Category: - Paper Seraglio

Saturday Showcase

4/6/2013

Lately I've been privileged to be in the company of some fine quality writers, a few of whom I'll be happy to showcase on weekends. Enjoy.

Allison's Defeat
JRC Salter

Allison is an ordinary modern day girl who hasn't thought much about the nature of the universe, but when asked, she says she doesn't believe in a supreme being. That is until one day when a new school friend tells her she is to be a powerful warrior for God. She refuses to believe it despite her recurring psychic ability and apparent immortality. She intends to get on with her life, and to some extent succeeds, until a mysterious figure from her past forces her to face her destiny.

This is the first book in The Calnis Chronicles series which continues with the Chronicles of the Tarimain, a monthly series of novelettes.

Biography

J R C Salter was born in Devon in the early eighties. Salter trained as a chef and practiced for ten years before quitting to pursue a writing career, having always loved reading and making stories. Salter wanted to write an epic tale encompassing the adventures of different characters surrounding a mysterious artifact. Main inspirations included The Lord of the Rings, the Silmarillion, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Highlander.

Saturday Showcase

3/30/2013

Lately I've been privileged to be in the company of some fine quality writers, a few of whom I'll be happy to showcase on weekends. Enjoy.

Chasing the Sunset
Barbara Mack

Quarter-finalist in Amazon's Breakthrough
Novel Awards

As a girl, Maggie had been happy, mischievous, and coddled by loving parents. Now her parents are gone, and she's running from an abusive marriage. She has no choice but to take refuge in the wilds of Missouri. When her Uncle Ned gets her a job as a live-in housekeeper to the intriguing Nick Revelle, Maggie feels an immediate attraction - mixed with fear - for her employer. Nick has been hardened by a past marriage, and Maggie's afraid her hidden secrets will make him hate her...

“ I definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves historical romances! ” spunkypumpkin | 2 reviewers
made a similar statement

Biography

Barbara Mack has been fascinated by words and writing since early childhood. The first story she put into print format was about the birds who came to nest in the gardening shed; it reviewed well with critics (the neighbors, her mother and father, grandparents, etc.) She then had a poem - Love Never Dies - published in an international magazine at age 11, and she's never looked back.

She currently has several historical romance novels available and when she's not writing furiously, you can find her in the kitchen. Her cookbook Easy, Fabulous Bread Making: A collection of quick, no-knead bread recipes is consistently in the top 50 Amazon books on bread making. The well-reviewed Chasing the Sunset spent 14 weeks in the top 5 historical romances from Amazon.

Saturday Showcase

3/23/2013

Lately I've been privileged to be in the company of some fine quality writers, a few of whom I'll be happy to showcase on weekends. Enjoy.

Sherdan's Prophecy
Jess Mountifield

Sherdan has spent many years planning for the future. Now he's in control and he is expected to forge a fresh new start for the people in his program, people he has shaped and can’t abandon, but Britain's PM has other ideas and Sherdan must face the full might of the UK. On top of all this he has to face the one thing he never expected to feel; love.

Anya is on a mission from God to find out why she has been sent to the heart of Bristol, and what she can do to stop the world being plunged into war. When she finds herself forced to pick a side and join the fight, only her faith in God can see her through.

Sherdan's Prophecy is a tale of high stakes and political intrigue. A science fiction novel where faith and technology come together to take the human race another step closer to the final showdown. Where a few select people make decisions on behalf of many. A gritty account of power that shows both the best and the worst of humanity.

The end of this book, which is the first part of the Sherdan series, left me in need of the sequel.

Jess was born in the quaint village of Woodbridge in the UK, has spent some of her childhood in the States and now resides in the beautiful Roman city of Bath. She lives with her husband Phil and her very dapsy cat, Pleaides. Jess can often be found either in a cafe, grinning behind a large mug of hot chocolate, at her desk, getting annoyed with her cat for sitting on her keyboard, or on her comfy corner sofa with friends, enjoying a vast array of films.

Saturday Showcase

3/16/2013

Lately I've been privileged to be in the company of some fine quality writers, a few of whom I'll be happy to showcase on weekends. Enjoy.

