Monday, December 31, 2012
Excerpt Tour & Giveaway - Last Diner Standing by Terri L. Austin
Welcome to my stop on Terri L. Austin's Excerpt Tour for Last Diner Standing. Please make sure to leave a comment below to let Terri know you stopped by. Terri will be awarding one commenter at every stop a signed bookmark and a cover postcard (USA/Canada Only), and one randomly drawn commenter on the tour will receive a $25 gift card to Amazon or B&N, winner's choice. You can follow her tour stops here, the more often you comment, the better your odds of winning.
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Last Diner Standing
A Rose Strickland Mystery
by Terri L. Austin
Publisher: Henery Press
Release Date: November 30, 2012
ASIN: B00AGLOFOK
Pages: 296
Buy Links:
Amazon Print Kindle Kobo
Barnes & Noble Print Nook
Blurb:
Rose Strickland is having a blue Christmas. Her friend is arrested for attempted murder, her sexy bad guy crush is marked by a hit man, and her boss is locked in an epic smackdown with a rival diner. Determined to save those she loves, Rose embarks on an investigation more tangled than a box of last year's tree lights. With her eclectic gang at the ready, Rose stumbles across dead bodies, ex-cons, chop shops, jealous girlfriends, jilted lovers, and a gaggle of strippers in a battle for freedom she might not survive.
Excerpt:
There are some absolutes in this life that are irrefutable. If you leave the house looking like crap, you’ll see someone you know, usually an ex-boyfriend. If you’re running late for an appointment, you’ll hit every red light on the way. And a three a.m. phone call is never good news. Either someone’s dead, in the hospital, or you’re a drunken booty call. But that Saturday morning, I discovered another reason to avoid the ringing harbinger of bad news.
“’ello,” I answered, my eyes still closed.
“Rose, I’m in jail, girl.”
I sniffed and sat up on my futon. “Janelle?”
“Of course it’s Janelle. They think I tried to kill Asshat.”
Scrubbing a hand over my eyes, I glanced at the clock. “Asshat?”
Janelle lowered her voice. “Rose, wake up and listen. I’m in jail, Asshat’s in a coma, and they’re saying I tried to kill him. I need help.”
Her dilemma finally penetrated my sleep-fogged brain. “Oh my God. Where are the kids?” Janelle had two, Damon, nine, and Sherise, seven. Both so cute you wanted to pinch their little cheeks. But I wouldn’t recommend it—that Sherise was a biter.
“They’re staying with my cousin, Sondra. But I got to get out of here. If they think I’m spending Christmas in jail then I’m Halle Damn Berry.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Call that fancy lawyer you know. He’ll figure it out.”
Dane Harker. “I’ll call him and come see you in the morning. Will they let me bring you anything?”
“Cigarettes and toiletries. These bitches trade everything for cigarettes. And Rose? Thanks.”
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Terri L. Austin lives in Missouri with her funny, handsome husband and a high maintenance peekapoo. She’s the author of Diners, Dives and Dead Ends—a Rose Strickland Mystery. “Austin’s debut kicks off her planned series by introducing a quirky, feisty heroine and a great supporting cast of characters and putting them through quite a number of interesting twists.” Kirkus Reviews
http://terrilaustin.com/
http://www.facebook.com/AuthorAustin
http://www.twitter.com/TerriLAustin
http://www.goodreads.com/TerriLAustin
http://www.linkedin.com/in/TerriLAustin
https://plus.google.com/114753055559800020620
https://pinterest.com/terrilaustin
Don't forget to leave a comment below to let Terri know you stopped by. Terri will be awarding one commenter at every stop a signed bookmark and a cover postcard (USA/Canada Only), and one randomly drawn commenter on the tour will receive a $25 gift card to Amazon or B&N, winner's choice. You can follow her tour stops here, the more often you comment, the better your odds of winning.
Super Book Blast Tour - The Silver Sphere by Michael Dadich
Welcome to my stop on Michael Dadich's Super Book Blast Tour for The Silver Sphere. Please make sure to leave a comment or question below for Michael as he will be awarding a $75 Amazon or BN.com gift card to a randomly drawn commenter during this tour and his review tour. You can follow his tour stops here, the more often you comment, the better your odds of winning.
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The Silver Sphere
by Michael Dadich
Publisher: Evolved Publishing
Release Date: November 19, 2012
ASIN: B00AAJUSWQ
Length: 274 Pages
Genre: Fantasy/Sci-Fi
Buy Links:
Amazon Print Kindle Smashwords
Barnes & Noble Print Kobo BookieJar
Blurb:
Shelby Pardow never imagined she could kill someone. All she wants to do is hide from her troubled father… when she is teleported to awaiting soldiers on the planet Azimuth. Here she is not a child, but Kin to one of the six Aulic Assembly members whom Malefic Cacoethes has drugged and imprisoned. He seeks to become dictator of this world (and then Earth by proxy).
His father, Biskara, is an evil celestial entity, tracked by the Assembly with an armillary device, The Silver Sphere. With the Assembly now deposed, Biskara directs Malefic and the Nightlanders to their strategic targets. Unless….
