Haunting Lia by Shannon Eckrich

Publisher: Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing
Pages: 259

(Release Date: 10/11/13)

From the Cover:

Death is her destiny. But she has other things in mind.

Lia Starr’s life isn’t a fairytale. It’s a reality overflowing with scary monsters, death, and betrayal—a past she left behind when she entered her new foster home. Now, with a loving family, a sister she’s always craved, and relief from the gruesome corpses that tormented her as a child, she’s finally content. Until a freak accident changes everything.

The monsters are back, and their mission is simple: drag Lia straight to their murky hell. When Aiden, an apparition, appears to Lia, she has hope once again. Because Aiden can cross the veil between the spirit world and the earthly dimension, physically fighting off the monsters and sending them back. With Aiden’s determination to keep her safe and his absorbing blue eyes, Lia can’t help falling in love with him. But who is he, and what does he really want? As Lia and Aiden’s relationship deepens, so does the mystery surrounding him. 

Once Lia finds out Aiden has traded his soul to save her, she enters the darker dimension, a dimension where nightmares are reality, ready to kick some serious butt. But surrounded by twenty-eight mutilated monsters and a deranged cult leader intent on bringing his dark world to the surface, isn’t what Lia expects. And even worse, she must face her traumatic past in order to destroy them. If she fails, not only will she lose the guy she loves and face certain death, but she will also risk the one thing she can’t afford to lose: her eternal soul.

Lia is one of the kids who doesn't quite fit in, and she has a secret that not even her foster-sister, Chelsea, knows. Lia can see monsters and the shadows of darkness. Chelsea talks Lia into a visit to the haunted house, Frightland, but rain shortens their terrifying trip. One rainy evening plus a flat tire leads to a horrific accident, separating the sisters, ripping one from the other.

Aiden appears to be this ghostly apparition only Lia can see. The strange skater boy tanned and toned, fresh from Frightland or maybe he's part of it. But, can he be something more? And, if he's alive like he claims to be, where's his body and how can Lia get his spirit to re-attach itself?

Enter into the equation, demented Bianca, driven to the point of insanity by the darkness, filling her head with negative thoughts and the idea that Lia killed her father. She makes it her mission to make Lia pay, the price is Lia's life.

With monsters, shadows darker than night, and a boy who claims to only want to help her, can Lia survive?

Haunting Lia by Shannon Eckrich is the story of an outcast, a girl who has lost her family, subplanting it with her foster family. Until Chelsea is ripped out of her life, and Lia knows, it was all her fault. And, AJ Prescott is just as much to blame. After the accident, Aiden appears, scaring the monsters away, chasing the shadows back to where they belong. But, can Lia trust this strange boy she doesn't even know? Should she?

Haunting Lia is a wonderful blend of paranormal, horror, suspense, and at times, heart tugging warmth. Ms. Eckrich paints vivid pictures of life beyond the realm of normal, of an afterworld I'm not sure I'd like to visit with it's threatening corpses, but it's all in good fun. Haunting Lia is an excellent read, I managed to read it in one sitting. The reader is pulled away into Lia's world, which can be frightening at times, and at other times, the world of an insecure girl, trying to fit in. What she discovers is that not everyone needs to fit into a round hole. I highly recommend this quick little read, at 259 it shouldn't be quick, but the pages flew through my fingers. Paranormal romance lovers, horror fanatics, and lovers of suspense will all want to give this book a try, there's something for everyone.

Five out of five fairy kisses for this reader. 

I received my copy from the author for an honest review. All opinion expressed are my own.

The Demon Mistress by Jordan K. Rose

Publisher: Jordan K. Rose
Pages: 268

(Release Date: September 30, 2013)

From the Cover:

What’s a girl to do when she discovers her husband, who happens to be the Master Vampire for the New England Region, has been lying to her for, oh, say a hundred and eighty years? 
 
Well, it all depends. If she’s accidentally released forty demons from some creepy old book, unintentionally announced the existence of vampires on The Internet, kidnapped a werewolf, enraged a lovesick vampire by stealing his approved mate, and attracted the attention of The High Commander for The Vampire Federation, not to mention gotten stoned and mastered the forbidden art of demon calling, she might be willing to call it even. 


