Reena Jacobs's Blog, page 26

Novel Review: Heroes 'til Curfew by Susan Bischoff

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I've been looking forward to Heroes 'Til Curfew by Susan Bischoff since I finished Hush Money (see review here). When Ms. Bischoff signed on with an agent, I was sure it'd be forever before this book saw the light of day. Lucky for us, Ms. Bischoff decided to stick with the indie route and put Heroes 'Til Curfew on the market now rather than later. So the blurb from her website:

All Joss wants is to be left alone—with Dylan. But as more Talents are imprisoned by the government, everyone's looking for a leader. Some look to Joss, some to Marco whose new criminal plan threatens Joss's family and friends. Joss wants to stand up to Marco, but Dylan's protective instincts are putting him in harm's way. Can Joss find a way to embrace both the boy and her hero within?

a longer version…

In the world of the Talents, kids with supernatural powers are condemned to government research facilities from which they do not return. For a Talent, the most important thing is keeping the secret…

–Six weeks ago, Dylan Maxwell slugged it out with his best friend. Over a girl.

But Marco had it coming. After all, it looked like he was going to use his supernatural strength to kill Joss Marshall. That should have been the end of it, but Marco's got bigger plans for crime in Fairview than Dylan ever understood. This time he's going after the town's merchants with a crime wave that threatens Joss's family's business and all the Talents' secrets.

–Six weeks ago, Joss Marshall was alone.

Now there's Dylan. It's not always comfortable being just friends with the guy she's had a crush on forever. And the more she learns about the boy with the easy smile, who always seems to know what to say, the more she learns how much they have in common. He's so much more than she understood, and so much more than she could stand to lose.

That was then, this is now.

And now, everything changes.

Where as Hush Money was a suburban fantasy, Heroes' til Curfew was more of a paranormal romance. An interesting change, which I didn't expect, but at at the same time, didn't surprise me, considering the ending of Hush Money.

Heroes 'Til Curfew started off a bit slower than Hush Money. For a while, I was afraid it'd lack the fast paced action I loved in Hush Money. Reading Hush Money was like sprinting a marathon — all go, go, go! Heroes 'Til Curfew, on the other hand, started off walking, then picked up to an easy jog with a couple of burst of energy which led to a wee bit of running. For the most part, the pacing was more typical of what I'd expect in a novel, so definitely not a bad thing.

So paranormal romance I say? The romance started off sweet… rather innocent. Cute, I'd say… then it turned intense and hot. At times, it was like being in an adult novel. Good thing? Bad thing? I don't know. It's easy to pretend that teenagers don't have similar feelings as adults… simply because we want them to be sweet and innocent. However, if you've spent time in high schools, as I have, you're likely to come across some hot make-out sessions. Excuse me, young lady, but I believe your need to pull your skirt down and get off his lap.

In this sequel, sex seemed to play a huge role in the plot… not that the characters were having sex, but rather sexual issues weren't skirted and sex seemed to influence many of the actions (heroes and villains alike). One thing I did notice was Ms. Bischoff truly tried to address the issues of rape in this work. I read quite a bit of criticism on the subject in Hush Money. This time around, I got the impression she wanted to clear up any misconceptions.

Overall, I think Ms. Bischoff made a bold move to go as heavy as she did with the sexual undertone in a young adult novel. Then again, we see it on TV all the time… adults (20-30) playing high school students to get around the rules dealing with minors and sex. Though parents might be a little leery to let their kids read it, I think the story would go over well with high schoolers.

Would I let my daughters read it? If I were a parent who didn't talk to my kids about sex, I'd say no. But since I do talk to my kids, I don't see a problem with this work. Quite a few kids start dating in high school. They're going to experience sexual feelings (emotionally and physically). Beating around the bush isn't going to change that. Heroes 'Til Curfew addresses some of those feelings without getting too physical (heavy petting and kissing only). Of course, being the parent I am, I'd end up talking to my daughters once they finished reading it.

The characters: I have to say, this was the cast of thousands. I honestly couldn't keep up with most of them or their talents. I think it'd be real cool if Ms. Bischoff had an index of the characters and what they could do on her website. That would have been highly helpful while reading. For now, I'll stick with the big players.

Josh was quite different this time around. She'd grown into her role as leader and advocate. No more hiding in the shadows, waiting for others to get out of the mess they got themselves into. She was a true player. The cautious side was still there — don't get caught — but she wasn't afraid to step forward. In Heroes 'Til Curfew, her flaw was the inability to trust. Would she learn to let others help her?

Dylan… hmmm. He had quite a bit more of a point of view in this work. However, it still seemed mostly Josh's story. His presence (other than being Josh's love interest) seemed more to prove his worth to Josh. To show he was more than breakable glass. In truth, that really wasn't his problem, but rather Josh's perception of him (her problem). Again, her inability to trust others interfered with her relationships.

And the villain! Marco returns. We actually got an opportunity to spend some time in his head, and I loved it. At one time, I actually thought I understood him, thought he had some redeemable qualities, and he was just misunderstood due to his circumstances. I really rooted for him to have a pivotal moment and come around. Well, I'm not going to ruin the ending… you can read the story to see if he turned good or not.

The only thing I really didn't like and think slowed the story down was the characters spent way too much time thinking. I'm not sure if it was intentional. Sometimes I thought it was, as side characters would note the contemplative silences. Hey, are you listening to me? Or characters would mentally yell at themselves to stop thinking so much. Personally, I would have preferred a bit of brevity in the internal dialogue area.

All in all, Hereos 'til Curfew was an excellent sequel to Hush Money.

Available at: Barnes & Nobles, Smashwords, and The Book Depository

By the way… am I the only one who thinks of Kick-Ass when reading the Talent Chronicles?

Tell me! Is that not Joss and her dad, or what?

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Reena Jacobs is just your typical writer who loves to see her words in print. As an avid reader, she's known to hoard books and begs her husband regularly for "just one more purchase." Her home life is filled with days chasing her preschooler and nights harassing her husband. Between it all, she squeezes in time for writing and growling at the dog. You can find Reena on Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Nobles, and Smashwords.

Sunday Showcase #18

I got a newsletter from Netgalley featuring some non-fiction Christian works. I bit.

