Audio/Book Review of The Watcher of Dead Time (Relic Guild 3) by Edward Cox

Book Title: The Watcher of Dead Time (The Relic Guild Book 3)

Genre: Science Fiction/Dark Fantasy

Pages: 400
Audio Run Time: 15 Hrs 57 Mins

Author: Edward Cox 

Date Published: 18 August 2016 (E-book & Audiobook)

Synopsis:

Labrys Town, home to a million humans cut off from the rest of the universe, has been invaded. Those who protected it have been deposed.

The Relic Guild are scattered across the worlds of the Aelfir. Many of them are dead or dying. The Genii control everything. The war is almost over.

Clara, a young woman barely able to control her werewolf side, has seen her friends and mentors killed in front of her. She is the last hope for Labrys Town.

But someone else is watching...

The dramatic conclusion to the award-nominated fantasy trilogy which began with THE RELIC GUILD.

Review:

The Watcher of Dead Time by Edward Cox
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the third and concluding book in the Relic Guild series. I absolutely LOVED it!

The story is again narrated by Imogen Church. She did another fantastic job in bringing the characters to life. Her ability to voice the different accents used for the various characters impressed me. I loved her speaking voice, and her reading pace was perfect.

Clara is a young woman of eighteen, who has been working as a prostitute in a brothel since the age of fourteen in the Labyrinth city called Labrys Town. I really liked her. She is stubborn and determined. She has magic in her veins, is known as a magica and is a wolf shifter.

The story continues from the shocking events at the end of the second book, The Cathedral of Known Things. The Nightshade is under the control of the Genii and the members of the Relic Guild are scattered. Their only hope is to locate Goldur Bellow, a Nephilim, who first met Vam Bam and Angel during the Genii War forty years previously. Meanwhile, Sergeant Ennis, a policeman of Labrys Town, has been tasked to investigate and locate the members of the Relic Guild. However, during his investigation he finds out that things are not as they seem.

As this story progressed, loose ends from the previous books were tied up, but new secrets were revealed. I found myself on another emotional rollercoaster ride as the story reached its zenith, then climaxed in an all out battle. Eblisha Spiral, the first lord of the Thaumaturgists and now leader of the Genii, is a megalomaniac in my opinion. I think that Fabian Moor and Mo Asherzad came to the same conclusion in the end, though a little too late to avoid their fate.

This is a unique story; the world building and character development is extraordinary. I loved the descriptions of the scenes and characters. The story has a post apocalyptic feel to it, with a hint of steampunk, which is further enhanced by the split timelines, which are forty years apart. The characters in both the past and the present are quite interesting. This split timeline shows the reader the events in the past that led to the isolation of Labrys Town from the houses of the Aelfir, and also reveals secrets hidden by a few of the characters. This story has several twists and turns that kept me hooked. There is a bit more action (as in explosions and weapon fire) compared to the other two books but, it's the storytelling that instantly pulls you in. The author has a fantastic way of describing the scenes so that you can picture them easily within the mind's eye. My only complaint is that it ended!!

Edward Cox has written a fantastic trilogy. I loved his fast paced writing style. The flow of the story seemed a little more seamless than the first book, and I was sad to reach the end. This is an author who is unafraid to kill off his characters. Although this is one of the things I find annoying about authors (they usually leave me an emotional wreck and I end up with a book hangover because of it), I will be keeping an eye out for more of this author's work in the future as he has found a firm fan in me.

Due to scenes of violence and gore, I do not recommend this book for younger readers under the age of 15. However, I highly recommend this book if you love science fiction and dark fantasy genres. - Lynn Worton

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About The Author:

Author of THE RELIC GUILD, THE CATHEDRAL OF KNOWN THINGS and THE WATCHER OF DEAD TIME (2016) published by Gollancz. Represented by John Berlyne of Zeno Agency: http://zenoagency.com/

Edward Cox began writing stories at school as a way to pass time in boring lessons. It was a hobby he dabbled with until the late 80′s when he discovered the works of David Gemmell, which not only cemented his love of fantasy but also encouraged a hobby to become something much more serious.

With his first short story published in 2000, Edward spent much of the next decade earning a BA 1st class with honours in creative writing, and a Master degree in the same subject. He then went on to teach creative writing at the University of Bedfordshire. During the 2000′s he published a host of short stories with the smaller presses of America, where he also worked as a reviewer.

Alongside David Gemmell, Edward's influences continue to range from past masters to current authors. Neil Gaiman and Gene Wolfe, George Orwell and Richard Matheson, Angela Carter, Kafka, Tad Williams, Michael Moorcock, Susanna Clarke and Chuck Palahniuk - these are the kinds of authors with something to teach on the craft of storytelling, and they inspire Edward in a continual pursuit to get better at what he does.

Currently living in Essex with his wife and daughter, Edward is mostly surrounded by fine greenery and spiders the size of his hand. The Relic Guild is his first completed novel, and it is the result of more than ten years of obsessive writing.

