Review for A Thousand Yesteryears @MaeClair1 & Sin City @lucyfarago

Inside the Book:

 
 
Author: Mae Clair
Release Date: April 26, 2016
Publisher: Lyrical Underground
Genre: Thriller/Suspense
Format: Ebook
MY REVIEW
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WOW  OMG, I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!
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A Thousand Yesteryears by Mae Clair is a story about tragedy in a small town. Murder, UFO’s, myths and legends kept me spellbound. Unputdownable!
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After reading A Thousand Yesteryears, I see why the title is so very appropriate. I love when it fits so perfectly.
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There is so much I want to share about A Thousand Yesteryears, so I must be careful not to “spoil” you. If you are a fan of myths and legends, creature features, tragedy that leaves the residents stuck in place, unable to move on, then A Thousand Yesteryears is a must read for you.
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Eve had lost her father and best friend to the collapse of the Silver Bridge (really happened) and had been gone since her mother took her away right after the tragedy struck. Now she’s back. Is it true…You can’t go back home again…or is home where the heart is?
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“You should leave before you get hurt.”

As she meets old acquaintances and begins to reconsider the direction her life is headed, the threats and danger begin. Eve will have some difficult choices ahead of her, if she can manage to stay alive.

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photo courtesy of angelwing314.deviantart.com

The legend of Mothman (rumored to live in Point Pleasant), the curse of Chief Cornstalk, UFOs, a collapsed bridge that killed many and a man that killed his share of victims. A Thousand Yesteryears is about the tragedies of the small town of Point Pleasant and the residents struggles to continue on with their lives.

A Thousand Yesteryears brings to light small town living. The longer Eve stays, the more she sees that her preconceived ideas and people she dismissed so easily in her youth will come to mean everything to her as she grows and opens her mind. Rumors and gossips…pranks gone wrong…

The more I read, the harder it is to stop, even for a moment. Eve has grown and developed into a caring, loving person, making new friends, finding lost love, grasping her Point Pleasant legacy with both hands, bravely searching for answers to the mystery and danger she found herself in because she refused to be run out of town.

Katie, what a wonderful, misunderstood girl who Eve’s Aunt Rosie took under her wing, mentoring and loving her as the daughter she never had. Caden, Eve’s childhood crush, who is so laden with guilt over his sister’s death on the bridge, that he cannot move on. All the other characters are just as complex and carry their own baggage, but once their personalities shown through, they found their place in my reading family. All except…

And Mothman…what can I say about Mothman. Not much because it will give too much away, but this is one myth that lives and thrives in the real town of Point Pleasant, West Virginia.
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Mae Clair’s writing created so much tension, that it took all I had not to skip ahead! The romance, mystery, myth and suspense kept me white knuckled, on the edge of my seat, talking to myself…oh no…hurry, hurry…must know. I gobbled the words like Lays potato chips and I know one Point Pleasant and Mothman book is never going to be enough. A Thousand Yesteryears by Mae Clair can stand alone, but she leaves the characters wide open for more adventure.
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Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos  5 Stars
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You can check out the Mothman Museum in Point Pleasant West Virginia HERE.
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ABOUT THE BOOK

Behind a legend lies the truth…

As a child, Eve Parrish lost her father and her best friend, Maggie Flynn, in a tragic bridge collapse. Fifteen years later, she returns to Point Pleasant to settle her deceased aunt’s estate. Though much has changed about the once thriving river community, the ghost of tragedy still weighs heavily on the town, as do rumors and sightings of the Mothman, a local legend. When Eve uncovers startling information about her aunt’s death, that legend is in danger of becoming all too real . . .

Caden Flynn is one of the few lucky survivors of the bridge collapse but blames himself for coercing his younger sister out that night. He’s carried that guilt for fifteen years, unaware of darker currents haunting the town. It isn’t long before Eve’s arrival unravels an old secret-one that places her and Caden in the crosshairs of a deadly killer . . .

“Masterful, bone-chilling fiction…one intense thriller. A Thousand Yesteryears will keep you guessing, gasping and turning the pages for more.” —New York Times bestselling author Kevin O’Brien

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Meet the Author:

Mae Clair opened a Pandora’s Box of characters when she was a child and never looked back. Her father, an artist who tinkered with writing, encouraged her to create make-believe worlds by spinning tales of far-off places on summer nights beneath the stars.

Mae loves creating character-driven fiction in settings that vary from contemporary to mythical. Wherever her pen takes her, she flavors her stories with conflict, romance and elements of mystery. Married to her high school sweetheart, she lives in Pennsylvania and is passionate about writing, old photographs, a good Maine lobster tail and cats.

Visit her website

 Inside the Book:
Author: Lucy Farago
Release Date: April 26, 2016
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Genre: Romance
Format: Ebook

There are some secrets even Las Vegas’s 24/7 glitter can’t hide. Lucy Farago’s dazzling new series ups the ante as a fiery stripper fights to protect an elite detective from danger–and both their killer pasts…

Living in the red-hot now is how Rhonda Deagan survives. Onstage, this sexy Goth stripper always stays on top, no matter how much her real-life dreams shatter. So why not risk a scorching fling with a gorgeous groomsman after her best friend’s wedding? Too bad Blake Cameron is in someone’s lethal sights. And saving this cool-headed investigator’s life just put Rhonda on the run with him–and on his personal, oh-so-seductive hit list…

For Blake, figuring out who doesn’t want him dead is easier than keeping his new raven-haired friend safe. The only way he can buy time to out-think their pursuers is to hide them both in the aristocratic world he thought he’d escaped. But there’s no escaping the incendiary attraction between him and Rhonda. Walking the knife-edge between desire, lies, and naked truth may be their best chance to live–if it doesn’t cut too deep to survive…

 

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Meet the Author:

Lucy Farago knows there is nothing like a happy sigh at the end of a good book. With the encouragement of her loving husband, she wrote her first manuscript. An unpublished historical, it sits in a file on her computer, there to remind her how much fun she had learning the craft and becoming part of an industry whose books make you believe anything is possible. A big fan of Agatha Christie, she set out to write her first romantic suspense novel. Thrilled to be a published author, Lucy also teaches yoga, enjoys cooking, and saying what other people are thinking. In her fantasy world, her beautiful Siberian husky, Loki, doesn’t shed and her three kids clean up after themselves . Alas, that fantasy will never see fruition.

