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Sam Jenkins never thought about being a fish out of water during the twenty years he spent solving crimes in New York. But things change, and after retiring to Tennessee, he gets that feeling. Jenkins becomes a cop again and is thrown headlong into a murder investigation and a steaming kettle of fish, down-home style. The victim, Cecil Lovejoy, couldn't have deserved it more. His death was the inexorable result of years misspent and appears to be no great loss, except the prime suspect is Sam's personal friend. Jenkins' abilities are attacked when Lovejoy's influential widow urges politicians to reassign the case to state investigators. Feeling like "a pork chop at a bar mitzvah" in his new workplace, Sam suspects something isn't kosher when the family tries to force him out of the picture. In true Jenkins style, Sam turns common police practice on its ear to insure an innocent man doesn't fall prey to an imperfect system and the guilty party receives appropriate justice. A NEW PROSPECT takes the reader through a New South resolutely clinging to its past and traditional way of keeping family business strictly within the family.
Reviews
"…this is an hilarious police story and you…bring out the conflicts and the suspense in a compelling captivating way. The characters loom large on the page. Sam [Jenkins] is, no doubt, a memorable character of high integrity and true grit. The reader can easily identify with him and will want to see him…hopefully in a whole series of books. Great job!” William Greenleaf, Editor, book doctor, author
“Your knowledge of police procedure and lingo is clearly superior...The plot is well developed and the blocking forces to the investigation are credible...I think you have a winner here. You and the chief have a wonderful sense of humor.” James Gill
"Jenkins retains his hard-nosed, wise-cracking style of detectives such as Raymond Chandler’s Philip Marlowe. [But] like all remarkable characters, this…tough guy has his sentimental side.
Zurl’s] experience helped him master writing in an authentic, laid-back, hard-bitten police procedural style. US Reviews
"Despite being dispensed with laid-back ease, the pace is a quick draw and the plot doesn't step out of sync. The reader has confidence that A NEW PROSPECT is plotted well through and through...What makes A NEW PROSPECT feel different from other crime fiction is that the main character is domesticated. There are faint traces of hard-boiled noir fiction mixed with the style and quiet humor of a Western. The title, A NEW PROSPECT, even reads like a Western title." Ephraim Rodriguez, Authonomy
Author Bio
Wayne Zurl grew up on Long Island and retired after twenty years with the Suffolk County Police Department, one of the largest municipal law enforcement agencies in New York and the nation. For thirteen of those years he served as a section commander supervising investigators. He is a graduate of SUNY, Empire State College and served on active duty in the US Army during the Vietnam War and later in the reserves. Zurl left New York to live in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee with his wife, Barbara.
Eight (8) of his Sam Jenkins mysteries have been produced as audio books and simultaneously published as eBooks. His first full-length novel, A NEW PROSPECT, was named best mystery at the 2011 Indie Book Awards by the Independent Publishing Professional’s Group. It is also available on Kindle.
For additional information on Wayne ’s Sam Jenkins mystery series see www.waynezurlbooks.net You can read excerpts, reviews and endorsements, interviews, and even see photos of the area where the stories take place.
Annie Jacobs has dreamed of the day she would become a mother since the first time she held her Baby Tenderlove doll. Unfortunately, biology has not cooperated with her plan, and she finds herself dealing with a diagnosis of unexplained infertility instead of picking out baby names.
Across town, stay-at-home mom Sarah Anderson is just trying to make it through the grocery store without her toddler hurling a box of rice at a fellow shopper. She is exhausted from managing the house, a first grader and a toddler, all without any help from her work-obsessed, absentee husband.
When Annie and Sarah meet through a Classics Book Club, each thinks the other one's life is so much better than her own. But is the grass truly greener on the other side of the fence?
Reviews
"Quite an intriguing little book this is. It has been on my to read list for a month, and I read it basically in one day. It was hard to stray from it once I started, because I wanted to see what each woman was going to encounter next. I loved the two main characters of Sarah and Annie. I felt a little bit like a peeping tom, because we see these women in their most raw, real moments in life. They talk like real women. Their struggles are ones we relate to as women.
Sarah's story is one I see echoed in the lives of so many mothers that I know. When reading her portions of the story, I could literally feel her frustration and resentment leaping from the page. And with Annie, well, Annie's story is sort of my biggest fear in life, so it most definitely resounded.
What I like most about this book is that, while it lacks a conventional "happy ending" revolving around perfect partners and storybook romances, each woman finds her own version of happiness and purpose. I believe that is a lesson so many women need to learn these days.
A bit of a warning, when I first saw the title of the book, I expected an action packed mystery thriller, which it is most certainly not. But that is not to say the book is slow or lacks anything. If anything, when I finished the book, I was impressed with how real the storyline was. Nothing overly dramatic. Just the lives of two women, so similar to women we all know. I think that is ultimately why I liked the book so well. It was less like reading a book, and more like talking to two old college friends."
--Tiffany Harkleroad, Tiffany's Bookshelf
"...fearless truthfulness..."
--Publishers Weekly
"Karen's writing is smooth and entertaining, leading the reader right to the heart of the story. Her words tell us of the true strength of the human spirit."
-- Dawn Judd, Breakout Books
***** (five stars)
"Whatever your takeaway, I think you’ll find immersing yourself in the lives of Annie and Sarah is an experience worth having."
Ethan and Jessica Harrington are doctors who work alongside fellow doctors Gavin and Sarah Williams. After Jessica has an affair with Gavin, their lives are thrown into turmoil as they deal with the aftermath and subsequent fallout. For the better part of a year the four of them have been working to piece their marriages back together. Sarah and Gavin are still reeling from a devastating miscarriage, while Jessica and Ethan are hesitantly looking forward to the birth of their first child. Sarah’s hopes are immediately shattered when she learns how far Gavin’s infidelity has gone. Suddenly thrown into an unwanted independence she fights to find her way. Jessica struggles to repair her marriage to Ethan as they become parents. But when Ethan, a borderline alcoholic, learns a dark secret, his world steadily begins to crumble. His drinking, fueled by this discovery slowly engulfs him. Jessica’s love for him is only matched by her fear of his temper. With his marriage now in pieces and his sanity questionable, Ethan struggles to come to terms with his alcoholism and face his past. Theirs is a story of the tremendous amount of love some people have for one another, regardless of the pain that is sometimes inflicted.
