Sunday, June 28, 2015

79 A.D (Bachiyr book 3) Spotlight, Review, Dream Cast & COMMENT Giveaway

Since Londinium, Taras and Theron have gone their separate ways. One now roams the Spanish countryside, feeding on robbers and bandits, while the other hides in a cave on the slopes of Mt. Vesuvius, experimenting with his newfound powers. Neither has thought much about the other over the last eighteen years.

But Baella, the ancient renegade, has plans for the pair, and her plans don’t involve letting the two live out their lives in relative peace. Through her treachery, they are reunited in Pompeii, but not even Baella can stop the coming cataclysm.

Powerful forces are rising in the world of the Bachiyr, and Taras and Theron may find themselves caught up in something much bigger than they can imagine. That is, if either of them survive the mountain’s fiery anger.

Buy link: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Smashwords

As with the other books in this series, McAfee has taken a cataclysmic event in our history and twisted it to fit into the divinely deadly world of Vampires he has created, making the story his own. In 79 A.D. we learn the true character of some familiar faces, people you may have liked become vindictive, and perhaps someone you loathed will make you see them in a different light. Enemies will become allies in a common goal, to destroy the council.

While Theron has gone into hiding to continue plotting world domination, as well as figure out how to kill his former boss and his progeny, Taras is finally figuring out what he has become and how to deal with the ramifications. Herris, oh my, where are my manners, Headcouncil Herris is trying to cover up not only his mistakes but the truth about the blood letter Ramah and where he comes from. As I said, all your favorite and hated characters make an appearance and some new faces are introduced, but I have to say, Baella just became my favorite character. I do love a well written, tortured soul that is evil incarnate, but you can't help but root for them. That is Baella for me.

This story was full of twists and turns, there were surprises around every corner and the plot was so well woven that I never really figured out where something was leading until it unfolded on the pages. The backdrop of the story is the destruction that is about to engulf the city of Pompei, but McAfee kept the focus of the story on the characters, their machinations and all the different storylines that finally converge, keeping pace with the volcano, everything erupts at the perfect moment.

As I said before, I love how McAfee takes historic events and gives them a modern twist, keeps just enough of the natural event to make the story interesting and intriguing. The ending was jaw dropping and finally, we learn the reason behind Baella's anger and hatred for the council. I'm anxious to see where the story goes from here, what natural disaster or ancient biblical tale will McAfee re-imagine for the sequel. Fans of McAfee's work that have been waiting with bated breath for this story will not be disappointed. It's raw, brutal, intricate and bloody, everything we've come to love from this author.

Definitely a must read, especially for fans of well done horror, vampires (NOT the sparkly ones), and books that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the last page, then craving more immediately. Can I give it 10 stars? Yes, I've decided, it's a TEN!

I was born in Lakenheath AFB in England. I wrote my first book at age 6 (no, it was never published!) and started my first novel at age 12. Of course, shortly afterward I discovered girls and that book remains unfinished to this day.

Tams Dream Cast for the Bachiyr!

So, those that have been following McAfee and his blog for a few years will know that at one point, there was a hint at a possible movie for the book. Sadly, that option has fallen through, for now. I'm a firm believer in putting something out there in the universe and getting it back ten fold. Well I'm putting it out there, don't stop dreaming David, I'm confident that your psychotic, murdering, vindictive and sometimes sexy vampires will be on the big screen someday! Don't burst my bubble people, a girl can dream. Anywho... were the book to be made into a movie, I've already cast a few of the characters....

I could see Christian Bale playing Headcouncil Herris. I see Herris as evil, calculated and precise. He is also conveyed in my mind as someone dark, brooding and dangerously sexy. Like his looks could bring down your barriers and then he'd swoop in for the kill. American Psycho anyone?

Theron, the assassin. I always had trouble actually picturing him when I read the first couple books. He's the type of person that would make your skin crawl, not necessarily his looks per say, just this vibe he gives. And though David might roll his eyes at the reference, the first time I saw Twilight Eclipse, when Billy is telling the story of the Quileute Legend of Taha Aki I was like, holy shit... THAT is Theron!

Beautifully misunderstood Baella. She is very Monica Belluci, don't you think? It's kind of fitting that Monica played Mary Magdalene in Passion of the Christ, just sayin...

And last but definitely not least, Taras. The Roman soldier turned unwitting Vampire by the crazy afore mentioned Theron. Watching Taras' journey unfold in each book has been both intriguing and terrifying. He truly has the potential to become a force of nature that wipes them all off the map.

