Emma Michaels's Blog, page 17
February 28, 2014
Stalker Book Blitz and Giveaway!
Release date: November 26th 2013
Publisher: Indie Style Press
Purchase: Amazon
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18933358-stalkers
Shadows follow you in the darkness of the night and the eerie sensation of being watched crawls up your spine.
Your sanity pulls apart at the seams as the terrors stalk their victims, leaving you too frightened to turn off the light.
These twisted stories will leave you breathless, dreading the horrors lurking around the corner.
Seventeen authors. Seventeen tales of terror. Infinite nightmares.
Say My Name
Michael Loring
About Michael
Michael Loring was born in Bristol, CT, but has lived in a variety of places such as Florida and Tennessee. He likes to think of himself as an amateur Lycanthropologist, studying werewolves ever since he was eight years old when he first saw An American Werewolf in London. Today he writes to help fill the itch to let his constant daydreams out into the world, in the hopes others enjoy them just as much as he does.
Stalk Michael
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Michael-Loring/273293846073390
Website: www.michaelloring.com
https://twitter.com/MichaelLoring
Read more from Michael
Dehumanized: http://amzn.to/1dmM4cY
Excerpt
Oh God.
He was back there again. He knew it before he opened his eyes, from the way the icy air chilled his bones. The muscles in his back clenched tight in fright. The smell of sulfur was in the air, wafting around like a bog in the darkened world. He opened his eyes apprehensively, staring at the familiar terrain that has been his dreamscape for who knows how long. It was a world of total darkness, the only light being the small circle he stood in—as if in a spotlight—a thin mist circling him like a predator would its prey…
February 27, 2014
The Headhunters Race Tour and Giveaway!
Series: Headhunters #1Release date: January 3rd 2014
Publisher: January Sky Publishing
Purchase: Amazon
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19113966-the-headhunters-race
Sixteen-year-old Avene was sentenced to prison at thirteen for a crime she didn’t commit. Now she has a chance to win her freedom back – if she enters the Headhunters Race. Second prize isn’t so bad either, an upgrade to the Leisure Prison if you make it to the finish line. To win either prize, Avene and the other prisoners must navigate one hundred and fifty miles of dense forest, desert, and worst of all, cannibal territory.
With a mechanical collar timed to strangle the prisoners if they’re not back in nine days, Avene allies herself with seventeen-year-old McCoy, another prisoner that insists on helping her at every turn and a boy she’s trying hard not to fall for. Together they battle nature, other prisoners, and the timed death collars to win the coveted prize. But when Avene is tested with one deadly conflict after another, she realizes there is more at stake than winning her freedom – first she has to survive.
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Kimberly is the mother of two awesome kids, wife of the nicest man in the world,
and her dog’s best friend. She works by day and writes middle grade and
young adult science fiction and fantasy novels in her spare time.
She lives with her family in the beautiful Sonoran Desert.
Excerpt from The Headhunters Race
This excerpt is from the day the race starts and Avene is getting ready.
Hours later, when the birds start chirping, I know it’s almost time to wake up. I get out of bed and change into my special clothes. The ones I’ve been saving for this day: a sturdy pair of jeans and a man’s blue flannel shirt. Underneath I wear my white fitted tee-shirt, depicting a crudely drawn skull. I added the crossbones bearing a set of daggers with a nearly dried-up marker I found a year ago. It represents my mantra for the race: stay away from me or I’ll kill you.
I tie my sheath around my thigh, re-lace my boots with longer and sturdier cord I found on a pair of men’s boots in the goodie two shoes clothing pile, and then gulp down several handfuls of water. I wipe the droplets from my mouth while I pace like a caged panther. A few minutes later I slug down another five handfuls before I remember to fill my water bottle.
Zita leans up on her elbow. “You’re sure you want to do this?”
“I have to, Zita. It’s our only way out. The only way we’ll be free.”
She throws off her cover and leaps to her feet. “Well, we better do something with that hair. They’ll start calling the prisoners out soon.”
Zita snatches our slop container from the table. She fills it with dirt from the corner and mixes in a bit of water. “I’m not sure how well this will work,” she says, stirring it with her finger. “Sit.”
I sit on the ground cross-legged at her feet. She kneels beside me, takes a small lock of hair, and rubs mud all through the strands. The stringy tresses stick together, cold and wet against my cheek. After one side of my head is finished, she steps back and surveys her work. “Nope, this isn’t working. Your roots are still too light.”