Pastor and author Martin Thielen has compiled a list of ten things Christians need to believe—and ten things they don't—to "qualify" as Christians. This lively and engaging book will be a help to seekers as well as a comfort to believers who may find themselves questioning some of the assumptions they grew up with.

Many people in the twenty-first century hunger for an expression of Christian faith that is different from the judgmental and narrow-minded caricatures they see on television or in the news. With an accessible style that's grounded in solid biblical scholarship, Thielen shows how Christians don't need to believe that sinners will be "left behind" to burn in hell or that it's heresy to believe in evolution. And while we must always take the Bible seriously, we don't always have to take it literally. At the same time, Christians do need to believe in Jesus—his life, his teachings, his death and resurrection, and his vision for the world. Thielen articulates centrist, mainline Christianity in a way that's fresh and easy to understand and offers authentic Christian insights that speak to our deepest needs.

This is an ideal book for individual, group, or congregational study. A free leader's guide that shows how the book can be used in these various settings is available at wjkbooks.com.

Why I picked it up: Mostly curiosity. What does the author have to say for the bare minimum Christians? Hmm… we shall find out, won't we?

Available at: Barnes & Nobles and The Book Depository

Fea offers an even-handed primer on whether America was founded to be a Christian nation, as many evangelicals assert, or a secular state, as others contend. He approaches the title's question from a historical perspective, helping readers see past the emotional rhetoric of today to the recorded facts of our past. Readers on both sides of the issues will appreciate that this book occupies a middle ground, noting the good points and the less-nuanced arguments of both sides and leading us always back to the primary sources that our shared American history comprises.

Why I picked it up: I hear so many people say America was founded on Christianity. I'll be honest. I don't believe it. Sure, many of those who signed the Constitution and such might have been Christian, but my understanding is many were not. Basically, I want to read what this author has to say about the issue.

Available at: Barnes & Nobles and The Book Depository

N. T. Wright has undertaken a tremendous task: to provide guides to all the books of the New Testament, and to include in them his own translation of the entire text. Each short passage is followed by a highly readable discussion, with background information, useful explanations and suggestions, and thoughts as to how the text can be relevant to our lives today. A glossary is included at the back of the book. The series is suitable for group study, personal study, or daily devotions.

Why I picked it up: Research mostly. I've been considering a post-apocalytic like book based on Revelations. I'm hoping this work will make some connections for me. We'll see.

Available at: Barnes & Nobles and The Book Depository

I read very little non-fiction books. Some aspects of Christianity really pique my interest. I'm what one would call an information whore on that topic. I like to examine what other people believe… see how it matches up with what's actually in the bible. I guess it's rather morbid… maybe even judgmental. It's a flaw.

What about you? When you get into non-fiction, what topic absorbs your interest?

Never miss a post. Get your subscription for Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, today.

Reena Jacobs is just your typical writer who loves to see her words in print. As an avid reader, she's known to hoard books and begs her husband regularly for "just one more purchase." Her home life is filled with days chasing her preschooler and nights harassing her husband. Between it all, she squeezes in time for writing and growling at the dog. You can find Reena on Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Nobles, and Smashwords.

Novel Review: A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies

I've been reading like crazy for the last week or so. I can't tell you how liberating it's been, how relaxing. Great thing about all the reading, I have time for extra reviews. Today, we have A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies. This is one of the books I requested and received from NetGalley. The blurb from Ms. Davies' website:

On the night of Skye's seventeenth birthday, she meets two enigmatic strangers. Complete opposites–like fire and ice–Asher is dark and wild, while Devin is fair and aloof. Their sudden appearance sends Skye's life into a tailspin. She has no idea what they want, or why they seem to follow her every move–only that their presence coincides with a flurry of strange events. Soon she begins to doubt not just the identity of the two boys, but also the truth about her own past.

In the dead of a bitingly cold Colorado winter, Skye finds herself coming to terms with the impossible secret that threatens to shatter her world. Torn between Asher, who she can't help falling for, and Devin, who she can't stay away from, the consequences of Skye's choice will reach further than the three of them could ever imagine.

A Beautiful Dark was an easy book to get into. I originally had concerned about the dialogue, which seemed like nothing more than a series of fast paced lines thrown together. However, the dialogue faded away to some interesting turn of events. From then on, the book had me hooked.

Each character had a definite personality. We had the star of the show, Skye, who a conscientious rule follower, the perfect student (always on time, straight As, on track for a wonderful college future). Sure she was a high achiever, but for the most part, she just seemed, well, normal… except for the funky mercury eyes she had at times.

Then there was Cassie, Skye's best friend. She was what I'd consider the life of the party… and a bit boy crazy. Whenever she appeared, the atmosphere brightened. Skye's other best friend, Dan… well, Dan was just Dan. More of a side kick than anything. Finally, we had Ian — the boy crushing on Skye, but also a very good friend. Of all the characters, I would have liked to see more of him — the thoughtful, concerned friend who was willing to give a hand. With the implications at the beginning of the story, I just thought he'd play a greater role.

The angels: We had Asher, the fun one, and Devin, the goodie-goodie. I have to say, I didn't like either one of them after the initial introduction. If they'd come sniffing around my daughters, I'd probably have a word or two to say. It wasn't until later, they started to grow on me. Despite Asher being the play boy and Devin looking smug half the time, they seemed to be caring (deep, deep, DEEP) inside. Still, the characters seemed well developed, though mysterious.

One thing I might note: though the setting was high school, the characters seemed quite grown up. In fact, it made me think more of an office than a high school, most of the time. Their dialogue, behavior, attitudes — none of it had that high school feel to it. It lacked the silliness I've seen in high school students in general. Instead, it was like watching a bunch of late 20s-30 year-olds interact.

So the plot: Excellent. I never knew what to expect next. Who was the good guy? Who was the bad guy? Maybe they were a little bit of both. And what was with Skye? Exactly what was her role in the universe? Where would the events lead her? Unfortunately, it was a cliffhanger, so I have no idea. Grrr. It was more than a cliffhanger. It was just incomplete. Nothing had been resolved. None of the initial questions were answered. Leading up to the end, was great… pieces were following into place, at least I'd hoped. But alas, I only got half the story.

