Archive for the ‘reviews’ Category

Edward Lorn’s collection What The Dark brings is free to download from Amazon April 7th thru 12th.

This post is a bit long, as I added my review of Edwards bonus stories and there are two killer trailers to watch. Can’t wait for you to see those!

Go here to get your copy!

What the Dark Brings

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Follow Edward Lorn out of the light and into the darkest recesses of his mind.

What the Dark Brings is a collection of 19 short stories, beginning with “Literary Sweets”, a tender jaunt into Christmastime that proves all is not lost for one jaded gentleman. But by the time you reach the final tale, “Come to Jesus Meeting”, the darkness is all encompassing.

Tales of hope, heartache, and horror abound.

Come find What the Dark Brings

***As an added bonus to new fans, Edward Lorn has included his mini-anthology, Three After, complete and uncut, at the end of this collection. A total of 22 tales of terror coming it at over 40,000 words.***

My review

This collection has everything!

A man on awakens on a train headin who knows where, no memory of how he got there.

Detective Franklin learns why the caretaker said, “The thing is no good, I tell ya.”

Penny always believed what her father said about the water, “There’s nothing out to get you.”

The sign said:

Opening December 20th:

Literary Sweets

Books and Candies for all ages

A combination of Treasures Await!

Raul had no idea how giving the homeless a few bucks would change his life.

Walter just had to have the chess set, the one made from the wood of the legendary ship, Titanic.

Everyone’s heard the urban legend about the man who goes missing on Christmas, only later his family finds his rotting body in the chimney.

A picture does paint a thousand words for Valerie. She just should have looked more closely.

Two young men, high on pot, watch the news as Chucklers gleefully rampage around the world.

Two young friends meet The Beast of Briar Bank.

There are so many delightfully wicked and twisted tales in this collection.

They each have their own flavor and many may seem a bit familiar. But that’s where the author steps in and takes you in a whole other direction.

I’ve read  his anthology, Three After, so I knew where he might take me with these.

If you like the macabre, the noir, the twisted and the darkly humorous, you’ll like this collection.

There was no stopping when I started, as I sped from story to story. Each one so different, so engrossing.

I’d love to see these as episodes for Tales From The Darkside or The Twilight Zone.

Or, maybe, the From The Mind of Edward Lorn Show!

Thanks for some really great writing and plenty of shivers. Edward.

What The Dark Brings gets 5 Stars for bringing it on!

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Here is my review of Three After from an earlier post.

Check out my thoughts on Edward’s Bonus stories.

Edward Lorn’s Three After takes you to the darkside with three chilling tales.

Three after

If you like your horror twisted and dripping blood, these three tales will give you that and then some. I will give you fair warning that Edward writes very descriptive, almost visual scenes, and they ain’t pretty.

1. World’s Greatest Dad

This is every father’s, hell, everybody’s worst nightmare.

Kimmy is gone. While Carl was trick or treating with his daughter, somebody snatched her. He was only distracted for a moment, but that was all it took.

The last time Carl saw Kimmy, she was talking to a man sitting in a rocking chair wearing a wolf costume. Now the chair is empty and Kimmy is gone.

They found Kimmy, but it was too late. Her body was discovered in a garbage bin, thrown away like so much trash.

Carl is consumed by grief and guilt. The police investigation is going nowhere. There is no consolation to be found.

Carl’s friend David inadvertently hands him a cup of coffee, the cup made by Kimmy. It reads World’s Gratest Dad and, yes, that is how she spelled it. Not able to bear it, Carl asks for a different cup. As he passes it back to David, the words on the cup change.

Help Her

He was the only one to witness it. Believing it to be a message from his daughter, Carl uses the messages that appear on the cup to try to save Her and find his daughters killer.

This is a story of redemption, betrayal and vengeance. What wouldn’t you do for your child?

2. An Affair To Remember

Jimmy has crossed the line. His rage at finding out his wife was having an affair, and with a jerk like Ray, pushed him over the edge.

What happens to Ray is horrific, but he has only himself to blame. Should have kept his pants zipped and stopped taunting Jimmy when he was caught.

But after brutally torturing and killing his wife and her lover, things get really bizarre for Jimmy.

Maybe Jimmy should have just walked away from the whole sordid mess.

3. Snuggles

She seems like such a sweet young girl. Elizabeth loves cats and she has three, Cuddles, Snuggles and Bumbles. Her favorite is Snuggles.

One day, her dad accidentally lets Snuggles outside. These are indoor cats and are not supposed to be let outside because of the road.

Yep, you guessed it. Her mom finds Snuggles in the road and tells her that he has gone to heaven.

Elizabeth is heart-broken and what she does to get Snuggles back is beyond belief.

This story goes from shocking to stomach-turning in a blink. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Five screams for really creeping me out!

I was racking my brain a while ago, trying to remember the name of a story I read, and now I’ve found it. World’s Greatest Dad!

