Lily Luchesi's Blog (formerly Kelly Smith Reviews): October 2015

Saturday, October 31, 2015

RELEASE BLITZ: "October Calendar Girl" by Audrey Carlan

Title: October

Series: Calendar Girl #10

Author: Audrey Carlan

Publisher: Waterhouse Press

Release Date: October 31, 2015

Blurb

Silicone, surgery, and Hollywood starlets.

The land of the stars was beckoning and I answered its call. Now that I was free, well, as free as anyone could be, I decided to pursue something for me. To grab life by the horns and ride that sucker until I found my place within it. That decision brought me back home to Malibu, California, where I awaited the beginning of this next phase in my journey.

The job? Create a segment surrounding Living Beautiful for celebrity doctor and daytime television guru, Dr. Hoffman. The man was known for his cunning wit, good looks, and no nonsense lifestyle.

In a city that was filled with plastic Barbie dolls, and nothing you touched was real, I set out to find beauty. And in doing so, I found a lot more that, for me, for the man I loved, and for the rest of the nation.

***

In the tenth book of the Calendar Girl serial, Mia is settled in her new home in Malibu, California. Now that her debt has been paid, and the threat from her ex is gone, she no longer has to live life as an escort. Only life has thrown her some new challenges to round out her year.

Each installment in the Calendar Girl Serial will release every month throughout 2015.

Warning: This book is designed for audiences 18+ due to language and graphic sexual content.

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Author Bio

Audrey Carlan is an Amazon Best Selling Author who writes erotic contemporary romances, such as the wildly popular "Falling Series." She lives in the sunny California Valley two hours away from the city, the beach, the mountains and the precious…the vineyards. She has been married to the love of her life for over 10 years and has two young children that live up to their title of “Monster Madness” on daily basis. When she’s not writing, sipping wine with her “soul sisters”, or doing yoga, she can be found with her nose stuck in book or her Kindle. A hot, smutty, romantic book to be exact!

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BOOK SALE: "Fate's Love Box Set" by L.A. Cotton

Fate's Love Box Set SALE

3 full length Contemporary Romance novels for only $1.99.

Available only on Amazon

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KSR ANNUAL HALLOWEEN SPOTLIHGT: "Black Blood" by John Hennessy + Guest Post

Vampires, witches, magic—no one in the Sanctuary, home of the survivors of the nuclear apocalypse, believes in such imaginary creations, including Aberdeen Dareday. That is until the day Abby wakes up with black veins bulging under her skin. The day she learns everything she’s been told about the world is a lie. Forced to flee humanity’s last refuge because of her abnormality, and the corpses left in its unexplainable wake, she finds herself on the run in an entirely new world. A world in which darkness reigns, full of supernatural creatures bent on her execution.
When all seems lost and facing certain death, Abby is saved by Ash, a quiet yet striking young man who shares her black blood, and her mysterious powers. Unfortunately Ash, like Abby, doesn’t know how to wield them, but he might know someone who can help, if they can find her before it’s too late. Now hunted by everyone from vengeful humans, to the alluring vampire Prince of Texas, to the Lord Alpha of the largest werewolf pack ever to exist, Abby must discover what is so special about her black blood if she hopes to live and fight another day, but time stands against them as their enemies close in for the kill.
The landscape of The 5th Wave meets the magic of Harry Potter in a spellbinding cross-genre mutation unlike anything you’ve ever read, weaving paranormal fantasy in a post-apocalyptic world.

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Because I read adult horror all year long, I like to read YA/general horror for my annual Halloween special so that ALL my readers can get a literary treat. So when I received this review request over the summer, I knew that I had my Halloween special ready early!
This story is not strictly horror: it delves into sci-fi and fantasy. When I read the synopsis and it said "Harry Potter", I thought that it might be interesting. It was. The story sweeps you along on a wild ride, never pausing for breath as it takes you from one new idea to another, immersing you into this fictional America.
Abby is a very real, relatable character. She gets thrown into a strange world filled with magic and monsters, her only mode of support being Ash, a boy who is almost as in the dark as she is.
This book features heart-pounding action that will make even adult readers sit up and pay extra attention. I think there could have been more "creepy" put into the story, but I still enjoyed it, and am now eagerly awaiting book two!

4.5/5--a great, fun read for Halloween!

Purchase Black Blood on Amazon!

~*~*~GUEST POST~*~*~

It’s that time again: Halloween! It’s the best costume-filled, candy-stuffed holiday on the planet. And in the spirit of Halloween, I’d like to share my top ten favorite creatures I like to see as costumes. The countdown begins:

10) Krakens. You rarely see a kraken out on the street or in a bar, which is a shame, because there’s so much you can do with it, from body tentacles and scary teeth, to snake beards and glowing eyes. As a creature, they’re really the scariest on the list, given how large they’re usually depicted, and when you’re at sea, well, everything is scarier.

9) Yetis. Yetis are big. Yetis are quick in the snow. Yetis are fearsome. I always picture them looking kind of like werewolves, but larger, with a gorilla’s face, and with long pure white hair. Freaky. There are simply not enough yeti costumes!

