'Autumn Dreams (A Spirit Walker Novel)' by Susan Edwards

Autumn Dreams
By Susan Edwards

BLURB:

Change is Coming

The night her family came under attack changed Kangee forever. Weeks later, her mother is still missing and is feared dead--until in dreams Kangee connects with her mother and learns that her mother is trapped with an evil spirit named Ardong. Kangee is a SpiritWalker, but one without many of the gifts and talents of her people yet she is the one chosen to save her mother. How can she, a foolish daydreamer, possibly save her mother?

She turns to a young shaman for help.

Night Warrior refuses to accept his calling as Shaman. He is a DreamWalker who knows the danger of wielding too much power. Ambushed and left for dead, Night Warrior would have died had it not been for the SpiritWalker who saved his life and in doing so, has given him the same abilities. Now wields more power than he'd ever imagined. When dreams connect him to Kangee he can no longer fight his destiny.

But Evil lurks in the shadows, just a dream away. Night Warrior and Kangee embark on a dangerous quest filled with love, passion, fear and hope. Can they find the courage to defeat Ardong, free Kangee’s mother and accept their place in the world as The Choosen? Could the answers lie in their dreams?

Autumn Dreams will take you into a world filled with beauty and darkness and a love that goes beyond this world.

Read an excerpt:

Kangee’s features turned grim. The look in her eyes was one that her family recognized as a warning to tread carefully. Kangee focused on the edge of the roof and the layer of pine needles that the wind had yet to sweep away. Silently, she called upon the breath of Wind to brush the needles into a neat pile then waited.

When Tatonga stepped out with a bowl of water cupped in her hands, Kangee shifted her hands in her lap and with a tiny, short jerk, the pine needles took to the air, lifted by a sudden, concentrated gust of wind. The dry needles hung as though suspended then fell right on top of the woman.

Startled, Tatonga jumped back, dropped her bowl of water and fell, landing on her backside. The bowl hit the dusty ground and sent into the air a small wave of cold water that with a bit of help from Kangee ended up splashing Night Warrior.

Night Warrior jerked and gave a low hiss of pain. Kangee hid her satisfied smile.

“Not nice, Little Sister.” A thread of humor laced Blaze’s rebuke.

Kangee shrugged. Petty of her, she knew, careful to avoid her father and grandmother’s gazes. Beside Blaze, Bright Star chuckled and leaned closer. “Clever. Very clever,” she whispered.

Kangee’s lips twitched. That small act of rebellion went a long way to easing the tightness in her heart.

Book buy links

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

SUSAN EDWARDS resides in California with her husband of thirty + years. She love animals and has five cats include a pair of two-year-old kittens (they are her babies) as well as two adorable Chiweenie pups named JJ and Abbey. The four youngsters in the pet department make her smile, laugh and sometimes groan each and every day. Recently, she got temporary (ha!) custody of Shasta, her daughter’s three year old, Great Pyrenees.

Susan also enjoys crafts of all sorts including quilting, sewing, cross-stitch and knitting. Knitting and crochet are her current passions. She is also an avid gardener. Through her love of all things Native American, she designed a 26-foot Medicine Wheel Garden. It’s a big project but one that she loves, except when the weeds threaten. Right now, it’s uncertain who is winning this war!

You can follow her progress on her website. Camping, fishing, biking and hiking (when not hot) are other outdoor pursuits she and her husband enjoy.

She is of course, an avid reader and hates cooking and housework. While writing, she listens to a wide variety of music, including Neil Diamond, Celtic, Native American, New Age, Classical, and mood music (bagpipes and howling wolves drive my family nuts). Her current favorites are Blackmore’s Night and David Lanz.

Website: http://susanedwards.com
Email: susan@susanedwards.com
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/susanedwardsauthor
Twitter http://twitter.com/susan_edwards
Blog http://susanedwards.wordpress.com/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5051440.Susan_Edwards


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'Vault of Secrets' by Hawk MacKinney Super Book Blast!

