Wednesday, October 30, 2013

EXCERPT: Haunted U by Jessica Gibson




Ezzie Lovegreen lives in a world where witches and ghosts are real. That doesn’t mean she’s not surprised when she’s suddenly being haunted by one at school. With the help of her best friend Stella, her boyfriend Beau, and her grandmother Winifred, Ezzie must find out what happened to the ghost and set her free. Secrets will be revealed that could change Ezzie’s life forever. Will Ezzie be strong enough to face the challenges set in her path?  

EXCERPT: Winifred kept them busy for most of Saturday, doing various spells and making potions. Ezzie barely had a chance to think about Charlie and how to help her until Sunday afternoon. She stopped by the library on her way home from her grandmother’s to look for sorority registers.
She had just found the books when she looked up to find Beau standing in front of her, his brown eyes warm and his smile inviting. Ezzie felt herself blush, a strange feeling for her since she had known him all her life.
“What are you doing in the library on a Sunday afternoon?” His southern drawl was as smooth as honey.
“I could ask you the same question.” She laughed and kicked a chair out for him to sit.
“I was getting some studying in, but that went out the window when I saw you sitting there.”
There was the blush again. This time it crept up from her neck. Ezzie smiled and dropped her eyes to her lap, feeling awkward around him.
“You never answered my question. What are you doing?”
“Some research for a project I’m working on with Stella.” She didn’t want to tell him about Charlie.
“Want to go get some coffee?” His eyes were hopeful.
Ezzie smiled brightly. There was nothing else she would rather do than get coffee with Beau.
“Sure, let’s go.” She gathered her books and put them in her bag and followed Beau out into the sun.
Beau grabbed her hand as they walked. They talked about their classes and his football practice. By the time they reached the coffee shop, Ezzie could feel herself relaxing. Beau had a way of disarming her, making her feel comfortable. She watched him while he waited in line for their drinks. Where he had once been gangly and skinny, he was now all muscles and chiseled features. He wore his dark hair short and messy, because one time Ezzie had mentioned she liked it. She was beginning to realize that maybe he felt the same way about her. That thought left a warm feeling pooling in her stomach.
“Ezra...” A voice whispered off to her left.
Ezzie looked over to see the flickering form of Charlie floating next to her.
“Charlie, were you in Delta Zeta?” Ezzie asked quickly, praying her hunch was right.
“Delta Zeta?” Charlie wore a confused expression. Her appearance flashed to a long skirt and a pink sweater with a small pin on the collar. Before Ezzie could see what the pin said, Charlie flashed back to what she had been wearing before.
“Ezzie, who’s your friend?” Beau asked as he set their drinks on the table.
Beau had magic in his family tree, but he never talked about it much. It was a bit surprising to Ezzie that he could see Charlie.
“This is Charlie. She is actually the project I was working on in the library,” Ezzie explained.
Charlie smiled sadly at them and flickered away to nothing.
“Was it something I said?” Beau asked with a smile.
“So you can see her then?”
“Looks that way.” Beau smirked and sat down across from her. “So tell me, what’s her story?”
Ezzie took a drink of her latte and filled him in on the situation.
“So, you think she was murdered?” He inclined his head toward her.
“I do. I mean, why else would she still be here?”
“What do you plan to do once you find out what sorority she belongs to?”
Ezzie shrugged. “I hadn’t gotten that far yet. Do you have any suggestions?”
Beau looked at Ezzie, his chocolaty gaze melting into her. “Whatever you do, please be careful. I don’t like the idea of you going after potential murderers on your own. That being said, you could call up the alumni society of whatever she belonged to and see if anyone knew her.”
Ezzie opened her mouth to speak, but her phone rang in her purse. The ring tone told her it was her mom.
“Hey, Mama. I’m going to be home soon. I’m having coffee with Beau. I ran into him at the library.” She paused as her mother responded. “Let me ask, hang on.”
She turned to Beau. “Do you want to come for dinner? Mama says we’re having a roast.”
Beau smiled and nodded enthusiastically.
“He says yes. We’ll be home soon then. Bye, Mama.” She hung up. “Well, we better go, best not to keep her waiting too long.”
Beau laughed. “I’ve known Addelyn Lovegreen long enough not to keep her waiting.”

