tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70521036908711168792024-03-13T03:24:22.648-07:00Blog the EclecticAn old warhorse joins the cyber opinion community. A diverse mix - poetry, reviews, bookselling and many more tidbits.greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10188626600446773304noreply@blogger.comBlogger191125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7052103690871116879.post-40541349338255238042023-01-07T05:00:00.000-08:002023-01-07T05:00:05.865-08:00Review - The Last Stone by KAP Lowrie<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEB7wMZtLSw2Pc6QxbXzcyFvkxqjHAoexYyR3noOglTVRA_Cgww6jTOuNUZn09O06N3s030EC7pr_Mcg6BDjOZmvdLB_uiqK5Fo3OEVxskUwucKsOry_O-hDpx5OyKVkCLMQozZCM6G6UO9WFoYl_uYNX0BLe1XapfXhPy7YFb2z6DGl8tCoN5E7Df/s475/LastStone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="298" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEB7wMZtLSw2Pc6QxbXzcyFvkxqjHAoexYyR3noOglTVRA_Cgww6jTOuNUZn09O06N3s030EC7pr_Mcg6BDjOZmvdLB_uiqK5Fo3OEVxskUwucKsOry_O-hDpx5OyKVkCLMQozZCM6G6UO9WFoYl_uYNX0BLe1XapfXhPy7YFb2z6DGl8tCoN5E7Df/s320/LastStone.jpg" width="201" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The Last Stone is an enchanting tale with startling but
enjoyable twists on several elements of fantasy stories. Elves? Check, but no
pointy ears or amazing prowess with a long bow. Dwarves? Check, but no gnarled
faces encased in gray beards toiling deep underground. Magic? Check but with a
marvelously refreshing form of “gifts” discovered over time and mastered with
practice. As interesting, to me, that this magic is the domain only of nymphs,
male and female, who otherwise resemble everyone else! Evil King? Check, but
with a very interesting psychological profile the reader only gets to see
through the eyes (and the recollections) of those around our protagonist.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Finally, we have Amidale Stone. The Last Stone. Again, she
is a common archetype – young, unknowing of her powers when we meet her, but
prophesied to save the world of Karne. But she is not an archetype. She speaks
to the reader and, as readers, we get to experience her frustrations, the
unfairness of her situation, and her pain of loss. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">The Last Stone is but an introduction to Amidale, to Karne,
and to the battle unfolding between the plucky protagonist and the Evil King, Alaric.
I look forward to the next book in the series!<o:p></o:p></p></div><p><br /></p>greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10188626600446773304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7052103690871116879.post-34629387037369910992022-12-31T14:05:00.000-08:002022-12-31T14:05:01.869-08:00Review - Cheat to Win<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjiD3IGO-YXteF_xSjjwJipuzE6lIwm8L4O6wRiYIi_hgWbFGDsid9TnIHj9KFokK3FfeKO-wIMN_MmjGtSk50E8-Y97idUb_hOJq7NsIMjPH1vjeK3EJl3s4TundyD7cSaHHmV5SdgPCIknWoPHyyMM-QrxQAFoIzyu66D5eazpVvxPLTDTwWrsYyh" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="187" data-original-width="125" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjiD3IGO-YXteF_xSjjwJipuzE6lIwm8L4O6wRiYIi_hgWbFGDsid9TnIHj9KFokK3FfeKO-wIMN_MmjGtSk50E8-Y97idUb_hOJq7NsIMjPH1vjeK3EJl3s4TundyD7cSaHHmV5SdgPCIknWoPHyyMM-QrxQAFoIzyu66D5eazpVvxPLTDTwWrsYyh" width="160" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Gentium Basic"; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">A tightly plotted series of short mystery novels has recently come to my attention.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #7b8c89; font-family: "Gentium Basic"; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #7b8c89; font-family: "Gentium Basic"; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #7b8c89; font-family: "Gentium Basic"; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #7b8c89; font-family: "Gentium Basic"; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0f1111;">The protagonist, Connie Murphy, is a senior drug investigator with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Based, at least in part on the author's own experiences, Connie is dedicated to protecting public health and safety, but finds </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Gentium Basic"; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">intrigue and danger in the course of</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #7b8c89; font-family: "Gentium Basic"; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"> what should be routine inspections.<br /><br /><em style="position: relative;">Cheat to Win</em> is the seventh installment of the Connie Murphy mysteries, though each is a standalone work and I would encourage you to jump right in!</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #7b8c89; font-family: "Gentium Basic"; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #7b8c89; font-family: "Gentium Basic"; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #7b8c89; font-family: "Gentium Basic"; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;">Connie's pre-approval inspection at Triple A Labs was suddenly and unexpectedly cancelled. Days later, she discovers that their application has been completely deleted from the FDA files, and the FDA reviewer who was working on the application has disappeared. Connie must find out what is going on...<br /><br /><em style="position: relative;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Cheat-Win-Connie-Mystery-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B09RQ2GZRK" style="color: #5199a8; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;" target="_blank">Cheat to Win</a></em> is novella length (about 80 pages) and highly recommended. (Link to Amazon ebook). Click this link for all the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Connie-Murphy-Mysteries/dp/B08WYHYL3G" style="color: #5199a8; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;" target="_blank">Connie Murphy mysteries</a>!</span></span><p></p>greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10188626600446773304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7052103690871116879.post-9795028776670609432018-02-07T16:38:00.000-08:002018-02-07T16:38:25.036-08:00Review - The Tsar's Last Armada<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7sgA9aqKBC4/WnubneYMfQI/AAAAAAAADpw/IX-VlweUTJAjLR4gUjtq3bFW6EUvGKUCACLcBGAs/s1600/tsushima.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="309" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7sgA9aqKBC4/WnubneYMfQI/AAAAAAAADpw/IX-VlweUTJAjLR4gUjtq3bFW6EUvGKUCACLcBGAs/s320/tsushima.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #7b8c89; font-family: "Gentium Basic"; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #7b8c89; font-family: "Gentium Basic"; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">Constantine Pleshakov's book is subtitled "The Epic Voyage to the Battle of Tsushima" and is truly a book of the 18,000+ nautical mile journey of the main Russian fleet under Admiral Rozhestvensky from the Baltic to its fateful meeting with Admiral Togo and the Japanese fleet.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #7b8c89; font-family: "Gentium Basic"; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #7b8c89; font-family: "Gentium Basic"; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #7b8c89; font-family: "Gentium Basic"; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">Pleshakov concentrates on the personalities of Rozhestvensky and his subordinates as well as the top members of the Russian government. He hints that if the leaders in St. Petersburg had allowed Rozhestvensky to do what he wished the outcome may have been different. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #7b8c89; font-family: "Gentium Basic"; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #7b8c89; font-family: "Gentium Basic"; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #7b8c89; font-family: "Gentium Basic"; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">Far from the classical story of ships who left Russia piled high with coal and sailing urgently around the world to plunge unprepared into a hopeless battle, Pleshakov tells of long delays and lost opportunities, of bungled intelligence, and of political weakness and indecision. He also seems to share Rozhestvensky's view that the reinforcements he was forced to wait for actually weakened the squadron instead of strengthening it and that the level of talent in the upper naval officers of the Tsar's navy was minimal with very few competent leaders of rank captain or above.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #7b8c89; font-family: "Gentium Basic"; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #7b8c89; font-family: "Gentium Basic"; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #7b8c89; font-family: "Gentium Basic"; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">There is also a fair handling of the wide class distinctions and the resulting political unrest in Russia as a whole, in the navy in general, and the "last armada" particularly. Pleshakov discusses this discrepancy in each situation the fleet found itself in, from forming to its ultimate destruction and the aftermath for the survivors. In the end even Rozhestvensky comes off wanting.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #7b8c89; font-family: "Gentium Basic"; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #7b8c89; font-family: "Gentium Basic"; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #7b8c89; font-family: "Gentium Basic"; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">I found the book interesting and found it debunked, as noted above, some long-held misconceptions. It pays scant attention to the battle itself; if you want a battle history you do need to go elsewhere. It is a good stand-alone historical story; one needs no previous knowledge of the Russo-Japanese War, Tsushima, or the period to get the full impact of the book. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #7b8c89; font-family: "Gentium Basic"; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #7b8c89; font-family: "Gentium Basic"; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #7b8c89; font-family: "Gentium Basic"; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">It is also inexpensive. Copies are available on </span><a href="https://www.biblio.com/9780465057917" style="background-color: white; color: #5199a8; font-family: "Gentium Basic"; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">Biblio </a><span style="background-color: white; color: #7b8c89; font-family: "Gentium Basic"; font-size: 18px; text-align: justify;">for as little as $3.97 including shipping.</span>greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10188626600446773304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7052103690871116879.post-53214361303712380592017-12-09T14:35:00.003-08:002017-12-09T14:35:34.781-08:00Review - Even Seahorses are Free by Redding Walters<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-09X8P_Os50U/WixkxxgHOrI/AAAAAAAACkQ/0Gnbhf8oDOEfxn8TJZ8au5zfeBlmV3JYwCLcBGAs/s1600/seahorses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="324" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-09X8P_Os50U/WixkxxgHOrI/AAAAAAAACkQ/0Gnbhf8oDOEfxn8TJZ8au5zfeBlmV3JYwCLcBGAs/s320/seahorses.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
Redding Walters brings a unique, intriguing, and fascinating perspective and story-line to the romance novel.</div>
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Even Seahorses are Free traces the love history of Dr. Rebecca Beisonig, through the rather ingenious devices of a long drive up the Pacific Coast with a dead cell phone. As she drives she recounts her past loves and their shortcomings, as well as their high points. </div>
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At her destination, she plunges into her work while re-discovering the depth of friendship with other women and fending off the advances of a "young stud" in which she knows she has no interest. In her rediscovery and soul searching she finally comes to terms with the lost love of her life, the value of female friends, and the end of her marriage that was never really fulfilling. </div>
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Ms. Walters brings freshness to the novel. Her characters, from the very pregnant Barbie to the aloof Howard, are full and lively. They jump off the page to the point you can almost touch them. The story is both unique in the interplay of environmental science and the livelihoods that are often in conflict and in the love, lust, and conflict of Rebecca. </div>
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The energy of the novel starts at a high level and allows the reader to briefly recover before driving to a new peak. Continuing to build as the story progresses with each peak being higher than the last. The ending is both satisfying and not quite how one expects.</div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Even-Seahorses-Free-Redding-Walters/dp/1976494419" target="_blank">Even Seahorses are Free</a> is highly recommended. Available at <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Even-Seahorses-Free-Redding-Walters/dp/1976494419" target="_blank">Amazon </a>and other fine retailers.</div>
greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10188626600446773304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7052103690871116879.post-23579288950375978582017-11-26T14:19:00.001-08:002017-11-26T14:19:38.031-08:00Poetry to warm a parent's heart<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The Coming Storm (1987) </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
by Cirenya</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The air is still.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The clouds roll in. Dark, ominous.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Lightning flashes</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Against the bronze horizon.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
What did Daddy say?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
His hand is warm.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Between the flash</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And crack…count, yes.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
One applepie, Two applepie,</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Three applepie, four applepie,</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Crack.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s nearer now.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“It’s the air separating</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Then coming together.”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
“Yes, Daddy.”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The wind starts.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s chilly.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
One applepie, two applepie,</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Three applepie,</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Crack.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Closer yet.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We’d go in now.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Sit by the window,</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Watch it come.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Pounding, bouncing</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Off the pane.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Flash, crack.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’m not afraid.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Daddy’s hand is warm.</div>
greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10188626600446773304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7052103690871116879.post-47802377785462546082017-11-13T16:50:00.000-08:002017-11-13T16:50:00.138-08:00Growth of a River - flash fiction<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BcL0-VV_lbo/Wgo4kav_-UI/AAAAAAAACgY/DO4rSofIczcNTZ4MMv1xa9V9hamTxVugwCLcBGAs/s1600/mn-greatwaters-nwoodshabitat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="382" data-original-width="600" height="203" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BcL0-VV_lbo/Wgo4kav_-UI/AAAAAAAACgY/DO4rSofIczcNTZ4MMv1xa9V9hamTxVugwCLcBGAs/s320/mn-greatwaters-nwoodshabitat.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was a special time. That time of life when things were
wonderful and new. That time when adults were still incredible fonts of wisdom
and knowledge. That time when each day brought amazing things never before
seen.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Gemma woke that morning, instantly fully awake and with the
energy another might need a couple of coffees to attain. She threw on the
clothes she and her mother had carefully picked out the night before and ran to
her door only to stop short just before the exit. A quick about face, a check
in her mirror (Gee, how she loved it!) and a redo of her shirt to make it
frontside front, then out the door!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Down the hall, bursting without pause through her parent’s
bedroom door and launching herself onto the foot of the bed. “Get up! It’s
Missus-pee Day!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Louise cracked one eye but it was Lance who spoke reaching
down to pull Gemma up between her parents, “The River is still sleeping, Silly!