8) Vampires. Outside of witches, vampires are the most common costume, and for a good reason. Vampires are versatile. They can be scary, sexy, or funny. There aren’t too many Halloween creatures that can say that. They’re not as high on my list because they’ve lost their flavor over the years, but it’s still cool to see some vampire costumes done well.

7) Draconians/Dragonmen. When I was a kid reading Dragonlance, Dragonmen were my favorite anthropomorphic creatures. Men with the features of dragons, it’s the best of both worlds for a lover of the fantastic. So many people love dragons, but you seldom see Dragonmen costumes, even though they’d be super scary. Oh well.

6) Ravens/Crows. An unkindness of ravens. A murder of crows. These are the birds of death and decay. Wherever there are bodies, these guys will be there, if they can get to them. Ravens are always great costumes when you see them. Pure black and beady eyes, you better watch out, because they’re certainly watching you.

5) Minotaur. Minotaur with warhammers are preferred, but in any shape they come, they’re cool. They are just badass when someone goes all out.

4) Gargoyles. Gargoyle costumes look a lot like Dragonmen, just gray, which may be why I like them so much. A lot more people wear them over Dragonmen, so they’re higher on my list because I’ve had the opportunity to see some excellent gargoyles.

3) Goblins. Who doesn’t love green body paint and big ears? Most look like the Green Goblin from Marvel, but my favorite costumes are the Lord of the Rings imitations—they’re way scarier.

2) Werewolves. Werewolves would be number one on the list except they’re not as realistic. Not to say the undead are realistic, just more realistic. I love werewolves. Lookswise, I think they’re the coolest on the list by far when done right (not the cheesy footie pajama ones, please). The claws, the teeth, the speed of a wolf, all of it makes for a fun, terrifying paranormal creature. This isn’t to say I don’t like other werebeasts, because I do, you just don’t see any. Werelions, anyone?

1) Zombies. I think after watching The Walking Dead for so long, zombies have become the scariest creatures on the list, especially in costume, because they’re so lifelike. Maybe too lifelike. And when you learn about parasitic fungi like cordycepts that can control their hosts, the idea of some not-quite-living humans going around and feeding on humans doesn’t seem so out there. Who knows what kind of fungi/virus is mutating at this exact moment. Maybe the one that starts the zompoc. If someone’s in a perfectly made costume and starts to make that starving zombie call, it’s pretty creepy. Anyone attending Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights should have a blast with The Walking Dead theme. I know I would!

Friday, October 30, 2015

FREE SHORT STORIES: Halloween Only!

Halloween is upon us! What better way to celebrate than with some absolutely FREE short stories from some of Vamptasy Publishing's best authors? At 10pm UK/6pm EST/3pm PST, join Carmilla Voiez, Lily Luchesi, Joe DiCicco, Simone Young, and Nicolajayne Taylor as they bring you short tales of the macabre, play games, and give away great prizes! All in the name of fear!
So make sure you join the party. Below is the link to join, a video teaser, and a bit more info on each story.

Join Night Of Creeps 2!

RELEASE BLITZ: "No Trouble At All" by Lisa Acerbo

Description:

It's a bad day for Sophie Carter when she stumbles across a dead body in the woods. But when the suspected murderer turns out to be a leather-clad vagabond who died in 1889, her carefully controlled quiet life explodes. Not only is Sophie in the wrong place at the wrong time, as a local history buff who loves old legends, she knows too much about the past to remain uninvolved. Trouble is a killer and no one can escape.

Detective Jackson Lynch asks Sophie to help him decipher the legend of the Old Leather Man and unravel the mystery of the murdered woman. Going against her best judgment, Sophie joins forces with the distractingly sexy detective on the police investigation and in pursuit of a killer. Jackson is hot to solve the case as they follow the clues through Connecticut and New York State, uncovering both legend and fact.

As they move closer to solving the murder, a series of missteps cause Sophie to end up in Jackson’s arms and straight in the media. Trouble is everywhere. Jackson’s career begins to crumble and Sophie becomes a suspect in the heinous crime. The case unravels. The past and present collide. Sophie is swept into more danger than she could ever imagine when the Old Leather Man comes looking for her hide to tan.

Excerpt:

Sophie loved to hike and run, continuously finding new trails to explore in the vicinity. She enjoyed the convenience of living forty-five minutes outside New York City, just over the New York border in Glenville, Connecticut. The town was far enough away that she could still immerse herself in nature, but close enough to the city that she could attend concerts, events, and culture when she needed a change. She explored the abundant state parks and open green spaces that abounded close by, enjoying the diversity found in the change of seasons.

Today was a little different. Sophie had departed for her run from her home in southern Connecticut much later than anticipated. A fender bender at the local Starbucks in Greenwich delayed her further.

In her defense, she had just tapped the back of the other car when she backed out of her parking space. There had been minimal damage. The white haired older couple, Fran and Frank Bunkowsky, while a tad grouchy about what the dent might mean for their insurance, were overall relatively pleasant.

