Posts Tagged ‘Author’

Undermountain and Afterlife / Reviews and Giveaway

Posted: November 10, 2012 in Action/Adventure, Aliens, Creatures, fiction, giveaways, otherworldly, Paranormal or fantasy, reviews, Science Fiction, Series, YA
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I have a fantastic series to tell you about. The Undermountain Saga.

I’ll be reviewing Undermountain, Book One and Afterlife, Book Two. I tried not to put in any spoilers for book two. Just teased you a bit. And I also have a giveaway for you. US/Canada only.  Details are after my reviews.

Undermountain

by Eric Edstrom

Undermountain (The Undermountain Saga, #1)

It starts normally enough. Six teen-agers and their guide,  Harvin, are on a grand adventure, camping in the wilds of Canada. Harvin is gruff and unfriendly but very knowledgeable about the Rockies and its dangers. The kids are from all walks of life and couldn’t be more different. This trip is going to be interesting.

While collecting water Danny and Breyona see something amazing.  Racing along is this two-headed creature with four pointy legs and right behind him is this huge hairy beast best described as a Bigfoot. When Danny tells the group what they witnessed, the other kids laugh it off as a joke.

When they discover giant footprints on the bank of the stream, their guide passes them off as bear tracks. But Shiv isn’t so sure of that. He has books on the flora and fauna of the Rockies and can’t find anything that matches the prints.

Danny and Breyona have another close encounter with the hairy bigfoot when it fishes Danny out of the stream, saving his life. They run away and hide in the woods, stopping to spy on the creature. It’s not chasing them. Instead it’s pacing back and forth on the bank, holding it’s hand to its head and muttering to itself. No wait, it’s talking into a cell phone and it’s speaking English.

It’s not long before everyone has a close encounter. The four-legged creatures, called Shriekers, which I visualize as the bugs from Starship Troopers, are hungry and they hunt as a pack. The kids are on the menu and running for their lives. Separated from their guide they are quickly surrounded and things look really bad. Seemingly from out of nowhere a bigfoot appears and quickly subdues several of the shriekers. He doesn’t kill them. Instead he calms them somehow.

Several more of the hairy creatures take care of the rest of the pack and turn their attention to the humans. Then, the one Danny recognizes from before speaks, “Be at ease. I cannot harm you.”

Definitely not a bigfoot!

Here are a couple quotes I really liked:

“I’m sorry I didn’t believe you about … bigfoot,” Wa said. “But you need to work on your delivery.”

– A barrage of swearing came flying in. Breyona. “I’m gonna kill you, and after I kill you, I’m gonna kill you again. I’m gonna keep on killing you until your dead. Do you hear me, you furball?”

Everyone will love this story. It’s action packed, you’ve got alien creatures and a huge secret. I wish I could tell you more. I really want to, but that would be spoiling it.

One scene in particular sticks in my mind. It ‘s when they base jump from a cliff and the cliff is inside the mountain. Can you just picture it?

The author does a beautiful job of describing this secret world, you’ll feel like you’re there. I’d love to visit.

Anyone looking for a grand adventure will love Undermountain. It’s so well written, flows seamlessly and rushes along to a great ending. There’s never a dull moment and I eagerly turned each page, excited to see what was coming next. That’s what makes this story so great. There’s always something new and surprising and it makes me wish I could be there.

         I loved it and you will too.

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[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8j926g4C1A]

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And now for my next review.

Afterlife

Book two

Afterlife (The Undermountain Saga, #2)

I really love the cover art for these books. They compliment the stories and are just incredible.

All of my favorite characters are back, human and hairy. And of course, since there’s a second book, you know our hero’s will be seeing their alien friends and enemies again.

It’s been more than six months since they returned from  the mountain, bringing something away with them that’s changed them forever.

Now they are having a reunion of sorts. All meeting up again at Danny’s grandma’s house.

I can’t wait for you to meet Grandma. She is amazing and I just love her. So much character in such a tiny, frail looking body. You’ll see what I mean.

Everyone is there except for Breyona. She’s running late. Then the doorbell rings.

Danny froze as a surge of excitement filled him. The doorbell rang again, followed by two sharp knocks.

“Are you going to stand there like a lump or are you going to open the door?” Grandma asked.

Danny smiled. It had to be Breyona. He turned the knob.

The door smashed into his face and sent him stumbling backward. He tripped and fell over the porcelain frog and landed hard on his back.

A man wearing a black track suit and gas mask barged in. “Okay, nobody move.”

Another man in a gas mask rushed in and pointed a spray can at Danny.

Grandma stepped forward and kneed Track Suit in the groin. He bent double, swearing in a high-pitched rasp.

“Sit on him, Bronson,” Grandma said.

Didn’t I tell you. You can’t help but want to hug her. She is such a tough old bird. But not tough enough. They all succumb to the gas.

Breyona is four hours late when she finally pulls up to Grandma’s house. Once everyone is awakened, they discover that Danny and Wa are missing.

The whole thing was caught on security cameras and they watched it play out on Grandmas computer. The men came there looking for something Danny had. Something they needed badly.  And they got it. They take the unconscious Danny and bring Wa along for leverage.

It looks like the enemy isn’t done with them and it’s time to go back under the mountain.

This time they may not be so lucky.