It was like The Matrix Reloaded… you're getting into it. "Yeah! This is great!" Then the words "To be continue" pop on the screen, and you think WTF? I remember the silence in the theatre as the audience read the word. We all sat there… stunned for the longest moment. Then we quietly got up and left like zombies. That's how A Beautiful Dark ended. Not really a cliffhanger, just half a piece of work.

What I've read so far, 4 out of 5 stars. Would I recommend it to others? I don't know. The ending of a book has a lot to do with the overall recommendation. Since I haven't read the ending, I can't determine if the story is even worth starting.

A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies is available at: The Book Depository and Barnes & Nobles

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Reena Jacobs is just your typical writer who loves to see her words in print. As an avid reader, she's known to hoard books and begs her husband regularly for "just one more purchase." Her home life is filled with days chasing her preschooler and nights harassing her husband. Between it all, she squeezes in time for writing and growling at the dog. You can find Reena on Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Nobles, and Smashwords.

Working Wednesday #22

I'm trying to think of what I accomplished this week. Looking back, I've done more stressing than anything. Every week I seem just a wee bit more unproductive… not that I've been very productive recently anyway. I never took the time I need to reboot after releasing I Loved You First. I went straight into seeking reviews, then onto the blog tour.

Normally, I take about a month to relax after completing a huge goal. I'm pooped. Anyway, this isn't a whine fest. This is just me recognizing I need to take some time to unwind. Yesterday, I started that. I still spent quite some time worrying, but I also took some major time reading. Today, I've done pretty much nothing but read. I can already feel my mind relaxing… enjoying life a little more.

Hopefully I'll be on track and ready to work come Monday. So…

Your weekly reminder: two signed copies of ILYF are up for grabs. One for the blog tour button and one to kickoff the blog tour.

Here's how it works: comment on any of the following posted hosted by bloggers then return to the kickoff post and enter to win. And of course, you can always comment on the prior weeks' posts. So the new posts up for this week on the tour are:

Books R Us – Review
Romance in the Backseat – Excerpt
My Need to Read – Interview
The Book Diva's Reads – Review
Cat's Thoughts – Review/Giveaway
Mercurial Musing – Review

Nice, short list this week. Be sure to get your comments and entries in. The tour is winding down. We have just over a week left.

Reading Challenge

Looks like I'm still two books behind.
My current reads is Eve by Anna Carey. I'll finish that tonight, which will put me one book behind, then I'll start on Lord of the Vampires by Gena Showalter.
I'm thinking with the short break I'm taking, I'll be caught up by next Wednesday. We'll see.




Reena has read 18 books toward her goal of 60 books.

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18 of 60 (30%)
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In Other News!!!!

I've decided to do another Goodreads giveaway for Shadow Cat. Sales have slowed a bit for that title, and I'm looking to revive a little interest. Not sure if it'll have much of an effect, but it doesn't hurt to give it a shot.

 

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Shadow Cat

by Reena Jacobs

Giveaway ends October 20, 2011.

See the giveaway details

at Goodreads.

Enter to win

When you're at your wits end, how do you unwind?

Never miss a post. Get your subscription for Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, today.

Reena Jacobs is just your typical writer who loves to see her words in print. As an avid reader, she's known to hoard books and begs her husband regularly for "just one more purchase." Her home life is filled with days chasing her preschooler and nights harassing her husband. Between it all, she squeezes in time for writing and growling at the dog. You can find Reena on Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Nobles, and Smashwords.

Novella Review: Hunted by Lindsay Buroker

Flash Gold by Lindsay Buroker (see review here) ended with a "this is just the beginning" feel to it. Who knew, Ms. Buroker would have the sequel available so soon. Did I run out and get my copy? Well, of course! The blurb from Goodreads:

Self-taught tinkerer Kali McAlister is determined to build an airship and escape the frigid Yukon forever. Unfortunately, she's the heir to the secrets of flash gold, an alchemical energy source that tends to make her a popular target for bandits, gangsters, and pirates.

With the help of her bounty-hunting business partner, Cedar, Kali has outwitted and eluded attackers before, and she thinks she's prepared for anything. Then her ex-fiancé strolls into her workshop.

As if fooling her once wasn't enough, he aims to embroil her in a fresh scheme. Meanwhile, a new nemesis is stalking her, a shrouded figure with an arsenal of deadly machines that make Kali's inventions seem like toys. This time, it'll take more than her ingenuity and Cedar's combat skills to survive.

Hunted is a 27,000-word steampunk novella.

Printed page count equivalent: 120

One thing I like about Buroker books is the writing is descriptive in all the right places. The same goes for Hunted. Plus, Hunted was a short and easy read, a trait I'm truly appreciating these days.

This time around, Kali and Cedar work on ironing out their relationship — both on the business and romantic front. "Do he like or like-like me? But if he's trying to rip me off, perhaps he doesn't like me at all." Before we continue, a little video that comes to mind when I think of Kali and Cedar's relationship.

Okay… maybe Kali wasn't that aggressive, but I know she wanted to be.

Quite a few plot points and a few mysteries in this piece. I'm thinking Ms. Buroker has an entire saga running around in her head with these two characters. Bit by bit, pieces of the puzzle are being laid out. On the same note, major issues throughout the story went unresolved, giving me the impression this was more of an intermission. Hunted doesn't exactly end on a cliffhanger, but I'm sure there's more to the story since it had an incomplete feel to it. I'm curious to know where it will all end.

Available at: Smashwords and Barnes & Nobles

I read Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning (review here) and Halfway to the Grave by Jeannine Frost (review here) this year; both ended on a cliffhanger or a stay tuned for more kind of feel. Interestingly enough, those series have quite a following. So I ask you: What are your thoughts on opened books? Yes? No? Doesn't matter?

Never miss a post. Get your subscription for Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, today.

Reena Jacobs is just your typical writer who loves to see her words in print. As an avid reader, she's known to hoard books and begs her husband regularly for "just one more purchase." Her home life is filled with days chasing her preschooler and nights harassing her husband. Between it all, she squeezes in time for writing and growling at the dog. You can find Reena on Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Nobles, and Smashwords.

