Debra L. Martin's Blog, page 260

#Excerpt: BREAKING THE STORM by Sedona Venez

 
























EXCERPT:




I instantly recognized the heavy, sensuous beat of the
music as it thumped and echoed throughout the room. Damn those two. They picked
Knox's hit single for me to dance to. I blew out anxiously, feeling like I was
about to throw up. Damn, maybe I should
just concede victory to Knox and go home with my tail between my legs.
That's when I saw Knox with his wide muscular back deliberately turned away
from me, in what I knew was an intentional you're
not even worth paying attention to slap in the face. Okay, Mr. Gunner, it's time to wipe that fucking disdain from your
face.

“Let's get ready to rumble… New York style,” I mumbled
under my breath as I paraded about a bit before strutting my stuff. Releasing
all of the tension, my body relaxed, fully taking in the magnitude of the utter
power and sexiness of my captive audience. Unleashed dominance pulsed around
me. Yep, I could do this. It was Seduction 101, and from the lustful hooded
stares of the men that were now sitting up at attention, they were very
interested in seeing exactly what I brought to the freaky boardroom.

Licking my lips seductively, I flipped my hair,
strutting forward with a deliberate sway to my hips. Chest out. Head up. My
gaze swept to every man as a hush filled the room. Knox turned around, giving
me a blank stare.

The lights flashed while the music wove a hard rhythm
around me. I loosened the tie, running it through my hands seductively, then
over my shoulders. A man with sexy black hair peppered with gray at the temple
beckoned me over with a nod. Placing one foot directly in front of the other, I
strutted over, proud and sexy.

Twirling the tie in my hand a couple of times before
leaning forward with my stomach in and ass out, I swung the tie around his neck
to draw him close. Gracefully swaying my hips from left to right as his eyes
followed my hips in perfect synchrony. Releasing my grip on the tie and with a
simple lift of my leg, my heel dug into his wide, muscular shoulder. His eyes
dilated, turning a light yellow. A tiger-shifter. Bumping my hips sensually, I
glanced at the wide-screen. The bid was at $80,000.

“Absolutely beautiful,” he said with a sexy Texas
drawl. He pressed the button, moving the highest bid to $110,000. “You, I
definitely want.”

“Tiger, you might be asking
for way more trouble than you can handle,” I responded with a wink before
digging my heel deliberately farther into his broad shoulder, knowing that the
pinch of my heel would give him what he wanted—pain. A growl rumbled deep in
his chest, his hands clenching his glass. Just like I thought, the tiger was
into pain. He pressed the bid button again.


























Book &
Author Details:




Breaking the Storm by Sedona Venez

(Credence Curse #1)

Publication date: August 6th 2013

Genres: New Adult, Paranormal, Romance




Synopsis:

I
wanted Knox. There was no need to deny that fact.



Knox was the type of guy you gravitated to, who stood out in the crowd. It
wasn’t just his classically good-looking features and perpetual five
o’clock shadow. It was his raw energy that entranced me, that made me feel
like a giggly, fumbling high school girl, happy to be in his
presence.



Yes, there’s no denying it, front man Knox Gunner was a sexy badass.



It didn’t matter that he initially thought I was some bored, rich girl
trying to live out some wild fantasy of being with a starving musician.
It was uncomplicated and that’s what we both wanted. At least that’s what
I convinced myself. I wasn’t ready to admit to myself that my
feelings for Knox were getting dangerously deep—waiting to lay siege on my
heart. I was falling for him… and this was dangerous. The rules were
clear: falling in love would obligate me to expose what I truly was,
setting in motion his slow march to death.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17800664-breaking-the-storm?ac=1




Purchase:

--Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Storm-Credence-Curse-ebook/dp/B00EC1P8GY/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1382552229&sr=1-1&keywords=9780984499366




--B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/breaking-the-storm-sedona-venez/1116345557?ean=9780984499366&itm=1&usri=9780984499366&cm_mmc=AFFILIATES-_-Linkshare-_-GwEz7vxblVU-_-10:1&r=1,%201






AUTHOR
BIO:
T.L. Clarke
writing as Sedona Venez



TLC is a NYC girl (go Brooklyn!) and is obsessed with books. She also has a
borderline unhealthy obsession with her iPad. Her favorite books… anything with
rockers, hot alpha men and wolf shifters! Her true love for writing blossomed
when she began to write New Adult and Adult novels with romance, music, and
sexy men as her alter ego "Sedona Venez".