Author Links:

Amazon Author Page ; Goodreads ; Website ; Twitter

Book Review of The Seven Year Dress by Paulette Mahurin @MahurinPaulette

Book Title: The Seven Year Dress
Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 336

Author: Paulette Mahurin

Date Published: 8 May 2016

Synopsis:

One of the darkest times in human history was the insane design and execution to rid the world of Jews and “undesirables.” At the hands of the powerful evil madman Adolf Hitler, families were ripped apart and millions were slaughtered. Persecution, torture, devastation, and enduring the unthinkable remained for those who lived. This is the story of one woman who lived to tell her story. This is a narrative of how a young beautiful teenager, Helen Stein, and her family were torn asunder, ultimately bringing her to Auschwitz. It was there she suffered heinous indignity at the hands of the SS. It was also there, in that death camp, she encountered compassion, selfless acts of kindness, and friendship. Written by the award-winning, best-selling author of His Name Was Ben, comes a story of the resilience of the human spirit that will leave you thinking about Helen Stein and The Seven Year Dress for years to come after the last page is shut.

Review:

The Seven Year Dress by Paulette Mahurin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.

This is a very touching story. I loved it!

Myra is a young student, training to be a nurse at UCLA. Looking to rent a room near the university, she meets Helen Stein. A little wary of her prospective landlady at first, she comes to realise that Helen has faced unimaginable horror and has survived through one of history's most darkest times.

Helen is a wonderful character, I really liked this brave but wounded soul. This is her story and told in first person narrative.

When I was contacted by this author and asked to read this book I quickly said yes, even though I knew I would be in for an emotional roller coaster ride of enormous proportions having previously read another book written by her.

I started to read this story and within minutes had tears streaming down my face. This story took me on a journey into Germany and the political turmoil leading up to the outbreak of war in 1938 and beyond. Many families were affected, but seeing the world through Helen's eyes brought home to me how one family was torn apart simply because they didn't fit with the ideals of the country's leader.

Helen's story is full of horror, but there are moments of light that made me smile. Helen's family consisted of her father, Irving, her mother, Rose and three siblings: Lawrence, Shana and Ben. Helen was the youngest. I loved getting to know them, they were a warm and loving family. We are also introduced to Helen's neighbor and best friend Max, who also plays a pivotal role in this tale.

War is not a pretty subject and I felt the author did an amazing job in bringing the hardship and horror to life with her emotive and descriptive writing. I felt the horror and despair that Helen felt as her life imploded, I shuddered at the brutality brought on the people of Germany whether they were Jewish or not and felt the joy of being rescued from the awful concentration camps.

Genocide is not an easy subject to face never mind write about and my heart broke for all of the people (living and dead) affected by the second world war, however, I feel that the author broached the subject with sensitivity and tact. Soldiers were ordered to commit terrible atrocities against their own citizens and families, whilst ordinary hardworking families were torn apart or killed all in the name of a "pure race". Helen's tale, although dark at times, also showed me that even though they survived the war, scars still remained within those who lived long after the war finished. The pain of loss that they live with is unimaginable to me. However, their bravery and determination to survive against insurmountable odds made me feel proud of them too.

Although Helen is a fictional character, her story is not. I feel that she is the voice of all those who are (or were) unable to speak for themselves. Some people would like to sweep this terrible moment in history under the carpet where it could be forgotten. However, I feel that we should never forget the events so that it never happens again; I am not in favour of letting history repeat itself.

Paulette Mahurin has written another fantastic historical fiction novel. I love her descriptive writing style, which made the past and the characters come to life. I also love the flow, which kept me turning pages. She has a firm fan in me and I am now looking forward to reading more of her books in the future.

Due to scenes of violence, I do not recommend this book to young readers. However, I highly recommend this book as a MUST READ if you are looking for a fantastic story that will touch you deeply. - Lynn Worton

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About The Author:

Paulette Mahurin lives with her husband Terry and three dogs, Max, Bella, and Lady Luck in Ventura County, California. She grew up in West Los Angeles and attended UCLA, where she received a Master’s Degree in Science.

While in college, she won awards and was published for her short-story writing. One of these stories, Something Wonderful, was based on the couple presented in His Name Was Ben, which she expanded into the fictionalized novel in 2014. The first week out, His Name Was Ben, made it to top ten books sold in the Amazon Kindle store (topic: health/wellness/cancer). Her first novel, The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap, made it to Amazon bestseller lists and won awards, including best historical fiction of the year 2012 in Turning the Pages Magazine.

Semi-retired, she continues to work part-time as a Nurse Practitioner in Ventura County. When she’s not writing, she does pro-bono consultation work with women with cancer, works in the Westminister Free Clinic as a volunteer provider, volunteers as a mediator in the Ventura County Courthouse for small claims cases, and involves herself, along with her husband, in dog rescue.

Profits from her books go to help rescue dogs.

Author Links:

Amazon Author Page 

Goodreads 

Facebook 

Blog 

Twitter

Audio/Book Review of The Seacrest: A love story (Paines Creek Beach Book 1) by Aaron Paul Lazar

Book Title: The Seacrest: A Love Story (Paines Creek Beach Book 1)

Genre: Romance/Suspense

Pages: 336
Audio Run Time: 8 Hrs 29 Mins

Author: Aaron Paul Lazar

Date Published: 14 October 2013 (E-Book)

17 December 2013 (Audio Book)

Synopsis:

They say it’s better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.

Finn McGraw disagrees.

He was just seventeen when he had a torrid summer affair with the girl who stole his heart—and then inexplicably turned on him. Finn may have moved on with his life, but he’s never forgotten her.

Now, ten years later, he’s got more than his lost love to worry about. A horrific accident turns his life upside down, resurrecting the ghosts of his long-dead family and taking the lives of the few people he has left.