Eric is at it again. Filling the pages with excitement, danger, intrigue and plenty of humor. This series is so addicting. And it just keeps getting better. He builds this incredible secret society, fills it with amazing creatures, and opens you up to a whole new world. I swear I can hear the sounds of this city and see all the wonders with my own eyes.

It’s a fast read from beginning to end, pulling you along with it. You won’t want to stop until you reach the conclusion, and maybe not even then.

           Still lovin it!

Great news for you. There will be more!

And now for the giveaway. Eric is offering two paperback copies of Undermountain. US/Canada only.

To enter is easy. Just leave your email address and answer this question, “Do you believe bigfoot exists?”

Giveaway ends November 24th.

Not required but I’d love it if you followed me on twitter and my blog

You can find Eric’s contacts below.

Did you like this post? Please hit that tweet and like button! Thank you.

For all of my giveaways go here

About the Author

Eric is an author, songwriter, husband, father, and guitarist. He is the author of Undermountain and Afterlife, the first two entries in YA science fiction series The Undermountain Saga.

Eric loves working out with kettlebells and eating pretty much anything with peanut butter.

Eric has a featured article just published: http://www.kalkion.com/news/1736/scie…

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5408492.Eric_Edstrom

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/ekedstrom

Facebook.com/erickentedstrom

www.ericedstrom.com

Newest release

To order any of these books, just click on the cover.

The photo and comments of Shaggy below, were copied from Eric Kent Edstrom’s blog.

Is This Hanameesovenama (aka Shaggy)?

The brilliant concept artist Cristof Grobleski created this stunning conceptual image of Hanameesovenama, one of the villains from The Undermountain Saga.
Hanameesovenama, of the bigfoot Council of the Strict (click for bigfoot sized view)

View more of Christof’s wonderful artwork here.

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You have to read this book! First Promise by Christine Dougherty

Posted: October 10, 2012 in apocalypse, Creatures, fiction, horror, Paranormal or fantasy, reviews, Romance, Series, Vampires
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Behind this innocent looking book cover is one hell of a great vampire story. Don’t let this cover art fool you!

First Promise (Book One in the Blood Run series)

By Christine Dougherty

First Promise

Add To Goodreads


I nabbed this book for free off of Amazon. The blurb made me curious. I am so glad I did.

First Promise sat in my kindle for a few days, and as I was browsing to see what I might like to read, I happened on this book.  I opened it up, started reading, and a couple of hours later, I was finished. I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t want it to end. I was so pumped up I wanted to hit something! Just kiddin. But I was anxious to read more of this series.

I hopped over to Goodreads to check out Christine Dougherty. I was surprised that I had not friended her. Her books are my kind of reading, wonder how I missed her. Be sure, I friended her now! And I spotted the next two books in the series. They are available on Amazon and now I don’t have to wait to dive back in!

Let me tell ya’ll about this story.

It started in 1983.  News reports and rumors about vicious attacks trickled into the small town of Willow’s End. The townspeople soon start to believe the reports are true as the outbreak escalates, spreading to all corners of the Earth by the end of 83.

It takes a while for the infected to reach Willow’s End.  It’s now 1985. People start to go missing and some are found dead, their bodies ripped apart. Then the worse happens. The vampires get Promise’s parents. Promise, only eighteen years old, now has to protect and care for her nine-year old brother Chance. They are all each other has.

One week later, she loses Chance also. The survivors of the surrounding towns have taken shelter in the high school. It is a secure outpost, like many scattered throughout the country. They should have been safe. Then someone leaves a door open, and the vampires come pouring in from the darkness outside. It’s a bloodbath. So many die. And Chance is bitten. It doesn’t take long for him to change into a bloodsucker.

The others want to stake Chance, but Promise forbids it. As he howls and gnashes his long incisors in her face, Promise cries out to him to stop. He seems to have enough humanity left in him to hear her, and he dives out the window and runs off into the night.

Promise was not  always her name. She changed it from Destiny because she made a “promise” to her little brother. Since she first laid eyes on him as an infant, she always felt like he was her child. Now she has to hunt him down and end his pain.

Her promise, “I’ll fix everything. Until the day I rest in my grave, I will look for him.”

Now she shares a room with her horse, Ash, and her friend Lea, a quiet, shy girl, head-over-heels in love with Mark, who is hopelessly in love with Promise. Quite the pickle they are in. Promise has no interest in Mark besides friendship and they all manage to remain close, looking out for each other.

Then a newcomer arrives. A handsome young man, several years older than Promise. They seem drawn to each and not just because Peter has a horse also. The stories going around that he’s half-and-half are true. He has been bitten and survived, unchanged. The fact that his dreams are filled with a lust for blood will remain his secret.

Okay, I have to stop here. It is really going to get cranking now.

This little jewel is screaming at me to keep telling you more.

I am so glad there are two more books in this series. I have fallen hard for Promise and Peter, along with Lea and Mark. There are some periphery characters I like also and they help keep the story flowing and make it plausible.

I love how the author describes Promises’s feelings about vampires. They echo my own, and I’ve never seen it mentioned before.

“It still felt weird on her lips and in her ears. Vampires. The word was squirmy and old-fashioned and almost… embarrassing.”

