Run! Hold On Season 3 by Peter Darley-Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

RUN! : Hold On ! Season 3 by Peter Darley-Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

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RUN!
Hold On! Season 3
by Peter Darley
Release Date: August 17, 2015
Genre: adult, military suspense, sci-fi/paranormal

Run

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 17, 2015

Book Three in the Hold On! Trilogy.

The world believes Brandon Drake is dead, but he awakens in a secret government complex believing it to be 2012. The last four years of his life have been erased from his conscious mind. Only his true, malevolent self, The Scorpion, remains.

He soon finds himself dispatched on an assassination mission, but the mission fails as he is struck down by a debilitating pain in his head.

Before long, he discovers he’s been duped, and that four years have passed since his last memory. A bloodbath ensues as he escapes from the complex and sets out to find the truth about his missing years. He learns of a woman named Belinda Reese and associates her with his terrible pain. To be strong enough to destroy those who betrayed him, he sets out to kill Belinda, leaving a trail of death and destruction in his wake.

However, a mysterious figure wearing a black helmet appears to him in the darkness. He is the true cause of Drake’s pain: an adversary who identifies himself only—as The Interceptor.

Past, present, and future collide as the Hold On! Trilogy reaches its jaw-dropping conclusion.

CAUTION: This entry contains violent and adult themes.

•••••••••••••

REVIEW: RUN ! is the third installment in Peter Darley’s adult Hold On military suspense (slightly sci-fi/paranormal) series focusing on former soldier Brandon Drake.

NOTE: There may be some spoilers in my review if you have not read the previous installments.

Told from several third person perspectives RUN commences several weeks following the events of GO ! book two wherein Brandon Drake is presumed dead following an explosion aimed at ending his life. At a secret government facility in the Mojave desert Brandon is very much alive and unaware of the last four years of his life. The Brandon Drake we have come to love is no longer the Brandon Drake who awakens from a six week coma-he is a changed man; a man who has undergone a personality reassignment making Brandon one of the most dangerous men on the planet. While his former love grieves for what could have been, Brandon sets out to destroy everything that was and still remains in his life including the woman he can no longer remember.

Peter Darley’s RUN is the culmination of one man’s descent into H*ll and back; a former soldier whose entire life has been focused upon inflicting pain and suffering on anyone who stands between Brandon and his latest assignment. Brandon is a mercenary; a soldier for hire, whose earlier years of abuse and torture at the hands of his foster father, have shaped the beast known as The Scorpion. As The Scorpion Brandon is feared; a take no prisoners attitude whose aim is deadly with accurate results.

RUN is a storyline with graphic violence; an anti hero whose murderous spree and the resulting carnage will claim numbers in the hundreds as the FBI, CIA and secret government divisions hunt for the man whose need for revenge is a promise not a threat.

Once again, RUN, like the previous installments, has a large ensemble cast of supporting and secondary characters including Brandon’s family who become one of Brandon’s primary targets. A good portion of the storyline is driven by the others: some with murderous intent; some with aspirations of ultimate global powers; and others who are hoping to survive another day.

The world building no longer focuses on Brandon Drake and Belinda Reese but on Brandon’s slide into the abyss. Several government agencies will go in search for Brandon but most will find themselves on the receiving end of Brandon’s need for vengeance and death.

RUN! is a revealing, imaginative and suspense filled conclusion to Peter Darley’s HOLD ON series. The non-stop action finds Brandon Drake ferreting out his next victim with sensational and dramatic results; very few will survive a face to face meeting. Brandon Drake aka The Scorpion is the result of a government experiment gone horribly wrong; where mind control has yet to reach its zenith when love and emotions continue to war with what’s real, what’s unknown, and a mind previously destroyed by an abusive past.

Copy supplied by the author.

Reviewed by Sandy

Series Spotlight

Hold On !
by Peter Darley
Release Date: July 7, 2014
Genre: mystery, suspense, action,romance

Hold OnClick HERE for Sandy’s review of HOLD ON !

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 7, 2014

Two lovers! A deadly conspiracy! A race to freedom!

When Carringby Industries, a government-contracted arms manufacturer, is raided by what appear to be terrorists, the CEO’s secretary, Belinda Reese, is rescued by Brandon Drake, a dashing young AWOL soldier. Using an experimental test aircraft, he flees with her to his remote, isolated cabin in the mountains of Aspen.

While assisting in the design of military weaponry, Brandon discovered a plot within his own government to attack its own facilities, under the guidance of immoral politician, Senator Garrison Treadwell. Belinda’s body was not found among the dead at Carringby Industries, and Treadwell suspects that Drake was responsible for rescuing her. In an effort to entrap him, Treadwell arranges for an all points bulletin to be placed on Belinda

Deeply in love, Brandon and Belinda attempt to escape from America, only to endure one harrowing experience after another as they try to evade and expose Treadwell’s corrupt faction.

But on the run, with danger around every corner, Brandon makes a discovery so devastating that it shatters the very foundations of his reality.

___________

GO!
(Hold On Season #2)
by Peter Darley
Release Date: May 26, 2015
Genre: adult, contemporary, romantic, suspense

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Click HERE for Sandy’s review of GO!

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 26, 2015

Brandon Drake has escaped from Leavenworth, aided by a new player who has entered the game. Tyler Faraday is the heir to an empire––and Brandon’s long-lost brother. Tyler enables Brandon’s reunion with his lover, Belinda, but Brandon is no longer the man she once knew. Haunted by memories of a life that never happened, he succumbs to the lure of alcohol.

Tyler has discovered he and Brandon have another sibling. Having been raised in a convent, their sister, Emily, has a crisis of faith and flees. On the road, she is kidnapped by a ruthless human trafficking organization run by a mysterious kingpin called Sapphire. Brandon, Tyler, and Belinda learn of Emily’s plight and begin their search for Sapphire’s location, hampered by Brandon’s growing alcohol dependency.

Meanwhile, Andrew Wilmot, new leader of a rogue government faction, seeks to use Brandon for his own nefarious plans, and hunts him down.

Brandon, Belinda, and Tyler’s quest leads to Los Angeles, where they search for the only one who knows Sapphire’s location––a former captive known only as Siren, and who may not even exist. Their quest is destined to lead to the most explosive action in the series so far.

Guest Post

The End? Or the REAL Beginning?

Well, what can I say? It’s been one hell of a ride through a cavalcade of cliffhangers to rival even those in the Hold On! series, itself. However, this time, it has resulted in a contender for the most extraordinary alliance in the world of contemporary literature. J

First, I will say a few things about Run! – Hold On! Season 3. Unlike Hold On! and Go! I knew exactly where the story was going before I even started writing it. The first two seasons introduced numerous concepts and characters that only received mentions. In a couple of cases, certain characters had been introduced previously, but wound up on the cutting room floor due to third party interference. Run! gave me the opportunity to bring these characters back into the official canon. Brandon’s commanding officer, his superior at Mach Industries, his abusive foster father, and Belinda’s mother-from-hell, all finally appear in the Trilogy’s conclusion.

I knew that I had to do something unexpected with the final act, and this one turns the entire concept on its head. Brandon’s malevolent, true persona, The Scorpion, only ever appeared fleetingly in the previous two novels, and was never explored as an actual character. He was just something that came over him during times of crisis. In Run! we get to experience who The Scorpion really is, and the extent to which the series’ hero could be irredeemably evil. Where before he saved his loved ones from certain peril, he is now the one they need saving from. The opening chapter tells the complete origin story, snippets of which had only previously been mentioned, or seen in flashbacks with no context.

However, fear not. The Interceptor – the heroic Brandon from Hold On! and Go! – is still around. Run! concludes all existing plotlines – but also leaves a door open for an entirely new one. I endeavoured to ensure that the hypothetical ‘next story’, Hold On! – Tomorrow, wasn’t absolutely necessary, and left it to my readers to decide if it should happen. So far, the idea has been received with great eagerness, which has thrilled me enormously.

But then I received a message on Facebook that made the next book an absolute certainty. Several months ago, just for fun, I created the hypothetical Hold On! soundtrack video, made up of the melodic rock songs that drove the original novel, and posted it on Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsPF7E6zgAM

I took the title ‘Hold On’ from the fact that it is, hands down, the most used song title in the AOR/Melodic Rock genre.

Nothing really happened with the music video until a few weeks ago when Pierpaolo ‘Zorro11’ Monti, the founder of one of the bands featured in the video, contacted me.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierpaolo_Monti

He was so intrigued that I’d used one of his tracks in the video that he plugged it on rock sites across the internet. Suddenly, I was getting tagged and ‘friended’ by rock celebrities, and Pierpaolo and I quickly became friends.

Pierpaolo is the mastermind behind critically-acclaimed rock album projects, Shining Line, Charming Grace, and Room Experience, and he dropped a bombshell on me that literally blew me away. He wants to write and record the official theme song for Hold On! – Tomorrow, for inclusion on his next album. Movies and TV shows have ‘songs from’ soundtrack albums. But I don’t think this has ever happened with a book before.

