Thursday, October 30, 2014

Ann Gimpel: SPOTLIGHT & REVIEW for "The Witch Chronicles" Series + Your Chance to help an author & get a FREE Book!

Witch’s Rule
The Witch Chronicles
Book 3
Ann Gimpel

Publisher: Taliesin

Release Date: 11/7/14
Available for pre-order mid-October

Genre: Dark Paranormal Romance

Jenna falls in love with two very different men. Standing on the verge of Earth’s destruction, will she defy convention and follow the song in her heart?



Book Description:

Jenna’s a special witch, sort of, when her magic works, which it often doesn’t. One of three remaining demon-stalkers, she and her sister witches, Roz and Colleen, are Earth’s only hedge against being overrun by Hell’s minions. On the heels of Roz’s and Colleen’s weddings, Jenna is headed for the U.K. when a demon confronts her. Any other witch could teleport out of the plane, but not her. Frustration about her limited power eats at her. It would be pretty pathetic to get killed for lack of skills a teenager could master.

Tristan is a Sidhe warrior, but his primary gift is attunement to others’ emotions. He fell hard for Jenna, but hasn’t had an opportunity to act on their attraction beyond a few kisses because she returned to Alaska, and he’s been in the field fighting demons.

As seer for the Sidhe, Kiernan is haunted by visions, particularly an apocalyptic sending that seems to be coming true. A confirmed bachelor, he doesn’t understand his attraction to Jenna, but it’s so strong he can’t fight it, and after a while, he doesn’t even try, despite recognizing Tristan’s claim to her.

Startling truths surface about Jenna’s magic, and then there’s the problem that she’s falling in love with two very different men. At first she believes she has to pick one of them, but her spirit refuses to walk away from either. It’s impossible to choose between a seer with dreams in his eyes and a beautiful man who intuits her every need. Standing on the verge of Earth’s destruction, will she defy convention and follow the song in her heart?