There is one other moment in the story where this happens. It is like the author knows how I feel. It has to do with Peter and Promise, and what she discovers about his life before the outbreak. See if you catch what I mean. It’s like the author read my mind.

This would be a great read for young adult and more mature readers.

I’ve only touched on this story. There is so much in store for you. You have to read First Promise!

 

5 for 5 plus a pinch more because I don’t have to wait for the next two books. They are available now!

My review of Two Riders (Book Two in the Blood Run Series) is coming soon!

About Christine Dougherty and where to find her.

Christine Dougherty

Christine Dougherty is at home in South Jersey with a husband, dog, and two cats. She has published short stories in The Absent Willow Review, Necrotic Tissue, Fiction at Work, and Niteblade.

Christine’s greatest influences are Stephen King, Margaret Atwood, Anne Tyler, Dean Koontz, Wally Lamb and a fascination with the scarier aspects of life, be they paranormal or criminal.

Christine writes in the genres of horror, paranormal, and psychological thriller and is never happier than when she is tackling the undead, the walking dead, werewolves, vampires, zombies, ghosts, aliens, spooky scenes, scary characters, psychics, demons, devils, and quirky heroes and heroines.

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To purchase the Blood Run Trilogy click on the images below.

Scary Good Stories. Tis the season ya know!

Posted: October 5, 2012 in Book Promos, Creatures, fiction, giveaways, horror, Paranormal or fantasy, reviews, Short stories and collections, suspense
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I just recently discovered this new author.

CRAWLSPACE


Fooling around on your wife can be hazardous to your health.

Just ask Tom.

He’s a man who has a lot to juggle: a frustrated wife, a secret new girlfriend, and the unpleasant task of trying to keep his deteriorating farmhouse from falling down around him.

Now with his wife out-of-town for the week, Tom is eager to get busy under the covers with his beautiful new lover – but first there’s something he has to finish up…in the CRAWLSPACE.

This thrilling, full-length short story is a hair-raising adventure for cheating husbands, cheated-on wives, and everyone in between.

My review

Tired of being nagged repeatedly by his wife, Tom finally gets around to spreading the lime underneath their old house.  He assures her that by the time she returns next week, he will have it finished and the house will be protected from moisture. After being used as a fall guy at work and losing his job, he really can’t afford to hire someone, so it’s up to him.

It’s a given that Tom is a jerk. A big one. That’s why he finds himself trapped under the house.  With his wife gone for the week and no neighbors in screaming distance, he’s in a heap of trouble.

Warning

If you’re claustrophobic this book will have you squirming.

Not a long book. Took me about an hour and a half to finish, minus some interruptions. But in that time, I was suffering from distress. I felt stuck, like the walls were closing in. Ever had tunnel vision? That’s how I felt. I could imagine how cold and dank it was. How dark and tight. Not to mention all the creepy crawlers under there. I hate spiders, ick!

Crawlspace freaked me out. If you like a story that makes you squirm, I recommend this one.

c

Gave this 4 spiders . Scary good!

I just started reading another book by Evans, Whatever Possessed You? and it’s looking really good so far! It’s about…Wait, I’ll tell you about it in my next review

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Whatever Possessed You?


A strange encounter leaves Gerard Faust a changed man. Now with sanity slipping away, he finds himself caught in a race against time to uncover what happened that night – before it possesses him completely.

My review

Struggling author Gerard Faust never thought his trip to the book store would go down the way it did. He’s approached by a scruffy young man asking for his help. The man hands him a scrap of old parchment and tells him to read it. It’s in a language unknown to Gerard and he politely declines, but the man insists it’s to be read aloud. That’s the only way it could be understood. So Gerard reads it aloud.  Maazo Maazo…

Gerard feels something enter him, nestling deep inside. The stranger runs off and Gerard writes him off as disturbed, feeling surprisingly good after the odd encounter.

Now he’s writing like a man obsessed, or possessed. He types until his fingers ache, with no memory of what he’s written. Are the words even his own?

He has stopped taking care of himself, neglects his supportive wife and young daughter,  and is experiencing missing time. Something has control of his mind and body.

He may be writing that coveted ”best seller”, but what is he writing?

I love stories about authors. Even in fiction I love to hear about their thoughts and writing processes. I just hope this story is all fiction. Wouldn’t want to pick up a book and run into this problem.

I enjoy stories that start off innocently and slowly pull you into the abyss. This book gets darker and darker and I feel sorry for Gerard. You hope it won’t end badly for him, but it’s probably not in the cards with a last name like Faust.

Like a relentless,suspense? I recommend you get Whatever Possessed You? and  ride the ride.

 Gave this 4 for creepiness.

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.

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You can find all of Evans books here .

Evans Light

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Free October 6th and 7th! MACTUS: Book Two in the Light-Bearer Series

Posted: October 1, 2012 in Book Promos, fiction, giveaways, Paranormal or fantasy, Series
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Emily Guido is giving away Mactus: Book Two in her Light-Bearer series on Amazon. You can get this awesome book for FREE this weekend on Saturday and Sunday, October 6th and 7th.

Click here to get your free copy this weekend only!

Mactus (The Light-Bearer Series, Book 2)

Here is a taste of MACTUS!

Suddenly, Charmeine started to become a little scared and flesh began to crawl.

Sandra went into the bathroom to finish changing her pants and shut the door.