They even invited Sophie for tea the next day.

Then Sophie had driven the thirty odd miles to the Pound Ridge Reservation, looking forward to an energizing run.

But her morning continued to be troubled.

As she locked her car and began to stretch, sweat streamed from her brow in large droplets. The autumn day in the forests of the outer suburbs of New York City had turned muggy. At the entrance of the trail where she planned to begin her run, the day turned angrier and even more unseasonably hot for September. The threat of thunderstorms darkened the skies. To top it off, she had forgotten both bug spray and bottled water, making the jaunt through the woods not nearly as relaxing or therapeutic as expected.

The sky was troubled; her day was troubled.

She could not shake the premonition that things were about to get worse.

This wasn’t the first time she had felt that way. Probably would not be the last. Nature, at least, offered solace and peace.

She began to run the trail.

For the last few years since she had quit her job at the hospital because she just couldn’t handle watching people die anymore, Sophie regularly came here to watch the maple, beech, and birch trees turn shades of leafy avocado green in Springtime and then morph to bright yellows, reds, and oranges in the Fall.

This was one of the prettiest areas to visit year round. She loved the changes that came month by month making each trip unique. While a few tree leaves had swapped green for yellow, it was still too early in September for a dramatic seasonal display.

Gnats, on the other hand, were in full force, swarming around her curly brown ponytail like tiny fighter jets while leaving every other hiker she passed on the trail alone. They must like her shampoo. The ecstatic bugs were drawn to her chestnut curls like it was irresistible gnat candy.

Bio:

Lisa Acerbo is a high school teacher and holds an EdD in Educational Leadership. She lives in Connecticut with her husband, daughters, three cats, and horse. She is the author of Apocalipstick and has contributed to local newspapers, news and travel blogs including The Patch and Hollywood Scriptwriter.

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Visit www.destinyauthor.us to meet the characters, Sophie & Jackson!

RELEASE BLITZ: "Cowboy Endings" by Kasey Millstead

Title: Cowboy Endings

Series: Down Under Cowboy #7

Author: Kasey Millstead

Release Date: October 30, 2015

Blurb

Join your favourite Australian couples for one last goodbye.

Life is wrought with ups and downs, and if we are lucky, we will have the one we love to relish the joys and to navigate the rough waters of heartache.

Cowboy Endings takes place ten years after the end of Cowboy Redemption and comprises of six novellas. There will be joy, heartache, laughter, sorrow and love from your favourite Australian couples, as they deal with issues that plague many marriages.

Join Jackson & Edie, Jeremy & Ava, Clay & Jules, Luke & Laura, Zeke & Sienna, and Kye & Kennedy one last time before they say goodbye.

**Cowboy Endings should be read as the final book in the Down Under Cowboy Series. It is not intended to be read as a standalone**

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Purchase Links

AMAZON US / UK / AU

B&N / KOBO / iBOOKS

Also Available

AMAZON US / UK / AU

B&N / KOBO

AMAZON US / UK / AU

B&N / KOBO / iBOOKS

AMAZON US / UK / AU

B&N / KOBO / iBOOKS

Author Bio

Kasey Millstead lives a quiet life in country New South Wales, Australia, with her husband and their four young children. She enjoys baking, singing (ridiculously out of tune) & spending time with friends and family. Kasey has always harboured a deep love for reading and writing, and she is now lucky enough to be living her dream of being an Author.

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COVER REVEAL: "Velicious Part Two" by Selique Lize

VELICIOUS PART TWO

By: Shelique Lize
Series: Velicious Series #2
Publication Date: December 7th, 2015
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Mystery
* Velicious Part Two cannot be read as a stand alone.

Justice Labelle has lost too much in this war of monster and men, and it needs to stop now. After her run in with Erin, which left her lying in a hospital bed, black and bloody blue, Justice is no longer going to sit by and simply accept the twisted hand, that has been dealt. Especially since she now has superhuman powers, all thanks to her being a Doll. Her one and only passion-- To get through College and practice law at a top tier firm, is fading from her grasp and its all because of Calvin, Dante, Vampyres and the Cerberus. But you know what? Justice has come up with her own master plan and heaven help the Vampyre, monster or human that gets in her way!

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Shelique Lize is an awesome mother of two beautiful baby girls, and a wife to the luckiest man on the planet. It took her five years to write Velicious Part One but once her first daughter was born, she decided to revisit the world that she had created. Falling in love with her characters all over again, she wanted to finish their story. Velicious Part Two was written in half the time.
Shelique loves anything to do with the paranormal world. She’s a proud Canadian but dislikes winter. She prefers watching the snow falling beautifully from inside a warm home. The movie Grease is her all time favorite movie. She thinks everyone should still watch Disney movies. Sailor Moon is her favorite anime. Currently she likes to listen to The Weeknd and Lana Del Rey, and she’s pretty open to every other genre of music.
Shelique likes to surround herself with positivity and she enjoys a good meditation. Photography, a Shopaholic, and she’s an Aries.