BOOK REVIEW: "Otherworld" by Stella Coulson

When Lenore’s world falls down, the fallout results in her travel to another dimension called the ‘Otherworld’. Within it, she encounters feral beasts, monsters and beautiful creatures with sadistic tastes. Once a victim - but never no more.

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

Note: you might want to read Whitby After Dark, the first book in this series, before you make the journey through Lenore's story in this book.

You get right into the story from page one, the moment you open your Kindle. It was easy and nearly seamless for me to slip right back into Lenore's world, despite it being nearly two years since I read the first book. Coulson created a world with characters who really stick with you once you've closed the book. The plot really evolved since Whitby was released, showing how the author has grown between books. All the characters are still very unique and three-dimensional, making you feel as though you are living their stories with them.

There's a lot of adventure and action, still with more allusions to abuse as there were in the first book, allegory that equates abuse with fictional monsters, making it more palatable. The mix of emotion and action and a dash of mystery make this a kick a** read, however there were some editing issues I feel I should point out. There were missing words, and sometimes I found that the capitalization of certain words to be distracting. It didn't take away too much from the book, but it was hard to stop reading to mentally edit and fix sentences as I read.

Overall, it's a great book with a deep, meaningful message beneath all that paranormal goodness. Definitely a book you should pick up ASAP.

4/5--exciting and intricate.

Purchase Otherworld via:

Amazon

Lulu

COMIC BOOK REVIEW: "Starblood" by Carmilla Voiez (18+)

Title: Starblood
Writer: Carmilla Voiez
Artist: Anna Dmitriveia
Publisher: Vamptasy Publishing
Release Date: May 29th, 2015

Join the Facebook Release Event on the 29th for purchase info!

Purchase the Starblood Trilogy novels: http://smarturl.it/TheStarbloodTrilogy

Trailer video: https://youtu.be/cZ69NaAhKVo

A tragic love triangle between Goth, magician and demon.
What would you do for the one you love? Satori would travel worlds and battle demons but, however much Star begs, he just cannot let her go.

I received an advance copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

So, by now you guys know my love of two things: horror and comic books. I have read a few of my favorite horror novels that have become comic books (The Dark Tower series; Dracula), and I am always entranced with the art that accompanies the story I had already visualized in my mind many times.

Starblood, by Carmilla Voiez, is one Hell of a visual series! Her lyrical writing does not suffer in this comic as many novels-to-comics do. I have seen great works become vapid and empty in the transition. This comic does the exact opposite: it exacerbates the dark beauty of the words. Ms. Dmitriveia's art is lovely, some of the best I've seen in a long time. It enhances the words and brings to morbid life the scenes of sex, death and darkness that words can't capture.

Each character is detailed beautifully, and look exactly how I pictured them. The art captures the sensuality of the story, and (in contrast) the brutality. If it were possible for their to be a perfect marriage of talents, this book is it.

I will warn readers who haven't read the books, the story is graphic: both violently and sexually. But, instead of seeming to be done for shock value, it fits. I always found it difficult to not have dark magic and demons be related to sexual desires, but violence can often be overdone. While brutal, it's fitting. Not for the faint of heart, but if you like your horror bloody and hot, you can't go wrong with Starblood!

I seriously can't wait for this to be released, because this is the type of thing you read where you immediately call up your best friend and say, "You've GOT to get this yesterday!" Since I consider my readers friends, let me tell you: you've GOT to get this!

It's nice to see horror alive and well in the age of high school-attending vampires and teen werewolves!

5/5--Sexy, bloody and spellbinding

RELEASE DAY (BOOK REVIEW & AUTHOR INTERVIEW): "Sunburn" by Darren Dash

When three friends go on holiday to Bulgaria, protecting themselves from sunburn is their only concern. But when they run into a beast unlike any they've ever imagined, it becomes a savage fight for survival. They will burn in the day... but the night holds even darker terrors in store.

I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I read Darren Dash's alter-ego ever since I was twelve. That's nearly a decade of dedication. When he moved into the adult horror genre and I was privileged to review The Evil And The Pure, I was so excited. When he contacted me to review his next book, Sunburn, I might have fangirled a little bit. Just a little!
I read Sunburn over three days, savoring each word, each scene. Not because I am biased by my longtime fandom, but because it was just that good.
Rarely in a horror novel does the reader get the chance to really get to know the characters like you do in Sunburn. You know every crevice of their souls, what they like and what they hate; what their hopes and dreams are; who they love. Usually, when a horror novel takes almost halfway through to get bloody, I lose interest. But the beginning isn't just fluffy filler, it's important. It's important that you get to know and love (or hate) the three main characters before the "creature" finds them.
Throughout the book, you get short chapters from the "creature's" POV, which is unique and extremely intriguing, making you want to read on and know just what this thing is, what it wants, and what it has to do with Martini, Newt and Curran.
I cannot go on enough about the book, how great it is and how entertaining. This is an author who knows his stuff, knows how to make the readers laugh, cry and scream in terror, whether he's writing for adults or teens.
To call this a must-read is an understatement!

