We All Make Mistakes in Books

Friday, September 28, 2012

Cover Reveal: Release

Release by Matthew R. Merrick

Today we present you the cover for Release!

This is the third book in the Protector series, if you haven't read the other two yet, we suggest you go get your copy right now! At the bottom of the post you have the links.

Now look at that super cool cover?

The elements in there looks great and the colors for it...

What are your thoughts?

Do you like it?

After uniting the shifters and calling in reinforcements, Chase has to face his toughest challenge yet: learning to control his emotions. But as tensions rise and his powers grow, controlling his emotions becomes the least of his problems.

Terrorized by a multi-shifter who is hell-bent on turning him, Chase questions just how far he’s willing to go to stop his father. Meanwhile, Tiki’s virtuous nature has placed him in the middle of Vincent’s past, leaving Chase to oppose a senate of vampires and defend a demon he hates.

Trying to balance his friends, his enemies, and his inner demons, Chase is left searching for answers about the Mark, his destiny, and where he can find the next soul piece. Stopping Riley is his top priority, but as more obstacles arise, he finds himself doubting all the decisions he’s made - especially regarding Rayna.

One thing is for certain: Chase has finally realized that he doesn’t know anything. The light doesn’t always quell the darkness, the monsters don’t always stay in the shadows, and the past doesn’t always stay in the past - sometimes, the demons inside are the hardest to fight.

Contact Matthew R. Merrick

M.R. Merrick | Goodreads | Exiled (Protector #1) | Shift (Protector #2)

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Review: Twelves Months

xCynyx 9:40 PM 2 Comments

Twelve Months by Steven Manchester

Published: August 14th 2012Pulisher: The Story Plant

Don DiMarco has a very good life – a family he loves, a comfortable lifestyle, passions and interests that keep him amused. He also thought he had time, but that turned out not to be the case. Faced with news that might have immediately felled most, Don now wonders if he has time enough. Time enough to show his wife the romance he didn’t always lavish on her. Time enough to live out his most ambitious fantasies. Time enough to close the circle on some of his most aching unresolved relationships. Summoning an inner strength he barely realized he possessed, Don sets off to prove that twelve months is time enough to live a life in full.

A glorious celebration of each and every moment that we’re given here on Earth, as well as the eternal bonds that we all share, TWELVE MONTHS is a stirring testament to the power of the human spirit.

Our Review

This is a wonderful book. The first thing that caught me was the writing style. It so soft and slow and emotional. It just flows naturally over the pages. It is one of those books that when I first pick it up I knew I was in for some tears (Then again, I cry at everything), which made it hard to get on reading it... I just didn’t want to cry.
But once I got to know Don, I couldn’t stop. I needed to know what was happening to him. How he was dealing with his life.

Don DiMarco has everything he wanted in life at that point: A wife he loves, a beautiful daughter who is married to a good man and two beautiful grandchildren he spoils whenever he wants. Add to that a job he enjoys and he is all set.
But that changes one day when he visits the doctor. He has cancer and only 12 months left to live.

This is where Don’s story begins. While trying to figure out why this is happening to him and how to deal with it, Don realizes that the only way to go is forward and one day at a time. It’s a very inspiring story of strength, hope, faith and love. Don lets us glimpse into his present and past.
Don takes his time and does everything he always wanted to do but didn’t have the time and hopes that 12 months is enough to get ready.
Steven Manchester surely knows how to write a heartbreaking story in a beautiful way. This is a story that can relate to a lot of people either from personal experience or from staying with someone who’s going through this. The characters and emotions are very realistic and pull you into the story taking you along Don’s journey.

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

His Black Wings Cover Reveal + Giveaway

xCynyx 4:30 AM 2 Comments

Hello loves!

Today we're so proud to bring you the cover reveal for this amazing book!

HIS BLACK WINGS by Astrid Yrigollen

and keep scrolling for the giveaway
**It ends on the day of release**

His Black Wings is...

Beauty and the Beast set in the future during a Victorian era revival.

The Grand Council has brought the world peace, but will it last?

Malice, revenge and lust are not easily defeated...

Claren Maidstone has been forced to flee her childhood home, following the death of her parents and a vicious attack from a man who intends to marry her.