I feel that this is an astonishing and unique alliance between fiction writer and musician. After a devastatingly harrowing journey through the writing world, I now have the opportunity to take the series farther, with the might of the rock world behind me. J

I have just begun working on Hold On! – Tomorrow, and over the next year, Pierpaolo and I will be liaising about the plot, and subsequently – the lyrics. I hope to release the new book – along with the theme song – toward the end of summer, 2016.

Run! – video trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmvcyqLurMg

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

Web: www.peterdarley.com

Peter Darley

About The author

Follow Peter: Blog / Twitter / Facebook /

peter-darley1Peter Darley (P.D. to his friends) is a British novelist, whose professional history is in showbusiness. He is a graduate of the Birmingham School of Speech and Dramatic Art, and he studied television drama at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA.) His television credits include guest-starring roles is UK productions such as BBC’s Crime Ltd, Stanley’s Dragon for ITV, The Bill, and Sky One’s Dream Team, and numerous TV commercials. He has also worked as a model, presenter, and voice-over artiste for ten years, and has acted as an agent for several variety acts.

His lifelong admiration of heroes, and love of roller-coaster-style thrills have been a huge influence on his writings.

He is also a professional close-up magician, a keen athlete and body builder, and lives with his wife in rural England.

Giveaway

Peter is offering an ecopy of HOLD ON!, GO! and RUN ! (The Trilogy) to ONE(1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe. ONE commenter will win a copy of all 3 ebooks.

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

3. Please LIKE and Follow Peter Darley on Facebook

4. LIKE us on FACEBOOK and then click GET NOTIFICATION under ‘liked’ for an additional entry.

5. LIKE us on Twitter for an additional entry.

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7. Please FOLLOW us on TSU for an additional entry.

8. Giveaway is open internationally

9. Giveaway runs from September 16-20, 2015

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Sleeping With the Enemy by Tracy Solheim – Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

Sleeping With the Enemy by Tracy Solheim – Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

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Sleeping with the Enemy
Out of Bounds #4
by Tracy Solheim
Release Date: September 1, 2015
Genre: adult, contemporary, romance, football

sleeping with the enemy

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Description
Dot-com millionaire Jay McManus is discovering that owning a pro football team like the Baltimore Blaze isn’t easy. An anonymous blogger is out to destroy his reputation, and now his team is being sued by its own cheerleaders. If Jay’s not careful, he could lose big—and not just financially.

Bridgett Janik’s brother may play for the Baltimore Blaze, but she’s not thrilled to be defending Jay McManus, the man who broke her heart. It’s bad enough she has to mingle with Jay during games, but working beside her former lover may be too much for her body—and her heart—to resist.

Jay’s determined not to let Bridgett slip away from him a second time. But, as the two follow the mysterious blogger’s trail, secrets—both past and present—are revealed, and Jay and Bridgett must decide if their relationship can be something more than just sleeping with the enemy.


Review:
Sleeping With the Enemy by Tracy Solheim is the 4th book in her Out of Bounds series. I have not read the earlier books, but after reading this book, I do plan on going back and read the other three. Sleeping With the Enemy reads very well as a standalone,

Bridgett Janik is our heroine, and she is a strong, smart, savvy one at that. Bridgett is a top notch lawyer, and isn’t too happy to be assigned to a case defending the Baltimore Blaze football team. The reason for her unhappiness? Jay McManus is our hero, and the owner of the Blaze. Jay and Bridgett had a relationship years before, which broke both of their hearts, with each having walked away blaming the other person.

With a scandal and threat of a lawsuit, Jay and Bridget are thrown together, and their feelings for each have not been forgotten. The chemistry between them is undeniably hot, and Jay is determined to win Bridget back, but only as a mistress; he will not allow his heart to fall for her again. Bridgett wants nothing to do with Jay, but she cannot control her lust for him.

In between the hot sex scenes, and the slow build romance being resurrected, there is a mystery of who is behind the false rumors and innuendo about the team and Jay. As secrets become unraveled, Jay begins to suspect that someone from his past is out to hurt him, but what he doesn’t know is how far this person has gone in trying to destroy his life.

This was a very nice second romance between Jay and Bridgett, but what I really enjoyed about the story was all the wonderful secondary characters that made up this story. Jay’s sister, Charlie was great, and I hope Solheim plans to give us her story soon. I also enjoyed Bridgett’s sister, though at times she needed to be smacked at her comments to Bridgett; and Linc was a good character that will need his story, too. The key to the story as we race to the finish: Will Jay allow himself to open his heart to Bridgett? Will Bridgett be able to trust Jay again? Will the truth come out what really happened all those years ago?

Tracy Solheim has written a wonderful story that has a bit of everything; great couple, sizzling romance, wonderful secondary characters, mystery, betrayal, and many secrets that will be revealed. I recommend you read Sleeping With the Enemy, as you will enjoy it as much as I did.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

Guest post-White and Red

Play List for Back to Before

 

I have a secret to share with you: I’m a huge music junkie. While everyone in my family will walk into a room and head straight for the television remote, I’m the one reaching for my iPod. In fact, I do some of my best scene development while listening to music. Unfortunately, I’m usually ironing or on the treadmill so those scenes sometimes get lost before I can reach a computer. But, trust me, before it evaporated, that prose was amazing.

Anyone who knows me will tell you that my musical tastes are somewhat eclectic. When I’m plotting, I tend to cycle through a variety of playlists—including rock, alternative, dance, musical theatre and country. The genre I select, in my mind, either represents the character or the scene I’m writing at the time. Here’s what I came up for my latest release, SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY:

  1. Cheerleader, by OMI. Okay, so I had to list this one, since the book revolves around the Baltimore Blaze’s litigious cheerleaders, the Sparks. But have you listened to this song? It’s so upbeat and lively that it’s the perfect song to write to, much less tromp around on the treadmill. Besides, my only other option here was Mickey, by Toni Basil and none of us needed that earworm.

     2.  We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together, Taylor Swift. Bridgett repeats this
          mantra every time she gets near Jay.

  1. Can’t Feel My Face, The Weeknd. Jay is such an Alpha male that he’d never admit to needing Bridgett. But if he did, he’d totally sing this song. Okay, maybe not. It is kind of ridiculous. But you have to admit, Tom Cruise did a great job lip syncing to it on The Tonight Show!
  2. Photograph, by Ed Sheeran. The first line of the lyrics says it all: “Lovin’ is hard.” Jay and Bridgett’s story is poignant and, at times, painful in the re-telling. This song is about the perseverance of love. Jay and Bridgett’s love definitely withstood the test of time, geography, and deceit. Plus, Ed Sheeran is a fellow Ginger and I have to give him his props.
  3. Like I’m Gonna Lose You, by Meghan Trainor and John Legend. This is a soulful song that epitomizes Jay’s determination to win Bridgett back. Of course, Jay’s idea of a win would be luring Bridgett back into his bed. He’s determined not to let his heart become engaged again. That would give Bridgett too much power over him and Jay plays to win. All the time.
  4. Lips Are Movin’, by Meghan Trainor. This would be Bridgett’s other theme song. She doesn’t trust Jay as far as her football playing brother can throw the team’s owner. Too bad her body isn’t listening to her Harvard educated brain on this one.
  5. Reason to Believe, by Bruce Springsteen. If you follow me on social media or read my blog, you’ll know I’m a huge Springsteen fan. He’s not only my favorite singer, but one of my favorite authors as well. No playlist of mine would be complete without one of his songs. And this one says so much about Jay and Bridgett’s relationship. Both have gone on with their lives and have dealt with the mess life has thrown at them. Both are struggling with the reaction of their bodies to each other despite the hurt they’ve afflicted. In the end, they have to find a reason to believe in their attraction—their love.
  6. Let’s Get It On Like Marvin Gay, by Charlie Puth (with Meghan Trainor. Are you sensing a theme here? MT is my “it” girl right now.) There are some steamy scenes in this book. Nuff said.
  7. A Thousand Years, Christina Perri. No matter how Bridgett thinks Jay has deceived her, she still can’t help loving him. No matter how long they have been apart, her love for him won’t die.
  8. Feel Again, by One Republic. The lyrics sum up how Jay and Bridgett’s happily ever after would sound if it were written about in a song instead of a book. “My heart was numb, but I feel again.” “I was a lonely soul, but that’s the old me. A little wiser now…I feel again.” Love it.

Are you a music fan? What genre is your favorite? Do you have a song that best describes your life right now?

 

excerpt

Jay and Bridgett are stranded in a motel together during a tropical storm.

Bridgett shook her head, the brief glimpse behind the cool veneer she kept in place closed. Instead she gestured to his pants, which she’d hung over a chair. “They’re still damp at the cuffs but I squeezed as much of the water out as I could. You may have to roll them up at the ankles.”