Find me on pinterest to get some great Breaking the Storm inspiration!! http://www.pinterest.com/tlcauthor



Facebook: www.facebook.com/SedonaVenez

Twitter: @tlclarke_tlc








Grand prize giveaway
Prizes (open internationally):

-50$ Amazon Gift Cards





a Rafflecopter giveaway




 








 

Interview with Rachel Ward

Can you
give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?

Love and
Relativity is a companion novel to the Preservation Series, my NA
romance series. It’s a stand-alone, so it can be read separate from the
Preservation Series.




Do you
have a favorite character?

My favorite character from L&R would definitely be
Jackson. I have a huge soft spot for him and he was just so much fun to write.
He’s loveable and sexy and I just wanted to see him redeem himself.




Have you
ever had a minor character evolve into a major one? Did that change the
direction of the novel at all?

Yeah, that actually happened with Carter from my
Preservation Series. He accidentally became a minor yet significant character
in Love and Relativity, and then I eventually gave him his own story,
Declaration, which is the 3rd and final book in the series.




If you
used a graphic designer/publisher’s designer, how involved were you during the
creative process for your cover?

I always choose my own concepts for my covers. As an indie,
I get that freedom and I love it. I basically go to my designer with the
concept I want and she works her magic. I always choose my own images, so it’s
a really hands-on process for me. I’d have a hard time giving up that control.




What is
your writing process? Do you listen to music or do you like silence?

I usually need silence while I’m actually writing, but I
need music before I write a scene and while I’m working on the concept and plot
points. Music is a must for my writing process.




Do you
outline your story or just go where your muse takes you?

I start with a very loose outline, but then I just go with
the flow and see where the story takes me. I usually always know the ending
before I know anything else. So I write with that final scene in mind, or with
that final message I’m trying to convey and work from there.




What have
you’ve learned during your self-publishing journey?

Indie publishing is hard work. You pour every ounce of
heart, energy, and dollar into your art, and that does not guarantee a recipe
for success. You have to treat your work like a business if you expect to make
a living off of it, and you have to have thick skin or you’ll never survive.




Do you
find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and
writing your next book?

All the time. It’s one of the greatest challenges (for me,
anyway) of being an indie author.




What
advice would you give a new author just entering into the self-publishing
arena?

Be professional, be classy, and be kind. Believe in yourself
and treat your work like a business. Take it seriously. Don’t cut corners. Work
hard.




Besides
writing, do you have any other passions?

Live music, indie films, animals, and nature.




Thanks for having me!




Book &
Author details:

Love and Relativity by Rachael Wade 


Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance




Synopsis:

Love, life, and happily ever after? It’s all relative.



Marine biology student Emma Pierce lives in paradise—geographically speaking,
anyway. Stranded on Sanibel Island, Florida, she works at a nursing
home by day and spends her nights dodging the island’s infamous bad boy,
Jackson Taylor, at her favorite karaoke bar. Trying to heal from the
loss of her sister and a failed relationship she rerouted her life for,
she’s ready to graduate and finally leave Florida behind.



When a run-in with Jackson and his rowdy crew goes sour at the bar one
night, sparks fly and irreversible damage is done. It’s no secret that
Jackson loves to get underneath her skin, but this time he’s gone too far.
Now all he wants is to earn her forgiveness before she’s gone for
good, but their ideas of closure—and the future—are enough to keep them worlds
apart.




Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15724170-love-and-relativity?ac=1




Purchase: 

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/098402087X?ie=UTF8&tag=httpwwwgoodco-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=098402087X&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2




--B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-and-relativity-rachael-wade/1113703724?ean=9780984020874&itm=1&usri=9780984020874




Author bio:

Rachael Wade is the Amazon bestselling author of The Preservation
Series, The Resistance Trilogy, and the upcoming sci-fi series, The
Keepers Trilogy. When she’s not writing, she’s busy learning French,
watching too many movies, and learning how to protect animals and the
environment. Visit her at www.RachaelWade.com and
www.LightsOnOutreach.com, or come chat with her on Twitter via
@RachaelWade.