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About Jessica Gibson Jessica Gibson is a recovering bookaholic, she’s down from four books a week to a more reasonable one. It was that love of words and creativity that made her dream about writing her first book. That dream was hidden for years, always put on the back burner, filed away in the “someday” section, until her husband Matt gave her the kick in the pants she needed to actually get off her butt and write. Jessica and Matt live in Southern California and have a serious addiction to reality tv shows like Pawn Stars and American Restoration. They have one son and hope to add to the family in the near future. Follow the Book Tour Enter to win one of two paperback and swag packs from Hayson Publishing.

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Tuesday, October 29, 2013

REVIEW: A Bead and a Prayer by Kristen Vincent

Title: A Bead and a Prayer
Author: Kristen E Vincent
Series: None
Publisher: Upper Room
Published Date: July 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-0835812177
Buy It Links: Amazon
Rating: 4 1/2 stars

Synopsis: A Bead and a Prayer introduces Protestant prayer beads to Christians who have no experience in praying with beads.
Author Kristen Vincent explores the history and art of using beads in prayer, explains how to use prayer beads, includes instructions for making your own set of prayer beads, and offers a variety of prayers. Through this book you will learn how prayer beads can help you deepen your faith, understand Christian beliefs, and listen to God.
A wonderful hands-on way for individuals and groups to grow in their prayer life!

Review: I'd like to thank the publishers especially for allowing me to read this book for review. I had originally gotten from NetGalley, but the publisher archived it before I was able to send it to my Kindle. When I emailed the publisher, they were nice enough to send me a copy of it to review.
I finished this book in a day, when it should really be thoroughly gone through a week at a time like the instructions say. I truly can't say enough about this book. It was a great introduction to Protestant prayer beads. As an ex-Catholic, I have very fond memories of my grandmother teaching me the rosary while I was in bed (and me falling asleep during it as well). I have my beloved uncle's favorite rosary, and I have my dad and uncle's rosaries they received at their first communion almost 70 years ago. 

I don't have any Catholic rosaries of my own, but I did buy myself a pretty little Protestant prayer bead set a few weeks ago:
Olive wood set....aren't they pretty?

I had been Googling how to use them properly....after all, there's only one "right" way to pray the rosary, right? When I came across this book, I thought: "There you go! Here is the right way!" And what I learned? They're just a tool. There's no one right equation, like with the rosary. What can I say? This whole freedom thing in the Protestant sector of Christianity still blows my mind sometimes (in a good way).
In this book, the author comes up with several different ways, all of which are excellent. Coming from a  Catholic background, I felt comfortable with the second week's exercise of repeating the same prayers over and over again. However, I also found out that I really liked each week's exercise. They were all vastly different, but all had their uses.
The best part of the entire book was the way of introducing prayer beads to kids. Absolutely loved that part! I'm definitely getting a copy of this book in paperback for myself.

REVIEW: The Faerie Prince by Rachel Morgan





Title: The Faerie War
Series: Creepy Hollow Part 3
Author: Rachel Morgan
Publish Date: October 21st, 2013
Publisher: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
ISBN: 0992186366
Buy It Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | Apple iBookstore | CreateSpace print
Rating: 4 stars
Synopsis: Violet Fairdale is in big trouble. Her home is gone, her beloved forest lies in ruins, the guy she gave her heart to has deserted her—and she doesn’t remember any of it. The powerful Lord Draven is taking over, brainwashing guardians into fighting for him. No one is safe from the evil spreading throughout the fae world. 