He arched an eyebrow at her. “Worried you might not be able to keep your hands off me without my pants on?”

Her blush was obvious even in the candle light as she quickly stood and walked over to the dresser filled with the food he’d brought back—a can of potato chips, peanut butter crackers, two apples, and the necessity of women everywhere: a bag of Dove chocolate. He’d also grabbed a couple bottles of water, a bottle of chardonnay, toothpaste and two toothbrushes. The wine wasn’t the best vintage, but he knew they’d both appreciate something a little stronger than water right about now.

“Thanks for leaving the roller food at the gas station, but you forgot the corkscrew.”

She kept her back to him as he pulled on his pants. He stepped behind her, reaching past her shoulder into his briefcase and pulled out his pocket knife. Bridgett’s breath caught as his arm brushed over hers. When he clicked a button on the bottom, a corkscrew emerged. Jay handed it to her and went into the bathroom to grab the two plastic cups.

“I should have known,” she said as she worked the screw into the cork. “You never went anywhere without one that summer. Frankly, I’m surprised you went into the dot-com industry and didn’t go into the wine business like you’d planned.”

“Who says I didn’t,” he asked, taking the bottle from her and finishing the job.

Bridgett held the glasses while he poured. “I guess there’s a lot about each other we’ll never know.”

Her words sounded almost wistful and the warm wine went down rough as Jay swallowed. “Even without being chilled, our chardonnay is definitely better than this.”

She sat on the bed, leaning on one arm as she sipped from her cup with the other. “So tell me, how did the guy who wanted to rule the world one bottle of wine at a time end up establishing a major dot-com business instead?”

“There’s a lot more money to be made on the Internet than in the vineyards.” He sat down on the bed across from her, leaning up against the headboard and crossing his feet at the ankles.

“But wine was your passion.”

Jay eyed her over the rim of his cup. “I’ve learned that it’s not always a good idea to be ruled by passion.”

Bridgett kept her gaze level with his. “Exactly what I’ve been telling you all along.”

“I didn’t say I gave up on passion, Bridgett. I’ll never do that.”

That got the reaction he was hoping for as she gulped the remainder of her wine and began prying open a package of peanut butter crackers.


 

 

About The Author
Tracy SolheimMy creative writing career started in the fourth grade when I published my first book. It was a bestseller–mainly because my dad bought all ten copies I’d made on the school’s prehistoric Xerox machine. From there, I moved to newspaper reporting with a monthly column in a local newspaper. A bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Tennessee landed me in Washington, DC, where I wrote reports for Congress while pursuing a Master’s degree in Legislative Affairs from The George Washington University.

Aside from a brief stint in television production for NBC Sports at the Seoul Olympics, most of my early writing consisted of crafting lengthy government reports. Not exactly the most scintillating backlist, I know! My creative writing projects had to wait until I could squeeze them in between my paying gig and my family’s busy schedule. I finally realized the dream of becoming a published author in May, 2013 with the release of my debut novel, GAME ON, through Berkley Publishing.

I went on to release four books in the Out of Bounds series during my first year as an author. In addition to the books about the fictitious Baltimore Blaze football team, I also write the Second Chances series for Berkley and digital novellas set in the small coastal town of Magnolia Bay for Tule Publishing. Check out my books page for excerpts and buy links.

Currently, I live in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia, with my husband, two kids, a wild Labrador Retriever puppy and a mare named after my debut novel. When I’m not writing, I enjoy photography, cooking, and reading–shocker, right? Be sure to friend me on Facebook or follow me on Twitter. Or, leave me your email address to receive my newsletter.

I look forward to hearing from you and thanks for stopping by.

 

giveaway

Tracy’s publisher is offering a papercopy of SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY to ONE(1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

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8. Giveaway open to USA only.

9. Giveaway runs from September 8-12, 2015

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Maps, Artifacts and Other Arcane Magic (Dowser 5) by Meghan Ciana Doidge-Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

MAPS, ARTIFACTS, AND OTHER ARCANE MAGIC by Meghan Ciana Doidge-Review, Guest Post and Giveaway

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Maps, Artifacts, and Other Arcane Magic
Dowser Series #5
by Meghan Ciana Doidge
Genre: adult, paranormal
Release Date: July 23, 2015

SONY DSC

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About the book: Release Date July 23, 2015

One treasure down, two to go …

Three months ago, I nearly lost my best friend while retrieving the first instrument of assassination. I also inadvertently released a rival who was definitely unhinged, way more powerful than me, and obsessed with harnessing the deadly power of the artifacts I’d been tasked by the guardian dragons to collect.
Add a sexy sentinel and a nearly immortal vampire to the mix, and what could possibly go wrong?

••••••••••••••••

Review: MAPS, ARTIFACTS AND OTHER ARCANE MAGIC is the 5th book in Meghan Ciana Doidge’s Dowser series. Wow, that title is a mouthful!! I will give you my favorite reason for reading this novel: Kett is back!!! *happy dance* Yes!! Our Ancient, nearly immortal vampire and self- appointed Mentor is back in the thick of the action! Jade loves her chocolate, but I love Kett’s peppermint infused presence!

Jade is off to find the second instrument of assassination. These are items that can kill a powerful Dragon, that’s why the guardians are using her to find and contain them. Jade is opening her eyes to the blatant discrimination or distrust against her at times, she is only a half dragon, but she is studying the map to find the next location. Someone else is obsessed with the deadly artifact and Jade’s powers and soon Jade is face to face with the young Dragon that she freed in the last novel, but this kid is not so kind or innocent, she is downright nasty and unhinged!! I love her nickname of the “Rabid Koala”! This new rival practically destroys the cupcake shop!

Jade, Warner and Kett decipher the location of the next artifact which leads them to San Francisco then Peru and the action begins. Without saying too much, this artifact is cleverly guarded in a silver mine, which nulls all magic and along with our Rabid Koala things get tense and exciting. Things are so action packed and exciting, but if I told you more details it would be like eating a cupcake with a bite out of it! You wouldn’t enjoy it as much!

Jade is full of her usually snark and good sense in shoes and chocolate, Kett is wonderful as always. He is prepared to die for Jade, does this hint at love? I’m sure that we will learn more and Warner, our wonderful Sentinel Dragon is loyal and at Jade’s side. This novel greatly advances the storyline of finding all the artifacts and Jade learns her greatest destiny at the end. I hope she is up for her new title!! Plus, there is some steam in this novel, poor Warner is a Dragon raised in earlier times and different morals. Don’t worry, Jade will give him quite an education. I hope you enjoy this latest installment of the Dowser Series! I sure did!!

Reviewed by Jules C

Copy supplied by author

Series Spotlight

Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic
Dowser Series #1
by Meghan Ciana Doidge
Release Date:June 18, 2013
Genre: adult, urban fantasy, witches, vampires

Click HERE for Jules’s review of CUPCAKES, TRINKETS AND OTHER DEALY MAGIC

FREE ebook: Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Barnes and Noble / KOBO /


SONY DSCABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 18, 2013

If you’d asked me a week ago, I would have told you that the best cupcakes were dark chocolate with chocolate cream cheese icing, that dancing in a crowd of magic wielders — the Adept — was better than sex, and that my life was peaceful and uneventful. Just the way I liked it.

That’s what twenty-three years in the magical backwater of Vancouver will get you — a completely skewed sense of reality. Because when the dead werewolves started showing up, it all unraveled … except for the cupcake part. That’s a universal truth.

_____________________

Trinkets, Treasures and Other Bloody Magic
The Dowser Series #2
by Meghan Ciana Doidge
Release Date: December 27, 2013

Click HERE for Jules’s review of TRINKETS, TREASURES AND OTHER BLOODY MAGIC.

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SONY DSCABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date: December 27, 2013

Three months ago, I lost my foster sister, Sienna, to the darkness. As in blood magic and chaos and general mayhem. No one saw it until it was too late, but I should have. Now, I have a wounded heart and soul that I can’t even reveal to anyone around me, because I’m supposed to hate Sienna with the fiery passion of the justified. And I do. I just wish I didn’t feel so lost without her, so unsure of the path I thought I had carved for myself, and so outclassed by the powerful Adepts constantly by my side these days. I’m not even sure if they’re with me for my own protection or because my shiny new powers are rare and valuable. Assuming I ever figure out who or what I am, and how my magic actually works.

Even chocolate can’t save the day every time … just most of the time. At least I’ve got that going for me.