Can Shelby find the other Kin, and develop courage and combat skills? Can the Kin reassemble in time to release or replace the Assembly, overthrowing Malefic and restraining Biskara?
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AUTHOR INFORMATION:
I’ve been writing since first setting pencil to steno pad at age 8. A year later, I began developing the world of my current series-in-progress, and even created its title, The Silver Sphere. Now, with the support of years of experience, those early maps and back stories have progressed into what I hope is a fresh and entertaining take on the classic young adult fantasy adventure.
Despite my frequent escapes into parallel worlds, I root myself firmly in my very real family and community. When not pacing the yard maniacally after every few pages of writing, I spend as much time as possible hanging out with my studly 9-year-old son, and my inspirational wife Jenna. I also coach several local youth sports teams in Beverly Hills, and alternate between yelling at my two crazy Corgis and hiking with my trained German Shepherd.
For more, join me in my favorite fantasy worlds, from Lord of the Rings to the creations of C.S. Lewis, Anne McCaffrey and Terry Brooks. Even more importantly, stop by and say hello on my Facebook page at AuthorMichaelDadich, tweet me at @MichaelDadich, and stalk my website at http://www.thesilversphere.org.org.
Don't forget to leave a comment or question below for Michael as he will be awarding a $75 Amazon or BN.com gift card to a randomly drawn commenter during this tour and his review tour. You can follow his tour stops here, the more often you comment, the better your odds of winning.
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Online Book Tour, Review & Giveaway - Survivor Roundup by Angela Scott
Welcome to the release day of
Survivor Roundup by Angela
Scott
Please be sure to join the Facebook event today
Red always knew she would have to face the man who
nearly destroyed her. She just didn't figure it would happen so soon .
.
With the plague sweeping across the nation,
destroying many and turning others into walking corpses, survivors head West in
search of a chosen land, a place designed to keep the infected out, while
sealing survivors inside. In theory, the idea seems the only way to keep
humanity alive. In practice, it doesn't matter whether a person is on the
inside or the out—there is no humanity. . . . And even though John Gatherum
hunted her
down and instigated their reunion, Red’s no longer
the passive girl he once manipulated. This time, she has a hidden agenda of her
own.
Kill him. Save her family. Save herself.
Buy it
Here Amazon
Angela Scott hears voices. Tiny fictional people sit on her
shoulders and whisper their stories in her ear. Instead of medicating herself,
she decided to pick up a pen, write down everything those voices tell me, and
turn it into a book. She's not crazy. She's an author. For the most part, she
writes contemporary Young Adult novels. However, through a writing exercise
that spiraled out of control, she found herself writing about zombies
terrorizing the Wild Wild West--and loving it. Her zombies don't sparkle, and
they definitely don't cuddle. At least, she wouldn't suggest it. She lives on
the benches of the beautiful Wasatch Mountains with two lovely children, one
teenager, and a very patient husband. She graduated from Utah State University
with a B.A. degree in English, not because of her love for the written word,
but because it was the only major that didn't require math. She can't spell,
and grammar is her arch nemesis. But they gave her the degree, and there are no
take backs.
Stalk me (I like
it):
Blog - www.angelascottauthor.com
Twitter - @whimsywriting
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/AngelaScottWriter
Check
out:
Follow the rest of the tour
HERE:
11/26 Promo Kristy Centeno
11/26 Promo Andi's Young Adult Books
11/26 Promo T B R
11/26 Promo Kindle Fever
11/26 Promo My Cozie Corner
11/26 Promo Mom With A Kindle
11/26 Promo Identity Discovery
12/14 Review Hooks and Book
12/18 Review Oh, The Books You'll Read!
12/18 Review My Reading Obsession
12/19 Review Lizzy's Dark Fiction
12/24 Review Fictional Candy
12/27 Review Queen of All She Reads
12/28 Review Andi's Young Adult Books
1/3 Review The Avid Reader
1/7 Review My Cozie Corner
1/7 Review Rude Mom
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Red always knew she would have to face the man who nearly destroyed her. She just didn’t figure it would happen so soon . . .
With the plague sweeping across the nation, destroying many and turning others into walking corpses, survivors head West in search of a chosen land, a place designed to keep the infected out, while sealing survivors inside. In theory, the idea seems the only way to keep humanity alive. In practice, it doesn’t matter whether a person is on the inside or the out—there is no humanity.
. . . And even though John Gatherum hunted her down and instigated their reunion, Red’s no longer the passive girl he once manipulated. This time, she has a hidden agenda of her own.
Kill him. Save her family. Save herself.
Survivor Roundup
The Zombie West Series, Book 2
by Angela Scott
Publisher: Evolved Publishing
Release Date: November 22, 2012
Length: 244 Pages
ISBN:978-1-622538-57-7
ASIN:B00AC6SMXE
Blurb:
Red always knew she would have to face the man who nearly destroyed her. She just didn’t figure it would happen so soon . . .
With the plague sweeping across the nation, destroying many and turning others into walking corpses, survivors head West in search of a chosen land, a place designed to keep the infected out, while sealing survivors inside. In theory, the idea seems the only way to keep humanity alive. In practice, it doesn’t matter whether a person is on the inside or the out—there is no humanity.
