Posts Tagged ‘A Hidden Element’

element-triliogy-twitter4

This is such a great series and I’m so happy to share it with you!

Donna has some great news too. Her Element Trilogy is now on sale. She’s celebrating with a giveaway.

Check out my review.

Enjoy the Character Interview.

And don’t forget to enter the giveaway.

~~~~~

The Man in Black: Could You Trust The Man Who’s Watched You All Your Life?
by Donna Galanti

Meet the mysterious man in black from Donna Galanti’s paranormal suspense novel, A Human Element, and read an excerpt with him. He is a Watcher! Read how watchers are her favorite kind of characters.

Interview with the Man in Black

Where do you dream of traveling to and why?
I wish to go the place my natural father came from. A place thousands of light years away. Their planet is dying. Their sun is nearly burned out. But if I can be with my people, perhaps I can belong somewhere.

Tell us about your family.
I have none. I was a violent birth. I unknowingly ripped my mother to shreds. I was the only survivor of many government experiments. I was left to be raised in a government facility, and then ordered to do their undesirable work.

What was the scariest moment of your life?
Going outside for the first time. I was 18 years old when I left the facility. The walls in my windowless room had been painted yellow like the sun. But I had no idea how bright the outside world really was.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be with others of my kind. I see things that will happen in the future, bad things. I hoped to change those things, especially when it came to Laura; the one who I believe will save my people from extinction. Instead I am the government’s garbage man. I take out the trash. I do the dirty jobs others don’t want to do.

Do you play any sports?
The only sport I do is killing. It’s what I’m ordered to do or I will be killed. I would choose fencing if I had time for real sports. I would like for this mammoth body to learn to fight with grace not blunt force.

What are you passionate about these days?
Having my people go on, to save them from dying out. And Laura. I’ve always loved Laura, as deep as someone like me can love. I am not tempered by emotion. I feel things but not with the intensity you do. I am a dispassionate bystander who follows the authority that created me. It’s all I know, all I can do if I want to survive.

If you could apologize to someone in your past, who would it be?
Laura. I watched her parents die and did nothing. I watched her best friend die and did nothing. I had to, or our kind would not go on. I have to live with myself every day with this knowledge. I have to believe I made the right choices.

Who should play you in a film?
Marlon Brando. He was cool, hulking, tormented. Like me.

~~~~~

A Hidden Element

The Element Trilogy #2

by Donna Galanti

Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000040_00067]

c8df8-add2bto2bgoodreads2bblack

My Review

It started with the fateful meeting of two young people, Ben and Laura. Now they’re all grown up and have a teenage son, Charlie.

Charlie is different from other teens. Some of these differences are subtle ones on the outside. It’s on the inside that the differences are huge.

In another place, Caleb rebels against his father. He’s not interested in his father’s breeding plans. He wants out. But his father won’t let him go.  Caleb witnesses his father’s cruelty towards humans. How he controls their minds and makes them do despicable things to each other and themselves. Escaping may mean dying.

Paths cross when Ben and Laura’s son, Charlie is abducted and Caleb may be their only hope of getting him back.

This book has more than one plot and several important characters, so I’ll be careful not to provide spoilers.

Charlie overheard his father say he wished his son was normal. As with most cases of eavesdropping, Charlie took this out of context and pulled away from his father.

I felt bad for Charlie. He’s different, inside and out, and isn’t getting an explanation from his parents. He turns to the mysterious Ghost Man for advice, someone who’s been there for him from a young age.

I couldn’t help but feel the Ghost Man had his own agenda. I wasn’t that surprised when I figured out who he was. I was right to feel he was untrustworthy. He plays on Charlies weaknesses.

And I sympathized with Caleb too. He never wanted anything to do with his father’s plans. He was dragged along unwillingly and feels that nothing but death could come from his father’s diabolical plans. Plans to conquer Earth’s government and control its destiny.

Wow. What a rush. I jumped right in and quickly got caught up with these characters again. The easy flow of the writing swept me away and I didn’t want to stop until I got all the answers I’d been waiting for.

I didn’t mention some key characters as I wanted you to meet and enjoy them in your own way. Good or bad, they add so much to the story.