Sunday Showcase #17

Well I got nothing this week. Not one single book. That's a good thing and a bad thing. You see… my to read shelf is overflowed. I've really got to chip away at this. As long as I have no new books to boast about, I feature a series. Today, we have Immortals after Dark (IAD) by Kresley Cole. After 11 stories, this series still captures my attention. So much so, she's the only author still on my preorder list. I'm not saying all her books are 5 stars, but I will say she'll never let you down. I've ready EVERY One of her IAD works, and I highly suggest you get started, TODAY.

I didn't start reviewing until I'd hit her second anthology, so you won't find review links until later. I hope you enjoy Immortals after Dark as much as I have.

The Immortals After Dark Series by Kresley Cole…

[image error]Nikolai Wroth, once a ruthless human warlord in the 1700s and now a general in the rebel vampire army, needs to find his Bride, the one woman who can render him truly alive. As a turned human, he doesn't enjoy a heartbeat or breaths and is consequently weaker than fully blooded vampires. He wants his Bride for the power she will bring him and can hardly believe it when his heart beats for Myst the Coveted, a mad, fey, mythological creature.

Myst is known throughout the world as the most beautiful Valkyrie, part chillingly fierce warrior, part beguiling seductress who can "make you want her even as she's killing you." She has devoted her life to protecting an ancient, powerful jewel and to fighting the vampires, and she now sees a way to torment one—for with Wroth's heartbeat comes consuming sexual desire that can only be slaked by her.

She eludes him for five years, but he has finally chased her to ground and stolen the jewel which commands her, giving him absolute power over her. While he possesses it, he can make her do anything, and he plans to in order for her to experience first hand the agonizing, unending lust she'd purposely

subjected him to for half a decade. Yet when Wroth realizes he wants more from her and frees her, will she come back to him?

Available:  Great news for you. Though it's part of an anthology, It's also avaialbe as a free pdf download. The anthology is available at Barnes & Nobles and The Book Depository.

[image error]A mythic warrior who'll stop at nothing to possess her . . .

After enduring years of torture from the vampire horde, Lachlain MacRieve, leader of the Lykae Clan, is enraged to find the predestined mate he's waited millennia for is a vampire. Or partly one. This Emmaline is a small, ethereal half Valkyrie/half vampire, who somehow begins to soothe the fury burning within him.

A vampire captured by her wildest fantasy . . .

Sheltered Emmaline Troy finally sets out to uncover the truth about her deceased parents — until a powerful Lykae claims her as his mate and forces her back to his ancestral Scottish castle. There, her fear of the Lykae — and their notorious dark desires — ebbs as he begins a slow, wicked seduction to sate her own dark cravings.

An all-consuming desire . . .

Yet when an ancient evil from her past resurfaces, will their desire deepen into a love that can bring a proud warrior to his knees and turn a gentle beauty into the fighter she was born to be?

Available:  Barnes & Nobles and The Book Depository.

[image error]A Vampire soldier weary of life . . .

Centuries ago, Sebastian Wroth was turned into a vampire — a nightmare in his mind — against his will. Burdened with hatred and alone for ages, he sees little reason to live. Until an exquisite, fey creature comes to kill him, inadvertently saving him instead.

A Valkyrie assassin dispatched to destroy him . . .

When Kaderin the Cold Hearted lost her two beloved sisters to a vampire attack long ago, a benevolent force deadened her sorrow — accidentally extinguishing all of her emotions. Yet whenever she encounters Sebastian, her feelings — particularly lust — emerge multiplied. For the first time, she's unable to complete a kill.

Become competitors in a legendary hunt.

The prize of the month-long contest is powerful enough to change history, and Kaderin will do anything to win it for her sisters. Wanting only to win her, forever, Sebastian competes as well, taking every opportunity — as they travel to ancient tombs and through catacombs, seeking relics around the world — to use her new feelings to seduce her. But when forced to choose between the vampire she's falling for and reuniting her family, how can Kaderin live without either?

Available:  Barnes & Nobles and The Book Depository.

Her breathless kiss haunts him… [image error]

Bowen MacRieve of the Lykae clan was nearly destroyed when he lost the one woman meant for him. The ruthless warrior grew even colder, never taking another to his bed — until a smoldering encounter with his enemy, Mariketa the Awaited, reawakens his darkest desires. When sinister forces unite against her, the Highlander finds himself using all his strength and skill to keep her alive.

His slow, hot touch is irresistible…

Temporarily stripped of her powers, Mari is forced to take refuge with her sworn adversary. It's rumored that no one can tempt Bowen's hardened heart, but soon passion burns between them. Though a future together is impossible, she fears he has no intention of letting her go.

No deed is too wicked for her seduction…

If they defeat the evil that surrounds them, can Mari deny Bowen when he demands her body and soul — or will she risk everything for her fierce protector?

Available:  Barnes & Nobles and The Book Depository.

[image error]Néomi Laress, a famous ballerina from a past century, became a phantom the night she was murdered. Imbued with otherworldly powers but invisible to the living, she haunts her beloved home, scaring away trespassers — until she encounters a ruthless immortal even more terrifying than Néomi herself.

To prevent him from harming others, Conrad Wroth's brothers imprison him in an abandoned manor. But there, a female only he can see seems determined to drive him further into madness. The exquisite creature torments him with desire, leaving his body racked with lust and his soul torn as he finds himself coveting her for his own.

Yet even if Conrad can win Néomi, evil still surrounds her. Once he returns to the brutality of his past to protect her, will he succumb to the dark needs seething inside him?

Available:  Barnes & Nobles and The Book Depository.

[image error]

Cadeon Woede will stop at nothing to atone for the one wrong that will haunt him forever. But once he secures the key to his redemption, the halfling Holly Ashwin, Cade finds that the woman he thought he could use for his own ends and then forget haunts him as much as his past. A tormented warrior she should fear, but can't deny…

Raised as a human, Holly never knew that some frightening legends are real until she encounters a brutal demon who inexplicably guards her like a treasure. Thrust into a sensual new world of myth and power, with him as her protector, she begins to crave the demon's wicked touch. Surrender to dark desires…

Yet just when he earns Holly's trust, will Cade be forced to betray the only woman who can sate his wildest needs — and claim his heart?

