REVIEW: WINTERBORN BY A. D. ROLAND & #GIVEAWAY #YA #HORROR

 Blurb:

Winterborn is the intense story of a disintegrating family trapped in a small town haunted by a terrible tragedy that occurred twenty years earlier. Tamsyn Hallert finds herself reliant on narcotics to make it through daily life with her husband, Sean, who spent the majority of their marriage involved with his high school girlfriend, and his surprise illegitimate son Kevin. Kevin has all the classic possessed-kid symptoms. He’s angry, manipulative, hangs out in the abandoned ‘haunted’ house, and likes to bite. Weird things begin to happen, and Tamsyn can’t figure out if they’re real, or products of her self-medication.

When Sean begins to act strange and a horrific creature attacks them, she realizes everything is very, very real. She’s the key to unleashing--or stopping--the terrifying forces bound within the Wraithborne Estate.

With her husband held in sway by a dead woman, her life falling apart around her, Tamsyn has to figure out if she even wants to save her crumbling family.

Winterborn is available at all major ebook distributors and at www.damnationbooks.com.

Links to books:

Dark Consort: http://amzn.com/B00H3T5966

Winterborn: http://amzn.com/B0053YM30S

A Year of You: http://amzn.com/B00IX1L8B8

Swamp Baby: http://amzn.com/B00AD3YSGG

 
Contest:
Between March 23rd and March 31st, A D Roland will be giving away an ebook copy of the winner's choice from her titles. How do you enter? Leave your name and email address in the comments section below. On April 1st, a random winner will be selected. (This is usually done by my cat. You can't get any more random than him! I have identical bottle caps with numbers on them. I give them a toss. The one he brings back to me first wins!)

Review:
Talk about creepy! I love a good scary story, and Roland didn't disappoint. There are so many twists and turns to this quick paced story I'm not sure how much to tell!

Tamsyn is a drug addict in a train wreck of a marriage to Sean. She's a temperamental artist. She's suffered with a philandering husband and multiple miscarriages. Now, her husband has moved her back to his hometown to raise his bastard son with his "other woman." What else could go wrong?

Never ask that question. The universe is always more than happy to show you. In Tamsyn's case, the icing on the cake is Kevin, Sean's illegitimate son. Kevin practices dark magic and spiritualism similar to Voodoo. Unfortunately for her, he is practicing his dark arts on her! Making her question her sanity and her relationship with Sean, Tamsyn isn't yet away the stalking shadows and eyes in the dark aren't drug induced hallucinations. Kevin is a screwed up little boy who wants his mother and father to be together. Tamsyn is in his way and no one belives her when she reaches out for help.

I have to say it. Way to go Roland! I'm a huge Stephen King fan, and Winterborn is written in the same dark, twisted vein of scary story lines as King. Tamsyn's pain is tangible, both her internal struggles with the drugs and her external struggles with Sean and Kevin. I really enjoyed watching her rise to the occasion. The ending is a surprise with a moment that makes you hold your breath and wonder what happens next. This is a great suspense for older teens and adults of all ages. I don't recommend this one for the younger readers, unless sitting up all night with nightmares is your thing! Winterborn gets 4.5 stars!

About the Author:

A.D. Roland grew up reading all the horror ‘greats.’ It’s no wonder her writing reflects the same archetypes--haunted houses and families, broken people and, of course, that thin thread of hope that everything will turn out fine. She lives in rural central Florida with her kids and a clowder of cats. She is the author of Dark Consort, a dark fantasy, Swamp Baby, a horror novel, and most currently, A Year of You, a new adult romantic suspense.

In addition to writing, A.D. designs book covers under the name Ash Arceneaux. Her offers premade covers for authors/publishers who need a cover on a deadline, and works on commission. For those who wish to follow her, her facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/adrolandauthor, and her website is www.ashsartanddesign.com.