The Road to Cordia
Jess Allison

In the country of Cancordia, on the planet D'Az, set on the edge of the sea, is an isolated Fisherfolk village. In this village people are dying who could have been saved. Ja'Nil (very much against her will) is sent to the Royal Court in the city of Cordia to find
a healer.
At one time the country of Cancordia was known for its safety, but now you take your life in your hands when they travel the roads. There are slavers, tricksters, dragons, and werewolves, powerful warlords, and ladies with mysterious and terrible gifts.
One of the people Ja'Nil meets along the way is a handsome young man named Ee'Rick. They decide to travel together. Only much later does she discover Ee'Rick's secret.
At the Palace, the Queen is having troubles of her own. Before
Ja'Nil and Ee'Rick reach the city, traitors put their plan into action.
Suddenly the two travelers find themselves caught up in the middle of a deadly political coup.
Instead of finally being safe, the most dangerous part of their adventure has just begun. But Ja'Nil is developing a little magic of her own, and Ee'Rick is an incredibly efficient warrior. Even so, Ja'Nil's journey to
Cordia is turning into an experience she may not survive.

The Road To Cordia is the first in a series of Cancordian Fantasy Adventures.

"... the author's writing was so good that it drew me in and I found myself willing to continue with the story and starting to love these beings especially Ja'Nil and Ee'Rick. Eventually I was hooked and could not put down the book until I finished the story. If you love fantasy or even if you are new to the genre like me, this book will open your eyes to another world. Love it. I am waiting for the sequel."

Biography

Jess Allison is a red-headed adventuress who at 14 ran away from home to work in a circus. She did everything from picking up elephant poop to helping set up joints (booths). It was a whole new world. Now she writes about new worlds and fascinating alien people who sometimes can be quite human.

Saturday Showcase

3/2/2013

Lately I've been privileged to be in the company of some fine quality writers, a few of whom I'll be happy to showcase on weekends. Enjoy.

Summer Angel
Suzie O'Connell

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Five years ago, a single bullet forever changed three lives. June Montana gained a son when she agreed to foster the boy orphaned by that fatal shot, but lost touch with the man who pulled the trigger--her best friend, Sheriff's Deputy Ben Conner. Appalled, Ben sank into a quagmire of self-loathing. Now, he has come home to Northstar in a last-ditch effort to escape his guilt and nightmares, and to reconnect with June, hoping she can help him find peace. Instead, he is reunited with the boy he orphaned. With June's help, and her son's, Ben might finally find a way to forgive himself, but they have other worries. Someone wants revenge for a broken heart... and he's willing to kill to get it.

READ THE FIRST CHAPTER

Suzie O'Connell grew up in a small town on the Kitsap Peninsula in Western Washington, but has called the mountains and valleys of Western Montana home for well over a decade. She has been writing stories since she was old enough to know how (the first she can recall was penciled in the second grade, about the mouse who went to the sea) and completed her first novel, Summer Angel, before she graduated from high school. After high school, tired of the endless rain, she attended college at the University of Montana-Western and graduated in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts in Literature and Writing. She is currently working on a Masters of Education and teaches high school English.

When she isn't writing, teaching or studying, Suzie enjoys playing in the mountains with her husband Mark, their daughter Maddie and their energetic golden retriever Reilly. She is also a hobby photographer, specializing in landscapes.

Suzie considers herself to be a rather quirky individual with ecclectic tastes in music, movies and books. She listens to just about anything, including pop, rock, country and techno and her favorite movies range from Grumpy Old Men to Lord of the Rings to Moulin Rouge to Pirates of the Caribbean. When it comes to reading, she prefers fantasy, science fiction, romance and literary fiction.

She firmly believes it's healthy to laugh at yourself, that best friends are worth far more than their weight in gold, and that home truly is where the heart is.

Saturday Showcase

2/24/2013

Lately I've been privileged to be in the company of some fine quality writers, a few of whom I'll be happy to showcase on weekends. Enjoy.

Claiming Moon
John Peters

People are dying in Southwest Virginia, their bodies ripped open, a vital organ missing.

Clearwater Police Detective Frank Taliaferro has served in larger departments, advised the FBI, even worked international cases for The United Nations, but now he’s back where his career began, in the small town of Clearwater, Virginia. And he’s never seen anything like these killings.

Frank finds himself forced to participate in a charity bachelor auction as a public relations move for the police department.

Cassandra Kincaid, a rising star at the Daily Dispatch who has her sights set on moving to one of the larger dailies – New York, Washington, maybe Los Angeles – is forced into participating in the auction as a bidder so she can write a feature piece on the whole process.

