Excerpt for Blood and Gold by Hawk MacKinney

Posted on January 23, 2014 by fundinmental

Hawk MacKinney’s covers are awesome and the cover for Blood and Gold is no exception.

I am a thriller lover, so his books are right up my alley, or should I say ski slope.

Blood and Gold, Book 3 in the Craige Ingram Mystery Series

by Hawk MacKinney

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BLURB

Blood and Gold, the third book in The Craige Ingram Mystery Series, once again tests the instincts and skills of retired Navy SEAL/part-time private investigator Craige Ingram. Lust, greed, body parts and unrestrained wild sex parties are what await Craige Ingram when he leaves the comforts of his South Carolina home to visit his former SEAL buddy, Detective Spinner Krespinak. Set in the Colorado underbelly of a sordid sable and faux glitz ski mecca, Detective Spinner Krespinak suspects drugs have made their way to the snowy playground that is Aspen. An Olympic ski hopeful is brutally murdered, Spinner vanishes, and Craige Ingram is shot as events spin out of control with a Catch-22 no one anticipates.

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EXCERPT

Spinner’s high mountain, ski slope bronzed hand ruffled through his hair. He flipped another page, “That’s the third one, counting the other mismatched body parts as one and two.” Frowned. “There’s not much more here than with the others.” Handed Craige Loopy’s prelims. “Take a look at those…lemme know what you think.” Krespinak brown eyes bayoneted the blue stick-‘em pasted to the center of his monitor, “…mm…interesting phone memo. Seems Hizzoner the Mayor is concerned. Wants to keep the lid on. Claims he doesn’t want to scare away business. Real fact behind his fume-an’-fuss is all about not wanting to scare away votes in the upcoming elections. Media’s already nosing around about this morning’s torch job—that ought to rattle his cage. Stroking a yancy politician doesn’t gripe me, but if he was serious we could use some additional personnel pavement pounding for answers.”

Ferron said, “Loopy said she hadn’t gotten the final results on the mitochondrial DNA runs. But from what she’s seen so far, she said it doesn’t look like this latest one even comes close to a match with any of the previous body parts. Time of death is iffy as well. If the body was left outside in the subfreezing temps, Loopy said it could stretch the time interval. Her best guess is within a week or two of the others. Only difference this time, we have a whole body.”

Craige asked Ferron, “When did the first one show up?”

Ferron thought for a moment, asked Spinner, “When did we get the first one? A little over two months ago?”

“Something like that…date’s logged in the case file,” Spinner said. “What bothers me most is not what we have, but what we don’t have. Along with no IDs and no statewide missing person reports, there’s not even a close to a match to any of the age ranges Loopy suggested.”

“You think the killings are random?” Craige said.

“No—I don’t think they’re random. But I’m one of the few who feels that way.” Spinner thought of the grisly pieces in the morgue cooler. He didn’t like prowling for motives. Liked it less their coming up empty with damn few answers. Sure didn’t like the doubts gnawing his innards. “I’m stuck at which came first—chicken or the egg quandary. Which victims were intentional targets? Which ones might’ve just been in the way; killed to make sure there were no awkward inconvenient witnesses. If they are serial killings, we’re not seeing any time-pattern between kills. There has to be a reason for the times between each victim, and why are we finding only pieces?”

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

With postgraduate degrees and faculty appointments in several medical universities, Hawk MacKinney has taught graduate courses in both the United States and Jerusalem. In addition to professional articles and texts on chordate neuroembryology, Hawk has authored several works of fiction.

Hawk began writing mysteries for his school newspaper. His works of fiction, historical love stories, science fiction and mystery-thrillers are not genre-centered, but plot-character driven, and reflect his southwest upbringing in Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma. Moccasin Trace, a historical novel nominated for the prestigious Michael Shaara Award for Excellence in Civil War Fiction and the Writers Notes Book Award, details the family bloodlines of his serial protagonist in the Craige Ingram Mystery Series… murder and mayhem with a touch of romance. Vault of Secrets, the first book in the Ingram series, was followed by Nymrod Resurrection, Blood and Gold, and The Lady of Corpsewood Manor. All have received national attention. Hawk’s latest release in the Ingram series is due out this fall with another mystery-thriller work out in 2014. The Bleikovat Event, the first volume in The Cairns of Sainctuarie science fiction series, was released in 2012.

“Without question, Hawk is one of the most gifted and imaginative writers I have had the pleasure to represent. His reading fans have something special to look forward to in the Craige Ingram Mystery Series. Intrigue, murder, deception and conspiracy–these are the things that take Hawk’s main character, Navy ex-SEAL/part-time private investigator Craige Ingram, from his South Carolina ancestral home of Moccasin Hollow to the dirty backrooms of the nation’s capital and across Europe and the Middle East.”

Barbara Casey, President / Barbara Casey Literary Agency

Website / Amazon / B & N

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To get your copy or learn more about Hawk MacKinney, click on the cover below.

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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

Look below or on the right sidebar at Home and let’s talk.

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Tag Team Event-Don’t go in the Water!-Delta Legend by Kelan O’Connell GP Review & Giveaway

Posted on January 22, 2014 by fundinmental

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Welcome to my Tag Team Events!

Laura and I are the Tag Team Bloggers.

You can find Laura at fuonlyknew

We Tag Team an author and publish our posts at the same time.

Whether it’s for a cover reveal, giveaway, review, interview, or something more, the author will be tagged by us and you will be alerted to go to Laura’s blog or mine to see additional content.

It’s really fun to see how differently we view the same book and you get an extra chance to win with our giveaways!

Be sure to follow us to be kept informed of future tag teaming events.