“Why don’t you wash her whole head in it?” says McCoy.
I stiffen. Leave it to him to think of dunking my whole head in mud.
“You’re a genius!” says Zita. She grabs my arm and pulls me to my feet. “Help me,” she says to McCoy and I cringe at the thought of him touching my head when I’m a direct competitor. He might send his ninja blade across my neck.
He grabs the sink, half full of water, water I need to drink, and dumps three quarters of it into the corner. “Hey, I need to drink that!” I say.
“You can drink ours,” says McCoy.
Right. I’m not going to drink theirs. He’d love that. Especially now that he’s going to have to hunt on his own and the only way he knows how is by poaching off me.
Zita stops short of pouring in handfuls of dirt. Instead she goes to the fire pit and scoops out gobs of ash. She swishes it around with her fingers, stares at it like she’s not satisfied, and goes ahead and dumps in a handful of dirt anyway. “Okay, bend over, girl.”
I lean over the sink while Zita pours the murky mixture over my hair and massages it in. It’s gritty and gross.
“Hand me that old shirt in the corner,” says Zita.
I’m looking upside down at McCoy while he retrieves the old shirt she uses as her dust rag. She wrings out my hair and then places the shirt over top and squeezes out the excess water. “I wish I had a comb,” she says, flipping my head up and steering my behind back to the ground.
“It’s okay, I can use my fingers,” I say.
McCoy dashes into their room. “Boom has one, hold on.”
I lean my head back in defeat. He’s determined to help me, to make me feel obligated to help him in return, but his niceties aren’t going to work on me.
February 26, 2014
The Orphan and the Thief Tour and Giveaway!
The Orphan and the Thief
An adventure that will keep you and your kids spellbound.
Toad thought it’d be easy to steal from Mr. Edward P. Owl. Unfortunately for Toad, he isn’t the best of thieves. Caught in the act, he’s in more trouble than ever before. Now to save his hide, Toad must track down five rare potion ingredients for Mr. Owl. Or else.All Melena Snead wants is her family back, but after the Miggens Street Fire, that isn’t very likely. Orphaned and miserable, forced to work in an apothecary, she’s determined to find Milo, her missing brother. No matter what.
When Melena finds Toad ransacking her apothecary, Toad gets a nasty shock: apothecaries don’t carry Mr. Owl’s ingredients. Luckily, Melena’s willing to help, for a price.
With Melena’s pet Spit-Fire dragon and Toad’s enchanted talking beer mug, they embark on a fantastical journey, traveling the country in search of the potion ingredients. But can they gather all of them in time, what with monsters, pirates, and axe-wielding thieves? And if they do, is there an even greater danger waiting for them at the end?
Excerpt:
Panicking, Toad rushed, “Come on, Gent. There’s gotta be somethin’ that ya want! My prices are reasonable!”
“The price is your life,” Mr. Owl stated, gently placing the dragon statue upon the desk.
Mr. Ogg stopped again, his ham-sized hands falling back to his sides. Toad fell silent, too stunned to dare hope that he wasn’t about to be killed.
“Let me explain how this will work, Mr. Toad. If tonight was like any other night I would happily see your neck snapped and toss you out like the bit of filth that you are.” He gave a heavy sigh. “However, the Hickory Guard have become annoyingly tedious ever since that upstart became Captain.”
“Ya mean Dowell?” asked Toad.
“The man has become so inflated with self importance that he’s actually having me followed. Can you imagine? Me?”
“That’s … awful?” said Toad awkwardly, unsure how to respond.
“So, you will forgive me for not wanting to waste Mr. Ogg’s talents on you with so little preplanning.” He gave the window a casual glance. “I’m sure a guard is stationed outside somewhere and disposing of your body without detection will be troublesome to say the least.”
“Pardon me, sir,” Mr. Ogg interrupted, “but it would be no trouble.”
“Ah, Mr. Ogg! How I like you!” Mr. Owl cheered. “Always ready to break a neck. Good fellow!”
“We can stash him in one of the upstairs rooms,” Mr. Ogg continued in his deep, ocean floor voice. “I’ll make sure he won’t bleed.”
“But a body, even in such a large house, will be difficult to hide if Dowell decides to search the place, as he has been hinting at for the last fortnight. No, no, my man. We cannot afford the risk of housing him here.”
Toad sat still in his chair. It wasn’t every day that his own murder was discussed in such a light, conversational manner.