_________

Treasures, Demons, And Other Black Magic
Dowser Series #3
by Meghan Ciana Doidge
Release Date: June 11, 2014
Genre: adult, urban fantasy, vampires, witches

 

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Click HERE for Jules’s review of TREASURES, DEMONS and other BLACK MAGIC

SONY DSCABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 11, 2014

I hadn’t set foot in the human world for more than a few hours in over three and a half months. Sure, I was stronger and faster than I’d ever been before, and I had a shiny new sword, but I was seriously chocolate deprived. I don’t recommend quitting cold turkey. And the new sword was a problem — to my mind, anyway. It represented all the expectations of a powerful father and a new otherworldly life. A life that wasn’t the one I’d worked so hard to build. It also represented the responsibility I had to bring my foster sister Sienna to … what? Justice? I didn’t know if that was even possible. What I did know was that Sienna wouldn’t stop, and that I couldn’t just leave everything up to fate and destiny … or maybe I was. Maybe I was doing exactly what I was supposed to be doing. If you believed in that sort of thing.

I just hoped that before the chaos and mayhem renewed, I’d manage to get my hands on some chocolate. It didn’t even have to be single-origin Madagascar. I was utterly prepared to lower my standards.

__________

Shadows, Maps and Other Ancient Magic
Dowser Series #4
by Meghan Ciana Doidge
Genre: adult, paranormal,
Release Date:February 26, 2015

Click HERE for Jules’s review of SHADOWS, MAPS AND OTHER ANCIENT MAGIC

Amazon.com / B&N / KOBO /

shadows, maps and other ancient magicI had new cupcakes to bake, a new treasure to hunt, and a new dragon in town — literally. Who wouldn’t be ecstatic filling their days with chocolate, trinket collecting, and martial arts training?

Yeah … me.

Because no matter how much chocolate I ate, I couldn’t fill the dark pit in my soul. A darkness born from blood alchemy. A darkness that reeked of the black magic I now knew I was capable of creating.

Maybe it was time to walk away.

But what if there were important things left to do? What if I was the only one who could do what needed to be done?

I wasn’t sure I could handle the responsibility, but as long as I had my chocolate stash and a good friend to back me up, I was willing to give it a try.

Guest Post-Black and Blue

joyinacup

yellowcirtus_cake_RECIPE

buttercream_icing_RECIPE

About The Author Black and Blue

Meghan Ciana DoidgeMeghan Ciana Doidge is an award-winning writer based out of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. She has a penchant for bloody love stories, superheroes, and the supernatural. She also has a thing for chocolate, potatoes, and sock yarn.

Novels – After The Virus, Spirit Binder, Time Walker, Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic – Dowser #1, Trinkets, Treasures, and Other Bloody Magic – Dowser #2, Treasures, Demons, and Other Black Magic – Dowser #3

Novellas/Shorts – Love Lies Bleeding and The Graveyard Kiss

WARNING: author has been known to manipulate characters with chocolate, sex, and fantastical plotting. Readers beware http://author.to/meghancianadoidge

Follow Meghan: Goodreads / Website / Facebook / Twitter

Giveaway-Blue:Black

Meghan is offering a signed, papercopy of book 1-CUPCAKES, TRINKETS and other DEADLY MAGIC to ONE(1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

3. Please LIKE and Follow Meghan Ciana Doidge on Facebook

4. Please FOLLOW The Reading Cafe on TSU

5. LIKE us on FACEBOOK and then click GET NOTIFICATION under ‘liked’ for an additional entry.

6. FOLLOW us on Twitter for an additional entry.

7. Please FOLLOW us on GOODREADS for an additional entry.

8. Giveaway open INTERNATIONALLY.

9. Giveaway runs from August 7-11, 2015

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The Sincerest Form of Flattery by John L. DeBoer-Review and Guest Post

THE SINCEREST FORM OF FLATTERY by John L. Deboer-Review and Guest Post

The Sincerest Form of Flattery

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / The Book Depository

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 15, 2015

Jack Lansing, M.D. has become a bestselling mystery writer. At a book-signing event he meets a foemer colleague who, unbeknownst to Jack, has carried a grudge against him for thirty years. Soon after, murders start popping up in and around Jack’s peaceful North Carolina beach town. The murders mimic plots in his books, making him a suspect. Jack must convince the police and the FBI of his innocence while trying to solve the mystery himself. Because, he realizes, he and his wife could be the killer’s final victims. It’s a chilling tale of twists and turns. But this time, Jack doesn’t know how it will end.

•••••••••••••

REVIEW: THE SINCEREST FORM OF FLATTERY is the third installment in John L. DeBoer’s adult, contemporary, suspense series focusing on Jack Lansing M.D. THE SINCEREST FORM OF FLATTERY can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from previous storylines is imparted where necessary.

Told from first person point of view (Jack Lansing) and several third person perspectives THE SINCEREST FORM OF FLATTERY focuses on a serial killer or killers whose victims and murders are copycat killings from Jack Lansing’s best selling mystery novels. As the murders take on a familiar tone, Jack begins an investigation of his own suspecting the killer is someone looking for revenge from the past. Not one but two series of killings sparks the interest of investigators when all of the clues point to the premise of Jack Lansing’s books.

The secondary and supporting cast consists of many of the previous storyline characters including Jack’s new wife Erica; Erica’s ex Steve and his new wife Ann; as well as several members of various law enforcement from local police to the FBI. The requisite evil holds a long-standing personal grudge against Dr. Jack Lansing. The killer(s) is known to the reader; there is no mystery to the identity of the people involved but the suspense comes in the form of the expectancy for what is going to happen next.

John L. DeBoer weaves a fantastic tale of anticipation and suspense wherein our leading hero is, once again, both suspect and potential victim of a serial killer looking to even the score for a perceived wrong from the past. The premise is energetic and intriguing yet uncomplicated with exciting twists and turns merging several intersecting paths of murder and revenge; the characters are well rounded, charismatic and engaging. John’s style of writing is sophisticated, meticulous, and realistic.

Copy supplied by the author.

Reviewed by Sandy

Guest Post

First Person vs Third Person (Or Both?)

The Sincerest Form of Flattery is written in first person for the protagonist, Jack Lansing, but in third person for the antagonist and the other characters. I have, though, written other novels that use only third-person narratives. So what determines what I use for a particular novel? Bottom line is, I don’t really know.

Interestingly, I realized as I wrote this post that my three novels using the first person all involved a main character I could identify with. An alter ego, as it were. So putting parts of myself into the protagonist perhaps unconsciously drew me to write him in the first person.

But getting back to the point-of-view options, I think that the first person brings a sense of immediacy to the story. The protagonist describes in real time his reactions to situations. This brings the reader into his space, his mind, rather than keeping the reader at a distance as an observer. This, in effect, coerces the reader to be the main character’s ally, or at least to give him the benefit of the doubt. (Other than that all my protagonists to date have been male, I use the male pronoun for convenience here.) This, though, necessitates that the protagonist be a character who, at a minimum, does not turn off the reader that will be stuck with the narrator for the entire book and will be tasked to root for him. And then there’s the disadvantage of knowing the story-teller has to survive whatever ordeal will face him, the opening narration by the dead William Holden in Sunset Boulevard notwithstanding.

Although we know who we’re supposed to root for usually in a third-person story, it lacks this more intense personal involvement with the protagonist in my view. Now, as I stated above, my first-person novels have also included third-person points of view for the other characters, and I write them in subjective third. This lets me have my cake and eat it too, because it opens up possibilities only available otherwise in exclusively third-person books. All-first-person works well for mystery novels, and my stories do have some mystery in them, but I write in the thriller genre. For me, being able to show the reader what is happening outside of the protagonist’s awareness is important. Nelson DeMille, Harlan Coben, and Scott Turow, among others who write in my genre, have used this POV combination. As has Stephen King.

Having actions and emotions of the antagonist and other characters come as surprises to the protagonist when realized can be exciting at the reveals, and it does create suspense as we, along with our hero, wonder what’s going on. But I think even more suspense can be generated by showing the other sides of the conflict. The “Don’t go down into that cellar!” tension has more impact, in my opinion, if the reader knows what lies in wait there, rather than guessing.

Aside from the alter ego thing I mentioned, I have no preference for writing either in all-third person or a combination of first and third. I’ve read good thriller novels written in first person exclusively (Harlan Coben comes to mind again), but it’s not a style I like for my stories.

~~John L. DeBoer~~

About the Author

John L DeboerFollow John: Goodreads / Website/ Facebook / Twitter/ RAP

After graduating from the University of Vermont College of Medicine, John L. DeBoer, M.D., F.A.C.S. completed his surgical training in the U.S. Army and then spent three years in the Medical Corps as a general surgeon. Thirty years of private practice later, he retired to begin a new career as a writer.

When not creating new plot lines for his novels, Dr. DeBoer pursues his interests in cooking, the cinema, and the amazing cosmos. He’s an avid tennis player, and his yet-to-be-fulfilled goal is to achieve a level of mediocrity in the frustrating game of golf.

The father of two grown sons, he lives with his wife in North Carolina.

