Review of The Immortality Virus

 

The Immortality Virus

Christine Amsden

Twilight Times Books April 2011

ISBN 9781606190036

 

   In the mid 21st century, the human race has stopped aging. Those who know the reason why are not talking and the others want to find out why and put the world back the way it was meant to be. The problem is, they tend to disappear. For the elite few, the "Change" means a long life and prosperity. To the masses, it means poverty and starvation.

   Four centuries after the Change, Grace Harper, a blacklisted PI, sets off to find the man responsible and convince him to set things to rights. In addition, her employer, Matthew Stanton, is accused of killing his father. When the police learn of her connection to Matthew, they give her a choice. Help them to find the evidence to convict him or she will find herself dead.

   This is a futuristc science fiction tale where viruses are manipulated to stop the aging process. Not unlike present day, the wealthy will go to great lengths to preserve what is theirs and the less fortunate, do whatever it takes to survive from day to day. Grace has to work from both ends to try and survive by helping the police and at the same time, doing what is asked by her employer. She is taken prisoner and tortured and poisoned in the process. At the same time, she attempts to keep her wits about her in order to find a way to escape. Buried inside this story of intrigue and suspense, is a long buried love story with her former lover from fifty years before. Another attraction is simmering under the surface from the present day despite the dangers that await at every turn.

   The storyline was a bit slow in the beginning; but once you passed the first couple of chapters, the storyline picked up and kept moving until the end. If you are into science fiction, you are sure to enjoy this story. If you just like a good story full of intrigue and mystery, you should also like this story. I highly recommend it.

   I wish to thank the publisher for providing me with a copy for reading and reviewing purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. I was not compensated in anyway except for receiving the book to review.

 

I give The Immortality Virus 4.5 out of 5 stars

    

 

 

Review of Secrets by Freya North

 

Secrets

Freya North

Sourcebooks Landmark Jan 2012

ISBN 9781402260148

 

   Tess answers an ad in the newspaper for a house sitter at a small town called Saltburn-by-the-Sea. She has absolutely no idea what a house sitter does; but is told that it could be a long term proposition. That in itself appeals to Tess because she is trying to escape her old life. Without even being offered the job, only an interview, Tess packs up her daughter and the few possessions she has and makes the journey to take the job.

   Joe sees this woman with her child and tells himself she is not right for the job; but he cannot bring himself to not give it to her. From the start, there is something about Tess that has a pull on him. Joe informs her that he is gone for long periods of time so she has the house basically to herself except for his dog. They are a bit testy to each other from the start because Joe doesn't know about little Em and Tess doesn't know about Wolf from the phone call. Tess manages to get the position and Joe gets his house sitter.

   I really liked this book from the very beginning. Tess is a very insecure woman and has many secrets that take a long time for her to reveal. Even though she is insecure, she is able to stand on her own against Joe when the need arises. Joe is from some reviewers eyes, a piece of work. He has a nice set up for himself when he travels. A woman in France, one in Japan, one in the US, you get the idea. It works for him and it works for the ladies, so who are we to judge. He gets what he needs and so do they with no strings attached. Along comes Tess and Joe starts looking at things a bit differently. He starts having feelings for Tess and becomes attached to her daughter. He does not change over night ; but you can see his conscience starting to work on him. Joe of course has secrets, and like Tess, it takes a long time for him to reveal them. We begin to see the life that has shaped Joe into the person he has become.

   This was a charming love story of two very different individuals who find what they want in life through each other. Both harbored secrets that needed to be told and in the process free themselves to love and start a fresh life. If you are a fan of fun, light hearted romance, this is the book for you. I do caution that the bedroom scenes get a bit graphic. If you are not averse to this, then I highly recommend this book.

   I wish to thank Sourcebooks for providing me with a copy from netgalley for reading and reviewing purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. I was not compensated in anyway except for receiving the ebook to review.

 

I give Secrets 4 out of 5 stars

Review of The Mirrors of Fate

 

The Mirrors of Fate

Out of the Past

Book1

Cindi Lee

Smashwords Edition 2011

 

   Maria was adopted into an Indian family at the age of six. She had a tough life growing up and suffered at the hands of both father and mother, physical and mental abuse. Her father is the true authority figure in the family and set a course for an arranged marriage of Maria when she turns twenty. Maria is a determined young woman and wants no part of the arrangement and does all in her power to try to leave home.