Giveaway:
Grand prize giveaway
Prize (open internationally): 

--A signed paperback copy and signed bookmarks 



 a Rafflecopter giveaway



 

#Review: THE RIDDLER'S GIFT by Greg Hamerton

  4 of 5 stars


THE RIDDLER'S GIFT is an epic fantasy that will have fans glued to the story. Tabitha Serannon dreams of becoming a Light Gifter like her mother, but when tragedy strikes those dreams are shattered and it sets her on a different path. She finds a magical ring and from the moment she slips it on her finger, she is changed forever. Then she meets the Riddler, Twardy Zarost, and he guides her on a path of discovery like no other. There is an ancient evil gathering in the land and Tabitha is the key to defeating it although she has no idea how.



This is a full-bodied fantasy of over 600 pages so it's not a light read. The author does a fantastic job of world building in the land of Eyri although I did find some of the descriptions were long winded. Tabitha is the heroine in the story, but it's the Riddler who steals the show. He's clever, witty and frustrating, but are we sure he's on Tabitha's side as he tries to guide her in both unraveling the mystery of the ring and in the quest to find the wizard. Garyll Glavenor, the Swordmaster, was not as well-fleshed out as I would have liked. We know that he is a noble sword, but there was no back story for him. Perhaps his story will be explored further in the next book. I also thought the torture went on too long and in way too much detail. 



Despite my minor criticisms, this is an excellent book for fantasy fans to sink their teeth in. Recommended.

Interview with Marcie A Bridges

Can you
give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?

Tough Love is a
standalone, fact-based book that deals with the emotions of first love. The
journey takes Janessa from infatuation and co-dependency to forgiveness and
redemption, but not before she risks the love of her family and friends for the
most toxic relationship imaginable.




Do you
have a favorite character?

This one is hard for me since all the characters in my book
are based on real people, but if I had to pick one it’d probably be ‘Aimee’,
who is my best friend Carrie. She’s a no-nonsense, tell it like it is kind of
gal and that was fun to write.




Do you
belong to a critique group? Have they helped improve your writing?

I used to, but we’ve all gotten busy these past couple of
years and haven’t run submissions in a long time. However, I love the story
behind my group, so I have to tell you about it. We started as a side group off
of the Twilight Moms website, bonding over our shared desire to write a book,
and began our submission-critique cycle in the early months of 2008. Two of
those original members decided to launch their own publishing company, which is
what led me to be published. I know a lot of ladies who believe Twilight
changed their lives, but for me, it truly has.




What is
your writing process? Do you listen to music or do you like silence?

Music is a must for me! I’ve always been the type of girl
who had to music in my life; in fact, I would honestly die of heartbreak if it
weren’t for music. It helped bring back so many memories while I was writing,
which was essential for me to take the reader on this journey. A perfect
writing day for me would be a temperature in the upper 60’s with plenty of
sunshine, so I could sit outside by the water with my iPod, a notebook (yes, I
wrote most of Tough Love the old
fashioned way), and a pen. Oh, and of course, a drink from Starbucks!




Do you
outline your story or just go where your muse takes you?

I do a bit of both. Tough
Love started as a paper in college before morphing into a book, so I used
that to start the process. But I found that an outline was extremely helpful.  




Besides
Amazon, are there any other sites where your books are for sale?

You can also find Tough
Love on bn.com and smashwords.com




What kinds
of marketing [twitter, facebook, blog, forums] are you involved with for
promoting your book(s)?

I’m on twitter (@marcie_ann), Facebook (Marcie A. Bridges),
Google+, Goodreads, Pinterest (marciebridges), and my website is
marcieabridges.com




Do you
find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and
writing your next book?

Heck yeah I do! In fact, I haven’t written anything new in
several months, which makes me sad. But being a wife, mom, teacher, and college
student (again) keep me very busy.




Besides
writing, do you have any other passions?