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Tour Schedule

 Monday, May 2 – Books featured at The Review From Here
Tuesday, May 3 – A Thousand Yesteryears featured at 3 Partners in Shopping
Wednesday, May 4 – Sin on the Run featured at E-Romance News
Thursday, May 5 – Books featured at Harmonious Publicity
Friday, May 6 – Books featured at Literal Exposure
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Monday, May 9 – Books featured at The Bookworm Lodge
Tuesday, May 10 – A Thousand Yesteryears featured at Deal Sharing Aunt
Wednesday, May 11 – Sin on the Run featured at Authors and Readers Book Corner
Thursday, May 12 – A Thousand Yesteryears featured at Celticlady’s Reviews
Friday, May 13 – Books featured at Write and Take Flight
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Monday, May 16 – A Thousand Yesteryears reviewed at Fundinmental
Tuesday, May 17 – A Thousand Yesteryears featured at Chosen By You Book Club
Wednesday, May 18 – A Thousand Yesteryears reviewed at Books and Needlepoint
Thursday, May 19 – A Thousand Yesteryears featured at Authors and Readers Book Corner
Friday, May 20 – A Thousand Yesteryears reviewed at Stormy Night Reviewing
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Monday, May 23 – Sin on the Run featured at Deal Sharing Aunt
Tuesday, May 24 – Books featured at A Title Wave
Wednesday, May 25 – Books featured at Voodoo Princess
Thursday, May 26 – Books featured at Bent Over Bookwords
Friday, May 27 – Books featured at The Literary Nook
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Giveaway – Forest of Demons @amoscassidy

A new voice in High Fantasy, Forest of Demons by Debbie Cassidy, is available for download today!

No one goes into the forest alone.

 No one steps off the beaten path.

 Nineteen-year- old Priya has lived in the shadow of the forest all her life. She knows the rules better than anyone. Do not go into the forest alone and never stray from the beaten path. Her village has lived in tentative peace with the inhabitants of the forest for decades, until the day that someone breaks the rules.

 With first blood drawn, Priya’s dreams of leaving for the Capitol are put on hold as the village goes into lockdown. The unbearable heat shifts to a bone-chilling winter and just as Priya thinks she will be trapped forever, two strangers stumble into the village with a fantastical story that will shatter all her conventions, freeing her at a horrifying cost.
Now Priya’s dreams are coming true, but in a way she could never have imagined, and the burden of protecting her people falls upon her shoulders. Will Priya succeed in delivering a message that could save them all?
From the dusty heat of a small village, to the icy grandeur of the Capitol, Priya must make an impossible journey.

 Freedom always comes at a price.

Grab your copy today!

Debbie Cassidy is a 35 year old multi-tasking ninja who lives in England, Bedfordshire, with her

three kids and very supportive husband. Coffee and chocolate biscuit s are her writing fuels of choice, and she is still working on getting that perfect tower of solitude built in her back garden. Debbie has been writing for eight years under the pen name Amos Cassidy with her best friend, Richard Amos, but Forest of Demons is her first solo venture, and the first book in a four book high fantasy saga.

You can connect with Debbie via her website at amoscassidyauthor.com. Check out her personal page and her other books under the pen name Amos Cassidy. You won’t be left without a great read while you wait for the next installment in the Forest of Demons saga.
Sign up to Debbie’s newsletter to get updates on her new releases: http://eepurl.com/bVywM5
Stalk Debbie Cassidy:
 
 Sign up to her Forest of Demons newsletter to get up to date information on new releases and take part in exclusive giveaways: http://eepurl.com/bVywM5
Sign up to the Amos Cassidy newsletter and receive two free novellas and information on new releases, exclusive giveaways and much more: http://amoscassidyauthor.com/amoscassidy-free-download/
GIVEAWAY:
$15 Amazon Gift Card (INT)
Ends 5/25
Giveaway is provided by the tour organizer, hosts are not responsible in any way. You must be 13 or older to enter and have parental permission if under 17. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary to win.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.
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  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
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Europa Awakenings by P R Garcia – A Must Read Epic Saga Giveaway

Europa Awakenings by Pam Garcia has an amazing cover that made me feel I had to have it. After reading the synopsis I knew I had to have it. I even enjoyed learning about Pam from her bio, be sure and check it out. Her commitment to the oceans around us makes me feel I have met a kindred spirit.

I realize this is a long post, put P R Garcia has so many wonderful things to share, I could not decide what to keep and what to discard…so I included it all! Sci-fi, fantasy, reality…you decide.

Let’s welcome P R Garcia and be sure to enter the giveaway at the end of the post!

