Friday, March 4, 2016

Review: Eerie by C.M. McCoy + Giveaway

 



Eerie

C.M. McCoy

Mature YA Fantasy Romance
Omnific Publishing
December 15, 2015



Being a ParaScience freshman is a nightmare come true

Asher loved her and hated her,
risked his life to protect her and planned to rip her apart.

The moment Hailey stumbled into Asher's world,
he was corrupted by emotion.

And she had no idea the danger she aroused.

***

Hailey’s dreams have always been, well...vivid. As in monsters from her nightmares follow her into her waking life vivid. When her big sister goes missing, eighteen-year-old Hailey finds the only thing keeping her safe from a murderous 3,000-year old beast is an equally terrifying creature who’s fallen “madly” in love with her. Competing to win her affection, the Dream Creature, Asher, lures her to the one place that offers safety—a ParaScience university in Alaska he calls home. There, she must learn to live with a roommate from Hell, survive her ParaScience classes, and hope the only creature who can save her from an evil immortal doesn’t decide to kill her himself.





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

Eerie is one wild ride! Here are my top 5 reasons you should read it-- now!

1. Wonderful, complex characters-- lots of them. I loved the characters in this story. I prefer character-driven works-- when the characters seem so real, they almost feel like friends by the end of the book. Main and secondary characters in this novel are complex and interesting on so many levels.

2. Beautifully written prose. Being an editor, I tend to notice prose perhaps a bit closer or deeper than some readers. The way the sentences flowed, the word choices-- it all wove together into a beautiful overall voice that I admired.

3. Immersive fantasy world. There's nothing better than being transported into a new world that seems so real, there's just no room for disbelief. I fell into this world and everything seemed possible.

4. Fast pacing. I like my stories to move, and this one definitely did that. The pacing was even and constantly building which made it very difficult to put down.

5. Read in one sitting. I had no desire to put down this book. I ignored a couple phone calls which I now need to return.

About the Author

C.M. McCoy is an Irish dancer and former Air Force officer living in the Great White North. Though B.S.'d in Chemical Engineering and German, she’s far happier writing stories involving Alaska and a body bag (with an awkward kiss in the mix.) While working emergency dispatch for Alaska State Troopers, she learned to speak in 10-codes, which she still does...but only to annoy her family.

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Thursday, March 3, 2016

Mother's Day Magic Boxed Set


This looks like a wonderful boxed set, and I'm so happy to feature it on the blog. Here's an interview with author, Anna Celeste Burke!

1. What hidden talents do you have?
I used to be a chef and still cook; paint and do collages; also worked as a shrink for about 5 years between college degrees

2. If you were a ghost, who would you haunt and why?
Congress--I wouldn't let any of those suckers sleep until they got some things done

3. What is the weirdest thing you have ever Googled and why?
All sorts of information about crime scenes analysis, autopsies, murder weapons, rigor mortis, fingerprints & DNA evidence, etc.Mystery writers' browser histories are enough to give anyone the willies!

4. What would the name of your autobiography be titled and why?
Second chances...a lot of the best things in my life have come about by starting over, moving in a completely new direction or taking a second chance at an old one.

5. Who would play you in a movie? Why that person?
Linda Carter--I love her in Wonder Woman and it would be great to imagine myself as a tall woman.

6. At what age did you become an adult? Explain
At 17 I married my husband in Tijuana--the cops picked me up as a runaway. Once they let me go, I was launched and had to figure out how to make a go of it as a grown up. Still trying to figure that out, btw!

7. What color represents your personality & why?
Purple--thoughtful and moody

8. In the animal kingdom what animal are you? Why?
A flamingo--a little outrageous and i often feel like I'm standing around on one leg

9. What is the craziest thing you've ever done?
Marrying my high school dropout, rock musician husband in Tijuana, then running off with him to Hawai'i

10. Do you have any superstitions? What are they?
Not really

11. What is your one major weakness?
I'm a control freak--like to imagine I have control even when I don't

12. What was the last song you listened to?
Love Adele's new release--Hello

13.What advice would you give aspiring writers?
It's a marathon, not a sprint, so plan accordingly

14. What 3 words best describe you?
Stubborn, smart, hardworking

15. What is your favorite holiday and why?
Christmas--I love the spirit in the air--carols and old holiday movies broadcast during that season

16. What is your favorite fun activity?
Hiking

17. If you could visit with any author, past or present, who would it be and why?
Agatha Christie--a prolific, bestselling author of all time. I'd like to hear all her secrets, including what happened when she went missing!

