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Friday, 20 August 2021

Kitty Hawk and the Tragedy of the RMS Titanic -Book review and author interview

August 20, 2021





Kitty Hawk and the Tragedy of the RMS Titanic is the thrillingly cryptic fourth installment of the exciting Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency Series featuring the intrepid teenage seaplane pilot Kitty Hawk and her various adventures of mystery and intrigue as she follows in the footsteps of Amelia Earhart on an epic flight around the world. This fourth book in the series brings Kitty to the emerald hills of Ireland where she meets a handsome stranger and is quickly swept up in a perplexing hundred-year-old family treasure hunt involving secret codes and puzzling clues that lead her on a fast-paced adventure that carries her from Dublin to London - from the decks of the ill-fated ocean liner Titanic to the temples of ancient Egypt and the streets of Jack the Ripper - until she finally unlocks the mystery and discovers the long-hidden treasure. Much like the earlier books in this series, Kitty Hawk and the Tragedy of the RMS Titanic is a perfect book to fire the imaginations of armchair detectives of all ages. Filled with fascinating and highly Google-able locations and history the reader will find themselves immersed in brand new worlds that are brought to life before their very eyes as Kitty Hawk experiences the stories and history of a doomed ocean liner and unravels the Tragedy of the RMS Titanic.







Wonderful!Fantabulous.


I don't usually review books aimed at youngsters and early teens,but with each installment I realise why the decision to pick up the 1st book was the best decision.


In this book,we set upon our journey from Ireland and from there we follow onto London,picking up clues along the way to an awesome treasure hunt.




The London tour was once again a testament to how education can be delivered in a fun way within a book,and ,of course the way the locations can be readily  Googled are a plus.




What I liked about this installment in the series best is the thrill of the chase,it made the book more alive and made me feel as if I was there. And that's what every good book should do. Can't wait to read the next installment.










And here's an interview of the mastermind behind the series that should be in every young girls collection.






 


1. Tell us a bit about you. How did you become a writer?


 


I like to think of myself as an "author" as opposed to a "writer".  I am not sure I've reached the level of being a real writer yet.  But no matter how you look at it, I became an author basically by default (the same way I started making music): there was no one out there writing the books (or songs) that I was really interested in hearing.  So I had to write them myself.


 


2. Was Kitty Hawk your first written book or have you written unpublished stories too?


 


I have a small handful of unpublished stories, from back in school.  You know the kind of stories I mean.  None of those were really very good, I'm afraid.  I also tried to write a book BEFORE Kitty Hawk, which also didn't work out.  I didn't really understand what to do.  The answer, I suppose, is that there's not much to figure out.  Just do it.  Stop thinking about it and do it.


 


3. Kitty Hawk is quite an adventurous and strong lady, a role model for girls. Where did the idea come from?


 


Kitty Hawk is a town in North Carolina where the Wright Brothers flew their first plane.  I was lying in bed one night thinking how Kitty Hawk would make a cool name for an adventurous teenaged pilot.  I Googled it to make sure no one had ever thought of it before and then I just had to write it and make it real.


 


4. How much of your own personality reflects in Kitty's? 


 


I have to admit that Kitty Hawk is a far smarter and braver person than I am.  She's a lot of what I would aspire to be.


 


5. There is a great deal of useful info in the book, a great and unique attribute. How did you research these?


 


Research always takes a lot of forms.  Online is great.  But there's also a LOT of reading.  But my favourite type of research is actually visiting the places I write about.  Traveling is something I feel very fortunate to be able to do.


 


6. Where did you learn so much about planes that you were able to plot a realistic story for Kitty?


 


Again, research.  Many many hours spent researching all of these things, including many flights in real life De Havilland Beaver seaplanes.


 


7. How do you write? Is there a writing retreat for you or do you feel comfortable writing in subways?


 


I went to a writing retreat once.  In a haunted hotel that used to be a brothel overlooking San Francisco bay, across from a bar with a polar bear and down the street from a wishing tree.  It didn't work out very well in many ways.  But I really don't need much to be able to write.  More recently, however, I've learned that my favourite place to write is sitting outside on the deck of ship as it steams across the ocean.


 


8. What's the single thing you feel you should have known before stepping into the published world?


 


That's easy.  I wish I'd known that self-publishing your books basically means that no literary agency or publisher will ever be interested in them.  Not that knowing this would have changed the fact that I would self-publish my books.  But it would have been interesting to know.


 


 


 



Wednesday, 21 April 2021

The tiger at Midnight by Swati teerdhala

April 21, 2021





 A broken bond. A dying land. A cat-and-mouse game that can only end in bloodshed.

Esha is a legend, but no one knows. It’s only in the shadows that she moonlights as the Viper, the rebels’ highly skilled assassin. She’s devoted her life to avenging what she lost in the royal coup, and now she’s been tasked with her most important mission to date: taking down the ruthless General Hotha.

Kunal has been a soldier since childhood, training morning and night to uphold the power of King Vardaan. His uncle, the general, has ensured that Kunal never strays from the path—even as a part of Kunal longs to join the outside world, which has been growing only more volatile.

Then Esha’s and Kunal’s paths cross—and an unimaginable chain of events unfolds. Both the Viper and the soldier think they’re calling the shots, but they’re not the only players moving the pieces. As the bonds that hold their land in order break down and the sins of the past meet the promise of a new future, both rebel and soldier must make unforgivable choices.



Drawing inspiration from ancient Indian history and Hindu mythology, the first book in Swati Teerdhala's debut fantasy trilogy captivates with electric romance, stunning action, and the fierce bonds that hold people together—and drive them apart. 




The book was fantastic. The writing was so immersive and lively that it felt like we were playing the cat and mouse game with the characters. 
We jumped,we ran ,we hid.
The story was a  unique twist on the already present enemies to lovers romance . It is a must read for fantasy lovers

Saturday, 7 September 2019

The Emissary

September 07, 2019
The Emissary-



When the world collapses from a Golden Age into one of chaos and strife, mankind’s salvation lies in the hands of eternal Emissaries — guardians chosen to protect the secrets of a sacred, ancient civilization and to guide humanity back to enlightenment even as its darkest hour approaches…

                               

A timeless tale of love reborn through the ages.



