Author: Helen Laibach Paperback: 178 pages Publisher: Wheatmark (September 15, 2010) Language: English
After being brutally attacked, Catherine Wilcox must discover her own inner strength and courage as she struggles to piece her life back together.
She finds herself falling in love with the emergency room physician who treats her, but soon realizes the attack has left her so emotionally scarred that she must turn away the only man who truly loves her. And at a time when she feels her life if finally beginning to heal, Catherine must face the devastation of learning that her dearest friend has terminal cancer.
In A Soul Less Broken we follow Catherine as she discovers the depth of true friendship, the healing power of love, and the stamina of the human spirit.
Catherine Wilcox is an up and coming new law student with dreams of making her mark when she is brutally attacked and raped one night after leaving the library. After being left for dead, she wakes up in the Emergency room where Alan Petersen is her attending physician. Alan believes that Catherine is his soul mate and is determined to do all he can to help her through this horrible ordeal.
I liked the characters though I am not sure if I would appreciate the good doctors attention after being viciously attacked. I am thinking my radars would be screaming and I would demand a female doctor. I liked Alan's character, don't get me wrong, he was sweet and attentive, I am just thinking with the plot's premise, he came on just a little too strong.
I would have appreciated seeing more of the love growing between the two main characters and leave out the aspect of the cancer, I found that there were too many emotional issues to deal with and it kind of detracted away from the story, instead of enhancing it. There was enough power and depth in first antagonistic event that cancer could've been better left for another time and another book. I would've liked to have seen more emphasis given to the attack and how she grows as a victim into a survivor.
I would give A Soul Less Broken a three out of five stars. And yes, even though I complained about the cancer being added to the book, there are a few pages near the book's end that will leave your tearing up. There is some emotional depth in the author's writing style, but I feel more focus would've been given the characters more breadth and allowed me to attach myself to them in a better capacity.
Author: Stephanie Grace Whitson Paperback: 336 pages Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (August 1, 2011) Language: English
An unlikely attraction occurs between two passengers on a steamboat journey up the Missouri River to Montana...
She is a self~centered young woman from a privileged family who fears the outdoors and avoids anything rustic.
He is a preacher living under a sense of duty and obligation to love the unlovable people in the world.
She isn't letting anything deter her from solving a family mystery that surfaced after her mother's death.
He is on a mission to reach the rejects of society in the remote wilderness regions of Montana.
Miss Fannie Rousseau and Reverend Samuel Beck are the opposites in every way...except in how they both keep wondering if their paths will ever cross again.
I found this to be a very enjoyable romance novel and I am not usually all that fussy about them. I liked the characters within the pages and found Fannie to be a charming young lady. The books description is totally wrong for the person found within the pages, I wouldn't say she was self~centered at all, sheltered yes and I never seen where she was afraid of the outdoors nor anything rustic, to me, it seems she was always trying to break the male stigma's of women.
I found her to be a courageous and caring women who was thrust into maturity before she felt she was ready. After her mother dies, Fannie is left with the care and upkeep of her family home and family name. Her accountant wants her to find an eligible bachelor before her money runs out and she has nothing to bargain with, his choice in men leave Fannie feeling nauseous.
Fannie wants to meet her heart's echo, just like her best friend Minette has done. After a few failed attempts at romance, Fannie comes to realize that she many never find a man that makes her heart sing.
Samuel does not start out as a Preacher, nor is his mission to help those in need. He has set on his journey to find his run~away sister who he has learned has hooked up with an Army Major. Along the way, he meets Fannie and after a terrible accident on a river boat, he becomes her guardian angel and protector. After encouragement from his friend, Lamar, it is then that Sam begins to preach the word of God and his future seems to be set before him.
Many trials and tribulations happen along their journey and you will enjoy the relaxing flow that author, Stephanie Grace Whitson, writes and intrigues her readers with. It's a delightful tale of coming of age, finding yourself and falling in love. I would give A Most Unsuitable Match a four out of five stars.
A wonderful soy candle that melts into a delightful body lotion suitable for skin care or a soothing massage. The delectable aroma that permeates your surroundings only enhances the environment.
Imagine a candle that not only smells great in the air but smells wondrous on your skin as well. The Scandle Body Massage Candles are hand~poured fragrant oil that enhances the overall health of your skin. It's perfect as a body moisturizer, warm body massage or as a Vitamin E enrichment for manicures and pedicures.
These plant~based candles emit less soot and toxins than your parrafin based candles, these candles are also great for the environment.
ARV: $15.99
Scents include:
Lavendar, Fig & Brown Sugar, Love Spell, Green Tea Aloe, Margarita, Oatmeal Milk & Honey, Sex On The Beach, Unscented, Sage & Citrus, Hummingbird, Eucalyptus, Warm Vanilla Sugar, Honeysuckle and Gardenia
I'm not sure what Hummingbird would smell like, kind of intriguing...lol However, I can vouch for the Oatmeal Milk & Honey scent which I was privileged enough to review. It was a VERY nice scent to smell and I don't like a lot of scents, this one was extremely pleasing to the nose. It was almost like warm walnut cinnamon oatmeal on a cold winters day. Truly delectable to smell AND to have on your skin...I was addicted to smelling my arm...hehe
My skin was left feeling silky soft and with the new love affair I was having with it...it made it all the more pleasurable to the senses. Many people I asked to smell my arm agreed that it was a lovely scent and it didn't bother anybody's noses.