There really is never a dull moment and I couldn’t be happier with this book.

I do want to mention that I’d recommend you start with A Human Element, the first book.  If you haven’t read it, you’ll probably have difficulties following this one. It’s priced right so I hope you garb it.

5 Stars

~~~~~

Synopsis

Evil lurks within…

When Caleb Madroc is used against his will as part of his father’s plan to breed a secret alien community and infiltrate society with their unique powers, he vows to save his oppressed people and the two children kept from him.

Seven years later, Laura and Ben Fieldstone’s son is abducted and they are forced to trust a madman’s son who puts his life on the line to save them all. The enemy’s desire to own them—or destroy them—leads to a survival showdown.

Laura and Ben must risk everything to defeat a new nemesis that wants to rule the world with their son, and Caleb may be their only hope—if he survives. But must he sacrifice what he most desires to do so?

~~~~~

Enjoy this glimpse inside.

The man in black waited at the facility’s back door holding an envelope and a small bundle wrapped in a ragged towel. His long coat kept his muscular girth dry from the storm’s deluge. His wide-brimmed hat slung low over his jagged face, as water poured off its edge in a steady stream. This weather did not bother him. He waited patiently in the chilled spring night to deliver his packages and receive one in return. The door opened, spilling fluorescent light onto his feet. A plain-looking nurse held a crying bundle in her arms.

The man could hear the child’s bellowing cries coming from underneath the blanket covering it. She pushed the child into his arms as if eager to be rid of it. He reached down and hung his head lower, to shield the bundle from the rain and his own face from the glaring light. He took the bundle and handed the nurse his packages. The nurse grabbed the envelope but quickly placed the lump on the ground as if the contents were distasteful. The nurse began to close the door when he heard another far away cry.

The man wedged his foot in the door.

“What was that?” He had to nearly shout over the din of the rain.

“Nothing.” The nurse looked up.

The man risked looking her in the eye.

“The girl is in pain and won’t keep quiet.” She clutched the envelope and folded her arms across her sagging bosom.

“It sounded like another baby,” he said.

“It’s just the whimpering slut. Now she’s paid double for what she’s done.”

The nurse took a step back as if aware she had said too much already. She glared at him. “Now go on. You have what you wanted. And so do I.” She picked up the lump from the ground and shut the door in his face.

The man in black stood there for a long moment, considering the woman’s choice of words. He was sure he had heard another baby. What if another child had been delivered and the frigid woman and country doctor kept it secret? Fascinating. He decided to keep this information to himself. He would find the opportune time to use it. He was a patient man.

But first, he had to see for himself.

He peeled back the child’s bunting and looked for the first time into its yellow eyes. For that moment, the baby fell silent.

“Welcome to Earth X-10.”

The baby resumed its wailing.

The man turned with his noisy package and melted into the darkness satisfied, as the doctor had been, that the night’s events had provided him with more than he had asked for.

~~~~~

?????????????????????????????????????????????

About A Human Element:

Evil comes in many forms…

One by one, Laura Armstrong’s friends and adoptive family members are being murdered, and despite her unique healing powers, she can do nothing to stop it. The savage killer haunts her dreams, tormenting her with the promise that she is next. Determined to find the killer, she follows her visions to the site of a crashed meteorite in her hometown. There, she meets Ben Fieldstone, who seeks answers about his parents’ death the night the meteorite struck. In a race to stop a madman, they unravel a frightening secret that binds them together. But the killer’s desire to destroy Laura face-to-face leads to a showdown that puts Laura and Ben’s emotional relationship and Laura’s pure spirit to the test. With the killer closing in, Laura discovers her destiny is linked to his, and she has two choices—redeem him or kill him.