5/5--introspective, interesting horror!





Purchase Sunburn via:

Amazon
Goodreads




My EXCLUSIVE Interview With Darren Dash:

1. What was the inspiration behind Sunburn?

I have pale skin and get sunburnt very easily, and I never seem to learn my lesson! After yet another scorching, I found myself wondering what it would be like to be stranded in the middle of nowhere, with a monster on the prowl, while completely naked, defenseless and terribly sunburnt. And it all grew from there.

2. You spent a good part of the novel taking us through the characters' daily life, letting us get to know them before getting into the action. What made you decide to do that?

Let's be honest here -- this is a schlocky story. I make no apologies for that -- I wanted to write a fun, over the top monster tale, that does what it says on the tin. At the same time, there's no reason why a schlocky story shouldn't be as carefully plotted and peopled as a more realistic, serious tale. The mistake many horror writers and movie people make is in assuming that the characters are unimportant, only there to be terrorised and torn apart by the monsters. I wanted to write a book where readers would grow to know and side with the main characters, where they would be interested in what happened for them, and rooting for them when the worst came to pass. As Stephen King has often proved, it IS possible to tell a throwaway story that manages to be a decent read at the same time, and this was my attempt to do that.

3. The "beast" is introduced to us slowly and vaguely, at the beginning of each section. Was that done to build anticipation for the reader?

Actually, in the first draft I didn't mention the beast at all, but the introduction of it was then too jarring. There needed to be a build-up and a gradual reveal, not least so that readers would know the nature of the story that they were committing to -- I didn't want to trick people into thinking this was going to be a gently-paced character study, only to suddenly drop them into the middle of a hellish man vs beast scenario.

4. How did you decide exactly what kind of creature you were using in the story?

I knew it was going to be some sort of Bigfoot-type creature, but I didn't have the specifics clear in mind when I started. They grew out of the storytelling.

5. Would you like to see this as a film? How would you want a studio to execute it?

It would be lovely to see it adapted, especially as I think it's a story that would lend itself neatly to film, except maybe for the nudity angle -- I suspect he'd keep his boxer shorts on in the movie! I won't be holding my breath, but hopefully it will happen one day...

COMIC BOOK REVIEW: "Spring Heeled Jack #3"

Writer: Tony Deans
Artist: Seth Kumpf
Letterer: Joshua Cozine
Publisher: Alterna Comics

After Doyle found himself face-to-face with Spring Heeled Jack in issue #2, he finds out something peculiar about the creature that appeared to be a vampire. And "Jack" has finally found himself a worthy opponent.
In this issue you'll find out what "Jack" is, and see how Doyle plans on stopping it. But will it work?

The third installment of SHJ finds us with a new artist. Martha Laverick had to leave the comic, taking her simplistic, soft art with her. She was replaced by Seth Kumpf, an artist whose style is similar to Mike Mignola and Gabriel Bà. It's thicker, rougher and brighter than Laverick's work, and the characters do look different here, but it still works. And of course the writing is as good as it's always been. If anything, that got better.
I love the depth of the tale, with an obscure paranormal creature being brought to light. I only heard of this particular monster in popular fiction once before, on am episode of the CW show Supernatural.
Plus, we get an appearance by Harry Houdini! I am curious to know who else we might come across in the next issue.
Another cliffhanger ending, another book that leaves me wanting more!

5/5--might be my new favorite comic!

Purchase Spring Heeled Jack from your local comic shop or from these online retailers!

COMIC BOOK REVIEW: "Spring Heeled Jack #2"

Writer: Tony Deans
Artist: Martha Laverick
Letterer: Joshua Cozine
Publisher: Alterna Comics

In the second installment of the horror/mystery comic Spring Heeled Jack, which centers around Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, we find Doyle and Bell trying to get an arrest for Jack, but their plans don't exactly go as planned...

Horror. Vampires. Mystery. The man who created Sherlock Holmes. Personally, I don't need anything else to know that this comic is going to be awesome. Seriously, vampires and Doyle. There can't be anything more interesting and riveting!
The story reads like a movie. Your eyes move smoothly across the pages, effortlessly and with a sense of urgency to know what's next. The characters are similar (probably purposely) to Holmes and Watson, but with a little extra bite to them (no pun intended).
In addition, there is a small steampunk element to this issue. It passes quickly, but it intrigues me to know of they'll include more of it in the future.
There's also nepotism, favoritism, and political connections that make things even more interesting.
I can't say much, because this is only twenty-three pages long, and giving too much away is the exact opposite of my intentions. Just let me say this: you need to read this comic! Even if you don't like comics in general, that's okay. If you like Doyle and Stoker, you're good!

5/5--Leaves me wanting more!

Purchase Spring Heeled Jack at your local comic shop or from these online retailers!

COMIC BOOK REVIEW: "Old Wounds #1"

Title: Old Wounds #1
Writer: Russell Lissau
Artist: John Bivens
Letterer: Josh Southall
Publisher: Pop Goes The Icon
Editor: PJ Perez
Release Date: April 8, 2015

In the first issue of Pop Goes The Icon's newest title, Old Wounds, we meet Michael, a retired vigilante whose ex-wife, also a vigilante, has been killed in an explosion. The cops think he's responsible.
But when he gets together with the third member of their vigilante group, and the man's car is rigged to explode, he knows it's serious abd has to do with old enemies who are still nursing old wounds.

