Friday, August 21, 2015

Book Review - Tales of Blood and Sulphur: Apocalypse Minor, By J.G. Clay - BOOK TOUR




Tales of Blood and Sulphur: Apocalypse Minor

Tales of Blood and Sulphur
Volume One


J.G. Clay

Genre: Horror
Publisher: Forsaken
Date of Publication: 24th July, 2015
ISBN: 978-1513701998
ASIN: 978-1513701998
Number of pages: 212
Word Count: 77,000 words approx.
Cover Artist: Ashley Ruggirello

 


Book Description: Eleven Tales steeped in Blood and reeking of Sulphur

J.G Clay takes you on a journey through the voids of Reality and into dark places where demons, mutants and inter-dimensional creatures taunt, taint and corrupt Humanity. Survival is not guaranteed, sanity is not assured and death lurks in every corner. These are the Tales of Blood and Sulphur: Apocalypse Minor; eleven twisted tales of terror and mayhem..... There are cracks in the skin of Reality.

Some are microscopic, others are as wide as a four-lane motorway. As the fault lines increase and widen, the door to our world shines like a beacon in the darkness, a warm and inviting sight to others beyond our understanding. When They cross over into our realm, The Tales begin...... A gambler taking one last desperate throw of the dice. A struggling writer making an unholy alliance. An eternal being fighting to stay alive in the financial capital of India. A man burdened with a terrible town secret. The Law Enforcers who must never cry. The End of Days live and direct from the rural heartland of England.

The blood is warm, the sulphur is burning, the tales will be told, the Apocalypse Minor is imminent!



 Review:

So this is a great set of short stories.  It is definitely something that reminds me of the Stephen King short story sets.  It is definitely one that I would recommend to others. It has been a while since I read something that was like this.  I have been so engrossed in other genres that this was a fresh step in a different direction for me.

This was the author's first book and he hit a home run with it. It says something when an author can do this well with their first book.  Usually we don't hear about an author until they get to their third book or so and then we all have to go back and track down the first things they have written.  I am glad that I got to read this book and that each story had something to draw me in.

I truly think that we can expect to see some of these stories become something more.  I would not be surprised if in years to come we see books and movies coming from these stories.  It is definitely something I would read more of or something I would see.  

In short, I would recommend this book to all who are into horror/scary stories.  Some will make you want to keep the lights on though, because once the lights go out something might get you!

Pros: Great stories, very scary

Cons: I think that the slang was a little much in some areas, too casual

Overall rating: I would recommend this book. 



Excerpt:



Above them, the azure of the sky was torn by a crack. It was difficult to accurately measure how large the hole was. The more the reporter concentrated on it, the more it seemed to shift and blur as if it knew that the men below were observing and measuring it. It seemed to flatten, then expand and then flatten again, growing wider with every expansion. Thin filaments of stuff poked through the hole, questing and searching the space around it before disappearing back.

It’s tasting the air. The thought startled him. It wasn’t alive whatever it was. Strange, certainly. Unexpected? Most definitely. But not alive. This was one for the scientists. He would make his report, get Murray to air it, and leave it with people far more qualified and clever than he. Reporting from the Twilight Zone wasn’t in his remit, at all.

As he watched, the crack opened up, wider this time.

Silence. It was total, suffocating.

Even the birds had stopped singing.

The hairs on J.D’s neck raised in stiff salute as the atmosphere became heavy with expectation.

He heard the men shuffling nervously behind him. His annoyance grew as tried to mask his own fear. It was time to take control of this situation. Wasn’t that what Quigley would do?

He turned, an angry look on his face.

What the fuck’s the matter with—”

A low groaning stopped him dead. It boomed from the sky, echoing around them. Mac’s eyes widened, Mullen became pale. Earl raised a quizzical eyebrow but that was the extent of his response. He wasn’t an emotional sort. He was too stoned anyway.

The groaning sound continued for a moment before tailing off into an ear splitting keening. J.D. clapped his hands to his ears as the pitch became too intense to bear. It was no use. The sound seeped through his hands as if they were not there. Pain spiked behind his eyes. He screamed, sinking to his knees. The pitch became higher, rattling the filling in his molars. He felt a warm gush as the blood vessels in his nose let go. The world canted sideways, then became dark. He keeled over.



Wake up, man, wake up.”

He groaned, pushing away the insistent hands that kept shoving and shaking him.

No school today, mum. It’s a holiday.” He mumbled incoherently as hands dragged him up to a sitting position.

J.D, shape up, man.”