Excerpt:
Her thoughts turned to Tristan. Before getting snared in all the demon-muck with the minion in the plane, she’d been hoping the tawny-haired Sidhe would be part of the greeting party at the airport. There were lots of possible reasons he might not have met her, but the most likely was he wasn’t interested in her—at least not that way.
Oh give it a rest. It’s not like he’s so much as called or e-mailed in the weeks since I left the U.K. I’ll just embarrass myself—and look pathetic—if I ask after him.
Ronin had said something about Tristan being assigned to one of the garrisons dealing with the Irichna who’d been running rampant through the U.K. countryside. There was at least a slender chance he couldn’t just drop everything and show up to greet her. Worse, maybe he’d been forced into the Dreaming by a demon. Sidhe were immortal, but they could be compelled to leave the human world if they were injured badly enough.
The Rolls slowed at the carved, wrought-iron gates to Ronin’s estate. Magic flashed, and they swung slowly inward. “It’s just past ten,” Colleen said. “What’s scheduled for tonight?”
Nothing in particular, but we do need to talk,” Ronin said.
More to the point,” Jenna spoke up, “what ground did you cover before I got here? Is there anything I need to catch up on?”
Oh, that’s right.” Colleen turned toward her and cocked her head to one side. Like Roz, she was dressed in a fleece jacket, jeans, and lace-up boots. Far more practical clothing than Jenna’s short skirt, high-heeled boots, and inadequate jacket. “You told us your problems, but we didn’t share ours.”
A cold fist of fear closed over Jenna’s stomach and squeezed hard. “I’m not sure I want to know, but what happened?”
Well, we got here okay,” Roz answered. “Not here, exactly. We came out above the Sidhe armory, closer to the center of town.”
Thought we’d pick up a few Seraph blades,” Duncan noted. “Since we can’t handle iron like you witches, the blades come in handy fighting Irichna.”
Jenna cracked her knuckles in frustration. “Yes, but what happened?”
What else?” Colleen made a sour face. “Irichna.”
How they figured out where we’d materialize will remain one of the mysteries,” Roz mumbled. Even though her words were casual, Jenna picked up a hint of fear beneath them. She shook her head to clear an almost paralyzing fog from creeping in. What she’d been afraid of—that the Irichna employed minions to spy on them—was looking more and more real.
How many?” she asked, her throat so dry it was hard to get the words out.
Fortunately, only three, but they didn’t exactly lie down and cooperate,” Ronin said. He focused his next words at the driver. “Just drop the lot of us off at the main house, Kiernan. It’s probably best if we hash out a plan before everyone turns in for the night.”
Long story short,” Colleen picked up Roz’s tale, “it took until just before we met up with the car and Kiernan to neutralize the demons and ferry two of them to the Ninth Circle of Hell. Ronin and Duncan annihilated the third one. We never did get into the armory to pick up blades for the men.”
Does that mean the U.K. problem is solved?” Jenna asked.
Probably not,” Duncan replied. “There are always more of those blasted buggers, no matter what we do.”
And they show up in different forms,” Ronin added, “which makes it tough to know if these were the ones causing all the problems.”
It’s not as if they’re a static population,” Roz said. “We’ve never been able to estimate their numbers.”
Isn’t that the truth,” Jenna groused as the car rolled to a stop in front of Ronin’s home that looked more like a castle than anything else. Built from interlocking flagstones and huge beams of lumber, it soared five floors. Light glowed from leaded glass panes, adding a welcoming touch. Even though it was night and she couldn’t see the grounds, Jenna remembered them to be immaculate. Sidhe didn’t employ many servants. Most of the day-to-day tasks were accomplished with magic. She snorted inwardly. Maybe she could pick up a few housekeeping tips, along with whatever else the Sidhe taught her.
She exited the car behind Roz, and a thought struck her. “Aw, hell.”
What?” Roz’s hands flew upward to draw power.
Nothing like that,” Jenna said. “My luggage. It’s still at the airport.”
No worries.” Ronin walked to Roz and draped an arm over her shoulders. “I’ll send someone round to fetch it.”
You’ll have way more than us,” Colleen pointed out, “since we teleported.” She leaned toward Duncan and gave him a kiss.
Jenna glanced from one couple to the other and hoped to hell no one picked up on the emotions running through her. She was happy for her friends. Duncan and Ronin were amazing men, but the surfeit of connubial bliss underscored just how alone she was. Earlier she’d told Roz and Colleen to hurry up and produce a child or two so she could settle in as a maiden auntie and spoil them shamelessly, but nothing like that was likely to happen anytime soon. Not until they got the demons on the run.
Niall surged to her side, along with Krae and Llyr. The changeling swept unkempt black hair out of his dark eyes and caught hold of her arm. “Don’t paint the devil on the wall.”
Huh? When did you start reading minds?”
I’ve always been able to, and Krae showed me an easier way where I don’t have to use hardly any of my own power.”
Really?” Jenna stopped at the top of a dozen broad stone steps and glanced at the changeling. “How?”
He grinned like an imp. “Simple. I borrow yours.”
Thanks. It’s not polite to help yourself to people’s thoughts, though, or their magic.”
Maybe not polite,” Niall’s grin widened, “but very interesting.”
Humph.” Jenna pushed on the ten foot tall oak door carved with runic symbols. At first it didn’t budge, but the air brightened around her hand, and then the door swung open. Someone, likely Ronin, had done something to countermand the warding protecting his home.
Kiernan shimmered into being in the great hall. Jenna drew back and blinked in surprise. He’d obviously teleported from the driveway, but she wasn’t used to squandering power so casually. Something drew her gaze upward; by the time she realized it was Kiernan’s magic, she was looking into his blue-green eyes. They were cool, laced with mystery, but fire smoldered in their depths, as if in challenge. When she tried to look away, she couldn’t. Jenna drew herself up and squared her shoulders, but the Sidhe was still taller than her by a good few inches. “Don’t force me,” she sputtered. “If you want something, ask first.”
I’ll keep it in mind, witch.” With a cross between a smile and a smirk, he turned and trotted into a broad, furnished hallway that ran much of the length of the downstairs. Snug black pants fit like a second skin, outlining a high, tight ass. A faded, gray T-shirt strained across his heavily-muscled back and arms. He was built like an ancient Viking warrior with shoulders so broad she could almost imagine him at the helm of a warship, shaking his fist into the teeth of a shrieking tempest. Unlike Duncan and Ronin, who kept their hair long enough to braid, Kiernan’s black locks were close-cropped, which emphasized his angular cheekbones and strong, clean-shaven jaw. Breath caught in Jenna’s throat, and her belly tightened with a rush of sexual energy.
Because she couldn’t tear her gaze away, she stared after the Sidhe. Coaxed by magic, lights flared on when he passed, and an assortment of plush leather furniture in earth tones came into view. Occasional tables laden with antique sculptures, cut crystal lamps, and other artistic pieces were scattered about. Jenna took a deep breath to ease the tingling in her nipples and then another, hoping her face wasn’t as flushed as it usually got when she was turned on. To divert herself, she spun in a circle, taking in grandeur museums would have gone rounds to own. “Where do you want us?” she asked Ronin.
Back study,” he said as he and Roz swept past, followed by Colleen and Duncan. “It’s cozier, and we’re a small group.”
Oh-oh.” Niall nudged her. “Better watch it. I felt that flash of energy from twenty paces.” Jenna stuck her tongue out at him, and he reached back to pinch her, edging out of the way before she could slap his fingers.
A swoosh of power behind her sent her heart into overdrive. She twirled, ready to shout at Colleen and Roz to come back and help, but the words died on her lips. Kiernan stood there beaming like a Cheshire cat. Despite the smile, he looked arrogant and dangerous, with a raw sexuality that practically held a life of its own. Breath clattered from her lungs. “But you were ahead of me,” she stammered. “Up there.” She pointed behind her and felt like an idiot.
Observant of you.” He closed the distance between them until he stood scant inches away. The heat of his body eddied toward her, and it took all her willpower not to throw her arms around him and drag his mouth down onto hers.
Do, er, did you want something?” Her voice came out high and squeaky, and she coughed to cover her discomfiture. As if she were drawn by invisible puppet strings, Jenna leaned toward him, so close her breasts brushed his chest, and her breath hitched uncomfortably. She clasped her hands behind her to reduce the temptation to touch him.
I want many things, but most of all I want to get to know you better.” He ran a finger down her cheek, leaving a trail of iridescent motes that floated before her eyes. “Once we’re in with the others, there wouldn’t have been an opportunity to tell you that.”
She opened her mouth to say something, anything, to break the sexual tension that overshadowed common sense, but he dissolved into nothingness, and she was left blinking at the afterimage of where he’d stood. Jenna breathed deep to settle herself. If she was going to spend hours training with Kiernan, she had to get her libido under control, and damned fast. Otherwise she’d be so addle-brained she wouldn’t learn a thing.