GUEST POST FROM P R GARCIA

EUROPA Awakenings in the first book in the EUROPA Series, a collection of six novels that addresses the question of “What happened to Atlantis?”  It is a new, fresh concept connecting the legendary city to *******’s ice moon, Europa and to the ancient city of Puma Punku in Bolivia, plus gives an explanation as to why the city was sunk overnight and what happened to the inhabitants.  (Hint:  They’re still here)

INSPIRATION FOR BOOK

EUROPA Awakenings came about as an inspiration while watching a documentary one uneventful day.  I am a big sci-fi fan and watch numerous shows about possible life on other planets and moons.  This particular day the documentary was discussing *******’s moon, Europa.  I had never heard of this moon and was completely enthralled.  She is totally shielded by a thick layer of ice and astrologists believe that beneath her ice there exists a moon-wide ocean that may contain simple life.  Immediately, I wondered why the life had to be simple?  Europa has been in existence almost as long as Earth has, so why couldn’t it contain complex-life?  Even sentient life?  And since it is a closed-environment, uninfluenced by anything in the universe, the possibilities could be endless.  That idea sparked the beginning of the Europa Series concept.  When I went to bed that night, my thoughts were still filled with the possibilities, thus causing me to dream about a race of intelligent beings, called Oonocks, who had to flee Europa and came to Earth – the Atlantians.  For the next few days the thoughts of Europa and the Atlantians filled my mind, as well as my dreams.  Unable to shake the thoughts, I sat down at my computer and began to type, hoping to possible write one book.   When EUROPA Awakenings was finished, I stopped typing, but the feeling that there was more of her story to be told plagued my thoughts.  I’m no working on book number ten.

Currently EUROPA Awakenings has a 4.5 star rating on Amazon and a 5 star rating on Goodreads.  (Which I consider very good since the Harry Potter Collection has a 4.5 star rating and the Star Wars Trilogy has a 4.6 rating.)  It received a 5 star Reader’s Favorite Rating.

A huge thanks to P R Garcia and I am very excited to share all her goodies with YOU, my readers.

coveror1with seal

Add me to Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I am AMAZED and BLOWN AWAY by the epic saga, Europa Awakenings by P R Garcia!

I was hooked from the beginning and putting down this almost 500 page novel was done with much reluctance, but my hands hurt from holding the book and my eyes are blurring, making the words almost unreadable. I read the book slower than normal, savoring the story unfolding page by page, experience by experience, good and bad, life and death and above all, love and sacrifice.

Atlantis was born from a need to hide…hide not just from their enemies, but us…humans. If aliens are watching us, walking among us, it would behoove them to be wary, secretive. I agree with P R Garcia’s writing, we humans kill what we fear.

Mermaids? No. Underwater creatures? Yes. Humans? Yes.

Europa has no idea she comes from Atlantis, from a alien race forced to leave their planet.

This is her journey of discovery.

The first threat comes from a source I figured out pretty quick. I pride myself on that. It also creates a great twist to the story.

I knew there would be a romance and I wondered where her boyfriend, Terrance would come from. Would he be alien or human? Does love conquer all? We shall see.

The characters are so much more than they seem, changing forms, sacrificing, always loving, doing their duty to protect…her. The characters and world building are complex and developed to such a point, I feel I am there, interacting with them. I feel their paralyzing terror, their need to protect at the cost of their own lives. I weep with those who mourn their fallen soldiers.

Of course, I love Europa and her soulmate, Terrance, a naive human that has no idea what he has stepped into, but goes all out just to be at her side. I don’t know if I can choose just one hero, but I love Jeanip. Loyalty and duty could be his middle name. With a protector such as Jeanip, I cannot help but feel they will survive, but will he?

As P R Garcia explains what happens when they return to the water to die, it makes me think of spreading a loved ones ashes on the water, allowing them to travel on.

Europa Awakenings contains so much action and adventure, the suspense and pacing so intense, the book is unputdownable.  Everywhere I look, there is another hint of danger. The sense of impending doom follows me through the pages. I know something is coming, I just don’t know when. More than once, P R Garcia caught me by surprise and I love that.

Europa Awakenings is a wonderful combination of the paranormal and supernatural, myth and folklore, fantasy and romance. P R Garcia took me to the depths of hell and brought me up to the light of the sun. I am at a loss for words to describe the elaborate and imaginative world and characters, on land and in water, that Pam has created. I am entranced, enthralled, amazed and astounded.

There will be much more of their story, but…for now…they are safe.

I am so happy that Book II is on its way!

I received a copy of Europa Awakenings by P R Garcia in return for an honest review.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos  5 Stars

ABOUT EUROPA AWAKENINGS

EUROPA Awakenings is the story of a young human who’s heard of Atlantis, but never given it much thought. All she knows is that she is going off to college and will, at last, be free of the strict security rules she must live by.  But her future is a delusion, her life a fabrication, a charade created to keep her from knowing the truth.  And what neither she nor her protectors know is that their family’s enemy has returned and is stalking her, waiting for his chance to end her life.

The day after her birthday, Europa’s perfect world is destroyed when JeffRa assassinates her mother, believing she was Europa. Seeking solace in her mother’s bedroom, Europa discovers an entrance to a secret attic where she finds picture of her parents hundreds of years old. But the most terrifying find is her mother’s diary. Inside, Queen Medaron wrote that Europa would be born human and never know who she really was. Unwavering in her attempt to learn the truth, she embarks on a journey of discovery, a journey of many dangers as JeffRa chases her, determined to personally end her life. Along the way, Europa will lose almost everyone and everything she loves, learn that shapeshifters are real and the powers of magical Orbs.  Somehow, through all of this, she must discover the truth of her past and awaken the queen inside her. To accomplish both, she has to learn and accept the true story of Atlantis, embrace the Oonock race and identify with what lies beneath the ice shield of Europa.