Marcus has past life memory and his soulmate Theron does not, but the two lovers are bound by an eternal and unshakable bond. As a series of catastrophic events nearly destroys their world, the two along with a chosen few become Emissaries destined, over the course of 13,000 years and through many reincarnations, to lead humanity into an era of peace and prosperity as foretold by the Elders of their race. But the forces of evil have taken possession of one man, Helghul, who relentlessly pursues Marcus and Theron through time, determined to destroy them and ruin all hope for salvation.



This book was seriously a really fantastic  ride of fantasy,adventure, speculative future and romance.
What I especially liked about it was that it blended all these elements seamlessly without bringing one on the top.
While the first chapter definitely had me intrigued,it is slow and character-driven in the start but the wait definitely pays off with a richly developed word, real and well crafted characters and a strong plot line.
No matter what genre you like to read in you should definitely give it a try.

The Emissary, Book I in The One Great Year Series, tracks Marcus’s epic adventure across centuries of human civilization to present day, where envoys of darkness gather around them threatening to bury the life-giving secrets of Atitala forever.



Good and evil come to blows and the future of mankind hangs in the balance.



“For every soul there is a theme, a path that must be followed, lessons that must be learned…”


Author Bio:-
Rene DeFazio was born and raised in Canada and currently resides in the Vancouver area with his wife and writing partner Tamara Veitch. Rene is an actor and producer with numerous film and television roles to his credit. A world traveler and lifelong adventurer, Rene has called upon his unusual and exciting experiences in co-creating The One Great Year novel series. His tireless research and first hand knowledge of exotic locations, customs, sights, and smells help to bring this epic story to life.

Tamara Veitch is a writer, mural artist, and mother of three. She grew up in Canada and attended Simon Fraser University, studying English, psychology, history and General Arts. Tamara has had a lifelong interest in spiritual wisdom and has carefully researched ancient teachings from many traditions to ensure historical accuracy throughout The One Great Year Series.

Tamara and Rene have completed Book I and II in The One Great Year Series and are currently working on Book III. To maintain a dynamic and authentic presentation of the ancient secrets at the core of their writing, they travel to exotic locations in search of esoteric knowledge and cultural insights that will inspire readers everywhere.



Here is the Book Trailers and the Goodreads and Amazon links for The Emissary, as well as the social media sites.

https://onegreatyear.com/video-blog

https://youtu.be/V_mhgZxi3Ok

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41696218-the-emissary?ac=1&from_search=true

https://authorcentral.amazon.com/gp/books/book-detail-page?ie=UTF8&bookASIN=B07GQQVFJS&index=default

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/OneGreatYear/

Twitter- https://twitter.com/@onegreatyear

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/OneGreatYear 





“A stirring first instalment in a sprawling epic fantasy…”

                                                                                                       -Kirkus Reviews

“The Emissary not just a solid first novel but an excellent beginning for a new fantasy series.”

                                                                                                                           -Misanthropester Reviews

“A story that is engaging and written with a passion that is sure to stay with (you) long after reading. Veitch and DeFazio have created a world of the unknown that is unlike any other.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                   -Truly Reviews

Monday, 4 June 2018

Curse of the Ancients by Hawk MacKinney

June 04, 2018
Curse of the Ancients by Hawk MacKinney


Book Details:


Book Title:  Curse of the Ancients by Hawk MacKinney
Series: The Moccasin Hollow Series Book 3
Category:  Adult Fiction,  278 pages
Genre:   Mystery/Suspense
Publisher:  Sage Words Publishing
Release date:  April 2018
Format available for review:  print & ebook (gifted Kindle copy, PDF)
Will send print books to: USA & Canada
Tour dates: May 28 to June 15, 2018
Content Rating: R (This book is rated R for explicit murder scenes.)

Book Description:

​As Craige Ingram climbed the stairs of the derelict building, that peculiar stench of a dead body hit him. It was the same smell no matter where—SpecOps SEAL encounter gone sour, or in a vacant, roach-infested apartment. Inside, his SEAL buddy-turned head of Buckingham Parish Homicide’s Investigative Support Division, Grayson MacGerald, was huddled with the coroner next to a swollen decaying corpse that was days old and hardly more than oozing dead meat.

The PI inside Craige had a gut feeling that there was more to this than a dead body, and Craige’s Grannie always told him, “Trust your feelin’s.” But that was before Mihály Keaulescu set down two of his Black Falcon choppers on Craige’s Moccasin Hollow private airstrip in an uninvited stopover. It got worse. From his airstrip to Israel, to Turkey and a nightmare-dream of one-of-a-kind ancient artifacts that not only threatened the serene life Craige knew and loved at Moccasin Hollow, it would destroy the world.


Review:-
It's a rare occasion that I don't know what to write in the book review . the book had plot ,a really good and solid plot but somehow the plot didn't join well with the characters.  The characters were also well developed and complex just not in harmony with the plot and felt a little too forced. The prose was engaging as well as the setting.and if you don't mind a little less character development, this book is worth your time and money in its plot. I will certainly read any sequels or any other book by the author
Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble
Add to Goodreads

Watch the book trailer:

Hawk MacKinney
Meet the Author:

​With postgraduate degrees and faculty positions at several medical universities, Hawk MacKinney has taught graduate courses in both the United States and Jerusalem. In addition to his work in classrooms and laboratories, he has written numerous professional articles on chordate neuroembryology and authored several novels that reflect his southwest upbringing in Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma. Moccasin Trace, a historical novel nominated for both the prestigious Michael Shaara Award for Excellence in Civil War Fiction and the Writers Notes Book Award, details the family bloodlines of his protagonist in the Moccasin Hollow Mystery Series. Hidden Vault of Secrets and Westobou Gold, Books 1 and 2 in the series, have received national and international attention. Hawk is also writing a science fiction series, The Cairns of Sainctuarie.