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Possessed by the Fallen by Sharon Ashwood – Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

Possessed by the Fallen by Sharon Ashwood – Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

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Possessed by the Fallen
Horsemen #4
by Sharon Ashwood
Release Date:July 1, 2015

 

Possessed by the FallenAmazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / The Book DepositoryHarlequin

Description:
When his lover learned his darkest secret, she betrayed the elite vampire agent… 

Now the beautiful fey Jessica Lark is back in Jack Anderson’s life. With the fate of a royal wedding and a high-stakes mission depending on his complete attention, Jack has no room for distraction. Especially the sort this temptress poses. A fey spy who also seems to be guarding dangerous secrets that aren’t her own. 

The two agents don’t know if they can trust one another. But if they hope to unravel a dark plot and fight an evil queen, they’ll have to try. Their undeniable attraction might just save them…but first they’ll have to travel through a portal to a hidden, treacherous fairy-tale kingdom.

 

Review:

Possessed by the Fallen is the conclusion of the terrific Four Horsemen series by Sharon Ashwood. Can you hear me weeping? It’s been a wonderful ride; each installment delving deeper into the massive rift between the Marcari and Vidon kingdoms. But more importantly, each Horseman lovingly featured. We met, and lost, vampire Jack Anderson, aka Death, the lynchpin of Les Compagnie des Morts in the introductory novel (all previous reviews available here). Jessica Lark, the brilliant dress designer, suffered the same fate, but like Jack – “The agents of the Company seem to have a phoenix-like talent for resurrection” – they painstakingly went underground. Separately. Ready to love Jack and Lark? You most certainly will!

So…hugs all around at the reunion? Not.even.close. Going undercover does wonders for the mind…it hones your memories…keeps revenge alive and hot if you were stabbed…by your lover! How does one even get over that?! Betrayal is unforgivable, and Jack’s got an infinite amount of time to seethe, but his heart is ever traitorous where Lark is concerned; she was, after all, the one who made his “still heart” beat again.

His entire being was flooded with desire and rage, and she was at the core of it all.

With the upcoming royal nuptials two weeks away, there’s little time to focus on love affairs gone horribly wrong. “Bridal apocalypse” is to be prevented by all means necessary and “this marriage had the power to seal the gates to the Dark Queen’s prison forever.”

In spite of Lark’s offense, she stole Jack’s dark secret to dissect and exploit for her own Light fey kind, Jack needs all the allies he can muster against Selena, the evil Dark Fey Queen.In my previous review (Faran’s book), I alluded to discoveries and nefarious action. The deadline is fast approaching and Jack must resurface, more powerful than ever, to gather up his troops and ensure the portal is sealed permanently. Uncertainty with Lark aside (reduced to spy vs. spy for the time being), will those closest to Jack welcome him back without pause? I would, he’s a hot ass vampire, but those trust issues Jack is holding against Lark could be the same accusations being flung at him by his own Horsemen.

Jessica Lark. I shouldn’t like her, but Ms. Ashwood makes her forgivably flawed and vulnerable. Yes, she did the unthinkable against the man she loved, but it wasn’t without personal cost. The aftermath of suffering, physically and emotionally, led Lark to visit the dark side, and sadly, this is no Star Wars reference.

Ms. Ashwood is tying loose ends, coming full circle, but she does it intriguingly, writes it decadently, every bump of the way. The subplots held their own glamour; inching their way toward final connections that achieve vision/purpose. But instead of being formulaic, Ms. Ashwood introduces new magical elements for good and complicates Jack’s already shaky comeback a la Me, Myself and Irene, only this time deadly. You’ll understand my meaning when you read the book.  

Forgiveness isn’t shameful and we witness its healing effects on those who need it the most. Ms. Ashwood described spectacular action, you’ll practically lift up your own hand to guard against the flames of battle, but she’s created, more significantly, memorable characters with stunning counterparts who envelope you in swoon-worthy romance. Possessed by the Fallen is a perfect finale for an incredible series. Sharon Ashwood deserves high praise for maintaining such exuberance throughout four books.

Reviewed by Carmen

Copy provided by Author

 

Guest Post-White and Purple

Who Doesn’t Love a Wicked Fairy Queen?

Well, my characters don’t, but I hope readers find her entertaining! In Possessed by the Fallen, the conclusion of my paranormal romance series, the action moves into the realm of the exiled Queen of the Dark Fey. Our hero, Jack, was one of those responsible for putting her there and, needless to say, the queen wants revenge almost as much as she wants to escape. Fortunately, Jack is accompanied by the heroine, Lark, who is one of the Light Fey and who knows how to navigate the twisting snares of the Fey Court.

Cultures across the world have legends of fairies, and I had opportunity to use a few of the common ideas about these hidden creatures. One is that the fairy realms are divided into Dark and Light. That doesn’t quite equate with “good” and “evil” but more like “will agree to a conversation” and “run the other way immediately.” At best, the fairies have their own concerns and see no reason to deal with humans unless there is a benefit to themselves. At worst, they’re the monster under the bed.

Fairies are also very literal. This means you have to be extremely careful when making a bargain with them, because they will take advantage of the smallest loophole. This is where Jack is very lucky to have Lark on board—she’s better than a team of lawyers when it comes to deciphering fey trickery. Also, don’t try the local cuisine. Fairy tales are filled with the adventures of unwary travellers who sample fairy food and fall under their power. The unwary might be trapped, driven mad, or waste away. In other words, fairies represent the ultimate “stranger danger.”

The peril represented by the fey says a lot about the cultures that created them. Scholars of the Victorian era spend a great deal of time exploring fairy tales as expressions of sexual desire—that gives a whole new meaning to goblin fruit—where others interpret the fairy world as a representation of raw nature. Fairies are wild, capricious, and indifferent to human suffering. They are tricksters who, like Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, love to cause chaos for its own sake.

In my story the fey are certainly dangerous (and lusty) but more easily understood. They have their own agenda, but they feel as we do—especially Lark of the Light Fey, who yearns desperately for a reunion with her lost love, Jack.

As for that wicked queen, she is well and truly a stinker. But what is a good fairytale without a villain—one with consummate style and all the best lines? No self-respecting fairy would be disappointed with a role like that. I invite you to come visit her realm in company with my hero and heroine. The queen has granted safe passage to readers, but don’t strike any bargains with the locals!

 

about the author

Sharon AshwoodSharon Ashwood is a novelist, desk jockey and enthusiast for the weird and spooky. She has an English literature degree but works as a finance geek. Interests include growing her to-be-read pile and playing with the toy graveyard on her desk. As a vegetarian, she freely admits the whole vampire/werewolf lifestyle would never work out, so she writes her adventures instead.

Sharon is the winner of the RITA® Award for Paranormal Romance. She lives in the Pacific Northwest and is owned by the Demon Lord of Kitty Badness.

To learn more about Sharon Ashwood, you can find her at the following links:

Website /   FacebookTwitter  / Pinterest / Goodreads

 

Giveaway-Purple-White

Sharon is graciously offering a signed paperback of Possessed by the Fallen to one (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

1. Please register using the log-in at the top of the page.

2. If you are using a social log-in such as Twitter or Facebook, please post your email address with your comment.

3. LIKE us on FACEBOOK and then click GET NOTIFICATION under ‘liked’ for an additional entry.

 4. LIKE us on Twitter for an additional entry.

5. Please Like and Follow SHARON ASHWOOD on Facebook

5. Giveaway open Internationally

6. Giveaway runs from July 1 to  July 5, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

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Delta for Death by Michele Drier-Review and Guest Post

Delta for Death by Michele Drier-Review and Guest Post

Delta For Death

Amazon.com/ Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 26,2015

California is in the middle of a catastrophic drought and water managers are scrambling to find ways to conserve the resource. The Governor has proposed a plan to dig massive tunnels under Delta, a sprawling tract of islands, sloughs, farms, marinas, resorts and historic small towns. The project will ship Sacramento River water south, to the thirsty corporate farms and cities of Central and Southern California, not a popular idea in Northern California.

When two bodies turn up at a state corporation yard in the tiny Delta hamlet of Freeland, Amy Hobbes and her police reporter, Clarice, are determined to find out if water is an issue worth killing for

••••••••••••

REVIEW: Delta for Death is Michele Drier’s new novel. This is Book Three of the Amy Hobbs Newspaper Mysteries.

Amy Hobbs is the Managing Editor for Monroe Press in the Central Valley area of California. Her ex-husband up and left for Illinois with his pregnant girlfriend, leaving Amy and her then teenage daughter to make a life for themselves. The teenager became a graduate of UC Santa Barbara with a nursing degree as Amy continues her career. She has since moved on romantically as well, she has a casual, for the moment, relationship with a wonderfully romantic and adventurous man, Phil. Phil happens to work for the San Francisco Times.

This marvelously entertaining story develops slowly as Amy and her reporters go through their day discovering stories of murder and mayhem in this small town California area. Stories develop in interesting ways, as do the relationships between the people.

Author Michele Drier has written a wonderfully entertaining story, combining great characters, behind the scenes looks at what’s behind some of the headlines in California, murder and the many possibilities for it, as well as a developing romance. All are entwined to make a fun and interesting read.

