Monday, September 30, 2013

Spotlight on Semmant by Vadim Babenko, plus review.





Semmant
by Vadim Babenko
Book Description

A brilliant scientist creates a brilliant robot. Working together, they beat the stock market. But which one will survive the battle for love?

When Bogdan Bogdanov, a troubled cybernetics genius, creates Semmant, a robot living inside a computer, he feels on top of the world. Semmant takes on the capital markets and makes money with the ruthless efficiency of a machine. Bogdan grows richer by the day, but when he falls deeply for the irresistible Lidia, Semmant’s artificial mind faces a new challenge. The robot becomes involved in a genuine human drama and is forced to confront the cruelty of real life.  He discovers the eternal joy of what it means to have free will, but it takes him to a destination no one could have predicted.
This is a tale of lust and affection, an erotically charged story of betrayal and murder. It explores the scope of human feelings from a truly unique point of view. Universal chaos and the strict laws of society; precise mathematical rules and the elusive nature of love: all interact and clash, working together and against one another. Tragedy looms, but free will fights back – bringing hope that lasts forever.


About the Author

Vadim Babenko left two “dream” jobs – cutting-edge scientist and high-flying entrepreneur – in order to pursue his lifelong goal to write full-time. Born in the Soviet Union, he earned master’s and doctoral degrees from the Moscow Institute of Physics & Technology, Russia’s equivalent to MIT. As a scientist at the Soviet Academy of Sciences he became a recognized leader in the area of artificial intelligence. Then he moved to the U.S. and co-founded a high-tech company just outside of Washington, D.C. The business soon skyrocketed, and the next ambitious goal, an IPO on the stock exchange, was realized. But at this peak of success, Vadim dropped everything to set out on the path of a writer and has never looked back. He moved to Europe and, during the next eight years, published five books, including two novels, The Black Pelican and A Simple Soul, which were nominated for Russia’s most prestigious literary awards. His third novel, Semmant, initially written in Russian and then translated with the author’s active participation, is published exclusively in English.

Find out more at www.vadimbabenko.com



My 3 Stars Review

I received this book from the touring host for an honest review.

This book is definitely for the intellectual reader even philosophers amongst us. It is very detailed in its story line, specific in its explanations. The moment we met the main character you had a suspicion of nuttier than most. As the story progressed it became evident. 
I think the author did a wonderful work in creating this story, well written with enough to keep you wondering with this character's mind frame will be. Since I am a practical person the philosophies of the character just did not do it for me. It was monosyllabic, more like rantings of a person that does not have everything up there. If you know what I mean. His constant search for more info and power made him irrational, and at the end it influence his life and his work.
Creating the robot to become his friend was more disastrous than good, as if he lost perception with the outside world. Playing the money market was at first a good idea but the more he entered his own flaws into the robot the more it became irradiated in its delivery. Obsessed with his creation he thought he could better human kind, but at his own loss of mind and perspective he did just the opposite.
The trouble he caused were at times comical but at other times plain stupid. His genius made him unwanted in many spheres of society.
Overall a good read that I will recommend to readers with a taste for the science.




Saturday, September 28, 2013

Announcing a Book Release for author Jade Kerrion: Perfection Challenged

Perfection Challenged, the thrilling conclusion to Jade Kerrion's multiple award-winning, bestselling DOUBLE HELIX series, will be released on September 17th and will be available in paperback and all electronic formats. Beta readers have declared Perfection Challenged "the best of the four books...the perfect ending to an amazing series." If you've never picked up the DOUBLE HELIX series, keep on reading for a special offer on Perfection Unleashed, the book that launched the DOUBLE HELIX series.

