This Super Short Story Blew Me Away!!!

I loved, loved, loved this super short story.

It, simply, blew my away.

I can’t help but keep repeating myself. lol

A must read for anyone who loves the paranormal.

To get your free copy, go HERE.

 

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Will had almost drowned. He woke up with a psychic gift, but he thought of it as a curse.

corona and lime Pictures, Images and PhotosBecause of the accident, he had been crucified in the press. He lost his girlfriend and his reputation.

Now, he was hanging out in Florida, walking on the beach, with his usual Corona in his hand. He saw her in the clouds and knew he only had minutes to save her.

MY REVIEW

The cover grabbed me and I knew I had to read this super short story. The title fits the book to a tee.

The book mentions Michigan and Florida, two places I am very familiar with. That always peaks my interest.

The book captured me from the first page. I devoured it, the suspense leading me to race through it to find out what was going to happen. I was so disappointed when it came to an end. There was so much I read into the story, I feel this could easily have been developed into a novel. I would love to read more about Will, his life and the people who call out to him through his psychic connection to them.

Excellent writing. I am amazed that so much was packed into a story that it took me (maybe) ten minutes to read. I felt like I knew Will and what he was going through. I definitely want to read more from this author.

I had this in my read to review folder, but I believe I got it on an Amazon freebie day. I put it in the folder, because I had a very good feeling about it and wanted to make sure I didn’t forget about it. I didn’t want to lose it in my humongous list of books on my Kindle. LOL

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos   5 STARS – Would Buy It For Them (lol)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Image of David Bain  The author of GRAY LAKE: A NOVEL OF CRIME AND SUPERNATURAL HORROR, the Will Castleton series of supernatural detective stories and novels, and several short story collections, David Bain is a community college English professor with well over 100 shorter publications in venues as diverse as Weird Tales and POEMS & PLAYS.

Blog  /  Twitter  /   Amazon Author Page

David has numerous books for purchase, these are only a few.

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New Release Giveaway – The End Of The Line by Emma Meade

Yippee. Yay. I am happy to announce the release of a 5 STAR short story by Emma Meade. This is one you will want to add to your reading list.

She felt the depth of her despair left her no options.

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Twice she had stood on the tracks, staring down the iron monster. Twice she had jumped off, unable to go through with it.

“Third time’s the charm.”

She held her ground as the train approached. As it went through her, a man grabbed her hand, pulled her aboard, and said, “Welcome to the ……………..”

What the fuck?

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Taz5 STARS – Would Buy It For Them (lol)

I love the cover of this book and think it is excellent. The colors and subject jumped off the page.  The title is great, too. Both are very descriptive of the story to be told.

Because of the subject matter and the way Emma dealt with it, I felt this book deserved a high rating. A perfect way to handle such a sensitive topic.

 A short story. Fast read. Once I “turned the first page”, I couldn’t put it down. Raced through it. I thought it might be too dark and depressing, but Emma’s approach to the subject of depression and suicide was both tragic and uplifting. We always have choices.

Cassie, the main character, seems both tragic and wimpy, weak. But it took her three times to go for it, so she still had her doubts. I wonder how many  people went through with it and realized too late they didn’t want to die. Others, you know they mean it. I know a girl who hung herself in her bedroom closet. Very obvious she wanted to die. All she had to do was stand up to stop it. How utterly bereft must someone be? So alone, with no hope.

A morbid subject, but one more talked about today than ever. Depression is actually treated, without a person becoming a pariah.

I liked the other characters, except for gross Syd. It wouldn’t be right if they were all easily likeable. We need a bad guy. Got to have someone to hate or dislike.

“Leap of faith.” Isn’t life just that?

ABOUT EMMA MEADE

Emma Meade

Author of Nights Sighs, Under the Desert Moon and The Awakenings & Other Stories.

Emma Meade writes paranormal fiction. She lives in rainy Ireland and loves all things supernatural. Stephen King’s The Stand is one of her most loved books. Books, DVDS & TV show boxsets take up lots of space in her home and she collects all the Point Horror books she can get her hands on. She is not ashamed to admit that Dirty Dancing and Twilight make her top ten movie list but wishes to point out that The Last of the Mohicans, Reality Bites, Dead Poets Society, Stand by Me and The Goonies are in there too.

Writing supernatural stories & watching marathon re-runs of Buffy are some of her favourite ways of escaping reality.

You can find Emma here:

Amazon Author Page

Blog 

Website

Goodreads

Facebook

Twitter

To pick up your copy of End Of The Line, click on the cover or the links below.

Amazon

Smashwords

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To Purchase one of Emma Meade’s books below, simply click on the cover.

GIVEAWAY

taiwan flag smiley animated gif Pictures, Images and PhotosEmma Meade  is offering  for the Giveaway 3 ebooks. International. Easy entry as always, just leave your email address and answer the question:

Have you ever ridden a train? If you were to take a train ride, where would you want to go?

GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED.

For another chance to win, go to fuonlyknew!!!!

To see all my Reviews, click HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, click HERE.

Follow me by email to keep up on all the latest news, reviews and giveaways.

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Werewolves at their goriest.

Blood Rites (Trilogy, Book I) by D. R. Racey

WARNING: 18+ Language. Sexual content. Savagery.

Blood Rites

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Daniel could smell the camper’s dinner cooking over the fire and thought, that smells good. But it wasn’t their food he was thinking about.

In the morning, he went to the diner for his normal breakfast, a steak as warm as possible, while still being rare. Sara, his girlfriend, came in and commented on the article in the newspaper. Three campers had been killed in a bear attack.

Daniel functioned as a normal human would, other than occasional forays into the woods for deer, or other game, and the occasional human.