   Maria is a loner and only associates with two girls at school who only act like her friend on the surface. A handsome young man enters the school year mid stream and sets his sights on Maria. She is most assuredly flattered; but Alan is intent on evil purposes. Alan is most definitely not who he appears to be and the powers of darkness will intervene.

   This is a YA paranormal read with the dark arts introduced. I was quite impressed with this book and was pulled in early on despite the rather lengthy prologue that had me a bit confused. As the story progresses, the meaning of the prologue becomes clearer. Once I started the meat of the story, I could not stop until I was finished. In fact, I read it in one sitting. Maria has had a horrible life with her adopted family; but she has managed to grow up to be a fairly independent young woman, although a bit shy and awkward. She sets her sights on something and is determined to set a course. Her judgment is poor though and she gets sucked in with Alan's sweet words and caring ways. I guess if you never get kind words at home, you take them where you can. Alan is out for revenge; but finds he cares for Maria more then he should. This adds a bit of a twist to the story. The storyline is well written and flows nicely. I am not so sure the crime Maria is charged with deserves the punishment she is supposed to get; but then again the story takes on an interesting twist at the end. I will definitely like to see what happens in the next installment. If you are into YA paranormal reads, I am sure you will enjoy this one.

   I wish to thank the author for providing me with a copy for reading and reviewing purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. I was not compensated in anyway except for receiving the book to review.

 

I give The Mirrors of Fate 4 out of 5 stars

Review of Dylan by C. H. Admirand

 

Dylan

C. H. Admirand

Sourcebooks Jan 2012

Kindle Edition

 

   Dylan Garahan is working a part time gig at the Lucky Star Club to help keep their ranch afloat. He is not happy with his job because women act so crazy when they are in the club putting money down his pants. He changes his mind a bit when he lassos a feisty brunette with the most gorgeous eyes. This little "filly" may just get him back on his game with women.

   Ronnie DelVecchio has just moved to Texas to start a new life after a divorce from her cheating husband. She is furious that her friends set up this lassoing on her birthday; but she can't get that kiss from that hunkalicious cowboy out of her mind. When he invites her for more after the show, she turns him down flat; but will she be able to resist for long?

   This is the second book in The Secret Life of Cowboys Trilogy about three brothers who are trying to keep their ranch from going under and are all trying to recover from a disastrous relationship. This is a fast pace read that I was unable to put down. The storyline is really quite good; but is a bit trying at times. Dylan comes on strong throughout the book and some women would find him insulting, bordering on sexual harassment. Ronnie acts the tough girl; but she is a bit wishy- washy. Even so, overall, I enjoyed the book. This is a witty story of love, romance, raw sensuality and cowboys. If you are into any or all of the these, you will surely enjoy the book. 

   I wish to thank Sourcebooks for providing me with a netgalley copy for reading and reviewing purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. I was not compensated in anyway except for receiving the galley to review.

 

I give Dylan 4 out of 5 stars 

Review of Sins of the Highlander

 

Sins of the Highlander

Connie Mason/Mia Marlowe

Sourcebooks Jan 2012

ISBN 9781402261824

 

   Elspeth Stewart is standing at the alter with a man she doesn't even know, Lachlan Drummond. Her arranged marriage is to strengthen an alliance between her father's clan and Lachlan Drummond's clan. It doesn't hurt that the marriage is bringing a large dowry to the Drummond. Never in a million years did Elspeth think she would be carted off by a hulking highlander on a black stallion on her wedding day. Such a sacrilege for the kirk to be desecrated in such a manner.

   The kidnapping starts out as revenge on the Drummond by "Mad" Rob McLaren for him kidnapping "Mad" Rob's wife, raping her and locking her away to plunge to her death from a tower. As the days go by, Elspeth chips away at the hardened heart of Rob and he finds himself falling for his hostage. Will Elspeth return his feelings or will he have to pay for his sins?