Finn always believed his estranged brother was responsible for the fire that killed their family—but an unexpected inheritance with a mystery attached throws everything he knows into doubt.

And on top of that, the beguiling daughter of his wealthy employer has secrets of her own. But the closer he gets, the harder she pushes him away.

The Seacrest is a story of intrigue and betrayal, of secrets and second chances—and above all, of a love that never dies.

Review:

The Seacrest by Aaron Paul Lazar
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the first book in the Paines Creek Beach series. I really enjoyed it.

I downloaded this book in audiobook format as I have listened to this author's work in this way before and really enjoyed it. This story is narrated by George Kuch. His narration was easy to listen to and his reading pace kept me engaged.

Finn McGraw is a wonderful character. I really liked this young man. He fell in love with a mysterious young girl he met on the beach when he was seventeen and had an affair. Ten years later he's married and working at the Seacrest, a horse farm, when his life is turned upside down by a tragic accident and his wife and his estranged brother are killed. As he delves deeper into his brother's life, he finds out secrets long kept hidden. With the help of his employer's daughter, he begins to realise that things are not all as they seem. However, Libby Van der Horne has her own secrets and demons from her past.

It is not often that I come across romance books told through the male POV, but I must admit that it makes a nice change. Each chapter is told through alternating time lines, flicking between 2013 to 1997. I did find myself wondering who the girl Finn met and fell in love with really was, as her identity was hidden for the majority of the story. Even Finn never really knew her real name until later (he gave her a nickname - Sassy). Nevertheless, their love story was extremely touching and made me a little teary-eyed at times.

There are a few story threads in this tale that weave into the whole. There is Finn's past and his one true love. Then there's the car accident that killed Finn's wife, Cora, and his brother Jackson, which creates a mystery that sees him trying to piece together the events leading up to the accident. Then there is Libby's past and her secret. All in all, this story is masterfully told with several twists and turns that kept surprising me. There is mystery, suspense, love, loss, forgiveness and redemption, along with a whole emotional roller coaster from start to finish. My only gripe is that I would have loved to have known the identity of "Sassy" long before it was revealed. However, that is only my opinion. Other readers may not have the same reaction. The ending, for me, was bitter sweet and something I didn't expect. I am looking forward to reading/listening to the next book in the series, The Seacroft, as soon as I can.

Aaron Paul Lazar has written a fantastic tale that captured my imagination. I love his writing style, which is fast paced and entertaining. I also love the flow. He has found another fan. I am now looking forward to reading more of his books in the future.

Although this book doesn't have any bad language, there are some slightly explicit scenes of a sexual nature. Therefore, I recommend this book to older teen readers and to adults who love contemporary romance or romantic suspense genres. - Lynn Worton

View all my reviews

               

About The Author:

Aaron Paul Lazar wasn't always a mystery writer. It wasn't until eight members of his family and friends died within five years that the urge to write became overwhelming. "When my father died, I lost it. I needed an outlet, and writing provided the kind of solace I couldn't find elsewhere."

Lazar created the Gus LeGarde mystery series, with the founding novel, DOUBLE FORTÉ (2004), a chilling winter mystery set in the Genesee Valley of upstate New York. Like Lazar's father, protagonist Gus LeGarde is a classical music professor. Gus, a grandfather, gardener, chef, and nature lover, plays Chopin etudes to feed his soul and thinks of himself as a "Renaissance man caught in the 21st century." This book has since be rereleased in 2012 as an "author's preferred edition," via Twilight Times Books.

The creation of the series lent Lazar the comfort he sought, yet in the process, a new passion was unleashed. Obsessed with his parallel universe, he now lives, breathes, and dreams about his characters, and has written ten LeGarde mysteries in eight years. (UPSTAGED - 2005; TREMOLO: CRY OF THE LOON - 2007 Twilight Times Books; MAZURKA - 2009 Twilight Times Books, FIRESONG - 2011, DON'T LET THE WIND CATCH YOU - 2013, VIRTUOSO - 2014, with more to come.) The author has just completed his twenty-first novel.

One day while rototilling his gardens, Lazar unearthed a green cat's eye marble, which prompted the new paranormal mystery series featuring Sam Moore, retired country doctor and passionate gardener. The green marble, a powerful talisman, connects all three of the books in the series, whisking Sam back in time to uncover his brother's dreadful fate fifty years earlier. (HEALEY'S CAVE, 2010; TERROR COMES KNOCKING, 2011; FOR KEEPS, 2012) Lazar intends to continue both series.

Lazar's books feature breathless chase scenes, nasty villains, and taut suspense, but are also intensely human stories, replete with kids, dogs, horses, food, romance, and humor. The author calls them, "country mysteries," although reviewers have dubbed them "literary mysteries."

"It seems as though every image ever impressed upon my brain finds its way into my work. Whether it's the light dancing through stained-glass windows in a Parisian chapel, curly slate-green lichen covering a boulder at the edge of a pond in Maine, or hoarfrost dangling from a cherry tree branch in mid-winter, these images burrow into my memory cells. In time they bubble back, persistently itching, until they are poured out on the page."

In 2009, Kodak gave him up for grabs, and during the year off before he landed in his coveted new job with KB America, he had time to explore and reconnect with his environment. Little did he know that several trips to the Adirondack Mountains would reawaken his passion for that part of the country. Two new books were written in that time frame, starting yet another mystery series, Tall Pines Mysteries. The first two combooks in the series, FOR THE BIRDS - 2011 and ESSENTIALLY YOURS - 2012 have been winning literary awards. Keep an eye out for SANCTUARY (2014), and MURDER ON THE SACANDAGA (2015), coming via Twilight Times Books.

