Archive for the ‘horror’ Category

Welcome to my stop on the Virtual Book Tour for Rapture by Phillip W. Simpson presented by Reading Addiction Blog Tours.

Great news! The author is offering 4 print books for a giveaway. You can find the giveaway following my review.

Ya Dystopian
Date Published: 12/1/2011
The Rapture has occurred – the end of the world. The faithful have risen up to Heaven.
Those left behind are in a living hell. Armed only with his swords and his wit, a teenage boy
wanders this 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

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My Review
Sam knows it’s time to move on, but he’s loathe to leave the only home he’s ever known.
The world as he knew it is long gone. All that’s left is a sky without stars, a blood-red moon when it can be seen through the continuous fall of ash. The world burns.
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Just as his master, Hikari, prophesied, the Rapture has occurred and all that he loved has risen to heaven.
Sam has been preparing for this time since he was but a boy. Now, at eighteen, he sets off to fulfill his destiny.
He’s used to being alone, never having got the knack of making friends with his peers. His closest companion was Aimi, Hikari’s sixteen year old daughter. She helped with his training and demanded nothing but his best.
Sam had to struggle with the dark half of himself, being half-demon. Wearing a hood to cover his horns and keeping his inhuman eyes downcast lest he draw attention to himself.
Now he’s all alone, angered to be denied entrance to Heaven and to seeing his beloved Aimi and his sensei ever again. Because of his demon blood Heaven is closed to him.
Now he wanders the blasted world, providing protection to the hapless souls left behind. He questions his fate and his destiny.
“Why bother to rescue these humans? Why should I, if I, myself, am denied entry to Heaven?”
Sam encounters many lemures, or demons. They reminded me of Pumpkinhead. And he had several epic battles with the Astaroth, a 10 foot tall creature, clad in armor, with huge wings and foot long talons. His proficiency with his two swords, his rigorous training and his quick reflexes kept him alive.
His only ally is a strange being who appeared “…the sky burst asunder with an intense golden light and a clap of thunder.”

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God has sent his messenger, Gabriel, to help Sam on his journey to reach his final destination, the city of angels.
The battles are vividly detailed and I now have a good idea of what Hell looks like. Sam’s struggles with his darker side drew me to him and the truth of who he is and the reason for his existence came as a shock. As I neared the end of the book, I realized there had to be more than one book. There was so much still to come.
Rapture is part of a series and a great beginning. I read it fairly quickly, never stumbled over awkward sentences and loved the action scenes. I’m ready to meet up with Sam again.
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Four Stars for a great beginning.
Giveaway
Phillip is giving away 3 print copies of Rapture and 1 print copy of Tribulation.
To enter click on the link below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Virtual Book Tour February 27 – April 12
February 27 – Reading Addiction Blog Tours – Meet and Greet
February 28 – I love Teen Books – Guest Post/PROMO
March 1 – Hooked in a Book – Review/Guest Post
March 2 – Weakling No. 14 Reviews – Review/Interview
March 3 – Lust For Stories – Review
March 4 – My Cozie Corner – Review
March 5 – Wintry Words – Interview/PROMO
March 8 – Mom With a Kindle – Interview/PROMO
March 9 – Reviews A La Tiffany – Guest Post/PROMO
March 10 – A Dream Within a Dream – Review
March 11 – Laurie’s Thoughts and Reviews – Interview/PROMO
March 12 – FUOnlyKnew – Review
March 13 – The Adventures Within – Review/Guest Post
March 14 – Andi’s YA Books – Interview/PROMO
March 15 – Delirious About Books – PROMO
March 16 – Reading With ABC – Review/Guest Post
March 17 – Kindle Obsessed – Guest Post/PROMO
March 18 – Oh! The Books You’ll Read – Review
March 19 – A Bibliophile’s Thoughts – Guest Post/PROMO
March 20 – Lisa Is a Bookworm – Review/Guest Post
March 21 – Shelfspace Needed – Reveiw
March 22 – Owlnestly Reviews – Review
March 23 – The Avid Reader – Review/Guest Post
March 24 – Framed in Words – Guest Post/PROMO
March 25 – Forever YA – Review/Interview
March 26 –
March 27 – Sweet Southern Home – Review
March 28 – Gothic Angel Book Reviews – Review/Guest Post
March 29 – Read Review Love – Review
March 30 – Books and Their Worldly Realm – Review/Guest Post
March 31 – Fall Into Books – Guest Post/PROMO
March 31 – Moosubi Reviews – Review
April 1 – Paranormal Goddess – Guest Post/PROMO
April 2 – Enchanting Reads – Guest Post/PROMO
April 3 – Pixie Dust Reviews – Review/Interview
April 3 – Bookworm Avenue – PROMO
April 4 –
April 5 – Books, Books, and More Books – Review
April 6 –
April 7 –
April 8 – Gimme The Scoop – PROMO
April 8 – Reader Girls – Review/Interview
April 9 – Lov Liv Life Reviews – Guest Post/PROMO
April 10 – Cherie Reads – Review
April 11 – RABT Reviews – Review
April 12 – Bibliophilia: A Love Story – Review/Interview

Phillip W. Simpson

Author Bio:
Phillip W. Simpson is an author of mostly children’s books – both fiction and non-fiction.
As well as being a writer, he is an elementary school teacher. Career highlights include being in the
army, gaining a Masters in Archaeology, owning a comic shop, becoming obsessed with martial arts
and oriental weapons and turning down a job at the British museum.
His YA novel RAPTURE (the first in the Rapture trilogy) was released Sept 1st, 2011 by Pear Jam
books. RAPTURE is a dystopian/post-apocalyptic story about the end of the world featuring demons,
angels and a half demon protagonist caught in the middle. RAPTURE was shortlisted for the Sir Julius
Vogel award for best Youth novel.
Book 2, TRIBULATION, was released in December, 2012. The final book, APOCALYPSE, will be out
early 2013.
On a personal note, he is married to Rose, has a son (Jack) and two border terriers, Whiskey and
Raffles. He loves fishing, reading, football (soccer) and single malt Whiskeys.

