Dale Ibitz's Blog, page 13
November 26, 2012
Author Feature: Karlene Blakemore-Mowle
Karlene Blakemore-MowleBlindsided
His mission: infiltrate the woman in possession of the information—retrieve said information – don’t look back. Her mission—survive the sudden invasion that is Jason Nash—remain in control of her senses and don’t fall in love with the bad boy! Jason Nash had the life any testosterone fueled male would envy; a job he loved, freedom and the income to buy whatever new plaything took his interest. The last thing he needed was a woman who came with a ready-made family to mess up his plans. Briella Matheson found out the hard way that bad boys were bad news. What she needed was someone reliable, safe and well…boring. Boring was good. Unfortunately, what she got was Jason Nash and he was anything, but boring…he was trouble!
Get your copy of Blindsided:http://www.amazon.co.uk/Blindsided-Sentinel-Securities-ebook/dp/B00AA3PF6Q/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1353791193&sr=1-1
http://www.amazon.com/Blindsided-Sentinel-Securities-ebook/dp/B00AA3PF6Q/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1353791120&sr=1-1
Cyber Monday eBook Deals
Cyber Monday eBook Deals!
Both books in the Last Moon Rising series, Fire in the Blood and Strong Blood, are reduced to 99 cents today only. Grab your copy for the holidays!
"On Eyidora, the gods of nature are at war, and Earth deteriorates as the weather sprials out of control. The descendants of the gods must rise together to restore harmony to the world...before one of them betrays them all and destroys it."
For kindle:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=dale+ibitz
For other reading devices, including Nook:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/search?query=dale+ibitz
Both books in the Last Moon Rising series, Fire in the Blood and Strong Blood, are reduced to 99 cents today only. Grab your copy for the holidays!
"On Eyidora, the gods of nature are at war, and Earth deteriorates as the weather sprials out of control. The descendants of the gods must rise together to restore harmony to the world...before one of them betrays them all and destroys it."
For kindle:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=dale+ibitz
For other reading devices, including Nook:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/search?query=dale+ibitz
November 25, 2012
Author Feature
I'm trying something new, my pretties! It's called Author Feature, where I feature select authors and their works. Check out the authors, their books, and maybe something will spark your interest. Enjoy reading about these talented authors and their titles.
First up at bat, is Karl Jones.
Karl Jones
Shattered
WARNING: CONTAINS GRAPHIC VIOLENCE AND DISTURBING DEATH SCENES
After the grisly discovery of a mutilated body, the small community of Greenville is held in the terrifying grip of a serial killer. Author Jason Denton immediately falls under suspicion, and Sergeant Underwood is determined to prove his guilt.Caught in the middle is Donna Harp, a young constable partnered with the sergeant. She isn't convinced the author is guilty, but is she being swayed by Denton's good looks and charm?
Shattered is available at the following links:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006PNXK2G
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006PNXK2G
First up at bat, is Karl Jones.
Karl JonesShattered
WARNING: CONTAINS GRAPHIC VIOLENCE AND DISTURBING DEATH SCENES
After the grisly discovery of a mutilated body, the small community of Greenville is held in the terrifying grip of a serial killer. Author Jason Denton immediately falls under suspicion, and Sergeant Underwood is determined to prove his guilt.Caught in the middle is Donna Harp, a young constable partnered with the sergeant. She isn't convinced the author is guilty, but is she being swayed by Denton's good looks and charm?
Shattered is available at the following links:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006PNXK2G
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006PNXK2G
November 24, 2012
Book Review: Rapture, by Phillip W. Simpson
Rapture
by Phillip W. Simpson
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Summary (from Goodreads):
The Rapture has occurred, just as the Bible predicted. The faithful have risen up to Heaven. Those left behind are in a living hell.
Earth burns, hell-like in its oppressive heat. Every volcano in the world has erupted, and tsunamis and earthquakes continue to devastate the planet. Clouds continually rain ash onto the scorched landscape, sparking fires all around. Plants and animals are dying. Food is scarce. The night sky is devoid of stars, and the moon - when it can be seen - is the colour of blood.
