Giveaway: The Rainbow Man by P B Kane (and Midwinter’s Eve Hop)

Giveaway for The Rainbow Man by P. B. Kane. It’s international and we have two copies.

It’s a young adult paranormal thriller. Here’s a bit more about The Rainbow Man:

When Daniel Routh, together with friends Jill and Greg, and little brother Mikey, discover a body washed up on the beach after a storm, it’s one of the most exciting things ever to happen on the island of Shorepoint. And, as the man in question slowly recovers, he befriends the inhabitants of this small fishing community one by one. Only Daniel suspects something might be wrong with the newcomer, who cannot remember who he is, nor how he came to be there. To start with, this John Dee (as they label him, short for Doe) brings prosperity and happiness with him, but it isn’t long before the tide begins to turn. Then John begins to worm his way into Daniel’s own family, trying to take the place of his late father, and the teenager knows something must be done. Little does Daniel realise that he’s now involved in one of the most ancient conflicts of all time; one that might decide the fate not only of Shorepoint, but of the entire world.

This very special short novel from the imagination of award-winning and bestselling author P.B. Kane (the Arrowhead Trilogy, Lunar, The Butterfly Man), marks his first foray into the realms of YA fiction. With great characterization, emotional impact, action and shock twists, this is a genre release that’s sure to become an instant classic.

Page count: 162 | Genre: YA/Dark Fantasy/Paranormal Thriller/Supernatural/Adventure | Rocket Ride Books | November 15, 2013

For further information we have an informative interview with author P. B. Kane that you can visit by clicking on this text.

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This giveaway is part of the Midwinter’s Eve Giveaway Hop from December 21 to 31. To visit our host’s site please click on the picture for this hop.

• Please be a reader/follower to enter this contest.
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And please fill out the Google form and note which format you would like the book in, should you win.

• US: print, audio(mp3 download) or eBook (mobi or ePub)
• Non-US: audio(mp3 download) or eBook (mobi or ePub)

These are the other blogs that are part of the hop. Click on them to visit their blogs and enter other bookish giveaways. Good luck and happy holiday hopping!

Interview: P B Kane author of The Rainbow Man

We have a few questions asked of P. B. Kane around his lasted novel – The Rainbow Man.

It’s a paranormal thriller and his first foray into writing for a young adult audience (although it will appeal to adults too – since I’ve read and loved it.) 

Let’s welcome Paul!

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The Rainbow Man is a dark fantasy/paranormal thriller and it’s your first young adult novel. Tell us about your process and/or reasoning for creating a dark book for teens; and what are the differences between writing for a younger audience compared to writing for adults.

It stems back to reading that kind of material when I was younger, in particular a book called Brother in the Land by Robert Swindells which we read as part of our English classes. This was before the term YA even came into effect as a marketing category and genre in its own right. That was a post-apocalyptic tale set in the kind of community I knew well, and was more than a little responsible for inspiring the Arrowhead/Hooded Man novels under my other name ‘Paul Kane’. My daughter Jen was around 13 or 14 when she started reading and enjoying those, so I began thinking about writing something that was aimed specifically at teens, but could also be enjoyed by any age group – like all good YA fiction. I think the main difference between writing for a younger audience, as opposed to an older one, is that your main characters are a bit younger and the focus should – necessarily – be on them and their lives or their adventure. Because of the kind of story The Rainbow Man is, I didn’t go too far in terms of subject matter – for example this book isn’t anywhere near as violent or adult in tone as some of my other books; Arrowhead begins with a torture scene for example – but hopefully delivered some more subtle chills this time.

To entice us, tell us about the fantastical/paranormal themes for your story.

I’ve drawn once again on mythology here, like I’ve done for a lot of my stories. For Lunar, I was influenced by mythology about the Moon, for the Arrowhead books it was the mythology of Sherwood Forest because we were dealing with a futuristic version of Robin Hood. And I’ve always been a fan of stories where a mysterious stranger turns up to cause trouble, like The Witches of Eastwick or Stephen King’s Storm of the Century, or even his Needful Things. If that stranger has supernatural powers, then so much the better. So that was something I wanted to bring into play with my villain John Dee (‘short’ for Doe), who our main protagonist – 15 year-old Daniel – suspects might not be the nice guy he appears to be.

There are a lot of adults reading books for young adults. Why would The Rainbow Man appeal to an adult audience? And/or why should a young adult read your book?

The answer to both is probably the same, because hopefully it’s a good story with well-rounded characters that will appeal to all ages. It was one of those books which seemed to just flow, which is usually a good sign. But I’ll let some of the comments about it so far speak for me. Rachel Caine – of the bestselling Morganville Vampire series – said in the wonderful introduction, ‘I loved this tale, pure and simple.’ The YA, Yeah Yeah site said the book, ‘Drips with menace.’ And Starburst magazine called it, ‘Emotionally charged. A gripping novel not easily put down!’ Needless to say, I’m extremely delighted with all this.

As a prolific artist in many types of mediums, a writer of screenplays, horror, fantasy, an editor, painter, and photographer – which is your favorite hat to wear when you’re creating and why?

That’s a really difficult question to answer, because they’re all tied in for me. All parts of the creative process. One of my literary heroes, Clive Barker – who I’m very lucky to now call a friend – said when I asked him which he preferred doing, writing or painting and he said: ‘When I’m painting, it’s writing. When I’m writing… well, you can guess the rest.’ And that pretty much sums it up. Whatever I’m doing, I’ll be thinking about other projects in other areas, because that’s just the way I work. Makes it hard to separate them out, though. At the moment I’m writing my second feature script, after adapting Lunar, and I’m really enjoying that.

Why write horror and why are you attracted to darkness?

It’s not so much being attracted to the darkness as writing about what scares you personally so that seems a little less frightening. I’ve always found it to be so at any rate. The world can be a scary place, but when you write about those kinds of things at least you have a degree of control over what happens in them. Or at least that’s what you tell yourself, as very often stories take on a life of their own – as it should be. Horror’s also a great way to comment about life, death, society, whatever you want to talk about indirectly. For example, in The Rainbow Man, I explore the issues surrounding friendship – and especially when you’re young – family, community… all kinds of things. When people are threatened it’s usually when you see their real natures come to the surface, all of which is very interesting to me as a writer. And hopefully that all makes it interesting for the reader as well. That’s the intention anyway.

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Author Bio:    Paul Kane is an award-winning writer and editor based in Derbyshire, UK. His short story collections are Alone (In the Dark), Touching the Flame, FunnyBones, Peripheral Visions, Shadow Writer, and The Adventures of Dalton Quayle, and his latest The Butterfly Man and Other Stories. His novellas include Signs of Life, The Lazarus Condition, RED, and Pain Cages. He is author of the novels Of Darkness and Light, The Gemini Factor and the bestselling Arrowhead Trilogy, a post-apocalyptic reworking of the Robin Hood mythology.

