Saturday, February 1, 2014

Book Spotlight: Funhouse by Michael Bray - Review

Funhouse
Short Story Anthology

Michael Bray

Horror

Available at Amazon



Blurb

Roll up to the funhouse, a brand new collection of tales from the author of Whisper, Dark Corners & Meat, Michael Bray.

A man who makes an unscheduled stop gets more than he bargained for in ‘CANDYLAND.’

A Group of teens discover a terrible secret on Samsonite farm in ‘SCARECROWS.’

A Schoolyard bully and his former victim reunite with horrifying results in ‘LONG TALL COFFIN.’

A High school party becomes an arachnid nightmare for one unfortunate guest in ‘THE BOY WHO SAW SPIDERS.’

These are just some of the horrors hidden within the darkest recesses of the funhouse. Look closer if you dare, and indulge in these 16 tales of madness, murder, terror and insanity.


My Review: I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review

One of my favorite reads growing up was Night Shift by Stephen King. I've been a horror book junkie since I was ten years old. Funhouse contains a delightfully dark group of short stories that will make you shiver and perhaps even leave the light on. The first story sets the tone quite nicely for the entire anthology. Though, I must say, only a moron would get on a carnival ride if they had to sign a waiver first...

Mr. Bray has treated us to sixteen tales, some more macabre than others. One thing I enjoyed was the psychological aspect to many of the stories. Sometimes the thing we should fear the most is our very own brain. There were a couple stories that didn't do anything for me, but the others made up for that in spades. And for anyone out there with arachnophobia, do skip the story The Boy Who Saw Spiders.

I'm going to recommend Funhouse for ages 17+, but I'd let my thirteen-year-old read it if he was interested. I didn't find the book all that scary (macabre, eerie, poignant maybe), but I think I might be a bit jaded. The horror genre has been a bit thin on good titles as of late. I think this anthology is a great addition.

About the Author

Michael Bray is a Horror author based in Leeds, England. Influenced from an early age by the suspense horror of authors such as Stephen King, and the trashy pulp TV shows like Tales From The Crypt & The Twilight Zone, he started to work on his own fiction, and spent many years developing his style. In May 2012, he signed a deal with the highly reputable Dark Hall Press to print and distribute his collection of interlinked short stories titled Dark Corners, which was released in September 2012. His second release was a Novella titled MEAT which was initially self-published before being picked up by J. Ellington Ashton Press. His first full length novel, a supernatural horror titled Whisper was initially self-published, and following great critical acclaim, sold to Horrific Tales publishing where it went on to reach as high as #3 in the amazon paid best sellers list.

Friday, January 31, 2014

February Kindle Fire HDX Giveaway!!

February Kindle Fire

 Win a Kindle Fire HDX, Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash ($229 value)   This is a joint AUTHOR & BLOGGER GIVEAWAY EVENT! Bloggers & Authors have joined together and each chipped in a little money towards a Kindle Fire HDX 7".
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  Or $229 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)


  Or $229 in Paypal Cash (International)


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  Sign up to sponsor the next Kindle Fire Giveaway: http://www.iamareader.com/category/kindle-giveaway-sign-ups   Giveaway Details 1 winner will receive their choice of an all new Kindle Fire 7" HDX (US Only - $229 value), $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 in Paypal Cash (International). There is a second separate giveaway for bloggers who post this giveaway on their blog. See details in the rafflecopter on how to enter to win the 2nd Kindle Fire HDX 7". Ends 2/28/14 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the participating authors & bloggers. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Spotlight: Final Life by Rose Garcia - Review

Final Life

Rose Garcia

YA Paranormal

Available at Amazon



Blurb

Nothing sucks more than being forced to move cross country during senior year. And Dominique Wells doesn't think things can get any worse until she's invited to a quirky neighbor's party. When pressured into playing a magical card game, Dominique's world goes from sucky to terrifying. She begins having visions of a red desert and an evil presence--a presence who hints at past lives and promises to kill her.

