Archive for the ‘fiction’ Category

A Vampire in Copperfield / Under the Desert Moon

Posted: September 23, 2012 in fiction, Interview, Paranormal or fantasy, reviews, Romance, Vampires
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Under the Desert Moon by Emma Meade.

For all of you vampire lovers out there, I have another vampire to introduce you to.

Under the Desert Moon



Nothing ever happens in Copperfield, Arizona, a rundown desert mining town. The miners left long ago.

That’s why Erin wishes she were anywhere but here. At least her job at The Oracle, the town cinema, gets her out of the house and she gets to see the movies for free.

One night changes everything, shaking up Erin’s world. Nick, her twin brother, bursts into her bedroom to tell her something exciting. A movie crew is in town to film a horror film. This gets Erin’s blood pumping. She hopes for a good ghost story.

Erin and Nick rush down to the local diner to get a look-see at the cast and crew. Her gaze is drawn to a young man sitting in the back. He has a certain something that calls to her. She thinks he looks familiar but can’t recall from where.

His name is James Linkin(I like the name) and he plays the lead in the movie, a vampire. Even better than a ghost story, Erin thinks.

Erin doesn’t realize she is staring at James, until their eyes meet. He holds her gaze and she feels shaky and aroused. Where did that come from? And his eyes, she’d never seen eyes like his before. As an aspiring photographer, she’d love to get a picture of them and add it to her portfolio.

It’s inevitable that Erin and James would meet. She hires on to the production as a roaming photographer, taking pictures of the film from behind the scenes, kind of a diary of the making of it. What surprises both of them is the strong magnetism that pulls them towards each other. But Erin senses the bad boy in James. She is perceptive and knows James is hiding something.

That feeling of familiarity she had the first time she saw James was real. She knows where she remembers him from, a rerun of an old sitcom she used to watch with her mom when she was a kid. He had a different name then, but it was him, she was sure of it! But how could that be?

Can you see what’s coming? Even if you’ve guessed that James is a vampire, that is only the beginning of the story!

I had a lot of fun reading Under the Desert Moon.

James was bored and decided to try to make a comeback in the movie business, as someone else of course. He shouldn’t have chosen a small town to do it. There is anonymity in a large town. It’s not long before people start to figure out what he is. He couldn’t resist temptation and was discovered many times in the act of drinking someones blood. His ability to erase memories was iffy, and sometimes it didn’t work at all. This lead to some amusing scenes that I really had fun with! He isn’t very good at hiding what he is. Perhaps he stays in character too much, and that’s why he lands in so much trouble.

Erin now knows what he is but is conflicted in her feelings for him, he drinks blood after all! And how could she know if he erased her memories? How do you trust a vampire? And more importantly, how do you love one?

I kept getting this feeling that the story had a dark, noir feel to it. Then I realized why. I once watched this movie called Shadow of the Vampire. It too was about a vampire playing the role of a vampire in a movie. Although the vampire in this movie wasn’t young and handsome, it’s what was nagging me while I read Under the Desert Moon. I just kept picturing the story in black and white. It added a chill to the story.

The story is engaging from the beginning and there are several characters that are important. Their parts in the story helped me to connect with them. Some are funny, some are hopeless, and some I would like to kick to the curb, you know the ones, they like to make themselves look better by belittling you. This made it more real for me.

Under the Desert Moon is a really good story. It’s not only about vampires. I enjoyed Emma’s writing style and I’ll be watching for more of her books.

  Loved this!

Emma’s writing style and the way she made her vampire vulnerable, almost human with his flaws,  got her this rating! And of course, the great story!

I have a treat for ya’ll today! Emma’s here for an interview.

It is so exciting to have you here Emma. We are always chatting back and forth and now I have you right where I want you. In the authors seat! So why don’t you begin by telling us about yourself.

Thanks, Laura. Glad to be here. I’ve been a follower of your blog for a while and enjoy it.
  I loved the noir feel  I got while reading Under the Desert Moon. This book would be a great movie filmed in black and white!  Where did your idea for the story come from and what genre would you classify it as?
Wow. I never considered it noir but I think it would look great shot in black and white, or perhaps just the scenes where James and the movie crew are shooting Kiss of the Vampire. I can keep dreaming!
It started off simply enough. I had an image in my head of a small town girl staring out her bedroom window, looking onto a desert landscape and admiring the beauty of the moon. But this girl also felt trapped and wanted desperately to escape to the bigger world. That girl became Erin and the story evolved from her. The genre would be paranormal I guess.
  How did you choose the names for your characters?
I didn’t put much thought into it. I think James is a strong, masculine name. Almost every James I’ve met in real life has been a real lad, a bit cheeky and a little arrogant, but always up for a laugh. I’m not sure where I got Erin from. I just like the name. Noah Phoenix is a tribute to River Phoenix, an actor who had huge potential but died way too soon.
  What is the most challenging thing about writing for you?
Um, the actual writing part. Sometimes every single word is a struggle and then every once in a while, I’ll get a burst of inspiration and write 5,000 words in one sitting.
  What do you think makes for a good story?
The characters. Build strong, vibrant characters and I think you’ll draw readers.
 When people read the book, they will see the significance of your title. Where did the title for your book come from?
Again, just the image of a young girl staring out her bedroom window into a desert wilderness. I think the moon has always been symbolic of the paranormal and features heavily in gothic fiction, so it had to appear in the title.
  What kind of books do you like to read and what are you reading now?
Paranormal mostly, but I just finished The Mystery of Mercy Close by Irish writer, Marian Keyes, a blend of comedy and drama. I love her books.
  What are you working on now and can you tell us something about it?
I’m working on a paranormal book called Night Whispers. I self-published a short story collection, Night Sighs last year and fell totally in love with the characters, so I decided to write a full length novel based on the vampires, Alex and Tristan.
Five Fun Shorts!
1) What is your favorite supernatural being?
Vampire, of course 🙂
2) Do you believe in vampires?
No. Do you think I’m crazy?
3) Would you like to meet a vampire?
Sure, if they were Spike, Stefan, Damon or Eric Northman!
4) If you were a vampire, would you be:
a) sparkly
b) reluctant
c) down and dirty
Down and dirty, all the way. Good question ha ha.
5) Who would you pick as your mate, if you were a vampire?  Can’t say your husband or boyfriend!
Hmm. Elijah from The Vampire Diaries. But then again, I’ve been in love with Edward Cullen for the past 4 years too. Tough one, Laura. Tough one.
I loved having you here Emma. Now we all know you much better. Can’t wait for the next time. Thanks so much.
Cheers, Laura. You can be sure I’ll be back here soon.
And so you can see what I mean about why this book kept feeling noir to me. For some reason this is how I felt while reading the book. It really made me feel a connection.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyBt5DDFcQY]

