Clara and Angelica Grace have never met ghosts. They’ve never sailed on a tall ship, ridden wild unicorns, or fought with magical weapons. Instead, the teenage twins have a wretched existence, ignored by their troubled parents in a rundown home and tormented by the town’s snobs.
Everything turns topsy-turvy all of a sudden when discovery of an ancestor’s hidden journal with an odd key to an unknown door leads them into an entirely different realm.
The girls go on a thrilling oceanic voyage to search for mysterious whales, train with a seasoned warrior, and are befriended by a wise Master. But all is not a bouquet of lovely lilies…they are hunted by a cunning warlock and must rid themselves of The Warlock’s Curse.
EXCERPT
The whales’ frenzied song grew even louder—the electrical atmosphere intensified.
“Now what’s happening? We’re dissolving!” Clara yelled, watching her little hands disappear and then reappear again.
Angelica observed different parts of the ship, their cats, their bodies, and the monkey crew all vanishing momentarily. She drew a sharp breath. She was about to say something when the ethereal whale swimming directly before them opened its massive mouth, saltwater pouring down its yawning maw that seemed miles and miles deep.
“This is madness!” Clara shrieked, staring down the vast gaping throat of the beast. “Even a hurricane would be much better than this.
We’re going to die, for sure!” Angelica lost her composure. “Turn the ship!” she demanded. “I don’t wanna die!”
“Impossible!” Claudius cried. “We must go!” “I’m gonna be sick!” Clara cried, her face pasty. She clasped her sister’s scrawny hand in horror. What lay before them was far worse than that scary roller coaster Angelica had once convinced her to try at their town fair.
Catapulted forward by the hurrying tide, Claudius’s ship now sailed upon the phantasm of a massive whale. The sleek vessel hung momentarily on the edge of the watery precipice of white light, then slipped straight down the monster’s wide-open chasm…
AUTHOR Bio and Links
Fascinated by the works of Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, C.B. Oresky began writing her own fantasy novel, The Warlock’s Curse, after dreaming of being whisked off to an alien realm. Besides her debut novel, she has seen four of her short stories published in a small, national literary press: Conceit Magazine. When she’s not writing, she can be found wandering through the woods, dancing flamenco, or planting flowers in her garden. She currently lives in a small town in Connecticut with her bodybuilder husband, their exceptionally naughty Scottish terrier and Siamese cat, ten chickens, Mr. Tiggy the hedgehog, and a yard filled with majestic flowers.
Skull’s Vengeance(Curse of Clansmen and Kings Book 4) by Linnea Tanner
GENRE: Historical Fantasy
BLURB
A Celtic warrior queen must do the impossible—defeat her sorcerer half-brother and claim the throne. But to do so, she must learn how to strike vengeance from her father’s skull.
AS FORETOLD BY HER FATHER in a vision, Catrin has become a battle-hardened warrior after her trials in the Roman legion and gladiatorial games. She must return to Britannia and pull the cursed dagger out of the serpent's stone to fulfill her destiny. Only then can she unleash the vengeance from the ancient druids to destroy her evil half-brother, the powerful sorcerer, King Marrock. Always two steps ahead and seemingly unstoppable, Marrock can summon destructive natural forces to crush any rival trying to stop him and has charged his deadliest assassin to bring back Catrin's head.
To have the slightest chance of beating Marrock, Catrin must forge alliances with former enemies, but she needs someone she can trust. Her only option is to seek military aid from Marcellus—her secret Roman husband. They rekindle their burning passion, but he is playing a deadly game in the political firestorm of the Julio-Claudian dynasty to support Catrin's cause.
Ultimately, in order to defeat Marrock, Catrin must align herself with a dark druidess and learn how to summon forces from skulls to exact vengeance. But can she and Marcellus outmaneuver political enemies from Rome and Britannia in their quest to vanquish Marrock?
EXCERPT
PROLOGUE
White Cliffs in Southeast Britannia,
Eve of Samhain, 31 October, 26 AD
Three human skulls hung over King Marrock’s stallion, dangling from a rope like ornaments. Feeling as invincible as a god, he rode to the precipice of the sheer cliffs and listened to the roar of the waves crashing below. Yet, the raven soaring overhead chilled him to the bone—an omen he was but mortal and could plunge to his death.
He embraced the warmth of Boudicca, his younger half sister, who sat astride his horse in front of him. A toddler full of mirth, she was a healer who could connect to the souls of the dead.
Whereas their mother accused him, also known as Blood Wolf, of being a soulless murderer.
On this eve of Samhain, Marrock knew the souls of the dead freely roamed among the living. He spotted his deadliest assassin, Gawain, searching for the wraith on the emerald hilltop. Gawain had a blue, triangular tattoo of a dagger’s blade on his forehead and deadly weapons underneath his black cloak—the royal insignia of the red dragon stitched to the front panel.
For Marrock, the Otherworldly dragon, with its leathery wings and fiery breath, symbolized perpetual power. It was said that where dragons trod, mystic energy flowed. The untamed beast guarded the portal into the Otherworld.
He yearned for the dragon’s mystic power—the power to summon forces from the earth’s molten underbelly to immolate his rivals.
Gawain pointed to a pile of rocks. “The sheepherder saw the wraith over there,” he said in his deep, gravelly voice.
Marrock handed Boudicca to him and then dismounted, pulling the rope of skulls off his horse and draping it over his shoulders. His family’s skulls served as a warning to anyone who threatened his sovereignty.
Until now, he had only been able to summon the deadly powers from the skulls of his stepmother and bastard sister; their souls were encased in the bone crowns. The soul of his father, King Amren, still eluded Marrock, even after he had sliced off his father’s head. If his father’s soul was indeed wandering the hilltop, he would imprison it in the largest empty skull he had.
Then, he would be able to unleash the collective forces from all three souls.