In between all the novels, Lazar found time to issue three writing guides based on his many years of writing advice blogs, entitled WRITE LIKE THE WIND, volumes 1-3. These are available in eBook and audio book.

In his twenty-first book, Lazar has jumped genre. THE SEACREST - OCT 2013 -, a love story, is poised to capture hearts across the globe.

The author lives on a ridge overlooking the Genesee Valley in upstate New York with his wife, mother-in-law, two dogs, and cat. He finds grandfathering one of the most precious and important times of life, and spends as much time as possible with Julian, Gordon, and Isabella.

Lazar maintains several websites and blogs, was the Gather Saturday Writing Essential host for three years, writes his monthly "Seedlings" columns for the Voice in the Dark literary journal and the Future Mystery Anthology Magazine. He has been published in Absolute Write as well as The Great Mystery and Suspense Magazine. See excerpts and reviews here:

www.lazarbooks.com
www.murderby4.blogspot.com
www.aplazar.gather.com
www.aaronlazar.blogspot.com

Contact him at aaron.lazar@yahoo.com.

Twilight Times Books by multi-award winning author, Aaron Lazar:

LEGARDE MYSTERIES
DOUBLE FORTÉ (print, eBook, audio book)
UPSTAGED (print, eBook, audio book)
TREMOLO: CRY OF THE LOON (print, eBook, audio book)
MAZURKA (print, eBook, audio book)
FIRESONG (print, eBook, audio book)
DON'T LET THE WIND CATCH YOU (print, eBook, audio book)
VIRTUOSO (~2014)

MOORE MYSTERIES
HEALEY'S CAVE (print, eBook, audio book)
TERROR COMES KNOCKING (print, eBook, audio book)
FOR KEEPS (print, eBook, audio book)

TALL PINES MYSTERIES
FOR THE BIRDS (print, eBook, audio book)
ESSENTIALLY YOURS (print, eBook, audio book)
SANCTUARY (2014)
MURDER ON THE SACANDAGA (~2014)

STANDALONES
THE SEACREST (coming fall of 2013)

WRITING ADVICE:

WRITE LIKE THE WIND, volumes 1, 2, 3 (ebooks and audio books)

Aaron Paul Lazar writes to soothe his soul. An award-winning, bestselling Kindle author of three addictive mystery series, writing books, and a new love story, Aaron enjoys the Genesee Valley countryside in upstate New York, where his characters embrace life, play with their dogs and grandkids, grow sumptuous gardens, and chase bad guys. Visit his website at http://www.lazarbooks.com and watch for his upcoming Twilight Times Books releases, SANCTUARY (2014), and VIRTUOSO (2014).


AWARDS:

Double Forté
* 2012 ForeWord BOTYA, Mystery, FINALIST

Tremolo: cry of the loon -
* 2013 Eric Hoffer Book Awards: Grand Prize Short List
* 2013 Eric Hoffer Book Awards: Honorable Mention, Eric Hoffer Legacy Fiction
* 2011 Global eBook Award Finalist in Historical Fiction Contemporary
* 2011 Preditors & Editors Readers Choice Award - 2nd place Mystery
* 2008 Yolanda Renée's Top Ten Books
* 2008 MYSHELF Top Ten Reads

For the Birds
* 2011 ForeWord Book Awards, FINALIST in Mystery
* 2012 Carolyn Howard-Johnson's Top 10 Reads

Essentially Yours
* 2013 EPIC Book Awards, FINALIST in Suspense
* 2013 Eric Hoffer Da Vinci Eye Award Finalist

Healey's Cave
* 2012 EPIC Book Awards WINNER Best Paranormal
* 2011 Eric Hoffer Book Award, WINNER Best Book in Commercial Fiction
* 2011 Finalist for Allbooks Review Editor's Choice
* 2011 Winner of Carolyn Howard Johnson's 9th Annual Noble (not Noble!) Prize for Literature
* 2011 Finalists for Global EBook Awards

Terror Comes Knocking
* 2013 Global Ebook Awards, Paranormal - Bronze

For Keeps
* 2013 Semi Finalist in Kindle Book Review Book Awards, Mystery Category

Author Links:

Amazon Author Page 

Goodreads

Facebook (author page)

Facebook (personal page)

Twitter

Book Review of Bossman by Vi Keeland

Book Title: Bossman
Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance

Pages: 319

Author: Vi Keeland

Date Published: 16 July 2016

Synopsis:

The first time I met Chase Parker, I didn't exactly make a good impression.

I was hiding in the bathroom hallway of a restaurant, leaving a message for my best friend to save me from my awful date.

He overheard and told me I was a bitch, then proceeded to offer me some dating advice.

So I told him to mind his own damn business―his own tall, gorgeous, full-of-himself damn business―and went back to my miserable date.

When he walked by my table, he smirked, and I watched his arrogant, sexy ass walk back to his date.

I couldn't help but sneak hidden glances at the condescending jerk on the other side of the room. Of course, he caught me on more than one occasion, and winked.

When the gorgeous stranger and his equally hot date suddenly appeared at our table, I thought he was going to rat me out.

But instead, he pretended we knew each other and joined us―telling elaborate, embarrassing stories about our fake childhood.

