Back in the “bad ol days” when I had a “day job” I had the misfortune pleasure of working with a nymphomaniac. Now, I am by no means one to judge (*cough*) but her lifestyle was…well, lets just say it left very little to the imagination. While normal (or at least “normal” by HR’s standards) office mates talk about their children or whatever new dive bomb trend diet they are currently on,  Madame X (which is what we are going to call her because she’s the type of person who would set my house on fire for this) used to talk about her trials (aka hook-ups) in online dating.

At first, (I have to be honest) I was pretty shocked. It’s not everyday that you are told (in great detail) about the “guy with the iguana on his profile” (iguana is code… I’ll  let you figure that one out) and how after a long night of bar* hopping (bed*) she snuck into Captain Underpants’ bathroom and dunked his toothbrush into the toilet a few times (because he lied about his height…duh) But the longer I was forced allowed to “bunk” with her, the more entertained I found myself, and eventually I became utterly enthralled by the crazy unique world of online dating.

So, (I have a point.. I’m not just rambling. Ok…I’m rambling a little) when Lisa Becker shot me an email and asked me to take a peek at her novel “Click: An Online Love Story” I just couldn’t refuse. (We’ll just call it a stay a home moms grievous attempt at entertainment.)

“Fast approaching her 30th birthday and finding herself not married, not dating, and without even a prospect or a house full of cats, Renee Greene, the heroine of Click: An Online Love Story, reluctantly joins her best guy pal on a journey to find love online in Los Angeles. The story unfolds through a series of emails between Renee and her best friends (anal-compulsive Mark, the overly-judgmental Ashley and the over-sexed Shelley) as well as the gentlemen suitors she meets online. From the guy who starts every story with “My buddies and I were out drinking one night,” to the egotistical “B” celebrity looking for someone to stroke his ego, Renee endures her share of hilarious and heinous cyber dates. Fraught with BCC’s, FWD’s and inadvertent Reply to All’s, readers will root for Renee to “click” with the right man.”

Now there are some brilliant things about this book and there are some disastrous things.  And since I like to go straight for the jugular (wow, that sounds harsh) I’ve decided to talk about the bad first.

In theory… a book written entirely in email format is fascinating, interesting and NEW! In reality, it’s a tad confusing.  While the book as a whole (plot wise) isn’t difficult to grasp, (think beach read easy) the layout and speed in which it was written was. Confusing.

There are 4 main characters in this book. Renee, Mark, Shelley and Ashley (this is important…so pay attention.) And the book revolves entirely around these 4 characters.  But instead of character development in the “traditional” sense… (monologues, back history, internal dialogue) we learn about these (slightly neurotic) people through a series of fast paced (sometimes obtuse) emails.

For example:

From: Renee Greene  – February 24, 2011 – 11:52 AM

To: Shelley Manning

Subject: Re: Fwd: Looking for Love?

You don’t think that’s rude?  You know how I hate to be rude.  And remember what nonsense ensued the last time I ignored an email?

From: Shelley Manning  – February 24, 2011  -  11:54 AM

To Renee Greene

Subject:  Re: Fwd: Looking for Love?

Yes, Miss Manners.  I know how you are.  And yes, I remember the psycho.  But seriously, in this case, I think it’s much nicer to ignore it than tell him he’s a 35-year-old freak of nature.

After a while there are so many Re:’s Fwd:’s and CC:’s that if you’re not paying very close attention you’ll get lost. Especially when a brand new email pops up and makes reference to something that was never even mentioned in a previous email, (like say…they talked about it at lunch, but we weren’t privy to it because…they didn’t eat lunch over the internet.)

Becker’s choice to write in this format also limited the readers ability to connect (emotionally) to any of the characters, most importantly  Renee…who is supposed to be the “lead” and in search of love.  Without the “guts” (the filler that takes up about 50% of most novels) the entire novel read more as water cooler fodder than an actual book.

Now, all of that being said,  there are some diamond in the rough moments that I couldn’t help but love.  The most noteworthy being Shelley and her need to name her sexual conquest.

“Thankfully, it was an attractive, musky, manly scent that protruded from his highly-active pores.  From now on, he will be know as Fire Hose.”

It was these glimmery moments of humor that I was hoping for when I decided to read this book to begin with.

Also, after 2 very intense books in a row (“The Storyteller” and “Smoke Screen”) it was kind of nice just to kick back and not think so hard. There was a story, it was predictable, kitchy and read a lot like an episode of “Sex in the City” but still, it was fun.

So what is my final conclusion, (since I was kind of all of over the place in this review) It was cute.  Not great, and by no means the “next great American novel” but sometimes it is what it is. FLUFF.

If you aren’t one for deep meaningful reads and just feel like taking a load off, this one might be a good choice for you.  Everyone else… I choose the “meh” button.

Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: Peer pressure is evil, and so am I.

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***~~ (3/5)

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Once upon a time there lived a girl, in a tiny town, with nothing to do. So to pass the time she read.  She read, and she read, and she read…so much, in fact, that one day she threw down her book and declared that she had “finally read it all!”

“That can’t possibly be true,” her closest friend said. “There are so many books, and so little time, there is no way you have read it all.”

“Oh, but I have!” the girl proclaimed, “and I’ll prove it!”

“How?” asked her friend. “How will you manage such an un-accomplishable feat… proving that you have read it all?”

“Easy,” said the girl, twisting in her chair to face her friend. “Hand me my Kindle…I promise, that within the first 15 pages of whichever book you choose, I can tell you exactly what will happen.”

“Deal” said her friend, a smirk forming where a smile should have been. She took the girl’s Kindle and flipped vigorously through the titles, and then she saw it, the down turned face of a beautiful girl bathed in purple light.  This was the book that would change the girl’s mind.  She just knew it.  So she handed the girl back her Kindle and left the room. Five hours later she returned to find her friend clutching the Kindle to her chest. Her breathing quickened and her eyes wide.

“You are right.” said the girl…”I have NOT read it all, for this book I hold in my hands is new,  it is exciting, and it makes want for more.”  She then handed the Kindle to her friend and insisted that she read along.

“Welcome to the magical world of Intangible” the girl said, “It’s unlike anything you have ever read.”

“Twins Sera and Luke Raine have a well-kept secret—she heals with a touch of her hand, he sees the future. All their lives they’ve helped those in need on the sly. They’ve always thought of their abilities as being a gift.

Then Luke has a vision that Sera is killed. That gift they’ve always cherished begins to feel an awful lot like a curse. Because the thing about Luke’s ability? He’s always right. And he can’t do anything about it.”

Well, now that I have lulled you to sleep, with tales of pathetic ‘ol me, how about we talk about the book?

I used to expect the unexpected, I thrived on it actually, (like some girls thrive on chocolate) but about a year ago…the unexpected became much harder to achieve, especially in a genre like “paranormal.”  I know I have said this roughly 2 million times, so 1 more time shouldn’t hurt, but this is a very tough genre to make your mark in these days.  Unless you have an original plot and very strong characters you can pretty much count yourself out.  It’s a been there done that world.  So when I run across a book like “Intangible” by J. Meyers my toes get a little tingly and I feel this overwhelming need to share my feelings with the world. Why? Because books like these are the exception, not the rule.

Obviously…by this point you know that I enjoyed the book.  But what you don’t know, is why.

Now, I could go on for days about it’s exciting plot or action packed paranormal filled paradoxes but I won’t.  Because though all of those things are good, (or great, if I’m being honest) and they ultimately kept my fingers on hyper-drive, they were not what sucked me in, instead it was the characters that had me up until midnight reading.

For a debut author Meyers is amazingly talented at character development.  “Intangible” which in my head will forever be referred to as “Entangled” boasted approximately 700 types of paranormals (ok, I’m exaggerating, it’s more like 7) and (much to my surprise and delight) they each had their own voice, from the cranky to the overly cautious, and even though their dialogues were chopped up into many different perspectives, (think Christmas dinner with your 12 ADD 9 year old cousins) their depth was never lost.  As a matter of fact… their actions, (in the more “epic” of moments) only added fuel to their perfectly molded personalities, making this book a paranormal force to be reckoned with.

So what does this mean for you? Well, in short it means to cough up the $4.99 for the book. But if you are in need of something more specific I’ll go on record as saying this is one rock star start to a very promising series!

Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: lonely-ville is a very tough place to reside, everyone needs someone…so pay very close attention to how you treat those around you.

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****½ (4.5/5)

Want to learn a little about Sera and Luke before you read “Intangible?” No problem… J. Meyers is offering up her short story “Intuition” for free.  Get to know the siblings before their futures get a little twisted.

Intuition: A Bonus Intangible Short Story

Luke and his twin sister Sera have unusual abilities. Hers is a gift—she can heal with a touch of her hand. His is a curse—he can see the future but he can’t do anything about it.

On a hike up the mountain, Luke has a vision unlike any other—one that leaves him terrified. Knowing that it will come true—and that he must do everything in his power to stop it—leaves his own future uncertain.

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“The pleasure we feel in criticizing robs us from being moved by very beautiful things.”

He is right.

As a reviewer I sometime feel it is my duty to look past what is good in a book;  to point out it’s flaws;  to shine a light on the things that may irritate you or turn you away from a novel rather than pull you in. And… on any other day, with any other book…this might still be the case.  But every once in a while, when the air is thick, and the book in your hands makes it difficult to breathe, the flaws are no longer important.

Sometimes words aren’t enough, because how do you tell someone that a book broke your heart?  That a piece of your soul was lost today, trapped between hundreds on sheets of paper, and put on a shelf to turn to dust.  You can’t.  You can only talk of its beauty and leave the criticizing behind.

“Anna and Abel couldn’t be more different. They are both seventeen and in their last year of school, but while Anna lives in a nice old town house and comes from a well-to-do family, Abel, the school drug dealer, lives in a big, prison like tower block at the edge of town. Anna is afraid of him until she realizes that he is caring for his six-year-old sister on his own. Fascinated, Anna follows the two and listens as Abel tells little Micha the story of a tiny queen assailed by dark forces. It’s a beautiful fairy tale that Anna comes to see has a basis in reality. Abel is in real danger of losing Micha to their abusive father and to his own inability to make ends meet. Anna gradually falls in love with Abel, but when his “enemies” begin to turn up dead, she fears she has fallen for a murderer. Has she?”

“The Storyteller” by Antonia Michaelis is unlike anything you have ever read.  It is not particularly happy, (German literature rarely is) it reeks of desperation, and it reads more like a journey than the mystery it’s touted to be.  But it’s short comings and questionable moral standings do not hinder this story like they would for so many others, instead…they are what makes it brilliant.

Imagine if you will, loving someone so much…that it is physically impossible for you to utter the words that would change your life.  That you’ve known nothing but hate, betrayal, and sacrifice for so long, that a piece of you…the “best piece” is irrevocably damaged.  Imagine, that the only way to express your true feelings is through made up words.  A fary-tale, told to a 6-year old girl who, against all odds believes in the magic of hope.

This is the what “The Storyteller” is all about.  A boy made of glass.  A girl who tries to shine it, and a little queen who despite the cold, has zero problem seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

But…what makes it so special?  The writing.  Instead of READING the story, we are TOLD the story…as if we are children, snuggled in our beds, drifting along with the cadence of our loved one’s voice.

Listen:

“The island,” Able said, “is made of nothing but rocks.  Or should I say, it was?  The island was made of nothing but rocks.  It was the tiniest island anyone can imagine, and it lay far, far out at sea.  On the island, there lived a single person, a very small person – and because her favorite place was the cliffs, the very top of the cliffs, where she could look out over the sea – because of that, they called her the cliff queen.”

There is a primary plot…I assure you, it’s what brought me to my knees, but they heart of the book is in the fairy-tale Able creates, weaving his sorrows and his fears into the actions of a few rogue characters.

“The Lighthouse keeper helped the rose girl aboard.  The little queen helped Mrs. Margaret, who was a little vain and had donned a rose petal for a hat.  But all of a sudden, the silver-gray dog was standing on the pier barking.  He jumped over the green railing of the ship, bared his teeth, and ripped the branches from the rose girl’s arm, and the roses covering that arm withered instantly.  ‘What are you doing?’ the little girl shouted angrily. ‘She has just saved me!’”

It’s not necessary for Michaelis’ characters to say they are sorry out loud, because they actively live it in their heads, and that my friends is what literature is all about.

So if you have never FELT a book, been moved to tears or wondered why you adore someone who, by any other standard you should hate, read this book.  It is sure to leave a mark, even if it’s one of disgust.

Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember:

“These are scars of pity.  I had to do something afterward.  Something I’d feel…maybe not even out of pity but more for me, so I’d know I still exist in spite of everything…ridiculous, isn’t it?”

***** (5/5)

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Note: Though this is said to be YA, I strongly discourage anyone under the age of 18 from reading it.  It is brillant, but it is harsh.  Be young as long as you can.