His novel, Lunar, is set to be turned into a feature film. He has also written for comics, most notably for the Dead Roots zombie anthology. He is co-editor of the anthology Hellbound Hearts – stories based around the Clive Barker mythology that spawned Hellraiser – The Mammoth Book of Body Horror, A Carnivàle of Horror, and the forthcoming Beyond Rue Morgue from Titan.

His non-fiction books are the BFS Award-nominated and critically acclaimed The Hellraiser Films and Their Legacy and Voices in the Dark, and his genre journalism has appeared in the likes of SFX, Rue Morgue, Fangoria, Dreamwatch and DeathRay. He has been a guest at events such as Alt.Fiction, SFX Weekender, comic convention Thought Bubble, the Derbyshire Literary Festival, Edge-Lit and Off the Shelf, as well as being a panelist at FantasyCon and the World Fantasy Convention.

His work has been optioned for film and television, and his zombie story ‘Dead Time’ was turned into an episode of the Lionsgate/NBC TV series Fear Itself. He also scripted The Opportunity, Wind Chimes and The Weeping Woman.

You can find out more at his website www.shadow-writer.co.uk and his twitter account at  https://twitter.com/PaulKaneShadow.

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About The Rainbow Man:   When Daniel Routh, together with friends Jill and Greg, and little brother Mikey, discover a body washed up on the beach after a storm, it’s one of the most exciting things ever to happen on the island of Shorepoint. And, as the man in question slowly recovers, he befriends the inhabitants of this small fishing community one by one. Only Daniel suspects something might be wrong with the newcomer, who cannot remember who he is, nor how he came to be there. To start with, this John Dee (as they label him, short for Doe) brings prosperity and happiness with him, but it isn’t long before the tide begins to turn. Then John begins to worm his way into Daniel’s own family, trying to take the place of his late father, and the teenager knows something must be done. Little does Daniel realise that he’s now involved in one of the most ancient conflicts of all time; one that might decide the fate not only of Shorepoint, but of the entire world.

This very special short novel from the imagination of award-winning and bestselling author P.B. Kane (the Arrowhead Trilogy, Lunar, The Butterfly Man – as Paul Kane), marks his first foray into the realms of YA fiction. With great characterization, emotional impact, action and shock twists, this is a genre release that’s sure to become an instant classic.

Page count: 162 | Genre: YA/Dark Fantasy/Paranormal Thriller/Supernatural/Adventure | Rocket Ride Books | November 15, 2013

Review: The Water Thief by Nicholas Lamar Soutter

Review by John for The Water Thief by Nicholas Lamar Soutter

John’s quick take:   A dystopian tale about what happens when corporations and capitalism replace government and democracy.

John’s description:   Charles Thatcher belongs to Ackerman Brothers Securities Corporation, one of the biggest corporations in a near-future world where all governments have disappeared, to be replaced by businesses whose only concerns are making money and beating the competition. Generosity and free access to anything are believed to breed weakness and lead to laziness, so everything is for sale. Even air and rainwater have to be paid for. Image is also everything so perception is deemed to be far more important than the truth.

Charles is a Delta – not the lowest of the low but a mid-grade class. Along with many others he works in perception management, tasked with finding any information or news that might harm his employer, and spinning stories and messages that help to put his company, Ackerman Brothers in the best possible light. He is constantly striving to be promoted to executive, something which very few achieve.

Then he stumbles across some information about a woman charged with stealing rainwater and decides to embellish the story - accusing the thief of being a seditionist and revolutionary who believes in government. What he doesn’t realize is that his story might be close to the truth. Disgruntled by his life, his investigation leads him to become enamored by the woman’s cause and the possibility of life beyond the corporations. But such beliefs are deadly and dangerous as the corporations will stop at nothing to squash revolutionary thoughts and to keep the masses in line.

John’s thoughts:   This is an interesting theme for a book. Already we live in a world where corporations hold far too much political power and influence, and Soutter extrapolates this into a dystopian future where corporations have become all powerful. What might a world look like where governments no longer exist? He paints a grim picture.

Everything has a price tag and there is no such thing as social rights. Individuals are only worth what they can contribute to company profits, and if they cannot contribute anything then they are worthless –  considered a drag on efficiency and company morale. It is wrong to save money as it is only through spending that people contribute to the economy. Indeed, people are encouraged to trade their own “futures”, thereby maximizing their spending (and forever indebting themselves to the corporation which already owns them).

The problem for me was that the picture was too extreme. It’s a bit like when you read a politically oriented article or news story that has been written by someone with hardline extreme views – personally I tend to go glassy eyed rather quickly due to a lack of balance and reasonableness. For a futuristic novel to achieve maximum impact it has to be believable, even if it stretches credulity a bit; and to my mind this novel goes a little too far.

Still, it was an interesting and thought-provoking read. The story is well written and it built nicely to the climax. I have to say that the ending, though perfectly in line with the theme and the story, did leave me a bit dissatisfied. Overall I’d rate this three stars and recommend it to anyone who is a fan of futuristic, dystopian novels.

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Paperback | 248 pages | CreateSpace | April 23, 2012

For more information on The Water Thief check our our Incoming Books post for October 12, 2013.

Win a Nook from ChiZine!

You could win a Nook from ChiZine! (Click on the picture to find out more information at the publisher’s site.)

Purchase a trade paperback copy of either Steve Rasnic Tem's Celestial Inventories or Christopher Golden's Tell My Sorrows to the Stones at Barnes & Noble or barnesandnoble.com and email your proof of purchase to felicia@chizinepub.com. (In-store receipts can be scanned or sent as a photo.)

Two lucky winners will be randomly picked from the draw and will each receive a Nook! And we're also throwing in the entire 2013 ChiZine ebook catalogue!

Enter by midnight PST on December 31st. Draw will be held on January 1st, 2014.

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About Celestial Inventories: Celestial Inventories features twenty- two stories collected from rare chapbooks, anthologies, and obscure magazines, along with a new story written specifically for this volume. All represent the slipstream segment of Steve Rasnic Tem’s large body of tales: imaginative, difficult-to-pigeonhole works of the fantastic crossing conventional boundaries between science fiction, fantasy, horror, literary fiction, bizarro, magic realism, and the new weird. Several of these stories have previously appeared in Best of the Year compilations and have been the recipients of major F & SF nominations and awards.

About Tell My Sorrows to the Stones:  A circus clown willing to give anything to be funny. A spectral gunslinger who must teach a young boy to defend the ones he loves. A lonely widower making a farewell tour of the places that meant the world to his late wife. A faded Hollywood actress out to deprive her ex-husband of his prize possession. A grieving mother who will wait by the railroad tracks for a ghostly train that always has room for one more. A young West Virginia miner whose only hope of survival is a bedtime story. These are just some of the characters to be found in Tell My Sorrows to the Stones.

Review: Bellman and Black by Diane Setterfield

Review by Shellie for Bellman & Black by Diane Setterfield

Shellie’s quick take:  Set in England in the 1800’s, in a Yorkshire mill town and on the outskirts of London, this literary thriller has a dark, otherworldly, and mysterious thread with a hidden moral. It also includes facts and mythology about the Rook woven through its story-line.