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Celebrating the release of Delta Legend in paperback!

I loved this book. Creatures and Monsters, of one kind or another, are some of my favorite stories. I love getting lost in the fantasy of another world.

Read my review and enter the giveaway for a signed paperback at the end of the post.

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A Guest Post from Kelan

THE RIDE OF SUSPENDED DISBELIEF

Writing Urban Fantasy Adventure is a bit like creating a wild new theme park ride. It’s a really fun gig. If done right, readers will happily board your attraction and stay engaged through the whole crazy ride, ping-ponging between anticipation, fear, laughter, and satisfaction.

As a novelist, I have to make sure my story has all the necessary elements required for a great ride, and suspended disbelief is a key element in good fantasy fiction.

In Urban Fantasy, fantastical things happen in the modern world as we know it. Undoubtedly, the biggest challenge of writing for this genre is creating a sense of isolation in our modern world. Considering the sheer number of humans crawling all over the planet armed with multiple means of connecting, this can be a formidable task. Enter the all-important selection of location.

The setting for Delta Legend goes by both the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and the California Delta. I refer to it by both names in the book. Though surrounded by populated cities, the heart of the Delta retains a sense of isolation due to its vast expanses of farmland and seemingly endless waterways that snake on for 1000 plus miles. That’s right—one thousand.

A picture of California’s Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, with Suisun Bay at left-center and the Carquinez Strait at far left (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It was definitely challenging to describe this unique region in a way that would give people who’ve never been there a visceral sense of the place. Luckily, I have a couple things going for me in this regard. One, I have a background as a screenwriter, so I write visually. And two, I spent a good deal of time in the California Delta from the time I was 15 until I was in my mid 30’s. And let me tell you, no matter how old I got, swimming or waiting to get picked up on a water ski in the Delta, always freaked me out a bit. Anything could be lurking in those deep murky waters.

Photo by Kelan

Of course, if anything like what happens in the book were to actually happen in the Delta, it would be extremely hard to keep it on the down-low, but that’s where the all-important suspended disbelief and sense of isolation come into play.

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When 16-year-old Oakland teenager, Calvin Pierce, makes a bad decision and winds up getting arrested, his mother is quick to take action. Determined not to lose a second son to the drug and gang violence of the inner city, she sends Calvin to spend the summer working for his great uncle in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

There in the predominately white region of agriculture and recreational boating, Calvin’s a fish out of water with a chip on his shoulder. But when severed body parts are discovered floating in a slough, his summer of proving himself takes on new meaning.

Something deadly is lurking in the deep, murky waterways of the Delta. Now the daunting task of containing the living incarnation of a mythical creature falls to Calvin and his ragtag posse of oddball characters.

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My Delta Legend Review

To see my full review, go HERE.

I won this book in a Giveaway on fuonlyknew’s blog. Thank you Kelan and Laura for the giveaway.

When I first picked this book up all I saw was a monster in the water, super, right up my alley. I love these stories. As I read along, it became apparent it was much more than that. Kelan did a great job with the small town descriptions and details of the people lives that brings them together to save their town and themselves, detailing their acts of heroism, growth and change, bringing out the best in people.

Something in the water. Awesome – I could hardly wait to begin reading. Is it bigger than Jaws? You’ll have to read it to find out.

I love creature stories, so it’s easy for me to rate this one very high. The cover was over the top. Simple, yet complex, as you delve into the eye trying to see what’s there. The cover and title related well to the book, it’s important to me that they do.

I really got a feel for the small town setting, where the cafe was the focal point and you could hear all the latest gossip. The cops even hung out there. I used to visit a small southern town in Mississippi, and their local hangout was a gas station, where everyone would meet, drink colas and play checkers. Very ……….quaint? Does your town have a local hangout?

The characters were well developed and realistic. I could picture them in my mind and relate to them easily. Some of the characters were hateful and disgusting, others so much like your next door neighbor, just living their lives. When Kelan described Huestes as a Weeble, I busted out laughing . It brought back memories of buying them for my son when he was young. Can’t you just picture Huestes? “Weebles wobble, but they don’t fall down.”

Kelan laid a good base in the first half to crank it out in the second half.The suspense kept building and I kept waiting for the creature to appear. Every time someone went near the water, I was waiting for the monster to get them. Just like Jaws. Don’t go in the water. How many times do you have to be told, don’t go in the water. LOL!

The Lochness Monster, Bigfoot, Aliens……would you believe someone’s story, or would you have to see for yourself?

There were two surprises at the end. One I saw coming and I figured Kelan threw that one in to distract me from the other one, which I didn’t see coming. I am a voracious reader, so when the author throws in a surprise or two, it makes my day. Keeps me on my toes.

Even though there is a Book II, this tied things up nicely, while leaving it open enough to continue the story. I can hardly wait to find out what happens next, so I hope you are busy writing, Kelan.

The history leading to the legend was well-developed and detailed, going in to depth about Chinese history in relation to building the Transcontinental Railroad and the Sacramento – San Joaquin Delta.

I can absolutely see this as a movie. As I was reading along, the scenes played out in my mind as the story unfolded. I saw the ending as if I was watching it on the big screen.

5 STARS – Would Buy It For Them (lol)

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

As a young adult, Kelan O’Connell spent her summers aboard a family houseboat in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Apparently, she still harbors suspicions about those deep murky waters. Though she’s been writing in one form or another since the age of 20, Delta Legend is her debut Young Adult Crossover novel.

Kelan began writing in college, creating character monologues as a way to stand out in auditions while also cranking out sketch comedy. She holds a degree in Theatre Arts from San Francisco State University and has worked in the Entertainment Industry in Northern California and Los Angeles, among her many other day jobs.