The remnants of humanity fight for survival. Most have fled the cities and now hide in caves deep in the mountains. By night, demons stalk the Earth, capturing the remaining humans and killing them - if they're lucky. The less fortunate are converted to worship of the Devil, and ushered into endless hell.
Eighteen year old, Sam (short for Samael) was raised in the town of Jacob's Ladder, Utah. It is appropriately enough near to a place of natural scenic beauty called Devil's garden. He finds himself alone, unable to rise up with his family because he is half demon. His mother, a devout Christian, was seduced by Satan and conceived his child. She smuggled the boy to an old friend Hikari, a Japanese sword master and demon expert. Since then, Hikari and his daughter, Aimi, have been all the family Sam has known.
Now they're gone, and Sam must set out on the mission Hikari charged him with long ago: to help all the humans left behind. Armed only with his beloved Japanese swords and his wits, Sam wanders the post-apocalyptic world alone, separated forever from everyone he loves. Cursed by his demonic heritage, he must now embark on a quest that will take him across the US to the City of Angels.
There he will confront his destiny. There he must fight to save a friend ... and the souls of the living.
My Thoughts:The cover immediately grabbed me.
This is an amazing book! And don't let the religious premise of the book lead you into thinking this is a heavy-handed-preaching-religious-platform kind of book--it's not. Secular audiences will enjoy this book just as much as the Christian audience will.
The characters: top notch. Believable. Likeable. I'd want to be friends with these people.
Okay, so Sam, our main character, is, well, a demon. But despite the bad karma of his birth, Sam wants so badly to be a good, kind, normal kid. The problem is, he's not. The portrayal of Sam is so well written, so heart-wrenching and gut-wrenching at the same time, you have no choice but to pulled in to his story and feel for him. You like him. You want things to be different for him. You want him to succeed.
So Sam, despite the evil destiny that awaits him, falls into the care of a very religious, caring man, Haikari, and his daughter, Aimi. Haikari teaches Sam to not only learn about good and bad, and good and evil, but to be a warrior. He wants Sam to survive.
The pacing is very good, alternating between present and past with ease and filling in the questions and gaps just right.
The setting: very descriptive, using all the senses so that the reader can really feel the place.
I definitely have this book on my series-to-keep-reading bookshelf. Highly recommended.
by Phillip W. Simpson
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Summary (from Goodreads):
The Rapture has occurred, just as the Bible predicted. The faithful have risen up to Heaven. Those left behind are in a living hell.
Earth burns, hell-like in its oppressive heat. Every volcano in the world has erupted, and tsunamis and earthquakes continue to devastate the planet. Clouds continually rain ash onto the scorched landscape, sparking fires all around. Plants and animals are dying. Food is scarce. The night sky is devoid of stars, and the moon - when it can be seen - is the colour of blood.
The remnants of humanity fight for survival. Most have fled the cities and now hide in caves deep in the mountains. By night, demons stalk the Earth, capturing the remaining humans and killing them - if they're lucky. The less fortunate are converted to worship of the Devil, and ushered into endless hell.
Eighteen year old, Sam (short for Samael) was raised in the town of Jacob's Ladder, Utah. It is appropriately enough near to a place of natural scenic beauty called Devil's garden. He finds himself alone, unable to rise up with his family because he is half demon. His mother, a devout Christian, was seduced by Satan and conceived his child. She smuggled the boy to an old friend Hikari, a Japanese sword master and demon expert. Since then, Hikari and his daughter, Aimi, have been all the family Sam has known.
Now they're gone, and Sam must set out on the mission Hikari charged him with long ago: to help all the humans left behind. Armed only with his beloved Japanese swords and his wits, Sam wanders the post-apocalyptic world alone, separated forever from everyone he loves. Cursed by his demonic heritage, he must now embark on a quest that will take him across the US to the City of Angels.
There he will confront his destiny. There he must fight to save a friend ... and the souls of the living.
My Thoughts:The cover immediately grabbed me.
This is an amazing book! And don't let the religious premise of the book lead you into thinking this is a heavy-handed-preaching-religious-platform kind of book--it's not. Secular audiences will enjoy this book just as much as the Christian audience will.