Shellie’s description:  Bellman & Black is primarily about the life of the main character, William Bellman. It begins on a fateful day when the youthful William kills a Rook (a crow of sorts found mostly in Europe) during a moment of bravado in front of a group of his amazed friends - via a lucky catapult from his slingshot. This unlikely once-in-a-lifetime strike turns out to be an example of the luck and success of William’s life. In addition to being lucky, he is handsome and driven, and the world appears to open its arms for the young man.

But like every human, life delivers William Bellman the hard knocks that are unavoidable. It is during one of these periods that he encounters Mr. Black - a man who is to become for William the metaphor for the one thing that he cannot escape.

Shellie’s thoughts:  This is a gothic-like literary thriller. Although technically not a gothic novel, it has some aspects that make it feel like it is - for example there is that dark, moody feel to the tone of of the story. And because it is a literary novel from an established author, there is definitely strong character development. I found myself knowing and understanding the main character quite well. There is also a great plot with interesting ups and down throughout, including a light paranormal thread. Happily I found myself wondering what was going to happen next, including some nice chills every so often, that will appeal to horror fans.

I liked that the author uses lovely period-styled prose, though paradoxically she kept it modern-ish, giving the book an authentic feel without the difficulty of having to decipher the old-fashioned writing style often found in Victorian literature. I definitely liked this particular aspect of the novel, which is perfect for anyone who enjoys historical fiction.

Recommended for anyone interested in literary thrillers and horror, those who enjoy a gothic feel to their reads, readers interested in a light paranormal element, and anyone who is interested in historical England. I would also recommend it to readers interested in birds. A terrific and well-written book, the author has apparently taken years to complete it and it shows. It’s highly recommended at 4 stars.

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Atria/Emily Bestler Books |  336 pages |  November 2013

For more information about Bellman & Black you can take a look at our Incoming Books post for November 8, 2013 including it.

Giveaway: To Dance with the Devil by Cat Adams (US/CAN–3 copies)

We have 3 copies of To Dance with the Devil (The Blood Singer Novels – Volume 6 of 9) by Cat Adams for US or Canadian addresses.

In To Dance with the Devil, the latest entry in Cat Adams's Blood Singer series, Celia Graves’s newest client is one of the last surviving members of a magical family that is trapped in a generations-old feud with other magic-workers. She’s supposed to die at the next full moon unless Celia can broker peace between the clans or break the curse before it can take effect.

For the first time in a long while, Celia’s personal life is looking up. Her vampire abilities seem to be under control, her Siren abilities have gotten more reliable, and even though her office was blown up, her services are more in demand than ever now that she's fought off terrorists and been part of the royal wedding of the year. Her friends all seem to be finding love and her grandmother has—finally—agreed to go to family therapy.

The only trouble spot is Celia’s love life. Not long ago, she had two boyfriends. Now she barely has one and she isn’t sure she wants him. But Bruno DeLuca is a powerful mage and Celia needs his help…especially after she's attacked and her client is kidnapped.

Tor Books | 11/5/2013 | Trade Paperback |352 pages

About the Author  -  CAT ADAMS is the author of the much-lauded Blood Singer series, Blood Song, Siren Song, Demon Song, The Isis Collar, and The Eldritch Conspiracy. Adams is the joint pen name of C. T. Adams and Cathy Clamp, who live deep in the heart of Texas. They are USA Today bestselling authors with their Sazi and Thrall series.

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Please fill out the Google form to enter this contest:

Good luck!

Incoming Books: December 5, 2013

It’s our Incoming Books post for December 5, 2013.

MacMillan/Tor

Apparition (The Hungry Ghosts – Volume 3) by Trish J. MacGregor

Trish J. MacGregor returns to a mythic city high in the Ecuadorian Andes in Apparition.

Tess and Ian have been living in the high city of Esperanza for years, along with Tess’s niece, Maddie, and her partner, Nick Sanchez. They thought they could rest, that they had defeated the brujo threat to our plane of existence. But they were wrong.

A new and greater threat has formed, a new tribe of the hungry dead, seeking to possess the bodies of the living in order to experience the passions of physical life. This new tribe has found the door to the physical plane that is Esperanza, and they threaten all human life. Only the outnumbered Light Chasers and their human allies can stand against the evil brujos.

Tor Books | November 2013 | Hardcover | 336 pages

Renegade (The Elysium Chronicles – Volume 1 of 3) by J. A. Souders

J.A. Souders's haunting debut—Renegade

Since the age of three, sixteen-year-old Evelyn Winters has trained to be Daughter of the People in the underwater utopia known as Elysium. Selected from hundreds of children for her ideal genes, all her life she’s believed that everything is perfect. Her world. Her people. The Law.

But when Gavin Hunter, a Surface Dweller, accidentally stumbles into Elysium’s secluded little world, Evelyn comes to a startling realization: Everything she knows is a lie.

Her memories have been altered.

Her mind and body aren’t under her own control.

And the person she knows as Mother is a monster.

Together with Gavin she plans her escape, only to learn that her own mind is a ticking time bomb...and Mother has one last secret that will destroy them all.

Tor Teen | October 2013 | Trade Paperback | Young Adult Fiction |  368 pages | Age: 13 to 18 | Grade Range: 8 to 13

Revelations (The Elysium Chronicles – Volume 2 of 3) by J. A. Souders

The Elysium Chronicles, J.A. Souders’ riveting SF series for teens which began with the psychological thriller Renegade, continues in Revelations.

Six weeks after her arrival on the Surface, Evelyn Winters is no closer to unlocking the memories lost in her subconscious than she was when she first came. Isolated in a strange new society, Evie has only Gavin Hunter to remind her of who she once was.

But even with a clean slate, it’s easy to see that Evie doesn’t fit in on the Surface. And as her differences make her feel more and more alone, she can’t help but yearn for that place she doesn’t remember: the isolated city hidden in the depths of the ocean. Elysium. Home.

But she can’t exactly tell Gavin what she’s feeling. Not when he’s the one who helped her escape Elysium in the first place, and has the scars to prove it. Though the doctors say otherwise, Gavin believes that Evie just needs time. And if her memories don’t come back, well, maybe she’s better off not remembering her past.

But the decision may be out of their hands when Evie’s ever-elusive memories begin to collide with reality. People and images from her past appear in the most unlikely places, haunting her, provoking her…and making her seem not only strange but dangerous.

Evie and Gavin can’t wait around for her memories to return. They’ll have to journey across the Outlands of the Surface to find help, and in the end, their search may just lead them back to the place it all started…

Tor Teen | November 2013 | Hardcover | Young Adult Fiction | 352 pages | Age Range: 13 to 17 | Grade Range: 8 to 12

Bloodstone (#2 of the Rebel Angel Series) by Gillian Philip

Bloodstone is the second novel in Gillian Philip’s critically acclaimed Rebel Angels series, debuting in the United States for the first time.

For centuries, Sithe warriors Seth and Conal MacGregor have hunted for the Bloodstone demanded by their Queen. Homesick, and determined to protect their clan, they have also made secret forays across the Veil. One of these illicit crossings has violent consequences that will devastate both their close family, and their entire clan.