Although she is none-too-fond of police, Cassandra ends up winning a date with Frank. Surprisingly, she finds the detective charming, definitely attractive, and enjoys their evening together until the date is interrupted by a gruesome murder.

That’s when things get complicated. The two find themselves drawn together in an uneasy yet passionate relationship while they both race to uncover what is behind a series of macabre murders.

Cassandra’s probing also uncovers a dark secret from Frank’s past, one that drives a wedge of mistrust between them, yet Cassandra finds she can’t get the detective out of her mind.

In the end her feelings for Frank may not matter because the two find themselves in a deadly face-off with the killer. Only then do they learn there is an ancient evil behind the grisly murders, but that discovery may be too late to save either of them.

"This book is well written and fun. I giggled more times than I can remember!"

Biography

John Peters is the author of the novel CLAMING MOON as well as the short horror tale WARREN HOUSE (which reached #2 on Amazon's supernatural horror list), the short horror collection HOLIDAY HORROR (top 50 on Amazon's Hot 100 New Releases), and a half dozen other horror tales available on Amazon.com.

His fiction has appeared in numerous publications, including the Stoker-nominated anthology series The Horror Library (volumes 1 and 3); Night Terrors 2; the Australian magazine Midnight Echo; the British publication Spinetinglers; the Canadian magazine Dark Recesses; and a host of other markets.

In addition to writing fiction. John works full-time as a daily newspaper editor. He, his wife, and their five children live in the mountains of Southwest Virginia.

You can follow John at http://johnpeters2.blogspot.com/ or at https://www.facebook.com/johnpeterswriter

A Shot in the Bark: A Dog Park Mystery
Carol Ann Newsome

Would you recognize a serial killer if you met one? Talked to one every day? Artist Lia Anderson doesn’t, and neither does anyone else who frequents the Mount Airy Dog Park. But a violent death brings Detective Peter Dourson into the close-knit group, and he is convinced someone is not who they seem. As the investigation uncovers secrets, Lia struggles to cope with warring emotions and a killer watches.

“ Well thought out plot and realistic characters I could identify and care about. ” B. Sharrock  |  17 reviewers made a similar statement

“ The mystery truly will keep you guessing right up to the end, and my favorite part was getting inside the killer's head. ” Sharon Delarose  |  6 reviewers made a similar statement

“ I began reading this book one evening and could not put it down until I finished it. ” earformusic  |  9 reviewers made a similar statement

Biography

I was never supposed to be an author. My brother is the writer in the family (and I'm convinced that someday we'll find a backlog of brilliant manuscripts that he has hidden away over the past several decades) I'm the painter and have spent my life doing odd projects, such as the New Leaf Project, wherein I painted more than 4,000 paintings on wood blocks that have been scattered all over the globe (including Antarctica) for people to find and adopt. (if you're interested, check it out here http://www.newleaf.carolannnewsome.com/)I also like doing collaborative murals with small communities, the most recent of which has been a dragon living under a pedestrian overpass.

In 2001, I suffered a head injury from being struck by a car while riding my bike. Head injuries are funny things, hard to predict what you'll experience, and not much you can do about it except take care of yourself and find a way to pass the time during those periods when you can't function. For several years I spent a lot of time reading popular fiction, often the same books over and over, while hanging out with my dogs. (To this day I am a huge Harry Potter fan because those were the first new books I could read, 5 months after my accident.)

I wrote the first draft of "A Shot in the Bark" longhand during my horizontal episodes. I discovered that it's fun to commit mayhem on paper. I like to write stuff that is fun and scary and romantic, and oh, it has to have dogs. I expect Lia and Peter to have more adventures with their furry children. My only goal is to bring you pleasure. At the end of the day, if I've managed to entertain you, I'm happy.

Saturday Showcase

2/10/2013

Lately I've been privileged to be in the company of some fine quality writers, a few of whom I'll be happy to showcase on weekends. Enjoy.

The Journals of Jacob and Hyde
Randal Morris

The first in the Jehovah and Hades series.

Jake was just a normal kid who enjoyed hearing his mother's bedtime stories. The stories became shockingly real when he discovered that he was a descendant of Dr. Jekyll and that he had his own Mr. Hyde living inside him. Driven by a desire to do good, he attempts to hunt down and kill the remaining Hyde monsters. Can he finish off the onslaught of Hyde monsters and keep the girl he loves safe from their retaliation?