About Emma Meade

Author of Nights Sighs and Under the Desert Moon.
Emma Meade writes paranormal fiction.
She lives in rainy Ireland and loves all things supernatural including: vampires, slayers, witches, ghosts, aliens & shadow men (or at least the youngest of the shadow men), and regular people who live extraordinary lives (think Slayerettes and you’re on the right track). One of her favourite authors is L.J. Smith and Stephen King’s The Stand is one of her most loved books. Books, dvds & tv show boxsets take up lots of space in her home and she collects all the Point Horror books she can get her hands on.
She is not ashamed to admit that Dirty Dancing and Twilight make her top ten movie list but wishes to point out that The Last of the Mohicans, Reality Bites, Dead Poets Society, Stand by Me and The Goonies are in there too.

Writing supernatural short stories, watching marathon re-runs of Buffy and attempting to complete novels are some of her favourite ways of escaping reality.

You can find Emma here:

http://emmameade.com

Http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4229395.Emma_Meade

http://www.twitter.com/emmameade83

To purchase her books just click on the images below.

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A Giveaway because I loved this book so much! Wormwood

Posted: September 23, 2012 in angels, fiction, giveaways, Paranormal or fantasy, reviews, Romance, Series
Tags: , , , , , , ,
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Another giveaway! I loved this book so much I asked the author if I could do another giveaway. And she said YES!!

Wormwood

Read my review

The first chapter introduces you to Kali. She is a trail guide at Pinecrest National Park. A quiet hike up to her favorite spot, Lookout Peak, starts out normally enough, but a light breeze quickly becomes a tree snapping gale. The once clear skies have turned a heavy grey-black, the clouds tumbling over each other as they race towards her.

This would not be so bad if the woods had not suddenly gone silent. Not a sound could be heard. The winds had stopped and all was still. Not even a bird song was heard. Into this silence came a rumbling that turned into a roar. The ground began to vibrate under her feet and she could see something was coming. The trees started to shake and then to fall, the ground began to roll. Kali ran.

The earth twists and buckles as she tries to reach the safety of Lookout Peak.  Trees and shrubs reach out as if to grab her. She sees her goal and rushes forward. Stillness. All around her the earth is raging. Great rents appear, lava flows up from below, the skies open up and rain and hail lash down, but from her vantage point all she feels is a mild tremor under her feet. How can this be?

Kali wants to move out from under the overhanging rocks and edges around them to a clear space. The rocks could fall at any moment.  There is a campfire burning. She is not alone up here. A quick look around reveals a figure standing on the cliffs edge, his arms stretched out towards the devastation that is still raging below.

Tiamat.

I tell ya, I was not prepared for this.  I was exhausted from the tension I experienced following Kali’s mad dash to safety. My description is just a wee bit of what she goes through.

I am so excited just thinking about what I want to tell you. This happened and that happened! And what? I have never read a story quite like this. There is so much going on. The story raced to its conclusion, leaving me stunned.

At times I was scared. Other times I was so mad. And at one part, I realized I was crying, and it hurt.

D. H. Nevins has written a fantastic story of the end of the world and the last survivors. Perhaps this description is too simple, but I hesitate to tell much of the story. I want you to read it like I did. Unprepared and wide-eyed.  I want you to get to know each character and discover just what is really causing all the destruction.

I hope when you read Wormwood, you’ll tell me how it made you feel. Did you experience it like I did?

A huge Thank You to the author for an extremely well written story in which to immerse myself.

Beyond 5 STARS Still feeling it!

For my full review and interview with DH Nevins go here

Check out this amazing trailer!

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_TmOuZ8iO4]

Giveaway details

I have one paperback and 2 e-book copies of Wormwood to giveaway!

To enter, please leave your email address and answer this question: Do you believe in angels?

Bonus: For another chance to win Wormwood, check out Sherry’s post here.

Giveaway ends September 30th.

Not required, but you would make my day if you followed my blog and twitter.

If you like this post, make me smile and hit that Like and Tweet button:

You can find DH Nevins here:

Website: http://www.dhnevins.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/dhnevins

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/133020440053518/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5158514D_H_Nevins

About the Author

D.H. NevinsD.H. Nevins was born in Toronto and currently lives in a quiet area of Ontario, surrounded by forests and lakes. By day, she is a personable, friendly school teacher. By night, she silently chuckles as she writes about destroying the world. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys hiking, camping, flying around on her motorcycle or dabbling in live theatre.

You can purchase Wormwood by clicking on the image below

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New Release! Taking on the Dead by Annie Walls

Posted: September 22, 2012 in fiction, horror, Release day, reviews, Series, Zombies
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Taking on the Dead, The Famished Trilogy, Book One

I really wanted to hurry and get this read for release day, but I forced myself to take my time. I did not want to miss one tiny bit of it!

Taking on the Dead (The Famished Trilogy, #1)

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I love the grainy image of the cover. It sets the tone for the story and this girl is perfect for the protagonist, Kansas. I am loving her dreadlocks and she knows how to use that machete, as you will see when you read Taking on the Dead!

Let’s get to the book shall we?

So here you are at the carnival, walking hand in hand with your boyfriend, anticipating a night of rides and games, taking in all of the sights, sounds and smells. Suddenly, zombies are everywhere, and you are in for the fight of your life.

