New Anthology: Still Standing

Hello, all.
I do hope your Halloween was enjoyable. I made my own Viking costume and threatened people with an ax. Good times. What did you dress as?
I wanted to pop in and share some news with you, valued readers. Hollow Hills has a new anthology coming out next month titled STILL STANDING. This collection of short stories and poetry will benefit Crisis Text Line, a non-profit that helps those in crisis. Find out more about this wonderful organization here.

Various authors came together bringing unique fantasy and science fiction tales to this amazing anthology. The stories and poems involve bullying, harassment, or ill-treatment by others in some way. The stories may get dark, but there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. Our protagonists will not be kept down because in the end they are still standing tall. 
For more information about each story in the anthology, visit the Hollow Hills website. 

My story, "The Brave Blacksmith" is about a man who became a legend but walked away from his past life. Now he does odd jobs, enduring bullying from local villagers and even his own employers sometimes. Merely trying to make it through each day while dealing with his own inner demons, the queen of his land suddenly calls upon him to track down and help a sorcerer in a neighboring kingdom. Accepting the quest may mean a break from his daily struggles, but his pain still follows him as he heads out with his trusty tools to locate a powerful stranger.

Follow Blacksmith on his adventures in STILL STANDING, coming December 14th. Pre-orders are available now.

Universal link – https://books2read.com/stillstanding

Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JQ1R9P8

Lulu – http://www.lulu.com/shop/product-23873712.html

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41969929-still-standing

100% of royalties will go to Crisis Text Line, so be sure to grab your copy today!

Indie Pride Day 2017

Hello everyone! Yes, I know, it's been a while, but I am back and ready to blog it up.

It is Indie Pride Day, and I am proud to support my fellow indie authors from around the world. Indie authors, musicians, and artists can sometimes have a bad reputation because they are not with a big-name company. People may not consider reading their books, buying their art, or listening to their music because they don't believe they take their craft seriously. I say that is bologna! Many of us choose not to go with such companies so we can have the freedom of doing things our way. That does NOT make our work sub-par!

We are passionate about what we do and put 100% into our work. We authors spend hours locked away in front of computers and tons of cash (that we sometimes don't have) to bring our stories to life. So show your favorite indies some love and share their Facebook pages, Twitter accounts, websites, blogs, etc.

Let’s get the word out and show everyone just how great indies truly are. Use the #indieprideday or #IndieBooksBeSeen hashtags on Twitter today! Visit the Facebook event for Indie Pride Day and discover some new-to-you authors!

New Addition to A Vampire Series

That's right, folks. The Some By Day, Some By Night series has a new addition! 
I was pretty excited to get this one published so let me give you guys the yummy details. The Smell of Death & A Taste of Blood is a collection of short vampire stories of horror, action, and tragedy. Here is the summary:
Can you survive...
          ...what's waiting for you?
Delving into the world introduced in the Some By Day, Some By Night series and continued in Lord Gerard's Coven, this collection of short stories begins before written history, jumping through time and ending during the events of Threads of A Web. Welcome to a world of vampires, humans, and maybe even something else. Though each tale can stand on it's own, readers of the two series will enjoy these extra background stories. Have you wondered:
Why does Serahfine despise humans?
What was Morgan like before she was changed?
Who was the very first vampire?
What happened to Lionel's wife, Roberta?

Questions will be answered. Pasts will be explained. But only if you can handle
THE SMELL OF DEATH & A TASTE OF BLOOD

Isn't that cover just wonderful? Eye catching and creepy, just what I wanted! The talented Julie Nicholls did an amazing job! 

Though this collection is part of the Some By Day, Some By Night series, it also involves characters from the sister series, Lord Gerard's Coven. Both series involve vampires throughout history, their stories intertwining and proceeding into the distant future. The difference is, Some By Day focuses on the individual vampires and their personal struggles and romances. Lord Gerard focuses more on the small battles, impending wars, and other science fiction fun.  I recommend reading both to get all the delicious backstories!