VAULT OF SECRETS
By Hawk McKinney

BLURB:

Vault of Secrets is a compelling tale of intrigue, murder, deception and redemption that leads retired Navy SEAL/part-time private investigator Craige Ingram in search of the connection between seemingly random murders and a banking conspiracy. Working with the local homicide investigator, who just happens to be a former Navy buddy, Craige Ingram's attempts to protect a lonely widow and solve the case before another person dies are only thwarted by a psychotic killer whose motivation is based on pure pleasure. The instincts and skills Ingram and his buddy acquired as Navy SEALS are tested to their limits.

Read an excerpt:

Predawn risers were at Duke’s breakfast diner in booths and at tables. The aroma of fried eggs, pancakes, grits, bacon and country ham filled the air. Gray caught Craige up on Sedgewicke’s autopsy reports—chronic degenerative heart condition, sky high cholesterol and arterial disease.

“His heart wasn’t what killed him. Got us a crafty one here,” Gray sighed. “CDC Atlanta verified Fred’s gas chromatography runs on the poison.” Handed Craige the folder.

Craige’s eyes zeroed to the big, bold word—ACONITE. “Lethal dose of aconite in Royce’s tissues,” Craige said. “Gives the how but not the way it was slipped to Sedgewicke.” He looked through the rest of the toxicology report. “Not very original. Rome’s Julio-Claudian's treacherous family of brigands was in some ways a lot more honest than most of us and far more sophisticated with aconite. They called it wolfsbane and used it often. Wife of old Octavian Augustus, a determined old dowager, the Empress Livia, it was rumored to be her favorite method for eliminating rivals. She kept her supplier on call. Augustus wouldn’t eat anything except food prepared by his own slaves. Livia wanted her son Tiberius to succeed to the purple. She was afraid Augustus meant to be rid of Tiberius, so she dusted her husband’s figs with the bane. People do get away with murder and simple makes for better odds.” Craige glanced at the next page. “This gone beyond your office?”

“Only CDC,” Gray said. “Your crack about possible killings we don’t know about keeps troubling me.” He scratched his wiry mustache. “Marshall’s suicide, Sedgewicke murder, two women dead, the Stanley break-in.”

Craige closed the folder, his face stony serious. “I’ve never done, what I’m about to do. Ask you for a favor...”

“No…” Craige’s monotone hardness surprised Gray. “But I gather that’s about to change.”

Book buy links

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

With postgraduate degrees and faculty appointments in several medical universities, Hawk MacKinney has taught graduate courses in both the United States and Jerusalem. In addition to professional articles and texts on chordate neuroembryology, Hawk has authored several works of fiction.

Hawk began writing mysteries for his school newspaper. His works of fiction, historical love stories, science fiction and mystery-thrillers are not genre-centered, but plot-character driven, and reflect his southwest upbringing in Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma. Moccasin Trace, a historical novel nominated for the prestigious Michael Shaara Award for Excellence in Civil War Fiction and the Writers Notes Book Award, details the family bloodlines of his serial protagonist in the Craige Ingram Mystery Series… murder and mayhem with a touch of romance. Vault of Secrets, the first book in the Ingram series, was followed by Nymrod Resurrection, Blood and Gold, and The Lady of Corpsewood Manor. All have received national attention. Hawk’s latest release in the Ingram series is due out this fall with another mystery-thriller work out in 2014. The Bleikovat Event, the first volume in The Cairns of Sainctuarie science fiction series, was released in 2012.

"Without question, Hawk is one of the most gifted and imaginative writers I have had the pleasure to represent. His reading fans have something special to look forward to in the Craige Ingram Mystery Series. Intrigue, murder, deception and conspiracy--these are the things that take Hawk's main character, Navy ex-SEAL/part-time private investigator Craige Ingram, from his South Carolina ancestral home of Moccasin Hollow to the dirty backrooms of the nation's capital and across Europe and the Middle East."

Barbara Casey, President
Barbara Casey Literary Agency

Website: www.hawkmackinney.net

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The Sydney Rye Series by Emily Kimelman

SYDNEY RYE SERIES
by Emily Kimelman

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

Books 1-3, The complete Series Box Set (Value Pack)

The Sydney Rye series of mysteries features a strong female protagonist and her rescue dog, Blue. This series is recommended for the 18+ who enjoy some violence, don't mind dirty language, and are up for a dash of sex. Not to mention an awesome, rollicking good mystery!