PERFECTION CHALLENGED

An alpha empath, Danyael Sabre has survived abominations and super soldiers, terrorists and assassins, but he cannot survive his failing body. He wants only to live out his final days in peace, but life and the woman he loves, the assassin Zara Itani, have other plans for him. Galahad, the perfect human being created by Pioneer Labs, is branded an international threat, and Danyael is appointed his jury, judge, and executioner. Danyael alone believes that Galahad can be the salvation that the world needs, but is the empath blinded by the fact that Galahad shares his genes, and the hope that there is something of him in Galahad? In a desperate race against time and his own dying body, Danyael struggles to find fragments of good in the perfect human being, and comes to the wrenching realization that his greatest battle will be a battle for the heart of the man who hates him.
  perfection-challenged-600x800

PERFECTION UNLEASHED


Recipient of six literary awards, including first place in Science Fiction, Reader Views Literary Awards. "Higher octane than Heroes. More heart than X-Men." Danyael Sabre spent sixteen years clawing out of the ruins of his childhood and finally has everything he wanted—a career, a home, and a trusted friend. To hold on to them, he keeps his head down and plays by the rules. An alpha empath, he is powerful in a world transformed by the Genetic Revolution, yet his experience has taught him to avoid attention. When the perfect human being, Galahad, escapes from Pioneer Laboratories, the illusory peace between humans and their derivatives—the in vitros, clones, and mutants—collapses into social upheaval. The abominations, deformed and distorted mirrors of humanity, created unintentionally in Pioneer Lab’s search for perfection, descend upon Washington D.C. The first era of the Genetic Revolution was peaceful. The second is headed for open war. Although the genetic future of the human race pivots on Galahad, Danyael does not feel compelled to get involved and risk his cover of anonymity, until he finds out that the perfect human being looks just like him.

 FOR A LIMITED TIME, E-BOOKS AVAILABLE FOR JUST $0.99 (Discounted from $2.99) 

E-books available at Amazon / Amazon UK / Apple / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / Smashwords Paperbacks available at Amazon / Amazon UK / Barnes & Noble / Book Depository

To be the first to receive news of Jade Kerrion's latest book releases, sign up for her New Release Mailing List. If Perfection Challenge makes it to the bookstores before September 17th, you'll be among the first to know.

Connect with Jade Kerrion: Website / Facebook / Twitter




Guest Post

SERIES: To Be or Not To Be (and when to stop being')

If Amazon (the company) were a river and all the books in its vast online repository were drops of water, you wouldn't be able to skim a pebble across its surface without hitting a book that is a part of a series. Series are popular--they work in movies, on TV, and in books--and for good reason. No one ever likes saying goodbye to the people they've fallen in love with. We like to see our heroes and heroines overcome adversity, and then do it again, and again. Novel series come in at least three different flavors.
1. Standalone books within a series with a rotating focus on various protagonists. Each novel within the series focuses on, and resolves, one major storyline, but the protagonist (usually a side character in one of the other novels) will claim the spotlight for one book within the series instead of all of them. Romance novels tend to lean this way (after all, happily ever after usually happens only once per couple.) Nora Roberts has written many trilogies of families and friends, with each book focusing on a particular person finding his or her happy ending. Sherrilyn Kenyon does this with her (apparently unending) Dark Hunter series as well.
2. Standalone books within a series focus on one or two key protagonists. Each novel within the series tackles one major problem and resolves the problem by the end of the book. Many detective and mystery novels adopt this flavor. As a teenager, I enjoyed Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys. These days, I read P.L. Blair's Portals series that features human detective, Kat Morales, and her elven partner, Tevis.
3. Non-standalone books within a series focus on one or two key protagonists, and story is typically best enjoyed in order from the first novel to the last. Fantasy and science fiction novels, with their sweeping storylines and their tendency to put entire worlds and civilizations at risk of extinction (hey, high stakes, right?) tend to lean in this direction. Each book should resolve a major crisis, but some threads are clearly left trailing as feeders into the next book. Some of my favorite authors fall into this category, including David Eddings who wrote the Belgariad and Mallorean series, and Neil Gaiman, author of the Sandman. Just about all of my favorite authors are series writers. In hindsight, it's no surprise that I would, as an author, lean toward writing a series. My Double Helix series is a series of four novels. When I finished writing the fourth book, I finally tackled the issue I'd been avoiding since November 2010, when I first started writing Double Helix series.
When do you stop? Sometimes, the answer is easy: "when you save the world." But what if the answer isn't as obvious? What if the world careens from crisis to crisis (sounds like our world, doesn't it?) What if the world always needs saving? I wrote the Double Helix series as a blend between a type 3 series (non-standalone) and a type 2 series (standalone.) The fourth book, Perfection Challenged, was actually the transition book between a non-standalone and standalone series. In theory, I could have gone on forever, coming up with yet another crisis for Danyael Sabre, the alpha empath, to handle. Challenges would always abound in a society transformed by the Genetic Revolution. Danyael would likely encounter most of them, but did he have to be the protagonist? Let's segue briefly into another series Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel's Legacy series. Occasionally a storyline or plot transcends each book and unifies the series. In Kushiel's Legacy, it is the rocky path to love and happiness between the heroine, Phedre, and her protector, Joscelin. That storyline is the single thread that runs through the series, and for the series to end, the thread needs to be neatly knotted by the final book. My readers love Danyael. It was hard to make the decision to move him to the sidelines, yet in practice, I knew that Danyael's story was done, and for one primary reason. His story had come a full circle. He dealt with different challenges and antagonists over each of the four books, but the storyline that unified the series "his apparently unrequited love for the assassin Zara Itani" reached its conclusion in the fourth book. It was my gift to Danyael, the ending he deserved. 'But,' dismayed readers howl, 'you haven't yet done this, or that, or another. You haven't finished telling all the stories' I've moved the spotlight off Danyael, but that doesn't mean he won't appear in a smaller role in another novel. Spin-offs are popular among series writers. Some side characters in Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter series show up as focal characters in her Dream Hunter series. And so it will be for my Double Helix series. I've already written a young adult spin-off. I have others planned, including a standalone series of romantic thrillers featuring mercenaries from Zara's agency, a novel about Xin, the Machiavellian clone of Fu Hao, a 1,200 BC general, priestess, and queen (busy woman indeed), and a novel about Galahad, the genetically engineered perfect human being. Inevitably though, those novels and series will someday end. Quoting one of my favorite characters, Death from Neil Gaiman's Sandman series: 'It always ends. That's what gives it value.'