She assumes a new identity and finds employment as an assistant to the handsome, Fredrick Lowood. However, Fredrick's generosity isn't without a price and Claren soon finds herself forced into a strange friendship with his disfigured son.

Unaware of how Claren's past entwines with his own,

Etrigan Lowood begins to yearn for her love.

Unfortunately, the past is not far behind.

Is his love for Claren enough?

Or will Etrigan remain alone with his black wings...

About The Author

Astrid Yrigollen is a self published author of young adult and children's books. Astrid started her writing career when she begun work for the international video game giant, Sega of America. Working her way up the ranks, she began writing companion guides for games. With a love for writing fiction since childhood, she took her short stories out of storage and had her first story ever written published. It was only after that she found out that first stories are never published! She has resumed writing full time and has succeeded in putting out the titles, The Doughnut Tree, Mysterious Pootkins, and The Mosswoods--to name a few. Her short stories have appeared in the literary journal of Threshold Press and Shock and Awe Magazine.

Connect with the author!

Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Website

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, September 21, 2012

Cover Reveal: OPAL

xCynyx 7:00 AM 2 Comments

No one is like Daemon Black.

When he set out to prove his feelings for me, he wasn’t fooling around. Doubting him isn’t something I’ll do again, and now that we’ve made it through the rough patches, well... There’s a lot of spontaneous combustion going on.

But even he can’t protect his family from the danger of trying to free those they love.

After everything, I’m no longer the same Katy. I’m different... And I’m not sure what that will mean in the end. When each step we take in discovering the truth puts us in the path of the secret organization responsible for torturing and testing hybrids, the more I realize there is no end to what I’m capable of. The death of someone close still lingers, help comes from the most unlikely source, and friends will become the deadliest of enemies, but we won’t turn back. Even if the outcome will shatter our worlds forever.

Together we’re stronger... and they know it.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Follow this link to an ~~~ EPIC CONTEST ~~~ Announcement. You will want to bookmark this page!

Contest Page

ABOUT JENNIFER

USA TODAY Bestselling author, Jennifer L. Armentrout, lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing, she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell, Loki. Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She also writes adult romance under the name J. Lynn.

Find Jennifer on: Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Website | Blog

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Aaron Lazar Interview

xCynyx 3:14 PM 0 Comments

Hello loves!!
We’re so happy to bring you Aaron Lazar to the blog today.

If you haven’t check out his books yet, you can get FOR KEEPS free on Kindle HERE
or read an excerpt for the book HERE.

Hi Aaron, Thanks so much for coming to our little blog today!
Hi, ladies! And thanks for having me here, it’s an honor!

How are you?
I am just great, I’m excited to be here today. ;o) I love my readers and always adore meeting new folks who love books.

We have to ask our favorite little Ice-breaker question... What’s your favourite color?
This is a little weird, but my WHOLE life my favorite color was blue. About three years ago, when my daughter and grandchildren moved out, I started being drawn to red paint, red glass, red, red, red. So in the middle of my life, I up and changed my favorite color to red! What in the world does that mean??? LOL!
We believe, that means your next fav color will be purple! To combine both!

Going along with our blog theme... Did you notice any major mistakes after you wrote For Keeps or any of your other novels? Do you find mistakes less and less frequent as you get more experienced?
Oh, ladies, this is my nemesis. I am also pretty OCD when it comes to errors in books. I review them myself dozens of times. I have a stable of lovely beta readers who are so sweet and attentive and they scour the books for errors. My publisher’s editors are ruthless, always searching for errors, which, of course, they find! And even my audio book narrators will find minor inconsistencies situation in the books as they read them aloud for Audible.com. In the end, even after all of this, once in a while an error sneaks through and it KILLS me! I hate it. I feel like a failure or something. But it’s so darned hard for me to find those mistakes, because my brain integrates what I see and reads it as if it says what I meant it to say, you know? What’s really funny though is when I goof up occasionally and call Sam Moore “Gus,” who is my other protagonist in LeGarde Mysteries! I’ve written ten LeGarde books and must have gotten so in the “groove” that occasionally his name pops out, and I don’t even notice it!

Did you always wanted to be a writer? Or did you discovered that passion by accident?
I always adored mysteries, and I figured when I retired and the kids were grown I’d start my own mystery series. John D. MacDonald is my favorite author of all time, and I wanted to write as many wonderful books as he did in his Travis McGee series. So far I’ve written 16. We shall see if the Good Lord lets me get to my goal of 100!