She currently lives in Northern California with her partner, Sound Engineer/Producer Tom Size, and the incredibly spoiled pets of Camp Runamuck.

Website / Blog / Goodreads

Wanna come along for the ride? It’s fun … and a little scary.

To get your copy of Delta Legend by Kelan O’Connell, click on the cover below.

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I have my eye on you.

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GIVEAWAY

Kelan O’Connell always has some of the most fantastic giveaways and this one is no exception. International.

1 (one) signed paperback to a lucky commenter.

Leave your email and let me know:

Does your town have a local hangout, where all the latest gossip can be heard?

This is a Tag Team event – for another opportunity to win, go to fuonlyknew.

Giveaway ends February 3, 2014.

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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

Look below or on the right sidebar at Home and let’s talk.

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Release Day Giveaway – The Waiting Game by J L Flynn

Posted on January 20, 2014 by fundinmental

The Waiting Game by J L Flynn is a series about Gypsys. I am always looking for something a little different and I don’t see a lot of gypsy novels, so I was eager to participate in this tour. Take a look and see if it is something that catches your interest.

BLURB

Twenty-five-year-old Tommy Costello has been going out on the road with his best friend Jim Reilly since they were kids. They’ve pulled cons together, picked up dates together, and have always had each other’s backs. They’re as close as brothers, and Tommy’s sure their bond will never be broken.

That is, until Maggie Downey shows up. She’s an enigma: smart, bold, and charming. From the moment they meet, sparks fly. But there’s a huge problem. She’s arranged to be married to Jim.

Tommy tries to keep his feelings for Maggie in check, but it’s not easy, especially when he’s also hiding a dark secret for Jim—both from Maggie and the rest of their Irish-American Gypsy clan. A secret that not only affects his friend, but that could mean a life of misery for Maggie as well. Tommy does his best to protect both his friendship and his own heart, but it’s soon clear that falling in love with his best friend’s girl is the least dangerous thing happening in the Village that year.

The Waiting Game is a prequel to The Long Game, and the second book in J.L. Fynn’s American Gypsy series.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

J.L. Fynn is the public face of the writing collaboration between Katherine Ernst and Chelle Bruhn. Katherine and Chelle disagree on most everything (music, food, need for punctuality), except for what’s really important, which is why they’ve been best friends for seventeen years and writing together for three.

Twitter: www.twitter.com/jlfynnauthor

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jlfynnauthor

Tumblr: jlfynn.tumblr.com

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/7173188.J_L_Fynn

Website: www.jlfynn.com

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GIVEAWAY

ENTER THE RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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To get your copy of a J L Flynn novel, click on the cover below.

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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

Look below or on the right sidebar at Home and let’s talk.

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Blog Tour Party with Terri Bruce for Hereafter

Posted on January 20, 2014 by fundinmental

Terri Bruce has released her novel, Hereafter and wants you to help her celebrate.

I love this unique approach to life after death. It left me screaming for more.

Soooooo, let’s cross over and see what Irene is up to in the Afterlife.

To see my Review of Hereafter by Terri Bruce, go HERE.

Hereafter

Afterlife Book One

Terri Bruce

Genre: Paranormal/Contemporary Fantasy

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

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

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

Cover Artist: Shelby Robinson

BOOK DESCRIPTION

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

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

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EXCERPT

“Come.” Samyel gestured, indicating that they should follow him. “We must go.”

“Go? Go where?”

“Away. Inside. Or they will see.”

“Who will see what?”

The dark glasses revealed nothing as he stood impassively for a moment. “Everyone.”

Samyel was attracting a lot of attention. The crowd moving around them was giving him a wide berth, and he was the focus of a lot of strange looks, which just confirmed that he wasn’t dead—people could see him. Irene knew that it looked like a seven-foot tall man in a trench coat and dark glasses was talking to himself in the middle of the sidewalk. It wouldn’t be long before the cops came to investigate.

Irene gestured for Samyel to lead the way. “Fine. Let’s go.”

Irene heard another choke of protest and glanced at Jonah. There was a silent exchange of mouthed words, pantomimed gestures, and angry, exaggerated looks.

“Don’t be crazy,” Jonah hissed. “You can’t go with him!”

“You’re the one that always wants to stop and talk to every weirdo we meet,” she countered. “And what do you mean ‘you’? We’re both going.”

“Uh uh,” Jonah said. “This is your idea. If you get murdered, I’m not saving you.”

With an exasperated look, she motioned for Jonah to follow and set out after Samyel, who was nearly out of sight. Jonah reluctantly followed. Irene gave him a wry look as they trailed, side by side, a few feet behind Samyel. “You know, at some point, we’re going to have to talk about your propensity for picking fights with people bigger than yourself.”

“What’s propensity?”

“A really bad habit that you should stop.”

Jonah’s expression turned unreadable for a long moment, as if he was debating with himself, and then he looked away, stuffing his hands in his pockets and bowing his head to stare at the sidewalk as they went.

“I’ve changed the password, by the way, so you can’t do that again,” he said darkly.

She grabbed his arm, pulling him to a halt. “Jonah, listen to me. It’s not that I don’t appreciate you trying to protect me. I do. Even when it’s annoying and misplaced, like with Ernest. You’re the bravest, sweetest guy I’ve ever met, but I’m dead. You’re not. I’m already probably going to Hell for dragging you along on this adventure. Don’t add being the cause of your death to my list of crimes, okay?”

The tips of his ears had turned pink and his head was down, shoulders hunched. Then, to her surprise, he suddenly looked at her, his eyes inquiring as he searched her face. She didn’t know what he was looking for, but he was gazing at her so earnestly that she blushed.