REVIEW: DARK CONSORT BY A. D. ROLAND

Blurb:
Ruler of a withering kingdom, Ceron has come to terms with the fact that the only way to save his country is to carry on with one of his ancestors' worst traditions--the kidnapping and sacrifice of a mage to revive the dying magic of Aichinn. Through his short reign, he's fought hard to bury his hateful legacy and create a new, peaceful rule. The demons that have plagued his bloodline, however, have other plans. Vile plans. They want blood and war, death and destruction. Even as he fights them, tooth and nail, he realizes he can't fight them forever. 
Kaeda just can't get it right. A healer mage in the lush, bountiful Northlands, no matter of training seems to awaken more than a trickle of her magic. When the mysterious visitor from a southern state offers her an escape from the looming banishment, she takes him up without a second thought. Unfortunately, the stranger isn't who he says he is. 
He's the dreaded King of Nightmare and Shadow, the Lord of the Goblins, the Dark King Ceron. And he wants her. Despite being kidnapped, imprisoned, and deceived, Kaeda discovers she's meant for so much more than what Ceron intends. The very land of Aichinn embraces her, and her natural abilities flood forth. The dying kingdom has a chance to live again. With the awakening of the land's magic, Ceron's demons rise in full force, determined to wield the burgeoning power as their own. 
Kaeda is Ceron's only chance to save Aichinn--if he doesn't destroy her first.

Buy Dark Consort on Amazon! 

Review:
A beautiful, young mage with powers that just don't seem up to snuff finds herself with few options and no way out of a life of servitude. Enter handsome, rouge king. He sweeps her off her feet and whisks her away to the his forbidden kingdom. Heard that one you say? Not like this, you haven't!

 Having spent her entire life in service as a healer, Kaeda feels second rate. She finally comes to the realization that she will never be a Keyholder. Unfortunately for her, this means no pairing with Talin, her best friend since childhood, and the official binding of her powers. Convinced this will cause her to go mad, she leaps at the opportunity to runaway with a handsome stranger.

This isn't just any stranger. Ceron, King of Nightmare and Shadow finds her to be his perfect magical mate. Luring her away from her duties, he takes her back to Aichinn. While not entirely sure why, he knows she's something very special and so much more than a second-rate mage. That's when the fireworks begin!

This book is a great fantasy novel for older teens and young adults. There's a great deal of internal struggle mixed with action. The hero is dark and tormented by an ancestral curse. Our heroine isn't the small, insignificant creature she believes herself to be, making her transformation beautiful and interesting. The themes of love-holds-no-bounds and true love comes with selfless sacrifices is sweet and well played. This would make a suitable book for reading anywhere. Nothing should be a problem if someone looks over your shoulder.

4 stars for A. D. Rolands Dark Consort!

SIG WOODS AND THE BOOK OF ELEMENTS

About the Series:

The Sig Woods Series is based on a teen fantasy series by Y. Pushkin.

Sig Woods is a young boy who discovers he can control the element of nature.  The first book in the series, Sig Woods and the Book of Elements takes you on a journey as Sig and his good friend, Ellie go on a mission to find the mysterious Book of Elements.

Blurb:

A young boy discovers the power to control nature. He must band together with friends to find the all-powerful Book of Elements.

About the Author:

Y. Pushkin is a native of Leningrad, Russia, but grew up in the United States. His first book, Sig Woods and the Book of Elements, is the first of a series called, Sig Woods. Y. Pushkin draws his inspiration for writing through nature, relaxation, meditation, and good company.

Find Y. Pushkin on the web:

Website: http://ypushkinrocks.wix.com/sigwoods

Kindle Edition: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GMYDZM8?tag=mybooktable-20
Paperback Edition: https://www.createspace.com/4520022?ref=1147694&utm_id=6026

sigwoods

REVIEW: DISENCHANTED BY CALLIE HUNTER

Blurb:

After a messy divorce, Sara, Evan, Eli and Mason Shea go their separate ways and lose contact. But twelve years later, Evan Shea commits suicide, which brings his family back together.
During an uncomfortable ‘getting to know each other again’ meeting, they uncover any secrets and finally get answers to the questions they’ve been dying to ask for twelve years.


AVAILABLE ON AMAZON NOW: US & UK.

