If you are a conspiracy theorist, this may be a book for you. Sonny Busco, a Private Investigator finds himself mixed up with The Men and Women in Black, while trying to keep the other side from stealing sentient steel, a revolutionary new invention that could change the world as we know it. Sentient steel is lightweight like aluminum, elastic like rubber and durable like titanium. It can be shaped into almost any form. It can think and become whatever it wants.
My name is Sonny Busco. I am a Private Investigator. I am fifty-five and feel my age. I drive a twenty-six year old Oldsmobile, that I am never sure will start. I like my Bourbon and I bet on the ponies to try and augment my lack of income.
I have a second job as a security guard. It’s a steady job that helps to cover my bills.
When I am working as a Private Investigator, I wear a Blazer and tie. It’s really hard to tell, though, because I dress the same, whether I am visiting my Bookie, a bill collector or a broad.
I am in hock to a loan shark, because business has been slack. It seems private eyes aren’t in as much demand as we used to be. When I got the call from Pixy, I arranged to meet her right away. She offered me $2500, for what seemed to be a piece of cake job.
I would be able to pay my Bookie, my debts and still have some pocket change.
Santa Fe, Capital of New Mexico (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
When I saw the girl with the silvery box, I noticed how scared she was. We exchanged our agreed upon coded responses. She told me her name was Pixy Sage and all I had to do was retrieve a suitcase that held a new invention, sentient steel, and deliver it to her in Santa Fe, NM tomorrow night.
My Oldsmobile had broken down, so we got into the Stealth I had borrowed from my mechanic and headed to either the bus station or the train station. She hadn’t told me yet what mode of transportation she would be taking, only that it was too obvious to fly. When she said we were being followed by the taxi behind us, I thought, sure we are. But we were. With the Stealth, I easily lost them. She said only four people knew about sentient steel, now I was the fifth.
The taxi caught up to us and when I slammed on the brakes to avoid getting in a wreck, Pixy jumped out of the car and ran. I thought, no problem. I knew we were to meet in Santa Fe, so I would retrieve the briefcase and head there.
But my way would be much more difficult than I ever could have anticipated.
4 STARS – Would Highly Recommend To Others
I received this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. James Blakely sent me a signed paperback. Thank you, James. I love adding another book to my collection.
I loved the cover and the title matched the story. It is not your average PI story, even though at times it seems to be very light-hearted.
The book was very well written. It was 213 pages of mystery, action and fun. The mismatch of fun and interesting characters kept me on my toes. If the plot had been more developed, this book could be rated even higher. It had a feel of James Bond, to me.
There was so much action packed into such a small book, every time I thought it was over, this happened, then this. Nothing big, nothing earth-shaking, but fun. The book can be read in a couple of hours, which I did, over coffee on my patio.
There was plenty of food for thought and it will keep you thinking long after you read the book. If you like conspiracy, this book will help feed your paranoia.
Blakley worked 10 1/2 years as a page and as an Assistant Librarian for the River Bluffs Regional Libraries of St. Joseph, MO. He currently lives in Topeka,KS where he worked for The Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library before spending several years in clerical and customer support capacities for international computer companies such as EDS and HP.
For those “inquiring minds who want to know”, I’m almost finished with a screenplay version of “The Steel Deal.” And I’m rough-drafting my next novel (due out in late 2013/early 2014).
It is International and easy to enter, as always. Just answer the question – Do you think there have been enough scientific advances that there could be such a thing as sentient steel and if there is, would THEY allow it to be used? – and leave your email. Ends November 14, 2012.
My favorite time of any giveaway is announcing the winners. So without further ado, the winners of The Steel Deal are:
$25 GC – Stuffsmart
PB – Shannon
PB – Christie Rich
Thanks to all of you for the wonderful comments. I hope you will continue to follow fundinmental.
Dire wolf skeleton and mural, La Brea tarpits museum, LA.jpg (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
These Dire Wolves really did exist four thousand years ago. They are double the size of the grey wolf. Their bones were found in the La Brea Tar Pit in Los Angeles. Why did they become extinct? Who knows?
Mark Lansdowne saw a sign saying Granny Barton’s Antiques. He was curious and stopped. He was just browsing when he spotted an old book and was drawn to it. He purchased it for five dollars and left.
He was reading the book, when the dogs, he had three named after the Three Stooges, growled and the hair on their backs rose . He went out, but saw only a pair of red eyes and smelled a scent of rotting meat. The red eyes drifted back into the forest as if they were never there.
As he sat drinking a cup of tea, he heard a scream. It could be anything, a wild animal. He decided he couldn’t do anything in the dark, so he’d check it out in the morning.
In the morning, Lansdowne checked around his pond and found something had come to eat or drink. Just the one with huge paws, but no nail prints. The dogs were with him, and these prints did not look anything like theirs. And then there was the awful smell , which he and the dogs followed.
