.


6. I often feel like an ancient medicine man who has
somehow stumbled into the modern industrial/computer age and is moving along
generally baffled, trying to make sense of it all.


7. I notice a lot of debate around religion and science:
Which is the most reliable authority with regards to the nature of reality? I
don’t think either one has offered a comprehensive or even particularly helpful
picture, as they stand. I hope that our race can either find ways to expand
these systems of belief or else discover new ones.


8. I used to write fantasy novels, largely because I
needed a place to go to where magic was ‘real’. This need loosened its hold on
me when I realized that magic already surrounds us all. It’s just a matter of
our senses awakening to the presence of it.
Seth Mullins first conceived of his dream to write novels in his early teens, and this one desire has stayed with him throughout all the other myriad twists and turns of life. His inspirations include methods of inner exploration such as dream-work and shamanism and his experiences as a songwriter and performing musician. He studied creative writing at Santa Fe Community College in New Mexico and Lane Community College in Oregon.
Seth has lived in Connecticut, New Mexico, Oregon and (currently) Vermont.
For More Information
Visit Seth’s website.
Connect with Seth on Twitter.
Read More »