Or, she might plead her case at an Inquisition and hope like all hell, she isn’t staked before sunrise. Eh, a slightly busier night than usual, but nothing Eva Prim can’t handle.


Chryssie Papadopoulos isn't your average vampire, no way. That would be boring, and Chryssie is anything but boring.... klutzy maybe, but definitely NOT boring or selfish, or thoughtless. Well, maybe a little bit selfish, but isn't everyone? So what if she happens to be married to the most powerful vampire, and the master at that, in the region? Does she take advantage of her position? Does she try to force people to like her? (I mean besides a couple of times, before she knew better.) Chryssie just wants to be liked for who she is.

When Stefan, her husband (I did say she was married to the most powerful vampire in the region and the master) gives her a laptop as a gift (I'm hoping it was a Macbook, I have a thing for Macbooks), she does what most people (and vampires) in her position would. She starts a blog, Eva Prim Writes, and makes TONS of new friends. Just what she wanted!! But, along with her friends, a whole lot of new trouble starts brewing (and I mean a lot). I did say she was a bit of a klutz, especially in her personal life (and in the lives of those around her.)

The Demon Mistress by Jordan K. Rose is a great fun read. What starts out, for Eva, as a way to occupy her time, relieve her tedium, and of course, gain new friends all who want information on the vampire way of life, turns into a mad dash. Eva, as it turns out, is her own worst enemy. She can't keep herself (and those around her) out of trouble. Her simple blogs turns out to be much more.

Ms. Rose not only creates this wildly wonderful person known as Chryssie Papadopoulos (Eva Prim), but she does it in the most entertaining way. Chryssie sparks feeling of kinship, I'd actually like to blog with her, she so much fun. I was laughing, tearing up, wanting to smack Stefan, and Cletus, hell, I wanted to smack Margaritaman (he should have known better than to get in a car with a hungry vampire, you know, from the blog). And, the names these people blog with, I just don't know.... but it sure sounds like fun.

If you're looking for a fun, entertaining, somewhat endearing read, you'll want to try The Demon Mistress by Jordan K. Rose. I guarantee, lots of fun to be had, cute characters, domineering alpha male vampires, and werewolves galore. It's not your usual vampire read and you're going to love every minute of it. I haven't read something this fun in a while, sexy.. yes, scary.. yes, chiller-thriller.. all the time. But a humorous read? This has been one of the best. I fell in love, just a little, with Eva Prim.

Five out of five fairy kisses for this reader.

I received my copy for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Westbound Awakening by Hildie McQueen

Publisher: Desert Breeze Publishing
Pages:

(Release Date: October 2013)

From the Cover:

Captain John McClain finds himself on the wrong end of a shotgun when attempting to find his child. Heading west to find the mother of his son and the outlaw who shot him, John is forced to escort an enticing woman whose lifestyle goes against every one of his moral standards, yet she calls to every part of him. 

Heading west to meet the dying father she never knew, and possibly starting a new life, Mae Hawkins didn’t expect the added complication of traveling with the one man she always loved. 

When they’re joined along the road by a minister and his wife, things get beyond complicated for John and Mae who awaken to the lesson that sometimes differences are more imagined than real in this unforgettable journey. 

Mae Hawkins has always found herself attracted to the man, Captain John McClain, but she can't abide the disdain in his eyes for her chosen profession. She is the madame for the local brothel, one she inherited from her mother. What he doesn't know is the requirements her mother and Miss Lady put on her.

Captain John McClain can't see himself with someone who's sold her body for a few dollars, even if his own body screams for her. It isn't until he's alone with Mae for an extended period over the travel to Texas and after he losses more than he wanted to, for the realization of how silly his morals turn out to be. Now if he can only get Mae to accept him. 

Westbound Awakening by Hildie McQueen is another western romance that I fell in love with, though at first, I was afraid I wouldn't. Captain John McClain had my nose pushed out of place, judging someone who deserved his consideration, not condemnation. But, I soon discovered what was driving this character, burned by love, shot by an outlaw, his child taken away. Mae Hawkins is a special kind of madame. She really cares for those she employs, and Miss Lady makes sure she takes care of herself as well. She's a misunderstood character that immediately captured my attention.