Twice Daniel had smelled a familiar scent, but tonight he followed it to its source. He saw the werewolf feeding off a body. He couldn’t allow it. He liked living here, in Boone, North Carolina. He had always been careful about not feeding on the townspeople. This would ruin it for him.

Daniel had thought of his past. He had an affair with his Master’s wife. His Master, Makareus, had killed her and vowed never to stop hunting Daniel, until he was dead.

Sara was attacked and shot, while walking home from work one night. Daniel knew of only one way to save her. They would have to leave Boone, and quickly. Makareus was on their trail and would stop at nothing to get his revenge.

Daniels life in Boone would be coming to an end, or worse.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos     3 STARS – Would Recommend To Others

WARNING: 18+ Language. Sexual content. Savagery. Blood and guts galore.

The cover is beautiful. The colors and simplicity made me stop and look deeper. The title is so very appropriate.

A vicious lycanthrope story of love and revenge.

I had a hard time writing this review, because I have never read a book so filled with savagery and cruelty. The goriest werewolf story I ever read. I find it hard to put into words the carnage contained in the book. It revved up a couple notches when Makareus turned his army loose in Boone, driving them to seek his revenge.

Daniel only knew one way to save Sara. He had never felt love for a woman before and knew he couldn’t live without her. Wasn’t this selfish on his part? What about what she would want? By saving her, he put her life at risk. I was surprised that I fell for Daniel. He was a werewolf, but he had a code he lived by. Is he a good guy or a bad guy? You will have to decide for yourself.

Makareus had only loved one woman. He blamed Daniel for having an affair with his wife and forcing him to kill her. He would seek his revenge on Daniel and anyone with him.

This is a trilogy and I would continue to read the future books, because I want to know what happens to Daniel and Sara. Do they get to have a “normal” life?

I received this book in return for an honest and unbiased review.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

D.R. Racey

D.R. Racey has served on active duty in the U.S. Military since 1998 and spends much of his time off writing, developing his next story, and designing his own cover art. He has been married since 2000 and has three children.

He started writing in 2008 as a hobby and published his first book in 2012. His first published book is Blood Rites which is the first in a series of three paranormal fiction novels about a werewolf on the run from his former pack master. D.R. Racey has also published a historical fiction novella about an Army National Guard unit stationed in Baghdad, Iraq during the surge (War – 8000 Miles From Home). He has also completed two fantasy novels as part of the Phoenix Blade Trilogy (Conflagration and Lineage).
All D.R. Racey novels are available from Amazon.com in Paperback and for Kindle.

I hope you enjoy your reading.

D.R. Racey
Author

Books by D.R. Racey
The Blood Rites Trilogy
Book One – Blood Rites – (Available Now!)
Book Two – Vengeance (Available Fall 2013)
Book Three – Annihilation (Available Spring 2014)

The Prequel to Blood Rites (Currently Untitled) (Available Fall 2014)

The Phoenix Blade Trilogy
Book One – Conflagration (Available Now!)
Book Two – Lineage (Available Now!)
Book Three – Impasse (Available Summer 2013)

War – 8000 Miles From Home (Available Now!)

Grunder (Available Winter 2013)

TO STALK D. R. RACEY, FOLLOW THE LINKS BELOW

Website

Goodreads

Twitter

To Purchase a copy of D. R. Racey’s books, simply click on the cover below.

To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

Why was the girl up a tree? And what was she hiding from?

Giveaway and Review for Time of Death by Ellis Vidler

TIME OF DEATH is free for Kindle March 5 – 7, 2013.

I am also having a Giveaway. There is 1 print book and 1 ebook up for grabs. If you win, you can opt to trade it for another one of Ellis Vidler’s books. So, you can’t lose. Scroll to the end of the post to enter.

Time of Death

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Do you believe in visions?

I love that the story starts out with Alex up a tree.

Her hand begins to itch, the urge to draw overwhelms her. She was hiding from the two Tree woman Pictures, Images and Photosmen, but she heard a sound that made her look. She saw only one man on the dock and felt the urge to run, trying to keep out of sight. She didn’t know, but Jelly, the chauffeur, had seen her.

As soon as she got home, she sat down and began to draw, her hand moving on its own. It seemed it only happened when violence  was near.

Storm DamageAlex was living on the island with her Aunt Chicora , because a tree had fallen on her house during a storm.

She ran into Connor, the prosecutor, at the restaurant. He convinced her to join him for dinner. Rollins had followed her there, with Jelly. Rollins was the man she had seen alone on the dock. His plan was to take care of her now.

She had no idea how much dinner with Connor would change her life forever.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos     4 STARS – Would Highly Recommend To Others

“An enigma wrapped in a riddle”

I loved the cover. The colors and photograph captured my eye. I must confess, I do choose a lot of the books I read by the cover first. The title is appropriate and catchy .

I have a special fondness for trees. I am amazed at the number of books I choose that have a tree on the cover in some way, shape or form.

I fell into the book and couldn’t climb out until the last page was read. I really thought that was how it would be, before I even opened the cover. It has all the elements for a good book.  A woman in distress, yet she is strong, loving, and forgiving. She has friends around her. The bad guys are after her. And she finds a man and his dog to ride off into the sunset with. Throw in some psychic abilities, numerous plot lines and characters, and you have a hit.

I read it in one sitting and it was every bit as entertaining as I thought it would be. The book was well written and Ellis kept the action rolling from cover to cover. I am eager to read more exciting stories from this wonderful author.