I love that the containers are refillable so that you can mix and match scents and there is less garbage for our land fills~!! The product inside melts away leaving nothing behind but a sweet smell and touchable skin and you can reuse the ceramic canister over and over again. Plus the handy pour spout makes it VERY easy to pour the warm oily liquid upon your skin, saving in messes...whew...because I can be a very messy chicka...lol
In Diary of a Beverly Hills Matchmaker, Marla takes her readers for a hilarious romp through her days as an L.A. matchmaker and her daily struggles to keep her self-esteem from imploding in a town where looks are everything and money talks.
From juggling the demands her out-of-touch clients to trying her best to meet the capricious demands of an insensitive boss to the ups and downs of her own marriage to a Latin husband who doesn't think that she is 'domestic' enough, Marla writes with charm and self-effacement about the universal struggles that all women face in their lives.
Readers will laugh, cringe, and cry as they journey with her through outrageous stories about the indignities of dating in Los Angeles, dealing with overblown egos, vicariously hobnobbing with celebrities, and navigating the wannabe-land of Beverly Hills. In a city where perfection is almost a prerequisite, even Marla can't help but run for the Botox every once in a while.
This is a wonderful and comedic approach to matchmaking in Beverly Hills! Marla shares her experiences of working at a prestigious dating service company that matched rich men up with beautiful women. The reader shares her wit as she shares her thoughts on the expectations of these rich men and the frustration of the lack of humanity in her clients. Many of the men were classified as being 4's or 5's however, their bank accounts warranted them women who rated 9's or 10's and Marla shares how their demands and expectations sometimes exasperated her sensibilities.
Author Marla Martenson tells her tale in a delightful and up beat manner that the reader cannot help but feel drawn into the prose being shared. You will find yourself giggling over some of the antics and shaking your head in disgust over some of the demands.
As well, Marla and her co-workers must keep up an appearance to their clients, they must always look presentable or be dismissed for lack of conduct. Other times, Marla has to go to extravagant parties in order to recruit new women who would consider becoming companions to rich, and usually, much older, men. You will feel her detachment and disgust when these beautiful women fall under par for most of the clients, making her work even more stressful.
As well, you reap in her joy when she does successfully match two people together, sometimes even bewildering herself. This is a different approach to romance but I thought Diary Of A Beverly Hills Matchmaker was deserving of four out of five stars and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a witty, memorable read.
The Star-Crossed Saga: Protostar is a YA Romantic Christian Science Fiction.
Civil war is approaching the Torrian Alliance as they strive to kill the "star-children" in order to suppress the evil spreading amongst the galaxy. Prince William has been ordered by his father, King Gregario, to hunt down a female star-child in order to restore honour and faith to his family.
When William meets seventeen year old Sydney, the star-child, he becomes to learn that she isn't an evil entity and falls in love with her. They spend much time getting to know one another until the Alliance sends out another party to deal with Sydney. Without her death, life as William knows it will end and order must be made to right in the Alliances view.
I found the The Star-Crossed Saga to be an okay read. I wasn't overly fond of the characters and couldn't really relate to them. I found them to be stiff, overly formal and more often than not, the dialogue fell flat.
I did like Sydney and found her the only focus in the story worthy of reading. I thought her innocence was a delightful asset to the plot, as she has no clue how she affects others off planet. I liked how she interacted with the other characters she comes into contact with.
I also enjoyed the back story of the plot, how and why this occurs was an interesting read and was befitting of the story. I also liked how the author was able to keep from the reader realizing who was actually doing good and who were the evil ones. He managed to keep the intrigue interesting which also helps keep the story moving forward.
I thought William to be a dry, a tad boring and way too formal for my liking. I just couldn't connect with him or his plight. I found his dialogue dull and several times I had to put the book down in order to return.
I did like the blend of romance with the science fiction but thought there was more emphasis on the love story than science fiction so any diehard sci-fi fans are not going to enjoy this book as much, unless you like romance novels, then you will find this blend to be intriguing. Author, Braxton A. Crosby, calls this Sci-Fance, though I think Sci-Mance is more in tune to the story.
I would give The Star-Crossed Saga: Protostar a three out of five stars. I can see potential in the author if he loosens up his dialogue a bit and finds a way to express his descriptives in a more flowing manner. I found the story lacked the momentum it needed to really flourish however, I would definitely give this a chance and look forward to more from Braxton A. Crosby, his potential is there with a bit more experience under his belt!
SYNOPSIS: It Starts With Choice!
What would you choose: love or irrefutable duty?
On the brink of Civil War, the Torrian Alliance continues with its mission to obliterate Star-children across the universe in order to suppress an intergalactic evil. Following the recommendations of his Council, King Gregorio Derry has agreed to send his only son on a mission to restore honor to his family. Bounty Hunter Prince William Derry has crossed thousands of light-years to planet Earth, in order to fulfill this age old prophetic practice. The quiet days of Madisonburg, Tennessee are officially over as Sydney Elaine now knows the full meaning of the phrase Be careful what you wish for when she is confronted by this strange visitor. As an unforeseeable event delays his assassination, William decides to study his target more closely and begins to form a connection with Sydney that challenges his inner being. But this conflict is the least of his problems, as a conspiracy back on his home planet Fabricius threatens the lives of those he loves and his father s royal legacy. Along with that, he must unravel a hidden menace here on Earth that seeks to secure a vested interest that threatens both his and Sydney s safety. Will William be able to complete his mission or will he choose love, sacrificing everything he stands for?
