Saturday 30 November 2013

Book Spotlight: Aether Warriors by Dean Ravenola


Aether Warriors
by Dean Ravenola
Hidden War Series Book 1
Fantasy
Amazon | Outskirts Press

Young Chase's life is suddenly turned upside-down as he discovers he has been chosen as an Aether Warrior. He is the last member found of a small group of gifted children that will be trained to lead a war that has been ongoing secretly for centuries. Strange creatures, hidden bases, and perhaps even a betrayal lie in store for Chase as he follows his destiny.

Friday 29 November 2013

Author Interview: Gregory Bellarmine

About the Author:

Gregory Bellarmine is the author of the bestselling "Monthly Roman Breviary" and "The Blood That Cries in the Ground," part of "The Father Dante Journals." He considers himself a non-denominational, Didache Christian and lives a happy though sometimes sleepless life in the UK with his wife, two children and rather cheeky Parson Russell Terrier.


Do you plan everything or just let the story flow?

For me I try to reveal a story sculpture that already exists inside the stone. I visualise the beginning and the end, then try to understand how the people involved moved from start to finish and discard whatever isn't related to the narrative.

Do your characters ever want to take over the story?

The characters always provide the story through their decisions.

What is your favourite food?

This may seem ridiculous but nothing beats one chocolate square melted on the tongue after a sip of hot tea.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

Morning, which suits my wife and Parson Russell Terrier just fine, since he takes over my spot in the bed after I rise.

Where do you dream of travelling to and why?

Iraq - if ever it's safe to travel there that is. I'd love to see the ancient cities along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers where the historical Abraham walked among the most ferocious civilisation in human history, the Assyrians.

Do distant places feature in your books?

Yes, namely Ancient Italy, North Africa, Persia, and the British Isles

Do you listen to music while writing?

Yes and I try to match the music to the emotional centre of the scene, so Marina & the Diamonds might be queued next to Gregorian Chant.

Could you tell us a bit about your latest release?

"The Blood That Cries in the Ground" is a dark retelling of the actual history and myths about the Bishop of Myra aka St Nick, when sorcerers ruled Kings. It's less of a What if? and more of a What really happened?

What have you learned about writing and publishing since you first started?

Don't allow the social discomfort of others keep you from exploring subjects that could expand your repertoire.

Is there anything you would do differently?

I "method" write to make the writing authentic, which means that I'm far too inside the mind of certain characters for a prolonged period. Sometimes this isn't the wisest thing to do. Selection of story is thus vital to maintain a sense of balance. A purposefully unpublished novel reflects this experience.

Who, or what, if anything has influenced your writing?

I'd have to say Kafka and post WWII post-holocaust Polish literature. I've developed an innate distrust of anyone zealous about any idea, or who feels intimidation or the Law are legitimate ways to change a person or group's behaviour. For me, new understanding has caused me to change my opinions so many times that I see that 'dogma' can never be applied to a human life. That could change though.

Anything you would say to those just starting out in the craft?

Accept in advance that people will judge you harshly at first but then respect what your determination has wrought. Seek out unique experiences. Become a life-nomad. Write only about what you've witnessed, endured and lived. Nothing beats the truth for providing vivid details that draws me as a reader into your world.

What are three words that describe you?

Sociable, Broad-minded, Persistent

What's your favourite book or who is your favourite writer?

Morley Callaghan's "Such Is My Beloved" is a plain english tale about a depression-era priest who's heartfelt attempt to help the poor merited a backlash from his rather more well-fed parishioners and gold-drenched religious superiors. Although doing the right thing can be excruciating, the emotional reward for courage is always worth it. Really, really.

Blurb of your latest release or coming soon book



The Blood that Cries in the Ground
by Gregory Bellarmine
Amazon | Books-A-Million | BN

The Greatest Myth Ever Dispelled

Italy. A tough master of novices, Father Dante encounters the bold young priest Antonio who challenges his identity and accuses him of being the Saint Nicholas. But despite the Father faking his death, a determined Antonio discovers a rather alive Dante arrayed in kilt and armor.

In return for Antonio’s silence—and to protect the town from attracting all manner of darkness—Dante agrees to tell his life story. Without explanation, Dante orders Antonio to meet him at night in the abandoned Cathedral, the site of a former battle that the Church has kept secret for a generation.

Until today.

The Criskindl. Ice Steeds. The Unborn. Saint.