My date suddenly went from boring to bizarrely exciting.

When it was over and we parted ways, I thought about him more than I would ever admit, even though I knew I'd never see him again.

I mean, what were the chances I'd run into him again in a city with eight million people?Then again...

What were the chances a month later he'd wind up being my new sexy boss?

Review:

Bossman by Vi Keeland
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a fantastic contemporary erotic romance. I LOVED IT!

Reece Annesley is a wonderful character. I really liked her. After an office romance goes sour, Reece finds herself looking for a new job. But her social life is just as dire. When a stranger rescues her from a boring date, she becomes intrigued with him.Swearing off of office romances, she finds herself fighting her attraction to the mysterious Chase Parker when he becomes her new boss.

Chase Parker is a fantastic character. I really loved him. He has a tragic past, but I loved his sense of humour and his inventive storytelling. He is the CEO of a successful cosmetic company. When he rescues a damsel in distress (Reece) from her boring date he wasn't looking for love, but something about her drew him to her.

I have been a huge fan of this author's ever since I was first introduced to her books in 2013 and I read Belong To You. When I heard that this book had been released I downloaded a copy of it and began reading it as soon as I could.

I started to read and was quickly hooked. I didn't put this book down until I had finished it. It is very hard not to gush about this book and give spoilers. The only complaint I had (if you could call it that) is that although this story is told through the eyes of Reece and Chase, Reece's story is told in the present while Chase's is a flashback to his past for the most part. I understand why the author did this as she needed to show his backstory. However, I would have loved to have had a few more scenes from him in the present to see what he thought of Reece, especially when he first met her. Nevertheless, the story kept me turning the pages.

The chemistry between Chase and Reece is extremely explosive from the start and hot enough to scorch the pages. Their witty repartee kept me smiling. I also loved meeting a few of the other characters who were likable and lifelike. In fact all the characters were lifelike, with flaws and insecurities which made them more real. There was a twist that I didn't see coming and left me in tears, and the story took me on an emotional rollercoaster ride from beginning to end. I loved the dialogue and the way the characters all interacted; I could picture everything in my mind's eye with ease. I reached the end of the story with mixed emotions because I didn't want it to finish. But, sadly, all good things must come to an end. Luckily, I get to re-read this story whenever I want to revisit it.

Vi Keeland has written another exciting erotic romance. I love her writing style, which is fast paced and exciting. The story flowed wonderfully too. I love reading this author's work. She is one of my favourite contemporary romance writers, and I will continue to follow her career with interest.

As this is an erotic romance, there are several scenes of a sexual nature that are rather hot and explicit. Therefore, I do not recommend this book for readers younger than 18. However, if you love hot, steamy erotic romances, this book is for you! - Lynn Worton

View all my reviews

           

About The Author:

Vi Keeland is a #1 New York Times Bestselling author. With more than a million books sold, her titles have appeared in over fifty Bestseller lists and are currently translated in eight languages. She lives in New York with her husband and their three children where she is living out her own happily ever after with the boy she met at age six.

Author Links:

Join Vi's mailing list and read the first chapter of her next book now! ➜ bit.ly/1ykgbwp

Stalk her Facebook here ➜ facebook.com/pages/Author-Vi-Keeland/435952616513958

Visit her website here ➜ vikeeland.com

Follow her on Twitter here ➜ @vikeeland twitter.com/ViKeeland

Follow her on Instagram ➜ @Vi_Keeland instagram.com/Vi_Keeland/

Book Review of HUNTER by Cynthia Lucas

Book Title: HUNTER
Genre: Science Fiction / Romance

Pages: 329

Author: Cynthia Lucas

Date Published: 24 October 2014

Synopsis:

Nyx Leron is a Hunter. A demon hunter. The thing is....demons aren't what fairy tales or religious texts say they are and reality is only a matter of which reality you happen to perceive.

After being sentenced to serving a term in Reality Level 3 on the prison planet known as Earth for a galactic 'crime' he didn't commit, the Hunter soon learns that the balance of power and the control of Sacred Knowledge that can free all souls from endless cycles on prison planets like Earth are in the hands of corruption.

After his targets escape, losing him his bounty and his debt payoff, he barely escapes with his life and unexpectedly lands in the apartment of librarian and sometime tarot card reader, Lyra Hall. With a coven of soul-sucking demons now on his tail and traces of his energy in her living space and on her person, the Hunter has no choice but to take the human woman with him as he makes his escape to another galaxy, dimension and reality level where he will try to figure out how to protect the billions of souls that are now in danger.

Lyra Hall is a librarian with a vision....literally. Since childhood she's been able to 'see' things in the dark that others couldn't; shadows that come to her when she's on the verge of sleep. Are they real? Or just an overactive imagination from reading too many books on the occult? Lyra's about to find out when she wakes up in the middle of the night to what she thought were two demons standing beside her bed, only to discover instead the most handsome blue eyed man she's ever seen, accompanied by a snow white wolf. When he tells her that in order to save her life he must take her with him on a journey across reality, dimensions and galaxies, she thinks he's a delusional psychotic who may be dangerous...that is until the demons that are hot on his tail begin to materialize in her apartment!

As she and the Hunter make their escape Lyra has no idea how deep the 'rabbit hole' goes , but she soon discovers she's about to embark on not only an adventure beyond any she could have imagined...but an awakening of who she really is and the real meaning of the word 'soul mate'.