Glancing all around, he could not see his father’s ghostly figure in the thickening fog. Boudicca’s gleeful giggle roused his attention. He watched her waddle toward a mound of stones and place her tiny hands on the stacked rocks.
“Pa. Pa. Am,” she squealed with delight.
Marrock cast a glance at Gawain. “Did the sheepherder see the wraith disappear into those rocks?”
Gawain nodded. “Indeed, I believe so.”
Marrock transferred the roped skulls from his shoulders to the grassy ground and looked at Gawain. “Help me remove the rocks so I can see what is underneath.”
Gawain joined Marrock in the task of removing the white stones one by one. They inspected each rock for any defect before setting it aside.
Boudicca, mimicking the men, picked up flint pebbles and dropped them on the chalky ground.
After a while, they uncovered the gemstone handle of a dagger; its blade was embedded in a coil-shaped serpent stone. Marrock recognized the jewel-studded dagger as once belonging to his father. Intrigued, he gripped the handle with both hands and strained to pull it out, his muscles aching and his face dripping with sweat from the effort.
Suddenly, to his shock, the hilt turned sizzling hot. He jerked his hands away and inspected the blisters that had formed on his reddened palms. Hearing Boudicca’s gleeful babble, he looked down just as she gripped the dagger’s handle.
“Pa. Pa. Am,” she trilled.
To Marrock’s surprise, Boudicca’s hands did not burn.
A prickling sensation noosed around his neck as he recalled the original curse cast by his mother just before his father had executed her.
The gods demand that the scales be balanced for the life you take. If you deny my soul’s journey to the Otherworld by beheading me, I curse you to the same fate as mine. I prophesy your future queen will beget a daughter who will rise as a raven and join your son, Blood Wolf, and a mighty empire will overtake your kingdom and execute my curse.
King Amren had etched the words of the curse on the dagger’s blade using the Roman alphabet with the belief he could thwart the dark prophecy.
Marrock shuddered.
Does my father’s soul live in the dagger? Has he come back to exact vengeance on me?
AUTHOR Bio and Links
Award-winning author, Linnea Tanner, weaves Celtic tales of love, magical adventure, and political intrigue in Ancient Rome and Britannia. Since childhood, she has passionately read about ancient civilizations and mythology. Of particular interest are the enigmatic Celts, who were reputed as fierce warriors and mystical Druids.
Linnea has extensively researched ancient and medieval history, mythology, and archaeology and has traveled to sites described within each of her books in the Curse of Clansmen and Kings series. Books released in her series include “Apollo’s Raven” (Book 1), “Dagger’s Destiny” (Book 2), “Amulet’s Rapture” (Book 3), and “Skull’s Vengeance” (Book 4). She has also released the historical fiction short story, “Two Faces of Janus.”
A Colorado native, Linnea attended the University of Colorado and earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemistry. She lives in Fort Collins with her husband and has two children and six grandchildren.
I have not read any of the Sin City Wolf books, but after reading Hellfire by January Bain, I want more. I quickly became immersed in Amara and Dante’s lives. Shay, Amara’s BFF, is a wonderful character and Rainbow, Amara’s parrot has a large personality. I got more than I bargained for in this paranormal romance.
Amara plays life safe and if it wasn’t for her friend, Shay, she may never have any fun. Her mother passed away with ALS, Lou Gherig’s disease, and she has the RPS25 gene. Her steady money comes from journal articles, papers and dissertations she receives through the university. She loves novels about the supernatural world and would love to be able to write paranormal romance stories herself. Maybe one day?
“Too bad vampires aren’t a real thing. Not having to worry about getting sick would be sweet. Can you say fangbanger, Rainbow?”
Shay”s sister is coming into town to take care of their dad while she and Amara go out on the Vegas town to sing Karaoke at the casino. Amara catches the eye of two ‘men’.
I love a character that has challenges to overcome. and Amara has one that she could never have foreseen when she is bitten by the vampire, Pharaoh Akar I. He knew as soon as he saw her, he had to have her for eternity.
Dante has a family meeting he can’t get out of and is lured to the Karaoke contest by a sweet voice he couldn’t resist. He is a part of the most successful werewolf pack of all time, the House of Luceres. He is a doctor, studying DNA, hoping to benefit werewolves.
I think we can all see where this is going, after Dante rescues the distressed maiden from the clutches of the bad guy. Their road to a life together will be filled with danger, from both vampires and werewolves. After all, the two are mortal enemies and do not mix…or do they?
Now I know who assassinated President Kennedy. LOL
Once I started reading, I couldn’t stop. The story and the characters are so well written, I was drawn into the story, smiling, laughing, worrying and fretting. The action and pacing kept the story flowing smoothly, making me ‘flip the pages’, having to know what will become of them. I am sorry I missed the first three books in the Sin City Wolf series by January Bain. I have added Hunt, Book I, to my wish list and want to know what comes next.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Hellfire by January Bain.
4 Stars
BLURB
Amara St. Clair is just out for a rare night of fun on the Vegas Strip. But when she discovers her fun-loving side in the Glitter Palace casino, a life-altering altercation with a deadly ancient vampire leaves Amara lying unconscious in an alley near the famous casino. Doctor, geneticist and genealogy expert Dante Luceres, dedicated to research that will keep his fellow werewolves safe and healthy, is attending a mandatory yearly event of the House of Luceres. Coming across Amara, he saves her life, though vampires and werewolves are forbidden from interfering with each other in the supernatural world. There are dire consequences for interfering with another supe’s domain, and he expects that soon both the vampires and the werewolves will be after them, but he can’t leave the beautiful, vivacious little human to suffer alone. Drawn to each other, the pair must hide from the world. But with everyone against them, including Dante’s clan and an evil vampire hellbent on having Amara for his own, how can they find a path to a shared future…and true happiness?
EXCERPT
“Wait! We’re going the wrong way.”
“My Harley’s out back. Quickest way out of town.”