'The best of the four books & the perfect ending to an amazing series.'

Perfection Challenged, the thrilling conclusion to the multiple award-winning, bestselling DOUBLE HELIX series, is finally here. Grab your copy today. If you've never picked up the DOUBLE HELIX series, keep reading for a special offer on the six-time award-winning novel, Perfection Unleashed.

perfection-challenged-600x800PERFECTION CHALLENGED

An alpha empath, Danyael Sabre has survived abominations and super soldiers, terrorists and assassins, but he cannot survive his failing body. He wants only to live out his final days in peace, but life and the woman he loves, the assassin Zara Itani, have other plans for him. Galahad, the perfect human being created by Pioneer Labs, is branded an international threat, and Danyael is appointed his jury, judge, and executioner. Danyael alone believes that Galahad can be the salvation that the world needs, but is the empath blinded by the fact that Galahad shares his genes, and the hope that there is something of him in Galahad? In a desperate race against time and his own dying body, Danyael struggles to find fragments of good in the perfect human being, and comes to the wrenching realization that his greatest battle will be a battle for the heart of the man who hates him.
 E-books available at Amazon / Amazon UK / Apple iTunes / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / Smashwords Paperbacks available at Amazon / Amazon UK

PERFECTION UNLEASHED Perfection Unleashed

"Higher octane than Heroes. More heart than X-Men." Recipient of six literary awards, including First place in Science Fiction, Reader Views Literary Awards 2012 and Gold medal winner, Science Fiction, Readers Favorites 2013. 

FOR A LIMITED TIME, E-BOOKS AVAILABLE FOR JUST $0.99 (Discounted from $2.99) 

E-books available at Amazon / Amazon UK / Apple / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / Smashwords Paperbacks available at Amazon / Amazon UK / Barnes & Noble / Book Depository

 Connect with Jade Kerrion: Website / Facebook / Twitter


Today's author interview features Jade Kerrion who's here to talk about how she got into writing and her latest novel, Perfection Challenged

1. Do you recall how your interest in writing originated? I started writing at the age of thirteen when my school essays were returned to me with a bunch of '
'A's scrawled over the top. Teenagers are impressionable. Being much more impressionable than most, and believing that my teachers knew what they were doing, I figured I was destined to be a writer. It's only taken me tens of thousands of hours of work since then to be halfway decent at writing (and I'm still learning each day), but one has to start somewhere.