I’ve had the privilege of reading Michele Drier’s SNAP (Kandesky Vampire Chronicles) Series, and after reading this story, I’ll have to catch up by reading the first two Amy Hobbs Mysteries as well.

Grab you favorite beverage, curl up and have a great read with this wonderful new addition to her series! Enjoy everyone, I certainly did.

Copy supplied by the author.

Reviewed by Georgianna S

Guest Post

What do You Know?

Many of us don’t know what we know.

That sounds like a non sequitur. Of course we know. We went to school. We work. We read. We watch television. We talk with friends.
We’re learning every day.

But lot of what we’ve learned just passes through our minds if we have no immediate use for it. Even if we don’t use it, though, it’s still there, lodged somewhere behind grocery lists, our mother’s uncle’s second wife’s phone number and birthdays of people we worked with ten years ago.

So when a writer is advised to “write what you know,” what does that mean?
The foremost idea is to set your protagonist in a career or relationship or place that you, as the author, are familiar with.

Many authors do this. I’ve chosen a protagonist for my mystery series who’s a newspaper editor. Hmmm… maybe because I spent about twenty years in that job?

And the setting for the books is California’s northern Central Valley, a place where I spent a chunk of my childhood and have lived for a quarter of a century as an adult. This deep knowledge of a career, a location and a point in time, makes it easy to close my eyes and be there.

I’ve also chosen to develop plots around roughly current news. The first book in the series, Edited for Death, is about finding masterpieces stolen by the Nazis in World War II. It was written a few years ago when pieces of stolen art, notably a Klimt work, were found. And not too long ago, George Clooney put together a movie, Monuments Men, about the group of scholars who tracked down and recovered some of the looted art.

Labeled for Death looks at the winegrape growing industry in California, a several billion dollar a year economic shot in the arm for the state…and some well-known and wealthy growers. Premium wines are made from grape varieties and some grapes bring a lot more money per ton than others. Is someone passing off inferior grapes as premium?

California’s severe drought is the backstory for Delta for Death. The governor has a plan to dig huge, deep tunnels under the Delta where the major north-south rivers join up to flow into San Francisco Bay. The tunnels will divert Sacramento River water under the Delta to ship it south to the ag lands in the lower Central Valley and eventually into the Los Angles basin. Is water in California an issue worth killing over?

Even knowing the situations and places I’m writing about, sometime small memories pop up and say, “Me too! Don’t forget about…” That’s how Amy Hobbes and her lover end up at a sports car race in Monterey in Delta for Death. Or a building in Heidelberg houses stolen art in Edited for Death. Little things I experienced, tucked away and forgot about for years.

What have you learned that you know? What small (or not!) piece of trivia is in a locked file drawer in your brain, just waiting for the key? Finding out what you know can be a great voyage of discovery.

~~Michele~~

About The Author

FOLLOW: Website /Facebook /Twitter / Amazon

Michele DrierMichele Drier was born in Santa Cruz and is a fifth generation Californian. She’s lived and worked all over the state, calling both Southern and Northern California home. During her career in journalism—as a reporter and editor at daily newspapers—she won awards for producing investigative series.

She writes the Amy Hobbes Newspaper mysteries, Edited for Death, Labeled for Death and Delta for Death, published May 2015.

Her paranormal romance series, The Kandesky Vampire Chronicles, was named one of the best paranormal vampire series of 2014 by reviewers of the Paranormal Romance Guild. SNAP: All That Jazz, Book Eight of The Kandesky Vampire Chronicles, was awarded second place for best book of 2014.

The Kandesky Vampire Chronicles include SNAP: The World Unfolds, SNAP: New Talent, Plague: A Love Story, DANUBE: A Tale of Murder, SNAP: Love for Blood, SNAP: Happily Ever After?, SNAP: White Nights and SNAP: All That Jazz. SNAP: I, Vampire, Book Nine in the Kandesky Vampire Chronicles is scheduled for publication in 2015.

Box Set ebooks Vol 1-4 of SNAP: Kandesky Vampire Chronicles only $6.99 : Amazon.com / Amazon.ca/ Barnes and Noble/ KOBO

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GO ! (Hold On ! Season 2) by Peter Darley-Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

GO! (Hold On ! Season 2) by Peter Darley-Review, Guest Post and Giveaway

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GO!
(Hold On Season #2)
by Peter Darley
Release Date: May 26, 2015
Genre: adult, contemporary, romantic, suspense

Go

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 26, 2015

Brandon Drake has escaped from Leavenworth, aided by a new player who has entered the game. Tyler Faraday is the heir to an empire––and Brandon’s long-lost brother. Tyler enables Brandon’s reunion with his lover, Belinda, but Brandon is no longer the man she once knew. Haunted by memories of a life that never happened, he succumbs to the lure of alcohol.

Tyler has discovered he and Brandon have another sibling. Having been raised in a convent, their sister, Emily, has a crisis of faith and flees. On the road, she is kidnapped by a ruthless human trafficking organization run by a mysterious kingpin called Sapphire. Brandon, Tyler, and Belinda learn of Emily’s plight and begin their search for Sapphire’s location, hampered by Brandon’s growing alcohol dependency.

Meanwhile, Andrew Wilmot, new leader of a rogue government faction, seeks to use Brandon for his own nefarious plans, and hunts him down.

Brandon, Belinda, and Tyler’s quest leads to Los Angeles, where they search for the only one who knows Sapphire’s location––a former captive known only as Siren, and who may not even exist. Their quest is destined to lead to the most explosive action in the series so far.

••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: GO! is the second installment in Peter Darley’s high energy, Hold On romantic, suspense series focusing on former soldier Brandon Drake. Two years have passed since the events of book one-Hold On-wherein Brandon found himself sentenced to Leavenworth for crimes against the US government.

Told from several third person perspectives, GO! finds Brandon and Belinda on the run. After escaping Leavenworth Prison, an injured Brandon finds refuge with a brother he barely knows, and the woman he hasn’t spoken to in almost two years. What ensues, is Brandon’s recovery; Tyler and Brandon’s search for a missing sibling they knew nothing about; and the hunt for Brandon and Belinda by a rogue government faction who has other plans for Brandon’s special skill set and ability to evade his captors. The search for Tyler and Brandon’s sister places our heroes on a path to uncover a human trafficking ring wherein our hero’s intrepid brother goes undercover as a high stakes bidder for human sex slaves.

GO! is an ensemble storyline with a large cast of supporting and secondary characters whose actions directly affect Brandon and his search for Emily Drake. From rogue government agents, the FBI and CIA, to friends and enemies of Brandon Drake, everyone is suspect and no one can be discounted as a potential threat against Brandon’s mission to find the sister he hasn’t seen for over twenty years.

The action and suspense of the hunt are the primary driving factors that continue to push the storyline forward. Brandon has some personal and emotional issues that he has to overcome, and in this, Brandon has some traits of the anti-hero when life begins to overwhelm and everything appears to be crashing around them. But Brandon is a man without a past and there are some things about Brandon that are both frightening and dangerous to everyone around. He is a reluctant hero-a man epitomized by the American public for his acts of bravery, and fight against corruption and government crime. Brandon is an enigma; a man with deep flaws and a darker history. We will question the limits of Brandon’s moral integrity, his insecurities, and his ability to get the job done.

GO! is a storyline with military style action and adventure; a tale of suspense and intrigue, espionage, murder, and drama. Peter Darley’s GO! is an action movie set to ‘virtual’ paper; an intense look at one man’s need to save the people he loves, and the world around them.

Copy supplied by the author.

Reviewed by Sandy

Series Spotlight

Hold On !
by Peter Darley
Release Date: July 7, 2014
Genre: mystery, suspense, action,romance

Hold OnClick HERE for Sandy’s review of HOLD ON !

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 7, 2014

Two lovers! A deadly conspiracy! A race to freedom!

When Carringby Industries, a government-contracted arms manufacturer, is raided by what appear to be terrorists, the CEO’s secretary, Belinda Reese, is rescued by Brandon Drake, a dashing young AWOL soldier. Using an experimental test aircraft, he flees with her to his remote, isolated cabin in the mountains of Aspen.

While assisting in the design of military weaponry, Brandon discovered a plot within his own government to attack its own facilities, under the guidance of immoral politician, Senator Garrison Treadwell. Belinda’s body was not found among the dead at Carringby Industries, and Treadwell suspects that Drake was responsible for rescuing her. In an effort to entrap him, Treadwell arranges for an all points bulletin to be placed on Belinda

Deeply in love, Brandon and Belinda attempt to escape from America, only to endure one harrowing experience after another as they try to evade and expose Treadwell’s corrupt faction.

But on the run, with danger around every corner, Brandon makes a discovery so devastating that it shatters the very foundations of his reality.

Guest Post

Go! and the Cliffhangers Behind the Scenes

Hi everyone. It’s great to be back at The Reading Café. ☺ With what’s happened since the last time I was here, the fact that I made it back makes this even more special.

