Saturday, October 29, 2016

Girl Power Day 5

In the fighting spirit of Saturday night, So What by Pink.  Warning for language.


Friday, October 28, 2016

Girl Power Day 4

In honor of the Right Wing Conspiracy and the fact that they never manage to knock Hillary down, today we have Avril Lavigne's cover of Bad Reputation.


Thursday, October 27, 2016

RRBC Spotlight Author Robert Kimbrell

Today, it is my pleasure to welcome horror author Robert Kimbrell. 

He's a super supportive fellow member of the Rave Reviews Book Club.  His protagonist, Annie, is a vampire vigilante who eases her moral qualms by feeding only on those who deserve to die, saying, "Is it still morally wrong to kill? I know it is. But choosing my prey by the fruit they bear is the only way I can justify the way I must now live."  Check out the excerpt below, and find out more on his great website.




“Annie?”

“Hi!” I am truly excited to connect with her, but surely my enthusiasm doesn't come across as authentic. It isn't. Too many things weighing on me to be overly social.

“I cannot believe you finally called.” Elisa then becomes serious. “Annie, are you in trouble?”

“No, why?”

“Have you seen what's happening in the news? Girl, that woman looks exactly like you. I thought you lost your mind or something and that's why you never got back to me.”

“Oh, I know, she looks just like me. Weird.”

She laughs. “Well, I didn't see you going to a party like that either. I'm glad you called, but I'm at work, how about we do lunch tomorrow? We can catch up.”

“Where and when?”

“How about Capital Grille on Pennsylvania Ave, eleven-thirty?”

“See you then.” I know what I did. I made plans after Marcus gave me explicit instructions to stay in.
***

The moment, while I sit huddled on my bed looking out my bedroom window, is reminiscent of my first feeding. Distant lights flicker, and stars, countless in the black sky, play the game in which they nearly disappear when you look directly at them. Interrupting the scene is a pair of headlights, bouncing their way up the lane. My phone buzzes.

“Yes, Master Marcus?”

“Passive-aggressive?” An easy guess, and correct.

“A tad, Master. That you coming up my lane?”

“It is.”

“With pizza?”

“With sex.”

“Sex is good.”




Book Blurb:
Because Annie has no recollection of her birth parents, her life is full of unknowns. Still, she seems relatively content with her simple existence in Washington, DC. Marcus, her new Italian boyfriend, adds much desired spice to her life despite secrecy about his position at SecureVest. But when Annie becomes mysteriously ill, it is the catalyst for a life far from simple.

Seemingly by luck, Annie discovers that she is maturing into a dhampir (a vampire/human hybrid), and to survive she must feed on fresh human blood. With Marcus fully aware of Annie's predicament, they concoct a scheme: find the evil living among us and act where justice does not.

Vigilante Annie is born.

Amazon Link:



Author Bio:
An only child, (in the seventies, mind you), little Robert could be seen running in the backyard playing superhero, with a bed sheet serving as his cape. He also spent many hours drawing or writing in his mid-sized Ohio town. Having also battled depression earlier in life, Robert now sees how his low points have brought him to a more creative, stronger sense of being. Now he is where he wants to be, and is telling the stories he is meant to tell. His other interests include reading, motorcycle touring, fitness and classic movies.

Twitter:  @VAAuthor



RRBC Spotlight Author Robert Kimbrell

Today, it is my pleasure to welcome horror author Robert Kimbrell. 

He's a super supportive fellow member of the Rave Reviews Book Club.  His protagonist, Annie, is a vampire vigilante who eases her moral qualms by feeding only on those who deserve to die, saying, "Is it still morally wrong to kill? I know it is. But choosing my prey by the fruit they bear is the only way I can justify the way I must now live."  Check out the excerpt below, and find out more on his great website.




“Annie?”

“Hi!” I am truly excited to connect with her, but surely my enthusiasm doesn't come across as authentic. It isn't. Too many things weighing on me to be overly social.

“I cannot believe you finally called.” Elisa then becomes serious. “Annie, are you in trouble?”

“No, why?”

“Have you seen what's happening in the news? Girl, that woman looks exactly like you. I thought you lost your mind or something and that's why you never got back to me.”

“Oh, I know, she looks just like me. Weird.”

She laughs. “Well, I didn't see you going to a party like that either. I'm glad you called, but I'm at work, how about we do lunch tomorrow? We can catch up.”

“Where and when?”

“How about Capital Grille on Pennsylvania Ave, eleven-thirty?”

“See you then.” I know what I did. I made plans after Marcus gave me explicit instructions to stay in.
***

The moment, while I sit huddled on my bed looking out my bedroom window, is reminiscent of my first feeding. Distant lights flicker, and stars, countless in the black sky, play the game in which they nearly disappear when you look directly at them. Interrupting the scene is a pair of headlights, bouncing their way up the lane. My phone buzzes.