Links:

Blog:  http://calliehunter.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CallieHunterAuthorPage
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Callie_Author
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7303824.Callie_Hunter

Review:

Nothing brings family together like a funeral. People who can't stand each other just can't resist attempting to pretend they get along. You know what I mean. Every family has a black sheep who turns up, if for no other reason than to make everyone else uncomfortable. Disenchanted is no different. The difference is the blackest sheep of them all has died.

We start off with a happy, normal moment in Sara's life. Her husband is in the shower, and the baby is nursing. The phone rings. One of her estranged brothers has called to tell her their brother, Evan, has committed suicide. Sara agrees to attend the funeral, and that's when the fireworks start. In an effort to observe the usual rituals, twelve years of family dirty laundry gets aired, making Sara reevaluate everything she thought she knew about her past.

I liked this novelette very much. There was all the usual family drama and a few twists. It wasn't so much about surprises as it was the very familiar drama surrounding a funeral. The disenchantment come when she gets all the gory details of the past. Evan was a class A jerk, and Sara's greatest tormenter as a child. Her father abandoned her and her mother twelve years earlier, taking her brothers with him. None of them bothered to stay in touch. It took me a bit to understand why she even bothered to turn up at all. However, don't we all ask, "Why?" She needed answers.

I can safely recommend this as a work read. If you need a short story while waiting for the kids in the carpool or at a sports practice, this would make an excellent way to pass the time. The easy flow and relatable situations make this a quick, easy read. I could see this appealing to young adults and older teenagers. Whether pool side or snuggled down for a bedtime story, Disenchanted is one to pick up.

I RUN BY E. L. FARRIS VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR

 http://tinyurl.com/irunnovel

Book Description

When Sally Lane Brookman gets hit by a Metro bus, it shatters her suburban world. But it does more than just damage her body; when she begins the long and painful process of physical recovery, she realizes that she's broken in more places than any doctor could ever see.

Confronting addiction, abuse, mental illness, and a hell she can't escape, Sally drags her past into her present and desperately tries to flee both. It's not until she puts her future in danger that she realizes it's finally time to slow down.

 With exuberant energy, humor, and sometimes painful honesty, the quirky Sally takes the reader along on a modern odyssey: a sometimes hilarious, sometimes heartbreaking, and ultimately inspiring journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance.

Author Bio

Like Sally Lane Brookman, E.L. Farris is a marathon-running suburban soccer mom, and her husband really does dream of shooting squirrels. They live in Virginia with their three children. E.L. loves to talk with readers (and she answers all of her correspondence personally!).

Connect with her on:

Facebook http://facebook.com/RunningfromHellwithEl 

Twitter @RunningfromHell

Via e-mail farrisburke@cox.net

The co-founder of Bad Doggy Productions, E.L. is also the author of Ripple: A Tale of Hope and Redemption; Strays Welcome, the upcoming sequel to I Run; and Wave, the upcoming sequel to Ripple.

If you would like to be notified when E.L.’s next book is released, please visit her author website, http://elfarris.com, to subscribe to e-mail updates.

You can also find news about upcoming releases at Bad Doggy Productions, http://baddoggyproductions.com.

REVIEW: DEATH OF THE MAD HATTER

 https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/363029

http://www.amazon.com/Death-Mad-Hatter-Sarah-Pepper/dp/1492823910

Blurb: 

If the king loses his head, then the Queen with a Bleeding Heart would rule the Red Court until Time ceased to move forward. When a second carried on for infinity, every creature in Wonderland would tip their Hat to the misfit girl with a Boy’s name (or was it a boy with a Girl’s name?) who’d end the Reign of Terror. However, it all hinged on the One-Eyed Hare being able to convince an uninspirable Heir that the impossible was indeed possible—like stopping time—and that Love was worth a Beheading.

Heads would Roll…

Hearts would Break…

In the end, would it matter who Reigned? 

Review:

If you are a Lewis Carroll fan, or even just into the Disney version of Alice in Wonderland, this would be a good book for you. All the twists and quirks of Carroll’s characters are retold in a new tale. This isn’t just a remake of a story. This is whole new plot with your favorite people and one you’re sure to fall in love with.

