Tag Archives: Reading

Excerpt: Deadly Eyes

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Today on the Making Connections Book Tour, I have an excerpt from Michael Myer’s new book, “Deadly Eyes,” a murder mystery set in the Caribbean.

DEADLY EYES by Michael Meyer

SYNOPISIS:

 A HAUNTING CARIBBEAN MYSTERY

James Cuffy, better known as Cuff, is living in paradise with his girlfriend, on the small Caribbean island of St. Croix, where the sky is as blue as Cuff’s eyes, the ocean as pretty as Rosie’s cheeks, where the gentle lapping of the waves is a lullaby, and the swaying of the palm trees is a dance. The sandy beaches are as white as sugar, and the horizon is a world away. St. Croix indeed is paradise, the perfect place for living, laughing, and loving.  Continue reading Excerpt: Deadly Eyes →

Review: The Black Orb

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The Black Orb
The Black Orb by Sabine A. Reed
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Don’t mistake me for a lady, old man, or that might be the last mistake you’ll ever make.

Aria has been searching for her brother for several weeks when she finds out he’s been taken prisoner by the Queen. In her desperation to bring back her only family member, Aria places her trust in Bikkar after he aids in her escape of the guards. They head to the seat of the throne, only to find Aria’s brother has been put under the spell of the Black Orb, leaving him a mindless husk intent on serving the Queen. To rid the world of the Queen’s rule, Aria and Bikkar travel to the end of the kingdom in search of the Dragon Claw, a magical item to break the Black Orb – and her only hope at getting her brother back.

While the world was very detailed, the characters were very simple. Aria only wants her brother back, and repeats this often. There were few minor characters that could have been developed further that would have helped flush out the story, yet Aria was a strong character and Bikkar was a nice compliment to her. The writing was very smooth: the places Aria and Bikkar went seemed to come alive. The ending, while nice and tidy, felt abrupt or forced, the climax too-quickly resolved.

With wonderful descriptions of the surrounding world and enough action to keep the plot moving nicely, The Black Orb is a quick fantasy story that readers can get lost within its pages.

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Review: Have Book, Will Travel

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Have Book, Will Travel
Have Book, Will Travel by Kfir Luzzatto
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

If you start doubting what the book says, we may as well go back now…

Max has been sent to his uncle’s fortress to continue his studies while his mother attends to a dying friend. While exploring the castle, Max finds an old storage room. Intent on avoiding his studies, he begins searching all of the chests in the room, only to one day find a young girl, Darla, reading a book. Soon, they both pass the time reading about the grand adventures in the book and dreaming of going on their own. So, when Max is forbidden to go back into the room, he prepares to do just that, taking Darla with him. But when the castle is besieged, the two friends have to find a way to get back home.

Once the two figure out the secret of the book, the story picks up a bit. In their efforts to go back home, Max and Darla are transported to two different worlds. While the worlds weren’t as fleshed out as they could have been, the fast-paced adventure kept the story moving forward, and the bond between Max and Darla developed as they endeavored to stay together and find the way home.

Fairly well-developed and adventurous, Have Book, Will Travel is a light read great for younger readers, full of mystery, magic, and friendship.

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New Release: Sarah Smiles

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Today’s new release is a story of young people, of coming of age, of young love: Sarah Smiles by Seanpaul Thomas.

Blurb:

It’s Nineteen ninety one and eleven year old Paul and his family have just moved to the  climatic sunshine paradise of Cyprus with his father’s work as an army sergeant with the Royal Engineers.

On Paul’s first day at school, his third first day in as many years, he is befriended by the dominant school bully Michael who takes young Paul under his sinister wing, introducing him into the fast and furious game of break time football before sadistically snatching it away from him and the chance of making more new friends.

Michael though only wants to hang out with Paul after school since they are neighbours and the only same age kids on their respective army estate. One day after school Michael shows Paul the beautiful but wildly dangerous and adventurous world of the surrounding wasteland caves and valleys around the estate. But things take a turn for the worst when Michael bullies Paul into steeling some cigarettes from his dad’s army bar and the two run off underneath a local bridge to try and smoke them. Here Michael is ‘accidentally’ urinated on from the top of the bridge by another young boy, Ben, who Michel and Paul chase into a local park to beat up for his prank. Continue reading New Release: Sarah Smiles →

Guest Post: Gemma from Charade

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Today I have the wonderful Gemma from Cambria Hebert’s newest novel, Charade! Feel free to check out my review and then dig into some tough questions with the newest cast member in this great series!

First: The book!

Blurb:

Dying at the hands of a psycho was a shock. Having my life returned to me by an angel was
incredible. Being named a Supernatural Treasure and being given Sam as my guard was
pretty darn awesome. Acquiring a debt for it all—well, I should have seen it coming.

Now here we are, fighting demons from Hell, caring for a boy that I just don’t trust, and
traveling to faraway places to return a treasure to its rightful place. Nothing is as it seems.
Everyone wears a mask; everyone puts on a charade. It’s up to us to separate the truth from
the lies and reality from fiction. A hard task when my new reality involves fallen angels,
witches and dragons… and did I mention Hell?

Anchoring me down through it all is Sam. Sam, who must face tragedies of his own and is
put to the test again and again.

If we fail in our task, life as we know it—life as you know it—will end. Forever.

Continue reading Guest Post: Gemma from Charade →

New Release: Meantime

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Today’s new release is something a little different – a military memoir. While not my typical read, the ratings on this book are fantastic (34 out of 34 5* ratings on Goodreads!), so I have agreed to review it (will come later). Please check this one out if you like memoirs, and even if you don’t, you might still enjoy it.