For those who haven’t heard about you, can you tell us a little bit about the other two novels in the Moore Mysteries Series?
You bet!
Healey’s Cave (book 1)

Sam Moore's little brother vanished fifty years ago. No body. No answers. What Sam has is a boatload of guilt, since he failed to accompany Billy on his final, fateful bike ride. While digging in his garden, Sam discovers a green marble with a startling secret—it whisks him back to his childhood, connecting him to Billy. Thrust back and forth through time, Sam struggles to unlock the secret of his brother’s fate. When the FBI investigates remains found nearby, Sam learns of a serial killer with a grisly fifty-year record. Sam’s certain it’s Billy’s killer. But what’s worse, his grandson fits the profile of the murdered boys. Will the killer return to Sam’s town to claim his final kill? Can Sam untangle the truth in time to save him?

Winner of the Commercial Fiction category for the 2011 Eric Hoffer award, winner in the Paranormal category of the 2012 EPIC eBook Awards, and a finalist in the category of Mystery Suspense in the 2011 Global eBook Awards.

ISBN-10: 1606191624 ISBN-13: 978-1606191620ASIN: B003ZYEVI0 **available for review, print , audio book, or eBook**

Terror Comes Knocking (book 2)

Sam’s daughter Beth has been unreachable for several days. Something is seriously wrong, and the Moores don’t know where to turn for help. No ransom note arrives, no kidnapper calls. When Beth’s roommate Zafina Azziz—a woman who slinks around like an Egyptian princess—arrives on their doorstep worried about Beth’s whereabouts, Sam realizes it’s time to call the FBI. The Moores unravel with worry as the green marble, a talisman connected to Sam’s dead brother Billy, thrusts Sam between past and present. When Sam’s friend, Senator Bruce MacDonald, is tapped for the Presidential nomination, the town goes berserk preparing to welcome the sitting President to the opening of a new arts center. That’s when Sam uncovers the awful truth - someone is out to destroy the soon-to-visit President, and that someone is alive and well in East Goodland. When he discovers a link between Beth and the terrorists, Sam dives head first into the melée to avert a calamity that could rival the 911 disaster.

ISBN-10: 1606191705 ISBN-13: 978-1606191705 ASIN: B0079MNVEE **available for review, print, audiobook, or eBook**

What is your favourite scene in FOR KEEPS?
**This contains spoilers, read at your own risk**

Hmmm. That’s a tough one! I guess I’d have to say the last scene, where Sam appears back in the present after meddling once again with the past to try to bring his wife back to life. He is plunked down on the lawn with his dear grandsons, thrilled to see they are “alive” and that his life looks rather the same as it did before Rachel was murdered. He walks toward the house, scared to death that he didn’t get it “right” again and that he’ll discover another woman in his home who calls him her husband. Did Rachel come back from the dead? Is she the same? Will he ever reclaim this woman he has called soul mate again? I love the part where he walks into the kitchen and sees the result of what he’s done. ;o)

If you had to pick a character from your book, who would you pick and why?
Sam Moore is really the “me” I’d like to be in another eight years when I retire. He has all the time in the world to work in his gardens, play with his grandkids, enjoy his family, and more. I’m actually quite jealous of him for this reason, which is a little bit odd, but true!

Was there any book or character that was harder to write? Why?
*Again, might be a bit spoilery*

It was very difficult to write the scene where Rachel is murdered in For Keeps, because I based her on my own wife. Talk about a hard scene to write! My gosh, it was hellish. But I got through it, and I apologize in advance to the readers who will be so mad at me when it happens! Many of my readers tell me they yelled out loud at me (my ears still ring!) when I “let” this happen. But they forgave me in the end when they finished the story. ;o)

What about the easiest?
All of the stuff about gardens, family, and grandkids comes naturally to me, because that IS my life. I am husband, father, and grandfather first and foremost. I adore my family!