. . . And even though John Gatherum hunted her down and instigated their reunion, Red’s no longer the passive girl he once manipulated. This time, she has a hidden agenda of her own.
Kill him. Save her family. Save herself.
Excerpt:
Moans and agitated cries intensified with the rising of the new sun. The walking dead grew more active as the day warmed their bones and thawed their warped brains. It had become so commonplace over the past several months, like the crowing of a rooster at dawn, that Red hardly noticed the difference —until the scratching and digging at the walls became more chaotic, more desperate.
"Something's wrong." She untangled herself from Trace's arms, waking him in the process, and climbed from bed. "Do you hear it? They're louder today."
Trace pushed himself into an upright position, and cocked his head to the side. "You're right. Something's up." He tossed back the covers and swung his legs over the edge of the bed.
As he scrambled for his boots, Red yanked her shawl off a nearby chair and wrapped it around her shoulders. "Get Wen and find out what's going on. I'll check on the kids."
She opened the door and nearly stumbled into the man she had just mentioned. Wen's hand hung in the air as if about to knock.
"I was just coming to get you." Trace grabbed the rifle propped against the footboard. "Guess you heard it, too. We need to climb the towers and see what the ruckus is about."
Wen made no motion that indicated he heard Trace one way or the other. He didn't even lower his close-fisted hand, but kept it raised. His dark eyes were wide and flicked from Red to Trace and back again. An ashen color coated his natural olive skin.
"What is it?" Red asked. "What's going on?"
Wen shook his head and swallowed. "It's Caroline. The baby... it's time."
Red's hands fell heavy to her sides, releasing her hold on the shawl. "Are you sure?"
"The pain is getting worse."
She took two steps back, away from Wen, and cast her eyes at Trace. They all knew the baby would be born early spring, yet no one had discussed a plan for its birth.
"She wants you." Wen pointed at Red.
Dozens of nails continued to rake against the fort walls, filling the silence as both men looked to her. Red's hands trembled and she hid them away. The undead she could handle; birth terrified her.
"Why me?"
Trace shrugged. "Hell, Red, you're a girl. She's a girl. You probably know better than us how these things work."
"No, I don't." She once again tightened her hold on her shawl and pulled it closer. "Being a girl doesn't mean I know anything about delivering babies." Blood. There's bound to be lots of it.
"Please, Red—"
"I can't." She squeezed her eyes shut. I just... can't."
"Why are you doing this?" Wen stepped toward her.
Without opening her eyes, but feeling his presence, she moved back.
"Caroline needs you!"
"Come on, Red," Trace said. "You've killed hundreds of walkers all on your own. Delivering a baby will be nothing."
Red's eyes flew open and she locked her gaze on him. "If you think it's so easy then you do it!"
"Whoa! Wait a minute." He held his hands out in front of him. "You know it's different for a man. Guys shouldn't be anywhere... near there. It's not our place."
She turned hers eyes from one man to the other. "I love Caroline just like a sister. You both know I do, and I want to help her, but are you both out of your mind? Have you forgotten what I am?"
Trace placed his hands on her forearms and pulled her toward him. "You're not capable of hurting her or the baby. That's not who you are."
"We don't know that for certain," she said. "As much as you want to believe I'm fine, we all know that deep inside I'm not like you at all."
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My Review
In an alternate old West roamed by zombies and survivors, Angela Scott's Survivor Roundup, the story of Elisabeth, aka "Red", a woman stuck between both worlds, and Trace aka "Cowboy", the man in love with her, begins where Wanted: Dead or Undead left off. Introducing a handful of new secondary characters, new adventures and a climactic faceoff with Red's nemesis, John Gatherum, this rousing addition to The Zombie West series is sure to please any paranormal or western romance lover. It kept me turning the pages late into the night.
Beginning where we last left the resilient group of zombie fighters; Red and Trace little family gets a new addition when Wen and Carolyn have a baby. Realizing the fort where they've been living is getting low on supplies, Red and Trace know things will have to change in order for all of them to survive. Leaving Wen, Carolyn, and the children behind, Red and Trace decide to leave the fort and forage for supplies agreeing to come back within a month with whatever they've been able to scavenge.
As Red and Trace travel in search of food, it becomes obvious Red's body has truly changed as a result of her continued exposure to zombie bites. While still human, Red is now able to walk among zombies without them even picking up her scent - she appears invisible to them. While Trace considers this a miracle - it makes Red uncomfortable. She's worried about the state of her humanity. When Red and Trace are split up by a group of roaming cowboys - it'll take more than all of the skills each has acquired to survive. They'll end up having to rely on the help of acquaintances they make along the way.
I really enjoyed how Ms. Scott continued to develop Red and Trace's relationship as both a couple and as individual adults; we get to see them at both their best and at their worst. We also get to meet some really interesting and incredible secondary characters in this installment, from Kitchi and Aponi, two native American Indians, who help Trace survive his experiences to Nash, Red's temporary kidnapper and Davis Story, her older brother, two men who are instrumental in helping Red face off against her enemy, John Gatherum. Ms. Scott did a good job developing and exposing us to John and the evil he has become - he was the perfect villain and it was easy to root for Red and her group to win.