In the Otherworld, Jed Cameron, a feral, full-mortal young thief, becomes entangled with the strange and dangerous Finn MacAngus and her shadowy uncles. When he is dragged into the world of the Sithe, it’s nothing he can’t handle until time warps around him, and menacing forces reach out to threaten his infant brother. In the collision of two worlds, war and tragedy are inevitable, especially when treachery comes from the most shocking of quarters….

Tor Books | 11/19/2013 | Hardcover | 400 pages

Penguin/Random House

Work Done for Hire by Joe Halderman

Joe Haldeman’s “adept plotting, strong pacing, and sense of grim stoicism have won him wide acclaim” (The Washington Post) and numerous honors for such works as The Forever War, The Accidental Time Machine, and the Marsbound trilogy. Now, the multiple Hugo and Nebula award–winning author pits a lone war veteran against a mysterious enemy who is watching his every move—and threatens him with more than death unless he kills for them.

Wounded in combat and honorably discharged nine years ago, Jack Daley still suffers nightmares from when he served his country as a sniper, racking up sixteen confirmed kills. Now a struggling author, Jack accepts an offer to write a near-future novel about a serial killer, based on a Hollywood script outline. It’s an opportunity to build his writing career, and a future with his girlfriend, Kit Majors.

But Jack’s other talent is also in demand. A package arrives on his doorstep containing a sniper rifle, complete with silencer and ammunition—and the first installment of a $100,000 payment to kill a “bad man.” The twisted offer is genuine. The people behind it are dangerous. They prove that they have Jack under surveillance. He can’t run. He can’t hide. And if he doesn’t take the job, Kit will be in the crosshairs instead.

288 pages | 07 Jan 2014 | Ace | 18 - AND UP

Elementary (All-New Tales of the Elemental Masters) edited by Mercedes Lackey

In March 1987, Mercedes Lackey, a young author from Oklahoma, published her first novel, Arrows of the Queen. No one could have envisioned that this modest book would be the beginning of a fantasy career that would span decades and more than a hundred novels, with no signs of slowing yet.

And among Ms. Lackey's many novels, few are as critically-acclaimed and beloved as those of the Elemental Masters. The novels in this series are loosely based on classic fairy tales, and take place in a fantasy version of turn-of-the-century London, where magic is real and Elemental Masters control the powers of Fire, Water, Air and Earth.

Now the voices of other authors join Mercedes Lackey to add their own special touches to this delightful alternate history, in a world where magic is always just around the corner...

DAW | 320 pages | 03 Dec 2013 | DAW | 18 - AND UP

Darkwalker (A Nicolas Lenoir Novel) by E. L. Tettensor

He used to be the best detective on the job. Until he became the hunted...

Once a legendary police inspector, Nicolas Lenoir is now a disillusioned and broken man who spends his days going through the motions and his evenings drinking away the nightmares of his past. Ten years ago, Lenoir barely escaped the grasp of the Darkwalker, a vengeful spirit who demands a terrible toll on those who have offended the dead. But the Darkwalker does not give up on his prey so easily, and Lenoir has always known his debt would come due one day.

When Lenoir is assigned to a disturbing new case, he treats the job with his usual apathy—until his best informant, a street savvy orphan, is kidnapped. Desperate to find his young friend before the worst befalls him, Lenoir will do anything catch the monster responsible for the crimes, even if it means walking willingly into the arms of his own doom…

368 pages | 03 Dec 2013 | Roc | 18 - AND UP

Kensington Publishing

The Seventh Victim (Texas Rangers #1) by Mary Burton

If At First You Don’t Succeed

It’s been seven years since the Seattle Strangler terrorized the city. His victims were all young, pretty, their lifeless bodies found wrapped in a home-sewn white dress. But there was one who miraculously escaped death, just before the Strangler disappeared…

Kill

Lara Church has only hazy memories of her long-ago attack. What she does have is a home in Austin, a job, and a chance at a normal life at last. Then Texas Ranger James Beck arrives on her doorstep with shattering news: The Strangler is back. And this time, he’s in Austin…

And Kill Again…

He’s always craved her, even as he killed the others. For so long he’s been waiting to unleash the beast within. And this time, he’ll prove he holds her life in his hands—right before he ends it forever…

Mass Market Paperback | 416 pages |  Zebra | January 29, 2013

No Escape (Texas Rangers #2) by Mary Burton

He Was Taught How To Kill

Even behind bars, serial killer Harvey Lee Smith exudes menace. Psychologist Jolene Granger has agreed to hear his dying confession, vowing not to let the monster inside her head. And Harvey has secrets to share—about bodies that were never found, and about the apprentice who is continuing his grisly work…

And Now He’ll Teach Them

He buries his victims alive the way his mentor Harvey did, relishing their final screams as the earth rains down. And as one last gift to the only father he knew, he’ll make the most perfect kill of all.

How To Die

Everything about this investigation is unnerving Jo, from Harvey’s fascination with her to the fact that she’s working alongside Texas Ranger Brody Winchester, her ex-husband. Harvey’s protégé is growing bolder and more vicious every day. And soon the trail of shallow graves will lead them to the last place Jo expected, and to the most terrifying truth of all…

Mass Market Paperback |  384 pages | Zebra Books  | Mass Market | October 29, 2013

Simon and Schuster

1001 Ideas That Changed the Way We Think edited by Robert Arp

1001 Ideas That Changed the Way We Think is a comprehensive guide to the most interesting and imaginative thoughts from the finest minds in history. Ranging from the ancient wisdom of Confucius and Plato to today’s cutting-edge thinkers, it offers a wealth of stimulation and amusement for everyone with a curious mind.

Within the pages of this book you will find a wide variety of answers to the great, eternal questions: How was the universe created and what is the place of humans within it? How should a person live? And how can we build a just society? 1001 Ideas That Changed the Way We Think also includes a host of hypotheses that are remarkable for their sheer weirdness—from the concept of the transmigration of souls to parallel universes and the theoretical paradoxes of time travel (what happens if you travel back in time and kill your own grandfather?).

Discover how the Greek philosopher Zeno “proved” a flying arrow never moves; how modern science has shown that a butterfly’s wing can stir up an Atlantic storm; and the mathematical proof of the existence of life in other galaxies. The inspirational ideas explored here range from Gandhi’s theory of civil disobedience to Henry David Thoreau’s praise of the simple life and Mary Wollstonecraft’s groundbreaking advocacy of women’s rights. The book also covers a wide variety of lifestyle concepts, such as “rational dress” and naturism, and cultural movements including Neoclassicism, Surrealism, and Postmodernism.

Supported by a wealth of striking illustrations and illuminating quotations, 1001 Ideas That Changed the Way We Think is both an in-depth history of ideas and a delightfully browsable source of entertainment.

Atria Books |  960 pages | October 2013

Wicked as they Come by Delilah S. Dawson

First in a steampunk-tinged paranormal romance series in which a woman is transported to a world filled with vampires and magic.