“I’m wearing a dress. And I’d prefer an Uber or cab. No offense, but I don’t know you.” She jerked her arm to pull away, but I hung on.
“You’re in mortal danger. I’ll figure out the explanation for all this”—I gestured between us—“later when I have access to records and blood testing.”
“Blood tests? What are you talking about? And why does it affect you?”
She exaggerated my hand movements demonstrating the connection between us back in my face. I did note that her hand also trembled, causing an odd emotion to come over me. She was trying to be brave, but it was costing her.
“Are you suggesting that you are not in touch with your obvious physiological responses?”
Anything was possible in this alternative world she’d just had thrust on her. Perhaps she wasn’t aware she had become aroused. Or refused to admit it. It didn’t matter, neither of us would be acting on it in this lifetime.
“You don’t understand. That beast that attacked you? He’s coming back, and he won’t be alone. I have to get you away right now.” I added a sense of urgency to my tone in efforts to persuade her.
She did look around with a more constrained expression, as if the boogey man was going to jump her.
“Don’t worry. I won’t let them take you.”
“Why would they take me? That makes no sense.” She had the cutest way of wrinkling her nose that made it wiggle a bit.
“You look like a movie star.”
“Yeah, right!” Now she gave a grimace as if I were fucking around with her.
“Yes. Marilyn Monroe. Only with dark hair. In a blonde wig, you’d be able to pass for identical twins. Your features, perfectly aligned and symmetrical, are above average in scope and dimension.”
I pointed at her face, as if drawing with my fingers in the air. “The distance between your eyes in one exact eye, the length of your face equals three noses. Space from the lower eyelid to the upper eyelid is the same as space between the upper eyelid and eyebrow. Also demonstrated to perfection. And width of the face across the cheeks is equal to two lengths of the nose. Finally, eyebrows begin on the same line as the corner of the eye nearest to the nose. There you have it, a perfect oval face!” I always appreciated sharing such proof positive.
Instead of thanks for pointing out her perfection, what did I get but a rolling of her eyes before she burst into gales of laughter?
“Is that the line you try on women to get them into bed, by any chance?”
AUTHOR Bio and Links
January Bain has wished on every falling star, every blown-out birthday candle, and every coin thrown in a fountain to be a storyteller. To share the tales of high adventure, mysteries, and full-blown thrillers she has dreamed of all her life. The story you now have in your hands is the compilation of a lot of things manifesting itself for this special series. Hundreds of hours spent researching the unusual and the mundane have come together to create books that features strong women who live life to the fullest, wild adventures full of twists and unforeseen turns, and hot complicated men who aren’t afraid to take risks. She can only hope her stories will capture your imagination.
If you are looking for January Bain, you can find her hard at work every morning without fail in her office with her furry baby, Ling Ling. And, of course, she’s married to the most romantic man! Who once famously remarked to her inquiry about buying fresh flowers for their home every week, “Give me one good reason why not?” Leaving her speechless and knocking her head against the proverbial wall for being so darn foolish. She loves flowers.
If you wish to connect in the virtual world she is easily found on Facebook. Oh, and she loves to talk books…
They call themselves The Settlement Bureau. A faceless, soulless organization coercing individuals with threats to expose their improprieties and vulnerabilities. Inhumanely persistent, they’ve secretly driven hundreds of victims into bankruptcy, despair – and several even to suicide.
But when this organization tries to blackmail IT expert Terry Reynolds, they make a serious mistake. Terry is down on his luck. He is penniless, divorced and in a dead-end job. Yet, the abuse of his personal information stirs Terry out of his lethargy and he fights back. He embarks on a digital game of cat-and-mouse with the cold, calculating minds behind The Settlement Bureau – and in doing so, uncovers a sprawling criminal conspiracy.
Under The Cloud is a chillingly plausible new thriller by B.R. Erlank. With a plot ripped straight from the headlines, advance readers warn, “this book delivers a roller coaster ride right up to the final pages.”
EXCERPT
Rajiv looked Terry directly in the eyes, “Tell me, how would you use our tools and data to improve the risk management at a bank?”
Terry walked to the window from where he could see the Bank of America pyramid in the fading light. Down below, cars and people were bustling along the street. Lights in various glass towers twinkled in random geometric patterns. Not random, Terry thought, in fact, quite the opposite.
He said, “What if I told you that it is entirely predictable when each light in that apartment complex will be turned on?”
Rajiv made an encouraging gesture.
“It’s really quite simple. All you need is to cross-reference the identities of the occupants with their smartphone or Fitbit geo data. If you then pulled in data from their car or even air travel, you could get longer-range predictions. Imagine what that could do for security and law enforcement. If anyone doesn’t show up where they’re supposed to be, instantaneous action can be taken.
“Now imagine the same principles applied to managing banking risk. By analyzing the individual’s personal and professional issues, you can update the risk profile in real-time. A car accident, job loss, an expensive health issue in the family, a child having to repeat a year at college. These are all predictors of financial risk. But to date, it simply hasn’t been possible to integrate that data fast enough to be meaningful. Well, now it is – we make it possible.”
Rajiv slowly clapped his hands and said, “Do it exactly like that tonight.”
Terry gaped, “What? Me?”
“You come across fresh, unrehearsed, authentic – that’s exactly what I want for the presentation to the bank.”
AUTHOR Bio and Links
Boris Erlank grew up in Southern Africa. He has lived and worked in places as diverse as Luanda, Cape Town, Singapore and San Francisco. Boris recently gave up his job as Global Privacy Manager with a Fortune 100 company to focus on writing full-time.
He has an extensive background in IT, data privacy and cybersecurity, and has drawn on that experience to craft his latest novel, Under the Cloud. His previous novel, Catch You Later, is a murder mystery set in Cape Town.