From the Dark Ages’ when Poet-Sorcerers ruled kings, to the Holy Land when a new civilization was rising, to Revolutionary France where love is lost and gained, Father Dante pursues the one responsible for both his master and his mother’s deaths: Black Peter, his brother.

List of previous books if any

Academic annotations for "The Practice of the Presence of God," "True Devotion to Mary" and the "Bi-Monthly Roman Breviary" series. This is my first published fiction book.

Any websites/places readers can find you on the web.

http://www.FatherDante.com

https://www.goodreads.com/FatherDanteJournals

https://twitter.com/VRevGB


Thursday 28 November 2013

Author Interview: Murray Kibblewhite


About the Author:

Originally from Masterton, a small farming town. Murray Kibblewhite moved to Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, to complete his B.Com. from Victoria University, before shifting to Auckland where he has lived for the last forty years. Murray is an author, teacher and businessman and his short stories are available free from Smashwords. His first novel, a thriller, “The Minke Connection”, is available in hard copy from www.lulu.com and will be available soon in E-Book format through Smashwords.

Murray can be found on
Smashwords at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/340416

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/nowiknow2013


Author Interview:

Do you plan everything or just let the story flow?

All my stories, short story’s and novel are carefully planned normally with a definite opening (to gain attention), a middle (where all the meat is) and an ending that hopefully leaves the reader wondering what will happen next and they want to read on further. This formula applies for the overall book, the separate chapters and for each scene.

Do your characters ever want to take over the story? 

My stories are plot not character driven.

What is your favourite food?

Vegetable stir fried as I am a vegan.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

I am a morning person try to use the morning for writing.

Where do you dream of travelling to and why?

I intend writing a number of novels dealing with ecology or environmental issues. So my dream is to leave New Zealand in May each year for up to three months and visit areas I intend writing about.

Do distant places feature in your books?

Yes they do as I am looking for the opportunity to mix and match different locations and different issues to make a compelling story.

Do you listen to music while writing?

Yes I listen to both classical and pop music, as I feel inclined.

Could you tell us a bit about your latest release?


The Minke Connection is my first novel, which I refer to as a RAT! Romantic, Action, Thriller! It outlines the efforts of Greenpeace using the protagonist, John Daroux, to try to stop the Japanese from killing the protected Sperm whale. For years the Japanese whalers have entered the Southern Ocean to kill the small Minke whales for “research” purposes. The initial setting is in the Southern Ocean South of New Zealand where John boards the factory ship to discover evidence of Sperm whales. Together with Whale Researcher, Carrie Ardley, they travel to Tokyo, where they have many adventures escaping from the Yakusa, being poisoned and tortured to eventually forcing the whaling company to cease killing the Sperm whale. John and Carrie become intimately involved but an unfortunate incident drives them apart. There are number of romantic scenes, numerous action situations and the final successful outcome is achieved only after both John and Carrie suffer physically.

What have you learned about writing and publishing since you first started?

Writing is an art that is both exciting and challenging. It is exciting because it allows me to express my ideas and fantasies, but challenging because of the need to plan carefully, research extensively and be patience in writing a long work.

Publishing online is the way to go as people are now moving towards electronic publication. However, it is very challenging as an author to become familiar with all the elements of online publishing. I have decided to employ a younger person to help with the publishing and marketing aspects as she understands the issues more than I do.

Is there anything you would do differently?

No. However, it is a “labour of love” and now that I have completed my first major work I look forward to organising my life more efficiently so I can produce a novel each year for the next few years.

Who, or what, if anything has influenced your writing?

I have read most of the works of Robert Ludlam, Tom Clancy and Ian Fleming and their styles have influenced me. I also attended several writing classes where I received helpful feedback.

Anything you would say to those just starting out in the craft?

Choose a genre that suits you as you need to have incredible perseverance to create and write a major work. Get help in the areas you are not experienced such as publishing and marketing.

What are three words that describe you?

Dreamer, Communicator, Teacher.

What's your favourite book or who is your favourite writer?

My favourite book was channelled by J. Z. Knight from her Guide called by the same name – “Ramtha”.

Blurb of your latest release or coming soon book

My latest work, ‘The Minke Connection” is to be released by Smashwords on 25 November 2013. The next short story, “Year 21” will be released just before Christmas this year.

List of previous books if any

I have set up a series of short stories under the heading “Project L.E.L.” This stands for Project Live – Experience – Learn. The first on is “Year 17” and eventually I expect to reach “Year 40”.