18. What writer was your biggest inspiration?
Janet Evanovich who mixes romance and humor with mystery!

19. What non-writer had the most influence on your life?
Marie Curie who, along with other women scientists like Margaret Meade, inspired my own career as a social and behavioral scientist.

20. What genre(s) do you prefer to read?
Mystery--ranging from cozy to thrillers

21. What genre(s) do you write?
Mystery with a heavy dose of women's issues--so a blend of mystery and women's fiction

22. Did you always want to be a writer? Explain what made you decide to become an author?
My first year of graduate school in the social and behavioral studies at the University of Michigan, I began to feel the pressure to publish. In the halls of academia when they say publish or perish they mean it! Writing fiction was a perfect 'antidote' to the tightly structured, stuffy writing required in science.

Since Mother's Day Magic is about mothers. tell us about your mom.
Let's just say the wig in the tree incident in my story really happened, but Mom didn't need to be wearing a wig. Moms inspire you in all sorts of ways you can never imagine to become the woman you become


Mother’s Day Magic

The perfect Mother’s Day Gift, written with love, sent with love.

Every mother’s heart holds a bit of magic…her children’s love. Enchantment awaits in a dozen brand new, previously unpublished-stories, written by #1 bestselling and/or multi-award winning authors from across the globe. Whether it’s a captivating tale of romance or fiction fashioned from loving memories, these poignant stories are sure to touch your heart.

10% of proceeds from this anthology will go to the
USA National Multiple Sclerosis Society toward research.


US   Amazon     iTunes    Kobo    BN
UK   Amazon    iTunes    Kobo    BN 
CAN  Amazon    iTunes   Kobo   BN




Felt by the Heart by Angela Ford
#1 Bestselling, Amazon Top 50 and Award-Winning Author
Rachel fiftieth birthday approached, the forever she found with Ryan ended with heartache. And for her daughter, the second chance of having a dad. Will Rachel find the strength to rebuild her life and her daughter's?

I Love You More by Cornelia Amiri
Best-selling author The Celtic Romance Queen
Garland recalls memories of her life’s journey from an abusive childhood to a bad marriage to the ups and downs of a single mom. She’s rewarded with a magical mother’s day with her loving family.
 
Two Hearts Unspoken by Tamara Ferguson
#1 Bestselling and Multi-Award Winning Author of TRR Readers' Choice Award
Retired air force captain and wounded warrior, Zach Logan, discovers that his scars are more than skin deep, when he falls in love with Beth Bowen; the lovely single mother of an autistic son.
 
December Roses by Daisy Banks
Bestselling Author
A present day gift of flowers sets off delightful memories for Jean. The recollections of the day love first bloomed, and trust overcoming a frightening challenge, are carved deep into her heart.

Maddie’s Project by Anna Celeste Burke
Multi-Bestselling Author and Winner Of 2015’s Self-Pub Most Worth Reading
Laura’s mother, Maddie, led a full life, filled with family and a million projects. May changed everything. More than a decade later, Laura reflects on Maddie’s biggest project, and how it changed all their lives.

Vision of the Heart by Mary Crawford
#1 Bestselling Author African-American Romance
Facing vision loss is hard enough, but it’s causing Julia to question everything she knows about herself, a wife, a mother, and nurse. Can she handle a reunion when she’s a shadow of the person she once was?
An English Rose by Allyson R. Abbott
#1 Bestselling Author--4 Readers’ Favorite 5s reviews
A compelling and humorous insight of past years and present dilemma’s as Rose reflects on her usefulness in later life. She acknowledges and accepts her sell-by-date is approaching as life suddenly becomes interesting again.

The Art of Forgiveness by Tamara Philip
2014 Debut Nominee—Angie Ovations Outstanding Interracial Romance
One woman's journey to seek the truth surrounding her adoption. Amidst the tragedy of the past, she finds connections to her complicated history and a gentle reminder about the power of forgiveness.