About the Author:

Ann Gimpel is a mountaineer at heart. Recently retired from a long career as a psychologist, she remembers many hours at her desk where her body may have been stuck inside four walls, but her soul was planning yet one more trip to the backcountry. Around the turn of the last century (that would be 2000, not 1900!), she managed to finagle moving to the Eastern Sierra, a mecca for those in love with the mountains. It was during long backcountry treks that Ann’s writing evolved. Unlike some who see the backcountry as an excuse to drag friends and relatives along, Ann prefers solitude. Stories always ran around in her head on those journeys, sometimes as a hedge against abject terror when challenging conditions made her fear for her life, sometimes for company. Eventually, she returned from a trip and sat down at the computer. Three months later, a five hundred page novel emerged. Oh, it wasn’t very good, but it was a beginning. And, she learned a lot between writing that novel and its sequel.
Around that time, a friend of hers suggested she try her hand at short stories. It didn’t take long before that first story found its way into print and they’ve been accepted pretty regularly since then. One of Ann’s passions has always been ecology, so her tales often have a green twist.
In addition to writing, Ann enjoys wilderness photography. She lugs pounds of camera equipment in her backpack to distant locales every year. A standing joke is that over ten percent of her pack weight is camera gear which means someone else has to carry the food! That someone is her husband. They’ve shared a life together for a very long time. Children, grandchildren and three wolf hybrids round out their family.





@AnnGimpel (for Twitter)






Sister Sinister's Review of The Witch Chronicles


* * * * *

I was given the chance to read to review the first 3 books in this series as a part of the blog tour for the upcoming release of book 3, "Witch's Rule", and I'm giving it an overall 5 Stars!

In Book 1 "Witch's Bounty", Colleen is a witch. A demon-hunting witch to be precise. It runs in her blood and she is one of the last of her kind, a barrier between them and us. Along with her two fellow demon stalking witches, Roz and Jenna, the women run a magic shop in Alaska where not much happens. Oh, and let us not forgot the really awesome familiar she has bound to her - a gnomish changeling spirit named Bubba. He doesn't like to wear clothes, he can change into a cat, and if you don't find yourself snickering at his antics, then your funny bone needs some help!

Life seems to be swell, though Colleen does worry that without heirs to carry on the bloodline, the demon hunters will die out. But that is for another day, as a frantic Roz pleads for her friend to join her in the states to take on a demon. As luck, or fate, would have it, the walking Sidhe hotty, Duncan, strides into her shop, and her life.

With this series, we get to enjoy the stories of these three witches as they find trouble and Sidhe love, with Roz being featured in book 2 "Witch's Bane", and Jenna in the shortly to be released book 3 "Witch's Rule".

Nice action, lovely Celtic lore, passion, demons, doubt, fire and creatures of myth and legend, this spellbinding series will ensnare you.


For your chance to help Ann Gimpel and a chance to get a FREE book in thanks...


 Up for Nomination at Kindle Scout:
Winning Glory by Ann Gimpel



 Winning Glory, a science-fiction romance, is competing for an Amazon publishing contract.



 Freezing and injured, Glory’s flat out of options. Can she take a chance on a man who kills those like her? Please vote for Winning Glory. If it wins, you get a free pre-pub copy.
https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/3DELY151UQKCK  







Please vote and share the Kindle Scout Link 
Active from 10/29-11/28
https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/3DELY151UQKCK


 How it Works (from Amazon's Kindle Scout Page):

Kindle Scout is reader-powered publishing for new, never-before-published books. It’s a place where readers help decide if a book gets published. Selected books will be published by Kindle Press and receive 5-year renewable terms, a $1,500 advance, 50% eBook royalty rate, easy rights reversions and featured Amazon marketing.

Nominate your favorites.

When you discover a book that you think is great, nominate it and the book will be added to Your Nominations panel. Keep up to three books nominated at a time, and update your nominations whenever you want.

Enjoy free books.

As a thank you from us and the authors you support, you will receive an early, free copy of all the Kindle Scout books you nominated that are published. Continue to champion the books and authors you helped bring to life by leaving reviews and sharing with friends.

Learn more at: https://kindlescout.amazon.com/about

Sunday, October 26, 2014

"Ghost Heart" by Ripley Patton: SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT, & Series Review, + FREE Book!!!