“Yes, Master Marcus?”

“Passive-aggressive?” An easy guess, and correct.

“A tad, Master. That you coming up my lane?”

“It is.”

“With pizza?”

“With sex.”

“Sex is good.”




Book Blurb:
Because Annie has no recollection of her birth parents, her life is full of unknowns. Still, she seems relatively content with her simple existence in Washington, DC. Marcus, her new Italian boyfriend, adds much desired spice to her life despite secrecy about his position at SecureVest. But when Annie becomes mysteriously ill, it is the catalyst for a life far from simple.

Seemingly by luck, Annie discovers that she is maturing into a dhampir (a vampire/human hybrid), and to survive she must feed on fresh human blood. With Marcus fully aware of Annie's predicament, they concoct a scheme: find the evil living among us and act where justice does not.

Vigilante Annie is born.

Amazon Link:



Author Bio:
An only child, (in the seventies, mind you), little Robert could be seen running in the backyard playing superhero, with a bed sheet serving as his cape. He also spent many hours drawing or writing in his mid-sized Ohio town. Having also battled depression earlier in life, Robert now sees how his low points have brought him to a more creative, stronger sense of being. Now he is where he wants to be, and is telling the stories he is meant to tell. His other interests include reading, motorcycle touring, fitness and classic movies.

Twitter:  @VAAuthor



Girl Power Day 3

Today, dance to Salute by Little Mix.


Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Day 2 of Girl Power Songs

Today's girl power installment, "Run the World (Girls)" by Beyonce.



Siren Allen's Promo and Giveaway


I'm pleased to welcome to the blog today, sci-fi romance author Siren Allen, who is promoting her new novel Silver. Take it away, Siren.



Blurb

All Malia Valdese wants to do is survive in the Outlands and serve food to the patrons of her diner. She doesn’t want anything to do with the handsome silver-eyed stranger who keeps showing up after closing, asking her weird questions and making her feel something she hasn’t felt in years, desire.

She doesn’t care that he’s the sexiest male she’s ever seen or that he stares at her like she’s the main course. Steering clear of him is her plan. Well, it was the plan, before he turned her world upside down with four words…. You’re coming with me.

Apparently she has no say in the matter.

She’s not on the menu. But she’s what he hungers for.

Her scent tells him she’s his and the wanted pictures popping up all over the dark-net tells him he needs to lay low for a while. Having her next to him in bed while he tries to clear his name is the plan. Unfortunately, his enemies are closer than he thought and now they’ve found his weakness…. her. Can he shield his mate from the consequences of his dark past? Or will she flee to his enemies to escape him and the intense emotions he stirs inside of her?

No matter what she chooses, he has no intention of letting her go, ever.

Excerpt

Silver traced his fingers up her arm. Shivers raced over her body. She found herself leaning closer to him, needing to feel every inch of him.

“Tell me to step away.”

Why would she do that? No rational female would tell a creature like him to step away. Wait, she should do that. She wasn’t trying to be with him for real. This was pretend.

“Say it and I’ll do it. I promise Malia.”

She couldn’t say it. The words wouldn’t come. Instead, she reached up and touched his face. His eyes closed and he leaned his forehead against hers.

“I don’t want to say that.” Even the rational part of her was falling for this male.

“Good, because I don’t want you to say it. I want to keep you all to myself,” he whispered. “I don’t want to share you.”

“You don’t have to share me. I’m all yours.” Yep, she’d just said that. And right now, she meant it. She’d deal with the consequences of her words later.

“All mine,” he mumbled, opening his eyes. “And I’ll destroy anyone who threatens you.”

Stars, that was the most violent statement she’d ever heard, yet it made her feel safe. What was she turning into?

“Say you believe me, Malia.”

“I-I believe you.”

“I won’t let anything happen to you. Say you believe this.”

“I believe it.”

“Good.” He took a step back, her hand still resting on his cheek. His hand covered hers. “I will go and get the crew. I will try my best not to kill any of them for getting too close to you.”

“Please behave. I don’t need you dirtying up my new kitchen.”

He smiled, before pulling her hand away from his face and placing it over his heart. Her breath caught.

“This is all yours,” he told her. “I promise.” He released her hand and went in search of his crew, leaving her breathless.

Buy links:
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LZJG2P3
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01LZJG2P3
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01LZJG2P3


Author bio

Hi, my name is Siren Allen. I’m a writer and lover of all things supernatural and romantic. I reside in southern Mississippi where I write steamy romances that are guaranteed to make you blush. When I’m not listening to the characters in my head and jotting down their adventures, I am busy working as a Clinical Laboratory Technician.