The characters: top notch. Believable. Likeable. I'd want to be friends with these people.
Okay, so Sam, our main character, is, well, a demon. But despite the bad karma of his birth, Sam wants so badly to be a good, kind, normal kid. The problem is, he's not. The portrayal of Sam is so well written, so heart-wrenching and gut-wrenching at the same time, you have no choice but to pulled in to his story and feel for him. You like him. You want things to be different for him. You want him to succeed.
So Sam, despite the evil destiny that awaits him, falls into the care of a very religious, caring man, Haikari, and his daughter, Aimi. Haikari teaches Sam to not only learn about good and bad, and good and evil, but to be a warrior. He wants Sam to survive.
The pacing is very good, alternating between present and past with ease and filling in the questions and gaps just right.
The setting: very descriptive, using all the senses so that the reader can really feel the place.
I definitely have this book on my series-to-keep-reading bookshelf. Highly recommended.
November 22, 2012
With the arrival of Thanksgiving in the US a few friends ...
With the arrival of Thanksgiving in the US a few friends thought it might be a good time to do a little promotion for all of their fans out there, as well as those people that enjoy a good book, but don't have a lot of money to spare, due to the economy and the time of year, what with people needing to save up for Christmas.
With that thought in mind, and feeling rather generous, my friends have decided to make available 20 books, each one for the princely sum of just 99c, that's 20 books for 20 bucks, hence the name of the promotion. The books cover a variety of genres, from scifi, both adventure and children's, to erotica, espionage, and a few others. There should be something for pretty much everyone.
The promotion runs from Weds 21st until Sunday 25th, all throughout the Thanksgiving holiday.
If you wish to see the books that are in the promotion, and find out about them, then please visit the following links
Amazon UK Listmania
Amazon US Listmania
November 19, 2012
Book Review: I Hunt Killers, by Barry Lyga
I Hunt Killers (Jasper Dent #1)
by Barry Lyga
Summary (from Goodreads):
Jasper "Jazz" Dent is a likable teenager. A charmer, one might say.
But he's also the son of the world's most infamous serial killer, and for Dear Old Dad, Take Your Son to Work Day was year-round. Jazz has witnessed crime scenes the way cops wish they could—from the criminal's point of view.
And now bodies are piling up in Lobo's Nod.
In an effort to clear his name, Jazz joins the police in a hunt for a new serial killer. But Jazz has a secret—could he be more like his father than anyone knows?
My Rating: 5 Stars
My Thoughts:Wow. This book is, shall I say it? A killer of a book. If you think it's about death and gore and horror, it's not. It's a psychological case study of a kid who tries so hard to not be what he thinks the world thinks he is going to grow up to be, and trying so damn hard to be a decent human being, but ends up internally questioning his every thought and motive 24/7. It was brilliant.
I loved the characters. Jazz is so like-able in his tormented way. He got a shit deal in the hand of life. But he doesn't want to be damaged by it. He tries hard to not be damaged. You just can't help but like this kid and root for him. Every time he questions himself, you want to pat him on the back and say, 'It's going to be okay."
I love the sheriff and his good heart and his tolerance of Jazz. He doesn't hold it against Jazz that his dad was a serial killer.
The plot moves you along at a steady pace, and you're not quite sure how it's going to end. I gobbled pages so fast, I got heart burn. I couldn't wait to finish.
This was brilliantly written. The title indicates there is more Jasper Dent to come. God, I hope so.
by Barry Lyga
Summary (from Goodreads):
Jasper "Jazz" Dent is a likable teenager. A charmer, one might say.
But he's also the son of the world's most infamous serial killer, and for Dear Old Dad, Take Your Son to Work Day was year-round. Jazz has witnessed crime scenes the way cops wish they could—from the criminal's point of view.
And now bodies are piling up in Lobo's Nod.
In an effort to clear his name, Jazz joins the police in a hunt for a new serial killer. But Jazz has a secret—could he be more like his father than anyone knows?