Any websites/places readers can find you on the web.

https://www.smashwords.com/books/search?query=Murray+Kibblewhite

www.theminkeconnection.blogspot.co.nz

***

About the Book


The Minke Connection
by Murray Kibblewhite
Thriller/Action/Adventure/Romance

Why are the Japanese killing protected sperm whales???

From the high seas off New Zealand to the intricate demands in the city of Tokyo, The Minke Connection is a spellbinding saga. Matching business versus environmentalism, big organizations versus small and expectation versus experience.

Greenpeace discover that the Japanese research whaling fleet are killing more than the Minke whale. They send American born Canadian John Daroux, lecturer and adventurer, and Carrie Ardley, whale researcher, to investigate. Boarding the factory ship in mid ocean, John finds irrefutable evidence, almost loses his life and becomes Carrie’s lover. Together, John and Carrie go to Tokyo where they evade being poisoned, survive being frozen alive and endure being followed by the dreaded Yakusa. The arrival of Greenpeace chief, Mark Stafford, and his beautiful associate, Petra van de Roer, initiates a counter attack that requires John and Carrie to act as bait. Desperate measures are called for as they endeavour to outwit Takeshi Fujiwara, leader of the cult, League of Blood. John and Carrie are captured and tortured. Time is critical. John Daroux must use all his wits and knowledge to save the Sperm whales and himself. Can they succeed?

John Daroux……New Age intellectual, martial arts exponent and Reki master, he takes on the project unprepared for the tests he will experience. While he can handle the threats and challenges from the Japanese, can he handle the passion aroused by Carrie Ardley?

Carrie Ardley……young, attractive Greenpeace technician, committed to saving whales, takes on this task as an adventure. Fiercely attracted to John Daroux, she suffers torture and finds that he puts the project above her well being. Can she ever forgive him?

Mark Stafford……competent, urbane chief of Greenpeace, he takes on his biggest challenge when he confronts the League of Blood and tries to unravel the reason why the giant trading company, Mosaka Corporation, is killing the protected Sperm whales. Can he overcome the threats?

Takeshi Fujiwara……one of Japan’s most powerful businessmen, and chairman of Mosaka Corporation, he controls the lives of many. He holds a secret that dates back many centuries and the time for action is now. Can he succeed or will the persistent efforts of the foreign controlled environmental “do-gooder” Greenpeace upset his carefully prepared plans?

The Minke Connection, will be released on 25th November as an e-book https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/373619.

Its blog can be found here http://theminkeconnection.blogspot.co.nz/






Wednesday 27 November 2013

Release Blitz: Lost Seraphine by Kossandra Leigh



Lost Seraphine Release Week Blitz
By KaSonndra Leigh
Young Adult Paranormal/Fantasy
Date to be Published: 11/24/2013


Caleb Wood now knows the Dark Seraphine's true identity. 

Life should be a little more sane now, right? Wrong! It’s kind of hard to ignore the walkers, fallen souls taken by the Angel of Chaos. Oh yeah, only Caleb can see them.

After saving his girlfriend from the wrath of a sea witch, Caleb finds himself faced with a new problem…understanding the strange tattoos showing up on his body. He must also deal with his Lost Seraphine, the girl who left her family behind to save the boy she loves. The same girl who just happens to be the daughter of a mythological god. 

Gia gave up one of her powers to be with Caleb. She knew that she was connected to the Dark Seraphine in some way.  You see, there’s a prophecy, something she always believed to be a fairy tale linking her with the girl who also wants Caleb. Haunted by visions of her dead brother, Gia realizes she has made a terrible mistake. The ability she gave up is the one thing she will need to keep her boyfriend safe. 

Will Caleb be able to accept the things he will learn about his real father while trying to save the girl he loves from herself? Book Two of the Seraphine Trilogy and prequel to the Lost Immortals Saga is coming soon.

KaSonndra Leigh

Author Bio
Author of the Lost Immortals Saga and the Path Seekers Series. I’m also a mother, blogger, reader, gardener, home renovator, and a slayer of undead Egyptian mummies in Tomb Raider. I believe in karma, coffee, and seriously wish that the producers of Xena would bring my favorite show ever back.