That’s how much I love Edward’s writing. That short story is still with me.

Check out his new release, should be out this fall!

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About the author
Image of Edward Lorn

Edward Lorn is an American horror author presently residing in the southeast United States. He enjoys storytelling, reading, and writing biographies in the third person.
Once upon a time, during a session of show and tell, a seven-year-old Edward Lorn shared with his class that his baby brother had died over the weekend. His classmates, the teacher included, wept while he recounted the painful tragedy of having lost a sibling. Edward went home that day and found an irate mother waiting for him. Edward’s teacher had called to express her condolences. This was unfortunate, as Edward had never had a baby brother.
With advice given to her by a frustrated teacher, Edward’s mother made him start writing all of his lies down. The rest, as they say, is history.
Edward Lorn and his wife are raising two children, along with a handful of outside cats and a beagle named Dot. He remains a liar to this day. The only difference is, now he’s a useful one.

For more about Edward Lorn and his books:

Website

Twitter

Goodreads

Amazon

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This is my own version of a weekly bookhaul post where  I’ll be telling you about all of the books I got this week, whether print or e-book plus all things bookish.

I got a few books this week, some free, some for review, and some I purchased just for my reading pleasure.

I also post reviews on another blog aknifeandaquill . It’s all about horror. If someone doesn’t die, we don’t do it here!

Here are some freebies I picked up to review on both blogs. Double exposure for the authors:)

BEDBUGS (Can you see them?)  Wallflower: Pray You Aren't Noticed  (Harbinger Mystery Series - Book 2)

Here are some freebies I picked up to review on fuonlyknew.

    Abandon  The Seventh Seal

Got some good ones!

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Books I received for Review.

Alpha Girl  Super Dark  (Super Dark, #1)  What Matters Most

I had to have these!

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Books I won.

Survivor Roundup (The Zombie West Series, #2)

I won Survivor Roundup, Book Two in The Zombie West Series, from Angela Scott.

I loved Wanted: Dead or Undead and I’ve been waiting to get my hands on the next book in the series!

Thanks so much Angela.

Good Ghost Gone Bad

I won Good Ghost Gone Bad from Rainy’s Giveaway on RainyoftheDark.

Thanks so much Rainy and Janiera.

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These are books I reviewed.

Four Tales for Midnight

You can read my review of Four Tales For Midnight here.

Grim

You can read my review of Grim here.

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These are my scheduled reviews for next week.

Halo of the Damned

You can read my review and enter the giveaway here on Monday, April 8th.

To Tame a Montana Heart

You can read my review here on Thursday, April 11th.

Go here to find all of my giveaways. Enter one or enter all of them!!

Busy, busy, busy. So many delicious reads! Some I’ve read and will be posting my reviews soon.

So what did you get this week? See something you like? Do you have any of these? Leave a comment and let me know.

Welcome to my stop on the Virtual Book Tour for Grim by Joseph Spencer.

The first thing that grabbed me was the cover art.

I had to know what had happened to this man, to his face.

Now I know. And it ain’t pretty.

Grim

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Paranormal Crime Thriller
Date Published: 9/1/12
Grim is a complex, gritty, and often gory tale which follows a series of grisly murders in Prairieville. The blood trail leads to a reclusive millionaire Heath Grim, who wears a mask to hide his war scars from the world, but he harbors a darker secret on the inside. Virtuous detective Adam White almost always gets his man, but he’s haunted by the one case he’s never closed – his wife’s murder. When White is pushed to the limits of his sanity from a rising body count and a criminal kingpin who has turned crooked cops and corrupt politicians against him, will he be able to collar the killer? Or will a plot to tarnish his image and the killer’s information on a common enemy turn White into the type of man he’s hunted throughout his law enforcement career?
My Review
Not knowing what to expect as this is Joseph’s debut novel, I can tell you that I loved it.
The story moves back and forth between the characters,  and it works well as it helps you get to know them and connect.
Most of the characters aren’t nice, in fact, they’re pretty bad. In a western movie, they’d all being wearing black. They have their reasons for being the way they are and I was torn between supporting them and shuddering at the lengths they go to.
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The beginning was a bit confusing until I became familiar with the characters and got an idea what the story was about. After about a quarter of the book, it really took off and then there was no stopping until the end.
The author holds nothing back when the killing starts. So many different ways to take someone out. He got really creative and quite graphic. Good thing I have a strong stomach. I even laughed out loud at a few of the death scenes. I know, I’m morbid. Or maybe it’s just a release, like when cops joke over a dead body.
It’s weird to be cheering for the bad guys, but the good ones are in short supply in this story.
The action and suspense builds, more and more people die grisly deaths, and then you reach the big toe to toe ending.
I was quite happy with how the author wrapped it up, but I would have loved just a little bit more.
That’s why I gave Grim 5 Stars.
It left me wanting that next few pages, those couple more chapters. The next book?
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Reading Addiction Blog Tours
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Virtual Book Tour March 18 – April 12
March 18 – Reading Addiction Blog Tours – Meet and Greet
March 21 – My Reading Addiction – Review
March 22 – Comfortably Read – Review
March 24 – The Adventures Within – Review/Guest Post
March 26 – Author Ever Leigh – Review
March 28 – The Life and Lies of an Inanimate Object – Review/GuestPost
March 30 – Sinnful Books – Review/Interview
March 31 – Must Read Faster-  Review/Guest Post
April 1 – Words I Write Crazy – Review/Guest Post
April 4 – Book Reviews and More – Review
April 5 – Books and Needlepoint – Review/Guest Post
April 6 – FUOnlyKnew – Review
April 7 – One Page at a Time – Review
April 8 – Bean Counting Mommy – Review/Guest Post
April 8 –
April 9 – Cabin Goddess – Review
April 9 –
April 10 – Turning the Pages – Review
April 10 –
April 11 – Genuine Jenn – Review
April 11 –
April 12 – RABT Reveiws – Review
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Joseph Spencer

