Press Release from Seventh Star Press

 Michael West's new series with us in urban fantasy, The Legacy of
the Gods, is now at the starting line with Poseidon's Children.

We just opened a pre-order window for a limited edition hardcover version
(only 75 to be issued) of Poseidon's Children that bundles the eBook
version with it in the eVersion of the reader's choice (along with some
collectible extras).

We also unveiled 2 new Matthew Perry illustrations from the book as well.

The press release with the new images and cover art can be found here:
http://seventhstarpress.com/documents/press_releases.html

The pre-order page can be found here:
http://seventhstarpress.com/documents/pre_orders.html

Review of Valentine Submission

Valentine Submission

Sue Lyndon

Free Kindle Edition 2/2012

   Anne has just been through a very nasty divorce. Reservations for a friend's B&B had been made at the ocean before the divorce, so, Anne decides to keep them because she is in need of some rest and relaxation. She is not sure how Jack will react to her arriving because he is technically her ex-husband's friend. She need not fear because Jack is more then happy to see her. He has difficulty staying at arm's length because he is feeling chemistry for her and he is afraid it is too soon after the divorce.

   Jack is a widow and has decided it is time to move on. Anne was friends with his former wife so she knows that Jack is a Dom. She asks him to teach her about BDSM and the story flies from there. Anne is a bit leery when the teaching begins; but she trusts Jack and is willing to do whatever he asks. As things heat up, Anne realizes she is falling for Jack so she gets scared and leaves without a word. The Dom side takes over and Jack goes after her. He has a special surprise for her on Valentine's Day. If she thinks she can get away so easily, she is sadly mistaken.

   This is a short, fast read that sucks you in from the get go. For such a short read, the storyline is well written and developed. The characters are both endearing, especially Jack. The basics of BDSM and the toys of the trade are introduced. If reading about BDSM is offensive to you, then don't read the book. If you like your storyline a bit risque with Doms, slaves, and toys, then you will definitely like this one. I highly recommend it.

   I received this as a free kindle book from amazon. 

I give Valentine Submission 5 out of 5 stars

Review of The Little Rednecks and a Town Full of Bullies

The Little Rednecks and a Town Full of Bullies

T. Denise Robinson

Fantasy Island Book Publishing 2011

ISBN 9781908822024

   Joee, Stump, Sarah, and Wheels are different then the other kids in their class and are prime targets for bullying. The four of them band together and have a special bond that they begin to realize is more then just friendship. As the time of their thirteenth birthday draws near, magical powers start to surface, and they will find out what and who they truly are. When it comes down to the wire, Southpaw, Joee's grandpa, has no choice but to tell the kids the truth.

   A school assignment puts the kids in harms way and they are forced to confront some unknown evils. A treasure map takes them to the central part of #7 Coal Mine where the kids look for a special box. If the children find the box, will it answer their questions or will it give them more questions?

   This is a wonderful young teen story that is also quite suitable for adults. The Redneck in the title is not used in a derogatory manner; but is used as a term of respect. The young teens in this story are all handicapped in one form or another; but are fearless in their determination. They have also developed their own way of handling the bullies and take it in stride. Not only are there bullies towards the kids; but there are adults who are bullies in their own right. There are the rich who use their power to intimidate the poor and use them to get richer. The storyline is well written and flows nicely. The author has used a mix of history, a societal issues, mystery, and the paranormal to give the reader an awesome read. If you are into young teen reads and the paranormal, or just like a good story, I highly recommend this book.

   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 review.

I give The Little Rednecks 4.5 out of 5 stars

Review of 11:11 Countdown to 2012

11:11 Countdown to 2012

Verna Clay

Echelon Press eBook 2011

Smashwords Edition

   Eve Applegate gets a new neighbor who is absolutely gorgeous. She considers herself a bit unattractive and  over- weight so she becomes extremely tongue-tied around him. Theodore Baldwin is not quite what he appears to be. His mission, if you will, is to bring Eve into her "Realization" because the fate of the world is depending on it. According to the Mayan calender, this all must happen before the end of the countdown year of 2012. If not, could the world have the same doomed fate of "Atlantis."
   Eve is just trying to make a better life for herself by working and going to school. Her world is suddenly turned upside down when Theo comes on the scene. He leads her to believe he is writing a book and asks her to read chapters that he has written. This is all in an attempt to win Eve's trust and lead her in the direction she needs to go. Whenever Eve's apartment blows up, she finds herself on a journey that she has a difficult time believing. Can Theo truly be who and what he says he is?
   This is an extremely interesting and fascinating book. The author weaves lots of the Mayan calender history and events into the story through Theo's "book." I found this to be quite unique in the way it was presented. Even though I found it fascinating, I became bogged down sometimes because I really had no clue as to what the history was actually telling me. This in no way, however, deterred from the story. Theo sounds like the kind of man that dreams are made of. Eve has a rather poor self-esteem issue so she is actually insecure. A bit of a loner, she relishes the attention she receives from Theo. During their travels together, Eve grows and becomes more secure in the woman that she truly is. There is obviously some chemistry between these two; but it is not until close to the end that we discover why Theo is fighting it. The storyline is well written and flows nicely throughout. If you enjoy stories that are a bit out of the ordinary, you will surely enjoy this one. 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 anyway except for receiving the book to read.