Adam Light has another story for you!

And it’s free to download from Amazon March 11th thru March 15th!

Go here to get his dark,humorous, short horror story now!

Way Out Of Here

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Gordon Delanolan goes by the name  of Nolan. He’s one of those rare people. One of the lucky few. He struck gold, winning $50 million in the lottery. After doing right by family, sailing the world, and doing everything his heart desires, he’s bored. And unhappy. He wonders if he’ll every be truly happy.

You know that feeling you get, like something’s about to happen? Well, that’s how Nolan’s feeling.

It starts with the stomach cramps. So bad he’s wondering if somethings ripping him apart from the inside out, sending him to his knees to pray to the porcelain god.

When things seem to be calming down and Nolan is about to drift off into la la land, IT happens.

A voice comes out of nowhere, startling him awake.

“Nolan!” it said.

What the hell? Was he dreaming?

Then he hears it again!

“Nolan, go the bathroom,” it said.

Nope, he’s not dreaming.

At first he tries to ignore the voice. But it proves, with excruciating pain, to be impossibe. IT won’t be ignored.

I just love Adam’s mind. It takes you out there, way out there. I would love to see his stories as episodes on Twilight Zone.

Nolan has a voice coming out of his navel. Yep, his navel and that’s not all! I wish I could see the expression on your face right now. And also when you get to the “out of” part in this story. The voice is only the beginning of what happens to Nolan.

This story is like a dream. One you want to wake up from, but, at the same time, you want to see where it’s going. Know what I mean? It stayed with me for a while, like I just woke up and the feelings lingered.

5 Stars for taking me into the “out of.”

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I’ve read all of Adam’s books.

My Review

My Review

My Review

My Review

Corpus Corruptum ~ Written by Adam & Evans Light

Review coming soon.

About the author

Adam   Light

Besides being the best father and husband I can be, my ultimate goal in life is writing horror fiction that will knock people’s socks off.

I began the journey into writing for the public in the fall of 2011, and I have not looked back since. I admit that I got a late start on it, as I am pushing 40 now, but I believe that an eleventh-hour commencement is preferable to none at all.

I have self-published five short stories to date. The most recent one entitled THE CONTINUANCE AGENCY is the first chapter in a planned series still in progress. This one is a departure for me, and comes as a refreshing turning point in my writing. I look forward to writing longer works, my long term goal being to write full length novels.

I have been humbled and emboldened by all the positive responses to my stories, and thus encouraged to continue my quest. Thanks to all who have read and reviewed my work, giving an unknown author such as myself a chance to unleash my madness upon you.

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By now, most of you know how much I love short stories and collections.

Kathryn Meyer Griffith has her Spooky Short Stories free to download from Amazon  right now through March 13th.

Go here to get yours. I got mine!

Spooky Short Stories

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Description

It’s a collection of four romantic horror/horror short stories about ghosts, werewolves, a banshee and a witch. Author of 18 novels, 2 novellas and 12 short stories, Kathryn Meyer Griffith rdgriff@htc.net
Four contemporary spooky short stories:
Ghost Brother…
So what happens after you die? Do you go to heaven, or hell? Or do you go to a special place fashioned just for you based on the life you’d lived in the real world? Based on how you treated people? What you did to them?
And do ghosts exist? Do they roam the earth and plague the living, persuade them to do things they shouldn’t do?
Two brothers and their tale follow; their journey through life and death.
Do you believe in ghosts? Some do.

The Banshee and the Witch…
What would you do to live forever, stay young forever? To find true love again?
And if you were a white witch with the magical powers to make it happen…and the secret of how to do it, would you?
So when the banshee comes calling for you one rainy dark night you’ll do what you have to do to get what you desire the most. More time.

Running with the Train…
Sarah has always been lonely. Searching for a love she’s begun to believe will never come. Her family and friends depend on her, need her…but they can’t give her what she wants. True, eternal love. Like the wolves have.
So she goes on an adventure of a lifetime to the Grand Canyon; rides the train from Williams to the South Rim and sees these huge wolves running alongside in the evening twilight; scurrying unbelievably below on the Canyon’s ledges among the trees. She’s told there are no wolves but she hears their haunting cries. No one else sees or hears them. Just her.
Has her loneliness made her crazy?

Too Close to the Edge…
Artist Penelope had been looking forward to going with her husband, sister and brother-in-law to see the Grand Canyon…even though she was terrified of heights and, when she got there, couldn’t bear to get too close to the edge. She watched people balancing on one foot, acting foolish, taking photos, oblivious of the death waiting below them. It scared her.
Especially when a woman relates a story of a small child that fell into the Canyon the day before. Over the edge.
Then she sees a young girl go over the rim and no one will believe her.
For there was no child that had died–that day anyway.
Was she seeing things that weren’t there, or was there another explanation?***

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I’m currently reading another of Kathryn’s books, Human No Longer.