I've been reading this publisher's titles for over two years now, and every new title they release seem to get better and better! As a longtime superhero fan, I love the idea of retired heroes being targeted and (possibly) needing to come out of retirement (think amateur Justice League meets The Umbrella Academy...without the Kryptonians or men with giant monkey bodies).
The writing is simple, the story immediately intriguing. The tale is told half with the words and half with the art. Neither of them outshine the other. The art reminds me of how old manga was drawn and printed (Shonen Jump in the late 90's), very stark and easy to follow. It fit the story more than the bright colors you usually see in superhero comics.
It might be only twenty-six pages, but it tells a huge piece of what should prove to be a wonderful and deep story.

5/5--a very solid start!

[Will update the purchase links ASAP.]

BOOK REVIEW: "Eyes Like Blue Fire" & "Water Like Crimson Sorrow" by Amanda Lyons

Eyes Like Blue Fire Review:

In the mid 18th century, a woman in Germany named Katja lost everyone she ever loved to the plague. In the midst of her sorrow, a handsome man named Anton came to her, offering her love and a lifetime of it...as a vampire.
Now, three hundred years later, she wanders the world alone, haunted by the memories of all her lost loves, feeding reluctantly on those who wish for death. Until she meets Raven Nightshade, the spitting image of Anton.
But Anton's spirit haunts her, as she finds she feels something for Raven. In the shadows, though, something from Anton's past lurks, plotting death and destruction only Katja can prevent.

In Amanda Lyons' first book, Eyes Like Blue Fire, we're taken back to the great vampire novels of the 1980's, like Poppy Z. Brite and Anne Rice: a tale filled with beauty, mystique, live and danger. But it also has unique properties, like the ghouls (which slightly resemble zombies with a mind of their own), the half-bloods, what vampires are vulnerable to, and a few more points.
It is very melodramatic, but I always preferred my vampire books dark and melodramatic. It's romantic, but not overly so. The paranormal elements far outweigh the romantic ones, but they melt together very smoothly.
The story keeps you guessing, never giving away more than necessary, so that you have to keep reading to find out what happens next. Stephen King said that good books don't give up all they're secrets at once, and he was right. However, he also said that the road to Hell is paved with adverbs, and he is also right. That's my one problem with the book, that it does have quite the peppering of adverbs.
Otherwise, this book was wonderful and entertaining. I'll recommend it to everyone who loves the darker side of literature!

4/5--entertaining!

Water Like Crimson Sorrow Review:

Picking up exactly where Eyes Like Blue Fire left off, Water Like Crimson Sorrow begins with Katja finally discovering many of her maker, Anton's, secrets, and that not all old enemies are dead.
Now that enemy is after Raven Nightshade, attacking him where he's weakest: mimicking an old horror and preying on his guilt. But his aunt also has a secret, one that makes all this make more sense than ever.
Can Katja save Raven and finally know happiness?

Amanda Lyons' books are art forms in and of themselves. Before I could blink, I was sixty pages into this book. The characters are either delightful or abhorrent, the story is fast-paced and laced with all the components that make a vampire novel great: danger, bloodlust, romance and mystery.
Learning more about vampire secrets is the best thing. Ms. Lyons created her own version of the undead, not straying from the path completely, but zigzagging enough that this book is unique.
There's more danger in this one than its predecessor, and it keeps you on your toes. Another addition is the mysterious man who wants to publish Raven's book. His motives might not be so pure. This book was much better than ELBF.
With ancient evil, strong emotions and a very dark plot, this is your next favorite vampire series!

5/5--excellent

BLOG TOUR/BOOK REVIEW: "All The Butterflies In The World" by Rodney Jones

With her senior year looming, Tess McKinnon has two goals: hanging out with her best friend, Liz, and avoiding her judgmental, alcoholic mother. Then yummy John Bartley arrives—to tell Mrs. McKinnon that her daughter is dead. Distinctly still alive, Tess is baffled by John’s tales of 1800s time travel, rewritten lives, and love. She knows she’s never seen him before, but her feelings refuse to be denied.
When Tess and John discover an aged newspaper clipping that indicates John’s uncle was hanged for Tess’s murder in 1875, John decides to return to his time to save his uncle’s life. Not really sure she even believes in this time travel stuff, Tess checks the article after John leaves. The words have changed, and she is horrified to find that John has been hanged instead.
Armed with determination and modern ingenuity, Tess must abandon her past and risk her future for a chance to catch her own killer and find her first love for the second time.

Picking up after the first book left off (spoiler alert; sorry, I couldn't avoid this one), we find John Bartley once again trying to convince a living Tess McKinnon that he's really from the year 1875, and traveled through a time-loop to 2009.
John thinks that this time they might both live happily ever after, never going back to his time...as long as Tess doesn't call the psych ward on him!
But a trip to a local museum of their town shows him that his uncle was wrongfully hanged for Tess's murder, and he had vanished. He wants to go ball and make things right, but in order to do that he might never see Tess or 2009 again.

