Review: Midnight Bites - Tales of Morganville by Rachel Caine

Rachel Caine said this in her recent newsletters

MIDNIGHT BITES, the new Morganville Vampires short story anthology! It will bring together almost everything that I've written in short form about Morganville ... though I did leave out some of the original "diary" entries that appeared on an earlier version of the Morganville website, simply because they were just scenes and not stories, and were generally really short snippets. This is all short fiction, and it's been carefully organized into the timeline, so you can read from the earliest adventures (some of which belong to vampires) all the way through some post-Daylighters goodies.

MIDNIGHT BITES includes a total of more than 50,000 words of brand new content, which makes me very happy indeed (and I hope will also make you happy, too). From stories featuring our favorite bunny-slipper-wearing mad scientist to a mystery solved by police chief Hannah Moses, I think you'll find this is a diverse group of stories that will shine a little more light in the murkiest corners of Morganville.

Review: Otherworld Nights by Kelley Armstrong

This short story collection will include many brand-new tales and others only previously available on Kelley Armstrong's website. Most of the stories will feature the werewolves of the Otherworld, Elena and Clay, Jeremy, Karl and other members of the American Pack. These are some of Kelley Armstrong's best-loved and most enduring characters, from bestselling books such as Bitten, Stolen and Frostbitten.

1) Demonology - Adam's mother discovers what he is
2) Stalked - Clay/Elena honeymoon story from "My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon"
3) Hidden - SubPress 2012 Elena/Clay novella
4) Twilight - a Cass story from "Many Bloody Returns"
5) Chivalrous - Reese's backstory from SubPress's long sold-out "Tales of Dark Fantasy 2" (the Dec'14 SubPress graphic novella picks up this storyline)
6) Lucifer's Daughter - Hope/Karl story from "Blood Lite II: Overbite"
7) From Russia with Love - Elena bonus story included with hardcover of "Thirteen"
8) Vanishing Act - brand-new Savannah/Adam novella set after "Thirteen"(less)

Review: Let's Hear it for the Boys. A HitLitpro Anthhology

A book of short stories from a group of female authors:
Let’s Hear It For The Boys is a tribute to the men of Movember. The HitLitPro authors have created nine short stories to celebrate the men in our lives, the effect they have on our hearts, our minds (and our bodies), and the difference they can make to the world around them. All profits from the sale of this anthology are being donated.

Lets Hear it For the Boys - A HitLitPro Anthology

Mo Sistas, it’s time to step up . . . download it for 99p - 100% of the profits go to Movember

Perhaps one of the men close to you (brother, husband, son, friend…) joins in with the moustachioed adventure that happens every November. Around the world it’s the month that has literally changed its name, as the global organisation, Movember, leads the way in changing the face of men’s health.

This year it is time for the ladies to step up and grab the moustache baton. While we Mo Sistas may be follicly challenged about the face, we do have the power of words at our fingertips.

Let’s Hear It For The Boys is a tribute to the men of Movember. The HitLitPro authors have created these nine short stories to celebrate the men in our lives, the effect they have on our hearts, our minds (and our bodies) and the difference they can make to the world around them.

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE BOOK AND HELP SUPPORT MOVEMBER

Book Release: Seven Dirty Sins

   

Everybody has a dirty little secret, everybody sins.

What's yours?

Sinful pleasures find their way into your bedroom through seven bestselling authors including USA Today bestsellers, Melissa Andrea, Clarissa Wild, and Ella James in this sizzling anthology.

Whatever your sin may be you'll find incredible love and lust between the pages of Seven Dirty Sins meeting all of your sinful needs.

After reading Seven Dirty Sins you're going to have to go to church ladies.