2. When did you start taking writing seriously? In November 2010, my husband challenged me to stop writing for fun and to start writing as a career. National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) 2010 was the trigger. I spent that month writing Perfection Unleashed, my debut novel.

3. How many books have you written? I released Perfection Unleashed in June 2012. To date, I have published six books; I've just released Perfection Challenged, the conclusion of my seven-time award-winning Double Helix series. I have another novel, Eternal Night, a paranormal romance/fantasy set in the future (sounds odd, doesn't it?), scheduled for release in 2013.

4. What was your journey to becoming an author like? Rocky, as most journeys are. For a while, I explored traditional publishing, but then decided I was too much of a control freak to take to traditional publishing. I preferred having creative control over my writing, artistic control over my covers, and process control over my publishing schedules. In the end, self-publishing made the most sense for me. That said, I do have a foot in the door of traditional publishing. McSill Literary Agency represents Portuguese rights for my Double Helix series.

5. Is there anything specifically that helps you write better/inspires you? I think I'm past the stage of needing inspiration; writing is more of a compulsion now. In general, I have a compulsive personality; people like me should never get exposed to alcohol, cigarettes, or recreational drugs we're easy prey. Years ago, computer gaming and writing used to go hand-in-hand for me. My characters from my computer games inspired my writing. Since then, however, my characters have taken on a life of their own and thus, I have been freed to happily obsess about them without needing the occasional computer gaming boost to sustain them.

6. What's the hardest part of writing for you? The hardest part is stopping. After multiple rounds of self-editing, several weeks of working with my editor, and several rounds of proofreading, I have to put the manuscript away and say 'done.' I think it is entirely possible to edit forever, but at some point, you have to stop and send the book out into the world.

7. Do you have a specific writing style? Third person past tense? To be honest, I'm not sure I know the response to this question. Some people say my style is much like one author or another (which would be an interesting feat, considering I've never read some of those authors.) Broadly, I'd say that my style tends to resemble serials or movies. I grew up writing fan fiction, and got accustomed to writing sections of chapters that almost inevitably ended on a cliffhanger just because that's the way fan fiction is usually consumed on online fan forums. In addition, I write the movie I see in my head, and not surprisingly, people have commented that reading my books is like watching a movie.

8. Who is your favorite author? Neil Gaiman is pure genius in his storytelling ability. I'm a huge fan of his Sandman series.

9. What are your favorite books and what genres do you prefer? Science fiction and fantasy are my favorite genres to read and write. I've especially enjoyed the Belgariad and Mallorean series by David Eddings. To unwind, I settle down with a sweet and satisfying romance, preferably Nora Roberts. I also enjoy thrillers, especially some of Robert Ludlum's novels.

10. What is some good advice/tips for young writers/aspiring unpublished authors? Success in any new career takes time. Be patient. Invest in yourselfÑunderstand your strengths and weaknesses as a writer and be committed to continual learning and constant growth. It is said that it takes 10,000 hours of work to become an expert in a field. ThatÕs approximately 5 years of full time 8-to-5 work, and you need to be prepared to make the investment of your time and resources for the long haul.

11. Advice for getting rid of writer's block? I think writer's block is just an excuse. Writing is a discipline, like going to school or work each day, like exercising and eating healthy. It's just something to have to do because it's an expectation for achieving your career goals as a writer. Maybe that particular scene isn't working out the way you want, well, work on another, but work on something. Thomas Edison said it best, 'Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration.' Today, you may not have the 1%, but you sure can muster up the 99% because that is under your control.

12. A favorite quote of yours you'd like to share? Neil Gaiman's character, Death, from the Sandman series, utters my favorite quote, 'It always ends. That's what gives it value.' That quote reminds me that what makes any experience, even life as a whole, valuable, is the fact that it ends. Because it ends, every moment is that much more precious and beautiful. Savor it.

13. What would you be if you didn't become an author? Well, I'm already several things. In addition to author, wife, and mother, I work full time in an education company in the area of business and learning strategy. I enjoy my job very much and don't have any intention of quitting. People often ask how I find time to do everything I do. My response is always the same, 'You'll always manage to find time for the things that matter. Oh, and I don't sleep much.'