I'm thinking Alexander Skaarsgard.

And just cause, I found this amazing image online, Taras and Baella.

So remember my suggestions David,when Hollywood comes calling again!

And now for the good stuff, the giveaway.

Win it before you can Buy it!

One lucky person will win an e-book copy of Omnibus, all 3 novels plus the two novellas in the Bachiyr series. Just leave a comment below. What's your favorite McAfee read? Haven't read anything by David yet? Why not?! Tell us which title will be first. I'll have Mr McAfee stop by on July 1st sometime to choose the winner from the comments left.

Thanks for stopping by David and sharing your new release with us. Until next time...

Grab your copies of all the amazing books in this series, and I highly recommend reading the series in order, that way you can fully appreciate all the characters and their shenanigans!

While 79 A.D. won't be available until midnight tonight (release date 6-29-15) you can click that little 'shop now' button below and pre-order it. Then you can wake up tomorrow and have a little Taras with your coffee!

The Tide of War virtual tour | Spotlight, Exclusive Excerpt & COMMENT Giveaway {Riptide Publishing}

12:00 AM 9 comments

Lieutenant Commander Kyle West is one of Earth Fleet’s greatest fighter pilots. Every day, he leads his squadron into battle over Earth’s cities in a seemingly endless war against a vicious alien race, defending his home and his loved ones.

Millions of miles away, the Fleet’s Elite Squadron attacks from another angle, engaging the enemy on its home turf. Casualties are high, and the Squadron needs more of the Fleet’s very best. But joining the Elite is a death sentence—a surety Kyle isn’t willing to face. Until a devastating attack wipes out the family he refused to leave.

Commander Andrei Dezhnyov, an Elite Squadron gunner, isn’t sure what to make of the cocky new American pilot. Kyle is equally uncertain about the snarly Russian, but as they warm up to each other, their tentative alliance becomes a deep bond—one that endangers them both when a daring and disobedient rescue reveals secrets that call into question everything they’ve ever believed about their enemy. Secrets that their superiors would kill to protect.

The Tide of War is available July 22^nd from Riptide Publishing.

EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT

(Kyle & Emily flying their fighter to the alien planet with their squadron for the first time…)

Though coming to Epsilon had been on the bitter end of bittersweet, Kyle still got a charge out of launching off the flight deck for the first time.

The station’s flight deck was a long tunnel extending through the core of Epsilon, open on both ends. Its runway surface had been designed to look a lot like the old-time aircraft carriers from back in the days when wars happened on oceans instead of in the stratosphere. Catapults that had once thrust fighter jets into the air now flung the modern-day fighters toward the Menarian atmosphere, thus preserving fuel for combat maneuvers and the return to Epsilon at the end of the mission.

The catapult shot them out into space, sending them straight toward Menar.

After a full month—not to mention the three weeks in stasis—away from a real cockpit, he’d been dying to feel this again, and it brought a grin to his face as he white-knuckled the control stick.

“You love that, don’t you?” Emily teased.

“Like sex after a dry spell.”

“Honey, if sex feels like this to you, I think you’re doing it wrong.”

“If it doesn’t feel like this to you, I think you’re doing it wrong.”

She just laughed.

Kyle stared straight ahead at the planet coming toward them. Something so huge didn’t appear to move much, if at all—just as the ground didn’t seem to move very fast beneath a high-flying fighter back on Earth—but the thrill remained. The exhilaration, the fear, the sheer knowledge he was minutes away from being inside the shell of roiling black clouds that shrouded the entire planet. The planet he was hell-bent on destroying, one structure and one scaly bastard at a time if he had to.

They dropped into the thick black clouds, and their visibility was nil. Thank God for the simulators; if there was one thing Kyle didn’t like, it was flying blind, even when he had his radar to point out incoming bogeys or crash hazards. Thanks to the simulations, though, he’d had a chance to get used to flying through this seemingly impenetrable haze.

“Seven Alpha to Squadron Seven,” Teterev said over the radio. “Clearing cloud cover in two minutes.”

Sure enough, two minutes after diving into the cloud cover, Emily and Kyle broke through, and they got their first in-person view of the surface of Menar.