Connect with the author:  Website 

BOOK TOUR SCHEDULE:

May 28  - Working Mommy Journal - review / giveaway
May 28  - TFaulc Book Reviews - book spotlight / giveaway
May 29  - Library of Clean Reads - book spotlight / giveaway
May 30  - Bri's Book Nook - review / giveaway
May 31  - A Mama's Corner of the World - review / giveaway
June 1   - Laurie's Thoughts and Reviews - book spotlight / giveaway
June 4   - Booklove - review / giveaway
June 5   - Bound 4 Escape - review / giveaway
June 6   - Paulette's Papers - book spotlight / giveaway
June 7   - T's Stuff - review / giveaway
June 8   - Two Points of Interest - review
June 11 - Rocksprings Crafts - review / giveaway
June 11 - Mystery Suspense Reviews - review
June 13 - JBronder Book Reviews - review / giveaway
June 14 - Nighttime Reading Center - review / giveaway
June 14 - My Reading Journeys - review
June 15 - Jessica Cassidy - review / giveaway

Enter the Giveaway!
Ends June 23, 2018


Friday, 18 May 2018

The Deadliest Sport by June Trop

May 18, 2018
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Book Details:


Book Title:  The Deadliest Sport: A Miriam bat Isaac Mystery in Ancient Alexandria
Author: June Trop
Category:  Adult fiction,  242 pages
Genre:  Mystery, Historical Fiction
Publisher:  Black Opal Books
Release date:  October 7, 2017
Available for review in:  ebook (mobi, PDF)
Tour dates:  May 14 to 25, 2018
Content Rating:  PG (mild religious oriented expletives, such as "Lord," some violent descriptions, such as the corpse, the gladiatorial arena)

Book Description:

Miriam bat Isaac, a budding alchemist in first-century CE Alexandria, welcomes her twin brother Binyamin home to fight his last gladiatorial bout in Alexandria. But when he demands his share of the family money so he can build a school for gladiators in Alexandria, Miriam explains that he forsook his share when he took the gladiatorial oath.

When she refuses to loan him the money for what she feels is a shady and dangerous enterprise, Binyamin becomes furious. Soon after, the will of Amram, Miriam's elderly charge, turns up missing; Amram becomes seriously ill; and the clerk of the public records house is murdered. Could Binyamin really be behind this monstrous scheme? If not he, who could be responsible? And is Miriam slated to be the next victim?
My review:- a really fantastic andintriguing novel. I especially loved the portrayl of Mirism as a strong and independent  girl. The plot was indeed full of twists and turns and I  couldn't  stop reading until the last page. Another good point about this book was characterization which was strong for both main and side characters.  I loved it
Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble
Add to Goodreads

Watch the trailer:

June Trop
Meet the Author:

June Trop and her twin sister Gail wrote their first story, "The Steam Shavel [sic]," when they were six years old growing up in rural New Jersey. They sold it to their brother Everett for two cents.

"I don't remember how I spent my share," June says. "You could buy a fistful of candy for a penny in those days, but ever since then, I wanted to be a writer."

As an award-winning middle school science teacher, June used storytelling to capture her students' imagination and interest in scientific concepts. Years later as a professor of teacher education, she focused her research on the practical knowledge teachers construct and communicate through storytelling. Her first book, From Lesson Plans to Power Struggles (Corwin Press, 2009), is based on the stories new teachers told about their first classroom experiences.

Now associate professor emerita at the State University of New York at New Paltz, she devotes her time to writing The Miriam bat Isaac Mystery Series. Her heroine is based on the personage of Maria Hebrea, the legendary founder of Western alchemy, who developed the concepts and apparatus alchemists and chemists would use for 1500 years.

June lives with her husband Paul Zuckerman in New Paltz, where she is breathlessly recording her plucky heroine's next life-or-death exploit.

Connect with the Author: Website ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest

BOOK REVIEW TOUR SCHEDULE:

May 14 - Working Mommy Journal - review / giveaway
May 14 - Rocksprings Crafts - review / author interview
May 15 - Library of Clean Reads - review / giveaway
May 16 - Cheryl's Book Nook - review / giveaway
May 17 - 100 Pages A Day - review / giveaway
May 18 - Booklove - review / giveaway
May 21 - Bri's Book Nook - review / author interview
May 22 - A Mama's Corner of the World - review / giveaway
May 23 - Readers Muse - review / guest post
May 23 - Reviews by Martha's Bookshelf - review / giveaway
May 24 - History from a Woman’s Perspective  - review
May 25 - Essentially Italian - book spotlight / author interview


Enter the Giveaway!
Ends June 2, 2018


Wednesday, 16 May 2018

A Penny Lost by Aspen Bennet

May 16, 2018
A Penny Lost by Aspen Bassett

Book Details:


Book Title:  A Penny Lost by Aspen Bassett
Category:  YA Fiction, 232 pages
Genre:  Urban Fantasy
Publisher:  World Castle Publishing
Release date:  Jan 13, 2018
Format available for review:  print & ebook (mobi & PDF)
Willing to send books to: USA & Canada
Tour dates: April 23 to May 4, 2018
Content Rating: PG (There's a kiss and some mild violence)

Book Description:

Penelope Grace, usually forgotten under the shadow of her twin sister's perfection, tries her hardest to hide her freakish ability to see into anyone's soul.

Until she senses an unusual energy like a human-shaped void in the universe. When Penny investigates the source, she gets tossed through a crack in time along with the cute boy next door. The Void follows them through history, increasing the dangers as if testing Penny. But what is it testing for? And why does it claim to know her better than even she knows herself? Even as Penny searches for answers, she must fight to survive the tragedies of both the past and future in order to get back home.
My review:-
It was a really unique idea and I can shamelessly admit that I only wanted to read this book because of the absolutely pretty cover. I was slightly wary of the book subject but I shouldn't have been. I was swept along from the beginning and couldn't wait to finish the book and damn that ending! 
I can't wait to read the next book. The book is about Penny, your standard outcast and freak,who can see people's auras and feels overshadowed by her sister. It was a fantastic tale and I especially loved the characterization. Not to m
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Meet the Author:

Aspen Bassett works at a library, telling stories and suggesting books. When she's not working, she's usually sipping hot cocoa and wondering what would happen if she had superpowers. She's been published in multiple anthologies including Oomph: A Little Super Goes a Long Way and Inaccurate Realities.