14. Can you share some info about your current work with us? Danyael Sabre's hard-won normal life shattered the day Zara Itani freed the genetically engineered perfect human being, Galahad, from his laboratory prison. Three years have since passed. Danyael has survived months of brutal torture and the grind of quiet despite without losing the core of compassion that makes him the most compelling and infuriating man Zara has ever known. Danyael's greatest challenge, nevertheless, lies ahead of him. In Perfection Challenged, Danyael is forced to confront his own mortality and Galahad's hate. At the end of his road, will he remain true to his convictions or sacrifice all to protect the woman he loves from the man who hates him?

15. Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers? Only that I'm thrilled you've enjoyed my novels. To every one of you, thank you for sharing this journey with me. Your enthusiasm, support, and love for my characters are the reasons I keep writing. I hope you keep hanging around. The best is yet to come.

'The best of the four booksÉthe perfect ending to an amazing series.'

Perfection Challenged, the thrilling conclusion to the multiple award-winning, bestselling DOUBLE HELIX series, is finally here. Grab your copy today. If you've never picked up the DOUBLE HELIX series, keep reading for a special offer on the six-time award-winning novel, Perfection Unleashed.

perfection-challenged-600x800PERFECTION CHALLENGED

An alpha empath, Danyael Sabre has survived abominations and super soldiers, terrorists and assassins, but he cannot survive his failing body. He wants only to live out his final days in peace, but life and the woman he loves, the assassin Zara Itani, have other plans for him. Galahad, the perfect human being created by Pioneer Labs, is branded an international threat, and Danyael is appointed his jury, judge, and executioner. Danyael alone believes that Galahad can be the salvation that the world needs, but is the empath blinded by the fact that Galahad shares his genes, and the hope that there is something of him in Galahad? In a desperate race against time and his own dying body, Danyael struggles to find fragments of good in the perfect human being, and comes to the wrenching realization that his greatest battle will be a battle for the heart of the man who hates him.

E-books available at Amazon / Amazon UK / Apple iTunes / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / Smashwords Paperbacks available at Amazon / Amazon UK

Double Helix series 4

  Today, on our character interview, we're pleased to welcome Zara Itani, from the seven-time award-winning Double Helix series. Her author, Jade Kerrion, has insisted on sitting in on the interview. It's not quite the norm, but we've agreed to Jade's request. Let's start with some easy questions, Zara. 
How did you first meet Jade Kerrion? Want to dish about her?
Zara: I think Jade was having a midlife crisis when we met. She was growing older, and realized that she was going to live out her life in the frantic corporate rat race of America, while being a mom with husband, two kids, and a mini van. She probably felt that she needed to live vicariously through someone else, namely me.

Jade: I am not having a midlife crisis!

Did you ever think that your life would end up being in a book?
Zara: I'm a mercenary, and I own an agency of mercenaries. No, I do not crave the spotlight or expect to make headlines, at least not with my name in print next to my unfortunate victims. Jade, however, appears to be a strong proponent of full disclosure it's amazing, though how her novels are full of people who never disclose anything to anyone else and she decided to get my name out there.

Tell us about your favorite scene in the Double Helix series.
Zara: My favorite scene from the first three books takes place in the second book, Perfect Betrayal. It's an intimate moment with Danyael Sabre. It's especially memorable because, if you know Danyael, then you know that Danyael doesn't do 'intimate' often. Danyael, of course, swears the encounter never took place. He's lying, of course. We have a daughter and five genetic tests to prove it. (smiles) Of course, I have many favorite scenes in Jade's upcoming novel, Perfection Challenged. The closing scene is particularly memorable.

It sounds like you have a complicated relationship with Danyael. Tell the truth. What do you think of your fellow characters?
Zara (arching a perfectly tweezed eyebrow): They're charming, like black mambas are charming. Still, we've gone through a great deal together, and on a good day, I'd trust them, but not too much.

What do you like best about Danyael Sabre? What do you like least?
Zara: Do we have to talk about Danyael?