"Has all the technology and adventure I like in a short story/novel."

Randall Morris

I was born very close to Death Valley in California, but I grew up in Seattle, WA. I've loved reading and writing since I was a little kid and it's what helped me choose to pursue a bachelors degree in history. I've worked for Best Buy / Geek Squad for the past five years. I served as a missionary for two years in the Philippines and I speak Tagalog fluently. I love to travel and I tend to incorporate places that I've been and experiences that I've had into my writing. I plan on publishing short stories and history articles.

SODIUM: 1 Harbinger
Stephen Arseneault

Before an invasion it is wise to gather intel on your foe. Harbinger begins the tale of the fight to save Earth as told from the perspective of an unlikely hero...

In 1957, a group of wilderness adventurers are confronted with the unexpected. They are forced to defend themselves against an unworldly enemy. Will man's first encounter with aliens force them to run or will they stand and fight? This is the first thriller in the SODIUM series. Follow along as the unwitting group determine their own fate.

“ I found this book to be a fun read. ” RadRob  |  2 reviewers made a similar statement

“ This was a very original story that had an unpredictable plot. ” Bruce N Humphrey  |  4 reviewers made a similar statement

“ The writing was direct and clear without a lot of frivolous details. ” Tom G  |  1 reviewer made a similar statement

Stephen Arseneault

I took up writing in 2011 for fun and have since been hooked. Self publishing is a blast. Aside from eBooks my writings are also available in print from my web site http://www.arsenex.com. If you are so inclined, I enjoy feedback. Please send any comments to comments@arsenex.com. If you choose to read any of my works I sincerely hope you enjoy them. If so, please come back and leave a review!

Saturday Showcase

2/2/2013

Lately I've been privileged to be in the company of some fine quality writers, a few of whom I'll be happy to showcase on weekends. Enjoy.

Prior Earth
Scott Langrel

Part one of a serialized novel. 13,000 words.

What if everything you thought you knew about your home, your friends, your family--even yourself--was a lie?

A storm of change is coming to the planet Earth, and no one will escape it. Many will perish, unable to accept the total reshaping of reality as we know it. In the aftermath that follows, a handful of ragtag heroes must adapt to this strange, new world and begin a quest to save the Earth's remaining inhabitants from total annihilation.

Combining elements of fantasy, horror, and science fiction, PriorEarth takes the reader on a roller coaster ride through a world that is alien yet familiar at the same time.

"PriorEarth Book One starts out with my kind of fantasy, magic of old, and hints of times long forgotten."

"...the author's style of storytelling drew me in and made me want to read the entire story; as he is working with an intriguing twist on the genre."

I was born and raised in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, a town nestled in the mountains of Appalachia. Which, by the way, is pronounced "apple-atcha", not "a-puh-lay-shua". My favorite TV shows as a kid were "Kolchak: The Night Stalker" and "Night Gallery" with Rod Serling. I was also drawn to books with larger-than-life heroes such as Doc Savage and Robert E. Howard's Solomon Kane. I was (and still am) a big X-files fan, along with Lost, Supernatural, and The Walking Dead.
I prefer horror and thrillers where there is a real, supernatural villain as opposed to psychological horror, and I try to incorporate such characters into my stories.

Covert Dreams
Michael Meyer

THIS INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED SUSPENSE THRILLER by Michael Meyer has been compared to Robert Ludlum's Bourne series, and the writing style has been compared to that of Dean Koontz.

Imagine waking up remembering intimate details about a country in which you have never traveled and fluently speaking a language that you have never spoken. B.J. is living the ideal life. He has a great wife, a wonderful job. And yet he is experiencing life-like vivid dreams of Munich, a city he has never visited.

Stan Halsey is a professor in Saudi Arabia, who sends for his wife to join him. She arrives, and, in the blink of an eye, she vanishes, leaving no trace of ever being alive in either the United States or in Saudi Arabia.

COVERT DREAMS is a fast-paced international suspense thriller that moves from Munich to the burning sands of Saudi Arabia. What is real, and who is responsible for the terrifying nightmare?