When nurse Tish Everett forced open the pesky but lovely locket she found at an estate sale, she had no idea she was answering the call of Criminy Stain, from the far off land of Sang. He’d cast a spell for her, but when she’s transported right to him, she’s not so sure she’s ready to be under the spell of another man. (It didn’t go so well last time with controlling, abusive, domineering Jeff.) If only Criminy wasn’t so deliciously rakish….

Half the inhabitants of Sang are Pinkies—human—and the other half are Bludmen, who in Tish’s world would be called vampires. But they don’t mess with any of the bat/coffin/no sunlight nonsense. They’re rather like you and me, just more fabulous, long living, and mostly indestructible. (They're also very good kissers.) But when the evil Mayor of Manchester (formerly Bludchester) redoubles his efforts to rid Sang of the Bludmen once and for all, stealing Tish’s locket in hopes of traveling back to her world himself for reinforcements, Criminy and Tish must battle ghosts, sea monsters, wayward submarines, a secret cabal, and thundering Bludmares to get the locket back and allow Tish to return home…but has she found love with Criminy? Could she stay in Sang forever?

Pocket Books |  416 pages |  March 2012

ChiZine

Things Withered by Susie Moloney

HERE ARE THE LOST WOMEN OF SUBURBIA, EVIL IN A T-SHIRT AND A PONYTAIL, WASHING BLOOD OFF THE WALLS AND MAKING SURE THE CHILDREN DON’T TELL. . . .

For the first time in one collection, award-winning author Susie Moloney unveils thirteen of her most dark and disturbing short stories.

A middle-aged realtor makes a deal that could last forever. A cheating woman finds herself swimming in dangerous waters. A wife with a dark past can’t bear the fear of being exposed. The bad acts of a little old lady come home to roost. A young man with no direction finds power behind the wheel of a haunted truck.

From behind the pretty drapes of the average suburban home, madness peers out.

Paperback | 280 pages  | ChiZine Publications | December 31, 2013

The Hexslinger Omnibus by Gemma Files

It’s 1867, and the Civil War is over. But the blood has just begun to flow.

For asher Rook, Chess Pargeter, and Ed Morrow, the war has left its mark in tangled lines of association and cataclysmic love, woken hexslinger magic, and the terrible attentions of a dead god. “Reverend” asher Rook is the unwilling gateway for the Mayan goddess Ixchel to birth her pantheon back into the world of the living, and to do it she’ll force Rook to sacrifice his lover and fellow outlaw Chess Pargeter. But being dead won’t bar Chess from taking vengeance, and Pargeter will claw his way back out of Hell, teaming with undercover-Pinkerton- agent-turned-outlaw Ed Morrow to wreak it. What comes back into the world in the form of Chess Pargeter is a walking wound, Chess’s very presence tearing a crack in the world and reshaping everything around him while Ixchel establishes Hex City, a city state defying the very laws of nature—an act that will draw battle lines between a passel of dead gods and monsters, hexes galore, spiritualists, practitioners of black science, a coalition set against Ixchel led by allan Pinkerton himself, and everyone unfortunate enough to be caught between the colliding forces.

With the barriers between worlds crumbling, a new war being waged across the american West, and Ixchel preparing to kick off an apocalypse fed by shed human blood while Rook plots one, final, redemptive treachery of his own, everything will come down to Chess Pargeter, once again trapped in a nightmarish underworld. But Chess has fought his way out of hell before . . .

It contains all 3 titles of the Hexslinger series plus bonus material.

Ebook | 900 pages  | ChiZine  | December 17, 2013

Misc. Publishers

Erasmus Hobart and the Golden Arrow by Andrew Fish

Robin Hood was a crook! But was his "rob the rich and give to the poor" legend anything more than good PR? Schoolteacher Erasmus Hobart isn't a man content to speculate. Instead, with his home-made time-travelling privy, he journeys back to mediaeval Nottingham on a quest for knowledge. But with homicidal knights, amorous female outlaws and mischievous squirrels all providing obstacles to his progress can he really find the truth and still get back in time to mark 4A's history homework?

In this time-travelling romp, Andrew Fish brings a new slant to the classic legend. Erasmus Hobart is the perfect new adventurer for fans of Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett.

208 pages | Authonomy (an imprint of Harper Collins) | December 6, 2012

The Rainbow Man by P. B. Kane

When Daniel Routh, together with friends Jill and Greg, and little brother Mikey, discover a body washed up on the beach after a storm, it’s one of the most exciting things ever to happen on the island of Shorepoint. And, as the man in question slowly recovers, he befriends the inhabitants of this small fishing community one by one. Only Daniel suspects something might be wrong with the newcomer, who cannot remember who he is, nor how he came to be there. To start with, this John Dee (as they label him, short for Doe) brings prosperity and happiness with him, but it isn’t long before the tide begins to turn. Then John begins to worm his way into Daniel’s own family, trying to take the place of his late father, and the teenager knows something must be done. Little does Daniel realise that he’s now involved in one of the most ancient conflicts of all time; one that might decide the fate not only of Shorepoint, but of the entire world.

This very special short novel from the imagination of award-winning and bestselling author P.B. Kane (the Arrowhead Trilogy, Lunar, The Butterfly Man – as Paul Kane), marks his first foray into the realms of YA fiction. With great characterization, emotional impact, action and shock twists, this is a genre release that’s sure to become an instant classic.

Paperback | 162 pages | November 15th 2013 | Rocket Ride Books

Rustication by Charles Palliser

Charles Palliser’s work has been hailed as “so compulsively absorbing that reality disappears” (New York Times). Since his extraordinary debut, The Quincunx, his works have sold over one million copies worldwide. With his new novel, Rustication, he returns to the town of Thurchester, which he evoked so hauntingly in The Unburied.

It is winter 1863, and Richard Shenstone, aged seventeen, has been sent down—“rusticated”—from Cambridge under a cloud of suspicion. Addicted to opium and tormented by sexual desire, he finds temporary refuge in a dilapidated old mansion on the southern English coast inhabited by his newly impoverished mother and his sister, Effie. Soon, graphic and threatening letters begin to circulate among his neighbors, and Richard finds himself the leading suspect in a series of crimes and misdemeanors ranging from vivisection to murder.

Hardcover | November 2013  | 336 pages | W. W. Norton

The Lost Girls of Rome by Donato Carrisi

A grieving young widow, seeking answers to her husband’s death, becomes entangled in an investigation steeped in the darkest mysteries of Rome.

Sandra Vega, a forensic analyst with the Roman police department, mourns deeply for a marriage that ended too soon. A few months ago, in the dead of night, her husband, an up-and-coming journalist, plunged to his death at the top of a high-rise construction site. The police ruled it an accident. Sanda is convinced it was anything but.

Launching her own inquiries, Sanda finds herself on a dangerous trail, working the same case that she is convinced led to her husband’s murder. An investigation which is deeply entwined with a series of disappearances that has swept the city, and brings Sandra ever closer to a centuries-old secret society that will do anything to stay in the shadows.