Well, your name is frequently mentioned in conjunction with his name and Galahad's. How do you choose between two men who look alike?
Zara: Danyael is Galahad's physical template, but in every other way that matters, they are nothing like each other. Galahad, the lab-created perfect human being, is eager and impatient to seize the world. On the other hand, Danyael, after a traumatic childhood as an undiagnosed alpha empath, wants nothing more than to be left alone to do his job as a doctor in a charity clinic. I used to think Danyael was evasive and a coward, unwilling to face his past or embrace his mutant powers. He isn't really. He's both courageous and compassionate, but most people don't see him for what he is.

And what about you? What impression do you make on people when they first meet you? How about after they've known you for a while?
Zara: Ideally, they'd know me as a practical, levelheaded person who isn't afraid of doing what it takes to get things done. After they've known me for a while, I hope they'll continue to say the same thing. Jade (in a stage whisper): Ask her about that compassionate streak.
Zara (shrugs an elegant shoulder): Not there. It doesn't exist, and you can't prove it.

Ladies, please. Zara, what would Danyael say about you?
Zara (flashes an amused smile): Ah, he's much too polite to say anything, but if he did, I imagine he would say that I'm more abrasive than steel wool, and that I have a cruel and ruthless streak several miles wide. He wouldn't say anything about compassion.
Jade (scowling): He wouldn't have fallen in love with you otherwise.

Jade, if you don't mind, I'm interviewing Zara here. Zara, if your story were a movie, who would play you?
Zara: Kate Beckinsale would do a great job. She's beautiful, and she knows how to kick ass. She's not Lebanese-Venezuelan, but nobody's perfect.

Will you encourage your author to write a sequel?
Zara: She's already written four Double Helix novels, five, if you include the Young Adult spinoff, When the Silence Ends. She insists that Perfection Challenged is the end of the Double Helix series, but that's not to say that there aren't other stories to be told about the world of the Double Helix. Knowing her, she'll be back with another fascinating story about my world and the people who live in it.

What do you like to do when you are not being actively read somewhere?
Zara: You already know what I do for a living; I find ways to keep busy to pay the bills. I also have a two-year-old daughter, Laura. She's learning her alphabet by reading Dr. Seuss and gun catalogs.
Jade (pulls Zara to her feet and drags her away): I am so sorry. This is why I don't let my characters out unsupervised. I think they say stuff like that just to embarrass me.

Ah, okay, and that brings to an abrupt end our interview with Zara Itani today. Thank you for joining us for this character interview, and we hope you'll take the opportunity to get to know Zara better in the DOUBLE HELIX series.



'The best of the four books & the perfect ending to an amazing series.'

Enjoy an excerpt from Perfection Challenged, the thrilling conclusion to Jade Kerrion's multiple award-winning, bestselling DOUBLE HELIX series. If you've never picked up the DOUBLE HELIX series, keep reading for a special offer on the six-time award-winning novel, Perfection Unleashed.
Perfection Challenged
"I have to get back to work," Danyael said, adjusting the crutch under his left arm. Alex Saunders, director-general of the Mutant Affairs Council, frowned. 'Did Abd-al not explain to you the dangers of pushing your body too hard, especially given your situation?' Danyael shrugged. 'Live or die, the bills have to get paid, and gene therapy is expensive.'
'That's what I've come to talk to you about.' Alex gestured at the lounge area tucked in a corner of the hospital suite. 'Will you sit?' Since Alex had been kind enough to open with politeness instead of threats, Danyael complied. Alex waited until Danyael claimed the armchair before lowering himself onto the couch. 'We've been monitoring you, Danyael. I'm sure you know that. You're one of the world's most powerful alpha empaths, and you don't have the luxury of privacy.'
 Danyael said nothing. 'I know you want nothing to do with the council, and I've done my best to respect your decision.'
 Alex looked pained. 'When you went to Nelson Harris to schedule the amputation, it was all I could do not to interfere. We both know the council healers could have healed you. In fact, they want to help. You have many friends, whether or not you know it, or care. You're a fighter, Danyael. I don't doubt your will to survive, but this & this newest crisis is beyond you. You'll have enough difficulty finding a donor. Paying for gene therapy'
'I may not be able to afford gene therapy but I can't afford the council's favors either.'
'Danyael, we can help. We want to help.' He looked away, a bitter smile twisting his lips. 'You need stronger psychic shields, Alex. I can sense the lie. What is the trap that you want me to walk into?'
 Alex shook his head, the gesture sad and slow. 'We need you to bring Galahad in.' He slid a tablet across the coffee table. Danyael picked up the tablet and perused the article as Alex continued speaking. 'You know Senator Sullivan's daughter, don't you?'
'Yes, Chloe. We dated briefly when we were at Harvard University.' Danyael's brow furrowed.
'What does Galahad have to do with the senator's death? The article specifically says that he died of smoke inhalation.'
'John Sullivan was one of Galahad's genetic donors, and the twenty-fifth of thirty donors to die in the past three years since Zara freed Galahad from Pioneer Labs. We don't have physical evidence to tie Galahad to any of their deaths'
'Yet you've judged him guilty based on circumstantial evidence.' Alex winced. 'You must understand. We have an obligation to investigate and to keep his surviving donors safe. If he's guilty, if he is indeed hunting down his donors, you're the only one of the five remaining donors who can stop him. No one else stands a chance against the epitome of perfection.'
'I'm surprised you think I do.'
'No one else can kill with a touch.'