“ I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mystery and suspense. ” Janet | 12 reviewers made a similar statement

“ This story will not disappoint as it sucks you right into these lives from page one and doesn't let go until the last page is turned. ” D. Everetti | 10 reviewers made a similar statement

RETIRED ENGLISH PROFESSOR WRITES FICTION - mysteries, thrillers, and humorous fiction

I have resided in and have visited many places in the world, all of which have contributed in some way to my own published writing. I have literally traveled throughout the world, on numerous occasions. I have lived in Finland, Germany, Thailand, Saudi Arabia (where COVERT DREAMS is set), and the U.S. Virgin Islands (where DEADLY EYES is set). I gained the wanderlust to see the world, to experience other cultures, at an early age, and this desire has never left me. If anything, it has only gained in intensity as I have aged. I try to travel internationally at least once a year. In the interim, I spend lots of time traveling around both my home state of California and other nearby states.

Saturday Showcase Jan 26, 2013

1/26/2013

Lately I've been privileged to be in the company of some fine quality writers, a few of whom I'll be happy to showcase on weekends. Enjoy.

From Best-Selling Author, Russell Blake

Jet

Free Today Only

Click for more.

Code name: Jet

Twenty-eight-year-old Jet was once the Mossad's most lethal operative before faking her own death and burying that identity forever.

But the past doesn't give up on its secrets easily.

When her new life on a tranquil island is shattered by a brutal attack, Jet must return to a clandestine existence of savagery and deception to save herself and those she loves. A gritty, unflinching roller-coaster of high-stakes twists and shocking turns, JET features a new breed of protagonist that breaks the mold.

Fans of Lisbeth Salander, SALT, and the Bourne trilogy will find themselves carried along at Lamborghini speed to a conclusion as jarring and surprising as the story's heroine is unconventional.

“ Well written fast paced action book. ” RUTH DODD  |  50 reviewers made a similar statement

“ This is the first Blake book I've read where the main character is a woman, and he did an excellent job of writing in her voice. ” GAE-LYNN WOODS  |  23 reviewers made a similar statement

“ 5 stars - Kate Farrell, The Kindle Book Review (The KBR received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. ” The Kindle Book Review  |  5 reviewers made a similar statement

Russell Blake is the bestselling author of eighteen novels, including the thrillers Fatal Exchange, The Geronimo Breach, Zero Sum, King of Swords, Night of the Assassin, Revenge of the Assassin, Return of the Assassin, The Delphi Chronicle trilogy, The Voynich Cypher, Silver Justice, JET, JET II - Betrayal, JET III - Vengeance, and JET IV - Reckoning. Non-fiction includes the international bestseller An Angel With Fur (animal biography) and How To Sell A Gazillion eBooks In No Time (even if drunk, high or incarcerated), a parody of all things writing-related. Blake lives in Mexico and enjoys his dogs, fishing, boating, tequila and writing, while battling world domination by clowns.

Kate Aaron

What He Wants

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Christo's life fell apart when his partner of eight years walked out on him. There wasn't even a reason for it: sometimes love just fades, as quickly and mysteriously as it appears in the first place.

Enter Damien. Damien's the guy with a different man on his arm for every event, he's smooth and arrogant and always impeccably turned out. Christo hates him. But God, he's gorgeous. Damien could be exactly what Christo needs to get him over John.

It's only going to be a fling. Nothing serious, nothing that will affect their working relationship or the rest of their lives. So why are they fighting through the night rather than letting go and walking away? Why does Damien's secretive nature bug Christo so much? And why does he even care that the other man might not be as tough as he pretends to be?

CONTENT WARNING: This book contains explicit scenes unsuitable for those under 18.

“ What He Wants was soo sweet I smiled through the entire reading.. ” P. Conway | 2 reviewers made a similar statement

"I was very pleased to discover that instead this was a very good contemporary novel, an old fashioned office romance, and a story that well develops the relationship between Christo and Damien."

Kate Aaron lives in Cheshire, England with two dogs who won't behave, a parrot that won't talk and a bearded dragon named Elvis.

She has the best of friends, the worst of enemies, and a mischievous muse with a passion for storytelling that doesn't know the difference between fact and fiction.

Saturday Showcase Jan 19th

1/19/2013

Lately I've been privileged to be in the company of some fine quality writers, a few of whom I'll be happy to showcase on weekends. Enjoy.

Blood by Shirley Bourget

Click for Amazon page.

When Tate entered a vision quest hoping to learn something that his Grandfather insists is vitally important, he never expected a nightmare! He had heard about Skin Walkers, but he never believed they were real...