ABOUT P R GARCIA

When asked who I am, I usually tell people I am a not-too-grayed-haired old lady who, at the age of 61, was inspired to write a book.  The book turned into two, then three.  In three years I have written nine and am presently working on book ten.  All are full length novels, averaging 464 pages each.

In 2008, I moved from Michigan to Southern California.  Since I grew up along Lake Erie, I had a love for the water, so it wasn’t long before I could hear the ocean calling to me.  I began to volunteer on the whale watching boats as a naturalist through Birch Scripps Aquarium and the San Diego Natural History Museum.  It is there that I expanded my knowledge of cetaceans and other marine life, a knowledge and love I carried into the books.

MY DREAMS

To see my story play out on the big screen before I leave this world.  My other dream is to receive at least one hundred reviews on the books.  I welcome both favorable reviews and those with criticism.

For more information about the books, or me, visit my website:  prgarcia1.com.  There is an index on the web site showing the characters, as well as a listing of places and Oonock terms.   I have a YouTube video on EUROPA Awakenings at https://youtu.be/EvSVloULZ2I

I just recently updated the cover of EUROPA Awakenings to better reflect the story.  The cover now shows the red-haired Europa, with her sanctuary, Saint’s Isle, on the right had side, and the presence of large whale’s tail on the left.  The whale is key to her survival, but you’ll have to read the story to find out who he is.  The first chapter was also updated, so you will note that the paperback holds a release date of 2-27-2016, while the eBook maintains the original 12-9-2013 date.  They are both the same book.  Due to the significant changes in Chapter One, the paperback required a new ISB Number and a new release date.

 EUROPA Awakenings can be ordered through any bookstore or online on Amazon.  For exciting news about the ocean, cetaceans or important environmental issues, you can follow my Facebook page Europa Awakenings, which is just shy of 1300 likes.

Check out her website here.

GIVEAWAY

We have a fabulous giveaway to share with you. There will be two winners. P R Garcia is offering a signed copy to one US commenter and one ebook to another commenter, so International  is all good. Entry is easy…just leave your email and answer the question:

If anything is possible, what would you do first to help our oceans and the creatures who live there?

Giveaway will run from 4/5/16 – 4/19/16.

  • To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.
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Friday 56 #78 & BB #54 – Ten Big Ones @janetevanovich

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The Friday 56 is hosted by Freda’s Voice.The only rules are to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and find any sentence or a few ( no spoilers) that grabs you and post it.

Please join Rose City Reader every Friday to share the first sentence or so of the book you are reading along with you initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires.

Please include the title of the book and the author’s name.

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2016-02-25 05.16.31~~~

Next up on the shelf is Ten Big Ones by Janet Evanovich.

I have several of her books on my shelf, so I put them in the random generator and Ten Big Ones, a Stephanie Plum novel, popped out.

I love Stephanie Plum and her sidekick, Lula. Feeling down, pick up one of these babies and I think you will perk right up. 🙂

Ten Big Ones (Stephanie Plum, #10)

MY FRIDAY 56

“Fuckin’ A. Oh crap!” Snap. Snap.

“You gotta remember about fudge,” Grandma said.

Sally nodded. “Fudgin’ A.”

We all did a mental eeyeuuw. Fudgin’ A didn’t sound tasty coming out of Sally’s mouth.

(page 56 in hardcover)

MY BOOK BEGINNINGS

The way I see it, life is a jelly doughnut. You don’t really know what it’s about until you bite into it. And then, just when you decide it’s good you drop a big glob of jelly on your best T-shirt.

GOODREADS SYNOPSIS

“I’m Stephanie Plum. My mother says that I’m famous and have to set a good example. She’s right, but I’m from Jersey and truth is, I have a hard time getting a grip on the good example thing.”

Swing off the Jersey Turnpike and you’ll be in bounty hunter Stephanie Plum’s neighborhood. You’ll know it because all hell will be breaking loose. Not that she looks for trouble – it just seems to follow her. In Ten Big Ones it explodes at a deli, and when Stephanie pegs a robber as a member of a vicious Trenton gang, they peg her as dead. Vice cop Joe Morelli fears she’s in way too deep – even with the help of crime-solving, cross-dressing, bus driver Sally Sweet, and Stephanie’s friend Lula riding shotgun as backup. With a notorious killer on her tail, Stephanie figures the best hideout is Ranger’s secret lair…
Original.

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I am a “cover girl”.

Which cover do you like best?

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Saturday Shorts Review – Water & Fire @DemelzaCarlton

Water & Fire is a prequel novella to the Ocean’s Gift series by Demelza Carlton. My introduction to the series was through a tour for Ocean’s Gift and I am happy to read Belinda’s story and get to know her better.

 

MY REVIEW

Recommended for Adults.

What do Belinda, Aidan and Lin have in common?

Belinda is a midwife at the Albany Regional Hospital in Australia. She handles things in a calm, matter of fact manner, not allowing anyone to know…

Lin delivers more than TLC at the hospital and I couldn’t help laughing when Belinda caught her bedhopping all over the hospital.

Aidan is an intern and…

The Nannup Tiger is a native species of Australia, thought to be extinct.

Fact or fiction? Fact, but..

I believe we’ll find out…

Water and Fire is a fun and romantic paranormal story that had me smiling and…well, I’ll leave that to your imagination. The reading is easy and the writing whimsical. At times the heat builds and the story turns sweet and sexy.

I love a good mermaid story and I read Ocean’s Gift before Water and Fire, so I had already met Belinda. I was happy to get more insight into her character.