~~~~~

Praise for the Element Trilogy:

“Unrelenting, devious but full of heart.  Highly recommended.” —Jonathan Maberry, New York Times bestselling author of Code Zero

“Chilling and dark…a twisty journey into another world.” —J.T. Ellison, New York Times bestselling author of When Shadows Fall

“Fascinating…a haunting story…”—Rebecca Cantrell, New York Times bestselling author of The World Beneath

Purchase the Element Trilogy on sale through December 15th.
Book 1 A HUMAN ELEMENT for $0.99
Book 2 A HIDDEN ELEMENT for $1.99

~~~~~

Author Donna Galanti

????????????????????????????????????

????????????????????????????????????

Donna Galanti is the author of the paranormal suspense Element Trilogy (Imajin Books) and the fantasy adventure Joshua and The Lightning Road series (Month9Books). Donna is a contributing editor for International Thriller Writers the Big Thrill magazine and blogs with other middle grade authors at Project Middle Grade Mayhem. She’s lived from England as a child, to Hawaii as a U.S. Navy photographer. She lives in Pennsylvania with her family in an old farmhouse that has lots of nooks and crannies, but sadly no ghosts. Visit her at www.elementtrilogy.com and www.donnagalanti.com.

~~~~~

giveaway photo: Giveaway Banner for 42nd giveaway.png

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

Other books in the series.

Click on the covers for my reviews.

Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000040_00075]  17448168

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky Flamingos below!

Welcome to The Friday 56 hosted by Freda’s Voice.

This is a really fun meme!

The only rules are to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader and find a sentence or a few (no spoilers) that grabs you and post it.

A Hidden Element

The Element Trilogy #2

23127004

c8df8-add2bto2bgoodreads2bblack

My 56

“Adrian was chosen to lead our mission here by their laws and grow our people into a new world of our own design to ensure the strongest gene pool.”

“And slowly wipe out all humans?”

“Yes.”

“What if we go out in the world in peace and let whatever happens…happen?”

~~~

Synopsis

Evil lurks within…

When Caleb Madroc is used against his will as part of his father’s plan to breed a secret alien community and infiltrate society with their unique powers, he vows to save his oppressed people and the two children kept from him.

Seven years later, Laura and Ben Fieldstone’s son is abducted, and they are forced to trust a madman’s son who puts his life on the line to save them all. The enemy’s desire to own them—or destroy them—leads to a survival showdown.

Laura and Ben must risk everything to defeat a new nemesis that wants to rule the world with their son, and Caleb may be their only hope—if he survives. But must he sacrifice what he most desires to do so?

~~~

I’ve read the first book, A Human Element. It was fantastic and I’ve been waiting a while for A Hidden Element.

I can say it was worth the wait and I’m looking forward to sharing my thoughts with you soon.

~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew.

Leave your link and I’ll drop by your 56!

A Hidden Element Tour Banner

Virtual Book Tour Dates: 9/23 – 9/30/14

I met Donna some time ago when she gifted me her book, A Human Element, the first book in her series.

It blew me away and I’ve been waiting a long time for A Hidden Element.

I won’t be posting a review yet as I’m still reading it. I can tell you that it is giving me just what I wanted so far!

Check out Donna Galanti and her thrilling new release A Hidden Element and enjoy the excerpt.

I’ve also posted my reviews for A Human Element and the short story collection. The Dark Inside.