As alliances are forged between the remaining free fae, Vi struggles to reclaim her identity and figure out where she belongs in this new world. When someone from her past shows up, life gets even more complicated. He brings with him a long-forgotten weapon and an ancient prophecy that places Vi at the center of the fight against Draven. With the future of the fae world at stake, can Vi carry out the prophecy’s instructions before it’s too late? 
Review: You can find my review of Book 2 The Faerie Prince here.
I'd like to thank the author for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review. I loved this book. I loved the book before it, and I probably would have loved the first in the series if I had ever read that one.
Just like last time, there was plenty of action, humor and romance, but this time it took a lot longer to clear everything up. The first third of the book seemed to be really confusing. I'm not sure if that was the objective of the author, perhaps it was setting the mood for the whole forgetfulness potion. However, I found that once some clarity was brought into the story line, and characters started coming together, it became a whole lot clearer.
It took until the very end to tie all the loose ends together, but I'm glad the author was able to do that without leaving any undone, or disappointing her fan base. If you haven't read this series, I strongly suggest you do it now. It was such a great series, I know I will miss Ryn and Violet.

About the author:Rachel Morgan was born in South Africa and spent a large portion of her childhood living in a fantasy land of her own making. After completing a degree in genetics, she decided science wasn’t for her—after all, they didn’t approve of made-up facts. These days she spends much of her time immersed in fantasy land once more, writing fiction for young adults.
When she isn't writing, she's reading (duh!), catching up on addictive TV series, and baking things that almost always include chocolate.

The Creepy Hollow Series

Rachel's Links

The Author is also doing a giveaway, you can enter here!

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BOOK BLAST: Dawning Apocalypse by Jill Cooper


by Jill Cooper

Protection, murder, deception.... No one can know Natalie works for a supernatural protection agency and is charged with protecting Meadow’s Creek from vampires. But as their numbers swell, their presence doesn’t go unnoticed throwing her town under the microscope from the local government and the FBI. Natalie’s job is pushed even further into the shadows where she must dodge the police, concerned citizens and even her own parents. Meanwhile a deadly plague grips the town and Natalie suspects it’s more than just a hacking cough. While the stress of working overtime erodes her relationships she will race against time, illness, to face a familiar enemy, save an old friend, and stop an undead seize that wants nothing more than to suck Meadow’s Creek dry.
Buy on Amazon:
Dream Slayer (Book 1)
Demon Royal (Book 2)
Dawning Apocolypse (Book 3)

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The author is giving away an ecopy of Dawning Apocalypse and some vampire themed Halloween candy
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EXCERPT: Tough Love by Marcie A. Bridges


Tough Love

Janessa knows she should run in the other direction when Brendan enters her life. Her squeaky-clean upbringing is in direct opposition to his piercings, a myriad of tattoos and the rumors that surround him. But she doesn’t run. Love, betrayal and lies become the foundation of their lives, but one heartbreaking confession makes Janessa question everything. After a devastating diagnosis, Janessa’s world crumbles around her. When she can no longer ignore the reality of who Brendan really is, she must choose between those who love her and the only one she has ever loved.  

EXCERPT: I picked up the phone on the first ring.
“Hey, beautiful.” There was nothing off in his tone, nothing that told me he knew why I had been calling him. It just made me angrier.
“Where the hell have you been? You know what, never mind. I don’t want to know. Just get over here!” I slammed down the phone, my hand shaking.
He arrived ten minutes later and joined me on the front porch swing. It was all I could do to not look at him. I knew he would defeat me with just one glance, and I could not afford that.
“I’m so sorry. I never meant to hurt you–”
I whipped around to face him but did not look him in the eyes. I could feel the heat in my cheeks as the fury grew.
“Don’t! Don’t you dare say that to me! You disgust me! Of course you meant to hurt me. You knew exactly what you were doing.”
I raised a shaking hand to wipe away the tears and was instantly mad at myself for showing this weakness. I got up, stormed off the porch and across the yard. Brendan followed me and grabbed my arm around the wrist.
“Baby–”
“No!” I cried as I turned around. “You have no right to call me that anymore. I should have listened to Aimee when she warned me about you.” I yanked my arm out of his grip. “I want you to leave.”
“C’mon Janessa, don’t end things this way.”
“Leave!” I screamed. “Right now!”
He could see the resolve in my face and knew I was serious. He let out a big sigh and turned to walk away but then stopped.
“Are you still going to Michigan? To the lake to see your aunt?”
I nodded. “Aimee and I leave tomorrow morning. Not that it’s any of your business.”
“Will you call me when you get back?
“Just stay away from me.”
He hung his head and walked away. I collapsed to the ground, my sobs echoing in the yard.