Maybe we should have breakfast and let it wake up before we drive out. Whaddya
say?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
An “Awww” escaped Gemma before her brain even processed the
information. Then it hit her as a good idea and she said, or rather shouted
loud enough to make Lance wince, “Yeah! Let’s have Corn Flakes!” Before either
parent could groggily respond, Gemma was squirreling back to the foot of the
bed, plopping to the floor and racing out.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Her eyes still mostly closed, Louise pushed the covers back
and rolled to a sit. She mumbled and Lance understood more than heard, “I guess
we’d better try to keep up.” She padded off to the bathroom. Lance pulled
himself out of bed and staggered with increasing stability toward the kitchen. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the kitchen Gemma was already halfway toward breakfast.
She had a plastic bowl, a spoon and the box of corn flakes on the island and was
pulling on the refrigerator door. The seal was more than her 3-year-old arms could overcome despite her
determination and Lance had to give a friendly assist.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Thanks, Dad!” as she pulled the half-gallon jug off the
lowest shelf and carried it in both hands to the island. Reaching above her
head she carefully placed the jug on the island, tongue sticking out of her
mouth in concentration. Then a quick scramble into the chair and a satisfied
“Hmmph!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lance flipped on the coffee-maker and moved over to help
pour milk and snare a couple wayward corn flakes making a production of
bringing them to his mouth and chomping on them to a giggle from Gemma. Then he
walked back the way he’d come as Louise slipped past and grabbed a couple mugs
from hooks above the sink. Her eyes were still not fully open.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
An hour later Gemma was still at full speed but at least
Lance and Louise were able to keep pace as they piled into their Integra and
negotiated the winding streets of the sub-division out to the highway. Louise
drove and Lance sang alternatively silly songs and classic songs with Gemma by
turns singing gleefully along and giggling at the edge of uncontrollability.
The first hour flew by.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Gradually the songs became less boisterous on Gemma’s end
and her gaze wandered more to the passing scenery. Finally she bottomed out,
“When is the Missus-pee?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Louise gave Lance a knowing look and said, “Another hour,
luv. Maybe it’s time to count the red cars, but only the red ones, ok? I see
one! I have one red car. Can you count more than me?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Yeah!” screeched Gemma and was instantly absorbed in the
game scanning the road ahead for every oncoming car. Soon Gemma was up to nine,
Louise had six and poor Lance, on the passenger side in the back seat, had only
counted two.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Gemma cried, “Ten! Now let’s count blue cars!” And so it
went for another twenty minutes as cars of color after color in the girl’s
repertoire were duly counted as they headed south on the state highway away
from the headwaters of the Mississippi.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As the game wound down Gemma agreed to watch the country
passing by carefully identifying the corn fields from the soybeans and wheat
but needing help on some of the others. Hay and alfalfa and potatoes were all
differentiated but they ran into some trouble discerning the hops, the rye, and
the oats. A stinky turkey farm zipped past and a couple still functioning dairy
farms were noted by the cattle lazing in the sun.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then the first sign flashed by and Lance said softly,
“There, Gemma, Mississippi Headwaters ten miles.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Yayyyy! Can I wear my water shoes now?”</div>
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Lance dug into the bag they brought, his hands reaching past
the snacks and the water bottles to find Gemma’s water shoes. By the time he’d
pulled them from the depths of the bag Gemma’s sandals had been kicked off to slam
into the back of Louise’s seat and carom onto the floor, just missing Lance’s
head as he bent over the bag.</div>
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She excitedly kicked her feet making Lance’s job doubly
difficult to secure her feet into their snug-fitting water shoes. With his long
experience Lance deftly snared first the left foot and then the right and
stuffed each foot into its waiting shoe. Gemma never missed a beat and Louise
was parking the car as the last shoe was successfully placed.</div>
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Only one admonishment was necessary to keep Gemma next to
her paents and not bolting across the parking lot alone but she still nearly
dragged them both to the gate and down the trail. When they arrived at the
small stream gurgling out of the lake that stretched out in a clear sun-lit
vista, though, there was trouble.</div>
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“Where’s the Missus-pee?” Gemma demanded.</div>
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“This is it! This is where the river is born!” said Louise.</div>
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“But it’s too little,” Gemma insisted. “The Missus-pee is
humongous.” And she spread her arms wide
above her head.</div>
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Lance tried, “But the river grows just like you. It starts
small like you did when you were born and gets big as it goes.”</div>
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“But I’m <i>older</i>!
The river here is the same years old as the one by us!”</div>
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“Rivers grow as they flow,” Louise tried alliteration. “The
Mississippi is old because it wanders, like Grandpa…”</div>
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“Or Mommy before she has her coffee!” This got Lance a
sardonic look from Louise.</div>
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“But it grows the further it goes. Feel it move.” Louise
bent to touch the shallow, swiftly moving water. “More water pours in all the
time as it flows, making the river grow.”</div>
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Gemma frowned. She did not like this much but she was
willing to consider this unforeseen development. She walked into the water and
splashed a bit. That made everything feel a bit better. She watched a bug
spiral downstream, caught in the splashing and watched the other people as they
variously stood, walked, and tip-toed in the water. They all seemed to think
this was the Mississippi.</div>
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“Can we see the Missus-pee grow?” She asked.</div>
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Louise and Lance exchanged a knowing look, turned in unison
to Gemma and nodded. They spent the rest of the day meandering like the river
from town to town, bridge to bridge and watched the Mississippi grow from its
rivulet at Itasca to its breadth at St. Paul. </div>
greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10188626600446773304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7052103690871116879.post-35967450829607031262017-11-12T11:24:00.001-08:002017-11-12T11:24:15.825-08:00New website and renewalJust a little note to announce my new author website: gregschroederwrites.com<br />
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One feature is a weekly "poetry slam" where two poems are placed next to each other, one from a "famous" poet previously published by a mainstream publisher and an "unknown" or "unpublished" poet. Vote/rate each, come back next week to see the final results and the reveal of the poets and the history of each poem.<br />
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Another feature is works in progress and works available for free.<br />
<br />
Please take a moment and vote on the slam and let me know what you think!greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10188626600446773304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7052103690871116879.post-46909233521845311002016-08-28T05:22:00.000-07:002016-08-28T05:22:29.698-07:00Book Review - Mystery of the Haunted Pool by Phyllis A Whitney<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Like many of the reviewers I first read Ms. Whitney as a young adult and was happy to find this copy and pick it up for some leisurely summer reading. I do take a bit of umbrage at the reviewers who try to paint this book with the social brush of today. Any work is a product of its times and should be judged in that context.
To that end this book, which won an Edgar Award for juvenile mystery, is smooth, pleasant read. Ms. Whitney develops her characters well and paints an enchanting setting. It does deal with gender roles, disability, financial hard times, and aging, all from the lens of a young girl.
Although there are clear gender roles (the women do all the food preparation, for example), that was the norm in 1960 to set it otherwise would have made it difficult to relate to the intended audience. However, there is nothing the protagonist, Susan, does not do or is prohibited from because she is a girl. Also Gene's disability is treated, again inside the context of the time, with compassion and empathy and some amount of empowerment.