Plagued by fear and suspicion, and unaware of a family secret kept hidden from her, Dominique is determined to live. Together with a mysterious and gorgeous guy who's moved in while his parents are away, and a hot, popular guy from school, Dominique must seek clues to her past if she's to survive. That, and keep her emotions in check for the two guys she suddenly can't stop thinking about because if she doesn't, she'll be dead. For real.



My Review: I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review

Final Life is a YA paranormal with an interesting plot and just a touch of romance. I've always been fascinated by past lives and tend to gravitate toward books that feature them. This one is a bit different than many others about past lives. The title refers to Dominique's final chance to overcome the evil that has followed her through eight other lives. No pressure or anything.

Dominique thinks she's a normal teenager until a couple incidents reveal her true destiny, forcing her parents to tell her the truth. She is on her last life and if she doesn't defeat the evil pursuing her, a horrible fate will befall the Earth. For some reason, her parents kept this important information from her. Instead of training her to take on the evil, they remain silent. Interesting choice given the circumstances. In fact her parents' actions were so difficult to understand, I was just left scratching my head.

The entire mystery occurs because people keep things from our intrepid main character. Why do people always do that? Personally, if I was in Dominique's shoes, I'd want to know in advance. Well, for whatever reasons, Dominique is forced to uncover the mystery herself. I found the plot intriguing, and enjoyed the pace in which the mystery was revealed. This is a lightning fast read—the pages just seem to fly by.

Romance takes a backseat to saving the world, but we are treated to a bit of a love triangle anyway. First we have the adorable, sweet, and intelligent Trent who shows an immediate interest in Dominique. To complicate matters, gorgeous, stoic, and close-lipped Farrell moves in with her family. Farrell is deeply connected to her past, and Dominique feels an instant connection with him. Of course, she is also quite attracted to Trent, who makes her heart race with his mere presence.

Final Life has an ending! That's right, it's a standalone novel with a real ending. A rare find in the YA paranormal genre. I recommend Final Life to everyone high school and up that enjoys a good paranormal read. If you're into past lives, I think you'll really enjoy this one.


About the Author

Rose Garcia is a lawyer turned writer who's always been fascinated by science fiction and fantasy. From a very young age, she often had her nose buried in books about other-worlds, fantastical creatures, and life and death situations. More recently she's been intrigued by a blend of science fiction and reality, and the idea that some supernatural events are, indeed, very real. Fueled by her imagination, she created The Transhuman Chronicles--a series of books about people who have overcome human limitations.


Rose lives in Houston with her husband and two kids. You can visit Rose at www.rosegarciabooks.com

Book Blitz: The Eve by Keary Taylor - Excerpt & Giveaway



The Eve
The Eden Trilogy Book Three

Keary Taylor

YA Sci-Fi/Dystopian

Available at Amazon



Blurb

A plan was laid out as the Evolution crushed mankind, a plan that was right under Eden’s nose all along. And Eve is the key to everything. New Eden—mankind—they have a small chance at fixing their dismembered planet.

But it will be a reckless sprint against time and the coming Bane to retrieve the final piece to the plot. New Eden’s worst fears have become reality. The Bane are back in the city and they’re smarter and more aggressive than ever. They know where the humans are and they’re coming to finish what they’ve nearly completed.

Eve has been content with the family she’s found—Avian, West, Gabriel, Royce. But she’s about to discover she may have the one family Eve never thought she would: blood. With every odd stacked against her, all the lies and all the secrets of her origins will be exposed.

The past and the future are about to come full circle.