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Sunday Funday – Book Trailers

Hypothermia by Arnaldur Indridason

Inspector Erlunder has spent his entire career struggling to evade the ghosts of his past.  But ghosts are visiting him, both in the form of a séance attended by a dead woman and also in the reemerging puzzle of two young people who went missing 30 years ago. And there’s the ghost of the detective’s disastrous marriage, which, despite the pleas of his drug-addled daughter, he is unwilling to confront. In addition, he’s still obsessed with the disappearance of his brother, who vanished without a trace when they were boys.

He can only run from his ghosts for so long, and, when they finally catch up with him, Erlunder is forced to face the heart shattering truth of his past.

One of the most haunting crime novels readers are likely to encounter this year or any other, this is classic story that belongs on the shelf of every serious reader of suspense fiction. Hypothermia will chill you to the bone.

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Catch Me by Lisa Gardner

In four days, someone is going to kill me . . .

Detective D. D. Warren is hard to surprise. But a lone woman outside D.D.’s latest crime scene shocks her with a remarkable proposition: Charlene Rosalind Carter Grant believes she will be murdered in four days. And she wants Boston’s top detective to handle the death investigation.

It will be up close and personal. No evidence of forced entry, no sign of struggle.
Charlie tells a chilling story: Each year at 8:00 p.m. on January 21st, a woman has died. The victims have been childhood best friends from a small town in New Hampshire; the motive remains unknown. Now only one friend, Charlie, remains to count down her final hours.

But as D.D. quickly learns, Charlie Grant doesn’t plan on going down without a fight. By her own admission, the girl can outshoot, outfight, and outrun anyone in Boston. Which begs the question, is Charlie the next victim, or the perfect perpetrator? As D.D. tracks a vigilante gunman who is killing pedophiles in Boston, she must also delve into the murders of Charlie’s friends, racing to find answers before the next gruesome January 21 anniversary. Is Charlie truly in danger, or is she hiding a secret that may turn out to be the biggest threat of all?

In four days, someone is going to kill me. But the son of a bitch has gotta catch me first.

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The Storyteller by Antonia Michaelis

**I just (like 10 minutes ago) finished this book and it is freaking FANTASTIC!**

Anna and Abel couldn’t be more different. They are both seventeen and in their last year of school, but while Anna lives in a nice old town house and comes from a well-to-do family, Abel, the school drug dealer, lives in a big, prisonlike tower block at the edge of town. Anna is afraid of him until she realizes that he is caring for his six-year-old sister on his own. Fascinated, Anna follows the two and listens as Abel tells little Micha the story of a tiny queen assailed by dark forces. It’s a beautiful fairy tale that Anna comes to see has a basis in reality. Abel is in real danger of losing Micha to their abusive father and to his own inability to make ends meet. Anna gradually falls in love with Abel, but when his “enemies” begin to turn up dead, she fears she has fallen for a murderer. Has she?

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**Prices are subject to change @ any time, make sure to double check before you click buy**

Beth Chandler, bright, attractive but unassertive, is accidentally replicated in a flawed experiment at the government research institute where she works. A second Beth comes into being, complete with all her memories. To Sir Peter Ellis, MI5 chief, the replica is an embarrassment that must be hushed up and disposed of. Overhearing him, Beth Two goes on the run. With no official existence, homeless, penniless and pursued by Sir Peter’s agents, she has to find the inner strength and aggression to survive on icy London streets.

Meanwhile the original Beth, unaware of what has happened, becomes romantically involved with Nick Cavanagh, the spec op she believes is there to protect her. In fact, he’s hunting her double. Nick refuses to face his moral doubts about Beth Two – as far as he’s concerned, it’s not his problem. As events unfold, and the situation grows more complicated, he has to decide whose side he is on.

“Be mine for a year and a day and I will possess your heart forevermore!”

Driven from her late husband’s estate, Countess Eglantine de Crevy fled to wildest Scotland to claim a castle, only to find a ruin – and a clan chieftain standing guard. Kinbeath was hers, she declared, vowing to rebuild the manor and launch a bride quest so her daughters could marry for love. But Duncan MacLaren devised a bride quest of his own, swearing to win the land – and the fiery countess – in a war of sweet seduction…

Eglantine declared she would never be capture by this barbarian. Yet Duncan awakened passions she had never known before. She promised to fight him with every weapon at her command even as he vowed to woo her for a year and a day – and make her his pagan bride. Each thought Kinbeath the prize they most desired, a prize to be won at any price. Until passion turned to love, and the chieftain found himself fighting for the heart and hand of the woman he was born to possess.

Allie Quick has high aspirations – much higher than reporting on the latest celebrity gossip for the L.A. Informer, Hollywood’s most notorious tabloid. But if she’s going to join the ranks of the real reporters, she’s going to need a headline worthy story under her belt. Which is just what she gets when the producer of the trashiest reality shows on TV winds up murdered, and Allie convinces her editor, Felix Dunn, that this story has her name written all over it. Between an aging dance-off judge, a family with sextuplets and triplets, and the star of a little person dating show, Allie has no shortage of reality stars to question. But when she finds herself falling for her prime suspect, Allie’s relationship with her editor is suddenly on the rocks, and her life is in danger. This is one deadline Allie can’t afford to miss!

It’s 1957, and novelist Hec Lassiter—who followed Black Jack Pershing into Mexico to hunt Pancho Villa, befriended Hemingway, worked with Dashiell Hammett, bedded Marlene Dietrich, and helped Orson Welles script his films—is feeling his age. But when an old pal sets Villa’s head on the table of a cantina in the Mexican desert, Hec is up for another adventure: delivering the head to Senator Prescott Bush (father of 41, grandfather of 43) so that it can be used in secret ceremonies at Yale’s Skull and Bones Society. What follows is an exuberantly over-the-top romp conflating real events with legends and filled with murderous federales, murderous old Villistas, additional decapitations, mercenaries, unhinged Yale frat boys, CIA spooks (also Yalies), and enough gratuitous violence to fill several Steven Seagal films. There’s even a cameo from a callow, foul-mouthed Skull and Bones initiate named “George W.” Much of Head Games reads like a picaresque adventure, but McDonald’s portraits of Welles, Dietrich, and Pancho Villa are beguiling and seem knowing. This one is simply great fun! Gaughan, Thomas

For Birdie Jaworski, life as an Avon Lady was a bittersweet mix of embarking on gossip-worthy adventures, searching for Mr. Right, and making emergency lotion requests in the middle of the night… while managing as a single parent. This collection of short stories including “Mullet Madness,” “Fat Ass Evidence,” and “Wherein I Test a Product on an Animal” captures Jaworski’s complicated relationship with the cosmetics giant (and her customers) and reveals a surprising and touching account of her personal life.

India Butler, single and about to turn forty, travels to LA in an attempt to reinvent her life. In a world rarely illuminated by the flashbulbs of the paparazzi, she discovers the true meaning of “having it all.”

Two individuals clandestinely infiltrate the electronic trading platform of the New York Stock Exchange, steal sixteen million dollars in a fraction of a second, but incite a cascade of events leading to what Wall Street referred to as the “flash crash”.

Discovering the truth behind a massive government cover-up and a top secret assassination, C.I.A. covert operative Abby Churchland and Special Agent Lance Brooks become targets of the very government they serve.

It is a story of two courageous individuals who dare to match wits and plot revenge against the most powerful government on earth. Their resolve will be tested and their lives changed forever and in the process one of them will finally discover what they have spent their entire life searching for.

Led by the Catalyst of the Sixth Extinction and the only man immune to the metal contagion within her, a shattered humanity takes to the stars in a jihad against an alien race. The sequel to Enemy, An End transports the reader to another universe ravaged by the machine species known as silver.

The Yellowstone Caldera has erupted once every 600,000 years. We’re 40,000 years overdue.

A LAND OF ASH

Lava flows stretch for hundreds of miles. A cloud of ash billows east, burying the Midwest, destroying crops, and falling upon the Atlantic Coast like a warm, dead snow. The remnants of the United States flees south as the global temperatures plummet.

Amid this total devastation are stories of families, friends, sons and fathers and wives: the survivors. Within are eleven stories focusing on the human element of such a catastrophe, from an elderly couple gathering to await their death to a father sealing his shelter in hopes of keeping the air breathable for his daughter.

When Nicholas Peacock is cheated from his inheritance of Peacock Hall in Kent, he sails to South Carolina. He buys land, clears it, and plants cotton. Eventually he builds a magnificent house known as Paradise Plantation. He falls in love with the daughter of Bernard Jackson on the neighboring plantation, but when Civil War threatens circumstances force him to agree to a marriage in name only. The sexual tension is stretched to breaking point as the would-be lovers are torn between honor or surrendering to the love and longing in their hearts.

It may be Christmas in New York, but for ex-soldier turned élite bodyguard Ryan Lock it’s business as usual: his mission is to protect one of America’s most ruthless businessmen. Suddenly gunshots ring out. People run for cover. Innocent people are mown down. Amid the chaos, Lock’s hunt for the killers turns into an explosive game of cat and mouse. Lock’s search for the truth takes him from the rooftops of a New York skyscraper to a heavily fortified warehouse on the Hudson where he confronts one of the world’s most dangerous women.

As the clock ticks towards midnight on New Year’s Eve, all routes into and out of Manhattan are sealed, and Lock realises that not only is his own life in terrible danger but so are the lives of millions of others.

Maude Barrow smokes too much, drinks Wild Turkey, and desperately needs a job. When she sees a classified ad for a nanny in the wealthy Munford home, she fakes her resume and references, lies her way into the position, and seems to have it made. . . until they ask her to sign a contract with a mysterious, ominous clause.

A GOOD NANNY is a 4,000 word short story.

The Kingdom of Sieunes is rife with taverns, dirty streets, and clay pipe smoking citizens all toiling to feed their families and keep themselves in something little better than rags. With a foiled revolution just ten years prior still burning in the hearts of many, the royals enlist the aid of assassins to keep things in order.

The townsfolk entertain themselves by dreaming of better times to come and regaling in stories of the undead said to walk the graveyards at night… and of Cameo the killer with corpse-like eyes… Scarred and jaded Cameo is one of the most effective assassins in the employ of the Association, moving from one mission to the next as long as the alcohol keeps flowing.

Her acceptance of the murder-for-hire lifestyle is thrown into doubt when she meets a local highwayman with a penchant for fine clothes and women, and then she begins to think about breaking with the company but no one ever breaks with the Association under good terms.

***Read Review HERE***

These eight tales run the gamut from small-town horror to old-school, whiskey-slugging noir, with a touch of coming-of-age adventure thrown in for good measure. We’re talking over a hundred print pages of pure pulp perfection that’ll cost you less than the paper it ain’t printed on.

NO WAY OUT–so says the note in the pocket of the murdered mayor.

The volcano beneath her town is seething, and the fate of Mammoth Lakes now rests in the hands of emergency planner Adrian Krom.

But Krom has his own agenda.

Investigating the case, forensic geologist Cassie Oldfield tracks mineral clues to discover how the mayor died–and what she found. As the volcano moves toward red alert, Cassie races to prevent ‘no way out’ from becoming a prophecy.

Nicolas de Montferraud, Chevalier and Vicomte d’Argentolle was born into a world in turmoil. Shunned by the court because of his father’s scandalous marriage, he is determined to restore the greatness and honor of his family’s proud name. Sérolène, Vicomtesse de La Bouhaire is beautiful, headstrong, willful, irresistible. She is the spark of passion that ignites the torch of Nicolas’ destiny. Defying age-old customs, they pledge themselves irrevocably to each other. All that stands in their way is family opposition, blood vendettas, a secret brotherhood of assassins, English frigates, a murderous psychopath and a disapproving King and court. Can their love survive these challenges? Can they?

Vice President Catherine Young has just been named the Democratic nominee for president. The polls show Catherine pulling ahead in the race against GOP candidate Jerusha Hutchins, with her large blonde hair and eight children, who is the darling of the far-right Liberty Party. With political wunderkind Zane Zarillo running her campaign, Catherine is sure to hold the lead.

Suddenly a medical emergency puts the President in the hospital and forces Catherine to become acting President… a good position for a candidate to be in. But when someone uncovers her long-ago love affair with a married man−and the pregnancy that followed−the Vice President finds herself being blackmailed. Could the American public accept a woman with a sexual past?

When Chloe Hawthorne is asked to chaperone her cousin during the London Season, it is with a heavy heart that she departs her home and family in Essex.Though she has been widowed for more than a year, she has yet to move on, and is loathe to do so. But when she meets her cousin’s fiancee, Lord Andrew Wetherby, she must choose between honoring her cousin’s impending marriage and following her heart.