Demelza shares hints of so much more sprinkled throughout Water and Fire, enticing me, the reader, to want to know more.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos  4 Stars

My 5 Star Review for Ocean’s Gift

Ocean’s Gift made me teary eyed as I was left with the most awful cliffhanger imaginable…for a mermaid story. Alone…in the sea…

 

Ghostly Evil surrounds Celeste by Kristine Mason

Kristine Mason’s paranormal suspense novel, Celeste Files: Unjust, has an amazing cover. I love the feeling I get as I look at it. The waves crashing on the retaining wall do not scare me, but they do make my heart beat a little faster and my breath quicken.

I loved Celeste, Book I of the Psychic CORE series, and I was waiting for Celeste Unjust.

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Unjust-B&N

Add to Goodreads now.

MY REVIEW

I recommend Celeste Unjust for adults.

I have read all Kristine Mason’s romantic suspense novels and I love her writing. It keeps me hanging on the edge of my seat. So Celeste and the Psychic CORE series are must reads for me. The action begins from the opening words and she does not let me go until the last one is read.

Celeste is a Ghost Whisperer. She has all the problems of us normals, plus the added stress and danger of the ghosts refusing to let her ignore them. Bad or good, she must acknowledge their presence. Her prior experience let her fearful, wondering if she would survive her next encounter.

Familiar characters appear and I am happy to see them. Not just for me, but for Celeste too. She will need all the expertise of the Above The Law CORE gang.

The cover may lull you into feeling this will be just a nice little ghost story, but the true horror begins on their vacation to the Everglades and catches a dead body.

Kristine Mason does not miss a beat in her venture into the paranormal and supernatural genre. I have come to expect evil, savage villains and this is a horror of the supernatural kind, where the evil literally seeps under Celeste’s skin, threatening not only her life, but her husbands and all those around her.

Celeste Unjust is a horror of a ghost story of possession by an evil man accused of murder and human trafficking. The pacing and suspense kept me dancing on my toes. Just when I thought I had all the answers, she did this…

Kristine even got me at the very end and I cannot help but smile at a job WELL DONE!

I rub my hands will glee as I anticipate Celeste Unforgotten, Book III of the Psychic CORE series.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos  5 Stars

SYNOPSIS

Celeste Files: Unjust (Book 2 Psychic C.O.R.E.)—Kristine Mason

Dealing with the dead is murder…

Psychic Celeste Kain has two things on her mind, relaxing for a week in Florida with her husband, John, and making a baby. But a fishing trip turns her vacation into a nightmare when she reels in the body of a dead boat captain and accidentally unleashes an evil ghost who has one thing on his mind…revenge.

As the dead boat captain haunts Celeste, she looks deeper into his past and discovers that his murderer had done the world a favor. The ghost tormenting Celeste doesn’t see it that way and will go to any length to avenge his death. If Celeste won’t give him what he wants, he will take over her body and use her as a weapon…to kill her husband.

Celeste Risinski, the heroine of Shadow of Danger (Book 1 C.O.R.E. Shadow Trilogy), is back with her own series. Join her as she learns how to deal with being a wife, mom, baker and…psychic investigator.

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ABOUT KRISTINE MASON

AuthorPhoto_PerfectlyToxicKristine Mason is the bestselling author of the popular romantic suspense trilogies, C.O.R.E. Shadow and Ultimate C.O.R.E. She is currently working on her next trilogy, C.O.R.E. Above the Law, along with a series of Psychic C.O.R.E. novellas.

Although Kristine has published a few contemporary romance novels, she focuses most of her energy on her romantic suspense stories, which she loves for their blend of dark mystery/suspense and sexy romance. She is fascinated with what makes people afraid, and is famous for her depraved villains whose crimes present massive obstacles for her heroes and heroines to overcome.

Kristine has a degree in journalism from Ohio State University and lives in Northeast Ohio with her husband, four kids, and two dogs. If she’s not writing, she’s chauffeuring kids, gardening, or collecting gnomes. Oh, and she makes a mean chocolate chip cookie!Connect with Kristine on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kristinemasonauthor, Twitter https://twitter.com/KristineMason7 or email her at authorkristinemason@gmail.com. You can also find out more about Kristine’s books at http://www.kristinemason.net

Blog /  Facebook /  Twitter  /  Goodreads /  Pinterest

MY REVIEWS FOR KRISTINE MASON’S NOVELS

Shadow of Danger  /  Shadow of Perception  /  Shadow of Vengeance

Ultimate Kill  /  Ultimate Fear  /  Ultimate Prey (review coming soon)

Celeste Files: Unlocked

Perfectly Twisted  /  Perfectly Toxic

All covers link to Amazon and I am an affiliate, BUT I cannot help but tell you. Kristine Mason is a master storyteller and I would highly recommend buying the book sets, because you will want to read them all! Except, I have yet to read the Reality TV series.

The Celeste Files of the Psychic CORE series are paranormal and supernatural novels that star Celeste, from the very first book in the CORE Shadow Trilogy, Shadow of Danger. I love the mix of psychics and ghosts, with murder and thrills. Check them out below.

Perfectly twisted is the beginning of another series, CORE Above the Law, that takes the characters even further than I thought they would go. I am LOVING it!!!



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Bette Lee Crosby’s What The Heart Remembers Review

Bette Lee Crosby’s What The Heart Remembers is Book III in the Memory House Collection. I have been a fan of Bette Lee’s work since I first began reviewing and blogging in 2012 and remain so, eagerly anticipating each new story.

I love the softness of the cover and will happily travel to Paris with Max. I am excited to learn her story.

Cover:  Damonza.com

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MY REVIEW

I was very excited to hear Bette Lee has another book for the Memory House Collection, What The Heart Remembers. The Memory House Collection is like a warm pair of arms on a cold winter’s night and I look forward to snuggling under my comfy blanket and beginning to read. I am very eager to learn Max’s story.