His dogs all had something that distinguished them from each other. Larry was the biggest, Moe heard the best and Curly was the smeller in the group. Curly returned with a bone. It could only be human, it contained a screw. It was Janey Malone, the waitress at Barkers.
In Maple Hills, Missouri, it is such a small community that everyone knew everyone else. Barkers was the local gathering place. Farmers were talking about missing cows and deer hunters were seeing no deer.
Dave and Janey didn’t show up for work at Barkers. Now Myron Cox was missing, with just a trail of blood . Lansdowne called the sheriff. Sheriff Ralph Benson showed up. Morrison, a deputy was at the Cox home, investigating his disappearance, while Benson was at Lansdowne’s. Benson received a call from Morrison saying Christine McKay, from the Department of Conservation, had found Dave Morris, dead.
Benson joined up with Skruggs, Lansdowne’s lifelong friend, and Lansdowne to follow the smell to the cave. The woods were silent, no sound of squirrels or birds. The smell was stronger than before and he spotted a paw print that hadn’t been there earlier.
Months ago two girls had turned up missing from their rafting trip. He found a tennis shoe belonging to one of them. As they left the cave, Lansdowne said one of them had to stay in the area. He told them he would stay and protect what was left of Janey.
Lansdowne had climbed a tree with a view of the cave entrance. As the creature approached, Lansdowne came down from the tree to track it. The creature felt something was wrong and turned around. It had laid a trap for Lansdowne. Now Lansdowne became the hunted.
The bite caused excruciating pain, but he was still able to kill the beast. He felt he was going to die.
When he came to, his pal, Skruggs, was there. He must have been at death’s door, because his wife, Glenna, had come to him telling him he must get better and move on. Mark seemed to be healing very quickly, he was hungry and anxious to go home.
As the sheriff and Lansdowne talked, Amy came in. She always cut his hair. She kissed his cheek and told “Mike” how glad she was he wasn’t dead. She looked to see if Benson caught what she had said.
The sheriff thought there were seven missing, but Lansdowne figured nine, maybe eleven. Too many in too short a time for it be done by one animal.
The carcass of the wolf had been taken in for examination. It was an extra-large wolf, even though there had never been any wolves in the Ozarks. It couldn’t be identified in any database. Where had it come from? Are there more?
4 STARS – Would Highly Recommend To Others
I won this book in a Goodreads First Read Giveaway. The author was gracious enough to autograph the book for me. Thank you. This is Patrick’s Jones debut novel and I feel he knocked it out of the ballpark. I can hardly wait to see what he comes up with next.
I thought it was going to be just another werewolf book, by the cover and title, but was very pleasantly surprised. The blurb made me a little more curious, but didn’t do the book justice.
It is about wolves that had gone extinct 4,000 years ago. I love creature books. It is so realistic and I can see how it could be true. With all the scientific advances of today, why couldn’t someone recreate a wolf? Jurassic wolves, what’s not to love?
The writing was excellent and the characters were well developed. I fell in love with Lansdowne and his “puppies”. He has an awesome best friend in Skruggs, now all he needs is a love interest, or does he already have one and not realize it? He thinks he hasn’t moved on from his wife’s death, but has this experience made him realize life is too short, you must live it, not just exist.
There is more than one mystery, and it seems Mark Lansdowne is not what he appears to be. This is a series and I am eagerly awaiting the next book, whether it is about how Mark came to be in Maple Hills, or about the wolves, I don’t care. I feel it can only get better. Soooooooo, write faster Mr. Jones. lol
This video is courtesy of Sandy Jones.
Interview with Patrick Jones: Hi Patrick. I want to welcome you to my blog and thank you for sharing with us.
Interview Questions:
What was the inspiration for writing about these particular wolves?
The Dire Wolf died out or went extinct around ten to twelve thousand years ago. (Bones found in Arkansas were dated to about 6000 years ago). If these dates are accurate, they lived alongside of prehistoric man. Some scientists believe the Dire Wolf hunted in packs and they probably did, but skeletal remains at the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles, CA indicate that they may also have been lone hunters. A grey wolf averages about 120–150 pounds, but can you imagine a wolf or a pack of wolves the size of African lions with three inch fangs? Scary? You bet!
Can you tell us about the cover and who designed it? I feel these are always key elements to drawing a reader to the book.
My wife Sandy did the original cover but she was just never satisfied with the way it looked. She always felt it could be better at grabbing the attention of the reader. She subsequently designed 4 other covers. It was not until this point that we both agreed on the cover. The cover is one of Sandy’s pictures taken on the actual “Wolf’s Moon” in January 2012, precisely because that picture described a scary night.
What was the hardest part of writing the book?