I enjoy traveling (even though it’s mostly just on Google
Earth), attending Cincinnati Reds baseball games, and rooting for my beloved
Buckeyes. I also love all things music, as I said above – singing, dancing,
watching musicals, everything. And, of course, reading!




What’s
next for you?

I plan to write a few more books about strong female
characters; ladies who, though they might find a wonderful man to share their
future with, don’t necessarily need someone else to complete them. Hopefully
this next one won’t take me five years to write!






a Rafflecopter giveaway




Follow the Book Tour

New Release: TRACES OF GREY by J.C. Phelps

Book Blurb:

Nursing White back to health for the past two months has prevented Grey from taking on any new projects. She's more than ready to get back to work when White offers her a simple surveillance job.

The basic op turns up something from the past, putting extra pressure on White, and cutting Alex off the elite need-to-know list.

Everyone has secrets, but some are more guarded than others.



Buy links:

BN: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/traces-of-grey-jc-phelps/1117305004




Why not pick up the whole series? Book 1 is FREE. 



Amazon links:

#Excerpt: DREAM SLAYER series by Jill Cooper

EXCERPT:




Inside the room
the air was cool and musty. It smelled like what Natalie imagined most grandparent’s
homes smelled like; a combination of mint and pain relieving ointment.

Did demonires still
had aches and pains? The paladin’s mind emptied as she studied the two sleeping
forms in the bed, listening to their light snoring. One form was a woman, short
and petite. The other was tall and lean.

Tall and lean?
Gregory Silver was short and round.

She walked right
into a trap.

Natalie turned and
prepared to dart from the room when several pistol safeties clicked off. The
hair rose on the back of her muscle and she went ridged. “Move a muscle,” a
deep masculine voice said behind her, “and we drop you.”

She froze, not
even able to breathe as the lights came on around her. The covers of the bed
were pulled back to show she had been part of some kind of sting operation.
Grace McFarlane and Jack Davis, both still wearing their uniforms stood. Grace
was smiling, but Davis was not as he removed his gun from the bedside table,
right next to a simple touch lamp. “I always get my man, Johnson, even when he’s
a woman.”

“I can explain…”
Natalie started, but knew whatever she said wasn’t exactly going to make much
sense.

Davis pointed his
gun at her. “No one listen to a word she says. She’s killed dozens, maybe even
hundreds. Psychopathic bitch. On your knees.” When Natalie didn’t respond
immediately he said it more forcefully. “On your knees!” The paladin guessed
she was getting her Jack Bauer moment. In retrospect, it wasn’t as much fun as
she thought it’d be.

Two agents behind
Natalie kicked her behind her knees and she fell with a gasp. They were awfully
strong for human men. She landed with a thud and could feel Fizz moving with
anxiety inside her pocket. She prayed he wouldn’t try anything. Fighting her
way out of this wasn’t going to work, not with that many guns drawn on her.

“Drop your weapon.”
Grace said calmly, aiming her gun at the paladin’s head. “Hands on the back of
your head, slowly. Interlace your fingers.”

Natalie did as she
was asked. As soon as her hands were behind her head, her wrists were tugged on
violently as handcuffs were placed around her wrists. She grimaced as the faces
 around morphed green to reveal
their true nature; demonires.

How unfair was
that? Demonires with a license to pack heat! Talk about tipping the scales in
favor of un-justice.

 “Natalie Johnson, you are under arrest
for breaking and entering; for the attempted murder of Gregory Silver; and for
the murder of as many as fifty-eight citizens of Meadow’s Creek so far. You
have the right to remain silent. Anything you say…” Davis grabbed her by the
elbow and hoisted her to her feet.

He spun Natalie
around and pushed her through the crowd of agents that had been on the sting
mission. He dropped his demonire face before they got downstairs which told
Natalie not all of the town’s police were turned. Some were still human and
they would either be a liability or an asset. She wasn’t sure which.

Her cheeks were
flushed with humiliation as the faces of the police force were filled with
gladness. 