Just like its predecessor, All The Butterflies In The World is a fictional masterpiece. Combining historical fiction, romance, upoer-YA/NA themes and sci-fi, you won't find another book similar to this on Amazon!
What I love most about it is the emotion behind the words, the conviction the characters have. You don't feel like you're reading a fictional account of fictional characters, but rather the story of good friends for whom you hope there's a happy ending.
The biggest difference between the two books is that, What book one was solely from John's perspective, this book alternates between his POV and Tess's. It clearly displays the differences between the two characters' mindsets, and also the sweet similarities. You get to experience first-hand as Tess falls in love with John, while you live with John in the jail, before his trial.
This book has something for everyone: sci-fi fans, romance addicts and historians specializing in the 19th century. It's one of my new favorites!

5/5--a fictional masterpiece!

Purchase All The Butterflies In The World via:

Official site (has all purchase links)

BLOG TOUR/BOOK REVIEW: "The Sun, The Moon, and Maybe The Trains" by Rodney Jones

John Bartley is a teenager in the year 1875. He lives with his aunt and uncle and has a very typical life of a young man in that time. When he was younger, he found a ribbon made of a very odd material. Years later, he gets lost in that very spot. When he finds his way back to the road, it's not 1875. It's 2009. He needs to get back home, and 21st Century teenager Tess is determined to help.
What do you do when you're lost in the wrong century?

I've read over a thousand books in my life so far. I've read a few books about time travel, and none have drawn me in like this since Stephen King's Dark Tower series (though it's a vastly different story). You get to know John, his family and his time first, before you join John as his world gets turned upside down.
The characters, each and every one, no matter how brief their appearance is, are integral parts of the story. Each of them are full of originality and they all make the story that much richer.
There's a lot more going on than just an interesting plot. There's the noticeable differences between the times: electricity, cell phones, the Internet, soda, cars and television are just a few things that confuse John. Tess can't wrap her head around the fact that women in 1875 wear dresses down to their ankles, can't vote and most can't even work.
The story is also a reluctant love story. John is at the age where he needs to start courting women, and Tess is a modern American teenager. The reader knows immediately what they realize quite late, they love each other. This is a tale of love that transcends through time and space, literally. 
Science fiction mixed with historical fiction, with an added a dash of romance and a heap of suspense, all culminating to one of the most unexpected endings in literature make this a book you can't afford not to read!

5/5--a masterful piece of work!

Purchase The Sun, The Moon and Maybe The Trains via:

Red Adept Publishing (has all purchase links)

BOOK REVIEW: "The Battle Lost: Ryder's Birth" by Richard M. Knittle Jr

An Epic Poetry Adventure that takes you on a emotional journey into one mans epic battle against the evil's of addiction and the search and fight for his son Ryder whom is not of his blood.

The Battle Lost by Richard M. Knittle Jr is a short epic poem that could be taken, in my opinion, as a literal or metaphorical read. It is meant to be taken metaphorically: demons and battles represent addiction and custody. But what I loved was that you could detach yourself from those themes if you wanted and read it from a slightly more fictional standpoint.
But it truly is a sad, loving letter really, from a father to a son. It's dark, it's heartbreaking and it's also very entertaining. It might not even take you a half hour top read, but it's words will stay with you long after the book ends.
I've always said that I don't like to criticize poetry, because it's a piece of the soul laid bare on paper for all to peruse. It shouldn't be criticized, yet it's my job to do just that. I would have liked to have read this without rhymes, just to see what the difference night actually be (if there is any).
The art that accompanies the poem is eerie, and somehow very fitting. It was a stark, cold contrast to the heated, emotional words. A wonderful medley.

5/5--beautiful!

Purchase The Battle Lost: Ryder's Birth via:

Official site (has all formats)

RELEASE DAY: "Phantom 2.0" by Leah D.W. (Blurb, Review & Character Diary Entry)

“I am a phantom. Barely human with the duty to get rid of the possessed. That is why beings like me were created, why we were bred.”
In a dying city filled with a deadly plague and even deadlier creatures, Déjà hides from a past drenched in blood and the only family she has ever known. She hates what she is and her cravings to spill fresh blood drives her away from anyone that gets too close. Living out her life wearing lace corsets and working in an underground nightclub keeps her secret from hurting others, until a bounty is placed on her head by a mystery benefactor.
Now she is stalked by an assassin that threatens to steal her heart and discovering a family of powerful beings that hold the key to her past, Déjà has no choice but to embrace what she truly is in order to battle the secrets that the city holds within its shadows.

As a fan of the paranormal, I'm very familiar with phantoms. A lot of people have different opinions on what phantoms are, exactly, but none of them give them such humanity as Leah D.W. did here in Phantom 2.0.
Right off the bat you care about Déjà, even sympathize with her. She cares about people, doesn't want them to come to harm and is forced to do things she doesn't want to to save herself. I love strong female leads like her.
The story gives you chills, it drags you in from the very first page, and it makes you think. You have to wonder who's good, who's evil and what is going to happen before the end of the story.
I definitely want to read more books with these characters! Another great work from Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing!