Annoyed, the reporter lashed out groggily. A hand smashed his cheek, whipping his head to the side. Clarity returned to him, the slap stinging his face. He looked around. Sickening pain lanced his head, reaching a crescendo before subsiding into a low level buzz. His vision clearing, he noticed a peculiar tint to the daylight. The world looked greener than before.

Have I had a stroke or something?

He moved his legs and arms and looked up. Mac crouched in front of him, his face pale, almost beige. His lips and chin were coated with crimson, trails of blood leading from his nose. They all had nosebleeds, it seemed. Mac’s eyes were large, agitated and lined with red.

Thank fuck you’re awake. Look man, we’ve gotta get the fuck out of here. That thing’s got even bigger.” His voice was panicky, the words tumbling out in a rush.

Irritated and groggy, J.D. pushed him away and struggled to his feet. His senses cleared and returned, but the green tint to the daylight remained. Mac spun him around, pointing back to the strange portal.

Look at that. You can’t tell me that’s normal.”

J.D. looked up.

What the ever-living fuck is going on here? His mouth dropped open at the sight above them.

The crack had increased in size and become rounder, yet jagged. A rotten, emerald light spilled from the hole in the sky. He felt relieved. He wasn’t having a stroke. The relief evaporated. There were sounds coming from the hole, slithering squelching sounds. He gulped, turning to the others. Earl had his boom mike raised, headphones on, his face blank as he recorded. Mac looked terrified, as did the farmer. J.D. stepped up to him, his face within kissing distance. He jerked a thumb toward the hole.

That noise! Is that what you heard last night?” Mullen merely nodded, his face ashen, his lips moving in a soundless incantation. The man was very close to losing his mind. The squelching became a fraction louder. The reporter considered his options. This was beyond the scope of any of them. Maybe it was better to let the authorities take care of it. Or maybe it was the biggest chance ever gifted to a struggling, disrespected, low-level reporter. The idea appealed. This could be the event that would propel him past his smug rival and his horrid boss.

He looked over at Mac. “Have you called it in?”

Mac shook his head.

Why not?”

The darker skinned man snorted in disbelief, gesturing at the green tear. “Have you fucking seen what’s going on? What’s the point of calling it in to Murray? I called the police.” Mac really must have been terrified. He had no love for the boys in blue.

What did they say?”

The camera man shrugged. “That they were aware of the situation and that the army was on their way. People can see the light as far away as Leicester, Kettering, even Brum. When I told them about the other stuff, the guy on the phone said, and I quote, “what stuff?’”

J.D. turned this over in his mind. They were at the epicentre of this, able to see clearly what others at a distance could not. The footage shot would be pure gold.’



About the Author:



J.G Clay was born in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire on Halloween night, 1973. By sheer coincidence, it was the night of the full moon. The man was tailor made for the Horror Genre. A life-long horror and science fiction fan, he has written for his own amusement since his teenage years, taking time off to do the usual things that adolescent boys do and growing up disgracefully. Now in his forties, he has returned to his passion for the dark, the weird and the twisted. Tales of Blood and Sulphur is his first foray into the world of the Author but rest assured, there are plenty more stories to come. The man has a plan and he is out to scare the world, the solar system and beyond. Off duty, he has a passion for music, films and Birmingham City FC. He can also hold down a half decent bassline. J.G lives with his wife and step-daughter in Rothwell, Northamptonshire – the heart of the English countryside, an idyllic setting but a strange one to find a Nightmare Child of Halloween.








Thursday, August 20, 2015

Book review - The Haunting, By E.M. MacCallum

Have I mentioned how much I love that I get to work with some great authors doing my reviews?  If I have not, let me tell you now.  There are some great authors I have blogged books for and they have given me some of the best books to read.  I can't wait to see what comes next from these authors.

That being said, I have the third book in the series I recently reviewed.  The first book was The Demon Grave.

Let's get on with the review...

Book Title: The Haunting
Author: E.M. MacCallum
Publishing Date: August 13, 2015
Page/Word Count: 325 pages

BLURB:

One by one, they are losing the battle.

With the shock of death ringing in their ears, the group has to face one final test.

The Challenge is a classic haunted house and the creatures within are out to twist truths and reveal dark secrets.

Nora has to overcome her strange familiarity with the Demon's Grave as well as her infatuation with the demonic overlord, Damien. But, not everyone wants her there, and she could end up fighting for more than just her friend's freedom.
 

Pros: Great characters, great story line
Cons: The story doesn't need to end!  
Overall rating: Highly recommended!