It was daytime on Menar, he knew that much, but aside from a few pillars of sunlight piercing the black canopy, it was dark. Wisps of God knew what kind of gases and pollution danced in those rare sunbeams, vaguely illuminating the landscape. The whole planet just had a rotting, sinister look about it. Like something out of a bootlegged horror movie he might’ve watched as a kid.

As they descended to lower altitudes and the landscape became clearer, it was even more horrific. Massive, gaping black craters. Vegetation that was dead or close to it. Charred, skeletal remains of small clusters of whatever Menarians considered to be civilization.

Just like in the simulators but still somehow jarring.

“I can definitely see why they want a piece of Earth,” Emily said.

“Yeah. Me too.” Kyle flashed her a grin. “Ready to give them a piece of Earth?”

She grinned back. “Absolutely.”

“Hey, Seven Foxtrot.” Dezhnyov’s voice was tinny over the radio. “You two ready to meet the Menarians in their own backyard?”

“Ready, Seven Alpha.” Kyle loosened and tightened his grasp on the control stick. “Been waiting my whole life for this.”

“Good,” Teterev said. “Estimated contact in sixty seconds.”

“First wave has confirmed the city’s defenses are neutralized,” Dezhnyov said. “Roll in fast. We need to get to that launch pad before the cargo ship gets too high.”

“Keep an eye out for bogeys,” Teterev said. “They’ll be sending reinforcements if they haven’t already.”

“Tell ’em to bring it on,” Emily said. “I’m ready for them.”

“Good,” Dezhnyov replied, “because there they are.”

As if on cue, half a dozen Menarian fighters appeared out of nowhere, flying in a tight wedge formation.

“Break formation,” Teterev ordered. “Pair up, and take ’em out.”

“Make it quick,” Dezhnyov said. “Cargo ship launch imminent.”

“Roger that.” Kyle banked hard and hurtled toward the formation. “This won’t take long.”

The Menarians scattered. Kyle chased two away from the group, and then let them get behind him. He led them toward the city, closing the distance between himself and the cargo ship even while he was taking out the two defenders.

Kyle immediately liked playing offense instead of defense. Whenever the Menarians attacked on Earth, there was always a bit of panic, a feeling of being caught off guard even when they had some warning. This time, there was none of that because it was the Menarians who were being caught off guard. They might have known the landscape better than he did, but he didn’t give a damn if a stray missile damaged that landscape or took out a structure.

Near the central part of the city, he used the tall buildings and gaps between them to his advantage, swooping through the narrow spaces and making tight circles around the structures to throw off his pursuers. He banked hard to the left, slipped between the two structures, and then made a hard right. One Menarian on their tail made it between the structures, but it didn’t make that hard right as cleanly as it needed to. A shower of sparks, a ball of fire, and that was one bogey down and one structure compromised.

The second, however, was tougher to elude.

Kyle zigged. So did the Menarian.

He zagged. So did the Menarian.

“Damn it, this guy’s good,” he muttered.

Such was the problem with a war that had gone on for so fucking long. Both sides adapted to each other until their fighting was similar in both strategy and ability. The boxer fighting the same opponent over and over learned to anticipate both attacks and defenses, memorized weaknesses and strengths. The alien fighter pilot accustomed to a human’s maneuvers learned to anticipate them, as well.

“Can you get on top of him?” Emily asked.

“Give me a second . . . Okay, ready?”

“When you are.”

They both braced, and Kyle dived hard. The fighter went straight down, then inverted and started coming back up. The g-forces were tremendous, but he gritted his teeth and kept the throttle and control stick forward until the bird leveled out again.

The other fighter either hadn’t predicted the move, or hadn’t been able to copy it, and as Kyle’s fighter completed its loop, they came straight down toward the Menarian’s canopy.

“I got him,” Emily said, and a split second later, the fighter jolted as a missile launched.

The Menarian tried to evade, but the shot slammed into it. The explosion lit up the dark sky and metal buildings, raining fiery debris onto the streets below.

“Nice!” Kyle said. “Your first hit on Menar.”

“First of many,” she said with a grin. “Now we— Shit, we’ve got two on our six.”

Out of nowhere, a missile collided with one of the Menarian fighters.

“Make that one on your six,” Dezhnyov’s sharply accented voice said over the radio. Another explosion, and the second was gone. “You’re welcome, Foxtrot.”

“Asshole,” Emily muttered. “Didn’t even give me a chance to shoot them.”

Kyle laughed. “He’s going to hear about that, isn’t he?”

“Oh, you’re damn right he is.”