Charmeine opened up the door to the terrace, letting the breeze cool her.  She walked to the railing and felt odd with blackness all around her.

Instantly, she felt someone there with her.  The house alarms started going off.  She started to run inside.

A man came from the shadows into the moonlight.   He grabbed her hands back to the stone railing.  Charmeine’s hands began to spark.  She struggled but he was strong and held her two wrists with one hand.

The man had long black hair, black eyes with pearl white skin.  He wore a black double-breasted waistcoat with brass buttons and tails.  A white ruffle was coming out of the top of his jacket and sleeves.  His black trousers were tucked into black riding boots.

Charmeine could hear men shouting orders in Romanian below on the ground.  The castle security knew the perimeter had been broken.  Her hands were sparking but it was ineffective because she couldn’t get out of his grasp.

The man’s mouth went to Charmeine’s neck and hissed in an English accent, “I do not have long my sweet.  So I need you to give a warning to your group of outlaws.  The Elder Council knows about all of you.  Each of you will end up on the ‘Altar of Judgment.’  However, you are very sweet my dear.  I could be persuaded to change the harsh punishment for your little revolutionaries if you come with me willingly?”

Charmeine said, “NEVER!  You have to be joking!”

He said, into her ear, “You, my dear are even more beautiful than the last time I saw you… I did not think it possible.  Ah, your body will please me well.”

He touched her arm and she jerked it away, but he was still holding her wrists like a vice grip.  He said, “And you smell so good.”

Charmeine said sarcastically, “It’s called ‘soap’!  Haven’t you ever used it before?  You filthy piece of…”

The man growled gripping her throat.

Charmeine felt his fang on her skin ready to bite her.  She cringed at the thought of it.

Out of the blue, from across the terrace, Sandra ran and threw a full body kick to his head.  He stumbled back releasing Charmeine.

Then Sandra laid a precision punch to his face and stomach at the same time. She whipped around giving him a scissor kick to his mid-section.

Charmeine looked with awe while the tiny Sandra jumped up and gave him a huge swiping kick to the jaw, smacking him hard into the railing.

The man began to growl lounging at Sandra.

Charmeine threw herself in front of Sandra bearing her sparking hands in front of her.

He gave Sandra a deadly stare and hissed angrily, “You are going to be sorry for that bitch!”  The dark man growled deeply with his eyes turning completely black.

Then he looked
at Charmeine’s charged up hands and composed himself.  He dressed down his jacket and said, “Oh, another one!  How delightful, the Elder Council won’t have fight over you Charmeine.”

She was taken-aback he knew her real name.

He said, “Oh, I see you still do not remember, what a shame, we could have reminisced.  After all we shared such a loving… intimate moment.  Ah… you cannot remember, can you?  Poor little Charmeine.”

He stood very close to her looking like a cat ready to strike.  He hissed, “My luscious Charmeine, I am Pascal.”

Charmeine’s face went white.  She asked, “Pascal as in Thomas’ Father?”

Pascal said in a sing-song kind of voice nodding his head, “Tsk, tsk… Charmeine… we knew each other in a much different way.  Your body against mine was divine.  I have been waiting to see you again.”

Charmeine’s stomach was turning flip-flops shaking her head and yelled, “No! No!” while white light was amassing in her hands and wind starting to blow.

Sandra yelled in disgust, “You pig!  Get away from her!” and her hands began to spark with blue flames.

Unbeknownst to Charmeine and Sandra …Tabbruis, Shane, Neal, Thomas and Dmitri had rushed into the doorway of the terrace.  The men started to spring at Pascal, but Dmitri held all of them back.  Dmitri saw electricity and wind flying around Charmeine.  Tabbruis was still fighting to get loose and Dmitri yelled, “She will not die!  Tabbruis believe!”

Sandra gave Pascal massive side-kicking blow to the chin which swirled him around.  Sandra’s hands burned with blue fire said, “Let’s give him some serious damage, Mom!”

As Pascal’s hand went to his face, he raised his eyebrows and laughed, “Oh ‘Mom?’  I didn’t notice a resemblance.”

Charmeine, too smart to give anything away about her or her family said, “Not the brightest bulb in the package, huh?”

He hissed at Charmeine.

She held one finger at him charged with a large electric current glowing brightly lighting up the whole side of the Castle.  Wind was rushing around Charmeine like a lazy tornado.  She began to hover off of the ground.

Charmeine said in a loud booming voice, “One touch of my finger and you will die Pascal.  Go back to your Elder Council and tell them I will bring them down to the ‘Altar of Righteous Judgment’ in Heaven.  I will send them to Hell where they be with Lucifer chained in the Lake of Torment and Fire until the end of time.  Your arrogance will be your undoing.  Bide your time, you black devil, because you will die and suffer for eternity!”

Charmeine threw a flash of lightning across and in front of Pascal’s body.  His eyes flew open in fear.

In that instant Pascal, turned laughing with a sinister tone and vanished.

Charmeine landed on the ground and the wind died down.  Her hands returned to normal and she was breathing heavy.

Sandra’s hands still sparking rushed up to the railing and hollered, “And next time, leave the Little Bo Peep outfit at home.  Didn’t you ever hear of the GAP!  It’s time to get clothes in this century!”