Ghost Heart banner

This is my stop during the book blitz for Ghost Heart (The PSS Chronicles #3) by Ripley Patton. This book blitz is organized by Lola's Blog Tours. The book blitz runs from 20 till 26 October, you can view the complete blitz schedule on the website of Lola’s Blog Tours.
So far this series contains 3 books: Ghost Hand (The PSS Chronicles #1), Ghost Hold (The PSS Chronicles #2) and Ghost Heart (The PSS Chronicles #3).

Ghost Heart coverGhost Heart (The PSS Chronicles #3)
By Ripley Patton

Genre: Paranormal Thriller
Age category: Young Adult
Release date: October 14, 2014

Blurb:
In the aftermath of a brutal tragedy, Jason and Passion are on the run. Marcus is lost beyond reach, and The Hold is in shambles. If that weren't enough, Olivia Black has been taken by the CAMFers to be used as Dr. Fineman's personal lab rat in his merciless quest to uncover the mysteries of Psyche Sans Soma once and for all. But only if he can break her.

They are scattered.
They are devastated.
They are ruined.

Their only hope is Olivia's stubborn determination to thwart her captors and unlock the secrets of her ghost hand before Dr. Fineman can. Will she finally find the strength within herself to embrace the full power of her PSS?

And will it even matter if Marcus has already betrayed her?

GHOST HEART Excerpt from Olivia's perspective – (some strong language)

When I came to, I wasn't back in my cell. I was still handcuffed to the chair in the interrogation room with Dr. Fineman and Anthony. I was slumped over the table, my hair wet with blood from the blow to my ear. It wasn't crusting though, which meant I'd only been out a few minutes.
"Welcome back," Anthony said, grabbing my hair and lifting my head up, leaving a brownish-red smear on the table where it had been. "No time for naps. We're not done with you yet."
My head was spinning, and I felt like I might throw up. If I did, I would aim for the doctor.
And that's when I noticed the new guy in the room. He was a CAMFer soldier, an older guy I didn't recognize with a prominent scar across his right cheek, running from eye to chin. I did the best I could to pretend he wasn't intimidating, but he was. I had a bad feeling the torture was about to ramp up a notch. Great. Something to look forward to.
"This is Major Tom," Dr. Fineman introduced him, smiling. "And he has somewhat of a bone to pick with you."
Really? Major Tom? Was that his real name or was he just a huge David Bowie fan? Either way, I was pretty sure I'd never met the guy. And if he was out to get me, he should probably get in line.
"You see," Dr. Fineman said, "The Major had a reputation as one of the best knife fighters on this continent. I say 'had' because it was somewhat ruined when you stole a knife from his person and used it to stab three of his men."
Shit. This was the guy who'd been carrying me the night of the Eidolon. I hadn't seen his face because I'd been slung over his shoulder. But I had reached straight into his back with my ghost hand and pulled out a knife, the same knife that was now sitting on the table in front of me. My eyes flashed to it.
"Yes," Dr. Fineman said, smiling at me. "Now you understand." He turned to Anthony. "Let's have the other hand for this," he directed.
Anthony fumbled at my flesh hand, unlocking the handcuffs. Then he yanked my left arm onto the table, pinning my hand palm-up.
I didn't struggle. It wouldn't do any good. Anthony had proved many times he was stronger than me. Still, sometimes I could outsmart him if I was patient enough. He wasn't the brightest crayon in the box. For example, he'd just forgotten to recuff my other arm to the chair, and my ghost hand was now tucked in my lap, hidden under the table.
Dr. Fineman picked up the knife, turning it in his hands. Then he lowered it gently, setting it in my open palm, handle-first.
I was never willingly going to do what they wanted me to. They were going to have to force my hand every inch of the way.
Anthony squeezed my wrist even harder as Dr. Fineman closed my fingers around the knife.
Suddenly, I was standing at the door, huge and looming, looking at the pitiful, bloody, minus girl. No, at me. I was looking at me.
"She's in my fucking head," I—he—Major Tom said, stumbling back toward the door. "I can feel her there. I can feel where she is."
"Hold your ground," Dr. Fineman barked at me—no, him. I wasn't him.—and I held steady at the door, remembering my training and honoring my rank. This little bitch wasn't going to embarrass me a second time.
What the fuck? That hadn't been my thought. It had been his thought in my head.
I looked down at the knife in my hand and tried desperately to unclench my fingers, but Dr. Fineman squeezed them even harder around it.


You can find Ghost Heart on Goodreads.

You can buy Ghost Heart here:
- Amazon
- Barnes & Noble
- Kobo

Earlier books in the series:
ghost handGhost Hand (The PSS Chronicles #1)
By Ripley Patton

Genre: Paranormal Thriller
Age category: Young Adult

Blurb:
Seventeen-year-old Olivia Black has a rare birth defect known as Psyche Sans Soma, or PSS. Instead of a right hand made of flesh and blood, she was born with a hand made of ethereal energy.