This box set includes all three of the Sydney Rye Books.


Download the entire box set on Amazon

UNLEASHED (A Sydney Rye Novel, #1)

When the series begins Sydney Rye is named Joy Humbolt. She does not like people telling her what to do, so it comes as no surprise that she was just fired from her last job. When she buys Charlene Miller's dog-walking business on Manhattan's exclusive upper east side, it seems like the perfect fit: Quiet environment, minimal contact with people.

But then one of her clients turns up dead, and Charlene disappears. Rumors say Charlene was having an affair with the victim--and of course, everyone assumes Joy must know where she is. Joy begins to look into the crime, first out of curiosity then out of anger when there is another murder and threats start to come her way.

When police detective Mulberry is assigned to the case, Joy finds a kindred spirit--cynical and none-too-fond of the human race. As they dig deep into the secrets of Manhattan's elite, they not only get closer to the killer but also to a point of no return. One last murder sends Joy Humbolt hurtling over the edge. Her only chance of survival is to become Sydney Rye.

Read an excerpt:

I packed the few items of clothing I had and put a leash on Blue. I picked up a bottle of tequila at the liquor store and then hopped on the subway acting like it was legal to bring a giant dog on the train.

Halfway there I opened the bottle of tequila and took a painful swig. A child watched me with big, glistening eyes. Her mother, without looking at me, distracted him with a colorful stuffed toy that had lots of legs.

I stumbled on the steps on my way out of the subway, scraping my knee on the filthy cement. Blue whined and licked my face. I picked myself up and walked to the Excelsior. The man behind the desk didn’t move as I walked by him to the elevator.

Once in my room I placed the bottle of tequila on the coffee table. I pulled my gun out of my bag and put it next to the tequila. I found my bullets and spilled them onto the coffee table. A couple of them rolled onto the floor. They were gold and pretty looking. I ran my hands over their smooth surfaces, pushing them around.

I woke up naked in bed with a big hangover. I walked barefoot into the living room and grabbed a $7 beer out of the mini bar and opened it on the bottle opener attached to my bathroom wall. I didn’t look in the mirror.

**My thoughts**

Many times I had seen the Sydney Rye series scroll past, whether via Amazon, book tours, or even on Facebook. I just wasn't sure that I wanted to try the series and kept putting it off. Finally, I decided to give it a shot when I saw that the first installment was free for Kindle. After all, I wouldn't be losing anything but my time. I was surprised at how much I ended up liking this book.

Reading through the first book, I was confused as to why Sydney Rye was never mentioned, though the name is the title for the entire series. You do have to read through the entire first book, to find out why Joy decides to become Sydney, and then it makes more sense.

Joy's story is a bizarre one. She randomly ends up getting a job as a dog walker, after being fired from her other job. As soon as she starts her job, she ends up knee deep in murder and mystery, putting herself and her loved ones into extreme danger as she uncovers corruption.

Joy is crass and sarcastic, yet has a way with dogs. She has few friends in life, a crazy ex, a fanatic mother and stepfather, and a doting brother. She probably isn't someone whom I would choose to be one of my friends, yet she is interesting to read. Her amateur sleuthing skills may not rival the classic detectives, but she is able to get information that others haven't yet been able to find. Detective Mulberry is interesting, as he doesn't strike me as a traditional detective, and he is hopelessly devoted to Joy. She also has her hopelessly devoted dog, Blue. And I do love secret passageways, no matter how improbable they may seem to be.

This is not a book for people who don't like swearing, drinking, sex, and all of that other stuff that warrants an R rating. It's also definitely not for those under the age of 18. But those who are over the age of 18 who don't mind a raunchy mystery may get a kick out of Joy and Sydney.