Charmeine and Sandra quickly grabbed each other hugging and laughing hard and patting each other on the back.  Sandra joking around yelled, “That was so cool!  Can we do that again?  That was awesome for sure!”

The Light-Bearer Series by Emily Guido

Charmeine: Book One

Charmeine (The Light-Bearer, #1)

Now available. Click here to purchase.

Can romance develop between a heavenly Light-Bearer and a hellish vampire Blood-Hunter?

Tabbruis is a Blood-Hunter, he drinks blood to survive. Over millennia Tabbruis has wandered the Earth alone aimlessly living through many historical events.

Charmeine just came to the Earth in 1997. Little did she know her destiny was to be Queen of all the Light-Bearers?

When Tabbruis meets Charmeine the attraction is immediate and passionate. They are polar opposites and clash together in a strongly romantic and dramatic way. When she meets Tabbruis, Charmeine’s powers as a Light-Bearer, one who throws lightning, is triggered and grows exponentially.

Charmeine and Tabbruis soon find out they were made by God for each other; however, on the day God cast Lucifer out of Heaven, they were split up by some mistake. Charmeine sacrificed herself to save her Tabbruis but they were sent to Earth as total opposites and in different times. Tabbruis never remembered Heaven, Charmeine or their child. Until he met Charmeine, he did not know he was the King of Darkness and destined to be her Husband on Earth as he was in Heaven.

Once Tabbruis and Charmeine proclaim their love for one another, they have to battle their way to freedom from the evil forces on Earth.

MACTUS: Book Two

Mactus (The Light-Bearer Series, Book 2)

Now available. Click here to purchase.

As Charmeine and Tabbruis unite to proclaim their love for one another it becomes apparent that a new and dark task has presented itself for the lovers to overcome. Even with the beautiful union between Tabbruis and Charmeine, destiny will surely reveal itself.

Being the Queen of Light, Charmeine is fated to bring light and love into the world, but yet her personal life can in no way interfere. Devoted to Tabbruis and her son Shane, it is all she can do to focus only on them. As the rule of engagement commences, she must first step up to the plate
and bring forth a change that will only start an endless feud that has already been acclaimed centuries into existence.

As King of Darkness, Tabbruis has been placed in his position for a purpose. His love for Charmeine has only brought peace and clarity to his existence. With his family now back together, he must now stand against his own kind, not only to protect what is right but also to protect the world from the impending darkness.

Family bonds only strengthen the ties. Shane introduces his proclaimed love into the picture and in a jaw dropping course of events love is tested and the family is torn apart. They say that love can span the planes of existence, but can this family hold tight until the end and keep it together
just long enough to face forces of darkness that is so hell-bent on destroying the world?

Carly Ann Wallace
Acclaimed Author of “Southern Summer” and “Concrete Angel”

ACCENDO: Book Three

Accendo (The Light-Bearer Series Book 3)

Now available. Click here to purchase.

Reality throws our star-crossed lovers, Tabbruis and Charmeine, for a spin as they now are faced with the evil lurking at their door step. Family must hold strong or pay the ultimate price.

Charmeine must choose to prove her strength and strive for her destiny or watch her entire life crumble around her. Lost in painful emotions, Charmeine has to sort out her husband’s wavering faith in her and her abilities. Trust can build nations as lack of trust can only bring down the world of one unsuspecting heart.

Rekindled love between Charmeine and Tabbruis has been tried and tested and now will become the support beam for the next revelation. With the most powerful evil knocking at their door, Charmeine and her family now will be tested like never before. Will faith and love will hold it together?
Unimaginable forces are to be fought with the Elder Council, hunting not only Charmeine but Tabbruis as well. He broke the rules and now must pay the ultimate price for allowing the Queen of Light to live.

A tragic loss sends a shock wave of pain and sorrow through the family. When everyone thought it couldn’t get any worse it unobjectively does but there is always a silver lining. With enough faith in their family, secrets begin reveal a new dawn for Charmeine and her family. New days are coming and a fresh start is on the horizon.

SEDITIOUS: Book Four

Seditious

The Fourth Novel in “The Light-Bearer Series” is “Seditious.”  This book is the continuation of Tabbruis and Charmeine’s romantic and turbulent love story and mission on Earth to battle Lucifer’s minions!
Tabbruis and Charmeine’s life at the ‘Castle Charmeine’ is blissful until reality of the ruling the Elder Council Blood-Hunters hits them in the face.
In “Seditious” Tabbruis and Charmeine find that their love is tested in the most heinous way possible.
Then, as a one-two punch, Lord Cromwell, one of the most deadly and powerful Blood-Hunter ever has escaped the Elder Council Prison.  Lord Cromwell sends his beautiful agent to cause trouble for Tabbruis and Charmeine and wants something that they have!
Charmeine runs away from the ‘Castle Charmeine’ to forget the betrayal of her most beloved husband Tabbruis.
Can Tabbruis win Charmeine back?  How can he make her understand?

RANSOM” Book Five

Ransom (The Light-Bearer, #5)

“Ransom” is the Fifth Novel in “The Light-Bearer Series” which is the continuation of Tabbruis and Charmeine’s romantic and turbulent love story and mission on Earth to battle Lucifer’s minions!