Will Red and Trace be able to make it back home together in time to save their friends? And what new secret will Red have to share with Trace? You'll have to read Survivor Roundup to find out. I enjoyed it and can't wait to read the next installment in this series, Dead Plains, set to release in 2013.
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Crowns
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book as a part of a book tour in exchange for a fair and honest review.
a Rafflecopter giveawayBeginning where we last left the resilient group of zombie fighters; Red and Trace little family gets a new addition when Wen and Carolyn have a baby. Realizing the fort where they've been living is getting low on supplies, Red and Trace know things will have to change in order for all of them to survive. Leaving Wen, Carolyn, and the children behind, Red and Trace decide to leave the fort and forage for supplies agreeing to come back within a month with whatever they've been able to scavenge.
As Red and Trace travel in search of food, it becomes obvious Red's body has truly changed as a result of her continued exposure to zombie bites. While still human, Red is now able to walk among zombies without them even picking up her scent - she appears invisible to them. While Trace considers this a miracle - it makes Red uncomfortable. She's worried about the state of her humanity. When Red and Trace are split up by a group of roaming cowboys - it'll take more than all of the skills each has acquired to survive. They'll end up having to rely on the help of acquaintances they make along the way.
I really enjoyed how Ms. Scott continued to develop Red and Trace's relationship as both a couple and as individual adults; we get to see them at both their best and at their worst. We also get to meet some really interesting and incredible secondary characters in this installment, from Kitchi and Aponi, two native American Indians, who help Trace survive his experiences to Nash, Red's temporary kidnapper and Davis Story, her older brother, two men who are instrumental in helping Red face off against her enemy, John Gatherum. Ms. Scott did a good job developing and exposing us to John and the evil he has become - he was the perfect villain and it was easy to root for Red and her group to win.
Will Red and Trace be able to make it back home together in time to save their friends? And what new secret will Red have to share with Trace? You'll have to read Survivor Roundup to find out. I enjoyed it and can't wait to read the next installment in this series, Dead Plains, set to release in 2013.
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Crowns
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book as a part of a book tour in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Online Book Tour, Review & Giveaway - Poppy the Proud by Emlyn Chand
Welcome to my stop on Emlyn Chand's Online Book Tour for Poppy the Proud. Please make sure to leave a comment or question below for Emlyn to let her know you stopped by. You can enter her tour wide giveaway by filling out the Rafflecopter form below.
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Poppy the Proud
A Bird Brain Book
by Emlyn Chand
Publisher: Evolved Publishing
Release Date: August 5, 2012
Length: 44 Pages
Blurb:
Poppy is the prettiest peacock in the entire garden, but one day his privileged existence is upset when an all-white peacock is born and promptly named the most beautiful by a smitten flock. Intensely jealous, Poppy no longer knows where he fits in and decides to reclaim his title as the fairest bird in all the land, no matter what it takes.
In a desperate attempt to regain the admiration of his peers, Poppy steals items from the humans that visit his park. He wraps himself in a beautiful silk scarf, wears a series of ornate bangles around his neck, and even tries to dye his feathers with colored dust from a festive Holi celebration. Unfortunately, each of these attempts not only fails to improve his appearance, they actually make it worse. What’s a poor bird to do?
In this compelling tale of self-esteem, pride, and learning what makes each of us special, Poppy the peacock discovers that true beauty lies beneath the feathers.
Excerpt:
Everybody knew Poppy was the most beautiful peacock in the entire garden—especially Poppy. He boasted the longest tail feathers, and his plumage was the brightest shade of blue imaginable. The curly feathers that graced his head made him look dignified, and his eyes—oh, his eyes sparkled like waves upon the ocean.
Poppy was also accustomed to getting his way. If he wanted berries, he didn't need to go foraging. He simply cocked his head and proclaimed, "My oh my, berries would taste nice," prompting several other flock members to scurry over and drop plump fruits at his feet.
When the heat of the bright Indian sun pounded too heavily on this back, Poppy would say, "What a warm day it is," and a gaggle of peahens would rush to fan him with their dull, brown wings.
Yes, Poppy lived a life of luxury and comfort. Even the people who passed through his park would stop and point. Sometimes, when Poppy was in a giving mood, he would fan out his tail feathers and give them a firm shake. Sunlight would zoom down his shiny feathers and create a spectacular light show to accompany his dance. The people, of course, would ooh and aah and sing his praises.
One afternoon in late spring, Poppy returned from a strut through the park and noticed that a crowd of birds had formed in the back corner of the flock's land. Monkeys, cows, dogs, and other animals stood clustered together—they all stared at a single point.
"Ahh," Poppy said, "you must all be here to behold my beauty. Now, now, one at a time."He spread his tail feathers wide and lifted his beak high in the air, ready to receive their praises, but.... No one paid attention to him.
Poppy cleared his throat and tried again. "Ahem, excuse me. I have returned from my walk through the park. And, my oh my, berries would make the perfect snack."