Reviews:
" I was pleasantly surprised how this new author was able to take such a complex plot and still retain control of all of the characters. This is the story of two families who have been shattered by infidelity ... Ethan and Jessica remained together because she was pregnant - while Sarah and Gavin end up splitting up - the infidelity was between Jessica and Gavin. The plot grows even more complex when Ethan's father dies, and he struggles with his own demons concerning his childhood. Of course, with Gavin working with Jessica, and Sarah working with Ethan, there are some serious interpersonal issues that are detailed…….. I found the story fast-paced, but it held together well, and the conclusion made for a good ending." By Grandma Aubbie (Top 100 Reviewer)
"This book draws you in from the first two paragraphs. It is an easy read, but full of emotion. I could almost feel the characters angst and concern over the problems that were looming and about to break open. And break open they did! I didn't see anymore books listed by this author, but I'm hoping there are more." By Bookworm
Nine years ago, Molly Tanner witnessed a young girl's abduction in the busy city of Philadelphia, shifting her occasional clairvoyance into overdrive. Two days later, the girl's body was found, and Molly's life fell apart. Consumed by guilt for not acting upon her visions, and on the brink of losing her family, Molly escaped the torturous reminders in the city, fleeing to the safety of the close-knit rural community of Boyds, Maryland.
Molly's life is back on track, her son has begun college, and she and her husband have finally rekindled their relationship. Their fresh start is shattered when a seven-year-old girl disappears from a local park near Molly's home. Unable to turn her back on another child and troubled by memories of the past, Molly sets out to find her, jeopardizing the marriage she'd fought so hard to hold together. While unearthing clues and struggling to decipher her visions, Molly discovers another side of Boyds, where the residents--and the land itself--hold potentially lethal secrets, and exposes another side of her husband, one that threatens to tear them apart.
Product Details
Format: Kindle Edition , Published April 12, 2011, Solstice Publishing
File Size: 401 KB
Language: English
ASIN: B004WF5202
Paperback Edition due out May 5, 2011, ISBN 9780615477527
Reviews
In "Chasing Amanda" Melissa Foster guides us in helping Molly; wife, mother to a teenage son, search for a missing girl. The young girl has disappeared from their quiet, rural community; a place where things like this simply don't happen. For Molly, it's deja vu. Several years earlier, while living in Philadelphia, she witnessed a similar event. She did nothing at that time, and has been tormented by her inaction ever since.
Molly's special gift, or curse, is her clairvoyance. She can sometimes 'see' things that others cannot. In Philadelphia, she failed the little girl, whose body was found shortly after. Now, she promised herself that she would not make that mistake again. Molly persists, using her clairvoyance and sheer stubbornness in an effort to find the child. In doing so, Molly exposes her town's shameful secrets, presenting a conclusion to this story, that I never saw coming!
Melissa Foster's skill with her characters, drew me into the story immediately. The suspense that followed made this book a definite page-turner! By Nanascurse
This review is from: Chasing Amanda (Kindle Edition)
It amazes me that this is only the author's 2nd book and she has hit it 'right on' with both!
Chasing Amanda is such a different story than the author's 1st book so I wasn't sure what to expect. It had me from the 2nd page and in some instances I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. The story was very interesting, not a subject matter you read about often. There are not many books out there where the story is about someone who can "see" things and you can truly immerse yourself in the story, know that it could be real and keep thinking about it for days after you have finished the book.
I'm so glad I read this book and can't wait for the author's next book...keep them coming! Missreadsalot
Add one lovable dope.
A cook with a secret past.
Throw in a couple of gang members.
Mix in a pair of Chinatown detectives.
Combine it all with Ling Chi, death by 1,000 cuts.
And you have the perfect recipe for Chop Suey––a wickedly funny, action-thriller
Book Description
When disgraced sales associate Darby Stansfield discovers he has six months to save his job, he does what any normal person would do. He freaks.
Desperate to resurrect his career at Teleco Wireless, he conjures up an international scheme filled with the promise of endless high-spending clients. It’s brilliant, it’s successful, and it involves doing business with organized crime.
But soon those closest to him find themselves caught up in his dangerous plan, and one of these unknowingly has the power to destroy him. Darby must now make a tough decision––give up on the one good idea he ever had or risk it all.
Chop Suey is a 90,000 word action thriller. That's 381 pages of holy moly.
Reviews
"Chop Suey is a fast, funny and well-plotted thriller––It's not easy to write comedy, introduce a vicious serial killer, and navigate between the two. 9 out of 10"––Reading Review
"Hutchinson seems up to the task of weaving together Office Space with Silence of the Lambs with great results. 5 Stars."––Amazon
"Hutchinson is clever, witty, and paints vivid descriptions that continue to catch and hold our interest! 5 Stars."––Amazon
"Well developed characters, an always pleasing setting in San Fransisco, and a few surprise twists makes this a book that's hard to put down. 5 Stars."––Amazon
The Citizen Chronicles is a series of novels that details the ongoing missions of ARC, an underground organization whose highly trained members, known as Citizens, work to exterminate the world of the predators that stalk, rape, and murder the most innocent members of our society. Operating under the guise of a security company, the Citizens of ARC travel the globe to track down the monsters that prey upon children. They dish out lethal vigilante justice before the system can fail these victims. The Citizens’ missions are swift, precise, and completed with as little disturbance as possible to the people they seek to protect.
In the first book of the series, Citizen Out, the readers immediately discover what it means to be a marked pedophile who is targeted to be cleaned from the streets by Citizen Justice. The book opens with a chilling scene in which a predator waits in the shadows with plans to abduct a young girl walking home from the bus stop alone. The quick, bloody climax to his perverse fantasy comes at the end of a Citizen’s blade, and the girl’s precious innocence is preserved. She never even suspected that her young life was in danger.
Sixteen-year-old Keegan is struggling to keep her huge secret from her friends-she's an elf, descended from a long line of elves that live in secrecy alongside humans.