   I have not met a story with hunky highlanders that I have not liked and this one is not exception. The story was a bit predictable in that I have run across this same theme on several different occasions. The story is different; but the highlander kidnapping an unwilling female and they fall in love is all too familiar. The story took quite a surprise turn towards the end when we get involved with witchcraft. "Mad" Rob is quite the protector even though he has kidnapped the lady. Elspeth is not your usual simpering female and holds up her own throughout the story. I really liked how she remained true to her word and Rob even though she knew that it could bring her demise. This is a wonderful highland romance full of adventure, betrayal, and love. If you like highland romances, this one should be no exception. 

   I wish to thank Sourcebooks for providing me with a netgalley copy for reading and reviewing purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. I was not compensated in anyway except for receiving the galley for review. 

 

I give Sins of the Highlander 4 out of 5 stars 

Winner of Barely Human

The winner of the signed copy of Barely Human by Trace Riles is Janet Quinn. I will be emailing you for your snail mail address. Thank you for all who entered the contest. Enjoy your book when it arrives.

Review of Yesterday's Daughter

Yesterday's Daughter

Sallie Lundy-Frommer

Ebook Edition

   Grace Stone is a lonely woman who knows she is different from other people. Her only problem, she doesn't know what or who she really is. She grew up in the foster care system where she was abused. As a teen, she finally escaped and survived on her wits. Being quite intelligent, she furthered her education and took a job working in the morgue at the local hospital. Even there she did not truly fit in.

   Malachi, a guardian of the vampire community, has been searching for Grace for decades. Sapphira, her true name, was named as his life mate. When he finds her, he must convince her of what she is and that she belongs with him. To complicate matters, evil is hiding in the shadows and is determined to interrupt their destiny.

   Yesterday's Daughter is an emotionally charged romance filled with mystery, intrigue, kidnapping, murder and betrayal on numerous fronts. This is not your average vampire story with lots of neck biting and falling into bed. There is mounting passion with a storyline that allows you to use your own imagination without full blown bedroom scenes. The story is well written and keeps the reader on the edge. The author has no problem keeping the reader interested and focused. Despite the intense love story between Sapphira and Malachi, there is lots of action, adventure and intrigue. Even if you are not a fan of vampires, this story is so off the beaten path of a normal vampire romance, you most certainly would still enjoy the read. I highly recommend it. 

   I wish to thank the author for providing me with a copy for reading and reviewing purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. I was not compensated in any way except for receiving the book to review.

I give Yesterday's Daughter 4.5 out of 5 stars

Press Release for Brotherhood of Dwarves Series by D.A. Adams

To find out about the very special offer by Seventh Star Press, follow the link to their website for complete details. http://www.seventhstarpress.com/documents/press_releases.html

Review of Barely Human and Giveaway of Signed PB Copy

 

Barely Human

Trace Riles

Eirelander Publishing October 2011

ISBN 9781468033151

 

   Jessie has been newly promoted and is having a difficult time with her new partner. Her partner is much more experienced and finds fault with Jessie at every turn. Not only does Jessie have to deal with her partner, she is is finding it increasingly difficult to hide her ability to "flicker" as her mother  always called it. Jessie knows she is different; but she does not know exactly what she is.

   Jessie and her partner, Ray, get involved in a murder investigation of a local teen. In the process, Jessie discovers who and what she really is. To her complete surprise, she learns that those creatures she only heard about in fantasy tales, vampires, werewolves, demons and necromancers, really do exist. As the investigation progresses, she finds that the murderer may be closer to her then she realizes. She bands together with a crew of unusual characters in an attempt to solve the murder and discovers a lot about herself in the process.

   This story is a fantastic read. I was hooked from the very beginning and could not put it down. The storyline is well written and despite the back and forth of of Jessie's "flickering" and her going inside the demon world, the story flows nicely. Jessie is an extremely likable character because despite her overall insecurities, she always holds up her end and plunges forward no matter how scared she may be. There is quite the cast in this book and definitely leaves it open for further stories from these characters. I for one would love to see more about any of them. If you are into fantasy reads, I am certain you will like this one. Who can go wrong with vampires, demons, werewolves and necromancers? I highly recommend it.

   I wish to thank the author for providing me with an ARC to read and review. I was not required to write a positive review. I was not compensated in anyway except for receiving the book to review.