I was born in the race-car city of Charlotte, NC, and now live in the City of Alchemy and Medicine, NC, when I’m not hanging out in Bardonia (Lost Immortals). Most of my characters are based on people that I’ve met throughout my travels and adventures. People tend to stop and start conversations with me as if I’ve known them my entire life. Does this freak me out? Not really. My mom says that one day I’ll get kidnapped by one of them. I told her that if it weren’t for these lovely people then I wouldn’t be able to create the stories that I do.

Some other common tidbits…hmm. I’ve watched the movie Under the Tuscan Sun almost 200 times. Seriously, the way I see it is if I keep watching it enough, then suddenly the house that Diane Lane lives in will magically appear in my backyard. I know. I have a huge imagination!

Authors Links
Website | Facebook YA | Facebook NA | Twitter @kasonndraleigh

Buy Links:


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Tuesday 26 November 2013

Book Spotlight & Giveaway: Someone Has Taken My Place by David Snow

David-Snow-Long


Someone Has Taken My Place
by David Snow


About The Author

David Snow 1David Snow has been working in the private security and financial investigation arena since 1989. He was one of the first graduates and members of the Institute of Irish Investigators. He obtained the "youngest student award" from the Institute in 1989. In 2013 he was awarded Investigator of the Year by the Europe Middle East and African chapter of the International Association of Financial Crime Investigators. He was also presented with the International Investigator of the Year Award in Denver Colorado by IAFCI – North America and donated his winnings to the Wounded Warrior Project, which supports American troops injured at war.

He was initially employed by Sleator Carroll Investigators and then Pinkerton Security & Investigations. Pinkerton is the world’s oldest and largest Private Detective and Security agency with operations on every continent. He joined Pinkerton in 1993 and became the General Manager of the Irish operation in 1996, leaving in 2001 to pursue a career within insurance fraud investigation.

Today he is employed as the Head of Special Investigations for the Irish operation of a multi-national insurance company. He is a member of the International Association of Special Investigation Units (IASIU), the International Association of Financial Crime Investigators (IAFCI), the Association of Irish Risk Management (AIRM) and was one of the first Europeans to obtain the Certified Insurance Fraud Investigator (CIFI) from North America. He has lectured on identity theft and financial crime in Ireland, North America and Europe. He is also a member of the Irish charity A Little Lifetime Foundation, formally known as ISANDS, obtaining an award in 2012 for his efforts in the prevention of the identity theft of dead Irish baby’s.

He lives in Dublin, Ireland with his wife and two children Olivia and Sarah.

Website - www.davidsnow.ie  


About The Book

Genre - True Crime (Based on a true Story)
A Financial Thriller / Fraud and Identity theft – International Investigation
Publisher – Createspace
Release DateMarch 2013
Buy - Amazon


Someone Has Taken My Place CoverBook Description:

Inspired by a true story and written by the real Irish Investigator who won the acclaimed award of Financial Investigator of the Year EMEA 2013 and International Investigator of the Year – IAFCI North America “for the true case, in which the book is based.” Someone has taken my place is an epic account of the identity theft of Irish babies who died in the 1970’s. Irish Fraud Investigator Andrew Stone is on the trail of the serial fraudster known in Ireland as the Texan. The fraudster is inventive and elusive as he evilly masquerades in the identities of dead babies for fraudulent gain. Stone is obsessed with obtaining justice for the vulnerable Irish parents whose babies identities have been taken by the American professional conman. Follow his personal international chase across Ireland, Europe and the United States of America as, with the help of the FBI, former KGB Agents, the United States Secret Service, Interpol and the Irish police, Stone pieces together the international conman’s tortuous spider’s web of illegal aliases and criminal intent.    


Praise for Someone Has Taken My Place:

  It reads, when you think of it like something out of a Hollywood Movie” Ryan Tubrity, RTE

Ireland, The Late Late Show "A thinking man's thriller, crime in the modern era.” Amazon Review

 “Extremely interesting book that shines a bright light on identity theft." Amazon Review "Brilliantly
written by David Snow! I could not put this book down. Gripping and well worth the read! Very well
done, and a highly recommended book!” Former FBI Agent

"This book is an excellent mystery ...non-stop ride through the ruthless world of identity theft ...smart and emotional novel." Irish Police Detective

Excerpt:

What's Underneath the Water....
One of the names that Cochran had used to make claims against Irish insurance companies was John Martin. Snow checked with the Births/Deaths and Marriages office in Dublin for this name, and was told that John Martin was born in 1976 and had died shortly after. Snow immediately referred the case to the Irish Police speciality fraud unit, the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation, and was able to present the police authorities with a comprehensive file.
Further investigation revealed that Cochran had obtained multiple Irish passports using the identities of deceased infants. Insurance policies had been issued to these names, followed by personal injury insurance claims. Cochran also had opened bank accounts, set up email addresses, and was using mobile phones in the names of these various stolen identities.
A Happy Ending
As a result of the investigation, Cochran was arrested at the Dublin airport in January 2011 while attempting to board a flight to Poland. When arrested, he was in possession of a child's death certificate and a completed official Irish passport application form. Cochran was convicted of these offences and is serving a prison sentence of four years.
Snow expressed his thanks to all involved. "Following his arrest and conviction, Jeremy Cochran is currently serving his sentence in an Irish prison. This was thanks to the efforts and cooperation of the SIU teams, the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation, the Irish Passport Office, International Association of Special Investigation Units, the district attorney's office in Durant, Okla., the sheriff 's department in Texas, the Durango Police Department and others."
Snow also gave a special thanks to the Irish charity "A Little Lifetime" (www.alittlelifetime.ie), which provided support to the bereaved parents of the infants, whose identities were misused by Cochran.
Epilogue
In May 2012, the charity "A Little Lifetime," took the opportunity of providing Snow and two detectives from the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation with an award for their efforts in the "detection and prevention of past Irish babies being used for identity theft and insurance fraud."
In April 2013 David Snow, will be presented with the Financial Investigator of the Year Award 2013 in Cyprus, by the International Association of Financial Crime Investigators EMEA (www.iafci.org)

David has since written a book, “Someone has taken my place” which is a novel based on the case and is available at www.davidsnow.ie or Amazon. A percentage of the sale of the book is being passed to the Irish charity A Little Lifetime. 



  David-Snow-Long    

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Monday 25 November 2013

Book Spotlight & Giveaway The Cold Elf by John Garrett

John-Garrett-Banner  


About the Author


john-garrett-author-pic  I'm John Garrett, an author and artist who loves Comics, Art, Sci-fi, Fantasy, Web and Tech stuff -also I prefer food in sandwich form.   My main site is Hypertransitory.com, where I write about all kinds of stuff and show the latest art I've created. Head on over if you're interested in learning more about me. See you there!    





Author Links
Website: http://thecoldelf.com/
Blog: http://hypertransitory.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/hypertransitory
Twitter: http://twitter.com/johngarrettx


Purchase Link (Kindle, iBooks and Nook versions available): http://thecoldelf.com



The Cold ElfTITLE: The Cold Elf
AUTHOR: John Garrett
GENRE: Fantasy

PRICE (Standard version): $0.99 - for one device (contains 5-piece art gallery)

PRICE (Premium Package): $2.99 - includes epub and mobi versions, 15 pieces of hi-res art plus the Artist's Diary pdf.

SYNOPSIS: A young, bitter Elf undertakes a solitary journey, in search of a weapon that could be the last hope of his people.    




Excerpts:


Jorr had never seen snow before. It wasn't the kind of weather that Elves traditionally preferred, and so they had little to do with snow.
Stepping shakily out of his boat, Jorr's foot sank deep into a mass of the damp substance. If the wetness of the sea couldn't get through his oiled leather boots, he knew this snow would fare no better. Still, the cold was unpleasant.
He stood and stretched, satisfied that he could do so after three long days on the sea. He looked out over the vastness of icy, dark gray water he had just crossed and frowned. It had taken so long, it was hard to believe that he had sailed across the narrowest part. Crossing that water again was not something to look forward to.
Then another thought - depending on what he found here, maybe he wouldn't have to?
In any event, he was here now. He still had a good distance to travel if the maps were correct.
Jorr grasped the side of the small boat that had been his home for the past three days and pulled it completely onto the shore.
The snow had stopped falling, yet there was plenty of it already on the ground here. The day was overcast, but was beginning to get darker, and the wind wasn't helping with cold or visibility. Waves of snow dust were washing over him. He pulled the hood of his cloak over his bald head. He had waited too late. The hood had collected snow inside of it, and now it fell down past the side of his face and down his neck.
What a vile substance!
He resigned himself to the sensation, then looked around some more. The snow-covered beach was stark white, contrasted with a row of dark, dead trees a short distance away.
A very lonely place.
Jorr dragged the boat through the snow up towards the trees. He was so tired, but he had to get to those trees and start a fire, or he might fall asleep and freeze to death.
If that happened, the hope of the Elven people would die with him.
Grasping the small pouch he carried reminded him of how painfully little food he had been able to bring. The Elves had little enough at all in these dark times, and Jorr had hidden away as much as he could before his trip. It was not mucht. He had hoped for a bountiful forest where he could hunt, but as the island had grown into view bit by bit he had realized the forest was dead.
Just as the Elders had said it would be.
They were right about this, but that didn't mean they were right about everything. In Jorr's opinion, the Elders were wrong about most everything, and were not relevant any longer. Only a little time left, and they would see that he was right. Although he was but fifty years of age, and considered a child, he felt he was the one seeing reality, while the Elders were content to meekly accept their fate.
Shivering, Jorr realized that he was standing around freezing instead of building his fire.
Leaving his boat by the forest edge, he made his way through the trees and found what he considered to be an acceptable spot to make a fire. There was a row of trees grown tightly enough together to block much of the wind and the snow, so beside them the ground was only lightly covered.
Jorr opened his pack and withdrew the Fire Element.
The dull red rock glowed warm in his hands. Powerful guilt came over him. Although snow was new to him, the Elven people were no strangers to cold. They lived in a land that was nearly all desert, and the nights were as mercilessly cold as the days were hot. It seemed every night you would wish for the same burning sun that you cursed during the day.
Fire Elements were precious. They represented the last vestiges of magic the Elves still possessed. Supposedly they were used as children's fireworks back in the Before-Times, but now the few they had left were critical to surviving the cold nights of the ShirraLand Expanse where the Elves resided.
All Elves were now taught to make a fire as soon as they could hold a stick, so Jorr knew he could make one from the wood in these dead trees if necessary, but he couldn't take the chance that there would be no forest here. He had to be sure he could survive his journey, so he had stolen one of the Fire Elements the night he left.
It would all be worth it. He did this not for himself, but for all the Elven people.




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Series Spotlight: The Boys of DownCrash by London Casey


The Stronger, Safer Kind
The Boys of DownCrash #1
New Adult Romance
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17791342-the-stronger-safer-kind

All Scarlett wanted to do was thank the sexy stranger who helped her push away a drunk, grabby college boy at a bar. When that stranger identifies himself as Tripp and then takes the stage as the lead singer and guitarist for rock band, DownCrash, everything in Scarlett's life begins to change.

Her best friend, Andy, confesses his love for her and leaves her with what should be an easy decision to make... yet each time she looks in Andy's eyes, she can't help but face her secret, nightmarish past.

The only thing that makes Scarlett feel better is Tripp... but Tripp isn't just a bad boy rockstar, he's hurt. He's in pain. He tries to hide his pain in a bottle, but Scarlett believes that, perhaps, their secrets can help each other.

Friendship and love is suddenly put to the test, and Scarlett is torn... Will she choose an easy, comfortable, happy life or a life clouded with mixed signals, raw emotion, and intense romance?

*Recommended for ages 17+ due to mature subject matter*

***


Torn to Pieces
The Boys of DownCrash #2
New Adult Romance
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18001163-torn-to-pieces

Trying to forget about the promises she was forced to make as a young, naive eighteen year old, Maggie creates a false persona that paints her as the girl who never says no...

However, once she lays eyes on the drummer of DownCrash, everything clicks. From his sexy lip ring to the way he stares at her from the stage, Tatum becomes everything Maggie has ever fantasized about.

When trouble catches up to her in a parking garage after a DownCrash show, and Tatum shows up out of nowhere to protect her. For the first time in years, she is intimidated by a man's kindness and sexiness, and not by his temper and jealousy. As real feelings begin to grow Maggie is faced with her past and wonders if she'll ever be able to escape the promises she once made to keep the promises she wants to make right now.

*Recommended for ages 17+ due to sexual content and language, mature subject matter*

***


Some Kind of Hell
The Boys of DownCrash #3
New Adult Romance
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18189228-some-kind-of-hell

In the trilogy finale, shy DownCrash bassist, Logan, has his sexy eyes on Maggie's best friend, Annie. But Annie is still reeling from the way her relationship ended. She's hurt, angry, jealous, and the last thing she wants is some wannabe rockstar looking for his next hookup... although it may just be what she needs.

Logan wants more for his life. The past is living in his apartment, which forces him to spend nights in his car to avoid reliving the nightmare over and over again.