In elfin society, mates are predetermined but not allowed to meet until they are eighteen. Against tradition, Keegan's brother Thaddeus told her Rourk's name because his visions warned him she'd need Rourk's protection, especially since Keegan will play a key role in the coming war between the dark and light elves.
Rourk finds himself drawn to Keegan's side every time she thinks his name. He wants to talk to her but remains in the shadows, silently guarding her every time she mentally beckons him. A twist of fate thrusts the two of them together when Rourk is forced to step up his protection and make his presence known.
An ancient prophecy deeply entwines Keegan's family and the future of their society. Somehow they must find a way to thwart fate and win the battle...without losing Keegan. With war brewing, and dark forces aligning, will Keegan and Rourk ever have the life together that they both desire?
REVIEWS
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Book!, June 12, 2011
By Talia M Jager
This review is from: Coexist (Keegan's Chronicles) (Kindle Edition)
I got sucked into this book quickly. I enjoyed the characters, the storyline, and the writing. It was a creative story and I found myself rooting for the main characters. It had romance and friendship along with magic and adventure. I can't wait to read more from this author.
5.0 out of 5 stars Creative story!, June 11, 2011
By Cheryl Bradshaw "Author" (Wyoming)
This review is from: Coexist (Keegan's Chronicles) (Kindle Edition)
What I liked about this novel from the start was the fact that it was something I'd never read before - at least not in this exact way, and that is always refreshing. The author offers a fresh concept to the genre and does a good job creating her characters. It was easy for me to get wrapped up in Keegan and her life, and I enjoyed seeing her develop throughout the story. The primary audience for this type of novel is probably geared more toward teens; however, it offers plenty of intrigue for us adults as well. Overall, it's a good read, and I enjoyed it.
With an abundant amount of books available providing important details on statistical data, recognizing the signs of suicide, psychological books of study, and books instructing individuals in learning how to pick up the pieces after a love one commits suicide, one might discharge Destined To Live, Despite Me as just another biography or self help book. Well hold on, not so fast… What makes it different? What sets Destined To Live, Despite Me apart?
It’s Focus on providing “Spiritual” Direction
Destined To Live, Despite Me speaks on the topic of suicide directly to the actual suicide attempter in terms of spiritual direction, after they have sought counseling. Its coffee table tone also invites anyone who need direction in living a meaningful and purposeful life built on biblical truth. While Destined to Live, Despite Me steers clear of giving medical or psychological guidance (The author understands and supports the need of individuals obtaining necessary medical counseling first), it doesn’t apologize for its direct approach in providing spiritual guidance for the rebuilding of one’s life on the fundamentals of our faith in God, and salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ.
It’s Exhaustive Detail
Choosing to deliberately live life to its fullest; in peace and freedom, yet not absent from the storms of life, which are certain to come, but “through” the torrent conditions during this journey requires something other than “a name and claim it attitude” or “a wishful thinking mindset.” It demands faith in our Creator to perform the work that He has begun in us.
It’s Ethical & Motivating Conversational Style
This book takes the authors previous internal state of feelings to achieve an atmosphere, which incites thought with regards to matters of eternal salvation. This book encourages readers to perform their own self-evaluation and keeps readers attention.
Brilliant pre-med student Amoreena Daniels needs money. Desperately. Her mother is dying of cancer and her medical insurance has run out. When a seemingly perfect women’s clinic offers Amoreena a generous payment for service as a surrogate mother, Amoreena thinks her prayers have been answered. But then—much too early—her baby begins to move.
The strange dreams, another surrogate’s mysterious death and a drug-addicted former medical intern confirm Amoreena’s worst suspicions: there is something terribly wrong with the pregnancy. Amoreena embarks on a dangerous journey to uncover the truth behind the endless battery of genetic tests, sonograms and frightened patients, only to discover that she has unwittingly become a pawn in a high-stakes game of biomedical experimentation.
About the Author
Alan Nayes was born in Houston and grew up on the Texas gulf coast. He lives in Southern California. He is the author of the critically-acclaimed biomedical thrillers, GARGOYLES and THE UNNATURAL. His most recent releases are BARBARY POINT, a love story, and SMILODON, a science thriller. Girl Blue, an erotic horror story will be released by Samhain Publishing in 2012.
An avid outdoorsman and fitness enhursiast, he is one of only a few individuals to ever swim across the Wisconsin's chilly Lake Winnebago. When not working on his next project, he enjoys relaxing and fishing at the family vacation home in Wisconsin.
Immortal Obsession is a book with so many layers of history and emotion you simply can’t stop turning the pages.~Vampire Romance Books
Product Description
As a young man in eighteenth century France, Christian Du Mauré impulsively follows his best friend into the complex and warring world of the Parisian vampires. Against the backdrop of the French Revolution and following an affair with a mortal aristocrat, he promises to watch over her daughter - only to learn the child is his. Now settled in Manhattan, only two descendents of his union remain, Amanda and her brother, Ryan. After Amanda witnesses a savage murder in Central Park, she is determined to find the ethereal stranger who saved her life. When their worlds inevitably collide, Christian finds he cannot prevent Amanda from becoming a pawn in a centuries-old struggle for power. As a confrontation between ancient enemies comes to a head, Christian must face a betrayal from his past that still haunts him and threatens the woman he loves.
About the Author
Denise K. Rago is a longtime blogger, avid reader and art history buff who earned her Masters' Degree in Museum Professions in her home state of New Jersey. She also interned at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, one of several settings for Immortal Obsession. She resides in New Jersey with her family.
A mysterious young woman calling herself Jane turns up in a small New England town. She claims a fragmentary memory of growing up in this place, yet she has never been here before in her life. Upon her arrival, strange and alarming things begin happening to some of the town’s inhabitants. As Jane’s memories reawaken piece by piece, they carry her back in time to a long-buried secret, while the townspeople hurtle forward to a horrific event when past and present fatally collide.