 

I give Barely Human 4.5 out of 5 stars

 

The author has kindly offered a signed paperback copy of Barely Human to be given away to one lucky commenter. Just leave a comment with your email address so I can notify you and get your snail mail address. I will leave the contest open until Wednesday, Jan 18 at midnight EST. I will notify the winner on Thursday. You will have 48 hours to respond with your address or I will chose another winner. Have fun and enjoy! Sorry, this contest is only open to the US because of postage.

The Winners Are.......

The winners of the special giveaway of eBooks from Stephen Zimmer and Seventh Star Press are:

Robin Michelle Hamilton Blankenship

festival8

Brian Oscar

Someone will be in touch with you soon to give you your 8 ebook shorts.

Review of Syroia

 

Syroia

Cheyenne Mitchell

Author House July 2011

ISBN 9781463415785

 

   Syroria is the story of Arquito Desmunde, a man who is being pursued and haunted by a deceased relative. Little does Quito, as his family calls him, know; but the person haunting him is not the person he thinks. As our story progresses, Quito begins to do some unspeakable and heinous crimes because he is being forced from beyond in a manner he has no control over. Throughout the story, the crimes heighten in severity until Quito is unable to live with the results any longer. His beloved sister, Lucy, finally confronts him. He eventually tells her his problem and together they seek out the help of a local woman who is into the occult.

   This is a dark and gruesome tale of witchcraft and the dark side. It is the story of the Desmunde family and the many secrets that have been with them for years. The story is told through the eyes of Quito and brings to light the mystery, intrigue, and horrors that surround the family. The story starts out very slowly with an indepth description of family members and their relationship to one another. I really had a problem getting through that first chapter. The story in and of itself is quite good; but it dragged a bit too much for my taste. Every time Quito introduced another person into the storyline, there was always a description of their hair, eyes, and build. If it was a woman, she was always beautiful. There were some parts I found a bit redundant.

   The story takes place in the town of Syroia, named after the great great grandmother of the same name. The murders of hundreds and hundreds of towns people have been going on for years; but the killings have never been solved because there was never any proof. The difficulty in solving the murders is because they were not committed by a normal human being. They are perpetrated by a supernatural force. If you are into dark magic and  supernatural thrillers, this is the book for you. If you are looking for a crime novel, this is not what this is. It is not for the faint of heart. The descriptions of crime scenes are quite gruesome.

   I wish to thank the author for providing me with a copy of the book for reading and reviewing purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. I was not compensated in anyway except for receiving the book to review.

 

I give Syroia 3.5 out of 5 stars

Special Interview and 8 eBook Short Stories Giveaway with Stephen Zimmer

It is my distinct pleasure to be part of this special eBook short stories giveaway with Seventh Star Press and Stephen Zimmer. I will fill you in with complete details after a brief interview with Stephen.

1-  What made you decide to write the singles to go along with the Rising Dawn Saga and The Fires in Eden Series?

I have been developing both of these series since the mid-1990’s, and in laying the foundation for the series and the worlds that they are set in, I sketched out quite a lot in terms of the histories, places, and other elements.

Obviously, a majority of this foundational material does not make it into the series directly, though sometimes there is a brief reference to an individual, period of history, or place during the events of the novels. 

As a reader, haven’t you sometimes wanted to know more about something mentioned in a book?  I’m one of those kinds of readers and have always wanted a way to expand on some of the underlying material.  Even though these historical events, characters, or places are either minor or unmentioned in the novel series, I have given them quite a bit of thought, and the ideas for stories with them just jump forward in abundance.

The stories give active readers of my series more to explore and enjoy about the worlds, and I believe that they can enhance the enjoyment of the novel series.

I then took this idea a little farther, as I thought it would be a good thing for some of my fellow SSP authors to do, as they have some really intriguing series.  I then put the idea forward to see what everyone thought.  I am happy to say that it was well-received within the SSP family!

2-  Are the short stories actually a continuation of the two series or can they stand alone?

That’s the cool thing about these short stories.  In the sense that they take place in the worlds of the novel series, they add depth and dimension to the experience of the readers who have been reading the novels.  On the other hand, they are stand alone stories too, and require no prior familiarity with the novels to enjoy them.  Kind of like the best of both worlds!

3-  Are there plans to write more shorts to go along with the series?