Demons...they're not who you think they are, and sometimes possession by one is your only salvation.

Review:

Hunter by Cynthia Lucas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was an intriguing science fiction romance.

Nyx Leron is an interesting character. I really liked him. He is a demon hunter and has been given the ability to travel through portals to other higher dimensions in order to collect them. However, after discovering that things are not all they seem and in an attempt to escape his would be captors, he stumbles across a mysterious woman who now faces danger because of his actions. Forced to keep her safe, he must unravel the secrets kept by his employer.

Lyra Hall is also an intriguing character. However, I found her to be slightly annoying. I'm all for strong females but something about her grated on me. I don't know what it was and I still can't put my finger on why. Nevertheless, other readers may not have the same reaction to her. She is a librarian living on Earth, but she has been able to "see" creatures that are not exactly human. When a stranger kidnaps her, she finds out that things are not as they seem and her life will never be the same again.

I really liked Vega, Nyx's lupine companion, and a few of the other characters such as D'Anan and Talon. The Chancellor, who happens to be an elemental, was decidedly creepy and dark, and he made the perfect villain.

This story was an exciting mixture of action, adventure, danger and romance. I really liked this book. Why the four stars I hear you ask. The reason was simple: It was a metaphysical/science fiction story rather than the paranormal romance I had expected. It was my fault, as I saw the cover and didn't check the genre when it showed up in my recommendations on Amazon. I love science fiction anyway, so that wasn't too much of an issue. What threw me was the spirituality/enlightenment angle. I'm all for spirituality and enlightenment, but this story made my head hurt with the seven levels of reality. However, I enjoyed how the author incorporated it into the story. What I struggled to understand is why, if spirituality and enlightenment is attained with peace and knowledge up until level six, the author used pain as the catalyst to become an elemental? It was a jarring contrast.

As the story progressed and secrets were revealed, I found myself intrigued all over again. There were several twists I never saw coming and the ending surprised me. Although disappointed that this was not the paranormal romance I thought it was, I would consider reading more of this author's books in the future.

Cynthia Lucas has written an intriguing romance. I enjoyed her writing style, which was fast paced and descriptive. This kept me turning the pages. However, I felt the flow was not as smooth as it could have been. Some scenes felt clunky and too laden down with heavy philosophical ideas. Nevertheless, this did not detract too much from my enjoyment of the story.

Due to scenes of a sensual nature that are rather hot (although not as explicit as some romances I have read), I do not recommend this book to younger readers under the age of 16. I do, however, recommend this book if you love science fiction or paranormal romance. - Lynn Worton

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About The Author:

Cynthia Lucas is the author of seven books in paranormal/fantasy, time travel and science fiction romance, a three time RONE AWARD nominee and finalist, and 2012 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Quarter Finalist. Her favorite element of a good story (besides a great romance and wonderfully 'real' characters) is stories that involve redemption of a bad boy, and evolution of the human spirit brought about by love.

She lives in Florida with her husband of twenty-three years, along with her daughter, several pets, including exotic birds and other wildlife she rehabs as a hobby. When not writing, Ms. Lucas can be found on stage in local venues around her area with her band North 2 South, or writing and recording music. Her motto: Believe in yourself, because YOU are the author of your life. It's up to you where the story goes.... :)

Author Links:

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Book Review of Haunted by the King of Death (Eternal Mates Paranormal Romance Series Book 11) by Felicity Heaton

Book Title: Haunted by the King of Death (Eternal Mates #11)

Genre: Erotic Paranormal Romance

Pages: 277

Author: Felicity Heaton

Date Published: 30 July 2016

Synopsis:

Haunted by the King of Death (Eternal Mates Paranormal Romance Series Book 11)
A ruthless vampire warrior, Grave Van der Garde rules the mercenary Preux Chevaliers with an iron fist, determined to retain his hard-won position as one of the most powerful men in Hell and his reputation as the heartless King of Death. But beneath the cold façade beats the heart of a vampire torn between love and hate, ripped in two directions by a single ethereally beautiful female—his fated phantom mate.

Driven by her phantom instincts, Isla used a spell to make her solid in order to deceive the vampire who killed her sister’s demon mate and have revenge on him, condemning him with a single kiss to become a phantom too. But her plan took an unexpected turn when she fell in love with him, and with her new life, and the night she betrayed him shattered both of their hearts. Now, he lives to make her suffer through their connection, one that is fading with them as they begin to slip into the phantom world, and she must face the monster she created if she is to save herself and the vampire she still loves.

With a demon from Grave’s past determined to destroy him and everything he holds dear, and the clock ticking down to their inevitable doom, can he and Isla overcome their past and their pride to work together to secure the future they both desire deep in their hearts? Or will death finally catch up with the vampire king and his phantom mate?

Review:

Haunted by the King of Death by Felicity Heaton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the eleventh book in the Eternal Mates series. I loved it!

Isla is a likable character. She was first introduced to the reader in the ninth book, Possessed by a Dark Warrior as Queen Melia's advisor though she is her sister. She also happens to be a phantom who has taken a solid form in order to avenge the death of her sister's husband. However, it doesn't exactly go to plan and she ended up falling for Grave. After breaking her own heart she had her revenge, but things are not that easy and a century later, she finds that they are both fading. Now she needs to convince the vampire to help her stop it.