And there’s a giveaway, so don’t forget to enter!

~~~

Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000040_00067]

Genres: Paranormal Suspense

add-to-goodreads-button

Blurb:

A HIDDEN ELEMENT:

Evil lurks within…

When Caleb Madroc is used against his will as part of his father’s plan to breed a secret alien community and infiltrate society with their unique powers, he vows to save his oppressed people and the two children kept from him. Seven years later, Laura and Ben Fieldstone’s son is abducted, and they are forced to trust a madman’s son who puts his life on the line to save them all. The enemy’s desire to own them—or destroy them—leads to a survival showdown. Laura and Ben must risk everything to defeat a new nemesis that wants to rule the world with their son, and Caleb may be their only hope—if he survives. But must he sacrifice what he most desires to do so?

Excerpt:

She trembled beneath him. Color rushed back into her. Her bruises faded. She arched her back and gasped.

He held her to him. Her breath infused his neck with warmth.

“I just wanted to set you free,” he whispered.

“Caleb,” she whispered. “How did you save me?”

He pulled her up and put his robe on her. He would pay for losing it later. He had stowed his extra one nearby. “It doesn’t matter. You must go. Head to the road and away from town. You must reach another town and ask for help. Before night comes. Tell no one about this. Pretend you have no memory. Find a church. Someone will help you.”

She looked at him with watery eyes. “My children.”

He grasped her arms. “I will watch over them. You need to go. Now.”

She just stared at him. He shook her. “We’ll both die if you don’t.”

She nodded and hung her head. Caleb lifted her hair away from her face. It shone dark gold in the sun flickering through the trees.

She pushed her hands in his robe pockets and then drew out a piece of paper. He watched her unfold it and read it. He knew it by heart, this last poem he could give her like he’d once given her his love.

She read the last two lines aloud. “Wrapped up in my heart with no place to go. Come, unwrap my heart and set me free in you.” She looked up, a solitary tear rolled down her cheek. “You unwrapped my heart too, Caleb Madroc.”

He pulled her close. Pine cones plunked around them. The wind blew a sweet, mournful song through bare branches. Yellow swirled down. The last dying leaves of autumn. In that moment he believed they were together, out for a walk in the woods before heading home to mate by the fire. A normal life. Somewhere else. Not here. He bent down and kissed her. At first, she didn’t move and then she pressed herself into him. He stroked her hair and took her mouth as a token then he let go and pushed her off him.

“Go. Now. Be free!”

She stared at him with wild eyes and stumbled away, his poem clutched in her hand. Then she turned and ran. His cloak flowed behind her, protecting her. He watched her go. He unraveled his full heart and sent it with her. It did him no good in this place.

He wanted to leave with her, but he had to think of their sons. If he left, his father would kill them. The sun faded behind clouds. He still had work to do. He headed for the tree line to dig a fake grave. He pushed the image of the hand in the bog away. He didn’t want to know why it was there—or who put it there. There was just one person who would, but he couldn’t face that now.

It was time for his punishment for saving Thomas from humiliation.

His father would add to Caleb’s scars.

Those scars Caleb could suffer with.

The scars of Rachel and his sons seared his heart forever.

Buy Links:

Purchase Book 2 in the Element Trilogy, A Hidden Element
Purchase Book 1 in the Element Trilogy, A Human Element

~~~

Other books in this series.

 A Human Element:

?????????????????????????????????????????????

goodreads-badge-add-plus for awaken

Evil comes in many forms…

One by one, Laura Armstrong’s friends and adoptive family members are being murdered, and despite her unique healing powers, she can do nothing to stop it. The savage killer haunts her dreams, tormenting her with the promise that she is next.

Determined to find the killer, she follows her visions to the site of a crashed meteorite in her hometown. There, she meets Ben Fieldstone, who seeks answers about his parents’ death the night the meteorite struck. In a race to stop a madman, they unravel a frightening secret that binds them together.

But the killer’s desire to destroy Laura face-to-face leads to a showdown that puts Laura and Ben’s emotional relationship and Laura’s pure spirit to the test. With the killer closing in, Laura discovers her destiny is linked to his, and she has two choices—redeem him or kill him.

My 5 STAR Review of A Human Element

Ben is hiding from his parents on the shore of Coopersville Lake when it happens.

A meteorite crashes. What was once the sight of a dozen or so cabins, one of them containing his parents, is now only a huge crater of steam and fire. In one bright green flash, Ben’s life is forever changed and for another, it has just begun.

No one could know the long-reaching consequences of that fateful night. Or of the horrors to come.

9 months later.

A young girl struggles to bring her child into the world. She came to the doctor in secret. Not even the Armstrong’s, the kindly couple who took her in, know where she is. The doctor doesn’t know why the mysterious man waiting outside wants the baby, he just wants to get paid.

In a rush, the baby enters the world. Sadly, the young mother does not survive the delivery. But wait, another baby is fighting to be born, a twin, a beautiful baby girl.

An exchange is made. The mysterious man leaves with the thing, the baby boy, but the doctor doesn’t mention the girl. He will give her to the Armstrong’s to raise.

Many years later, the baby girl, Laura, is all grown up and back home to find out why the people closest to her are being slaughtered. The answer lies here. Laura has always had the headaches and nightmares and she knows things are coming together now – the monster chasing her in her nightmares, the mysterious man in black, who has always been on the periphery of her life, and whatever happened on the night of the meteorite. It is all connected.