How does Olivia handle being the girl with the ghost hand? Well, she's a little bit morbid and a whole lot snarky.

Her mother thinks her obsession with death, black clothing, and the local cemetery is a bid for attention. But when Marcus, the new guy in Olivia's calculus class, stares at her like she's a freak, Olivia doesn't like it. And when her hand goes rogue, doing things she never imagined possible, Olivia finds herself running for her life with Marcus from a group of men bent on taking the power of her hand for their own nefarious purposes.


You can add Ghost hand to your to-read list on Goodreads.

You can download Ghost Hand for free here:
- Amazon
- Kobo

ghost holdGhost Hold (The PSS Chronicles #2)
By Ripley Patton

Genre: Paranormal Thriller
Age category: Young Adult

Blurb:
Olivia Black is back.

Only this time she's not the one in need of rescue.

Samantha James, rich, popular, and an award-winning composer at age seventeen, is the next target on the CAMFers' list. In order to convince Samantha to come with them, Olivia and Passion must pose as cousins, blend into the most affluent high school in Indianapolis, and infiltrate a mysterious cult known as The Hold.

Olivia doesn't expect it to be easy, even with the PSS guys backing them up. But what she discovers over the course of the mission will call into question everything she ever believed about herself, her family, and especially about Marcus, the guy she is undoubtedly falling in love with.


You can add Ghost Hold to your to-read list on Goodreads.

You can buy Ghost Hold here:
- Amazon
- Barnes and Noble
- Kobo

Ripley PattonAbout the Author:
Ripley Patton lives in Portland, Oregon with one cat, two teenagers, and a man who wants to live on a boat. She is an award-winning short story writer and author of The PSS Chronicles, a young adult paranormal thriller series.

Ripley doesn't smoke, or drink, or cuss as much as her characters. Her only real vices are writing, eating M&Ms, and watching reality television.

You can find and contact Ripley here:
- Website
- Facebook
- Twitter
- Goodreads
- Google +

There is a tour wide giveaway for the book blitz of Ghost Heart. These are the prizes you can win:
- a set of signed cover posters (US only)
- a $10 Amazon gift card (international)

For a chance to win, enter the rafflecopter below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway



What did Sister Sinister think?
* * * * *
I give the PSS Chronicles 5 Stars!
* * * * *




 I was given the opportunity to review the first three books of this series as part of the "Ghost Heart" blog tour and all I can say is Where have you been all my life?

When I first started reading "Ghost Hand", I wasn't too sure that I would ultimately enjoy it as much as I hoped, but that quickly turned around, taking hold of my attention with the ghostly tendrils of a PSS sufferer. What is PSS you ask? Good question! It's a medical anomaly, a birth defect dubbed Psyche Sans Soma, in which the hand ceases being flesh and blood at the wrist and resumes as a ghostly substitute made up of ethereal energy. It's a new, wild idea that the author inflicted her main character with, 17 year old Olivia Black.

The series has a smart, witty sense of humor with paranormal action and romance, as Olivia Black is hunted by a secret organization called the CAMFers. They are people she knew, they are strangers, they will stop at nothing to get what they want, and what they want is her and the strange, wondrous, terrible things that she can do with her Ghost Hand.

This is one series I strongly recommend to YA paranormal romance lovers everywhere.

Oh, and the first book is free.

Right on.

Thursday, October 23, 2014

"The Gateway Through Which They Came" by Heather Marie: SPOTLIGHT & REVIEW


The Gateway Through Which They Came
by Heather Marie

Genre: young-adult, paranormal-horror

Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press

Date of Publication: August 25, 2014

Cover Artist: Ricky Gunawan

 
About The Gateway Through Which They Came:
To seventeen-year-old Aiden Ortiz, letting the dead walk through his body to reach the other side comes with the territory—the territory of being a Gateway. It’s hard enough doing the exchange, sending even one Bleeder away without being seen, but when Koren Banks—his childhood friend and the girl who went mysteriously missing seven months ago—comes back into his life, the Bleeders begin seeking him out in droves.

When confronted by a Dark One, a Bleeder gone rogue, Aiden finds himself infected with an evil inside of him that wants nothing more than to be released. Fighting the urge to let the darkness consume him, Aiden realizes that not only does the Gateway send things away—it also brings things back. But who the other Gateway is summoning these shadowed beings is just another item on the list. A list that continues to grow more complicated by the day.

As the infection begins to take form—bringing to life a monster daring to claw its way out—Aiden seeks guidance to learn the truth of the man responsible for his curse. The Dark Priest whose resurrection has reformed the Brethren of Shadows; a group of men and women who seek a life full of Darkness, and thrive for the reign of their Dark Priest to lead them once again.

With his trusted protector guiding him, a local priest named Father Martin, Aiden soon discovers that he isn’t just another Gateway like his fellow brothers—but a Mortal Gateway created by the blood of a human and an Original—making him far more vulnerable to the energy of the Dark Priest and the power he offers. But what he asks of Aiden in return could mean the death of them all, humans and Gateways alike. The choice should be easy for any Gateway, but the manipulative beast thriving inside of Aiden proves otherwise.