The Illusion of Happiness by Neva Squires Rodriquez
Divorced and having lived under the illusion of happiness, for 30+yrs, Graciela struggles to find strength. With her fiftieth birthday and Mother’s Day weekend approaching, a surprise visit helps put things into prospective.
The Day Before Eclosion by Adrienne Ruvalcaba
Sharon's daughter, Gracie, is moving out. What should be an exciting transition is complicated by Gracie's disability. Can Sharon learn to accept Gracie's need for autonomy before irreparable damage is done to their relationship? 

The Light We Found by Q.D. Purdu
1st Place Romance—2014 Texas Writers' League
Calla has survived divorce and developed a crush on Ben, the special guy in her dance class. Life is rocking until her ex confesses a long-hidden betrayal, and Ben reveals the most hurtful secret of all.

Forever Sunshine by Cary Allen Stone and Tyler Hosea
Multi-Bestselling Author and Top SELF-e eBooks Winner of 2015
A letter containing the last request of their mother was handed to the children at the funeral service. They were told to read the letter at her gravesite on the year anniversary of her passing.  


Angela Ford originates from Nova Scotia…Canada’s Ocean Playground!
Her love of the ocean and sunsets are always in her heart and give her inspiration. Her love for words keeps her turning the page. She is never without a book, whether she’s reading or writing. Now residing in Ontario, Angela works in Finance – numbers by day – words by night.
Angela Ford’s dedication and involvement with cyber safety seminars gave her an Award of Distinction and sparked the idea for her first book Closure – crime suspense that hit Best Selling Action/Adventure. Ms. Ford continued her FBI series with Forbidden and Obsessed with the final in the series coming in 2016. In between mysteries, Ms. Ford writes short contemporary romance…sometimes sweet...sometimes spicy and sometimes with a dash of suspense! Her #1 Bestseller Christmas Holiday Romance put her in Amazon’s Top 50 Authors.
Between two jobs and two kids, mom’s home is always filled with young adults and rather interesting stories. But it is the furry family members who rule the house – a Puggle, a new Chug puppy and two loveable cats. Every possible quiet moment she finds, she treasures and just writes about the moments to come. Angela is an avid reader of romance, a member of the RWA, KOD (Kiss of Death – Suspense Chapter) and Mississauga Writers Group. You can follow her at BTGN www.bookstogonow.com or visit her website/blog Romantic Escapes at http://www.angelafordauthor.com to connect with her on her social network sites. She loves to hear from her readers – they keep her smiling!
Website/Blog: Romantic Escapes: http://www.angelafordauthor.com

Cornelia Amiri, who also writes as Maeve Alpin, is the author of 30 published books. Known as the Celtic Romance Queen, she writes Celtic Fantasy Romance, Celtic Historical Romance, Steampunk Romance and Sci-fi Romance. She lives in Houston Texas as does her son and granddaughter and her cat, Severus. Severus is a writer's cat, he loves books. He likes to knock them off the bookshelf, sit on them, and sniff the open pages. He also uses the computer, he sits on it, lays on top of it, and walks across the key board almost constantly. She is working on two soon to be released books a historical romance box set, Scandalously Yours and a modern day fantasy romance novella, Back to the One I love
Twitter @corneliaAmiri

A member of the Romance Writers of America, Tamara Ferguson is the top-ten best-selling, multi-award winning author of the Kissed By Fate Romance Series and the Tales of The Dragonfly Romance Suspense Series.
Her latest release is Two Hearts Surrendered. This military romance was her contribution to the bestselling Magical Weddings anthology, which included stories by fifteen USA Today, best-selling, and award-winning authors. Two Hearts Surrendered recently earned 3-5reviews from Readers’ Favorite, and has just become a #1 Wounded Warrior Romance Bestseller, Kindle Book and Series.
Tales of the Dragonfly Book I: In Tandem was a romance finalist at the 2013 Indie Excellence Awards, while Tales of the Dragonfly Book II: In Flight was a 2014 WINNER at the Readers' Favorite International Book Awards. Her latest release, That Unforgettable Kiss was recently a top ten Amazon bestseller in Kindle Saga Fiction, earned 3-5editorial reviews from Readers' Favorite, and has just become the 2015 WINNER of The Romance Reviews Readers' Choice Awards in New Adult Romance.
That Unforgettable Kiss is currently featured in the #5 bestselling A Touch of Passion, 12 full-length novels by USA Today, New York Times bestselling and multi-award winning authors. This anthology is also a #1 New Adult Romance Bestseller, as well as a New Adult Bestseller.
Since she remains a full-time caregiver for an autistic son, you can usually find Tammy working at home, where she spends a lot of time not completing her numerous home improvement projects, because she's writing or helping indie authors promote their books on twitter.