Aspen grew up learning about chakras and auras and the true power of imagination which slips into her writing whether she intend it to or not. In college, when she wasn't busy working on her degree in Creative Writing, Aspen also got her certificate in Women's Meditation (basically general energy work). Now, she's working toward a diploma in Integrated Healing Arts with a certificate in Hypnotherapy.


Connect with the Author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram ~

BOOK REVIEW TOUR SCHEDULE:


April 23 - Working Mommy Journal - review / giveaway
April 23 - The Book Enigma - review / author interview / giveaway
April 24 - Adventures Thru Wonderland - review / guest post / giveaway
April 24 - Library of Clean Reads - review / giveaway
April 25 - Ishiee's Book Blog - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
April 25 - Bookworm for Kids - review / giveaway
April 26 - The Autistic Gamer - review
April 27 - Books for Books - review
April 27 - Rockin' Book Reviews - review / guest post / giveaway
April 30 - Sefina Hawke's Books - review
April 30 - Bound 4 Escape - review / giveaway
May 1    - Lovely Loveday - review / author interview
May 2    - Two Points of Interest - review / giveaway
May 2    - Laurie's Paranormal Thoughts and Reviews - review / giveaway
May 3    - Phytallic - review /giveaway
May 3    - Cheryl's Book Nook - review / guest post / giveaway
May 4    - JBronder Book Reviews - review / guest post / giveaway
May 4    - Book Paradise - review / author interview / giveaway
TBD       - Booklove - review / author interview
TBD       - Diary of an Avid Reader - review


Enter the Giveaway!
Ends May 12, 2018


                               AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
What made you write a book about a girl who could control spiritual energies?


I was taking meditation classes at the time the book idea popped into my head and so those key words like chakras and auras kept popping unto the page. I have a few friends who naturally can see spiritual energies and it was interesting to hear how much that changed their experiences growing up. When I created Penny’s character, I had to ask myself what would it feel like to be completely alone in how you view the world? 



If you could be any character in your book, who would you want to be? 

Zetta Noble. She’s technically a minor character, does not get the page time she deserves but she’s great, inspirational character. She represents absolute freedom physically, spiritually, emotionally, and mentally. She can be exactly who she is and doesn’t worry about what other people think. Not to say that I am that character, because I’m far far from it but if I could become anyone, I’m aiming to be someone as open and complete at her. 



What genre do you write and why? 

I write YA urban fantasy mostly because that’s what I enjoy reading. When I was growing up, books were a form of comfort and expression for me and I want to give back in the same way. Being a teenager and going through all these changes physically and emotionally, it was important to have something reliable like a great books series that I could use as inspiration. A well written book can save a life or someone’s sanity by merely being a source of a smile or comfort. 



Do you have another profession besides writing? 

I’m a Youth Services Library Advisor and really what that means is that I read picture books to preschoolers and I host teen events for the local kids. I literally get paid to make crafts with kids of all ages and that really makes me happy. Just last week, my job required me to test out a new slime recipe and it was awesome. 



Where do you write?
 
On my couch, using a dinner tray as my table. I have a writing table and a good quality office desk but, for some reason, I prefer sprawling out on the couch with the music playing and a blanket around me before writing. I wrote my first book in high school just half heartedly while watching TV with my family so maybe that’s where that stems from.

 

What is the last great book you’ve read? 

The Lockwood and Co series by Jonathon Stroud. Wow, that man can create a world! I finished each book as soon as they came out and have even read them aloud to my family during long road trips. We all love them. There’s something for everyone from humor to innocent romance to life threatening danger. The character development in those books are, in a word, perfection.



A Penny Lost leaves on quite the cliff hanger. Will there be more?
 
Yes! A Penny Lost is the first in a trilogy and, I’m proud to say, the sequel is already written and going through edits as we speak.  A lot of readers have expressed an interest in the second book coming out sooner rather than later but all I can officially tell you right now is that it will be titled The Me in Memory.

Sunday, 22 April 2018

East of India by Erica Brown

April 22, 2018

East-of-India-by-Erica-Brown.jpg (262×350)
India, 1940. When Nadine learns that the Indian woman she thought her nanny is, in fact, her mother, she rebels against her English father and he arranges for Nadine to be wed to an Australian merchant many years older. She whisked off to his plantation in Malaya but as the Second World War rages throughout the East, Nadine is taken captive by the Japanese. She is held at a camp in Sumatra with other women and forced to provide sexual favours for the soldiers. In the most unlikely circumstances, Nadine finds an ally and protector in a Japanese-American general, caught up in the war. The two bond over the conflicted identities and gradually fall in love. But can Nadine survive long enough to find happiness?
Don't miss this emotional and powerful saga about a women's determination to beat the odds, perfect for fans of Renita D'Silva, Dinah Jefferies and Julia Gregson.
My review:-
A really emotional yet inspiring read that will force you to read till the end. Nadine's journey as she tries to find love and happiness is a heart touching,not to mention the bravery and courage she shows and takes everything that life throws at her at face value. I loved the characters and the complex and intriguing plot.The book does deal with dark topics that might make some readers uncomfortable but its a realistic account. Can't wait to read more from the author.

East-of-India-Blog-Tour-Banner-2.png (576×300)

Friday, 16 March 2018

Death Theory by John D. Mimms

March 16, 2018
Death Theory by John D. Mimms Tour Banner

Death Theory

by John D. Mimms

on Tour February 1 - March 31, 2018

Synopsis:

Death Theory by John D. Mimms
Mankind’s greatest fear is also its greatest obsession. What awaits when we shuffle off the mortal coil of this world? We all have our beliefs based on faith or science, but both struggle to provide a tangible answer. Perhaps it is possible to prove the existence of the soul, to prove it goes on after death. Following the violent death of his parents, Jeff Granger seeks reassurance that they have moved on. After recording what he believes to be his mother’s voice at the site of the accident, Jeff’s obsession throws him into paranormal research. Realizing that most people are doing it just for fun, Jeff forms his own group. He is joined by Debbie Gillerson, a school teacher; Aaron Presley, a mortician; and Michael Pacheco, a grocery store manager. Even though they are all investigating the paranormal for very different reasons, they are all trying to fill an emptiness in their lives. The deeper they probe paranormal theory, the darker their results. The only way to truly test the ‘Death Theory’, as theorized by Aaron, is to monitor a person’s energy at the moment of death. Horrified by the immoral and unethical application, the group dismisses the theory. A darkness seems to follow their investigations and the police become involved. A former colleague of Jeff’s, a self-proclaimed demonologist, believes a demonic force is attached to the group. The police are not so sure. Evil comes in many forms as the small group is about to discover.