** Disclosure: I did not accept any compensation from the sponsors other than review copies, my views are my own, reviewed by me..as I see it~!! **
Inspired by Slavic mythology, Damian’s Oracle is the entree into the ongoing battle between good and evil over the fate of humanity. The White God, Damian, and his Guardians protect the world from the Black God and his monsters while rescuing Naturals – humans with extraordinary paranormal gifts – from the Black God, who would kill or convert them.
Caught in the middle is cool-headed Sofia, a Natural whose gift will tip the scales in the war. Sofia begins her transformation from human into oracle, the first in thousands of years. Damian rescues her from the Black God in time to complete a ceremony that will bind her to him for eternity. Sofia struggles with her new world and her role as an oracle and Damian’s mate while haunted by a mysterious man from Damian’s past who’s supposed to be dead. Unbeknownst to her, her link to the dead man may be all that saves Damian, his Guardians, and the fate of humanity.
While he wants nothing more than for the petite beauty to take her place at his side like the oracles of legend did his White God forefathers, Damian can’t quite rationalize having to win her over instead of command her. Further complicating his life is the sobering realization that there are spies in his organization who are helping the Black God take out his Guardians. Damian must help Sofia reach her potential fast, especially when a threat from his past returns.
Sofia froze as the scene straight out of her vision—the little boy, Cody, spread-eagled in the street near the storm drain—materialized before her. They boy’s mother was hysterical, screaming at once at the driver and her dead son. Coldness seeped through Sofia as she watched the familiar scene before her. In the distance, she heard her cell phone ring. It ceased and began to ring again. As if in a dream, she pulled it free and answered.
“Ms. Fast?” The deep baritone voice pierced her thoughts. “This is Damian Bylun. You left a message with my receptionist?”
Her world was beginning to spin as she realized her vision had come true. Her legs felt weak, and she sat heavily on the curb, struggling to control her breathing so she didn’t pass out.
God, what’s wrong with me? I saw him die …
“Pardon?”
Realizing she clenched the phone in her hand, she locked the screen and sat staring at the asphalt. Someone touched her, and visions flared across her mind. A pretty brunette, mugged in a back alley, raped and killed.
“Hey, are you all right?” someone else asked. As the man took her arm to help her stand, his haggard face appeared in yet another vision. An older man with dementia left to rot and finally die in an old folks’ home.
“Get away from me!” she cried, tearing her arm away. She fled, staggering as she bumped into more people and more visions flashed. She ran until the cold air burned her lungs and the people were far behind her. She retreated to her apartment, breathing raggedly, with cold tears stiffening her cheeks.
She closed and locked the door behind her. She froze when she saw the disaster that was her apartment. Everything was overturned or shredded, from the furniture to the bookshelves to the TV lying on its face. The windows were open and the apartment cold.
Her headache was now a migraine, and she shielded her eyes against the light from the street that filtered past her honeycomb blinds. She all but staggered into her bathroom. She wrenched open the medicine cabinet for the most powerful of the drugs Dr. Mallard prescribed for her and slammed the cabinet shut.
Her eyes were fully silver, swirling and glowing in the dark bathroom. Whatever she was, she wasn’t a normal human.
“What is wrong with me?” she screamed, slamming her fists against the mirror.
Her blood spattered on the wall, and buzzing filled her ears. She sank to the floor. Her phone began to ring again as she slid into a dead faint.
Cruel circumstances turned Curry Brennan into the wretched monster he hates and refuses to accept, but when an expected turn of events releases him from the bond of his obsessive maker, he returns to the home he knew 161 years earlier and finds the return of happiness and joy in something he didn’t know existed.
Puzzled by his growing attraction to Chansey Leclaire, a human, he is unable to resist the captivating relationship that threatens to reveal his existence as a vampire. He eventually discovers the reason he was destined to find what he didn’t know he searched for and is faced with the cruel realization that the living and the immortal undead will always be separated by one thing. Eternity.
About the Author...
In addition to being an author Georgia is a wife, mother of two daughters and a labor and delivery nurse.
She recently added Paranormal Romance Writer to her list of things that keep her busy, but she is ecstatic to release her debut novel,Blood of Anteros, the first book inThe Vampire Agápe Series.
Like others that enjoy a great story of paranormal romance, she is easily bored by the tale of an obtainable, ordinary romance and was inspired to createThe Vampire Agápe Series. When not tied up with family or delivering babies, she is working feverishly on the second book inThe Vampire Agápe Series.
I think we can all agree that with the exception of a few men, women dominate the romance genre. Women write it, women purchase it, and women review it, so it isn’t surprising to see most romance novels are not written from the males’ point of view. I see a growing demand for readers requesting the same story from a different character’s point of view, usually the male’s point of view because it was originally written from the woman’s point of view. I chose to write Blood of Anteros from Curry’s point of view, not only because he is male, but also the vampire in this complicated relationship between a human and vampire. I wanted my reader to discover the surprise of his feelings as he discovers them for himself.
Let’s get point of view straight before we go further. I’ll make this lesson brief for those of you that hated english and lit. Point of view is the narrator’s vantage point.
First-Person Point of View: Me, Myself and I
The narrator is one of the characters and explains everything through his or her own eyes using words like I, me, my, and mine. This narrator doesn’t know other character’s thoughts, although the reader will see directly into the mind of the narrator. This POV allows the story to feel more like reality and gives it a more personal appeal. The reader knows only as much as the narrator knows and he or she may withhold information to create tension and suspense.