Laura and Ben are thrown together as death races towards them. Both need answers about the night of the meteorite if they are to survive what is coming.

I want to keep telling you more. I’ve only scratched the surface of this story.

Two babies were born that night, Laura and the boy child called X-10. One looks human in every way and the other looks like a monster.

The many secondary characters made this story real for me.

Everybody should have a friend like Jim, a grumpy curmudgeon with a gentle soul and a fierce love and loyalty to Laura.

The Armstrong’s, Laura’s adoptive parents, who though they knew she was different, had special talents, loved her as their own.

The mysterious man in black, who has always been around, lurking in the shadows.

The cruel and sadistic Dr. Bjord, who thrills in tormenting X-10, his failed experiment.

And X-10, the monstrosity who’s only thought is getting out, finding Laura, and tearing her to pieces.

From the first page to the bitter-sweet end, I was totally immersed in this book. A story of wonder, love, humanity and absolute evil.

Donna Galanti’s debut novel has, at its core, an energy, an essence, that gives it life.

Superb writing and a thrilling all-out race to the end, A Human Element is an excellent read.

~~~

The Dark Inside (A Human Element)

goodreads-badge-add-plus

The Dark Inside

These short stories contain characters from A Human Element and the just released sequel, A Hidden Element.

So I’m issuing a mild spoiler alert.

The Well

It seems like no matter how hard he tries, Caleb can never be good enough in his father’s eyes. When he hears about the mission to the new world, he jumps at the chance to escape the dying planet and maybe get out from under his fathers disapproving control.

When his hopes are crushed, he’s devastated. And then his mother goes missing.

She’s disappeared without a trace.

The Well starts out being about Caleb and his conflicts with his father and his peers, and deepens into a mystery when his mother just vanishes. The author does a great job of misdirecting me, and I rushed to a wrong conclusion. This one is a deep, emotional read.

The First Time

X-10 is not going to give in. He’s not going to let the twisted Dr. Bjord control this experiment.

He’s scared of the human girl. Not for the usual reasons, but because he’s afraid he’ll give in to the rip, tear, kill, urges that are the base part of him.

It’s the first time X-10 has coupled with a female and he experiences some human emotions like nervousness, lust, and excitement. But can he control the monster inside, the one that needs to rend?

Donna, through her characters conversations, made the tentative bond between the monster and the prostitute endearing for me. I wanted things to be okay, wanted both of them to survive this experiment.

But she’s a prostitute, he’s a monster, and this is an experiment. A deadly one.

The Job

Felix is a Seeker. His partner, Maria, is all woman, all human.

He’s never felt attracted to her before, but he’s made a mistake. He’s let his guard down and things got messy. Now he has to clean it up.

I was surprised a couple of times with this one. Had a few, ‘what the???’ moments. This is twisted fun. Can’t help it. I sometimes laugh at the dark stuff.

Frat Night

Tara’s so excited. Tonight she’s going to do it with Jonah. She’s been lying to him, telling him she’s a virgin, so he’ll woo her, romance her. But she’s ready now. Tonight they’ll finally be together.

It was a beautiful spring night.

Kind of saw some of this coming, but still got a shock. I was grinning and thinking, yes!

The Tree of Sheltered Secrets

She was going to kill whoever did it. Whoever cut down her tree.

She’d spent her childhood hiding in that tree, escaping into her own world. It was the only happy memory in her miserable existence. And now someone had hacked it down. It felt like she’d been cut down too.

Someone had to pay.

I felt sorry for Hilary. She had a horrendous life and now the only thing good was gone. I felt her rage build and as I read on, I wanted someone to pay. Pay big!

The Beginning

They were seventy-five strong. Adrian and his crew silently entered the chosen town and quickly got what they needed with mind persuasion. No one realized the strangeness of these visitors.

But that wasn’t enough for Adrian. Oh no. He had to go and make it nasty, make two people do despicable things just for his pleasure.

He also made his son Caleb and the others watch. It was a warning and a lesson.

This one is so twisted. Adrian is a sick twist and I feel so sorry for Caleb. His hate for his father is changing him. Molding him. I hope he doesn’t follow in his fathers dark footsteps.

A Lucky Strike

Ben is all alone with his foster-father now. His foster-mother is now buried and Frank expects him to take over her duties. All of them.

As Ben fantasizes about ways to kill Frank, he knows it’s only a matter of time before things turn real ugly.

It’s time to flee, but has he waited too long?

I forgot this part in A Human Element. It’s disturbing and sad. You see where Ben came from, what he endured, what shaped him.

I’m surprised he survived at all.

Excerpt – A Human Element ~ Ben

This is an excerpt from A Human Element. It’s another short about Ben taking place later than in A Lucky Strike. I’ll give a tease and tell you what I got from it.

Ben had no business being in Hud’s Place.

“North of Hotel Street in Chinatown, or NoHo as it was called, carried its distinction as the known spot for prostitute action any time of the week. He swallowed the last of his beer and laughed to himself. SoHo could be a better name for the so-many-ho’s that could be had around here.”

He shouldn’t be here. He shouldn’t have got so drunk. And he definitely shouldn’t have stepped into it with the Marines.

If he thinks the ass-kicking he just got from them was bad, the locals that get a hold of him, set him straight.

If it weren’t for the tall man, the familiar looking stranger with the bright green eyes, he’d be totally screwed.

Ben just keeps putting himself in bad situation after bad situation. I hate seeing him in the self-destruct mode.

I’m curious about the tall man, why is he always showing up at the worst times? Why is he following Ben?

Seeing a character falter, make bad moves and stupid ones, helps me connect with them, makes them human for me. I’m connected with Ben.

I enjoyed all of these stories. If I had to pick a favorite, it would be…..Ha! Not gonna tell ya!

The Dark Inside gets Five Stars from me. Each story is distinct and wrings out my emotions.