5/5--excellent!

Purchase Phantom 2.0 on Amazon and add it on Goodreads!

Character Diary Entry:

I love all of the characters in Phantom 2.0, but there is one whose character and backstory is starting to develop more and more the longer I spend time with this tale and I believe he deserves to become the reader’s favourite. Cael is a club owner, sarcastic bad boy and has his own bucket full of mysteries that even shock me! He will make more of an appearance throughout the series and so here are his thoughts that took place during Phantom 2.0 (book 1) that will spark some interest for what is to come and sheds some light on the main character’s dark past:

That waitress is going to be the death of me!
Why did I ever agree to hire her? Oh yeah, her trainer threatened to turn me inside out if I didn’t give her a job that would keep her in the city instead of allowing her to return home. The girl was going to stay either way. She is keeping a secret that I don’t care of to find out, but I can see it like a shadow within those large eyes. Eyes of blue and violet thunder. Eyes that once belonged to a young girl that almost caused my death. Could she be that same little girl that sang up to a thunder storm and danced around in crimson soaked silk? Then she should be older right now. It can’t be her then. But why does she look exactly like that murdering pre-teen?
Same face. Same eyes. Same voice!
Perhaps she is her younger sister or distant cousin…?
No, that isn’t it. This frustrating woman isn’t as annoying as that doppelganger or as mentally insane. Besides…I killed her almost twenty years ago. Didn’t I? My flames charred her skin and turned her into a pillar of ash before she was able to sink her blade into my heart. So…that waitress can’t be her unless that girl was immortal or…
Could it be? I’ve heard the stories but…they are just stories. Right?
Perhaps Kyra is keeping a secret of her own from me and that is one I intend to find out, before that waitress burns down my club!

Find Leah D.W. online via:

Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7031888.Leah_D_W_

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Miss-Leah-D.W./e/B00E7RYP4E

Twitter https://twitter.com/authorleahdw

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/leahdwauthor

Google+ https://plus.google.com/100881211345988951568

Blog http://authorleahdw.blogspot.com/

BOOK REVIEW: "The Demeter Code" by Russell Brooks

Crack The Code And You'll Save Lives...But Knowing It Exists Could Get You Killed. 

When two American embassies in northern Africa are bombed, CIA operatives, Ridley Fox and Nita Parris, are assigned to track down the perpetrators. However, when their top asset is killed in a failed op, the agents suspect that there may be a new threat. Their search for the truth puts them on a collision course with a powerful multinational--which will go to extreme lengths to bury its criminal activities. However, the agents soon learn that someone with a personal vendetta against that company not only knows their secrets, but will expose them in a way that could result in the largest single-day attack against America.

Spy novels are not my thing. While I watch NCIS and Spooks a lot, I've never been one to really sink my teeth into a spy novel. I find them to be slow and emotionless. Not so Russell Brooks' The Demeter Code.
From page one you're engaged in action, danger and mystique. Attacks with knives, guns and physical force dominate the first two chapters, and it gets better from there.
I love Agent Parris. I love that she's a woman who can kick butt and look good doing it. I think her inclusion will make more women pick this book up. Think Ziva from NCIS played by a young Viola Davis. That's how cool she is.
Agent Fox we met in Mr. Brooks' short story trilogy, Unsavory Delicacies. He's just as much of a badass here as he was in this two unforgettable stories. Reminding me of DC Comics' Deathstroke, he gets the job done with amazing skill and grace. If there can be beauty in violent death, he brings it.
There are moments where the violence is very heavy, like the brutal murder of a white collar worker and his pregnant wife, do if you're unable to handle brutality, be wary as you start to read this.
A nearly flawless attempt. I'm very eager to read more from Mr. Brooks!

4/5--exciting!

Purchase The Demeter Code via:

Amazon

BOOK REVIEW: "Unsavory Delicacies" by Russell Brooks

While I'm more used to short story collections having five or more tales, Unsavory Delicacies by Russell Brooks doesn't need more than the three he included to be worth your time and money.
It begins with an ex-Mossad agent about to assassinate a man giving her sensitive information and ends with the same man infiltrating a Russian Mafioso's club and finding a strange surprise. In the middle, you have a disturbing story about a chef who avenges his honor on the food critic who cost him his job once before.

Revenge. Espionage. Death. What more do you need for a half-hour's worth of entertainment? The stories are well-written and very well planned out. They're actually little unsavory delicacies in themselves! Like I said, they're eerily disturbing, like Rod Serling could have written them.
There are no monsters, there's no sex, nothing that people think they need to incorporate into their work. It's parts humanity in its most animalistic forms: self-preservation, vengeful and secretive.
A great read!

4/5--delightful!