Tabbruis and Charmeine’s life at the ‘Castle Charmeine’ is blissful until the reality of ruling the Hellish Blood-Hunters’ Elder Council hits them in the face.  Then, as a one-two punch, Lord Cromwell, one of the most deadly and powerful Blood-Hunters on Earth has escaped the Elder Council Prison! Lord Cromwell sends a beautiful agent to cause trouble for Tabbruis and Charmeine! He also desperately wants something Tabbruis has!

There are more surprises in store for the inhabitants of the ‘Castle Charmeine’.

Will Tabbruis and Charmeine, two star-crossed and ill-fated lovers ever be at rest? Could this mean the end of harmony for Tabbruis and Charmeine’s family?

CONUMDRUM the sixth book in the series coming in 2013.

About Emily Guido

Image of Emily Guido

Emily Guido is a very New Paranormal Romance Author.  She was inspired to start writing “The Light-Bearer Series” because one day she got an idea of two characters of light and dark who needed to have their epic romance story told.  Not ever dreaming a week later she would have over a 100,000 words written.  When Emily writes, it is similar to you or I watching a movie.  She pictures the characters in her head going through vivid descriptions of each scene.  There are so many nuances going through her mind that she cannot type fast enough. She has written five  novels, “Charmeine” “Mactus” “Accendo” “Seditious” and “Ransom”  The sixth novel in “The Light-Bearer Series.” is entitled “Conundrum” and will be released early 2013.

Where to find/follow Emily:

Website: http://authoremilyguido.com/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5764521.Emily_Guido

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/Emily__Guido

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thelightbearernovelist

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Winners! Wormwood by DH Nevins

Posted: October 1, 2012 in angels, fiction, giveaways, Paranormal or fantasy, Romance, Series, Winners!
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I’m not going to keep you waiting , so here are the winners of Wormwood by D.H. Nevins

Paper back winner

Wormwood   Wulfie 76

Winners of e-books

Wormwood   Sam

Wormwood   Elizabeth

Thanks to everyone for entering and for your entertaining comments.

I will be emailing you shortly and forwarding your information to the author.

Thanks so much Danielle. I loved hosting this giveaway for you!

To purchase your copy of Wormwood just click on the image below.

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A Murder of Crows or a Murdering Crow? The Nest by Ben Lokey

Posted: September 29, 2012 in Creatures, fiction, horror, reviews, suspense
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I have a book I want to CROW about!!

The Nest by Ben Lokey

The Nest

Monday: The beginning.

It’s finally moving day. Mark, Lanie, and her young son David are moving into their new house. Since Mark and Lanie aren’t married, it took a while longer for the loan to go through but now they are starting their new life together.

Mark doesn’t feel ready for marriage, so he feels buying the house together is a commitment of sorts. Lanie feels that buying it is either going to bring them closer together or break them apart. Either way, it’s something at least.

The house is beautiful and the view of the Pacific Ocean is to die for. There’s one slight problem. Mark keeps finding dead birds, their bodies torn apart and scattered around under the only tree on their pristine front lawn, a very tall palm tree, it’s lean trunk stretching almost to heaven.

Something is killing these creatures in a calculated and vicious way. Thus begins Mark’s quest to solve the mystery.

Old man Cauffield, his neighbor, gives him a huge clue. His sweet german shepherd Maxine is a victim of the murderer. She lost her eyes to the tenant in the penthouse of the palm tree.

Seems there’s a crow’s nest in the top of the tree and the bird has claimed his territory.

I’ve always been a little creeped out by crows. Think about it. They call a group of them a “Murder of Crows.” They are very big, very loud, and very bold. It’s said they are the harbinger’s of death. Enough said.

This war between Mark and the crow starts slowly but by the end, five days later, it’s a battle  for survival.

Everything Mark tries to rid them of the crow fails and fails with deadly and disastrous results.

You have Mark on one side and the crow on the other, both claiming the same territory and both protecting their families by any means.

Even when you think you know what’s coming, it still shocks you and makes you cringe.

And the crow! He has staked his claim and isn’t going anywhere. He is cunning, determined and extremely deadly.

The Nest made me think of a favorite movie called Of Unknown Origin starring Peter Weller. While his wife and child are away for the weekend he is terrorized by a huge rat. The final face-off in the end is just fantastic.

The last two days in this book are like that movie. The action is relentless. You don’t have time to relax as the war escalates in intensity and frequency. Whew, are you in for it when you read this one.

Take some Stephen King, add some Dean Koontz and John Saul, and you have a very scary good book in The Nest.

  Very Scary Good!!

You can find Ben here:

Goodreads

Website

About Ben Lokey

Ben Lokey is a member of The Screen Actors Guild (SAG), The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), Actor’s Equity Association (AEA), and the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA). Ben has a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in dance and choreography, and a Master of Fine Arts Degree in Directing, from the University of Utah.
For 20 years Ben lived in Los Angeles working in the film and television industry with such stars as John Travolta, Ben Vereen, Francis Coppola, George Burns, Cher, George Lucas, Danny Kaye, Martin Landau, Lucille Ball, Brooke Shields and Sylvester Stallone. While in New York, Ben studied acting at the H.B. Studios, under Herbert Berghoff. In Los Angeles, he studied at the Actor’s Studio, and with Martin Landau and Jeff Corey.
Ben began his professional career as a principal dancer with Ballet West and a soloist with the Pennsylvania Ballet. He went on to star in  A Chorus Line on Broadway, and danced with Ann Margret in Las Vegas. He starred in the film Breaking and was a dancer in the films Staying Alive and Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. He danced with Michael Jackson in his videos Thriller and Captain EO, and with Olivia Newton John in her video Lets Get Physical. Ben has choreographed, directed and performed in film, television, video, commercials, opera, ballet and theatre.  He choreographed the New Zealand national touring production of the hit musical Chicago, as well as performing the role of Amos in that production. Ben directed and choreographed a production of Singin’ In The Rain, in Salt Lake City, Utah, as well as performing the famous Gene Kelly role in that production. Ben directed and choreographed two new productions for the world famous Casino De Monte Carlo, on the French Riviera, co-produced and performed in a production of Tennessee Williams Night of the Iguana, for the Mississippi Repertory Theatre Company, and produced, directed and performed in My Way, a tribute to Frank Sinatra, at Casino Magic. And he directed and choreographed The Rat Pack Is Back, a tribute to Frank, Sammy, Joey and Dean, presently running in Las Vegas and touring nationally. He will soon be seen performing the role of John Adams in the musical production, 1776.
Ben began writing at the suggestion of film director/writer Francis Ford Coppola.
He presently has five books in print, available on Amazon.com.
Beauty Possessed
Beneath The Butterfly Tree
Joe’s Treasure
The Nest
The Adventures of Dolph Heyliger

To purchase, just click on the images.

I purchased this book for free on Amazon. My thoughts are my own.

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Interview/ Giveaway of Dark Passage /Paperbacks and Ebooks/Contest is over

Posted: June 10, 2012 in fiction, giveaways, Interview, Paranormal or fantasy
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 Dark Passage

Dark Passage by M.L. Woolley
Dark Passage (Chosen, #1)
by M.L. Woolley(Goodreads Author)

 
5 of 5 stars false
 
UPDATE!!!
To all that have already entered this contest, you are now also entered in a giveaway that includes the first 3 paperback copies of Rebecca York’s Moon Series. A werewolf series. And if I get 40 entries, the First Place  Winner will also receive a paperback copy of Blood Trinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love. The contest has been extended until June 23rd at 12:00 A.M.
WOO HOO!!
I have some goodies to giveaway today along with an interview that the author graciously agreed to do. The giveaway includes 30 ebooks, 2 paperbacks/US and 1 paperback/International. That’s right!  This little blog is rockin today! To enter the contest just follow the directions provided below the interview. This contest runs from June 10 – June23 so lets get started!
 