Absolutely!  I already have a few in later stages of development, and a great number of ideas for others.  The ideas just leap out from the foundational material created for the novel series.  There is simply a lot to draw from, and I can see a great number of these coming to life in the years to come.  I really hope readers enjoy them as much as I love writing them!

  4-  Will there be more novels to add to the series? If so, when can we expec them?

   Oh yes, there are a projected seven novels in the Rising Dawn Saga, and either 7 or 8 in the Fires in Eden series.  Book Three in the Fires in Eden series comes out late spring, and The Seventh Throne was Book Three in the Rising Dawn Saga, so there is quite a bit more ahead in the main two series.  Book Four in the Rising Dawn Saga should come out towards the end of 2012.  There is about a 7 month window between my novel releases with the two series being alternated on the schedule.

Thank you so much for giving me a chance to visit with you, Eva!  It is a real privilege and thanks for shining some light on those of us in the small press world!

Now for the details of the giveaway.

There will be 3 winners chosen. Each winner will receive a total of 8 short stories in the prize package. Each winner will receive 4 shorts from Stephen Zimmer, 2 new ones from Steven Shrewsbury, featuring his Sword and Sorcery icon, Gorias La Gaul, and 2 from Michael West. Michael's stories are horror genre of a Stephen King style. The winner can choose kindle or nook compatibility or request ePub format which should work in Sony Readers or Ipads. All you have to do is leave a comment on this blog post to be entered. To get additional entries, just follow any or all of the authors or seventh star press on facebook and/ or twitter. You must supply that info in your post to get the additional entries. Be sure to leave your email address and eBook format so that I can contact the winners and provide the publisher with your information. The contest will be open through Sunday, Jan 15, 2012 at midnight EST. I will notify the winners on Monday, Jan 16. Ebooks will be provided through the publisher, Seventh Star Press.  

      

Review of Blood and Fire

 

Blood and Fire

Carrie Clevenger&Nerine Dorman

Dark Continents Publishing 2012

 

   This short story takes us on an adventure with the awesome Xan Marcelles, bassist for the cover band, Crooked Fang. For those of you who don't know, Xan is a vampire, and a fine vampire he is. He is escorted out of the remote tavern in Pinecliffe, Colorado by some men who identify themselves as FBI. Are they really FBI? Would the FBI inject a man with a needle and truss him up like a Thanksgiving turkey?

   Along comes another not completely human, Ash, who is Xans only hope of escape. Ash is in the same location to try and retrieve the cartouche of Amunet the First. At first, he sticks his nose up at Xan because he considers him an animal who sucks blood from humans. After considerable thought, Ash realizes he is not much different. He is an Inkarna who exists by stealing bodies. They band together in an effort to collect the artifact and break Xan out of his prison. An unlikely pair who are more alike then they think.

   This is a wonderful story that had me hooked from the start. I am not usually into short stories because they usually leave you wanting for more. This one is no exception. Fortunately, there will be more when Xan stars in his own novel when it is released in August. I did notice one major difference with this short, it gave me the feeling of a complete story. I find many shorts to be lacking something that makes them seem incomplete. This story is full of action, murder, suspense, magic, and mixed in it all, I get the vibes of a conscience from our two main characters. The story is told in the first person alternating chapters between Xan and Ash. This was also well done and made the story flow smoothly. It is a quick read and can be easily read in one sitting. If you love vampires and magic, I am sure you will love this story. And ladies, let's not forget the two sexy guys.

   I wish to thank the author, Carrie Clevenger,  for providing me with a copy for reading and reviewing purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. I was not compensated in anyway except for receiving a copy to review.

 

I give Blood and Fire 5 out of 5 stars

 

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13358275-blood-and-fire

http://www.amazon.com/Blood-and-Fire-ebook/dp/B006SD3F2S/

Lost in the Hive

Lost in the Hive

Confessions of a Reluctant Drone

Brian O'Mara- Croft

P.W. Publishing Works

ISBN 9781935557081

   This awesome book is a collection of essays so to speak in the life of the author. I don't like to call them essays because that sounds like a school assignment and a bit dry. This book is far from dry. It had me laughing out loud from the beginning to the end. Brian's dream hive is what it says,  a dream. I will take a sentence from his book. "In my dream hive, we'd part from convention and allow not only for a dominant queen- some things are a given, even in dreams- but also an omnipotent, greatly feared, yet much-adored, King Bee." At least he has part of that correct! As I said, this is a dream hive.