Impressions: Great book, part of a great series

Review:

Alright, so I got very lucky with this one.  I was asked to read this book in exchange for an honest review.  I was beyond excited when the author sent me this book to read.  I loved the first two and was giggly when the author e-mailed me and asked me to read this book.  I read it as soon as I could!

This was a great way to wrap up the two previous books.  The characters are well developed and I love how they interact with each other.  The chemistry between them, be it good or bad, was great and I wish more books had characters that worked together.  

I still have a mad crush on Damien.  Until I find a new book boyfriend, he is going to have to settle for me, haha.  He is just a great character and I love how he interacts with Nora.  They have this relationship that leaves you wondering what is going to happen to them.  The ending to the book leaves me hoping that I get to see more of them, to see what happens.  I am not going to give it away here, just know I want more!!

The book was not rushed and this author timed things perfectly with this series.  She didn't seem to rush things, which meant that if she couldn't get to it in one book, she put it in the next.  I love that, because you shouldn't have to rush from point A to point B.  You need to flesh out your story and E.M. did that with this book, with the whole series.

If you have not read these book yet, I suggest you grab this one, and the other two, and start reading.  I warn you though, you will not get to put them down until you are done.  They are that good!  I read this one again in one night, like I did the first two.

Stars: 5 of 5



Amazon Link: Buy it here
Goodreads Link: Click Here
Twitter Link: @EMMacCallum
Facebook Link: On Facebook


Saturday, August 15, 2015

Book Review - Redemption, By R.K. Ryals

So I am part of several of those free book/cheap book groups.  It is always fun to get the e-mails with new free or cheap books for me to pick up.  I look forward to seeing what is available for me. I have found some great books and I made the choice to start reviewing them as I can.  I have others to review on certain dates, but sometimes it's nice to get something in between.

We are also looking at starting up a podcast as well.  I am nervous but I am very interested in doing some kind of audio on books and such.  We shall see though, I am very hesitant to talk to myself, lol.

For your reading pleasure....






Book Title: Redemption
Author: R.K. Ryals
Publishing Date: October 11, 2011
Page/Word Count: 322 Pages


BLURB:

A fateful car accident, a strange Abbey ruled by an even stranger Abbess, an insane Demon, a world where right and wrong becomes dangerously twisted, and a confident, rebellious teenager . . . .

Dayton Blainey is a foul-mouthed, grief-stricken young woman forced to live with a religiously eccentric aunt who favors her moral older sister. But when Dayton's life becomes intertwined with a dangerous stranger, she suddenly finds herself at the center of a war fought since the beginning of time.

Trapped between what she believes is right, and a forbidden attraction, Dayton must come to terms with betrayal and her surprising lineage to stop a war before it even begins.

Pros: Great story, great characters
Cons: Seemed rushed in some areas
Overall rating: Good book, would recommend it

Impressions: Good characters, rushed story

Review:

So I picked this up as a free book on a list I got my e-mail.  I am glad I did.  I really enjoyed reading it.  It was definitely something that fit into my normal reading lists.  

The characters are great, and let me just say that I loved that the main characters was named Dayton.  It's not a normal name for a character and I love that about this book.  The names aren't just the normal, run of the mill names.   She is a good base character as well.  She is strong when she needs to be but at the same time she has her vulnerabilities.  You want your characters to be real, not some perfect person.

This book was a great start to this series though.  The idea behind it was well thought out but I think that the author wanted to get more into the first novel and pushed to hard in some areas.  That is why it felt rushed for me.  I think that if she had really planned out the series she could have stretched it out more.  That is just my opinion.  I know that she has a whole series now, but this was still rushed to me.

Stars: 4 out of 5 stars



Amazon Link: Buy it here
Goodreads Link: Click here
Twitter Link: @RKRyals
Facebook Link: R.K. Ryals
Webpage: Author's Site


Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Book Review - The Demon's Grave and Midnight Ruling, By E.M. MacCallum

Lately I have been very lucky to be able to get some great books to read.  Today's reviews are no exceptions.  I got the first book and had to hunt down the second one.  So for tonight's reviewing pleasure you have two books!

On with the show...

Book #1







Book Title: The Demon's Grave
Author: E.M. MacCallum
Publishing Date: May 2015
Page/Word Count: 392 pages

BLURB:

When strange shadows and messages plague Nora's daily life she fears for her sanity. To escape questions from her family, Nora joins her friends on a weekend getaway. Despite not liking Aidan Birket, Nora finds his remote, Victorian house charming. Until they discover the marble doorway on the third floor and, against Nora's better judgment, they open it.