The hardest part of writing the story was stopping to eat. “The Wolf’s Moon” started out as a short story but took on a life of its own. I attempt to write every day from 5AM to noon but in the case of this book, I just never noticed the clock. On the days I could not write, for whatever reason, my mind kept going refining what was to come next in the story.
If the book was made into a movie, who would play Lansdowne and why?
Hmmm. John Wayne? Nope – dead. Sean Connery? Too old now. Anyway, I couldn’t afford either one. Then one day it came to me, the guy that played the part of the scientist in the TV program SG1, Michael Shanks. He looks much like I imagined Linden to look and I think he could pull it off.
What do you do when you are not writing?
I love to hunt with my son, Patrick and my daughter’s son, Cody. Fishing is great as is woodworking in my shop. I work mainly with walnut and cherry. Making a table or a bookcase out of either or both is so satisfying. The best thing is to be with all of my grandchildren.
I am a bit of a car nut. If you could own any car, what would it be?
We already own it! A 2011 Camaro, black with black interior. I love the 2001 Silverado Sandy bought me after nine-eleven. The truck means a lot to me but we bought the Camaro as an anniversary gift to each other.
If you had 24 hours to be alone, go anywhere, do anything (money not an issue), what would it be?
I already do that. I have a cabin tucked away in the woods in the Ozark Mountains. The cabin is small and rustic. No running water, no electric. A couple gallons of water and a kerosene lamp and I’m set. God has made many beautiful places on this planet but none more beautiful than the view of the glen from the cabin.
What are you working on now? Would you like to share anything with us?
I’m working on the next book involving Linden and Skruggs right now, as well as another story without the guys. There is one reader who wants to marry Linden and another who wants an introduction to Cindy Winters, and another still who wants to go to dinner with Amy. It’s really flattering that readers get that deeply involved with the characters. That means I did my job right.
Is there anything else that you would like to share with your fans?
When I have a reader that leaves a good review it makes me happy. When I get a review that isn’t so great, I smile and remember that everyone is different and it is possible they are only looking at the story and not everything as a whole. I am happy they read the story. When I’m in the grocery store and someone wants to chat about the book, it’s a great feeling.
Fun Facts
Country or rock and roll? Usually everything but rap.
Margarita or Martini? Sometimes a Black Russian; other times a Bud.
Summer or winter? All four seasons. I thank God everyday he allows me to see each.
Football or baseball? Football…you know God is a man…the NFL is on Sunday and Monday and Thursday.
Spontaneous or planner? More spontaneous.
High or low maintenance? Low more often than not
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Pat Jones was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. His special interests include the science of paleoanthropology and archaeology.
Woodworking is one of his favorite hobbies, with special emphasis on the unique grains and textures of various species of trees. He and his wife, Sandy, thrive on designing and creating a flower garden of perennials, second to none! Constantly evolving, the garden began as a way that he could surprise his wife on her birthday. The rest is history! The garden now spans one fourth of an acre!
When their children graduated from school, the couple relocated to rural Missouri where they now reside with their four dogs. The love of the area, in combination with the uniqueness of the people, provided the impedance for “The Wolf’s Moon”.
The sequel to “The Wolf’s Moon” is already in the works and proves to be yet another suspenseful page-turner! Pat believes that there is a story in everything. Everybody that he meets has their own special story; one simply has to take the time to listen. The story then writes itself.
To order a copy of the book, simply click on the cover.
Giveaway – Patrick has offered 2 ebooks for the giveaway. It is International and easy to enter, as always. Just answer the question – Do you think there have been enough scientific advances to make a Jurassic wolf? – and leave your email. Ends November 5, 2012. CLOSED.
The Winners of the 2 ebooks were vetteklisa and Susan Laine. I would like to thank everyone that stopped by to comment and enter.
Not sure what I expected, but it was so much more. Good things do come in small packages.
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In the 20’s it was unusual for a woman to be unmarried, work and live on her own. Olivia had never considered herself a spinster, she just liked her life. She didn’t want to be one of the herd or do what was expected of her. She was terrified of kids. Her father had disowned her at 26 and her mother told her that no one would want an old woman.
It was totally unexpected when she met Charles Doyle. They fell for each other at first glance. When he proposed, she choked on the chocolate truffle she was eating. She told him no and it broke her heart. He told her he didn’t want kids. And if she didn’t want to clean or cook, no problem. Those things weren’t important to him. He had a son he hadn’t seen in fifteen years and a grandson he had never met.
She was very superstitious. During the wedding ceremony, a hail storm broke out. Charlie blew it off, so she did too. She was afraid of the number eleven. On the tenth day of marriage they arrived in Miami for their honeymoon. On the eleventh day, she talked him into staying low-key, taking no chances. They went shopping, she was thinking that nothing could go wrong shopping. He snuck off and bought her a surprise. Back in the room, he told her to close her eyes and he put the necklace around her neck. When she what it was, her heart fell. Opals were bad luck. He died that night.