Buy it NOW here: Amazon/Barnes and Noble/Smashwords


Marcie Bridges has always wanted to be a writer, from the time she started keeping a diary in seventh grade. Since then, she has earned a master’s degree in education from Cumberland University while teaching some wonderful children with special needs in Indiana, Tennessee and Kentucky.
While she will always bleed scarlet and gray (GO BUCKS!), she now lives south of Cincinnati with her husband and daughter. When Marcie isn’t writing, she can be found reading, watching her favorite TV shows, listening to music, or browsing her favorite websites.

Follow Marcie Bridges Facebook Author Page Twitter |  Blog | Pinterest Personal |  Google Plus

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Saturday, October 26, 2013

PROMO and GIVEAWAY: Trade winds to Meluhha by Vasant Davé





Trade winds to Meluhha
Blurb:
Trade winds to Meluhha harks back to Bronze Age Mesopotamia. It involves adventure, strife and love in young Samasin's life in which swift events chase him to an exotic land 3,000 Km. across the sea.


Implicated in a foreigner's murder, Sam is saved from a gory sentence by a rare astronomical event which is recorded on clay tablets excavated in ancient Babylon. He flees to 'Meluhha', Indus Valley Civilization, in search of Siwa Saqra whose name was uttered by the alien before he died. There besides Siwa, he also meets two damsels. Ann is a Sumérian who poses as a Meluhhan because she is on a lookout for a couple of faceless men for revenge. Velli, who wins his heart, is still devoted to a person who had jilted her. Interactions with all three lead Sam on the trail of a diabolic trade that is ruining the lives of youngsters and women back in Mesopotamia.


A Historical Novel


Vasant Davé

About the Author:

Vasant is an electrical engineer from the University of Bombay. Besides providing Industrial Market Research services in India, he has catered to clients in Australia, China, Germany, Hong Kong, Israel, Singapore, the UK and the USA. His work called for extensive travelling throughout India.


Vasant conceived and wrote Trade winds to Meluhha after he retired from business. It took him three-and-a-half years. Earlier, his articles were published in Readers' Digest, Economic Times, Business India, Shankar's Weekly, Telematics India and Studio Systems.Goodreads Profile Link: http://www.goodreads.com/Vasant_Dave
Websitehttp://vasantdave.weebly.com/index.html

Twitterhttps://twitter.com/Meluhha
Facebookhttp://www.facebook.com/BronzeAgeNovel
Other e-Books by the Author: (Both can be downloaded free on the respective links)


How I wrote a Pre-Historic Novel - http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/75096


Novelizing the Ancient Indus Valley - http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/178975


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Friday, October 25, 2013

BOOK TOUR: Tough Love by Marcie A Bridges

Tough Love

Janessa knows she should run in the other direction when Brendan enters her life. Her squeaky-clean upbringing is in direct opposition to his piercings, a myriad of tattoos and the rumors that surround him. But she doesn’t run. Love, betrayal and lies become the foundation of their lives, but one heartbreaking confession makes Janessa question everything. After a devastating diagnosis, Janessa’s world crumbles around her. When she can no longer ignore the reality of who Brendan really is, she must choose between those who love her and the only one she has ever loved.  

Buy it NOW here: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Smashwords






Marcie Bridges has always wanted to be a writer, from the time she started keeping a diary in seventh grade. Since then, she has earned a master’s degree in education from Cumberland University while teaching some wonderful children with special needs in Indiana, Tennessee and Kentucky.
While she will always bleed scarlet and gray (GO BUCKS!), she now lives south of Cincinnati with her husband and daughter. When Marcie isn’t writing, she can be found reading, watching her favorite TV shows, listening to music, or browsing her favorite websites.