Still, no one paid him any mind. What is everyone looking at? he wondered.
Poppy pushed his way through the herd of animals and birds, and his eyes popped big as teacups when he discovered an all-white peacock hatchling sitting on a bed of soft grass.
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BIO:
Emlyn Chand emerged from the womb with a fountain pen clutched in her left hand (true story). When she's not writing, she runs a large book club in Ann Arbor and is the president of author PR firm Novel Publicity. Best known for her Young Adult novels, she is also developing a small, but devoted, following to her children's book series and is beginning to dapple in other genres as well. Emlyn enjoys connecting with readers and is available via almost every social media site in existence. Visit EmlynChand.com for more info. Don't forget to say "hi" to her sun conure Ducky!
ONLINE LINKS:
· Website & Blog: www.emlynchand.com
· Facebook: www.facebook.com/emlynchand
· Twitter: www.twitter.com/emlynchand
· Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/emlynchand
ONLINE LINKS:
· Website & Blog: www.emlynchand.com
· Facebook: www.facebook.com/emlynchand
· Twitter: www.twitter.com/emlynchand
· Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/emlynchand
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My Review
Come join Poppy in his colorful garden as he's given a lesson in dealing with pride and learns about friendship. A sweet, entertaining and wonderfully illustrated children's book, Poppy the Proud is also instrumental in teaching children about dealing with pride, learning to be friends and learning to value the others in our lives. While written for children, I found Poppy the Proud to be equally entertaining for this adult.
The most colorful peacock in the garden, Poppy has become accustomed to being the center of attention. Due to his beauty, the other animals have tended to Poppy's needs and desires and he's become accustomed to taking them for granted. When he's faced with the arrival of a new and unique rival, Poppy is faced with a choice - somehow seize and grab every one's attention or seize the opportunity to become friends with the new arrival and learn to share with the other animals in the garden.
Written to be read to children in the 4-6 year old age group, I found this story entertaining on several levels. I know my nieces and nephews, ages 8-14, would enjoy both Emlyn Chand's story and Sarah Shaw's wonderful illustrations. A morality story at heart, this is perfect for teaching children that everyone is unique and beautiful in their own way, that friendship is a wonderful thing to share, and that valuing others is something to strive for. While perfect one on one with your own child, this would also be great in a kindergarten classroom setting.
My Rating: 5 out of 5 Crowns - And a Recommended Family Read
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Tour Stops:
12/17 Review It's About Time Mamaw
12/17 Review Yours and Mine ARE Ours
12/18 Review Alicia Marietta of Marietta Homeschooling Zoo
12/18 Review Thrice the mischief,3 times the love
12/20 Review GoingCrazy!! WannaGo??!!
12/20 Review Hooks and Book
12/21 Review Identity Discovery
12/27 Review Queen of All She Reads
12/28 Review Jenn's Review Blog
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Monday, December 24, 2012
Virtual Book Tour - Pinpoint by Sheila Mary Taylor
Welcome to my stop on Sheila Mary Taylor's Virtual Book Tour for Pinpoint. Please make sure to leave a comment or question for Sheila below to let her know you stopped by. You can also fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter her giveaway for a print or ebook copy of Pinpoint. You can check out the other stops on Sheila's tour here.
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Pinpoint
Sheila Mary Taylor
Publisher: Taylor Street Books
Genre: Crime (Legal Crime Psychological Thriller)
ISBN: 1461049148
ASIN: B008G0IZ9O
Number of pages: 363
Word Count: 122,000
A lawyer, a murderer and a policeman - caught in a tangled web of love, loss, terror and intrigue.
When lawyer Julia Grant interviews Sam Smith who has been charged with an especially vicious murder, she feels a strange connection to him, as if she has met him before, as if he holds the key to something she has forgotten among the unbearable memories from her past she has determinedly blotted out.
He feels a connection too. "Julia, you are the only one who can help me," he pleads.
Is it the same connection? Does he know something she cannot recall?
When he is duly convicted despite her best efforts, he suddenly turns on her in the courtroom and threatens that one day he will make sure to wreak his revenge on her.
But why? What has she ever done to him?
And then, on his way to prison, he escapes ......
________________________________
Excerpt:
Strangeways Prison, Manchester, England (September 1994)
I’ve represented many murderers and am often surprised at how normal they appear. But this one is different. As he walks into the interview room he stops dead. His mouth drops open. His eyes bulge. His elbows clamp to his sides as though a knife has plunged into his back. And he looks straight at me unlike most who bow their heads till I say something to make them feel at ease, and who look past me when they tell me their stories. Not this one.
‘Please sit down,’ I say. His name is Smith. Sam Smith. This is what it says on his file cover. It’s what he called himself when he was interviewed by the police.
‘I know it seems stupid,’ I say, ‘but can I ask you to confirm your name. Your full name.’
I don’t know. I just don’t see him as a Sam Smith. Stupid name anyway. Nobody calls their kid that. Maybe I’ll know from the way he tells me. The name, when he says it himself, will either sound like it belongs or like he’s pretending.