Susanna Doyle told her husband she had to be in New York City for her singing career. Benjamin knew he would lose her if they went anywhere near there, so he’d played a stalling game with her. He would promise her they would go, then find an excuse not to.
When she became pregnant, life got even worse. To get even, when the baby was born, she named him Ethan Allen, after the furniture store she worked at. As Ethan grew older, their fights became so vicious that he built a fort out back to get away from them.
One day at the diner, he noticed Mister Scooter, the owner, touching his mom’s butt. He asked her about it and she said if he kept quiet, she would make sure she always had enough spare change for him to go to the movies.
Susanna was very excited because Benjamin had promised they would go to New York City in September. When September rolled around, he found another excuse not to go. She had been working and saving the money, so she told Ethan they were going without him, but not to say anything so he wouldn’t find out and try to stop them. She went to the bank for her money, but Benjamin had already closed the account.
Susanna immediately went to Scooter, telling him she wanted to run away with him and Ethan to New York City. He thought about his own kid, for only a moment, and said okay.
Ethan was eleven years old and his mom had always promised him she would never run off without him. But that night, Ethan’s whole world changed.
I don’t know why I was drawn to the cover, title, then the blurb. Something tugged at me.The cover conveyed such a sense of sorrow from the boy. I loved the second reference to spare change, but you will have to read the book to find out what it is, and why the title is so very appropriate.
I am not much for a story without some murder, killing, death, blood, gore, mystery, magic; in other words, some kind of action or adventure. This was a different kind of murder story, more a story of a woman alone, and a boy with no home and no one to love him. The murder was just a small piece.
For a short book, Bette made me feel like the story covered a lifetime. I kept reading faster and faster. I was afraid for Ethan and then both him and Olivia. She put so much story into a small book. Plot was detailed and suspenseful. I kept waiting for…..
The characters were amazing. Her descriptions left me feeling like they were my neighbors. I felt like I knew them. They were realistic and reminiscent of a time when we knew our neighbors. Such a feel good book. Made me tear up and cry because of its sweetness. I know my neighbors and speak to them, but I am a solitary creature, so it really surprised me that I felt such strong emotions while reading the story.
How do you get an eleven year old boy to trust you? I felt Ethan’s fear and panic. To win him over, it took much empathy, patience and compassion. So much, packed into its 280 pages. I know I keep repeating myself, but I still can’t get over how much this book affected me.
I received this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Not only was the author gracious enough to send me a paperback, she also autographed it for me. I love to add another book to my collection.
Giveaway – Bette Lee Crosby is offering for the giveaway:
International – ebook of Spare Change – OR – US and Canada a signed paperback. As always the entry is easy. Leave a comment telling us what you do with your spare change and an email address.
GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. The Winners Are:
Kimba – won the signed paperback Alana – won the ebook
Thanks to all of you for the wonderful, warm and touching comments. I hope you will continue to follow fundinmental.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bette Lee Crosby’s work was first recognized in 2006, when she won the National League of American Pen Women Award for unpublished fiction with What Matters Most. Her novel, Cracks in the Sidewalk, received the 2009 Royal Palm Literary Award and then went on to win the 2011 FPA President’s Book Award Gold Medal. In 2011 Spare Change received the Reviewer’s Choice Awards and it garnered a second Royal Palm Literary Award. Her books have earned numerous five-star ratings with readers acclaiming them as heartwarming and captivating.
Most recently, Bette completed a memoir written for Lani Deauville, a woman the Guinness Book of Records lists as The World’s Longest Living Quadriplegic.
Her description in her bio is appropriate: “Well written by Wynne Channing.”
I was walking back to Sofia’s from the bakery and saw a man in the square. He seemed to be eying me, but I was late and hurried on. Somehow I got lost and when I turned around, he was there. I explained what happened, described Sofia’s street and he took me there. I joked along the way, but he didn’t seem to get it. I do have a sarcastic wit. To repay him, I told him I would buy him a gelato and we agreed to meet at the pizzeria later. His name was Paolo.
I had come to Italy to go to the university and study art. I was living with my host, Sofia, and because I was so late, she instituted a 9:00 pm curfew and I was to meet Paolo at 9:15. Now what? I came up with the idea to leave a message for him at the pizzeria and meet him there at 3:30 Monday afternoon.
That night, as I lay in bed, I heard my name. I went to the window, looked out and Paolo was there. He talked me into climbing out the window and trespassing into the church. We stood by the collection box and he whispered in my ear, “I’m going to kill you.”