Go! – Hold On! Season 2 is the latest instalment in my novelized, hypothetical TV thriller series. I began writing Go! in 2012 in reaction to the excitement I felt when its predecessor, Hold On!, was picked up for the first time by a publisher in Michigan. Unfortunately, it all went downhill from there. A week before Hold On! was due to be released, my publisher folded, and my agent retired. It was then tentatively picked up by Fifty Shades of Grey’s original publisher – who went silent without explanation, after four months of us working on the book. Go! was still being written through all this, and the uncertainty of the future of the series seriously impaired its completion.

Several weeks later, in late 2013, Hold On! was picked up by a publisher in New York, which, at the time, gave me some incentive to complete Go!. What ultimately happened with this publisher was a total nightmare – which is a story I will get to in a moment.

The story in Go! was a work in progress for some time. Many have commented (and even complained) that Hold On! ended on a cliffhanger, and yet I never saw it that way. When I originally completed Hold On! back in 2011, I had no concept of a sequel. It ended on an apparent HEA. There was an opening for a continuation, but I didn’t feel it was essential. I believe that the ‘cliffhanger’ so many were vexed about was an optical illusion created by the excerpt from Go!, which was published on the page after Hold On! ended. It was down to the mere fact that a sequel had arisen. I do believe that the original version of Hold On! could have stood alone without Go!.

With the release of the second edition of Hold On! (now called Hold On! – Season 1) that has changed. There are definitely cliffhangers at the end now. This is mandatory for this idea, really. All thriller TV show seasons end on the essential ‘season finale’ hook. For that reason, I added the ‘Season 1’ subtitle in order to give my readers a heads-up from the outset.

In the story of Go!, I had to consider the human factor, and how such circumstances would affect real human beings. Brandon Drake is an extraordinary, enigmatic hero, but he’s also a man. He isn’t a machine. Hold On! and the early chapters of Go! illustrate what he goes through. It’s extreme, both emotionally and physically.

In order to be credible, it was important to contemplate how all of this would affect someone? Soldiers on the battlefield often suffer PTSD, which can lead to extreme, self-destructive behavior. For this reason, I wanted to keep Brandon real, and he becomes an alcoholic. In turn, this alcohol plotline made for an entirely new type of cliffhanger. In Hold On! Brandon would get them out of a tight spot, but this time – he’s utterly useless. How are they going to get out of it now?

Continuing to explore the myriad types of bullies and controllers in the world, I picked up the story exactly where Hold On! left off. The government conspiracy storyline continues, along with a human trafficking subplot.

In Hold On! it was revealed that Belinda had been sexually abused by a priest when she was a child. In Go! I gave a deeper exploration of what she went through. I had reservations about her flashback scene, and it wasn’t easy to describe something so ugly without it seeming graphic and exploitative. Nevertheless, I am confident that I succeeded, basing a non-graphic, purely ‘audible’ memory on the accounts of actual victims of this crime. My intention was to show the harm that it causes to the individual, and its far-reaching consequences. In my opinion, crimes such as this should be exposed, and not swept under the rug.

A new cast is introduced in Go!. We get to meet Brandon’s long-lost brother as they risk everything to rescue their sister from a brutal human trafficking organization. Along the way, we share Brandon’s struggle to overcome his alcohol addiction and restore himself to his former greatness. All plot threads build toward an explosive finale, which leads into the final book in the current story arc: Run! – Hold On! Season 3. We are currently working on the final touches of Run! in preparation for its release on August 17th.

After Hold On! was signed, my former publisher accepted Go! and sent me a publishing contract for it in April, 2014. Before long, I noticed that their promotional measures were virtually none-existent, and there was an insensible complacency in them. None of the promotional efforts I was making, or even Hold On! having picked up a sterling celebrity review, seemed to be of any interest to them. Any asset which would have propelled the visibility of the book was discarded by this publisher, who seemed to be comfortable with all of their books languishing at the bottom of the Amazon rankings.

Whatever their business model is, it does not explain this blatant aversion to success. Whether you run the village bakery or if you are an international arms dealer, the bottom line of any business – is profit. If profit is not the agenda here – what is? Could it have been set up intentionally to make a loss in order to reduce the tax liability on another venture? I just don’t know.

On my publisher’s author ‘support’ blog, I bore witness to threats, by an editor, to authors who dared to question this complacency. Soon, I would find myself on a chilling excursion into utter insanity.

I was in preparation for a major promotion of Go!, into which I would have been investing almost $1,000. It should be noted that my publisher would have reaped the majority share of the proceeds from this. Before I went ahead with it, I needed them to add the sequel’s release date to the end of the first book, and upload the amendment to Amazon. I’ve done this myself, countless times by now. It takes exactly four minutes. With the expenditure involved, their silence and complacency was beginning to agitate me.

My subsequent discussions with my publisher became heated. In retaliation, this person claimed that Go! required ‘major revisions’, wouldn’t tell me what those revisions entailed, and all communications between my editor and I were blocked. Lies and false accusations – that I had asked to be released from my contract, and that I had rejected cover art (that I had designed!) – ensued. All attempts at reasoning with this person failed. In breach of our contract, I had a termination agreement for Go! forced on me – while they stated they were going to keep Hold On! (which would have remained at the bottom of Amazon’s rankings, without my input.) I could do nothing with the sequel without Book One. I was also accused of not ‘acting in good faith’. If that were true, wouldn’t it also have applied to Hold On!?

Extremely creepy commentary came back from my publisher: “We are cancelling your sequel, but we are still willing to work with you on Hold On! so you can still be a part of our ‘family’.” And “Read back through this thread and you will see why ‘this is happening’.” I’ve kept all of the emails, read through them, had them vetted, and nobody can decipher what this was supposed to have meant. To me, it was all a bit ‘Twilight Zone.’

Ultimately, it cost me close to $800 to buy Hold On! back from them. (This was preferable to an estimated $100,000 in transatlantic legal expenses.) It’s interesting that they threw in the cover art as part of the deal, when previously they’d claimed I’d rejected it. Why would this person think I’d want something I’d allegedly rejected?

But what had I got myself involved with? If they are not a business in pursuit of profits, what are they? And why do they seem so intent on such vindictive behavior? I am now extremely wary of publishers. Authors seek them, largely as a result of having no knowledge of marketing. The truth is – neither do many publishers.

I have since set up my own outfit. With my new cover designer, Harris Channing, and my editor, confidante, and dear friend, novelist Patricia Harreld, I am taking the Hold On! series all the way to the end. Patricia has been amazing. Through a series of deep discussions, leg-pulling, and practical jokes, we have become the best of friends. I am also acting as consultant on her new sci-fi thriller novel, DASH, which involves a magician. I’ve never disclosed this in a writer’s forum before, but I actually am a professional close-up magician (the David Blaine type), so this collaboration between Patricia and me has worked out beautifully. ☺

At the conclusion of Hold On!’s first major promotion on Amazon after its re-launch, it reached #1 in young adult, #1 in thrillers, #1 in romance, mystery and suspense, and #2 in ‘all books’. Its reviews and ratings have been overwhelmingly positive, with only a negligible number of naysayers. The reviews and ratings for Go! seem to be even better than for Hold On!. (So much for ‘major revisions required’.)

I am hopeful that this pattern continues so that I can take the Hold On! series into the next wave after Season 3. Maybe all of this will, ultimately, have a HEA. ☺ I don’t think I handle any more cliffhangers (lol.)

The links for the Hold On! and Go! video trailers are:

Hold On! – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JM3ZRKoYNhE

Go! – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fA0ufEp-MU

 ~~Peter~~

 

About The author

Follow Peter: Blog / Twitter / Facebook /

peter-darley1Peter Darley is a British novelist, whose professional history is in show business. He is a graduate of the Birmingham School of Speech and Drama, and studied television drama at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA.) Peter’s television credits include guest-starring roles in UK productions such as BBC’s Crime Limited, Stanley’s Dragon for ITV, The Bill, Sky One’s Dream Team, and numerous TV commercials. He also worked as a model, presenter, and voice-over artiste for ten years, and has been an agent for several variety acts.

Peter’s lifelong admiration of heroes, and love of roller-coaster-style thrills have been a huge influence on his writings. He is also a professional close-up magician, a keen athlete and body builder, and lives with my wife in rural England.

 

Giveaway

Peter is offering an ecopy of HOLD ON! and GO! to ONE(1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe. ONE commenter will win a copy BOTH ebooks.