I feel these books can stand alone, and familiar characters occasionally return, popping in and out of the stories. Many have gifts, so it is no surprise they find each other and become close friends. 

Ophelia had expected the memories to stay with the house she had given to Annie, but you know what happens with expectations and assumptions. They don’t always turn out the way you plan. Max Martinelli would find out…and so would I.

Max’s story starts when she returns to the States from Paris, but Julienne never showed up as expected. Here we are with expectations again. Do we all do that? Do you? Do you put your life on hold…waiting? Max did. There is only one thing to do…a trip to Paris is in order.

But…you can never go back. Have you ever been to your school reunion or went to visit the house you lived in thirty years ago? Everything changes and life would be pretty boring if it didn’t, don’t you think?

This is one of those times that my expectations might have bushwhacked me. Maybe they were too high, but Max’s story fell a bit flat for me.

Max…what can I say about Max. I first met her in The Loft and she came across as a strong and confident woman, taking nothing from noone, independent and self sufficient. As I read on, to me, she came across as wussy and in denial, unwilling to see the truth. I know her trip to Paris will not turn out like she plans, but Bette always manages to put in a twist or two that keeps me on my toes, a way of spinning the tale to make me feel there is hope and a happy ever after for all of us.

Her books I’ve read have mostly been 5s with a 4 or two thrown in, but I was disappointed with this one. Maybe my expectations were too high. After all, expectations leave us open to disappointment. This is still a worthy book and one you will want to add to your Memory House Collection.

I never fear, there is always the next book…Baby Girl.

I received a copy of What The Heat Remembers by Bette Lee Crosby in return for an honest review.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos 3 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

CAN YOU TRULY TRUST THE MEMORIES OF YOUR HEART?

Max Martinelli spent her junior year of college in Paris, and fell in love. Julien was a wickedly handsome young man who was crazy in love with her, or so she thought. He was a free-spirited artist and she an aspiring architect—impressionable, young, and standing on the brink of womanhood.

That was over three years ago but the memory of him still haunts her. Max’s life is stuck on hold because she can’t stop wondering what would have happened if she had gone back. Was Julien simply part of the magic of Paris? Or was he meant to be her destiny?

After a New Year’s Eve party that ends in disaster and bad dreams, Max decides to find out once and for all. She is going to return to Paris and search for Julien. But will her search bring forever after happiness or a truth so ugly it will change her life forever?

ABOUT BETTE LEE CROSBY

Bette Lee CrosbyUSA Today Bestselling and Award-winning novelist Bette Lee Crosby’s books are “Well-crafted storytelling populated by memorable characters caught up in equally memorable circumstances.” – Midwest Book Review

The Seattle Post Intelligencer says Crosby’s writing is, “A quirky mix of Southern flair, serious thoughts about important things in life and madcap adventures.”

Samantha from Reader’s Favorite raves, “Crosby writes the type of book you can’t stop thinking about long after you put it down.”

“Storytelling is in my blood,” Crosby laughingly admits, “My mom was not a writer, but she was a captivating storyteller, so I find myself using bits and pieces of her voice in most everything I write.”

It is the wit and wisdom of that Southern Mama Crosby brings to her works of fiction; the result is a delightful blend of humor, mystery and romance along with a cast of quirky charters who will steal your heart away. Her work was first recognized in 2006 when she received The National League of American Pen Women Award for a then unpublished manuscript. She has since gone on to win twenty awards for her work; these include: The Royal Palm Literary Award, the FPA President’s Book Award Gold Medal, Reader’s Favorite Award Gold Medal, and the Reviewer’s Choice Award.

Crosby’s published works to date are: Blueberry Hill (2014), Previously Loved Treasures (2014), Jubilee’s Journey (2013), What Matters Most (2013), The Twelfth Child (2012), Life in the Land of IS (2012), Cracks in the Sidewalk (2011), Spare Change (2011). A Cupid inspired romance, Wishing for Wonderful, is scheduled for release in November 2014 and Book Three of The Wyattsville Series, Passing through Perfect, will be be available in January 2015.

MY REVEWS OF BETTE LEE CROSBY’S NOVELS

Esther’s Gift

The Loft

Passing Through Perfect

Memory House

Jubilee’s Journey

Blueberry Hill

What Matters Most

Spare Change

Cupid’s Christmas

Cracks In The Sidewalk

The Twelfth Child

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Giveaway – Temper by Beck Nicholas @chapterxchapter, @month9books, and @becknicholas

TemperRDB

 

Happy Release Day to

Temper (Lifer #2) by Beck Nicholas!!

Join us in celebrating this release from Month9Books!

Enter the giveaway found at the end of the post.

Happy Book Birthday, Beck!

 

TemperCover

FREEDOM COMES WITH A PRICE.

Free from the spaceship and reunited with Samuai, Asher should be happy. But thoughts of her dead family weigh heavily on her mind.

Things worsen when temper problems in camp lead to a murder. When Asher volunteers to get the drug need to calm people down, tension ignites.

Loyalties are questioned.

Jealousy rears its head. Sparks fly.

And when rumor of a second ship hits close to home, all bets are off.

Have the aliens returned? Is this the end of everything Asher has ever known?

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Temper (Lifer #2) by Beck Nicholas
Publication Date: February 23, 2016
Publisher: Month9Books

Amazon | Kobo | Chapters |Google Play | iBooks | TBD

 

AND DON’T MISS THE FIRST BOOK IN THE SERIES:

 

Lifer-Cover

The Bourne Identity meets Under the Never Sky in this intergalactic tale of love and deception from debut novelist Beck Nicholas.