Excerpt

“Start checking vehicles,” I said, racing across the street to a parking lot.  “Maybe we’ll find something with keys.”
“Eve,” West said as we started yanking car doors open.  “You know if that kid was infected that it’s too late for Avian.  He’ll get infected.”
I shook my head, my jaw set hard.  “No,” I said as I checked another car.  No keys.  “There’s a chance the boy wasn’t infected.  And if it just barely happened, he won’t be able to spread the infection for a few hours.”
But even as I made my argument, I knew it wasn’t true.  Those bodies had been dead for days, maybe even over a week.  If the kid was infected, TorBane would be fully saturated into his system.”
“Got it!” West shouted.  He held up a pair of keys as a floor mat came tumbling out of the truck.  “Get in!”
I hopped into the passenger seat and slammed the door shut.  I tossed our supplies in the back seat.  “You don’t know how to drive,” I said, my voice breathy.
“Today seems like a good day to learn,” West said, shoving the key in the ignition.
The truck clicked and sputtered.  It had been a sitting, rusting dinosaur for six years.  We’d been stupid to think any of these vehicles might start.
“Come on!” West shouted, pounding the steering wheel.  He slammed one of the pedals with his foot and suddenly it roared to life.  “Yes!”
“That there puts it into drive, I think,” I said, pointing to the stick on the side of the driving column.
West yanked on it and the truck jerked backwards and slammed into the vehicle behind us.
“Okay,” West said, shifting the stick again.  “R stands for reverse.  So D for drive?”
“Let’s assume,” I said, my blood racing and pounding in my ears.  “Let’s go!”
D was indeed for drive and we rocketed forward, clipping another vehicle as we swung wildly out of the parking lot and onto the street.
“That woman was touched,” I said, bracing myself as we swerved madly.  “She had probably gone out to look for food or something when a Hunter must have found her.  West, this means they’re starting to come back into the city.”
The speedometer crept up to eighty miles an hour as we peeled back onto the onramp.  Just as we pulled onto the freeway, there was a figure ahead of us.  There was no time to stop and the truck plowed right into it.
The mechanical body broke right in half, completely cybernetic by this time.  The upper half of the body crashed into the windshield, shattering it.
We both screamed as the glass burst into tiny glittering pieces and an arm dangled between the two of us.
“Holy…” West bellowed as the truck swerved violently back and forth and we ran over the lower half of the body.
“Keep driving!” I shouted.  I was about to reach for the shoulders of the body, when its hand suddenly flung out at me, and wrapped around my throat.
West swore loudly.  “It’s still alive?!”
“Keep…” I gasped for air as West swerved in an attempt to put distance between himself and the Bane that was somehow still attacking.  “Driving!”
Wrapping my hands around the wrist, I squeezed until the cybernetic bones crumpled and bent and the hand let go.  Plowing the heel of my hand into what was left of where its nose should have been, its head whipped back with a sickening crunch.  The thing was instantly still.
But still carrying active TorBane.
I coughed violently, unbuckling my seatbelt.
“You okay?” West asked, wild fear in his eyes as he attempted to drive straight.  He leaned as far to the left as possible, attempting to put some space between him and the mangled Bane.
“Yeah,” I croaked.  My throat was probably bruised.  “Keep driving.  I’ll take care of this.”
I half stood as well as I could in the cramped space.  Placing my hands on its shoulders, I gave a good shove.  The body slid forward two feet and to the right.  But one of its arms slipped down the front of the hood and caught in the grill.
“Oh, come on,” West said, looking at the body in disbelief.
“Keep driving,” I repeated.  I used my boot to knock out the rest of the glass hanging around the frame of the window.  Crawling up onto the dash, I slowly worked my way out onto the hood of the truck.
As we drove over the bumpy freeway, the arm wedged its way tighter and tighter into the grill.  Finally, I simply snapped the arm off at the elbow.  The rest of the body crashed to the ground.  I tried yanking the rest of the arm free, but it wouldn’t budge.
“Get back in here, Eve!” West shouted.  “We can have it melted down later.  Sit down before I kill you!”
An amused chuckle worked its way through my lips as I carefully climbed back up the hood and into the vehicle.
“Well, this turned into an exciting day,” West said, shaking his head.
“Yeah, I think the Bane are getting back into the city,” I said, pushing my windblown hair back off my forehead.  “That store was supposed to be fifteen miles inside our perimeter.  They’ll be getting back into the center of the city soon.  I thought I’d cleared all of them out for five hundred miles after the beacon went off.”
“Just another day in the world of the Evolution,” West said.  “Must have been a Sleeper that recently woke up.  It could have been inactive when you called them all out to the desert.
“For once, could the element of time just be on our side?” I said, exasperated.
“What,” West said, smiling at me as he swerved around a particularly large crack in the road.  “And make life simple and boring?”
I shook my head and laughed.  “Seriously.”