Andrew Wetherby has chosen the perfect bride. She is well bred and beautiful – what more could the second son of a marquess ask for? However, when Lady Elizabeth’s new chaperone arrives on the scene, he knows he’s made a mistake of monumental proportions. The young widow with the russet curls captures his undivided attention, but as a gentleman, there is little he can do about it…or is there?

As the host of a popular TV show, Tara Lewis has learned to control every aspect of her life. But all that changes when she goes to Scotland to get married and encounters a time-traveling knight intent upon stopping her wedding.

Tara is not accustomed to roadblocks. Or to idealistic Knight Templars. Or to terrifying events like the ones set in motion when her car veers off a lonely road in Scotland.

As Tara’s wedding day approaches, she realizes not just her career is in jeopardy, but her life and her heart as well. She must find a way to stop running—from her past, the evil that threatens her, but most of all—from the forbidden love of a spellbound knight.

Enter a world of fierce wolves, stunning magic and romance…

It’s bad enough feeling different among the human crowd, but feeling different among wolves?

No one said returning to her pack would be easy, especially after ten years without them, but seventeen year old Caia Ribeiro is unprepared for the realities of the transition. Raised in a world where kids aren’t scared by bedtime tales of the bogeyman but by the real life threat of enemy supernaturals who might come creeping into their community to kill them in their sleep, Caia is used to the darkness; she’s used to the mystery and the intrigue of the ancient underworld war she’s bound to by chance of birth. What she’s having trouble with are pack members treating her with wary suspicion, the Elders tucking secrets behind their backs, and her young Alpha, Lucien, distracting her with a dangerous attraction from her decision to uncover the truth.

But as the saying goes ‘the truth will out’ and when it does, Caia will only have so long to prepare herself before the war comes pounding on their door threatening to destroy the safe, secret lives of the wolves… and the girl they protect.

Curbchek is the story of a damaged cop, Zach Fortier. Fortier worked in the police department for the city where he grew up. One foot in the world of the cops, courts and legal system. The other in the world of gangs, drugs, thugs and street violence. Where the laws and rules are made by the strongest, the schemers and most brutal. Read about the transformation of Fortier from a green rookie to a damaged paranoid veteran seeing danger in every situation. Follow along as he walks this tight rope. Trying to make difference, breaking the laws he promised to enforce. This is a story of law and order uncensored.

Sold into slavery to pirates, Summer learns to survive the rough seas of subterfuge and thieves through silence. When the boat she’s lived on most of her life is destroyed, Summer is washed up on the shore of a new world, a phantom universe full of the bizarre and extraordinary. When death looms, will Summer finally call out? Or will all be lost in the fathomless depth of silence?

When criminal defense attorney Maeven Dayne decides not to walk away from her job to defend a teenage girl with no family and no money, she not only finds herself fighting a corrupt juvenile justice system, but she winds up in the middle of a murder plot forced to choose between saving her client or her family.

When Martie Fleming breezed into Pontotoc, Mississippi, determined to settle down, she never expected to land next door to the minister. She never expected her golden retriever to steal his shorts right off the clothes line. And she certainly never expected to fall in love. Everybody in town would agree they are so wrong for each other – everybody but Paul Donovan.

Kiera Rowan has led a quiet life, as one of the immortal SpellKeepers. Her life is dedicated to the preservation of magical knowledge until the day one unspeakable act of violence rips her world apart. With her sister murdered by a savage rogue wolf and one of the Books of Power missing, Keira must cross a frozen landscape in a desperate bid to bring her sister’s killer to justice.

Haunted by his past, Bastian Mallek has abandoned his pack in the desperate pursuit of the wolf that murdered his mate. Broken and alone, his life threatens to spin dangerously out of control, until the day when the hauntingly beautiful witch offers him the key to his own salvation-the destruction of the murderous rogue but first he must regain control of his own dark impulses and put aside his growing hunger for Kiera.

A red-eyed assassin, an unready princess, a sadistic politician, and an adulterous queen all desire the secret behind a magical dust known as safra. Safra is said to bring happiness, but these characters’ desperate attempts to obtain it will cost them all dearly. Their salacious and violent deeds bring three great nations to the brink of warfare. And little do they know, their scrambling efforts are being carefully watched by a much greater power: the gods behind the beguiling drug that ensnares them all.

The View from Here focuses on the beauties and hardships of marriage; the betrayals and promises made between husbands and wives; and the grief of one woman haunted by secrets.

Nicole Baxter has always tried to control every element of her life, but that control is slipping away. She has issues. Abandonment issues. Marital issues. Conception issues. And she thinks her house in the hills is haunted. It doesn’t help that her husband Truman spleunks and climbs, making her worry more with each adventure he takes. As the two grow apart, Nicole makes decisions that may ultimately shatter her fragile marriage.

Her life changes on the afternoon she receives a phone call from the harbor. During a scuba dive, Truman disappears. No one — not his diving instructor, not the Coast Guard — can find him. Is he still alive? Or is grief making her believe the impossible?

Lou Drake was once the pride of the NYPD detectives until the high profile Hennings murder case went terribly wrong, nearly ending his career. Ten years later, fifty pounds heavier and three months from retirement, Drake works patrol in the backwater borough of Malcolm New York. He spends his idle time reading crime novels and writing one of his own. When Drake breaks protocol on another brutal murder scene, endangering his rookie partner, his captain demotes him to the booking cage. But when another body is discovered and both victims are identified as struggling literary agents, the NYPD Chief of Detectives decides Lou’s writing experience could benefit the case and pairs him with his old partner one last time. As they look for clues in the struggling publishing industry, Drake finds himself thrust into the middle of a serial murder case where a methodical perpetrator is systematically killing those who rejected him. Drake must revive his old detective prowess and trust his writer’s intuition to try and solve the case, while possibly exposing the truth about the old Hennings investigation – a secret that would expose a web of corruption that could shake the NYPD to its core.

Thirty-something teacher and professional shopper Grace has a passion for shoes. In fact they were responsible for her meeting her partner, Mark, when she speared his foot with one of her dangerously sharp heels whilst running for a train.

Mark is the other passion in her life, or so she thinks…. When he suggests they try for a baby – but is reluctant to tie the knot on their very long-term engagement – the cracks in her champagne lifestyle start to appear. As Mark becomes ever more controlling, Grace begins to see her blond and sexy boss, Tom, in a different light. A conventionally one-man woman who doesn’t ‘do’ affairs, she suddenly finds herself in the midst of the sort of tangled lifestyle she has only read about in the celeb pages. Throw in the added complications of an untimely pregnancy, a case of mistaken identity and some pretty zany friends and Grace’s life is thrown into turmoil. Retail therapy and even the comfort of her vast shoe collection can’t help her out of this dilemma…..

Love. Betrayal. Revenge.

When Kane Rider’s partner is murdered, he has no time to grieve. He is quickly thrust into a world of secrets and lies, pursued by criminals for something he knows nothing about.

He thought he had the perfect life, but all that changes the night Ryan Cassidy is stabbed to death. As Ryan’s secrets slowly come to light, Kane must challenge what he thought to be the truth with what he knows could kill him.

With nowhere to hide, and no one to turn to, he has only one choice – survive or die.

From the author of ‘The Camel Trail’ comes a taut thriller that will keep you page-turning far into the night.

Master thief Michael Dane lands in jail after being snared by the FBI. During his stint he learns his deaf father has died, and he is the sole inheritor of land worth millions outside Boulder, Colorado.

Released on bail, he returns to the home he swore he’d never go back to. Michael Dane soon discovers his father’s death was no accident and finds he now has two choices: dig through the broken pieces of an abusive past to solve his father’s murder or become a fugitive.

CONTAINS A FREE PREVIEW OF SONS OF SILENCE – TO BE RELEASED
SPRING 2012. #2 IN THE MICHAEL DANE SERIES.

What would you do?

Would you..

A: Curl up into the fetal position and pretend it’s all just a bad dream?

B: Blame your eventual demise on the government? or

C: Do something about it?

The answer for Kira, the lead character in “Partials” by Dan Wells is C.  Do something about it.

“The human race is all but extinct after a war with Partials—engineered organic beings identical to humans—has decimated the population. Reduced to only tens of thousands by RM, a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island while the Partials have mysteriously retreated. The threat of the Partials is still imminent, but, worse, no baby has been born immune to RM in more than a decade. Our time is running out.

“Kira, a sixteen-year-old medic-in-training, is on the front lines of this battle, seeing RM ravage the community while mandatory pregnancy laws have pushed what’s left of humanity to the brink of civil war, and she’s not content to stand by and watch. But as she makes a desperate decision to save the last of her race, she will find that the survival of humans and Partials alike rests in her attempts to uncover the connections between them—connections that humanity has forgotten, or perhaps never even knew were there.”

Now, in order to appreciate this book you must first understand a few things.  #1 it is a dystopian novel, but unlike the relatively fluffy ones that we enjoy (you know…the ones weighted down by forbidden love and teenage angst in a world gone mad) Partials is a “hard-core” dystopian.

What’s the difference?

Well… for starters, the plot is NOT about finding that special someone in the middle of the night whose duty is to hold your hand and tell you everything is ok; it’s about survival at it’s most basic of levels.  While there is technology, it is either your enemy, or you can’t use it for lack of power.  There is a government, but their moral compasses are…questionable, and though the world is wide enough to afford you freedom, you are not allowed freedom.

I’m not insinuating that there aren’t character connections, because there are, (in the most unlikely of places in fact) but they are vastly different from the books that are currently out there, which…is actually rather refreshing if you ask me.

The 2nd, and probably the most important factor to under before you dive into this 480 page adventure is that it is VERY detailed.  Now, while this doesn’t bother me, (I’m used to forensic anthropology novels that spend 80 pages establishing the live cycle of a maggot) it may drive some of you crazy.  Why? because it is science related.  Think of it as reading the manual to your microwave over and over and over.  Some of you might actually find it beneficial to skim (*gasp* yes… I said skim) these parts in order to reconnect with the plot.  Me? I’m not a skimmer, but I can see where several people might be tempted to put down the book and walk away when Wells starts to go on his robot rants if they don’t.

So, what did I think overall?

Well, despite the occasional meandering into clever-clever land, I actually really enjoyed it.  It was original, well thought out and had several sub-plots that helped establish the conditions of their post-war/virus lives.  While it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, it is definitely a winner for those of you that enjoy the battle of life, and as an added bonus…the ending was spot on, all the way down to it’s book #2 setup.

Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: it’s not about HOW far you will go, but WHY you are willing to.

***½~ (3.5/5)

Book Trailer

Click images to see them in all of their glory!

Cover Lust

“Knockers is about a young woman, Molly, who, through a surgical error receives unwanted breast implants. Furious, she schedules surgery to have them removed, only to find out that the implants begin talking to her. The implants, Max and Louise, give her great advice about her burgeoning love life although they rarely agree and are both highly opinionated and belligerent.  Through Max and Louise, Molly learns to trust her own instincts and falls for the most unlikely of men. “

That’s right ladies and gentleman….Talking Boobs!!! Now, before you get all high and mighty on me and think I’ve completly lost my marbles for loving this book, let me explain to you why it was so freaking brilliant that I stayed up until 3am reading (and pointing and laughing) at it.

Who here has seen the movie “What’s Your Number?” (which is actually based on the book “20 Times a Lady” by Karyn Boznak…just FYI) If you have, you know the beauty of well placed humor. The chances of 2 relatively hot people shedding their skivvies and jumping into the Hudson River at midnight are slim to none, (no one wants to chance bacteria in the lady bits) but “reality” isn’t what matters in these scenarios…it’s the feeling the “made-up” experience provides you.  Oaksmith adapted the same concept (delusional reality) and created an entire world around it.

Here is the thing, Molly (the lead) has some seriously deep-seeded issues, that (like most women) she keeps stuffed in her denial drawer.  It’s not until a pretty funny (ok, maybe not so funny for her) accident at the plastic surgeon’s office, that these issues come to life.  Literally. In the form of 2 talking breast implants.

I’ll admit, at first I was a little concerned that this book had jumped the shark, but the more I read the more it made sense.  Molly needed help, and what better way to give it to her than to make her a tad insane.  Her boobs (Max and Louise) added an outlet for Oaksmith to express Molly’s inner anxiety without wasting valuable space on monologues, and in taking the risk of the unconventional…she was able to create two very interesting and often funny characters without having to give them a past or even a future.

Like every good romantic comedy there are gobs of misunderstandings, lots of clumsiness and huge bouts of uneasiness,  but lets be honest…those are the characteristics that drive stories like these, and as if that wasn’t enough, they characters were damn near perfect, in a very “we-are-a-screwed-up-bunch-wackos” way.

The only problem I had with this book, (and I’ve actually ganked an entire star away from it’s rating because of it) is the horrible editing.  While the plot is fantastic, there are parts were I had to stop and re-read a sentence to understand what was trying to be said.  For example:

“Instead I forced myself to I call Dr. Hupta’s office from the kitchen.”