I won this book in a giveaway on fuyonlyknew’s blog. I love to add signed, first editions to my book collection. Thank you Laura, at fuyonlyknew, and Ellis for having the giveaway.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ellis VidlerAs a child in the South, Ellis spent long, hot days imagining herself an Indian or pioneer or musketeer. At night she (and her whole family) read. From Tarzan and D’Artagnan to Anne Shirley and Nancy Drew, she lived them all. No angst in her childhood. So what did she do as an adult? Write fiction, what else? She loves creating characters and making them do what she wants, but mostly they take off on their own and leave her hurrying to catch up.

All her stories have some degree of romance and a lot of suspense. Time of Death, a suspense novel about a psychic artist who sees too much, was released in November. And before that, Cold Comfort, her new romantic suspense. Her first book, published by Silver Dagger Mysteries, was Haunting Refrain. The second was The Peeper, a suspense novel co-authored with retired LEO Jim Christopher. (He’s a terrific storyteller!)

Ellis is an author, editor, and speaker. She grew up in North Alabama, studied English and art at All Saints College for Women, and thoroughly enjoyed studying creative writing under the great Scott Regan. She taught elements of fiction at a community college. Her home is now the South Carolina Piedmont with her husband and dogs. Click here to contact Ellis.

Ellis is currently working on a new book that’s set in North Carolina, tentatively titled Fade Out. She hopes to finish it this summer. It is more like Cold Comfort. Nothing psychic in this one.

If you cannot psychically connect to Ellis, click on a link below:

Blog   /  Website  /  Facebook  /  Goodreads  /  Twitter

The original blog about Anax

To Purchase any of Ellis Vidler’s book, simply click on the cover below. She has too many books to list them all, but click on any cover to be taken to Amazon.

GIVEAWAY

taiwan flag smiley animated gif Pictures, Images and PhotosEllis Vidler is offering  for the Giveaway

1 (one) ebook – International

l (one) Paperback – US and Canada Only

Easy entry as always, just leave your email address and answer the question:

Why do you think Alex is up the tree? Entertain me.

Closed. The Winners are – print copy, “Cassandra” – ebook, “JaxGrampy”.

Giveaway will run through 3/11/2013 .

To see all my Reviews, click HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, click HERE.

Follow me by email to keep up on all the latest news, reviews and giveaways.

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Vampire Giveaway – Freeblood or Fastblood?

Giveaway and Review of Freeblood by Marny Copal

There is plenty of blood, guts and gore for all of you gruesome horror lovers.

 What does it take to kill a vampire? Are the stories you’ve heard really true?

Freeblood

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Freebloods – drink from the same vampire no more than twice and have powers.

Fastbloods – drank more than two times and are bound to the vampire they fed from.

Kasey asked Quinn, her cousin. about the cell phone she had found. She played the message back and it was Jo Jo telling Quinn that they captured something on the recorder they had hidden in the Portland Underground. They were hoping to find some paranormal activity.

Underground tunnel Pictures, Images and Photos

They went to meet her, and saw her snatched right in front of them. Quinn fought hard and did some damage, but she was outnumbered and they had powers too. Kasey wanted to call the police, but Quinn said no. The kidnappers were not human, they were vassals, someone that vampires feed on. The police would be useless against them.

Quinn had found out about the supernatural when her mother and brother were killed, but Kasey was unaware of any of the details.

Kasey convinced Quinn to let her help. She was very good at manipulating people, when she wanted something. They were going to Confluence, a club where the supernatural hang out. Quinn knew a vampire there who might be able to help.

She ran into William Kiigemagi, a warlock she had made an enemy of some time ago. Quinn sensed that he knew something of Jo Jo’s kidnapping, which was bad news for Jo Jo.

Del was there too. He said that he wanted to help, but she didn’t want his help. Nate ran the club and it was his help she wanted. Nate told Quinn to leave it alone, that the Portland Vampire Council would handle it. She talked him into helping anyway. He had helped her before and he required his usual payment. The name he gave her was a human name, Tyler Anderson.

VAMPIRE TEETH Pictures, Images and PhotosNate was going to keep his eye on her, whether she liked it or not. He had a soft spot in his non-beating heart for her. She had feelings for him too, but he was a vampire and she was  a human, albeit, with special powers.

Del followed her home. He had feelings for her, whether she wanted to acknowledge them or not. He told her he was in town, because magic was being used and the Order had sent him there to investigate. The Order was a secret group that studied paranormal activity that was above and beyond the norm. They were the police, judge and jury of the supernatural in the northwest United States. Nate had told her to keep them out of it, but she couldn’t leave it alone. She needed Del’s help.

He told her how careless she was. That he thought she had learned more at the Academy.

Kasey asked what Academy? Quinn would be forced to tell her everything.

What was going on and who was behind it? It had become obvious that they would stop at nothing to make it happen, so it had to be something really big. What price would be paid to prevent it and rescue Jo Jo?

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos      4 STARS – Would Highly Recommend To Others

Quirky cover, but I like it. The title becomes apparent, almost as soon as you start reading the book.

The book is well written, easy to read and flows well.The plot is well-developed and will keep you guessing as to what comes next. It included things I have not seen in other vampire books, and that always counts as a huge plus to me.

Action packed from beginning to end. I could visualize the scenes playing out in my mind, because of watching Supernatural and Charmed on television. They are TV programs that deal with every kind of supernatural being you can think of, for those of you who have not heard of them.

When she talked about divining crystals, I immediately thought of Charmed. On Charmed, they use a crystal and map to locate people, they call it scrying.

Quinn is a kick ass  and take names kind of character. She felt that, no matter what, she could and would do whatever was necessary to save her best friend. I am especially drawn to books where the lead character is a strong female. I rooted for Quinn, even though I felt she had  one major character flaw, she………

Kasey was a hoot. I can just imagine what it would be like to be around her. She won me over big time. She is manipulative and persuasive, wheedling her way into things that are bound to get her into trouble. She is full of life and afraid of nothing. When she wanted something, she wouldn’t take no for an answer.