Hooked me good:)

Human No Longer

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Jenny and Jeff Sanders become victims of a bizarre crime; leaving Jeff dead and Jenny in a temporary coma. She returns to her children. With Jeff’s death she must move back to her childhood home, a haunted farmhouse, in Summer Haven, Florida, where once they destroyed a family of vampires. Jenny has no appetite. She’s edgy. Her eyes hurt. She thinks it could be trauma or grief. Until one night she can’t resist the night woods or the overpowering urge to drink warm animals’ blood–and accepts the truth. Her attackers were vampires. Now she’s becoming what she once reviled. She can’t abandon her children but must find a way to live in the human world. At night she hunts, hides what she’s becoming and attempts to fit in. Then townspeople begin dying. Like years before. With her blackouts, she fears she may be the killer, or is it her vampire attackers? They find her and demand she joins them–or her family will die. She resists until they kidnap her children. Then she has to find a way to outwit and ultimately destroy them.

Can’t wait to finish it and tell you all about it!

I just recently read and reviewed another of Kathryn”s books.

You can read my review of Dinosaur Lake here.

Dinosaur Lake  (once titled Predator)

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Enter at your own risk. There be a huge freakin dinosaur here.

Kathryn has written many books. I couldn’t post all of the books in their covers. Would have taken so long!  Go here to see more.


I can’t wait to tell you about Dead of Eve ~ Trilogy of Eve #1 by Pam Godwin. You are going to want to get it when I’m done. At least, I sure hope so!

I also have a giveaway! Pam is offering a couple copies!

Details follow my review.

Dead of Eve (Trilogy of Eve, #1)

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I swear – writers are magical beings. How else can I crack a book and be transported to another place and time. Become so deeply engrossed in a story I lose track of everything around me.

Dead of Eve isn’t really a zombie apocalypse. A virus was released in an airport and quickly spread throughout the country. All of the children and most of the men died. Of the remaining men, most turned into these bug like mutants called “aphids.” All of the women died also, or so it’s believed.

Here’s Eve’s story.

I miss them, my darling husband Joel, and my children, the two ‘A’s’. He was my rock and they were my soul. Why do I go on? Because I still breathe. Why I was spared, I don’t know.

I’ve run into some very bad men. It’s bound to happen being the only woman left. I’ve been brutally raped, my flesh carved up, called a demon and I’ve got a ‘voodoo’ vagina.

But I’ve also got my Lakota, my Jesse. He awakened me with those copper eyes.

“Everything I want is right here.” His fingers spread over my breastbone.

…why did he unnerve me? Was it his sinful beauty? Perhaps it was the flame in his eyes as he looked at me – like he was doing at that moment.

And my luscious priest, Roark. What I wouldn’t give for him to break that vow. I’ll have to work on that.

He pressed his palm over my heart. I followed suit. His beat under my hand, thumping in chorus with mine, surged tingles through my limbs and blood roaring in my head. My empty chest filled with…what?

“Evie?”

“Mm?”

“Wha’ do ye feel?”

…His vitality. The thing I fed so ravenously on…”The song.”

And my mystery man. He was a surprise.

The clement breeze fanned his sandalwood scent around me. My breaths quickened and I knew he noticed.

A hunk of black hair fell over his bowed head.

“Let me ease you, Nannakola.”

So, I’ll kill as many aphids as I can, grab all the comfort I can. Maybe we’ll survive, and maybe, just maybe, we’ll find a cure. Otherwise, what’s the point?

The characters in this book are in my head. I can see them talking, moving about, struggling in this changed world.

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I tried to picture the aphids. There is no escaping them. They are everywhere and endless in number. The characters have many battles with these beings and there’s always the worry of being infected and becoming one themselves. All they want is our blood. Is there anything human left in them?

This story spans the globe, following these characters as they search for a cure to save mankind. Without a cure, there are no women. Without women, there are no children.

Eve has to be protected. As the last woman, she’s humanities chance at survival. But Eve is also a warrior. Strong, self-confident, and not to be coddled. She doesn’t stand back and let the men do the fighting. Her special senses give her a connection to the aphids, and to the ‘Drone’, whatever it is. Her martial arts training and her proficiency with weapons make her an asset. She’s quite capable of taking care of herself, thank you.

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As I followed the characters through their new world, I couldn’t help but becoming engaged with them. I worried about them, cheered them on, and felt their fears and courage. I laughed, I raged, and I yelled, Yes! in glee.

I also felt the steamy sexual tension. Evie has three sexy hunks of man-flesh sniffing after her. All three would die for her, and all three want her. It’s a constant juggle for Evie. With the world so different, being the last woman, and a libido raging inside her, why should she have to choose between them. Let them sort it out.

I’m partial to Roark, her yummy priest. I loved how he struggled with his desire for Eve. The deep kisses he demands, the need to be closer, to damn near crawl inside her. He may joke about it, but he’s dangerously close to breaking his vow.

His way of speaking and his frustration had me cracking up. Here are some examples.

“All I have left is my chastity. I’ve held this vow for donkey’s years. It’s been the bloody hardest of the three, yet the only one inviolate. I den’ take it likely.”

“Your the last woman left. And ye fancy sex. And now you’re trapped in a vault with a celibate priest. Tell me how you den see the humor in it?”

“Me vow is as useless as a nun’s tits if I’m spared from temptation.”

Another one:

“Ye be dog wide up there.”

Dog wide?  “Seriously, man. I don’t understand half of what comes out of your mouth.”

Funny scene I loved.

His brogue rumbled from his chest. “Temptress.”

“Prude.”

“Opinionated heathen.”

“Brain-washed god-fearer.”

His gaze drifted over my face, returned to my eyes. “Bugger, you’re so beautiful.”

I swallowed past a tight throat. My self-control was no match for his.