Asher is a Lifer, a slave aboard the spaceship Pelican. A member of the lowest rung of society, she must serve the ship’s Officials and Astronauts as punishment for her grandparents’ crimes back on Earth. The one thing that made life bearable was her illicit relationship with Samuai, a Fishie boy, but he died alongside her brother in a freak training accident.

Still grieving for the loss of her loved ones, Asher is summoned to the upper levels to wait on Lady, the head Official’s wife and Samuai’s mother. It is the perfect opportunity to gather intel for the Lifer’s brewing rebellion. There’s just one problem—the last girl who went to the upper levels never came back.

On the other side of the universe, an alien attack has left Earth in shambles and a group called The Company has taken control. Blank wakes up in a pond completely naked and with no memory, not even his real name. So when a hot girl named Megs invites him to a black-market gaming warehouse where winning means information, he doesn’t think twice about playing.

But sometimes the past is better left buried. As Asher and Blank’s worlds collide, the truth comes out—everyone has been lied to…

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Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Chapters | IndieBound | Google Play | BAM | iBooks

 

About-the-Author2

Beck-Nicholas-head-shot-248x300

I always wanted to write. I’ve worked as a lab assistant, a pizza delivery driver and a high school teacher but I always pursued my first dream of creating stories. Now, I live with my family near Adelaide, halfway between the city and the sea, and am lucky to spend my days (and nights) writing young adult fiction.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Tumblr | Instagram

 

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Complete the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!

 

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A Sweet Romance – Mending Heartstrings by @AriaGlazki

Mending Heartstrings by Aria Glazki
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance (Sweet heat level)
Cover Designer: Christa Holland at Paper & Sage
Release Date: February 9, 2016
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GUEST POST BY ARIA GLAZKI
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I am so excited to have Aria Glazki here today to talk about covers. I am a “cover girl” so I am always curious about how an author chooses their covers and who does them.

Why Does Cover Design Matter?

Covers matter. When we’re young or discussing ideology or speaking metaphorically, we like to say otherwise. But just like your carriage when walking into an interview affects the impression you’ll make, so too does a book cover instantly affect a reader’s opinion of your book. Then again, like it or not, that’s the point.
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Whether in thumbnail form on a bookseller’s site, as a lovely art print, or integrated into an author’s promotional materials, the book cover is often the very first experience a reader has with a book. A natural conclusion is that the cover represents the story—its tone, its quality, and its subject matter. A bad cover can kill any chances of sales, while a good one can encourage readers to consider the blurb or possibly even one-click a title. And despite all that, authors often have very little, if any, control over the cover representing their work. Traditionally published authors, that is.
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It isn’t a secret that Mending Heartstrings was originally traditionally published. Much as I would like that first cover to stop being associated with this book, it is available in plenty of places online. Of course, I had no say in that first cover. The publisher purchased it, informed me, and that was (almost) that. I managed to convince them to replace the original head of wheat with a guitar pick so that the cover would have at least some connection to my story, but that was it.
Let’s look at the two covers side by side:
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Original Cover
New Cover

From the colors—faded, tan tones on the left and a vibrant mix on the right—to the subject matter, the differences are immeasurable. While the cover on the left could be a nice fit for a calm, quiet book, it does nothing to represent the story of passion, music, and longing that is Mending Heartstrings. The cover on the right, however… Well, I’ll leave you to make your own conclusions, because I could gush about it endlessly. And before the question of the designer’s abilities comes up, both covers were designed by the fantastic Christa at Paper & Sage. The only difference was who made the choice—my original publisher, or me.

Though neither on its own is terrible—and there are plenty of terrible covers out there—these two covers represent entirely different moods and subjects. If you’re looking for an uplifting romance, which cover would draw your eye? Which would encourage you to pause and read the blurb? Which gives you an idea of the characters involved? In my opinion (and I hope you’ll agree), the cover on the right wins hands down.
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This is why cover design is touted as so important. Covers are at the forefront of all the marketing efforts; it’s their job to lure a reader and to provide an instant sense of what kind of story lies within. There’s a reason why so many romance novels once had Fabio on the cover: readers would know in less than a second what genre lay inside. This is also why, with one choice, the fate of a book can be sealed. And why I am thrilled to finally have a cover that does Mending Heartstrings justice.
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Thanks so much for sharing your thoughtsa , Aria. I think this is a great post and can be very helpful to others. 🙂
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MY REVIEW

Mending Heartstrings by Aria Glazki is a sweet romance novel that exceeded my expectations. Romance is not one of my favorite genres, no murder or blood and guts massacres, but some of the ugly things in life does make this read as if it could be happening to a friend of mine…or yours.

Ordinary girl meets country singer.

Who wouldn’t jump at the chance to take a road trip with your very own hottie?

She’ll be traveling with Kane, Bobby, Steve…and Mitch.

Well, Sabella does. She is not your drop dead gorgeous with a figure to die for kind of gal. She is more like the girl next door and I want so much for her not to get in over her head and have her heart broken.

I love her friend, Gina. Feeling down, Gina will raise you up. I used to have a friend that reminds me so much of Gina and without her in the world the sun seems to have dimmed a little. Gina is a vibrant and colorful character, full of love and life. She only sees the upside of life, until…

I kept thinking, how can I fall in love with a novel that is all about romance, no murder, no horror, you know, those ugly things in “life”. Well the ugly does rear its head and it comes in human form.

I am surprised and delighted by how much I enjoyed Mending Heartstrings. The romance was real, with all the ups and downs that make us know we are alive and in love.