Author Bio:

INTRO

Joseph Spencer is the author of the Sons of Darkness series launched by his debut novel, Grim, on September 1, 2012. Work on his second book of the series, Wrage, is already underway and is expected to be released some time in 2013.

THE ROAD HERE

The Sons of Darkness is a series of paranormal crime thrillers following investigations into mysterious deaths in the central Illinois city of Prairieville. Home of the notorious serial killer, The Reaper, Prairieville has had a history of violence centered on an ongoing feud between the Marino and Black organized crime families. When bodies start showing up again at the abandoned Marino State Hospital, many fear the Reaper has returned. The people of Prairieville are about to find out their problems stem from a supernatural source which has lurked in secret for decades.

THE STORYTELLER’S STORY

As a boy, Joseph Spencer immersed himself in the deductive logic of Sherlock Holmes, the heroic crime fighting of Batman and Spider-Man, and a taste for the tragic with dramas from poets like Shakespeare and Homer.

Before Joseph took to spinning his own tales, he pursued a career in print sports journalism, graduating with honors from Clinton (IL) High School in 1996 and summa cum laude from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale in 2000. He covered such events as NASCAR’s Subway 500 race in Martinsville, the NBA Draft Camp in Chicago, the Junior College World Series, and Minor League Baseball’s Midwest League All-Star Game during a ten-year career throughout the Midwest. Now, he works as an emergency telecommunications specialist with an Illinois police department. The combination of years of writing experience with a background working with law enforcement professionals gave rise to his writing aspirations.

Joseph was married Dr. Amy (Waggoner) Spencer, an accomplished veterinary doctor, on March 14, 2012. He received word his debut novel was accepted by his publisher, Damnation Books, the next day. Joseph and Amy look forward to their honeymoon in Paris in September 2012. Murphy, a 15-year-old orange tabby, is perhaps the most vocal member of the family. The Spencer family enjoys reading Charlaine Harris, George R.R. Martin, Mary Janice Davidson, and most paranormal stories. The Spencers also enjoy quoting movie lines from The Princess Bride, Rain Man, Bridesmaids, and Office Space.

Website: www.josephbspencer.com

Twitter: josephspencer00

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joe.spencer3

Buy Links

Damnation Books (ebook): http://www.damnationbooks.com/book.php?isbn=9781615727520

Amazon (Kindle ebook): http://www.amazon.com/Grim-ebook/dp/B0093Q8L9Y/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1358637199&sr=8-2&keywords=Grim+by+joseph+spencer

Amazon (trade paperback): http://www.amazon.com/Grim-Joseph-Spencer/dp/1615727531/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1358637199&sr=8-2

Barnes & Noble (Nook book): http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/grim-joseph-spencer/1112783042?ean=9781615727520&itm=1&usri=grim+by+joseph+spencer

Barnes & Noble (paperback): http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/grim-joseph-spencer/1112783042?ean=9781615727537

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!

I have four stories to tell you about today.

Most of you know how much I love short stories. What I found in this collection is excellent writing and stories that keep you reading, even when you fear what’s coming.

So let’s get started.

Four Tales for Midnight

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Description

Four tales of extreme suspense and mystery aimed at getting the heart pumping. Hard. A soldier on D-Day finds an enemy soldier acting very strangely indeed; a jilted husband creates a grisly scavenger hunt; a marriage reconciliation service ABSOLUTELY guarantees positive results—the question is, how? And more!

Turn out the lights and enter a bizarre world, but remember—don’t go in the basement!

First things first. Are you the type of person who ignores all the cliché warnings and does just what you shout at the character in the movie not to do? You know, don’t go in the basement, don’t go in the water, don’t open the door, Etc….

You are? Great! You’ll love these stories then.