These are easy to bump over, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be fixed.  Immediately.

Despite the oopsies… it was a hilarious book that anyone in need of a good belly laugh would be wise to read.  I’m certainly glad that I did.

Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: always bring a STABLE friend with you to the hospital…

****~ (4/5)

Read It…

Arthur Kipps, a junior solicitor in London, is summoned to Crythin Gifford to attend the funeral of Mrs Alice Drablow, and to sort through her papers before returning to London. It is here that Kipps first sees the woman in black and begins to gain an impression of the mystery surrounding her. From the funeral he travels to Eel Marsh House and sees the woman again; he also hears the terrifying sounds on the marsh.

Despite Kipps’s experiences he resolves to spend the night at the house and fulfil his professional duty. It is this night at Eel Marsh House that contains the greatest horror for Kipps. Kipps later discovers the reasons behind the hauntings at Eel Marsh House. The book ends with the woman in black exacting a final, terrible revenge.

See It…

Anyways…I was not a big fan of this book, I actually think I rated it a 1, (I’d have to go back and look) but that’s beside the point, the point is that the concept was not the problem.  The execution was.  Why? Because it never went anywhere.  The entire book felt one long unmitigated journey to no man’s land.  Other than Alex trying to find out what the hell happened to him, (which yes… I admit did have it’s moments, why wouldn’t it) there was nothing to the story. Zip. Zilch. Nada.  Think of it as waiting, for 274 pages, for a shoe to drop that eventually you realize… was on your foot the whole damn time.  It was exhausting.

So what does this have to do with Harry Krebs’ novel “Fractured Persona?”  Everything.  “Fractured Persona” is “Flip” written correctly. (Ok…it’s a bit of a “grown-up” version, but it’s the same general story. I’ll stop talking now.)

“Richard Fornek is shocked to discover he has acquired not only a different identity, but also a new body after recovering from a coma in a North Carolina hospital. Although he recalls every detail of his life as Richard Fornek—his job back on the West Coast as a structural engineer, and his stormy thirteen-year marriage to Karen—his appearance is that of local warehouse worker Dan Curtis. Traumatized, he insists that he’s Richard Fornek, but when faced with the prospect of incarceration in a psychiatric hospital, has no choice but to live as Curtis; including accepting his marriage to Curtis’s spunky wife, Elizabeth. Before long, Fornek finds himself beginning to fall for Elizabeth, but the accusation of the murder of Curtis’s former lover throws a wrench in the blossoming relationship. Fighting to prove his innocence, he attempts to plead his case to his only confidante, a Baptist minister. If all fails, he will be faced with the death penalty and losing the woman he has grown to love. Steeped in mystery, suspense, and a touch of humor, Fractured Persona by Harry James Krebs is guaranteed to keep readers guessing from the first page to the last.”

“Hey Misty….What made “Fractured Persona” so different?” Well, in the most ridiculous of terms (cause duh…that’s what usually pops into my head) it had gumption. Not only did Krebs write a story that is sure to draw anyone in from the very first sentence.

“I wasn’t sure how long I was conscious before I became aware of my surroundings.  It could have been minutes, but it could have also been several hours.  I slowly lifted my head to inspect the setting around me.  The medical facility decor was unmistakable, with it’s cinder-block walls painted with cream-colored glass paint for ease of cleaning.  The air in the room was filled with the usual antiseptic smell mixed a hint of urine.  I hoped it wasn’t mine.”

But he managed to write a story that is not only intriguing on a “mental” level but an emotional one as well.

What do I mean? Well… first of all, it’s kind of hard not to focus on the fact that Richard/Dan hasn’t the faintest idea of who he is, where he is, or why he is there, but that’s not what makes the story.  What makes the story is what happens to him WHILE he’s trying to figure all of this out.

Stop. I know what you are thinking. “Duh Misty….we know that “what happens to him WHILE he’s trying to figure all of this out” is what the story it about.  It’s kind of obvious!!!”  But hear me out, cause I assure you, that’s not what I’m thinking.

Richard is a bit of a disaster, but underneath all of the moaning and groaning about his less than perfect life, he’s a good guy.  Dan (the man’s body that Richard decides to go all body snatchers on) isn’t a good guy.  As a matter fact he is probably one of the worst “Body snatching” options on the planet.  He is a drunk.  He is an ass. He is a cheat, and even more impressively disgusting…he is the prime suspect in murder investigation.

Overcoming THESE obstacle, not his missing body, is what drives the plot in this book. (This is the “kicker” that was missing from “Flip.”)

If I’m being completely honest, I was rather impressed by Krebs’ ability to make me both adore and want to strangle the lead character.  While we (meaning the readers) know that Richard is Richard, not Dan.  It’s hard not to want to lash out at him for all of the shitty things he has done to those around him.  For that, and that fact alone… I pat Krebs on the back.  It’s a pretty impressive feat to accomplish in 312 (or so) pages.

My only complaint? There was never a definitive resolution to the whole “Hey…this isn’t my body!” situation, but… I guess, you can’t win them all.

All in all… a pretty interesting book.

If you like a good mystery and thrive on the unknown, this one might be a good gamble for you.  If nothing else, the ending shocked the socks off of me and that is a pretty hard thing to do these day.

Happy reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: deny deny deny!

****~ (4/5)

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Anyways, I am a super huge goober fan of Heather’s and have been for a while now, (especially since she named a character after me!) so when she emailed me over the holidays and practically begged, (ok…maybe it wasn’t quite that dramatic) to read her next novel “Blank Slate Kate” I couldn’t refuse.

Here is the thing, Heather is fantastic with emotional dynamics, she has on several occasions, (Planning to Live, Go Small or Go Home, Seven Exes are Eight too Many) made me cry like a teenage girl who realizes her Gucci is fake, and when I’m not making a total ass out of myself, I’m laughing at her rather refreshing takes on life, (“I follow a link to Twitter and am soon drowning in endless updates like “Boyfriend farted this morning. Ew.” and “At Starbucks to work. Go me!”.  Everyone’s talking, constantly, but nobody’s saying anything that matters.”)  So when I realized that “Blank Slate Kate” was about a woman who wakes up thinking she’s a hot 16 year-old blonde girl only to find out she’s a 30 year old tattooed brunette, I couldn’t wait to get started.

First…they synopsis:

Waking up with a strange man is scary. Realizing you lost fifteen years of your life overnight? That’s terrifying. With her memories from seventeen to thirty-two gone, Kate has no idea who she is and where she belongs. As she begins to fall for the man who found her, she wonders if she forgot those years for a reason. Should she keep trying to retrieve her original self, or start a new life?

Now, as much as I love Heather, (and her work…obviously) this was not her finest hour.  While the book was entertaining, and even laugh out loud funny in parts…it lacked the draw I usually feel when reading her work.  Was it poor character planning? Maybe…there is one character in particular (Jake) whose attitude was very mono-directional only to be chopped in half and scattered about like buck shot, (dear God… I did NOT just make a gun reference) about half way in, BUT… even this couldn’t REALLY be the problem, it wasn’t THAT bad.  Maybe… it’s that Heather’s writing almost solely depends on her ability to capture her audience with emotion and that’s hard to do when your main character doesn’t know how to feel herself.  Who knows… the fact remains, that regardless of the pleasantness of this read, (and yes…it was a fun, quick, pleasant read) I wasn’t attached, (emotionally) they way I should have been to Kate/Donna and her battle for self-recognition. (*tear*)

All that aside, the story, (premise) itself was undeniably fantastic.  There was Heather’s ever present “love” aspect, but at the same time there was intrigue, (in the form of a mysterious iPhone app) gobs and gobs of heartache, (bound to happen when you are basically clueless) and enough wit to fill a garbage bag.

So, was I disappointed enough to steer you in the opposite direction? No…like I said, it was a pretty cute, interesting read. And though it wasn’t her BEST effort, (according to me) there’s no denying that it was still a good one.  If you like romances, this is definitely one you will enjoy so go ahead and snatch it up.

Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: What’s in a name…a rose by any other, oh forget it, we all know that’s bullshit.  Cheers!

Click image for complete details.

***½~ (3.5/5)

A disheartened girl finds hope in a gifted boy and a mystic mountain.

SOLSTICE-Of The Heart, book one of the SOLSTICE SERIES, relates the story of the budding romance of Julissa Grant and Aaron Delmon, as seen through the eyes of Julissa who, like any high school teenager, struggles through the pitfalls of school and life.  Her life turns anything but normal as she becomes infatuated and intertwined with the high school’s outsiders, Beaumont, Belmont, and, her new-found beau, Aaron Delmon.

Three years after her husband, Simon, and his brother, Mickey, go missing on Mount Hood, Dierdra Grant moves her 16-year-old daughter, Julissa, cross-country and sets up house in Mickey’s cabin in Shasta City, California.  Having lost a friend and her father in a short time, Julissa has become disheartened with the world.  Dierdra, broken-hearted and unable to find closure over the death of her husband, is more of a hindrance than a help to Julissa.  Julissa turns away from her Catholic upbringing and runs renegade with her best new-found friend, Cherrie.  While “boy-hunting” in the Crags with Cherrie, Julissa meets, for the first time, Aaron Delmon, a gifted boy who will change her life forever.

Unknown to Julissa, Aaron Delmon is a descendant of the ancient civilization, Lemuria.  He has been sent “from below” to blend in as a teenager in a high school while working with a cell of Lemurians to prepare the framework for a return to the Way of the Lemurian known as the Law of One.  When he meets Julissa, he is being schooled as a memorizer and trained in vampirism, which allows him to control, manipulate, and store life-force energy.

A lie that brings a smile… or the truth that draws tears?
Dr. Olivia Crane lives a quiet life. No one questions why she doesn’t socialize or where she spends every weekend.

When the visiting physician from France strolls into her office, with open arms and a confident smile, her perfect control is about to crumble.
Good God, he can’t be Dr. Luc George, the man she loved ten years ago? Should she return his scorching kisses, or should she lock her door before he digs into her many secrets?

Secret daughter, secret friend, secret enemy. Had Luc really known his sweet Olivia back then? He wants her back, but he wants the truth, too. Now, Olivia has to face her past before she can grab her second chance.

***Read my review of the book HERE!***

Romance, adventure, murder and revenge, Christina Matthews does it all. An obsessed fly-girl with the Right Stuff and True Grit finds love in the oddest place, the cockpit. A beautiful and brainy college girl born with jet-fuel in her blood is haunted by a gripping family tragedy and the violent murder of her best friend. The only thing she truly fears is sleep. Tortured by nightmares, this test pilot’s daughter has to find a way to save her sanity or die. Mike Clark, call-name Lazer and a real Top Gun, looks to be the best kind of therapy.  With dreams of becoming an Astronaut-Commander, Christina struggles through heart-stopping perils in the cockpit and crash-lands on a deserted island. Without hope for rescue, she concocts an oddball plan to return survivors to civilization.   Risking her future at NASA, Christina delivers on a promise to a dying friend and faces her evil nemesis in the sky. Only by overcoming deep-seated fears can she exorcise her ghosts and pursue a lifelong dream of flying in space.   Will true love conquer Christina’s curse, or will she auger in?

As one of New York’s top sex therapists, Dr. Morgan Snow sees everything from the abused to the depraved. The Butterfield Institute is the sanctuary where she tries to heal these battered souls.

The Scarlet Society is a secret club of twelve powerful and sexually adventurous women. But when a photograph of the body of one of the men they’re recruited to dominate — strapped to a gurney, the number 1 inked on the sole of his foot — is sent to the New York Times, they are shocked and frightened. Unable to cope with the tragedy, the women turn to Dr. Morgan Snow. But what starts out as grief counseling quickly becomes a murder investigation, with any one of the twelve women a potential suspect.

The case leads Detective Noah Jordan — a man with whom Morgan has shared a brief, intense connection — to her office. He fears the number on the man’s foot hints that the killings have just begun. With her hands tied by her professional duty, Morgan is dangerously close to the demons in her own mind — and the flesh-and-blood killer.

Livie Saunders is fluent in the language of flowers; she taught the meanings to her fiancé, Cotton O’Dell, but then Cotton vanishes without explanation on their wedding day forcing Livie to learn the language of desolation. Heartbroken, she buries her wedding gown beneath a garden pond and resolves to move on, but there are nights when she slips . . . into a sequined red dress and a pair of stiletto heels, a stranger’s bed, a little anonymous oblivion that is not without consequence. Still, she recovers a semblance of ordinary life and imagines she is content. But then, six years later, Cotton returns and her carefully constructed world shatters. The old questions bite like flies. Questions that Cotton O’Dell prays he can answer. He prays that Livie, whom he has never stopped loving, will be moved to forgive him. But there is more than Livie to be concerned about. There is Cotton’s act of cowardice that caused him to become a fugitive in the first place . . . that crime he committed for which the legal clock is still ticking. That thing he did that will shock Livie to her core once she learns of it. Livie is desperate to trust Cotton, but then he goes missing again. Time telescopes, avenues of escape close, and as lives hang in the balance, choice dithers between mercy and revenge. And a decision that will take only a moment will carry the consequences of a lifetime.