That’s what happened to Kansas. She survived that night, but paid a heavy price.

Fast forward to four years later. Kansas City Sunshine Moore, also known as Kansas or Kan for short,  has been surviving, hiding out in her family’s underground bunk all alone. A betrayal by a group of people she offered shelter to forces her to leave her home and search for a new one. She quickly discovers there is much she doesn’t know about the zombies. There are the fresh ones, the Famished, and they are very fast and strong. What else doesn’t she know? She has been secluded for four years and now it looks like that wasn’t the smartest thing to do.

The first time Kansas meets Rudy, they don’t actually meet. With the long reach of his compound bow, he helps clear zombies from her path, but Kan is still wary of strangers and jumps in her car and races away. It’s a good thing Rudy decides to follow her, because the next time they meet he saves her life.

Kan comes to in the back of Rudy’s van. Well actually, it is an armored truck, the kind used to transport money, and it’s perfect for keeping out the pesky zombies. It can also mow them down easily. After a brief scuffle, Rudy convinces her he means no harm. Through conversation, Kan learns about the Famished, the dangerously fast zombies, and how different they are from the others. She learns a lot about what’s been happening while she was isolated in her bunker the first four years. Staying with Rudy, at least for now, is her best bet.

My thoughts and Ramblins

I’m going to warn you, I feel this story is for the older reading audience. There are no graphic sexual scenes but there is some mature content.

I love my zombies and I sure did get plenty of them in Taking on the Dead. I also got one heck of a great story about survival and humanity, and the lack of it. Not everyone that survives is nice, just like before the apocalypse. The characters are diverse and all too human.

Of course, there is some romance in the story. It is subtle, creeping up on you, just like it does to Kansas. It is not the focal point, but it definitely makes the story better. Wouldn’t you want someone to have and to hold when your world is overrun with zombies? I know I wouldn’t mind having someone to care about, otherwise, what’s the point of surviving?

Kansas is strong-willed and independent, but not necessarily a loner. Enter Rudy and her life gets complicated. Who could resist a man like him. Strong and gentle, with a large dose of sexiness and endearing humbleness. They are a good fit.

Here are some of my favorite scenes:

I almost elbow Rudy to wake him until I see how he looks when sleeping…Despite all the fighting, his nose is straight. Small scars from past fights etch his skin. A small, wide one dresses his lower lip. One much longer goes from his lower jaw to underneath the chin, his stubble efficiently covering it up. A chipped tooth adorns his bottom row of teeth.  The scar on his right eyebrow no longer allows hair to grow, splitting the eyebrow in half. He might get another scar on his left eyebrow, the cut is scabbed over now, and it’s wider then the scar on his left side. Very small imperfections, not even noticeable unless you look closely. It doesn’t take away from his handsome face. It enhances his masculinity, as if he needs it. The small flaws have history and give him character. Flaws I want to know about, and could grow quite fond of if I’m not careful.

Jesus. This chivalrous barbarian is beautiful. What am I getting myself into?

And of course some humor

“I’m thinking of naming your truck. I must be out of it.” I prop my head on the pillow against the window.

There’s slight amusement across his features. “What did you have in mind?”

“I don’t know. Something domineering and associated with a big ass.” I motion with my hands.

He surprises me by saying, “Agatha. I had a teacher in the sixth grade, and that was her first name. She liked her power over us weaklings and she had a gigantic ass.” He starts laughing and shaking his head as if to clear the thought.

“Yeah, that fits. Agatha.” I say, trying it out.

“She was scary. I was glad when sixth grade was over.” We both laugh at this. I can’t picture him afraid of anything. It feels good to be laughing about something completely stupid. I can see he needed to laugh too.

The humor is well placed throughout the story, lightening the mood and giving you a break from the stress of survival, just as it would in real life. You know the scenes, where the cop makes a joke in poor taste about a victim?  That is a coping mechanism, and everyone needs one. The humor makes this story believable.

In one part Kansas poses an interesting question about zombies. One I am now curious about as well.

Do the souls get stuck to watch and feel their bodies decompose, all the while having an uncontrolled, insatiable craving? I guess that’s why I like killing them, just in case. No one deserves that fate.

There are some colorful characters you’ll be meeting.  There are the good, the bad, and the ugly. They all play their part, keeping you entertained and engaged.

This is my stopping point. I don’t like to tell much about the story past the one-third point. I like to draw you in and get you interested, much the way Annie Walls did to me.

I loved every second I was in it, and yes, it felt like I was a part of it. Fantastic job Annie!

Just one more thing and then you can go get Taking on the Dead.

About the ending!

I was talking to Mandy over on Goodreads. She is right about the ending! That’s all I’m saying.