I love to travel, preferably with my husband, so he can do all of the driving. I enjoy time with my family, who are just as silly as I am. My hobbies are reading, writing and shopping, though I hate trying on clothing. If I wasn’t a writer or a Laboratory Professional, I would probably be a Secret Agent. But that’s the beauty of being a writer; you can create your own world and be whoever you want to be. In my imaginary world, I am Queen and my siblings are my minions.



AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE – www.amazon.com/Siren-Allen/e/B00ELF795O/

WEBSITE – http://sirenallen.com/

FACEBOOK – https://www.facebook.com/authorsirenallen

TWITTER – https://twitter.com/SirenAllen

PINTEREST – http://www.pinterest.com/sirenallen/

Siren’s Newsletter: Join to stay updated on my new releases and giveaways:

http://eepurl.com/Wr6Jn

Siren’s World: Join my Facebook group to chat with me about reading, writing and whatever else comes to mind: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1787481798155719/?ref=bookmarks



****Siren’s Sci-Fi Giveaway: Be sure to enter the rafflecopter giveaway for a chance to win a gorgeous Sci-Fi necklace.



https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/a576fb1c12/
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Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Two Weeks of Girl Power

In honor of the upcoming election, in which it appears we will elect our first president with two X chromosomes, I will be sharing a girl power song each day on my social media accounts.  I am certain that November Snow, girl vampire extraordinaire, would approve.  Even if you're not a Hillary fan, enjoy the music.

Here's today's offering, from the Muddy Magnolias: American Woman.





Monday, October 24, 2016

Atlantis A New Beginning: A Royal Love Story

Lisa Kulow is promoting her recently released book, the sequel to Atlantis after Midnight.  This mythological romance is available for only $1.00 on Amazon.



Here is the blurb for your perusal:

Prince of Atlantis, Kyrian, has moved to his new kingdom in the Amazon with his soon to be queen, Yew’ll.
He wants to begin his new life with his lady love and live happily ever after, but evil forces have other
plans for Kyrian and Yew'll and their new friends, Shea and Leode.Their happily ever after is interrupted by
heart-wrenching threats to their love and their new home that will leave you shaken.

Many Atlanteans are gifted with impressive powers of the mind and the ability to create, conjure,
shape shift, and heal; yet some choose to serve the Darkness by using their gifts to increase their own power.
As a result, terror and sickness return to reign over the land.

Shea, Kyrian's servant and friend, uses his final gift to save the world as they know it. In that process,
the whereabouts of some of the Atlanteans is realized. Can they come together to keep their race alive,
or will the once great empire be doomed to fall yet again?


A word from the Author:

I have always loved to read! I hoped to one day become an Author.
That has finally happened. If you're here thank you for your support.
I love most genre's fantasy, paranormal, sci-fi, historical, and
mythology is a passion of mine.
Romance of any kind including Dianna Love, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Laurell K Hamilton.
I love horror as well. Stephen King, and Dean Koontz , Kimberly Shursen among many others.
you can follow or contact me at.
https://www.facebook.com/lisakulowauthor/
https://twitter.com/nobody06
https://plus.google.com/u/0/100492900521013915385/posts
http://lisakulow2016.wixsite.com/lisakulow
authorlisakulow@gmail.com
I would love to hear from you and answer questions you have or requests.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. Please if you would leave a review that would be amazing!

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Book Boost: Letting Go into Perfect Love by Gwen Plano

Stalwart Rave Reviews Book Club member Gwen Plano is the author of a powerful memoir about recovering from abuse.  Letting Go into Perfect Love is a profound piece of work, and even if you haven't been personally touched by domestic violence, this book could be a source of wisdom and insight.  Check out the blurb below.



Blurb:

Inspiring and unforgettable, Letting Go into Perfect Love is a riveting account of a journey through the terror of domestic violence to a faith that transforms all. As a college administrator, Gwendolyn M. Plano lived her professional life in a highly visible and accountable space--but as a wife and mother, behind closed doors, she and her family experienced unpredictable threat. The statistics are staggering--every 9 seconds in the United States, a woman is assaulted or beaten--but to Gwen, this was her secret; it was her shame. When her husband eventually turned his brutality on her son, she knew she could no longer remain silent.

Alternately heart-wrenching and joyful, this is a story of triumph over adversity--one woman's uplifting account of learning how to forgive the unforgiveable, recover her sense of self, bring healing into her family, and honor the journey home. Accompanied by glimpses of celestial beings, Gwen charts a path through sorrow to joy--and ultimately, writes of the one perfect love we all seek.