I am still looking for a copy of the first Whitney mystery I read, Mystery on the Isle of Skye. Whitney writes well and this mild read was a welcome change from the much more "in your face" work of more contemporary writers. Recommended if you want a quiet nostalgic well-written read.greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10188626600446773304noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7052103690871116879.post-82824683782139758842016-08-15T22:00:00.000-07:002016-08-16T07:40:07.837-07:00Book Review - Pan by K. R. Thompson<center>
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For a variety of reasons I was only able to read <i>Pan</i>. This was truly unfortunate because K. R. Thompson has done a superb job spinning the prequels to Barrie's children's classic. We are brought into the world through Tinkerbell's eyes and see the roots of Peter's character as well as some background on Neverland in an extremely well-written and seamlessly integrated way with the original. Why does Peter Pan flit between depression and manic joy? What is the origin of the lost boys? Ever wonder about the crocodile? And then there's Captain Hook and the merpeople. Thompson brings the backstory to life. Five stars! Highly recommended! Read on!</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>THE UNTOLD STORIES OF NEVERLAND</b></span>
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<b>Genre:</b> Fairytale/Fantasy<br />
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<b>Content Warning:</b> Suitable for ages 13 and up. This is a darker series, showing how the characters in Neverland came to be. This isn’t your Disney variety of Neverland, it is more like the television series <i>Once Upon a Time</i>.<br />
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Neverland has always been their sanctuary—until now.<br />
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Magic is dying in Neverland--and so are the pixies. Only one is brave enough to search the human world for someone to believe. Tink finds a desolate boy flying in the night, peering in windows, searching for the life he once knew. But can she convince him to abandon his quest and save Neverland?<br />
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Discover the untold story of the boy destined to become Peter Pan.<br />
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***This is a short story depicting Pan's arrival in Neverland. As Peter is a main character, his adventures continue on throughout the rest of the series.***
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THE TINY PIXIE flew over the dark rooftops to the crumbling tower in the center of the town. Zipping to the top, she chose her usual spot and greeted the gargoyle perched on the edge of the roof. Taking one final look to make sure she had the best view, she plopped down on the tip of the monster’s nose and settled in to watch the boy fly from house to house.<br />
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Back and forth, from one window to the next he flew, staying at each only long enough to peer through the panes of glass…searching…<br />
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At least he was taking his task seriously, she decided, watching him raise up on his toes in an effort to gain a better look inside one darkened, upstairs room. Some guardians were lazy, but this one was not, which was just as well, she noted, as the small, shadowy figure of a child exited through the window and joined him. A few seconds later, the two flew off into the night sky. The children of humans could be a handful—the ghosts of them even more so, especially when they realized they were no longer among the living. It only made sense to appoint another child to deal with their sorrow and accompany their spirits to the other side.<br />
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The source of her attention currently gone, the pixie idly kicked into the open air. Small bits of dust sprinkled each time her feet touched the open mouth of the monster she’d been making a seat of. She glanced down, noticing his bottom teeth now sparkled like gold in the moonlight, giving him an even more ferocious look.<br />
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The poor thing looked dreadful, with long curling teeth and bulging eyes—nothing at all like her own pretty, golden self. She gave him a bright smile. Likely, that was the only kindness ever given the monster forever stuck up here on the edge of this roof, so she reached down and gave his hard cheek an affectionate pat before turning her attention back to the sprawling town below. After all, she hadn’t come to save this monster. She’d come for the boy and soon he would need her—but not nearly as much as she needed him.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2azgg7G" target="_blank">Amazon-kindle</a> ✯ <a href="http://amzn.to/2apNfbu" target="_blank">Amazon-paperback</a> ✯ <a href="http://amzn.to/2apMHme" target="_blank">Amazon-audible</a> ✯ <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25961617-pan" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></span></center>
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greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10188626600446773304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7052103690871116879.post-90772572858197393492016-08-14T11:34:00.001-07:002016-08-14T11:34:14.274-07:00The Fate of Paper Books<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As you can probably tell from some of the information on this blog I am not exactly a Millenial. I grew up when telephones still had rotary dials and music was on vinyl. Books, all books, were printed on paper. I had (and still have) thousands of these relics.<br />
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Someone famously asked how will kids find new music artists, share with their parents or friends when there are no boxes of albums to thumb through, to explore kinesthetically, visually and then, finally, aurally? The same can be said of books. I still scan through the bookshelves when I go to parties or visit a friend. I love flipping through books at yard sales and charity sales.<br />
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The yard sales and charity sales, I see, as a vanishing event for written material. However, the physical book does not seem to be disappearing, just changing. Children's books are actually still strong, a hopeful sign for a literate future generation who can stay focused on one thing for more than a few seconds.<br />
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And I worry less now about the flipping through old albums scenario. You can do the same thing by flipping through the titles on my Kindle or my cloud library. Even if I'd rather hold the paper and smell the ink, the core of the book is still there in the electrons flitting about. The ideas, the adventure, the imagination, the knowledge is all still there. The form shows new options, without completely losing the old ones.<br />
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Each has its place as we move forward.greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10188626600446773304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7052103690871116879.post-66899468505863773142016-07-31T09:04:00.000-07:002016-07-31T09:04:03.509-07:00Review - Bowdrie by Louis L'Amour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is an early collection of short stories all using the same protagonist, the eponymous Texas Ranger. L'Amour rooted his character in history and the stories play out in a fictionalized version several events from the early days of the Texas Rangers. All of these first appeared in pulps in the late 40's and are excellent. L'Amour tells a fast-paced, full-bodied story without some of the pedantry that crept into his later works.<br />
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There is a follow-on collection titled Bowdrie's Law. L'Amour's short stories were originally published in paperback by Bantam under multiple titles in the 1970s and 1980s. They have been republished as The Collected Short Stories in 8 volumes.<br />
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Wishing you good reading!greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10188626600446773304noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7052103690871116879.post-16777926954111979442016-05-03T19:14:00.003-07:002016-05-03T19:16:00.394-07:00John C Lewis' Self-Published Autobiography<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This <a href="http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=917319139" target="_blank">book </a>was part of a nondescript pile of books unceremoniously donated to a charity book sale. I picked it up for the dollar they asked for hardcovers and was pleased and surprised to find inside a typescript letter expressing Christmas wishes from the author of the thin tome, in 1990, to an unnamed friend.<br />
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I have spent a few relatively fruitless hours searching for Mr. John C. Lewis. His autobiography, published when he was 50, is very short though it does show he enjoyed life and has some very nice black and white photos, most of children. Mr. Lewis was apparently a photographer of some notice. Born near St. Louis in 1900 he seems to have lived and worked in New York City.<br />
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I would be very interested to hear from anyone who might have known Mr. Lewis, who can fill in the 40 years between the book and the letter.<br />
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<br />greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10188626600446773304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7052103690871116879.post-28406330564139314512016-04-06T17:32:00.000-07:002016-04-06T17:32:03.377-07:00Book Ephemera?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In my thirteen years of selling books I have concentrated on learning about the books, the bindings, the authors, etc. I have not paid much attention to the things that have fallen out of the books when I flip through them, determining wear and value.<br />
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For example, the above small advertising insert would have ended in the circular file even a couple years ago but I would have spent hours finding out that Gautier had a very broad bibliography, being a prominent writer of the 19th century and that this book, a collection of six short stories, was published late in his life but were saucy and adventurous enough to spawn several vaudeville acts 40 years later on.<br />
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Now, having slowed down a bit, I am more interested in the story of these small bits. I've seen many of these small pieces of paper advertising a specific book from a specific publisher. Printed on "regular" paper, often in two colors, I am coming to question their efficacy, history, prominence, etc.<br />
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Unfortunately, the provenance of these advertising slips, and the larger bookmarks, seems to me much more difficult to ascertain. Perhaps because I do not know the terminology or where, really, to start.<br />
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Do you have any suggestions? Have you seen one of these that was particularly memorable? Comment or send me a note and let me know!greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10188626600446773304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7052103690871116879.post-89289424520729630192015-04-06T20:11:00.000-07:002015-04-06T20:11:17.352-07:00Release Blitz - Hotel of Death<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<strong>Title of book:</strong> Hotel of Death: the chosen one</div>
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<strong>Official genre of book:</strong> horror/thriller/fantasy<br />
<b>Publication Date:</b> January 12, 2015<br />
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<span lang="en-US">Richard McKenna is the renowned author of two bestsellers, but now he is suffering from writer's block. However, he must write his book within three weeks, if he is to marry beautiful Glory Maryland. Unfortunately, Glory's husband wants to prevent this and starts a cat and mouse game of life and death.
In order to survive Richard flees to Boston, but he discovers his life is still at stake when an assassin waits for him in his hotel room. Saved by the feds, he discovers that one of them is a vampire and they seem to have their own agenda. They claim to help him, but can they be trusted? Or are they using him for their own purposes? And since when can any vampire be trusted? More importantly: will he survive? And what is all this talk about an ancient curse and the book of the dead?</span></div>
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With a razor-sharp knife, the Reaper cut his hand. He caught his blood in a test tube and stared at the woman whom he had tied down on the table, she had a gag in her mouth to keep her quiet. She tried to pull at her bindings, which only excited him even more. The woman would be his dinner, but first he needs to have some of her blood while she was still intact.</div>
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“It’s all okay,” he almost tenderly rubbed his hands through her hair, and then he used his knife to cut in her neck. A tortured groan came from her mouth, despite the gag. A few tears flowed down her cheeks while he gathered her blood in a new test tube. Then he gently wiped her tears and put a plaster on the wound. The Reaper turned his back to her and mingled her blood with his own. Through the microscope, he observed a small blood sample to see how his blood corrupted hers. For a moment, a few cells colored black. To him, it was the signal for a new ingredient: silver powder. The cells were now all pretty red, with a silvery sheen. Satisfied, he created five pills and a cream from the rest. The pills were for Harry. The cream was for him. He gently removed the plaster that he had put on his left cheek. His skin felt soft and smooth, like it is supposed to. The drug apparently not only stopped the growth of a tumor, but when used as a cream it restored damaged skin. He could earn lots of money in the cosmetics. He smeared the cream over his face and looked at the woman who looked back at him with bright, frightened eyes – the eyes of a deer, a very frightened deer. His stomach growled a bit. He walked over to her and untied the gag.</div>
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“Please, let me go,” she pleaded. Tears flowed down her cheeks.</div>
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He just laughed. “Let you go? But if I let you go, then I’ll starve to death.”</div>
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“What?” she asked with wide, startled eyes. She couldn’t say much more because he leaned forward and plunged his teeth into her neck. She struggled to get away while he felt the hot, sticky liquid in his mouth. Her struggle excited him as he pushed his teeth deeper into her flesh; he heard her scream. It sounded like a love song in his ears while he started to suck the wound and felt the life slipping out of her. Her struggle began to weaken – it’s time to stop drinking; he realized. He looked down at her, as she lay weakened on the table, and she was more dead than alive. He never felt so good as he wiped off his bloody mouth – she’s going to be a great partner.</div>
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“I have a present for you,” he smiled and bit his own wrist. The woman shook her head and moaned weakly. With an almost devilish pleasure, he pressed his bloody wrist in her mouth. “Drink,” he ordered her. At first, she kept her mouth closed. With his thumb, he forced her mouth open and pressed his bloody wrist on her mouth again. The blood trickled down her throat and finally she started to suck his wound. He felt himself getting all excited again; she brought him in ecstasy while she sucked his wound. The blood flowed through his veins into her mouth – enough!</div>
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He pulled his hand back. Again, he bit into her neck and he kept drinking until she stopped moving. Until he was sure she was dead. However, he knew she would soon be reborn as a vampire. For a moment, his thoughts wandered off to Sybil. She saved his life by turning him into a vampire, but she also betrayed him!</div>
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“Very soon we will stand face to face Sybil, and then we’ll see who the loser is!” He cut the rope that he used to tie up his victim and went to bed. The exchange would take place in a few hours, and he wanted to be there. He expected that by the time he got up, that his skin would be fully recovered. Then he could mingle between the day-trippers once again without drawing too much attention on himself and the cream itches, which annoyed him, but he saw it as a part of the healing process.</div>
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greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10188626600446773304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7052103690871116879.post-36841408161433627412015-03-27T10:46:00.000-07:002015-03-27T10:46:11.681-07:00Jami Brumfield - Author Tour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LmaKaUirnOA/VP-67_i17dI/AAAAAAAABBQ/DTP3uu2eB5s/s1600/glitterbase.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LmaKaUirnOA/VP-67_i17dI/AAAAAAAABBQ/DTP3uu2eB5s/s1600/glitterbase.gif" height="235" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/glitterbase-1.gif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="glitterbase (1)" class="alignleft wp-image-858 size-full" height="85" src="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/glitterbase-1.gif" width="210" /></a>Jami M Brumfield has a passion for the paranormal, supernatural, and mythological worlds for most of her life. She believes there is a kernel of truth in every story and loves playing detective to discover what that hidden truth is. She has written most of her life. She started with poems and short stories, then graduated to journalism working for online websites. It was only a natural progression that her love of writing and her passion for the unknown would combine. Her books are a product of that union.</div>