With Koren and his two best friends, Trevor and Evan, by his side, Aiden fights to rid the world of the evil that’s been released by the Dark Priest, while saving the girl he loves from her haunting past. Time is running out, and Aiden must find and stop the Gateway that’s releasing the Shadows into the world. As if that task alone isn’t enough, Aiden may be the only one capable of abolishing the Dark Priest and his Order before he finds himself consumed into a world of evil—and before the monster lurking inside Aiden takes control.

Find The Gateway Through Which They Came Online:

--

About Heather Marie:
Heather Marie lives in Northern California with her incredibly hard working husband, whom she loves ridiculous amounts. When she isn’t writing, she spends majority of her time reading or planning her next Harry Potter marathon. Heather has always been a fan of the darker side of things most people shy away from. With her love for the classic Universal Monsters, and the slasher films she watched throughout her childhood, she found herself fascinated by the macabre.

Though she hopes to expand her work to YA dark contemporary in the future, Heather considers herself a writer of stories that showcase the unknown, and at times, the harshness that is reality. She adores her troubled characters and her ghostly fiends, creating worlds that are both strange and beautiful. All of this with a healthy dose of romance, of course.

Her debut, THE GATEWAY THROUGH WHICH THEY CAME, is a YA supernatural horror due to be released from Curiosity Quills, Summer 2014.

Find Heather Marie Online:


* * * *
Sister Sinister gives it 4 Stars!

* * * *

I was given the chance to read to review this book as part of the blog tour, and while I didn't love it, it was a well-written book that probably would appeal best to younger readers.

Focusing primarily on 17 year old Aiden, you learn pretty quickly that he is something called a Gateway, a doorway to the afterlife in which the dead pass through him to get to the other side. He sees them as they were at the time of their deaths, the cause of their demise often evident, with only his best friend and his priestly mentor knowing of his calling.

It's hard for this high school athlete to usher the dead over when his personal life isn't what he wants it to be, particularly with childhood friend Koren. She's disappeared and no one seems to know where she has gone. Worse still, he thinks there is something dark growing inside him...

A good YA read with elements of the paranormal, mystery, horror and romance. A story about fighting the darkness within.

Fluffy Friends Forever (The Adventures of Bobo and Lupe Book 1)

Fluffy Friends Forever 

(The Adventures of Bobo and Lupe Book 1) 

by Curran Geist  
photography by Meghan Traynor

A Children's Book

 * * * * * 

For the past 6 years, I have developed an obsession with chihuahuas. Ever since our little girl convinced us to get one of our very own. It is because of Pika, our special Chi friend, that I cannot see a chihuahua without a little heart melting. When author Curran Geist mentioned he wrote a children's book about chis, I knew I had to have it and he graciously provided me a copy.  

Fluffy Friends Forever is a charming little book about two best friends, Bobo and Lupe, and they begin the series with Bobo feeling a little selfish and not wanting to share her toys...  

Heartwarming with fun photos of real chihuahuas to illustrate the story with, these two pups are sure to teach a valuable lesson and are guaranteed to look cute while doing it. <3

For little (and not so little) dog lovers everywhere.

GOODREADS | AMAZON

 

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

INTERVIEW with The Sity series Author Curran Geist, + REVIEW of "Only the Cold Remains"!!!

Please welcome Curran Geist, author of "The Sity" series! Curran, thank you so much for taking a time out to answer some questions!!


Q. "Only the Cold Remains" is the second book in your "The Sity" series. Is it also your second published book?
A. Before I answer, I just want to thank you for taking the time to interview me. I'm delighted to share a little bit about myself and my work with your readership. As to your first question, I've actually published a children's picture book called Fluffy Friends Forever. Yes, it's probably at the complete opposite spectrum from my novels. It's about two sister Chihuahuas who learn about sharing, apologizing, and what friendship really means. If you're a dog lover, I promise that book will make you smile.


Q. Can you tell readers who have not yet enjoyed this Dystopian Thriller series yet, a little about what's happening in the Sity? What exactly is the Sity?
A. The Sity is an underwater metropolis run by an alien race called the Kuljiks. Yes, I know that city is spelled with a "C". I actually had a reader tell me I need to learn how to spell. LOL. The Sity is a play on words -- an extraterrestrial city of sin. Right now, the crap has literally hit the fan. Humans - who've been enslaved and forced to serve at the demented whims of the aliens - are finally starting to fight back against their oppressors. The aliens, who have created this secretive world to fulfill their darkest fantasies, begin to realize their dreams have turned into a nightmare.   


Q. Your 3-armed, 3-eyed alien race is called the Kuljik. Can you describe them a bit more in detail for us?
A. Sure thing. The Kuljiks have leathery skin with multiple layers of coloration, kind of like a salamander does. Their eyes are piercing like a cat. In lieu of hair, each Kuljik has different types of ridges around their heads and necks. Their limbs should be imagined like those of gazelle, but with raptor fingers instead of hooves. Their most human physical traits would be the nose, lips, and chest. These "human" aspects are played up (through makeup, clothing) within The Sity, due to the human influence on this metropolis and its sordid origins. 