Drawn into an unfamiliar place called the Demon's Grave, the group face a charismatic demon and a set of Challenges. Six nightmarish realities for the six of them is the punishment. Those that make it to the end can go home, but those that don't will be his forever. Friendships are tested, secrets revealed and sacrifices will be made.

Nora battles zombies, doppelgängers, eyeless bikers, and the demon--whose interests are more than just a game of cat and mouse. If it's all in her head, then it should be easy. But, if not, it means the demon knows everything and her past and the death of her twin sister.
 

Pros: Excellent characters, excellent story
Cons: Need more books!
Overall rating: Highly, highly recommended!!

Impressions: Loved this book!  Excellent story and had to pick up the next one as soon as I was done with this one.

Review:

I received this book in exchange for an honest review (LoP or Lovers of Paranormal)

I have no idea where to start with this review.  I loved this book and am so glad that I got to review it. From the get go I feel in love with the characters and the storyline/ideas.  It draws you in quickly and keeps you hooked.
Nora is a strong lead and I loved how she has to step up and be the strong person she doesn't think she is.  She is flawed and honestly I love the characters that are flawed.  She suffers from mental health issues and really that makes her more real for me. I think that when the main characters aren't perfect you get a real connection with them.

I do have to say that in this book I fell for the bad guy.  What can I say, he appeals to me.  Damien is strong and I think that he really doesn't want to do what he has to do, but he is following the rules.  He hints at things through out the book and even up until the end you don't get a full picture of him.  I love him though, and I was secretly hoping he was real and I could find him myself. :)

The book is well written and there are no issues with the flow and feel of things as you read through it all.  It was easy to follow and for once I didn't have to go back and read something to understand the next point in the book.  I love when I can just pick up a book and keep reading until I get to the end.

 Stars: 5 out of 5



Amazon Link: Buy It Here
Goodreads Link: Click Here

______________________________

Book #2 






Book Title: Midnight Ruling
Author: E.M. MacCallum
Publishing Date: August 1, 2015
Page/Word Count: 263 pages

BLURB:

Being safe and at home has its downfalls. The subjects of media controversy, Nora and Aidan realize that they made a terrible mistake coming home. The only way to get their friends back is to visit Nora's murderous aunt in the asylum.

But when a skeptical group of students don't believe the media's story, they begin to follow Nora and Aidan where things go very wrong, very fast.

Without access to the Demon's Grave, their friends could be lost forever. But, with access, there could be a few new players in Damien's game, and with that comes death.

Pros: Excellent story, great next book in the series
Cons: Cliff hanger!!!
Overall rating: Highly, highly recommended

Impressions: I feel like the author is really working with this series and keeping it engaging.

Review:

So after I finished the first one I had to get the next one. As luck would have it, it was available through Kindle Unlimited and I got all giggly.  I finished it all in the same night.  I couldn't put it down.  I was sad when I got to the end of the book and realized I was going to have to wait for the next one.  :(

I love that Nora is becoming a different girl, stronger and more willing to do things she needs to do for her friends.  She is becoming a very strong, smart lead character.  I think that she will continue to gain strength and show what she can really do.

And Damien, what can I say about him?  He is still my current book crush and I can't wait to see what happens next with him.  We have to wonder if he and Nora have something happening to them that is beyond their control.  I would not be against this, but I would be jealous. :)

This book gives us more insight into what is going on with Nora and why things are happening the way they are.  It really helps flesh out the story more.

Stars: 5 out of 5



Amazon Link: Buy it here
Goodreads Link: Click Here


Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Cover Reveal - The Mark of Noba, By GL Tomas

Today is the cover reveal for The Mark of Noba by GL Tomas. This cover reveal is organized by Lola's Blog Tours.

The Mark of Noba Cover

The Mark of Noba (The Sterling Wayfairer Series #1)
by GL Tomas
Genre: Fantasy
Age category: Young Adult
Release Date: 25 August, 2015

Blurb:
Sterling Wayfairer has one goal for his senior year: make his mark. He’s been slipping into the background his whole high school career—distracted by his mother’s mental health, unsettled by the vivid dreams that haunt him at night, and overshadowed by the athletic accomplishments of his popular best friends. But this year is going to be different. He’s going to break a few rules, have some fun, and maybe even work up the nerve to ask his crush out on a date.

But things don’t go exactly as planned. Students are disappearing, Sterling starts losing time, and it all seems to center around Tetra, a girl no one else seems to notice but him. When he finally tracks her down for answers, they aren’t what he expects: He and Tetra hail from a world called Noba, and they’re being hunted by a Naga, a malevolent shapeshifter that’s marked them for destruction.