When Morningstar left her village, her dreams were to please her Ancestral God, and return as a potential bride and future mother to her people. However, motherhood always comes with a price...

Three hundred years ago Yellow Bird Mountain didn't exist. Now it marks the location of the Makoce Indian Reservation, containing some of the riches oil deposits in the region. Russell Blanding wants that oil, and will stop at nothing to get it...

Blood is the first volume in the Ancestral Skin Saga, and lays the foundational tale of Native American Skin Walkers with mystical creatures, and thrilling suspense. This Paranormal novel is laced with humor, romance, murder, and deceit.

(This book contains material that some may find offensive. It is intended for mature audiences.)

"Great writing, story and imagery. Enjoyed all the detail and visualization while reading. Loved this book, could not put it down once I started reading it."

"This book has a little something for everyone. I strongly suggest this book to anyone who enjoys a fantastic read that is guaranteed to keep your attention until the very last word."

Excerpt

She was running, racing through the trees with a speed unimaginable, and her feet barely seemed to touch the soft ground beneath her as she sprang over the forest floor.

She smelled the deer although she couldn't see it. Her feet carried her to it without thought, turning her body in the direction she needed to go in order to follow its scent.

Her surroundings were alive. She felt, heard, and tasted every blade of grass, every pine tree, and every stone. It was as though she had become one with the earth, and as she felt its energy flowing through her veins, she slowed her movements and lowered her head expectantly.

The deer was munching on the tender shoots of new forest grass just to the right of her, and she hunched her back, pulling her head lower towards the ground as she approached. The startled animal raised its head and perked its ears, listening to the soft sound of her footfall, but it was too late. She sprang with lightning speed and had the deer by the neck before it could position its feet under its body to run away.

Her teeth sank beneath its skin and the rush of blood drove her wild. She bit harder, shaking her powerful jaw to fasten her hold as she tore into the animal's neck. It wiggled beneath her but she covered it with her commanding body and forcefully pushed it to the ground. She held fast as it continued to struggle and as the life of the deer left its flesh, an electrical type current ran through her and she felt its essence return to the earth.

All was quiet except for the sound of her own breathing as she stood motionless for a few moments over her kill. There was a fleeting moment of reverence as her mind understood the value of the gift she had just received, and she respected the offering with thankfulness. She tore at the flesh, devouring the soft meat at the deer's neck and chest in gusty mouthfuls. It was a savage experience that made her want to bath in the blood and absorb it into her being so that it mingled with her own...

Shirley Bourget is a Marketplace Premiere writer for an online content source and has earned the Silver Star rating for her creative writing. She writes Freelance Articles as well as Paranormal Suspense and Romance.

She lives in South Carolin with her husband and has two grown children and one beautiful grandchild. When Shirley isn't writing, she enjoys painting, photography, and hiking.

To learn more, you can follow her on Twitter -
http://twitter.com/ShirleyBourget or visit her website
http://www.ShirleyBourgetFreelanceWriter.com or visit her Author page
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shirley-Bourget/153900874721684

Gone by Traci Tyne Hilton

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From best selling mystery author Traci Tyne Hilton comes Gone, the first novel in The Tangle Saga series.

One woman, heir to a throne back on Earth, found life on a remote space station a comfortable way to avoid responsibilities waiting back on her home planet.

But when her rebellious teenaged brother and sister disappear her responsibilities catch up with her.

Thousands of lives hang in the balance--including her own -- as she digs into the darkest corners in space. Can she find the missing kids before their rebellion sets off a chain of violence no one can stop?

"I have to say, this is a keeper. I liked Verity. She was tough without having that over-the-top persona that some heroines have and fun to read."

"As fun as the plot and descriptions of the space station are, the characters are the best part of this book."

Excerpt

"Thomas?" Verity knocked on the screen of his sleeping compartment. Her efforts were rewarded with a groan. She popped the steel blade of her defender and jimmied the door to the compartment open. Thomas lay on his side, moaning, his sandy hair hanging over his ashen face. His hands were bound together with shoelaces.

Verity reached in and shook his shoulder, "Thomas? What happened?"

The tutor's eyelids flickered. His mouth was slack but he groaned something that sounded like Tamsin.

Had Tamsin slipped Thomas a mickey and then tied him up in his sleeping compartment? The idea beggared belief. "Where did they go, Thomas?" Verity stood on her toes and reached inside to untie the laces.