The Smell of Death & A Taste of Blood is available at Amazon here. 

Happy reading, everyone!

March Reads and Reviews

After having read very little in February, I tried to make up for it in March by reading a lot. A lot for a busy person like me, anyway. I read twelve books last month! The best part is, I thoroughly enjoyed every single one of them. Nothing under four stars this month!

I read more trade books than indie books this month so I will only be posting reviews for indie books in the YA or adult market. The children's books I read are reviewed on my other blog.

Jade
by Rose Montague

Rating: 4 Stars

Review:
Action packed and fun! I loved the tone of this book and how Jade's true nature is kept a mystery for a time. A real page turner.
My only complaint is the pacing. It was a tad fast for my taste, I would have liked to slow it down and see more of the initial spark between Jade and Jane, let that romance build more.
Great read!

To purchase this title, find it on Amazon here.

Demon Within
by Julie Nicholls

Rating: 5 Stars

Review:
I couldn't put it down!
This story was exactly what I look for in a romance. The author took her time introducing us to each character, leaving a bit of mystery to be discovered along the way while letting the reader become emotionally invested in their own stories. The action was exciting and the romance sizzling. Some twists were predictable, others less so, but all done so well that it felt genuine.
A great read that hooked me, reeled me in, and left me wanting more. 

To purchase this title, find it on Amazon here.

Five Seven Five
by C. E. Wilson

Rating: 5 Stars

Review:
This story sucked me in from page one!
A colony that lives underground. Strict enforces of the rules, rules that no one really understands. A girl curious about the world above. A death that will change everything.
I couldn't help but to root for White from the start. Her character is flawed, headstrong, and endearing, everything I love in a protagonist. The vivid details and original story line made this book very hard to put down! Excellent read. 

To purchase this title, find it on Amazon here.
 

Stake Out
by Lily Luchesi

Rating: 4 Stars

Review:
A great start to a promising series!
A killer on the loose, a doomed romance, and paranormal creatures functioning in modern society make for an exciting story. It has issues that usually accompany an author's first book like head-hopping confusion and showing versus telling, but the story itself shines through. I enjoyed the bit of mystery and romance just as much as the action and fight scenes.
Very well done and can't wait to read the sequel!

To purchase this title, find it on Amazon here.



A few other books a read include Hollow City, the sequel to Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. Excellent book, can't wait to read the third and final story! The Sandman Volume 9, which, geezus, almost killed me with that ending. I also finished off a manga series I started reading many years ago, Descendants of Darkness (Yami no Matsuei).  

All in all, it was a great month for reading!

January Reads and Reviews

I'm doing the Goodreads Reading Challenge again this year. Last year my goal was to read thirty-five books and I read eighty. This year my goal is one hundred books. I got this!

This month started the year out right with twelve books. That's right, super mom with four screaming kids squeezed in twelve books this month! (Though a lot of these "books" are those romance novels split in three. It's a thing people are doing now and it is annoying. It's short enough to be a short story. The three together could be one book. But yeah, let's call it a "series".) Let's look at my reviews for what I managed to read for January 2016.

The Everlasting Chapel
by Marilyn Cruise

Rating: 4 Stars

Review:
Perfect ending to a great trilogy.
My only real complaint is that I think Scarlett fought too hard against Michael. Once she finally gave in to the inevitable, a happy ending was guaranteed. 

For more of Marilyn Cruise's books and buy links, check out her Goodreads author page.
 

Gravitas: Valkyrie in the Forbidden Zone
by Lynne Murray

Rating: 5 Stars

Review:
I adore this book! Humorous, action-packed, and full of jabs at society, this book has everything I could want and more.

For more of Lynne Murray's books and buy links, check out her Amazon author page.

