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The Zodiac Traveller 

The Zodiac Traveller is a fantasy/adventure novel written by Australian author Rosemary K Tompkins. The story is set in the Kingdom of Adastra. With a diverse set of dynamic and engaging characters paired with mystical and unique settings readers will be instantly pulled into the storyline.

The characters in The Zodiac Traveller will entertain readers with their conversations and relationships with each other, as well as their inner monologues. Readers are able to really get to know the characters and their personalities. Common themes such as good versus evil, innocent versus corrupt play out between the characters allowing the story to progress in an interesting fashion. Two of the main characters to demonstrate this are Galaxian and Prince Andreas. One is well loved, popular and of innocent character and intent whilst the other is rude, demanding and self serving. These characters are well developed and authentic giving the story a layered feel.

The Zodiac Traveller is set in the Kingdom of Adastra. The setting varies as the main characters move and travel through out the story, ranging from small modest homes in villages to expansive and mysterious forests. There are beautiful descriptions of the forests (‘dew drops dancing on the leaves’) and the river, (‘deep and wild’) – appealing to all senses of the reader. Also, adding depth and interest to the story is the language used to describe the characters actions – for example ‘trudging through the woods’. The combination of descriptions enriched by similes and metaphors allow the reader to create vivid images in their head drawing the reader into the story and holding their interest.

The Zodiac Traveller by Tompkins builds up slow at the beginning to allow readers to really get to know the characters. Once you know who is involved the story takes off in a ‘you can’t put it down’ way. Readers will be able to pick up this novel and disappear into the world Tompkins has created and travel to places unknown.

Pages: 490 | ISBN-10: ‎ 1456638467

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Crimson Haze

Crimson Haze (The Crimson Series Book 5) by [Georgiana Fields]

Quaid is fighting quite the battle within himself. His losses have been great, and he is struggling to get back to normal. Normal for Quaid is far from the normal the rest of us experience. Quaid’s normal involves instinctively knowing who his mate is, and possessing his own wolf form. Right now, Quaid has lost both. Simone, his destined mate, is recovering from a life fraught with trauma, and Quaid is trying to find himself again among all the madness. Will his world ever be righted? Will Simone feel whole again?

Crimson Haze is the fifth book in Georgiana Fields’s Crimson series and focuses on Quaid, his inner demons, and the fight he faces to regain his true form. Following a traumatic amputation, he is unable to change into his wolf form and is plagued with visions of his former self along with a feeling of helplessness where Simone is concerned. Her tragic life up until this point is a source of sorrow for Quaid, but it also presents a dilemma. He doesn’t know how or if he can help her recover from the horrific sexual abuse she has suffered. Quaid, intent on making the world right for them both, sets out to change the course of their lives.

One of the many things that makes Fields’s writing unique and worthy of binging is the sense of family she weaves throughout her cast of characters. Her already unique Dhampir cast captures readers’ attention, but the tight-knit family is evident from cover to cover. From sibling spats to fierce protection and reverence for their elders, her characters offer a long list of relatable qualities for readers.

Throughout the Crimson series, I have been impressed with the way Fields links one book to the next. There is just enough backstory given in each new installment to start readers off on the right foot, and then the new plot is off and running. As with the other books, Fields wastes no time in bringing the action. Readers will not be disappointed with Quaid’s introduction and the events surrounding his struggle to regain everything he has lost. Action is the name of the game with Fields.

Crimson Haze deals with the sensitive issue of sexual abuse in a tasteful way and offers hope to readers. It is strange to look at a vampire fantasy as having a therapeutic effect, but I believe Fields’s plot can provide readers a place of comfort and safety as they lose themselves in Quaid and Simone’s story.

Pages: 508 | ASIN:  B07W5X81TW

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The Scented Bones: The Svabodina Case Files

The Scented Bones: The Svabodina Case Files by [Kerner, Angelina]

The Scented Bones is an outstanding contribution to the world of paranormal and light-hearted romance. The author, Angelina Kerner, provides a novel which opens up a whole range of emotions and mysteries. The unique plotline of The Scented Bones is both humorous, enticing and intense. Kerner’s nerve-wracking story line is perfect for those who are thrill seekers that enjoy all things odd, weird and truly abnormal.

From shape-shifters, to witches, to vampires and werewolves, The Scented Bones really does captivate all key elements of the paranormal world. Nothing beats a book that is full of mystery, tension and the unknown. Angelina is able to write a fluent and creative plot. Her heroine, Angel, is a forensic anthropologist when her life is turned upside down when the skeleton that she has been working on vanishes. This book follows case files to help solve what happened to the skeleton. But along the way, Angel has to face all sorts including the Fae Queen. Can she solve the case with the help of different paranormal families?