In Saudi Arabia, two American missionaries are targeted by the infamousreligious police—Muttawa. The man is tortured and killed; his wife arrestedon trumped-up charges before being deported to the United States. Compelledby the injustice of her plight, young attorney Brad Carlson files anunprecedented civil rights suit against Saudi Arabia and the ruthless head ofthe Muttawa. But the suit unleashes powerful forces that will stop at nothingto vindicate the Arabian kingdom. Witnesses are intimidated and some disappear;jurors are bribed; and a member of Brad’s own team may be attemptingto sabotage the case. As Brad navigates a maze of treachery and deception,he must gamble his case, his career, and the lives of those he loves on hisability to bring justice to one family, challenge the religious intolerance of anation, and alter the course of international law.

Imagine a moment of unseen intervention on your behalf. What would you do if you discovered invisible beings surrounding you? What if you were the key to their survival? SON OF EDEN introduces a world where unseen beings really do exist, love has no limits, and the realization of one’s self worth is pivotal. Tormented by sadness over her mother’s death, Emily Wallace wonders if life really has any purpose. Her question is answered when she meets Alexander. After transgressing the laws of his kind, Alexander reveals his true nature to Emily and the two find life without one another is not an option. But, forming such a cosmically unique relationship comes with a price. It becomes apparent that some will stop at nothing to ensure an ancient prophecy surrounding these two is never fulfilled. Is the Opposition motivated by knowledge of Alexander’s true identity? Or, are they more concerned with who Emily is destined to become.

When lifetime friendship mixes with romance, things can get weird.

Tessa Monroe may not be able to operate a toaster oven safely, but she sure knows how to create and execute a marketing plan. Christian Douglas, her best friend since eating paste was in vogue, is a wedding photographer as romantic as his craft, engaged to a woman he believes is the one. Unexpectedly, his fiancée dumps him because she senses he’s in love with someone else—someone he “proposed to” on the third grade playground, someone who grew up without plans for romance, marriage, or a family thanks to her high powered career.

Love each other? Not as anything more than friends, think both Christian and Tessa. But when a new “perfect” woman and the ultimate job opportunity threaten to drive the friends apart for good, Christian and Tessa must finally confront their true feelings for each other. Their lives have led them to very different destinations; can love bridge the gap between them?

Since his commanding officer in the Peninsula took a bullet meant for him, James Moore, now the Earl of Rutledge, feels responsible for the dead man’s young son and the boy’s exquisite mother, Carlotta Ennis so responsible that he offers to marry the lavender-eyed beauty. Though their marriage was not to be a love match, Carlotta’s torturing presence has James yearning to make her his true wife.

Though she did not love his lordship, her desperate situation forced her to accept his proposal. Little did she know she would come to crave being with him, would hunger for his every touch. If only she could be worthy of the fine man she’s married, if only she can keep him from learning her dark secret . . .

A disturbing glimpse into a digital future, not far from now.

Mathew Grey is a brilliant scientist who accidentally unleashed a man-made plague that ravaged America’s heartland, and now threatens the rest of the planet. Riddled with guilt and running out of time, he decides to use a dangerous technology to enter a computer-generated reality called Cyberdrome, hoping to unravel a mystery that could be the key to Earth’s survival.

Alek Grey was an athlete whose career was cut short by a near-fatal accident. Now he is a software hacker with the unique ability to outsmart the best Artificial Intelligence programs of his day. When he is called in after one of his programs inadvertently attacks Cyberdrome, he is shocked to learn that both his father and ex-fiancée have become trapped inside the simulation, unable to be removed without risk of death.

Alek knows of only one way to rescue the people he loves, but will he risk all of humanity to save them?

He hasn’t spoken her name in fourteen years. She keeps a journal hidden in the back of her closet and permits herself to write about him once a year—on the anniversary of the first and only time they made love. They promised to love one another forever, but tragedy tore them apart. Now, destiny may just bring them back together.

At eighteen, Rourke Flannigan and Kate Redmond thought they’d spend the rest of their lives together—until a family tragedy tore them apart. Fourteen years have passed and they’ve both carved out separate lives hundreds of miles apart—hers as a wife and mother, his as a successful, driven businessman. But once a year, on the anniversary of her daughter’s birth, Kate pulls out a red velvet journal and writes a letter, which she’ll never send, to the man who still owns her heart. Once a year, on the anniversary of the first and only time they made love, Rourke permits himself to read the annual investigative report detailing an ordinary day in Kate’s life.

When a subcontractor at one of Rourke’s holding companies is killed, Rourke decides to pay the widow a visit and offer condolences, never dreaming the widow will be Kate. As they embark on a cautious journey of rediscovery, one far greater than they could have imagined, secrets and lies threaten to destroy their newfound closeness—forever.

Fresh off a marriage that spiraled into a dangerous tailspin, Ellie Coulter doesn’t believe in fate or luck. She’s been surrounded by darkness since her parents’ untimely death, and harbors a secret that never lets her forget that she’s different.

Ellie builds a safe bubble around her life that includes nothing but her coffee shop, her few friends, and her dog. Then a handsome young doctor, David Mitchell, starts to break through her protective shell and Ellie realizes there may be a risk worth taking.

Then one of Ellie’s friends abruptly leaves town; entrusting her home to Ellie’s care. The house has its own mysterious past that draws Ellie into a new darkness. Her ex-husband resurfaces with premonitions of Ellie’s death. And suddenly Ellie’s life is being turned upside down yet again, and even David can’t help her make it right.

Ellie is running out of time. Something old and evil has awakened and it wants Ellie all to itself. She must solve a century-old mystery and keep a grip on her sanity in order to survive.

In a time when the world was ravaged by chaos, one kingdom remains; ordered, isolated, protected. Then Tabitha Serannon awakens an ancient power and the world begins to change.

She is hunted for her talent. The Shadowcasters whisper in her ears as their evil closes around her. Soon the Riddler walks beside her, but is he on her side? She has a moment to learn the magic before she loses her grasp of the Lifesong, but the path she must follow leads into Darkness; into terror, treachery and desire.

To survive she must give voice to a music that she hardly understands, an enchantment that will echo through all time.

Edwina is a small town librarian and loves her predictable lifestyle. But her stepsister Cecilia has other plans. As they are about to board a plane for Scotland, Cecelia is suddenly called away. Exhausted and alone in Edinburgh, Edwina collapses into the arms of a tall Scot. Anxious to meet his fiance, Alex Dunnegin whisks Edwina off to his castle and that’s when the trouble begins.

We show one face to our family and another to the world. Who are we really? Who am I, and who do I want to be?

Keira Maddock lives in a dark future in which the Elite have everything, and everyone else suffers. She is a survivor. Out of necessity, she has become a skilled seductress, thief and bounty hunter – a Freelancer. When a typical job goes awry, it changes everything. Alliances are formed, long kept secrets are revealed and lives are forever changed.

Will he secure his future by ruining hers, or will she ruin his plans by securing him? A new twist on the old fortune hunter plot puts an impoverished earl in a position to gain his fortune only by ruining an innocent’s reputation without offering marriage. The innocent he’s selected, however, has no plans to settle for anything less than marriage and will go to almost any length to secure him.

When the impoverished Andrew Black, Earl of Townson, hits rock bottom, he makes an agreement that will end his eight year poverty streak once and for all. In order to gain his fortune he must do but one simple thing: ruin an innocent girl’s reputation enough to make her flee to America.

Brooke Banks isn’t interested in marriage, or so she thinks. She came to London to have a good time, and that’s exactly what she’s doing. Widely known for her tendency to flout the rules, she suspects nothing when a handsome stranger appears on her doorstep.

Thirteen days, a handful of kisses and one scandalous situation later, Andrew and Brooke will have to choose to stick to their original plans, or decide if a life together is worth the risk.

An armed—and armored—terrorist breaks into the Longview Police department, shooting anything in his path before detonating the explosives hiding beneath his body armor. As retired police detective Alex Mendez waits for news of his injured cop wife’s condition, the whole of East Texas begins to dig out from the carnage visited upon it. While Alex sits with Lisa, the television screams with reports of similar attacks in small towns all across the country. They’ve struck again. And just as it had on September 11th, 2001, the game has dramatically changed.
As the local law enforcement adapts to being overwhelmed for such carnage, Alex is forced to wrestle with demons both personal and professional.

When terrorists connected to the cell group responsible for the Texas attacks kidnap a severely injured Lisa Mendez, the stakes are raised for Alex yet again as he weighs the hazards and benefits of coming out of retirement or sitting on the sidelines, leaving his family’s fate in the hands of strangers. Terrorists have invaded his country. They’ve destroyed his town. Now they’ve raided his home. They’ve drawn the line in the sand. Badge or no badge, Alex Mendez is just the man to take the fight right back to them.

When someone begins killing New Orleans street people, it affects the City’s tourist trade just beginning to recover from Hurricane Katrina. More than just simple acts of murder, voodoo is involved, the killer likely an actual Vodoun deity. Homicide detective Tony Nicosia seeks the help of gumshoe, and Big Easy insider Wyatt Thomas. Wyatt enlists Mama Mulate, Tulane English professor, and actual voodoo mambo. Together, they try to unravel the strangest mystery to hit the venerable City since the era of Marie Laveau.

What’s the price of sin?  Human Paige Sloan once loved werewolf Drake Wyler more than life, but then that life was taken away from her. Attacked by vampires, Paige was bitten, and, on a cold, dark night, the life she’d known ended. She was reborn as a vampire–a werewolf’s deadliest enemy.

Paige ran from the vampires who attacked her, and she ran away from her lover. She didn’t want Drake to know what she’d become, and she didn’t want to face the fury of his pack. But a girl can only run for so long until the past catches up with her.

Some sins mark your soul.  When Paige learns that Drake is being targeted for death, she knows that she can’t hide in the shadows any longer. She has to return to him, and she will do anything–anything–in order to make sure that he keeps living. The vampires might have destroyed her chance to live and love Drake, but they won’t take him. Not over her undead body. She’ll slay them all…and maybe, just maybe…she’ll even have the chance to sin–one more time–with the werewolf who’d marked her as his mate.  Some sins are worth dying for…

Seventeen-year old princess, Clara Williamson, lives an old-fashioned existence in a biosphere of the future.  When her sadistic mother, Queen Ada, betroths her to an abusive prince of a neighboring sphere, Clara determines to escape Outside where savages roam free.  Clara escapes tyranny only to discover the savages are not the only people who survived the cataclysmic events of one hundred forty years prior.  Once Outside, Clara finds herself trapped, unable to return to the abusive life of the sphere while facing certain danger Outside.  Can Clara find love and freedom with the peril that threatens to consume her?

A teenage time traveler accidentally takes her secret crush back in time. Awkward.

Boy watching with her best friend would be enough excitement for fifteen year old Casey Donovan. She doesn’t even mind life at the bottom of the Cambridge High social ladder, if only she didn’t have this other much bigger problem. Unscheduled trips to the nineteenth century!

When Casey gets talked into going to the Fall Dance, the unthinkable happens–she accidentally takes Nate Mackenzie, the cutest boy in the school, back in time.

Protocol pressures her to tell their 1860 hosts that he is her brother and when Casey finds she has a handsome, wealthy (and unwanted) suitor, something changes in Nate. Are those romantic sparks or is it just ‘brotherly’ protectiveness?

When they return to the present things go back to the way they were before: Casey at the bottom of the social totem pole and Nate perched on the very the top. Except this time her heart is broken. Plus, her best friend is mad, her parents are split up, and her little brother gets escorted home by the police. The only thing that could make life worse is if, by some strange twist of fate, she took Nate back to the past again.  Which of course, she does.

Every year the best colleges reject thousands of the brightest young minds in the country. But what might happen if a large number of them refused to take no for an answer?

One morning, Shepherdton College receives 437 envelopes from twenty-eight states. Each contains the same two-word message: Still coming.

That’s just the beginning. The college president’s house burns down; the water in the country club swimming pool turns red; the ghost of a local war hero appears.

Another message is received: We’re Here.

Nerves fray, and if the “comers” aren’t trouble enough, a Peeping Tom turns into a home invader, and shows signs of becoming a full-blown sexual predator.  The town fragments and people take up arms after one last message is received…  Won’t Be Long Now.  Still Coming is a psychological thriller for anyone, student or parent, who’s ever sweated a college admission decision.

Can a disgraced Special Forces soldier find redemption, and will redemption cost him more than just his own life?