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

3. Please LIKE and Follow Peter Darley on Facebook

4. LIKE us on FACEBOOK and then click GET NOTIFICATION under ‘liked’ for an additional entry.

5. LIKE us on Twitter for an additional entry.

6. Please FOLLOW us on GOODREADS for an additional entry.

7. Please FOLLOW us on TSU for an additional entry.

8. Giveaway is open internationally

9. Giveaway runs from June 21 – 25, 2015

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Shadows (Black Raven #1) by Stella Barcelona-Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

Shadows (Black Raven #1) by Stella Barcelona-Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

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SHADOWS
Black Raven Series #1
by Stella Barcelona
Genre: adult, contemporary, romantic suspense
Release Date: April 7, 2015

Shadows

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / The Book Depository

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Cataclysm. Now. Run.

A cryptic, urgent text message turns the peaceful life Skye Barrows has created for herself and her sister into chaos. She must follow her father’s instructions to the letter, but Sebastian Connelly is blocking her way. Telling Sebastian what she must do is not an option.

What He Doesn’t Know Will Get Them All Killed

When a prison break in the midst of a security system upgrade threatens to destroy the reputation of Sebastian’s company, Black Raven Private Security Contractors, he goes on the hunt for escaped prisoner Richard Barrows – a delusional and paranoid computer software genius. Sebastian’s mission: find Richard Barrows and return him to prison, but stonewalled by Skye, who refuses to give him answers, and with the added complication of her special needs sister, Sebastian finds himself always a step or two behind vicious killers.

Nothing About This Case is Normal

For Sebastian, it should be simple, but this case will test him in ways he never imagined. As probing interrogation becomes urgent protection, the search for Barrows forces Sebastian and Skye into a murky world of shadows and illusions.

Review:

Shadows begins with Skye Barrows receiving a text message that she’d hoped down to her very soul that she would never receive. Once her father had gone to prison, she had created a new life for herself and her special needs sister, Spring. One where they had assumed names and had ceased to exist as the world knew them: daughters of the famous, or infamous depending on your take, Richard Barrows. When Skye receives the text, she knows she has 24 hours to get to their safe house to await further instructions from her father. But, as she and her sister stop by the coffee house that they owned to allow Spring to stick to the schedule that she thrived on, she had no idea the turn their lives would take that fateful day. Spring’s dog, Candy, ran into the street and was almost hit. And, when a stranger scooped Candy into his arms to deliver her back to her owners, Skye somehow knew that things may not be as they appeared.

Spring insists that the nice stranger come into their coffee shop for some coffee and samples of some new treats they were working on, so he obliges. Sebastian soon approaches Skye and reveals that he knows who she is and that he needs information in order to locate her father. She refuses to cooperate, of course, and Sebastian issues an ultimatum and leaves. However, when Sebastian and one of his agents drive by the girls’ home, he very soon realizes that they are not the only ones after Skye and her sister. As they arrive back at the coffee shop, things have gone to hell……and quick. Strangers are in the process of abducting the girls, and it takes some quick thinking on Sebastian’s part to take the bad guys down. Once he has gotten the girls out of danger, he immediately gets on the phone with Black Ravens headquarters and things start happening. Fast. He knows that he has his work cut out for him with Skye, as she is NOT forthcoming with any helpful information, and Spring is so fragile that she can’t offer any information either.

When a safe house is arranged by the U.S. Marshals, Sebastian is ready to hand the girls over, only to head straight into an ambush. As he flees with Skye and her sister, Skye has no idea who she can trust and Sebastian is bound and determined that she will trust him. As mayhem ensues, Skye will have to make the ultimate decision: trust no one as her father has always told her, or trust in the one man who seems to truly have their best interest at heart. Oh, what a hard decision it is.

Shadows is an awesome story with so many twists and turns, so much mystery and intrigue, that I found myself questioning everyone at one point or another. Skye is an endearing heroine, although a little naïve about the amount of danger she and her sister are in. Spring is number one on her list and she will risk everything to keep her safe. Sebastian, whom we met in Barcelona’s first novel, Deceived, is your typical alpha male who at first is just doing a job, that ultimately turns into a wonderful game of cat and mouse with not only the bad buys, but with his feelings about Skye. I really enjoyed their chemistry, but I have to tell you, that I can NOT wait to read more about the secondary characters. The interaction between Sebastian and his team was awesome and Barcelona did a great job building the world in which they operate. However, if I’m being honest, it was a little overwhelming at times with all of the technical jargon that we are privy to as the information is gone over numerous times and I found myself glazing over at certain points. But, I digress. If you are looking for a series full of mystery, intrigue, crooked politicians and hot special agents, this is definitely a series you’ll want to read. I am so so so looking forward to the next installment. Very well done, Stella Barcelona!!!

Copy supplied by the author.

Reviewed by Vickie M.

Series Spotlight

Deceived
by Stella Barcelona
Release Date: May 1, 2014
Genre: adult, suspense,

DeceivedAmazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / The Book Depository

 

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 1, 2014

Their destinies have been set in motion by their ancestors.

Taylor Marlowe Bartholomew carries three of the most notable names in New Orleans society. She hoped to forge her own path in the world as an Assistant District Attorney, but that dream is dying as obligations pull her into the family shipbuilding business. In Taylor’s final days in the DA’s office, she receives a murder assignment that could unravel her perception of reality.

Ghosts of the past shadow every step they take.

Brandon Morrissey is haunted by demons that force him to keep his life simple and detached. He pours all of his energy into his thriving legal practice, until, overnight, he becomes the single father of an infant. For the sake of his son’s future, Brandon searches for a killer and faces the truth about his family’s unfortunate past.

Together they have to find the truth…before it’s too late.

Someone is willing to kill to use the past for their own ends. Thrust together, Brandon and Taylor have different views of their families’ intersecting histories. As they confront a sea of uncertainty, one thing is sure…no one is safe until they discover where the truth lies.

••••••••••••••••••••••

Guest Post

“Keeping the Storyline Real – When Writing Escapism”

I truly love all the different aspects of writing my romantic thrillers – Deceived (2014), Shadows (2015), and my work in progress, Jigsaw. When writing, I try to keep the storyline real, while still writing escapism-a story that will take readers on a colorful and fast-paced journey where they are able to forget real life. I try to accomplish this goal by incorporating just enough research to make the premise—which becomes the backdrop for the romance—unique, but also readily identifiable.

I spend countless hours doing research for my writing, yet very little of my research material makes it to the page. Why? Because details slow the pace and take away from the real stars of the show–characters and plot. I put in only enough research so that the story has verisimilitude, or the quality of seeming real. An example from television is “Person of Interest.” The premise of the show is that an advanced surveillance machine exists that identifies people at risk for violent crimes. In real life, we know techno-surveillance is pervasive, so the premise is readily identifiable. The show doesn’t focus on how the machine works, and I don’t care about those details. The show works, for me, because of the unique premise, the well-developed characters, and the high-stakes action.

My books also have readily identifiable themes. Deceived is a present-day mystery that is loosely based upon World War II history in New Orleans. Shadows has a technology driven mystery. Deceived required historic research, while Shadows involved analyzing current headlines and issues involving cyber data collection and assimilation. For both stories, research helped to formulate plot and breathe real life into the story structure. However, Deceived isn’t about World War II and Shadows isn’t about the intricacies of data assimilation technology. Deceived is about Taylor Bartholomew and Brandon Morrissey–and how they’re caught in a web of lies told by their ancestors. Shadows is about Sebastian Connelly and Skye Barrows–and how they’re at odds with each other as Sebastian hunts for Skye’s father, a cyber genius who has escaped from prison.

My stories offer escapism, with a touch of reality. I hope you enjoy them!

About The author

stella barcelonaFollow Stella:  Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook

Stella Barcelona, author of romantic suspense novels, has always had an active imagination, a tendency to daydream, and a passion for reading romance, mysteries, and thrillers. From her early days of reading, when she first escaped reality through the pages of a well-written novel, she knew that her daydreams needed an outlet, and she knew that her outlet would be writing.

In day to day life, Stella is a lawyer and works for a court in New Orleans, Louisiana. Currently, Stella lives minutes from the French Quarter, with her husband of sixteen years and two adorable papillons who believe that they are princesses. Stella loves to hear from readers on her Facebook page and can also be contacted through her website, www.stellabarcelona.com, where there’s information on appearances, her next release, and exciting contests that you won’t want to miss! While she doesn’t have a lot of free time with her legal and writing careers battling for her every minute, she does enjoy any chance she and her husband get to go out on their boat. In addition, she attends conferences, workshops, and retreats for writers. She is a member of Romance Writers of America and the Southern Louisiana Chapter of the Romance Writers of America.

giveaway

Stella is graciously offering a signed, paper copy of SHADOWS and a $25 Amazon Gift Card to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

3. Please LIKE and Follow Stella Barcelona on Facebook

4. LIKE us on FACEBOOK and then click GET NOTIFICATION under ‘liked’ for an additional entry.

5. LIKE us on Twitter for an additional entry.

6. Please FOLLOW us on GOODREADS for an additional entry.

7. Please FOLLOW us on TSU for an additional entry.

8. Giveaway open to USA only

9. Giveaway runs from May 29 to June 2, 2015

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