To see my Review of Hereafter by Terri Bruce, go HERE.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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

Website/Blog / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

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taiwan flag smiley animated gif Pictures, Images and Photos

Facebook Party With Lots of Prizes

Please feel free to tell them I sent ya.

Help celebrate the re-release of HEREAFTER back into the wild at the Online Release Party January 21^st from 12:00 pm EST (noon) to 12:00 am EST (midnight). Join Terri and over a dozen special guest authors—including Alma Alexander (“The Secrets of Jin-Shei”) , Gail Z. Martin (“Chronicles of the Necromancer”), Barbara Ann Wright (“The Pyramid Waltz”), and Jennifer Allis Provost (“Copper Girl”)—for games, giveaways, and other shenanigans.

So please stop on by and bring your friends—the more merrier!

Follow the yellow brick road, I mean the follow link below:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1411503999089050/

Be there or be square!

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To see my Review of Hereafter by Terri Bruce, go HERE.

To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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

Look below or on the right sidebar at Home and let’s talk.

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Grand Finale Giveaway – Mistress of the Wind by Michelle Diener

Posted on January 19, 2014 by fundinmental

This is such a gorgeous cover that I had to share it. Hope you enjoy all the goodies and be sure to enter the giveaway at the end of the post.

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

The Tour!

Did you miss any of the tour stops for this beautiful New Adult retelling of East of the Sun, West of the Moon? Catch what you missed now!

12/29: Launch

+ Saeit Yahalomi – Review

“The descriptions are superb, told in a way that is unique, fantastical, and yet, as crazy as this will sound, believable (a world filled with strange magical creatures and trolls).”

12/30: My Seryniti – Review

“Super easy to read and once I melted into the story, really easy to follow and enjoy! Lovely story which makes me want to check out the original myth!”

+ Tome Tender – Guest Post

Because Mistress of the Wind is a retelling of the Scandinavian fairy tale East of the Sun, West of the Moon, I used Norse mythology throughout the story.

Trolls are an intergral part of Scandinavian myth and folklore, and there are plenty of trolls in Mistress of the Wind. But I also introduced two other folklore creatures which came from my imagination or which were a tweak of existing folklore.

The first of these is the yggren. . .

2/31: Kelly P’s Blog – Guest Post

Mistress of the Wind is based on the fairy tale East of the Sun, West of the Moon, and as I researched it, I was enchanted by the number of unusual and interesting elements in the original tale. Thinking about how to deal with them in Mistress of the Wind, and de-constructing them for a better and deeper understanding of the original, inspired some of the storyline I wove into Mistress of the Wind.

+ Giveaway Breaking News for Indonesia – Guest Post

I don’t write with music playing, I find it distracting, but I most definitely would go for my morning walk and listen to music that suited the mood of the story, and think about what I was going to write next. I find it interesting how music can so affect our moods and our tempo and pace.

1/1: Mel’s Shelves – Review

She didn’t realize, either, what powers she possessed until she decided to do her best to get Bjorn back. Bjorn is also very likable and they have a great connection. Then there are some secondary characters which add to the story and are fun to learn about. I enjoyed the second half of the book more than the first half and towards the end, I couldn’t put it down.

1/2: Mythical Books – Guest Post

The concept of a wind hag, the controller of the winds, was one that delighted me immediately. In the book Women Who Run With the Wolves, Clarissa Estes talks about hags and crones, including the Russian uber-hag, Baba-Yaga, as women of power and consequence. The word ‘hag’ generally has such negative connotations, but Estes introduced me to the idea that rather than a negative, it was a positive. Her ideas really resonated with me, so when I stumbled upon the Wind Hag folk tale, I was all over it. It just fit so well into the story, as seamlessly as if it was meant to be there.

+ Tressa’s Wishful Endings – This or That

Read a book or watch TV?

Reading a book wins 90% of the time.

Get out of the house or stay at home?

I like to get out of the house, because I work from home, so it is the office and the house, and sometimes, I need a break.

Winter or summer?

Winter. I love boots, I love coming in to a warm house from the cold, and I love how green everything gets (winter in Western Australia is probably like summer in some parts of the world :))

1/3: Brooke Blogs – Guest Post

The challenge with Mistress of the Wind, given I wanted to remain true to the original fairy tale, was to give Astrid a good reason to go against Bjorn’s request to see him as a man.

The consequences of her doing so are huge, to both her and Bjorn, and I really had to create a compelling situation for her to act against his wishes. If she doesn’t do it, however, the story is over, they win and everyone lives happily ever after.

Unfortunately for them, they have to work a little harder for their happy ending than that.

1/5: Leeanna.me; – Review

I thought this book was well-written and engaging, and I would check out the author’s next fairy tale retelling, THE GOLDEN APPLE, based on “The Princess on the Glass Hill.”

1/6: The Book Landers – Guest Post

I love being asked for a list of ten of my favorite fairy tales. There are so many great ones, and I’ll probably head-smack myself in a couple of days because I left out a really good one, but here goes, in no particular order – and I’ve put in a link to a version of the fairy tale on the Sur La Lune Fairy Tale website, where there is one. It comes with annotations, and I really love the site, even if some of my favorites are a slightly different version to the one they have up there…

+ Deal Sharing Aunt – Interview

2. Where do you shop for books? What format?

I shop for print books at Amazon, Book Depository and my local Dymocks bookstore, and for ebooks on Amazon. Because I live in Australia, I can’t always get the books I want in ebook format, because the rights for electronic book sales to Australia haven’t been enabled, so I probably buy more print books than ebooks, but that isn’t by choice, it’s by necessity.