North American Federation Navy Commander Evan Gabriel was dishonorably discharged after losing his covert team on a far off world called Eden. Now, he’s being offered an opportunity to command a new team, on a new world, with a new mission, but the true motives behind the mission are unclear.

From the decaying Caribbean to politically-charged South America, from the slums of Mars to a tiny colony on a planet six hundred light years from Earth, Gabriel’s Redemption follows the disgraced Commander Gabriel as he leads a Special Forces team to an ice-bound world. Their given mission: to eradicate a drug cartel that is producing a highly-addictive stimulant brutally extracted from the bodies of the native inhabitants. Upon arriving, Gabriel and his team find the mission isn’t exactly what it appeared to be, and that they weren’t the only force dispatched to the planet.

After a family tragedy, Brett Macklin has sworn to take the law into his own hands and make the guilty pay. This time, Macklin’s target is Wesley Saputo, porn kingpin and murderer, who has slipped through the courts time after time, only to kidnap, rape and kill again…and again. Macklin’s mission: locate and destroy Saputo before he finds another innocent life to destroy.

Ellen Harris, a glamorous singer with a major contract, is haunted by nightmares of childhood abuse and the brutal murder of a loved one. Just as life is turning around for her, she must face the terrors of her past — and a new terror, even more vivid, in the form of a murderer who will stop at nothing. Ellen has no choice — she is alone, and she must pursue the murderer to the bitter end — even if it means losing her own life

Ace is on the run from everyone, it seems. He’s running from a busted Witness Protection Program assignment, an international collection of gangsters and arms merchants he pissed off working undercover, and worst of all—from his own scarred self-image and the nightmares that haunt him.

After two lonely years on the road he risks a short visit with his old friend, Granville Tubbs, who lives in the sleepy small town of Ferris’ Bluff, Arkansas. He hasn’t even had a tingle that anyone has been on his trail for almost a year. What could go wrong in a few days?

Plenty, it turns out. But some things go right, too…shotgun ambushes aside.

The ultimate loner, Ace is soon brought under the spell of the quirky small town and its residents. As he tries to help Tubbs, all the while jealously guarding his alias, the friendliness of the townsfolk chips away at the wall of solitude he’s built. It’s as if Leets and Dicky and Art Drury are determined to become his new friends. And the pretty widow, Annie Travers—well, try as he might he can’t deny the growing mutual attraction between the two of them.

He runs smack up against the dark side of Ferris’ Bluff in no time. The greedy lawyer, Tremont, and his slutty wife, Reena, are after something in Tubbs’ estate. The local mechanic, Pink, is out to mess him up, too. Ace is soon enmeshed in a battle of wits and wills with some of the locals.

And if that ain’t thorny enough, Russian arms dealers who Ace hurt badly on his last assignment have been keeping a loose watch on Tubbs. When he discovers that Annie’s husband’s accident wasn’t an accident at all and Dicky Stover, the victim of a brutal beating, is killed while in the hospital, hitting the road is no longer an option.

CFBI agent Jasmine McLellan is assigned a hot case—one that requires the psychic abilities of the PSI Division, a secret government agency located in the secluded town of Divine, BC.

Jasi leads a psychically gifted team in the hunt for a serial arsonist—a murderer who has already taken the lives of three innocent people. Unleashing her gift as a Pyro-Psychic, Jasi is compelled toward smoldering ashes and enters the killer’s mind. A mind bent on destruction and revenge.

Jasi’s team, consisting of Psychometric Empath and profiler, Ben Roberts, and Victim Empath, Natassia Prushenko, is led down a twisting path of dark, painful secrets. Brandon Walsh, the handsome, smooth-talking Chief of Arson Investigations joins them in a manhunt that takes them across British Columbia—from Vancouver to Kelowna, Penticton and Victoria.

While impatiently sifting through the clues that were left behind, Jasi and her team realize that there is more to the third victim than meets the eye. Perhaps not all of the victims were that innocent. The hunt intensifies when they learn that someone they know is next on the arsonist’s list.

The case heats to the boiling point as Jasi steps out of the flames…and into the fire. And in the heat of early summer, Agent Jasi McLellan discovers that a murderer lies in wait…much closer than she imagined.

Ghost in Her Heart: Dark Lands Book 5

Every man has a little beast inside…every woman longs to tame him. Where will you be when the beast roars for you?

The quintisential geek, Vana had never had a lover. The ultimte warrior, Dagon had never had a wife. Thanks to a rift in space, she’s about to become both.

Beast Wars: Dark Lands Book 6

Dey has a taste for ancient treasure—Keg is the one assigned to guard it. Ancient ziggurats protected by forgotten technology are no match for Dey, but Keg is one challenge she can’t dismiss.

Sexy and irrepressible, Keg doesn’t understand why the woman in the pink snakeskin jacket would swagger around with a gun. With war looming, what better way to keep her out of trouble than to make her his own?

She’s been uprooted from her small hometown and enrolled at Evernight Academy, an eerie Gothic boarding school where the students are somehow too perfect: smart, sleek, and almost predatory. Bianca knows she doesn’t fit in.

Then she meets Lucas. He’s not the “Evernight type” either, and he likes it that way. Lucas ignores the rules, stands up to the snobs, and warns Bianca to be careful—even when it comes to caring about him.

“I couldn’t stand it if they took it out on you,” he tells Bianca, “and eventually they would.”

But the connection between Bianca and Lucas can’t be denied. Bianca will risk anything to be with Lucas, but dark secrets are fated to tear them apart . . . and to make Bianca question everything she’s ever believed.

How far would you go to save your dream? Seventeen-year-old Ariceli Pisa is a senior at the prestigious Cambridge High School and has her sights set on Northwestern University. She’s a cheerleader, a member of the National Honor Society…and a drug dealer. That’s not the only secret she has to keep from her best friend Naomi–she’s also madly in love with Naomi’s ex-boyfriend, James Bartlett.

After their teacher assigns a persuasive essay challenging students to improve one aspect of their life, Daniel discovers that Jazmin is still fighting demons from her past. Daniel is ready to become her hero as he comes up with a plan to have Jazmin run for the Board of Education in order to stop an abusive principal. Little did he know, their actions would change their school forever.

FOUR PEOPLE from dissimilar backgrounds, and with no prior knowledge of one another, are forever linked by unrelenting danger and by evil on scale that betrays comprehension. ERIC, a successful businessman and ZOE, a beautiful social worker, set out on a quest for the truth . . . a quest that leads them through a labyrinth of extreme danger and unspeakable wickedness

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Who is Brian?

Dettmer is originally from Chicago. He currently resides in Atlanta, GA.

Brian Dettmer is known for his detailed and innovative sculptures with books and other forms of antiquated media. He is currently represented by Kinz + Tillou (New York), Packer Schopf (Chicago), MiTO (Barcelona), Toomey Tourell (San Francisco) and Saltworks (Atlanta). Dettmer’s work has been exhibited Internationally in several galleries, museums and art centers including the Museum of Arts and Design (NY), Museum of Contemporary Art (GA), the International Museum of Surgical Science (IL), Museum Rijswijh (Netherlands), Wellcome Collection (England) the Bellevue Arts Museum (WA), The Kohler Arts Center (WI), and the Illinois State Museums (IL). His work can be found in several public and private collections throughout the U.S, Latin America, Europe, Australia and Asia.

Dettmer’s work has gained International acclaim through internet bloggers, and traditional media. His work has been featured on the CBS Evening News, The New York Times (US), The Los Angeles Times (US), The Guardian (UK), The Telegraph (UK) Chicago Tribune (US), The Age (AU), Art News, Modern Painters, Wired, The Village Voice, Harper’s, Esquire and National Public Radio among others.

In recent years Dettmer has established himself as one of the leading International contemporary artists working with the book today. In 2011 his work was featured on the cover of Book Art (Gestalten Publishers, Berlin) and discussed in a historical context in Bookwork (Stewart, The University of Chicago Press). In 2012 he is scheduled to have solo shows in San Francisco with Toomey Tourell Fine Art and The Jewish Community Center; in Maribor, Slovenia as part of its celebration as the European Cultural Capital of 2012; in Lucca, Italy for Cartasia, a biennale of contemporary paper art; and in Atlanta, GA at the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia. His work is also scheduled to be in several group shows including “40 under 40” at the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian Institute.

The Art!

Click the images to see them full size

David Chance can see messages in the sea of words around him, messages that warn him of future events.

Words are everywhere– on labels, magazines, sign posts, t-shirts– everywhere. And as much as David Chance would like to hide from them, he can’t. Words keep leaping off objects around him, forming messages in his mind. But how is this possible? Has his brain suddenly taken an evolutionary leap forward, or are the mysterious messages proof of divine intervention?

Driven to answer a question he’d long ago abandoned, and stalked by the killer he’s trying to stop, David risks everything to follow the messages to a dirty bomb set to go off in the heart of Boston. But can he trust the author of the messages to protect him from a terrorist who seems to know his every move.

Two years ago, The Boy Who Never Smiled was Skyla’s best friend.

Two years later, he smashes her into pieces.

Now it’s up to the optimistic and slightly-annoyed Skyla to find out what’s wrong with her best friend.  And at the same time, stop her friendship group, The Stupendous Six, from falling apart. She’ll have to tolerate with Olivia, the girl Adam’s supposedly dating, to bring her old best friend back.  But something happened to Adam in those two years; there was something which destroyed his mental stability. Something unspeakable; deadly.  Once Skyla finds out, she’ll wish she never knew

When twenty-five-year-old Madeleine Duffy wakes up after a terrifying cycling accident to hear she’s the newest member of the Afterlife Club, Cyclists’ Chapter, she’s thinks it’s a place more horrifying than hell itself. After all, the only reason she even hauled her bulk onto that torture machine every morning was the chance to see London’s hottest cyclist (aka Corduroy Man) go by each day — and maybe lose a few pounds in the process. Things get even worse when Madeleine discovers she’s expected to get back on the bike to help protect the living from traffic doom. How can a woman whose life revolved around shopping and croissants be expected to change in death? But when Madeleine’s own reluctance to let go results in disastrous consequences, she must decide: is she strong enough to fulfill the new role she’s been given, or should she cling to the empty life she no longer lives? And now that she’s dead, how in heaven’s name is she ever going to attract Corduroy Man?

Spunky, down-on-her-luck Laurel Mayfield didn’t believe in vampires. She didn’t believe in the supernatural. Not until she met the enigmatic and darkly alluring Sebastian Thorn, a man shrouded in mystery and intrigue. Discovering he was a Prince turned out to be only the beginning of a harrowing journey that took them back to the Tudor Court during the reign of King Henry the Eighth. Caught up in the conspiracy of Whitehall, Laurel’s love and devotion were put to the ultimate test.

Would she return to the future to find her Dark Prince waiting? Or had the executioner’s blade taken more from her than just Sebastian’s head?

Author’s Note: The Callahans: The Complete Series, in five volumes, is available in one Kindle book at Amazon with a discount price below the five separate novels.

Vol. I – Destiny: Fleeing an abusive father and a hopeless life in Ireland in 1895, nineteen-year-old Tom Callahan takes passage on a ship bound for America. On board, he meets Katrina Hansen, a young Norwegian woman traveling to Utah. It’s not a likely match. The brash Irishman is a Catholic, a brawler and a young man without prospects. Katrina is a refined young woman, yet naive in the ways of the world. Lured into a polygamous marriage, she finds herself abandoned on a remote Mexican beach as the man she loves, unaware of her status, seeks his fortune in Alaska. Destiny is a sprawling historical novel set at the turn of the 19th century, played out in such far-flung places as New York City, the gold fields of Alaska and Old Mexico.

Vol.II – Conflict:  Tom Callahan strikes it rich in the Alaska goldfield while Katrina struggles to remain alive in Mexico. Demonstrating her determination and faith, the reader is shown the resilience of this young woman who has grown beyond her years. Continuing through 1912 and the disastrous voyage of HMS Titanic, Conflict will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Vol. III – Reunion: It’s 1917 and American has entered World War I. Tom and Katie’s son, in an effort to prove his worth to his father, has joined what President Woodrow Wilson is calling  – the fight to make the world safe for democracy-. As the war ends, Tommy is selected for appointment to the Naval Academy, while his father is arrested and imprisoned in Ireland for gun running in the great Irish Civil War. Set against turbulent events in world history and filled with vivid scenes as well as tender emotions, Reunion takes the reader around the world.

Vol. IV – Prelude: Tom and Katrina Callahan continue their story in the years between the two world wars. Their three children have grown up and are making their way in a world that is propelling itself toward World War II. Tess has her heart set on a Hollywood movie career; PJ is a successful sheep rancher in New Zealand and Tommy is pursuing his career in the Marine Corps and learning not only about war, but about the perils of romance. When Tommy finds himself in England prior to WWII, Winston Churchill calls on him to examine the economic growth of the German nation as they secretly prepare for war.