Arc Review: Spinning Scars by Alexia Purdy

Some legends are more than real.
Others don't want them to exist.
Matthias has been hunted his entire life for what he is: a freak, an anomaly that shouldn't exist. After a century of running, he's done. He just wants to assimilate into society and quietly find the solace he craves.
When he meets Ruby, he knows there's something different about her. She's not normal either, but she doesn't even know it. Together, they must face the demons of their pasts before the Others, a supernatural race bent on exterminating anomalies, gets the best of them both.

The only thing that can save them now is fate.

Shona's review 4 of 5 stars

I'm really not sure where to begin with this one so bear with my while I try and sort through the ramblings in my head.

Now obviously I was told this was a short novella but I wasn't prepared for just how short it actually was.. or perhaps that speaks volumes for Purdy's work in that I sat down to read this and before I knew it I had devoured it. All of it. In one sitting.

From the first chapter I was hooked. I wanted to know more about this little girl, find out her story, who she was and what she would grow up to be... and in the end I didn't get all my answers. I would love to see more of Ruby, to learn about her powers. To see the queen she will become. 

I'll be honest and admit I was a little uncomfortable with Matthias' parentage.. whilst reading his backstory my brain instantly flew to several other works that had a similar character (trying really hard not to include a spoiler here) Which meant that yes I had to re-read a few sections twice because my mind had drifted and pulled me away from this story. However it didn't take much to get back on track and it was overall just a small bump in the road.

It doesn't matter how many of her books I read I'm always amazed at how easy it is to slip into Purdy's stories and this one was no exception.

Where to find Alexia Purdy:

Alexia Purdy’s Blog

Twitter

@AlexiaPurdy

Goodreads Author page

Alexia Purdy’s Facebook Fan Page

Ever Shade (A Dark Faerie Tale) Facebook Fan page

Reign of Blood Series Facebook Fan Page

Spinning Scars is a short novella that will be included in the anthology 'Lacing Shadows' by the Writer's Co-op due for release in late September 2014. You can like them here: https://www.facebook.com/Writerscoopanthology

Review: Paranormal Anthology with a Twist

What begin as an idea soon set into motion a chain of events that would lead to heart-stopping action, amazing suspense, and stories that will stick with you way after you are done.
Unique, unexpected, beyond imagining…shocking TWISTS that will have you frantically turning back the pages to see what clues you overlooked to have missed what was coming.
Paranormal stories that span across the genre and will wow you, shock you, and leave you gasping for more.
11 different authors, one main idea, and worlds that will TWIST your imagination…

For Liberty: A Red Hot and BOOM! Story Review

For Liberty: A Red Hot and BOOM! Story by Rene Folsom

While deployed overseas, his mission classified, the heartfelt letters Maximus writes are the only bits of communication Liberty receives during the year he is away. Her memories of him, along with a box full of letters, become her most prized possessions—that and the life growing inside her.

It’s not until communication stops, and the scheduled return of her Army hero comes and goes, that Libby begins to freak out. Her worry for his welfare, along with concern over her current situation, wreaks havoc on her once-solid nerves.

While she’s waiting for his return with bated breath, she clings to hope and remembers the words he once wrote: “A soldier doesn't fight because he hates what is in front of him. A soldier fights because he loves what he left behind.” The infamous quote is a constant reminder of why he chooses to fight: For Liberty

Claire's Review 5 of 5 Stars

I honestly don't think there is 1 thing I have read of Rene Folsom's that I didn't adore! This woman is an absolute genius, whether is be a short story like this one or a full novel, she manages to create a world that totally sucks you in and doesn't let go till the very last page. In fact who am I kidding, I don't think her books have ever fully let me go and I plan to re-read them all at some point in the future. This is a fab short story, that pulls at the heart strings and I'm not ashamed to say I shed a tear or two reading the letters Max wrote home to Libby. This is such a wonderful story you can't help but wish there was more of it when you reach the last page. Truly brilliant!

Stalker Blog Blitz: Nicki Scalise

Nicki Scalise Guest Post

In Damaged People, the characters Jules and Marc, made their first appearance in another short story of mine, Little Tchotchkes.  A few readers expressed interest in wanting to know more about these two crazy kids and I was happy to oblige. When the call for Stalkers submissions went out, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to tell more of their story.