Daisy Banks writes romances ranging from sweetly tender through to sexily spicy tales in the Historical, Paranormal and Fantasy genres. From Victorian devotion to a werewolf passion, a rogue and a courtesan, a clumsy fairy and a saucy ghost, you can discover a different world with Daisy in each of her stories.
Antiques and collecting entertain Daisy when she isn’t writing. There are also some rare occasions she makes a meal that doesn’t stick to the pan. 
Twitter @DaisyBanks16
Facebook http://on.fb.me/18iRC35     

For Anna Celeste Burke life is an extravaganza! Figuring out how to hang tough and make the most of the wild ride is the challenge. On my way to Oahu, to join the rock musician and high school drop-out I had married in Tijuana, I was nabbed as a runaway. Eventually, the police let me go, but the rock band broke up. Our next stop: Disney World, where we ‘worked for the Mouse’ as chefs, courtesy of Walt Disney World University Chef’s School training. More education landed us in academia at The Ohio State University. For decades, I researched, wrote, and taught a number of gloriously nerdy topics. Retired now, I’m still married to the same, sweet, guy and live with him near Palm Springs, California. I write mysteries set in sunny California! The Jessica Huntington Desert Cities Mystery series, set here in the Coachella Valley, the Corsario Cove Cozy Mystery Series set in California’s Central Coast, and The Georgie Shaw Cozy Mystery series set in the OC. Coming soon, The Misadventures of Betsy Stark that also take place, here, in the Coachella Valley.

Mary Crawford has been lucky enough to live her own version of a romance novel. She married the guy who kissed her at summer camp. He told her on the night they met that he was going to marry her and be the father of their children. Eventually she stopped giggling when he said it, and they just celebrated their 27th wedding anniversary. They have two children. The oldest is in medical school, where he recently found and married the love of his life, and the youngest is still in elementary school.
Ms. Crawford writes full time now. She has published six books and has several more underway. She volunteers her time to a variety of causes and has worked as a Civil Rights Attorney and diversity advocate. Ms. Crawford spent several years working for various social service agencies before becoming an attorney. In her spare time, she loved to cook, decorate cakes and of course, obsessively, compulsively read.


Allyson R. Abbott.
I love to travel, but I also need to work. Being an author allows me to combine both of activities and has the added bonus of life being an adventure. I never know where I will be sitting writing from one year to the next. As I write this, I am in Africa, in spring I travel to Europe for a few months and later in the year to the USA and Canada. It is a great life, if you don’t mind a little insecurity.
I try to bring a little of my adventurous personality into my stories. Being a 'mature aging gracefully' woman, I feel akin to the problems of aging and relationships. I spent many years on my own before finding my truly remarkable and very patient partner who I happily gave up my whole world for. My stories are about mature relationships with mature people. People who have character and humour, who have a history; people just like us.
Google Play http://bit.ly/1NBlDxP 

After spending most of her life in New York City, Tamara Philip decided to let love lead her on an international adventure, where she's met many amazing people and ate entirely too much. Tamara and her English-born Husband, Chris, now split their time between the United Kingdom and Trinidad and Tobago.
Writing has been her secret passion since childhood. Quirky female leads are her trademark.
On any given day you can find Tamara telling people what to do, dodging adulthood, and working hard on her next novel.
Other works by Tamara Philip are The Trouble with Playing Cupid, The Trouble with Romance and two holiday short stories, Romancing the Grinch and This Season...Have Love/Have Faith with fellow author, Neva Squires Rodriguez.
Twitter @MsTamaraPhilip

Neva Squires-Rodriguez was born and raised in a neighborhood located on the North Side of Chicago. Mother, Wife, Expert at multitasking, when she’s not writing newspaper columns or finishing up her latest novel, she is dispatching calls for her city’s 911 center. Perhaps this is what helps Neva create electrifying stories with a twist.
Neva Squires-Rodriguez earned her Bachelor’s Degree from American Military University (APUS/AMU) and her Master’s Degree from National University, a feat which she worked very hard to obtain and says she will work even harder to pay off.
She claims to be a typical American, full of dreams that will hopefully get her to a more comfortable lifestyle one day. She says, "God has a plan and I will follow wherever it is that He takes me."