My review:-
It's been ages since I read a complex and strongly interwoven strong plot. I really really loved this book with an original take on a cliche idea that makes it a great read. READ IT! You will love the story and how Jeff's psychology is shown in the book . A 5 star read!

Book Details:

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Paranormal
Published by: Draft 2 Digital
Publication Date: January 30th 2018
Number of Pages: 320
ISBN: 9781537849713
Purchase Links: Amazon  | Barnes & Noble  | Google Books  | Goodreads 

Read an excerpt:

Death is the closest thing to omnipotence we will experience in our brief time on this planet. It is an all-encompassing power, binding everything, and providing a cold certainty to an otherwise uncertain existence. The firm grip of this assurance reaches much further than the extinguishment of life; it greedily claims the hope and happiness of those who remain. It is a definite ending, but is it also a provable beginning?

Prologue

Linda Granger did not see death coming.
Sleep shielded her from the unfolding horror. The looming headlights and the panicked screams of her husband were beyond her conscious state. When her head shattered the windshield, the dream about her son ended, sending her into what’s next. Linda was gone before the car rolled seven times and wrapped around a large oak tree. Her husband, Stephen, was not as fortunate. He died two minutes later. Linda had fallen asleep from emotional exhaustion. She died with regrets.

Chapter 1

Jeff’s sheets were drenched in sweat. He strained to hear because he wanted to continue the conversation he had been having. The bass drum of his pulse throbbed in his ears, making hearing impossible. He sat up and glanced about frantically. Where had she gone?
As sleep gave way to the waking world, dread filled him. He remembered the terrible truth. These muddled conversations with his mother had become nightly occurrences since his parents’ accident. The last words he shared with his mother were over the phone, and they were harsh. The next time he picked up the phone, mere hours later, it was the Missouri State Police asking him to come to the hospital. It has been over a year since the terrible night, yet the pain had not gone away. In some ways, it grew worse.
Jeff rolled on his side as tears streamed down his cheeks. In his dream, he told his mother he loved her. He wondered if she could hear him. Somehow, he believed it might be possible. His grieving heart longed for a way to communicate with his late parents.
Jeff rolled over and tried to go back to sleep. It was impossible. He eventually got up and opened the blinds. It rained last night and a steamy mist shielded the street from view. This was the perfect morning to stay in bed and he almost did if not for two things. His sheets were soaked and he was excited about today. Even though he needed extra sleep, since he would be staying up all night, he just couldn’t hold back the excitement of investigating with his fourth paranormal group in as many months. Missouri Spirit Seekers claim to do purely scientific investigations, but the three previous groups he joined did as well. He hoped this time would be different.
They would be investigating Pythian Castle tonight, the most ‘haunted’ location in Springfield, not too far from Jeff’s alma mater, Missouri State. The castle was a very cool historical site, but to Jeff, it was another opportunity to find answers for life’s greatest mystery -death.
Although the investigation was still twelve hours away, nervous anticipation consumed him. He hoped this was not another séance based, sage burning, ghost hunt like most of the others. His previous groups were as far away from science as one could get.
Jeff brewed a pot of coffee and microwaved a bowl of instant oatmeal, before sitting down to watch his recording of the show which started him on the path to paranormal investigation. He viewed it often, but it had become a ritual to watch on the day of an investigation. If Jeff were counting, this would be his eighty-third time to watch.
The show starred two men, who were electricians by trade, investigating haunted places using the scientific method. They gathered measurable scientific evidence in their investigations. In this particular episode, they were investigating the catacombs underneath an old church in Baltimore.
What peaked Jeff’s interest were the Electronic Voice Phenomenon the men captured on their digital recorders. He wondered if EVP’s are actually the voices of the dead. The guys on the show didn’t commit one way or the other, they just presented the recordings.
“You up above,” a disembodied voice said.
“The way through,” another one whispered.
The most eerie utterance of them all said, “Come down here among us.”
Jeff’s reaction was the same every time he watched; chills intermingled with hope and fear ran up his spine.
Jeff reached into a box under the coffee table and retrieved his digital recorder. He held it in his hands as if it were an object of holy veneration. Jeff recorded his own EVP one night several months earlier at the scene of his parent’s accident. Short, incredible, and heart-breaking; his mother seemed to call his name from beyond. The EVP was still on his recorder, even though he had backed it up to a dozen sources. He would never delete it from any device. Never.
A loud thud rattled the blinds on the front door. Jeff jumped, almost dropping the recorder. His alarm lasted only a moment when he recognized the sound of the newspaper carrier’s rattle-trap station wagon puttering up the street. He peeled back the blinds in time to see the tail lights disappear into the mist. Jeff was still in his underwear with a gaping fly, but he figured his rural setting, coupled with the fog, would spare him any indecent exposure charges.
Jeff scooped up the paper, almost losing his balance on the wet concrete, and then backed through the door. He plopped down on the sofa and began to unfold the massive log of news. He was heading straight for the sports section when an article caught his eye. The title read:
Springfield … the Most Haunted City in Missouri?
The Kansas City Royals box scores could wait. Jeff dove right into the article. The ghosts of Phelps Grove Park, Bass Country Inn, Drury University, Landers Theater, Springfield National Cemetery, University Plaza Hotel, and Pythian Castle were all mentioned prominently by the author. Jeff had investigated Phelps Grove Park with one of his previous groups. One of the members claimed he saw the infamous spectral bride near the bridge, but Jeff had no such luck. He never had success when it came to firsthand experiences. Either everyone else is lying or perhaps Jeff is walking ghost repellent. He didn’t think they were lying, at least not everyone who made a paranormal claim. His recording of his mother was enough to keep faith in the paranormal.
He read the claims of Drury University with great interest. There were allegedly several ghosts, in a few buildings, which had taken residence there since the school’s founding in 1873. The saddest one was a little girl who died in a fire. Her phantom laughter could be heard from time to time in one of the women’s dorms.
Jeff enjoyed a good ghost story since he was a kid, but these were more than merely a spectral yarn. Each story offered a small glimmer of hope.
He didn’t read about Pythian Castle; there was no need. He had spent so much time researching it the last couple of weeks, he could recite the history word for word. The shadow spirits who allegedly resided in the basement intrigued him the most. They had been reported so often over the years, there was little doubt that something unusual was occurring in the depths of the castle.
Jeff finally checked the box scores, lamenting another loss by his favorite team. He scanned the comics before tossing the paper on the floor. He trudged to the bathroom and took a long, hot shower. Afterward, he put on a fresh pair of boxers and a T-shirt before stretching out on the couch. He fell asleep watching Netflix. If he dreamed of his parents again, he did not remember.
Jeff arrived at Pythian Castle an hour before dusk. The rainy morning had given way to a perfectly clear early evening. The ghostly apparition of the full moon glowed in the eastern sky as the sun began to dip. The large tower on front of the castle cast a long shadow over his truck as he pulled in and parked. He ascended the stone steps onto an expansive porch where a very large woman with a mystical fashion sense met him at the front door.
“Hello … Jack?” she said.
“Jeff,” he corrected. “You must be Swoosie.”
Swoosie half-nodded and half-bowed. She reminded him of a fortune teller he visited one time, just for kicks.
“Would you like a charm for protection tonight?” Swoosie asked, reaching into a velvet bag and retrieving what appeared to be a tiny silk pillow.
“No, thanks … I’m good,” Jeff said. He couldn’t help smirking a little.
Swoosie noticed.
“Suit yourself,” she huffed. “Spirits can pick up on those less experienced in this field. They tend to prey more on them.”
“Good,” Jeff said. “Maybe I will get some good evidence.”