Grave Van der Garde is a strong alpha type character. I really liked him. He is a warrior and leader of the Preux Chevaliers, a mercenary group of vampires living in Hell who fight for the highest bidder. He fell in love with Isla but now he feels betrayal and hate towards her after she left him a century before. Unfortunately, he cannot forget her due to their bond. However, when danger threatens his family he reluctantly agrees to help Isla.

I absolutely love the Eternal Mates world. I started to read this book and I was quickly pulled in. It kept me riveted from beginning to end.

The story is told through the eyes of Grave and Isla, which gives the reader a chance to see and feel as they do. We also get to meet a few old faces from the Vampirerotique series, since Grave is a cousin to Snow (yum!) and Antoine. It was nice to see the whole lot of them again at the theatre to be honest. We are also introduced to Grave's brothers, Night and Bastian. As they only have cameo roles for the most part, I wonder if they will have their story told one day?

The heat between the main characters blazed white hot. There is a fine line between love and hate after all. Their chemistry is explosive and explicit. I must admit that I was surprised at Grave's reaction during one scene when he and Isla met the phantom mage, even though I could understand it. Nevertheless, I am glad he managed to see sense in the end.

I love the way the story swept me up and spit me out on a roller coaster ride of emotion. Hell is a dangerous place, and the characters living within it have a strength within them that helps them to survive. However, they also have flaws and fears, which makes them lifelike and relatable.

Felicity Heaton has written another fast paced, sexy paranormal romance that I thoroughly enjoyed! I love her fast paced writing style, which flows effortlessly from scene to scene. She is on top of my favourite author's list.

I do not recommend this book to younger readers due to the extremely HOT and explicit sexual scenes. However, I highly recommend this book (and series) if you love sexy paranormal romances full of vampires, elves, werewolves, cat shifters, succubi, incubi, angels, dragons, demons and demonesses. - Lynn Worton

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About The Author:

Felicity Heaton is a New York Times and USA Today international best-selling author writing passionate paranormal romance books. In her books, she creates detailed worlds, twisting plots, mind-blowing action, intense emotion and heart-stopping romances with leading men that vary from dark deadly vampires to sexy shape-shifters and wicked werewolves, to sinful angels and hot demons! If you're a fan of paranormal romance authors Lara Adrian, J R Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Gena Showalter and Christine Feehan then you will enjoy her books too.
If you love your angels a little dark and wicked, the best-selling Her Angel series is for you. If you like strong, powerful, and dark vampires then try the Vampires Realm series or any of her stand-alone vampire romance books. If you’re looking for vampire romances that are sinful, passionate and erotic then try the best-selling Vampire Erotic Theatre series. Or if you prefer huge detailed worlds filled with hot-blooded alpha males in every species, from elves to demons to dragons to shifters and angels, then take a look at the new Eternal Mates series.

If you want to know more about Felicity, or want to get in touch, you can find her at the following places:

Website  Blog  Facebook  Twitter  Tsu  Pinterest  GoodReads  Amazon

Book Review of Automaton by C.L. Davies

Book Title: Automaton

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 200

Author: C.L. Davies

Date Published: 15 November 2011

Synopsis:

In the not too distant future, after the huge successes of role-playing games and virtual worlds such as ‘The Sims’ and ‘Second Life’ and reality shows such as ‘Big Brother’, it was only a matter of time before somebody took the next step.

A remote island. An android population existing only to entertain. Their lives broadcast around the clock and around the globe. Their actions dictated by their owners. It’s the world’s biggest game played by thousands. Welcome to 'Gameworld'.

Dean 3012 is a good guy living on the Island. He loves his girlfriend, Lily, to pieces. With their first baby on the way, life is perfect. But when things take a sinister turn, the couple are plunged into a world of darkness and despair. Dean must somehow find a way to take control and fight for all their lives. Amelia watches the game, given the gift of a droid when she was but a small child. However, when her character’s happiness is threatened, how far will Amelia go to protect her?

Review:

Automaton by C.L. Davies
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.
This is a very interesting story. I really enjoyed it.

Dean and Lily are interesting characters. They are characters who live in a virtual reality game, though they do not know this. In their world, they are living their own lives and are unaware of the outside world who watch them with close scrutiny. When Dean's owner sends a new instruction, it creates a ripple affect and lives are changed forever.

I have been wanting to read this book for some time. However, due to my rather large reading list, I have only recently been able to do so.

I started to read this book and was quickly hooked. In a way, this story reminded me of the computer game The Sims. It also reminded me of two movies: The Truman Show and Westworld. The author has taken a look at the "what if" scenario of what consists of virtual reality. If we lived in a game, would we know? And, if we did, what we do to survive? However, she has also explored the darker side of obsession, in this case Lily's 'owner', Amelia. Amelia is possessive and protective of Lily and when Dean's owner throws a spanner in the works by making him do something that threatens Dean's and Lily's relationship, Amelia becomes bent on revenge. What follows is a chilling tale that made me rather uncomfortable. So much so that I had to put the book down on more than one occasion. It has a very dark undertone that unsettled me. However, I had to keep reading in order to find out what was happening next.

This story is told through various points of view, which, although this gave the reader a broader understanding on what was going on, also caused confusion as I struggled to remember which characters were in the game and who was in the real world.
James Madison is the creator of Gameworld and the characters within it. Although he is only in a few scenes, I did like him even though I don't think he sees the characters he creates as real. He doesn't have an emotional connection to them and is a businessman through and through. However, the public love his Gameworld and have created an emotional bond with their characters. It is the modern equivalent of watching a television soap opera or Big Brother and the viewers developing feelings for the characters, though also having control of the characters' themselves. Scary!