He turned toward the altar and I ran into the office. I saw a door, so I ran through it and down the stairs. The room was lit by candles that ringed a hole in the floor. Paolo kept backing me toward the hole, until someone yelled stop. I lost my balance and fell into the hole. It was so dark and I felt I was drowning. How I climbed out, I don’t know.
Uther explained, I was in his quarters in the church. He was the guardian of the sanctum. His niece, Lettie came into the room and asked me if I felt different. Why would I feel different? When I told Uther I had to go home, he said I couldn’t ever go home. He went on to explain that when I fell into the well, I had died. He said they were dead too. It was true. I had no pulse, no heartbeat. We were vampires.
When I saw myself in the mirror, my eyes were lit up as if on fire. Uther and Lettie told me I was a miracle. Never before had someone become a vampire without drinking someone’s blood. The well I fell into was full of vampire blood.
I didn’t think it could get any worse, until the General came. He called me an abomination and was taking me to the Empress. I had been thrown in the back of the truck, alone. I felt no pain and as I licked my lips I tasted blood. Soon I was cleaning blood from my body, lapping it up like a cat.
We arrived at the castle. I was chained and had a bag thrown over my head. I was made to kneel. When the bag was removed I saw hundreds of men and women surrounding me. Paolo was brought in. The Empress called him Transporter. She condemned us both to death.
I didn’t know where we were, but I tried to find a way to escape. As the sun moved around the room, I saw Paolo burn and turn to dust. Why didn’t I burn in the sun like Paolo? I amazed myself by climbing out of the tower. As I looked around, I saw nothing but rocks and water.
When I dove and began swimming, I realized I didn’t need to breathe. Apparently there were some benefits to being a vampire. I woke up and found I had washed up on shore, so I began walking. As I walked, I talked to myself. It was something I did all the time.
I was startled when someone answered me. I thought I was alone. He introduced himself as Noel and said he could remove my chains. He took me home and introduced me to the boys, Lucas and Jerome. I didn’t want to, but felt I had to tell them my story.
They said they made weapons for the Aramatta, the Monarchy’s guards. They told me the guards would come here, looking for me. Noel said they would take care of me and meant it. We prepared to leave, but had waited too long.
They beheaded Jerome in seconds. Noel fought hard but was outnumbered. I saw the jar of fuel by the sink, rolled it across the floor and threw the lantern. I grabbed Lucas and ran out the door, as the cabin went up in flames.
We decided to hide for the day, then go to see Uther. He had to tell us what was going on, why they wanted me so bad. When we arrived at the church, Lettie told us Uther had gone to Romania to consult the Sacriva, the vampire scripture. It had foretold of her arrival.
She proceeded to tell them about the Ancients, and the prediction. There were seven Ancients with super strength and great powers. They could walk in the sun, read your mind and predict the future. When two Ancients fought and one was killed, any vampires created by the Ancients died, the entire blood line. The Monarchy imprisoned the ancients, dug a well and put all their blood in the well. It was called the Crucivium.
The prophesy became the Sacriva. It says, when the natural world is threatened by the vampire empire, a human girl will be born, a vampire by unholy means. She will restore order.
The Monarchy is afraid of me. They will hunt me down and kill me. I told Lucas to leave, but he put his hand out and I took it.
4 STARS – Would Highly Recommend To Others
The cover is gorgeous and the title led me to learn more about the book.
When the General fought with Lucas, it made me picture Twilight, when Edward fought to save Bella in the church. I could picture them both, flying through the air and bouncing off the walls.
Wynne Channing created Axelia with a sense of humor and a sarcastic wit. She would need it. The trials and tribulations she goes through to save her and Lucas, create a strong character. I was running and climbing with her, as I rooted for her and hoped she’d get what she needs and wants.
The story was unique and creative. Very different from the vampire novels I have read. It captured me from the beginning and I eagerly ate it up. The action was non-stop, keeping me reading to find out what would happen next.
I loved the ending and it left me wanting more, but you will have to read the book to find out for yourself. I am eagerly awaiting the next book.
About the top-rated, best-selling book (#1 in occult, October 2012): An ancient prophecy warns of a girl destined to cause the extinction of the vampire race. So when 17-year-old Axelia falls into a sacred well filled with blood and emerges a vampire, the immortal empire believes she is this legendary destroyer. Hunted by soldiers and mercenaries, Axelia and her reluctant ally, the vampire bladesmith Lucas, must battle to survive. How will she convince the empire that she is just an innocent teenager-turned bloodsucker and not a creature of destruction? And if she cannot, can a vampire who is afraid of bugs summon the courage to fight a nation of immortals?