  Still loving it and feeling it!!

~~~~~

More good news! There are two more books in this series coming out.

Controlling the Dead, Book Two

Living with the Dead, Book Three

About Annie Walls

Author of dark fantasy and sub-genres of horror. Voracious Reader and Googler. Lover of dark humor. Horror Buff. Zombie Apocalypse Enthusiast. Loyal Cracked follower. Pinterest Addict. Wife of adoring husband. Mother of a five year old Bruce Wayne. Cook. Maid. Kisser of boo-boos. Ultimate Time Waster. Perfect Procrastinator. Lolly Gagger. Trubie. Cake Decorator. Tea Drinker. Sculpey Sculptor. Girl Gamer. Perfectionist in the art of Facebook stalking. And now, God help me, a blogger. Oh yeah, and a twitter, twatter, tweeter. Well yeah, I’m one crafty bitch

You can find Annie here:

http://www.AnnieWalls.com

https://www.facebook.com/annie.walls

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5777960.Annie_Walls

http://www.twitter.com/TheAnnieWalls

You can purchase Taking on the Dead by clicking on the cover image below.

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The Burning Bush by Kenya Wright/ Release Day Review

Posted: September 19, 2012 in Book Promos, fiction, Paranormal or fantasy, Release day, reviews, Romance, Series, urban fantasy
Tags: , , , , , , ,
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It’s release day for Kenya Wright! The tour is upon us!

The Burning Bush (Book Two in the  Santeria Habitat Series) is available NOW!

The Burning Bush (Habitat, #2)

I love this cover! What do you think?

If you think it’s amazing, wait until you read the story. It starts out with a bang.

Let me tell you something about it. But before I forget, I should tell you that this is Book Two in the series and may contain some mild spoilers.

Now they’ve really stepped in it. Zulu and Lanore blew up Linderman‘s Blood Factory. It just happens to be owned by Dante, a very powerful vampire that wants them dead.

To complicate matters, the bumbling cop, Rivera, was tracking them with their brands and knows they did it. He uses that knowledge to blackmail Lanore into helping him with a case.

A burning bush has been left in front of the police station. Inside is a naked dead girl showing no signs of burnt flesh or decay. It has to be magic that keeps the bush burning. Hence, Rivera’s need for Lanore. He is inept and lazy, and plans on taking full credit when Lanore solves the mystery. The mystery deepens when she discovers that this is the second burning bush that was dropped off.

I really liked this part:

Rivera took off his blood spattered jacket and slung it over the chair in the corner. “This is the second burning bush with a girl tied to it.”

“Two bush victims.” I shook my head. “And why doesn’t the public know about this?”

“The first victim was just a female mixbreed. A poor one.”

The prejudice portrayed in this scene made the story very genuine.

Let me give you a little background. Lanore is a mixbreed, or mixie for short, the product of parents from different magical species. They are considered the lowest form of trash. Each species in the caged cities, or habitats, are given a brand on their forehead signifying what species they are.

Lanore has a secret, the power of fire. She also has white cords sewn into her arm, put there when her lover Zulu claimed her as his mate during lovemaking. He did this without her consent and she wants them gone.

Zulu has multi-colored cords sewn into his skin from his wrists to his shoulders. They are a spell that lets him shift into a lethal Fairy beast called Prime.

And then there is MeShack. He is a were-cheetah and he makes my blood start racing and my heart go pitter-patter.

Lanore has a lot on her plate. She has to solve the burning bush mystery and keep Zulu and Meshack from killing each other. They both claim her as their mate.

Meshack had his chance and he blew it. He cheated on Lanore. Of course he is in his season, his beast is beginning to mature and is quite randy. The season lasts for seven years and Lanore isn’t putting up with it for that long. But Meshack doesn’t give up that easily. I love his purring when he is aroused. How she resists him, I can’t figure.

She has hooked up with Zulu. A body from heaven with beautiful flowing dreadlocks and a sarcastic wit that adds to his charm. He is her lover and protector and is fiercely possessive. A real alpha male. He is called The Heart Ripper and not because of his sexual prowess.

Here are a couple of  scenes I really loved.

Meshack – “I have you alone in a cellar where no one can hear you call for help. You’re lucky I still have my pants on.”

Lanore – “You’re like a romantic serial killer.”

and this one:

Lanore – “Zulu said, and I quote,”Meshack can look but if he touches, I get to rip off the hand he used.” Then I explained that we weren’t committed and that he was acting like a possessive psycho.”

“His response?”

“Zulu just shrugged and said, “I am a possessive psycho.”

I don’t know who I want Lanore to end up with. I go back and forth, Meshack or Zulu, Zulu or Meshack? Either one warms my blood. The sexual tension just oozes from the pages.

There are also some very funny scenes all throughout the book. They add genuineness to the story, making it very believable.

I laughed out loud at this one! It takes place over the phone.

“So how would a fire witch cast a spell to create the burning bush?”

“The witch would attach their fire to the bush and then have the bush hold the girl in place like magical glue.”

Something banged and then crashed on her end of the line.

“Fox Jr.! I am on the phone!” Vee yelled and then cleared her throat. “Take your sister out of the toilet now! Partricia, get her out!”

The book is chock full of this stuff.  It’s like every page wrings some emotional response out of you. Anger, lust, disgust, glee and triumph. Sometimes more than one.

You would think keeping track of all of the species would be difficult and the explanations of their abilities a drag. But Kenya writes like a master, puts it in laymen terms you could say, making it easy to follow and understand. There is always something thrown into the scene to draw a reaction from you. Very powerful writing.

There is so much sexiness in this book, but not a lot of explicit sex scenes. The author’s innuendos are more than enough to heat up your blood.

The bad guys are really bad and the good guys are so darn likeable. These characters are the friends I would want  to hang with and have on my side if I lived in Santeria.

I could go on and on, but I can’t. I would be telling too much. You will just have to hurry over and get your own copy of The Burning Bush and enter the habitat at your own risk:)

  This book is on Fire!!

You can read my review of Fire Baptized (Book One) here.

About Kenya Wright  www.kenyawright.com
Join the mailing list to stay up-to-date with free books, giveaways, and new releases!Kenya Wright always knew she would be famous since the ripe old age of six when she sang the Michael Jackson thriller song in her bathroom mirror. She has tried her hand at many things from enlisting in the Navy for six years as a Persian-Farsi linguist to being a nude model at an art university.However, writing has been the only constant love in her life.Will she succeed? Of course.For she has been coined The Urban FantasyQueen, the Super Iconic Writer of this Age, The Lyrical Genius of Our Generation. Granted, these are all terms coined by her, within the private walls of her bathroom as she still sings the Michael Jackson thriller song.Kenya Wright currently resides in Miami with her three amazing, overactive children, a supportive, gorgeous husband, and three cool black cats that refuse to stop sleeping on Kenya’s head at night.
 
 