He groaned again then said, "coffee" or something similar.

"They went to the coffee shop?" Verity gave Thomas another shake. His eyes fluttered shut again.

Verity pressed the palm of her hand to Thomas' forehead. He was clammy and cold. " Oh,Thomas, what happened?" She let her hand rest on his forehead for a moment. Could she really find them without Thomas? Her heart fluttered in her chest. She wouldn't think about without Thomas right now. She'd check the coffee instead.

There was a coffee cup in the drinks holder of his sleeping compartment. Verity dipped her pointer finger in it, letting her embed-comm soak in a sample. She tapped the wall of the compartment and said, "Send sample data to chem-lab 52."

Her comm crackled a little. The voice of the lab tech came through, "Is this Verity?"

"It is. Could you run a scan on the data I just sent?"

"Absolutely. Does this have something to do with your brother and sister?" The tech had a high-pitched note of panic in her voice.

"Yes, probably. And they are going to be in serious trouble when I lay my hands on them."

"Got it. Where do you want the results sent?"

"To my data center and the nurse. Tell her to come to the tutors' lodging, district 9, Thomas Montcrief's pod if it looks like she'll be needed. Tell her I'm administering some charcoal, just in case."

"Will do." The comm crackled again and the call ended.

Verity stored the steel blade and dispensed a charcoal tablet from her all-in-one defense unit. Almost the last one. She'd have to remember to refill when she made it back home. Thomas didn't look like he'd be able to swallow the pill so she popped the capsule into the ejector, stuck the barrel in his slack mouth and sent the charcoal on its way to absorb whatever poison was still lurking in his stomach.

Traci Tyne Hilton is an award winning author and playwright from Portland, Oregon. She is madly working on her next mystery series which has finaled in the Books of Hope Contest at Write Integrity Press and has an impending deadline. The same book just won the Mystery/Suspense category in the Christian Writers of the West Phoenix Rattler Contest, see all the winners here: http://christianwritersofthewest.weebly.com/phoenix-rattler-contest-winners.html/

Traci has a BA in History from Portland State University and lives in the rainiest part of the Pacific Northwest with her husband the mandolin playing funeral director from Kansas, their two daughters, and their dog, Dr. Watson.

More of Traci's work can be found at tracihilton.com

July 28th, 2012

7/27/2012

Rule 34 (Halting State #2)

Rule 34 by Charles Stross
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Stross writes the kind of books that I find I don't really appreciate fully until I give them a little time to sit, and then read them again. In some cases, years later I find I understand aspects of the world unfolding around me because of things I read in his books years ago - much of accelerando comes to mind.

Rule 34 is much the same thing. Halting State wasn't one of my favourites of his - I prefer his space operas and his Laundry novels - and neither will its loose sequel, Rule 34, be a favourite. Regardless, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it as Stross is always witty, to the point, original, and ahead of the game. Any fan of his will enjoy this book. He never disappoints.

View all my reviews

July 21st, 2012

7/21/2012

Not Wanted On The Voyage

Not Wanted On The Voyage by Timothy Findley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I found Not Wanted ... hard to get into, it being partially from the perspective of a cat, after all. But I stuck with it and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The writing is top notch, and the little details simply stick in your gullet as you're reading. There's some scenes I will never forget.

I've had a couple discussions about the book as I was reading, and it seems that different people come away with very different interpretations of the book. But by the end I think I had a pretty good handle on it. I wouldn't recommend it for everybody; I think it takes a more discerning reader to appreciate it. But it was certainly a well-crafted novel, and deserves its place as a modern classic.

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L.S. Burton

Farewell, third person bio.

Lee Burton doesn't have cats or kids, but he does have a lot of books, a couple of mugs he thinks are really fantastic, and a good pair of shoes which haven't fallen apart yet despite his best efforts to murder them with kilometers.

Burton has written almost six books. Almost six as some are still scantily clad in their respective drawers. Each of them had their own goals and were written differently, and he is very fond of them all -- except perhaps for his first attempt at a novel, which remains a travesty. That one he keeps locked in a dark basement and feeds it fish heads.

In 2011, Burton won the Percy Janes Award for Best Unpublished First Novel in the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts and Letters Competition for his novel Raw Flesh in the Rising.

And just recently, in the fall of 2013, Burton published his first science-fiction novel, THIS LAND, about which he boasts constantly.

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