Download book 1 for free on Amazon

DEATH IN THE DARK (A Sydney Rye Novella, #2)

At the beginning of Death in the Dark we find Joy Humbolt hiding, not only from the law, but also from her past and the mistakes she's made. Living this isolated life doesn't last long though when a visit from Mulberry brings Joy to accept her new identity as the Private Detective, Sydney Rye. To complete the transformation, Joy must learn to control her emotions as well as her giant aggressive dog, Blue. With the help of an expert trainer, Joy learns to fight with her mind as well as her body. However, when the daughter of a close friend is brutally murdered in the desert, Rye turns away from her mentor to seek revenge. Sydney's quick temper and deadly intentions lead her into a trap that she will need all of her new skills to survive.

Read an excerpt:

After leaving the city I drove parallel to the ocean in what looked like a desert. That’s the thing about Puerto Penasco, it’s ocean front but you’d never know it unless you were looking right at the sea. The sand stretches back to the U.S border and beyond. I could see how a person wandering in those never-ending dunes could stumble onto the shores of the Sea of Cortez and think it was a mirage. The sparkling turquoise water does not belong in the middle of a land so parched.

The sign for my oyster farm was hand painted and featured a topless mermaid pointing with a mollusk down a sand road into the dunes. The next sign was for condos named Sparkles. There was something about the oyster farm’s sign that was utterly appealing when compared to Sparkles’ grand dream of a tall building with Jacuzzi tubs and granite countertops. All the ostiones farm was offering was oysters and topless mermaids. And if you don’t like those two things than we are probably not going to get along.

I turned down the road and hit the gas to keep the Javelina from sinking. Soon the paved road was gone from my mirrors. All I saw was the beige sand rising and falling where the wind last left it. I didn’t see the small piece of wood with the word ‘Ostiones’ and an arrow painted on it until I was almost past it. It was a tight turn and I had to back up a dune to make it. I hit her into reverse and sped up the side of the sand mound and then knocked it quickly into drive. I could feel the back wheels sinking and I saw sand spitting up behind me as we rolled down the dune and onto the path leading to oysters.

**My thoughts**

This story is a very short interlude that gives some insight into what happened to Sydney Rye between books 1 and 3. There is a three-year delay between those two books, making you wonder what she was up to in the meantime. Her training is intense and interesting, as she learns to embrace Tai Chi and other mental relaxation and control. The craziness that began in the first book continues in this one, as she gets mixed up in corruption and murder in the Mexican government.

Out of the three that I read, this one was probably my least favorite. I didn't find as much storyline to hold my attention. However, to understand some of the occurrences in Book 3, this is a helpful read. 

Download on Amazon

INSATIABLE (A Sydney Rye Novel, #3)

The third book in the series begins with private detective Sydney Rye living a simple, disciplined life in London, but when a dangerous man from her past calls, Rye finds she cannot turn him away. Robert Maxim explains that the daughter of a powerful friend has gone missing and he wants Rye to find her. In exchange he offers her something she had given up hope of ever having; freedom from her past.

With her dog, Blue, at her side, Rye meets up with her new partner, a handsome man she's not sure she can trust. Heading for Mexico City, they go undercover, posing as husband and wife. After meeting with the bereaved parents, Rye starts to sense that there is more going on than just a missing girl. But it isn't until they arrive in the Yucatan Peninsula, hot on the girl's trail in Paradise, that all hell breaks loose. Sydney has to reach out for help from old friends and deal with the consequences of her past, if she's going to find the girl and keep them all alive.

Read an excerpt:

Blue hopped up on the couch and rested his massive head between his paws. He watched me pace around the living room, eventually closing his eyes and snoring softly. Over the last three years, Blue had changed as much as me. When I first adopted Blue he was underweight, a chronic chewer with separation anxiety, and a penchant for trying to attack strangers on the street.

Now he was thick and strong; besides the slight limp where Kurt Jessup’s bullet ripped through him, Blue was the picture of canine health. His coat would have looked at home on a wolf; it was glossy and shone in the gentle light from the street lamps that filtered through the living room windows. Blue was gigantic, the height of a Great Dane, the long snout of a Collie, he took up most of the couch.

The bullet that shattered Blue’s shoulder blade left a scar, thick and pink, hidden under his fur. My scars from that fight included a streak of ruined skin under my left eye that tingles with damaged nerves. Above that same eye the ghost of another wound lingers. Not as deep, it is a gentle reminder that runs above my eyebrow fading into my hairline, of what madmen will do if you don’t stop them.