Follow Marcie Bridges Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/MarcieABridges
Twitter: @marcie_ann
Blog: http://marcieshrinks.blogspot.com/
Pinterest Personal: http://pinterest.com/mabridges2/
Google+:https://plus.google.com/109921896394674548677/posts/p/pub

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Thursday, October 24, 2013

BOOK BLAST: Stern Desire by Leah Shay



by Leah Shay

Her love can heal him; his love can set her free. The moment Kyra walked into billionaire Jared Stern’s hospital room and introduced herself as his nurse he knew that this paragon of loveliness was what he needed to mend his damaged soul. Jared knew he had to have her. They shared an instant mutual attraction. Drawn together by some irresistible force they stirred emotions in each other that neither had felt in years. But, Jared’s dark inescapable secrets plagued him, and they were a constant reminder why he was not right for her. Kyra’s trust in men had been severely destroyed and for years she felt nothing but mistrust and anger towards them. Jared’s mysterious nature reminded Kyra why she had built a fortress around her heart protecting herself from men like him. Reluctantly, Kyra gave way to Jared’s relentless pursuits. Will she jeopardized her career knowing that anything other than a nurse-patient relationship could be risky and lead to her losing her job or even her license? Will Jared’s secrets smother their hot steamy love affair, or will he do the unthinkable to trap Kyra into the relationship? One thing about secrets they rarely stay in the dark.

Buy on Amazon | Smashwords

About the author:

Leah Shay grew up on a small beautiful carefree island in the Caribbean. With the warm blue Caribbean Sea as her backyard she loved to walk the white sandy beach and got loss in the stories unfolding in her head. She had always been an avid reader and spent all her free time nose-deep in a book, or telling stories to enthused listeners. She loves reading, dancing, traveling, and music. As a child she would read anything she could get her hands on. Her local library was her favorite place, and looked forward to every weekend her mom would take her there. Her dream was to become a teacher, but fate led her down another fulfilling career path. She is currently a part-time registered nurse with a whole lot of stories to tell. To relieve her cluttered mind of the many stories floating around in her head she finally decided to put them down on paper, hence the first book in the Stern Desire series was born. Currently she lives in Miami, Florida with her husband and two children. She just can’t be away from year round summer and beautiful beaches.

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Promo Blast October 23rd
Book Tour November 18th

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REVIEW: Garrison's Creed by Cristin Harber



by Cristin Harber

A SPY RUNNING FOR HER LIFE Nicola is an injured CIA agent on the run from a failed undercover operation. Her escape plan shatters when she slams into the man who buried her a decade ago. Cash Garrison. Her first and only love. Now, sexier than her best memory and cradling a sniper’s rifle, he has questions she can’t answer. Why was she alive? And armed? AND THE MAN SHE COULD NEVER SEE AGAIN Cash is an elite member of a black ops organization, The Titan Group. He thought Nicola died his senior year of college and swore off love to focus on a decade of military missions. But when she shows up behind enemy lines, bleeding out and wielding a weapon, his heart and mind are unsure how to proceed. BATTLE BETRAYAL TO SAVE THEMSELVES Titan and the CIA join forces to uncover a mole hidden in a network of international terrorists and homegrown mobsters, teaming Cash and Nicola again. They fight old wounds and re-ignite sparks while closing in on a double agent. When disaster strikes, Nicola’s hidden past makes her the hunted target and Cash’s best kill shot may not be enough to save them.

Buy on : Amazon | Paperback | B&N | Kobo | iTunes | All Romance

Rating: 4 1/2 stars

Review: I'd like to thank Promotional Book Tours and the author for allowing me to read this book for review.
I read the first book a few weeks ago and reviewed it for NetGalley. It was good, but this one was so much better! It was much faster paced. I felt more in tune with the characters. There was more character development this time around. Perhaps that was because the two main characters had a past with each other, or the relationship with three of the main characters was so personal. It felt more real.
The action truly started from the very first few paragraphs of the book, and while I couldn't understand it at first, the author quickly cleared up any confusion. While it seemed that the "bad guys" were kind of nebulous and out there, a quick flick of the wrist sent the whole thing into a 180 where you didn't know what side was up.
This series is getting to be one of my favorites, and I hope to be able to review the next book soon!