Outside, Natalie
was greeted by a host of squad cars. She was led toward one as the back door
opened. Across the street her eyes fell to a familiar green face sitting in the
passenger seat of a convertible. He gave her a charming smile and waved two
fingers at her. Beside him sat the mayor, Gregory Silver. The two clinked two
glasses of champagne.

Before she was
forced into the back of the police car, her eyes locked with Morach’s and she
was overcome with a feeling of loss, despair.

 “Checkmate.” Morach said with a maniacal
smile.




Book & Author Details:






BOOK 1

The Dream
Slayer

(The Dream Slayer #1)

Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult




Synopsis:

When your dreams come true, sometimes you get more than you
bargained for...



Natalie Johnson has always dreamed she’s someone else; calm, beautiful, in control.
A chosen warrior with a maniacal arch nemesis and a dreamy boyfriend,
the type that can make your knees melt and your heart quiver. Real life is
much different. She’s tormented by a bully and endures the sharp tongue of
her father, but finds solace in her dreams.



When her bully ends up dead, de ja vu from a dream hits her hard as everything
around her begins to fall apart. Whatever killed Sarah in her dreams
is now in reality, hunting her from the shadows. And it wants her dead.



Somehow as the lines between reality and nightmare blur, Natalie must
discover hidden strength to pull her friends and family back from the
brink of madness.




Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15743917-the-dream-slayer






BOOK 2

Demon Royale

(The Dream Slayer #2)

Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult




Synopsis:

Since becoming employed by a supernatural protection agency,
Natalie Johnson's life has been more interesting than ever. While most teens
are working on their summer tans, Natalie works on slaughtering the undead
lurking just outside her town's borders.



The workload takes more than just a toll on her love life, it dampens her
spirit and her health, as the town is plagued by a mysterious murderer
intent on stealing the residents' souls. Natalie's investigation is
hampered by her declining health and the sicker she gets, the more
inadequate she feels.



Guilt over her inability to act, weighs heavily on Natalie's shoulders
during a time when her strength is needed more than ever. As some of
those closest to her begin to lose faith, she must make the hardest stand
yet to save the soul of the one person she can always count on: The
Slayer.




Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18627976-demon-royale






BOOK 3

Dawning
Apocalypse

(The Dream Slayer #3)

Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult




Synopsis:

Protection,
murder, deception....



No one can know Natalie works for a supernatural protection agency and is charged
with protecting Meadow’s Creek from vampires. But as their numbers
swell, their presence doesn't go unnoticed throwing her town under the
microscope from the local government and the FBI.



Natalie’s job is pushed even further into the shadows where she must dodge
the police, concerned citizens and even her own parents.



Meanwhile a deadly plague grips the town and Natalie suspects it’s more
than just a hacking cough. While the stress of working overtime
erodes her relationships she will race against time, illness, to face a
familiar enemy, save an old friend, and stop an undead seize that
wants nothing more than to suck Meadow’s Creek dry.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18517023-dawning-apocolypse




PURCHASE:

http://www.amazon.com/Jill-Cooper/e/B007ZRDTU4/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1382722618&sr=8-1






AUTHOR BIO:

Author of the
YA Dream Slayer series, Jill loves to blend horror, comedy, the
supernatural, and love, through her novels. A fan of genre blending,
her work strives to cross boundries, but most of all strives to entertain.
She loves soft cuddly cats, warm blankets, and paranormal romances.



Jill resides in Massachusetts, is constantly renovating her home that she shares
with her husband, young daughter, and two skittish cats.




Website: http://www.jillacooper.com/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jillybug

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2997619.Jill_Cooper

How to Summon a Demon by J.L. Bryan

 






















Demon-Summoning
Do’s and Don’ts






So you’ve cast a circle and you’re ready to bring an
infernal spirit into your home for a visit.  Or are you? 
Summoning demons takes care and consideration—it’s nothing to jam in
between doing the dishes and catching the new episode of Walking Dead.




These simple tips will help you put together an exciting
evocation, without all the messy embarrassment of getting your soul ripped from
your flesh and devoured.