You only write Mysteries, what made you decide for that genre?
It’s funny, but all I ever, ever read my whole life is mysteries (or the occasional suspense). I have been drawn to them forever, and my parents also provided tons of books in this genre for me to choose from, since they, too, loved mysteries! I never even thought about reading anything else. ;o)

Can you tell us what are your biggest influence in your writing?
I would say my mentor and friend Sonya Bateman has been the biggest influence on my writing style. She taught me as a newbie all the skills and tricks I needed to know to polish my work and make them sing. You can read about her books here.

What are your favourite books?
I think it’s easier to list my favorite authors: John D. McDonald, Michael Prescott, James Patterson, Dick Francis, Clive Cussler, Laurie R. King, Rex Stout, Peter Mayle, Tony Hillerman, Dean Koontz, SW Vaughn, Lesia Valentine, Bob Burdick, Lad Moore, Marta Stephens, and Patricia Fowler.

Thanks so much for visiting us today and we hope to have back soon!

Thank you so much for having me! It was great fun and I’d love to come back soon to visit. ;o) If folks have any questions, they are invited to email me at aaron dot lazar at yahoo dot com, or stop by my websites, blogs here:

www.lazarbooks.com
www.murderby4.blogspot.com
www.aaronlazar.blogspot.com
www.aplazar.gather.com
http://aaronlazar.younglivingworld.com
www.pureoils.blogspot.com

Friday, September 14, 2012

Excerpt: For Keeps by Aaron Lazar

xCynyx 3:30 PM 1 Comments

We are very happy to bring you 3 days of Aaron Lazar on the blog!

Today we’ll give you an excerpt of the book :D TWO FULL CHAPTERS OF IT!

And that’s not all!! During these days you can get it for free on Kindle!

Go get it now in HERE

For Keeps (Monroe Mysteries #3) by Aaron Lazar

Published: July, 25th of 2012
Publisher: Twilight Times Books

When retired family doctor Sam Moore gets a call from the coroner to come to The Twin Sisters Inn to consult on a murder victim, he’s puzzled. Why would Lou call him? He’s retired now, and just wants to spend time with his beloved Rachel, his grandsons, and to work in his gardens.

Within days, the body count increases and Sam is a prime suspect, so he calls on a peculiar
talisman—his brother Billy’s glowing green marble—to whisk him back in time in search of clues before the killer strikes again.

Still not hooked on it? Take a look!