**My thoughts**

Just when I thought Sydney Rye couldn't get any crazier, this third installment came along! She truly has a knack for getting herself into some very strange situations! She has been living in London, working as a private investigator. We don't know much about her experiences at this time, because it just dives right into a new case. She finds herself back in Mexico, not sure whom to trust, with new adversaries as well as associates. Yet again, she is embroiled deeply in government corruption and prepares to deliver vigilante justice. At some points, the story was so crazy, I was almost reminded of the latter seasons of Weeds on Showtime. (Although, what the connection would be outside of strong women kicking ass in Mexico is beyond me.

Despite its craziness, I stayed up way too late reading this book, completely engrossed in the drama. There is just something that draws me to Sydney, that I can't quite put my foot on. This is totally not my usual style of book to read, but I am addicted to the series.



Download it on Amazon

New release! STRINGS OF GLASS (A Sydney Rye Novel, #4)

STRINGS OF GLASS is the fourth novel in Emily Kimelman's Sydney Rye Series of dark murder mystery novels. This series features a strong female protagonist and her rescue dog, Blue. It is recommended for the 18+ who enjoy some violence, don't mind dirty language, and are up for a dash of sex. Not to mention an awesome, rollicking good mystery!

Sydney Rye is hanging out in India with her boyfriend, Dan, reading paperbacks and sipping beer. No violence and no reminders of her past. But when she and Blue, are attacked by a pact of wild dogs, Sydney starts to feel that old itch again; to do good by being bad.

Trouble finds Rye when she stops the attempted rape and murder of Anita, a reporter working on a story of corruption and human trafficking. The atrocities Anita describes send Sydney, Blue and Dan on a quest that takes them across India after a dangerous and, up until now, untouchable, figure. While Sydney struggles to accept her true nature she realizes that it is the only way to end decades of abuse and exploitation. But Rye fears that she will lose herself, becoming no better than the monster she fights against.

Read an excerpt

I'd been warned about this pack. Growing larger by the day, it was led by an aggressive alpha male the color of dirty water. This must be him, I thought, as the largest of the three, his head wide, fur the muddy brown of an engorged river, growled at Blue. The compactness of his body spoke of strength and survival. When he barked the saliva that shot from his mouth caught a ray of sunlight streaming through the thick foliage around us.

Muddy Water stepped forward, revving his growl like a teenager on a motorbike. The bitch in the brush flanked our left side and when I turned right, two young dogs, their ears still soft from puppyhood, glowered at me.

The owner of the guest house where I lived warned me to take a stick if I planned on running. "Just in case," she'd said with a dip of her head and a flip of her hand. Because of her advice I carried a light but solid piece of bamboo about twice the thickness of my thumb. I tapped it on the ground in front of me as I backed toward Blue, keeping my eyes forward, focused on the alpha but paying close attention to my peripheral vision, watching the dogs to my sides.

When I reached Blue he moved backwards with me, slowly and deliberately. But the dogs started to follow with us. We stopped, and raising the stick over my head, I brought it down hard onto a rock. The loud sound and sudden movement spooked the pups to my right but the alpha male just growled louder.

The two dogs flanking Muddy Waters went crazy barking, the force of their calls lifting their front paws off the ground. The mother and the young ones joined in raising a ruckus that certainly beat mine. Blue, his front paws planted on the road, exposed his teeth and growled, his pitch wavering up and down. He wanted me to tell him it was OK to attack. I could feel his energy bundling up inside him, roiling around, soon I'd have no control.

Download on Amazon

Find all of Emily Kimelman's books on Amazon and on Barnes and Noble.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Emily Kimelman lives on a boat in the Hudson Valley with her husband, Sean and their dog Kinsey (named after Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone). Kimelman has a passion for traveling and spends as much time as possible in the pursuit of adventure.

Her "Sydney Rye Series" are dark murder mystery novels which features a strong female protagonist and her rescue dog, Blue. This series is recommended for the 18+ who enjoy some violence, don't mind dirty language, and are up for a dash of sex. Not to mention an awesome, rollicking good mystery!