You can purchase Kenya’s books by clicking on the images below.

Winners Announced! Dangerous Waters by Anne Allen

Posted: September 18, 2012 in fiction, giveaways, Mystery, Romance, suspense, Winners!
Tags: , , , ,
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Time to announce the winners!

  Wendy

   Ruby

Congratulations!

I will be e-mailing the winners and sending their information to the author.

Thanks to everyone for entering and for your comments. You made this giveaway a huge success.

Thanks so much Anne, for allowing me to host the giveaway and for a wonderful story. I enjoyed our interview and look forward to having you back again!

Go here to read my 5 Star review and interview with Anne.

You can purchase Dangerous Waters by clicking on the image below.

 

You can find Anne here:
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Thorne Manor…and other bizarre tales by Diane Wing

Posted: September 18, 2012 in Creatures, fiction, giveaways, horror, Interview, Mystery, Paranormal or fantasy, Short stories and collections
Tags: , , , , , , ,
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I really do like to be scared. I have always loved books that make me jump at every little noise.  I have read so many books and watched so many movies, that it takes something to really scare me.

When Diane Wing asked me if I would be interested in reading and reviewing her collection of scary stories, I was all for it. Nothing like a good fright to get those endorphins pumping!

Thorne Manor: And Other Bizarre Tales

Diane is being very generous. She has one paperback copy of her book to giveaway on my blog! AND she has agreed to an interview! Just keep reading:)

My thoughts and ramblins

Thorne Manor is the longer story in this collection.

Heather has finally found the strength to leave her abusive husband and start out on her own. She has always wanted to run her own business, and when the house of her dreams seems to call out to her, she ignores her friend’s advice and buys it. Thorne Manor has been empty for five years. It’s dark history has many people believing its haunted. That doesn’t worry Heather. The mansion, with its three levels will be perfect.

The house needs some TLC but no major reconstruction. While the workers are doing the repairs and adding the cosmetic touches, Heather sets out to get some tenants to rent the available rooms. Her plan is to make Thorne Manor a place of psychic entertainment and she needs to find various occult practitioners to provide  services to the clients. Kind of like a psychic smorgasbord.

There is one major problem with the old manor. It comes with some very unwelcoming inhabitants. Gypsy, a trance medium, suggests a good cleansing ritual. It’s going to take more than that. Heather needs to clean house of these nasty spirits  before her tenants move in. It proves much more difficult and dangerous than she thought.

My thoughts

This was a really creepy haunting. Diane knows how to create an atmosphere that makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck. I was almost looking over my shoulder while reading it. With a limited amount of words, she got me engaged with the characters. I felt protective  and proud of Heather, and her psychic friends were my kind of people. Someone I would want on my side when things got bad.

Don’t get too comfortable. This story moves fast and the scares are many and intense.

By Invitation Only

Loretta is lost without Toby. He was her constant companion for 15 years.

Five years have passed and  her grief is just as heavy.  She really should move somewhere so she isn’t constantly reminded of Toby, her silken haired dog, but she fears losing the good memories.

Something strange starts to happen. There is something in the wall of her bedroom. Something trying to get out, chipping away at the plaster.

My thoughts

I would have moved. If something was pushing, trying to get out of the wall, slowly making a bigger and bigger hole, I would be so out of there. Curiosity killed the cat, people!!

This was an eerie tale, making me edgy and fearful of what was going to come out of that wall!

Dream State

Judith has a problem. A big one. There are living things in her mouth. Worms! Then she wakes up. It was only a dream. Or was it?

My thoughts

The title of this book says …and other bizarre tales. Well, this one is very bizarre. It is also kind of gross, which makes the creep factor high. For some reason, maybe I’m bizarre, I liked that.

Good Riddance

That’s it! Justin has had it with the mangy cat that keeps sneaking up onto his porch, covering his expensive furniture with its hair. The hair was everywhere. Finding out where it lived proved impossible and it just kept coming back, night after night. Something would have to be done.

This went on for months and Justin began to fantasize a gruesome ending for the nasty feline. He should have been more careful what he imagined.

My thoughts

This was a goodie!  What Justin conjured up in his imagination is unspeakable and the ending was not what I expected to happen.

Guardian of the Gate

Anzuth makes the long, grueling climb from the bowels of Hell to Earth’s surface, but he is not where he expected to be.  Spotting a beauty salon that’s still open, he decides to get cleaned up there, knock the stink off of him.

He gets a makeover straight out of The Twilight Zone!

My thoughts

Loved this. It was so different. I don’t know where Diane found this idea, definitely from left field. I think we need more beauticians like the one you meet in this story.

The Black Sheep

Amy can’t explain it. It’s a mystery to her. Why is she so drawn to The Black Sheep. It’s just a restaurant, isn’t it?  Given, its outside is coated in red paint and there is a skull of a ram, complete with horns, displayed in the window, so maybe that’s where her sense of foreboding comes from.

She seems unable to stay away from the building, despite repeated warnings from her guardian spirit to stay clear. Each time she passes the building, the pull to enter is stronger.

My thoughts

I would have never entered that building. If something made me uneasy, I would avoid it, not seek it out. I don’t know, maybe she was meant to enter.

The Quiet Neighbors

Ever since Henry lost his job, it seems all Emma does is clean up after him. He stays glued to his chair, stuffing his face with Cheese Doodles, chasing them down with sweet tea, and watching endless TV. She longs for the future that should have been theirs. Not this.

Then she finds this book, Manual of Retribution – A Guidebook for the Oppressed. What she finds in it just might be able to make her life better.

My thoughts

Good for Emma. No one should have to put up with a loser like Henry. I don’t know if I could have done what she did, but since it’s a story, I say go Emma.

My overall review