I received a copy of Mending Heartstrings by Aria Glazki in return for an honest review.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos  4 Stars

Kane’s a country singer who’s tangled with too many deceitful women. He’s learned his lesson: girls are for flirting and fun; emotions are for his music. But after spending a night with an earnest woman unlike any he’s known, he can’t force her out of his mind. So he goes in search of the woman he knows only as “Elle.”

On her last night in Nashville, the staunchly pragmatic Sabella found herself in a situation more suited to a romance novel than reality. Swept away, she ignored her rigidly self-imposed rules, succumbing to the fantasy just this once. But she knows real-world relationships have nothing in common with their fictionalized portrayals. When Kane unexpectedly shows up at her Portland apartment, she must choose between the practical truths she has learned and the desire for a passionate love she has struggled to suppress.

Despite the distance, Kane’s tour schedule, and their meddling friends, both are drawn to the chance for a romance neither quite believes is possible.

 

 

Aria’s writing story started when her seventh-grade English teacher encouraged her to submit a class assignment for publication. That piece was printed, and let’s just say, she was hooked!

Since then, Aria has run a literary magazine, earned her degree in Creative Writing (as well as in French and Russian literatures), and been published here and there. Though her first kiss technically came from a bear cub, and no fairytale transformation followed, Aria still believes magic can happen when the right people come together—if they don’t get in their own way, that is.

Other than all things literary, Aria loves spending time with her family, including her two unbearably adorable nieces. She also dabbles in painting, dancing, playing violin, and, given the opportunity, Epicureanism.

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Release Day Giveaway – The Medusa Files @melaniecard

It’s release day for C.I. Black’s The Medusa Files, Case 8: Cut From Stone. I am so excited to share this great new urban fantasy with you! C.I. is sharing an exclusive excerpt and a giveaway with you! Grab your copy and check it all out now!

Medusa Files 8 RDL Banner

The Medusa Files, Case 8: Cut From Stone Synopsis:

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This disaster could destroy everything she hadn’t realized she needed.

While Gage might be out of human custody, the Kin High Council remains suspicious of him and the team, and Lachlin is now even more determined to force Morgan to quit. The only person Morgan can trust is Gage, but her attraction to him has made her powers dangerously uncontrollable.

When someone sets off a bomb at a Kin high society party and releases a contagion that turns Kin into humans, the team must put their difference aside and stop their most dangerous threat yet.

If you haven’t started the series yet, you can get the first book, The Medusa Files, case 1: Written In Stone, for FREE!

Buy Links: Get the release day price of .99 Now! The Medusa Files, Case 8:

Amazon | Nook | iBooks | Kobo

 Catch up on the series with book 1, free now. The Medusa Files, Case 1:

Amazon | Kobo | iBooks | Nook

Exclusive Excerpt:

His expression darkened even more, and invisible lightning snapped across Morgan’s skin. The bathroom was too small for both of them and his magic. Another snap of lightning and her newly manifested gorgon powers exploded over her eyes, rushing out of control across her cheeks.

Shit.

She squeezed her eyes shut and jerked to face the shower stall, away from Gage. Fiery tears threatened to seep from beneath her lashes, and every muscle grew tight with the effort to hold it back. Shit shit shit.

“That was Loric on the phone,” Gage said. His voice sounded so far away and hushed against the rushing in her ears. “We have to report to the Council.”

“Okay.” She sucked in a ragged breath. One of the tears inched closer to release.

“You all right?” He stepped close. The heat from his body and the tingle from his power brushed her senses, and her hold on her powers trembled.

“Fine.” The tear broke through and traced a searing line down her cheek. She caught it in her palm before it hit the floor and exploded into a drop of granite dust.

“Morgan?”

“Just give me—” She forced her shoulders into a roll, trying to loosen the muscles. Logically she knew if she relaxed so would her powers, but the other part of her — probably her human part — screamed with panic. Don’t kill anyone. Again.

“Focus on my voice,” he said, his tone softening. “Draw in a slow breath.”

She inhaled.

“That’s it. Relax, Morgan.” His tone shifted — or was that her imagination changing it? It was now sensual, slick, sexually charged. “Relax, Morgan.”

Desire shuddered through her, and Lachlin’s unwanted fae charm billowed, achy and needy inside her. Her powers flared again. Gage stood so close, too close.

“Morgan.”

Another shudder and burst of power. Two more tears slid from her lashes. She wiped them away. She was going to kill someone or destroy the building they were in, and Gage wasn’t helping. “Please. Just step back.”

“You can control it.” He slid a hand up her back.

Her muscles contracted. Desire and fire roared through her. It forced her eyes open, burst through her sunglasses, and slammed into the shower door. It flash-froze to stone and cracked. She wrenched her glasses off and pressed her palms to her eyes before the door exploded. When her power was this out of control, things tended to erupt into granite dust, not just turn to stone. She’d gotten lucky with the door.

Gage’s fingers tensed on her shoulder, and her powers seared her hands.

“Stop touching me.”

His hand and the sense of him vanished.

“You’re getting stronger.” It sounded like his voice was all the way across the room. “And unstable. Your powers shouldn’t be this unstable.”

C.I. Black Bio:

CI Author photo

C.I. writes fast-paced, thrilling, and sexy urban fantasy and paranormal romance. She is the author of the Dragon Spirit series and the Medusa Files series.

Always having been drawn to storytelling, C.I. can’t remember a time when she wasn’t creating a story. Her early tales were adventures with fairies, dragons, and sword swinging princesses.

Today she continues to spin tales of magic in lands near and far, while her cat sits on the edge of her desk and supervises. When she’s not writing, you can find her pretending to be other people with her local community theatre groups.

Links:  Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / CIBlack.com

Enter C.I.’s Giveaway:

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