‘Sam Smith,’ he says, and something in the timbre of his voice gels with the curve of his lips and the way his slightly protruding eyes follow mine …
And now he’s nodding his head. Or am I imagining it? And there’s an almost imperceptible smile on his face. That smile. And those eyes. I grip the desk. I can’t breathe. My skin turns cold, clammy. My fingers tingle. A fragment of long forgotten memory skitters through my head then vanishes …
There’s only one person I’ve ever known with eyes like those. And my darling twin brother died twenty-six years ago. Before my real life began.
Scary coincidence.
But let’s get on with it and start the job - it’s going to be a long haul, and he’s got a lot to do to beat the charge. Murder. Horrible, cold-blooded, psychopathic, sexually motivated sadism.
And I think I know him.
FRIDAY
Eight Months Later
- 1 -
The door to the jury room swung open. The seven men and five women filed in and took their seats. Julia Grant glanced at the dock. Perched behind the thick protective glass Sam Smith looked immaculate in a fresh white shirt, the blond beard newly trimmed, nothing moving except those marble-blue eyes.
She noticed that Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Moxon was already back with the small group of officers who had gathered, sitting opposite the jury benches and eyeballing the jurors throughout the trial. Old trick, hard to get the judges to move them away, to persuade them that they are engaging in deliberate psychological warfare for the jury’s votes. Paul smiled at her - a slow half smile and a slightly raised eyebrow, as if to say that for only one of them would today's verdict spell success.
She smiled back. Defence versus Prosecution. Part of the day's work. Only this time the stakes were higher than usual.
She looked towards the dock and saw that Sam Smith was also watching her. Their eyes met, but there was not a blink of recognition, his face so alien it was hard to imagine how the thoughts haunting her in the eight months she had been preparing his defence had ever entered her mind. Eight months studying his face across the narrow interview table for some tell-tale sign. But right now there was nothing in that face she could relate to. Nothing that even hinted at a link. Nothing that drew her to him. Good-looking men seldom delivered what their looks promised, she thought. Some unsuspecting female might be attracted until she looked into his eyes. Fish eyes. Cold and hard. Shut off from the rest of the world except for rare fleeting expressions of sadness when they seemed to drift into the past - and drag Julia with them.
The Clerk of the Court rose to his feet. ‘Court stand,’ he blurted in his usual offhand way.
The door opened. Mr Justice Dale strode to his red leather chair, scarlet and ermine robes flowing, wig well down his forehead. He nodded to the crowded court and sat down.
Julia pressed her shoulders against the back of the solicitors’ bench. Another five minutes and it would all be over. And what then?
He might be free, but would she ever be?
The Clerk of the Court cleared his throat. ‘Will the foreman of the jury please stand.’ He looked directly at the foreman. ‘To the charge of murder, have you reached a verdict upon which all of you are agreed?’
‘Yes.’
Something made her glance at Smith again as if he’d called her name out loud. Instead of looking at the foreman, who was the person about to pronounce on the rest of his life, his gaze was fixed on her, waiting for her to turn and look at him, knowing that she would. Oh, that stare. That look. He thinks he has some power over me, she thought. Some right of claim. Men always expect to have power over women. One way or another. Even Sam Smith.
Or whoever he really was.
‘Do you find the defendant guilty, or not guilty?’ the Clerk of the Court asked in his precise, clipped voice.
Even a hardened criminal like Smith must surely feel some trepidation now. But there was not even a flicker to show he registered one iota of emotion.
Julia sat back in her seat, determined not to look at Smith again.
The hushed court waited.
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About the Author:
Sheila Mary Taylor was born in Cape Town beneath the towering slopes of Table Mountain. Her Scottish parents, both serious academics and writers, despaired of her, as the things that turned her on as a youngster seemed far removed from their serious world of academia.
And no wonder. Cape Town was a distracting paradise to grow up in: mountain climbing, surfing in the glistening waters of the Indian Ocean, roller-skating, riding, hunting – and parties galore. She did it all, although the thing she loved most was dancing, and until she was twenty-three when she met Colin, her husband-to-be, on a visit to the UK, she wanted to make ballet her career. But having been surrounded by wall-to-wall books from an early age, and listening to music almost non-stop as her father played his hi-fi classical records so loud it was like having an orchestra in the house, was bound to have a belated influence on her. Yet it was only much later that these two strong influences – combined with the clock-ticking heartbreak of her youngest son Andrew being diagnosed with teenage cancer – would change her life and kick-start her writing career.
Her plethora of unusual activities: jockey in amateur ladies’ races, exhibition roller skating in night-clubs, a spell of acting and directing, secretary to a diplomat, creator and editor of a dramatic society magazine, dancing in the Royal Albert Hall, and above all, living in exciting exotic places around the world with Colin, her mining engineer husband of almost sixty incredible years – have all enriched and inspired her writing.
http://sheilamarytaylorauthor.blogspot.com/
http://sellyourstoryuk.com/2012/10/01/sheila-mary-taylor/
Twitter: @AuthorSMBelshaw
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sheila.belshaw
LinkedIn: Sheila Belshaw
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Virtual Book Tour - Unforgiving Ghosts by Candy Ann Little
Welcome to my stop on Candy Ann Little's Blog Barrage for Unforgiving Ghosts. Please make sure to leave a comment or question below for Candy Ann to let her know you stopped by. You can enter her giveaway by filling out the Rafflecopter form below. You can also follow Candy Ann's tour here, the more often you comment, the better your odds of winning.