Night Drop

Private John Larkin is lost. It’s the morning following D-Day and he’s stumbling around Norman trying to find a small town. During the night drop, he was separated from his unit. With no safe place to hide, he keeps moving, hoping to bump into his unit, hell, any unit.

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Instead, he finds a tiny village. Looks like it’s already been bombed. And just sittin’ there on a rock is a German soldier.

What looks like an opportunity, becomes something else all together for John.

Do you ever feel like yelling at the character in the story, saying, “Hey, wake up and look around!”

I wanted to ask John, “Don’t you watch the movies?”

Even though I had a good idea what was going on, the ending was still a blast!

Scavenger Hunt

I’m going to warn you right now, this one is grisly.

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This poor sap thought he was getting away with it. Then he discovers a card stuck on his front door. He’s been invited to a scavenger hunt and he has a good idea who did the inviting.

So, he plays along and follows the clues, each discovery more gruesome than the last.

He’s pretty sure he knows how it will end, but he is so wrong.

This one isn’t for those with a sensitive stomach. It’s brutal and nasty, but oh so clever.

I think this might be my favorite.

Reconciliation Services,Inc.

Both men are going through a divorce. Both have kids. And both have a wife who knows how to manipulate the judicial system to put the screws to them, but good.

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“Then one day, Pete comes into work happier than a puppy in a Milk-Bone bakery.”

Let’s just say, our guy should have stayed away from the kibbles.

The Problem of the Vanishing Bullet

This one felt like the author gave me a treat for being a good reader and finishing the book.

It’s a short story about Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson.

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One man guns down the other and is arrested for murder.

The fiance says he did kill the guy, but it was in self-defense, the other man shot first. The problem is, no bullet. The room was searched diligently and no bullet or bullet holes were found.

The clever Holmes pulls a rabbit out of his hat, or should I say, a bullet out of a…..

I loved this one. I felt like I was watching a black and white episode on TV. I kept waiting to read, “Elementary, my dear Watson!”

Each story was so different. Each one has you going from the first few sentences and keeps you reading on for more. Each story almost has a moral to it.

I couldn’t give this collection anything less than 5 Stars.

The writing was excellent, the plots were so entertaining, and Lee Enderlin really hooked me when I wished they were longer.

I’m going to read The Dead of Winter next. It’s a full length novel. Just what I wished for!

The Dead of Winter

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College student Christy Brewer lives in a personal hell at home with an increasingly unreasonable and violent father while balancing school and a love life. Meanwhile, over a hundred miles away, in a small ski resort town, Police Chief Wayne Marski is suddenly dealing with a serial killer who is dispatching people in a particularly grisly manner. Worse, the few clues indicate that he is dealing with a human adversary.
Or is he?

Their stories coincide in a suspenseful and action-filled climax as a centuries-old curse comes home.

For more about Lee Enderlin and his books you can find him at Tales of Mystery and Midnight.

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This is my own version of a weekly bookhaul post where  I’ll be telling you about all of the books I got this week, whether print or e-book plus all things bookish.

I got a few books this week, some free, some for review, and some I purchased just for my reading pleasure.

Here are some freebies I picked up to review.

After: The Shock    Rusty Nail (Jack Daniels Mystery, #3)

Just a couple this week. Trying hard to resist:)

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Books for Review.

The Clearing of Travis Coble

I had to have this one!

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Books I won.

Come Back to Me

I won Come Back to Me from Emily at Emily’s Crammed Bookshelf.

Thanks so much Emily!

Angelopolis

I won Angelopolis from Michele at Vampchix.

Thanks so much Michele!

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These are books I reviewed.

Shooting Stars (A Surah Stormsong Novel, #1)

Go here for my review and to enter an awesome giveaway!

Thread on Arrival (An Embroidery Mystery, #5)

I love a cozy mystery. Go here for my review of Thread On Arrival.

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These are my scheduled reviews for next week.

Four Tales for Midnight

You can read my review of Four Tales For Midnight on Friday, April 5th.

Grim

You can read my review of Grim on Saturday, April 6th.

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Go here to find all of my giveaways. Enter one or enter all of them!!

Busy, busy, busy. So many delicious reads! Some I’ve read and will be posting my reviews soon.

So what did you get this week? See something you like? Do you have any of these? Leave a comment and let me know.

I won Thread on Arrival by Amanda Lee from a giveaway on Lori’s blog escape with dollycas.

I fell in love with the soft, pastel colors on the cover art. I love a cover that is, well, cozy.

Thread on Arrival (An Embroidery Mystery, #5)

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It’s been almost a year since Marcy moved to Tallulah Falls and opened up her embroidery shop,  The Seven-Year Stitch. She’s made some close friends and even has a couple of love interests.

When she agreed to help her friend, Reggie, by teaching an embroidery class to abused women, she had no idea she’d become entangled in a hunt for lost treasure and a murder.