432 pages  | Mulholland Books  | November 19, 2013

Thoughts on Writing: A Collection by Published Authors

Photo credit  Joe57Spike

Writing Thoughts from Published Authors 

Included here is a collection of posts on Layers of Thought from the last several years which address writing. It’s a perfect collection in honor of the tail end of November and NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), since many readers are often writers.

In the hopes of being helpful I’ve broken the blog post into sub-categories - Motivation and Creativity, Publishing and Marketing, and lastly Nuts and Bolts. Here’s to looking at the writing process - whether it’s concentrated within a month, a project that lasts a year or more, or just from an interested outsider. Please enjoy.

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Motivation and Creativity

Kristen Wolf author of THE WAY writes about how she started her novel in the post “How THE WAY Came to Be”.

Daniel A. Rabuzzi author of The Choir Boats and The Indigo Pheasant  addresses creativity in “A Picture-Show in the Night-Kitchen”.

James Garcia Jr. author of Dance on Fire writes about perseverance in his post called “Dreams”.

Publishing and Marketing

Danielle Ackley-McPhail author of A LEGACY OF STARS tells about “The Changing Face of Publishing”.

Nelle Davy author of THE LEGACY OF EDEN writes about “An Insider’s Look at the Publication Process”.

 James Garcia, Jr. author of the DANCE ON FIRE series tells us about creating an author’s platform.

Nuts and Bolts

S.G. Browne author of Lucky Bastard addresses his setting choice, which in this case is San Francisco. 

Jane Kindred author of The Fallen Queen talks about world building in her guest post “Angelology and World Building”.

Alma Katsu author of The Reckoning discusses her writing techniques – specifically around her methodology for plotting in “Taming the Writing Process”.

Stephanie Chong author of Where Demons Fear to Tread tells us about how she developed and researched the “mythology” in her book.

R. S. Belcher author of THE SIX GUN TAROT shares how and why he created his fantastical yet historical world, exemplified in his steam punk novel.

Nicole Wolverton author of A Trajectory of Dreams tells us about “Developing Dark Characters”.

Lucinda Riley author of The Girl on the Cliff recommends “Five Golden Rules” for historical fiction writers.

“Keeping it Short” by Danielle Ackley-McPhail is a post where the author addresses the short story.

Interview: Gillian Philip author of Bloodstone

Interview with Gillian Philip, author of the Rebel Angels series which includes the recently published Bloodstone, book #2 of the series. The books are historical urban fantasy set in old Scotland and originally published in the UK.

Let’s welcome Gillian!

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The second book in your Rebel Angel series titled BLOODSTONE has just been published in the US. It has a 17^th century Scotland setting. Tell us about your Scottish roots and if they have been used as a foundation for your story; and about the historical and fantastical world that you’ve written about in your Rebel Angel series?

OK, here goes! I was born in Glasgow and now live in the Highlands, and I always wanted to write a fantasy story set in Scotland because I love the landscape (the cities as well as the countryside) and I love the myths and legends associated with it. It took me a long time to get round to it, though. I actually got the kick I needed when I came home after living in Barbados for twelve years. I’d missed the landscape terribly and as soon as I got home I was seeing scenes and stories everywhere I looked. Scotland has an incredibly bloody history, of course, so the people appearing in my head tended to be a bit violent. But at the same time, Scots are notoriously sentimental and romantic, so there was going to have to be a bit of a love story, too. A hard-edged love story, mind you.

The Rebel Angel series contains fairies; tell us a bit about them and the mythology of the fairy realm that you’ve created.

I’d always loved Scottish folk and fairy tales – which have a tendency to the same combination of romance and violence – so I took myself back to them and read as many as I could lay my hands on. It’s surprising how many of the traditions and superstitions survive even in modern Scotland – lots of people would be afraid to cut down a rowan tree, for instance, because they’re sacred to the fairies – and that fascinated me.

But one thing I really wanted to do was to make my fairies human. I wanted them to be us, but differently evolved. My Sithe are human, and they don’t understand why they’re hated and feared by other humans, but the truth is they don’t realise how scary and threatening they are. I made them telepathic (not something I’d recommend to any writer! Man, does it complicate things) and extremely long-lived, though not immortal. They have their own gods, but they don’t pay them a lot of attention. They’re not very fertile, and they love to fight, so they’re practically an endangered species. And they’ve cut themselves off into a separate dimension, only rarely and reluctantly venturing into our world – but the Veil that separates the worlds is dying. The Veil also protects them in our world, blurring our perception of them, so most of the Sithe fear its loss; but some, including the queen, want it destroyed because of their own personal ambition. The battle over the Veil is the conflict that runs through all four books in the series.

I’ve messed around with other Scottish myths and legends, too – I especially love kelpies, the water-demons that take the form of horses, so I’ve used them as my characters’ warhorses. I’ve twisted the selkie legends as well, making them death figures. The series title comes from an old legend that the fairies were the rebel angels – the ones who fell on land when they were thrown out of heaven. (The ones that fell in the sea became the selkies; the ones that were caught in the sky became the fir chlis, the Northern Lights.)

You’ve mentioned that your characters talk to you telling you what to write. This sounds fun but I am also wondering if the voices scare you at all or perhaps someone may have joked about medication? Tell us more about your muses.

Ha! It is fun – sometimes annoying, sometimes helpful. They do seem very real to me, and I’m sure many other writers would tell you the same about their characters. If I’m taking the plot in a wrong direction, it’s the characters who’ll put me right, and they’ll soon let me know if there are words I’m putting in their mouths that they just wouldn’t say. They don’t scare me, though I’m sure I’d change my tune if I actually woke up and found one standing over my bed. That’s when I’ll know it’s time for the medication…

The trouble with the Voices is that some of them are so much louder than others! Seth was a minor character who took over the series and demanded it be all about him. I’ve finished the fourth and last book in the series, but Seth still won’t leave me alone and he won’t let me get on with something new. He’s very annoyed about being abandoned.

Interestingly, in addition to being a prolific author you are also a ghost writer. Tell us more about this.

I have a great time ghost writing – it’s a lot of fun playing with other people’s inventions. I find it really stretches different writing ‘muscles’, because I’m not usually much of a plotter, and with these books, the outline is written for me by a team of editors. It turns writing into a really different experience for me. And I do still get very involved with the characters, because I can bring along my own angle and my own quirks. The characters become real to me when I start to write them (although none of them are as aggravating as Seth).

I’ve especially enjoyed being an Erin Hunter, writing the animal fantasy ‘Survivors’, about a pack of dogs in a post-apocalyptic landscape. It’s been so much fun to watch their characters grow and change, and I tour the US every year and get to meet the fans. That is a fantastic experience. I’ve also written Darke Academy, Beast Quest and now a new middle-grade adventure called Mysteries of Ravenstorm Island. That’s about fairies and folktales too, and it’s been the biggest fun to write a different kind of magical fantasy.

You have two children, three dogs, two cats, a hamster, fish, and a bunch of chickens. How do you get any writing done considering your menagerie?