I give 11:11 Countdown to 2012, 4 out of 5 stars

  

  

Review of A Spy at Home

A Spy at Home

Joseph Rinaldo

EBook Version

   Garrison, a retired CIA operative decides to confiscate over ten million dollars that was earmarked for a rebel band preparing to overthrow the dictator of an African country. He has been using US money for years to support rebels in foreign countries. The CIA has no idea where all the money goes and no one checks into any of it. Between Garrison and his wife, they device a plan to hide the money and the means to get it fairly easily if they have need of it. His wife, Louisa, eventually decides she wants to use the money for doing good and does not always consider all angles when she comes up with the ideas.

   Eventually, the rebels who were to get the money, start making noises and insisting on their money. The CIA becomes involved and Noah convinces them that someone within stole the money. Eventually, the bad guys come knocking on the door, and Louisa is suddenly gone. Now Garrison is left to care for their adopted Downs son, Noah. Having been gone most of their married life and their son's growing up years, Garrison has no clue as to how to care for Noah. Now in his twenties and developing Alzheimers, he finds himself totally out of his league. The only thing he is certain of, he must make plans for Noah in case he should die.

   This book is told in the first person and goes from the time Garrison and Louisa get married and how they find themselves with an adopted son with Downs Syndrome. This is a very interesting story and full of adventure and intrigue. There are some parts that drone on a bit too much when they are going back and forth out of the country in an attempt to juggle the money. Garrison is a great character but he is pretty clueless when it comes to being a family man because he is seldom, if ever around. His wife Louisa, is a bit self righteous and gets a tad nerve racking when she wants the money to go to charities in massive quantities. It is like she does not think things through; but is determined to have her way. She is extremely over protective of Noah; but obviously loves him fiercely. This tends to cause some tension between her and Garrison on occasion. All in all, this was a very good story and 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 anyway except for receiving the book to review.

I give A Spy at Home. 4 out of 5 stars

Guest Post with Sherri Hayes & Review of Behind Closed Doors

Does your writing style change much from writing a romance to one involving BDSM?

The simple answer is, yes, it does. Although the biggest difference, writing wise, for me between Finding Anna and my romantic suspense novels is that my BDSM series is written in first person while my other books are in third. It takes getting into an entirely different mindset to write first versus third person. I feel the author’s personality can leak into the wording more in third person than it can in first. Whereas in first person, it’s almost as if you’re an actor playing the part of the character whose voice you’re writing. It’s not only how they say things that are important, but also how they think, speak, and generally interact with the world around them.

Another major difference comes from the genre specifications. Since my BDSM series is classified as erotica, I have a lot more freedom of wording. In romance there is a line most readers don’t want to cross. They want description, but not too much, and as a writer you have to find a balance. The nature of BDSM requires a lot of description in order to explain what is going on. Positioning has even more meaning than in traditional romance. My romantic suspense novels also contain a lot of mystery. I like to take my readers on a journey and keep them guessing till the end. That means juggling things outside their immediate world, setting the stage for the stories climax where all is revealed. Sometimes vague descriptions can work in the authors favor when the want to touch on something, but not giveaway too much.

Behind Closed Doors

Sherri Hayes

Writers Coffee Shop Publishing House Feb 2012

ISBN 9781612130910

   Elizabeth Marshall has spent the last nine years of her life doing everything that was expected of her. Oh, but life is not always what it appears to be on the surface. Yes, she is married to a handsome, successful attorney, has more clothes then she will ever need, a beautiful home and looking forward to someday having children. Then, six months ago, her world came crashing down. Her husband is dead and she has lost all of her friends. She moves to Springfield to start a new life. The problem is, what goes on behind closed doors does not always stay there.

   Christopher Daniels has spent the last several years of his life as a bachelor after his wife raked him over the coals. He is content with his simple life. Then, Elizabeth Marshall moves in downstairs in the small Victorian house that he lives in. Blasted woman makes him start feeling things he does not want to feel ever again. He knows first hand that women are trouble. Then, someone starts threatening Elizabeth and Chris has a hard time ignoring his feelings for her. He may just have to reconsider.

   This book is the first in the Daniel brother's series. It is a lovely story about two people who are content in being alone; but are unable to deny the feelings that are surfacing when they are around each other. The story started off a bit slow; but picks up nicely after the first couple of chapters. Both of our main characters have issues that they have a hard time getting past because of their broken relationships. This is a story of love, betrayal, abuse, jealousy, and murder. If you are into romance or just like a good story, I highly recommend this book. I will definitely be keeping my eye out for the next book in the series.

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

I give Behind Closed Doors 4 out of 5 stars

Interview with Xan Marcelles

It is my absolute pleasure to welcome my special guest today, Xan Marcelles, from the band Crooked Fang. I know how my readers just love vampires so, I had to get Xan over here to tell us a little about himself. So, here is the man! Your all jealous, right?