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<a href="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/jami.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="jami" border="0" class="alignright wp-image-871 size-full" height="261" src="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/jami.jpg" width="180" /></a>Jami is a multi-genre author in the paranormal arena. She currently has six series out and two more in the writing process. The Winters Saga series is a Young Adult Paranormal Fantasy Adventure with a touch of romance, Mystery Springs Series is an Adult Paranormal Romance with awesome Action and a Mythological twist, PBI (Paranormal Bureau of Investigation) Case Files series is a Paranormal Mystery series with Romantic Suspense, Ghost Connection series is a New Adult Paranormal Mystery series centered around a reluctant medium and her ghostly companions, Shifter Love Tales series is an adult paranormal romance with mythological twist, and Paranormal Hypnotherapy Files series is an adult paranormal romance with a metaphysical twist. The two series coming are Vanished a paranormal dystopian series and Demon Love Tails an adult paranormal romance series.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/authorjamibrumfield">FaceBook</a> ~ <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Jami-Brumfield/e/B00HUJURIE">Amazon Author Page</a> ~ <a href="https://twitter.com/JamiMBrumfield">Twitter</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7414345.Jami_Brumfield">Goodreads</a> ~ <a href="http://jamibrumfield.blogspot.com/">Blog</a> ~ <a href="http://jamimbrumfield.weebly.com/">Website</a> ~ <a href="http://spiritandmindconnection.us7.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=1eaee477a5c8cad422a7f00fc&id=e025fdf09c">Email Newsletter</a></span></div>
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<b>SYNOPSIS OF EACH SERIES AND BOOK SYNOPSIS WITHIN EACH SERIES</b></h4>
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<b>Mystery Springs Series:</b> The Mystery Springs Series focuses on supernaturals, human beings, and ancient Gods in the small Colorado town of Mystery Springs. The supernatural and human council are charged with protecting a supernatural nexus that is also a gateway. Each book in the series focuses on a romance between two characters in the town and the brewing war between the ancient gods and the council. Each book will have an HEA or HFN. The continuing thread is the battle.</div>
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<b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Witchs-Vampire-Mystery-Springs-Book-ebook/dp/B00LNRWTVC/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">The Witch’s Vampire (Mystery Springs Series)</a> </b>
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Sophie Waters's life was turned upside down when her mother passed away from cancer but the news her father and aunt delivered to her after the passing was far more devastating and unbelievable. "You're a witch doctor, a healer, and you're needed here to help protect the supernatural inhabitants of Mystery Springs."</div>
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"Like hell," was her response but the moment the witches unlocked her powers there was no way she could deny the truth. And the moment she met her vampire prince there was no way she could leave Mystery Springs even if she wanted to.</div>
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From the moment the powerful and terrifying Giovanni Mancuso spotted the spunky girl in ripped jeans, green cotton hoodie with her jet black hair in a ponytail and her green eyes covered by black cat glasses he was lost. She was not like the other girls that frequented his nightclub. She was different on so many levels. The moment his eyes connected with hers his soul knew she was important.</div>
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She was his soul mate, his first love, a love lost centuries ago. Only she was different; stronger, powerful. Sophie and Giovanni explore their feelings while they attempt to uncover the secret behind acts of war on the supernatural people of Mystery Springs. Together they will face off against dream assassins, death, ghosts, gods, and their own families to save the small Colorado town and find a path back into the safety of each other's arms.</div>
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Past lives collide in this paranormal romance with mythological consequences. This book was written for audience of 18 and older.</div>
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<b>PBI Case Files series:</b> The PBI (Paranormal Bureau of Investigation) Files Series focuses on a government agency that specializes in investigating paranormal happenings around the world. The agents are a combination of human and supernatural creatures.</div>
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<a href="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/pbi-bc-3.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????" class="alignleft wp-image-903 size-thumbnail" height="150" src="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/pbi-bc-3.jpg?w=90" width="90" /></a><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/PBI-Case-Files-Paranormal-Investigation-ebook/dp/B00MENG0DM/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">PBI Case Files: The Beginning</a></b><br />
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Francesca and Sarah Hollister are going to learn very quickly that the monsters that go bump in the night are very real, and very... sexy? After a night of drunken mishaps, the very human sisters find themselves in a tough situation that will change their lives forever.</div>
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What they don't know is they have been groomed for this life since the day they were born. Each possess amazing skill sets that will give them the ability to adapt and survive the new supernatural world they've fallen into.</div>
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As the newest recruits of the PBI (Paranormal Bureau of Investigation), they learn quickly there is no learning curve, and their lives will be forever put in danger as they work side by side with their new supernatural colleagues. They have each other, and Sarah is learning she has also caught the eye of a brooding, possessive vampire who happens to be on his own road to redemption.</div>
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This is the pilot episode of PBI Case Files, a new paranormal mystery novella series that is sure to keep you wondering... what if?</div>
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Please note, this is an episodic serial. It was written in novella format and is a part of a series.</div>
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This book also contains adult content of a sexual nature and is written for an audience of 18 and older.</div>
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<a href="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/pbi-2-bc-3.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????" class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-901" height="150" src="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/pbi-2-bc-3.jpg?w=90" width="90" /></a><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Outbreak-PBI-Case-Files-2-ebook/dp/B00MS3MK0U/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">Outbreak (PBI Case Files Adventure 2) </a></b><br />
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Francesca and Sarah Hollister are learning the ropes as the newest members of the PBI (Paranormal Bureau of Investigation), and being a supernatural agent and a forensic expert is not as glamorous as they once thought. Frankie learns that things are far more dangerous in the field than she ever imagined, and Sarah realizes her co-workers aren't very happy she's on the team.</div>
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When an attack leaves Devon on the mend, Frankie is sent in to help Jasmine and Fang on a case of human cannibalism in Florida. The team realizes the perpetrator isn't a wendigo, but his ailment is far more dangerous, and the PBI team offers to help find a cure. In the transporting process one of the team members is infected with the deadly virus and the PBI team's world explodes from there.</div>
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<a href="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/pbi-case-files-3-b-bc.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????" class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-904" height="150" src="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/pbi-case-files-3-b-bc.jpg?w=90" width="90" /></a><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Plane-PBI-Case-Files-ebook/dp/B00N2ZWT0Y/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">Lost Plane (PBI Case Files Adventure #3) </a></b><br />
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The PBI (Paranormal Bureau of Investigation) agents are called in to investigate the mystery surrounding the disappearance of a commercial airplane. Their partnership with ABI (Alien Bureau of Investigation) division is designed to prove this tragedy was not done by supernatural or alien means.</div>
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As they delve into the lives of the 214 missing passengers and crew members they will meet an ancient relative of the missing that will shed some light onto the case, just enough is uncovered to make another agency to get involved, one which will do anything to keep the secret behind the random disappearances hidden.</div>
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The very existence of the human race is on the line, and the team must make difficult decisions. They are forced to choose sides that could impact the present and the future.</div>
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Fang and Francesca, and Devon and Sarah, continue to play their dangerous romantic dances, and a new player enters the equation. The team also uncovers a new break in the Hollister cold case.</div>
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<a href="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/pbi-4-justice-driven-nejron-dreamstime.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????" class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-902" height="150" src="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/pbi-4-justice-driven-nejron-dreamstime.jpg?w=90" width="90" /></a><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Justice-Driven-PBI-Case-Files-ebook/dp/B00OBF056Y/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">Justice Driven (PBI Case Files Adventure #4) </a></b><br />
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ADULT PARANORMAL MYSTERY ROMANTIC SUSPENSE Amazons, Horsemen of Apocalypse, Vampire, Shifters. When Devon and Sarah are kidnapped during their first date, the PBI team joins forces with the Horsemen of the Apocalypse in order to save their team members from the Amazons who are out for vengeance.
It's a showdown sanctioned by the gods, one that promises to be bloody. Will the unholy alliance be enough to save their friends? Will Sarah find a way to forgive Devon for the crimes of his past? Find out in this episode of PBI Case Files</div>
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<b>Vanished series</b><b>:</b> focuses on the crew and passengers of Avalon Flight 370 that disappeared over the Pacific Ocean. They were scheduled for death only that was interrupted when they were stolen from the past and taken to the future to repopulate human kind. Each book in this series will have a HEA or HFN for the romance.</div>
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<a href="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/final-death-interrupted-kindle-book-cover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="final death interrupted kindle book cover" class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-907" height="150" src="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/final-death-interrupted-kindle-book-cover.jpg?w=90" width="90" /></a><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Death-Interrupted-Vanished-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00RHCWXPO/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">Death Interrupted (Vanished book one) </a></b><br />
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PARANORMAL DYSTOPIAN ROMANCE. "Breaking News! Avalon Flight 370 has vanished. Authorities continue to search for the plane but the hopes for finding survivors are dwindling."</div>
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Ripped from the past on the brink death. Thrust into a future where freedom is taken away under the guise of protection. Secured away by the creatures that once hunted and tormented the human race. On the surface it looks like a world of peace but underneath the facade lies a war brought on by many secrets.</div>
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Will Blake and Melissa find love after being forced to live together, drugged into submission with the sole purpose of saving the human race? Expectations are high, emotional connections to the past are broken, and their lives will never be the same again.</div>
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This story contains adult language and situations. It is not intended for audiences under 18</div>
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<a href="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/tmc.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="tmc" class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-908" height="150" src="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/tmc.jpg?w=90" width="90" /></a><b>The Mating Challenge (book two of Vanished series) </b><br />
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Andrea’s life is about to change, for better or worse. After escaping the underground compound that housed all the passengers and crew from Avalon Flight 370 she suspected life was going to be harsh but at least she’d be free. This BBW strong woman has no idea what hell she landed herself into.</div>
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She is captured by a pack of wolves and is forced into a Mating Challenge where is expected to choose an alpha from six sexy males competing to mate with her. In the process she learns secrets about herself that will crumble her belief in herself and her family.</div>
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This story contains adult language and situations. It is not intended for audiences under 18</div>
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<b>Ghost Connection series</b> centers around Cassie O’Grady and her ability to see ghosts.<br />
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<a href="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/final-bc-gc-1-bartekwardziak-dreamstime.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????" class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-909" height="150" src="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/final-bc-gc-1-bartekwardziak-dreamstime.jpg?w=90" width="90" /></a><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Ghost-Connection-Jami-Brumfield-ebook/dp/B00NNDXSYG/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">Lost (Ghost Connection Adventure #1) </a></b><br />
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NEW ADULT PARANORMAL GHOST MYSTERY SERIES
Cassie and her ghostly best friend, Abel, help a girl save her family from a jealous boyfriend. In the process her own family is destroyed.</div>
To make matters worse, her well-built stable world is turned upside down when secrets are revealed that affect her and Abe. Tragedy will strike again, and a savvy sexy detective notices an uncomfortable pattern with Cassandra O’Grady… people keep dying around her.
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This book is part of the Treasured Moment box set and sold individually.</div>
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<a href="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/final-gc-2-bc-fotoeye75-dreamstime.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????" class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-910" height="150" src="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/final-gc-2-bc-fotoeye75-dreamstime.jpg?w=90" width="90" /></a><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Death-Does-Become-Ghost-Connection-ebook/dp/B00O4CVO2S/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">Death Does Not Become Her (Ghost Connection Adventure #2) </a></b><br />
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NEW ADULT PARANORMAL GHOST MYSTERY Cassandra O’Grady has the unwanted gift of being able to see ghosts. For most of her life she’s kept human interactions to a minimum and avoided befriending the living, choosing to be friends with her ghostly companions. In “Death Does Not Become Her” she learns there are people, living people, who care for her, and will do what they can to protect her. She may not appreciate the connection at first, but if things work out, she might learn how to create friendships that will aid her in her destiny.</div>
In the meantime, she still has Davis, her brother, Abel, and her deceased family dog, Frodo, to help, and she’s going to need every bit of help she can get when one of her classmates from college comes to her in spirit form asking for help.