It is not always easy to choose which characters you will root for and which you hope get their comeuppance. Can a vampire be a nice guy?

I’m not sure how I felt about the ending. I sure didn’t see it happening the way it did. I felt sad for Quinn. She suffered such pain and loss, that you cannot help but feel her anguish.

Nate or Del? I am curious to see who she will end up with. I will be patiently (lol) awaiting the next book. Marny Copal is working on Book II.

I received this book from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.

ABOUT THE  AUTHOR

Marny Copal Books, school, and farm animals kept Marny Copal busy as a kid in Central Oregon. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from the University of Oregon, she worked in archaeology and freelance writing. She lives in Eugene with her husband. No farm animals in their residential neighborhood, but plenty of deer, raccoons, possums, and cats keep her company as she works on her latest writing project.

Marny Copal is currently working on Book II.

To find Marny, follow the links below:

Blog

Amazon

Goodreads

Twitter

To get your copy of Marny Copal’s book, simply click on the cover.

GIVEAWAY

taiwan flag smiley animated gif Pictures, Images and PhotosMarny Copal is offering  for the Giveaway 1 (one) ebook to a lucky commenter. International. Easy entry as always, just leave your email address and answer the question:

What kind of man would you choose, the bad boy or the clean-cut, by the rules, good guy? 

Closed. The Winner is “Pragya”.

Giveaway runs through 3/11/2013.

Follow me by email to keep up on all the latest news, reviews and giveaways.Tweet and let your friends, family and followers know what’s going on.

To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

Giveaway and Review of The Blake Soul by I. C. Camilleri

A psychological horror novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

The Blake Soul

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Maria was on top of the world, until she lost her parents and her fiancée. As her world fell apart around her, all she wanted to do was run. She jumped on a plane to LA and hit the nearest bookstore. She wanted to lose herself in someone else’s story. Without a thought for where she would stay while in LA, she went to the park to read.

Josh‘s nightmare had changed. Now there was a man crying and he, himself, was a man instead of a boy. He saw the path and knew he had been down it before. What he had seen made him determined not to go there again.

Josh’s mother rarely saw him, and when she did, the mental abuse she heaped on him was almost more than he could stand. She was wealthy and he had been raised in luxurious surroundings by his English nurse, Julie, and he  thought of her as his mother. His father was unknown to him, but he had an obsession about finding him.

He dove into books to escape, so it wasn’t that odd that he became an Oscar winning, heart-throb of an actor. Maybe it wasn’t ironic, that he had no respect, only scorn for women.

In his dream, he had seen the time on the man’s watch, 5:00. He knew he had to be there.

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bookstore Pictures, Images and Photos

He drove to the park to meet his “father”. He needed a book to pass the time while he waited for him to appear, so he went to the bookstore. That’s when he saw her. He sensed he knew her, had cared for her, but he couldn’t remember ever meeting her. How could it be? Why couldn’t he remember?

As he sat on the  bench, reading, Maria walked by. He surreptitiously watched her. He was drawn to her. She fell asleep and he felt the need to watch over her. Even though he was wide awake, he was dreaming. In his dream, she was there.

When he came back to the present, confused, she was still asleep. His mind must be playing tricks on him. He had a photographic memory and thought that was why he was able to see into the future. It was only memories.

As he watched her, his dream became reality. He tried to send her a message with his eyes and she responded, but it was too late. He remembered his dream, the blood and the screams.

They began dragging her off the path. Deja vu. His dream was really happening, right before his eyes. She felt it too and questioned herself. How could this be?

red ferrari Pictures, Images and Photos

They talked in the Ferrari, as he drove her to the hospital. Her name was Maria Conti and she was a doctor, a cancer researcher, from England. He could tell, as they talked, that she was naive and trusting. He kept trying to figure out how he knew her. He kept asking her questions. He knew, as if he had ESP, that he had cared deeply for her and they had been together.

He thought that his photographic memory and great observations skills were why he knew what was going to happen, but it was so much more than that.

She told him her father had studied the paranormal. When he touched her hand, he saw their future flash before his eyes.

She had nowhere to stay, so he talked her into spending her two-week holiday at his place. They would just have fun.

” Are you up for that challenge?”

He fell hard for her and he had only two weeks to figure out how to make her fall in love with him and want to stay. She kept wondering why she was so drawn to him. She was very independent and had kept her fiance at a distance. Why was it so different with Josh?

Maria told him she had to go back to the UK. She knew she had to go back and break up with Rob. Then she could decide where to go from there. He told himself, he would give her two weeks, then he was going to get her. He couldn’t imagine his life without her.

What would happen when she went home? Would she forget him? Would she welcome him, when he came to bring her back with him? What about the dreams? Was that their future?

They talked and he kept thinking of all the clichés.

“Out of sight, out of mind”

“Absence makes the heart grow fonder”.

Being separated made it worse, but now it was time for him to go to her. Would he find the answers to his dreams with her?

The man he had seen in his visions wasn’t his father. Why would he come to Josh – a selfish womanizer?

Will he find the answers when he joins Maria in the UK? Or is his destiny to live life over and over and over again?

taz's happy easter Pictures, Images and Photos

5 STARS – Would Buy It For Them (lol)

I loved the cover and the title is short, to the point and appropriate for the story.

The book is long and detailed, so grab a cocktail, start up the fire, put your feet up and open the cover, or kindle, for a dive into Josh’s world. The pain and anguish he goes through, not once, not twice, but three times….What if you knew your future? Would you interfere and change it, and keep changing it if you didn’t like the result?