Tetra and Sterling have distinct abilities that can help them fight back, but their power depends heavily on the strength of their bond, a connection that transcends friendship, transcends romance. Years apart have left their bond weak. Jumpstarting it will require Sterling to open his heart and his mind and put his full trust in the mysterious Tetra.

If he doesn’t, neither of them will survive.


You can find The Mark of Noba on Goodreads

You can pre-order The Mark of Noba here:
- Amazon

GL Tomas Author picAbout the Author:
Guinevere and Libertad go by many superhero aliases. Whether you know them by G.L. Tomas, the Twinjas, or the Rebellious Valkyries, their mission is always the same: spreading awareness of diversity in books. Oh, and trying to figure out the use for pocketless pants! They host other allies and champions of diversity in their secret lair in Connecticut.

You can find and contact with GL Tomas here:
- Website
- Facebook Author
- Facebook book blog
- Twitter account Libertad
- Twitter account Guinevere
- Twitter account YA book blog
- Twitter account NA, romance and adult books
- Goodreads
- Author Pinterest
- Pinterest Book Blog
- Book Blog Tumblr

Media Blitz - Blackmail Boyfriend, By Chris Cannon



Blackmail Boyfriend
by Chris Cannon
Release Date: 08/11/15
Entangled Teen: Crush

Summary from Goodreads:
Sometimes, blackmail is the only weapon a girl has…

Haley Patterson has had a crush on golden boy Bryce Colton for ages. But then when she hears a rumor—Bryce is telling everyone that  he hooked up with her. With Haley’s reputation taking a nosedive, she gives Bryce him a choice: be her boyfriend for a month for a month or face the angry, cage-fighting boyfriend of the girl he actually did hook up withto show other guys that she’s dateable—despite her overprotective and very intimidating brothers.—or deal with the angry, cage-fighting boyfriend of the girl he actually did hook up with.

Bryce didn’t know the other Haley even had a boyfriend. He was just trying to get his ex off his back. And now doesn't know what's more unbelievable, not only is—that he's he being blackmailed,  or that he's being blackmailed by an honor student. His little “hook up” was supposed to end his problems with girls, not create new ones. Not only that, but his new “girlfriend” has two overprotective brothers, three-legged dogs, her father mows grass at the country club, and she's…well, difficult. And different.

Besides, everyone knows that perfect boys never fall for imperfect girls…Sometimes, giving in is all a boy can do…Can something so fake turn into something real?



About the Author
Chris Cannon lives in Southern Illinois with her husband and her three dogs, Pete the shih tzu who sleeps on her desk while she writes, Molly the ever-shedding yellow lab, and Tyson the sandwich-stealing German Shepherd Beagle. She believes coffee is the Elixir of Life. Most evenings after work, you can find her sucking down caffeine and writing fire-breathing paranormal adventures or snarky romantic comedies.

Author Links:
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Monday, August 10, 2015

Book Review - Revenge of the Wolf, By Skyler Patterson - BOOK TOUR


Good morning!  Well I say good, but I don't have enough coffee in my system to really justify that statement.  So perhaps it should be, Morning!  Where is the coffee?

And here we go.....


_________________________________________________________________________

Title: Revenge of the Wolf
Author: Skyler Patterson
Genre: Paranormal Romance / Horror

REVENGE OF THE WOLF is a story of paranormal romance/action/horror. This story is set in the early settled New York. A wealthy shape-shifting young man named Justice Sorrowfell falls in love with a beautiful young woman named Angelica Innocenta. When the woman is murdered, Justice goes on a spree of vengeance against all outlaws, in the form of a wolf, and a werewolf. Justice is urged on to continue his revenge by his un-dead fiancé Angelica. This is the first book of a series. This is a tale that gives the message that death is not always the end. This tale shows that true love cannot ever die.—SKYLER PATTERSON
_______________________________________________

Book Title: Revenge of the Wolf
Author: Skyler Patterson
Publishing Date: June 6, 2015
Page/Word Count: 300 Pages

BLURB:

This is a tale of romance/paranormal/action/horror. A wealthy young shape-shifter named Justice Sorrowfell falls in love with a beautiful woman Angelica Innocenta. When she is murdered, Justice goes on a spree of vengeance against all outlaws in the form of a wolf and werewolf. This tale takes place in colonial New York. Justice is urged on in his revenge by his un-dead fiancé Angelica.