   The author has a way with words that just sucks you right into what he is telling you. He describes in great detail some everyday happenings with his wife and family that will have you in stitches. Knowing Brian as she does, she felt it her duty to give him some guidelines into what he could not write. For instance, one chapter is titled, "My Wife Told Me Not to Write About Sex." I think he misunderstood the directions just a bit. Hench the chapter, "I Thought I Told You Not to Write About Sex." What part of the first did you not understand?

   I could go on and on about this book, but you need to read it for yourself. If you are a fan of such authors as Erma Bombeck, I think you will love this book. If you want something to pick up your spirits and have you in stitches, this book is definitely for you. I for one am hoping there will be another one forth coming.

   I wish to thank the author for providing me with a copy to read and review. I was not required to write a positive review. I was not compensated in anyway except for receiving the book to read and review.

I give Lost in the Hive 5 out of 5 stars

Review of Classic Revenge

Classic Revenge

A Silver Sleuths Mystery

Mitzi Kelly

ISBN 9780803477698

   A tragic accident claims the life of Susan Wiley or so everyone thinks. Now, her husband, Sam,  is being charged with her murder. Their neighbors and dear friends Trish, Edna, and Millie try to convince the Chief of Police that he has the wrong man. He refuses to listen to reason because all evidence points to Sam being guilty. The friends will not give up so easily. They are determined to get to the bottom of the case and prove their friends innocence. The amateur sleuths plunge head long into their own investigation and find a bit more then they bargained for; but they also find out they are much stronger then they think.

   This is a quick, fun read that will have you chuckling at dear eighty year old Millie who is a feisty, no nonsense gal. Edna is a bit timid and treads lightly because her husband is all too present and watching what the ladies are up too. She always manages, however, to speak up and keep her cool when the need arises. Trish is the younger of the three and is always trying to keep Millie in line. That proves to be a full time job in itself. The storyline is quite good even though I don't think this could happen in real life. I am pretty certain these ladies would be nailed for interfering in a police investigation. No matter. They are determined to prove their friend's innocence. If you are up for a quick read with a bit of suspense, I highly recommend this book. I sure hope we will be seeing more from this trio of sleuths in the future.

   I wish to thank the author for providing me with a copy of the book to read and review. I was not required to write a positive review. I was not compensated in anyway except for receiving the book to review.

I give Classic Revenge 4 out of 5 stars

Review of A Vampire Christmas Carol

A Vampire Christmas Carol

Sarah Gray

Kensington Press

ISBN 9780758266835

   This story follows basically along the lines of the original book except for the fact that Ebenezer Scrooge is a nasty old man because of vampires. The vampires have been after him since birth and have had him fed minute amounts of blood without his knowing it. He is not a vampire; but the Queen of all vampires wants him badly. They are plotting to attack and take over the human race. Tiny Tim is to be a sacrifice.

   Kind and beautiful Belle is a seamstress by day and a vampire huntress by night. She actually provides shelter for those who are displaced because of the vampires. Scrooge's nephew, Fred, and Bob Cratchit are some of Belle's soldiers in the fight against the vampires. Belle is essentially protected against the vampires because she knows who they are and has a special instinct against them.

   Unbeknown to Ebenezer, his new tenants in his basement are the King and Queen of the vampires. Jacob Marley makes a visit to Ebenezer to warn him of the evil lurking around him and convince him of the existence of the vampires. Little does he know that the vampires have many human minions under their wing to aid them in the humans destruction. Scrooge has a short time to make everything right with the world.

   Even though this followed the original tale, it was a very slow and difficult  read for me. I love vampires, but they just didn't fit into the scheme of things with old Ebenezer. It seemed to take forever to get Scrooge to where he should be and then it ended abruptly with Scrooge in love with Belle again. Sometimes, I think the original tales should be left alone. This just may be one of them. I love Christmas tales even if it is not the Christmas season. Sadly, I will have to cross this one off my list.

   This was a book I had won in a drawing from Kensington on twitter. I wish to thank them for providing the book for giveaway.

I give A Vampire Christmas Carol 2 out of 5 stars