About the Author

Keary Taylor grew up along the foothills of the Rocky Mountains where she started creating imaginary worlds and daring characters who always fell in love. She now resides on a tiny island in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and their two young children. She continues to have an overactive imagination that frequently keeps her up at night. She is the author of THE EDEN TRILOGY, the FALL OF ANGELS trilogy, and WHAT I DIDN'T SAY.








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Thursday, January 30, 2014

Blog Tour: Bounty by Elise Sax - Excerpt, Review & Giveaway

Welcome to my stop on the Bounty virtual book tour, hosted by Bewitching Book Tours. Below you'll find an excerpt and my review. Don't miss the giveaway at the bottom of the post.

Bounty

Elise Sax

Romantic Suspense

Available at Amazon B&N * Smashwords



Blurb

Abby Williams has got it made: First a new job as magazine editor in London, and now a trip to an exotic island to review a five-star resort with poolside service. Unfortunately, on day two of her vacation, Abby finds herself bound and stuffed into a burlap bag and dragged across two continents. And worse than that? Her hottie abductor has got her distracted. Maybe escape is overrated.

Iain Brodie is a muscle-bound mercenary. He just helped a despotic dictator take over an island. He's also Abby's kidnapper, and he has his own problems. Framed for a murder he didn't commit and a boss who’s out to get him, he has to face facts: Early retirement is out of the question and Abby Williams looks damned good in a burlap bag.

Elise Sax delivers another hilarious page-turner, filled with adventure, murder, mayhem, and love. BOUNTY is a sexy, wild ride.


Excerpt

I picked up the phone. “I thought we had a deal!” I yelled at Harriman. But it wasn’t Harriman.
“I don’t remember making a deal, Princess.”
I felt feverish at the sound of his voice. A warm wave of wonderful washed up my body making me want to remove my clothes at the first available moment.
“I thought you were somebody else,” I stammered.
“Somebody you made a deal with, it seems. Should I be worried?”
Think. Think. Think.
I was out. I couldn’t think of what to say. He should be worried, and it was my fault. I had made a deal to his detriment. I was a drain on him, and he didn’t even know it. He kidnapped me, but I had alerted the authorities about him. The feds were breathing down his neck, and he was oblivious. He sold me to a Chechen warlord, and I sold him out. Way out. Clean out. Out to sea. Out of this world.
Out.
            I had to come clean. I had to warn him. Warn him about the authorities and warn him about me. He would hate me. He would never call me Princess, again. My tongue grew thick, and my throat closed. I thought, optimistically, that I was having anaphylactic shock.

My Review: I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Take a good look at the cover...okay now pry your eyes away from that sculpted torso. See
the mischievous smirk on the woman's face? That's what my face looked like for the majority of this novel. Take an unlikely plot, add in a sexy kidnapper, toss in a woman with an inanely quirky personality, and you have Bounty.

Abby is one of the funniest characters I've had the pleasure of reading about recently. The way she reacts to life-threatening situations is utterly hilarious. The first few times it happened, I was shocked, but pretty soon it simply became 'Oh that's just Abby for you'. Normally in a kidnapping one would worry about the victim. But with Abby as the victim, I couldn't help but worry about Iain.