Q. There is a lot of social injustice and politicking going on in your series. Important subjects to you as well. Can you tell us more about that?
A. Great question. When I first began writing The Sity about ten years ago, it was one way to channel my frustrations about some of the horrible things going on in the world. I don't want to sound like a violent person, but people who abuse others (whether it be women, children, animals, etc.) really piss me off. I used to be crippled by depression just thinking about the suffering going on and feeling helpless to help. As mentioned at the front of my novel, over one million women and children are still enslaved. The fact that these sex rings still exist is a terrible blight on humanity. One of the key subject matters in Book 2, is child soldiers. Several years ago, I met a survivor named Ishmael Beah. His personal horror story of being a child soldier really affected me. I wondered how can someone made to be a killer recover from that and re-discover their humanity? I hope that my work will help people think about the world today. However, I don't want to shove this down people's throats per se.

Q. How do you feel about the current state of self-publishing?
A. I think it's both exciting and intimidating. Self publishing has been great, because it's allowed me to get my work out to the public. However, I personally would have loved to have gone in a more traditional route. However, the publishing world has changed so much that a "traditional" route has become even more difficult to break into. Agents only really want established authors with multiple books. Publishing houses require you to have an agent. So a lot of talented writers are trapped in limbo. I hate wearing both the hats of an author and also publisher. I don't like to self-promote myself, since that just feels egotistical. I hope that my writing will speak for itself and my followers will grow organically. I think there is real potential for self-publishing to flourish if the self-publishing world works together and supports each other (through beta-readers, editing services, feedback, etc.) I don't see other writers as competitors, but rather colleagues. My only hope is to tell the best story I can and that it hits home with some of the readers in meaningful ways. 

Q. I see that you are a new father! Congratulations!!!!!! Do you think this will have any effect on your writing in the future?
A. Thanks! Being a father has been awesome. My little girl has completely monopolized my time -- in a good way. Yes, having a baby will definitely influence my writing. I try to channel bits of myself into my work. Without spoiling anything, certain characters in book 2 of The Sity series begin wrestling with the responsibilities of parenthood. I also plan to write another children's book dedicated to my daughter.

Q. What projects are you working on these days? Anything you can share with us?
A. I have a couple projects going. I am working on a zombie novel -- with my own unique twist. I also have a memoir of sorts started about a family dealing with mental health issues.

Q. I suppose I shouldn't hold you up much longer, but... As a fellow animal lover, I have to ask. What would you say your favorite animal is?
A. Yes, I'm definitely an animal lover. As a kid, I once had eight turtles, two iguanas, 2 hamsters, and 1 parakeet -- all at the same time. I currently have a cat named Keiko. I feel bad saying this - sorry cat -- but my favorite animals are birds.


Thank you so much, Curran, for sharing with us today, and for your candidness. You are truly inspiring. And by joe, please tell me how to get my hands on your children's books. I quite happen to be obsessed with our own Chi. *grins*

Readers, for more information, get connected with Curran Geist at the following sites:

Twitter: CGeist_thesity
 * * * * *
Only the Cold Remains
The Sity Book #2
by Curran Geist

Genre: Post Apocalyptic - Dystopian Sci-fi/Horror

* * * * *

I was so pleased to get a copy of this book to review from the author and I loved this book even more than the first! The oppressed humans are starting to rally and collect in pockets of survivors and we get to follow many of them as they struggle to feed themselves and stay alive. With the alien Kuljik hunting them down and enslaving them, it is hard for the remaining free people to trust the very few Kuljik who sympathize with them. (My favorite characters to read about were Alexa and Joseph as they navigate their way through tunnels and sewers in a bid for freedom, with the kuljik Rajek. I won't tell you more, but Rajek is remarkable to me!)

There is a lot going on in this book; action, intrigue, sparks of romance, secrets and politics, guilt and shame, love and loss, horror and doubt. The complexities of human nature will draw you in.


"ONLY the COLD REMAINS" at GOODREADS | AMAZON | My Review of Book #1

Monday, October 20, 2014

"Seraphina: Initiation" by Sheena Hutchinson: RELEASE DAY BLITZ!!!

Seraphina: Initiation
Seraphina Series
Book Two
Sheena Hutchinson

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy

Publisher: Hutchinson Publishing
Date of Publication: 10/20/2014

ISBN: 1502319608
ASIN: B00NE4Q7J2

Number of pages: 200
Word Count: 60,000

Cover Artist: Andrea Garcia


Book Description:

Seraphina Cross is unexpectedly thrown into this crazy, spiritual world of Angels versus Demons. Never did she expect to meet Nate who was just a figment of her imagination until last week. Now she finds herself moving in with him because of her innate responsibility to protect her loved ones from harm.

Finally beginning to feel at home in her new house and with her new relationship. Nate begins training Sera in all that she can do, surprising even himself at times.
Just when she is starting to feel safe and powerful, the Devil finds a new way to attack her at her most vulnerable.