Chapter One

"Murdered?" Sam juggled four pots of yellow daylilies in his arms, squeezing the cell phone between his shoulder and ear. "Where? And why in the world do you need me?"
Lou sighed. "I told you. The Twin Sisters Inn. And I can't say over the phone, I just need your…expertise."
My expertise? Sam had practiced family medicine in East Goodland, New York for over thirty years, but couldn't imagine how treating runny noses and chicken pox qualified him to help with a murder. And why was Lou being so damned secretive about the whole thing?
"Hold on a sec, Lou." He dropped the flowerpots on the counter and barely caught them before they toppled. Flashing the clerk an apologetic smile, he swept the spilled dirt into a pile and mumbled into the phone. "I'm at Palmiter's. Just checking out."
Lou groaned. "Why am I not surprised? Since you retired, that's all you've done. Flowers and more flowers. Holy Mother Mary. Don't you get sick of it? Or are you trying to get your place on the Home and Garden network?"
Sam slid the plants toward the clerk. "You're just jealous."
"Damn right I am. I can't retire for another coupla years. Remember, I was two years behind you in med school."
"Just because I'm retired doesn't mean I've lost my marbles. Of course I remember." Sam thought back to the coroner when she was a student at the University of Rochester. Short strawberry blond hair, willowy figure, high cheekbones, and a ready smile. Aside from her gray hair, Louise Reardon hadn't changed much after forty years and five kids. Except she was a hell of a lot pushier.
The freckled teen behind the counter looked bored. "That'll be fourteen ninety-two."
Sam dug out fifteen bucks and paid her. "Thanks. Keep the change."
She raised her eyebrows as if she couldn't believe he'd actually try to tip her with eight lousy cents. "Gee. Thanks, mister."
He shrugged, loaded his plants into a green wagon, and pulled it toward the Highlander. He'd bought enough plants here to put all their kids through college. Anyway, who tipped sales clerks? "Lou? You still there? I'm almost at the car."
"I'm here." She let loose another frustrated sigh. "How long ‘til you get here?"
Sam loaded his plants in the back, got in, and turned the key. The SUV purred to life. "Not long. I'm putting you on speaker. Just a sec." He slid the phone into his breast pocket and backed out of the parking spot. None of those new-fangled blue tooth gadgets for him. It was hard enough to keep up with cell phones, laptops, iPods, and every new device that came out each year. "On my way."
"Geez. Finally. Watch out for the news vultures when you get here, though. They're everywhere."
"Will do. Be there in a few."
He hung up and pushed his silver forelock back from his forehead. Shouldering his way through a pack of hungry journalists to view a dead body had not been in today's plans. Today was supposed to be devoted to gardening, to feeding his insatiable need to dig in rich loam while the sun warmed his back. If Lou weren't such a good friend, he'd have blown her off.
Turning south on Route 39, he imagined the ribbing he'd get if she knew about his aversion to cadavers. A doctor? Afraid of bodies?
He'd dealt with dead people before, but not a great deal. Med school, of course. He'd barfed his way through that ordeal. And when Mrs. Tupple had died in her bed ten years ago, he'd gone to the house at Mr. Tupple's request. Reluctantly. But he'd gone. The most recent experience had been last fall, at his brother's funeral.
Well, it hadn't really been a body…it was Billy's bones, bones pinned underwater for fifty years. Submerged with heavy stones deposited by Sam's three best friends. Billy's disappearance had remained a mystery, until it was finally revealed last year. When things happened. Things he couldn't explain to anyone, except Rachel. He couldn't even tell her the whole story. But Billy connecting with him from beyond and helped him get to the truth.
A familiar sadness took hold, and as if in response, Billy's green marble hummed and warmed in his pocket. His brother's face floated across his mind's eye. Freckles. Clear hazel eyes. Sandy hair. Impish smile.
Billy wanted to talk.
Not now. I can't. Later, buddy. He thought the words in his head, knowing Billy could hear him if he said them out loud or imagined them.
Sam turned left at the Mobil Station on the corner of Main Street and Route 20A and headed for the historic brick building housing The Twin Sisters Inn. Willing the marble to be quiet, he forced himself to think of what lay ahead.
A murder victim? Why the heck did Lou need his help? It didn't make any sense, but in spite of his reservations, a trickle of excitement ran down his spine.
News vans and squad cars jammed the lot. He parked on the side of the road and headed toward the building. The marble pulsed twice, then grew cold.
Was it a warning?
The green glass talisman had linked Sam to Billy since he unearthed it in his garden last year. He'd learned to respect it, and through it, Billy's interventions had helped with a number of sticky situations. He'd saved the life of his friend, Senator Bruce McDonald, after the sudden collapse of Healey's Cave. And more important, he'd found his daughter, Beth, after she'd been kidnapped.
He locked his car and headed toward the building, skirting around vehicles and people. He brushed against the back of a policeman when several news reporters pushed past him. The officer swung his head around and stared.
"Er. Sorry." He smiled at the patrolman and kept going.
If they had any idea. If they knew I talked to Billy, traveled back in time with him… A lace dragged from his shoe, threatening to trip him. He stopped to tie it. If they knew, they'd put me back in the asylum, just like they did when I was twelve.
A chill stole over him. Memories of the day Billy disappeared assaulted him. Billy, on his brand new bicycle, driving down the road, never to return. Guilt coiled in his stomach. He'd answered a phone call from a damned girl, instead of following his brother on the bike ride like he'd promised. He'd never forgive himself for that.
That moment had been the end of life as he knew it, and the beginning of his tortured life to come. The insane asylum had been the worst, though. He hated to remember the way they talked to him, the stupid pills they'd made him take that doped him up, and the disgusting smell of antiseptic that had followed him everywhere, even seeped onto his pillowcase at night. He shuddered and tried to put it out of his mind. Best to forget it and see what the hell Lou wanted.