Vol. V – Reprisal – Continuing the series into WWII as Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Callahan III faces personal tragedy during the Blitz in London as the war presents a very personal face. As he leaves his Embassy post to return to the United States, America joins Europe in the worldwide conflagration. For the second time in his young life, the son of Thomas and Katrina Callahan finds himself immersed in front-line battle, torn between his duty and the love of a beautiful woman who desires only his safety.

The conclusion of The Callahans will leave you enthralled as the children and grandchildren of a once-young Irish immigrant and his Norwegian bride leave their mark upon the world.

Be careful what you wish for… because you just might get it.

At least, that’s what Trevor Thomas is starting to realize. He’s spent his whole life wishing he could be a hero; so when he stumbles into the magical land of Dragonshold, you’d think it’d be a dream come true.
After all, this is a place Trevor could only read about-a world of endless adventure, of dragons and elves, magic spells and rune crystals.  But even the most wonderful dreams can turn to nightmares.  Trevor still hasn’t found Mariah Murphy, the girl of his dreams, and now three hideous monsters are tracking him down… and won’t stop until he’s dead.  And when his friends are forced to abandon him, Trevor has no choice but to journey to The City of Ancients in search of answers.  Yet some questions are best left unanswered, as Trevor soon discovers what it truly means to be a hero.   Now, his greatest adventure becomes a desperate struggle… one that will finally bring him back home.

Diane Berger is missing from her wealthy parents’ San Francisco home and Lucky Lucas goes hunting. In this rapid paced follow up to Scar Tissue, Lucas finds the girl in L.A., but also finds a corpse in the apartment where she’s been staying. What began as a favor for a friend spins out of control and has Lucas caught in a world damaged by corporate crime, marital infidelity,and murder.

***This book was on my Fav 15 from 2011! Read my review HERE***

What would you do if you held fate in your hands?

Macy Lockhart is a normal girl with an abnormal bird-shaped birthmark on her wrist. She doesn’t even think twice about the odd marking until strange things begin happening to her and an anonymous gift is left on her doorstep… a beautiful, blood-red pendant. A bloodstone.

It isn’t long before she is surrounded by craziness… ancient high priests, visions and memories that she can’t explain. And that’s just the beginning.

She quickly comes to the realization that the bloodstone wasn’t just given to her… it was returned to her. It has been hers all along, for thousands of years. She has lived hundreds of lives and all of them have been important.

But before she can even come to terms with that craziness, she is forced to return to one of them that was particularly tragic….a previous doomed life where she lived as Cleopatra’s handmaiden, Charmian.

Fate, the very thing that she is born to protect, is being threatened in a way that would destroy history as we know it. The fate of the world literally sits on her shoulders. But of course, just handling that small issue would be too easy.

Unless she interferes with destiny, her soul-mate will die. Can she really stand aside and allow the love of her life to die all over again?

Adam Stanford, Earl of Ashworth, is a man who has always done the right thing. That is until he meets the beautiful Lady Catherine Bourgeault, wife to the Baron Bourgeault. Honor and gentlemanly conduct fly in the face of a love Adam cannot deny. He will risk his reputation and all he holds dear to possess this amazing woman. But what seems like a simple, straightforward effort to “steal” another man’s wife is fraught with deceit and the dark secrets of an evil, demented man who will do anything to save his empty marriage.

*** Great book if you love magic!  Read my review HERE ***
All she wanted was a vacation – but Dumnos offered a new life.

Lilith Evergreen has always lived in the California desert, but when she receives an antique ring as a gift, she dreams of a magnificent tree at cliff’s edge, a castle by the sea, and a mysterious woman who bids Lilith to come to Dumnos, a land of mist and rain.

Cade Bausiney is the future Earl of Dumnos, but at present he just wants to bolster the local economy with a scheme to increase tourism. When Cade and Lilith meet, they’re overwhelmed with longing for each other – but their desire might be magically induced.

Long ago a witch’s spell ended in disaster that left two souls to haunt Dumnos to this day. Lilith and Cade must find a way to make things right – or be forever possessed by the spirits who’ve waited a millennium to consummate their love.

Book 1 of Legends of the Guardian King which follows the life of Abramm Kalladorne in his turbulent search for truth and self, a search that will transform him from a sickly, head-in-the-clouds youth to a legendary hero of strength and courage. Set in a world of swords and cloaks, of glittering palaces and mystical temples, of galley ships and ancient, mist-bound cities, his journey illustrates how God pursues and how He uses suffering to mold His children into something greater than was ever thought possible. Written by Karen Hancock, the acclaimed author of Arena.

Tom and Marybeth partners in a Rural Auxiliary police unit, search for two lost children. During their investigations they encounter, among others, an injured postmaster with an interesting past, a dead dog, an angry, abusive lodge owner who has a challenging health problem, the pilot of a little red airplane and too many identical boats. Will Marybeth and Tom find the children before it’s too late and will they be able to hide how they feel about each other?

He fights for his freedom. She fights for her life. Together, they fight for each other.

After watching Roman soldiers drag his parents away to their death, David, a young Hebrew, is sold and enslaved to serve at a villa outside of Rome. As David trains to become a skilled fighter, he works hard to please his master and hopes to earn his freedom. However, an opportunity to escape tempts him with its whispering call. Freedom beckons, but invisible chains hold him captive to the master’s granddaughter, an innocent girl with a fiery spirit. David vows to protect Alethea from his master, the murderous patriarch, and contrives a daring plan—sacrifice his own life to save hers.

***Very Good Suspense/Thriller!  Read my review HERE***

The human body consists of two-thirds water.

As concertgoers on a steamy day in Boston find out, water can kill as much as it gives life.

A terrorist attack at City Hall Plaza has the authorities perplexed. The government, in response, sends in a capable but young agent – an agent born from the ashes of terrorism itself – to handle it.

But as her partner dies and the terrorist strikes again, Jaclyn Johnson – code named Snapshot – finds herself in a situation she has trained a decade to face: She’s up against a man with enough money to finance a war against his competition. With a deadline in place to stop him – and with a car holding enough hidden tricks to evade capture – Snapshot infiltrates his hidden installation and finds out her target’s true end game, a secret that could have the world fighting over water.

This is book one of the Stacy Justice mystery series–laugh out loud crime fiction with a paranormal twist.

Stacy Justice did not expect to be set on fire that night, but being raised by witches prepares one for life’s little surprises. When her cousin is accused of arson, Stacy is determined to clear her family name–until something cryptic is discovered in the rubble that changes everything. Now, someone wants her dead and she finds herself dodging angry motorists, exploding chickens and a very creepy man lurking in the shadows. As she begins to dig up the past, Stacy learns that even those closest to her have something to hide–and she’s about to discover a destiny she never imagined. Suddenly, she finds herself running from a killer that will stop at nothing to keep a secret.

“She thought he was special, but; he turned out to be much more than that.”

Palena, princess of Belgium was dead inside the four walls of palace. She was not meant to be born in that family, she thought. She felt even more lost, not just in life, but had lost her soul after sudden death of the only person who ever understood her, her brother, Prince Eldon. But, then Maverick came, and showed her the way to her destiny, which led her to find the biggest secret of her life. He was nothing special he thought, but, he was her Royal Guard.

When Manhattan chef and notorious playboy Kelly Spicer realizes his recently widowed sister needs help, he turns to the most dangerous answer he knows: sorcery. Using the magic cookbook passed down through his family’s generations, Kelly conjures up a recipe of chocolate-laced persuasion to enlist the only woman he thinks can pull his sister out of her grief.

That woman is Mery Black, grief counselor to the stars, who secretly thinks she’s a jinx when it comes to men and love. When she lets that secret slip, her latest book deal gets canceled. Dating Kelly suddenly becomes the antidote to her damaged public persona. She vows she won’t fall in love again, but little does she know she’s about to do even more damage.  To his heart.

Seventy thousand years is a long time to live without true love.

As queen of the Seelie Fae, Aaibhe led her people to a new world when their own had been destroyed by war. She accepted the responsibility of maintaining the magic-built walls that imprisoned the evil Dark Fae. She kept the Seelie Hallows safe. And though she enjoyed the companionship of an occasional Fae lover, she never took a royal Fae as her king or a non-royal as her consort.

Conall is a Druid high priest from the MacTalbots, one of the families chosen by Aaibhe centuries before to perform the rituals needed to strengthen the Unseelie prison walls. Though a skilled and loyal Druid priest, he is but a mortal human, not a fit match for a powerful, formidable, immortal ruler.

And yet… she wants him. In all her seventy thousand years, she has never been blasted with such desire—and need. She has never before laughed with total abandon, loved with all her essence.

In Conall’s arms, Aaibhe discovers she can be both a queen and a woman, but jealousy, pride, and bitterness threaten the love that is at last within her grasp.

Jane Everett is the average teenage actress with a preppy aura surrounding her.

Instantly disliked by her peers, she can’t help feeling isolated. Which is why she takes up acting, hoping if she pretends to be somebody else, she’d have an excuse.  But her theory is proven wrong when River –shameless, laid-back River– moves in next door, seeing through her mask immediately.  Playing the prince in the school play, Sleepless Beauty and Prince Charmless, a parody of the original, Jane is forced to mix with this relaxed, seemingly-clueless boy.   Everybody else is cautious around him. A few years back, he used to live in this town before moving back.   Something caused him to leave. Something nobody is willing to mention.  Jane doesn’t understand why everybody keeps their distance.  But she’s about to find out.

In 1980 a terrorist attack hits the United States where it is most technologically advanced. A technology amusement park, Techno-Joy. The attack causes a collapse which creates massive explosions. These explosions cause cataclysmic rips in the time-space continuum. The rip spreads into a dragon world as well. Now groups of survivors and a Dragon Queen are stranded in a digital world, TECHNO-FEAR.

Ava Delaney calls herself a hybrid – a living, breathing human who happens to have vampire poison running through her veins. The only thing greater than her thirst for human blood is her capacity for guilt. She does her best to avoid the human world, for everyone’s sake.

When Ava accidentally enslaves a human while saving him from a vampire, she realises she has to look for help setting him free. Despite her misgivings, she expands her world but finds herself dragged into a possible vampire civil war. With the help of some new friends with ambiguous loyalties, she tries to find a way to keep her human, and herself, alive.

He left all he loved behind…

Will he be able to return and win her heart?

An earth-shattering secret revealed in his recently deceased mother’s diary causes harsh words between Noah Garrett and his brother. Desolate and totally bewildered, Noah leaves Pilot Isle and has no contact with his family or even Elle Beaumont, the girl who has been his shadow all through childhood. Now, ten years later, Noah is a renowned biologist and returns to Pilot Isle to head up a research lab. Coming back home opens up old wounds and uncovers buried feelings. Hoping to have a few days to cope with all the old emotions welling up within him, Noah really isn’t ready to face anyone yet. However, it’s just his luck that the first person he literally bumps into is Elle. The only difference is, Elle is no longer a thin red headed mischievous imp who is constantly in trouble and always needing to be rescued. This Elle is a gorgeous, passionate young woman who sets Noah’s blood on fire.

Marielle Claire Beaumont has loved Noah since she was a child. As a sad little girl who’d recently lost her mother and couldn’t speak English, Elle met Noah when he saved her from taunts at school. Ever since then Elle has loved Noah unconditionally and followed him around like a little puppy. Her world was shattered when he left so suddenly. His silence all these years has been very difficult, and Elle is stunned when she slams into him so unexpectedly. It’s not long before she’s disrupting Noah’s life again as sparks of passion fly in every direction between the two.

An exciting, fast-paced time-travel thriller from science fiction writer Graham Storrs.

In the year 2050, London is on the verge of destruction. A thrill-seeker calling himself Sniper is about to jump back in time to create a time paradox. It’s called timesplashing. It is exciting, dangerous, and the people who do it love every moment. Best of all, it doesn’t change a thing – except in the present. When the acausal backwash from the splash hits the present, all hell breaks loose. Make a big enough timesplash, far enough back, and it can devastate a whole city.

Once, timesplashing was an extreme sport and an excuse for a big party. Then Sniper took it too far. People started dying. Sandra and Jay are two people whose lives were shattered in a timesplash that went badly wrong in 2047. Now, each in their own way, they are hunting the timesplashers. And if they don’t find them, millions could die.

Porter, Oklahoma, holds a dark secret-and troublesome dreams plague Tulsa Police Detective, Kenny Elliot, who grew up in the small town. When a bizarre murder catapults Elliot into his past, he’s brought face-to-face with the fabric of his nightmares. A shiny necklace dangles from the rearview mirror of the vehicle where Lagayle Zimmerman, the victim, is discovered. Nine years earlier, in Porter, a similar necklace swung from the mirror of a Mustang that harbored the mutilated bodies of Elliot’s friends, Jonathan Alexander (Johnnie Boy), and Marcia Barnes. Most of the town believed Elliot killed his classmates, but no arrest was ever made. Risking his job and his sanity, Elliot digs into his past to solve the murders and expose the truth.