1/7: So Many Reads – Review

If you are fond of fairy tales and fantasy, you should check out Mistress of the Wind. I will admit that I have a tough time getting into fairy tales because it seems the walls on my imagination only allow me to go so far. However, Michelle’s writing is fantastic and she sets my mind free and helps me really visualize what is going on in the story.

1/8: My Devotional Thoughts – Guest Post

Mistress of the Wind is such a great fairy tale because the heroine gets to take an amazing journey to find where her lover has been taken, and rescue him. But part of why I love the fairy tale East of the Sun, West of the Moon so much is because the physical journey she takes mirrors a spiritual journey of coming into her power and into her sense of self. So here are ten things you can discover about yourself on a quest – – Astrid certainly did…

1/10: Colorimetry; – Review

Michelle Diener follows the fairy tale quite closely while weaving in the Norse mythology stuff. Right in the middle of the story there’s a very big switcheroo… and this is where I expected things to get boring or fuzzy with lack of specific detail because… well, read the story. This is where Michelle totally won me over. The Norse mythology side fills in all the vagueness of the fairy tale and the second half of the book is even better than the first.

1/12: The Reading Diaries – Review

I think the author did a fantastic job creating a complex story that mixes fantasy with adventure and romance. It was one of those stories you just can’t put down if not for sleep I would have stayed up all night to finish even though I knew how it would play out. The characters are easy to connect with you can’t help rooting for Astrid on her journey. I enjoyed the book it was worth reading and I’m sure I’ll read it again.

+ Bookish Outsider – Review

Ms Diener’s writing is delightful and so descriptive, especially in the latter half of the book when Astrid is traveling with the winds and I could have quite easily carried on reading for some time thanks to the wonderful world the characters inhabited brought to life by the author’s writing style and obvious love of the original fairy tale.

1/13: The Wonderings of One Person – Interview

How has this story touched your life?

All my stories touch my life, because I live in the world of the story every day I write it, and I walk in the steps of the characters, and know them as well as I know myself. Mistress of the Wind is about magical things and enduring love and finding your strength. I love its depth and the world it is set in.

1/14: Dalene’s Book Reviews – Interview

4) Why did you decide to write Mistress of the Wind?

I’ve always loved fairy tales. But when I was at university, doing research for a history paper on the witch hunts of the 17th Century, I came across a really interesting (but totally unrelated :)) journal full of articles on the meanings of fairy tales. It was fantastic, and mind-blowing. I suddenly saw the subversion in the tales…

1/15: A Backwards Story – Interview

What was the hardest scene/element to write in MISTRESS OF THE WIND? The easiest?

Definitely the hardest was working on a way to give Astrid, my heroine, a good reason to go against Bjorn’s wishes to see him as a man. It has to happen, it is part of the story, but creating the conditions for her to do so in a way that didn’t show her to be careless of what would happen to him was challenging.

The easiest scenes were between Astrid and the troll princess. I’m not sure if it is because I had such a clear idea of who each of them were and their motivations, but I loved writing those scenes and they came easily to me.

+ Books & Chocolate – Interview

What inspired you to become a writer?

It was a decision made a long time ago, and at its heart, has never really changed – I love books and love telling stories.

What the inspiration behind Mistress Of The Wind?

I love fairy tales, and the fairy tale East of the Sun West of the Moon has always been one of my absolute favorites. The idea of writing a book based on the fairy tale has been swirling through my head for many, many years.

1/16: Addicted Readers

For me, it was about revelling in the world I had fallen in love with in the original tale. Perhaps I could have contemplated shaking things up a lot more if I didn’t adore the tale just as it is, but I do, and it was fun and satisfying to set Mistress of the Wind in that world. I felt like I was honoring the original.

1/17: Grand Finale

Mistress of the Wind
by Michelle Diener
New Adult/Sci-Fi Fantasy
Paperback, 342 pages
Expected publication: December 19th 2013

Bjorn needs to find a very special woman . . .The fate of his people, and his own life, depends on it. But when he does find her, she is nothing like he imagined, and may just harbor more secrets than he does himself.Astrid has never taken well to commands. No matter who issues them . . .She’s clashed her whole life with her father, and now her lover, the mysterious man who comes to her bedroom in darkness and disappears to guard his mountain by day as a bear, is finding it out the hard way. And when he’s taken by his enemies, no one is prepared for Astrid’s response.

It is never wise to anger the mistress of the wind . . .

A captivating and magical adult retelling of the fairy tale East of the Sun, West of the Moon.

Michelle Diener writes historical fiction. Her Susanna Horenbout & John Parker series, set in the court of Henry VIII, includes In a Treacherous Court, Keeper of the King’s Secrets and In Defense of the Queen.Michelle’s other historical novels include Daughter of the Sky, The Emperor’s Conspiracy and Banquet of Lies (loosely connected to The Emperor’s Conspiracy).

Michelle’s first fantasy novel, Mistress of the Wind, is set for a December 23, 2013, release.

Michelle was born in London, grew up in South Africa and currently lives in Australia with her husband and two children.

Goodreads; * Amazon; * Website * Twitter; * Facebook

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Grab your copy of Mistress of the Wind by Michelle Diener, click on the cover below.

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International Giveaway

10 copies of Mistress of the Wind, Kindle or print, winner’s choice.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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January Kindle Fire Giveaway ($229 Value)

Posted on January 18, 2014 by fundinmental

Win a Kindle Fire HDX, Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash ($229 value)

This is a joint AUTHOR & BLOGGER GIVEAWAY EVENT!

Bloggers & Authors have joined together and each chipped in a little money towards a Kindle Fire HDX 7″.