Purchase Unsavory Delicacies via:

Official site

BOOK REVIEW: "The Spartak Trigger" by Bryce Allen

Disgraced cop and degenerate cad Shane Bishop now makes his living as a professional set-up artist, using his unique skillset to frame his clients’ enemies for various criminal offenses. When his latest job goes wrong and his mark ends up in a body bag, the ex-lawman becomes the prime suspect in a high-profile murder investigation – framed himself by a mysterious government agent. In order to obtain a key piece of evidence that will clear his name, Bishop is blackmailed into performing various acts of industrial espionage upon some of the world’s most powerful corporations. He soon graduates to foreign intelligence work and finds himself in Russia charged with infiltrating a radical neo-Bolshevik terrorist group known as ‘Black October’ and retrieving a microfilm they’ve obtained which contains a Soviet-era computer virus that has the power to destroy the world…wide web.

Number one, calling Shane Bishop a degenerate is being oh, so kind to the lead character of The Spartak Trigger. Half the time, I was hoping that somehow, someone would shoit him right where it hurts! His disgusting ways are actually half of what makes this book so great: he's the perfect character you love to despise.
The second thing that makes the big stand out isn't the plot (though it's awesome), or the secondary characters, but the style in which it's written. It's supposed to be from Shane's perspective, yet he keeps taking about a narrator and an editor, changing and talking about his story, as you're reading the story! At first I was confused, but after a while I understood what the writer was actually doing and I applaud him. It is an innovative approach to narration and storytelling that I hope people pick up on and appreciate it for the genius that it is.
As I said, the plot was awesome: fast-paced, mysterious and dangerous. You don't know who's good, bad, alive or dead! Like the nameless and faceless narrator and editor, this is Shane's story and you're just along for the ride!
I do, however, have one criticism, and that's the fact that, though Shane is old enough to have an adult daughter, at times he talks far too young, using current slang that no middle-aged cop would. It is a bit confusing and then seems too pretentious for the character. Most of the time, though, everything is spot on, from dialogue to description.
All in all, a great book. Just not for everyone. Some will definitely be too sensitive to read this, but I think most people (mostly men, unfortunately, no offense to the female readers, but there's a lot if sexism, racism and other various forms of bigotry in here that most likely will offend most women) will enjoy this depraved ride just as much as I did!

4/5--in a league of its own!

Purchase The Spartak Trigger via:

Amazon
Goodreads
Smashwords
Facebook

BOOK REVIEW: "Charlotte's Secrets (Demon's Love)" by Maryam Malik

As the Dark Ages reign over England, Julian an ordinary village boy is condemned for Charlotte's mysterious murder, his wife and to his surprise—a princess of royal blood. Oblivious of the presence of a centuries old demon, Julian is imprisoned in Elijah's inescapable dungeon where he waits for the injustice of a gruesome death. But when the young man is rescued at the hands of an unexpected guardian...he learns of his role as salvatoris liberet—the single truth that will alter his destiny forever. As alliances form, secrets unfold, and enemies reveal themselves, Julian must decide who to trust and how far he is willing to go for the only woman he's ever loved.

Charlotte's Secrets is the debut novel from Maryam Malik, and yet it feels like we've been reading her work forever. The story is visual and enveloping, taking you straight from your living room to the Dark Ages on page one.
The story feels similar to the BBC's interpretation of Robin Hood: the girl is murdered and her lover is accused. The big difference between Julian and Guy of Gisborne, however, is that Julian is innocent. He's a determined character, one whom you root for from the beginning. He's romantic, a hero and very endearing.
The characters he meets along his journey run the gamut from interesting to dangerous to diabolical. Ms. Malik easily weaves magic and paranormal elements into the tale, creating a unique world of death, love and magic.
I loved the desperation in Julian's heart, his deep love for the princess. Love drives this story, and it is that, not the thriller elements, that make this worth reading. I love it when a male lead wears his heart on his sleeve!
My only criticism is that I'd love to have seen it written in the third person, so we could've seen different perspectives from all characters, especially the queen.
An excellent debut; I see a very long career in literature for Ms. Malik!

4/5--a great debut!

Purchase Charlotte's Secrets via:

Official site
Amazon
Goodreads

BOOK REVIEW: "My Little Rabbit" by James DeSantis

What do you do when your biggest enemy is inside your mind?

Jenna is being chased by a crazy clown who wants to kill her, through cornfields, in abandoned houses and most of all, inside her head. When things get really bad after her sister comes to visit, she knows she needs to take down this crazy man once and for all.

Clowns are probably the worst thing on Earth. Put a crazy one in a short story and make him chase you and try to kill you, you pretty much have a recipe for disaster.
In the newest story from James DeSantis, we deal with horrors both real and imagined as we join Jenna on her frightening journey. I can't really say much, because it's so short that I'm afraid to give too much away.
I will say I really enjoyed editing it, being a small part if such a powerful story. A lot of people, by the time they get to the end of it, will be able to relate to Jenna and will probably face a small smile on their faces.
Death comes in all forms: it's our choice of we meet him halfway or fight him off.

5/5--one of the best short stories I've read!

Purchase My Little Rabbit on Amazon and add it on Goodreads!