My Rating: 5 StarsMy Thoughts:Wow. This book is, shall I say it? A killer of a book. If you think it's about death and gore and horror, it's not. It's a psychological case study of a kid who tries so hard to not be what he thinks the world thinks he is going to grow up to be, and trying so damn hard to be a decent human being, but ends up internally questioning his every thought and motive 24/7. It was brilliant.
I loved the characters. Jazz is so like-able in his tormented way. He got a shit deal in the hand of life. But he doesn't want to be damaged by it. He tries hard to not be damaged. You just can't help but like this kid and root for him. Every time he questions himself, you want to pat him on the back and say, 'It's going to be okay."
I love the sheriff and his good heart and his tolerance of Jazz. He doesn't hold it against Jazz that his dad was a serial killer.
The plot moves you along at a steady pace, and you're not quite sure how it's going to end. I gobbled pages so fast, I got heart burn. I couldn't wait to finish.
This was brilliantly written. The title indicates there is more Jasper Dent to come. God, I hope so.
November 18, 2012
Friday Funnies (on Sunday)
This posting Friday Funnies on Sunday is becoming a habit!
Enjoy!
TIGHT SPOT
The ZIPPER - If this one doesn't make you laugh.....
[image error] In a crowded city at a busy bus stop, a woman who was waiting for a bus was wearing a tight leather skirt. As the bus stopped and it was her turn to get on, she became aware that her skirt was too tight to allow her leg to come up to the height of the first step of the bus. Slightly embarrassed and with a quick smile to the bus driver, she reached behind her to unzip her skirt a little, thinking that this would give her enough slack to raise her leg.
[image error]
Again, she tried to make the step only to discover she still couldn't.
So, a little more embarrassed, she once again reached behind her to unzip her skirt a little more.
For the second time, attempted the step, and, once again, much to her chagrin, she could not raise her leg.
With little smile to the driver, she again reached behind to unzip a little more and again was unable to make the step.
About this time, a large Texan who was standing behind her picked her up easily by the waist and placed her gently on the step of the bus.
She went ballistic and turned to the would-be
Samaritan and screeched, "How dare you touch my body!
I don't even know who you are!'
[image error] The Texan smiled and drawled,"Well, ma'am, normally I would agree with you, but after you unzipped my fly three times, I kinda figured we was friends."
Enjoy!
TIGHT SPOT
The ZIPPER - If this one doesn't make you laugh.....
[image error] In a crowded city at a busy bus stop, a woman who was waiting for a bus was wearing a tight leather skirt. As the bus stopped and it was her turn to get on, she became aware that her skirt was too tight to allow her leg to come up to the height of the first step of the bus. Slightly embarrassed and with a quick smile to the bus driver, she reached behind her to unzip her skirt a little, thinking that this would give her enough slack to raise her leg.
[image error]
Again, she tried to make the step only to discover she still couldn't.
So, a little more embarrassed, she once again reached behind her to unzip her skirt a little more.
For the second time, attempted the step, and, once again, much to her chagrin, she could not raise her leg.
With little smile to the driver, she again reached behind to unzip a little more and again was unable to make the step.
About this time, a large Texan who was standing behind her picked her up easily by the waist and placed her gently on the step of the bus.
She went ballistic and turned to the would-be
Samaritan and screeched, "How dare you touch my body!
I don't even know who you are!'
[image error] The Texan smiled and drawled,"Well, ma'am, normally I would agree with you, but after you unzipped my fly three times, I kinda figured we was friends."
November 11, 2012
Friday Funnies (on Sunday)
Sorry. I couldn't help myself. I just had to share these horrible book titles. Enjoy!
November 9, 2012
Friday Funnies
It's been 2 long weeks, between Hurricane Sandy and Storm Aria, it's TGIF and many peeps can use a laugh...or maybe a chuckle...hey, even a simple smile will do!
I don't remember most of these ads, but they're eye-popping all the same. Imagine! I can't wait for Christmas to get my Hoover! I may look cuter. LOL
I don't remember most of these ads, but they're eye-popping all the same. Imagine! I can't wait for Christmas to get my Hoover! I may look cuter. LOL
November 5, 2012
Book Review: Remembrance, by Michelle Madow
Remembrance
Michelle Madow
Star Rating: 4 Stars
Summary (from Goodreads):
Lizzie Davenport has been reincarnated from Regency Era, England ... but she doesn't know it yet.