Third-Person Limited Point of View:
The narrator tells the story from one character’s view using the words like he, him, she, her, they, and them. The narrator knows what one character thinks and feels, but limited to what others say and do. The narrator can provide readers with more information about characters and events than first person POV.
Third-Person Omniscient Point of View: Knowing It All
The narrator looks through the eyes of all characters, but is not a character in the novel. The narrator is “all-knowing.” It gives a full view of all events and character.
What are the benefits to First Person Point of View? The thunder before the lightning. The breath before the kiss. The anticipation of what could happen. I get the most satisfaction out of experiencing the emotions and feelings of a character. I want to know his or her thoughts inside and out and I think that’s why we are seeing a growth in books being rewritten from another’s view. More specifically, we as women want to know how the male heroine truly feels about the woman he loves. We read to escape reality for a brief time into a fantasy world created by an author.
What causes readers to demand the rewriting of a completed story? I call it Reader’s Regret and it is intoxicating. It’s how awesome novels end. It causes readers to flip back to the front of the book to begin rereading what he or she just finished because once could never be enough. I define Reader’s Regret as that sickening feeling experiencedwhen the reader realizes the story has come to an end, yet they want more. Wow! If you haven’t experienced Reader’s Regret, you’ve been reading the wrong books.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on Reader’s Regrets. Please list any books that you read and loved so much it made you sick to be finished with them. I’m always looking for my next great Reader Regret read.
** Thank you most kindly Georgia for stopping by and sharing your thoughts with us all here at The Marsh! I certainly understand Reader Regret...I have YET to finish Hatrack River by Orson Scott Card, for I know whence I do, the story is over and as long as I hold off...hehe...one of these days I shall finish it!! May all you seek you find and may it always be groovy for you Georgia~!! **
NOW, Georgia would also love to give one of you a chance to win an eBook copy of her newest book, "Blood of Anteros"! If you love those vampires, then enter away...
This would make a great book to check out your new eReaders you all just got for Christmas... :D
Phoebe Martin has just moved to Echo Falls; running from a past she doesn't wish to embrace. Upon her arrival, she is attacked by a huge dog and she would have been ripped to shreds if it wasn't for the heroic attributes of Aidan O'Bryan. In an off-hand, flippant manner, she brushes away the attack and Aidan's help.
Aidan, a police officer and an Alpha-male werewolf, has his own secret agenda for keeping the streets of Echo Falls safe. When a serial killer begins to kill people in town, Aidan and his task force are set to remove the Hunter from their midst. Someone is killing off their kind and Aidan is determined to find out who it is before too many more are killed.
Phoebe is attracted to Aidan and wishes to keep him at a distance. There are things about Phoebe that Aidan could never find out and she tries to discourage their friendship but to no avail, Aidan has sworn to protect Phoebe at all costs.
The Hunter is tracking someone in Echo Falls and the psychological mind games he plays with his victim makes it hard for them to trust anyone and everyone is guilty of subterfuge. Who can Phoebe trust, she has been running for so long and she finally felt like Echo Falls may be the future she is looking for. However, someone is killing her friends and she feels that only she can stop the madness.
I loved this book and thought it was an excellent paranormal romance. I loved the descriptions of the characters and enjoyed their back stories and thought they fit the story nicely. I liked the attraction of Phoebe and Aidan and enjoyed watching their relationship grow. I thought Phoebe's trust issues were believable and I loved how Aidan ingrained himself into her life.
I thought however, there was, at times, too much time in between the characters and when they should have reacted to one another. Such as, Aidan swore to keep Phoebe safe and then doesn't come around for a few days...I understand he was giving her distance, but for the events unfolding, propriety should have been set aside for urgency. I thought that Aidan didn't dig deep enough when he should have.
I loved Mia and her wickedness and thought she was written perfectly to balance the characterizations of Phoebe and Elle, who befriended Phoebe from the onset of the book. I thought that there could have been more back story between these women, as well as several of the packs other members, such as Elle's husband Will, Aidan's best friend Thomas and even The Hunter. While I loved how the story progressed, I felt it could have been so much more with that added level of character understanding.
I would give Echo Falls a four out of five stars. I loved the pace of the story, the draw to the plot and the romance that built upon itself instead of rushing, however, I would love to see more of the back story characters. With a little more definition, Jaime McDougall is definitely a writer to keep on watch list, she has the right stuff and I would definitely read more of her work!
SYNOPSIS:
Running from a nightmare stalking her every move, Phoebe Martin arrives in Echo Falls hoping she has finally found a safe place to stop. But trouble has a way of catching up and soon the signs are there.
After a vicious attack in an alley, policeman Aidan O'Bryan is left with Phoebe as his only path to understanding why the Echo Falls werewolf pack - his pack - is being attacked. When another pack member is killed, Phoebe is forced to confront her past before she loses Aidan and everything she has come to love.
Love and duty become one as Aidan strives to prevent Phoebe from becoming the next victim. But with Phoebe just as determined to protect Aidan and her new home, secrets from her past threaten to tear them apart. Will love give Phoebe the strength to trust Aidan and face her fears, or will her past destroy her future?