Swoosie narrowed her pudgy eyelids and motioned for a man who was milling about awkwardly, studying old pictures on the wall. “Preston,” she called with a snap of her fingers.
He was a middle-aged man with a greasy ring of dark hair circling a large bald spot. His clothing was a mish mash of suit pants and a Molly Hatchett T-shirt. The shirt and pin stripe pants were riddled with stains.
“How are you?” Preston asked breathlessly. It seemed his pot belly was a strain for him to carry.
“Fine, Preston,” Jeff said. “Nice to meet you.”
“Oh … I think Mr. Leach is preferable,” Preston said. “I could be your daddy.”
“Not likely,” Jeff thought.
“I’m putting the two of you together tonight since you are both new to this,” Swoosie said. “You know … strength in numbers.”
Both men’s puzzled expressions testified their bewilderment of Swoosie’s logic as if to point out that it would make more sense to put them with an experienced investigator.
“I’m a fairly experienced investigator,” Jeff said. “Tonight, makes my twentieth investigation.”
Swoosie’s condescending smile let him know she still considered him a novice. She turned and then waddled over to a sofa in the foyer where her daughter and a couple of other men waited. Their familiar banter showed them to be a clique.
“Okay, Mr. Leach,” Jeff said. “Where should we start?”
This group didn’t set up night vision cameras or environmental equipment as he hoped. Each member was only armed with a flashlight, digital recorder, and maybe a camera. Jeff was sure most of them carried a silk charm pillow in their pocket.
“I think they want us to go the basement,” Mr. Leach said impatiently. “Didn’t you hear what Swoosie said?”
Swoosie was much larger than Mr. Leach, yet she seemed a bit more agile as he watched his partner shuffle down the corridor.
“Okay,” Jeff mumbled before following him down the stone stairs to the basement.
They picked a far corner in the dark, dingy basement, and then set their digital recorders on a wooden table. The musty smell of old buildings had become synonymous with ghosts in Jeff’s mind. Even though he knew better, he sometimes entertained the idea of it being a ‘ghost odor’.
The sun was beginning to set through one of the basement windows, so they agreed to wait until full dark before beginning their session.
“Hey … you know this used to hold POWs during World War Two?” Jeff said, nodding at the old cells across the room. The iron doors had been removed many years ago on all but one.
“It was an orphanage at one time, built by the Knights of Pythias,” Mr. Leach countered.
“Really?” Jeff said, a little confused at why an orphanage would be more interesting than a POW prison.
“Yeah, can you imagine how many kids died here?” Mr. Leach mused.
Jeff’s stomach twisted. His partner seemed a little too gleeful about dead children.
“Yeah,” Jeff said distantly. He watched the last rays of the sun disappear behind the shrubbery outside. When it was completely dark, he said, “Well, shall we get started?”
Jeff jumped when a flashlight beam flared in his eyes.
“Can I ask you something, Jeff?” Mr. Leach asked, lowering his flashlight.
“Sure.”
“How did you get into paranormal stuff?” Mr. Leach asked.
“Curiosity,” Jeff began and then anger began to simmer. He didn’t know why the question upset him so, it was benign and practical. Perhaps it was his partner’s tone. “It’s really nobody’s business,” Jeff snapped.
“Fair enough,” Mr. Leach said. “What did your fiancée say about it?”
Jeff glared at Mr. Leach in the darkness. How did he know he had a fiancée?
“What makes you think I had a fiancée?” Jeff asked, pointedly.
“I know things,” Mr. Leach replied. His coy response echoing from the darkness sounded like the prelude to a horror movie.
Jeff was angry. Mr. Leach seemed to have no boundaries. Jeff’s fiancée was a sore spot. She had been a former fiancée for almost a year.
“Why don’t you tell me her name?” Jeff said, a little too loud. Shushes hissed from deep in the darkness as his voice echoed off the stone walls. It seemed the whole building heard his question.
There was a very long pause. Jeff almost thought he was alone until the answer startled him.
“I can’t see that,” Mr. Leach answered. “Only events and feelings.”
“What are you … some kinda Jedi Master?” Jeff asked.
“I’m psychic,” Mr. Leach wheezed. His last word echoed about the basement, bringing more shushes from around the building.
“Oh,” Jeff whispered. He had encountered these people before; every paranormal group seemed to have them. Out of the dozen or so self-proclaimed psychics Jeff had known in his life, there was only one he believed legitimate. An old shut-in, who he delivered prescriptions to while in college, told him some interesting things about his life that came to pass a short time later.
“So, where is my fiancée?” Jeff asked.
There was a long silence before Mr. Leach replied flatly. “With another man, I’m afraid.”
Jeff didn’t say anything. He knew she was with another man now. Lurid images filled his head as to what they may be doing right now. Acid boiled in his guts and his heart began to pound. He didn’t expect this answer; he was looking for more of a geographical location. She had been with this schmuck for six months, two weeks, and three days, but he wasn’t counting.
“Does that shock you?” Mr. Leach whispered.
“You’re the psychic … you tell me,” Jeff barked. “Look, I just want to focus on the investigation, can we do that now?”
More shushes ensued followed by a booming female voice asking them to be quiet. Swoosie had some lungs.
They were so engrossed in their argument, neither man noticed the single cell door slowly swing open and a black shadow dart down the passageway. The air grew thick and uncomfortable, but both men thought it was from their awkward conversation.
Mr. Leach didn’t answer. A moment later, Jeff heard the beep of a digital recorder turning on. The small red recording light resembled a one-eyed demon in the complete darkness. Jeff knew he hurt the guy’s feelings, but he didn’t care. Mr. Leach had trodden on areas of Jeff’s life where he wasn’t welcome. In fact, no one was welcome. His fiancée had been the last living member of anything resembling family for Jeff. She had tried to get him to see a shrink to cope with his parent’s death, but he refused. Thus, the wedge between them was forged.
On the surface, Jeff seemed to recover. He tried to move on with his life. His preacher once told him that time is a river, washing away all pains and transgressions. Yet, for those who grieve, time is often an ocean. It ebbs and flows, sometimes exposing the pain lurking beneath the surface of our consciousness with each experience.
“Truth,” Jeff thought.
He finally turned on his digital recorder and began to alternate questions with Mr. Leach.
Is anyone with us?”
“Are you angry?”
“What is your name?”
“How old are you?”
“Why are you here?”
“When did you die?”
They repeated this process several times in different areas of the building. They never heard anything. Hopefully, there would be some evidence on the recording.
Jeff found it difficult to focus. Of course, he was tired, yet it was much more than fatigue. Mr. Leach had upset him, there was no denying it. The thing bothering him the most was the image running through his head; His fiancée and some faceless man with a Chippendale’s body were in bed together. He tried to push it aside and focus on the reason he was here. When he turned his thoughts to his parents, it did not help. He kept seeing the make-shift white cross memorial at the site of his parents’ crash. The same cross where he had recorded his mother’s voice. It wasn’t only the mental image distracting him. His mother’s one-word response echoed in his head after every EVP question – “Jeff”. A few times he thought he heard her voice coming from the darkness – “Jeff”.
Jeff knew it was fatigue, it had to be. If not, Mr. Leach would have heard something.
Jeff left Sunday morning frustrated. He sat in his truck and watched the last act unfold in what had been an all-night circus. Swoosie, her daughter, Mr. Leach, and a few other men sat in folding chairs arranged in a circle on the front lawn. They had asked Jeff to join them, but he respectfully declined. They burned sage while performing a cleansing ritual.
“We can’t have any spirits following us home,” Swoosie’s daughter proclaimed. “This’ll keep ‘em put.”
The obese Swoosie sat with her back to him. Her butt dangled on either side of the stressed chair as the legs sank into the soft and dewy sod. She swung a burning leaf around her head, making her resemble an elephant trying to douse the flames of a burning tree.
Jeff realized the only way he would get anywhere is starting his own team. He turned the ignition, causing his lights to fall on the group. They turned and glowered as if he farted and belched in church. He smiled and waved as he shifted the truck into gear.
Missouri Spirit Seekers,” Jeff muttered as he left the gate, “seems more like shit seekers.”
***
Excerpt from Death Theory by John D. Mimms. Copyright © 2017 by John D. Mimms. Reproduced with permission from John D. Mimms. All rights reserved.