Early Reviews
The sudden appearance of a young woman called Jane in rural Graynier, Mass., propels this absorbing novel of reincarnation and karmic balances from filmmaker Kernochan, the winner of two Academy Awards for documentaries. Website designer Brett Sampson and his estranged 10-year-old son, Collin, are supposed to spend their summer together bonding. Instead, Brett becomes obsessed with Jane after she shows up at their rented Victorian house, claiming it was her childhood home, and Collin spends his time with Gita Poonchwalla, a slightly older Indian girl who converts him to her own unique religion. Local residents, including caretaker Hoyt Eddy and floozy Marly Walczak, get caught up in the mystery of Jane, whom PI d**k Fancher claims is actually Caroline Moss, a missing autistic woman. Kernochan (Dry Hustle) illuminates the small lives of her characters while skillfully interweaving their past and present incarnations. -- Publishers Weekly
Sarah Kernochan’s highly original and unpredictable Jane Was Here is not your father’s horror story. Its inexorably harrowing and impelling forces drive a storyline about reincarnation, ghostly presences, the paranormal, and matters of misery, mystery, and imagination raring to overwhelm the denizens of an anti-Mayberry locale in which an enigmatic and ethereal young woman calling herself Jane shows up at Brett and Collin’s rented Victorian house. ..Kernochan, an Oscar winning filmmaker and screenwriter whose credits include the supernatural thriller What Lies Beneath, brings out the same kind of craftsmanship to this nerve-jangling but cohesive volume of paranormal suspense, with its cinematic vividness and well-considered attention to detail. The twists and turns have their own twists and turns, and the butler did it as sure as a bolt from the blue. All you’ll really know, however, is that you must keep reading... and lose a little sleep while you try to ignore those pesky bumps in the night. -- Blogcritics
“…nothing short of magic” -Jacquelyn Mitchard, author of The Deep End of the Ocean and Second Nature, a Love Story
“…sly, terrifying, witty, perverse, seductive and thoroughly satisfying.” - Rafael Yglesias, author of A Happy Marriage
“An eerie story that not only kept me guessing but kept me up at night.”- Brunonia Barry, author of The Lace Reader
Bridal shop manager Chloe Rogers will soon marry Richard Foster—so she thinks—until suddenly, she bumps into her childhood sweetheart, Josh Goldman, whom she hasn’t seen in thirteen years. The sparks between Chloe and Josh fly, but Richard provides safety, financial security. Should she follow her heart or her head? The answer comes in a surprise twist. While cleaning her attic, she stumbles upon love letters written to her estranged mother forty years ago from a man she loved. When Chloe secretly brings them together again and sees how much time they’ve lost, she is challenged not to make the same mistake her mother made. Will Chloe opt for security or will she risk her heart and marry her true love?
Both ebook and paperback are available on Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and other online sites.
Masks: A Novella tells the story of two teenagers struggling to be normal, despite their dysfunctional families.
Rebecca Jacobs is an unremarkable teenage girl at least, that is what she wants the world to believe. But her private life is made public when her verbally abusive father embarrasses her at a school dance, and soon gossip and whispers buzz throughout the school.
One of the witnesses to Rebecca's public humiliation is David Miller, the high school bad boy. Unsure about how to help her, he settles for becoming her friend. Rebecca and David grow closer with each passing day, eventually falling in love.
Rebecca's main priority is keeping her relationship with David a secret from her overprotective parents, but there are other problems she must also confront. First, Rebecca's best friend tries to steal David away. Then, Rebecca is forced to face David's violent behavior, which closely resembles her father's temper. Rebecca's worst enemy, though, is herself. In her desperate need to keep her home life separate from her love life, she lies to her parents and to David. When the truth is exposed, she must confront reality alone. She quickly learns that sometimes secrets are harder to live with than the truth.
Reviews
""Masks: a Novella" was a quick, easy read with its heart in a distinct, riveting place..." Rose Summers at Goodreads.com
Orange Petals in a Storm is an Inner Child Book for Adults. Skyla McFee is an eleven-year-old orphan who lives still in her mother’s love. She is bullied but never defeated,locked in a cold, dark cellar, but enters an inner room where a hearth-fire casts light about her soul. She learns to befriend enemies and lead lost souls back to themselves. See through the eyes of a child pure in heart. In Skyla's world, we find rescue from every hazard and outlive the longest night! A Snippet... Not until she reached Kingsland Road did she relax her pace to a brisk walk. Some might have thought it strange to see a young girl walking with pace and determination along East London’s drenched streets at such a time of night. She wore no coat. Dressed in her grey school skirt and blue jumper, only the local school she attended defined her. Those in the warm safety of their cars or huddled under umbrellas might indeed have given her a passing glance and wondered what she was doing there mud-stained and alone. She swung left into Downham Road and continued her pace until she reached De Beauvoir Road. Turning right, she came at last to St. Peter’s Church. In happier times, she had loved the chiming bells and the clock on the front of its Gothic tower, but on this night, the church held little interest. Running at a right angle to it was her final destination: Number Six Northchurch Terrace. She did not intend to enter the house that once had been her home. She intended instead to pass beneath the rose arch at the bottom of the garden, search out the loose fence plank, slide it across, and squeeze through the gap into the builder’s yard. She stood between the Church buttresses in search of shelter from the rain but found little. The rain dripped from her hair, into her eyes, down her face and off the end of her nose. She shivered and stared at the house on the other side of the road. All that concerned her now was how to enter the garden whilst avoiding detection. She would choose her moment carefully; she would watch and wait until the house became dark and still. The Church bell chimed the passing of another hour. At last, when all was quiet and the rain-sodden, glistening street slept, she crossed the road and opened the iron gate. Descending the steep, stone steps to the lower garden level, she hid amongst the shadows. Moving quietly with their slowly unfolding motions and shapes, she had little to fear from such as these. Those silent inhabitants of her once beloved garden had been her friends. Once again, they cloaked her well, enabling her to move to the garden’s end. Passing beneath the rose bushes, she sought out the loose plank. Though she searched, carefully feeling the edge of each one, she could not find the plank that would give her entry into the builder’s yard. Her final vestiges of strength and determination ebbed away into the saturated earth. Sinking into the mud, she curled up into a tiny ball and gave herself up to the rain. Purr! Purrrrrh! Again, Purr! Purrrrrh! Mick sounded like a telephone. His insistence pulled her out of the numbness that had crawled over her. The cat’s presence enticed her back into the cold, wet world. He pressed his warm nose close to her ear. He head-butted her, letting her know he was delighted to see her again, his person returned to him. Purr! Purrrrrh! He rubbed along her body. Then jumping onto her hip, he walked along her side with his tail flicking in the air. Despite her fatigue, she managed to sit upright. She hugged the cat and pressed her face into his wet fur for warmth and companionship. The cold crept through her like a silent thief, pinching her features and turning them blue. The child of eleven years remained sitting upright, silent and unmoving beneath the roses at the bottom of the garden.