perfection-challenged-600x800PERFECTION CHALLENGED

An alpha empath, Danyael Sabre has survived abominations and super soldiers, terrorists and assassins, but he cannot survive his failing body. He wants only to live out his final days in peace, but life and the woman he loves, the assassin Zara Itani, have other plans for him. Galahad, the perfect human being created by Pioneer Labs, is branded an international threat, and Danyael is appointed his jury, judge, and executioner. Danyael alone believes that Galahad can be the salvation that the world needs, but is the empath blinded by the fact that Galahad shares his genes, and the hope that there is something of him in Galahad? In a desperate race against time and his own dying body, Danyael struggles to find fragments of good in the perfect human being, and comes to the wrenching realization that his greatest battle will be a battle for the heart of the man who hates him. E-books available at Amazon / Amazon UK / Apple iTunes / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / Smashwords Paperbacks available at Amazon / Amazon UK

PERFECTION UNLEASHED Perfection Unleashed

"Higher octane than Heroes. More heart than X-Men." Recipient of six literary awards, including First place in Science Fiction, Reader Views Literary Awards 2012 and Gold medal winner, Science Fiction, Readers Favorites 2013. 
FOR A LIMITED TIME, E-BOOKS AVAILABLE FOR JUST $0.99 (Discounted from $2.99) 
E-books available at Amazon / Amazon UK / Apple / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / Smashwords Paperbacks available at Amazon / Amazon UK / Barnes & Noble / Book Depository

  Connect with Jade Kerrion: Website / Facebook / Twitter

Cover Reveal for Grimnirs by Ednah Walters


Book Title: Grimnirs
Series: A Runes Novel
Author: Ednah Walters
Release Date: December 2nd 2013
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Firetrail Publishing
Presented by: Twisted Book Tours and More & As You Wish Tours
Banner Made by: Camelia Miron Skiba

 
BLURB

One lost love.
One lost best friend.
One hot soul reaper.

Straight out of the psyche ward, Cora just wants her life to be normal. She doesn’t want to see souls or the reapers collecting them. The love of her life, the guy she’s loved from a distance for years, has moved away without saying goodbye. So yes, she’s nursing a serious heartbreak. It’s no wonder love is the last thing on her mind when Echo storms into her life.

The chemistry between them is mind-blowing. The connection defies logic. It doesn’t help that Echo is the poster boy for everything she hates in a guy—hot, beautiful, and cocky. A general pain-in-the-butt. Being around him makes her feel more alive than she’s ever felt before. But more important, the souls leave her alone when he is around.

Echo is perfect for her. Echo might even be her soul-mate. There is only one problem. Echo is a freaking soul reaper. A Grimnir. The very beings she wants out of her life. Maybe normal is overrated because Cora wants it all. Answers. Love. A life. You see, once you fall for a Grimnir, your life will never be the same again.