The bad comes with the good. How do you know if by changing it, you are only making it worse. Would it happen any  way? Maybe a different day or time? What do you think?

I loved that the subject of books was worked into the plot and played an important part in it. I also love fancy, fast sports cars. Add in some paranormal, a little romance and a lot of questions and mystery, I am yours.

It seemed to slow in parts, but I felt that was because she was laying a foundation for what was to come. I could anticipate some of what would be, but liked that I couldn’t see it all.

Even the paranormal episodes in the books seemed realistic. I got so caught up in it, I couldn’t put the book down. I wanted to get to the end to see what happened . I can’t help but think my heart will break when Josh s does.

I didn’t think I would want my hubby to be the type to bend so easily to my will, even though he does. But after reading this, it made me realize, they do that because they love us so much and want us to be happy. It is nice to know that someone cares that much for you and to know it would take something extraordinary to make them cheat on you or leave you. Josh’s love was so powerful, that he would stop at nothing to save her or make her happy.

The book was very well written with a great plot and characters. I got so involved in their life, that I hated to see the book end. Josh does his best to redeem himself and be worthy of Maria. Maria is so sweet and naive, that it was easy to become attached to her.

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Were the dreams his future or just dreams? Visions? Premonitions? Read the book and let me know what you think.

I can hardly wait to read The Blake Curse.

I received this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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I.C. CamilleriSomething about me…well, that’s complex. Basically I’m a medical doctor living in the UK. Reading and writing have always been my passion, relieving me from the everyday stress of my medical job. My first published novel is THE BLAKE CURSE. It is a psychological thriller and a romance set in Cambridge. It pivots on three powerful characters; Ben Blake, the young and gifted British Intelligence officer embarking on his first undercover assignment; the elusive Samantha Black; and Jake Snell, the rugged Earl full of vices, the rogue who has to tease out that single thread of goodness inside his crumbling shell. He is Ben’s only lifeline in this treacherous game.

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My second novel, THE BLAKE SOUL is different from my first in that it is more of a romance, focusing on the passion and love between two people with totally different backgrounds and interests. Here’s the synopsis to whet your appetite;

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Josh Blake wakes up to the sound of the chilling scream echoing inside his head. His childhood nightmares are haunting him again. But why return now after all those years of oblivion? He sets out to investigate and he changes the natural course of events, rewriting destiny and creating a whole new world for himself and those around him. His past turbulent childhood mingles with the present, unveiling the deep insecurities that lurk behind his polished exterior of fame, glory and wealth.

 To find I. C. Camilleri, follow the links below:

To pick up your copy from of a Blake series novel by I C Camilleri, click on the cover below.

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GIVEAWAY

taiwan flag smiley animated gif Pictures, Images and PhotosI. C. Camilleri  is offering  for the Giveaway, 3 (three) PDF copies to 3 (three) lucky commenters. Easy entry as always, just leave your email address and answer the question:

Would you change your future, if you were able to? What would you change about it?

CLOSED. WINNERS – Terry – Bieke – Emaginette

Giveaway will run from 2/15 – 3/4/2013.

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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?

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Come visit lancaster house and the middle aisle with Prism Book Tours

On tour with Prism Book Tours


 

One of the secret doors of the Stift Admont library, Austria.

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*If you missed
yesterday’s post about how American Idol inspired Lancaster House, sneak
through this hidden passage to I Am a Reader, Not a Writer. . . but, watch out for ghosts along the way . .

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Lancaster HouseLancaster House
by Taylor Dean
Paperback, 304 pages
Published June 7th 2012 by Createspace

Premise: 

Zoe Grayson needs a change. So, she moves to another state, purchases an old, dilapidated 1920s Victorian Mansion, and sets out to restore it to its former glory. As she begins the restoration, she finds herself falling in love with the old house . . . not to mention its illustrious builder, Mr. Lancaster. Zoe becomes obsessed with the house as she discovers its secrets; hidden rooms, secret passageways . . . and a mysterious man who seems to think the house is his. Who is he? More importantly, how does he live in her home unseen and unheard?

The unexpected answers leave her reeling—and questioning everything she’s ever known. To her dismay, Zoe’s actions land her in the local psychiatric hospital, scheming for ways to return to Lancaster House . . . and the love of her life.

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The Middle Aisle (Lancaster House)The Middle Aisle
by Taylor Dean
Paperback, 356 pages
Published November 26th 2012 by Create SpacePremise:

Zoe Grayson is back in Lancaster House, ordered to bed rest for the duration of her unexpected pregnancy. Doctor Wade Channing, her overzealous psychiatrist, is living in Lancaster House, taking care of her, waiting on her, and tending to her every need. It seems to be the perfect arrangement.

There’s just one catch.

She has to tell him her story—everything that has happened in her life since the moment she escaped from Serenity Hills. It’s been quite an adventure to include renovating another home and a walk down the middle aisle.

But, that’s all over now. Nothing is real. It never was.

How did she end up in this miserable situation?

GUEST POST

Lancaster House contains many secret passageways and hidden rooms. It’s definitely part of its charm. The house itself is a main character in the book without me intentionally writing it that way. But Lancaster House isn’t the only one keeping secrets. I couldn’t resist adding a couple of secrets of my own into the writing of this book.