The original inspiration for Jules came from a conversation I had with someone about a situation that happened to a friend. I elaborated, of course, but the basic premise was about a homeschooled girl who developed crush on the boy next door and made a phone call some years later, that left the boy feeling a little unsettled.

When writing Jules, I imagined someone who had been sheltered her entire life, and therefore, had become slightly socially awkward. Without much in the way of people skills, I thought that it wouldn’t be hard for someone, of that nature, to latch onto the tiniest kindness or morsel of attention.  Then I took that idea and ran with it.  As such, I found writing this character a lot of fun. She’s weird and clearly unhinged, but I found her to be almost endearing in her insanity. I hope readers will too.

Excerpt Damaged People

Jules got up to order another cappuccino. There was a line at the counter that was being held up by a middle-aged soccer mom who couldn’t decide between a Mocha or a vanilla latte. Jules had a strong urge to grab her by the back of the head and slam her face into the counter. She let out a snort-giggle at the mental image it drew. She coughed to cover it so she didn’t look like a mental patient standing in line, laughing about seemingly nothing.

She wasn’t sure where the hostile thought sprang from, but she continued to entertain it nonetheless. After she slammed the woman’s face onto the counter, she would then ram her head through the bakery case. She’d yank the woman out of the case by her hair, pulling her head back to expose her neck. There would be shards of glass everywhere. She’d pick up a large one and run it across…

“You’re next.” The young man in line behind Jules tapped her on the shoulder and pointed to the awaiting barista.

About the author

Nicki Scalise lives in Colorado with her husband, Jon. They share their home with four dogs and a chinchilla. When not busy dealing with the chaos her four-legged critters bring, she spends her time meeting new book boyfriends, re-watching Firefly, and gazing out the window at the scenic mountain landscape… or staring at the wall. Prayer for the Dead, Book one of the Revenants in the Purgatory series, is her debut novel.

                                         

Stalkers: A Collection of  Thriller Stories

Edited and compiled by Cynthia Shepp and Rene Folsom

Anthology

eBook and paperback, 498 pages

Purchase: Amazon Kindle Paperback  

**The Kindle edition of STALKERS is ON SALE for $.99 until February 27!**

Shadows follow you in the darkness of the night and the eerie sensation of being watched crawls up your spine. Your sanity pulls apart at the seams as the terrors stalk their victims, leaving you too frightened to turn off the light.

These twisted stories will leave you breathless, dreading the horrors lurking around the corner.

Seventeen authors. Seventeen tales of terror. Infinite nightmares.
STALKERS.

Watch your back.

Stories featured in this anthology:
- Every Thorn by Rene Folsom
- Dead Ringer by Jason Brant
- Autumn by Elizabeth Collins
- Don’t Kiss the Dead Fred by A.E. Killingsworth
- Affliction by S.L. Dearing
- Lucid by Andrea Stanet
- Donations by Bart Hopkins
- Bernice by Chad Foutz
- Destination: Death by Eaton Thomas Palmer
- Powerless by Laurie Treacy
- Freezer Burn by Jon Messenger
- The Watcher by Lindy Spencer
- Immortal Luck by Magen McMinimy
- Izzy’s Assassin by Nicole Clark
- Say My Name by Michael Loring
- Damaged People by Nicki Scalise
- Blog Stalker by Phil Taylor

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Apocalypse: An Anthology by Authors and Readers

Apocalypse: An Anthology by Authors and Readers

by Cynthia Shepp (Editor), Nicki Scalise , Jason Brant, Jayce Grayson, S.L. Dearing, R.M. Gilmore, Heather Kirchhoff), Jon Messenger , Jocelyn Sanchez, Kimberly Hennessy, Brittany Hiester, Kate Charles

What began as an idea soon set into motion a chain of events which would lead to the next APOCALYPSE...