Available:  Barnes & Nobles and The Book Depository.

[image error] HIS OBSESSION…

Sabine, Sorceress of Illusions: the evil beauty who surrenders her body, but not her heart.

HER DOWNFALL…

Rydstrom Woede: the ruthless warrior who vows to keep her at all costs.

THEY WERE NEVER SUPPOSED TO WANT EACH OTHER THIS MUCH…

With each smoldering encounter, their shared hunger only increases. If they can defeat the sinister enemy that stands between them, will Sabine make the ultimate sacrifice for her demon? Or will the proud king lay down his crown and arms to save his sorceress?

Available:  Barnes & Nobles and The Book Depository.

[image error]Murdoch Wroth will stop at nothing to claim Daniela—the delicate Valkyrie who makes his heart beat for the first time in three hundred years. Yet the exquisite Danii is part ice fey, and her freezing skin can't be touched by anyone but her own kind without inflicting pain beyond measure. Can they conquer an agony of frustration and slake the overwhelming desire burning between them?

Available:  This is actually an anthology, Untouchable being the IAD novella. Barnes & Nobles and The Book Depository.

My Review of Untouchable

[image error]A DANGEROUS BEAUTY …

Lucia the Huntress: as mysterious as she is exquisite, she harbors secrets that threaten to destroy her — and those she loves.

AN UNCONTROLLABLE NEED …

Garreth MacRieve, Prince of the Lykae: the brutal Highland warrior who burns to finally claim this maddeningly sensual creature as his own.

THAT LEAD TO A PLEASURE SO WICKED …

From the shadows, Garreth has long watched over Lucia. Now, the only way to keep the proud huntress safe from harm is to convince her to accept him as her guardian. To do this, Garreth will ruthlessly exploit Lucia's greatest weakness — her wanton desire for him.

Available:  Barnes & Nobles and The Book Depository.

My Review

[image error] A DANGEROUS DEMON SHE CAN'T RESIST . . .

Malkom Slaine: tormented by his sordid past and racked by vampiric hungers, he's pushed to the brink by the green-eyed beauty under his guard.

A MADDENING WITCH HE ACHES TO CLAIM . . .

Carrow Graie: hiding her own sorrows, she lives only for the next party or prank. Until she meets a tortured warrior worth saving.

TRAPPED TOGETHER IN A SAVAGE PRISON . . .

In order for Malkom and Carrow to survive, he must unleash both the demon and vampire inside him. When Malkom becomes the nightmare his own people feared, will he lose the woman he craves body and soul?

Available:  Barnes & Nobles and The Book Depository.

My Review

[image error]

HE VOWED HE'D COME FOR HER . . .

Murdered before he could wed Regin the Radiant, warlord Aidan the Fierce seeks his beloved through eternity, reborn again and again into new identities, yet with no memory of his past lives.

SHE AWAITS HIS RETURN . . .

When Regin encounters Declan Chase, a brutal Celtic soldier, she recognizes her proud warlord reincarnated. But Declan takes her captive, intending retribution against all immortals—unaware that he belongs to their world.

TO SATE A DESIRE MORE POWERFUL THAN DEATH . . .

Yet every reincarnation comes with a price, for Aidan is doomed to die when he remembers his past. To save herself from Declan's torments, will Regin rekindle memories of the passion they once shared—even if it means once again losing the only man she could ever love?

Available:  Barnes & Nobles and The Book Depository.

My Review

From the humblest of beginnings a millennia ago, Lothaire the Enemy of Old rose to power, becoming the most feared and evil vampire in the immortal world. Driven by his past, he will not rest until he captures the vampire Horde's crown for himself. The discovery of his Bride, the female meant only for him, threatens to derail his plot.

Elizabeth Peirce is a mere mortal, a glaring vulnerability for a male with so many blood foes bent on annihilating anything he desires. Yet soon he discovers his Bride's secret. A magnificent power dwells inside the fragile human, one that will aid his quest. But to possess that power, he will have to destroy her. Will Lothaire succumb to the torments of his past, or seize a future with her?

Pre-order Available:  Barnes & Nobles and The Book Depository.

My Thoughts: The cover is quite different from the previous covers… a lot darker. The release date is scheduled for January 2012, and I'm totally looking forward to it.

So share with me your absolutely favorite series.

Never miss a post. Get your subscription for Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, today.

Reena Jacobs is just your typical writer who loves to see her words in print. As an avid reader, she's known to hoard books and begs her husband regularly for "just one more purchase." Her home life is filled with days chasing her preschooler and nights harassing her husband. Between it all, she squeezes in time for writing and growling at the dog. You can find Reena on Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Nobles, and Smashwords.

Working Wednesday #21

So I've been a wee bit more productive this week than last. Not by much, but I have made progress.

I Loved You First

I sent off the last few requests for interview questions, so now I'm just waiting on those. I have two blog posts I've yet to write. I started one, but I'm not sure I'm going to go with it. We'll see. My mind is really dragging these days.

Your weekly reminder: two signed copies of ILYF are up for grabs. One for the blog tour button and one to kickoff the blog tour.

Here's how it works: comment on any of the following posted hosted by bloggers then return to the kickoff post and enter to win. And of course, you can always comment on the prior weeks' posts. So the new posts up for this week on the tour are:

My Neurotic Book Affair – Review
Aobibliophile – Review
Fuzzy.Coffee.Books – Review
Dana's YA Bookpile – Giveaway
My Neurotic Book Affair – Interview
Fuzzy.Coffee.Books – Interview
Blood Rose Books – Interview/Giveaway *Not part of the official blog tour, but can still count toward entries. It's J-9′s blogoversary!
Self-Publisher's Lounge – Guest Post *Also not part of the official blog tour, but can count toward entries.
SugarBeat's Books – Guest Post
I'm a Book Shark – Interview/review/giveaway

Writing

I've actually made some progress here. My goals were as follows:

Edit Chasing Shadows ~ Didn't work on this at all this week

Finish/edit one scene a day. Currently at 8/50
Get it to an editor (If I earn enough through sales to pay for one, otherwise this might be one of those works which doesn't get published for awhile. No more dipping into family funds for my publishing ventures. After 3 releases, this business should be self-sustaining, and if not, well… it's not going to become a money pit.)
Release by January 1 (hopefully – pending the funding I mentioned above)

Finish writing/editing Regina's Story ~ Finished the sex scene, kinda. I also wrote the ending, but I'm not satisfied with the results

Write the darn scene by the end of the month
Take a couple of days in early October to polish it
Release Regina's Story by November

Finish writing/editing Injustice is Served ~ I wrote half of one story this week. I'm pretty happy with the little I have for it. Now I need to finish it.