One might also think that a kidnapping would be the main event in any story. Well, it's just the opening event of hilarity in this one. I can see how some people might be put off by Abby and her attraction to the man who kidnapped her (quite roughly, I might add). Muscle-bound Iain is about as alpha-male as they come. He's all about his secrets, even where Abby's concerned. If the pair weren't so damned funny together, this review wouldn't be overly positive.


Hands down, the humor is what makes this story. Ridiculous scenarios, implausible feats, unbelievable reactions, and laugh-out-loud dialogue make this novel an enjoyable read. With all the insanity in this book, Abby and Iain having a chance together makes perfect sense. Besides, I learned a great cure for athlete's foot should the need ever arise and should I have access to a goat...


About the Author
Elise Sax worked as a journalist for fifteen years, mostly in Paris, France. She took a detour from journalism and became a private investigator before trying her hand at writing fiction. She lives in Southern California with her two sons. She is also the author of the Matchmaker Mystery Series.




Author Links:







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Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Book Blitz: Starcrossed by Brenda Hiatt - Exclusive Extra




Starcrossed
by Brenda Hiatt
Starstruck #2
Publication: January 24th, 2014
YA Sci-fi Romance


The Starstruck adventure continues…

Marsha Truitt spent the first fifteen years of her life as a nerdy nobody before discovering her true identity as the long lost princess of a secret civilization. Now M is dodging extraterrestrial paparazzi while trying to keep the truth from her adoptive aunt and uncle and everyone at school. At least she can be herself with her boyfriend and literal soulmate, Rigel. Whenever they’re together, it’s easy to forget the responsibilities that will eventually come with her new status. But when a new boy arrives at Jewel High, everything M thought she knew about herself and her future is turned upside down. Now the very destiny that lifted her from obscurity threatens to tear her away from Rigel and their happy ever after. But when two planets conspire against you, where is there to run?

Available on:


Urgent MARSTAR Bulletin!

The Echtran Council is pleased to announce that Princess Emileia, long believed to have died as an infant in the Earth accident that claimed her parents, has been discovered alive in Jewel, Indiana, USA. Her identity has been positively confirmed by four members of the Echtran Council, along with two respected Echtran Scientists. The ancient and traditional foare rioga, smuggled from Mars by Council member Allister Adair, unequivocably proves her to be the daughter of Mikal, son of our late Sovereign Leontine, and Mikal’s Consort, Galena.

While the Princess was recently threatened by a group loyal to the murderous Nuathan dicator Faxon, we are happy to report that she was successfully defended by a small Echtran force led by Council member Shim Stuart and his family, and is now safe. Boyne Morven, leader of the would-be assasins, is in custody awaiting sentencing and questioning.

Many Echtrans will understandably wish to visit Jewel, Indiana to pay personal respects to our long-lost Princess, but we request that you act with all discretion to avoid arousing suspicions among the Duchas. Bear in mind that the Princess was raised Duchas herself and has only recently learned about her Royal identity. In due time, of course, she will be fully informed about the expectations and responsibilities of her future role. Meanwhile, we join you all in celebrating Princess Emileia’s survival and know you share our hope that she will become the rallying point our people in Nuath need to finally throw off the yoke of the vicious tyrant Faxon.


 



Brenda Hiatt

Her Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
Brenda Hiatt has published fifteen novels with Harlequin and HarperCollins, including six traditional Regency romances, one time travel romance and eight historical romances, most set in Regency England. She is now indie publishing her backlist as she continues to write in these and other genres, to include mystery/suspense and young adult romance. In addition to writing, Brenda is passionate about embracing life to the fullest, to include scuba diving (she has over 60 dives to her credit), Taekwondo (where she recently achieved her 2nd degree black belt), hiking, traveling, and pursuing new experiences and skills. She is an active member of Romance Writers of America, the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, and Novelists, Inc, an international organization of multipublished novelists, where she served as President in 2006. For the past dozen years, Brenda has also collected data on writers' earnings, which she shares at her website. http://brendahiatt.com

$10 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card {INT}
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Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Book Blitz: The Hardest Part by Heather London - Excerpt



The Hardest Part

Heather London

Contemporary Romance

Available at Amazon * B&N



Blurb

Emily Anderson and Reed Alexander are living with pasts they cannot escape.

