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Sunday, January 29, 2017

Soul Journey by Miranda Shanklin Audiobook review

Really enjoyed this one!



My Review:

Anissa is a high school student, cheerleader, dating a hot football player, everything's good. Her parents' force her, more or less, to meet the new neighbors. Immediately she's attracted to Chase and feels a closeness to his sister Penelope. Everything in her life gets a little strange after that.

This is the first book by Miranda Shanklin I've read or listened too and I really enjoyed it. She builds believable characters who aren't perfect yet are strong enough to face adversity. I read a lot of YA fantasish books and the plot and concept are one of a kind. The story ends with a nice segway into the next book in the series without leaving it at a dreaded cliffhanger.

A fun read with great pacing!

Amazon/Audible

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

The Monster Upstairs by Elle Klass Cover Reveal

Book 2 in the Bloodseeker Series (St. Augustine Novellas) will release March 7th.
Blurb:

A mysterious, blinding white light, followed by a vision, haunts Mandy until something unthinkable happens. She comes home from school to find her mother badly injured. On instinct, through her tears, forces from within surge through her fingertips into her mother, giving her a second wind. She urges Mandy to take a note and leave, but she can't -- not yet.

Her hot, dark-haired, muscle-bound neighbor, Joel, finds her and drags her crying towards the door. What awaits them on the other side sends them back into the house, where she learns Joel isn't who she thought. Her entire life gets turned upside down as her destiny sends her and Joel deep into the world of Bloodseekers and other supernatural creatures.

#TMU or #thevampiresnextdoor

Sunday, January 22, 2017

Love is Darkness by Caroline Hanson Audiobook Review

I bought this book as a whispersync deal and am not disappointed. It's a good story.



My Review:

I didn't love this book but I did enjoy it.The main character Val is tied up in the supernatural world as her father is a vampire hunter. As an adult she's in London and comes upon an ancient powerful vampire. Her attraction to him seems to confuse her. One minute she wants him and the next not so much. They are drawn to each other in a situation that can't happen.

Val isn't exactly a normal human either. She's a little something more and I did enjoy her character and think the author did an excellent job building her character.

I enjoyed the supernatural aspect of the story but it was a little more romancey than I like and less suspenseful. It was a great story and lovers of paranormal romance would really enjoy it. I prefer a little more thriller in stories I read.

The author has a fun way with words and uses some great descriptions. Narrator Emily Woo Zeller did a good performance. Her pacing was smooth and characters distinguishable.

Amazon/Audible

Patchwork Pieces by D.B. Martin Audiobook Review

I have finished the Patchwork People Trilogy and loved it all. Each book is amazing but book 3 really took the cake and what a fabulous ending!



My Review:

After listening to the entire series I hate to say too much for fear of giving something away. I'll keep it simple, Mr. Juste is still seeking the answers to untangle the web of his past but it continues to constrict him tighter than ever.

Be ready for plot twists extreme. Everything you mighg have thought while listening to the series forget it. It takes a lot of talent, skill and an amazing imagination to write something this good. Kudos to D.B. Martin.

This series is a must!

Amazon/Audible

Lori Beasley Bradley


About the Author: Lori Beasley Bradley was born in 1958 in Benton, IL, a small town in southern Illinois. Her mother was from that area and her father from Alabama. She has a great love for the South and has traveled extensively and studied the histories of most of those states. Her book, The Legend of the Swamp Witch takes place in southern Louisiana one of her favorite destinations. She is currently working on her second novel about a Kentucky girl who finds herself practicing prostitution in the Old West after the Civil War. Book 1 of The Soiled Dove Sagas, The Ruby Queen, was published in February 2015. Book 2, The Queen of the Cow Towns will be available later in 2015. The Soiled Doves Saga: Book 1: The Ruby Queen 41kjTnvItFL._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg 
Warning: For Mature Adult Audiences. Contains language and actions some may deem offensive. Sexually explicit content. Ranges from MF to Multiple partners scenes. Continuation storyline. In book one of Soiled Dove: The Ruby Queen is the story of young Mattie Wallace, who must make a living on her own in 1870. She meets a woman who shows her a way. Two women from different upbringings become friends in a time when the strength of a person’s will was the only thing that kept them going. Betrayal, heartbreak, and shunned, Mattie works to find her place in a time when men set all the rules. Paperback Amazon Link:  Book 2: The Queen of the Cow Towns Warning: For Mature Adult Audiences 18+. Contains language and actions some may deem offensive. Sexually explicit content. MF