“FYI, rookies,” Dezhnyov said, chuckling, “your radio’s still on.”

“That’s because my thumb was still on the button,” Emily said. “That was for your ears, Dezhnyov. We’ll finish this at home.”

“I like her,” Teterev broke in.

“Traitor,” Dezhnyov muttered.

Lori A. Witt is the fourth corner of the Gallagher-Witt quad, and prefers to play in the genres of science fiction and fantasy over all that romance nonsense. Okay, so romance does show up sometimes, but these are the books she writes when she needs a change of pace. Sword and sorcery, spaceships, and just general weird nerdy goodness—Lori writes it all. Like the other members of the quad (L.A. Witt, Lauren Gallagher, and Ann Gallagher), Lori is in the process of relocating from Omahabad, Nebraskastan to the southwestern coast of Spain. In her spare time, she tries to stay out of the middle of L.A.’s and Lauren’s ongoing rivalry, while never missing a chance to trip Ann when she’s not paying attention.

Connect with Lori:

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

Website: http://www.gallagherwitt.com
Blog: http://gallagherwitt.blogspot.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GallagherWitt

Every comment on this blog tour enters you in a drawing for a choice of two eBooks off my backlist (including books written as L.A. Witt or Lauren Gallagher, excluding The Tide of War) and a $10 Riptide Publishing store credit. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on July 28^th, and winners will be announced on July 29^th. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries.

Cover Reveal | Darkest Revelations by Charlene M Martin

12:00 AM 1 comment

Darkest Revelations

This is a novella and it should be read after you’ve read The Sweet Temptation of Whiskey by Charlene M. Martin.

Have you ever wondered what secrets Mr. Black holds?

Blurb

Mr. Black also known as Whiskey is a victim of sexual abuse, but not in the normal sense one may think. On more than one occasion, Whiskey watched his mother being sexually assaulted. The impact of seeing those terrifying things at such a young age took him to a very dark place. He began to use whiskey and women to work through his problems, but when those stopped working, he sought out the help of a professional.

Ms. Langford must find a way to stay professional while dealing with Mr. Black's darkest revelations. Her attraction to him is undeniable, but he’s a client. She can’t have these feelings for him it would be unethical. She struggles to find an outlet for her sexual frustrations, due to Mr. Black’s explicit revelations.

Will she remain professional or will she give into her

Darkest Temptations?

Forget Me Not Release day Blitz!

12:00 AM No comments

Forget Me Knot (Royal Reaper 2)

by Ruth Silver

Publisher: Booktrope

Published: June 23, 2015

Don’t mess with death. When Wynter explores his newly developed dark angel powers, regret soon fills his heart and mind. Saving a soul isn’t what he imagined it to be, and it puts the grim reaper he loves in grave danger. Obligated to take the throne as Queen, Mara must face the truth and unravel secrets she may not be ready to accept. The second book in the Royal Reaper saga takes you on a paranormal fantasy adventure into a world of grim reapers, dark angels, and undead trucidators.

Add to Goodreads

Amazon

Also available on Barnes & Noble and iBooks

Excerpt

Death crept into the castle. Mara could feel its darkness pressing her down. As she walked to her father's bedchamber, the thought of marrying a man she did not love weighed heavily on her. All the invitations had been sent out months ago. Just as her life was beginning to almost feel normal, her father, King Philip, had fallen ill along with the court of Casmerelda and much of the kingdom. The second wave of the plague violently spread, leaving a trail of death and burning corpses for the living to clean up.

Her father had been bedridden for three days. His fever spiked and his skin glistened. He grew delirious, falling in and out of consciousness. As much as she despised him for what he’d done to her sister’s boyfriend, he was still her father. She didn’t want to be left alone.

“You must marry Astin at once.”

Mara cringed. “I can’t.” Her lips hidden as she wore a piece of ivory cloth against her nose and mouth, the slightest bit of protection from the disease that had taken over the kingdom. “I don’t love him. Please don’t do this to me.”

“Don’t be selfish.” The words struggled to reach his lips. He coughed and heaved, his chest rising and falling quickly as his pulse raced. “I’ll be with your mother soon…”

“You’ll be dead.”

Taking in several deep breaths, he opened his mouth, his words coming out as a whisper. “You will be reigning queen. Mara, you must act the part. Marry Astin and forge an alliance with the country of Morro, for the sake of Casmerelda. Your people need you.”