Mia Stone may not be a ghost…yet, but she is on her way to becoming one as her body suffers in a poison-induced coma. Cassie and her ghostly friends race against the clock to discover the mysteries surrounding the poisoning, and ritualistic killings related to Mia’s attempted murder in hopes of finding the cure that will save her from dying-for real.
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<b>Paranormal Hypnotherapy Files series:</b> This series focuses on Clara Jameson and her skills as a hypnotherapist for the supernatural.<br />
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<a href="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/cg.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="CG" class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-911" height="150" src="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/cg.jpg?w=90" width="90" /></a><b>Cherished Gift (Paranormal Hypnotherapy Files #1) </b>
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Clara Jameson never suspected her world was going to be turned upside down when she went to work that day. She never thought a woman on suicide watch would lead her down a dangerous rabbit hole into a wolf’s den. There was no way she could’ve known that paranormal forces were at work in her new client’s life; terrorizing her sleep, haunting her soul, and destroying her will to live. Of course not, she didn’t believe in that sort of thing. But she did believe in the power of regression, and was open to the possibility that a past life was impacting Jenna Davis’s current life. What happens next will shake her core beliefs, and open her eyes to a world that very few are privy to. A world where monsters really do go “bump in the night”</div>
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This book contains adult language and situations and is intended for audiences 18 and older.</div>
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<b>Demon Fairy Tales series</b> is an adult paranormal romance series that focuses on fairy tales for demon heroes/heroines.</div>
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<a href="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/the-dragon-demon-bc.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Glamour woman in red dress and dragon" class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-912" height="150" src="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/the-dragon-demon-bc.jpg?w=90" width="90" /></a><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mystical-Royal-Love-Paranormal-Anthology-ebook/dp/B00OYMXL06/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">The Dragon's Demon (book one in Demon Fairy Tales)</a></b><br />
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"Being a princess is a pretty amazing job, that is, unless you’re a princess of the Underworld. Alleyah “Lee” Jenkins is the daughter of Hades and a human woman, Joanna. Her birth left her an orphan in the human realm. When she hit adolescence, she came into her succubus powers and learned the truth of her birthright. She was destined to marry a demon prince and together they would rule the thirteenth level of the underworld. She had different plans.</div>
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This book contains adult language and situations and is intended for audiences 18 and older.<br />
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<b>Shifter Love Tales Series</b> focuses on adult romances between shifters and their mates. It also contains meddling by the ancient gods and a fertility curse that the characters work to remove throughout the series. Each book will contain an HEA or HFN.</div>
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<a href="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/to-love-a-dragon-bc.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="to love a dragon bc" class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-913" height="150" src="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/to-love-a-dragon-bc.jpg?w=90" width="90" /></a><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Love-Dragon-Shifter-Tales-ebook/dp/B00QXQQVMQ/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">To Love a Dragon (book one in the Shifter Love Tales series) </a></b><br />
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Homicide Detective Charity Holiday comes across some interesting characters when she works on a murder case of a stripper. One of those characters happens to be her mate.
Malick Pendragon isn’t thrilled when his mate, who happens to be a witch, walks into his life. The timing is completely wrong. What he doesn’t expect is her life to be threatened or that he’d have to save her or risk dying himself.</div>
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This story contains adult language and situations. It is not intended for audiences under 18<br />
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<b>Magical Secrets Series:</b> Antique hunters search for magical items to hide them away from humanity and keep people safe.</div>
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<a href="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/gt.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="gt" class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-914" height="150" src="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/gt.jpg?w=90" width="90" /></a><b>Genie’s Treasure (Magical Secrets Series)</b><br />
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Antique hunters and siblings, Josie and Joshua Parker get more than they bargain for when they go looking for the key to a genie's lamp.<br />
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COMING SOON
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<b>The Winters Saga series</b> is a mature young adult series that centers around the Winters siblings and their family history. Rebecca, Savannah and Hunter are spellbound witches. Their parents were killed ten years ago. Rebecca’s desire for vengeance puts all three siblings on a path of destruction and their lives will never be the same.</div>
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<a href="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/lwr-new-book-cover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="lwr new book cover" class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-915" height="150" src="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/lwr-new-book-cover.jpg?w=90" width="90" /></a><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lone-Wolf-Rising-Winters-Saga-ebook/dp/B00J1TBKKA/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">Lone Wolf Rising (book one) </a></b><br />
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Revenge has deadly consequences. Seventeen year old Rebecca Winters’ main goal for ten years has been to graduate high school and take down the people who killed her parents. When she stumbled upon a werewolf pack in the middle of Phoenix, she knew she’d found a way to make her dream come true. Instead of getting vengeance, an act of war has put her into a position of power and forces her to put her thirst for family justice on a temporary hold.
He is duty bound to protect her. Lucian (Lucky) Lamont is a member of the Protectors, an elite supernatural police force who works for the Authority. Their main goal is to keep humans in the dark about the creatures who live among them. Lucky is assigned to protect and manage Rebecca, despite her refusal of help. His cover is simple; he poses as the dutiful ‘pretend’ boyfriend in order to keep an eye on the new alpha wolf.
She is his mate. Gabriel Black though taking his pack back from the witch who was chosen as the new alpha would be simple. He thought wrong. His entire world was turned upside down the moment he met Rebecca at the Authority Council meeting…and he was hooked the moment he kissed her to prove she wasn’t dating his best friend, Lucky.
It’s like being torn between two lovers. Rebecca is pulled in hundreds of different directions while she attempts to find a way to survive the supernatural world, protect her family, and discover who massacred her entire pack days before her first transformation. She doesn’t have time for romance.
But the heart wants what the heart wants. And the wolf gets what the wolf wants – or so her alpha believes. While Rebecca manages to keep her head above water as she unlocks political and family secrets which could destroy her, she loses sight of the most important people in her life and one of them pays the ultimate price.</div>
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<a href="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/vampire-princess-rising-front-cover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="vampire princess Rising front cover" class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-916" height="150" src="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/vampire-princess-rising-front-cover.jpg?w=90" width="90" /></a><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Vampire-Princess-Rising-Winters-Saga-ebook/dp/B00JTLNHTM/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">Vampire Princess Rising (book two of the Winters Saga) </a></b><br />
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Savannah Winters went from homecoming queen to vampire princess in one terrifying night. Now she must find a way to survive the dark world she lives without letting the anger and depression overwhelm and destroy her. Maintaining a balance between her supernatural identity and human cover is more difficult then she could ever imagine. And her decision to separate herself from her family only makes matters worse. How could she forgive her sister, Rebecca for the role she played in her demise?</div>
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It’s a question Rebecca struggles with herself as she attempts to rebuild the Arizona wolf pack after the massacre that left her a lone wolf. How can she convince her dear sweet sister, Savannah to forgive her?
While Rebecca and Savannah juggle the challenges of their new identities, responsibilities, political alliances, and the men in their lives Hunter becomes obsessed with unlocking the powers they have as natural born witches and finding a cure to the viruses that changed his sisters lives indefinitely.
More family secrets unravel and threaten to destroy the fragile connection the Winters siblings share while more enemies come out of the darkness to tear their new worlds apart.</div>
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Fire Master Rising (book three of the Winters Saga) is coming soon.</div>
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JAMI HAS BEEN A PART OF MANY BOXSETS WITH A NUMBER OF INCREDIBLE AUTHORS.</div>
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Some of her contributions have been published separately.</div>
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<a href="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/mx-box.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="MX box" class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-919" height="150" src="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/mx-box.jpg?w=150" width="150" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mystical-Xmas-Paranormal-Romance-Anthology-ebook/dp/B00OXRFJLG" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mystical-Xmas-Paranormal-Romance-Anthology-ebook/dp/B00OXRFJLG" target="_blank"><b>Mystical Royal Destined Love short stories</b></a> are about the eternal fairy tale of the prince and princess. These stories are incredibly steamy romances with paranormal entities mating to claim their royal love.</div>
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The Mystical Box Set Babes is an Anthology of Paranormal Romance, written by women with very different lives, backgrounds, and talents. This group of amazing, talented authors want to give their readers the royal paranormal romance story.</div>
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<a href="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/box-set.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Box Set" class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-920" height="150" src="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/box-set.jpg?w=150" width="150" /></a></div>
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If you think families are all about life, laughter and love...guess again<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Treasured-Moments-R-E-Hargrave-ebook/dp/B00QSJL9OI" target="_blank">Treasured Moments</a> presented by the Crazy Lady Authors, a collection of the good, the bad, and the ugly side of relationships. Hold on to your seats. Some of our tales will have you doubled over in laughter, bring tears to your eyes, and some will make you thankful for the place you call home.</div>
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<a href="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/mrl-box.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="MRL box" class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-921" height="150" src="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/mrl-box.jpg?w=150" width="150" /></a>These short stories are about the eternal fairy tale of the prince and princess. These stories are incredibly steamy romances with paranormal entities mating to claim their royal love.
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mystical-Royal-Love-Paranormal-Anthology-ebook/dp/B00OYMXL06" target="_blank">The Mystical Box Set</a> Babes is an Anthology of Paranormal Romance, written by women with very different lives, backgrounds, and talents. This group of amazing, talented authors want to give their readers the royal paranormal romance story.