Meet the author:

Cristin Harber is an award-winning romantic suspense author. She lives outside Washington, DC with her husband, toddler, and English bulldog. Coming fall 2013, she’s expecting a baby and will debut her Titan series. Couple that with the holidays, and it’ll be a busy time of year. There’s a special place in her heart for the men and women who serve and protect. Since she can’t save the world alongside them, she’s content to write their happily ever after stories.
Follow Cristin on FaceBook | Twitter | Goodreads | Literary Addicts | Website
 

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Wednesday, October 23, 2013

GUEST POST: from Michel Webb, author of Infernal Gates

by Michael J. Webb

What Inspired Me to Write Infernal Gates?

It was a dark and stormy night . . .
Ooops.  Not really!  Sorry Snoopy.
I regularly drive long distances and have a great deal of time to think.  One morning, as I was headed to an appointment, the opening lines from Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities scrolled through my mind unexpectedly:  “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way.”
As I meditated on those powerful words in terms of the present condition of our fallen world, a fascinating thought popped into my head.  What would happen if my wife and I were on a commercial airliner that crashed within a few minutes of takeoff killing everyone on board—except us!  We awaken exactly 24 hours later, at home, in our bed, dressed in the same clothes we’d worn to the airport.  How would we explain what happened to us?
This is how all of my novels are born. A vivid opening scene, generally an action-filled, pulse-pounding sequence of events, but sometimes several lines of riveting dialog from a character I have yet to meet.  In the case of Infernal Gates, the opening line was Less than ten minutes before we’re all dead, thought Ethan Freeman, and there is nothing I can do about it!
I’m a seat-of-the-pants writer.  I’ve never done an outline.  All of my stories begin as movies in my head.  I have a general idea about plot, but it morphs into something bigger than my imagination over time.  My characters are born, grow, and mature as I write.   At some point, they take control.  Then, all I do is transcribe as fast as I can whatever I see and hear.
Unbelievable fun—and I get paid to do this!
But I digress.  Back to the “inspiration” theme.
Most of us, sadly, see the world three-dimensionally.  But, as Rod Serling, the creator of The Twilight Zone was fond of saying: There is another dimension--a fourth dimension. A dimension not of sight or sound, or taste or touch, or hearing, but one that overlays the one we accept as the “real” world. A parallel universe layered over the terrestrial realm like a gossamer veil. In order to “see” into this realm and interact with it we must use gifts given to us by God that transcend our fleshly bodies—and our souls.
The realm of Spirit.
I’m inspired by God to write about this realm and explore the consequences of ignoring, denigrating, or misrepresenting its power to impact our lives for all eternity.
I hope you’ll take a chance on an “unknown writer” and join me in my world.


Synopsis of Infernal Gates: Ethan Freeman, ex-Special Forces Ranger, wakes up to discover he is the sole survivor of a fiery commercial airline crash that killed his entire family. His nightmare is only beginning when he becomes the FBI’s prime suspect. Only Ethan knows he’s not a cold-hearted murderer, but he has no idea what happened to him–and why he alone survived. He finds an unlikely ally in Sam Weaver, the NTSB Chief Investigator. An ex-military pilot, Sam senses Ethan is innocent. She tries to remain dispassionate in her investigation of the crash even as she finds herself attracted to the man who may be America=s worst homegrown mass-murderer. Neither Ethan nor Sam realize that shadowy spiritual forces are at work which will alter their lives forever. A monstrous evil, imprisoned since the time of the Pharaohs, has been released by The Nine, a sinister group of powerful men and women who believe they are the direct descendants of the Anunnaki, ancient Sumerian gods. The demon they have unleashed intends to free The Destroyer from The Abyss, the angelic prison referred to in the Book of Revelation, and unleash a worldwide reign of terror and annihilation. Facing impossible odds, time is running out for Ethan and all of humanity as he is drawn into an ever-deeper conspiracy–millennia in the making–and learns that he is the key to stopping The Nine. Will he overcome his deepest fears and find reserves of strength he never knew he had as he confronts pure evil in order to save himself and an unsuspecting world?