First I need to explain. I vividly remember sitting in my California Lit class in high school, listening to my teacher explain the hidden meanings John Steinbeck placed in the Grapes of Wrath—the types of things that are in Cliff Notes. I was mesmerized. I was impressed. Like the preacher’s name was Jim Casy. Initials: J.C. By no mistake did Mr. Steinbeck choose those initials—he chose the name Jim Casy to mimic the initials Jesus Christ. At least this is what my teacher taught me. Did Mr. Steinbeck confirm this? I have no idea. I’ve always wondered if these types of things are made up by people who study classic literature or if the author really intended it that way! Still, the concept fascinated me. Next I learned about East of Eden. The father’s name is Adam, and his son’s names are Caleb and Aron. (Father Adam=C for Cain and A for Abel) At any rate, you get the whole initial idea thing. To a young student of literature, this was intriguing and I never forgot it. (I grew up living only an hour away from John Steinbeck’s infamous Cannery Row, hence the obsession with Steinbeck.)

With the above thoughts in mind, I set out to name my hero. Since the visual of Adam Lambert was the image that inspired my main character, I decided to stick with A.L. as the initials. Andre Lancaster. Yes, I’ll put secrets in my book just like John Steinbeck, I thought. Brilliant.

Okay, so it’s not that amazing. But it felt amazing. The kind of thing that made me smile to myself whenever I thought about it.

There is one other similarity to Adam Lambert and American Idol placed in Lancaster House.  During the American Idol season, Adam Lambert would show up on stage dressed in his casual attire, with his hair flopping over one eye, looking like an anime rocker. In the next performance he’d show up with his hair slicked back, dressed in a classy suit, singing “Tracks of my Tears.”

To view Adam’s performance of “Tracks of my Tears,” click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uc2lXKuXUD8

A total transformation. I couldn’t resist having my main character do the same.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Taylor Dean .
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Taylor Dean lives in Texas and is the mother of four grown children. Upon finding herself with an empty nest, she began to write the stories that were always wandering around in her head, quickly finding that she had a passion for writing, specifically romance. Whether it’s paranormal, contemporary, or suspense-you’ll find all sub-genres of romance in her line-up.
Find & Follow:
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Lancaster House & The Middle Aisle, available in print or eCopy from Smashwords or for Amazon, click on the cover below:

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TOUR-WIDE GIVEAWAY

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5 WINNERS will receive….

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Open only to those who can legally enter. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced on Rafflecopter and Grand Finale posts as well as emailed and the winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Burgandy Ice @ Colorimetry and Prism Book Tours and sponsored by Taylor Dean. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
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GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.
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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Bay window with leaded stained glass windows in a Victorian home. What a lovely spot for a writing desk.

*To learn of another American Idol performance that inspired a certain scene in Lancaster House,come back tomorrow and visit my study at Proud Book Nerd. . . you won’t bedisappointed . . .

 Pssst… to see my real study, hop over to Letters to the Cosmos and Sarah’s review!
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THE TOUR:

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2/11 – Unputdownable Books – Guest Post
2/12 – I Am A Reader, Not a Writer – Guest Post
2/13 – Fundinmental Guest Post
–          Letters to the Cosmos – Review
2/14 – Oh, The Books You’ll Read – Review
–          Proud Book Nerd – Guest Post
2/15 – LDS & Lovin’ It – Review
2/17 – Phantasmic Reads – Review
–          Lavender & Camomile Press Guest Post
2/18 – The Reading Diaries – Guest Post
2/19 –  Living a Goddess Life – Review
–          Beck Valley Books – Guest Post
2/20 – Living the Goddess Life –  Recipe
–          Colorimetry
2/21 – Passion and Life – Guest Post
–          Books Mystify – Goodreads Review
2/22 – Christy’s Cozy Corner – Review
2/24 – Christy’s Cozy Corner – Review
–          A Buckeye Girl Reads – Guest Post
2/25 – Living a Goddess Life – Review
–          Icultgen – Guest Post
2/26 – Who’s Thanny?  (Byzinha) – Review
–          Letters to the Cosmos – Review
2/27 – Living a Goddess Life – Recipe
–          Tressa – Goodreads Reviewer

2/28 – A Buckeye Girl Reads – Review
3/1 – Grand Finale TBA…
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Would You Like A Glimpse of the Afterlife? Review of Hereafter by Terri Bruce

Read on!

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Hereafter

Afterlife  Book One

Terri Bruce

Genre: Paranormal/Contemporary Fantasy

 Publisher: Mictlan Press    /     Date of Publication:  January 20, 2014

ISBN: 978-0-9913036-0-1    /    ISBN: 978-0-9913036-1-8

Number of pages: 369    /    Word Count:  111,000

Cover Artist: Shelby Robinson

BOOK DESCRIPTION

 Thirty-six-year-old Irene Dunphy didn’t plan on dying any time soon, but that’s exactly what happens when she makes the mistake of getting behind the wheel after a night bar-hopping with friends. She finds herself stranded on earth as a ghost, where the food has no taste, the alcohol doesn’t get you drunk, and the sex…well, let’s just say “don’t bother.” To make matters worse, the only person who can see her—courtesy of a book he found in his school library—is a fourteen-year-old boy genius obsessed with the afterlife.

Unfortunately, what waits in the Great Beyond isn’t much better. Stuck between the boring life of a ghost in this world and the terrifying prospect of three-headed hell hounds, final judgment, and eternal torment in the next, Irene sets out to find a third option—preferably one that involves not being dead anymore. Can she wipe the slate clean and get a second chance before it’s too late?

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MY REVIEW

“Why are you staring at me?”

“Well, it’s just, because…you know. You’re…”  “Well…dead”

When she awoke in the morning, it all came back to her. She had searched the web for information about ghosts and the after life, but found nothing describing her situation.

She got in the shower and brushed her teeth. She felt, just because she was dead, that was no reason she shouldn’t take care of normal hygiene.

Suddenly, it came to her. There must be others in the same situation as hers. So she left the house in search of more answers.