Author Bio:

John D. Mimms
John D. Mimms is a business owner, paranormal researcher and author. John served as the Technical Director for a TAPS (The Atlantic Paranormal Society) family paranormal research group in Central Arkansas. During his four-year tenure with the organization, he helped supervise over 100 investigations and wrote more than sixteen technical articles. Paul Bradford, of Ghost Hunters International fame, read one of John's articles titled A Christmas Carol Debunked live on the air of the Parazona Radio program on Christmas Day 2009. John also wrote a definitive technical/training manual, which is a comprehensive guide on equipment usage, investigation protocol and scientific theory for paranormal research.
In 2009 John decided to couple his knowledge of paranormal phenomena with his lifelong love of literary fiction. John's first published work, The Tesla Gate, is the first installment of a three-part, heart-wrenching, sci-fi/paranormal drama.
Book 1 of this unique, ground-breaking story released July 2014 through Open Road Media. In January 2016, Open Road Media released The Tesla Gate Book 2: The Myriad Resistance. Book 3: The Eye of Madness is slated for release September 27, 2016. Though fictional, the trilogy is based on scientific, paranormal theory.
Publishers Weekly declared about The Tesla Gate in the March 3, 2014 issue "…touching sci-fi story that takes the reader on an unlikely road-trip adventure…a fast read with some entertaining ideas and a real emotional core in the relationship between father and son."
The Examiner proclaimed in June 2014: "Entertaining as well as poignant, this book is extremely imaginative in its basic premise as well as the many colorful and emotionally compelling events that take place."
John resides and writes on a mountaintop in central Arkansas with his wife and two sons.

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Giveaway:

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Thursday, 15 March 2018

The clock flower by Barbara Casey

March 15, 2018
the-clock-flower-front-cover_1.jpg (424×676)
Book Details:

Book Title:  The Clock Flower by Barbara Casey (Book 3 of The F.I.G. Mysteries)
Category:  YA Fiction,  208 pages
Genre:   Mystery / Fantasy
Publisher:  Gauthier Publications, The Hungry Goat Press Imprint
Release date:  February 2018
Tour dates: Feb 26 to March 30, 2017
Content Rating: PG-13 (There is light profanity and some threat of violence.)