The first four books in Kimelman's series, UNLEASHED, DEATH IN THE DARK, INSATIABLE and STRINGS OF GLASS are available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, and Kobo.

If you've read Emily's work, and enjoyed it, please let Emily know. You can reach her via email ejkimelman@gmail.com

http://emilykimelman.wordpress.com/

https://www.facebook.com/EmilyKimelman

@ejkimelman


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'Sweet Magic Song (For Love of Fae Trilogy)' by Olivia Hardin

Belle Bittner was sold to the highest bidder when she was just a child, sought for the magic lying dormant in her blood. She grew up as the adopted daughter of a wealthy vampire couple, and serving the child-trafficking Org seemed her only option in life. But Belle has other plans, and she won’t let anyone get in the way of her escape, even if it means betraying those who try to help her.

Desperate to stay free of an evil vampire who means to possess her no matter what, Belle decides she can use the protection of the flirtatious faery named Roon. The two of them flee to the faery realm where Rooney believes he can better protect her. What he doesn’t know is that taking the beautiful siren through the golden door will set off a cataclysm of events that will threaten the fabric of both the human and the faery worlds.

Separating myth from fact to decipher the truth about her powers could mean the destruction of the new life Belle’s trying so hard to build.

Amazon

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iTunes and Kobo coming soon.

About Olivia:

When Olivia Hardin began having movie-like dreams in her teens, she had no choice but to begin putting them to paper. Before long, the writing bug had her and she knew she wanted to be a published author. Several rejections plus a little bit of life later, and she was temporarily “cured” of the urge to write. That is until she met a group of talented and fabulous writers who gave her the direction and encouragement she needed to get lost in the words again.

Olivia’s attended three different universities over the years and toyed with majors in Computer Technology, English, History and Geology. Then one day she heard the term road scholar and she knew that was what she wanted to be. Now she “studies” anything and everything just for the joy of learning. She's also an insatiable crafter who only completes about 1 out of 5 projects, a jogger who hates to run, and she’s sometimes accused of being artistic.

A native Texas girl, Olivia lives in the beautiful Lone Star state with her husband, Danny and their puppy, Bonnie.

Connect with Olivia and Get information about releases, contests, news and more here:

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'Brazil' by Errol Lincoln Uys

Blurb:

Brazil is the first work of fiction to depict five centuries of a great nation's remarkable history. With a stunning cast of real and fictional characters, this unforgettable epic unfolds in South America, Africa and Europe.

Lacing the tale together are the shifting fortunes of two dissimilar Brazilian families. The Cavalcantis are among the original Portuguese settlers and carve a gracious plantation out of the Pernambuco wilderness of the north - the classic Brazilian casa grande, vast, powerful, and built with slave labor. The da Silvas of mixed Portuguese and Tupiniquin blood are a spirited family of dreamers, pathfinders, soldiers and entrepreneurs. For generations, they set their eyes on El Dorado, a vision of wealth ultimately achieved in a huge financial empire that makes them power brokers in the new Brazil.

Brazil is an intensely human story, brutal and violent, tender and passionate. Perilous explorations through the Brazilian wilderness...the perpetual clash of pioneer and native, visionary and fortune hunter, master and slave, zealot and exploiter...the thunder of war on land and sea as European powers and South American nations pursue their territorial conquests...the triumphs and tragedies of a people who built a nation covering half the South American continent...all are here in one spellbinding saga.

The principal characters, both real and imaginary, are hard to forget. Among them: the great Indian warrior-chief Aruana; Amador da Silva, a bandeirante 'flag-bearing' pioneer and emerald hunter; Secundus Proot, a Dutch artist-adventurer in the Amazon; Black Peter, a freed African slave who takes murderous revenge on his persecutors; Antonio Paciencia, a brave soldier and humble hero of the landless; Francisco Lopez, doomed and gallant president of Paraguay; Anthony the Counselor of Canudos, visionary rebel of the backlands.

The result is an unsentimentalized historical novel that combines adventure with an impressive level of research and depicts Brazil free from the eternal stereotypes

An Illustrated Guide to the Novel offers a wealth of images and maps and access to the writer's private journal bringing a unique insight into the novel and its creativity.