All New Kindle Fire HDX 7″ Giveaway

The winner will have the option of receiving a 7″ Kindle Fire HDX (US Only – $229 Value)

Or $229 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)

Or $229 in Paypal Cash (International)

January Sponsors

http://www.iamareader.com/category/kindle-giveaway-sign-ups

GIVEAWAY

taiwan flag smiley animated gif Pictures, Images and Photos 1 winner will receive their choice of an all new Kindle Fire 7″ HDX (US Only – $229 value), $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 in Paypal Cash (International).

ENTER THE RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY HERE

There is a second separate giveaway for bloggers who post this giveaway on their blog. See details in the rafflecopter on how to enter to win the 2nd Kindle Fire HDX 7″.

Ends 2/9/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the participating authors & bloggers. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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

Look on the right sidebar at Home and let’s talk.

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Freakin Friday #14 – Spooky Short Stories by Kathryn Meyer Griffith

Posted on January 17, 2014 by fundinmental

Freakin Friday!

Freakin Fridays is a meme brought to you by fuonlyknew. We will be posting about books, movies, and all things scary.

Feel free to join in and do your own Freakin Fridays posts!

Tune in every Friday. Get your scare on!

Let’s have some fun!

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Spooky Short Stories by Katherine Meyer Griffith

The cover alone would have me picking up this book. I love trees, especially ones that have my spine tingling and goosebumps rising on my arms.

I have read several books by Kathryn Meyer Griffith, so there was no question about reading these short stories and sharing them with you. There are four of them and each has its own special problem. So, let’s visit the supernatural world of ghosts, witches, banshees and werewolves.

Ghost Brother (approx. 6600 words)

I came to, sitting on top of a grave. I hope it isn’t mine. LOL Of course, it is. I saw that one coming, but loved it anyway. I knew most of what would happen, but there was a twist and a turn to keep me on my toes. He couldn’t remember how he died. He does find out and “lives” to regret it. I love ghost stories and this is full of anguish and misery. Perfect for a ghost. Lots of action. An interesting and fun read. Excellent ending.

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Running With The Train ( a werewolf short story of 5650 words)

Sarah was looking out the window of the train and saw something – something running faster than the train. It looked like wolves, but there are no wolves at the Grand Canyon. Right? She had felt a tug, an urge to jump off the train and run through the woods with the creatures. Yeah, that’s what I’m looking for. A wolfish man to love me forever. Maybe she’ll find it. When Kathryn mentioned the urge, the feeling of being drawn towards something, it made me think of Close Encounters.

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The Banshee and The Witch (a magical romantic story, approx 9550 words:

Cleona was over four hundred years old. Maybe you figured it out. She is a supernatural being, a witch. For three nights in a row, she’d woken from a dream, feeling an impending doom close around her. She had worked her magic, creating a spell to keep her young, but it was no longer working. I haven’t read much about banshees, but have seen them on Charmed, a TV program of the supernatural kind. Evil or not, I’m liking the banshees. Great story showing what some will do for the chance at another life, another love. What would you trade?

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Too Close To The Edge (a ghostly story of 5600 words)

OMG. This was the scariest of all. My favorite of the four short stories.

I have stood on the edge of the Grand Canyon and looked down, down, down. Kathryn does a great job of describing the terror of someone who is afraid of heights and the thoughts that go through their mind. The aura of the past seems to haunt the area, so who knows what ghosts roam the Grand Canyon.

“No, Jeff, I can’t. I can’t come any closer.”

I can picture her, cowering far away from the edge, trying not to let other sightseers discover her terror. I am afraid of flying and heights. I remember Mr. Wonderful, my hubby, taking me to the top of the Stratosphere in Vegas,the Towers in Toronto and Niagara Falls, and Chichen Itza. Now that one, I couldn’t hide my terror from others. I would be trying to melt into the wall, so afraid I couldn’t pick up my camera to shoot. Due to Mr. Wonderful’s persistence, I have experienced things I never would have done on my own and have brought my fears down to a manageable level, for the most part. How about you? What is your greatest fear?

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I am rating this fantastic selection of Spooky Short Stories by Kathryn Meyer Griffith as a whole. I loved them all and found myself sitting on the grave, running through the woods, stirring the cauldron and hanging on for dear life with each and every character.

The cover is awesome. I love trees and the lady running through the mist tells me that what is between the covers may be hard to believe. But we know – there are ghosts and ghouls, demons and monsters. So before you sit down to read, turn the lights on high and lock the doors. Every noise is going to have you looking over your shoulder, peering into the corners and wishing you had heavier drapes hanging on your windows.

4 STARS – Would Highly Recommend To Others

I received the ebook from Kathryn Meyer Griffith in return for an honest and unbiased review of Spooky Short Stories. It is my pleasure, Kathryn. I will soon be reading another of your wonderful books. Hmmmm, which one will it be?

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kathryn Meyer Griffith I’ve been writing for over 41 years now…published for 30 of those years since 1984; have EIGHTEEN novels, 2 novellas and 12 short stories to my name…and more coming. Aug. 30, 2012: I (first time ever!) SELF-PUBLISHED MY 16TH NOVEL *DINOSAUR LAKE* TO AMAZON KINDLE DIRECT! January 2013 I SELF-PUBLISHED MY 17TH NOVEL *HUMAN NO LONGER*, my fourth vampire novel. Also in January 2013 I self-published my rereleased murder mystery (originally a 2003 Avalon Books hardcover) SCRAPS OF PAPER-Revised Author’s Edition and FOUR SPOOKY SHORT STORIES, a collection of 4 horror/romantic horror short stories.