My only complaint is that I struggled to form an emotional attachment to the majority of characters. The only one I felt anything for was Dean. This made it extremely difficult for me when I reached the end of the book, as I was left slightly disappointed in the way it concluded. However, other readers may have a different experience to myself.

C.L. Davies has written an interesting science fiction novel that takes a chilling look at virtual reality games and what can happen when it becomes all too real for those who live in them and for them. I enjoyed her fast paced writing style, though felt that the flow was somewhat compromised by having too many characters. Nevertheless, I would consider reading more of her books in the future.

Due to scenes of violence, I do not recommend this book for younger readers. However, I recommend this book if you love science fiction or horror genres. - Lynn Worton

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About The Author:

Born in Ashford in 1978, C.L. Davies moved with her family to the Isle of Man when aged five. She obtained her degree in English Lit at the University of Hertfordshire, and returned to the Island and qualified as a teacher. She has taught in a local primary school for nine years.

Davies loves the Manx countryside, and her small but gorgeous garden. She's a little obsessed with palm trees. As a demented but doting first-time mum, much of her time is spent caring for her new baby, who is both beautiful and bonkers! She's the centre of her world and the reason for everything Davies does.

Davies lives happily with baby beautiful, the spirit of their much-missed cat, Pudge, and fiance Dean.

She is the author of the acclaimed book Automaton and upcoming novel Resonance.

Unbelievably, Dean is yet to read the book ...

Book Review of Enchanted Desire by Paul Lonardo

Book Title: Enchanted Desire

Genre: Erotica

Pages: 73

Author: Paul Lonardo

Date Published: 17 June 2016

Synopsis:

I had my life all planned out...until I met him. Kenny Honana is sexy and alluring. Mysterious. I'd always been drawn to the Native American heritage, and now I found myself dream-deep in a supernatural tribal ritual. Little did I know, his vision quest would involve me in a sexual odyssey beyond my wildest dreams. But when the quest is over...what becomes of us?

Review:

Enchanted Desire by Paul Lonardo
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.

Shanna is a likable character, I liked her a lot. She is a young woman who is in a relationship that is not working for her, though she has been dreaming of a sexy stranger. Whilst on a shopping spree with her sister Courtney, she meets Kenny Honana and her life will never be the same again.

Kenny Honana is a professor at Boston University and is about to go on a vision quest. Unfortunately, I found this character to not be as well developed as I would have liked. Therefore, I struggled to connect with him.

This story is told through the eyes of Shanna and is a quick, sexy read. And although I enjoyed it, I am sorry to say that I found myself slightly disappointed with it too. The premise was interesting, but I felt the execution left something to be desired. Granted, I prefer to read erotic romances rather than erotica and I felt that the story was sadly lacking in romance. The main characters have an instantaneous connection and the heat factor was scorching. Although I enjoyed the dream sequences, I would have loved it if the characters had more interaction in the physical world more than once. I did enjoy meeting Courtney, as she seems to have a great sense of humour and is a wonderful foil for Shanna's more serious persona.

Not being American, I have an interest in Native Americans and their beliefs and artifacts. The author introduces the reader to a few artifacts of the Hopi in the form of Kachinas. One of them is Kokopelli, which plays an important role in marriage and fertility. He also introduces the use of Native American magic. The author used these and other artifacts to good effect, though it did mean I had to stretch my beliefs slightly. If someone did come up with a way to enchant dildos that way, they would make a fortune!

I reached the end of the story and felt that it was left ambiguous with a happy for now ending rather than a HEA. Nevertheless, it still left me feeling slightly disappointed that it wasn't longer.

Paul Lonardo has written an interesting erotica novella. I enjoyed his fast paced writing style and the story flowed okay. Although erotica is not my usual genre, I would consider reading more of his books in the future.

Due to scenes of an explicit nature, I do not recommend this book for readers under the age of 18. However, I recommend this book if you love quick, erotic reads with sexy characters. - Lynn Worton

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About The Author:

Paul Lonardo has had short fiction, book length fiction and non-fiction books published. Most recently he has co-authored "Life, with Cancer," a biographical book about Newsday journalist Lauren Terrazzano's life and battle with lung cancer.

Two previous true crime titles include "Caught in the Act, a Courageous Family's Fight to Save Their Daughter from a Serial Killer," and "Thrill Killers, A True Story of Innocence and Murder Without Conscience," the latter a collaboration with the lead detective who investigated the double homicide chronicled in the book.

Paul also collaborated with Gina Russo on From The Ashes, Surviving the Station Nightclub Fire, the personal memoir and reflections of a survivor of the 2003 Rhode Island fire disaster that claimed the lives of 100 people is the subject of this book.

In Strike IX Paul recounts the story of the 1999 Providence College baseball team, which learned that their sport would be eliminated at the end of the upcoming season in order for the school to comply with Title IX sex discrimination mandates.

Two early out-of-print novels, The Apostate and Monstrosity, are now available in electronic formats.

Paul attended Columbia College, a film school in Hollywood, CA and studied screenwriting. He received an A.S from Mt. Ida College in Newton, MA and received a B.A. in English from the University of Rhode Island.

Paul lives in Lincoln, RI with his wife and son.

Author Links:

Amazon Author Page 

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