Angelina Kerner does a fantastic job at writing fluently with regards to her characters. Right from the offset, I was instantly drawn into the heroin, Angel, and her Grandma. The characters are well described, well thought out, and appeal to all types of reader. Kerner continues to keep the reader’s attention with both humans and paranormal characters, providing the ultimate paranormal novel.

One of the great things that Angelina Kerner articulates in her writing is the ability to look beyond reality and enter a world of pure make-believe. The author of The Scented Bones reinforces ideas such as the paranormal and the unknown – something that all of us are slightly bewildered by.

The Scented Bones is a book that is easy to follow and written with unique style and creativity. What is even more, is that the author has gone out of her way to create a vocabulary section at the beginning of her book to ensure readers know the meaning of bizarre words and/or phrases.

After reading The Scented Bones, I can safely say that this book took me out of my comfort zone. However, I can honestly say that I enjoyed the narrative, plot twists and characters. Angel plays the perfect heroine throughout this book, and I loved reading how her journey played on. From beginning to end, Angleina Kerner kept me on the edge of my seat. This is the first book that I have read by Kerner, and I can safely say that I will be back for more of her books.

An articulate, creative and highly imaginative novel blending an array of themes and emotions with the unnatural world. I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Scented Bones and I believe this book has lots of things to offer a wide range of readers. You will not be disappointed with what this book has to offer! Trust me!

Pages: 156 | ASIN: B07DHZFBD4

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A Warrior’s Nightmare

Jessica is excited about starting college in the fall, already enrolled at the University of Oregon. Every year for as long as she can remember, she has enjoyed spending a week camping with her father before school started, but this year is special because her best friends are coming with them. She has no way to know they will all be walking into a nightmare straight out of a horror movie.

Eighteen years before, Jessica’s mother died under mysterious circumstances right after giving birth to her. Her dad refuses to speak about it, though his eyes grow haunted every time the subject comes up. All Jessica knows is that it was a violent death. Her answers will come from a stranger, one who knows far more than he should.

Nethaniel is a Lycaeonian from the planet Laizahlia, a wolf shapeshifter. He is taking his first trip off world with his father when he runs across Jessica fly fishing at the lake. Though it shouldn’t be possible, he recognizes her immediately as his fated mate. Unfortunately, Nethaniel’s father has enemies, and three have followed them to Earth, vengeance on their minds. Jessica and her friends are considered little more than collateral damage.

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The Guardians of Eastgate, 2nd Ed.

The Guardians of Eastgate: Book 1 of The Seers Series by [Leclerc, Sherry]

In The Guardians of Eastgate Maelona, one of the four champions of the Seer race, is tasked with protecting the realm of Sterrenvar from an ancient evil that threatens the land. Maelona struggles to protect the very people who once hunted and killed the Seer race out of fear and mistrust. Maelona and the other Seers fight to protect four keystones from being breached by evil forces. Maelona soons finds that this proves to be an incredibly difficult job. Is she up to the challenge? She teams up with her friends, a wolf shape-shifter, and a human prince, on her quest to save Eastgate from destruction against evil forces.

The Guardians of Eastgate by Sherry Leclerc was an amazing read. The first edition felt more like an outline of the story it didn’t dive into the detail or flesh out the characters. It felt more like a summary of an existing story. This second edition was far better, from extended scenes to extended dialogue which makes helps to develop a rich and complex plot that is both easy to follow and leaves you wanting more.

Leclerc takes us on a beautiful journey in a world filled with fantastical creatures, sorcery, shape-shifters, swords and so much more. It was an interesting choice to make a standard figure of fantasy, the seer, into an entire race of guardians. I cannot wait to explore more of this race in the coming series. They are fascinating, but I felt we’ve only seen the surface of a vast ocean.

I was impressed with the complexity and variety of the story line. The author expertly combines elements of romance and mystery into a suspenseful read, that includes an array of compelling characters. The romance between between Maelona and Blaez was intriguing, and lends to the emotional appeal of this novel, but the story is punctuated by some intense fight scenes. If you’re looking for fight scenes that are realistic, Sherry Leclerc has a third dan black belt in Taekwondo, and her expertise is apparent.

This 2nd edition of The Guardians of Eastgate, I felt, allows this series to really take off. It’s an appropriate start to a series that is brimming with potential on par with the Dragonlance series. I will definitely be looking out for the next book. I loved traveling with Maelona on her journey and can hardly wait to meet the next champion. You will be sure to enjoy this book if you enjoy magic, sword &  sorcery, action. adventure, and romance.