About Wynne: Wynne Channing is a national newspaper reporter and award-winning young adult novelist. Wynne loves telling stories and as a journalist, she has interviewed everyone from Daniel Radcliffe and Hugh Jackman to the president of the Maldives and Duchess Sarah Ferguson. The closest she has come to interviewing a vampire is sitting down with True Blood‘s Alexander Skarsgard (he didn’t bite). She briefly considered calling her debut novel “Well” so then everyone would say: “Well written by Wynne Channing.”
Wynne Channing has offered 3 ebooks for the giveaway. It is International and easy to enter, as always. Just answer the question – WHAT VAMPIRIC POWER WOULD YOU WANT TO HAVE? – and leave your email.
Now comes my favorite time of any giveaway. Announcing the winners.
Drum roll, please!!
Emily Guido / Denise Z /Melanie
Congratulations. Your comments were wonderful and very much appreciated. This was a fun giveaway and I hope you will all come back again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
To get your copy of I Am Forever, or another Wynne Channing novel, click on the cover below.
Before we get to the snippet, I wanted to tell my friends about why I chose the paranormal genre to write in and especially… “The Light-Bearer Series.”
I love romance and yes, I could have written a romance novel or novels. They would have been lovely to write.
However, what gets my blood pumping is not only romance, but mystery, intrigue and terror from the supernatural! Forces that we have no control over or forces that twist our fate.
In “Mactus,” Tabbruis and Charmeine are so in love but their love is threatened by those supernatural forces that they have no control over.
The Elder Council, (the Blood-Hunter’s ruling body) are sort of ‘Mystic Bullies’ who mark this couple for death because one race cannot stand the other race. ”Light cannot have dark and dark cannot have light.” Both races rage this war because of prejudice.
So, I just thought a little insight might make you possibly want to download and read this wonderful continuation of “The Light-Bearer Series.” I hope you enjoy and onto the Snippet!
Shane shook his head while taking huge bites and swallowing the food down. He said, “Nope, not with that voodoo stare Dad has. He can convince anyone to do anything. Sort of like Obi-Wan Kenobi in Mos Eisley, when he stares down the Imperial Storm troopers to let them pass, you know? I would love to have that trick up my sleeve.” Shane mock stared at her grinning wide while he was gulping the last of his food down.
Among other things, Charmeine wondered why Shane had not inherited any of their powers. However, she thought it was better he was a normal human. This was his world since he was a child. Charmeine’s mind was flinging question after question one right after another as she was eating her cold toast and drinking her lukewarm coffee.
Tabbruis came into the room rubbing his hands together and smiling. He had already showered, shaved and changed. Charmeine thought how could ever think he was human; he was dressed in black jeans and boots with a tight fitted black T-shirt over his muscles. His green eyes were bright and his hair was combed back with his bangs of dark chestnut hair on his forehead. He also smelled terrific and she warmed when she caught his scent in her nose.
Tabbruis said, “Listen you two; I have a lot of things to say and I need no arguments from you…” He scanned their eyes for confirmation.
Charmeine nodded and Shane said, “Okay… shoot.”
Tabbruis took a breath and said, “I have wealth. I have a place where we can go and be secure. I know the terrain there and have security put into place for our transport and transition there. First, Charmeine…” he bent down and picked up her hand while it was sparking. He said, “My love, my Charmeine. I love you!”
Charmeine looked into his deep green eyes and saw he was telling the truth. She sighed.
Then Tabbruis and Charmeine heard a chuckle across the table and both stared at Shane. He said, “Oh, go ahead folks… just keep the mushy stuff to a minimum here. I’m trying to keep down my cold breakfast.” They all started to laugh.
Tabbruis pulled a dining room chair out and sat down. With a serious look, he said, “Now, I am having both of your apartments cleaned out and your belongings are being shipped with us. All of our cars are coming too. We leave on my jet in 90 minutes. If you do not have your passports, do not worry I have connections that will get yours done and waiting at the airport for us. I need you two to get your showers and change into comfortable clothes for travel. It will take us several hours to arrive there.”
Tabbruis held up hands and said, “I do not want any arguments, it is being done so our family can be safe. Nothing and I mean nothing is more important than our family being safe. Do you both understand? No arguments!”
Shane and Charmeine began to speak, but he looked at them in their eyes and said, “It is for the best we do this to protect our family. I need you dressed and ready to go to the heliport in about twenty-five minutes. Do not worry about packing what you have at the hotel either, everything is being shipped, and we will have it shortly after our arrival.”
Charmeine took a deep breath, no use arguing with her ‘husband’ when he used the ‘voodoo stare’ as her son called it, even though she knew it never worked on her. She said, “May I ask one question?”
He nodded reticently, “Where are we going Tabbruis?”
Tabbruis looked her and Shane in the eye with a big smile. Charmeine looked at Shane with a bit of anxiousness in her stomach.
Tabbruis said with a sparkle in his eye, “Romania!”