When Annie's guard comes down, tragedy strikes and their lives will be changed forever. Determined to win Annie over and help DownCrash get signed to a record deal, Logan has his work cut out for him. His gorgeous body and no-bullshit personality may just be the key to both...

*Recommended for ages 17+ due to mature subject matter*


Sunday 24 November 2013

Book Review: Clipped by Devon McCormack


Clipped
by Devon McCormack
M/M Erotica/Paranormal
3.5 Stars
Review copy from Netgalley

Blurb:

Though mortals have been convinced that God cares about their souls, nothing could be further from the truth. He created the world as a gift for his lover, Satan. But when Satan left him, he decided to end what he saw as his most grotesque creation.

Satan and his army of demons are man's only hope...

The demon Kinzer and his lover, Janka, have been sent by Satan to spy on The Raze, a gang of rogue demons who are working with God to bring about Armageddon. When someone exposes their true allegiances, The Raze clips Kinzer's wings and murders Janka. Kinzer manages to escape. He tracks down Satan's allies to warn them about a mole in their midst when he learns that they've located the Antichrist—a powerful weapon that could prevent the apocalypse. Now, he's on a mission to protect the Antichrist and avenge his lover’s death.

Review:

Love and hate, good vs evil, the fate of the world.

At the beginning of this book, I felt as if I had started reading halfway through. A lot seemed to have happened before the book started and I was left feeling very confused as to what was going on. The exotic names didn't help either.

Kinzer is one of the fallen, a fallen angel who is trying to save humanity and wakes up with his wings clipped, which negates all his supernatural powers as well, and realises he is now a sex slave in a very rough club. He meets Kid, the youngest person there, who has been a prisoner in the club since he was fifteen and doesn't really know any other life.

Being new, Kinzer doesn't know the rules and strikes up a conversation with Kid in the club's weight room, but it's Kid who gets punished by being tasered, as he did know the rules - no fraternising with the others.

Eventually, Kinzer had enough and engineers an escape, taking Kid with him and trying to figure out who betrayed him to the Raze, the unfallen angels who are trying to bring about Armageddon.

They meet up with two other angels, Dedrus and Treycore (who'd been working as strippers) and these two angels have kidnapped a pregnant woman, who they believe is about to give birth to the Antichrist, the saviour of humanity, not its downfall.

This book was not a boring read, but for me it was an uncomfortable one. There are lots of scenes with very rough sex, including biting, blood play and a lot of pain - as angels are very well-endowed and it hurts, a lot. I don't mind erotica, but that much pain for me isn't erotic. It is erotic for Kid, he enjoys it.

It's definitely erotica rather than romance, as Kid and Kinzer have sex almost within minutes of meeting, despite it breaking the rules. Then Kinzer gets with Dedrus, and Kid ends up with Treycore, an angel who detests humans and thinks they smell foul. It doesn't stop him from having sex with Kid, in many places and positions, even though having sex with him could kill a human because he is so large. Not a book for the faint of heart.

The sex scenes are a bit more raunchy than I was used to, very explicit, no purple prose here. But there did seem to be sex in every chapter, sometimes more than once and that just seemed a bit excessive.

I did come to grow to like Kinzer and Kid, Dedrus I'm still not sure of and I didn't really like Treycore at all.

Towards the end of the book, the betrayer is revealed and I didn't guess who it was, so kudos to the author for pulling that twist. I loved the paranormal elements with a twist on the fallen angels etc., but for me there was a bit too much sex and not enough plot.

This Morning I woke Up Dead by Mindy Larson Promo Blitz



This Morning I Woke Up Dead - PROMO Blitz
By Mindy Larson
Date Published: 11/12/2013 - Re-Launch
Paranormal Romance

What would you do? What rules would you break to be with your soul mate? This morning Hadley Christensen and Dominic Morris woke up living their dream lives. They are engaged and each has promising careers in the  medical field. They are happier and more fulfilled than they have ever been, and they are ready to begin their happily ever after.

Sadly, on her way to work, Hadley is in an accident. Before taking her last breath, she realizes she is already dead - and everyone on Earth is too. Now Hadley and Dominic must each find a way to live without one another. How do they continue when they are two parts of one flame?

Hadley is given permission by the Masters to contact Dominic in the hopes he will also realize he is already dead. If Dominic can open his mind to hear Hadley they can be together forever. Is Dominic ready to give up life the way he knows it? 