M.L LeGette:
Melissa Lee LeGette has been writing seriously since she was a teen. She loves an old world vibe with a magical twist, and she puts her full focus on creating believable characters–even if they happen to be a talking beer mug. Her books are targeted for children and teens, but have been enjoyed by adults of all ages.
She lives in Georgia where she helps run a family farm, so her nails are a fright.
Website * Twitter * Facebook * Pinterest * Goodreads
Praise:
[LeGette is] able to twist her unique fairy-tales to fit the imagination of children and the attention of adults. Five stars … The Orphan and the Thief is definitely worth reading! – Abigail / Goodreads Review
M.L. Legette conjures up a captivating magical tale in The Orphan and the Thief. I loved this story and I could not put my Kindle down until I finished the last page. This charming story is so good that it may very well become a classic. – Karen Dowdall, Author of Delphi Altair: Strange Beginnings
Blast Giveaway
$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 3/23/14
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
February 25, 2014
In the Fading Light Tour and Giveaway!
In the Fading Light by Tara Brown
Publication date: 2014
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
GoodReads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Separated by a curse but bound by love.
In the fading light of the night, their eyes meet where their lips cannot. It is a single second that sustains their love. From the moment her eyes met his, Estelle Dumont was captivated. Her heart would always be his.
But Edmond Lamont’s heart wasn’t entirely hers. He had been in love once before, tricked by the fair beauty of an Encantado named Lisle.
Desperate to rid themselves of the curse she placed upon them, they must decide just how far they are willing to go. They must decide if their love is more important than their lives.
But how far is too far and what cost is too much?
I am not going to talk in the third person. It feels weird. I am a Bestselling author of Contemporary and Paranormal Romance but my true passion is my Post Apocalyptic and Fantasy novels. I write a lot of books and jump Genres a lot. Mostly because I think I have Writers ADD, I like to call it WADD. It might be a real thing. I write New Adult, my books have sexual content (Heck yes) and Swearing. You have been warned. Now enjoy!
I have a beagle named Buster, a husband who I force to read everything I write and two girls who want so badly to be a character in my books. And not in that order.
I am mid thirties so be prepared for the chick lit novel this year. I am calling it my Ode to my Midlife Crisis. I have been writing since I was old enough to lie. So for some time.
Welcome to my world. Please enjoy the ride.
Author Links:
https://www.facebook.com/TaraBrownAuthor
https://twitter.com/TaraBrown22
http://tarbrow.wix.com/tara-brown-author https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5768382.Tara_Brown
“We will always have this, this garden and this moment and it will be enough. Even when its not enough, it still will be.” He sighs but doesn’t speak again.
We sit in silence, letting the air caress us and the birds sing into the wind. We let the world move past us, like we are behind glass, frozen in the moment we have stolen.
But like all stolen things the moment ends and the sun sets behind the hills and I feel the change starting inside of me.
I speak words but they are gone, lost in the breeze as the change takes my voice. I can only hope my eyes say everything my heart is feeling.
He nods, kissing my hand as I vanish into the wind, leaving him empty handed but smiling like a fool. A love struck fool.”
February 24, 2014
Muse Unexpected Blog Tour and Giveaway!
Muse Unexpected
“We’re Muses. Not vampires, not fairies, not werewolves. We’re Muses.” Sophie was sure her mother had reached an epic level of crazy. ‘We’re Muses?’ She thought Muses were lame, not to mention she found the idea ridiculous. However, Sophie couldn’t explain away her physical transformation that made Anne Hathaway in The Princess Diaries look like a bad Walmart make-over, not to mention why her mood swings triggered an uncontrollable ability to shoot powerful bursts of energy out of her hands.
Sophie soon realizes modern day Muses have evolved into powerful guardians of humankind, tasked with keeping mortals on the right path and the original Olympians locked away from the world. But old hatreds don’t die easily, especially for immortal enemies that have an eternity to plot and gather their forces. Well aware of the Fates’ foretelling of another Olympian war, and a young Muse that would rise up as a warrior and defeat them, the Olympians have vowed to either possess Sophie or destroy her. Either way, they will make sure everyone associated with their imprisonment will reap an eternal damnation in the Underworld, leaving the Olympians to restore Mount Olympus and force humankind into a future of never-ending servitude and misery.
Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Goodreads
Praise for Muse Unexpected
“Ripe with conflict, skin-crawling creepy that is sprinkled with a wonderful sense of humor and a plot fraught with horrific danger in every step taken by Sophie, this book should be on the top of everyone’s must read list. Simply put, I loved it and can’t wait for book 2 to come out.” ~Olive (Amazon Review)
“I remember learning about mythology & Greek gods in elementary school….boring! Well, this fantastic book takes everything you thought about gods/mythology and turns it on it’s ear, sort of like “Wicked” did to the “Wizard of OZ”. At times funny at times gruesome and scary, this story definitely kept my interest. I loved the way the writer made the gods “human”. I also liked the subtle, blink and you’ll miss them hints sprinkled throughout the story. Don’t let the young adult genre scare you away. This is an engaging story that can be enjoyed by all. Can’t wait for the next one!!!!” ~Paula (Amazon Review)
Author V.C. Birlidis
V.C. Birlidis was born and raised in Miami, Florida and has always been involved in the arts. He attended the New World School of the Arts and was a member of The Miami Ballet.
Mr. Birlidis moved to Ohio to attend college where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in marketing and communications from Capital University. He currently is the Director of Marketing at one of the top midwest advertising agencies, SBC Advertising. He has freelanced as a writer for Outlook News and Tickled Pink Magazine, where he wrote a comical advice column named Ask V.
Five years in the making and inspired by the numerous Greek myths his father would utilize as demented bed time stories, Muse, Unexpected is Mr. Birlidis’ first novel. It is the first book in his Muse series.
Top Ten Movies (in no particular order)
10. Big Fish
9. Pleasantville
8. It’s a Wonderful Life
7. The Witches of Eastwick
6. Cabin in the Woods
5. Color Purple
4.Gladiator
3.Captain America: The First Avenger
2. Man of Steel
1. Practical Magic
Top Ten Books (in no particular order)
10. The Haunting of Hill House
9: Man Made Boy
8. The All-Girl Filling Station’s Last Renion
7. The Story Sisters
6. Valley of the Dolls (I know, I’m so ashamed)
5. The Necromancer (Johannes Cabal #1)
4. Far Far Away
3. Pride and Prejudice
2. Merry Christmas, Alex Cross
1. The Sweet Potato Queens’ Guide to Life
“Mom, step away from the mirror. Let me see what has happened to me.”
“But I need to explain first. It’s like this, some people may have a few additional doors open and because of those open doors, they have some extra abilities like being able to tell the future or being able to speak with the dead. Now, beings like us have the majority of our doors opened and our soul is expanded to allow us to do the things we can do. Otherwise, our soul would be ripped to shreds.”
Sophie’s arms shook; a searing heat building inside her as crackling electricity filled the air. “What has happened to me, Mom? I need to see.” She lifted her head; her eye’s meeting her mother’s. The heat was almost unbearable, burning in her eyes and moving toward her clenched fists. Her hands tingled and burned. She was sure they were going to explode.
Callie held firm. “Honey, calm down. You don’t have control of your emotions. It’s always difficult at first, but—”
Sophie was furious and she let whatever control she had slip away. Her eyes were burning through her mother, in an attempt to reach the covered mirror.
With a steady voice, Sophie said, “Let me see.” She shook her hands, in an attempt to shake off the heat pooling in them. Instead of feeling relief, the energy surged from her.
Callie threw herself out of the way, falling forward onto the floor as the energy burst hit the mirror, ripping the heavy curtains and massive iron rods off the wall and cracking the mirror from top to bottom. Sharp pieces of mirror rained down, as both women crashed to the floor.
“Ow!” The slivers of mirror glass sliced her palms. She grew silent watching the mirror-shards pushing themselves out of her skin. The cuts bled a little then stopped bleeding and healed before her eyes. She stood, afraid to move, trying to get her mind around what she was seeing.
“What the heck is wrong with me?” Sophie said, as she burst into tears.
Although a good portion of the mirror was destroyed, Sophie could still make out most of her reflection. She lifted her right hand and touched her face, realizing she was staring back at the girl from her nightmare. It was the girl who had pushed her into the grave.
This is more than just a little liposuction or a hair straightening. Am I a victim of an alien attack? Was this the work of body snatchers?
Blog Tour Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 3/21/14
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
February 22, 2014
Red Cover Love!
Those of you who have been following my Facebook know that I have been in a red mood lately. Naturally, the covers catching my eye this week also have hints of red! The color of passion and confidence. Okay, yes, it is also the color of blood but hey, every color has positives and negatives. My favorite in this batch is Chosen simply for the eye catching simplicity. Very well done. Love the interaction of The Winner’s Curse where her hand curves around the lettering. Simply in love with all the RED!