“I need you,” Mara said, gripping her father’s hand. She frowned, studying the tips of his fingers, a blackened hue lacing his skin.

“You shouldn’t touch me.” He tried to pull away, unsuccessfully. Her grip remained tight, but more significantly, he’d grown weak from the disease ravaging his body.

“I haven’t been infected, and I’ve been at your bedside every night.” Mara ordered the servants to bring more water and rags. It had done little good to break his fever or alleviate the discomfort he must have been experiencing, but it was all she could think of to help.

“Marry Astin.” His words were rough slipping past his lips. He wheezed, trying to speak, but Mara rested a hand upon his chest.

“Don’t.” She didn’t want to have this conversation again.

“For the sake of the kingdom,” he said, pleading with her.

Mara refused to answer. Marrying Astin wasn’t what she wanted. “I have no desire to be queen so young. You will pull through, do you hear me?”

He’d fallen into a deep slumber, unable to answer her.

Ruth Silver is the best-selling author of the Aberrant trilogy. With a passion for writing and a love of story-telling, Ruth is actively writing two series: Royal Reaper and Orenda. She also writes The Federal Agent Chronicles and Palace Secrets, both of which are adult romance under the name Ravyn Rayne for Blushing Books. Her interests include traveling, reading, and photography. Her favorite vacation destination is Australia. Ruth currently resides in Plainfield, Illinois.

Author links: Blog- http://writeawaybliss.com Facebook- http://facebook.com/writeawaybliss Twitter- http://twitter.com/writeawaybliss Looking for a steamier read? Check her out here: Blog- http://ravynrayne.com Facebook- http://facebook.com/ravynraynereads Twitter- http://twitter.com/blushingravyn

Spell Bound by Jacob Z Flores | Spotlight, Review, Playlist & COMMENT Giveaway

10:59 AM 6 comments

Mason Blackmoor just can’t compete with his brothers, much less his father. They represent the epitome of black magic, strong, dark, and wicked, and though Mason tries to live up to his respected lineage, most of the spells he casts go awry. To make matters worse, his active power has yet to kick in. While his brothers wield lightning and harness the cold, Mason sits on the sidelines, waiting for the moment when he can finally enter the magical game.

When a dead body is discovered on the football field of his high school, Mason meets Drake Carpenter, the new kid in town. Drake’s confident demeanor and quick wit rub Mason the wrong way. Drake is far too self-assured for someone without an ounce of magical blood in his body, and Mason aims to teach him a lesson—like turn him into a roach. And if he’s lucky, maybe this time Mason won’t be the one turned into an insect.

Not surprisingly, the dislike is mutual, and Drake does nothing to dispel Mason’s suspicion that the sexy boy with a southern drawl is somehow connected to the murder.

If only Mason didn’t find himself inexplicably spellbound whenever they are together, they might actually find out what danger hides in the shadows.

Buy links: Amazon | Dreamspinner Press

Tams 5 Star review *****

Mason Blackmoor may be a warlock, but he’s also a teenager who has to deal with school, frenemies, bitchy witches and trying to keep his sexuality under wraps. He’s not in the closet per say, he just hasn’t told anyone. Mason hasn’t been able to get a handle on his powers yet either, a fact that his two older brothers taunt him with on the daily. His father is powerful and a leader among their coven, both his brothers have mastered their talents, so Mason is frustrated that he hasn’t figured out what his ability is as of yet. But watching some of his spells backfire sure was hysterical.

Drake Carpenter is a good ole boy that mosey’s into Mason’s life and turns his world upside down. At first the two can’t stand the sight of each other, but then Mason saves Drake from a wayward piece of glass when, get this, he casts a spell and it works. The initial irritation these two felt quickly evolves into a mutual attraction. Mason is sort of dark and brooding, where as Drake is a blonde haired, blue eyed ray of sunshine. They compliment each other.

Mason has more than one conversation with his family about what is expected of him. To take on this dark persona, much like their dark magic, but Mason has never been one to play by the rules. Not only did Mason start to gain some control over his ability when Drake came into the picture, but the more time they spend together the stronger his control becomes. There is something much darker than the dark magic the Blackmoor’s possess though, something that has even the council running scared. Can Mason master his powers before Drake, his brothers, or worse, Mason himself becomes the next casualty of the evil that has moved into town?