The town and its denizens reminds of Cabot Cove from Murder She Wrote. Everyone knows each others business and like with most small towns, news travels faster than the telephone.

Marcy is a smart business woman, a very loyal friend, and is either gifted or cursed with an impulsive nature. She dives into things quickly, wanting to help out, and often lands in hot water. Her close-knit (no pun intended) group of friends are often right in the middle of it with her.

In the beginning, there is a bit of a love triangle, but Marcy makes her choice fairly early on in the book. She’s not a player, doesn’t want anyone to get hurt. She just cautious after her last relationship ended badly.

The fact she has this giant wolfhound, Angus, really drew me to this story. If you don’t know the breed, they are one of the largest dogs, over six feet standing on their hind legs. Marcy, or Inch-High Private Eye, as her beau fondly calls her, is a tiny thing and her dog dwarfs her.

Angus is the first to know when Marcy chooses her man.

I giggle. “I’ve got a boyfriend, Angus!”

From the back seat, he woofed his approval before slurping my ear with his tongue.

I totally approve of her choice. He’s sexy, funny, and his more serious nature is a perfect match for the impetuous Marcy.

“Is this where I say something horribly corny like Yeah, but you’re a thief – you stole my heart?” he asked.

From murder, to a new beau, to a reality show, Marcy is right in the thick of things. Now she just needs to put the threads together, to solve the mystery before anyone else ends up dead.

As I got a little ways into the book, I realized this was a series and Thread on Arrival wasn’t the first book.  Imagine my surprise and delight to discover this was book #5 in the Embroidery Series. Four more cozy mysteries to read.

I had no trouble reading this book before the others. The author placed small bits of history from the other books throughout the story, kind of filling in the blanks. You could read this without having read the others and feel completely comfortable and satisfied.

Of course, I’ll be reading the other four books. Right at 300 pages, I read this in about three hours, and thoroughly enjoyed myself.

Almost forgot! When I was checking out other books by the author, I found out Amanda Lee is a pseudonym for Gayle Trent. She has also written The Daphne Martin Series and the Myrtle Crumb Series.

Four Stars for this sparkling read.

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About the author

Gayle Trent

Amanda Lee is a pseudonym of Gayle Trent.

Series:
* Embroidery Mystery

(from Gayle Trent’s webpage)

“Thank you so much for stopping by my site!

I live in Southwest Virginia with my husband and two beautiful children, a boy and a girl. I’m a full-time writer/editor/mom/wife and chief cook and bottle washer, and I love every minute of it. Okay, not the bottle washing so much, but the rest of it is great.

I’m happy to introduce you to my latest characters, cake decorator Daphne Martin and embroidery shop owner Marcy Singer.

Read more about Daphne and Marcy at my blog.

Who’s Amanda Lee?

Amanda Lee is a pseudonym Gayle is using for the new cozy mystery series featuring a heroine who owns an embroidery shop. The series is set on the Oregon Coast and features Marcy Singer, a spunky, thirty-something, entrepreneur who is handy with a needle.

Goodreads

Website

Twitter

The Embroidery Series

The Quick and the Thread (An Embroidery Mystery, #1) Stitch Me Deadly (An Embroidery Mystery, #2)  Thread Reckoning (An Embroidery Mystery, #3)  The Long Stitch Good Night (An Embroidery Mystery, #4)  Thread on Arrival (An Embroidery Mystery, #5)

Go here for more of Amanda Lee’s books.

And go here for Gayle Trent’s books.

Shooting stars Book tour Banner

This is so exciting. I was so thrilled to be a part of the cover reveal for H.D. Gordon’s newest release, Shooting Stars. Not really knowing what the story was about, I was happy dancing when I saw the cover!

Now I’ve read the book and I’m here to tell ya, you get excellent writing, characterization and world building in Shooting Stars.  I wouldn’t expect anything less from H.D.

Make sure you enter the awesome giveaway following my review!

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Title: Shooting Stars (A Surah Stormsong Novel #1)

Author: H.D. Gordon

Publisher: ShareAread

Release Date: March 15th, 2013

Formats:  E-book

Cover Artist: Regina Wamba

 Shooting Stars Synopsis

Once upon a time, a common boy fell in love with a princess. It was a hopeless, forbidden love, grown in a world where sorcery and magic rule over all. Now, dark times are brewing, and destiny will bring them together, while fate works to keep them apart. Extraordinary battles will be fought, and extraordinary choices made. Join the author of The Alexa Montgomery Saga for the beginning of a tale of star-crossed lovers and magic, of hope and love and loss, of desperate wishes made on stars.

Enjoy this excerpt

He spoke first, and Surah found herself listening carefully to the way a slight twang rode his words, she had never heard such an accent before. “You plannin on skewerin sumthin with those?” he asked, eyeing the silver sais still clutched in her hands.