Adrienne D'nelle Ruvalcaba was born and raised in Southeast Texas. After high school, she joined the U.S. Army and served four years at Fort Campbell, KY. After her army days, and one failed attempt at marriage, she and her two children relocated so that she could enroll in the Engineering program at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. While there, she completed her Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering with a concentration in structural analysis. Also while at SIU, she was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. This diagnosis significantly changed her life.
Since the onset of SLE, she has learned a lot about those close to her and even more about herself. After a few years of struggling to accept lupus as part of her life, she has come to a more peaceful place, and no longer lets her disease define who she is.
Adrienne has had a love of writing since grade school, and she often takes solace in the many worlds she creates in her imagination. She writes women's fiction and romance, and her books are meant purely for emotional fulfilment, enjoyment, and sweet escapism. Real life is difficult enough, and she believes that we all need a little break from it sometimes.
Twitter link: https://twitter.com/AdrienneDnelle @AdrienneDnelle

Q. D. Purdu’s debut romance, DESDEMONA FINDS THE BIG O IN LOVE won first place in the Texas Writers’ League Romance category, 2014. The book will be released in 2016.
Q. D. loves her rescued puppy, red wine, running through sprinklers, dark chocolate with sugared ginger, and anything wrapped in a corn tortilla.  Her prized possessions include a hot pink Christmas tree and a garden full of okra and basil.
She hasn’t decided what she’ll be when she grows up, but whatever it is will be filled with romantic impossibilities.

Cary Allen Stone’s aviation career began in 1972 and ended in 2014. In his forty-plus years as a pilot, he flew hundreds of thousands of miles through all types of weather, domestic and international flights, all without an aviation accident. His aviation travels gave him a unique perspective of life, and led to his writing. In 1992, he flew film director Sir Ridley Scott for ten days during a location scout. Mr. Scott mentored him about his writing. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree, and was a member of two honor societies. He played a “bad guy” main character in an AAA Club advertisement, and was an extra in several films both in LA and Phoenix. He has written several action-adventure screenplays. He has done voice-over, radio commercials, and standup comedy, which included comedy magic. He represented the USA alongside nine other countries in the Night of Magic in Bogota, Colombia performing before dignitaries, ambassadors and their families. Cary is a member of the Phoenix Writer’s Club and the International Thriller Writers.
His series The Jake Roberts Novels has been well received by Amazon Hall of Fame Top 10 Reviewers in crime fiction and psychological thrillers from whom he receives 5–Star reviews. Action adventure author Clive Cussler and South Florida author Tim Dorsey endorsed Stealing Atlanta, his cybercrime thriller. His first published work, Through a Mother’s Eyes a true crime story, was a case study of “filicide” the parental murder of children. His subject was a friend of his who murdered her six-year-old son. The research took four years to complete, which included time spent in the correctional facility where Julie was incarcerated. Through a Mother’s Eyes has a worldwide reach. Cary’s hopes are that the story will help to prevent future tragedies from happening and to date he has received several correspondences of success.
Google author page:  http://www google.com/+CaryAllenStone1   

Tyler Hosea is an editor and reviewer, and with Forever Sunshine a breakout author. She has contributed to all four of Cary Allen Stone’s Jake Roberts Novels. She has the difficult job of being his significant other for the past eleven years, which is no small task. Tyler’s profession has always been in aviation having spent twenty years in customer service and management. Her current position in aviation is classified. One of these days you will find Tyler behind the controls of an airplane as she continues her private pilot license.
Tyler is an avid reader, a part of her nurtured by her mother since she was a young girl. She graduated with honors from Oglethorpe University. She is an official Georgia Peach having been born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. She has traveled extensively around the world. Tyler has appeared on several of Cary Allen Stone’s book covers. Both she and Cary will be writing their next complete book anthology continuing on from their Forever Sunshine