Mindy Larson

Mindy Larsen has always had a vivid imagination that has only improved with her love of reading and writing.  She spent much of her childhood entertaining her three younger brothers with her stories and today she is bringing her imagination to life in books.
When not writing, Mindy enjoys spending time with the love of her life and four children while playing disc golf, cooking, baking, traveling and exploring.

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During the months of November & December - 1% of the gross sales of all novels with Lavish Publishing, LLC will be donated to the Lupus Foundation of America.  The donation will be made in May 2014 in honor of AA Pencil and National Lupus Awareness Month.

This Promo Blitz is brought to you by Reading Addiction Book Tours

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Book Spotlight: Rising Storm Ian Kane

Rising Storm
Fading Empires Vol 1
by Ian Kane
Sci-fi
Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/7iLHb6qCTfQ


Established empires are fading and altered realities embrace a sinister future. Fading Empires is a time and place where unlikely heroes, scheming villains, monstrous entities, and ruthless super-gangs clash for dominance.

Rising Storm:  Fading Empires Volume I is the first of twelve epic Sci-Fi novels that take place in the near future. Earths major remaining governments have fallen and voracious new megacorporations have taken over, overseeing all within their closed systems. Meanwhile, super-gangs fight over what's left of the ravaged urban areas underneath the corporate zones, and monstrous life forms rampage through the forgotten outer areas.

However, small pockets of resistance form, such as the one led by ex-black ops warrior Leonard Kilbane. The grizzled leader struggles to keep his motley crew of mercenaries together, but are the formidable forces arrayed against his team and others in revolt too much to withstand?

Fading Empires explores a frightening near-future world that could very well happen. This series touches on very timely issues that are directly relevant to readers, and this realism will draw them further into a possible future. Fading Empires will enable readers to escape into another world, and come along on a roller-coaster ride of epic proportions. My passion is to write about characters who turn trials into triumphs, and I want readers to not only be entertained and inspired, but to also instill within them a feeling of hope. I believe that your readers would find a review of my novel highly interesting.

Rising Storm:  Fading Empires Volume I was newly published on October 31st, 2013 by Assent Publishing's Farther Books Imprint.


Ian Kane        
                                               
iankanebooks.com
iankaneauthor.com
twitter.com/iankanewrites


Saturday 23 November 2013

Book Spotlight: Soldier in Chains



Soldier in Chains
An Erotic Short Story
By Megan D. Martin



About Soldier in Chains
Print Length: 39 pages
Publisher: Secret Cravings Publishing
Publication Date: April 12, 2013
ASIN: B00CDB3NBC


Blurb
Dorian North, a soldier in the United States Army, is only hours away from being finished with her final tour in Afghanistan. It's only when she’s ambushed by al Qaeda that Dorian is knocked unconscious and awakens to find herself bound and gagged in a stranger's bed. She desperately tries to escape, but quickly finds herself enamored with her captor's alarming handsomeness.


Rob Hutcherson is a former Sergeant of the United States Marine Corps, who stumbled upon an al Qaeda ambush. He rescues the surviving soldier: the most beautiful woman he's ever laid eyes on. Taking her back to his home he finds his attraction to the fierce young woman to be overwhelming. When she wakes for the first time her goal is clear: escape. In fear for her safety he chains the little hell cat to his bed. He can't bear the thought of losing her, so he plans to show the little spit fire all the reasons she should stay…



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About the Author


Megan D. Martin is a multi-published author, mother, student and editor. She has always had a special place in her heart for love that is forbidden between two characters as well as the idea of the soul mate. These two themes play big roles in Megan’s writing, especially in her debut novella Forbidden Angel that released in December 2012 with Breathless Press. She likes to push the envelope when it comes to controversial topics in romance and instead of brushing over them, she deals with them head on. Why does she do this? Simple. Real life pushes people out of their comfort zone every day and the characters in Megan’s books don’t get so lucky when it comes to avoiding hard situations. Along with Breathless Press, she is also published with Pagan Writers Press, Secret Cravings Publishing, and Dragonfairy Press.


In her spare time Megan plays Batman with her incredibly sweet son, watches too many episodes of Vampire Diaries (Ian, call me!), buys fish for her many fish tanks, and has long talks with Gandaldore (the little writing wizard that sits on her desk.) She is well known for losing her keys and has more than one nerdy tattoo.
Wanna contact Megan? Send her an email–she would love to hear from you MeggieM823@gmail.com.


For more info on Megan check her out on these social networking sites.