Chapter Two

Lou hailed him from the front steps. "Over here, Doctor Moore."
She said it loud enough to discourage the eager journalists who craned their heads to see if he was anyone they cared about. When they realized he wasn't a detective, they lost interest and swarmed toward the police chief's car that just pulled in behind Sam's SUV.
Lou took his arm and steered him inside. The inn boasted antiques and wide plank floorboards. Inside the door, a pine bench with a stenciled backboard lined the wall; an old-fashioned pie cabinet anchored the opposite wall beside a mahogany sideboard, on which an essential oils diffuser sat, filling the air with the scent of balsam. Sam breathed it in, relieved it wasn't one of those chemical smelling, fake candles. It bolstered his spirits and reminded him of the deep woods in the Adirondacks. He was damned sure it smelled a hell of a lot better than what he'd find upstairs in the crime scene.
Mary and Alice Peterson, the inn owners and former patients of his, had been encouraging him to investigate the oils for years, and he'd meant to, but had been too swamped with patients to check them out. He'd always regretted that, and had resolved to do some research in his retirement that might help merge traditional approaches with those steeped in Eastern medicine. Time would tell if he could fit it in between the gardening, babysitting, and spending time with Rachel. She needed more care now that her MS had worsened, but he was up to the challenge. It was one of the reasons he'd retired a little early.
He shuffled after Lou. Tin chandeliers hung over a long trestle table, decorated with dried crabapples and fresh flowers. The twins reportedly served scrumptious breakfasts to guests at that table, and he'd been invited more than a few times to partake of their homemade breads, jams, and other goodies. Again, he'd had to decline his patients' generous invitations. There just hadn't been enough hours in the day to socialize and run his practice. But now that he was retired, he wanted to find time for more of that kind of thing.
A policeman sat in the corner, interviewing the hotel owners. Alice's hands shook when she took a pen from the officer to sign a statement, and her complexion seemed unusually pale. Sam wondered if her blood sugar was low. She'd been his patient forever. He started toward her with concern, but Lou grabbed his sleeve.
"Come on, it's this way."
"But Alice—"
"For crying out loud, you're retired now. She's not your patient anymore, Sam. It's not your job. Come on."
Sam dug in his heels. He shook his arm loose and spun around. "Alice. Are you feeling okay?"
Alice's face lit up. "Oh, Doc! I'm so glad you're here. It's awful. Just awful. A woman was killed in the Maple Nut room!"
Mary put an arm around her sister's shoulders. "She's shook up, Doc."
Sam felt her pulse. "I think she's more than shook up. Let's get her some orange juice. She needs something to get her sugar back up."
"I'm fine, Doc. Just a little light-headed."
When Mary brought the juice, he sat while she drank it, sputtering the whole time about not needing such a fuss made over her. He waited another ten minutes, making small talk, while Lou fumed. When he was sure she seemed stable, he turned to Lou. "Okay. I'm ready."
Lou blew up a lock of her gray bangs and made a face. "Geez, Sam. You'll never be able to leave it alone, will you?"
"It's not like I died when I retired. Alice has been my patient since I started my practice. I couldn't just walk past her, for God's sake. I'm not a monster." He followed Lou up the stairs to the second floor, ticked off now. Did being a coroner make you callous toward the living? He shook his head, mulling it over while they threaded around police, through a carpeted hallway, and into a room already marked with yellow tape. The room crawled with technicians.
Lou spoke through tight lips. "Just be careful not to touch anything."
Sam nodded and followed her across the suite, around a coffee table, past a fireplace, and into a bedroom.
"She's in the bathroom," Lou said. "You'll have to stand in the doorway to see. They're still taking photos of the blood spatter."
Blood spatter.
Sam's insides churned. There was a reason he didn't become an emergency room doctor. And blood spatter had a lot to do with it. He took a deep breath and forced himself to focus.
Inside the black and pink bathroom, a woman lay on her side, facing away. A three-foot long gray braid curled behind her on the floor, fastened at the top and bottom with elastic bands and fake daisies. She had been slim, and wore a silky Japanese dressing gown, covered with pink and black dragons that matched the floor tiles. Three technicians crowded around the body. Camera flashes blinded Sam as he tried to absorb the scene.
Lou whispered in his ear. "She was hit from behind with that phone."
An old-fashioned beige rotary phone perched on the edge of the tub. Red smudges stained its edges. Blood soiled the back of the woman's head and neck and splashed about the room on the walls and floor. A particularly large spot smeared the pink shower curtain. He felt sick and hoped he wouldn't lose it in front of all these professionals.
Lou leaned on his shoulder to look past him at the body. "Looks like it happened last night, sometime between midnight and four. We think she let him in, recognized him, since there was no sign of forced entry. The sisters didn't see anything. Lights are out at ten, but guests are free to admit family or friends whenever they like."
One well-toned leg extended back from her body, with toes pointed toward the sink. An anklet glistened in the light of the camera flashes. Four silver stars marched around her slim ankle, separated by black pearls.
A technician lifted the hem of the dead woman's gown to reveal a vivid pentagram tattoo, circled with black roses. The photographer shot it from all angles.
Sam caught a glimpse of painted pink toenails. One hand, nails unpolished, rested on the cold tile, as if the victim was ready to push herself into a sitting position. A bottle of nail polish had spilled on the floor by the tub.
"She never saw it coming," Lou said. The skinny, bald technician looked up and nodded as if he agreed, then went back to work dusting the edges of the phone and tub.
"Maybe we should let these gentlemen finish their jobs," Sam said. He backed up into the bedroom. "And I still don't get—"
Lou shushed him with steely eyes. "Wait. Just wait a minute, for God's sake."
She'd been testy with him since she called, and he was starting to get sick of it. He'd come here to help her. He'd much rather be in his garden, or better yet, having lunch with Rachel.
In ten minutes, the room cleared. One of the techs nodded to Lou on the way out. "She's all yours, Doc. Let us know if you need anything."
"Thanks." Lou shot him a grim smile and motioned for Sam to follow her to the nightstand.
"Look at this." She flipped through the white pages using the eraser end of a yellow pencil. "There. There it is. The book was opened to this page when they found her."
Sam stared at the circled entry. "Are you sure she did this?"
Lou shook her head. "No. But it's pretty damned likely."
The name and address circled shouted at him. Dr. Samuel J. and Rachel S. Moore. 5125 Maple Beach Road. East Goodland, New York.
Sam stared at the phone book, then glanced around the room. It was tidy, as if the occupant had just arrived. The suitcase lay unpacked and opened on a stand near the television. "Am I a suspect?"
"Hell, no. I just want to see if you knew her. I didn't exactly broadcast the information to the police." She gestured to the phone book. "I wanted to show you first. I'm not sure if they picked up on it."
"Thanks, Lou." The last thing he needed was to be part of a murder investigation. He thought back to last night. He didn't even have a good alibi—Rachel had fallen asleep early, and he'd read until he'd drifted off.
He leaned over and looked at the books on the nightstand. Standard fare. The newest Dean Koontz novel and a women's magazine.
"According to the detective, the ID she gave at the front desk comes up bogus in the system, and her purse is missing. If she carried one, that is. No wallet, no identifying papers." Lou's voice softened. "You ready to see if you recognize her?"
Sam squared his shoulders and nodded, feeling less confident than he sounded. "Sure. But what makes you think I'll know her? Maybe she was just looking for a local doctor."
They walked toward the bathroom. "Maybe." Lou led the way. She crouched beside the victim and carefully rolled her onto her back. "But take a look anyway."