…he was adorable. His roughened lilt, the cleft of his stubborn chin, the way his boyish smile turned my hardened heart into butter.

“Give me a snog, love.”

“A what? Never mind.”

I could go on and on. I get so excited just thinking about writing this review. But it has to stop somewhere.

I am serious. Get this book. You’ll have a fantastic time reading it and the good news is there will be more to this story!

Thanks for the kick-ass story Pam! Five Stars from me!

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Giveaway

I have two e-books of Dead of Eve to give away!

To enter, please leave your email address and answer this question:

“Do you believe you can love more than one person at a time?”

Giveaway ends March 20th.

Thanks ya’ll and Good Luck!

More news!

Dead of Eve is the first chapter in a trilogy. Intense and engaging. I tore through this one and so excited to know there will be more!

Blood of Eve ~ The Trilogy of Eve #2 has an expected release date for December 2013.

Dawn of Eve ! Trilogy of Eve #3 is coming in 2014.

And Pam has a new romantic thriller releasing March 18th. Check it out!

Beneath the Burn

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They meet by chance. The timing is wrong.

Three years later, they cross paths again. The timing is right, but the years that separated them were damaged by addiction and bloodied by enslavement.

Jay Mayard is a drug addict. He wears his secrets under his rock god facade, even as he loathes the fame that comes it.

Charlee Grosky is a slave. Hunted by a powerful man, she’ll do whatever it takes to escape the role she was condemned to.

In a celebrity world filled with paparazzi, groupies, and drugs, Jay and Charlee must defeat their abusers. When the battle is over, what will be left…Beneath The Burn.

Genre: Romantic/Erotic Thriller

Content warning: Includes graphic rape, sex, bondage, and violence. Age 18+ only.

About Pam Godwin

Pam Godwin lives in Missouri with her husband, their two children, and a foulmouthed parrot. When she ran away, she traveled fourteen countries across five continents, attended three universities, and married the vocalist of her favorite rock band. Now, she resides in her hometown, earning her living as a portfolio research analyst, and living her yearning as a writer.

Java, tobacco, and dark romance novels are her favorite indulgences, and might be considered more unhealthy than her aversion to sleeping, eating meat, and dolls with blinking eyes.

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It’s that time again!

Time to announce the winners of the giveaway for Shadow of the Oak by Eric Edstrom!

And the winners are:

Mark

Tasha

Stephanie Grego

Congratulations!

All winners have been notified.

Thanks to everyone for your comments.

I do love reading them and hope you continue to visit fuonlyknew!

Thanks so much to the author for his wonderful books and for letting me host this giveaway.

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*****For all of my giveaways go here*****

I’d love to keep telling ya’ll about some really great books.

Subscribe by email and lets talk!

Freakin Fridays!

Freakin Fridays is my own little meme. I’ll be posting about books, movies, and all things scary. Tune in every Friday. Get your scare on!

Let’s have some fun!

Today I’m reviewing Fresh Meat by Carolyn McCray

I’ll warn you right now this is not a scary story. This is a can’t catch your breath, squirm in your seat, all out horror fest with a cast of characters that Bundy or Gacy would feel right at home with!

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**Warning, this book is not for the squeamish or faint of heart. The gore level is a cross between Saw and Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Much of Fresh Meat is set in a dungeon filled with vicious serial killers. It isn’t a matter of when blood will spill, it is how much.

No kidding!

Poor Evie. Never in a million years could her mind have imagined what’s happening to her now.

The night started out well enough. She hung out with her co-workers at the nightclub, enjoying herself for the most part. When they all want to move on to the next club, Evie declines. She’s had enough of the smoke and noise. Despite Nancy’s urging to catch a taxi, Evie elects to walk home. It’ll clear her head and her lungs.

She should have taken the taxi. With little warning, she’s grabbed, dragged into the alley, and  knocked out by a chemical filled rag pressed tightly over her mouth and nose. Her world fades to black.

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She comes to in what looks like a prison. There are cells on each side of the room. In those cells are men. Dangerous men.

This book had me thinking “SAW” or “DEXTER” on steroids. Some sick twist gathers a bunch of serial killers, controls them with metal shock collars, and brings in a plaything for them to fight over. He randomly opens cell doors and watches as the poor sap tries to survive.

Just imagine being kidnapped and used as fresh meat for a bunch of rapists, murderers, and worse. Oh Yeah, there is worse. One of these guys is a cannibal.

There’s no way out, cameras are watching your every move and then the games begin.

When the cell doors open and the serial killers emerge from their cells, the only reason Evie survives is they are busy fighting each other over who gets her first. The big guy, Clyde, only wants her top half. Back Door wants her fighting and screaming, and Andrew wants to be friends before he kills her.

She’s lucky when she gets knocked into Darion’s cell. He makes no move to hurt her and  the others won’t enter his cell. They’re all afraid of him. You see, he only kills men. Maybe if she’s grateful they can come to an arrangement. Her options are slim to none.

Oh, what a twisted, shocking, psychological, read this was. What made it even better was the writing. The author had me worrying about how bad it was going to get. And it got bad. I like how she had me actually liking something about a few of these guys. She must have done a lot of research into the psychology of serial killers.

You’ve heard it said so many times, “He was such a nice guy, I never would have believed he could do something like this.” I watch the show ID often, and it’s surprising how often the killer is someone no one would suspect. Someone the victim knew well.

I, for one, will be looking over my shoulder, peering  into dark recesses, and never walking alone at night after reading this. It’s my wake up call.

You just never know what or who is out there, waiting to snatch you up for a little fun and games called murder.

scared woman photo: Color Splash Comic option3.jpg  Four Stars for freakin me out!