Come on and 1-click it!! It's less than a cup of coffee! I know you'll love it!! This is for a great cause! Our children! They need you! All proceeds will be donated to St. Jude Children Hospital.</div>
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<a href="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/ws.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="ws" class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-922" height="150" src="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/ws.jpg?w=90" width="90" /></a>Love is as powerful as the ocean, as constant as the tide, as soothing as a sea breeze, as warm as the sun. The <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Windswept-Stories-Enduring-Sable-Hunter-ebook/dp/B00TBYS6Y8" target="_blank">Windswept</a> has stood guard over the waters of Galveston for over a hundred years. Within her walls, love abides. Here is a collection of stories, all varied, showing the many faces of love brought to you by the talented authors of Beau Coup Publishing.<br />
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<a href="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/eros.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="eros" class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-923" height="150" src="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/eros.jpg?w=90" width="90" /></a></div>
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In an effort to showcase the amazing talent that exists in the world of independent (Indie) authors, and to offer a variety of styles of creative writing to romance and erotica readers around the world, a concept was born in 2014 to pull together a compilation of authors from all sub-genres of romance and erotica for a common goal. The challenge...to write a short story 10,000 to 30,000 words in length in a sub-genre that none of the authors had ever published in...sci-fi and post-apocalypse. The result? <a href="http://www.amazon.com/EROS-Indie-Erotica-Author-Challenge-ebook/dp/B00RPTXHJA" target="_blank">EROS – Indie Romance/Erotica Challenge</a> 2015.</div>
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<a href="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/cook.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="cook" class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-924" height="150" src="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/cook.jpg?w=90" width="90" /></a>The <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cooking-Crazy-Authors-Melanie-James-ebook/dp/B00U85SIJ2" target="_blank">Crazy Lady Authors</a> aren't just cooking up plots in their books, they're also cooking up tasty vittles! Hey, we're 'crazy' about you, so we're 'dishing' our best recipes out in this awesome cookbook. It's the CLA's way of helping you serve up outstanding dinners in between reading any one of our published works. We know how easy it is to get lost in the pages. Before you know it, the hours have flown by and it's time for dinner. The hubby is hollering, the kids are complaining, and even the dog wants treats. We figure it's all our fault so why not help you maintain peace and harmony in your home by providing this amazing book of easy recipes to keep your clan well-fed? We do, however, stop short of coming to your house to cook it all up for you. We're writing our next novels, after all! Don't be greedy. Bon appetit!</div>
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<b>From the mouth of the amazing Amazon multi-best seller:</b></div>
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I'm currently finishing Fire Master Rising (book three of the Winters Saga) which will focus on Hunter's rise in power and strength. Violet will also go on trial for suspected genocide and Rebecca and Ophelia face off. I'd like to see this book published early April.</div>
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I'm also working on The Faerie King's Guardian (book two of Mystery Springs series) which will focus on the relationship between vampire consort, Marissa and the Faerie King, Brick's romance. Hypnos makes an appearance in this book as he works to drive Brick to paranoia. This book should be released end of April.</div>
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greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10188626600446773304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7052103690871116879.post-66024390850815450402015-03-24T18:49:00.000-07:002015-03-24T18:49:03.029-07:00Book Launch - The Only Exception by A. L. Davis<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><u>Title:</u> </i>The Only Exception: Broken</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><u>Author:</u> </i>A.L. Davis</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><u>Genre:</u> </i>Romance</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><u>Release Date:</u> </i>Dec 13, 2014</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23795663-the-only-exception?ac=1" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e4Chf3skK_0/VMnsv9gGDNI/AAAAAAAAB0U/rBOajUUyT-U/s1600/images.png" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> <i><b>“Everyone I’ve ever loved has been taken from me and I can’t take the heartache anymore. It’s time to build that wall around my heart and let no one in, no exceptions.”</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ellie never did know her mother; before she turned twenty she lost her father in the line of duty; a freak accident stole her fiancé from her before they had a chance to start their life together. She wants answers, but now that she’s living in a new town and trying to start over, she’s finding that it’s not that easy. Maybe new surroundings are what she needs to make it easier to move on and forget all about her old life. It could have been…until he showed up.</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">“Having the sort of job that is as dangerous as what I do doesn’t allow for a personal life, no exceptions.”</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Jack and his team of military misfits have seen their fair share of war zones and violent criminals. Skilled in precision rescue operations, they’ve traveled into some of the most terrifying countries and stood up to intimidating adversaries, but when a mentor of Jack’s calls them in for a favor that he is unable to turn down, he finds himself up against his most challenging fear of all…his heart. There is a fine line between getting close enough to do your job and getting so close that you get attached. That line used to be obvious, but now that he’s met her, things have blurred and priorities have shifted. Can he keep his feelings in check and still protect Ellie from an adversary more dangerous and twisted than she could ever imagine?</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AfJqtYBdskM/VP9REVp52UI/AAAAAAAACEQ/bYWkALM3oxY/s1600/Print%2BBook%2BCover%2Bin%2BPDF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AfJqtYBdskM/VP9REVp52UI/AAAAAAAACEQ/bYWkALM3oxY/s1600/Print%2BBook%2BCover%2Bin%2BPDF.jpg" height="287" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ER4Q6Z02EOg/VP9RAH5j4LI/AAAAAAAACDs/RgwWX3j-zkg/s1600/Teaser%2B(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ER4Q6Z02EOg/VP9RAH5j4LI/AAAAAAAACDs/RgwWX3j-zkg/s1600/Teaser%2B(1).JPG" height="400" width="275" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wAvngLyR87Y/VP9V8GHBs9I/AAAAAAAACEk/CZ5auun4acs/s1600/excerpt.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wAvngLyR87Y/VP9V8GHBs9I/AAAAAAAACEk/CZ5auun4acs/s1600/excerpt.png" /></span></a></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“And this…” I tossed the manila envelope back to the desk, “…is not a job. It’s a death sentence. My death sentence. I’m walking in blind. I mean, how do I know she’s not running from the law?”</span></div>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-d0d6ca39-242a-3a8f-5bb0-59ee9bd17da4" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lou shook his head, his mouth contorting into a tight frown, and answered matter-of-factly, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">“She’s not. And why would that stop you?”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“How do I know for sure? How do you know for sure?” I challenged, making him smile. </span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Somehow, that irritated me even more. He was hiding something.</span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Because I know,” he answered, lips pursed, eyes narrowing at me. He didn’t look away and neither did I. I wanted to know what he was thinking. What was he hiding? Unfortunately, he was going to make it difficult to find out.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I sighed, knowing that was the only answer I was going to get. “Is she hiding from her husband or boyfriend or something?”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Most definitely not,” he answered with a heavy sigh, sadness flicking across his face.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This piqued my interest. And why was a small part of me so damn happy with that answer?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Did she kill someone?” I figured I already knew the answer to this one, but I had to ask.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He chuckled. “Absolutely not.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“What if she’s got the mob after her? Did she piss off a terrorist group?”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“So what if they are? So what if she did? You’ve been wrapped up in worse and handled it,” he answered quickly. “Stop with the stalling already, Jack. I need to know. Are. You. In.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Lou, I don’t help people against their will because if they won’t listen and do what I tell them to do, bad things happen. She doesn’t want me anywhere near her. She won’t even look at me, let alone talk to me. Ellie dodges me all day long. I tried to just talk to her like you asked me, but she avoids me like the plague and scurries off in the other direction. She looks at me like…like…”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A.L. Davis lives in Southern California with her husband, two kids, and one fur baby. A.L. has had a passion for writing since high school where any free time was spent thinking up new stories. Shortly after graduating high school writing took a back seat to start a family. Now that the kids are older, writing has become her hobby once again.</span><br />
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greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10188626600446773304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7052103690871116879.post-76774347268587521802015-03-11T18:37:00.002-07:002015-03-11T18:38:44.858-07:00Review/Launch - The Leviathan Chronicles: the Last Stand at Aeprion<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S626ftJmXBE/VQDrkhNEpLI/AAAAAAAAAuo/NM7E-M1l7FE/s1600/Last_Stand%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S626ftJmXBE/VQDrkhNEpLI/AAAAAAAAAuo/NM7E-M1l7FE/s1600/Last_Stand%5B1%5D.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The
Leviathan Chronicles: The Last Stand at Aeprion</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">By James
Mascia</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Genre: Sci-fi<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Synopsis:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Still
reeling from his wife's murder, Joel tries to escape the alien hunter and
fulfill a promise he made to her. Years of searching for the fabled planet,
Aeprion, has left the space freighter captain torn between giving up the search
or giving himself up to Kraxem, the alien hunter.<br />
<br />
When Kraxem and his minions attack Joel's ship again, he is forced into the
nebula, where he'll have to do repairs. Once there, his thoughts revert back to
the final day of Kate's life and the promises that were made. Learning to come
to terms with her loss and release the guilt that he feels will be a hard
battle to fight, but giving up will prove to be even more difficult and, perhaps,
deadly.<br />
<br />
Steeling his resolve to forge on, Joel vows to find the fabled living planet
before guilt devours his soul.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>REVIEW</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><b><br /></b></span>
James Mascia has recaptured the pulp fiction of the 1930s, the era of Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon. It is corny, fast-moving, incredibly funny, and, improbably possible. It is a short, marvelous romp through space, time, humor, and the imagination. Highly recommended.<br />
<br />
Mr. Mascia sent me a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UeMfi5XXShQ/VQDrstJkEHI/AAAAAAAAAuw/hTsVVd8u5V8/s1600/James%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UeMfi5XXShQ/VQDrstJkEHI/AAAAAAAAAuw/hTsVVd8u5V8/s1600/James%5B1%5D.jpg" height="320" width="290" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">About the Author</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">He fights evil across the known universe and crushes them between
his fingers (at least, he does this with his words). </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">James Mascia is an accomplished writer with a bestselling series,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>High
School Heroes,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i>as well as a
bestselling graphic novel,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>The Poe Murders.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i>He has always been a fan of
sci-fi, and is glad to be delving back into the galaxy once again.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">James teaches in Maryland, where he also writes. He has a lovely
wife and a tiny terror (a two-year-old) driving him mad, but making him laugh.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Check out some
of his other work below:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.islandofdren.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;">https://www.islandofdren.com</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.twitter.com/masciajames" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;">https://www.twitter.com/masciajames</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://jmascia.deviantart.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;">https://jmascia.deviantart.com</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AuthorArtist-James-Mascia/353933315067?ref=hl" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext;">https://www.facebook.com/pages/AuthorArtist-James-Mascia/353933315067?ref=hl</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1521602.James_Mascia" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1521602.James_Mascia</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
author is giving away an ebook copy of his book to 5 lucky readers!</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></b>
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greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10188626600446773304noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7052103690871116879.post-44839309382098055672015-02-24T17:37:00.002-08:002015-02-24T17:37:29.581-08:00Review - The East India Company by John Gardner<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Gardner paints the history of the East India Company with a broad brush. Too broad. He dabbles in all aspects - military, administrative, governance, commercial, personalities - but never seems to complete anything. This leaves the reader with a sense of the sweeping history of the Raj, and the personalities and interests that drove it, mostly from the British side, but you are always left without a complete picture. The personality is incomplete, the understanding of the commercial enterprise is incomplete, the military history is little more that a comment about the commander and a note on the troop quality and a listing of battles. A good try, but sadly, incomplete.</span>greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10188626600446773304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7052103690871116879.post-89607073199148295032015-02-21T17:28:00.002-08:002015-02-21T17:28:59.126-08:00K.S. Thomas - Bittersweet Book Blitz<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>GENRE:</b> Contemporary Romance</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>PUBLICATION DATE:</b> February 21, 2015</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>COVER DESIGN:</b> Regina Wamba at Mae I Design</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>LENGTH:</b> 60,000+ words</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>CONTENT WARNING:</b> Adult Content - Language/Situations</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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Esi is young, beautiful and smart. She's got it all...and then some, but it's not what you'd expect.</div>
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Seven years after fate has her colliding - literally - with the man of her dreams, the two finally find themselves walking down the aisle. The day couldn't be more perfect. For one shining moment in time, she has it all.</div>
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Then a tragic accident changes everything.</div>
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Getting married was supposed to be the final touch on their already blissful relationship, but after the car crash, nothing seems right anymore. Soon after they get home from the hospital, Esi discovers she's pregnant. However, after the extensive damages her heart has endured from the night of the traumatic wreck, this miracle of life brings with it the reality of death.</div>
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Now Esi and Carter both have to face facts. Someone might not survive.</div>
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While ever after may not be as happy as Esi has always hoped, she's learning to appreciate the beauty in strength and surviving, and finding that love, no matter how true or how complete, sometimes is simply 'bittersweet'.</div>
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<a href="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/bittersweetteaser2big.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Beautiful wedding couple is enjoying wedding" class="alignleft wp-image-720 size-medium" height="300" src="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/bittersweetteaser2big.jpg?w=300" width="300" /></a><a href="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/bittersweetteaser2big.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a>The reception goes on until late into the evening, and even after the last of our friends and family leaves, Carter and I stand out in that field, slow dancing to the sounds of quiet wind rustling the leaves and brushing across the overgrown grass.</div>