I write traditional supernatural horror, SF horror, romantic time-travel, murder mysteries and paranormal romance. I’ve been writing about ghosts, ancient Egyptian spirits, haunted places and evil vampires WAY LONG BEFORE Stephanie Meyer (no relation to me even though my maiden name is Meyer) and the rest of the vampire author crowd, ha, ha. And now ALL 15 of my older Zebra, Leisure paperbacks, Avalon Books murder mysteries and my Wild Rose Press books have been revised, reprinted and rereleased for the first time in many years (and in e-books for the first time ever) from DAMNATION BOOKS www.damnationbooks.com and ETERNAL PRESS www.eternalpress.biz and AMAZON KINDLE DIRECT. Yippie! So look for them.

I’m a wife of almost 35 years (husband, Russell), mother (one son, James) and grandmother (two grandchildren, Caitlyn and Joshua). I was a graphic designer in the corporate world for 23 years; and have published with Dorchester, Kensington, Avalon Books, The Wild Rose Press, Amazon Kindle Direct, Damnation Books and Eternal Press, and Amazon Publishing. Six years ago I crossed over into e-books as well as paperbacks and now ALL my old/new books are in ebooks…and soon to be in AUDIO BOOKS from ACX. I love cats and nature, classic rock and country music (my brother, JS Meyer www.jsmeyermusic.com, is a singer/songwriter and does the songs for all my self-made book trailers that are on my websites). VISIT me at www.myspace.com/kathrynmeyergriffith or www.bebo.com/kathrynmeyerG or www.authorsden.com/kathrynmeyergriffith to see all my book covers and trailers.

My published books: (ALL OF THESE OUT AGAIN…PLEASE LOOK FOR THEM!) Human No Longer (2013),Dinosaur Lake (SF horror), Scraps of paper-Revised Author’s Edition, Evil Stalks the Night (supernatural horror), Leisure 1984; The Heart of the Rose (historical romance) Leisure 1985; Blood Forge (supernatural horror), Leisure 1989; Vampire Blood (romantic supernatural horror), Zebra 1991; The Last Vampire (supernatural horror), Zebra 1992; Witches (romantic horror), Zebra 1993 & Pinnacle 2000; a novella called The Nameless One in Dark Seductions, an erotic horror anthology, Kensington, 1993; The Calling (supernatural horror), Zebra 1994. The Nameless One, a short erotic novella in the 1994 Zebra Anthology Dark Seductions. And Scraps of Paper (hardcover mystery) Avalon Books, 2003; All Things Slip Away, the second mystery in the series came out also from Avalon Books in February 2006 and now both are out again from Amazon and both in ebooks for the first time ever. And my three novels and two short stories from The Wild Rose Press are out again from ETERNAL PRESS: Egyptian Heart(ancient Egyptian time travel romance); Winter’s Journey(a romantic suspense novel); The Ice Bridge, (a contemporary romance e-novel with a dose of murder mystery) and two ghostly short stories, Don’t Look Back, Agnes and In This House. BEFORE THE END: A Time of Demons, an apocalyptic saga from Damnation Books, June 2010. THE WOMAN IN CRIMSON, a vampire eternal love story, is out now from ETERNAL PRESS http://www.eternalpress.biz. The Complete Guide to Writing Paranormal Fiction: Volume 1 (I did the Introduction) 2011 and Telling Tales of Horror 2012(I did the chapter on Putting the Occult into your Fiction)***

Check out website at back of book.

Stalk Kathryn Meyer Griffith. She doesn’t bite – Or does she?

Facebook / Author’s Den

Website / Goodreads / Amazon Author Page / Myspace

These are just a few of the many books published by Kathryn Meyer Griffith. Click on the cover to purchase, or be taken to Amazon for more of her books.

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Related Articles and Reviews of Other Kathryn Meyer Griffith novels.

Teaser Tuesday #5 – Spooky Short Stories by Katherine Meyer Griffith

Review – Dinosaur Lake by Kathryn Meyer Griffith – Creature Dines on Crater Lake

Review – Freakin Friday #13 – Uh Oh – Vampire Blood by Kathryn Meyer Griffith

Review – What’s more dangerous than a lion protecting its young, a vampire protecting hers – Human No Longer by Kathryn Meyer Griffith

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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

Look on the right sidebar at Home and let’s talk.

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Friday 56 #3 – The Ultimate Vampire – I Am Forever by Wynne Channing

Posted on January 17, 2014 by fundinmental

The Friday 56 hosted by Freda’s Voice.

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

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I Am Forever by Wynne Channing

The covers for both books are gorgeous!

It hit, fast and overwhelming, this avalanche of emotion. I lost control. For a fraction of a second, I was afraid of myself.

I squeezed the war master’s arm, the bones crackling like dead twigs.

His skull cracked against the ground like an egg and blood spread beneath us.

(56% on Kindle)

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BLURB

Axelia fought an army of vampires and survived. Once fated as the destroyer of the vampire race, she is now welcomed into the immortal empire and revered as a god.

But instead of relishing her victory, she faces a dangerous new world and an empire at war. Axelia is thrust into the position of supreme vampire and caught in the crossfire of battle. To make matters worse, her role alienates Lucas, the one vampire that she trusts.

Her choices have brutal consequences and her power spawns evil enemies. And they know how to get to her — by hurting those whom she loves most.

Bestselling author Wynne Channing’s highly-anticipated sequel to What Kills Me is another heart-pounding thrill ride filled with stunning twists, tragic betrayal and bloody action.

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To get your copy of I Am Forever, or What Kills Me by Wynne Channing, click on the cover below.

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Cover Reveal for I Am Forever by Wynne Channing

What Kills Me Review – She was a miracle, yet they wanted her dead!