Excellent writing. Diane quickly lays out the plots and gets right to the heart of each story. There is something for everyone here. Each story has its own atmosphere or flavor.  She makes you connect with the characters. I was surprised at which characters I was drawn to. I felt a slight nudge towards them by the author. I got everything I hoped for out of this collection, and more.

     Very Scary Good!

A special treat today! Diane is here to answer a few questions.

Welcome Diane. Thanks for agreeing to answer a few questions. It gives us a chance to get to know you.

 1) Most of my readers know I love to read and review short stories and collections. I find them very challenging to review without giving too much away. Can you explain your writing process when doing short stories?

I start with a scenario and let it run from there.  I get into a zone where I am experiencing the story as it unfolds and love to see where it takes me.

2) Where do your ideas come from?

Inspiration comes from many places and can happen at any time.  I carry a notebook with me, for the idea can strike while having dinner with friends, walking in the woods, or looking at an object, person, or situation and asking myself what if?  People-watching can trigger all sorts of ideas.

3) What do you think makes for a good story?

Atmosphere, intriguing characters, and the strange and unusual introducing itself into daily life.  Having an out-of-the-ordinary component that brings about a mental or emotional reaction is important to keep my attention.

4) Do you have a favorite story in this collection, or perhaps a favorite scene?

Guardian of the Gate is the one I had the most fun writing. It’s hard to say more about that without giving away the plot.

5) Did you draw on anything from your own life when writing Thorne Manor… and other bizarre tales?

I think every writer draws a piece of themselves into their writing.  Even in fictional works, a writer’s underlying philosophy is exposed, albeit taken to the extreme within the storyline.  By Invitation Only was written while grieving the loss of my own beloved pet.  Thorne Manor incorporated experiences from a controlling relationship and an actual business idea I had.  A house that was in severe disrepair where I live sparked the idea for The Quiet Neighbors.

6) What is your favorite thing you like to do when not writing or working?

I like walking in the woods and going to concerts – a wide variety from classical music to classic rock.  They are such opposite types of activities – one peaceful with few people for contemplation and rejuvenation and the other loud and crowded, to stimulate new ideas.  Each of these activities serve to move thought in new directions – one internally and one externally.

7) Are you writing something now, and if so, can you tell us something about it?

Right now I’m working on The True Nature of Energy: Secrets of Energetic Consciousness.  It is an exploration of the energetic dynamics between the physical and the divine and ways to interpret the energies we are exposed to, as well as the energies we create ourselves.  By increasing energetic awareness, it increases the ability to see things objectively, reduces drama, and enhances personal growth.  My vibrational scale and associated quiz are included, so readers can determine their energy level and find ways to raise their vibrational level.  Target date for release is early 2013.

The other manuscripts I’m working on include five new short stories, a book of tarot combinations, and Coven II (sequel to Coven: The Scrolls of the Four Winds).

Now for Five Fun Shorts!

1) What psychic power would you wish for?  To hear the thoughts of all living things

 2) What is your favorite animal?  Hawk in the wild; dog in the house
 3) Have you ever had a supernatural encounter?  Many!
 4) What is the scariest book you’ve read?  The Shining and Salem’s Lot by Stephen King
 5) What is the scariest movie you’ve seen?  I’m still looking for the movie that is the scariest.  There is a 15-second scene in Exorcist III that creeps me out and stays with me.
 I really enjoyed this opportunity to get to know you Diane. Thanks so much for everything!

And now for the giveaway! Giveaway is over. Thank you.

I have one paperback copy of Thorne Manor…and other bizarre tales to giveaway. US and Canada only.

To enter just leave your email address along with a comment, Do you like to be scared?

Not required, but you’d make me smile if you followed my blog and twitter.

Giveaway end September 26th.

You can find Diane here:

dianewing@forestwitch.com and www.forestwitch.com

More about Diane

Diane Wing, M.A. is an author, teacher, personal transformation guide, and intuitive consultant. She has a Master’s degree in clinical psychology and has been providing valuable insights for the highest good of her clients for over 27 years.

Diane is the author of the books “The True Nature of Tarot: Your path to personal empowerment,” a collection of short fiction titled “Thorne Manor…and other bizarre tales,” and the novel, “Coven: The Scrolls of the Four Winds.”

Diane works her clients to find meaning and fulfillment in their lives by helping them find their Inner Magick and empowering them to create the lives they really want.  Her website is www.forestwitch.com.

You can purchase Thorne Manor by clicking on the image below.

International Giveaway is Over/ REVAMP by Beck Sherman

Posted: September 18, 2012 in fiction, giveaways, horror, Paranormal or fantasy, Vampires
Tags: , ,
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I have 3 e-book copies of Revamp to give away to some very lucky people. Beck Sherman’s story will make you afraid of the dark, as you should be.

Revamp

I loved this book and will read anything  Beck writes. You can read my 5 STAR review and interview with Beck Sherman here .

Here’s the book description to wet your whistle.

FOR THREE DAYS, IT WAS DARK.
News reporters scrambled. This was the biggest story to come along in weeks.
They called it a blackout.
The last one was in New York City in 2003, but this one was different, special, because the grids in six major cities across the country had been fried, kaput, see-you-next-Sunday. Everyone with some jurisdiction blamed each other, and when there was no one left to blame, terrorism rode in on its gallant steed.
It was the media’s fault. They were so busy stuffing fanatical Muslims with a penchant for Allah and decapitations down the American citizen’s throat, that they never saw it coming. I guess I shouldn’t be too hard on them.
They were partially right.
It was terror after all, but a whole new kind. And when the lights came back on, things had changed.

The dark had brought us visitors.

For your viewing pleasure:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CA6GEtgc0yY]

Okay! Let’s get ya’ll entered shall we?

All that is required is to leave your email along with a comment. When the lights go out, what scares you?

Bonus

My sister Sherry and I are doing a tag team giveaway! For another chance to win, just hop over to Fundinmental .

Though not required, I would love it if you followed my blog and twitter.

To follow Beck or learn more:

http://www.becksherman.com/

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5807332.Beck_Sherman

https://www.facebook.com/revampnovel

Contest ends September 30th.

To purchase Revamp just click on the image below.

About this author