About the author

Image of Carolyn McCray

Carolyn has had a long and extremely interesting road to become a bestseller.

When she head to veterinary school those many years ago she had no idea decades later she would be writing controversial historical thrillers, gut wrenching mysteries and roller coaster-style action/adventure tales!

Born in San Francisco and raised in the beautiful Napa Valley, Carolyn always had an overactive imagination. As a child you could usually find her dragging the neighborhood children out to the haunted barn to make her Nancy Drew-style audio tapes. Oh and did she mention, there was an entire life-sized recreation of the nativity scene in the rafters? Yeah, that wasn’t just a little creepy.

Which of course was great practice for writing such blockbusters as Plain Jane: A Patterson-style thriller with a dash of Hannibal and 30 Pieces of Silver: An Extremely Controversial Historical Thriller.

Carolyn is honored to have a seven book contract with Amazon’s mystery and thriller imprint, Thomas & Mercer along with being one of the eight books during the inaugural launch of Amazon’s new Serial program (9th Circle).

With over 250,000 books sold, Carolyn now lives on a beautiful lake in the Pacific Northwest where the fog rolls in over the water, snuffing out all signs of life around her. Yep, she still loves the creepy!

To purchase the book click on the cover

Carolyn has written many books. Go here to see more.

What better way to celebrate Emma Meade’s brand new release of End of the Line than with a giveaway.

Enjoy my 5 STAR review and enter below!

End of the Line

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Now available on Amazon and Smashwords

End of the Line

In the distance, the familiar white light appeared, cutting through the dark of midnight. She’d watched it come before, but always from the sidelines, imagining what it would be like to face such a beast.

Cassie drew in a shaky breath and steeled herself. Legs splayed, arms by her sides, fists tightly clenched, she waited on the tracks as the train approached. Her legs shook, and strands of hair licked her cheeks in the gentle night’s breeze.

She swallowed the fear threatening to overcome her. Hang in there, she told herself. Another sixty seconds, and it will all be over. No more drowning, murky thoughts, heavy dreams or stilted breathing. She lifted her head and stared straight ahead, willing her body to freeze.

Closer now, but not coming fast enough. She was scared. As much as she desired to have it all over with, the fear gained ground. Could the driver see her yet? No, still too far away. Why had time slowed down? An ache began in her ankles, spreading up her legs and winding its way around her thighs and into her clenched hands.

The feel of her fingernails scraping the soft flesh of her palms roused her, just as she became aware of the vibrations on the tracks.

Cassie stumbled into the grass growing beside the tracks and ran, tears running down her cheeks. She stopped as she reached the first line of trees and leaned over, resting her hands on her thighs, trying to get her breath back.

Damn it! She wanted to die. Why couldn’t she have stuck it out?

The train thundered by, unaware of the woman hunched over in the darkness, sobbing. She raised her head to watch the carriages pass, slithering alongside Wilkins Woods like a dark snake. In thirty seconds, the night was once again silent.

She’d try tomorrow night. Maybe pick up a bottle of Jack Daniel’s after work. Might help with the nerves.

Slowly, her breathing returned to normal, and she wiped the tears away. Cassie followed the edge of the woods the mile back to her dingy flat. She let herself in and headed straight to bed. One more day. She could make it that far.

End of the Line
Cassie wants to die. When midnight rolls around, she stands on the tracks waiting for the train to come.

She loses her nerve the first couple of times but returns to try once more.
After all, third time’s the charm.
Author’s Note:
Depression is still somewhat of a taboo subject, yet it has touched most people’s lives, either personally or among family and friends. In “End of the Line” Cassie can’t make sense of her despair. All she knows is that she’s had enough.

My Review

It’s midnight and Cassie stands on the train tracks waiting for death.  Here it comes. She will not jump out of the way, she won’t. Then she jumps.

Now she’ll have to come back tomorrow night and finish what she started, even if she has to use liquid courage to do so.

If she does meet death, will it be the end of the line?

What will happen if she doesn’t jump out of the way in time? If she lets the wheels of the train obliterate her existence? What if the end of the line isn’t the end?

I feel sorry for Cassie. She’s so sad, so lost. Failing each time, I wonder if she really wants to die, or if she just needs a reason to go on living? This one stuck with me for some time.

Emma takes a sensitive topic and breathes a supernatural “what if” into it. I was so captivated by the beginning, I was finished before I was ready!

I  urge you to hop on this train and meet some very interesting characters. They have things to tell you.

This haunting and deep story gets Five Stars from me.

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Giveaway

I have three e-book copies of this new release to giveaway!

International Giveaway. All are welcome!

To enter, please leave your email address and answer this question:

“Have you ever hopped a train?”

Giveaway ends March 14th.

Thanks ya’ll and Good Luck!

More great news!

fundinmental is also having a giveaway for End of the Line!

Hop over here and enter for another chance to win and check out her view of this story!

Click on the titles below to read more of my reviews of Emma’s books.

Under the Desert Moon

Night Sighs

Awakening and Other Stories

Dead Beats and The Old Vampire

About the author

Emma Meade

Author of Nights Sighs, Under the Desert Moon and The Awakenings & Other Stories.

Emma Meade writes paranormal fiction. She lives in rainy Ireland and loves all things supernatural. 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 stories & watching marathon re-runs of Buffy 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

Purchase Emma’s books by clicking on images below:


I have a message from Evans Light.

March is a brand new month, and with it comes a new free eBook!

For the entire month of March, The Mole People Beneath the City will be available as a free download from Goodreads.