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In book two of the Soiled Dove Sagas: Roxie learns that love is not enough to survive the bitter winters in the mountains, when it costs her everything she holds dear. With Mattie’s help, she moves forward, putting her life back together, piece by piece. As times change around them, she and Mattie continue to survive the only way they know how—together. But just as Roxie settles back into her life in the Trade, her past returns, opening wounds she doesn’t know how to close. Losing her heart once almost broke her. Will she be strong enough to keep it from happening again? Or has the path she chose to take in life left her doomed only to have happiness in her reach, then taken away by the callousness others? Join in the journey as two women brought together by circumstances learn to survive in a time when everyday life was a trial even for the fittest. Paperback Amazon Link:  Book 3: Crown Queens
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Roxie Edwards travels to Prescott, Arizona, to console her best friend Mattie Kirby after the redhead looses her baby and her husband, Joshua, leaves her. After Joshua sells their house and threatens their jobs with the mining company the woman realize they will have to return to the Trade to survive. Roxie has always dreamed of owning her own Palace, like the one Madam Ophelia owned in St. Louis. With a nearby military post, miners, ranchers, and politicians in the Territorial capitol, what better place than Prescott? The women open The Victoriana, an elite brothel where no expense is spared to entertain their clients. Like their mentor, Madam Ophelia, the women throw picnics and parties for the less fortunate in town. Some on the rowdy Whiskey Row in Prescott are not happy with The Victoriana, however. Threats are made in this final installment of The Soiled Dove Sagas. Buy Link Amazon 

****GIVEAWAY**** Buy any two paperbacks in the Soiled Doves Saga and get the third one signed and for free! US only please, INT will get the ebook. Please sent proof of your purchase and information to C.M. Wright at https://www.facebook.com/cmwright.author

Angela M. Bertoli Moonlight Thoughts

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Angela Bertoli is a mother and grandmother residing in Phoenix, AZ. After the death of her husband, 3 years ago, she started pouring her grief out on to paper in the form of poems and prose. Her love for writing began as a child with a passion for reading beautiful words. Being able to put in to words what others are going through helps her readers know they are not alone during their dark times. Sharing stories and emotions has not only assisted her in coping with rough patches on her path, but have opened dialogues for many others about what they’ve been bottling up inside. She writes of love, joy, hope and loss. Her calling in life has been discovered and she has found peace through ink. The transition from wife to widow, mother to grandmother, and accountant to author, has been immense. She is blissfully happy in her new roles and writes daily. This is her first book, but she promises there are many more to
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Blurb: Time is a thief never to be brought to justice, of which we are all victims trying to let go and move on. Prose like wishes on stars, resonating through and through you, making you realize a pinprick of hope is all the light you need to find your way, wherever that may be. Verses that embrace life in all its pain and glory, each sentence a puzzle piece to a beautiful story. Words that will make you lose time, just talking to the moon. Buy Links: http://www.ctupublishinggroup.com/angela-m.-bertoli-.html

Thursday, January 19, 2017

Child of the Night Guild by Andy Peloquin Blog Tour

Vicious, ruthless criminals are made, not born. Child of the Night Guild—an insight into the transformation from innocent child to thief and killer. 