DO offer a blood sacrifice.  Your guest has traveled across endless darkness from the
lower pits of Hell and will be expecting a snack.  Chicken or lizard blood will do nicely for a lesser
spirit.  For an archdemon, you’ll
want to sacrifice a human being instead—anything less is considered rude.  Virgins are still preferred, but no
longer expected by more modern demons. 
Finally, an activity you can do with that annoying neighbor you’ve
always wanted to eliminate from the earth!




DON’T call up the wrong kind of demon.  Incubi and succubi will arrive with
certain expectations, because these unholy hornballs only have one thing on
their evil minds at all times.  If
you’re not ready for a swingers’ sabbat, avoid them.  If you do summon them, you’re going to need a little more
protection that the typical enchanted circle provides—the beasties get
around.  Also avoid gluttony
demons, because these corpulent creatures not only look like disgusting
mountains of flab with enormous mouths, they’ll also destroy your snack bar and
leave an unpleasant flatulent odor that takes weeks to remove from your carpet.




DO be polite. 
Powerful demons resent being summoned by mere mortals, but minding your
manners can go a long way towards creating a more pleasant evening.  When you say, “I bind thee and summon
thee, foul Mephistopheles!” and the enraged horned demon appears in a flash of
fire and brimstone, don’t forget to add, “Thank you!”




DON’T expect them to bring wine or a hot dish.  Again, they’ve come a long way and can’t
be expected to carry host gifts up from the abyss.  Also, demon food tends to be rotten and vermin-infested, so
how badly did you really want that casserole, anyway?






DO remember to take pictures!  Remember, the only reason to do anything extraordinary in
life is so you can brag to your friends on Facebook.  A picture of you and Beelzebub with his host of flesh-eating
flies will totally shut up that one friend who’s always bragging about the time
she met Colin Farrell on an airplane.




DON’T forget to banish!  If you don’t send that demon right back to Hell when you’re
done, it may move onto your couch and stay there for months.  Demons don’t pay rent, they don’t do
chores, and they never, ever give up control of the remote.  They will, however, watch home shopping
channels twenty-four hours a day and max out your credit card to ordering
useless knickknacks.  They won’t
take subtle hints to go home, either, no matter how many you drop—you have to
order them out.  Exercise your
right to excorsize!




Following this list is sure to make your demonic encounter a
more successful one!  When you
summon horrific spirits from the fiery underworld into your living room, you
don’t want it to ruin the rest of your weekend.

















Book &
Author Details:




The Unseen by J.L. Bryan

Publication date: October 31st 2013

Genres: Horror




Synopsis:

Cassidy is a
young tattoo artist living in the Little Five Points neighborhood of
Atlanta. She’s always suffered terrible nightmares, and sometimes the
hideous creatures seem to follow her out of her dreams and into her waking
life, though she’s the only one who can see them. Drugs and alcohol
can blot them out, but never entirely chase them away.



When a demonic cult begins to take control of the people in her
life, including her younger brother, Cassidy discovers that the
unseen world of monsters is very real. She can no longer avoid it. To
protect those she loves, she must accept her own hidden
supernatural talents and face the forces of evil before the sinister
cult achieves its twisted goals and casts the world into darkness.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18630803-the-unseen




Purchase:

Purchase links are not yet available but will be
found here come release day:

 --Amazon: http://amzn.to/16dyV0d

--Nook: http://bit.ly/1gRtjzR


 --Author site: http://www.jlbryanbooks.com/books/theunseen.html






AUTHOR BIO:



The Unseen by J.L. Bryan has a special release
price of 99 cents through Halloween.  See his website for details and
links: http://jlbryanbooks.com/books/theunseen.html



J.L. Bryan studied English literature at the University of Georgia and at
Oxford, with a focus on the English Renaissance and the Romantic period. He
also studied screenwriting at UCLA. He enjoys remixing elements of
paranormal, supernatural, fantasy, horror and science fiction into new kinds of
stories.



He is the author of The Paranormals series (starting with Jenny Pox), The
Songs of Magic series, Nomad, and other books. He lives in Atlanta with
his wife Christina, his son John, and some dogs and cats.