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“I don’t want tonight to ever end,” I whisper into the curve of his neck. It’s my favorite place because it fits my face perfectly and I can inhale his amazing scent to my heart’s desire. Carter always smells of Irish Spring soap, citrus and, because he’s a chronic gum chewer, fresh mint. I can’t imagine anything else ever being a more enticing combination of scents.</div>
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He chuckles softly, and the rumble in his throat vibrates against my cheek. “You do realize we’ll still be married in the morning, don’t you?” But he makes no efforts to break the hold he has on me, or to stop our bodies from swaying back and forth ever so gently.</div>
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“I do. But it won’t be our wedding day anymore. I won’t be a bride. You won’t be a groom. And most importantly, once I take off this dress, I won’t ever get a chance to wear again.” My head pops up involuntarily when I’m hit by a stroke of genius. “Oh, unless we agree right now to renew our vows every year. I’m not saying we have to have a whole wedding, just as long as I can wear this dress and listen to you make your vows again. That’s really all I’d need.”</div>
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<a href="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/ab931-bittersweetteaser1big.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="283" src="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/ab931-bittersweetteaser1big.jpg" width="320" /></a>He grins. “That’s all, huh?”</div>
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“Too much? Too crazy?” I muse.</div>
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Carter kisses my forehead, then the tip of my nose. He’s aiming for my lips when he answers, “No such thing.”</div>
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Both arms wrap securely around his neck and I lean back, letting the sensation of Carter’s lips on mine take over my entire physical being. He has the kind of kiss a girl could drown in, and I can’t help but think how lucky I am, to never be kissed by any other man for as long as I live.</div>
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“Think anyone else is as happy as we are?” I mumble, his mouth still on mine.</div>
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“I hope so.” His hazel eyes open and he gazes down at me. I’ve never once been able to say no to them in seven years. “You ready to get out of here?”</div>
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I lock my arms tighter, securing him in my hold a moment longer. “I don’t know. Do you promise to marry me all over again next year?”</div>
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His expression is serious as he comes in closer again, but his eyes are smiling, lights from the stars reflecting in them, dancing wildly. “I already said I would.”<br />
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Dog Lover who likes her pastries full of cream and sugar….oh…and I write some ;-)</div>
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<a href="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/3aae4-author2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" src="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/3aae4-author2.jpg" width="150" /></a>Aside from being an author, I am also a mom to a beautiful 5 year old little girl. I tell everyone I named her after my great-grandmother (because that’s the mature answer), but really, I named her after my favorite princess – just so happens I got lucky and they had the same name…If I wasn’t a writer, I would work on a horse ranch – I’m an animal lover (in addition to dogs, horses are at the top of my list). I wear flip-flops pretty much everywhere I go. I would rather stay awake until 5 am than get up at 5 am (years of bar tending have left their mark), if I can, I’m going to the beach AND I will always be nice to people who bring me chocolate…or coffee…if you bring me both, I’ll probably love you forever.A gypsy at heart, I write the way I live, following the story wherever it may lead, always ready to start the next one. This is clearly reflected in my body of work which to date includes everything from Children’s Lit to Thrillers.</div>
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I happily reside in sunny Florida (for now) and always enjoy hearing from fellow readers!!</div>
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greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10188626600446773304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7052103690871116879.post-57247034207959914012015-02-15T18:37:00.000-08:002015-02-15T18:37:17.397-08:00The Gatekeeper's Key - Launch<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/blogcover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="blogcover" class="aligncenter wp-image-586 size-large" height="244" src="https://magicofbookspromo.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/blogcover.jpg?w=660" width="660" /></a></div>
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Genre: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy</div>
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Content Warning: Sexual situations and bad language. Magical violence.</div>
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Cover designer: Steven Novak ~ Editor: Rebecca</div>
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SYNOPSIS</div>
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<span data-reactid=".1cr.$mid=11423099758414=2efd5021fdb6f209693.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$0:0">Attacks from Hellish minions have cast the magical world into an uproar. Amid the chaos, Sorceress Krystine Iamides conceals the supernatural from humanity by using her precognitive talents. Unfortunately, luck is not always kind and fate thrusts her alongside her estranged lover while investigating a cult's ritualistic sacrifice.</span></div>
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<span data-reactid=".1cr.$mid=11423099758414=2efd5021fdb6f209693.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$4:0">Detective Jean-Luc Chevalier has a reputation for returning from the dead, as well as stealing Krystine's heart. At first, her psychic ability seems like the right investigative tool to aid his case - until it attracts a demonic entity with a taste for human flesh.</span></div>
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<span data-reactid=".1cr.$mid=11423099758414=2efd5021fdb6f209693.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$8:0">Now, as cult activities risk exposing magical society, it becomes imperative for the ex-lovers to combine their unique gifts to survive the deception at hand. Jean-Luc and Krys must discover the meaning of standing united; for divided, they will fall.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PI9P7SS" target="_blank">Amazon US</a> ~ <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00PI9P7SS" target="_blank">Amazon UK</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Gatekeepers-Key-Spellbound-Consortium-Book-ebook/dp/B00PI9P7SS" target="_blank">Amazon CA</a> ~ <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22464987-the-gatekeeper-s-key" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></h4>
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EXCERPT</div>
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Jean-Luc capped the end of his penlight and tucked it into his leather jacket, making it too dark to make out his pale features beside her. She sensed him near and enjoyed the warmth of his breath close to her. He may have been a working man, but Krys knew from experience that he had soft, beautiful hands and a soothing touch.</div>
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“Do you trust me?” he whispered suddenly in a low voice. His breath caressed her ear.</div>
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“I do. You know I do.” Her shoulder lifted and her cheek pressed into his hand in the dark. “I’m sorry. I can do this.”</div>
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“I know you can…” Jean-Luc’s thumb continued to sweep tenderly across her skin.</div>
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Within seconds, her racing heart began to calm and the dry lump in her throat eased. Her fears seeped away. In their place, she felt a sort of cool detachment despite the overwhelming odds. There was only one thing she needed to do first.</div>
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A turn of her head and a lift of her hand brought his face to hers. She kissed him, firm and deep, daring to slip her tongue between his lips and enjoy the ardor he reciprocated. Jean-Luc’s kisses were a drug, as fine as her most beloved wine, but Krys pulled away before she completely lost herself. It was hard. Especially, since he had returned the display of affection with equal passion.</div>
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“I missed you, Jean-Luc, and I’m sorry.” She needed to say it. With the danger they headed toward, she needed him to know in case she never got the chance again. “I was going to call you this morning, I swear it.”</div>
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“I… I have missed you too, Krystine.”</div>
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Strange how something so simple meant so much to her. “Thank you for helping us.” Thank you for finding me. Again.</div>
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“There is never a need to thank me for doing what is right. This will go well, cherie, have faith in that.”</div>
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ABOUT THE AUTHORS</div>
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Nick Taylor</strong></span> enjoys writing as an outlet for her creativity. The works of Tolkien have inspired her and remain among some of her favorite novels. She is a videogamer by nature and enjoys horror movies, the outdoors, animals, and renaissance festivals. Nick currently lives in Texas where she hopes to acquire her registered nursing degree and is the mother of two beautiful children ages nine and eleven.</div>
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Alisha Payne</strong></span> loves to read and has always had a fondness for creative writing. She started with poetry and moved up to short stories, before eventually writing novels with her friend Nick. She loves reading a whole range of genres and authors from Tolkien to James Rollins, and blames her love for reading on her mother, who introduced her to the worlds of Pern and Xanth. Alisha is a former Petty Officer of the United States Navy, which is where she met her wonderful husband. She currently resides with her family in Virginia.</div>
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<a href="http://www.spellboundconsortium.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> ~ <a href="https://www.facebook.com/spellbound.books" target="_blank">Facebook</a> ~ <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/SpellboundNovel" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></h4>
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<a href="http://www.twitter.com/Alisha_SBC" target="_blank">Alisha Twitter</a> ~ <a href="http://www.twitter.com/Nick_SBC" target="_blank">Nick Twitter</a></h4>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/A.-Payne/e/B00IWKOMB8" target="_blank">Alisha Amazon</a> ~ <a href="http://www.amazon.com/N.-D.-Taylor/e/B00IWURIE6" target="_blank">Nick Amazon</a></h4>
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ADDITIONAL BOOKS by Nick Taylor and Alisha Payne</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HLX4SJS" target="_blank">The Regent's Gamble</a></div>
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Addison never asked to become a king among the mages in his society. Now he protects the fragile balance between the mundane and supernatural realms. The job is easier said than done, even with the aid of a sultry half-dryad who possesses unique talents of her own. Crumbling truces test boundaries of the new ruler and his elite wizards as they are swept into a treacherous game of loyalty and betrayal. A sinister enemy forges deadly plans for the city of New York, and it will stop at nothing to achieve its wicked desires.</div>
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In a world where demons whisper seductions into mortal ears and fae prey upon the desperate with underhanded deals, fate thrusts an ordinary young woman and her child into the center of a building storm. In Manhattan, trolls lurk under more than bridges, gentle nature spirits become killers overnight, and necromancers raise the dead to benefit their insidious plots. To save New York City from ruin, the lives of four strangers must intertwine. If they cannot defeat their own inner demons, then all is lost and the forces of Hell will triumph.</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N89UJ1U" target="_blank">The Collector's Treasure</a></div>
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Griffin MacNeil makes his living as a treasure hunter; an adventuring sorcerer with a knack for surviving against the odds. Exploring perilous tombs and ancient ruins for lost treasure is satisfying work, but his thoughts often travel to his first love Aisling, the best friend he left behind.</div>
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As the orphaned child of a Changeling, Aisling has a natural talent for the magical arts. Her compassion, generosity, and gift for lifting devilish curses aid her in saving lives as well as mending souls. Unfortunately, she's also inherited a stubborn streak that would make her fae ancestors proud.</div>
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Relentless mage-hunters sabotage Griffin's most recent quest in Egypt, with fatal consequences for those around him. After a rough recovery, chance throws Griffin right into Aisling's path. The unexpected meeting allows them to rekindle their friendship, but their reunion is bittersweet. With trained mercenaries annihilating wizard-kind and a demon-summoning cult on his heels, Griffin needs more than a Faerie girl and his lucky gold coin to keep ahead of danger.</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KD5RR58" target="_blank">Primal Legacy</a></div>
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For centuries, the peaceful Wakani people have enjoyed the protection granted by the nagual - fierce tribal champions able to shapeshift to a feline shape. Among them, a man named Felipe struggles to find his place and create his own path. Young, headstrong, and too inquisitive for his own good, Felipe's life takes a dangerous turn after a seductive encounter with a mysterious explorer.</div>
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Dynamite, guns, and the spread of invading civilization are only some of the perils threatening Felipe's tribe. Another hungry danger lurks just beyond the village boundaries, and it eagerly awaits the chance to make the whole tribe its prey. The inexperienced warrior becomes torn between duty and desire, but his beguiling adventurer's past makes them natural enemies. Can they overcome their differences in time to face the greater danger... or will a sinister presence consume them all?</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Spellbound-Christmas-Consortium-ebook/dp/B00QXE7KHI" target="_blank">A Spellbound Christmas</a></div>
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This book occurs between The Collector's Treasure and The Gatekeeper's Key, but it may be read as a standalone series of short stories. Stories 1 and 3 contain adult content.</div>
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Ho ho ho, Merry Christmas! Take a step away from reality and enjoy these magical holiday-themed paranormal stories starring characters from A Spellbound Consortium.</div>
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A wizard cowboy named Noah enjoys a special night with his lady on Christmas Eve. Lachlan, the fairy hound, makes a new friend in the most unlikely place. The psychic journalist Krys has a special dance with the object of her affection.</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00T3OR9FS" target="_blank">Across Our Stars: Victor</a></div>
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<em>In the distant future</em>, the nations of Earth have merged beneath a single ruling body: the United Empire. Under the protection of Her Majesty's Galactic Navy, humanity has spread across our stars and entered a new Golden Age of prosperity and peaceful colonization.</div>
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Doctor Victor del Toro rose from nothing to escape poverty and a childhood on the streets. He serves the galaxy as one of the Navy's leading cyberneticists and views the Royal Marines as his family. But that doesn't mean they're privileged to know his career is a comfort from his turbulent past.</div>
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Born to influential parents, Zoe Raines' childhood dream was to make a difference without her father's money. To avoid an arranged marriage, she enlisted and risked her life to save a fellow marine, sacrificing a limb in the process. Her new prosthetic places her under Doctor del Toro's watchful eye - and his talented hands.</div>
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Age and rank should divide them, but Victor needs Zoe for reasons beyond their mutual attraction. Danger is on the rise in the galaxy, and the mass abduction of entire colonies leads to one staggering fact: someone out there has targeted cybernetic recipients. It falls to Victor to solve the mystery. <em>With Zoe as his empathetic ear and the gun to guard his back, the doctor must discover the whereabouts of the missing cyborgs and heal his own damaged soul</em>.<br />
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Promotional Material from:</div>
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greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10188626600446773304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7052103690871116879.post-93136212205754882015-02-03T00:27:00.000-08:002015-02-03T00:27:18.802-08:00Verum by Courtney Cole - Launch<h3 style="text-align: center;">
VERUM, the second book in Courtney Cole's psychological mind-bending NOCTE Trilogy, is here.</h3>
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<strong><a href="http://smarturl.it/VERUMAmazon" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://smarturl.it/VERUMiBooks" target="_blank">iBooks</a> | <a href="http://smarturl.it/VERUMNook" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a> | <a href="http://smarturl.it/VERUMKobo" target="_blank">Kobo</a></strong>
<a href="http://smarturl.it/VERUMGoodreads" target="_blank"><strong>Add it on Goodreads</strong></a></h5>
<br />
<a href="http://smarturl.it/VERUMAmazon"><img alt="VERUM-300px" class="alignright size-full wp-image-2141" src="http://www.badassmktg.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/VERUM-300px.jpg" height="474" width="300" /></a>My name is Calla Price and I’m drowning.