ABOUT AARON LAZAR

Aaron Paul Lazar writes to soothe his soul. An award-winning, bestselling Kindle author of three addictive mystery series, Aaron enjoys the Genesee Valley countryside in upstate New York, where his characters embrace life, play with their dogs and grandkids, grow sumptuous gardens, and chase bad guys. Visit his website at www.lazarbooks.com and watch for his upcoming Twilight Times Books releases.

What I Didn't Say Review

xCynyx 12:12 AM 0 Comments

What I Didn’t Say by Keary Taylor

Published: April 30th 2012
Publisher: CreateSpace

Getting drunk homecoming night your senior year is never a good idea, but Jake Hayes never expected it all to end with a car crash and a t-post embedded in his throat.

His biggest regret about it all? What he never said to Samantha Shay. He's been in love with her for years and never had the guts to tell her. Now it's too late.

Because after that night, Jake will never be able to talk again. When Jake returns to his small island home, population 5,000, he'll have to learn how to deal with being mute. He also finds that his family isn't limited to his six brothers and sisters, that sometimes an entire island is watching out for you. And when he gets the chance to spend more time with Samantha, she'll help him learn that not being able to talk isn’t the worst thing that could ever happen to you. Maybe, if she'll let him, Jake will finally tell her what he didn't say before, even if he can't actually say it.

Tell me about the plot...