The story that unfolds is not a blow-by-blow account of savagery hidden within a twenty-five-year marriage; rather, it is a walk through innocent dreams betrayed--to courage found. "Tragedy spares no one;" Gwen points out, "it just courts each of us differently. One way or another, it finds a path into our hearts, and there we do battle with the intruder." As a survivor who came out of her unhealthy relationship determined to start over, Gwen artfully depicts the challenges of balancing the obligations of motherhood and career with her family's healing process, while offering hope to anyone facing monumental challenges.

Integral to Gwen's journey is her faith. Because of her Catholic upbringing, she struggles with the scandal of divorce, but finally makes her peace. When her daughter reveals her molestation by clergy, however, her fragile sense of serenity dissolves. We walk with Gwen as she tries to make sense of this horror. The agony experienced by the entire family is devastatingly palpable. Against all odds, Gwen emerges confident of her faith and begins to see the threads of meaning in even the darkest moments.

This is a book for all. But, for those who have been in a destructive relationship, Gwen's story will be heartbreakingly familiar. For those who have been spared such diminishment, it will provide insight into the often misunderstood phenomenon of domestic violence. Since one in every four women will experience such threat in her lifetime, understanding that murky world may provide the reader with the skills needed to help his or her sister or friend or neighbor. Whether victim or friend, though, readers will be inspired by the author's courage and ultimate resolution of her predicament. And, you may see your own challenges a little differently.

Find out more about Gwen, her journey, and her work by following her on twitter or Facebook.

Find out more about the advantages of joining the Rave Reviews Book Club, where I met Gwen, by clicking here.

Monday, October 17, 2016

Book review: With Angel's Wings by Stephanie Collins

Talk about keeping it real!  This novelized memoir tells the true story of the author's struggles as a young mother of a severely ill baby and an older child with special needs.  She pulls no punches about the resulting exhaustion, anxiety, guilt, and depression.  Laura’s family, and especially her husband, are unable or unwilling to give her the kind of support she could literally die without.  You want to just go back in time and give the author all the hugs and everyone else a kick in the pants.  Thankfully, in the midst of all the heartache and second guessing, Laura finds love, and it becomes her lifeline.  And don't worry, there are heartwarming moments amidst the struggles.  I couldn't stop turning the page to see what would happen next, and my next stop may need to be the author’s blog so I can see how they’ve done in the intervening years.

This book can speak to anyone, and I think it would really be of benefit to parents of children with severe medical problems and their friends and family.  I think every NICU in the country should have a copy.  It provides validation of the hurricane of emotions parents in that situation have to deal with.  Even if you don't have a personal connection to such a child, the book gives you a glimpse into the reality of being a caretaker for the severely ill.  It fosters empathy in people with more ordinary life experiences.  This is a story than can touch any heart.

My RRBC Spotlight Tour

I just completed a blog tour organized by the Rave Reviews Book Club.  This is a group of indie authors who have come together for community and mutual support.  Every month, active members have a chance to be chosen to be highlighted by the club in a number of ways (Spotlight Author, Members of the Month, Book of the Month, Member of the Week, etc.).  The choice is based largely on the quality of support you provide to your fellow members,  so the more you put into helping others, the more you get out of participating in the club.



The tour was a blast.  My hosts were lovely and generous.  They gave me a chance to share about my life, my process, and my work.  I got a nice uptick in sales as well as a chance to strengthen my online presence by being featured in so many different blogs.  Additionally, it was gratifying and heartwarming to get to know some of my fellow writers via our discussions of my posts.  I was also thrilled to be interviewed by the inimitable Bill Ward on the Rave Waves Internet radio channel.

I encourage you to check out my posts and interview, as well as the Rave Reviews Book Club itself.  I've had great fun since I joined at the beginning of 2016, and I've learned a great deal from my fellow members.

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Book Review: The One Discovered by Yvette Calleiro

This YA fantasy novel follows the awakening of high school senior Sofia, who discovers that she is not the normal teenage human she always thought she was.  Half-brothers Angel and Ar’ch turn up in her small town, and all heck breaks loose.  They are on a mission to bring Sofia and her mother home, so that Sofia can save their people, the Diasodz. Naturally, some evil forces have a real problem with that plan.



I found Sofia to be a relatable, true-to-life, and interesting protagonist. I thought her relationship with her mother was touching and realistic. I appreciated the sensitivity that the issues of adoption, egg donation, and surrogacy were explored, specifically with how the author highlighted Angel's healthy, honest upbringing as compared to the unhealthy secret-keeping in Sofia's family.

Overall, the story is well-written and the characters sympathetic.  The pacing is good, and the ending sets you up to want to read the next installment.  The descriptions are effective, and the author reveals just enough information about the Diasodz to pique your curiosity, much like Ar’ch arouses Sofia’s own curiosity.  I will definitely be reading the sequels.