Boris lives with his family and two dogs in the foothills of Mount Diablo, east of San Francisco. He likes to cycle and hike. “Those solitary pursuits give me time to dream up the characters and plots for my novels,” he says. Boris also enjoys choir singing, travel, and listening to audiobooks.
Savard was in a mood to die, but when a human insists on saving his life, death is no longer an immediate option. He knew of no species – human, vampire, or demon – that could see him while in his invisible Spirit form. Unique to this world, this woman’s singularity was a danger to the entire vampire race.
Waking behind bars in an underground vampire city was not how Sera envisioned her night drive ending. She has come to expect nothing from those who pass through her life, but this man, dying on the side of the road, proves to be different. Savard fights to free her from tyrannical vampire laws and to hide her unique abilities. What Sera doesn’t understand, is why he would fight his growing love for her.
Savard’s haunted past threatens to tear them apart. Soon, Sera discovers just how far her guardian is willing to go, and what he’s willing to do, to keep her safe.
EXCERPT
A total of twelve Justice had been slaughtered in less than two nights by a single Forbidden. None of them had been prepared for the violent force of unholy power and honed skill that was Devlin Savard.
When it was done, the Forbidden didn’t bother to look around, to make certain none had enough life left in them to make a second attempt. Savard knew he’d finished them.
Stepping over the bodies and twisted limbs, the Forbidden strode to the trees, toward Gideon. In a flashing moment of panic, Gideon looked down at his body, made certain he remained concealed in his invisible Spirit form. He was, but the confirmation only gave him a marginal sense of security. Savard still advanced up the hill in his direction.
The slippery layer of snow on the grass didn’t slow the Forbidden, his injuries didn’t affect him, and Gideon couldn’t help but wonder if there was anyone in this world who could take down Savard.
Savard walked into the forest, never slowing, weaving around the bare trees at the top of the hill until he faced the spot where Gideon stood, still invisible and undetectable, or so he’d thought. How the hell had Savard known where to find him?
“Afraid to face me?” Savard asked, but not at all in a taunting manner, as Gideon had expected. Then, seeming somehow disappointed, Savard turned his back on Gideon, casually surveying the carnage he’d left in the clearing. “I can understand why.”
Gideon didn’t care for confrontation. Never had. It was a ridiculous trait for a man in his position of both Guardian and Justice to possess. Some would say he’d chosen the wrong profession, but few were aware he’d had no choice in the matter. Releasing his Spirit, Gideon appeared not eight feet behind the infamous Forbidden.
“Ah,” Savard said in a satisfied manner at the sound of Gideon’s boots sinking into the snow. Turning slowly to face him, Savard looked him over as if he’d already known what he would find. “The man who commanded the Valenna Justice.”
Not caring for Savard’s usage of the word command in the past tense, Gideon assured him, “My captain will send more men.”
“He always does,” Savard said, his gaze drifting off to some distant point. As his body turned slightly, it was clear the Forbidden’s shirt glistened wetly in the moonlight, sticking to his side.
“You’re bleeding.” Gideon smiled, tight-lipped. Behnam had made a damn good strike.
“Am I?” Savard said easily, as if he hadn’t noticed, and then his gaze caught Gideon’s sword still secured in its scabbard. “Yet I see you’ve no interest in rekindling the fight.”
Gideon shrugged. It was true. He’d tracked him down and set the Justice loose as instructed. Nothing more. He refused to risk his life when Captain Basteen’s betrayal of the very laws Gideon himself struggled to uphold lingered fresh in his mind. “I don’t see the point. This round has been won.”
“So the generals live to fight the next battle. Is that the idea?”
“Something of the sort.”
“Be honest. That was hardly a fair fight. You brought them here to die.” Savard turned his back on Gideon again, boldly walking away. Then, just before he went down the other side of the ridge, Savard called out, his voice echoing in the night, “Want me dead? Bring an army.”
AUTHOR Bio and Links
Jen Colly is the rare case of an author who rebelled against reading assignments throughout her school years. Now she prefers reading books in a series, which has led her to writing her first paranormal romance series: The Cities Below. She will write about anything that catches her fancy, though truth be told, her weaknesses are pirates and vampires. She lives in Ohio with her supportive husband, two kids, one fluffy dog, and four rescued cats.
While on a mission to avenge the death of his lover, the immortal peyote-eating magician Celwyn is hired to deliver an automat, Professor Kang, to a priest. But Celwyn quickly learns that everything the priest told him was a lie. Now his ship, the Zelda, is stuck in a horrific storm and Celwyn knows he must reconsider his allegiance if he is to steer his vessel in the right direction and continue his quest.
EXCERPT
San Francisco, 1865
Late in the evening, thick ribbons of fog moved like a living animal, breathing, then thinning to vapor before revealing the shadows between the wooden barrels that lined the docks. Beyond the Opera House’s silhouette, oily glimmers of the bay cut through the darkness, only to be obscured by the fog again.
As Celwyn neared the docks, he heard virulent cursing above the commotion from a carriage as it charged down the cobblestones toward him. When the coach drew level, the driver raised a whip above his horse. On its descent to the horse’s back, the tip suspended mid-air and snake-like, the whip shimmied out of the coachman’s hand.
The man steered the hackney to a stop. As he slithered out of the high cab, the whip followed him, wrapping around his ankles, lifting him feetfirst into the air. His cursing echoed to screams as he disappeared into the night sky. A moment later, a splash could be heard, and a satisfied smile crossed Celwyn’s lips; he couldn’t stand to see anyone mistreating an animal. The horse trotted down the street, rather jauntily, back toward the stable yard as the magician stepped around a snoring drunk and into Salty’s tattered and dingy atmosphere. Celwyn could have sworn it was the same drunk he stepped over last night.
AUTHOR Bio and Links
Early work was horror and suspense, later work morphed into a combination of magical realism, mystery and adventure painted with a horrific element as needed.