** Disclosure: I did not accept any compensation from the sponsors other than review copies, my views are my own, reviewed by me..as I see it~!! **
Join Jaime McDougall, author of the paranormal romance novel Echo Falls as she virtually tours the blogosphere in November and December 2011 on her second tour with Pump Up Your Book!
About the Book...
Running from a nightmare stalking her every move, Phoebe Martin arrives in Echo Falls hoping she has finally found a safe place to stop. But trouble has a way of catching up and soon the signs are there.
After a vicious attack in an alley, policeman Aidan O’Bryan is left with Phoebe as his only path to understanding why the Echo Falls werewolf pack – his pack – is being attacked. When another pack member is killed, Phoebe is forced to confront her past before she loses Aidan and everything she has come to love.
Love and duty become one as Aidan strives to prevent Phoebe from becoming the next victim. But with Phoebe just as determined to protect Aidan and her new home, secrets from her past threaten to tear them apart.
Will love give Phoebe the strength to trust Aidan and face her fears, or will her past destroy her future?
About the Author...
Jaime McDougall is a citizen of the world, currently loving life in beautiful country Victoria in Australia. She loves eating sushi, kidnapping her husband and naming her pets in honour of science fiction authors.
She has been published in Chicken Soup for the Soul: High School: The Real Deal and Chicken Soup for the Soul: Campus Chronicles. So You Want to Write a Guest Post: An Author’s Guide to Promoting with Guest Blogging is her most recent non-fiction ebook. She has also enjoyed writing a column called ‘The New Australian’ in local newspapers as well as various articles online. Echo Falls is her first paranormal romance novel.
CHAPTER ONEKeep running, keep running, keep running. Phoebe’s lungs burned as her mind screamed the mantra. Keep running, keep running. How many steps can there be?
She should know. She lived in this apartment building.
Tears ran down her cheeks and her lungs burned for air. Only the random irrational thought broke through the panic keeping her feet moving down the steps. Keep running. Keep running. The light of the emergency exit came into view. Almost there…
The door to the stairwell slammed open with a hollow boom. She tripped and clung to the railing to steady herself. Keep running.
The shock of the cool night air sent a shiver of relief through her body. She’d come out a side exit into an alley. If she could just get to the front –
Suddenly she was thrown to the ground from behind. She hit the concrete, what little breath she had knocked from her lungs. Blood began flowing from where her head hit the ground, and small sparks of light floated into her vision. How did he catch up so fast?
Desperately she tried to gulp down as much air as she could, willing her lungs to cooperate. Instinct kicked in as the attacker slashed at her, and she curled into fetal position. A dog. He’d turned into a dog. A big dog with vicious claws and teeth he used to tear into her exposed back, thigh and shoulder. She slowly regained her breath but could only use it to scream her throat raw.
Her vision faded, taking the small sparks of light with it. Searing pain ripped through her shoulder as a claw dug down against her bone. One last, long scream tore from her lungs before she was left gasping and sobbing, her fear slowly smoldering into rage. Things can’t end like this.
She opened her eyes as the dog stood over her, trying to get to her throat. A paw came into her line of vision and she saw her chance. She reached out, grabbed it and squeezed with all the strength she had.
The dog yelped and tried to twist away, but she held on with all the strength she had. She knew she’d only bought herself time. She couldn’t move the dog off her and she couldn’t squeeze his paw all night. He tried uselessly to bite her, his jaws having no strength so long as she squeezed his paw. But she could already feel her strength waning.
Suddenly the weight of the dog flew off her, taking the paw out of her grip. Without thinking, she used her one cooperating arm to drag herself toward the front of the building.
She shivered, her arm giving out, and caught a glimpse of a second dog. No. A wolf… Squeezing her eyes tightly shut, she listened to the dogs fighting, the battle just a few steps away. She tried her best to curl up against the building wall and willed the growling and snapping to go away. They sounded like they were tearing each other to pieces.
The universe granted her wish, the battle ending with the sound of two bodies hitting each other and a sharp whine. She shivered and softly whined as well, dreading the approach of the winner as one of the dogs yelped and ran away.
A few moments later warm, human hand brushed the back of her head and she screamed again. If it could be called a scream. Her throat burned and rebelled at her abuse of it.
“Ssh. You’re safe now.”
She tried to scream again and move away, but her body wouldn’t obey her commands. She groaned as the full force of the pain washed over her.
He murmured and she relaxed her desperate grip on staying conscious. Sleep seemed so tempting, the black abyss singing a siren’s song to her. Her rescuer – or captor – tried to soothe her, but something dark and dangerous in his voice betrayed him. He was different. She tried to bat away his hands but gave up after a few attempts, not sure if her good hand was actually moving.
As she slipped into the darkness, she wondered if death had merely granted her a short reprieve from the inevitable.
The Body Snatcher Wears Lipstick
By Artemis Hunt
Genre: Romantic Comedy with Paranormal Elements
SYNOPSIS:
Abby Watson is about to move in with the man of her dreams. Too bad the body she wears isn't hers.
Abby Watson's life is an airtight box of a dead-end job, a skinflint boss, and a best 'frenemy' who thinks Abby has the fashion sense of a tubeworm. When a lab experiment at work blows up in Abby's face, she develops the ability to jump into other people's bodies. Suddenly it's goodbye frump, hellooooo . . . anyBODY gorgeous.
Abby's leaping into the bodies of heiresses, her best 'frenemy', anyone who has ever been mean to her in high school, her scrooge boss, and even the President of the United States (!).