Reviews
"The author has brought the world of inner images and wisdom into a little girl's nitty, gritty, everyday life with amazing grace and style. She tells a story that involves you in the hero's life from the very start. Niamh is, in the Irish tradition, a masterful wordsmith. The story is beautifully written, powerful, moving, original and believable. I am going to read it again." Douglas J.
"I was gripped by Skyla's story as we were plunged into her world from the very first page. Though the story is of a seemingly ordinary girl her extraordinary insight unfolds as her story is told. For me the magic of the story lies in how her inner world and her day to day reality of life are so interwoven. The varied characters come to vivid life with all their complicated lives, inner angst, thoughts, conflicts, humour and tenderness. I found the book deeply moving, inspiring and hopeful; a story for our time. Absolutely loved it!" Kd S.
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Persephane Pendrake Chronicles, by Lady Ellen
Are Your Kids Asking..."What To Read After Harry Potter"?...Are You? Well, here's your answer:
The Persephane Pendrake Chronicles-One-The Cimaruta:
Enter a magical world of mystery and wonder, where fantasy reigns supreme and casual chatter sparkles green. Meet Persephane (or Persy as she prefers), Thaddeus, Benson and P-C as they embark on their enchanted adventures to thwart the evil, black witch Melanthios.
Push the outer boundaries of your imagination into a world where Persy (a very talented almost 13 year old witch, magic her 'modus operandi') and her close friend Thaddeus (a 13 year old wizard) with their familiars –Benson (a very cheeky dragonfly) and P-C (a far from brave dragon) pit magic, bravery, skill and allegiances from a swarm of magical creatures against the tall, dark and malevolent Melanthios.
Follow them as they wind through periods in time, to discover ancient magic from cultures all throughout the history of the world in this best fantasy book in a long time.
Success for Melanthios means that the entirety of this planet will fall under her control. Our world will become dark, bleak, cold and lorded over by her demons – forever.
Pull up a chair, sit back, and join them in their quest as Persy and her friends race against fate and time, to stop Melanthios from her evil plot to collect nine mystical objects of power scattered throughout the world to become the –All Powerful One.–
Persy, Thaddeus, Benson and P-C are assisted by a highly adept, scrying gypsy named Vadoma, a vampire with a rather warped sense of humor - Count Pseudomorphius the Sanguine who is known as Murph...for obvious reasons.
Not to be forgotten is the twelve member Magical Governing Council, which Persy's grandmother Laurel is one of the lead members. Each member specializes in a particular area of magic and all have a gift to give our heroes to further enhance their chances against Melanthios.
But is it enough? Melanthios is evil and heartless....and VERY powerful...
As if she isn't enough to worry about...also on the dark side is a slippery, loathsome Chinese Socerer...aiming to usurp Melanthios and beat her at her own game..and along the way...dispose of Persy and her crew!
Will this ever end? What chance does our team stand? You'll see...
Reviews:
1)Amazon:
5 Star Review:
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 starsSpellbindingly good!, June 11, 2009
This review is from: PERSEPHANE PENDRAKE AND THE CIMARUTA (Paperback)
Ever since J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books took the publishing world by storm in the late 1990's, the literary market has been flooded with an endless parade of Harry Potter knock offs. A whole generation of authors have been inspired to create their own books featuring teenage wizards and witches all striving to save the world from the usual forces of evil. Though most of these books have been largely unsuccessful, there have been a few that have shined.
Enter Persephane Pendrake and the Cimaruta by Lady Ellen. Unlike Harry Potter who is a wizard, Persephane Pendrake and the Cimaruta features a teenage witch as its protagonist and thankfully steers clear of Harry Potterisms that would otherwise contaminate and dilute what is a quite original and engaging story. A chief element of this book is its peculiar use of time-travel, called Time-Linxing. Through Time-Linxing, Persephane is able to confront her enemies at various points throughout history making for a thrilling and utterly breathtaking tale.
Upon discovering that she is the chosen one destined to stop the evil "All Powerful One" from plunging the world into eternal darkness, Persephane Pendrake is thrust into the center of the timeless conflict between good and evil. When Persephane turns thirteen, the age in which her incredible magical powers start to mature, her evil aunt Melanthios, who seeks to become the prophesied All Powerful One, decides to destroy her. Through the aid of her loving family and friends, including her loyal sidekick a witty, but overenthusiastically snark dragonfly named Benson, Persephane takes up the challenge of facing Melanthios in a series of life and death battles in which to thwart her wicked plans.
But Melanthios has other ideas for Persephane. If she can steal the powerful amulet called the Cimaruta from Persephane, she will have the first of 9 powerful magical items which must be collected to bequeath her with the powers of the All Powerful One. It is a desperate race throughout the world and history itself as Melanthios and Persephane vie over the lost 9 magical objects. Will Melanthios claim the Cimaruta from Persephane and begin her transformation into the All Powerful One? Or will Persephane find the strength and wisdom she needs to prevent the approaching apocalypse? You'll have to read this book to find out.
As I said before, readers will be glad to know that Persephane Pendrake and the Cimaruta is not some cheap imitation of Harry Potter. Rather it occupies its own unique space in a genre that clearly needs originality. What truly distinguishes this book from Harry Potter is its milieu which seems to be steeped in Wicca and folklore as opposed to Rowling's more romanticized version of witchcraft and wizardry. Unlike Harry who is an orphan, Persephane is surrounded by a coterie of loving and supportive folk, all who are necessary to prepare her for the trials she is going to endure over the course of this series as she takes on the challenge of saving the world from her malevolent aunt Melanthios and her minions.
I highly recommend this book to older children and young adults who are looking for the next great fantasy story. Persephane Pendrake and the Cimaruta is an excellent book that offers more magic within its pages than any reader can imagine. Without a doubt, this book is a success. I, for one, plan to read the entire series until the very end.