Book Description:

Dara Roux, abandoned when she was seven years old by her mother. Exceptionally gifted in foreign languages. Orphan. Accepted to Yale University.

Mackenzie Yarborough, no record of her parents or where she was born. Exceptionally gifted in math and problem-solving. Orphan. Accepted to MIT.

Jennifer Torres, both parents killed in an automobile accident when she was sixteen. Exceptionally gifted in music and art. Orphan. Accepted to Juilliard.

The three FIGs—Females of Intellectual Genius—as they are called, have graduated from Wood Rose Orphanage and Academy for Young Women after returning from New York City where Dara learned why her mother abandoned her all those years ago, and they are now attending universities where they can further their special talents. This means they will be separated from each other and from Carolina, their much-loved mentor and teacher who is “one of them,” for the first time in their young lives. They vow to try living apart for one semester, in the so-called real world that doesn’t include the orphanage; but if things don’t work out, they will come up with another plan—a plan where they can be together once again.

​Dara is invited through Yale University to take part in an exciting archeological project in China. Jennifer, once again visualizing black and white images and the unusual sounds of another cadence that seem to be connected to Mackenzie, is engrossed in creating her next symphony at Juilliard. Mackenzie, because of her genius at problem-solving, is personally chosen by a US Senator to get involved in a mysterious, secret research project involving immortality that is being conducted in a small village in China—not too far from where Dara is involved with the archeological site. Once there, however, she finds herself facing a terrifying death from the blood-dripping teeth of an ancient evil dragon. Her best friends, the FIGs and Carolina, rely on their own unique genius and special talents to save her as she discovers the truth of her birth parents.


My review:-
 This book was refreshingly unique with a suspenseful and hooking tale What I  especially liked about this book was the way the friendship between the three girls was portrayed alongwith what Dara has to face. A 4 star read. Can't wait to read more.



​Buy The Clock Flower:
Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble
Add to Goodreads
Barbara Casey
Meet the Author:

Barbara Casey is the author of several award-winning novels for both adults and young adults, as well as book-length works of nonfiction true crime and numerous articles, poems, and short stories. Her nonfiction true crime book,Kathryn Kelly: The Moll Behind Machine Gun Kelly, has been optioned for a major film and television series. In addition to her own writing, she is an editorial consultant and president of the Barbara Casey Agency. Established in 1995, she represents authors throughout the United States, Great Britain, Canada, and Japan. Barbara is also a partner in Strategic Media Books Publishing, an independent publishing house that specializes in cutting-edge adult nonfiction. Barbara lives on a mountain in Georgia with her husband, and three dogs who adopted her: Benton, a hound-mix; Fitz, a miniature dachshund; and Gert, a Jack Russel terrier of sorts.

Connect with the author: Website

BOOK TOUR SCHEDULE:

Feb 26 - Working Mommy Journal - review of Clock Flower / giveaway
Feb 27 - eBook Addicts - book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 27 - Writers and Authors - book spotlight / author interview
Feb 27 - Pretty Little Library - review of Cadence of Gypsies / guest post / giveaway
Feb 28 - Laurie's Thoughts and Reviews - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Feb 28 - Library of Clean Reads - review of The Clock Flower / giveaway
March 1 - Booklove - review of Cadence of Gypsies / guest post
March 1 - Cheryl's Book Nook - review of Cadence of Gypsies / guest post / giveaway
March 2 - #redhead.with.book - review of Clock Flower / giveaway
March 5 - T's Stuff - book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
March 5 - Book for Books - review of Cadence of Gypsies
March 6 - Sefina Hawke's Books - review of Cadence of Gypsies
March 6 - Rainy Day Reviews - review of Cadence of Gypsies /author interview /giveaway
March 7 - Bound 4 Escape - review of Clock Flower / giveaway
March 8 - Booklove - review of Wish Rider
March 9 - A Mama's Corner of the World - review of Cadence of Gypsies /giveaway
March 9 - Cassidy's Bookshelves - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
March 9 - Rockin' Book Reviews - review of Clock Flower / guest post / giveaway
March 12 - The Book Enigma - review of Cadence of Gypsies / giveaway
March 12 - Sefina Hawke's Books - review of Wish Rider
March 12 - Literary Flits - review of Clock Flower / giveaway
March 13 - A Mama's Corner of the World - review of Wish Rider / giveaway
March 13 - Cheryl's Book Nook - review of Wish Rider / giveaway
March 14 - Pretty Little Library - review of Wish Rider / giveaway
March 14 - Rainy Day Reviews - review of Wish Rider / giveaway
March 15 - Book Reviews @Athena - review of Cadence of Gypsies / guest post
March 15 - Booklove - review of Clock Flower
March 16 - A Mama's Corner of the World - review of Clock Flower / giveaway
March 16 - Bookworm for Kids - review of Clock Flower / giveaway
March 19 - The Book Enigma - review of Wish Rider / giveaway
March 19 - Book for Books - review of Wish Rider
March 20 - Book Reviews @Athena - review of Wish Rider
March 20 - Cheryl's Book Nook - review of Clock Flower / giveaway
March 21 - Pretty Little Library - review of Clock Flower / giveaway
March 21 - Rainy Day Reviews - review of Clock Flower / giveaway
March 22 - Book Reviews @Athena - review of Clock Flower
March 23 - Sefina Hawke's Books - review of Clock Flower
March 26 - The Book Enigma - review of Clock Flower / giveaway
March 26 - Two Points of Interest - review of Cadence of Gypsies / giveaway
March 27 - StoreyBook Reviews - book spotlight / author interview ./ giveaway
March 27 - Book for Books - review of Clock Flower
March 28 - JBronder Book Reviews - review of Clock Flower
March 28 - Books are Love - review of Cadence of Gypsies / giveaway
March 28 - Two Points of Interest - review of Wish Rider / giveaway
March 29 - Books are Love - review of Wish Rider / giveaway
March 30 - Books are Love - review of Clock Flower / giveaway
March 30 - Two Points of Interest - review of Clock Flower / giveaway

Enter the Giveaway!
Ends April 7, 2018