L.      Thanks for being my guest today Michele. Would you like to start by telling us a little about yourself and how you started writing? 
M.  Thank you so much for having me as a guest today Laura! Well, I am 43 years old and a mother of two adult girls, one of whom is my model for the book covers. My husband and I live on a small horse farm in Western Washington and operate a riding program for special needs children. My life passion has been helping people recover from trauma and go on to live fulfilled lives. As you might guess, I am a social worker/counselor and I work for a government agency with special needs people and do free counseling on the side. In my spare time I love to write and fit some of the people I have worked with over the years into my books. Once you work with someone who has suffered immense tragedy, or worked with people who have struggled with life, they become a part of you. Their voices will always be in my head and their faces etched on the hidden corners of my mind. Their personalities live on and their memory is never forgotten. Writing is healing in many ways and I can give good endings to the ones who didn’t survive the brutality of life.
L.  Do you have a secret weapon that helps with writer’s block?
M.  Hmm – When I write I am very disciplined and will sit at my desk all night and force myself to write a minimum number of words. I enjoy going out on the deck and looking at the stars and then think of people I have known. There is always a story to be told and creativity comes when you least expect it. It’s also good to go for a drive and go someplace relaxing. Sometimes I sit on the patio at Barnes and Nobel and just watch people. I try to imagine them in situations and take mental snapshots of how they would react. Sometimes, nothing comes and it takes days for my mind to clear. When I write, I spend many, many hours researching various things that I write about. It’s all quite a daunting task to take a book from start to finish but I never give up on a goal and push on until I finish.
L.  What was your inspiration for writing Dark Passages?
M.  The past couple of years I have had experiences with the supernatural. I was never a believer in ghosts but after my mom died I learned there was more to come after death. We would hear footsteps upstairs when we were in bed at night, pictures were moved(of her and I) from their places and strange things would happen. I think in her own way she was telling me she was going to be okay and not to worry about her.
There is a very old Victorian not far from where we live. It’s set on a hill and underneath it are tunnels from an army base that used to exist in the 1920″s. They were used to hide supplies and missiles were stored there. The house belonged to a sea-captain and his family. The wife was said to have been friends with the infamous “Dr. Hazzard” who murdered dozens of people in her sanitarium a block from the house. I enjoy history and the paranormal so I explored the house one day when they were having an estate sale. In the attic were various books on witchcraft and dark arts. There were also some crazy paintings hanging all in a row. They were crudely made and I imagined that the faces somehow were the avatars for the souls murdered in the valley. The house has been said to be very haunted and photos have been taken where faces(not living) were seen peering out. We have some photos and blew them up to see what was really there. They were misty appearing and had no substance to them. I have always had a wild imagination (I suppose that was my saving grace out of my own tragedy and on to a better life) and the stories came to me.
L.  Can you tell us something about the next book, maybe give us a peek?
M.  The next book takes up where the last one ended but is very different. It takes the characters into the underworld, as Lisa realizes the evil she has done and decides to go into the veil to find David. I would say it is a Dystopian and has as many twists and turns as part 1. The characters are further developed and new ones are added into the mix. My imagination was working overtime for this one lol.
Here is an excerpt from the book:
Lisa made her way quietly down the dank tunnel, the sound of wet moss squishing down under her converse shoes. The flickering light of her flashlight made shadows on the earthen walls and the drip of water could be heard further down. Her eyes burned but she refused to cry. Crying wouldn’t change the past and it wouldn’t do David any good.
She came to know David at a party. His winsome smile and the way he nodded to her as she glanced over at him. There was an aspect of him that had an undercurrent of danger, recklessness even, that aroused her senses. He was strikingly handsome and his blue eyes smoldered seductively. He was a man who knew precisely what he wanted and he made it clear that he wanted Lisa.
Lisa paused for a moment, as though to turn around and forget the madness. Her body betrayed her and buckled beneath her grief. She crumpled to the damp ground and pulled her knees to her chest, as though to shut out the pain. Finding the old book today had rocked her world. When Ivy started reading it out loud the words spun around in Lisa’s head.
There is a great veil that will be opened when the events are put into motion. Those who are living can cross over and find the tree of life. With the precious sap the tree produces, the living can renew the dead and bring them back across the veil. To complete the transformation the ancient alchemist must be found and then prophesy can be fulfilled. Beware that there is risk of never leaving the way of the dead should you die on that side. Take with you one from the other world to shield you from the evil. You will find what you need within the book.
She wanted to run back to the others in the cavern but a battle raged in her mind.and heart . Lisa put her hands over her ears but her thoughts cut into her mind like arrows. Images of David flashed across her mind like a movie. She remembered the night he grabbed her and pressed her hard against the wall. She had stiffened, clenched and protested, but he held her tightly as though to never let go. The weight of his body crushed her and she felt suddenly awakened. Passion was ignited and it was as though they became one. He possessed her, almost savagely, and tore down all the barriers in her mind. She was vulnerable to him. He had seen deep into her being and accepted her for what she was. To be loved when there is nothing in it for the other person but hope, that maybe someday they could be loved.
The hot tears she had been holding back rolled down her face and there was a terrible pain in the pit of her stomach. She felt as though she couldn’t catch her breath as the sobs came hard. Lisa hated herself for what she had done to David. When he needed her most, she walked away and left him to sacrifice his life for her own. She realized after he was gone that she had thrown away the most precious thing in her life. The one that she had least expected to fall in love with, became the man of her dreams.
Now it was time to take some chances and risk losing her very life. It meant closing her eyes and leaping into the void and facing the horror on the other side. Nightmares had plagued her and she had heard screams of dying people in immense pain. Their eyes were pleading for someone to help them as flesh fell from their bones. Smoke surged around the charred remains of bodies. The hungry flames glowed red-hot in the darkness of the night. In the shadow of the ghoulish light she saw David. He was looking at her with brooding eyes and she could feel what he was feeling. Nothing terrified Lisa more than losing the only one who made her life worth living. He was the first thought in her head when she got up in the morning and the last thing she thought of when she went to bed at night.
Lisa shivered as she pushed her body up from the cold ground. She knew what she must do, and was prepared to die if need be to make right the wrong she had done.
L. Is there anything else you would like to add?
M.  To those of you out there struggling with life or not sure where you are going. Keep pushing forward and never give up on yourself because there is light at the end of the tunnel. Dreams do come true.
 
Fun shorts
butterflies or dragonflies:
Hmm – tough one. Dragonflies have always seemed mystical to me and held promise of some land far away, while butterflies make me think of the struggle of each person and how they emerge from the problems a beautiful butterfly. Butterflies-definitely.
 
dogs or cats:
Cats have always been a part of my life. When I was alone as a child they were my friends, dolls to dress up, comforters and constant companions. I have an  old cat my mom gave me many years ago. He knows when I am sad or ill and curls up by me and purrs for hours. Cats are a treasure. I love all animals but cats are #1.
 
ebooks or print books:
I love to have shelves full of books, however, ebooks allow me to read on the go. I would have to say ebooks:)
 
elevators or stairs:
Haha! If I am trying to lose weight then the stairs, but if not I take the elevator.
 
Sweet or salty snacks:
I would say salty. I like to eat green apples with table salt:)
 
A huge thank you to Michele for such an insightful interview and a peek into her next book.
 
And now for the giveaway. There are 30 ebooks, 2 paperbacks/US and 1 paperback/International to be given away!  All that is required is to leave me your email in the comment box so that I have a way to contact the winners. It would be nice if  you were to follow my blog and follow Michele and I on twitter but it is not a requirement to be entered. You can follow me from my side bar and you can follow Michele here:
 
You can find her on Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads .com/author/show/5767871.M_L_Woolley
For updates about Underworld – Book 2 of the Dark Passage Series:
 
For my review of Dark Passage – Book 1
 
 
 

If you would like to purchase Dark Passage – Chosen just click on the image:)

Good Luck!