I want you to imagine that the world as we know it has ended. Total Apocalypse. You only have yourself and one other person you can rely on. There is no power, no water, and you are armed with only a backpack of supplies. In your backpack there are matches, four bottles of water, enough food to make it three days, and one weapon. Spin a web of survival, danger, and conflict. Tell us why the world as you knew it ended, tell us your fears, make up a world in which nothing is the same and survival is hard, and the world is against you. Tell us what you would do, where you would go, how you would get food and water, how you would protect yourself, and how you would make your life over again. You could even throw in some romance and meet some new people to help you on your journey.

11 authors, 11 different stories, one main idea…welcome to the APOCALYPSE…

Claire's Review 5 of 5 stars

Fade to Black by Jase Brantson

This story reads like a film script and I wasn't that keen on the format. However the twist as the end of the story was brilliant!

Artificial Life: The End of Humanity by Kate Charles

hmmm this one didnt really appeal to me that much, I found the main character very self centred.

Shelf Life by S.L. Dearing

I love this one! Shannon was a great and strong heroine. The romance between her and Josh was brilliant

Welcome to the End of the World (Population Unknown) By R.M. Gilmore

wow this was an interesting read, with a great twist.

Lotion by Grayce Jantson (Jason Brant)

Brilliantly written! Would love to read further on and see how it ended!

Until the End by Brittant Hiester

A well written short. felt in places though that the timing was off as the characters had too long to react.

I Know My First Name is Clossiana by K.T. Hennessy

An interesting twist to the usual alien invasion type of story.

Save Me by Heather Kirchhoff

A nice little story of hope and not giving up despite the odds not being on your side.

Canyon Bound by Jon Messenger

This seemed very long for a short story compared to the others in the book. A good story but i felt it could have been told in a lot less.

What if by Jocelyn Sanchez

An interesting vampire short, a short read that I would love to see extended.

Cheyenne Mountain by Nicki Scalise

A great story showing not everyone is what they seem and you cant trust everyone. Loved the twist on this!

Overall I loved this anthology!!! Cynthia Shepp has put together another great read! I love the paranormal anthology and I look forward to reading anymore anthologies she puts together in the future! In fact I will be keeping a special eye out for them especially. These short reads are great when you only have a short space of time to read, to fit in a story here and there :)

CM Doporto Take Over

ZOMBIE TAKEOVER

By CM Doporto

It’s always fun when you get to take over someone’s blog, especially when it’s Booky Ramblings of a Neurotic Mom. I love the title of this blog! I guess because it sounds like me. Anyhow, I thought it would be cool to talk about Zombies since today, Darlings of Decay, an anthology of zombie stories written my female authors is being released on Amazon, Smashwords and other eBook sites.

I absolutely love the cover Damon Za did for us. I am so grateful that authors Chrissy Peebles and Kristen  L. Middleton asked me to contribute a piece from my Flesh Seekers Trilogy. I am in the process of writing the first book so I jumped ahead and wrote a prequel for the anthology.

So, where did zombies come from and when did they get started? We would have to look back to the film by George Romero, ‘Night of the Living Dead’. The original 1968 black and white film first introduced the man eating monsters or ghouls that were later coined as ‘zombies’.  Romero’s film spun off five more versions of the ‘Living Dead’ movies since then, some of which he directed. In this film, the recently deceased are coming back to life and according to one scientist; the cause is from radioactive contamination caused by a probe returning from Venus to earth.

DC Comics may have been the first to introduce a zombie character, Solomon Grundy, in the October 1944 All-American Comic edition where the evil villain faced Green Lantern as seen below. Then in 1973, Marvel comics released, ‘Tales of the Zombie’, a black and white magazine series featuring Simon William Garth as the Zombie. Over the past years both DC and Marvel comics have featured their own zombie lines stories with their superheroes either turning into zombies or battling the flesh eating foes. The most popular zombie comic book to date, ‘The Walking Dead’, by Robert Kirkman, from Image Comics has spun off into a TV series with over 12.4 million viewers.