When her dreams are no longer a gift, can Sera control the powers needed to defeat what's coming before Lucifer fulfills his promise to her?


 EXCERPT:
 
I’m walking along the long cliff in my new backyard, enjoying the gorgeous scenery. I’m basking in the sun, breathing in the fresh outdoor air, and feeling the wind whip my hair around my face. I look back at my new home behind me and sigh as my mind automatically thinks of Nate. I lie down in the grass, feeling the wind whipping around my hair and the grass grazing my legs ever so slightly. Again I let my mind wander to thoughts of wondering if I ever would have moved out of my parent’s house had it not been for Nate. What would my life have been like? Would I have stayed at the office until retirement in quiet misery? Breaking me out of my moment I think I hear someone shouting my name. I look around, but I’m alone here in my new backyard. Where is that noise coming from? I shrug my shoulders and try to continue my thought processes, but a part of me is still on alert. There it is again, my name, Sera! I finally climb to my feet and look through the glass wall of our house. Nate isn’t there. I must be imagining things.
Maybe my senses are just extra sensitive today. I begin to walk along the cliff and I hear it a little louder now. Sera! I glance out over the cliff and the winding river below that continues far into the distance. SERA! Finally my eyes lock on something in the river below, Nate.
What I’m not expecting is the hand that’s holding his head under water is big, clawed, and belongs to none other than Gabe. Gabe, the hunk from the office that tried to kill me only a few short days ago. His eyes are no longer green, they are all black and staring straight up at me like he’s tempting me to do something about it. He lifts Nate’s head back up as he tries to catch his breath while gulping down chunks of water. Nate’s arms are flailing around trying to grab onto something to defend himself, no to avail. “Sera!” he sputters out before Gabe shoves his head back down into the water. This time I know he’s not going to let him back up for air. He will kill him. There is no time, no thinking, Nate needs me. I extend my arms out like a bird’s wings, somewhere inside me I feel like I can fly. I dive off the cliff to help Nate. I open my eyes to see, it’s working! I have wings, big white glorious wings and… I’m flying! I think excitedly as my eyes lock on Gabe’s dark ones only instead of the fear I expect to see, he laughs at me. A strange, haunting laugh like he wanted this to happen.
I land on the ground hard before my eyes fly open. Nate is on top of me screaming words my mind can’t quite make out yet. I glance around in shock, I’m outside in the grass by the cliff. Stars are sparkling above me and in a stupor of confusion my mind is trying to make out what Nate is yelling.
“Sera! What were you doing? Tell me what was that?” his hands are shaking in anger.
“What?” I don’t seem to understand, “What happened?” I ask shaking my head as I begin to sit up.
“What do you mean? You were about to jump off the cliff!” he yells putting his hands on his head and paces back and forth in front of me.
“But, I was dreaming…” I try putting my thoughts together.
“Sera, I heard you walking past my office so I followed you out here and you were about to jump! I dived at you at the last minute and caught you just in time!” He states angrily waiting for an explanation.
I’m so confused. “I was dreaming you were in the river and I needed to save you, I was flying down to save you…it was a dream, at least I thought it was…” I rub my forehead.
Processing what I had just said with his silent angry face he finally softens and states, “Let’s get you back to bed,” before picking me up and carrying me back inside the house. By the time he’s climbing the stairs, I find myself nodding back off to sleep in his arms. I can feel him tucking me in and his footsteps trace back to the door. Suddenly I’m wide-awake, frightened that I could sleep walk again.
“Wait, Nate!” I softly yell.
“Yes?” he responds over his shoulder pausing in the doorway.
“Please don’t leave. I’m scared to go to sleep.” I admit quietly. He doesn’t have to respond I know he will stay. He probably wanted to anyway knowing his overprotective self. He walks back to the other side of the room, grabs the green chair from the corner, and pulls it up beside my bed. Leaning back he puts his feet up on the edge of the bed, I can’t tell if he’s sleeping or not but I feel better knowing that he’s there.
I roll over facing away from him as I try to close my eyes. Instead of drifting to sleep again, I find my mind wandering to how I could have walked all that way unconscious, what would have happened if I had jumped? How could this happen? Is this another gift? Or is it a curse? Unable to sleep, I roll back to face Nate. The moon is shining in through my window falling on Nate’s face. His eyes are closed and he looks so peaceful, but I know he’s not going to get any sleep tonight. I find myself wondering what I would do without him. Finally, unconsciousness finds me as I’m falling asleep wondering how I won the Angel lottery.




Available at Amazon Amazon UK



About the Author:

Sheena is a born and raised New Yorker, even her writing can't seem to hide her hard sarcasm. She claims destiny has lead her back to her true passion for writing.

She constantly strives to be a positive role model and writes stories that empower and inspire. Sheena always roots for the underdog, believes in love at first sight, and that everyone should have their happily ever after.

While God is currently still writing her love story, she continues to put all her effort into her writing as she is constantly getting new inspiration.

For more info, updates, and fun facts visit her website at: www.SheenaHutchinson.com







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