BOOK REVIEW: "Another Day At The Office" by James DeSantis

On the outside, the main character in Another Day At The Office has a good life. He has a good job, a loving wife, and good friends. But there are secrets. And betrayals. Until he decides, today won't be just another day at the office.

I've always believed that a monotonous life, the "American Dream", doesn't really exist, and those who claim to have achieved that dream are either liars or kidding themselves.
In this story, the American Dream falls apart in front of the reader's eyes. Lies come to surface and it brings a very normal man to the breaking point. Think Michael Douglas in Falling Down on a much more personal level.
It's violent, yes, abd entertaining, but it also makes you think. A definite must read, and it'll only take you about twenty minutes to finish! I was very privileged to be the editor for this story, and I hope you all like it as much as I did the first time I read it.

5/5--thought-provoking.

Purchase Another Day At The Office via:

Amazon

BOOK REVIEW: "Never Say Die" by Bill Carson

Nick Harland has teamed up with Andy Ryan, a special forces/ MI5 operator and the pair are tasked with tracking down a rogue SAS soldier who is on the loose and creating havoc across London in revenge for his unjust imprisonment. But the destruction that he is causing is all part of an elaborate deception which is designed to mask his true intentions. Harland and Ryan are now in a race against time to find him before he carries out one of the most daring, outrageous and audacious crimes of the 21st century. 
Along with all the mayhem and tension created by the hunt for the SAS man there is a secondary story running parallel with the main one and this part of the story is unconnected to the main theme and remains so until the last chapter. Who is the mysterious unknown man found in a field in Essex with a gunshot wound to his head? The unconscious man is barely alive and is rushed to hospital where he undergoes emergency brain surgery and after a long period of recuperation he wakes from the coma. 
The police are anxious to interview him as in the field where he was found were a dozen dead bodies riddled with bullet holes. They don't get the chance to interrogate to him as he decides to abscond from hospital. The stranger has near total memory loss and has no clue who he is or why he'd been shot and the search is now on to find his past life? And he's anxious to find out why someone wanted him dead?

As an avid Doyle reader and NCIS watcher (not to mention the BBC's MI:5 starring Richard Armitage), I love mysteries set around a lot of action and suspense. Never Say Die by Bill Carson delivers a whole lot of suspense and danger within these pages.
Nick Harland is a likable character, Andy I could go either way. This is not really a character-driven story, but rather a plot-driven story. I mean that as a compliment. Rarely can you find a great spy novel driven more by plot than by the spies themselves. Carson wrote a great thriller with interesting components not usually seen together in the same book.
The reader is enthralled and intrigued by the mysterious man who has no memory. The reader is appalled yet can't help but be sympathetic to Steve Dark, the assassin gone rogue. And you certainly will wonder what on Earth one has to do with the other. A great mystery keeps you guessing and o  your toes, and Never Say Die does just that.
A great plot, well-written with enough mystery and action to keep you reading well into the night make Mr. Carson a writer you HAVE to check out!

4/5--a page-turner!

Purchase Never Say Die via:

Amazon

Goodreads

BOOK REVIEW: "The Purple Robe" by David Dean

Rumors rising out of the Yucatan jungle report healings and miracles attributed to a holy relic. Father Pablo Diego Corellas discovers that even his own parishioners are making secret pilgrimages to the decrepit plantation where it is held. There, Doña Josefa, a mysterious woman who is either mystic or mad, possesses an artifact that she claims is a fragment of the robe worn by Christ at his trial. Guarded by armed Mayan farmers, she holds sway over an ever-growing number of pilgrims desperate for the healing power of the Purple Robe. Much against his own wishes, young Father Pablo is dispatched to the interior to investigate, while a police captain and a vacationing American couple make plans of their own for the robe. But when the relic is stolen, they soon discover that miracles have unforeseen consequences, and that no one is beyond their reach.

The newest novel by David Dean is quite a departure from his previous book, The Thirteenth Child. The Purple Robe is the story of a reluctant priest in Mexico whose flock is straying from the Church to a strange place of healing. He attributes it to his lack of confidence in his own prowess at the pulpit.
The story is not overly religious nor is it blasphemous. No matter your religion, you can read this book with a clear conscience. It mixes modern skepticism, ancient Mayan magic and timeless Catholicism to weave a first-rate tale that enthralls the reader and makes them think.
It has an air of mystery and a very relatable main character, for who among us has not doubted themselves and their life choices? There are also great subplots, like the police chief and the American tourists, and the stories of the parishioners in Father Pablo's church.
Being set in Mexico also gives out a certain appeal and sense of authenticity, as opposed to it being set in America or even Europe. There is a great respect for Catholicism in Mexico not found anywhere else, all while Mexico deals with severe violence on a daily basis (as mentioned in the book).
Mr. Dean took a risk writing this and the risk paid off. This is a great book!

5/5--excellent!