 

There are some cultures who actually believe zombies are real. According to the Voodoo religion in Africa, a zombie is an animated corpse, raised from the dead by means of witchcraft. Stories and folklore tell of these zombies used for slavery by means of a magical spells cast by bokors, also known as witch doctors. There are also beliefs within Haiti that tie back to Voodoo religion as well. There are even Chinese legends that describe a zombie or vampire like creature known as the jiangshi, which kills living creatures to absorb their ‘qi’ or life force.





















Regardless of religious beliefs and folk tales, Hollywood has definitely caused a craze around the world where many people are preparing for a ‘Zombie Apocalypse’. There are actually zombie preparing groups who are equipping themselves for the end of the world and the fight against the zombie invasion. The ‘Zombie Squad’, are task force consultants trained and skilled to come to your neighborhood and train everyone on how to deal with a deadly invasion.





There are many websites with information and advice to help you prepare in case of a zombie attack, such as http://www.zombieresearchsociety.com and http://zombieresponseteam.net/. Even The University of Chicago has its own Zombie Readiness Task Force http://zombies.uchicago.edu/. I think what surprised most people is when the Center for Disease Control actually put a posting on their site what to do in case of a zombie attack,Preparedness 101: Zombie Apocalypse. I have to admit that did cause my head to turn. They even have their own task force, CDC Zombie Task Force. Makes you wonder, huh?

It’s not a bad idea to be prepared just in case a zombie apacolypse does happen. What do you think?





Here's my bio:

CM Doporto lives in the great state of Texas with her husband and son enjoying life with their extensive family along with their Chihuahua, Mexican Redhead Parrot and several fish.

She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Journalism from The University of Texas at Arlington. She briefly worked in the area of Public Relations and Advertising and then pursued a career in the field of Human Resources. CM considers herself a life-long learner and returned to school and earned her Master of Art's Degree in Organizational Development from Dallas Baptist University.

She writes Young Adult and New Adult Sci-Fi/Urban Fantasy stories about ordinary women who do extraordinary things, become a heroine, and find love along the way. CM is a member of Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and Romance Writers of America and is associated with the Young Adult Special Interest Chapter.

Feel free to catch up with me at any of these places and maybe we can chat  about books.. or zombies.

Web/blog: http://cmdoporto.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/cmdoportowriter

Twitter: @cm_doporto

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/cmdoporto

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/cmdoporto

Amazon Author Profile: http://www.amazon.com/CM-Doporto/e/B00AVZJ8DO/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Paranormal Anthology with a TWIST

Paranormal Anthology with a TWIST - Edited by Cynthia Shepp

Book Synopsis

What begin as an idea soon set into motion a chain of events that would lead to heart-stopping action, amazing suspense, and stories that will stick with you way after you are done.

Unique, unexpected, beyond imagining…shocking TWISTS that will have you frantically turning back the pages to see what clues you overlooked to have missed what was coming.

Paranormal stories that span across the genre and will wow you, shock you, and leave you gasping for more.

11 different authors, one main idea, and worlds that will TWIST your imagination…



Claire's Review: 5 of 5 Stars

A brilliant anthology separated into 11 short stories. I don't want to ruin the surprise of any of the stories so has instead written by opinions of them all individually not giving the stories away.

Voice of the Soul - Rene Folsom
I absolutely loved this story! Very well written and I found myself drawn into the story. Will definitely be looking into reading the other novellas which continue this story.

Number 18 - Michael Loring
Short but sweet, this had my mind wondering from the beginning what would happen. I immediately thought the predator wasn't what he was portrayed to be so this had a great twist to the ending.

Sweet Lenora - Bart Hopkins
I personally didn't enjoy this story as much as the previous 2, for a short story it seemed to take longer to get to any real content and i found it hard to connect to the main character.