Child of the Night Guild (Queen of Thieves Book 1)
"They killed my parents. They took my name. They imprisoned me in darkness. I would not be broken."
Viola, a child sold to pay her father's debts, has lost everything: her mother, her home, and her identity. Thrown into a life among criminals, she has no time for grief as she endures the brutal training of an apprentice thief. The Night Guild molds an innocent waif into a cunning, agile outlaw skilled in the thieves' trade. She has only one choice: steal enough to pay her debts. 
The cutthroat streets of Praamis will test her mettle, and she must learn to dodge the City Guards or swing from a hangman's rope. But a more dangerous foe lurks within the guild walls. A sadistic rival apprentice, threatened by her strength, is out for blood. 
What hope does one girl have in a world of ruthless men?

Buy Links

Excerpt:

"Are you sure you're doing it right, Seven?"
Seven scrunched her face, concentrating hard. "I'm doing it just like he showed us, Three. See?" She attempted to snatch the purse. 
Three patted the oversized waistcoat Master Velvet had given him.
"I could still feel it. So you're doing something wrong." 
Frustration mounting, Seven tried again, doing exactly as Master Velvet had taught them. Walk toward the mark. Bump into him. Dip two fingers into his pocket to hook the purse. Apologize to the mark and touch him with my free hand. Hide the purse in my palm and hurry away.
He shook his head. "That time, too. I can feel you pulling the purse out when you move away. Maybe you need to do it faster."
"I can't do it faster, Three. Not yet, at least." Seven clenched her fists in frustration.
He held up a hand. "It's okay, Seven. Give it time. You'll get it."
"Here." She threw him the bulging, cloth-stuffed purse. "Let me try again." Even as she tugged the purse free, the look on Three's face told her she'd failed. 
Her friend shrugged. "Still felt it."
Seven ground her teeth. Master Velvet said this is supposed to be easy. So why can't I get it right? 
Three tugged the vest over his head. "Let's give the bump a break for a moment." He pulled a dun-colored cloak around his shoulders. "What say we give the snatch a try?"
Seven nodded. The snatch required timing and dexterity, but she'd grown adept at it. She walked toward Three, brushed against his cloak, and lifted the purse from the hidden pocket, all without breaking stride. 
Three's eyes widened. "Damn, Seven. I didn't feel a thing!"
She beamed. "Well, at least there's one thing I'm good at."
Master Velvet strode up behind her and took her small, muddy hands. "You've got good finger-work, tyro." He ran his calloused hands over her fingers. "They're quick and nimble. With the right training, you could become quite the purse collector."
"Thank you, Master Velvet." She flushed at his praise. It was the first full compliment she'd ever heard pass his lips. 
"Keep it up, Seven. Three." With a nod, he moved to the next pair of tyros.
Three slapped her on the shoulder. "Look at that! You're getting there."
"Yeah. Now if only I could get the bump down properly." She held out her arms. "Here, give me the vest and cloak. You've got to practice, too."
As Three passed her the clothing, Twelve's shout echoed through the Menagerie. "Damn it! You're doing it wrong, you stupid sack of shite."
Two met Twelve's glare without a trace of fear. "How in the Keeper's name can I be doing it wrong, Twelve?" Two was taller than Twelve, though not as broad. "I'm standing here in this vest. You’re supposed to be pulling the damned purse."
"Well…" Twelve faltered, his face reddening. With a snarl, he threw the purse in Two's face and stormed off.
Three snorted. "Looks like he's not doing much better than you are, Seven."
Seven glared at her friend. "That's not saying much for me, you know. With those fat sausage fingers, he can barely fit his hands in the pocket."
"There you go." He gave her a broad grin. "You've got the advantage, at least over him. Just give it time and you'll get better at it."
She rolled her eyes. "Well, let's see how good you are." 
"I'll bet you a peach I can do the bump better than you."
"You're on!"