Pros: Great ideas, good characters
Cons: Not a big fan of the writing style
Overall rating: Would recommend it to others

Impressions: Strong story idea, strong characters, hard format to follow because of the writing style

Review:

So I got this book in exchange for an honest review.  I am all about honestly.  This was a good book but not written in a style that I am a fan of.  I am all for giving your readers more then one point of view, but I have a problem with the "journal/diary" format this was done it.  It made it harder to follow at times.  Especially when ti changed from that style to regular book formatting.  I just got a little lost.

Other then the formatting this book was definitely a good read.  I loved the ideas given during the book.  I am all about a good paranormal book and I can see this being a good series to follow.  I just think that cleaning up the format a little will help it be easier to follow.  Yes, I know I am harping a little. I have to wonder if this was sent in for editing more the once, just to help with the flow.

I do think that this book has great potential to be one of those series that goes on for a while.  Skyler has written some strong characters and that means great potential in my book.  If you have strong characters you can take them anywhere and they can carry your story.  

I think with a little more polish I could go back and change my rating.  But over all I would definitely recommend this book to others.

Excerpt:

Many a soul may ponder how it was, that a man of my wealth and sense of adventure came to be in such a predicament. It is said that a man cannot ever truly know anyone less he has walked in his shoes. For surely the words hold irony. For not a man could think to judge me less he could walk on all four of my legs, and howl by the fullest of moons. I can recall it like it was yesterday. And yet in truth it was many years prior. I was just a young green lad. On a hunt I was. Twas me and my brave father. On the hunt for game we had no luck. until we were both set upon by a pack of bedeviling wolves. One of the grievous death hounds, jumped into my path. The creature crouched growling preparing to pounce. The beast’s eyes were like red hot fires, his teeth like icy white death! The creature leapt at me. I raised my rifle. However my courage possessed no conviction and there I stood paralyzed in my fear! The beast lunged at me but I felt no fangs, and felt no blood spilling from my veins. The creature did manage to bite my woolen coat. The only sound I heard was the crack from my dear father’s rifle. And then the resounding thud as the beast fell lifeless on the cold dark ground. It was then my father told me words that I would never forget: “The wolves are the most devilish creatures on the earth! The wolf is the beast that hunts not on his own but amongst a pack. He is the creature that kills not in the light but from the dark shadows, and the light of the moon”. For strange as it was there was beauty in this horror and a horror to this beauty. For in time the moon turned, the horses gave way to the great steel snake called the train. I became a great man. I hunted game round the world. I fell in love. I became a soldier, and  I became what others dreaded most… I became a wolf. And then my life began… I was a young man and grew up in a mansion on the Hudson. Who am i? My name is Justice Sorrowfell. But let us go back to when I first became the beast. It was weeks after that dreaded hunt. I was in my bed chamber at the manse, and noticed the puncture marks on my arm. I did not vex myself as I had felt no ill effects. It was many years later when I was entering manhood when I noticed a change. I went to sleep in my bed and awoke on the floor, curled up in front of my mirror. When I gazed into the mirror I saw not a young man but a wolf. I found  that i could change into the beast at will. I also began to smell other beings and none of them were human. I could smell the horses in front of the estate. I could smell the mice within the cellar. I also could hear things from impossible distances. I also found that I could control other creatures. I could shape shift into bodies of Rats and birds; and I could have them to do my bidding. I told no one of my dark gift. It was my lone secret in all the world. I also developed an insatiable appetite for meat and none of it cooked. I began to have the house chef prepare for me meals of raw salmon fish, and other raw dishes. My dear father began to think me growing dim. For me it made no matter. It was soon after that I met an exquisite woman. In love I fell madly. This woman was the most beautiful creation that god did see fit to bestow to walk amongst this earth. Raven of hair she was. The woman had a round perfect face with cheekbones high. The woman was shapely as an hourglass. And indeed I did spend hours admiring her face and body. The woman had light grey piercing eyes. For this woman gazing upon me truly could never fail to pierce my heart, like a proper dagger. Angelica was her name. And in all truth god certainly removed an angel from his heaven that she could walk this earth with a soul such as myself. I courted her about the city. We dined in the finest eateries, and her arm stayed entwined in mine through the very best operas. It was in the hazy days of summer when I fell down into that blissful well called..love. Let us begin our story there. Let us begin when I was more happier than now. Let us go back to before things shattered like an expensive vase in my father’s Victorian den. Let us go back to when i first met..HER.