4.5/7 complete – Finish 1 story a month so the first drafts will be ready by November
Polish them in November/December
Release before Christmas

Reading Challenge

Looks like I'm still two books behind.
My current reads is Heroes 'Til Curfew by Susan Bischoff. I plan to take some time tonight to read a little.




Reena has read 18 books toward her goal of 60 books.

hide

18 of 60 (30%)
view books

 

In Other News!!!!

I've been playing around with cover art. I'm keeping the same style for Regina's Story as I used from Brandon's Story.

Not overly creative, but there's no doubt they're part of the same series. I've been thinking about writing a few more short stories to go with Control Freak. Now that we've got Regina and Brandon's Story, I'm at a loss for titles. Maybe "She's Mine" since it'll be Brandon's turn again. We'll see.

I also dinked around with cover art for Injustice Is Served. I'm thinking about going with this.

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It actually goes quite well with one of the stories, which starts off in the bathroom.

Finally, I wrote a post on my website a few days ago and used cartoons. I had so much fun with that, I decided to make a new trailer for I Loved You First using cartoons. Behold!

 

So that's it. What have you all been up to?

Never miss a post. Get your subscription for Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, today.

Reena Jacobs is just your typical writer who loves to see her words in print. As an avid reader, she's known to hoard books and begs her husband regularly for "just one more purchase." Her home life is filled with days chasing her preschooler and nights harassing her husband. Between it all, she squeezes in time for writing and growling at the dog. You can find Reena on Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Nobles, and Smashwords.

Novella Review: Awakening by Kitty Thomas

Awakening is the second short length story available from Kitty Thomas, The Auction (see review here) being the first. I remember the cover for The Auction and not being sure if I liked the classical look or not. Now seeing this cover with it, I'm rather enjoying it. They go well together, don't you think? I received my copy of Awakening from the author. The blurb from Ms. Thomas' website:

Nerina has lived all her life as a mermaid, fascinated by humans and land but also repulsed by sex and unable to understand love. Her curiosity gets her captured by a human male intent on awakening her lust and turning her human. But Nerina doesn't believe the legend is real and fears Kyros will kill her when he learns she can't transform.

This work is a novella of 21,500 words which will take the average reader 1 to 2 hours to read, depending on personal reading speed. The work is "meant" to be short.

For those unfammiliar with Kitty's work, this story in many respects is more "tame" than some of her other work, but it is still erotica with a master/slave and kidnap element.

Awakening is meant to be a mermaid fairy tale for adults.

I'm usually not into mermaid like tales. However, I thought this had quite a realistic feel to it (as far as mermaids and realism go). They were truly half fish/half human. None of that Splash nonsense where all you have to do is dry off the fins and they grow legs. Nope, the fish portion stayed fish, and they even reproduced like fish. Weird? Yeah… but totally believable.

The style of Awakening was presented a bit differently than Ms. Thomas' other works. In fact, I thought I was reading a prologue of sort when I started, as the front was loaded with background information. It didn't take long to realize I was in the actual story, and Nerina was narrating. Another interesting note about the style: this work had a feel to it as if Nerina was reminiscing about past events. That is, her story was already said and done, but she wanted to tell her experience so she wouldn't be forgotten. Different. I don't know if that was the author's intent or not, but it made me think of reading someone's diary.

Like the Auction, Awakenings was quite a bit milder as far as the BSDM goes. In fact, the BDSM was implied it would happen in the future rather than occurring onscreen. Instead, Awakening focused on coaxing Nerina into becoming a sexual being rather than dominating her. No spoilers here, so you'll have to read Awakening for yourself to see how that works out.

Though this was a short work, which was fine, I had hoped for more. Without giving anything away, the ending didn't quite give me the closure I'd hope for. All the issues were addressed, but one item seemed to be left in limbo.

Kitty Thomas has a list of fun facts on her website about Awakening, which I found interesting:

Nerina is a Greek name that literally means: "Sea Nymph".
Kyros is also a Greek name. It means power that is legitimate but compassionate. Despos is generally the term used for power over a slave and Kyros was the term more used for power over a wife or someone for whom you care about their overall well-being.
Meropis is the island upon which the story takes place and it's a mythical island that I did not create but is part of mythology and sometimes associated in some way with Atlantis. Anostos, the portion of the island that the story takes place on, is as mythology describes, covered in a red, cloudy haze.

Awakening

by Kitty Thomas

is available at:

Smashwords

Barnes & Nobles

Never miss a post. Get your subscription for Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, today.

Reena Jacobs is just your typical writer who loves to see her words in print. As an avid reader, she's known to hoard books and begs her husband regularly for "just one more purchase." Her home life is filled with days chasing her preschooler and nights harassing her husband. Between it all, she squeezes in time for writing and growling at the dog. You can find Reena on Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Nobles, and Smashwords.

Sunday Showcase #16

I don't even know if my Walden Books is open any more. I stopped in one more last week to see what was available. It's starting to look a bit gutted. Whereas before, the sales clerks were sorting shelves and helping customers, now they're packing shelves away. Our local store was quaint, as I believe most Waldens are. No coffee shops, no tables or chairs, just a small collection of books and knickknacks. A place to run in and get what you want (if they had it), then run back out. The prices weren't competitive, and usually I left empty handed. In fact, my trips had become less and less frequent over the years, but the salespeople were nice folks.

Will I miss Walden Books? Probably not. Yet the close of another business is sad, nonetheless. This week I took advantage of their going out of business sale by acquiring just one solitary book. Like I said, the shelves are sparse, and even at 60-80% discounts, most of the prices still weren't attractive enough for me to take bring more home.