I am always excited when a new book about magic comes out. Spell Bound is the first in a new series that promises to be dark, dangerous and downright sexy. What I enjoyed most about this story was Mason and how much he grew throughout. He’s very cocky and self assured in the beginning, when in actuality he can’t even cast a spell without it rebounding. It reminded me of Ron Weasley trying to curse Malfoy but he ended up spitting up eels! Mason is also supposed to act a certain way because of who his family is and what they expect of him, not mingle or be friends with other magical families. Well, like I said, Mason doesn’t play by the rules. By the end of the book he’s earned that cocky, self assured attitude and learned that he does have friends that don’t care his name is Blackmoor, or that he’s gay.

There was a lot of action going on so the story moved along at a fast, steady pace. There was some drama, a bit of angst and a lot of romance. I absolutely loved it when Mason went from his brooding nature to this romantic walk on the beach, holding hands and kissing kind of guy. He and Drake were just too cute, I can’t wait to see where this series takes them. Flores left a trail of bread crumbs for us to look forward to following in the next book, that is for sure. What is the semblance of the necklace? And I have to wonder if Adam is going to become a problem. I’m seriously anxious to learn who is controlling the Vampyre as well.

Great start to a new series, definitely a must read for anyone that likes paranormal, romance, witches, magic and just a fun romantic story with an edge.

Jacob Z. Flores lives a double life. During the day, he is a respected college English professor and mid-level administrator. At night and during his summer vacation, he loosens the tie and tosses aside the trendy sports coat to write man on man fiction, where the hard ass assessor of freshmen level composition turns his attention to the firm posteriors and other rigid appendages of the characters in his fictional world.

Summers in Provincetown, Massachusetts, provide Jacob with inspiration for his fiction. The abundance of barely clothed man flesh and daily debauchery stimulates his personal muse. When he isn’t stroking the keyboard, Jacob spends time with his daughter. They both represent a bright blue blip in an otherwise predominantly red swath in south Texas.

Author links: website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

A little something special, here is Jacob's playlist for Spell Bound...

* Fancey | Iggy Azalea *

* I Really Like You | Carly Rae Jepsen *

* Magic Carpet Ride | Steppenwolf *

* A Kind of Magic | Queen *

* Cosmic Love | Florence and the Machine *

* Headstrong | Trapt *

* Dark Horse | Katy Perry *

* Supernatural | Kesha *

Up for grabs is an e-book copy for ONE lucky winner from Jacob's backlist.

Follow this link to see Flores's backlist, winner's choice any book from this list

(EXCLUDING Spell Bound)

A huge thank you to Jacob for stopping by and sharing the tunes he listened to while writing this book. I can't wait to read the next book in this amazing new series!

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment below, what is your favorite supernatural read?

Blood and Ink by Jack Bridges | Spotlight, Excerpt & #giveaway {Pride Promotions}

12:00 AM 2 comments

Annie's grandmother knows old secrets, and Annie is strong and smart. Together, they keep the family safe through the drought. Then bigger trouble comes to their city, and Annie will need more than quick thinking if they are going to survive. Can Annie learn Grandma's secrets in time?

Grab your copy of Blood and Ink from Torquere today!

Excerpt:

Clouds rolled in, white and puffy in the winter blue sky, but there was no moisture in the air, or in the sand beneath Annie’s bare feet.

"Rain?" Annie asked hopefully, and Grandma shook her head and looked sad.

Annie knew why. Without the potatoes and beans from the garden, without the lupins and sunflower seeds, all they’d have to live on would be gruel. There’d been no rain for months, even though the days were short and the nights cold, and it was nearly time for the summer to come back.

"Gruel will make us sick," Annie said. "Will the government make rain?"

Grandma swore, something vicious and rude, under her breath. Annie was made sure to remember the word, because it was a new word and Annie collected those words.

They stood, studying the empty clouds over their heads while the chickens fought over the scraps, and even in the middle of winter the sun still hurt Annie’s bare arms.

"What did you use to do to make rain?" Annie asked Grandma. "Before?" Grandma knew things that everyone else had forgotten, and she didn’t go to church. "Is there magic?"

Annie had to whisper that, because Mum was a Believer, and she’d shout or pray or something if she thought Annie knew about magic.

The rainwater tank leaned against the back wall of the house. Grandma shuffled over and whacked it with her cane. The metal drum rang loudly.

"There’s magic," Grandma said.