I’m one of those writers who doesn’t plan ahead, no outlines, no clue, and I sometimes write myself into a corner. Atmospheric music in the background helps. Black by Pearl Jam especially.
More information is available at LouKemp.com. I’d love to hear from you and what you think of Celwyn, Bartholomew, and Professor Xiau Kang.
Milestones:
2009 The anthology story Sherlock’s Opera appeared in Seattle Noir, edited by Curt Colbert, Akashic Books. Available through Amazon or Barnes and Noble online. Booklist published a favorable review of my contribution to the anthology.
2010 My story, In Memory of the Sibylline, was accepted into the best-selling MWA anthology Crimes by Moonlight, edited by Charlaine Harris. The immortal magician Celwyn makes his first appearance in print.
2018 The story, The Violins Played before Junstan is published in the MWA anthology Odd Partners, edited by Anne Perry. The Celwyn series begins.
Book 1, The Violins Played before Junstan reissue with the publisher, the 4 Horsemen on 10-17-22. The 4 Horsemen will publish the remaining books in the series beginning with Music Shall Untune the Sky, The Raven and the Pig, The Pirate Danced and the Automat Died. The companion book, Farm Hall continues the story of Pelaez, another immortal magician and Celwyn’s brother will also be available.
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. T.X. Troan will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
EARTH AWAKENED … SEED PLANTED … PATH REVEALED.
What begins as a special trip for eleven-year-old Sophia Freeman and her father, leaves her trapped on a mysterious island with a tree boy and fantastical creatures. Later, she learns she is dying from an eternal curse and the only way to prolong her life is to drink the island’s sacred water. Can Sophia and her companions reach the fountain and defeat the guardian before time runs out?
THEY MUST RISK IT ALL TO REGAIN THEIR FREEDOM … OR BE SEALED AWAY FOREVER.
Sophia Freeman and her best friend, Tim Charnal, must beat all contestants in a three-round Beyond Event organized by the mighty arbiters to free him from the penalty of murder and gain the islanders’ trust. Entering the hologram and surviving environments filled with everything from hammer-throwing cave giants to a slimy tentacled sea monster, they will need all their courage, wits, and skills. But how are they going to win when magic is forbidden?
EVIL RISING … ISLANDERS MISSING … AND FRIENDS BETRAYING.
With the increase in deaths of Pandilone Islanders, the arbiters devise a strategy to free the god demon within five days to lift the Eternal Curse. All goes as planned until iron-masked creatures kidnap magic users, weakening the army. To gain reinforcements, Sophia Freeman, Tim Charnal, and rescued Allen Chan must gather all six items to cast the Dream Spell, connecting them with Sophia’s father and his air force. But how can the trio succeed in time while surrounded by enemies and traitors aiming to stop them at any cost?
Read an Excerpt from SOPHIA FREEMAN AND THE MYSTERIOUS FOUNTAIN (book 1 )
“So, what’s on your agenda today, my dear?” Grandma asked.
“Dad and I are going to explore his new island after this, “she replied, sitting on the edge of her seat.
“Oh, yes, your father told me about that on the phone last night,” said Grandpa, then gave Sophia a serious look. “My girl, do you know why all the previous owners vanished?”
Sophia shook her head slightly, but kept watching him without blinking.
“Rumors say the place possesses some sort of magical energy. As dusk arrives, the island comes to life: boulders begin to quake, monstrous trees uproot themselves, and mysterious creatures crawl out of their homes. They will do anything to protect their island … especially from humans.”
Sophia’s eyes widened and her hands began to sweat.
“Joe, that’s enough!” Dad ordered. “You’re scaring her.”
“That was very mean of you, Joe,” Grandma added.
Grandpa chuckled. “Well, it looks like I haven’t loss my touch. You’re still that innocent girl that I used to know.”
Sophia sighed with relief. He must have been teasing.
When she was a lot younger, Grandpa used to tell her ghost stories and it would frighten her every time. The all-time best story was about an invisible spirit that watches us from behind since the day we were born. It would one day transfer our soul to a magical place when we are ready to go. He told the little girl it was time for him to go and would never return. She burst into tears and tried to convince him it wasn’t time yet. She stayed with him that whole night and never let him out of her sight.
About the Author:
Thuan Doan was born in Indonesia, and grew up in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada.
Thuan has been fascinated by art from a young age, especially fantasy. He would wake up hours before school, sit outside the classroom, and scribble in his sketch book.
After college, he worked on a series of jobs, including: an advergaming association as a storyboard/concept artist, gaming company as lead concept artist, and graphic designer for various clients.
Thuan conceived his first middle-grade fantasy novel, Sophia Freeman and the Mysterious Fountain, during a trip to Gabriola Island, British Columbia in the summer of 2013. Then he took his work and settled in a small town of Enderby, where it’s peaceful and quiet. 4 years later, the story is complete. While book 1, 2 and 3 are being shared with the world, he’s writing and illustrating book 4 of the Sophia Freeman series.
Thuan is writing under a pen name of T.X. Troan. “X” stands for Xu, his grandmother’s name who passed away. And “Troan” is a combination of his parents’ names.
“No matter how this turns out, I want my family to be a part of this wonderful journey.”
T.X. Troan married Sarah, his original fan and longtime love, in 2016. They live in Enderby with their pack dogs and school of fish!
This is one of those books I probably could have passed on, but I was intrigued…by the cover and title. Dan Brown is not a favorite author of mine and Lucifer’s Triangle by N S Wikarski is similar to his work.
Jerusalem – City of Peace. That is a misnomer if I have ever heard one. The constant battle for turf has taken many lives.
Cassie was becoming bored and figured this would be her last mission. I do love a strong female lead, and Cassie fits the bill. Her boyfriend, Griffin is fine with boring.
Cassie has a talent, she gets more than impressions from objects. She, literally, walks in the owners footsteps..