For everyone who didn’t win the giveaway, now is your opportunity to snag yourself a copy of Revamp by Beck Sherman. Be sure to tell all your friends and family.
FOR THREE DAYS, IT WAS DARK.
News reporters scrambled. This was the biggest story to come along in weeks.
They called it a blackout.
The last one was in New York City in 2003, but this one was different, special, because the grids in six major cities across the country had been fried, kaput, see-you-next-Sunday. Everyone with some jurisdiction blamed each other, and when there was no one left to blame, terrorism rode in on its gallant steed.
It was the media’s fault. They were so busy stuffing fanatical Muslims with a penchant for Allah and decapitations down the American citizen’s throat, that they never saw it coming. I guess I shouldn’t be too hard on them.
They were partially right.
It was terror after all, but a whole new kind. And when the lights came back on, things had changed.
Three days of darkness, then all hell breaks loose.
My name is Emma Spade and this is my story.
.
Finals were a killer, but now I was off to Los Angeles to check out graduate schools. All I had to do was turn in my term paper, and I was running late. I tore over to Professor Winnie’s office. When I went in, I was shocked. He looked half dead. I asked if he was okay and he asked me if they’d come. I asked him who? “Them”, he said. “Death.”
I awoke from the nightmare and was afraid to open my eyes. I could feel something was wrong and I wasn’t sure I wanted to know what. I knew it to be true before I saw it – I was alone on the plane. I realized we had landed, but why didn’t anyone wake me?
Everyone knows LAX is one of the busiest airports in the world – so, where was everyone? Luggage was left sitting everywhere I looked, with clothes spilling out. It looked like the bags had walked in by themselves and started to unpack. Was it terrorists?
I heard a ringing phone and ran to answer it. There had to be a person on the other end of the line. It quit, right as I got there. How many times has that happened to you? How can the quiet be so loud?
I had so many questions running through my mind, as I tried to make sense of what was happening, or should I say, not happening, around me. When things are bad, of course there is no cell service, but I was able to call my boyfriend, Sullivan, from a pay phone. He hadn’t seen any TV, but had heard nothing about anything going on in LA.
I heard the approach of heavy footsteps and hung up the phone. Five men came up to me. I was six feet tall and still had to look up at them. The leader, I named him Burns, asked me if I was traveling alone. I told him yes and was led to a room that looked more like a jail cell.
Burns introduced the man sitting at the table as Mr. Meyers. He began asking me questions. He told me because he liked me (yeah, right, he didn’t even know me) he was going to tell me the truth – it was bio-terrorism. Of course, I knew it was a lie. I didn’t know what the truth was, so I lied right back. I lied about everything.
Before I knew it, he pulled out a gun and shot me with a dart. He pulled on a pair of gloves, smacked me around, grabbed my hair and drug me into a room with an exam table. There was blood all over everything. He came at me again. I grabbed his balls, squeezing as hard as I could, and gouged at his eyes until they popped out of his head. Blood and gore was oozing down his face and over my hands. I tipped over the table and grabbed the biggest scalpel I could find. But he didn’t move.
Even though I couldn’t walk, my legs were useless, I was able to crawl out the window and fall into the parking garage. But now what? I couldn’t walk, couldn’t use my legs at all.
I awoke in the morning, after hiding out in a car all night, and I was able to walk. I snuck out of the parking garage and found a cab with the keys in it. I began driving down the empty road, there were only crows in sight. I ran out of gas at LaBrea and Venice, but this was my first trip to LA, so I still didn’t know where I was.
I entered the house, hoping to wash off the blood and guts that were covering me. Maybe even find some help. I heard something in the closet. The question was, should I jerk it open or do it slow?
It was a dog. I was afraid to move, afraid it might rip my throat out. Instead, it licked my face. I could see it was starving, its ribs showing. I named him Schizo. I stepped on and broke what looked like a handmade cross, Schizo grabbed it and ran for the door. He was telling me it was time to go. Schizo was acting like Cujo – it was a good thing I listened to him. Little did I know, he had saved my life.
I ran into Cooper and I didn’t know whether to be glad or not, but Schizo seemed to like him. So that had to be good, right? We spent the night in a church and in the morning headed out to find others “like us”.
I told him I had to call my mom, he said that they were all dead and I’d better to get used to it. I had no idea why he said it, but would soon find out.
Cooper Knox: He was at home, because his father had leukemia and he had decided not not go to med school. He needed to keep the business running to be able to afford the treatment his father needed.
Rojas was picking him up and taking him to work while his car was in the shop. On the way he noticed traffic was much lighter than usual.They had heard on the radio that there was a flu epidemic. But Rojas said that his Grandma was pretty sure it was the end of the world, because the blackout had let the darkness in.