Pages: 189 | ASIN: B079X5D9Q1

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A Tragic Moment

Kevin James Breaux Author Interview

Kevin James Breaux Author Interview

One Smoking Hot Fairy Tail follows Sabrina, an ex-starlet fairy, as she is trying to put her life back together when the inventor of a new drug is hunting her for her wings. What was the inspiration for the setup of this novel and how did it change as you were writing?

I wrote the first draft back in 2007. Then polished it in 2009. It was being shipped to agents from 2010-2014. It had lots of interest. Even had a movie production company interested… Ug…that was a tragic moment for me. It came down to my book and another book. The other book was picked and a movie was made. If I only had an agent at that point…

The inspiration was all the celebrities on the news going through similar problems. It was unavoidable for a while. You would turn on the TV or surf the web and see more and more articles appearing. I used to live on that Perez Hilton website. So I had a lot of celebrities to pick from.

For a foundation, I used Paris Hilton’s life and the image of Joanna Krupa for inspiration. Joanna was the looks and all that was good with Sabrina. Paris was all that was bad. 🙂 Nothing against Paris Hilton. I actually respect her.

As I was writing it, and later revising it from draft to draft, I softened up Sabrina. Made her a touch more likeable.

Another large inspiration for this novel is my love for the White Wolf Publishing RPG systems. I love how they paint a picture of otherworldly beings living in plain sight. I wanted to write a novel like that. And I wanted to have a vampire character that did not run around biting people, instead he used what he knew best from his time living: guns.

One Smoking Hot Fairy Tail is about more than just fairies, it has vampires, the undead, shapeshifters, and other magical beings. All the creatures introduced are well thought out. What was your favorite character to write for?

I love writing Sabrina. I’m not gonna lie, she is one of my all time favorite characters to write. I have such a clear image of her in my head it is like I have met her in real life. She is sexy and snarky. She is driven by her desires. She is not afraid to tell people what she wants or needs. But she is also very vulnerable. And has issues that she is working through. I think she is growing very well in the books. Wait until you read book two. And later, book three.

I felt that many of the relationships between the characters were complex and intriguing. Were these planned out or did they happen organically?

I started off writing them with a plan, but they grew organically. And they really blossom in book two. Life is full of complex relationships. And this book was meant to feature that and then add to that the fact that some of these relationships involve beings that are not human. Creatures of life in love with those of death for example. A love conquers all feeling.

This novel ends on a great cliff hanger. Will there be a second novel? When will it be published?

I think the cliffhanger is great too. Like a TV show season finale. It leaves you wanting more. And there is much-much more!

Book two is called: TWO POLLUTED BLACK-HEART ROMANCES. It picks right off where ONE SMOKING HOT FAIRY TAIL ends. Like minutes after.

It will be published this Summer. I’d say May/June 2017.

The sequel will open up the world. It will also have a lot of great character development and back story. Readers tend to love Moselle. She is a secondary character, and you will learn more of her past and be set up for a future story with her taking a larger role. You will also be introduced to more members of Cade’s undead family.

I am very proud of this book.

Author Links: Website | GoodReads | Twitter

One Smoking Hot Fairy Tail“America’s population is slowly dying due to an epidemic, and Alexander, an ancient, immortal shaman, has medicine that can heal people. It has one small side effect—Alexander’s able to control the minds of anyone taking the drug, nicknamed “dust.”

Alexander plans to take over the country once dust is released to the general public, crushing anyone who stands in the way. He needs just a little bit more of a certain magical ingredient to make the medication work properly: fairy wings.

An intelligent, stunning fairy, Sabrina was also America’s sweetheart—until a video of a crime she was involved in surfaces, nearly destroying her. A year later, she’s finally ready to step back into the spotlight. Together with her bodyguard, Mira, a water spirit in human form, Sabrina’s prepared to start over.

Things are starting to look up until she meets Alexander in a club and goes from social outcast to tortured captive in the blink of an eye. Will she be able to escape the evil shaman and his mind-controlled slaves in time to save herself and everyone she cares about?”