Jack Bridges is a writer and academic who lives in Perth, Western Australia, and works at a small university teaching students the basics of research methodology. He sometimes hides in a shack in the forest and makes complex plans for surviving environmental apocalypses.

Where to find the author:

Facebook Author Page: xhttps://www.facebook.com/pages/Jack-Bridges/463367120505003

Website: www.jacklanebridges.com

Other: http://www.redbubble.com/people/jackbridges

Tour Dates & Stops: June 22, 2015

Rafflecopter Prize: E-copy of ‘Blood and Ink’ by Jack Bridges

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Worth Keeping by Susan Mac Nicol | Review, Teaser & Giveaway {TTC AOTM}

9:54 PM 1 comment

~ Worth Keeping ~

Abused horrifically as a boy, Nick Mathers has come to terms with his existence as a man. Mostly. Other days life seems a little much. Especially when Nick knows he’ll always be alone.

On those days his thoughts turn black. He walks the Norfolk coast and considers the frigid embrace of the waves. And then, one stormy night, he finds someone who’s tasted just that. The beautiful stranger on the beach is near death, and Nick rushes him home to slowly nurse back to health. As he does, he finds a love unlike any other.

Owen Butler’s body is as warm as the sea was cold, his heart as big as an ocean. And Owen is a man who swears to repay the favor. Nick can yet be saved from himself, and he will see that he is indeed a man ... worth keeping.

Tams 4 Star review ****

Nick Mathers.. dark and brooding, artist and light house keeper in his small corner of the world. To say his past is the stuff of nightmares is an understatement. Violated and abused as a teen, his own mother was the enabler. And then in his confusion he mistook a controling and domineering man for love. His body, both inside and out, carry the weight of the hard life he's lead, and he remains isolated in his light house, pondering ending it all. Until he meets Owen.

Owen Butler is no stranger to heartache himself. His lover was killed in random act of violence and he's never quite recovered. He does a little more than ponder an ending, and winds up washing ashore on Nick's light house beach. The energy between these two is electric, and they act on it immediately. Nick decided long ago that he was better off alone. His scars run way too deep to even consider a lover. His emotions are so out of sync that his mind sometimes blurs the lines between reality and the past. And he refuses to hurt anyone, or let them in.

Both men are stubborn, strong willed and determined. Owen has fallen in love and will do whatever it takes to gain Nick's love in return. The push and pull at times is extreme. The question is, can they find a balance between the push and pull. When your entire life has been a series of nightmares, self loathing and pain; can you find a way to love again? Owen is more than willing to draw him a map!

I'm reminded of a movie quote with these two, "Don't say we may not be right for each other. Because the way I see it, we may not be right for anybody else!"

This is a dark love story with a lot of mystery and suspense. I loved the six degrees of separation aspect to the story line as well, in the end, all things were connected. People, places and things that were seemingly random throughout, actually converged for a tumultuous ending. There was passion, steam and just the right amount of angst for these two lovers as well. The shower scene alone makes this book a must read! The fact that the story itself is well written and the characters have depth and a certain reality to them is just a bonus.

Susan Mac Nicol is a self confessed bookaholic, an avid watcher of videos of sexy pole dancing men, self confessed geek and nerd and in love with her Smartphone. This little treasure is called 'the boyfriend' by her long suffering husband, who says if it vibrated, there'd be no need for him. Susan hasn't had the heart to tell him there's an app for that...

She is never happier than when sitting in the confines of her living room/study/on a cold station platform scribbling down words and making two men fall in love. She is a romantic at heart and believes that everything happens (for the most part) for a reason. She likes to think of herself as a 'half full' kinda gal, although sometimes that philosophy is sorely tested.

Lover of walks in the forest, theatre productions, dabbling her toes in the cold North Sea and the vibrant city of London where you can experience all four seasons in a day , she is a hater of pantomime (so please don't tar and feather her), duplicitous people, bigotry and self-righteous idiots.

In an ideal world, Susan Mac Nicol would be Queen of England and banish all the bad people to the Never Never Lands of Wherever -Who Cares. As that's never going to happen, she contents herself with writing her HEA stories and pretending, that just for a little while, good things happen to good people.

Susan Mac Nicol author links:

www.susanmacnicol.com
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Susan is offering up ONE e-book from her backlist to THREE lucky winners!

Also, don't forget Susan is the Author of the Month here at TTC for June. Be sure to hop over to the AOTM feature page for all her author links as well as the links and blurb for all her MM books.

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