When a chance encounter with the Ferrari of her childhood idol -- stunning movie A-lister, Jake Carradoc -- leaves one of her beautiful bodies in the hospital, Abby feigns amnesia . . . then a spot in Jake's home as his indefinite 'houseguest'.
But Abby's real body is dying in her soul's absence. What must she do to get and keep Jake, the only man she's ever loved with all of somebody else's heart?
Artemis Hunt has a husband who thinks all fiction is nonsense and all writers of fiction should get their heads checked for situational delusions. At any one time, they have 16 to 20 dogs, many of suspicious virtue.
Artemis frequently wishes she has telekinesis, so she doesn't have to lift a finger to change the room temperature. She's constantly glued to her computer, which serves as her gateway to her friends, books, movies, TV serials and sometimes husband, even though they're sitting on the same bed two feet apart.
Artemis writes under the name of A.R. Hunt for the adult thriller and suspense genre.
BOOKS BY ARTEMIS HUNT
The Body Snatcher Wears Lipstick
The Hunt for the Catalyst (Ether World Chronicles)
Snow White and the Alien
The Ether World Chronicles: Beginnings
Jake Carradoc is beside me, driving his red Ferrari 599 GTB (personalized and customized) – the very Ferrari which floored me into procuring the very litigious medical diagnosis of retrograde amnesia – and we are cruising to his home in Beverly Hills where I‟m going to live!
That‟s right.
I‟ll be staying with Jake Carradoc (!) until such time I recover my memories and decide I want to go back to my life. He has very kindly offered me food, shelter, money, and his complete hospitality until I get my memories back, or if someone with a similar backpack from a rat-infested, one-star „the bar soap on the grimy sink is as thin as an insurance agent‟s promise‟ motel ultimately claims me.
This is so incredible I have to literally cradle my bladder from shooting out a squirt of excited pee every time we navigate a bump.
Jake, of course, completely believes I have severe amnesia.
“We‟re. Now. Going. To. My. House,” he says slowly, enunciating every syllable just in case I‟ve forgotten the specifics of English grammar. “Do. You. Remember. What. A. House. Is?”
Since leaving the hospital, we have conversed no more than three very prolonged sentences in this manner.
“How. Are. You. Feeling. Today?”
“This. Is. My. Car. This. Is. The. Key. That. Unlocks. My. Car.”
“This. Is. A. Seatbelt.”
I‟m going to let Jake continue to think I have complete amnesia, but not so severe we‟d have to descend to smoke signals to get communication across.
“I remember what a house is,” I tell him. “I remember the meaning of words, and grammar, and what things are. I just don‟t remember specifics. Like where my house is. Or my street address.”
I‟m tempted to add it‟s just like Samantha Who, except I remember I‟m not supposed to remember who Samantha Who is.
“That‟s great.” He is visibly relieved. For a long-accused-to-be-monosyllabic actor, he doesn‟t like monosyllables.
He gives me a sidelong glance. “Do you know who I am?”
This is the time to decide once and for all how much of a sham I want this to be.
In Artemis' Own Words...
I started indie publishing exactly 2 months, 2 weeks ago. It has not been an easy journey for me, because my husband basically doesn't like me to write as I tend to get so absorbed in it. My writing has been the bone of contention between us for years, almost culminating in near-divorces. But I can't help it, I HAVE to write.
I find it strange, because the stories I write have so much hope in them, and love . . . when I find that the more successful an author I am, the worse my personal life becomes.
Since starting 10 weeks ago, I have sold almost 1800 works under my 3 pen names, either books or short stories. I am told that's really quite good in the publishing world. 2 of those works have hit the Top 50 Bestsellers in Bookstrand. 7 of those works have hit the All Romance Ebooks bestseller lists, and I'm proud to say that this includes THE BODY SNATCHER WEARS LIPSTICK.
I'm even more proud to say that to date, everyone who has read it loved it. Good reviews mean as much to me as sales, because it means I have touched someone's heart out there.
So . . . onward to writing. I shall journey on, like my characters, and weather whatever it is my personal life throws on me. And that in an essence is why we read books - to believe that we too can triumph no matter what adversity we encounter.
Artemis Hunt
** Thank you most kindly for stopping on by The Marsh and sharing your thoughts with us all~!! I wouldn't worry to much about hubby...he'll come around whence you are a superstar...hehe We wish you all the best in success Artemis...may your star shine~!! **
Something Witchy This Way Comes is a YA Paranormal Romance.
Seventeen year old, Tessa McClean, has just been told someone is trying to kill her. Principal Linton and FBI agent Phillips believe it would be best if Hayden Anders, a rich bad boy who can handle his own in a fight, follow and protect Tessa until his replacement arrives.
Hayden has no desire to babysit Tessa but after promises of his slate being wiped clean, he agrees and at first he treats it like a babysitting job but soon takes his position seriously as he averts a kidnapping involving Tessa. Slowly he becomes ingrained to Tessa and there is nothing on Earth he wouldn't do to protect her.
Tessa has learned that she is a witch and is just coming into her powers. There are two groups of others like herself, vying for her membership into their ideals. Upon her eighteenth birthday, Tessa must decide on which factor of the fence she wishes to sit upon. Only, she doesn't know who to trust and as she learns more about herself, she realizes that the only person she can truly trust is Hayden.
As the two journey into the unknown, they must also come to the realization that they may have feelings for each other. Neither Hayden nor Tessa believe they are good enough for the other and as danger escalates, the two must believe in each other in order to survive the battle that is about to ensue.