Buy on Kindle

 About the Author:
Michael J. Webb graduated summa cum laude from the University of Florida and obtained his J. D. from the same university. Over the past forty years he has travelled the world in search of adventure. He is a history buff, both ancient and modern, and is fascinated by the intersection of the scientific, supernatural, and Biblical world views, and has studied and taught from the Bible extensively for more than twenty-five years. He is also intrigued by recent discoveries in quantum physics that are now providing extraordinary insights into the reality of the spirit realm, especially as it relates to the study of Light. He incorporates all of the above into his supernatural thrillers. Michael and his wife make their home in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Books by Michael:
The Master’s Quilt, The Nephilim Parchments, The Song of the Seraphim (Giants in the Earth trilogy), The Oldest Enemy, Infernal Gates. He is currently working on Devil’s Cauldron, the sequel to Infernal Gates. He also authored a non-fiction work entitled In the Cleft of the Rock: Insights into the Blood of Jesus, Resurrection Power, and Saving the Soul.

Follow Michael on : FaceBook | Literary Addicts | Google + | Amazon | Website | Twitter



Monday, October 21, 2013

REVIEW: Wounded by God's People by Anne Graham Lotz

Title: Wounded by God's People
Author: Anne Graham Lotz
Publisher: Zondervan
Published Date: September 3, 2013
ISBN: 9780310262893
Buy It Link: Kindle | Hardcover
Rating: 3 stars

Synopsis: Tucked into Abraham's biography is the story of Hagar, a young Egyptian slave with whom Abraham had a son named Ishmael. Hagar stood out because she was wounded---not physically, but in ways that were as emotionally and spiritually painful as any injury to a body would be. Some wounds were provoked by her own bad behavior, but others were inflicted by those who considered themselves God's people. Anne Graham Lotz too has been wounded by God's people. Some wounds have been deeper than others, some have come out of nowhere, and still others have been provoked by her own behavior, but all of the wounds have been deeply painful. They seemed to hurt even more when the wounders wrapped their behavior in a semblance of religion or piety. As Hagar's story unfolds, you will discover that wounded people often become wounders themselves. While Anne identifies with the wounded, the unpleasant reality is that she also identifies with the wounders, because she has been one, too. She knows from experience that wounding is a cycle that needs to be broken. And by God's grace, it can be. Many have had similar experiences. And perhaps you are among those who have been so deeply hurt that you have confused God's imperfect people with God. Maybe you have even run away from God as a result. Or perhaps you have been a wounder to the extent that you are living in a self-imposed exile, believing you are unworthy to be restored to a warm, loving relationship with God or with God's people. Whatever your hurts may be, Wounded by God's People helps you to begin a healing journey---one that enables you to reclaim the joy of God's presence and all the blessings God has for you. God loves the wounded. And the wounders.

Review: I'd like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
For a long time, I've been avoiding this book simply for the fact of the author's parentage. I grew up in a house where my mother was Southern Baptist and would religiously watch Jimmy Stewart and Billy Graham. The screaming, the crying, the dramatic outbursts and hellfire and brimstone were not my cup of tea. I liked the quiet and serenity of the Catholic masses that my father would bring me to. I didn't want to read more hellfire and brimstone and drama. I was also avoiding the book because I was afraid it wouldn't "rip the Band-aid off", but rip a tourniquet out of place and I would bleed out spiritually.
At the same time though, I've been hurt by "God's people", hurt very deeply, and I was drawn by the hope that whatever words were within these covers could help me get past the bone-deep hurt that has haunted me for the past twenty years and destroyed my relationship with God.
Some of the book, especially the commentary on Hagar and Ishmael's lives, was especially wonderful. That was definitely the part I enjoyed the most. Then there were some of her own personal stories that I couldn't really relate to, so they really didn't help.
Fortunately, the book wasn't so emotional that no band-aid or tourniquet was ripped out of place, but a gentle airing that allowed me to have some breathing room on my own experience with "God's people".

COVER REVEAL: Faerie War by Rachel Morgan




It's party time!!! 
Today is the official online release of Rachel Morgan's third Creepy Hollow novel, The Faerie War. After that cliffhanger at the end of the second book, fans can finally find out what happens to Violet and everyone else in Creepy Hollow. If you'd like to get your copy, you can find it at the following online stores, plus a few others:





There are seven other teaser images displayed on various blogs today. If you'd like to see them, you can visit the following fabulous bloggers:


And there's a major giveaway going on!



a Rafflecopter giveaway