When Irene waved to Mrs. Boine, she waved back. She ran up on the porch and began talking to her, only to find out she was dead too. As they talked two little girls came out asking for Grandma to push them. Mrs. Boine told Irene that they couldn’t see her, yet they knew she was there.

Irene came right out and asked Mrs. Boine what she was supposed to do? Where was she supposed to go? Mrs. Boine said she had everything she could want right where she was, so why should she go anywhere.

Irene was in Limbo, but at least now she knew she wasn’t the only ghost. She found that ghosts tended to have an aura about them. She couldn’t help but wonder – Where’s the bright light? – like in the Ghost Whisperer.

She found herself in front of a house and noticed the name Johnson.Why did that sound familiar to her? Then she remembered, the kid, Jonah could see her and his name had been Johnson. But what could a 14-year-old kid tell her? She felt she had to talk to him. She went in the house, even though he wasn’t home, and she hadn’t been invited in. It was obvious from his bedroom he was alive and well. But why could he see her? She knew he could be unseen, invisible to others, too.  Why? How?

book of spells

She left a note and hoped he would come find her. When he did, he told her he found a book with spells, about astral projection and transcendental meditation. They talked about what he had discovered from reading books. She kept asking him questions. How would she get to the afterlife? What was ahead for her?

“You’re like a two-year old, you know that,” was his response.

And so began their journey to find the answers that would help Irene move on.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos   4 STARS – Would Highly Recommend To Others

Pretty cover and an appropriate title.

I got some chuckles when…..Well, I can’t tell you. For the subject of death, I really like Terri Bruce’s approach to it and the afterlife and the time in between. How would you react? What would you feel like if life went on without you? Is there life after death? Funny light-hearted look at death. A lot of food for thought in this book.

Irene –  was a spoiled rotten brat. Selfish. The 14-year-old kid acted more like an adult than she did. She didn’t put her full effort into her job, even though she liked it. Definitely liked drinking and had no qualms about calling in sick, after partying all night. She felt she had done what she was supposed to do, wasn’t that enough? She had an education, a good job, family, friends and a love life. What else was there?

Jokes

“Why aren’t ghosts good at telling lies?”   ” Because you can see right through them.”

“…what kind of mistakes do ghosts make…”   “Boo-boos.”

“What kind of street does a host live on?”  “A dead-end.”

“Who does a ghost invite to his party?”   “Anyone he can dig up.”

Quotes

Cops Undead: Miami

“Today is the first day of your afterlife”

“You can’t come in. I didn’t invite you. ”That’s vampires.” “

“Here take my sock, it’s stinky, just like you”

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

The book brought to mind Charmed, Supernatural and Ghost Whisperer, three TV shows that deal with magic, death, ghosts, the supernatural, the paranormal……when Irene and Jonah talked about scrying, finding lost objects, spells…..made me think of all three shows.

Maybe ignorance is bliss. Maybe we are better off not knowing what is to come. What is life about? The infamous, why me? Regrets? Set a wrong right? Unfinished business. Who does the judging? What are the rules?

The ending wraps it up nicely and left me with a warm fuzzy feeling and a smile. All’s well that ends well, went through my mind.

Hereafter on Goodreads | Shelfari | Library Thing

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Terri BruceTerri Bruce has been making up adventure stories for as long as she can remember and won her first writing award when she was twelve. Like Anne Shirley, she prefers to make people cry rather than laugh, but is happy if she can do either. She produces fantasy and adventure stories from a haunted house in New England where she lives with her husband and three cats. Her second novel, Thereafter (Afterlife #2), will be released May 1, 2014.

 

Website/BlogGoodreads / Facebook  / Twitter

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To get your copy of Hereafter or learn more about Terri Bruce, click on the cover below.

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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?

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Blog Tour Party with Terri Bruce for Hereafter

Like the “Son”, would Charmeine sacrifice herself to save the others?

Mactus: The Light-Bearer Series (Book II) by Emily Guido

Spoiler Alert: This is the second book in The Light-Bearer Series.

To see my Review for Charmeine, Book I, go HERE.

Mactus – Latin – means well done, good job, honored, good luck.

Mactus (The Light-Bearer, #2)

Add to Goodreads

Charmeine and Tabbruis awoke to Shane barging in, demanding answers. Shane was very protective of Charmeine and he didn’t like the idea that Tabbrius could be taking advantage of her.

Tabbruis told him that he had been an orphan, like Charmeine and that he was also a vampire. Charmeine went on to tell Shane how they had found out that Tabbruis was a Blood-Hunter and she was a Light-Bearer. Tabbruis explained that they were sworn enemies, but their love was something special, their hearts beat as one, and Tabbruis could no longer see a life without her.

Shane proceeded to tell them, that he was also an orphan. He told them about a dream he had. It was the same dream that Charmeine and Tabbruis had been talking about. They had all been together. What could it mean?

Then, everything came rushing back to Charmeine. She told them what she remembered, that her and Tabbruis had been married and Shane was their child. They had been a family in Heaven. Shane was the one to voice the question – Why? Why had they forgotten? And what had happened to separate them?

Hurt, pain, and loneliness poured from them, only to replaced by love, joy and a sense of belonging.

Tabbruis’ voodoo stare told them to do as he said, when he told them to get ready to leave. They were going to Romania. Dimitri had sent Tabbruis’ “brother” to collect them.

They were attacked at the airport. The fight was brutal and to the death. No one had known, not even Shane, that he had powers, but when the Blood-Hunter took Charmeine, Shane was the one who saved her.

Tabbruis had seen a darkness surrounding Charmeine, but said nothing.