This was a great book, there were very few editorial issues and the plot was decent. There were a few holes and a few surprises but everything blended well together to give it a balance that kept the reader continuing with the story.
When the story first progresses, the differentiation between Tessa and Hayden isn't felt, they appeared as the same person, but as the story progresses you soon see their characters begin to unfold and their essence fills the page. I thought the relationship between the two was a wonderful, emotional tug of war. The whole push me, pull me pace was enjoyable to read and just when you are about to get sick of the whole ordeal, the author turns up the heat and gives the reader more delight to feast upon.
The dialogue and emotions are real and raw, there are some expletives and sexual fantasy scenes but I felt they worked with the characters and gave them more of an edge to their creation. Oftentimes the author used comedic wit to the scenes giving it an even more humanistic appeal to the characters.
There were a few aspects that were predictable, however, there are more than enough twists and turns to keep everyone guessing. I thought the ending was perfect in its completion and I believe the author tied up most of the loose ends nicely.
I would give this a four and a half out of five stars, while I thoroughly loved it and would love to see this become a series as I still have a few questions concerning some of the back characters...like whatever happened to David? Could it be the author may have something else up her sleeve concerning this story?? After reading this, one can only hope!
SYNOPSIS:
Brainiac Tessa McClean’s newly discovered magical powers give her an escape from her self-absorbed parents. But the thrill of being a witch fades when she learns of a rival coven and begins to suspect her own coven’s motives. Evidence tells Tessa to trust one side, but instinct drives her toward the other.
When the school’s scrumptious delinquent, Hayden Anders, offers Tessa self-defense lessons in exchange for tutoring, his timing couldn’t be better. Although hanging out with him is a necessary evil in Tessa’s fight to stay alive, resisting a bad-boy she secretly yearns for might be more than she can manage.
Together, Tessa and Hayden work to unravel the mysteries behind the two covens to discover why they’ll stop at nothing to lure Tessa to their side. She must form an alliance with one of the covens before it’s too late. But the wrong decision could cost Tessa the lives of all who she holds dear — including Hayden.
** Disclosure: I did not accept any compensation from the sponsors other than review copies, my views are my own, reviewed by me..as I see it~!! **
Rose Gerbaldi obsesses about certain aspects of her life and when this occurs she cannot think about anything else. After reading a book she becomes obsessed with the main character and believes that they are meant to fall madly in love.
Rose's husband, Jim is very accepting of his wife's behaviour. He accepts when she zones out and leaves her loved ones behind until she can wrap up her obsessive feelings and move on with her life.
After Jim encourages Rose to watch the movie version of the book she is obsessed about, Rose writes the actor and tells him that he is a great actor and not just a pretty face. Drawn to her words, Michael Terrance calls Rose and the two begin a friendship.
Rose, who is absolutely wrapped up into this love story that is appearing before her must decide what is reality and what is make believe. She must come to realize her inner self in order to choose the right decision for her future.
This was an okay read, I thought the plight of Rose was a believable in that many people suffer from such thoughts and mental instabilities. Her thought ramblings were often interesting and her depth of realization of how wrong her actions were was equally enjoyable to read.
I found that the back story characters didn't get enough play in the story. I'm not sure if the author had meant to have the main characters appear as the main attraction but I would've loved to have seen some more insight from her friends and family. To me, it felt like they were only in the book to serve Rose and Michael's plight.
I really felt for the husband, Jim, I don't know how he managed to suffer his wife's mental infidelities. I found him to be a reasonable and encouraging spouse who truly didn't deserve to be ignored by his wife.
I found the ending to be predictable and I would've loved to have seen Rose gain insight through her friends and family instead of her own accord. It was almost like her loved ones were always secondary in her life and as long as Rose was happy...
I would give Absolute Obsession a three out of five stars. I didn't find much drama involved, other than Rose's mental machinations and I found the romance to be unbearable, as I could not condone Rose's thoughts about other men while she has a perfectly wonderful husband at home. However, if you like a light romance without much drama that can be easily read in one afternoon, then you will enjoy this.
SYNOPSIS:
Triggering an intervention of fate, 42 year old Rose Gerbaldi, discovers her heart and soul has been forever united with beautiful, 30 year old, British movie star, Michael Terrance. A discovery that compels her reality to firmly reclaim her – consequently devastating the very lives fate had so lovingly entwined.
Forsaken by a woman he’s never met, unable to control the debilitating agony, Michael seeks solace on the darker side of Hollywood. Meanwhile in Western Canada, having been doubly devastated, Rose relinquishes to a life of loneliness. Both are certain they’ll never again find that for which they long for – each other.
Foolish people – fate is infallible.
** Disclosure: I did not accept any compensation from the sponsors other than review copies, my views are my own, reviewed by me..as I see it~!! **
The Illusion Of Certainty is a Romance Drama Fiction.
Marc Wilson is happily married; a CEO of an influential sports fitness company; has two beautiful and loving children; his childhood best friend and family still in his life and a gorgeous wife whom he adores. Marc believes his life is idyllic until he begins to notice small changes in his wife's behaviour.
Aimee is a nurse who loves competition and being in control. She works nights as the supervisor at the local hospital, where Marc's best friend, John is a successful surgeon. John's wife Tina, is a real estate agent and the two couples are inseparable, their children all growing up around each other.
