She’s A Truck Driver – Birth Marked by Maria Violante #MariaViolante

.

I got this book back on 10.1.13 and Maria Violante was looking for reviews. I’m not sure when I read it, but probably right around that time. I started writing the review on 2.19.14, but never finished it. No excuse…

Amazon / Goodreads

Charlie is a truck driver and looked like one. She was a mess – overweight, bad complexion, zombie looking. She was horny and looking forward to Luke joining her on the the road, but that never happened. She had given up everything for him, and he betrayed her. Used her, then threw her away. At first she felt pity, then anger, then desperation.

She’s driving along, trying to find a radio station, making up her own words to the song playing. “I woke up alone in a bed I don’t know.” “And eat my breakfast all alone….” It made me think of my hubby and I, laughing and making fun of country music lyrics in that same way.

She stopped for a dog in the median. She could relate to it being dumped and wanted to save it. It would be mine, she thought. She named him Diesel. He was helping her already. He calmed her. 

My heart pounded and I moved forward in my chair, when the truck began to wreck. Her description is so vivid it’s as if it is happening  before my eyes. She looks out the window at something – what is it? It’s very large and furry. What runs through my mind – werewolf, then Sasquatch – as it grew and bared its fangs. I couldn’t help but laugh out loud when she got sick.

He was going to kill her…until he saw her birthmark.

I knew Maria’s book would need to take a twist…and it begins here.

Birth Marked reads like a Twilight zone episode. I was sorta ho hum until this point.

I loved her change of attitude. I’m feeling good about her. Her curiosity became my curiosity. What comes next?

Maria had me cracking up, “You can stare at my chubby ass stomach, assholes. You’re not getting any more looks at the jubbblies.”

A boy brought her breakfast – two pieces of plain toast and plain oatmeal. “That’s it?” “AH!!!!!!!!” “They said I a was a porker, heh?”

As the pieces come together, my interest grew. Now we’re getting to the good stuff. Even though her Master is Buckner, its his duty is to protect her, it was Shawn that saved her. I feel he will play a big part in finding the answers she seeks.

Haven’t you ever wondered why nothing turns out for you? What if you were supposed to be doing something else all along?

The monsters were unique and new to me and had comical names, but are not nice at all.

I know she’s gonna kick ass. I loved the sci-fi element, the monsters fighting in spacesuits and futuristic equipment. I find myself shivering in fear one minute, and chuckling the next.

She would learn fast or die. I felt a sense of adventure with her, stepping out of her rut of a life into mission impossible. Does the way you die determine your afterlife? This was her moment. I felt the weight on her shoulders, the heavy heart and determination to show them she belonged. She had found her place and would fight for it.

Her descriptions like ‘The little mouse that had the heart of a dragon’ brought the characters to life with a humorous touch. Describing the death of a beloved Marker was very creative.

There was a prophecy, there will be an unlikely Marker named the Lily. Is it her?

Maria Violante left me wanting more of this fantastic world.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Birth Marked by Maria Violante.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos  4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

For the first time in her life, truck driver Charlie Kale might have finally found her little piece of happiness. She’s got it all-her big rig, friends, a great mentor, and a man about to join her on the road. Or so she thought. One by one, the good things in Charlie’s life all fall apart, until a catastrophic accident leaves her at the mercy of a sexy but mysterious gunman. He claims to be a member of a secret order dedicated to fighting the supernatural monsters that filter over into our world. She’s given a choice-join up or die, and while the gunman might be insane, Charlie’s hell-bent on not dying. Too bad it looks like that might not be an option.

ABOUT MARIA VIOLANTE

Maria Violante is the best-selling author of several urban fantasy and science fiction novels.

Her most recent series, The Markers, is published by Hartwood Publishing.

Books by Maria Violante (currently in print):

BirthMarked (Hartwood Publishing)
Monsters and Markers (Hartwood Publishing)
Witness (Hartwood Publishing, previously two separate volumes with Liquid Silver Books)
Gambler’s Luck (Hartwood Publishing, previously Liquid Silver Books)

Books no longer in print:
Wit Awakening (now part of Witness; see above)
Wit Transforming (now part of Witness; see above)
Hunting the Five
Honor in Hell
Seven Sacrifices

I couldn’t find any valid links for her, but you can find her books on Amazon. Maybe I couldn’t find any links because she has recently been picked up by Hartwood Publishing.

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
  • I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Friday 56 #6 Birthmarked by Maria Violante

The Friday 56 hosted by Freda’s Voice.

The only rules are to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader and find any sentence, or a few (no spoilers) that grabs you and post it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Birthmarked (The Markers, Book I) by Maria Violante

A (birthmarked) truck driving woman and the monsters she is destined to fight.


goodreads-badge-add-plus

“You don’t even know who you are, do you?”

“That’s it. Get out of here, now!”

My head was spinning. How had the mood shifted so abruptly?

“Now!”
.
“But-“
.
He flailed again and jabbed at me once with the sword. Seeing the point headed right for me, I scurried out……………..
.

(56% on Kindle)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB

Charlie Kale knows life isn’t easy. But for the first time, this truck driver might have finally found her little piece of happiness. She’s got it all—her big rig, friends, a great mentor, and a man about to join her on the road.

That is, until the good things in Charlie’s life all fall apart, and she finds herself at the mercy of a sexy but mysterious gunman who claims to be a member of a secret order dedicated to fighting the supernatural monsters that filter over into our world.

She’s given a choice—join up or die, and while the gunman might be insane, Charlie’s hell-bent on not dying.

Too bad it looks like that might not be an option.

(56% on Kindle)

~~~~~~~~~~~~

To get your copy of Birthmarked, or learn more about Maria Violante, click on the cover below.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

To see all my Reviews, go HERE.
To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?

animated smilies photo: animated animated.gifLook below or on the right sidebar at Home and let’s talk.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~

Giveaway – Gambler’s Luck by Maria Violante

Goodreads Book Giveaway

(Reblogged from Maria Violante’s Website)

Giveaway ends January 18, 2013.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

*** AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF A BRAND NEW RELEASE***

It’s a well-accepted fact that gunpoint confessions aren’t always honest.

Maybe that’s why when Dickey, a known liar, swears there’s an “Indian princess” in the back of his wagon, Cole Rede doesn’t believe him.
Then Cole gets word that Rooster, a crooked federal marshal, is hot on his trail. With the prospect of a noose looming on the horizon, he grabs the wagon and takes off.

He’s not expecting the mysterious beauty on the verge of death—or the way she makes him feel, waking up old, feral urges he’s kept under wraps since the very murder that put him in Rooster’s sights. He needs to push Sarah away, and fast, or risk putting them both in danger.

Trouble is, he can’t. And when Rooster finally catches up with them both, Cole’s going to have to choose between protecting himself, his identity, and everything he’s ever known—or the woman he loves.

Hey everybody!  Gambler’s Luck comes out 12/24/2012.  Enter to win an autographed copy!