Dreamwalker
by Desiree Morgan

Rating: 3 Stars

Review:
The story was sweet but it felt too short for my tastes. I would have liked more detail leading up to the car accident. More scenes of them interacting in the dreams to show Chase falling in love with Emily. A few editing issues here and there but nothing too distracting from the story.
All in all, a good quick read but didn't draw me in as much as I had hoped.

For more of Desiree Morgan's books and buy links, check out her Goodreads author page.

Five Dates
by Amy Jo Cousins

Rating: 4 Stars

Review:
Humorous, sexy, and fun! A great read that draws you into Devin and Jay's worlds and the realities of a relationship.  

For more of Amy Jo Cousin's books and buy links, check out her Amazon author page. 

Regina: The Monster Inside
by DM Singh

Rating: 5 Stars

Review:
An exciting leap into a magical world unlike any other. This book is full of characters that are unique and interesting. The heroine isn't perfect; she is young, makes mistakes, and often doesn't think her plans through. All of which makes her easy to relate to. Though at times the pacing is a bit slow, the story is otherwise engaging. Great read, can't wait for the sequel!

For more of DM Singh's books and buy links, check out her Amazon author page.

Ready To Were
by Robyn Peterman

Rating: 5 Stars

Review:
I really enjoyed this book. It has everything I could want in a were story: humor, heartbreak, action, sexy romance, and a kick-ass heroine. I was tickled pink by the no bullshit tone, the humor having me laughing my butt off quite often. I definitely can't wait to read the next installment! 

For more of Robyn Peterman's books and buy links, check out her Amazon author page.

Unmasked: Volume 1
by Cassia Leo

Rating: 4 Stars

Review:
A dark and intriguing story. A mysterious start to a trilogy that promises more action and turmoil to come!

For more of Cassia Leo's books and buy links, check out her Amazon author page.

The Viscount's Christmas Temptation
by Erica Ridley

Rating: 4 Stars

Review:
An enjoyable historic romance with original characters and a sweet story. 

For more of Erica Ridley's books and buy links, check out her Amazon author page. 

Chameleon Sea: Part 1
by Catherine James

Rating: 3 Stars

Review:
A good start to a series with vivid details and a sensuous story. 

For more of  Catherine James's books and buy links, check out her Goodreads author page.

The Girlfriend Wager
by Edward Davies

Rating: 4 Stars

Review:
An amusing tale about a group of teenage boys who make a bet: Which of them can get a real girlfriend and sleep with her within a year? As we journey with them through their failures and follies, we are reminded of youth and how strange and awkward those hormonal years are.
A fun read with interesting and hilarious characters.

For more of Edward Davies's books and buy links, check out his Goodreads author page.


I also read the short story "The Battered Bride" and Volume 8 of The Sandman. I look forward to a year full of more wonderful reads to come by some amazing indie authors!

A Treat

I want to give you guys a juicy little bit from my published novel Love Me Today, Kill Me Tomorrow from the Some By Day, Some By Night series. These vampires are not to be toyed with!


I nod my head and concede. Of course I do. I can’t say no when she’s trying so hard to smile at me. Christ, we are both a couple of idiots. Hiding our true feelings behind fake smiles. Her eyes give her away. Do mine, I wonder?

She pushes me back in the bed, pulling the slightly ripped sheet over me. I lay back on the pillow I slept on last night, sighing, wondering how my life ever came to this. A couple of weeks ago, I was in the middle of this threesome where I tore the girls’ bodies to pieces as I killed them, their screams of terror making me laugh. Now I’m in a soft bed, half naked, being pampered by a suicidal rich girl.

Life is a hell of a thing.

Artus was a fun character to write. Sexy but deadly. All male but emotionally vulnerable. His personality made for some explosive, and sometimes hard to write, scenes. This novel is not for the weak of heart, but you may just fall in love.

Interested in finding out what becomes of Artus and his willing victim, Alexus? The book is available in paperback and Kindle format on Amazon. 

Until next time, my dears!