When Marc finds out about Aimee's secret, his world comes crashing down around him and his illusions of life are shattered. Leaving his hometown and beginning a new job, he begins to pick up the pieces of his life and move on.
After surviving living life from hotels for a few years, Marc is dealt another surprise in life and decides to take a trip to England to look at his life from another perspective. When he meets Alexandra Mattson, an attorney, who has just lost her fiance, Sean, in a bicycling accident, Marc feels that maybe there could be hope and begins to trust in his future.
I honestly felt that this wasn't a bad read, it had some interesting human aspects and emotions. I found the character of Marc to be likeable, if a bit of a wimp when it comes to standing up for himself. I did not like Aimee and how she destroyed her family; I found her to be extremely narcissistic.
I felt the parallel story lines between Marc and Alexandra to be confusing, sometimes I didn't realize that the story plots had changed and I had to backtrack. This often pulled me out of the story in order to understand what the author was trying to portray or describe.
I feel that much of this story was editorial issues which left a blend of poor grammar along with bad punctuation. As well, there were a few instances were the author told me what was going on in the setting and I like to be able to find my own setting, I like to be "shown" what is in the paragraph and allow my imaginings take over.
I would give this a three out of five stars, there is potential in author, Greg Messel's work, with some more tightening of his dialogue and descriptives, I am certain we will be able to watch him grow into a renowned author. This book is about one man's struggle in life just when he thought he had everything going for him. If you enjoy books where fate gives you a kick, then you will enjoy reading The Illusion of Certainty.
SYNOPSIS: "The Illusion of Certainty" follows two parallel storylines. Marc is a successful businessman who seems to have everything-a great job, a beautiful wife, a house in an upscale neighborhood of Portland, Oregon and two great kids who are preparing for college. But something is not right. Marc is unsettled by the sudden change in his wife, Aimee, who seems distant and unhappy. What is going on with her? The second storyline involves a successful young attorney Alexandra Mattson. Alex, as she is called by her friends, meets a handsome young cop, Sean, during an unexpected crisis in her neighborhood. Sean and Alex seem made for each other and begin to merge their futures in a world of uncertainty. The only certainty in life is that we will face uncertainty. Despite all of the technology and controls available in the modern world, sometimes the only comfort comes from the human touch.
** Disclosure: I did not accept any compensation from the sponsors other than review copies, my views are my own, reviewed by me..as I see it~!! **
Carlene Rivers hails from Dublin, Ohio and on the day her and her best friend Becca attend the town's Irish Festival, she doesn't realize her life is about to change. Encouraged to purchase a ticket in a lottery, Carlene does and never in her wildest dreams does she ever think she will win the authentic Irish Pub in Ballybeog, Ireland.
On the day Carlene hears the wonderful news, she begins to plan her new life, leaving behind her neurotic OCD father and the only life she has ever know, Carlene sets out into the unknown to embrace her Irish heritage and make the best out of the situation she has found herself in.
Her arrival in Ballybeog is viewed with mixed emotions, some think she is nothing but a Yank who should go back home and others embrace and encourage her choice to stay and run the pub. There are those who are trying to sabotage her efforts as theft and vandalism continue to occur with no culprits in sight.
The folks of Ballybeog are a tight knit group and Carlene often wonders what she is doing trying to survive out of her element. What Carlene doesn't expect to find is herself in love with another wayward Irishman, as the previous owner, Ronan McBride is not only handsome, but he is charming and considerate to boot. If only he didn't have a gambling problem, he could almost be the perfect man.
Will the people of Ballybeog finally accept Carlene and her American ways or will she be forced to turn in the towel and return home to the United States? Will she find love in Ireland or will her heart be broken once again??
I thought this was a great romantic book and I would give it four out of five stars. I thought the characters were extremely likeable and believable. I love the history shared with the reader and how the settings ambiance was described.
I thought Carly was a well-liked character who remained true to her character. I liked her interaction with the people of Ballybeog and her inner thoughts about the situations she found herself in.
I wished we had more of Ronan's thoughts being shared with the reader. Very few chapters were given to his inner meanderings and I think the reader would have been more balanced if we were given a bit more insight into his nature.
There were very few editorial issues, sometimes Brendan was called Brandon, but for the most part, they were few and far between. I enjoyed the mystery surrounding the tunnels under her property as well as the person who is trying to sabotage her pub.
SYNOPSIS:
Carlene Rivers is many things. Dutiful, reliable, kind. Lucky? Not so much. At thirty, she's living a stifling existence in Cleveland, Ohio. Then one day, Carlene buys a raffle ticket. The prize: a pub on the west coast of Ireland. Carlene is stunned when she wins. Everyone else is stunned when she actually goes. As soon as she arrives in Ballybeog, Carlene is smitten not just by the town's beguiling mix of ancient and modern, but by the welcome she receives. In this small town near Galway Bay, strife is no stranger, strangers are family, and no one is ever too busy for a cup of tea or a pint. And though her new job presents challenges - from a meddling neighbour to the pub's colourful regulars - there are compensations galore. Like the freedom to sing, joke, and tell stories, and in doing so, find her own voice. And in her flirtation with Ronan McBride, the pub's charming, reckless former owner, she just may find the freedom to follow where impulse leads and trust her heart - and her luck - for the very first time...
** Disclosure: I did not accept any compensation from the sponsors other than review copies, my views are my own, reviewed by me..as I see it~!! **
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** Reviewed by me...as I see it~!! **