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by Candy-Ann Little
Published September 14, 2012 by Kingdom Kastle Publishing
Contemporary Inspirational Romance
Heat Level: Sensual
Word Count: 100,000
Available at:
Amazon Smashwords iTunes
Blurb:
As Megan Black tries to outrun the memories of her past, she soon learns that you can't run away from trouble. Can she find peace in God and faith to choose the right path? Or will chasing ghosts cause an unforgiving heart that only leads to destruction?
Excerpt:
The roar of the ocean called like a lullaby. With anticipation building, her feet traveled faster and faster until she broke into a trot, then a run, then a sprint. She followed the intriguing sound, and moments later stood face to face with the magnificent Pacific Ocean.
The blue-green water extended out as far as she could see, and the bright blue sky stretched over the ocean like a blanket. The setting sun looked like a giant orange ball that could be tossed on the white caps of the waves. Megan's eyes widened in amazement at the spectacular sight. The view was more breathtaking than any picture she’d ever seen. Closing her eyes she inhaled the salty mist that stung her face, while a cool breeze played with her hair.
Absorbing the sights and sounds for several minutes, Megan felt transported a world away from the monotonous farm fields of Illinois. The waves lapping against the shore beckoned like an invitation. Slipping her shoes off , she tentatively walked to the edge of the shore, she squealed as the cold water washed over her bare feet. As the tide receded, a strange sucking sensation tickled her feet. Feeling as carefree as a child she ran along the shore jumping over each wave that crashed on the beach.
Breathless and exhausted, she found a soft spot to sit and rest while watching the sunset. Burrowing her numb toes into the faintly warm sand, she watched as the bright ball aligned itself on the horizon where the water and sky met.
For the first time Megan observed the presence of other people and felt a little embarrassed as she wondered if anyone had noticed her hopping and skipping along the shore.
“Beautiful, isn't it?” A voice interrupted her thoughts, disturbing her.
“Yes, it is.” A tall, thin man, clad in jeans and a blue polo shirt towered over her. She looked around to see where this handsome stranger had come from, and spotted a small group a little ways down the beach. They were lying on blankets, with rock and roll music blaring from an iPod and speakers. “I've never seen anything so beautiful,” she added.
“I have.” His brown eyes admired the child-like image she presented. The setting sun cast an amber glow that made her look angelic.
“What?”
“You.” He sat down next to her.
“Do you get a lot of women with that line?”
He shrugged. “A few.”
Megan looked skeptical. “You can't come up with something more original?”
“That is original.”
“Oh, and next you'll be asking me if I come here often.”
His thick, blond brows shot up in amusement. Not only beautiful, she has fire too. “Well, do you?”
“No, this is my first time at the beach.” His intense stare made her feel uneasy, so she turned her attention back to the sunset.
“I'd say it’s my first time too, but I’ve lived here my whole life.” Looking at the blazing display he sighed, “This is my favorite spot in the whole world.”
“I can see why.”
He studied her pointed profile for a few minutes, and finally asked, “So what's a lovely girl like you doing in a place like this?” His laughter echoed off the ocean.
“Watching the sunset.” The indifference in her tone strongly contrasted the way his boyish smile made her melt. She desperately tried not to be taken in by his charm. However, it had been a long time since anyone looked at her like that.
“Can I buy you dinner?” He decided to take the direct approach.
Megan studied the stranger with sun kissed blond hair and bright brown eyes. It would be nice to make a friend, she thought. But, the last thing she needed was another complication in her life. “No, thank you.”
A gust of wind whipped some tendrils of hair lose. Without hesitation, he gently tucked them behind her ear, reluctantly pulling his hand away from the soft, silky strands.
A shiver tingled down her back. From his touch or the wind? She couldn't tell, and couldn’t give in to this attraction. “Before we get to the cliché ‘your place or mine’, I should be going.” She stood, brushing off the sand.
He jumped up, trying to think of something to alleviate her apprehension. “Can I at least buy you a drink?”
“No, thank you.” Megan almost felt tempted to give in. “I've had a long day and I’m really tired.”
“You wouldn't have to go far. We have a cooler right over there.” He pointed to the group she’d spotted earlier.
“I don't drink, anyway.”
“We have sodas.”
“You’re persistent, aren’t you?”
“Persistence is my middle name.” He flashed a brazen smile. His perfectly straight teeth gleaming against tanned skin.
“And ‘no’ is mine.”
His smile faded but he couldn’t give up that easily. “Oh, come on - what will one drink hurt?”
Her patience wore thin. Going out with him would be a mistake. She’d made enough of those lately. “Look, mister. I don't want to have dinner or drinks with you. So please leave me alone.”
His brown eyes darkened. “You’re tired? Is that the best excuse you can come up with?”