2) "I had just finished the Harry Potter series and was looking for what to read next. I had tried other books, but none could keep my interest. I was given this book by a friend and was unable to put it down. It has strong characters, not the kind you see from a new author. It was action packed, but easy to read. It kept my attention and I was always sitting at the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next. If you liked Harry Potter you will love this book; and best yet it is only one out of a nine book series."
-Yohathan (fan)
3) "I just wanted to say that I got a signed book from you as a gift from my aunt and I hadn’t heard of you as an author before. I as a reader enjoy to the extreme books on witchcraft and wizardry and especially books on vampires. I’ve already read twilight and Harry Potter series, and more overly exciting books. But what I wrote to you to say was that as soon as I looked at your book I couldn’t put it down, it was just...just so pulling although I’m not finished yet I’m thoroughly enjoying it and looking forward to the next two books.Thanks for the great read!
Your new fan,
Kaitie"
4) "Harry Potter fans (and who isn't?), you'll love this magical odyssey... it's got great characters, witty dialogue, a speedy pace and constantly-opening vistas of magical culture based on the author's copious research into genuine traditions. (What does Lady Ellen REALLY have cooking up in those cauldrons of hers???) There are challenging riddles (you get figure them out along with the characters), magical time travel, a dragon menacingly named "Prissy Cups" and a snarky c**kney dragonfly that speaks in rhyming slang (and invites you to do same)... all wrapped around the main character, Persephane, a perfectly average teenager except for being the only person in the universe with sufficient magical power to win against the forces of evil. (Don't you hate it when that happens?) I enjoyed it every step of the way."
What would you do for the person you love? That is the question Ryan Rayburn faces after his wife, Aryn, is abducted. Turning his back on what he believes, Ryan clings to the idea that he can right the wrongs of his tragic past with one brave and dangerous act. A clue Aryn left behind sends him on a desperate journey across Bishop’s Island to save her.
Few know the legends of Bishop’s Island better than historian Aryn Rayburn. Since its settlement, Bishop’s Island has been shrouded in secrecy. Nathaniel Bishop built his empire in the Pacific Northwest on stolen Civil War gold and the oppression of his fellow islanders. Three heroes led an uprising that brought Bishop and his henchmen to justice, but the gold was never recovered. For six generations since, the citizens of the island have tried to bury their beginnings, yet the bloodlines of the first epoch have remained interconnected.
As a descendent of one of the families responsible for overthrowing Bishop, Aryn learns that her abduction is connected to the very secrets on which the island was founded. Her knowledge makes her the perfect key to finding Bishop’s gold and solving the mystery behind a bridge collapse the day she was born. Relying on remarkable intelligence and the faith that led her through great trial, Aryn risks her life to protect a secret that, if revealed, could prove catastrophic to those she loves the most, especially Ryan.
Reviews:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Exciting Plot Filled with Top Notch Characters,
By Carolyn F. Piner "NCcharmer"
This review is from: Pursuit (Paperback)
An Exciting Plot Filled with Top Notch Characters
I fell under the spell that Jason Garrett was weaving in his "Pursuit, A Tale of Bishop's Island" immediately. With the many different directions his book could have taken, he managed to pick just the right one and latch on to a story that was extremely well thought out and written beautifully. Even better, it was written in a flowing, intelligent manner that showed he knew what he wanted to write and he knew when he wanted to shock us with it.
You can easily see that I was totally taken with this book. With an ability to envision intricate plots that included love, belief in God, the true meaning of friendship, history, athleticism, greed and mystery, Garrett brought them all together in one book that will entice you from the beginning and then grab you shortly after. He takes you through an emotional scale seldom experienced. I could go on and on, and actually want to, but I won’t. I will just say this, for Heaven's sake, read it. Bravo, Jason Garrett...I cannot wait until the next one.
5.0 out of 5 stars
A thrilling tale of love, hope and mystery
By Joanna Wynne Simm "Joanna W Simm"
This review is from: Pursuit (Paperback)
Jason Garret spins a fascinating tale of love, hope, faith and mystery in this page turning thriller. An accomplished writer, he skillfully blends the threads of the plot with vivid characterization and still manages to convey his own message of the importance of love, faith and morality without this ever detracting from the excitement of the story.
The main characters, Aryn (a strong willed, deeply moral woman) and her husband Ryan(a flawed but ultimately good man)are a couple interlinked by name, by marriage and by fate. Their relationship is a central theme, and this is so well evoked that the reader has no difficulty in becoming emotionally involved with their story as it evolves. The drama is exciting enough to keep you turning the pages, while the mysterious elements of the tale are captivating and mark the book out as unique.
Pursuit is a book that you will want to take on holiday, but not one that you will leave behind when the holiday is over.
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Richly Painted Family Saga
By Karin
This review is from: Pursuit (Paperback)
Highly recommend as an engrossing, satisfying book! "Pursuit" has everything - beautifully drawn characters you can easily envision and story-telling that had me mulling over scenes long afterward. Applause for a tale with a moral compass that wants to see characters improving, with a faith lighting the dark deeds of man, looking upward. Ryan and Aryn Rayburn's marital journey are easy to identify with, and it's a pleasure to get to know them. Bishop Island's secrets and five families make for a fireside saga you won't want to put down.
Red Fox Woman is a mystery, western, and romance set in the Colorado Territory in 1868. Pennsylvania potter, Julia Gast, flees to the West to set up a redware pottery business, raise horses, and escape secrets from her past.
When Flint Ashmore rides into the ranch he purchased from a now deceased neighbor, he never expects to be welcomed with the barrel of a shotgun held by a potter who’s squatting on his land. Both Flint and Julia are equally surprised when they later discover that the ranch each thinks he separately owns has been deeded to both Julia and Betsy Ashmore, the adopted sister of Flint and his three brothers.
In order to get money, Julia decides to raise horses and makes ring flasks and pottery to sell. She also aligns herself with a renegade Indian, Two Bears, to help her gather horses to sell to the army. It’s Two Bears who nicknames her Red Fox Woman because of her flaming red hair that he says outshines the color of a red fox.
When unknown enemies try to steal Julia’s stock and injure Betsy Ashmore, Flint and Julia must work together to find the culprits and to find the peace and happiness both are seeking. Red Fox Woman is a fast-moving story, full of action, adventure and mystery, but with humor and romance as well.