Truth or Dare - Jon Messenger
A well written short story, but I found it very predictable as the the outcome. I would have liked to have seen an extra chapter maybe to see the main characters reaction to the outcome.

Suburban Zombie - Anthony Lance
This really made me giggle! A very well written, alternative view on zombie life! A very interesting short read.

All I want for Christmas - Jason Brant
Amazingly written and the twist at the end was brilliant. I would have never guessed that outcome! Amazed at how well Jason wrote from the view of a 13 year old girl!

In the eyes of the beholder - Penelope Barlotto
An interesting piece with an interesting twist, well written and to me came across as a TV/movie concept.

Little Tchotchkes - Nicki Scalise
Wow the twist on this was amazing! So well written and i would love to see this story expanded to its potential to see all the prior events leading up to this point and to see the outcome for the little plant!

I am Serna - Magan McMinimy
Short and well written with an interesting twist at the end which was unpredictable and unexpected.

Bloodlines - SL Dearing
This Story didn't appeal to me as much as the others, it was well written but the story just didn't draw me in as much of the others. I think I felt the ending was rushed and would have liked to see a bit more expand it.

Metronome - Eaton Thomas Palmer
This was a very intriguing story, I would love for this to be expanded into a longer story to see some background into the clock and to see what the future held.

Overall I really enjoyed this anthology and it has totally left me wanting more! I was very impressed with a lot of the authors and will definitely be looking into more of there work, I am especially looking forward into reading more of the soul seers series by Rene Folsom and will be adding them to me 'to read' list for the near future.

Cynthia Has done as amazing job putting together this anthology and it will definitively be one that I recommend to others.

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

A Riveting Affair Blog Tour

10 Things I Wish I Knew About Being an Author I Didn’t Know Before:

From Patricia Eimer

1.) Get a hobby. I mean another hobby. Because suddenly your hobby has become your job and if you're not careful you'll become a workaholic and that's not fun. And isn't that what this all is about?

2.) Social media is your friend. Or your stalker. I guess it depends on how you look at things. I think of it as a rather persistent and clingy friend.

3.) On the Eighth Day God may have rested but Steve Jobs and Bill Gates were busy creating the miracle of spellcheck and therefore earning themselves a place in Heaven.



From Candace Havens

1. That writing is addictive. It takes over your life. As soon as I finish one book, I can't wait to get to the next.

2. I always have characters talking in my head. I never expected that. They are especially loud when I'm trying to sleep. I used to think people who had voices in their head were crazy, but now -- not so much.

3. That I need to keep track of character traits. I can never, ever remember eye or hair color. I still haven't found a good organizational tool for this, but I'm on the hunt.

4. Writing is the best therapy. Everything I feel goes on a page. Mad at the husband, I kill a bad guy violently. Tired of the boss, one of my heroines will kick some butt. Dog eats my Gerber daisies (She just did this) I smash someone's face in. Man, I sound kind of violent. I always said I had a dark side. :)



From Lily Lang

1. You write a first draft. Then you make it a second draft. Then maybe a third draft. Then your editor sees it, and there's another draft. And another one. UNTIL THE END OF TIME.

2. In first pass edits, you will defend that comma/adverb/etc. to the death. By the 10th edit, you don't care anymore.

3. Writing never gets easier (dammit).



A Riveting Affair is an anthology of three different steampunk short stories written by three different authors.

Beauty and the Clockwork Beast by Lily Lang

The Clockwork Bride by Patricia Eime

Demon Express by Candace Haven

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/A-Riveting-Affair-ebook/dp/B00BY5XRHI

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-riveting-affair-candace-havens/1114883274?ean=9781622660643

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17665677-a-riveting-affair?ac=1



Candace’s Follower links

website: http://candacehavens.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CandaceHavens

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/candace.havens.7



Patricia’s follower links

website: http://www.patriciaeimer.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/patriciaeimer

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patriciaeimerofficialpage