Reviews:
"Creative, gritty, and beautifully dark...fantasy addicts will love it!" -- Peter Story, author of Things Grak Hates -- http://peterjstory.com/ 
"The fantasy world has a compelling new antihero…the Hunter will terrify and captivate you." - Eve A Floriste, author of Fresh Cut


Author Bio:

I am, first and foremost, a storyteller and an artist--words are my palette. Fantasy is my genre of choice, and I love to explore the darker side of human nature through the filter of fantasy heroes, villains, and everything in between. I'm also a freelance writer, a
book lover, and a guy who just loves to meet new people and spend hours talking about my fascination for the worlds I encounter in the pages of fantasy novels.

Fantasy provides us with an escape, a way to forget about our mundane problems and step into worlds where anything is possible. It transcends age, gender, religion, race, or lifestyle--it is our way of believing what cannot be, delving into the unknowable, and discovering hidden truths about ourselves and our world in a brand new way. Fiction at its very best!


Saturday, January 14, 2017

Ending A Series Procrastination

Since finishing The Monster Upstairs, Book 2 in the Bloodseeker Series my creative mind been playing this horrible procrastination game. 

The next book I have scheduled for release is Baby Girl 7 Prison of the Past in June 2017.  I started the book, wrote a couple thousand words then my mind switched gears on me. Author TL Katt invited me to write a story for her 2017 Winter Thrillz so I wrote the entire story in 3 days. It's my first writing venture into paranormal romance. All that is great but the book won't be released until Dec. 2017. So why write it now? It wasn't my intention but happened.

A tiny plug on TL. She designed the cover for The Monsters Upstairs (cover reveal coming soon) and has done many teasers for me in the past, including a few below and the Zombie Girl cover which she's modifying for the series.

After finishing that story I pulled up Prison of the Past and wrote another thousand words or so and had a great idea for Zombie Girl. A story I wrote for the Once Upon a Zombietale Anthology released almost a year ago. I've had readers inquire about the characters and ask if it will be part of a much larger story or even a series. The characters kept talking and I almost tripled the word count. It looks like Zombie Girl fans are getting a series titled the Zombie Girl. The first book Premonition is being edited along with The Monster Upstairs, Book 2 in the Bloodseeker Series.

I wouldn't call what's going on writer's block. It's more like end of series, saying good bye to Cleo block. She's always been an easy character for me to slip into and write but her story must come to an end and the entire book is in my head but wouldn't come out. It's hard to say goodbye to a loved one and that's how my mind has perceived it so it keeps pushing the story away and bringing others to the front.

Cleo's journey is filled with tears, happiness, sarcasm and the struggle of a young girl who becomes a pretty amazing adult. She isn't perfect and can be a little self-serving but also puts herself in life and death situations for those she loves. The final book takes her life full circle blasting into the only mystery remaining. When I think about it I realize she avoided solving this mystery much as I have avoided writing this final book.


The mystery is one many readers expected when purchasing and reading Book 5 but it wasn't the time. The time has now come for her to put the clues together and go one one last adventure that is filled with self-discovery. My mind is finally ready to write the story because it realizes this is simply the ending to a brand new beginning.


Baby Girl 


Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Patchwork People Book 2 by D.B. Martin Audiobook Review

Fantastic thriller series!



Book Review:

Lawrence closed one case but his life hangs in the balance as more and more of his past comes forward. At the same time he learns answers to secrets swept under the rug. My opinion of Lawrence is I don’t so much like him but I do feel for the life he carefully stitched together in an effort to progress and fulfill his career. Sometimes though he’s a bit blind and uncaring. That changes through the progress of this series.

D.B. Martin tightly weaves the plot and while it thickens beware of the twists. That’s my favorite part of the series is I don’t know what to expect. Each puzzle piece is dropped one at a time and they don’t immediately fit. When I think of the name Patchwork to me it relates to not only how “patched” the characters’ lives are but the story is like laying out hundreds of patches and fitting and piecing them together one at a time.

Rob Groves narrates this second book giving the series verbal consistency. Overall his performance is good.

Well done!

Amazon
Audible