1-Tell us a little bit about Xan Marcelles. Don't hold back now.

Thanks for the invite, Eva.

Xan Marcelles huh? Well first of all, it’s my stage name. Real name’s Gabriel Nez, but I can’t exactly go running around with a dead man’s name. People would start asking questions because dead guys should kind of not be playing in a band and raising hell in a tavern every night.

What’s there to say really? I’m just a dude with fangs. It’s not a big deal except when it is, and when that happens, I take care of my business and go back to pretending it’s all  right and nothing’s gonna change. But I know it will, and I guess I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it.

2-What's it like working with Carrie and Nerine? They look pretty hot in their pics you know!

They are some slave drivers, if you want to know the truth. Nerine picks on my vocabulary and grammar and tries to get me to use the word ‘whom’. Who the hell uses ‘whom’ in America? I’m not wearing tweed.

Carrie actually killed my ass in her first version of my story about ten years ago. I’m still kind of miffed about that.

3-Who came up with the design for the CF symbol and does it have a special significance?

That logo sure is a pretty thing, isn’t it? The dude that thought it up was Carrie’s bitter-half, Lucas Clevenger. He just was taking one of his bath-naps one evening in the tub and wham. It hit him. Crooked Fang didn’t need just a font; it needed a logo, a recognizable symbol that people would know at a glance. He went and saw James Zuniga later that week and they hashed out something off Lucas’s scribbles. The end result is what you see, made with James’s computer skills. Definitely has a vampire vibe, but fitting for a band (or a hood emblem). If you take a closer look, the logo is full of meanings, but I’ll leave that up to the onlookers for interpretation. It’s more fun that way, don’t you think?

The blue is matched to my bass guitar. There’s too much damned black and red in vampire-land lately.

4-This is a curiosity question. Have you ever considered sneaking up on Carrie or Nerine when they are sleeping and taking a little taste?

I’m assuming Carrie has ice or acid running through her veins, so she’s stayed off the menu. Nerine on the other hand, hmm. Not sure if her husband would like his wife full of holes. But yeah. The thought’s crossed my mind.

5-I read an interview with you where you said you were not "sociable or flashy." You were talking about why you don't sing. You may not be flashy but you are "hot!" Does that get you in trouble with the ladies?

Depends on what kind of ‘trouble’ you’re referring to. The good kind or the thrown-in-jail kind? If you’re talking about the good kind, sure. Chicks dig dudes in bands. They seem to like their men tall. My hair gets mixed responses though. Some ladies like it; some tell me I need to get a haircut.

Anyway, I’m not starving for food or company, if that says anything.

6-Xan, you have that "bad-boy" aura about you. Do you think this is why the women go after you?

I’d like to think I’m a nice guy. Maybe I just look mean, but what can I do? It’s my face. Can’t really change it. Another thing is females have this misconception that big guys are invincible, and probably don’t have much in the way of feelings to speak of. Well it’s not true. I can hurt just like any other man.

7-Tell us about your band and how it got started?

Charlie, the owner of Pale Rider, wanted to bring in some business, so he posted an ad for a house band. I answered it, managed to find all the other members, and well, there you go. What attracted me to the Pale Rider gig over others is that Charlie offers room and board in exchange for playing on weekends and most holiday crowds. Not a bad trade in my opinion.

8-You know if you ever get bored with Carrie and Nerine, you are welcome to come visit me in Md. Just saying!

Bored wouldn’t be how I’d describe it, maybe fed-up? Ha. I’ll keep your offer in mind, babe.

Thanks for having me over Eva. Crooked Fang is due out August 2012 from Lyrical Press, but for now people can pick up Blood and Fire, co-written by Carrie Clevenger and Nerine Dorman, on Amazon. Should hit other e-formats in March. Here’s the official blablahblah about that book:

Bassist and all-round slacker Xan Marcelles spends his nights at a remote tavern in Pinecliffe, Colorado. But there’s something else, he’s also a vampire, and although he reckons he has a handle on this secret, he’s not prepared for the day when people he thinks are the FBI drug him and haul him away.

Ashton Kennedy isn’t human anymore and, as a member of a race of beings known simply as Inkarna, exists through the aeons by stealing bodies. At first his mission seems simple enough: break into the stronghold of a rival Inkarna House and liberate an artifact. He doesn’t bank on discovering a vampire, bound and tucked away neatly in a sarcophagus. 

The two unlikely allies are thrown together in a house of mysteries, and have to battle overwhelming odds against an implacable enemy. The question is, can they overcome their differences long enough to make it out alive, or undead? 

Links:

Blood and Fire on Amazon (currently only version available) - http://www.amazon.com/Blood-and-Fire-ebook/dp/B006SD3F2S/

Just My Blood Type, free teaser collab prior to Blood and Fire - http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/68457

Crooked Fang website - http://www.crookedfang.com/

Crooked Fang on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/CrookedFang

Nerine Dorman on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nerine-Dorman-author/173330419365374

Twitters:

Carrie Clevenger - @carrieclevenger

Nerine Dorman - @nerinedorman

Xan Marcelles - @crookedfang