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One Smoking Hot Fairy Tail

One Smoking Hot Fairy Tail (The Water Kingdom Book 1) by [Kevin James Breaux]

The media loves a good story, and what better than one of a sexy model, party girl, drama queen, and spoiled brat? That is Sabrina London, or at least that was Sabrina London. Now the starlet has settled down, quit drugs, gotten her life together, and is ready to move on. If only her family hadn’t disowned her, oh and did I mention she is a Fairy? Keven James Breaux has created another world filled with magic, ancient history, and modern drama. One Smoking Hot Fairy Tail is about more than just fairy’s, it has vampires, the undead, shapeshifters, and other magical beings. Sabrina’s dream of settling into a new normal and moving on with her life is interrupted when the creator of a new nicotine addiction drug, DUST, pursues her in an attempt to cut off her fairy wings. With the help of her otherworldly friends and one human Sabrina must attempt to stop Alexander Kintner.

Kevin Breaux sets the novel in Los Angeles, not too far into the modern future. Sabrina is a socialite with her bodyguard and friend Mira living in luxury, but she is unhappy. Her father disowned her after a video of her breaking into a laboratory and having sex with her boyfriend and vampire Cade made the media rounds. Vampires and fairies are supposed to be mortal enemies but love knows this not. Sabrina is still deeply in love with Cade. Sabrina’s other good friend is Moselle; Moselle is part of the ancient undead. The human involved in this unlikely group is Jackson, he works for Moselle’s father in advertising and he falls in love with Moselle, she feels the same way, their love is also forbidden under the traditions of the otherworld’s. The relationship dynamics of all the characters are complex and while the love stories are secondary to the action plot of dismantling Alexander Kintner’s DUST operation they are useful in learning the history and culture surrounding the otherworldly.

One of the great things about this novel, is the history. Breaux manages to weave into his story line ancient Egyptian mythology and facts. There is great detail presented into how the otherworldly are created and it is explained in a manner that is fluid to the story line so you don’t feel like you are reading a dissertation in the middle of your novel. It is told through personal experience of the characters and given a strong emotional component not just a sterile list of how to instructions. You really get to know the characters through these flashback memories and they advance the story line as well so you can better understand why some of the characters respond as they do. Breaux brings the reader into their world, he presents the information as deeply hidden secrets in the world of the otherworldly and emphasizes the dangers of this information getting out into the hands of mortal humans.

One Smoking Hot Fairy Tail is an engaging book that will leave the reader turning the pages to see what happens next. Kevin Breaux is able to tap into the reader’s emotions to draw them in and give them a real connection to the characters. Jackson the human in all this is relatable to many. His reactions as he finds out more and more about his new friends is believable. Breaux ends this novel with a cliff hanger leaving the reader to wait for the next installment to see how things continue. I think this is going to be a great series for Breaux.

Pages: 319 | ASIN: B01EB65RJM

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Spikes (A Horror Novel)

SPIKES (A Horror Novel)4 StarsMurder, revenge, supernatural powers, and some mystery are what Spikes by Kelvin J. Kettle will bring you. This short novel will leave you questioning what is real, what is in people’s minds and how do all the pieces fit together. At the center of the story is the Goddess Morrigan, who is known to be a shapeshifter, fearsome, strong, and vindictive. She is also known as the Goddess of Crows and to deal out punishment to those she feels are deserving. Knowing this piece of mythology helps the reader to understand this story better, it is not covered in the book so without this knowledge there are some pieces that don’t make a lot of sense.

The story takes place in Boston. The focus is around several police officers and a mystery woman that no one can ever remember clearly. All they remember is that she is beautiful and wears leather. It starts out in the prologue with Karen. She is clearly abused by her father, physically and sexually. Kettle than jumps to modern day with detective John Quint investigating a murder. While at the murder scene he notices a crow watching everything, it spooks him, this is our first look at Morrigan. From here we follow a choppy story line. Kettle jumps from one scene to the next with no transitions and little connection among the pieces. Eventually they all fall into place and you see where it was going but you are clearly following multiple people in their own world separate from the other characters.

While investigating the murder Quint’s partner, Bill Jennings, is introduced. Most of the story revolves around Quint and Jennings’s investigation of the murder. You learn who Spikes is and how she became the person she is now. Through flash backs and hallucinations, you learn about Quint’s past and how he ended up caring for the character Peggy. There is a very chilling way that justice is met out from Morrigan and her followers. They go through a lot of trouble to hide their identities and keep their members safe.

Over all it is a short novel, and a quick read. This is a dark story that is not for the person looking for a happy ending. It is a fascinating introduction to the Goddess Morrigan and her powers. It will challenge the reader’s perspective to follow the different paths the author takes and see where they all meet up in the end. I felt that Spikes was written so that there could easily be more spin off stories that add to the character of Spikes and Morrigan; or I hope so, because I want more of these characters.

Pages: 112 | ASIN: B01HRBUHQQ

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