As they approached Dimitri’s castle, security kept getting tighter, more intense. It was now going to be their home too.draculas castle Pictures, Images and Photos

In Tabbruis’ dream, Charmeine was being tortured. He awoke with a start and immediately started looking for her, but she was gone. He had told her that God had made him for her and she for him. Their hearts beat in tune and their love would save them.

But, like the “Son”, would Charmeine  sacrifice herself to save the others?

4 STARS – Would Highly Recommend To Others

Taz Valentine 1 Pictures, Images and Photos

The cover is pretty, but does not do the story justice. It does show that Charmeine and Tabbruis are together, but it does not portray what they will have to go through to make that happen. The title is appropriate. It will take good luck for them to make it through what is to come.

Not only do the characters grow on you, the story deepens and takes you along with it. As they fight to survive, they risk it all. But Tabbruis does not want to live without Charmeine. He must convince her, not to sacrifice herself. There has to be another way.

Their friends will give up their lives to help keep them safe. How many of us can say the same? To have such loyal family and friends could be something we all strive for. Not only to have for ourselves, but to be that family member or friend that would do the same.

I marvel at Emily’s ability to, not just create the story, but to be able to describe it so vividly that I feel as if it could be real. Who is to say? Do you believe in Angels? If you do, then there must be demons also. Who knows what form they would take.

I received this book free from the author. I am not sure if she expected a review or not, but as I read through every book of the series (and I can hardly wait to start the next book) I will be doing a review for each and every one. I would like others to see, that this is a series that they will want to add to their collection of books.

Some Of My Favorite Quotes

“So I will have you forever.” – Tabbruis

“Yep! No exchanges or refunds. You’ve already ripped off the tag. Sorry.” – Charmeine

“Marriage is a three-ring circus: engagement ring, wedding ring  and suffering.” -Tabbruis

Their song “She’s got a way” by Billy Joel

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Emily Guido Emily Guido is a very new Young Adult, Paranormal Romance Author. She was inspired to start writing “The Light-Bearer Series” because one day she got an idea of two light and dark characters who have an epic romance. A week later, Emily had over a 100,000 words written. When she writes, she pictures the characters in her head going through vivid descriptions of each scene. 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 in 2013.

Notes to Reviewers and Readers:
First, the Blood-Hunter race or Elders have been on Earth for thousands of years. Because of this, they do not use contractions like I’m, don’t or can’t. They communicate in a more refined way because of their age.

Second, there are several OLD editions out in circulation of my books. Please leave a review on the current edition. Please feel free to contact me, Emily, at guido.emily@gmail.com to check the edition you have is the recent edition.

To Find Emily, Follow The Links

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To order any of her books, simply click on the cover.

Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Awesome new cover for Half–Black Soul by H. D, Gordon

If you like fantasy, you’re going to love this series. The first book lays the foundation for the rest of the series. It takes you on a thrilling adventure of a 17-year-old girl whose destiny takes her deep into the world of vampires and werewolves. So hop on board!!!!

Check out the new cover art for Half Black Soul!

The Alexa Montgomery Saga, Book #2

Half Black Soul (The Alexa Montgomery Saga, #2)

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You can read my review for Half Black Soul HERE.

Description

In the past few weeks Alexa Montgomery has had her entire world flipped upside down. She’s gone from living a semi-normal teenage life to a life full of vampires and werewolves who all expect her to deliver them from the control of an evil dictator.

Alexa is the last of her kind; a Sun Warrior, and now she has left the safety of Two Rivers to search for her mother, but she’s left her sister behind to do so, and Nelly is the one person that she was told that she must always protect. Kayden, a vampire who is Alexa’s other half, has followed her on her journey. But, secrets are about to come out, relationships will break and danger lies just up ahead. Will Alexa be able to get through all of this and make it out alive? And, will she be able to protect Nelly from danger when she is so far away?

Discover the series!

Blood Warrior (The Alexa Mongomery Saga, Book #1)

Blood Warrior (The Alexa Montgomery Saga, #1)

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You can read my review for Blood Warrior HERE.

Description

When her home is attacked by murderous vampires, 17-year-old Alexa is forced to leave her mother for dead in order to save her sister. She soon learns that she is the last known member of an elite race of supernatural Warriors, and is thrust into a world full of vampires and werewolves who all seem to regard her as some sort of savior. Meanwhile, Alexa battles a monster within herself that seeks to gain control; a monster that seeks blood.

The hidden city she finds herself in appears perfect, but Alexa’s instincts tell her that all is not right within its walls. When she is asked to attend a school of fighters, whose exams consist of gladiator-style competitions, she must decide who she can trust among the smiling faces. And, when she meets Kayden, a vampire she feels undeniably drawn to, she must decide if she can trust herself.

Rise (The Alexa Montgomery Saga, Book #3)

The Rise (The Alexa Montgomery Saga, #3)

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You can read my review HERE.

Description

The supernatural world in which Alexa Montgomery has found herself is on the brink of war. She is charged with the task of raising an army, defeating an evil dictator, and struggling to contain the bloodthirsty monster that lives within her.

These are things Alexa can handle, but when the person she loves most in the world takes a turn for the worst, Alexa’s loyalty and determination will be tested in the most horrifying of ways. Will she be able to rise to the challenge, or will her love for her sister kill her once and for all?

Redemption (The Alexa Montgomery Saga, Book #4)

Redemption (The Alexa Montgomery Saga, #4)

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Description

The final test is here. The war is no longer a worry of tomorrow, but a reality of today. Turning back is no longer an option. Maybe it never was. It is time for Alexa Montgomery to look fate in the eyes. Death waits there for certain. The only question is… for who?

My review is coming soon.

ABOUT H. D. GORDON

A HD Gordon

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

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To Purchase a Copy of any of the books below, simply click on the cover.