Rave reviews!

"Uys has accomplished what no Brazilian author from José de Alencar to Jorge Amado was able to do. He is the first outsider with the total honesty and sympathy to write our national epic in all its decisive episodes. Descriptions like those of the war with Paraguay do not find in our literature any rival capable of surpassing them." - Professor Wilson Martins, Jornal do Brasil

“A masterpiece! Brazil has the feel of an enchanted virgin forest, a totally new and original world for the reader-explorer to discover.”- L' Express, Paris

Available on Amazon

BIO:

Errol Lincoln Uys (pronounced ‘Ace’) devoted five years to the research and writing of Brazil, where he traveled 15,000 miles, almost exclusively by bus to get a feel for the country. A South African-born writer and editor now living in Boston, USA, Uys collaborated with James A. Michener on his novel, The Covenant.

Read an exclusive excerpt from 'Selkie's Song (Fado Trilogy #3)' by Clare Austin

Selkie's Song (Fado Trilogy #3)
by Clare Austin

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

They call her Selkie. Muireann O'Malley often felt she was born of the sea but refuses to let sentimentality stand in the way of her crusade to protect the shore she has wandered since a small child. A patch of West Clare, Ireland, and a derelict building are all that stand between the cliffs she loves and the callous grip of progress.

Tynan Sloane should be content with success, but a dream beckons. O'Fallon's Pub in historic downtown Boston is for sale and Tynan wants to make it his. An unexpected inheritance of land in the west of Ireland could provide the financing he needs. He doesn't expect his quick trip to sell the land to rekindle youthful passion.

Fifteen years ago, they had an adolescent crush. Now disparate ambition and a legend as old as Ireland herself stand between them. Will love and myth collide to bring them together or tear them apart?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Read an exclusive excerpt:

Whomp. A virtual slap to the side of his head would have knocked him flat had he not already been prone. He’d rekindled his acquaintance with Muireann less than twenty-four hours ago. He’d either lied to himself or to her about why he was here. A lie by omission, but still not the entire truth.

Ty had promised himself he wouldn’t deviate from his master plan. That plan, initially, did not include a woman—in his bed or his heart.

“What am I looking at?” he asked, trying to distract his carnal thoughts.

“You have to be patient. Watch the water, there, just beyond that solitary rock.” She nodded in the direction of a shallow pool.

Ty tried not to think of the churning blue water and the three hundred foot drop. He gamely pushed back the memory of being caught in the tide and dragged out to sea, the struggle, and then the giving up. Twenty years had passed, and he still remembered clearly his battle for the surface of the water.

“There. Do you see her?” Muireann whispered and pulled him back to the present.

Against the dark water, Tynan’s vision focused on a silvery streak. Just when he thought he had made out a form, it disappeared. Then there were two and in a moment a third silken and sleek creature appeared.

“Seals?”

“Cool, huh? It’s a family.” Her voice caught. “I watched that pup being born right here on this strand. This is home to them. Harbor seals live in the same place all their lives.”

Muireann’s face softened and her lips turned up ever so slightly as she spoke of these animals. She reminded him of American girls’ reaction to puppies and newborn babies. The female need to nurture inspired an instinctual fear in the gut of most men, himself not included. When the time was right, Tynan would be more than ready for a nurturing female in his life.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Available on Amazon

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

A word about the author...

Clare Austin submitted her first manuscript to a publisher at the age of eight years. She wishes she still had that rejection letter.

Many years and not a few stories later, with characters knocking at the inside of her cranium and begging to be released, Clare’s romantic comedy, Butterfly, was published. There followed a suspenseful sequel, Angel’s Share, and Hot Flash, a women’s fiction/romance for mature women and the men who love them.

Clare lives in the beautiful Rocky Mountains and enjoys her horses, playing her violin, and traveling to Ireland every summer.

Website: www.clareaustin.com

Blog: http://clareaustin.wordpress.com/

Twitter: clareaustin @authorclare

Clare will be awarding a print (US only) or digital copies (international) of the first two books in the series, Butterfly and Angel's Share to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Follow the tour for more chances to win!