Surah watched him closely, wishing she had mastered teleportation for what seemed like the billionth time, so that she could just take herself out of here. She didn’t think that the boy meant her any harm, he was obviously just a common Sorcerer, not a spy for the Vampires or Fairies or any of the other races currently feuding over the Territories, but in the past two days the young princess had learned a very important lesson, one that she would carry with her for hundreds and hundreds of years.

You couldn’t really trust anyone.

She gave a slight shrug, held his gaze, which was somehow very penetrating. “I was thinking about it,” she said, hastily brushing the tears from her face that she just remembered were there.

The boy approached the lake slowly, giving Surah a wide berth, his dirty hands raised at his sides, dark hair falling into his face. Then he plopped down on the shore of the lake and stared out over it. He settled his arms on his knees and put a hand over his chest were his heart was. “Alright,” he said, “right here, then. Put er right here.” He looked at her now, his eyes burning with the same amount of grief Surah felt burning in her own soul. A piece of her broken heart went out to him then, even though she tried with all her might to call it back. She felt broken, but he looked broken.

“And don’t miss,” he added.

My Review

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I’ve never read a book By H.D. that I didn’t love.

I first met Surah Stormsong in Redemption, an Alexa Montgomery Saga novel. She was much more impetuous and looking for a fight. Now she has matured and has been forced to take on a heavy mantle in being the Keeper for her kingdom.

Surah acts like a princess, looks like a princess, and fulfills her duties to her people. But she’s tired of the pomp. Tired of people never saying what they mean, only what they think she wants to hear. Tired of the rigid behavior expected of her. She has a desire. A desire to be free from it all, from the cold walls of the castle, to breathe the fresh air, to be ordinary. Just be…

Someday I will shed the mask, she thought. Someday.’

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Until then, she will do whatever she must to serve and protect her people in a world torn asunder.

I didn’t know what to expect when I received this ARC. I was surprised to learn it was about sorcerers, witches, and supernatural creatures. How exciting. And there is romance, a gentle romance that starts as a flicker and becomes a beautiful flame.

I really like Surah. She’s stuck, but she doesn’t whine. And her partially shaved purple haircut and the combat boots she wears makes her normal, gives her attitude. I like my protagonists to have some quirks.

Charles. Now there’s someone I could fall in love with. He’s quite, introspective, slow to rile, and still carries a torch for the young girl he met for only a brief moment a thousand years ago. That’s what I call a love that endures, that lasts a lifetime! You’re gonna love him.

Samson is Surah’s best friend. She saved him when he was but a cub. That’s right, he’s a tiger. I like when an animal gets a major role in a story. I feel a bond. I imagine that’s how man felt when a wolf came in to share his fire.  Samson won me over instantly and made me wish we could all have a friend like him. Who wouldn’t love a giant tiger of their very own.

There are some bad guys too. There’s no way H.D. wouldn’t give us some characters to loathe and where would we be without some action. One character was a mystery to me right from the beginning and I’m sure he was intended to be. All through the book, I wondered what his story was and whether he would turn out to be the villain or the good guy. Definitely kept my curiosity ramped up.

Shooting Stars is something different from H.D. Gordon. It’s romance, adventure, and magic with a lighter touch. Not quite as kick-ass as The Alexa Montgomery Series. They were more violent, darker, and while that’s the stuff that gets my endorphins pumping, I really loved Surah’s story.

Five Stars for the beginning of a new, addictive series!

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Giveaway

Don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

Prizes include:

$50.00 Adopt a Tiger package from WWF

Baby Samson Plush

5 e-copies of Shooting Stars.

Ends April 15th.

Click on rafflecopter link below to enter.

A Rafflecopter Giveaway

About the Author

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H. D. Gordon is the author of The Alexa Montgomery Saga. Blood Warrior, the first book of the Alexa series was her debut novel and has held a spot in the top 100 fantasy bestsellers for over a month. Half Black Soul is the second book in this series and H. D. plans to complete Alexa’s tales by the end of 2012. In June of 2012, Joe, a fantasy novel about a young clairvoyant, was released as well. H. D. is a lifelong reader and writer, a true lover of words. When she is not reading or writing she is raising her two daughters, playing a little guitar, and spending time with her family. She is twenty three years old and lives in the northeastern United States.

You can follow H.D. Gordon at:

Blog

Author Facebook Page

Twitter

Goodreads Author Page

H.D.Gordon Facebook page

Webpage

Goodreads Fan Club

 H.D. Gordon’s Books

The Surah Stormsong Series

The Alexa Montgomery Saga

       

JOE

 

                       

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Welcome to my stop on the tour for Fare Well by Penny Piva hosted be Good Choice Reading Promotions .

I’m celebrating this newest release with my review.

Let’s get to know Madeleine.

Fare Well

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Available on Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Description

Thrown together at the funeral of a mutual friend, Madeleine’s three closest friends come from different parts of her life –her childhood, her former job, and a failed relationship. Tragedy and their fondness for Madeleine bring them together. Their fondness for each other forges new friendships that strengthen through sickness, a bad marriage, a crack in a seemingly-perfect life, and an unplanned pregnancy.