They got out of the car at the work-site, there were a lot of crows flying overhead. It creeped them out. It began to rain, so they decided to call it a day and headed home. He arrived and walked into a nightmare he never could have imagined. He grabbed his girlfriend Mel and ran out of the house. A van pulled up and the people inside told us to get in. After some hesitation we did. It didn’t seem like we really had much of a choice. They found out Mel had been bitten and before he could do anything, they opened the door and kicked her out.
After I met Scott, he told me to forget everything I knew – because it was all wrong. As he told me about the UVF, and himself, we headed to the “base”.
Scott had been recruited in the CIA and moved to LA where he met his wife, Mary. When the blackout came, he had to tell Mary their son was taken because of him. Scott had been an assassin, but was promoted to handler and his boss, Mr. Frank proceeded to tell him about his father and Project Sunset. It was the Company’s best kept secret.
We had arrived at Sleepy Storage, our new home.
Ever since I got here, I thought to expect the worse. I had no idea how bad it was going to get.
5 STARS – Would Buy It For Them (lol)
It really surprised me that I could rate a vampire book so high but I just can’t say enough about it.
Both covers are eye-catching. Colorful and simple. The title was short and catchy. I like things that are simple, yet relate to the story.
The writing was outstanding and the details extensive. I haven’t read anything like this before. It was very novel and unique to me. I couldn’t quit reading. It was hard to stay awake, but I just had to know what would happen to Emma. The last quarter of the book just flew by for me.
It was war, but not like any war every fought before. I really had no idea where the book was going. The whole thing was a great surprise.
How could you wrap your head around it, if it was happening to you? What would be going through your mind? Your mind would struggle to make sense of the insensible.
The characters were well defined. Their personalities, feelings and emotion were well developed making me able to feel for them and care about them. I wanted good things to happen for them, but then I would think – hey, wait a minute, you can’t do that.
I laughed when she talked about the stuff in her luggage getting frisky and producing offspring.
The end was…………….well, you’re going to have to read it for yourself, but it will leave you saying, WHAT? It sure did me.
Beck Sherman gave me this book because Laura (at fuonlyknew) and I approached her about doing a tag-team and working together to promote her book. We both like it so much, we wanted to share it with as many others as we could reach.
Giveaway: Beck Sherman has been gracious enough to offer up 3 ebooks for this giveaway. It is International and, as always, easy to enter. Ends September 30,2012.
Just,leave a comment with your email address.
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As always, it is very much appreciated, but not required, if you follow me on twitter and my blog.
To have another chance to win, copy and paste fuonlyknew.
About the Author
Beck Sherman was born and raised in Massachusetts. Beck attended Syracuse University undergrad, has a master’s degree in photojournalism from the University of Westminster, London, and when not writing, enjoys exploring abandoned insane asylums and photo-documenting the things that go bump in the night, when they’re kind enough to pose.
Congratulations to all the winners. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Kelan O’Connell for her generosity and for allowing me to host this giveaway. I would also like to thank everyone that came by to enter or just check out my blog.
I just have to let you know, I’m keeping my eye on the winners below.
Now for what you have all been waiting for. I am very happy to announce the winners of the Delta Legend Giveaway.
Grand Prize Winner: Carmen Schweitzer
The four ebook winners are:
Anthony Chavez
Kylee M
Hazel
Belinda Gresham
I will be contacting Kelan with your information and she will be contacting you shortly. Thanks again for your participation.
For those who didn’t win and would like to order the book, simply click on the cover.
International Giveaway of one signed First Edition paperback copy of the mystery thriller, Tiger Paw by Charles A Cornell. This is 1 of only 35 printed prior to small revisions for the Second Edition.
For a second chance to win another copy, see the author’s giveaway contest at www.CharlesACornell.com
Nominated in 2012 for Best Indie Thriller by the Kindle Book Review and Best Thriller by the Florida Writers Association, Tiger Paw is cloaked in mystery, psychological suspense and international intrigue. A story of people who have sold their souls in exchange for wealth and power. A story of greed, deception, and revenge. And a story of one man’s struggle to triumph against the greatest evil he has ever faced.
In Tiger Paw, FBI profiler Scott Forrester hunts an assassin belonging to a demonic East Indian cult that is wreaking havoc on Wall Street, murdering corrupt CEOs at the center of a billionaire’s stock scam. Firmly in the assassin’s crosshairs, Scott Forrester is forced underground to stop the killing spree. But will he survive the deal he must make with the Devil to thwart the cult’s plans?
4 STARS – Would Highly Recommend To Others
James Blakley was educated at 
My favorite time of any giveaway is announcing the winners. So without further ado, the winners of The Steel Deal are:
To order, simply click on the cover.
Bette Lee Crosby’s work was first recognized in 2006, when she won the 
To get your free copy of Revamp, go 