EPUB/Browser Link: http://www.goodreads.com/ebooks/downl…

Amazon Kindle Link:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/aammcsq4fcz…

Hope you enjoy it, and reviews are appreciated!

-Evans Light

The Mole People Beneath The City

by Evans Light

The Mole People Beneath the City

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Late at night in the subway, a little girl and her father wait for a train that runs deep beneath New York City. It will be a ride they never forget.

“The 50th Street Station was practically empty, a rare event in New York City any time of year. It made me uneasy.

I pulled my daughter closer to me. You have to be careful with those you cherish, especially in a city this big.

Sometimes it eats people.”

After he lost his wife, all he has in the world is his Baby Kat. He won’t let anything happen to her.

As they wait for the train, the man observes a group of young people. It looks like they’ve been clubbing and the young men are drunk and rowdy, showing off for the ladies. The only other person there is an old Chinese woman. She waits patiently, clutching some crumpled newspapers in her claw like hands.

This group of people are in for the ride of their lives. They are about to enter…. The Twilight Zone. Sorry I couldn’t resist that!

But really, they will be wishing they were watching the show.

When Evans describes the trains imminent arrival, I swear I felt the cool breeze pushed in front of the train and the rumble of its approach under my feet.

And just as the train arrives…

In the flash of the trains lights Baby Kat sees something.

“I saw them Daddy, I saw them. In the tunnel,” she cried.

“Saw what?”

People, Daddy, there were people in there. I saw them, down in the tunnel on the tracks,” she whimpered. “It’s the mole people coming for us….”

I swear I felt like I was watching the movie. Evans writes classic horror so well, you’ll be reaching for the popcorn.

       

I gave this story Five Stars because Evans writes horror just the way I like it.

I’ve read several of Evans Light’s stories and they were scary good. I love his writing and am currently working my way through more.

If you like classic horror and short stories, you’ll want to get this. I’ve never met a book by Evans that I didn’t like.

  To get your copy just click on the cover image!

For my review of Payback go here .

For my reviews of Crawl Space and Whatever Possessed You? go here .

For my review of GONE go here.

About the author

Evans Light has lived here and there across the United States, from the mountains to the beaches to the desert, and currently chooses to reside in a warm, southern state where the living is easy.

Frequently drawn to uncommon experiences, Evans has thrown himself headfirst into a wide range of unusual situations, from testing low-level-entry parachutes with British Army Airborne units to travelling the vast reaches of inner space using sensory deprivation tanks. He is the proud father of fine sons and the lucky husband of a beautiful wife.

Evans Light has been in love with the written word from an early age, and works in a wide variety of genres, including horror, thrillers, sci-fi and humor – but stories of the “Weird Tales” variety still remain his favorite. Evans is currently hard at work completing a collection of short stories entitled “Obsessive Deceptions”. Each story from this compilation is being released as a stand-alone title on Amazon as it is finished. The first five have been collected in the anthology “Stories, Inc.”.

Evans is also writing his first full-length novel, which is expected to be released sometime before his death.

Author contacts

Goodreads

Facebook

You can find all of Evans Light’s books here.

Evans Light

On tour with Prism Book Tours

Lancaster HouseLancaster House by Taylor DeanPaperback, 304 pagesPublished June 7th 2012 by CreatespacePremise: Zoe Grayson needs a change. So, she moves to another state, purchases an old, dilapidated 1920s Victorian Mansion, and sets out to restore it to its former glory. As she begins the restoration, she finds herself falling in love with the old house . . . not to mention its illustrious builder, Mr. Lancaster. Zoe becomes obsessed with the house as she discovers its secrets; hidden rooms, secret passageways . . . and a mysterious man who seems to think the house is his. Who is he? More importantly, how does he live in her home unseen and unheard?

The unexpected answers leave her reeling—and questioning everything she’s ever known. To her dismay, Zoe’s actions land her in the local psychiatric hospital, scheming for ways to return to Lancaster House . . . and the love of her life.

The Middle Aisle (Lancaster House)The Middle Aisle

by Taylor Dean

Paperback, 356 pages

Published November 26th 2012 by Create Space
Premise:

Zoe Grayson is back in Lancaster House, ordered to bed rest for the duration of her unexpected pregnancy. Doctor Wade Channing, her overzealous psychiatrist, is living in Lancaster House, taking care of her, waiting on her, and tending to her every need. It seems to be the perfect arrangement.

There’s just one catch.

She has to tell him her story—everything that has happened in her life since the moment she escaped from Serenity Hills. It’s been quite an adventure to include renovating another home and a walk down the middle aisle.

But, that’s all over now. Nothing is real. It never was.

How did she end up in this miserable situation?