Purchase The Purple Robe via:

Amazon
Goodreads
Amazon UK
Barnes And Noble
Book Depository (UK)
Google Books (Android users)
Waterstones (UK)
Bokus (Dutch)

REVIEW BLITZ & GIVEAWAY: "Obsidian Faith" by Bev Elle

★★ REVIEW BLITZ & GIVEAWAY ★★
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Obsidian Faith by Bev Elle Review Blitz
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Release Date: December 4th, 2014
Hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions (http://bookenthusiastpromotions.com @BookEnthuPromo )

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#Synopsis:
They were the most unlikely pair to fall in love. . .
A golden boy with a dark past. A bi-racial girl with epic faith. These two weren’t supposed to survive the system, sketchy origins and all.
Trevor Kyle has loved Shanice Bailey forever—from the time they both landed in the Baptist Children’s Home until they were young adults raised by adoptive families that had no resemblance to the worlds from which they came. Trevor has always been her protector and champion even when he was busy pushing her away for her own good.
Shanice has always taken her faith in Trevor seriously. Her childhood oath is strengthened when she learns the true meaning of family. But After Trevor’s adoptive parents die tragically and his bachelor uncle takes him in, she finds that the boy she’s always looked up to has changed, and not for the better. Yet, she can’t bring herself to forget him as her pure childhood love for him blossoms into something more.
The most generous heart and truest faith does not travel an easy path. Just when Trevor thinks he’s found a way to keep his promise to be with Shanice forever, a specter from the past threatens their future plans.

#MeettheAuthor:
Bev Elle the author of sweet and spicy, contemporary romance. A lover of books–many already written, and those she harbors in her very active imagination. Writing is a passion she’s had for many years, but was unable to act upon. Until now. Bev Elle is the mother of three human children and two canines. She is also the lover of one husband :) When Bev isn’t writing in her spare time after work, she is thinking of doing so.

#SocialLinks:
https://www.facebook.com/BevElle1
https://twitter.com/Bev_Elle
http://goodreads.com/bevelle
https://plus.google.com/u/0/settings/plus#+BevElle
http://www.pinterest.com/bevelle5
http://www.bevelle.wordpress.com

#Excerpt:
“You want to be a doctor?” Trevor said.
“No, a nurse. I want to help people get over drug addiction and stuff, but I don’t want to go to school for all the years it takes to be a doctor.”
“That’s cool. Just don’t fall for some doctor and forget about me,” he teased.
“I’d never forget you, Trevor,” she said. “And I’ll never fall for some doctor.”
“How do you know?” he said. “You’ll go off to college and I’ll be as good as forgotten.”
“You’ll forget me first,” she said. “You already have. You’re the one who’s taking Emily Winters to the prom and everything.”
“It’s just another rite of passage.”
“A what?”
“It’s one of those things you’re expected to do at certain ages that transition you from one stage in life to another.”
“Oh, well. I’m not passing any rites with anyone but you,” She said.
“You’re too young to say that, Shanice. You’ve got a lot of growing up to do.”
“So do you.” She protested, just as he expected her to.
“Yeah, but I’m closer to twenty-one than you are, and I’ll be going off to college in a couple of years.”
“I know, but I won’t forget you,” Shanice said with conviction.
“How do you know this?” Trevor asked.
“Because I’m going to be like Amy March in Little Women.”
“Never heard of it,” Trevor said.
“Probably because boys think it’s stupid. But there is a Little Men, and Jo’s Boys and they’re about orphans and stuff. Anyway, they’re classics. Mom read the books when she was about my age, so she gave them to me for Christmas.”
“What does this have to do with you not forgetting me?”
“You’ll have to read Little Women to find out,” she said cryptically.

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#MyReview:

In the Obsidian Collection, one of the stories included was Obsidian Faith by Bev Elle, and it was also one of the two stories I said could easily be expanded. While it was fine on its own, I knew that there was more to Trevor and Shanice's story than was originally told.
Trevor and Shanice meet in the foster care system and immediately take to one anothe, despite a slight age difference. When they both get adopted by different neighbors, they think their ship has finally come in. But when Trevor's parents die I'm a car accident and he has to go live with his unsavory uncle, everything goes downhill.
Trevor is a computer genius, and his uncle threatens Shanice's life if Trevor doesn't comply with his illegal demands.

Like I said, the original short story was great, but I knew that there was more to it, and there was.
This is a love story above all else: Trevor loving Shanice enough that he was willing to give her up to save her life, and Shanice loving Trevor enough that she keeps her faith in him even when he lands in prison. You feel Trevor's pain as he is forced to push the love of his life away. You can also feel his desperation and determination.
Shanice is an admirable woman, staying true to her gut even when everyone told her she was a fool. She's smart, pretty and has a mind of her own. She goes from the perfect little sister to the perfect lover in a few chapters.
The backbones of the story are a considerable knowledge of computer science, much more so than this reader has! It gives the story a very authentic feel.
The second is the religious undertone. The lovers meet as kids in a church-run children's home, and the pastor and his wife adopt Shanice. It is what adds beauty to what us a slightly dark tale, the morals the characters adhere to, even with all the debauchery in the book.
The cherry on top of the cake is the ending, which is very close to making Obsidian Faith a thriller as opposed to a love story.
Is this a story for everyone? No. But it's a story everyone should read.

4/5--excellent!