Stars: A very tentative 4 out of 5, I would say more like 3 1/2 but you can't do half on sites :)




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AUTHOR BIO:

How did I become a writer? My story could be a book of itself. I will not lie. I am the “accidental writer”. I have been working in health care for many years. It was when i decided to read books on my way to work that I stumbled upon the possibility of writing. How did it happen? I take the train to get to my job in N.Y.. I had become bored with reading the daily newspapers .It was then that I decided to read a book instead. Mind you, I had not read a book in years! I proceeded to read books by J.R. Tolkien, Anne Rice, Bram Stoker, and George M. Martin. I found those books sooo cool! I love fantasy fiction. It was when I became addicted to a certain series; that it happened. I read every book from that series and when I asked the book store clerk when there would be more the man gave me terrible news. “Ha, that guy puts out a book every five years. “WHAT”? I could not believe that. It was then that I began to wonder what if I (yes me) could write a book myself. This was a joke to me until I came up in minutes with a plot for a fantasy fiction tale. HOW did I do that!? The plot was way TOO COOL to just do nothing with. And I will not lie. I made every type of mistake one could make in learning how to write. I have had no formal training and I successfully dropped out of college, years ago! That first idea became THE BOOK OF SWORDS, a medieval styled swords and sorcery epic. That book gave me many headaches, before I learned how to write it!(great e book that it is) So I took a break and wrote: THE LAST KRAKEN, a tale of a giant, leviathan squid running amok, in the 1800’s. It was when I was writing that book that I began to realize that I had somehow in only a little more than a year became an author. I finished that first book. I then proceeded to test a chapter of it on my school teacher sister. My sister invited me over to hear my tale. My sister gave me many words of encouragement: “Let’s all have a good laugh”! were her words! I read her a chapter. After I read that chapter my sister began to stutter and jaws were dropping everywhere! “HOW IN THE HELL”?! were her words! And then I began to write another book called REVENGE OF THE WOLF. One day I passed my laptop to a girl I was dating and asked her to read an emotional turning point of this romance/action/horror story. As she was reading it; I was in awe as the woman slowly began to cry! I then spent the rest of that year writing many books. And here I am! I am in this for the long haul. I am now an author/poet/songwriter. My journey just goes to show that one can never truly know what they are capable of; until they give it that one good try! I can truly say I LOVE WRITING.---SKYLER PATTERSON

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Where to find the book:

Goodreads: Click here

Amazon: Buy it here




Saturday, August 8, 2015

Book Review - The War Prince, by Adrian Castenda

You just have to love the weeks where it feels like there is just not enough of yourself to go around.  On my personal Facebook I talked about cloning myself.  Some days I think that two of me would get so much more done. I would be able to read so many more books too!  Oh the possibilities.

On with this show....




Book Title: The War Prince
Author: Adrian Castaneda
Publishing Date: June 28, 2015
Page/Word Count: 116 Pages


BLURB:

The War Prince is a story about “Anthony Cast” a special boy who wasn’t supposed to be born alive. Moments before dying, the War Prince gave Anthony Cast his heart, giving him a chance at life. With the help of friends, Anthony has to survive all attacks from evil to raise The War Prince, who reincarnates as his son.


Pros: The idea behind the story is a great one
Cons: This book needs to be fleshed out and the timeline fixed
Overall rating: Needs work

Impressions: This book needs work.

Review:

So this book has a great idea inside it, but I feel like the author needs to do some more work on it. The characters and the feel of the book are good.  I think that with a little more work and changes in the book's timeline the book would be great.

I had a hard time getting through this book.  Everything was definitely rushed and in some points it was clear that the author wanted to get ideas out but was not getting them out in the right order.  It was a struggle to get through the book because of this.  I got lost many times and I hate that for the book.  It shows such promise.

My point comes in the form of a question, was this edited by someone other then the author?  And really, was it originally done in something other then English?  I saw that the book was also available in Spanish, so I am going to assume that perhaps our author was not originally an English speaker.  I would suggest getting an editor that is and natural English speaker.  If this book is intended to be marketed to the English speaking world, this needs to be done.  

Stars: 2 of 5 stars


Amazon Link: Pick it up here
Goodreads Link: Click Here






Monday, August 3, 2015

Book Review - Santeria & Sorcery, By Lola White - BLOG TOUR

So I have been trying get the blog into more blog tours and such.  We have cover reveals and many other things we are trying to get into as well.  I just wanted to get the blog out there as much as I can.  More people on the blog means more people reading, just saying.  I love the thought of helping people find new books to read.

That being said....