I really enjoyed meeting the boy with a girl’s name and watching him fall in love with the girl with a boy’s name. There were so many twists and turns that really made me wonder if what I was reading was the truth or only carefully disguised lies. I don’t want to give much of the plot away. You’ll need all those details kept secret, if you don’t want the plot spoiled. I will say this. The Queen with a Bleeding Heart is looking to make another head roll, but only because she not the rightful queen!

I found this to be a quick read. Being familiar with Lewis Carroll or the Disney version is really helpful. While the story doesn’t follow the original book plot, you need it for background and to understand the references. At the very least, watch the movie, if you aren’t familiar with the original story. All the characters will make more sense. Other than that bit of advice, this is an excellent book for young adults and teens. If you need a clean, good-spirited story to while away the lunch hour at work, you can’t go wrong here. The language and actions are suitable for a general audience.

About the Author:

I specialize in dark, paranormal romance – think “happy ever after” but with a twisted, dark chocolate center. Real-life romance isn't only filled with hugs, kisses, unicorns, and rainbows. True-love can be more thoroughly described in times of darkness and tribulation. It’s in those harsh moments where you see what a person is truly capable of – both the good and bad. Sometimes prince-charming isn't always on time, and the glass slipper is a little snug. However, it doesn't mean Charming is not Mr. Right, and who says every shoe is the perfect fit?

LINKS:

@sarahjpepper

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5762464.Sarah_J_Pepper

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18395230-death-of-the-mad-hatter?from_search=true

https://www.facebook.com/sarah.pepper.754

www.peppersreadingcorner.com

REVIEW: FALLEN TEARS BY SARAH J. PEPPER

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Goodreads

Blurb:

An élite club of shamed angels – the Fallen – welcomes disgraced super-naturals, like me. Defiant and vengeful, we’re catalysts in destruction and mayhem, much to our angelic adversaries’ dismay. Satisfying the void left in our soulless bodies motivates many Fallen to play with feeble humans. For even though we wield infernal-powers, they have one thing we crave.

Souls.

As a Fallen, an infinite number of days lay before me – if I choose. The Big Man upstairs always gives us a choice. I can accept my fate and perish, or consume a human’s soul and live. The last one I devoured glows like a firefly inside my chest. One day, it’ll flicker and fade into darkness. The Archangels who cast me from heaven would claim victory in the everlasting battle we wage, unless I consume another.

My next victim? A young man with ridiculously enticing lips. Gorgeous doesn’t define his otherworldly appearance. His vogue hairstyle accentuates his sky-blue eyes. His laugh echoes in my ears. His perfect smile is burned to memory. The undeniable urge to consume his soul unveils my wicked inhibitions. I want him… his soul. One problem – he’s protected by a Guardian angel. 

 

 Review:

Fallen Tears is a sweet romance centered around a fallen angel, Miriam. In finding her latest mark, she encounters a set of circumstances that are beyond the ordinary. This boy, Lincoln, holds the potential to free her from damnation. The question is if she is willing to take the steps to become mortal.

I found the story to be a reasonably quick read. The plot line was interesting, and I found myself rooting for the fallen angel. Wait. Are they supposed to be the bad guys? Well, yes and no. Even a fallen angel is allowed to repent.I liked this book. Being familiar with Scripture is a plus, but a number of the quotes are referenced by book, chapter, and verse. I believe the American King James Bible was the reference for these. I mean, this is a book about angels. You have to expect some quotes.

The romance is sweet and the language isn't anything to worry about. I can safely recommend this one for any age group and would call it safe for work. Unless some Nosy Nancy peeping over your shoulder has a problem with Christianity, there shouldn't be any issues. I look forward to seeing more from Sarah Pepper in the future.

www.peppersreadingcorner.com

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5762464.Sarah_J_Pepper

About the Author:
I specialize in dark, paranormal romance – think “happy ever after” but with a twisted, dark chocolate center. Real-life romance isn't only filled with hugs, kisses, bunnies, and rainbows. True-love can be more thoroughly described in times of darkness and tribulation. It’s in those harsh moments where you see what a person is truly capable of – both the good and bad. Sometimes prince-charming isn't always on time, and the glass slipper is a little snug. However, it doesn't mean Charming is not Mr. Right, and who says every shoe is the perfect fit?