When I read a book like Lucifer’s Triangle by N S Wikarski, I am always curious about how much research was done and how factual some aspects of the story are.
Lucifer’s Triangle by N S Wikarski is Book One of The Trove Chronicles, but the mention of a Nephilim War had me confused. Is this series a spinoff?
Lucifer’s Triangle by N S Wikarski is pretty much what I expected it to be once I got into it. It is well written, with well developed characters, mystery and intrigue, but I felt no urgency, nothing that I hadn’t read before.
If you are a Dan Brown fan, you will probably love this, so don’t be discouraged by my take on the novel.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Lucifer’s Triangle by N S Wikarski.
3 Stars
BLURB
In a city where belief means everything,
putting your faith in the wrong person can get you killed.
THE TROVE CHRONICLES
A Series for Fans of Archaeology Adventure,
Alternative History Thrillers, and Treasure Hunt Mysteries
A myth-busting adventure series pitting patriarchy
against buried history in artifact hunts that span continents, centuries, and
lost civilizations. Meet the Arkana: a secret society of antiquarians devoted
to unearthing the buried past of humanity. Continent by continent and dig site
by dig site, they have amassed troves of evidence that overturn history as we
know it. Follow their ongoing adventures in The Trove Chronicles.
Volume 1 – LUCIFER’S TRIANGLE
Arkana agents Cassie and Griffin are sent to Jordan
for a standard retrieval mission. What could go wrong? When a colleague’s
nephew is murdered, the teen’s death leads to a suicide bomb plot and a
conspiracy that could plunge the Middle East into war for decades to come. The
entire Arkana team springs into action to counter a threat unlike anything
they’ve ever faced before. That’s because they’ll have to square off against a
villain as devious as the devil himself, who wants nothing more than to see
Jerusalem go up in flames.
EXCERPT
Of course, he knew how deceiving appearances could be. He
himself was living proof of that adage. Anyone who chanced to notice him would
see an average-looking, thirty-something businessman with dark hair and a
neatly trimmed goatee. One might easily assume he worked in an office nearby.
That assessment was partially true. He was a businessman, and he was about to
start his workday. However, he didn’t follow a profession as mundane as banking
or law. His true vocation lay in stirring up trouble, and he was a master of
his craft. After their last successful venture, Akeem had taken to calling him
an agent provocateur. He liked the title. It had a certain bygone elegance to
it.
Aside from that colorful descriptor, most of his current
contacts knew him as Lucifer. He realized the pseudonym was a ridiculous
cliche. Still, he liked the flair of it. He valued flair because it was the one
trait that someone in his line of work couldn’t afford to display. That was
ironic since his current venture might amplify his fame to legendary
proportions among his prospective clientele. But he was getting ahead of
himself. He needed to arrange all the details first. Lucifer had already zeroed
in on some toy soldiers who would be perfect for this mission. Next, he needed
to muster them and get them marching in the right direction before Akeem would
feel inclined to greenlight his proposal.
AUTHOR Bio and Links
Nancy Wikarski is a fugitive from academia. After earning her PhD
from the University of Chicago, she became a computer consultant and then
turned to historical mystery and adventure fiction writing. She is a member of
Mystery Writers of America, the Society of Midland Authors, and has served as
vice president of Sisters in Crime – Twin Cities and on the programming board
of the Chicago chapter. Her short stories have appeared in Futures Magazine and DIME Anthology. Her book reviews have been
featured in Murder:
Past Tense and Deadly Pleasures, and her articles have been
published in Mystery
Readers Journal.
Her novels include the Gilded Age Chicago Mysteries set in 1890s
Chicago. The series has received People’s Choice Award nominations for Best First Novel and Best Historical as
well as a Lovey Award Nomination for Best Traditional Amateur Sleuth. Titles
include: The Fall of
White City (Rev. 2020), Shrouded in Thought (Rev. 2020), and The Black Widow’s Prey (2021).
The Arkana Archaeology Mystery series has become an
award-nominated Amazon bestseller. Titles
include: The Granite Key (2011), The Mountain Mother Cipher (2011), The Dragon’s WingEnigma (2012), Riddle of the Diamond Dove (2013), Into the Jaws of the Lion (2014), Secrets of the Serpent’s Heart (2015), and The Sage Stone Prophecy (2016). The
Trove Chronicles is a thriller series based on the further adventures of the
Arkana. The series debuts with Lucifer’s Triangle (2022).
All
titles mentioned above are available in paperback, ebook, hardcover, and audio
formats.
Locksmith’s WarThe Locksmith Trilogy Book Three by Paul Briggs
GENRE: YA Sci-fi (Young Adult, Science Fiction)
BLURB
For Lachlan Smith, learning the secret of the apocalypse was the easy part.
Ever since Locksmith found the portal to the future, he has been wondering who or what was responsible for the empty, uninhabited world he found.
Now he knows—and now he has to fight them.
He thought he had fifteen years in which to prevent the extinction of the human species.
Now, he has only hours.
When the portal is stolen by a cabal of dangerous fanatics, his mother and many of his friends are trapped on the other side. Now the enemy is after him, and the only way to thwart their genocidal plan is to retake the portal and hold it—at both ends.
With very little time left, a handful of allies who don’t trust each other, almost no chance of success and the survival of humanity itself at stake… Locksmith is going to war.
EXCERPT
This was a storm with everything on it
This was a storm with everything on it.
Rain? Thick billowing sheets of it sweeping over the landscape.
Wind? Lots of it, making the rain fall at something like a 45-degree angle. If you went out there with an umbrella, it’d be inside out before you could get to shelter.
Thunder and lightning? There was so much of both, there wasn’t any point trying to do that one-banana two-banana thing for figuring out how far away the lightning was. You couldn’t tell which thunderclap belonged to which lightning stroke.
The only thing missing was hail. Lock tried not to think too much about this, in case he jinxed it and big chunks of ice starting falling from the sky.