~~~

Galanti, Donna smallcrop

About Donna:

Donna Galanti writes murder and mystery with a dash of steam as well as middle grade adventure fiction. She is the author of books 1 and 2 in the paranormal suspense Element Trilogy, A Human Element and A Hidden Element, the short story collection The Dark Inside, and Joshua and The Lightning Road (Books 1 and 2, 2015). She’s lived from England as a child, to Hawaii as a U.S. Navy photographer. She now lives in Pennsylvania with her family in an old farmhouse. It has lots of writing nooks, fireplaces, and stink bugs, but she’s still wishing for a castle again—preferably with ghosts.

Connect With The Author:

Website  ~ Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads

~~~

giveaway photo: Giveaway Banner for 42nd giveaway.png

 

Giveaway:

Giveaway through end of 9/30. U.S. only.

  • 1 (#) winner(s) will receive [(1) Grand Thriller Prize: Bundle of 10 e-Books donated from these bestselling thriller authors David Morrell, Allison Brennan, M.J. Rose, Steve Berry, Eric Van Lustbader, Hank Phillippi Ryan, Doug Preston, Alan Jacobson, Allan Leverone, Jenny Milchman] (approximate retail value or “ARV”: $100)
  • 1 (#) winner(s) will receive [(1) Super Get Mind Blown Prize: 2 signed paperbacks by NY Times best selling author Heather Graham, The Following Season 1 on DVD, Book on Conspiracies & Secret Societies, Inception on DVD] (approximate retail value or “ARV”: $100)
  • 1 (#) winner(s) will receive [(1) $100 Amazon Gift Card] (approximate retail value or “ARV”: $100)
  • 1 (#) winner(s) will receive [(1) Bundle of 5 Thriller e-Books from Imajin Books authors] (approximate retail value or “ARV”: $100)
  • 1 (#) winner(s) will receive [(1) Paperback of Donna Galanti’s A Human Element, Book 1 in Element Trilogy] (approximate retail value or “ARV”: $100)
  • 1 (#) winner(s) will receive [(5) e-Book copies of Donna Galanti’s short story collection The Dark Inside] (approximate retail value or “ARV”: $100)

Click on the rafflecopter below to enter.

Raffle button

~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

horseshoe photo: Horseshoe horseshoe.jpg