Beck Sherman was born and raised in Massachusetts. Beck attended Syracuse University undergrad, has a master’s degree in photojournalism from the University of Westminster, London, and when not writing, enjoys exploring abandoned insane asylums and photo-documenting the things that go bump in the night, when they’re kind enough to pose.

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EXTRA EXTRA Read all about it!

Posted: September 16, 2012 in Alert!!, Book Promos, fiction, Paranormal or fantasy, Series
Tags: , , , ,
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Check out this amazing cover!

I am so excited- done soon!

Underworld (Book Two of the  Dark Passage Series)

Read this!

Underworld is part 2 of the Dark Passage Series~
In a green ocean of pine trees and twisted branches it seems impossible that light can penetrate the darkness. I find myself outside the strange house in the coolness of a pine forest with my backpack slung over my shoulder. The pine scent lingers in the air and I can hear the faint sound of music from far away.

The pleasure of the light is so intense that I don’t care about anything else. All I have ever wanted is to be loved and to be held just like this. I want to stay forever and never to go back to my life. I savor the experience for a few more moments and then let my body fall out of the light. I know what I must do and slowly close the locket.

“The white horses belong to the third realm. When we saw him in the field this morning Emma said he was yours. How did you ever get your hands on one? He will prove right useful to you here.”

“How can I be equipped when I don’t even know what I’m supposed to do?” I feel a sudden feeling of panic rising up in me as the words tumble out. I don’t understand what I have done to deserve this and the thought of what I will have to face is terrifying.

“The way you are to go will come to you. You will be led by an inner feeling and when the time is right you will know what to do. The light will find you and show you other dimensions and doorways which you may pass through”.

My eyes never leave her face. She radiates warmth and looks as she had long ago, before the world had left its cruel marks on her. It’s a sliver of time I will never get back. It’s been a lifetime and I can’t forget her face, she is the one who completes me. It’s a fragment of time that I have hidden away in the inner recess of my mind. Nothing more than a promise of the reality of what could have been. We had chosen different paths and were never to see each other again.

I often dream the impossible dream. Can this sliver of time, this chance meeting, ever lead to an eternity with her?

I am so excited! I hope it will be ready soon. Until then, I will have to wait:)

If you read my review of Dark Passage here , you’ll see it’s no secret how much I love Michele’s writing. If you want to get to know her better, my interview with Michele is here.

You can find Michele here:

You can find her on Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads .com/author/show/5767871.M_L_Woolley
For updates about Underworld – Book 2 of the Dark Passage Series:
 
To purchase Dark Passage (Book One in the series) just click on the image below!

Be the first to read it! Sneak peek into The Rise by H.D. Gordon!

Posted: September 10, 2012 in Book Promos, fiction, Paranormal or fantasy, Romance, Series, Vampires, werewolves
Tags: , , , , ,
1

These books just get better and better.

Read this excerpt from The Rise. Come see what Alexa and her monster, along with Kayden have been up to. Nelly has been very busy also!

No spoilers here. Just a tease for you.

I don’t have the cover to show you just yet but read this!

Scene from Book 3: The Rise

Set to be released on September 25, 2012!

ALEXA

I stood beside the Mercedes my friend Tommy had lent me, my hands clenched into fists at my sides, watching the numbers on the gas pump roll up. We were still two hours away from our destination; from Nelly. We had pushed on as far as we dared before stopping to fill up the empty tank. As anxious as I was, I might just rip the nozzle out of the tank without letting it fill. Time was ticking and ticking.

Kayden had gotten out with me, even though I had jumped out before the car had come to a complete stop and rushed to get this inconvenient task accomplished. He had probably needed a break from my Mother. I knew I did. I didn’t disagree with anything she was saying, but that didn’t mean I wanted to hear it right now.

I watched the numbers on the pump roll and roll. I could feel Kayden’s eyes studying me.

He was leaning back against the Mercedes, his left arm slightly raised because of the bullet wound he’d received back at Dangeon. A slight sheen covered his handsome face, his arms and neck. He should be resting right now, recovering. He hadn’t uttered a word of complaint.

When he took my hand I sighed at the comfort he gave me, releasing a tense breath I hadn’t realized I had been holding. I did my best to keep a neutral face, to not let all of the emotions I was feeling leak out there. Not that it made any difference. Kayden knew I was afraid, terrified even. Of course he did. He could see it as surely as I could see the tension in his muscles and the perfect lines of his face.

“She’s going to be fine,” Kayden said, his deep voice softened to a rumbled whisper. I pulled my gaze away from the rolling pump numbers and looked up into his golden eyes. I found a bit of peace there, but only a bit.

“She’s probably asleep in her dorm room right now,” he continued, speaking gently. “Safe and sound. We have only been gone a couple days. Nelly’s a smart girl. She wouldn’t get in any trouble. She’s probably just as worried about you right now.”

Kayden pulled me to him with his good hand, and I laid my head against his chest. I listened to his heartbeat. Slow and steady. “I know,” I said, releasing another heavy breath. “So why do I have the awful feeling that something’s happened? That we’re going to be…too late? I could barely bring myself to say those two words. They came out sounding the same as they felt: choked.

Kayden said nothing to that. I felt my heart drop, took a step back, my eyes returning to the rolling gas pump numbers. Kayden reached into the pocket of his jeans and produced a tiny leather box. He held it out to me. I stared at it. “I never gave you your birthday present,” he said, and his voice sounded strange… apprehensive, almost.

I looked up at him and found that he could not look back at me. For just a tiny moment, my worries melted away and a small smile touched my lips. My big, strong Kayden looked…nervous. It took me a moment to recognize it. It was an expression I had never seen him wear.

I took the box and pulled back the lid. My breath caught in my throat. Inside, set in black velvet was the most beautiful ring I had ever seen. Rose gold, topped with a sphere of diamonds so brilliant that the stones caught bits of light even on this dark night and threw rose gold tinted light every which way.  I was not a person who wore a lot of jewelry, but even the simplest folks would pause to admire this ring. Now I was the one who could not look up. If I so much as tilted my head, a tear or two might just spring from my eyes. I’m not so fond of crying.

Finally, I choked them back and cleared my throat. My words still came out a little rusty. “Thank you,” I said. “It’s beautiful…like a tiny sun.”