Emily moved to New York City seeking a fresh start, intending to focus on her career and to keep a low profile.

Reed returns home to New York City after two years, haunted by the same things that pushed him away years ago.

When Reed and Emily meet, their connection is undeniable, but Emily keeps her feelings hidden. Falling in love is the last thing on her mind and she knows the danger it may bring not only to her, but to Reed as well. Reed isn’t as reluctant, but he knows that the demons he’s fighting could destroy Emily.

The harder they try to resist one another, the deeper they fall in love, and the more complicated their lives become.

In the end, they realize that truly loving someone may mean letting them go… and that’s the hardest part.



Excerpt

"Here, take this. We don't have much time." Mike's frantic voice was loud in my ear. Still dazed, I glanced up at him and saw he was holding an envelope out for me to take. My eyes stared at the envelope, but I couldn't make myself reach out for it.

"Emily." Mike's voice was soft but firm. "I know this is a lot to take in, but I need you to concentrate. Take the envelope." He enunciated the last few words slowly, carefully.

My hands shook as I reached out for it. "I'm not sure I can do this, Mike." I finally found my voice. "This is crazy. I—I don't know where to go." Once I had the envelope in my grasp, it felt like it weighed a hundred pounds.

"You can do this. This life you've been living, this isn't a life for you. Anywhere is better than here."

I felt the darkness closing in around me. I could feel my throat getting tighter. My breaths were short and quick. If I didn't calm myself down, I was going to have a full-fledged panic attack. My mind was still trying to process what was happening.

The person I trusted most in the world had woken me up in the middle of the night, just thirty minutes ago, telling me to get dressed and be quiet. I didn't question Mike then. I didn't question him when he led me out of the penthouse suite, or when we he led me down the hall to the back stairwell and came out at the back of the casino. I still didn't question him when I saw his car parked at the end of the dark alley, or when we pulled away from the building without an explanation of any kind. It wasn't until we pulled onto the highway and the bright lights of the Vegas strip were behind us that I finally asked what was going on.

"You're getting out of here, Emily. You're going to get as far away from here as possible," he’d told me.

It was only then that it hit me. He was helping me escape. He was helping me get away from Jake. I was too stunned to say anything then, and I was too afraid to say anything now.

"Emily, are you listening to me? We don't have much time." Mike’s voice was louder now, more demanding. I blinked away my thoughts and looked up at him. He stood a good foot and a half taller than me, his gray hair receding almost to the point of baldness. He was old enough to be my father, and truth be told, he was the closest thing I’d ever had to one.

As I stood here now, I felt like a scared little girl—not sure what to do, looking up at him for the answers.

"The bus should take you to the main station downtown. From there, you choose where to go. You choose how to live your life." He frowned and then his face twisted into something else entirely—tortured and sad. He and I both knew this was probably the last time we’d ever see each other.

"There's a passport, social security card, and twenty thousand dollars in the envelope. It should be enough for you to get on your feet and start a new life, one far away from here." His voice cracked on the last couple words. He cleared his throat, trying to cover up his weakness.

"I don't want his money, Mike." I shoved the envelope back out to him to take. I didn't want any part of him near me.

"It's my money, Emily. Money that I've earned and saved. It's mine and I want you to have it."

"It's still a part of him." I shook my head. "And I can't take your money."


"All those years I looked away. Let him treat you like nothing. All those times I should have helped you. I'll never forgive myself for letting him hurt you for so long." He closed his eyes and paused for a moment, his lips forming into a hard, tight line. "Take it. I need you to take it."


About the Author

Heather London is a young adult author who loves to write stories full of fantasy, romance, and science fiction. She is a lover of only the finest of coffee and premium craft beer, but will settle for anything chocolate, regardless of its quality. Heather lives with her husband in Dallas, TX where she is currently working hard on her next project.