Book Description:

Magic is necessary to all things, but like any other source of power, it can be abused. The king of gods has created a Special Collections Team to deal with illegal magic users, those who break the law set forth by the Council of Five. Being part of the team is not an honor however, but a punishment for the crimes the teammates have committed themselves.
Zahra is a magic-addicted djinn charged with the capital crime of consorting with humans. Niccolo is a vampire who betrayed his goddess. Beryl is a fairy assassin demoted for her transgressions against a queen. Wade is the only human on the team, and though his inclusion is supposed to be a compliment, it’s clear there’s a larger plan in play.
From tragic romance to zealous belief, the Special Collections Team is in over their heads, but still must find a way to be successful in their investigations, pay their penance and learn to work as a team.
In Santeria & Sorcery, their first case finds them in Miami, where trouble has come to the attention of the Council of Five. A sorcerer is stealing magic to set himself up as a god, but the team is new and each are unused to working well with others. Their personal issues also hinder their investigation—dealing with bloodthirsty boyfriends, jealous fairy kings and a dangerous fallen angel on top of their own emotional deficiencies take a toll.
The Tithe Collector is an erotic series and does include graphic scenes: M/M, M/F and multiple partners.
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Book Title: Santeria & Sorcery
Author: Lola White
Publishing Date: June 11, 2015
Page/Word Count: 240 Pages

Pros: Well thought out characters, story was strong
Cons: Needs more back story
Overall rating: Pretty good good

Impressions: Heavy on the sex, heavy on the magic, good story but back story was lacking.

Review:

I should point out that I don't normally read books that are this heavy on the erotica.  I wanted to give this book a chance, since it is out of my normal reading genres.  I am glad that I did.  It was a very good book.

So let's get this started.  First, I want to talk about what I think the book needs.  It needs more back story.  We get many points of view but we don't get too much about each.  I want to be able to get into my characters.  I want to relate to them, understand where they are coming from.  I know that we get bits and pieces, but I wanted more from the past.  We have Zahra, the Djinn, and we get some idea of what is going on, but I feel like I couldn't relate to her because I just don't know what makes her tick. It was the same with the other characters as well.  We needed more then we got on each of them.

I think that the idea of the story was great.  You have these paranormal creatures all shoved together because they have pissed off the leaders of the groups they are a part of. This means they have to work together to get back into the good graces of their leaders.  So you get this group working in the human world to get to the bottom of this over abundance of magic use.  It worked.

I will say that if you are not into heavy erotica and sex scenes, you need to pass this one by.  I can handle some sex in books, I do read romance, but this is very heavy on it and if you aren't used to it you will be overloaded and probably overwhelmed.

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Excerpt:
“I think this team has been assembled as more than punishment. I know Niccolo is well placed in vampire society, for all he believes he is not. From what he’s said, I think Zahra also has some importance she is not telling. Beryl has served her goddess for a thousand years, and people say simply speaking the assassin’s name is enough to make Lucifer’s Fallen cower in fear.”

“So what?”

The bouda shook his head. “And you are Blessed. I think the team is being used for a bigger purpose than what we’ve been led to believe.”

“Sure, Chimbwe, that’s possible.” But that’s all I was prepared to say on the matter, at that moment with his words of war mocking my memories. I was half-believing, and half-resistant to the idea. On one hand, it was excellent strategy to take the wind from the enemies’ sails, on the other, it was hard to imagine God being so manipulative.

“I don’t know what is going on yet,” Chimbwe whispered. “But the team needs to learn to trust each other. I am afraid of what may happen in the future, and I do not want Niccolo caught in something that may lead to his death.”

I waved my mug because it seemed a better option than putting it down to cross my arms over my chest. “So you and I need to be all buddy-buddy to get the job done. Is that it?”

Chimbwe grimaced. “Even if my suspicions are not correct, this team must meet the expectations of the Council in order to be released from their punishments. I want Niccolo to be free, so you four will need to work as one.”

I weighed his words carefully. I was used to being a part of a team that shared the same training, values and goals. This team, though, was all over the map. They only spoke to each other when they had to, came from different Nations, definitely had different training because I couldn’t imagine Zahra or Niccolo handling a weapon like Beryl, and they all reported in to different leaders.

Hell of a team. Four of us were moving in four different directions, and it seemed Chimbwe wanted to be our wise guide, leading us all into a cohesive whole. A wise guide might be just what we all needed.

That realization had me sitting back down at the table. “I would like this team to work together,” I told him. “Considering the monsters we might run up against, our lives might depend on it.”

Stars: 4 out of 5


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Bio:
Lola White writes what she writes, which is erotic fiction. Sometimes horror, sometimes paranormal, sometimes romance. It’s all sexy, but never predictable because she likes to twist reality at its edges in her stories. She likes delving into the emotions of her characters, finding their strengths and weaknesses, and seeing (and showing) how they get themselves out of whatever trouble has found them—if they can.

Author Links:


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