In their quest to create a stronger fighting force, the elite Black Knights unwittingly give birth to a dark force, led by a man of evil. Now the Knights must battle their counterparts to keep civilization out of harm’s way. There is one man whose destiny it is to keep humanity safe, but Mason Alexander will need the help of his soulmate to accomplish his goal. Forever changed by the medical experiments he underwent, Mason needs Holly Heart to teach him how to control his special talents. Holly, a doctor who has devoted her life to genetic research, is frightened by the changes she finds in Mason, yet she is spellbound by the desire she feels for him. As Mason and Holly join forces to defeat the enemy, passion explodes, burning as hot as a raging fire. And as their souls unite, Mason fears that if Holly ever sees the beast within him she will run forever, dooming him to the dark side.

“I have always existed, not just me but all of us, the un-embodied spirits who wait to live.”

Tess is an unborn spirit, who is about to embark on a much awaited journey into mortality to a brand new planet called Earth. She is chosen by the Eternals for an important mission, and is put under a rigorous training by a half-human, half-lion Seraph. This training exposes Tess to some of her darkest fears and insecurities. These experiences force Tess to work on her gift as a discerner of thoughts and reader of auras—thus helping her become one of Heaven’s most powerful angels. But even angels falter, and deep inside her a gnawing fear is growing. Will she meet her soul mate in life? Will their love be strong enough to overcome the forgetting effects of the Veil? And, is she prepared to take on the responsibility of keeping the most dangerous renegade and leader of the Fallen Angels at bay during mortality?

Venture Delving is a bonded servant, a member of the lowest class in the world. Already fatherless, when he loses his mother, he veers from energetic to out of control. But when Venture’s rage saves the life of Jade, his best friend and his master’s daughter, Venture finds himself in the last place he ever expected—a center renowned for training young boys to be professional fighters.

When Venture realizes he’s fallen in love with Jade, he knows that the only way he’ll ever have her, the only way he’ll ever be free to live the life he’s meant to live, is to defy convention, common sense, the trust of those he cares about most—and sometimes the law—and become the best fighter in the world, the Champion of All Richland. Venture must battle not only rival fighters, but the ghosts of his past and the members of a privileged warrior class who stand between him and his dream.

Stockbroker Jack Skinner has worked hard to make a good life for his wife and newborn daughter. But the diaper changes, long commutes and pressures of the job have worn him down. The chance to sneak away to Las Vegas to party with an old friend seems like the perfect way to recharge.

A world away from manicured lawns and two-car garages, Rob Hollister is in deep. Real deep. In love with a prostitute and hooked on drugs, he knows walking away is not in his cards. These guys kill for amusement as much as business, and they don’t believe in new beginnings.

In this fast-paced thriller, a suburban family man in pursuit of a weekend getaway finds himself trying to get away with his life. In the grip of evil men with dangerous connections, it’s a party that could come at the price of his family.

Lyss Brewer is starting the new year in a cheap motel with a wrinkled party dress and mascara stains on her cheeks. No job. No money. And as of New Year’s Eve: No boyfriend and no place to live.

Just when everything is going completely wrong, something finally goes right. Lyss is given the chance to start over when she is offered a live-in position at an historic inn. The inn will become her sanctuary, and the colorful characters who work there will become her family. However, Lyss will soon discover that the walls which surround her hold much more than history.

As fear of a serial killer spreads throughout the city of Santa Fe, Lyss begins to wrestle with her own sanity. Is she hallucinating or is she really seeing ghosts? Just when she thinks she’s found the connection, her world is turned upside down.  Will Lyss listen to the voices that haunt her? Or will she trust the one person who can’t be trusted

Cinderella is dead and one of Odin’s hellhounds has gone rogue. The Woodcutter, protector of peace between the Twelve Kingdoms of Man and the Realm of Faerie, is charged with finding the beast and returning him to the Wild Hunt.

Unfortunately, it seems the forces of evil have other plans.

Leaving his beloved wife and the comforts of his quiet home, the Woodcutter shoulders his ax and begins a journey to set things right. Instead, he finds a pixie dust trade raging out of control and a power hungry Wicked Queen who will stop at nothing to take over the world. The lives of Snow White, Rapunzel, and Little Red Riding Hood are at stake in this dark, fairytale mash-up.

It is a race against time as the Woodcutter travels east of the sun and west of the moon, up beanstalks and down to the bowels of the earth to unravel a mystery that can only be described as Grimm.

A collection of short-stories centered around the working world. Surreal aspects of everyday workplaces and exaggerated characters, that we can all, unfortunately, relate to. Working for heat is a direct translation of the Portuguese idiomatic expression – “trabalhar para aquecer” – which, very roughly, translates into working to no avail. A humorous satire about the working world.

And… after hours of agony and approximately 750 gummy bears I’ve come to realize that it’s not gonna happen.

So…in the interest of saving most of you time, and me the fitful anticipation of getting this off my chest, I’ve decided to just throw this out there, and then move on…to that whole “rational” thing I was talking about a second ago.

Here goes nothing.  “Go Team Tristan!!!!”

Alright, now that I have proven to all of you that I’m A: obviously a fan of the dark side (see the synopsis) and B:  A 15 year old girl with a horrible acne that locks herself in the closet instead of going out in public… we can move on; to the synopsis.

“Two years ago, Scarlet awoke in the forest alone, afraid, and unable to remember anything. Lost and confused, her life was a mystery…until she met a boy with a familiar voice.

Gabriel Archer has a voice from her past, and Scarlet’s determined to remember why. She immerses herself in his life only to discover he has a brother he’s kept hidden from her: Tristan Archer.

Upon meeting Tristan, Scarlet’s world becomes even more muddled. While she’s instinctively drawn to Gabriel, she’s impossibly drawn to Tristan–and confused out of her mind. As she tries to piece together her history Scarlet realizes her past…might just be the death of her.”

Now, how about we learn a few things about this stunning book.

#1 It’s original.  That’s right people… I said Original, with a capital ‘O’ *gasp*

This is probably THE thing I harp on the most when it comes to anything paranormal, so the fact that I didn’t have to berate my good friend Chelsea about it being just another wolf if sheep’s clothing was (to say the least) a relief.

Now… just because it’s original (*throws confetti*) doesn’t mean it didn’t have it’s flaws; the most important being that it had a very slow start.  Maybe I’m just used to Chelsea’s quick style of writing (see Sophie & Carter) maybe… I think that Chelsea is better than she allowed herself to be (relationship wise) in the beginning of the book.  But I was literally (no..seriously, I marked it) at page 120 when I finally felt drawn in.  Up until that point I was just really annoyed by the 7 hundred million mentions of hanging stars and (cue evil music) Tristan’s need to be a total jackhole.  But man… I tell you what, once I hit page 120, it would have taken 3 cheesecakes and a side order of Sam Worthington to pull me out of that book.

“Hey Misty…what did you like best about this book?”

Well, other than the love triangle, which…let’s all be honest with ourselves, we knew it was coming.  I loved Chelsea’s choice in narration.

“Anew” is, (for all intents and purposes,) a partitioned book.  No, it is not divided into “parts” but the narration is not singular either.  It is multi-narration, which allowed me (or you…if you follow my advice) to be drawn in from 3 VERY DIFFERENT angles.  The helpless, the hungry and the brooding, (I’ll let you guess which one is which)  Following Scarlet, Gabriel and Tristan’s journeys separately only acted as a catalyst in Chelsea’s crafty mind games, and in the end…made the plot much more exciting than it would have been one sided.

I will admit… there were a few parts that were predictable (maybe I’m just hard to fool anymore, who knows) and as a follower of mine (Farin) pointed out… it was a little surprising that it took the other characters (mainly Scarlet and Gabriel) so long to piece things together, but hey…it is what it is.

Overall… I enjoyed it.  I was furious with Chelsea and the way she ended it (regardless of how smartly plotted it was) but it was well worth the first 120 pages to discover a whole new world of opportunities that may or may not spring up in the cursed lives of the Archers.

My advice…if you love ANY type of YA, Paranormal or even just romance; get this book.  Hell, it’s only $2.99…if you are like me, you spend more than that on coffee every day.

Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: if he’s hot…it’s ok to follow him into his basement of doom.  Ok, not really, but you get what I’m saying.

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****~ (4/5)

Book Trailer

Hey guess what!!! I’m not done.

The lovely Ms. Chelsea shipped me a signed copy of “Anew” to giveaway to one of you lucky lucky readers, so… just hop on down to the Rafflecopter sign-ups and get busy!

The Giveaway!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Want to win a Kindle Fire?

Authors Aiden James, Scott Nicholson, J. R. Rain, and H.T. Night are teaming up Jan. 11-13 to give away $1,000 in prizes, including four Kindle Fires, $200 in Amazon gift cards, and 45 free Kindle books!!

There are four ways to enter during Jan. 11-13

(all of which can be easily accomplished through the Rafflecopter links at the bottom, but her is the gist.)

• Share this blog link according to the blogger’s directions
• Share our free books and event from http://epickindlegiveaway.blogspot.com
• Spread the news about our contest on your favorite Internet hangouts and the Kindle Fairy is searching and putting names in her Magic Hat

But WAIT…. that’s not all! How about some free books????  Each author has decided to throw some loot up for grabs. *throws confettii*

If one of the four authors hits #1 on the Kindle Free list, they will give away another Kindle Fire. If at any time during the event, the four authors hold all the Top 10 slots on the Kindle Free list, they will give away a sixth kindle. Winners will be selected after the contest by the Watauga County (NC) Public Library using random.org.

Something For Everyone!

Click the links for additonal details & downloading info

(If you are a UK Kindle-ites.. don’t fret, these are free for you too… just go to the authors Amazon bio page to find a full listing.)

Scott Nicholson

J.R. Rain

Aiden James

H.T. Night

Get Registered to WIN!!!

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But first… a word from Fox’s sponsor:

“For Willa Jacobs, seeing her best friend, Jane Weston, is like looking in a mirror on a really good day. Strangers assume they are sisters, a comparison Willa secretly enjoys. They share an apartment, clothing, and groceries, eking out rent with part-time jobs. Willa writes advertising copy, dreaming up inspirational messages for tea bags (“The path to enlightenment is steep” and “Oolong! Farewell!”), while Jane cleans houses and writes poetry about it, rhyming “dust” with “lust,” and “clog of hair” with “fog of despair.” Together Willa and Jane are a fortress of private jokes and shared opinions, with a friendship so close there’s hardly room for anyone else. But when Ben, Willa’s oldest friend, reappears and falls in love with Jane, Willa wonders: Can she let her two best friends find happiness with each other if it means leaving her behind?”

Alright…alright, I will admit that I was (unconsciously I assure you) drawn in by the prologue of this novel (there is a bit of a battle royal staged at a bank) and… against ALL of my better judgement I just HAD TO KNOW what in Hemingway’s holy name happened, so I read on. But it wasn’t all that far into the read (though it’s a quick one) that I realized that I had committed to something less than spectacular.

Like I said above, as with every other chick-lit I have read (I beg of you…someone please prove me wrong) the beginning of the novel was the best part, but around the 60 page mark or so.. I started to find Fox’s sarcastic slams and pun-tastic play on words down right annoying.

Now, before you start scolding me, because I too am ingrained with the “say sarcastic shit” button, I have nothing but respect for those who know when to shut it off, especially when it comes to writing…a somewhat serious book.  That’s not to say I didn’t chuckle like a lunatic (and perhaps take notes) in the beginning of this book, I’m just saying that a break now and then (like say…for instance: during sex scenes) would have been nice.

So, what about the characters?

Well, Willa was mildly entertaining when she wasn’t destroying herself, Jane was nice…when she wasn’t being a control freak, and Ben was… well… pathetic. No, actually, change that to gutless, (which also goes for Willa.)

And, if that wasn’t enough to warn you off of this mildly amusing, yet incredibly predictable read.  Let’s talk about the ending.

IT SUCKED!

I’m talking grade-A, top of the class, “what the hell….is that it?” type of ending.

In 3 words… it just stopped.  Everything was a mess, Willa was rambling about something that may or may not have been construed as meaningful and the next thing I know, *POOF* it’s over.  Which left me a little annoyed that I had even read the book in the first place.

All in all… not that awesome, unless you need material for a girl on girl smack-down.

Don’t waste your money people, spend it on something you won’t want to drive a wooden stake through.

Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: Fool me once, shame on me.  Fool me 26 times… I deserve to be punished.

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**½~~ (2.5/5) <—I’ll give it an extra 1/2 of a star for the few times coffee came out of my nose.