Blurb:

An intense, artful, and heartfelt U.S. military memoir detailing accounts of war-fighting in Baghdad, Iraq, Border Patrol in Yuma, Arizona, and Hurricane Katrina disaster relief efforts on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Bio:

Stephen Paul Register moved around often as a child in the American South. He settled in Nashville before joining the Tennessee National Guard. He was deployed to to Baghdad, Iraq and Kuwait for over 16 months from 2003 to 2004. He served in Hurricane Katrina relief efforts and also had the duty of supporting Border Patrol in Yuma, Arizona. Stephen attended Belmont University in Nashville from 2005 to 2008 where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion and the Arts. He then went on to Yale University to earn his Master of Divinity degree from Yale Divinity School, where he graduated in 2011. He now lives with his wife Anna in Nashville.

Stephen Paul Register has a philosophers mind, an artists heart, and a writing style that beautifully reflects a lifetime of profound experiences. From his upbringing in the American South to his ivy league graduate education at Yale University, Register has travelled the world over as a student, a nomad and a soldier. Register’s voice is often Hemingwayesque in its control and simplicity, and yet, on occasion, it blossoms beautifully into an overflow of nearly Proustian extravagance. Continue reading New Release: Meantime →

New Release: The Taint: Sorrow’s Child

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I’m pleased to announce the release of my latest project, The Taint: Sorrow’s Child by Georgina Anne Taylor! I’m really proud of this one – I think Georgina has done a great job creating her world and a character you (the reader) can really feel for and watch grow. I can’t wait for the next one!

Blurb:

‘Sorrow’s Child’, the first novel in ‘The Taint’ series, is a dark fairytale steeped in myth and magic. In a richly gothic setting, ‘Sorrow’s Child’ is a coming of age story and a tale of betrayal and bloody revenge.

On the Isle of Muin, one of the thirteen scattered Meda Isles, Lilith, a young orphan and an indentured servant, is found guilty of witchcraft and is condemned to hang…

Bio:

I’m an Australian writer of Gothic Fantasy and Fairy Tales and a visual artist, exhibiting under my maiden name Georgina Smith. I live on an organic farm in southern Tasmania, with my husband, two children, and a hoard of unruly dogs, ducks, chickens and goats.

I’m currently working on my four part Gothic Fantasy series ‘The Taint’. The first novel ‘Sorrow’s Child’, will be released in May 2012. Continue reading New Release: The Taint: Sorrow’s Child →

Excerpt: Blind Veil

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Today I have Michael Lorde, author of Blind Veil, here with me to share some excerpts as part of his blog tour. This book has been getting great reviews, so read all the excerpts (they are long but worth it) and follow his links at the end of the post. First, a little about Micheal!

About Michael Lorde

Michael  was raised in a rural town in upstate New York and has two sons and two daughters.  After living in a warmer climate for nearly thirty years,  Michael has since moved back north with the youngest daughter of the four.  They are dog lovers and have two.  Blind Veil is Michaels debut novel.

 

Blurb:

How can an unreported crime that occurred forty years in the past,and across the country, affect a New York City Cop today?

Can a seemingly innocent boat ride forever change the life of a former Marine?

Find out when a Police Officer meets an eccentric scientist who claims to hold secret knowledge that has been hidden from the rest of society.

Is this all truly happening, or is he slowly losing his grip on reality? Unfortunately, neither conclusion between the two worlds is better than the other as the clarifying line between reality and impossibility slowly disintegrates, turning his world upside down.

He must dig thirty years into his past; deep beneath the veil and the mesh of murder, lies and deceit to find answers.

Follow the trail of events that will forever shape his future… and maybe yours.

Continue reading Excerpt: Blind Veil →

New Release: Pimp ur Blog Episode Two

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I’m pleased to announce the release of Pimp ur Blog Episode Two: Increase Search Results with Articles and Feeds by Paul Rice and Messie Jessie!

Paul had recently asked me to review Episode One, but then emailed me to be his editor! While maintaining the overall “voice” of the piece, we worked together to make both Episode One and Two a little more concise for readers, and I think it’s turned out well.

If you’re looking for ways to get better search results or just need an intro into SEO for bloggers, check out this series. Paul and Messie Jessie do a good job of showing (with pictures!) what they are doing with the programs they use to increase exposure.

You can get Episode One and Episode Two on Amazon.

Here’s the press release: Continue reading New Release: Pimp ur Blog Episode Two →

Review: Charade

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Charade
Charade by Cambria Hebert
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If you cannot breathe, I will breathe for you. If your heart will not beat, mine will beat harder. If you do not live, neither will I.

Heven and Sam have been through so much in their struggles against evil, but they aren’t done yet. Being tasked to return a treasure to its rightful spot in Italy, Heven and Sam struggle with family, friends, secrets, and deceptions on top of everything else. Change is coming everywhere they look and everyone’s mask is cracking. Can Heven and Sam hold it together – themselves as well as their family and friends – and save the world in the process?

Charade continues to follow Heven and Sam, yet expands the cast of characters a bit and reworks a few of the old ones. While Heven grows into her powers, she also learns that she is stronger than she thinks – something she shows Sam time and again, as she is willing to literally go to hell to protect him. The characters continue to grow before the reader’s eyes, sometimes with shining moments and sometimes with bitter ones, making them very believable. Cole plays a bigger part in this book, as does Kimber, and the new additions fall into place logically as well.

While some points slow and predictable, Charades is full of twists and turns that keep Heven’s (and the reader’s) head spinning. Fast-paced and engaging, Charade picks up right where Masquerade left off and runs full-tilt until the end, leaving Heven, Sam, and the reader asking – “What will happen next?”

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