Author Links:

Monday, January 27, 2014

Blog Tour: Love Spell by Stan Crowe - Review, Excerpt & Giveaway


Love Spell

Stan Crowe

Contemporary Romance

Clint Christopherson’s love life is a running joke. When a crazed gypsy curses him with the best wish he could ever ask for, the punchline stops being funny. Now, even his barest touch drives girls mad for him. Desperate to reverse the curse, he turns to his last hope: an attractive private investigator who may be able to locate his missing gypsy. If only Clint knew who it was he just hired...








Excerpt

Lindsay whirled on Clint suddenly, and pushed her face close to his. He flinched, but didn’t withdraw. She breathed in his scent for a moment, savoring it along with the fact that she had an ace to play at last. “Do you want to go to Seattle?” she quietly inquired.
“I want to find the old woman.”
“And do you know where she is?”
“If I did I wouldn’t be standing here.”
“And if I do?”
“Then I get this crazy feeling that I’m somehow even more indebted to you than I was forty-five seconds ago.”
She smirked. “I’ll get that in writing later. For now, how about a little road trip?”
He hesitated. “I can’t.”
She blinked. “Wait. What?”
Clint sighed sadly and looked away. “I can’t afford a road trip at the moment. I don’t even have a car, in case you’d forgotten.”
Lindsay winked at him. “It just so happens I got a Corolla recently. My Uncle Tom even brought it by. It’s over in visitor parking. I’ll have the valet bring it up.”
He paused, and she could see a war going on in his eyes. At length, he sighed. “Can you find her? For sure?”
“Absolutely.”
“No, I mean, if we drive to Seattle right now, or even in the next day or two, can you take me right to her? I can’t go forward on a ‘maybe.’”
Lindsay hedged. “I would certainly do my best.”
He shook his head and ran a hand through his hair. “You know, the road trip sounds great, and I really, really want to find her. But I’ve still got to see whether I can’t salvage something with Graphitti.” He pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed a number. Before he hit the send button, he looked back at her.
“This is a career with Graphitti Graphics we’re talking about. Curse or no curse, you just don’t pass up an offer like this.”
She was impressed. She’d seen the stuff he’d drawn in high school, and it was pretty good even then. He must have gotten leaps and bounds better, though, if no less than Graphitti Graphics was going to bring him on board. And yet, she wasn’t about to let his job get in the way of her job. Lindsay grinned wolfishly. “No problem. I drive you to the interview, you get the job, and we hit the road. I’m fairly sure they’re not going to start you in the middle of a week. We’d have at least until next Monday to catch Fey.”
Clint made to speak, and then stopped. “Sullivan. That’s a brilliant idea. I can’t believe I hadn’t thought of that.”
Lindsay could totally believe he hadn’t thought of it.
“Let’s go,” she said. “You call Graphitti to let them know you’re on your way, and you’ll be there soon. Their offices are downtown, aren’t they?”
He nodded. “Yeah. I’ll give them a call to let them know I’m going to be late.” he gestured. “We’d better hurry. Lead the way.”
“Right,” she said, and started again for the valet station. Clint pulled out his phone and tagged along behind her while waiting on hold, his eyes intense. He was so engrossed in his call that he strayed dangerously toward the curb. Lindsay turned just in time to see him stumble off the sidewalk and into the street. Of course he didn’t see the motorcycle.
“Clint! Wait!” She leapt for him, grabbing his shoulder just in time to rip him out of harm’s way. What happened next caught her utterly by surprise. Even before he stumbled back into her and knocked her to the ground, fire raced through her fingertips to fill her entire frame. Her body tensed and her breathing went shallow and rapid. Her eyes dilated, and the whole world seemed to glow before her in a vague, minimalistic way. A Clint-shaped blob clambered to his feet and jumped back. A distant, metallic voice wailed, “Why’d you have to go and do that?” She wasn’t certain she’d heard the words correctly, but she could tell it was him, and the sound was sugar to her ears.
Her mind’s eye filled with the vision of Clint’s face, and an overwhelming urge to possess him wrapped itself around her heart and mind like a boa constrictor. A sensation welled inside her, a lioness rising and stretching her legs before a day of hunting; and the only thing it saw was him. More than anything in the world, she desired him body and soul. She rose to her feet knowing beyond doubt that she must seize him now or lose him forever. After all these years, had she really been suppressing this much emotion with regards to him? The feelings of lust were frighteningly unnatural; she wondered if this was what it was like to be male.
No! her inner voice screamed. Lindsay, get a grip! But there was no shaking his face, or the burning desire to lose herself in him.
He ripped your heart out and let it bleed on the floor, Lindsay! Let him go! You don’t need this case! You don’t need him! The voice in her head made some annoyingly notable points. Clint had been a sham in high school. Was he likely any different now?
But he’s so cute!
She shook her head. Stop it, Lindsay. You sound like a middle-school girl.
Clint was now striding—no, jogging—away from her. The only logical course was to follow him, and tackle him if necessary. He must not be allowed to get away!
“Plans have changed a bit, Sully,” he called behind him. “You enjoy Seattle, and call me when you find her. I’ll get my own ride, cool?”
Then she refocused her mind. The case. That was what was important. There was no way she’d give in to Mom and Dad’s expectations that she would utterly fail without them. Clint was just another guy like any other. The real Lindsay was more than some freak storm of hormones. The real Lindsay Sullivan needed no man. Let him run. See if she cared.
Just get the car and get this over with, she told herself.
With an abrupt about face, Lindsay Sullivan tore herself away from the absolute need to have Clint Christopherson.