Good question! Well, the cats are good at keeping my neck warm at my desk, though it’s irritating when they walk across the keyboard or attack the printer. The dogs are enormously helpful when I’m writing Survivors – I get to watch their relationships and interactions as a pack. The other animals don’t bother me at all, except when Speckled Jim the cockerel starts crowing RIGHT outside my window. As for my beloved twins – well, they tend to barge in when I’m in the middle of a sentence, either to get me to referee a major fight or to put in outrageous Christmas present requests – but they make up for that by helping me understand the world of Xbox (Jamie) or recommending good soundtracks for my books (Lucy). My own music choices tend to date from prehistoric times (well, the 1980s) so it’s nice to have something more up-to-date…

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Thank you Gillian. It’s been a pleasure.

About the Author:  GILLIAN PHILIP was born in Glasgow, lived for twelve years in Barbados, and now lives in the north of Scotland with her husband, twin children, three dogs, two sociopathic cats, a slayer hamster, three chickens, and a lot of nervous fish. For more info, please visit: www.gillianphilip.com.

For more about the first two books in the series – Firebrand (book #1) and Bloodstone (book #2)and a giveaway please link to the giveaway post.

Review: Cinnamon and Gunpowder by Eli Brown

Review by Shellie for Cinnamon and Gunpowder (audio version) by Eli Brown

Shellie’s quick take:   A fun and fantastical historical novel about a female pirate captain and a kidnapped chef. Combining swashbuckling action and the creation of delicious meals, this one was hard to stop listening to in its audio format.

Shellie’s description:   Set in and around the early 1800’s, Owen Wedgewood is a chef for the household of a powerful tradesman. He’s content with his lot in life until he’s kidnapped by Mad Hannah Mabbot and her men. She is a female pirate to be reckoned with, and she makes a deal with Wedgewood that if he can create a gourmet meal for her every Sunday (with the meager means within the pirate ship), she will spare his life.

So Owen goes about unhappily trying to keep himself alive by creating delicious meals for the captain. As he does so he comes to realize that Mad Hannah’s motives for piracy may not be as selfish and mean spirited as he once believed. Drama, action, and romance ensues as this story comes to it’s terrific climax.

Shellie’s thoughts:   I listened to this book in its audio a version and have to say that it is well articulated by its English-accented reader (James Langton), giving the book an authentic feel. The book is generally fast paced - and what a clever and creative premise for a book! It definitely has the feel of a make-believe story, since it’s unreasonable to believe that there where beautiful female pirates in the early 1800’s; or ever for that matter. This un-believability makes the book an excellent choice for fantasy readers.

With historical themes, exotic locations, colorful characters, and the creation of fantastic meals, this is a fun tale that I really enjoyed. And, the best part of the book is that it has a terrific ending which is not “happily-ever-after”. Highly recommended for historical fantasy lovers, foodies and cooks, and anyone who likes pirates. I will be looking for more by this author and give this entertaining book a 4 star rating.

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Macmillan Audio | June 2013 | Unabridged Digital Audio | Audio Run Time: 11:50

This audio book was borrowed from our local library.

Here’s the publisher’s description:

A gripping adventure, a seaborne romance, and a twist on the tale of Scheherazade—with the best food ever served aboard a pirate’s ship

The year is 1819, and the renowned chef Owen Wedgwood has been kidnapped by the ruthless pirate Mad Hannah Mabbot. He will be spared, she tells him, as long as he puts exquisite food in front of her every Sunday without fail.

To appease the red-haired captain, Wedgwood gets cracking with the meager supplies on board. His first triumph at sea is actual bread, made from a sourdough starter that he leavens in a tin under his shirt throughout a roaring battle, as men are cutlassed all around him. Soon he’s making tea-smoked eel and brewing pineapple-banana cider.

But Mabbot—who exerts a curious draw on the chef—is under siege. Hunted by a deadly privateer and plagued by a saboteur hidden on her ship, she pushes her crew past exhaustion in her search for the notorious Brass Fox. As Wedgwood begins to sense a method to Mabbot’s madness, he must rely on the bizarre crewmembers he once feared: Mr. Apples, the fearsome giant who loves to knit; Feng and Bai, martial arts masters sworn to defend their captain; and Joshua, the deaf cabin boy who becomes the son Wedgwood never had.

Cinnamon and Gunpowder is a swashbuckling epicure’s adventure simmered over a surprisingly touching love story—with a dash of the strangest, most delightful cookbook never written. Eli Brown has crafted a uniquely entertaining novel full of adventure: the Scheherazade story turned on its head, at sea, with food. 

Giveaway: Bloodstone and Firebrand by Gillian Philip

It’s release day for Bloodstone (#2 of the Rebel Angel Series) by Gillian Philip and we have two sets of the books - Firebrand #1 and Bloodstone #2 - up for giveaway for US or Canadian addresses.

This historical urban fantasy series was originally published in the UK and is now available for the US.

What the publisher says about the books:

About Bloodstone:  Bloodstone is the second novel in Gillian Philip’s critically acclaimed Rebel Angels series, debuting in the United States for the first time.

For centuries, Sithe warriors Seth and Conal MacGregor have hunted for the Bloodstone demanded by their Queen. Homesick, and determined to protect their clan, they have also made secret forays across the Veil. One of these illicit crossings has violent consequences that will devastate both their close family, and their entire clan.

In the Otherworld, Jed Cameron, a feral, full-mortal young thief, becomes entangled with the strange and dangerous Finn MacAngus and her shadowy uncles. When he is dragged into the world of the Sithe, it’s nothing he can’t handle until time warps around him, and menacing forces reach out to threaten his infant brother. In the collision of two worlds, war and tragedy are inevitable, especially when treachery comes from the most shocking of quarters….

Tor Books | 11/19/2013 | Hardcover | 400 pages

About Firebrand:   At the end of the sixteenth century, religious upheaval brings fear, superstition, and doubt to the lives of mortals. Yet unbeknownst to them, another world lies just beyond the Veil: the realm of the Sithe, a fierce and beautiful people for whom a full-mortal life is but the blink of an eye. The Veil protects and hides their world…but it is fraying at the edges, and not all think it should be repaired. 

Discarded by his mother and ignored by his father, sixteen-year-old Seth MacGregor has grown up half wild in his father’s fortress, with only his idolized older brother, Conal, for family. When Conal quarrels with the Sithe queen and is forced into exile in the full-mortal world, Seth volunteers to go with him.

But life beyond the Veil is even more dangerous than they expected, and Seth and Conal soon find themselves embroiled in a witch-hunt—in which they are the quarry. Trapped between the queen’s machinations at home and the superstitious violence of the otherworld, Seth must act before both of them are fed to the witch-hunters’ fires…

Brimming with intrigue and rebellion, Firebrand is the first book in the Rebel Angels series by Gillian Philip, the Carnegie Medal–nominated author of Crossing the Line and multi-award-nominated Bad Faith.