Weird as it is working for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, Evie's always thought of herself as normal. Sure, her best friend is a mermaid, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she's falling for a shape-shifter, and she's the only person who can see through paranormals' glamours, but still. Normal.

Only now paranormals are dying, and Evie's dreams are filled with haunting voices and mysterious prophecies. She soon realizes that there may be a link between her abilities and the sudden rash of deaths. Not only that, but she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.

So much for normal.

Why I purchased it: I remember when the first advertisements for this book came out. I was just learning about the world of YA books, and this one captured my attention. However, my reading list had already grown out of hand, and this one never seem to reach the tipping point — should I purchase this one or that one? Well, the price was right when I went into Walden and the selection was slim. Congratulations! You made it Paranormalcy!

Available at: The Book Depository and Barnes & Nobles

In an alternate Atlanta where magic is practiced openly, where witches sip coffee at local cafes, shapeshifters party at urban clubs, vampires rule the southern night like gangsters, and mysterious creatures command dark caverns beneath the city, Dakota Frost's talents are coveted by all. She's the best magical tattooist in the southeast, a Skindancer, able to bring her amazing tats to life. When a serial killer begins stalking Atlanta's tattooed elite, the police and the Feds seek Dakota's help. Can she find the killer on the dark fringe of the city's Edgeworld? Among its powerful outcasts and tortured loners, what kind of enemies and allies will she attract? Will they see her as an invader, as a seducer, as an unexpected champion … or as delicious prey? FROST MOON is Book One of the SKINDANCER fantasy series by debut author Anthony Francis. Filled with unforgettable characters, spine-tingling action, kinky rebellion and edgy love, FROST MOON is classic storytelling at its best, and Dakota Frost is an irresistible new star of fantasy fiction. Anthony Francis is a computer scientist who works at the 'Search Engine That Starts With A G'. By day he studies human and other minds to design intelligent machines and emotional robots; by night he writes fiction and draws comic books. He received his Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence from Georgia Tech. He lives in San Jose with his wife and cats but his heart will always belong in Atlanta.

Why I picked it up: Netgalley advertised the first two books of this series. I've been steering away from paranormal romances lately, and I'm a little apprehensive about this work. Not because I think it'll be bad, but I've gotten to the point, been there; done that. However, the alternate reality sounds rather cool. I think I can dig that.

Available at: The Book Depository and Barnes & Nobles

Dakota Frost is back, and the ink is about to hit the fan-again.

Graffiti comes to life in the dark heart of Atlanta's oldest cemetery, slaying one of the city's best loved vampires before the eyes of his friend Dakota Frost. Deadly magick is at work on the city's walls, challenging even the amazing power of Dakota's tattoos to contain it. The hungry, graffiti magick loves to kill, and the Edgeworld is no longer safe from its own kind.

Dakota begins a harrowing journey to save those she loves and to discover the truth behind the spreading graffiti-even if that truth offends the vampires, alienates the werekin and creates police suspicion of her every action.

Saving Atlanta may cost her everything, including custody of her "adopted" weretiger daughter, Cinnamon. But failure is not an option. If the graffiti isn't stopped, Cinnamon could be the next victim.

Why I picked it up: See above

Available at: The Book Depository and Barnes & Nobles

On a side note, can you believe Amazon scooped up The Book Depository? I wonder what that'll mean in the future. This buyout gives me uncomfortable swirling sensations in my stomach.

Never miss a post. Get your subscription for Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, today.

Reena Jacobs is just your typical writer who loves to see her words in print. As an avid reader, she's known to hoard books and begs her husband regularly for "just one more purchase." Her home life is filled with days chasing her preschooler and nights harassing her husband. Between it all, she squeezes in time for writing and growling at the dog. You can find Reena on Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Nobles, and Smashwords.

Who Art Thou Thursday: Gerard de Marigny

Guess what? okay. Don't guess. Gerard de Marigny has returned, this time for a little Q&A. Plus!!!! A little birdie told me his latest work, The Watchman of Ephraim, is up for grabs on Goodreads. If you haven't entered the giveaway, definitely do that. Ends 9/11.

So, tell us about your most recent publication.

I published my debut novel, the political thriller, The Watchman of Ephraim, in January (2011) and I'm very proud of it. It's a dream come true for me!

TWOE is a story about a guy named Cris De Niro. He's a Brooklyn, NY-born and raised, self-made billionaire who lost his wife and unborn child in the North Tower of the World Trade Center on 9/11. De Niro turns to his Judeo-Christian faith to deal with his rage. He reads a passage in the Bible about 'The watchman of Ephraim' that changes his life.

The United States is modern Ephraim in prophesy and De Niro knows that. So he decides to become the modern-day Watchman of Ephraim by acquiring a counter-terrorism firm – renaming it "The Watchman Agency."

He puts together a remarkable staff, starting with his deceased wife's brother, Captain Louis "Mugsy" Ricci, USN SEALS (Ret.)  and not a moment too soon because his agency immediately comes across a connection between a Mexican drug cartel and an Iranian businessman with ties to radical Islam.

Lots of stuff starts happening from there – one of The Watchman's agents goes missing in Monterrey, Mexico and his disappearance may be linked to a mole within the Agency. Strange events start to occur at the U.S./Mexican border. The Watchman's covert paramilitary arm, ARCHANGEL is sent down there to investigate. They team up with the head of the famed 'Shadow Wolves' Native American border patrol unit. The Watchman and ARCHANGEL figure out that something very big and very bad is planned to happen and soon … and it all culminates on the 10th anniversary of 9/11.

Meanwhile, De Niro is still coming to terms with the loss of his soulmate and wife, Lisa. His faith and his love for his two sons, Richard and Louis are all that keep him from losing himself to his rage. Things become even more complicated for him when he's introduced to Dr. Moriah Stevens, a beautiful widow who also lost her husband on 9/11. Stevens falls for De Niro and he has feelings for her but his devotion to his wife is just too strong … even after 10 years.

The 10th anniversary of 9/11 is when it all happens – when our country is targeted for another terrorist attack even more catastrophic than the original 9/11 attack – when our border is breached – and when a man who's already lost the love of his life to terrorism, has his children and himself targeted.