To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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

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Free Book & Review – Where’s Lolly by Stephen Henning

Posted on January 16, 2014 by fundinmental

I love this cover. It speaks to me of adventure and the unknown.

If you are wondering Where’s Lolly, you can get it for FREE on Amazon on January 15, Wednesday, and Thursday, January 16, 2014.

US / UK

BLURB

Where’s Lolly? A Class Heroes Novella. Class Heroes book 3.Lolly Rosewood is 16 years old and she is on the run. She has arrived in London, penniless, alone and – worse still – she has lost her fearsome superpowers.She is being hunted by the police and the Security Service, MI5. She has no friends and very few people who would want to help her.Lolly needs money and a place to lie low, while she formulates a plan to rescue Sir Michael Rosewood, her father, who is being held prisoner by the British Government at a secret location.There is one person who may just agree to help Lolly. An old friend of her father. However, time is running out because the Security Service are hot on her trail…Note For Parents: This book is suitable for readers age 14 +. It contains adult themes. There is some non-gratuitous sexual content.

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My Review of Where’s Lolly by Stephen Henning

I am so happy to see that Stephen Henning has written a book for the villainess. It is unusual that I become so enamored by a “bad guy”, but Lolly has my full attention. I can’t help but feel some empathy for her in this novella. With her background, it is not surprising that she turned out the way she did, but she is a human being. There is a heart, though it seems to be buried pretty deep. Can anyone reach her, make a connection?

She is on the run, with only one person to turn to. But, can he, will he be able to help her?

I was walking through the words, strolling along. Before I knew it, I was racing through the pages, so curious to see the outcome. Images flashed through my mind – Lolly holding the man by the heels, threatening to drop him off the roof – scaling walls and creating fire with her super powers.

I love it! Stephen Henning had my attention from the beginning to the end. Lots of action and emotion in such a few pages. I think this novella will entice you to read further and discover the adventures of the superheroes, James and Sam. Maybe you will even develop some empathy for Lolly, as I did. After all, she is only an unhappy teenager with superpowers. How bad can it be?

5 STARS Would Buy It For Them (lol)

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

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Stalk the author and learn about his super powers

Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Google+ / Facebook / Youtube

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To get your copy of Where’s Lolly, or another Stephen Henning book, click on the cover below.

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My 5 Star Review of A Class Apart by Stephen Henning

My 5 Star Review of What Happened In Witches Wood by Stephen Henning

To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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PNR Blog Tour & Giveaway – Beneath Manhattan Skies by Emma Meade

Posted on January 15, 2014 by fundinmental

BMS-banner4-1 I am very excited to be a part of the tour for Beneath Manhattan Skies by Emma Meade.

Emma has numerous short stories available and the ones I have read are top shelf. She is a fantastic writer, spinning her worlds of fantasy for us to enjoy and get lost in.

Be sure to add Beneath Manhattan Skies to your TBR list and enter the giveaway below..

Beneath Manhattan Skies by Emma Meade

Publication Date: November 15, 2013

Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance

(A 45,000 word Novella)

SUMMARY

November in New York is cold but full of possibility for college freshman Erin Harris. When her twin brother, Nick, shows up on her doorstep for a surprise visit, Erin is delighted. Unfortunately, Nick’s arrival coincides with the discovery of a body outside her apartment building, a body drained of blood. Right away, Nick assumes vampires are involved. He’s not exactly their biggest fan since Erin dated one in high school.

Juggling nosy roommates, a first date with a gorgeous guy from college and a brother on a Van Helsing kick is enough to keep any nineteen year old girl busy – And then Erin’s old flame walks back into her life.

Is Erin destined to be caught up in supernatural shenanigans, or will she choose a different path?

Purchase Links

Amazon / Smashwords

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My review of Beneath Manhattan Skies by Emma Meade

Emma Mead’s books have interesting and pretty covers. Beneath Manhattan Skies is no exception. The words of the story flow smoothly across the pages, making Erin’s world believable, if you believe in vampires, that is. So, let’s go into the city and see what is happening.

Looking through Erin’s eyes, we see the world as a teenager, going through the angst of roommates and forbidden love during her college years. But, how many people can say they were jilted by a vampire? And what happens when he shows up again?

I knew James, her vampire ex-boyfriend, would enter her world again, even as she struggled to move on from their break-up. Do you remember all those hormonal teenage uncertainties and insecurities?

Emma Meade’s descriptions of the characters make them come to life. Sadie is everything you could ever want in a best friend. Loyal, giving and accepting of Erin, vampires and all. The cast of characters stand by her and put their lives on the line to solve the mystery of the killer vampire and end his run of terror.

With plenty of mystery and the paranormal, I enjoyed this novella. I would highly recommend Beneath Manhattan Skies to all the Young Adult paranormal lovers out there.

4 STARS – Would Highly Recommend To Others

I received this book from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review. Thank you Emma and I look forward to traveling through many more fantasy worlds with you.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Emma Meade writes paranormal fiction. She lives in rainy Ireland and loves all things supernatural. Stephen King’s The Stand is one of her most loved books and she’s lost count of the number of times she’s read L.J. Smith’s trilogy, The Forbidden Game.

Books, DVDS & TV show boxsets take up lots of space in her home and she collects all the Point Horror books she can get her hands on.

She is not ashamed to admit that Dirty Dancing and Twilight make her top ten movie list but wishes to point out that The Last of the Mohicans, Reality Bites, Dead Poets Society, Stand by Me and The Goonies are in there too.

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

Social Media Links:

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

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To grab you copy of Beneath Manhattan Skies, or another Emma Meade story, click on the cover below.

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