Ultralights weren’t meant to fly in the rain. Lock wasn’t too clear on what would happen if you tried it. Heather had never even tried to teach him how. The planes could handle a slight drizzle, but this was not a slight drizzle.
Lock turned and went back down the stairs. Just past the door to the attic, he met Luther.
“What are you still doing here? Go!” said the detective.
Lock ran back. I didn’t actually tell him about the rain. Maybe I should have. Another failure to communicate. He’d hoped he was done with those.
Then he thought And if I had, what would he have said? “So much for that, let’s all go home and try again tomorrow?” This isn’t a track meet, this is a heist. You can’t just reschedule it.
AUTHOR Bio and Links
In addition to writing books, Paul Briggs has worked as a newspaper editor, court reporter’s assistant, and audio transcriber. In his spare time (when he has any) he sometimes performs in community theater, most recently taking on the roles of Bottom, Petruchio, Macbeth, Rosalind, and Richard III in a Shakespeare compilation. An Eastern Shore native who grew up in Chestertown, Maryland, Paul earned a BA in English from Washington College and a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Maryland – College Park.
He is the author of several short plays, including the award-winning The Worst Super Power Ever and The Picture of Health. He is also writing the sequel to his 2018 science fiction novel Altered Seasons: Monsoonrise, which vividly imagines the dislocations that follow when the Arctic Sea ice finally melts and the Chesapeake Bay is drowned by the effects of climate change.
Cutter Kauai Sea Adventures (Series)Dagger Quest, Book 1 by Edward Hochsmann
GENRE: Action/Adventure, Contemporary
BLURB
Dagger
Quest
An
aging Coast Guard patrol boat is all that stands between the world and nuclear
annihilation!
The
world is on the brink of war, with NATO mobilizing to counter a Russian threat
to Poland and Lithuania and leaders openly discussing war options. In the midst
of the crisis, a Russian bomber collides with a U.S. fighter off Florida
causing the accidental launch of a nuclear-tipped hypersonic missile.
A
Coast Guard cutter on a routine patrol finds a drug-laden sailboat smashed and
adrift north of the Florida Keys. The boat’s damage is from a near miss by the
Russian missile which has not harmlessly flown deep into the Gulf of Mexico as
initially thought, but crashed somewhere in the Keys.
The
Coast Guard crew is in a race against a vicious and powerful international
crime syndicate to find and recover the Russian nuke before its discovery can
trigger a nuclear war.
Exploring
the friendship and teamwork of a typical ship’s crew, in the face of unexpected
and hazardous challenges, Dagger Quest provides a fast-paced, taut story – excellent
fare for both sea adventure and military thriller fans.
EXCERPT
Ben’s
first encounter with the 252 Syndicate ends in a high-speed chase through Key
West, Florida:
Ben
slowed and veered right onto Flagler with a screaming of tires and modest
fishtailing as he straightened on the new path. Their pursuers also swung in
behind them from Roosevelt a few seconds later.
“Floor
it! We’ll be hanging a right on Tenth in
ten blocks, same tactic. Keep hitting that horn!”
Ben
stayed on the horn, dodging through traffic at speeds approaching fifty miles
per hour.
“Counting
down,” Simmons said, “Fourteenth, Thirteenth, twelfth, Eleventh, slow down and
prepare to hang a right, NOW!”
Ben
executed another tire-squealing turn and straightened out, heading north on
Tenth, gunning the engine and leaning on the horn.
“Stand
by to hit the brakes!” Simmons shouted. “Steady, steady, NOW, hit the brakes!”
Ben
stood on the brake pedal, tires shrieked, and the anti-lock braking chattered.
After skidding to a stop in the middle of the street next to a large lagoon,
Simmons shouted, “Get down!” He opened both doors on his side of the car, using
the rear door for cover.
Ben
dropped behind the seat as their pursuer began screeching to a stop. Suddenly,
there was a tremendous crash with the sound of tearing metal and followed by a
large splash. Simmons shut the doors and said in a normal tone, “OK, let’s
roll. Back to the base, nice and easy.”
Ben
shot up and saw several figures in combat gear with guns drawn running forward
from an SUV stopped in the middle of Tenth Street. The car chasing them was
coming to rest upside down in the lagoon. “WHAT—THE—HELL!” he shouted at
Simmons.
“Come
on, friend, we need to move it. It’s handled. We’re clear now, so stay
law-abiding all the way, please.”
Ben
stared at him for a few seconds, then pressed the accelerator. The engine raced
briefly, and then, with shaking hands, Ben shifted into Drive.
“See,
you’re a natural,” Simmons said with a smile. “You didn’t even realize you
shifted into Park.”
Mission:
Five days to destroy the enemy in the Caribbean before a catastrophic weapon is
unleashed—but all he can think about is the woman he left behind…
The
deadliest nerve gas ever made has fallen into the hands of a murderous
Caribbean drug cult. The criminal 252 Syndicate has the gas in a secret lab on
an oil rig servicing ship, but the ship has been taken for ransom by the
Salinas Cartel in a violent drug war. The U.S. can’t use airstrikes and calls
on Coast Guard Officer Ben Wyporek to lead his crew through a risky covert raid
on the Salinas cult’s fortified island base. He accepts the assignment, but
remembers a previous lethal encounter with the 252s and struggles to say
goodbye to the love of his life, Victoria Carpenter.
Ben
and his crew aboard the stealth-equipped Cutter Kauai must sneak into the
harbor and tow the ship away. But if Kauai is detected and defeated, death by
gas or at the hands of vicious adversaries will follow. Now, every decision Ben
makes will determine the fate of his entire crew—and the chances of reuniting
with Victoria.
This
second book of the series builds on the friendships and teamwork of Kauai’s
crew, this time in the face of several challenging missions and one potentially
lethal encounter. It is a worthy sequel to Dagger Quest that sea adventure and
military thriller fans will enjoy.