Red Fox Woman was a finalist in the International Book Awards and the USA Book Awards.
REVIEWS
Acompletely enjoyable and, for me, is reminiscent of the master of all Westerns, Louis L'Amour. Judy Ann Davis has written a winner! Love, murder, suspicion and the vanquishing of blind prejudice all gallop for the spotlight in this won't-let-you-put-it-down novel. Mella Reese – Author of Nia (Amazon)
Cowboys, Indians and fiery redheads. Who doesn't want to read this book? This book is a clever, fun-filled, romantic romp through old time Colorado Territory. Back when Colorado would have eaten up ski tourists and film festival goers. Highly recommended.
J. D. Bubbernaut - (Amazon)
I loved this book. The story gripped me right from the start and never let go. I always enjoy a good historical fiction and this did not disappoint. There is an old west setting complete with cattle rustling, unsanctioned alliances with Native Americans, and disputes over property rights. In the midst of it all, an unlikely romance is budding. I found myself turning pages excitedly, eager to see how everything would turn out in the end.
E. Stroik – A Very Engaging Story! (Amazon)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Judy Ann Davis began her career in writing as a copy and continuity writer for WGBI Radio and WYOU-TV, formerly WDAU-TV, in Scranton, PA. She has worked public relations for the Clearfield Area School District, and has worked in adult education for the Central Intermediate Unit 10 and the Clearfield County Career and Technology Center.
Throughout her career, Davis has written news articles and features for newspapers, advertising copy for businesses, and curricula and grants for various educational institutions.
Over a dozen of her short stories have appeared in various literary and small magazines. She holds a degree in Journalism and Communications, cum laude, from Point Park University in Pittsburgh and is a member of Pennwriters. She lives in Clearfield, PA.
Lydia “Red” Talbot has lost her mojo after three years of mourning for her husband, but not for long. She’s inherited a valuable mobile home park in the Gold Country of California, filled with a cast of eccentric characters. Her plans to sell it and take a world cruise are threatened by a hot handyman, a sizzling story in the rapidly growing town of Nuggetville and the appearance of her husband’s ghost, who has decided to hang around awhile as he searches for his next life.
Boredom sets in as she waits for her fortune to materialize, so she takes a part-time job as a reporter. Fancying herself the community newspaper equivalent of Christiane Amanpour, Lydia uncovers some shady doings by the City Council and a slick land developer. Citizens are bullied and her life is threatened, as she struggles to both expose the crooks and stay emotionally independent of the community of crazies she has been left by her beloved Aunt Esther.
Red is a spunky, smart-alecky thirty-something with more heart than she’d like others to see. She’s absolutely fearless and too honest for her own good sometimes. She’s also torn between love for her dead husband, Mac, and the new man in her life, Joe - handyman and chef.
These stories, written with wry humor and tenderness, fresh language and captivating characters,illuminate the many ways we inhabit this world. I heartily recommend Shoes Hair Nails. --Cheryl Snell, Good Reads
An intricately woven work of stunning depth. . . . I raved about it to several girlfriends and even my mother. It has certainly been a while since I was touched by such a powerful collection. --Mercedes Yardley, A Broken Laptop
This is an eclectic gathering of material --- that I immediately purchased for two of my dearest friends. There are images and situations and characters that will remain with you, the reader, long after you have put down the text. --josette hochman
Reading these stories, I was so engrossed in the lives of the new friends I made that I was sad to see their story end. . . .This book is a keeper for me and one I know I will go back to. -- Alice Bola, Good Reads
"There are wonderful stories here, poignant, closely observed, brimming with life."
-- Alan Lightman, author of Einstein's Dreams
"Using humor to part the curtains, Deborah Batterman steps inside the seriousness of amusingly awry relationships. Such is the illuminated cloth of Shoes Hair Nails that friends and passersby shine as brightly as family and lovers. In Batterman's heartfelt and jazzy debut, all ties are family ties."
-- Nancy Zafris, author of Lucky Strike and The Metal Shredders
Summary
The settings of these stories - 1980s New York City, 1950s Brooklyn, Las Vegas, an exurban town post-9/11 - are as diverse as the rich palette of characters drawn with heart, humor, and sensuality. With a sharp sense of the telling detail, Deborah Batterman weaves narratives around the everyday symbols in our world and their resonance in our lives.
About The Author
A native New Yorker, Deborah Batterman has worked over the years as a writer, editor, and teaching artist. A story from her debut collection was nominated for the Pushcart Prize. Her stories have appeared in anthologies as well as various print and online journals, including Many Mountains Moving, Sistersong, Dunes Review, The MacGuffin, The Alsop Review, Octavo, three candles, Ensemble, Standards: The International Journal of Multicultural Studies, Prose Toad, and The Potomac. She is a featured writer at thesmartlyny.com.
When Psychology Professor Pamela Barnes discovers her department's star researcher, Charlotte Clark, strangled to death in the computer lab, she's determined to find the killer.Will an audio recording of the murder allow Pamela to use her expertise in acoustics to identify the killer? Or will Pamela’s aggressive attempts to solve the crime lead to a face-to-face confrontation with a subtle and wily murderer?SOUNDS OF MURDER introduces a different type of amateur sleuth—one who solves crimes using sound waves.Patricia Rockwell’s novel takes you behind the walls of academia and into the intriguing world of university politics and high-stakes research—a world Rockwell knows well from her over forty years of college teaching and research.Here’s a unique cozy mystery--full of excitement, humor, and romance.
The Bridge Club is a powerful story about friendship. Not simply the "Hi, how are you?" type but the kind that weathers all sorts of storms, unselfishly celebrates triumphs, and hums along year after year with never an unkind word. It does exist. If you already have friendship like this in your life, you will relate to the women of The Bridge Club. If you don't have it, perhaps the story will inspire you to find it.