Through this all, Madeleine must overcome the pain of her former relationship and the loss of a once-successful career. With memories of her childhood friendship and her beloved nana running through her mind, she learns to live for the future—a new guy, a new job, and renewed, honest relationships

My Review

When I first met Madeleine, she was at a former co-workers funeral. Her and Amy used to teach at the same school.

Madeleine used to envy Amy for her size zero figure and her bubbling, genuinely caring personality. Never would she have imagined her being murdered. Now she’s at her house, listening to the comments usually spoken at these things, and hanging out by the food tables.

That’s where she is as she encounters each of her friends. Each one from a different time or place in her life. Seems they all feel a bit lost.

Madeline takes you on a journey, flashing back and forth to different remembrances in her life as she starts a new one. She’s sent her boyfriend Rob to California to pursue his dream, ending a nine-year relationship. She quit her teaching job of ten years. Now she’s alone, jobless, and at a loss. She’s also afraid.

Afraid of what the future holds, what new symptoms will appear.

She can’t tell her friends about her illness.

‘It wasn’t something she really wanted to reveal to anyone. Her mother hovering and her dad looking at her differently, like she might just break if pushed too hard or too far was more than enough. She wanted to be the same to everyone. She wanted her friends to treat her the same as always, obnoxiously or nicely…’

‘She’d keep up the secrets and lies.’

She wonders about Rose, her ex-beau’s mother, and why she’s injected herself into her circle of friends. What could she be up to? Is she just lonely?

Are they all just lonely? It seems like they are all needing each other and it seems like food is always a part of it. I guess that’s why they call it ‘comfort food.’

It’s not all serious. There are some lighter moments. Here’s a funny scene I really liked, and yep, it’s got food in it?

Ellen and Madeleine

“Please, my grandmother messes up frozen dinners. Can you imagine the pain she’d cause Mother Nature if we gave her real food to cook?”

“It’s a wonder you didn’t starve to death when you were a kid,” Madeleine joked.

“Why do you think I was always over here even when you weren’t? I was hungry! Thank God I learned how to drive so now I can forage for my own food.”

“At McDonald’s.”

“I’ve never been much of a hunter or a gatherer.’

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As you get to know Madeleine and her friends. you’ll learn they all have secrets.

I wanted to know what was going on with her friend Maria, what wasn’t she telling? Why was she sad?

And her friend Ellen, the policewoman. Why was she acting weird? What was she hiding?

How long could these friends keep hiding? Who would break and tell their secret first?

As their secrets were revealed, I felt connected, I shared their worries and their pain. They became as friends to me and I wanted everything to be okay for them. I wanted them to be happy.

Four Stars for this moving sojourn of friendship.

About Penny Piva

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Lives in Massachusetts with The Chef.

Teaches writing at several universities.

Laughs every single day.

Does not like olives or blue cheese or sushi.

Studied pastry arts at a superior university.

Only listens to audio books in the car when driving.

Eats pasta every Sunday (house rules).

Loves visiting New York City, Disney World, and Italy.

Has a fun website at www.PennyPiva.com.

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This is my own version of a weekly bookhaul post where  I’ll be telling you about all of the books I got this week, whether print or e-book plus all things bookish.

I got a few books this week, some free, some for review, and some I purchased just for my reading pleasure.

Here are some freebies I picked up to review.

Supernatural Freak        In the Winds of Danger (Flying Horse Books #2)

I’ve been trying so hard not to grab any more books. Well, I just had to have these!

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Book Series I bought.

 

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Books I won.

Haven’t won any! “sniff:(”

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Books for review

     

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These are the books I reviewed.

The Dark Inside (A Human Element)

Go here for my review and giveaway for The Dark Inside.

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Go here for my review and to win this series!

Go here for my review and giveaway of Rapture.

Dead of Eve (Trilogy of Eve, #1)

Go here for my review of Dead of Eve.

ARBOREATUM

Go here for my review of ArborEATum.

Way Out Of Here

Go here for my review of Way Out Of Here.

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Go here for my review of Kat Fight.

Go here to find all of my giveaways. Enter one or enter all of them!!

Busy, busy, busy. So many delicious reads! Some I’ve read and will be posting my reviews soon.

So what did you get this week? See something you like? Do you have any of these? Leave a comment and let me know.

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 Welcome to my stop on the Blog Tour and Giveaway for KAT FIGHT by Dina Silver.

I had so much fun with this book and can’t wait to tell you about it.

Don’t forget to enter the awesome Giveaway!

KatFight Amazon Smashwds GR cover

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Author Name: Dina Silver

Title: Kat Fight

Release date: August 1, 2012

 Publisher: Createspace

 Age Group: Adult

 Genre: Contemporary Romantic Comedy

 Tour organized by: AToMR Tours

 Links to find/buy your book:

Amazon

Kat Fight will be available at other retailers after March 24th.