The Doctor: An
excerpt from Lancaster House
*If you missed
yesterday’s post which included an excerpt from The Middle Aisle using slang
from the nineteen-twenties, then put down your tea and slip out of this hidden sitting room back to icultgen. . .
Doctor Wade Channing
is the psychiatrist in the Lancaster House series. In writing him, I found
myself debating his personality traits. Should he by the stereotypical ‘evil
psychiatrist?’ Nah, to overdone. Should he fall I love with Zoe? Nah, to
unprofessional and the reader will lose all faith in him. Should he be a main
character or just someone Zoe rehearses her story to?
In the end, Doctor
Wade Channing becomes the kind, benevolent doctor who truly wants Zoe to see
the error in her ways. He really wants to help her realize her delusions. He
loves her, yes, but he loves her as his patient, not in a weird-creepy way.
Doctor Channing very much becomes a main character in that he is the person Zoe
fears, the person who has the power to take her life away from her and keep her
from Andre. That reason alone makes him the enemy. I consulted my
psychology-degreed daughter as I wrote Doctor Channing. How would he act in
this situation? What would he say? She helped me immensely. Otherwise I
wouldn’t have had a clue as to how to write him!
That being said,
here’s one of my favorite exchanges between Doctor Channing and Zoe:
Doctor
Channing rubbed his forehead in pain, his legs propped up on his desk. He let
out his breath as it whistled through the cracks between his teeth. He studied
her contemplatively. So far, he’d been completely unsuccessful in breaking down
Zoe’s belief in her story. He couldn’t even break off a chink in her armor and
he was frustrated. After sitting in silence for several minutes, Zoe finally
asked, “Don’t you have anything to say?”
“Do
you wish you could have saved your father, Zoe?”
“What
kind of a question is that?”
“Is
is true that he died in your arms?”
Zoe
visibly paled. “Yes,” she said almost inaudibly. “He had a heart attack right
before my very eyes. I held him while awaiting the ambulance. He was gone
before they even arrived. I’ve never felt so powerless in my life. I suddenly
knew nothing was in my control . . . nothing.”
“So
you created an immortal being, one that feels no pain, can never die, and never
leave you. He awaits you forever. All you have to do is go home and there he
is, waiting for you. It’s all very opportune, isn’t it, Zoe?”
Zoe
said nothing. Her eyes lowered and she stared at the ground.
Wade
knew he was on to something. He stayed completely calm, sitting in his casual
manner, yet he verbally attacked her, letting his words roll off his tongue as
they hit her with striking force. “You’re right, he’s the perfect man. A man
who scoffs at porn, a man who can only take intimacy so far, a man who sees the
sheer goodness in you, a man who loves to help you redecorate the house . . .”
With each statement, he didn’t hide the dripping sarcasm in his voice.
“Stop
it.” Zoe paled and her hands shook in her lap.
“A
man who would never dream of hurting you in any way, a man who loves to simply
look upon you day after day, a man who needs nothing as he doesn’t need to eat
or even sleep, a man who spontaneously gives you piggyback rides, a man who
puts you to sleep when life gets rough . . .” His words were thick with
disdain.
“Shut
up.” She was becoming defensive, tense.
He
was only just warming up. It was time for her to face reality. “A man who can
never cheat on you, a man who can never leave the house, a man who kills for
your honor, a man who can read your mind, a man filled with tender emotions, a
man who loves to simply touch you and nothing more, a man who no other woman is
after as you are the only one who can see him—it’s all very convenient,
wouldn’t you say, Zoe? What woman wouldn’t fall in love with such a paragon of
a man?”
The
only way he was aware of her reaction was the pronounced rise and fall of her
chest.
“You
know nothing,” she said through gritted teeth.
“I’d
say I hit the nail on the proverbial head. Andre is a combination of your
perfect father and what you wished Connor was, all rolled into one faultless,
handsome little package. Only everything is in your control. You say when,
where, and how. You say sit, stay, and roll over. Did you pat Andre on the head
and say, ‘good boy.’ Did you give him a treat for good behavior?”
 Zoe
shot to her feet and screamed at him, “Shut up!” The orderly was in the room
immediately and held a writhing Zoe in his strong arms. She struggled
frantically. “You know nothing about love, you cocky, little jerk!” And then to
the orderly, “Let go of me!” She turned on Wade again, “Go ahead, sit behind
your safe little desk like the coward you are. Who do you think you are? You have
no right to judge me! None!”
The
orderly took her away and as they walked down the hallway, her screams could be
heard throughout the hospital.
Wade
smiled, pleased with her reaction. He’d hit a nerve. She could rail at him all
day, as long as it got her thinking about her delusions and facing the cold,
hard truth.
He
wouldn’t give her something to help her sleep tonight. She needed to dwell on
it, sulk over it—brood in it.
 
*Thanks for following along on the Lancaster House and The
Middle Aisle tour. I hope you enjoy Zoe and Andre’s story! To find your way
home, just return to the entryway and Prism Book Tours. . .

(Pictures can be sourced through http://pinterest.com/burgandyice/secret-passageways/)

Taylor DeanAbout the Author:
Taylor Dean lives in Texas and is the mother of four grown children. Upon finding herself with an empty nest, she began to write the stories that were always wandering around in her head, quickly finding that she had a passion for writing, specifically romance. Whether it’s paranormal, contemporary, or suspense-you’ll find all sub-genres of romance in her line-up.
Lancaster House & The Middle Aisle, available in print or eCopy
from Smashwords or Amazon: 
.
.

Tour-Wide Giveaway:

5 WINNERS will receive….

Open only to those who can legally enter. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced on Rafflecopter and Grand Finale posts as well as emailed and the winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Burgandy Ice @ Colorimetry and Prism Book Tours and sponsored by Taylor Dean. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Tour:
 
2/11 – Unputdownable Books – Guest Post
2/12 – I Am A Reader, Not a Writer – Guest Post 
2/13 – Fundinmental Guest Post 
          Letters to the Cosmos – Review
2/14 – Oh, The Books You’ll Read – Review
          Proud Book Nerd – Guest Post
2/15 – LDS & Lovin’ It – Review
2/17 – Phantasmic Reads – Review
          Lavender & Camomile Press Guest Post
2/18 – The Reading Diaries – Guest Post
2/19 –  Living a Goddess Life – Review
          Beck Valley Books – Guest Post
2/20 – Living the Goddess Life –  Recipe
          Colorimetry
2/21 – Passion and Life – Guest Post
          Books Mystify – Goodreads Review
2/22 – Christy’s Cozy Corner – Review
2/24 – Christy’s Cozy Corner – Review 
A Buckeye Girl Reads – Guest
Post

2/25 – Living a Goddess Life – Review
          Icultgen – Guest Post
2/26 – Who’s Thanny?  (Byzinha) – Review
          Letters to the Cosmos – Review
2/27 – Living a Goddess Life – Recipe   
Tressa – Goodreads
Reviewer

2/28 – A Buckeye Girl Reads – Review
3/1 – Grand Finale TBA…

When Brandon asked me if I would like to read his new short story The Card, I was all over it!