What I Didn’t Say is a captivating story. It’s a story of hope with some pretty raw emotions for you to get your heart squeezed and patch up again. Jake finds himself in a situation no one’s ready for. He ends up mute, unable to communicate with all his friends and family the way he was used to and is bound to have what he calls “Conversations in Slow Motion” - which to be honest, sucks big time!
He gets angry, at himself, at his friends, at the world and at the girl he loves. He gets depressed and he finds the will to get back up after his dreams are shattered. And that’s when he discovers that the place he so desperately wanted to leave, is the only place where people will always be there for him.
The story has some twist and turns and very believable characters that I absolutely liked!

Main Character

I’ve read some books from men’s POV and this one I really enjoyed! Meet Jake Hayes, your typical high school boy who has had a crush on Samantha since she moved to Orcas Island. But his accident changes his life for the better or the worse. Through it all, Jake can focus on other people and starts learning things about his neighbors. He’s caring and after all the help he receives after the accident he learns to give it back.

What about the girl?

Sam is an interesting character. At first she’s hard to understand and Jake doesn’t have all the information about her. She’s easy going and completely focused on school. She’s also not afraid to let Jake know when he’s not being fair and when he needs to stop feeling sorry for himself.

What was the best part?

I loved how real the emotions and reactions felt. He didn’t magically accept what happened, he blamed a lot of people for it, he acted out because of his feelings and he also learn from it.
Another thing I really enjoyed was that the story doesn’t focus just on him, but on Sam’s problems as well.

What didn’t you like about the book?

I said the emotions felt real, but some facts didn’t. Jake keeps telling how small the island is, how everyone knows each other so well, and yet there are some VERY important things the characters keep a secret. That didn’t feel true for me, somehow I imagine people would have known.

Anything else I should know about this?

Yes, if you’re one of those people who cry a lot, get tissues ready.
This is a stand alone book that you’re gonna enjoy!

About the Author

Keary Taylor grew up along the foothills of the Rocky Mountains where she started creating imaginary worlds and daring characters who always fell in love. She now resides on a tiny island in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and their two young children. She continues to have an overactive imagination that frequently keeps her up at night. She is the author of the FALL OF ANGELS trilogy, EDEN, and WHAT I DIDN'T SAY.
To learn more about Keary and her writing process, please visit www.KearyTaylor.com

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Crewel Word & Soul Spinsters

xCynyx 12:30 AM 0 Comments

Hello Loves!!

Today we're very exited to share with you THIS book!

credit to Alice Belikova for the banner

Crewel (Crewel World #1) by Gennifer Albin

What a tangled world she weaves...

For generations, Spinsters have been called by Arras’s Manipulation Services to work the looms and determine what people eat, where they live, how many children they have, and even when they die. Gifted with the rare ability to weave time with matter, Adelice is exactly what the Guild is looking for, and in Arras, being chosen as a Spinster is everything a girl could want. It means privilege, eternal beauty, and being something other than a secretary. It also means the power to embroider the very fabric of life. But once you become a Spinster, there is no turning back. Now caught in a web of lies and intrigue, Adelice must decide who to trust: her kind mentor, Enora; the handsome and mysterious valet Jost; or the charismatic Guild ambassador Cormac Patton. They each have secrets, but Adelice is about to unravel the deadliest one of all, a sinister truth that could destroy reality as she knows it.

In a powerful and original debut about a world where the Guild decides everything, one extraordinary girl dares to defy the power of men and the boundaries of love.

And look at that super pretty cover!! Don't you guys love it?

But that's not all!

Gennifer has also set up her very own street team to help promote her book

So check her twitter here to see how everything is going for the #SoulSpinsters and get all the info about the Soul Spinsters Squad!

Follow Us @soratemplates

Friday, September 28, 2012

Cover Reveal: Release

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Review: Twelves Months

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

His Black Wings Cover Reveal + Giveaway

Friday, September 21, 2012

Cover Reveal: OPAL

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Aaron Lazar Interview

Friday, September 14, 2012

Excerpt: For Keeps by Aaron Lazar

What I Didn't Say Review

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Crewel Word & Soul Spinsters

About

Social

Popular

Archive

Total Pageviews:

Search the Blog:

Followers:

Tags

Popular Posts

Categories