Website: www.jlbryanbooks.com

Twitter: @jlbryanbooks




Grand prize giveaway Prizes (open to US/CAN): 

--'spell book' pendant, handbag, and 

--a signed copy of The Unseen 

 



a Rafflecopter giveaway


















 

#Review: DEVIL'S TATOO by Nicole Taylor

3 of 5 stars


Zoe Granger is a emotionally scarred young woman who has retreated from life except that her best friend Dee won't let her disappear altogether. Dee wants Zoe to join his band, Devil's Tattoo, and although Zoe doesn't think she's good enough, it soon becomes clear that she is a talented musician. As the band becomes successful, she begins to come out of her shell, that is, until she meets Will Strickland, a bass player in the band The Stabs who has emotional scars of his own. When the two bands tour together, Zoe and Will want to deny their growing attraction to each other, but some things are just too hard to deny.



The story is told from two points of view: Zoe and Will and the author does a good job of staying in character for each. It is a typical love story - boy meets girl, boy gets girl, boy loses girl, but it's told with gritty raw emotion and I applaud the author for her writing. No spoilers here. You'll have to read the book to find out if these two have a happy ending. If you're into the music scene, you'll enjoy it all the more as the book follows the two bands while they're on tour.  On the downside, there were numerous typos and missing words and the book could use the eyes of a good editor. While I did enjoy the book, it's not one that I'd read again.



I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

















Giveaways:
Grand prize giveaway
Prizes (open internationally) -

1 x Swag Pack - inc. The Devil's Tattoo band t-shirt (choice of size/either vest, men's tee or womans fitted tee), tote bag, badge, signed postcards and sticker

2 x Signed Postcard Pack and The Devil's Tattoo Band Sticker

5 x Ebook Copies of The Devil's Tattoo (mobi or epub)



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Book Tour Blast: DAWNING APOCALYPSE by Jill Cooper

Protection, murder, deception....

No one can know Natalie works for a supernatural protection agency and is charged with protecting Meadow’s Creek from vampires. But as their numbers swell, their presence doesn’t go unnoticed throwing her town under the microscope from the local government and the FBI.

Natalie’s job is pushed even further into the shadows where she must dodge the police, concerned citizens and even her own parents. 



 Meanwhile a deadly plague grips the town and Natalie suspects it’s more than just a hacking cough. While the stress of working overtime erodes her relationships she will race against time, illness, to face a familiar enemy, save an old friend, and stop an undead seize that wants nothing more than to suck Meadow’s Creek dry.





Buy on Amazon:

Dream Slayer (Book 1)

Demon Royal (Book 2)

Dawning Apocolypse (Book 3)




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The author is giving away an ecopy of Dawning Apocalypse and some vampire themed Halloween candy
 

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#Review: HEARTWOOD by Freya Robertson

3.5 of 5 stars


HEARTWOOD is an ambitious epic fantasy, but maybe a bit too ambitious. The book follows the quest of multiple players as they travel Anguis trying activate the mysterious "Nodes" which they believe will help heal the ARBOR.  The author does a good job of chronicling the various groups as they try to fulfill their quest, but I found the middle dragged quite a bit. There was too much riding hard, finding an inn, eating heartily and going to sleep. If the land was failing because the ARBOR, the healing tree that kept the land vibrant, wouldn't there be more hardship on local inns who still seemed to have ample food to offer the knights? My other problem with the book is that by the time I got invested in one quest group, it took awhile to get back to them and it was hard to remember what had happened to them.



However, once the various groups found the Nodes, the last third of the book moved along at a fast pace when Heartwood is besieged on two fronts by the Darkwater Lords and the Komis army. I really enjoyed the many female characters is this story and the author does a very good job of portraying them as strong and accomplished knights. My favorite characters were Chonrad and Procella and I felt that their story was well developed. While all the knights had high morals, it was Chonrad who seemed to be the book's moral center. He never fully accepted Heartwood's strict religious views, but he was nonetheless a good and noble knight.



Would the holy knights of Heartwood be able to defeat the Darkwater Lords and save the ARBOR? Despite my criticisms, this is an impressive debut for Ms. Robertson. I was initially attracted to this book because of its great cover and I have no doubt that fans of epic fantasy will find this book a good solid read.



This book will be published on October 29, 2013.



I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.