 

Book Description:

 

Readers everywhere will revel in this sharp-witted, well-meaning whirlwind in author Dina Silver’s hilarious new novel, Kat Fight. In her quest for love, Kat makes every wrong turn, juggling two men, one best friend, and her own deeply confused heart’s desires.

Kat Porter is a consummate romantic, eager for her chance to find love and commitment. But after her boyfriend of four years, Marc, begins to grow apathetic and sends her calls straight to voicemail one too many times, Kat finally musters the courage to confront her so-called sweetheart, who seems more interested in dodging her than courting her. Though she’s no fan of ultimatums, Kat is at the end of her considerable wits, and lobs a massive one his way, completely confident that he’ll make the right decision when faced with losing her. He doesn’t.

With radio silence from Marc, Kat’s lifelong dream of finding a husband and forging a family is decidedly on the skids. That’s when her childhood friend Julie steps in, forcing Kat on a blind date to help her move beyond the break-up. Not only does Kat botch the setup, she instead finds herself in hot pursuit of Julie’s love interest, Ryan Sullivan. A man who, in addition to literally taking her breath away, is the living, breathing personification of everything Kat wants in a husband.

Can Kat connect with the man of her dreams without hurting two of the people she cares most about? At the same time, she must also contend with the quips of her beloved catty coworker Adam, her bi-polar boss Brooke, and a string of comic, unpredictable plot twists. All the while, Kat’s cheeky perspective and generous heart will leave readers adoring every moment of her journey while chuckling and cheering for the ever cute, razor-sharp Kat as she fights to land the love of a lifetime.

My Review

Kat’s tired of the waiting game, of the empty promises. Marc has done it again. No phone call and no show. When she tells him to lose her number and she never wants to see him again, I’m thinking, “Go girl!”

So now she’s alone, checking her phone constantly to see if Marc has called. He hasn’t She really needs to move on. Or so her friends tell her.

At least they are supportive and do their best to console her.

When a new man enters her life, the troubles begin. Her best friend, Julie, had first dibs, but Ryan is interested in her. She’s sneaking around with Ryan and it’s going to get back to Julie. Time to fess up.

This book is fun, fun, fun. I felt like I was on a laugh track, playing over and over. My sides hurt. I literally flew through this, the writing was so smooth. The only bumps were Kat’s, and there were plenty of those.

One of my favorite characters, besides Kat, is her BFF Adam. They are tight, like peas in a pod, with no worries of romantic tangles. He’s gay and very involved with her boss.

The interoffice antics of these two is hilarious and it just keeps getting better. I loved this text message between the two.

Kat: I look down as someone is texting me. It’s Adam.

Take a picture.

He texts.

Take a hike.

I respond

He’s watching you.

Adam informs me.

For real?

I ask.

Yes, quit slouching.

He orders.

I’m going to look at him.

I text back and sit straight.

I’m going to pretend I care.

Adam answers.

The text messages and conversations between these two were some of my favorite parts of the book.

Kat’s juggling too many secrets and when she fesses up to Ryan, he wants to step back, take a break.

Kat’s crushed and runs to Adam for a shoulder to cry on. His response:

“…Fine, but don’t pull your little ‘I’m too sad and rejected to call Adam’ routine like you did last night. I want details on this one. Train wrecks like this don’t happen everyday you know.”

She should have known he’d pull the tough love thing.

“Good Lord, you need a hobby.”

Kat’s not a quitter, she’s a fighter and she wants Ryan!

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“Gloves on, pride off.”

I started reading this at about 9 P.M. on a Friday night. I can stay up later reading then. I was so engrossed I had no idea what time it was when I turned out the light. Got up early Saturday, my favorite time for reading, made a cup of hot tea at 5;30 A.M. and started right back in. I had to keep heating up my tea because I forgot to drink it.

If this book was a television show, I’d tag it as a ‘sit’ com, but actually it had me almost rolling on the ‘floor.’ I kid you not.

Five Stars for Kat Fight!

Wicked funny and out and out delightful.

 

 Giveaway

(2) Print copies of KAT FIGHT – US/Canada only ~ Two e-books INT

To enter, click the rafflecopter link below

Rafflecopter Giveaway

Kat Fight Tour Schedule

About the author

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A graduate of Purdue University, Dina Silver has spent the past fifteen years feeding her red wine habit by working as a copywriter in the advertising industry. After seeing the bulk of her professional prose on brochures and direct-mail pieces, she is delighted to have made the transition to novelist. Her debut, One Pink Line, was chosen as a 2012 Top Title by IndieReader and was also a finalist in their 2012 Discovery Awards. Silver lives in Chicago with her husband and son.

Dina Silver |Facebook |Twitter |Pinterest

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