Then Drew Carmichael transfers into Lizzie's high school at the beginning of the year, and she feels a connection to him, almost like she knows him. She can't stop thinking about him, but whenever she tries talking with him about the mysteries behind her feelings, he makes it clear that he wants nothing to do with her. Reaching him is even more difficult because she has a boyfriend, Jeremy, who has started to become full of himself after being elected co-captain of the varsity soccer team, and her flirtatious best friend Chelsea starts dating Drew soon after his arrival. So why can't she get him out of her mind?
Even though Lizzie knows she should let go of her fascination with Drew, fighting fate isn't going to be easy.
My thoughts:My first thought? The cover grabbed me. I don't know why, but I just *like* it. A lot.
My second thought? By far the best indie book I've ever read. Seriously. I'm not kidding. There are some wicked good indie books out there, but this one rises to the top like cream.
And a slew of third, fourth, and fifth thoughts: The writing is great...a few glitches here and there, like a missing word, but who cares? When you're wrapped up in the Lizzie's life, getting irritated with her, falling in love with her, getting confused with her, you kinda over-look trivial things like missing words. Just fill in the blank and move on.
You end the book not liking many of the characters. I was sorry to see that, because some of these characters I really liked in the beginning. But given the story-line, maybe it was inevitable. I was surprised by one character especially...didn't see that one coming.
Of course, that's a good thing, yes?
The biggest issue I had is that the premise of the story is second chances, and making things right. However, it seems to me that the person who had to make things right the second time around wasn't our main character, Lizzie. It was Drew. Even though the story predicated itself on Lizzie having a second chance to make things right, she had nothing to atone for. I almost feel that this story should have been told from Drew's point of view. Drew was the one with the most to lose, the one who needed to set things right.
But hell, it's still worth reading, especially if you like YA paranormal romance. This one is up there with the best of 'em.
Michelle Madow
Star Rating: 4 Stars
Summary (from Goodreads):Lizzie Davenport has been reincarnated from Regency Era, England ... but she doesn't know it yet.
Then Drew Carmichael transfers into Lizzie's high school at the beginning of the year, and she feels a connection to him, almost like she knows him. She can't stop thinking about him, but whenever she tries talking with him about the mysteries behind her feelings, he makes it clear that he wants nothing to do with her. Reaching him is even more difficult because she has a boyfriend, Jeremy, who has started to become full of himself after being elected co-captain of the varsity soccer team, and her flirtatious best friend Chelsea starts dating Drew soon after his arrival. So why can't she get him out of her mind?
Even though Lizzie knows she should let go of her fascination with Drew, fighting fate isn't going to be easy.
My thoughts:My first thought? The cover grabbed me. I don't know why, but I just *like* it. A lot.
My second thought? By far the best indie book I've ever read. Seriously. I'm not kidding. There are some wicked good indie books out there, but this one rises to the top like cream.
And a slew of third, fourth, and fifth thoughts: The writing is great...a few glitches here and there, like a missing word, but who cares? When you're wrapped up in the Lizzie's life, getting irritated with her, falling in love with her, getting confused with her, you kinda over-look trivial things like missing words. Just fill in the blank and move on.
You end the book not liking many of the characters. I was sorry to see that, because some of these characters I really liked in the beginning. But given the story-line, maybe it was inevitable. I was surprised by one character especially...didn't see that one coming.
Of course, that's a good thing, yes?
The biggest issue I had is that the premise of the story is second chances, and making things right. However, it seems to me that the person who had to make things right the second time around wasn't our main character, Lizzie. It was Drew. Even though the story predicated itself on Lizzie having a second chance to make things right, she had nothing to atone for. I almost feel that this story should have been told from Drew's point of view. Drew was the one with the most to lose, the one who needed to set things right.
But hell, it's still worth reading, especially if you like YA paranormal romance. This one is up there with the best of 'em.