Review of 'Tough Love' by Marcie 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.  

**My thoughts**

My main interest in this book was the fact that it takes place in Toledo, Ohio. The character lives on the East side. I grew up in the western suburbs of Toledo. The high schools and other settings in the book are very familiar to me, down to various crossroads mentioned in the book. In some ways, I feel like other readers are missing out on little nuances of the book, because they won't recognize the significance of things, such as a couple of kids actually going to Mancy's for homecoming dinner. (Mancy's is one of the fanciest restaurants in the city! It was a big deal if you got to go there!)

I am also about the same age as the author and the main character in the story. It looks like they actually graduated maybe two years ahead of me. So, I was able to relate to the time period and ages, as well. I was once in a relationship that was fundamentally the same as this one, without the same big secrets, so I could appreciate the problem of being in love with someone who isn't good for you.

This does not read like a novel. It definitely reads more like a memoir, a retelling of the author's memories of a special person in her life. The author has a purpose in sharing her story, hoping that other young women will not engage in the same reckless behavior that she did. It could serve as a launchpad for discussion with young adults and teens about relationships and sexual behavior. Readers may recognize aspects of themselves in the book, while at the same time yelling at the characters for the decisions they were making.

(And side note, I will forgive the author for being an Ohio State fan. While she bleeds scarlet and gray, I grew up closer to Michigan, and will always bleed maize and blue. ;-))

I admire Marcie's courage in sharing her story, because it is not an easy one to share. Perhaps she will start sharing even more!

Buy links

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 Plus: https://plus.google.com/109921896394674548677/posts/p/pub

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'The Unholy' by Paul DeBlassie III

THE UNHOLY

By

Paul DeBlassie III

BLURB:

A young curandera, a medicine woman, intent on uncovering the secrets of her past is forced into a life-and-death battle against an evil Archbishop. Set in the mystic land of Aztlan, The Unholy is a novel of destiny as healer and slayer. Native lore of dreams and visions, shape changing, and natural magic work to spin a neo-gothic web in which sadness and mystery lure the unsuspecting into a twilight realm of discovery and decision.

Read an excerpt:

“Help me? Help yourself! Face what is yours to face,” Elizabeth hissed. She yanked the door open then forced it to slam behind her.

Claire stood still for a moment, feeling as if a tornado had swept through the room. Elizabeth’s demand had left her shaken. She drew a deep breath, then went to her desk and picked up her tea, noticing her trembling hands.

Turning toward the window, Claire saw a muscular orderly accompanying Elizabeth to the locked ward at the far end of the hospital compound. A flock of crows circled high overhead, seeming to follow the two receding figures. As they arrived at the outer doors of the locked unit, the orderly reached for his keys. The crows circled while the two crossed the threshold of the unit, Elizabeth suddenly pausing, turning, and looking outside, her gaze riveted on the flock of birds.

All but two flew off, disappearing into the piñon-covered hills. The two that remained came to rest on the red brick wall adjacent to the locked unit, their black eyes boring into Elizabeth. She looked panicked then enraged and, shaking a finger at the creatures, yelled something. Her frantic gestures told Claire that she was screeching curses to ward off evil.

Claire took a step back from the window, from the impact of Elizabeth’s rage.

The orderly grabbed Elizabeth roughly by the arm and pulled her inside.

The crows waited, watched, then flew away.

Book buy links

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Paul DeBlassie III, Ph.D., is a psychologist and writer living in Albuquerque who has treated survivors of the dark side of religion for more than 30 years. His professional consultation practice — SoulCare — is devoted to the tending of the soul. Dr. DeBlassie writes fiction with a healing emphasis. He has been deeply influenced by the mestizo myth of Aztlan, its surreal beauty and natural magic. He is a member of the Depth Psychology Alliance, the Transpersonal Psychology Association and the International Association for Relational Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy.

LINKS
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Paul-DeBlassie-III/e/B00E5TBJXY/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1
Website: http://www.pauldeblassieiii.com/
Blog: http://pauldeblassieiii.blogspot.com/

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