She didn't want to fight, having done enough of that in Illinois too. This stranger may be handsome but his forceful personality seemed to push all the wrong buttons. “Look, I don't know what your problem is but...…”
“My problem?” he erupted. “I don’t have a problem. You’re the one with a problem.”
“Yes…my problem is you!” Megan poked his chest. “I came to the beach to be alone. I’m not a trophy to be picked up by some shallow playboy.”
“Playboy!” He tried to sound offended, however, couldn’t deny it. He hadn’t been serious about a girl in years but resented her throwing it in his face. “Well, aren’t you Miss Conceited,” he fumed. “You’re not the only pretty girl in town. I can find any number of women waiting to go out with me. And they won’t be as frigid as you.”
“Since you seem to have a harem following you, I won’t be missed.” Picking up her shoes she stomped away.
He absently raked his hand through his wind-tousled hair, bewilderedly staring after her. No woman had ever given him such a cold shoulder. “Ice queen,” he muttered and joined his friends.
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About the Author:
Candy-Ann Little grew up in a small town in Ohio. She now resides in Michigan with her husband and two adult kids. When she’s not busy writing she enjoys helping with church activities - especially working with children - reading, cooking and baking.
Visit Candy-Ann online at:
Blog/Site - http://candylittle.wordpress.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/#!/candy.little.79
Twitter - https://twitter.com/candyannlittle
Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4672789.Candy_Ann_Little
Pinterest - https://pinterest.com/candyannlittle/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/candyannlittle
Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4672789.Candy_Ann_Little
Pinterest - https://pinterest.com/candyannlittle/
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My Review
Dealing with grief, guilt and redemption, Candy Ann Little's Unforgiving Ghosts reminds us that sometimes when God closes a door, he leaves a window open. With likable characters, good dialogue and plenty of emotional angst, I found myself captured by Ms. Little's story and kept turning the pages. While inspirational, this is not a typical inspirational romance - there is an interesting twist in the story.
After suffering with grief, guilt and anger over the direction her life has taken in the last year, Megan Black packs her bags and leaves her home in Illinois. Wanting to see the ocean, Megan heads towards the coast and finds herself in Santa Barbara and working as a temporary cook for the wealthy Peterson family. Planning to start her life over, Megan refuses to deal with the issues in her past and is determined only to look at the present and the future. Being made to feel as if she's a part of the family, Megan is truly surprised at the generosity and support she receives from complete strangers.
While Megan and her emotions are the main focus of this story, the secondary characters are what make this story unique. From Grant and Deloris Peterson, two strong Christian and community minded people who help everyone they can who is put in their path to their son Steven, who, like Megan, has cut off his emotions and suddenly finds himself truly captivated by a woman for the first time in his life. We also meet Rosa, another member of the Peterson's staff, who is treated as a part of the family and reaches out with friendship and love to help heal Megan's wounded heart.
Not wanting to give spoilers there are two secondary characters who are also important to the plot but who I can't say a lot about - Laura and John. Both of these characters are both a part of Megan's past and a part of Megan's future. All I can say is that the twists in the story feature them both.
Will Megan learn to accept the hand she's been dealt in life and learn that sometimes we have to go through pain in order to experience joy? Will Steven learn the lessons his parents have been trying to teach him about life, love and growing up? You'll have to read Unforgiving Ghosts to find out. I truly enjoyed this wonderful story and hope we'll get to see these characters again - I would especially like to know what direction every one's life will go in next.
My Rating: 5 out of 5 Crowns and A Recommended Read
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book as a part of a book tour in exchange for a fair and hoonest review.
After suffering with grief, guilt and anger over the direction her life has taken in the last year, Megan Black packs her bags and leaves her home in Illinois. Wanting to see the ocean, Megan heads towards the coast and finds herself in Santa Barbara and working as a temporary cook for the wealthy Peterson family. Planning to start her life over, Megan refuses to deal with the issues in her past and is determined only to look at the present and the future. Being made to feel as if she's a part of the family, Megan is truly surprised at the generosity and support she receives from complete strangers.
While Megan and her emotions are the main focus of this story, the secondary characters are what make this story unique. From Grant and Deloris Peterson, two strong Christian and community minded people who help everyone they can who is put in their path to their son Steven, who, like Megan, has cut off his emotions and suddenly finds himself truly captivated by a woman for the first time in his life. We also meet Rosa, another member of the Peterson's staff, who is treated as a part of the family and reaches out with friendship and love to help heal Megan's wounded heart.
Not wanting to give spoilers there are two secondary characters who are also important to the plot but who I can't say a lot about - Laura and John. Both of these characters are both a part of Megan's past and a part of Megan's future. All I can say is that the twists in the story feature them both.
Will Megan learn to accept the hand she's been dealt in life and learn that sometimes we have to go through pain in order to experience joy? Will Steven learn the lessons his parents have been trying to teach him about life, love and growing up? You'll have to read Unforgiving Ghosts to find out. I truly enjoyed this wonderful story and hope we'll get to see these characters again - I would especially like to know what direction every one's life will go in next.
My Rating: 5 out of 5 Crowns and A Recommended Read