But this time, Cris De Niro can do something about it – and let me tell you, these terrorists will learn a lesson about tangling with a tough Italian from Brooklyn … especially when you mess with his kids!

How much of you/your life do you put into your stories?

There's actually a lot of my life in The Watchman of Ephraim, specifically because of the topic it opens with … 9/11.

My wife and I lost a dear friend in the North Tower of the World Trade Center on 9/11, Danny Afflitto. We were also friendly with others who lost their lives in the Twin Towers that horrible day. We attended a lot of funerals … too many funerals.

My anger and frustration caused by 9/11 ultimately lead to my writing TWOE. I did my best to honor the friends and families of 9/11 victims by depicting the actual event, specifically, the crashing of American Airlines Flight 11 into the North Tower, as accurately as I could.

But I wanted to do more than that – I wanted to convey some of the angst, some of the overwhelming grief that loved ones felt. I was with Danny's wife Stacey when he actually called her just minutes after the plane hit the tower. His last words to her were, "I think a bomb just went off, there's fire and smoke everywhere … kiss the baby, I love you!" Then the line went dead.

Stacey went into shock … and she didn't even realize she was pregnant with their 2nd son – a son Danny never even knew about because she only found out 3 days later. I can tell you, including my own Dad's dying in front of me (peacefully, from illness), that was the most traumatic event I ever experienced. I was overwhelmed with compassion for Stacey but more than that, I was overwhelmed with a feeling of utter helplessness. I couldn't do a thing for her, to ease her pain or to save Danny. It's something I still haven't gotten over.

In a way,  TWOE was my way of dealing with that feeling of helplessness. Writing a work of fiction falls far short of truly comforting the people who lost loved ones – it doesn't bring any of them back and it doesn't punish the people who were responsible … but it's all I can do.

Back to your question, in order for me to convey some of the emotion of that day – in order to drop the readers into that overwhelmingly powerful moment, I felt I had to write from the mindset of a husband who lost his own wife and unborn son in the Tower. I had to assume the role of the lead character Cris De Niro and I had to kill his wife … my wife, Lisa.

It was pretty radical, especially since I didn't tell my wife, who's one of the editors, or my sons … who became pretty upset when they read that mommy died in the book.

Sounds like you get pretty emotionally involved in your writing. Makes for a powerful piece. Which of your characters do you relate to most?

Cris De Niro and I both have the same mindset and worldview. We're from the same old neighborhood, like the same food and drink and both moved into the Las Vegas valley.

The difference is, he's a billionaire who could do something about the things that frustrate me most in the world.

He's also better looking. (grin)

What's the hardest part of the writing process?

The hardest part for me is actually opening the Word file and getting to work. Once I do, I'm okay, but for reasons I haven't fully understood – I seem to procrastinate.

I've been mentored by a great writer, Dean Wesley Smith, through his excellent blogs and from personal communications. One of the things he told me I needed to do in order to become successful is to turn out 3-4 novel-length works per year. So, I'm continually working at removing obstacles to writing every day.

I'm totally with you with the procrastination bug. What's the easiest part of the writing process?

The easiest part for me is coming up with storylines and characters – that's a blessing from God.

My brother and I had a harsh upbringing. We dealt with it in different ways. He escaped by never being home. I was a homebody, so the only way for me to escape was to invent storylines and disappear into them. There always seemed to be a hero-type character in my storylines that could do the things I couldn't do – take on the bullies in the world and save those in distress.

I've been inventing these stories my whole life – the difference is now, I writing them down and sharing them with others – but I'm never at a loss for storylines or characters … the world is full of characters to me.

With hindsight being 20/20, is there anything you would have changed with your publishing journey?

Yes, definitely – I would have started MUCH younger! I've been writing bits and pieces of the stories in my head for most of my life but I never had the confidence to publish them. I made some halfhearted attempts in late 1980′s but that was it.

I spent most of my life working at jobs that I really didn't enjoy, feeling like I was meant to do something else – something that I'd love to do. I can't believe I didn't realize that my calling was to write literary works. Other than my Faith and my family, nothing satisfies me more.

If it weren't for my wife Lisa, back in June 2009, literally scolding me to "finish a book and PUBLISH IT!" because she could see how depressed I was becoming, I wouldn't even be here. I published my first work, TWOE this January, at 47 years old. So many years wasted … but at least I'm doing what I love now.

What are you working on now?

I'm completing my second novel right now. It's the sequel to TWOE, the 2nd installment in The Watchman of Ephraim series, called Signs of War.

It'll be out by September ('11) … I'm very excited about it!

Then I'll immediately start work on the third in the series. The storyline for that one is already shaping out. I'm intending to get that one out by either December ('11) or January ('12).

Thanks for asking!

How about some quickies!

Pencil or Pen: Pencil

Print or Cursive: Cursive

Pantser or Plotter: Plotter

Favorite Candy: Anything with caramel in/on it

Worst habit: My wife says I'm a control freak – I guess I'll go with that. (grin)

This was definitely the most heartfelt interview I've had the opportunity of conducting. Thanks for sharing with us, Gerard.

***************************

About the Gerard de Marigny

Gerard de Marigny is the author of the geopolitical thriller, The Watchman of Ephraim, Book 1 of THE WATCHMAN OF EPHRAIM series. The sequel, Signs of War is scheduled for release in September 2011.

Gerard de Marigny resides in the beautiful foothills of Las Vegas, NV with his wife Lisa and his four sons. When not bending an arm with friends at the local pub, he's putting to paper the stories and characters that are alive in his mind.

Connect with Gerard de Marigny online: Website, SelfPubber's Pub, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, LinkedIn, and MySpace

Find The Watchman of Ephraim by Gerard de Marigny at:

Barnes & Nobles

The Book Depository

Smashwords

Amazon

Signed Hardcovers and Paperbacks

And don't forget to enter the giveaway at Goodreads!

Never miss a post. Get your subscription for Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, today.

Reena Jacobs is just your typical writer who loves to see her words in print. As an avid reader, she's known to hoard books and begs her husband regularly for "just one more purchase." Her home life is filled with days chasing her preschooler and nights harassing her husband. Between it all, she squeezes in time for writing and growling at the dog. You can find Reena on Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Nobles, and Smashwords.