February 15, 2014
Another Cover Love Affair!
These covers have me ‘in lust’.
I love the unique styles and expert execution.
The vibrant colors and the clever fonts and placement.
The fonts and clear and easy to read but memorable and stylized.
I have a particular fondness for the cover of The Elites;
The red is a brilliant combo with the green and the slightly blue butterfly, a masterful composition.
Simply in cover love.
February 13, 2014
vDay Giveaway!
Win a Kindle Fire HDX, Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash ($229 value)
This is a joint AUTHOR & BLOGGER GIVEAWAY EVENT!
Bloggers & Authors have joined together and each chipped in a little money towards a Kindle Fire HDX 7″ (or $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 in Paypal Cash).
All New Kindle Fire HDX 7″ Giveaway
The winner will have the option of receiving a 7″ Kindle Fire HDX (US Only – $229 Value)
Or $229 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)
Or $229 in Paypal Cash (International)
Giveaway Sponsors
I Am A Reader, Not A Writer
Feed Your Reader
Author Clover Autrey
Buried Under Romance
Chosen by You Book Club
Author Elizabeth Woodrum
Author Elizabeth Isaacs
Author Fabio Bueno
Fae Books
Gins Book Notes and Design
Author Inger Iversen
Paranormal Book Club
Hallowed Ink Press
The Storybook Kingdom
The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl
Stuffed Shelves
Auggie Talk
Book Angeltopia
Jennifer Laurens
Astraea Press
Author Joselyn Vaughn
Author Wendy Knight
Rumor Has It
Author Sandy Green
Author Sherry Gloag
Author M. Kircher
Author Allan Leverone
Author Jo Grafford
Author Jennifer Rae Gravely
Author P.M. Richter
Author Ash Krafton
Author Rae Z. Ryans
I Feel the Need, The Need to Read
The Society of YA Storytellers
Author Laurie Treacy
Quality BookWorks Services
Author Diane Capri
Author Carole Lanham
Bound4Escape
Author J.L. Weil
Reviews from a Bookworm
Where The Broken Lie by Derek Rempfer
Brenda Maxfield’s Smart and Sassy Teen Reads
Author Kimber Leigh Wheaton
Paranormal Romance Author Rebecca Hamilton
Bonnie Blythe’s Pure Romance
Bella Street Weird Romance
A Leisure Moment
Bea’s Book Nook
Danielle @ Coffee and Characters
BookHounds
The Stubby Pencil
Frances Pauli
The Sylver Lining
Sweet Romance Reads
Author Donna Fasano
Owl Always Be Reading
The Reporter and The Girl
Author David Michael Slater
Author Daniel Pike
The Late Bloomer’s Book Blog
Author Marilla Mulwane
Barbara Silkstone: Second Art Cafe
Elizabeth Parkinson Bellows
Sign up to sponsor the next Kindle Fire Giveaway:
http://www.iamareader.com/category/kindle-giveaway-sign-ups
Giveaway Details
1 winner will receive their choice of an all new Kindle Fire 7″ HDX (US Only – $229 value), $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 in Paypal Cash (International).
There is a second separate giveaway for bloggers who post this giveaway on their blog. See details in the rafflecopter on how to enter to win the 2nd Kindle Fire HDX 7″.
Ends 3/16/14
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the participating authors & bloggers. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
February 11, 2014
Muse Unexpected Blog Tour and Giveaway!
Muse Unexpected
“We’re Muses. Not vampires, not fairies, not werewolves. We’re Muses.” Sophie was sure her mother had reached an epic level of crazy. ‘We’re Muses?’ She thought Muses were lame, not to mention she found the idea ridiculous. However, Sophie couldn’t explain away her physical transformation that made Anne Hathaway in The Princess Diaries look like a bad Walmart make-over, not to mention why her mood swings triggered an uncontrollable ability to shoot powerful bursts of energy out of her hands.
Sophie soon realizes modern day Muses have evolved into powerful guardians of humankind, tasked with keeping mortals on the right path and the original Olympians locked away from the world. But old hatreds don’t die easily, especially for immortal enemies that have an eternity to plot and gather their forces. Well aware of the Fates’ foretelling of another Olympian war, and a young Muse that would rise up as a warrior and defeat them, the Olympians have vowed to either possess Sophie or destroy her. Either way, they will make sure everyone associated with their imprisonment will reap an eternal damnation in the Underworld, leaving the Olympians to restore Mount Olympus and force humankind into a future of never-ending servitude and misery.
Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Goodreads
Praise for Muse Unexpected
“Ripe with conflict, skin-crawling creepy that is sprinkled with a wonderful sense of humor and a plot fraught with horrific danger in every step taken by Sophie, this book should be on the top of everyone’s must read list. Simply put, I loved it and can’t wait for book 2 to come out.” ~Olive (Amazon Review)
“I remember learning about mythology & Greek gods in elementary school….boring! Well, this fantastic book takes everything you thought about gods/mythology and turns it on it’s ear, sort of like “Wicked” did to the “Wizard of OZ”. At times funny at times gruesome and scary, this story definitely kept my interest. I loved the way the writer made the gods “human”. I also liked the subtle, blink and you’ll miss them hints sprinkled throughout the story. Don’t let the young adult genre scare you away. This is an engaging story that can be enjoyed by all. Can’t wait for the next one!!!!” ~Paula (Amazon Review)
Author V.C. Birlidis
V.C. Birlidis was born and raised in Miami, Florida and has always been involved in the arts. He attended the New World School of the Arts and was a member of The Miami Ballet.
Mr. Birlidis moved to Ohio to attend college where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in marketing and communications from Capital University. He currently is the Director of Marketing at one of the top midwest advertising agencies, SBC Advertising. He has freelanced as a writer for Outlook News and Tickled Pink Magazine, where he wrote a comical advice column named Ask V.
Five years in the making and inspired by the numerous Greek myths his father would utilize as demented bed time stories, Muse, Unexpected is Mr. Birlidis’ first novel. It is the first book in his Muse series.
BookBlast Giveaway
$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 3/7/14
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
February 10, 2014
Reaper’s Rhythm Blog Tour!
Reaper’s Rhythm & Broken Bargain Clare Davidson
(Hidden #1 & 2)
Genres: Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
When everyone thinks your sister committed suicide, it’s hard to prove she was murdered. Kim is unable to accept Charley’s sudden death. Crippled by an unnatural amnesia, her questions are met with wall after wall. As she doubts her sanity, she realizes her investigation is putting those around her in danger. The only person who seems to know anything is Matthew, an elusive stranger who would rather vanish than talk. Despite his friendly smile, Kim isn’t sure she can trust him. But if she wants to protect her family from further danger, Kim must work with Matthew to discover how Charley died
– before it’s too late.
This novel starts out a bit sad but the emotions are well written and the first person prose really give an extra insight into Kim and how her mind works as she is coping with everything happening around her. Something that stood out to me while reading was the overall chemistry between all of the characters. It was very strong and well done. You didn’t need a lot of explanation to get a feel for how each of the characters felt about each other because the descriptions were clever enough to lead you to the right conclusions which is always a sign of strong writing. This read like a mystery to me. I was anxiously hanging on wanting to know what would come next, especially when Matthew came along!
Overall, a great 5 star read I would suggest to anyone. In particular I would say fantasy lovers will fall in love with the world that Clare has created. The twists and turns keep you guessing but the perspective keeps you grounded giving a great reading experience. I look forward to reading book two!
Simply wonderful read!
![Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000026_00100]](http://emmamichaels.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/BrokenBargain.jpg)
When you know magic is real, complacency is not an option. It’s a new school year and ten months since Kim’s sister died. She wants to forget about magic, rebuild her life and start fresh. But it’s not easy when she has to lie to everyone: her family, best friend, Sophie, and secretive new guy, AJ. But when Sophie’s grandmother falls ill, Kim can’t help but notice the parallels to Charley’s death. Convinced she’s the only one who can help, Kim sets out to discover what’s really wrong with Sophie’s grandmother.
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/series/120387-hidden
Purchase: Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?ie=UTF8&field-author=Clare+Marie+Davidson&search-alias=books&text=Clare+Marie+Davidson&sort=relevancerank Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/undying-valerie-grosjean/1117080004?ean=9781492901679
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Clare Davidson is a character driven fantasy writer, teacher and mother, from the UK. Clare was born in Northampton and lived in Malaysia for four and a half years as a child, before returning to the UK to settle in Leeds with her family. Whilst attending Lancaster University, Clare met her future husband and never left. They now share their lives with their young daughter and a cranky grey cat, called Ash. Clare juggles family life with writing, teaching and a variety of fibre craft hobbies.