Kayden took the ring from the box and took my hand. I felt my knees loosen. “Well,” he said, his slight Scottish accent seeming to caress the word. I stared into his eyes, the color of a lion’s, and wondered at how such a fearsome creature could purr so sweetly. “I’m partial to silver myself,” he continued, running those lion’s eyes over the silver on my skin. I shivered. “But it has been in my family for over two hundred years. My father gave it to my mother, my grandfather to my grandmother.”

He slipped the ring on the third finger of my left hand. It fit so perfectly on my finger, and somehow, even amidst all the jagged and discolored scars that my hand had picked up over the years, it managed to look…right. Just right. I choked back more tears. I have no idea why I felt like crying.

My monster, quiet for once in what seemed like an eternally long time, either had nothing to say, or was graciously allowing me this moment. Either way, I was grateful.

I stared down at my hand. Took a deep breath, opened my mouth. I had no idea what was going to come out. “I-I…belong to you,” I whispered, and the words were a slow thought, processed as they were spoken. They held no question.

Kayden’s hand came up and tilted my chin back. I stared at my lion; his golden skin, his carved muscles, the strong line of his jaw, and those eyes. A tear escaped my own. It rolled down my cheek, warm and wet.

Kayden’s rough but gentle thumb brushed it away. “Yes, my Warrior,” he said, “and I you.”

More tears joined the first. Kayden pulled me into his arms again, and I sank into the strength of them. I lay my head on his chest, drying my eyes on the soft fabric of his gray t-shirt. I felt him rest his chin on the top of my head, the short hair of his beard pleasantly prickling me. For a moment, all was okay. Right with the world. Just right.

But of course, because it was my world we were talking about here, it was only a moment.

Then I remembered something that sent a pang of guilt through my stomach. Then I remembered Jackson.

I didn’t wasn’t to hurt him. Jackson had always been good to me, had saved my ass more than a couple times. He loved me. And I loved him. But…

Not in the way I love Kayden. I don’t love anyone the way I love Kayden. I love him as much as I love Nelly. Well…almost.

I would have to tell Jackson about us. He deserved to know. That made my heart hurt.

I took a step back from Kayden, who studied my face as I did so. “Kayden,” I began, then realized I didn’t know what to say.

A small, rare smile played at his lips. “You’re worried about him,” he said. It was not a question.

I hesitated, then gave a small nod. “He’s my friend,” I said lamely.

Kayden nodded once in return. “Which is why haven’t killed him,” he said, his golden eyes never leaving mine. His brow furrowed for a moment, and those lion’s eyes went distant, hard. “I came close once,” he admitted.

I raised a brow at that. Kayden chuckled, a soft, deep rumble that vibrated in his chest. “That night I saw you two outside of your dorm room. He had his arms around you, and you were…it took a lot of self-control to keep myself from ripping him away from you and snapping his neck.”

A small laugh bubbled up from my throat, and it sounded odd. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d laughed. “How romantic,” I said. I tried for a grin, and succeeded only partly. I remembered that night. It seemed like it had been ages ago now.

“So you were waiting for me,” I said, “I knew it.”

Kayden’s hand came up and rested on my cheek. “Alexa, I have been waiting for you for a very long time.”

I leaned forward. I didn’t care if my Mother was probably watching us through the car window. Kayden drew me to him like a magnet. I was through resisting the pull. Just before our lips touched, the gas pump beside us clicked off.

In a blur of motion and slammed car doors, we were back in the Mercedes and peeling out of the gas station lot. I removed a cigarette from my pack and placed it between my lips once we were back on the highway. The fact that Kayden had moved the same way I had, so quickly and uncaring of witnesses, to get back in the car, not even taking a tiny moment to let our lips meet told me one thing: he was as worried as I was. He had the same bad feeling I had. I didn’t want to believe it. I had no reason to believe it. But Kayden felt it, too.

Nelly was in trouble.

Let’s hope we’re not too late, Warrior.

I cringed. Lit the cigarette, crushed it between my teeth. My monster felt it, too.

Oh wow! I am so ready for more Alexa and Kayden! Miss Nelly also!

To read more about this go here.

You can read my reviews of Blood Warrior and Half Black Soul (Books One and Two of the Alexa Montgomery Saga)  by clicking on the title below.

Blood Warrior

Half Black Soul

To purchase the books just click on the images.

  and her other novel

For more about the author:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/HDGordon?sk=wall

Twitter: https://twitter.com/hd_gordon

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5189455.H_D_Gordon

Her Blog: http://hdgordon.com/

You can sign up for her newsletter and get all of the latest news at the bottom of her blog.

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Giveaway is over! I have NEW BLOOD For You!

Posted: September 8, 2012 in fiction, giveaways, Paranormal or fantasy, Series, Vampires, werewolves
Tags: , , , , ,
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Just like I promised, I am having a giveaway of New Blood: Vampire in the City Book One.

Each week of this month I will have something new about this series. So stay tuned!

You can go here to read my review and the fun interview with author Donna Ansari.

Here is my show and tell about this great book!

cNew Blood



Emma Hammond is a normal young woman living in New York City whose life changes forever when one misstep brings her very close to death. Luckily, Alex Thompson, a handsome stranger (who also happens to be a vampire), jumps in to save her, turning Emma into a vampire. She quickly discovers the numerous advantages (no more allergies, glasses, or acne) and slight drawbacks (wanting to eat her boyfriend) of joining the ranks of the creatures of the night. But Emma soon finds out her new undead life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be when she gets pulled in to an age-old dispute between two feuding vampire clans.

 Loved it!!

Now for the giveaway.

Donna has been generous. I have 5 e-books of New Blood to giveaway!

Thanks so much Donna.

Entry is easy. Just leave a comment  or answer this fun question! What would you do if you found out your roommate was a vampire? Don’t forget to leave your email address! 

While it isn’t required, I would love it if you followed me on twitter and my blog. To follow Donna, just click on the links provided below.

Contest ends September 15th.

And next week I ‘ll be reviewing Wild Blood: Vampire in the City Book Two and I’ll also be inte….oops! Not supposed to tell ya that part. Since it slipped out I’m going to tell you. I will be interviewing Emma and Tammy, the roomies from the Vampire in the City series. I’ll have another surprise then!

If you liked this post please hit that tweet and Like button. It would make me smile! Thanks so much.

How to find Donna

 
 

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