EXCERPT
Pan-Commonwealth
Airways Flight 403 with 126 passengers and crew has dual engine failure in a
thunderstorm and is headed for a forced landing in the Atlantic over a hundred
miles north of the Bahamas:
Taylor
grabbed the intercom handset and pressed the call button. Burgess answered
immediately, “Cabin, here.”
“We’re
going in, Chief. Get them ready for it. We’re going to try for the Hudson River
scenario, so keep the aft doors closed.”
“Understood,
Captain. I have two burly beauties from the RN on guard in the last row. You
worry about bringing us in safe. We’ll be alright back here.”
Taylor
smiled slightly. I might have known. God bless you, Richard! “Well done! I’ll
ring the bell five seconds before contact. Get them moving as we come to a
stop.”
“WILCO.
Godspeed, Captain. Out.”
The
scenario Taylor referred to involved the ditching of a similar Airbus in New
York’s Hudson River when bird ingestion knocked out both its engines shortly
after takeoff from La Guardia airport. The flight crew executed a masterpiece
of judgment and skill, saving everyone on board. Not so easy this time. They
landed in the sheltered water of a river—we’ll have waves and swells to deal
with.
“Peregrine
Four-Zero-Three, Miami Center, Nassau is losing radar contact. Observe you
heading two one five magnetic, over.” Surveillance radar was limited to line of
sight, and at this distance, the aircraft dropped below the radar’s horizon at
around thirteen thousand feet. The controller would use the aircraft’s last
heading, descent rate, and speed to estimate the impact point to be passed to
rescue forces.
“Center,
Four-Zero-Three, roger, estimate six miles to contact, over.”
Four-Zero-Three,
Center, copy. Best of luck, Captain. Out.”
“No
joy, Captain,” Patel said as he took his hand off the starter.
“Right,
leave it. Give me flaps four at one thousand.” Taylor had held off the flaps
until the last possible moment. They would reduce the aircraft’s touchdown
speed dramatically, but also added significant drag. “Ring the cabin bell once
you position the handle.”
A
New Captain’s First Patrol Turns into a Fight for Their Lives
Young
Coast Guard Lieutenant Haley Reardon has not even gotten her feet on the ground
on her new patrol boat command when she finds herself and her crew supporting a
dangerous covert mission. They must insert and retrieve a Defense Intelligence
Agency operations team trying to seize a transnational criminal syndicate boss
from a small Caribbean island controlled by a front company of the Chinese
government and protected by a superior military force.
A
honeymoon period would be lovely, but, as always, the world gets a vote.
Can
Haley avoid leaving the DIA team to their fate, when attempting to rescue them
could destroy her crew and boat and lead to war?
This
third installment of the series conveys the humor, friendships, and teamwork of
Kauai’s crew from the previous books, with a new series of exciting actions
from search and rescue to combat. The crew and their new skipper must come
together for the toughest mission they have ever faced.
EXCERPT
Phillip
Murray, his wife and two daughters have been retrieved from their stricken
sailboat in the middle of Hurricane Jacob and are now en route to Kauai aboard
the cutter’s small rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB):
The
big crewman placed his hand on a grab handle and shouted, “Hold this, stay
down, and keep your arms inside the boat!” Once Murray had a firm grip, the
crewman pulled a strap across his lap, fastened it to a ring fitting on the
deck, and cinched it. The small orange boat pitched up as it climbed another
high wave, and the strap across Murray’s lap bit into him as they seemed to
come near to vertical. Then the bow suddenly pitched down for yet another
sickening drop to a tremendous splash.
That’s
it! We’re done for! Murray thought as wind and water tugged at his body. But
the boat came up again, the deck cleared, and from what he could see with his
spray-fogged eyes, everyone was still there. He looked toward Gemma, sitting
beside him with her free arm stretched across Jamie’s and Lydia’s chests, and
placed his free hand over hers on the grab handle. They rode out two more
monstrous wave events before reaching the cutter, which provided little shelter
from the gale for the tossing boat.
Murray
had turned to look at the nearby cutter when a gunshot rang out, followed by
the thump of a line on the bow. Murray surmised the winds were too high for a
standard heaving line, so the coastguardsman used a rifle to pass a line to the
boat. The big boat crewman was hauling in a thin line that Murray knew was
attached to the hook they would connect to the boat to crane it aboard. This
was the time of maximum risk—with the cutter and boat writhing in the wind and
seas, attaching the hook would be a nightmare. He leaned over to cover Gemma’s
head with his body and closed his eyes.
And
then he prayed.
AUTHOR Bio and Links
Edward
Hochsmann is the pen name of a retired U. S. Coast Guard search and rescue and
law enforcement professional. The veteran mariner, aviator, college professor,
and defense analyst has added “author” to his list of experiences. Ed likes
reading, police procedurals, contemporary music on the road, and classical
music in the office. After a career traveling from Australia in the west to
Italy and Germany in the east, Ed has settled into a quiet life in the Florida
Panhandle to focus on writing (and not shoveling snow!)
Ed has two
novels published right now (plus one launching in August 2022) in the Cutter
Kauai Sea Adventures series about a Coast Guard patrol boat assigned to
“special” missions. Dagger Quest takes place in the Florida Keys and
involves an aging Coast Guard patrol boat dragooned into a search for a lost
Russian nuclear weapon in a time of international crisis. The second, Caribbean
Counterstrike, features the same patrol boat and crew, now with equipment and
training upgrades, sent to recover a deadly nerve gas from a murderous
Caribbean drug cartel. Bravely and Faithfully has Kauai, under a new captain
supporting a covert raid on a Caribbean island held by the Chinese.
Ed’s second
series, C6S: Patrol Force deals with a combined defense establishment and
constabulary for a galactic economic empire called the Confederation of the Six
Systems (C6S). Ed has published two novellas and a novel-length collection late
last year.