Westbound Awakening is a fun read of discovery... founding out what's really important in life and what isn't. I loved the tension between these real life feeling characters, and it takes the interest of another for Captain John McClain to see what he's really missing. Westbound Awakening is a sweet romance, a fun little historical that I can highly recommend to those who find themselves wishing for a western romance, this one is good!

Five out of five fairy kisses for this reader.

I received my copy for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Mac Rome, Author with Midnight Frost Books!

Today on the blog, I'd like to welcome fellow Crimson Frost/Midnight Frost author, Mac Rome!

Mac's written several short stories, one of which I have the privilege to read, 11th Month Inn. 

It was a great take on the months of the year! My review can be found here.

Thanks for being today Mac!

Thanks to Lillie for giving me the chance to share this blog post.

“Where do your characters come from?”

“Are your characters based on anybody in your life?”

“What is the inspiration for your characters?”

I’m never entirely sure how to answer such questions. I never set out to base characters on anyone, although I sometimes find I’ve written aspects of a person into them. (That’s especially true of my wife. Pieces of her personality or elements of her mannerisms have a way of getting written into my work without my realizing it.)

“Who’s your favorite character in this book?”

You might as well ask, “Who’s your favorite child?” I’m sure my children wouldn’t want me to answer that, and how would I choose between them to do it?

But some characters are easier to let go than others. Some live while I write them, in my mind and heart and on the digital page. But others won’t let go.

I had that experience in writing Eve’s Thieves, my novel coming out in November from Midnight Frost Books.

There’s a character in the book called BeBe in Eve’s Thieves. In my original outline for the book, BeBe was going to appear in one chapter, early on. But BeBe captured my imagination at some level.

When I needed a means for Peri, one of the lead characters, to accomplish something, BeBe simply made logical sense. But then she just kept cropping back up.

It was as if I could hear BeBe, with her Appalachian foothills dialect, whispering in my ear, “Hey, Mac, you really need me here, y’know.” “Hey, Mac, you need someone to fill this function in the book, and, hon, you know I’m perfect for the job.” “Hey, Mac ...”

(Thankfully, I wasn’t literally hearing BeBe. If I had, I would have sought medical attention!) 

(*snort* I've been there Mac!)

The story is written now, but BeBe is one of several characters to stay with me from Eve’s Thieves. She’s also the one I’ve had rumbling through my mind the most. As I understand her more and more, I realize her hopes and dreams, as well as her strengths and shortcomings. All those things were always there, but they were buried inside me, waiting to come out ... kind of like BeBe herself.

Where do characters come from? From unplumbed, uncharted places in the heart, the soul, and the imagination. And the best find ways to stay with you, regardless of whether they’re heroes, villains or somewhere in between.

Eve’s Thieves tells the story of a group of six women, victimized by magical thieves who’ve stolen aspects of the women’s physical beings, rather than money or property. The women find the means to band together and restore what was stolen, but it comes at a price. Little is as it seems. Not everyone can be trusted. A loss can mean death, but each victory brings them closer to an inevitable confrontation with an ancient and powerful evil.

Thanks again, Lillie!

Mac Rome

Thanks again for being here today Mac! Can't wait to read Eve's Thieves!

The Undead Pool by Kim Harrison... Most Excellent Cover

If you've been watching Kim Harrison's cover reveal for her new book, The Undead Pool, you know she unveiled it, piece by piece. I loved it!

So, here's the cover with all the pieces put together... I can't wait to take a peek inside!

From the Cover:

Witch and day-walking demon Rachel Morgan has managed to save the demonic ever after from shrinking, but at a high cost. Now strange magic is attacking Cincinnati and the Hollows, causing spells to backfire or go horribly wrong, and the truce between the races, between Inderlander and human, is shattering.

Rachel must stop the occurrences before the undead vampire masters who keep the rest of the undead under control are lost and it becomes all-out supernatural war. However, the only way to do so is through the ancient elven wild magic, which carries its own perils.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 512 pages
• Publisher: Harper Voyager (February 25, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061957933
• ISBN-13: 978-0061957932
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
  
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,486 in Books 
(already in a best seller!! It will reach the top 100 when it's released in February 2014!)
 Pre-orders are available!
I'll be waiting (im)patiently to read....