My Review: I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

If I had to describe Love Spell in one word, it would be fun. Silly plot, riotous characters...it all just sort of leaped off the pages. Part romance, part mystery, a touch paranormal, and all comedy, Love Spell was the perfect Sunday read. Stan Crowe breathes new life into the old adage, 'Be careful what you wish for". Main character Clint doesn't come across as stupid, yet he makes such an asinine wish...

Clint's life post-wish is worthy of a cable TV series. I love the opening scene between him and his latest accident, Jane. I'd say he got what he deserved, but frankly I wouldn't wish Jane on an enemy. On the run from crazy Jane, Clint seeks the help of a private investigator to help him find the gypsy responsible for granting his ill thought wish. 

Enter Lindsay, who has had feelings for Clint since high school, until he inadvertently broke her heart. Lindsay is trying to pull away from the mold her wealthy parents want fit her into. When Clint walks through her door, she's just desperate enough to swallow past feelings and take his case. Looking for adventure, I think Lindsay found a bit more excitement than she was looking for.

I loved the characters in this novel. Even though I frequently wanted to bash Clint upside the head, it's really hard not to like him. The dialogue between the characters is witty and real. Things got a bit weird toward the end once the gypsy was involved, but I still enjoyed it. This is a great book to read when you're down or stressed and looking for something fun to cheer you up. Add Love Spell to your TBR list and pick it up when you need an entertaining story that gives you a good laugh.



stan croweAuthor Stan Crowe 

 Stan had a pretty normal, middle-class American youth. He was lucky enough to change that by convincing an exceptional woman to marry him in 2000, setting him on a much more fulfilling life course. Four years later, Brigham Young University awarded him with a Bachelors of Science in civil and environmental engineering. He then he spent several years designing homes, prescribing work for bridges, and even exploring the mortgage industry. In the midst of all this, he produced two science fiction anthologies in 2006 and 2007. In 2012, Breezy Reads Publishing picked up his romantic comedy The Cinderella Project. And thus he transformed himself from Captain Kirk into Don Juan. Stan lives with his wife, children (final count to be determined) and two cats in Utah.


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