The Card

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Some of you might think this story is predictable. Not so for me. Brandon threw in some curve balls that distracted me long enough to forget a few hints.

Jason is the moderator for the three. Even close friends get into it now and then.

Brian’s ticked off. He’s adamant he didn’t do it.

Freddie’s furious. He’s sure Brian slipped the card into his deck.

They get in each others faces, causing Jason to step in and try to diffuse them.

Freddie designs his tarot decks himself, and he’s positive the card was slipped into his deck by Brian. Even though the back has the same design, there’s no way he created the picture of the creepy old man in the hooded cape. The figure is surrounded by fog, and the raised hand holding up three fingers, what’s up with that? No way does this card belong in his deck.

Brian’s tired of hearing about it. He didn’t put the card in the deck and doesn’t get why it’s such a big deal. It’s just a card.

Freddie storms out. When Jason suggests to Brian that he apologize, Brian storms out too.

Great. He’ll just let the two cool off for the weekend and see them next week when they’ve had time to cool down.

Monday comes and Freddie doesn’t show up for work. After his shift, Jason heads to his mobile home to see what’s up.

The minute he steps up to the door, his radar starts warning him somethings wrong. He has a sick feeling, but continues inside.

OhGodOhGodOhGod

What he discovers sends him to his knees. Before everything fades to black he sees it lying there. That card.

I love short stories. I get something similar to tunnel vision when I read them. There’s nothing like them. So much is revealed in so little words. I let myself go and just become engrossed in the story, knowing I’ll only be allowed to be there for a short while.

Brandon is great at getting you to connect with his characters quickly. They become familiar and you grow to care about them. At least the good ones.

Then comes the twists. You have to have some good ones and know where to place them. Brandon does this very well, drawing my attention this way and that, my mind trying to visual each scene.

I didn’t get the ending I expected and that was a nice surprise. I’m usually close when I guess the ending and thought this story would go another way. But, nope. I got a different ending and thank Brandon for that.

The Card gets Four Stars from me!

     

Next up is Out After Dark. Another creepy short story by Brandon.

Out After Dark

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Eric had to get out of the safehouse. He couldn’t stand it for one more minute.

That’s how he finds himself in the alley with the woman. Not sure if she’s spotted him yet, he slips deeper into the shadows.

He’d first spotted her in the club. they exchanged passing glances. He should’ve known the night was going to be bad when he thought he saw her again at the next club.

When he spots her in the shadows of a doorway outside, his worry turns to dread.

Sure enough, she follows him, so he ducks into the alley to hide.

But she follows him.

She calls out to him.

“Come on out and play, you little bastard….”

She casually steps forward as Eric slips further down the alley, and her hand, when she withdraws it from her coat, holds a gun.

Not good.

This was fun. At first I thought Eric was one thing, then I thought he was another. It was fun finding out what he was or wasn’t and whether he was a good guy or a bad guy. I’ll let you draw your own conclusions about that.

You know that feeling you get where the hair stands up on the back of your neck and you’re sure someone or something is watching you? That’s what I experienced when reading Out After Dark. I’m sure that’s how the author wanted me to feel. Good job creeping me out.

When the true story of the mysterious woman became clear, I was delighted. I had it somewhat figured out, but then Brandon did the twists thing again, and took it in another direction. An exciting one too!

I just wish it had been longer!

Four Stars for Out After Dark!

     

About the author

Brandon R. Luffman

Born in Statesboro, Georgia in 1976, Brandon Luffman was raised in rural North Carolina from the time he was old enough to walk. In the sixth grade he discovered The Chronicles Of Narnia. Soon after that, he was on to Stephen King and Arthur C. Clarke. At the same time, he was making his first forays into writing fiction. After creating a series of short fantasy pieces for a class assignment that were received with praise, he was hooked on writing fiction for the entertainment of others. Now Brandon writes supernatural horror as well as fantasy, science fiction, and other genres. His short fiction is available online in various formats. Brandon still lives on the family farm in northwestern North Carolina with his wife and family. Taking inspiration from his homeland, he brings southern sensibilities and a modern flair to these classic genre themes. His upcoming survival horror novel, Frostwalker, is expected to be released in 2013.

Frostwalker

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Coming In 2013!

There’s something in the woods behind Jake Marsden’s house – and someone wants him to find it. A strange dream shatters his sleep, night after night, and a compulsion to find the dark presence in the forest wars with his logical and ordered nature. What’s a geek to do?

When his small hometown of Wynn falls under an ancient curse, Jake will find himself in a battle against creatures worse than any he’s faced in a game. Playing for keeps, it will be geek versus god in the fight to stop an evil force bent on destroying everything he holds dear.

The Geek Shall Inherit The Earth – If They Live Long Enough.

For more information, or to sign up to be notified upon release, please visit the Frostwalker site.

I’ve been anticipating this one for a while now. Excited to know it’ll be here soon!

For more about the author

Website

Twitter

Goodreads

Amazon

Click on the covers to purchase the books.