For more than forty years, the mantra of these women has been "one for all and all for one." Beginning their monthly soiree in the psychedelic Sixties, unpredicted twists of fate weave through the good times and strong friendship they share as the years pass. The constant from one decade to the next is loyal and nonjudgmental support, even when agreeing to disagree is the final solution. From the exhilarating cultural changes of their early times together through the "zoomer" years, their connection never falters.As they celebrate turning sixty at a group birthday weekend, each woman recalls a time in her life when the Bridge Club came to the rescue. After tossing around ideas mixed with a generous helping of common sense and a large dose of laughter they decide to refer to that time as their "SOS". Eight chapters document each one's story.
Everything is put into perspective and the strength of their friendship is tested when one of these women faces a life-altering decision. Her choice profoundly affects all of the group, pushing the limits of their beliefs and values. The unique alliance they share is confronted with an unimaginable crisis.
This is a story that provokes laughter and tears and prompts women of all ages to consider the friendships in their lives.
Reviews
Where can you find a story about friendship, laughter and the good things in life that also touches on alcoholism, infidelity, p**naddiction, terminal illness and grief? For most women, it’s often within their own circle of friends. Author Patricia Sands reminds us of the complexities of women’s friendships in her new book, The Bridge Club, a moving tale of eight women whose lives intersect once a month initially to play the game of bridge. What began as one night turns into four decades that span the segments of a woman’s journey from youthful optimism to embracing the challenges and opportunities presented in life’s later years.
Based loosely on her own bridge club, Sands weaves the reader through a maze of life’s inevitable scenarios as the club bears the death of a member’s spouse, one woman’s meeting with her biological mother, the inevitable marital and health issues, and another’s final chance at freedom from the painful addiction to alcohol through rehab.
“There are many subjects I address in the book that are controversial. Some people may wonder if they were chosen to thicken the plot,” says Sands. “Although I have taken
liberties with the actual events, and it is truly a work of fiction, most issues faced by the characters in the book were experienced in my own bridge club. The bottom line of the story is a testament to friendship and hope.”
The final chapter of The Bridge Club challenges our principles as one woman begins to descend into dementia.
The Bridge Club is a 1000 GIRLFRIENDS’ BOOK OF CHOICE. We highly recommend this remarkable story of friendship. It’s the PERFECT book club choice. Here’s a link to purchase the book. We will be hosting our own Twitter Party for #TheBridgeClub so stay tuned for details! by Kathy Scott, Creator of Me and My 1000 Girlfriends
"A few years ago, Hollywood gave us a movie about what women want. Patricia Sands has written a novel about how women think." Peter McNeilly, Kitchener, ON
A tiny Cinnabar box contains the key to the water supply of an entire planet. The ecology of the planet depends on a great river that periodically overflows, much like the Nile in Egypt. Only the key's rightful owner can restore the water supply, which has been hidden for centuries. The task needs a trained army – but for the moment, it is in the hands of thirteen-year-old Donna, who has just learned a shocking secret about herself. Donna must survive in an alien reality where magic is commonplace, and where she meets many dangerous beings she previously considered the products of fairy tales. A nightmarish trip to the terrifying Wizard Island, a ghost town that imprisons visitors in its empty houses, and encounters with an evil renegade vizier who is determined to turn the planet into a desert, are just a few of her adventures. Throughout many ordeals, Donna uses her wits and relies on two important facts. First, she must save her kidnapped aunt, whatever it takes. Second, she must never, ever break the Wicca Code!
Reviews
"When forces from another reality kidnap the beloved aunt of 13-year-old Donna, the insecure teen discovers her true potential and leads the charge against formidable foes. This is a terrific story that will inspire young girls, boys, and adults. The ending leaves you with anticipation for the next installment of the amazing adventures of Donna and friends."Katherine N.
"This book is fascinating, especially for young readers. The story is highly exciting, full of adventure and fantasy. Arbel puts emphasis on the connection between the environment, magic, and mythology. This, is, in my opinion, a unique approach to such a book and makes it educational as well as entertaining." Alec M.
As part of the expansion of the brand, Dr. Ilil Arbel joins MediaBlvd as Director of Publishing. Dr. Arbel is the author of several books, including Maimonides: A spiritual Biography, The Lemon Tree, The Ecology of Nature Spirits, Miss Glamora Tudor, and Witchcraft. She created several natural history books for Dover Publications’ Pictorial Archives, wrote a number of short stories, and contributed articles and educational materials to various natural science, health and personal history publications. Ilil has earned a Ph.D. in mythology and folklore, and contributes Judaic myths and folktales to the award-winning Encyclopedia Mythica. Currently she is working on the first volume of a fantasy series for pre-teens, soon to be published, and on a new biography of Hillel the Elder, The Golden Rule. Ilil lived and studied in Tel Aviv, Paris and New York, and currently resides in Manhattan.
We've all heard of the Mayan predictions of a vast change coming in the year 2012; but it turns out the ancient Sumerian people had a very similar prophecy...
The dreaded Necronomicon, a book of fable said to contain all the ancient knowledge of the Sumerian civilization has surfaced and fallen into the hands of four teenagers in a small Texas town. Tonight, after years of studying its dark teachings in secret, they gather to call back to Earth those Gods that tried to enslave humanity over ten thousand years ago, and in turn become rulers themselves.
Under threat of his life, Tristan helps them complete the ritual; but does that mean it is too late to stop this apocalypse? With Evelyn, whose past and future seem inextricably linked to Tristan, their friend Hunter and a host of surprising paranormal helpers, Tristan will race against murderers, monsters, and time itself to shut the ancient gate before our evil creators are upon us again.
Reviews
(5 stars) Creative story creative author. I would recommend this book and know they would enjoy it as much as I did. -Kerry Mirza
In The House of Women, Grace is the eldest of seven sisters, is the pivot upon which the family revolves. She is the buffer between her violent father and her sisters, who look to her for guidance. As Grace tries to hold them together through times of hardship and humiliation, her own secret love, William Ross rejects her. Thankfully another man, Doyle gives Grace the calm support she has been missing. Only, their subtle attraction creates more disturbance. When shocking events occur, Grace makes decisions that will affect everyone’s future, which sets sister against sister, mother against daughter. As her life crashes into chaos with scandal, near bankruptcy and murder, a coalmine disaster brings Grace into contact with an introverted miner. His cool reserve makes Grace take notice. This man is dismissive of her station and evokes an image of a life much simpler.
by Geraldine Solon
, A Tale of Bishop's Island