Tor Books | February 2013 | Hardcover | 368 pages

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Giveaway: Watcher of the Dark by Joseph Nassise

Giveaway for Watcher of the Dark (The Jeremiah Hunt Chronicle - Volume 3 of 3) for US and Canada. It is a stand-alone book.

Publisher’s description:  A Jeremiah Hunt Supernatural Thriller

New Orleans was nearly the death of Jeremiah Hunt, between a too-close brush with the FBI and a chilling, soul-searing journey through the realm of the dead that culminated with a do-or-die confrontation with Death himself. But now Hunt is back and on the run in Watcher of the Dark.

But when he performs an arcane ritual to reclaim the soul of the magically gifted, beautiful woman who once saved him, he must flee the law once again, to Los Angeles, city of angels, a temporary sanctuary.

In L.A., he has to contend with Carlos Fuentes, who sees in Hunt a means to obtain the mystical key that would open the gates of Hell. Fuentes knows Hunt’s weakness—his loyalty to the woman he loves, and to another "gifted" friend—and uses the real threat of torturing them as a way to get Hunt to help complete his dread quest.

Hunt has learned a lot since his life was irrevocably hijacked by fate months ago. But when his friends are threatened by the supernatural predator known as the Preacher, Hunt knows that all his newfound experience and ability will go for naught unless he can keep both the Preacher and Fuentes at bay long enough for him to somehow find a way to free his friends from mortal peril.

Joseph Nassise delivers another thrilling novel in his dark, urban fantasy series, the Jeremiah Hunt Chronicles.

Tor Books | 11/19/2013 | Hardcover | 304 pages

If your interested you can read John’s review of Eyes to See, the first book in the series by clicking on the book’s title. Here’s his short description of the book:

A very dark urban fantasy about a grieving father who gives up his natural eyesight in order to see things differently. 

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Giveaway: Prince by Rory Clements (and Gratitude Giveaways Hop)

Giveaway for the historical murder mystery – Prince (A John Shakespeare Mystery) by Rory Clements and The 4th Annual Gratitude Giveaways Hop.

We have five ebook copies of Prince on offer to entrants. It is international!

About the Book:   England, 1593. Plague rages, famine is rife, and the city is in revolt. From this bedlam rises the sharpest of sleuths: a man named John Shakespeare.

Shakespeare’s brother investigates a series of murders rocking Elizabethan London. He follows the clues, which lead him from horseraces to brothels to an explosive encounter at sea. As he digs deeper, he discovers a plot that threatens not only the kingdom but everything he holds dear.

This spellbinding historical thriller will delight fans of New York Times bestselling authors Ariana Franklin and Alex Grecian.

October 01, 2013 | Witness Impulse – Harper Collins | 306 pages | e-book

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• This is an ebook so the giveaway is international.
• Important note - the winners must  a) have access to Bluefire Reader and  b) have an Adobe account to receive their e-book download.
• Please be a reader/follower to enter this contest.
• You can choose one way to qualify from the list below.

Ways to “follow”:

1. Facebook: for updates in your feed -add me as a friend.
2. Your Email Box
3. Feed Reader
4. Twitter
5. Google+
6. Pinterest
7. Goodreads (Add me as a friend – there are no giveaway updates here only reviews.)

And please fill out the Google form:

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This giveaway is part of the 4th Annual Gratitude Giveaways Hop - November 15th to 30th. You can link to all the other blogs offering bookish giveaways for this hop below.

Happy hopping!

Press Release: Dashner, Paolini, and Sanderson Discussion Nov. 16th

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHORS JAMES DASHNER, CHRISTOPHER PAOLINI, AND BRANDON SANDERSON TOGETHER UNDER ONE ROOF FOR 92ND STREET Y DISCUSSION IN NEW YORK CITY

November 16th event will bring the three together for the first time via a moderated panel.

The link for the livestream will be found here: http://92yondemand.org/livecast/

New York, NY (November 13, 2013)—Random House Children’s Books is pleased to announce that three of the biggest name authors in science fiction and fantasy are coming together for an afternoon panel hosted by the 92nd Street Y in New York City on November 16th. James Dashner (The Eye of Minds), Christopher Paolini (Eragon: 10th Anniversary Edition), and Brandon Sanderson (Steelheart) will entertain their fans via an interactive panel discussion moderated by Alexander Zalben of MTV News. One of the first YA events that the 92nd Street Y has hosted, the panel will be livestreamed to viewers across the globe who won’t be able to make it to the New York area to see the event in person.

Dashner, Paolini, and Sanderson are all forces to be reckoned with in the children’s literature world. Dashner, best known for his Maze Runner series, has sold over 2.4 million copies of his books in North America alone. Fall 2014 will see the feature film debut of The Maze Runner (20th Century Fox). With a loyal fanbase that has dubbed itself the “Dashner Army” (#DashnerArmy) as well as the publication of The Eye of Minds, the first book in his new Mortality Doctrine series, Dashner continues to gain in popularity amongst both teenagers and adults.

Christopher Paolini, celebrating his 30th birthday in November, penned Eragon when he was just 15 years old. The book spawned three companions, as well as a major motion picture and millions of fans. A #1 New York Times bestseller, Paolini’s books have currently sold 35 million copies worldwide, and are available in 125 countries and 49 languages.

Brandon Sanderson is a household name in the sci-fi/fantasy world, and has joined the YA ranks of Dashner and Paolini with the publication of Steelheart, which debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. Sanderson is known for his Mistborn trilogy, as well as completing Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series. Millions of copies of his books have been sold worldwide, and his books have been published in 25 languages.

The trio of authors have all had multiple titles appear on national bestseller lists including USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and the New York Times.

To purchase tickets to this one-of-a-kind event, visit http://www.92y.org/Event/Paolini-Dashner-Sanderson.aspx. A discounted ticket price is offered to attendees under 35 years of age. The authors’ newest titles—Eragon: 10th Anniversary Edition, Steelheart, and The Eye of Minds—will be available for purchase, and to be signed by the authors, at the event.

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Random House Children’s Books is the world’s largest English-language children’s trade book publisher. Creating books for toddlers through young adult readers, in all formats from board books to activity books to picture books, novels, ebooks, and apps, the imprints of Random House Children’s Books bring together award-winning authors and illustrators, world-famous franchise characters, and multimillion-copy series. The company’s website, Kids @ Random (RandomHouseKids.com) offers an array of activities, games, and resources for children, teens, parents, and educators. Random House Children’s Books is a division of Random House LLC, a Penguin Random House Company.

92Y is a world-class nonprofit community and cultural center that connects people at every stage of life to the worlds of education, the arts, health and wellness, and Jewish life. Through the breadth and depth of 92Y’s extraordinary programs, 92Y enriches lives, creates community and elevates humanity. More than 300,000 people visit 92Y in New York City annually and many more connect through digital and social media, live webcasts of events, and an extensive archive of stage programs and original content produced for the web, all available on 92YOnDemand.org. A proudly Jewish organization since its founding in 1874, 92Y embraces its heritage and enthusiastically welcomes people of all backgrounds and perspectives. For more information, visit www.92Y.org