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My new world is a dark, dark ocean and I’m being pulled under by secrets.
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Can I trust anyone? I don’t know anymore.
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The lies are spirals. They twist and turn, binding me with their thorns and serpentine tongues. And just when I think I have it figured out, everything is pulled out from under me.
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I’m entangled in the darkness.
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But the truth will set me free.
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It’s just ahead of me, so close I can touch it. But even though it shines and glimmers, it has glistening fangs and I know it will shred me.
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<em>Are you scared?</em>
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<strong>I am.</strong>
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<img alt="VERUM-LaunchDay-600px" class="aligncenter wp-image-2220 size-full" src="http://www.badassmktg.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/VERUM-LaunchDay-600px.jpg" height="535" width="600" /><br />
<h5 style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Get VERUM (Nocte Trilogy #2):<a href="http://smarturl.it/VERUMAmazon" target="_blank">
Amazon</a> | <a href="http://smarturl.it/VERUMiBooks" target="_blank">iBooks</a> | <a href="http://smarturl.it/VERUMNook" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a> | <a href="http://smarturl.it/VERUMKobo" target="_blank">Kobo</a></strong><br />
<a href="http://smarturl.it/VERUMGoodreads" target="_blank"><strong>Add it on Goodreads</strong></a></h5>
<br />
<br />
<h5 style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Get NOCTE, the first book in the trilogy:<a href="http://smarturl.it/NOCTEAmazon" target="_blank">
Amazon</a> | <a href="http://smarturl.it/NOCTEiBooks" target="_blank">iBooks</a> | <a href="http://smarturl.it/NOCTENook" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a> | <a href="http://smarturl.it/NOCTEKobo" target="_blank">Kobo</a></strong><br />
<a href="http://smarturl.it/NOCTEGoodreads" target="_blank"><strong>Add it on Goodreads</strong></a></h5>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><a href="http://smarturl.it/CourtneyColeEmail" target="_blank">Sign up for Courtney Cole's Superfan Newsletter</a> to get updates on LUX, the final book in the NOCTE Trilogy, coming Summer 2015.</strong></div>
greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10188626600446773304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7052103690871116879.post-18136839092109172322015-01-24T07:43:00.000-08:002015-01-24T07:43:03.038-08:00Review - The Savage Wars of Peace<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9lEmuDmQWhg/VMO6vrXk78I/AAAAAAAAAtg/s6-P0vdaxYA/s1600/SavageWarsOfPeace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9lEmuDmQWhg/VMO6vrXk78I/AAAAAAAAAtg/s6-P0vdaxYA/s1600/SavageWarsOfPeace.jpg" height="320" width="207" /></a></div>
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In this well-referenced, clearly written survey of America's involvement in "small wars" from the Quasi-War with France in 1798 to Kosovo in 2001, Max Boot argues that America has a long history of involvement in other countries' internal affairs and that, up until Vietnam, the U. S. had a fairly decent track record.<br />
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American interventions often brought stability, security, and a large decrease in corruption while introducing health and infrastructure improvements. He also argues that economics, often touted as a primary reason for American involvement, has actually been generally of only secondary importance.<br />
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Boot lays out a clear, concise argument that America, if it leans on its historical experience, can and should be an agent of global security and state building. He cautions that if America does not listen to history, or if it opts out of its role, the consequences can be terrible - citing the Beirut bombing and the rise of Osama bin Laden as recent failures.<br />
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Although written in 2002 this book still has relevance in the tumultuous, jihadist-edged world. We still don't seem to understand the lessons of history though they are relatively easy to reference.<br />
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Recommended.greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10188626600446773304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7052103690871116879.post-615631176871586012015-01-18T07:11:00.000-08:002015-01-18T07:11:02.406-08:00Win a $10 Amazon Gift Card!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3Pe04uu2Pto/VLvLTv14IZI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/5FfqEjUWglU/s1600/scenes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3Pe04uu2Pto/VLvLTv14IZI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/5FfqEjUWglU/s1600/scenes.jpg" height="320" width="225" /></a></div>
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Now available for FREE on Smashwords the first three short short stories from my upcoming collection, <i>Scenes</i>.</div>
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<a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/511720" target="_blank">Scenes (preview 1)</a></div>
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Additional previews will be posted in the coming weeks.</div>
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1 entry for commenting on this blog, 5 entries for a review or post (email me with a link).</div>
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Gift card will be awarded once there are 100 entries (or on March 1, whichever is first).</div>
<br />greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10188626600446773304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7052103690871116879.post-33706616290216249172015-01-10T05:38:00.000-08:002015-01-10T05:38:10.180-08:002014 - More of the same?Afghanistan, Ferguson, Eric Garner, ISIS, deadlock in Washington, Boko Haram, Charlie Hebdo...<br />
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In one way of another, I think these stories are all old news. I mean old as in they've been happening for many years without real change. And all of them seem to me to be the same underneath.<br />
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In each case one of the "sides" (maybe both?) sees the other as a thing, an object, a problem, instead of a person.<br />
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The solution, so very hard, apparently, is to see a person as a person first. A person like you, with things they want, they love, they dislike. Don't see their sex, their religion, their color, their politics, until you see them first as a person. Then make sure you behave only as you would like to be treated.<br />
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Literature has myriad examples of how all of these issues should be handled, many in children's books, though not always. Wouldn't we be a better world if we followed the examples followed or discovered by the protagonists in the following?<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0446310786/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0446310786&linkCode=as2&tag=blotheecl-20&linkId=UP7BD2YRWWACH3HM">To Kill a Mockingbird</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=blotheecl-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0446310786" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<img src="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_post_349_width/2013/09/to_kill_a_mocking_bird.jpg" height="200" width="133" /><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0446310786/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0446310786&linkCode=as2&tag=blotheecl-20&linkId=UP7BD2YRWWACH3HM">The Summer of My German Soldier</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=blotheecl-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0446310786" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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<img src="http://bermudaonion.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/summer-of-my-german-soldier.jpg" /><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0446310786/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0446310786&linkCode=as2&tag=blotheecl-20&linkId=UP7BD2YRWWACH3HM">Flowers for Algernon</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=blotheecl-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0446310786" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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<img height="200" src="https://ogpenn.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/flowersforalgernon.jpeg" width="121" /><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0446310786/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0446310786&linkCode=as2&tag=blotheecl-20&linkId=UP7BD2YRWWACH3HM">Bridge to Terabithia</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=blotheecl-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0446310786" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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Let me know if you have any special books you'd add to the list.greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10188626600446773304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7052103690871116879.post-58494372759684443012015-01-09T10:18:00.001-08:002015-01-09T10:18:18.182-08:00Pearl, MD REVIEW<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cuTG2edbtK8/VLAXsZ0eVbI/AAAAAAAAAs8/EYVebMgVZS0/s1600/PEARL-MD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cuTG2edbtK8/VLAXsZ0eVbI/AAAAAAAAAs8/EYVebMgVZS0/s1600/PEARL-MD.jpg" height="320" width="205" /></a></div>
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Pearl, MD is a historical novel set in 1883 North Carolina and Missouri. Dr. Pearl Stern is one of the first female doctors in the United States. She faces bravely the prejudices of the time against professional women, women who speak their mind, and the timeless resistance to change, specifically in adopting the Pasteur method of antiseptic procedure that was new at the time in medicine.</div>
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She has a strong, quiet ally in Chief Hershel Harkins and a good friend in Jeremiah Dickson. She also has a past she is running from in her native Missouri. </div>
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The story is full of fascinating insights into the changing culture of the post Civil War south (Pearl is ostracized because she hires and treats black people) and the medical practices and medicaines of the time. Ms. Bartlett clearly understands her history.</div>
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The story is a bit slow moving and this reviewer would have liked to have felt more warmth between Dr. Stern and Chief Harkins. However, it is well written and offers an amazing window on a tumultuous time with much change in progress that we take for granted today.</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1940224128/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1940224128&linkCode=as2&tag=blotheecl-20&linkId=OO3ABGXR2DYYTFMM">Pearl, MD</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=blotheecl-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1940224128" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> is available at Amazon or most other outlets.</div>
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A copy of Pearl, MD was provided in return for an honest review.greghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10188626600446773304noreply@blogger.com0