AUTHOR BIO
EDNAH WALTERS grew up reading Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys and dreaming of one day writing her own stories. She is a stay-at-home mother of five humans and two American short-hair cats (one of which has ADHD) and a husband. When she is not writing, she’s at the gym doing Zumba or doing things with her family, reading, traveling or online chatting with fans.

Ednah is the author of The Guardian Legacy series, a YA fantasy series about children of the fallen angels, who fight demons and protect mankind. AWAKENED, the prequel was released by Pill Hill Press in September 2010 with rave reviews. BETRAYED, book one in the series was released by her new publisher Spencer Hill Press in June 2012 and HUNTED, the third installment, will be released April 2013. She’s working on the next book in the series, FORGOTTEN. Visit her at www.ednahwalters.com

Ednah also writes YA paranormal romance. RUNES is the first book in her new series. IMMORTALS is book 2. She is presently working on book 3, GRIMNIRS (Release date TBA). Read more about this series and the world she's created here www.runestheseries.com

Under the pseudonym E. B. Walters, Ednah writes contemporary romance. SLOW BURN, the first contemporary romance with suspense, was released in April 2011. It is the first book in the Fitzgerald family series. Since then she has published four more books in this series. She's presently working on book six. You can visit her online at or www.ebwalters.com.


Friday, September 27, 2013

Book Barrage "Caught in the Crosshair" Excerpt and Giveaway

Caught in the Crosshair
by Barb Han
Romantic Suspense
Categories: Action/Adventure
Publisher: Self/Indie
Release Date: June 17, 2013
Heat Level: Steamy
Word Count/Length: 60,000 words/244 pages

Available at:

Description:
Lauren James had ignored the recent spate of calls from her brother. After all, he was a big player linked to a major cartel, and he’d been dead to her for nearly a decade. Then she receives the one call she can’t ignore—her brother’s been kidnapped and will be killed if she doesn’t bring money. No matter how far gone her brother is, Lauren can’t turn her back on him completely. Deep down she’s always wanted to save him. Now, she’s forced into action because he’ll die otherwise.

Ex-Special Forces sniper Jaden Dean owns a private security firm and after losing his older brother to gang violence, needs to take down as many scum bags as he can—single-handedly if need be. And he was the best. Until he trusted the wrong woman on his last assignment and ended up nearly dead in the street.

On a tropical island with a hurricane brewing and dangerous men closing in, Lauren and Jaden will need to work together to survive and find her brother. The cartel seems to be one step ahead, and Jaden’s operatives are being killed one-by-one. He will have to use all his specialized training and risk everything, including his heart, to outwit the deadly group and keep Lauren safe. Their magnetic attraction isn't helping matters...because even a slight distraction might just get them both killed.

Warning: This title is intended for readers over the age of 18 as it contains adult sexual situations and/or adult language, and may be considered offensive to some readers.

About the Author: 
Barb Han is the author of romance novels and romantic suspense. Her debut romantic thriller, GONE, was released January, 2013, and features a desperate woman who wakes in a mental institution determined to find the son she's told never existed.

Her novella, Seducing Avery, was released early this year, and has received much acclaim due to her unique storyline that features an Asian hero. Another Asian hero romance, The Billionaire Bargain, released early this summer exclusively for Kindle. The wide release is scheduled for late August. Her romantic suspense, Caught in the Crosshair, features a determined sister and an ex-military sniper on a tropical island with a hurricane brewing and dangerous men closing in. This story is now available exclusively for Kindle.

Barb is under contract with Harlequin Intrigue. Her first book featuring a rancher from North Texas will be published in early 2014.

Barb belongs to Romance Writers of America, DARA, KOD, and NTRWA where she volunteers as often as she can. She graduated from The University of North Texas with a bachelor degree in journalism.

She lives in North Texas with her own Asian-hero husband, has three beautiful children, a spunky Golden Retriever/Standard Poodle mix, and too many books in her 'to read' pile. In her down time, she plays video games and spends much of her time on or around a basketball court. She's passionate about travel, and many of the places she visits end up in her books.

Connect with Barb Han


Excerpt 1:

The Texas sun beating down on the white canopy over the fresh grave created a greenhouse effect, intensifying the triple-digit temperature. Jaden Dean loosened his tie. At five o’clock the heat had peaked. A half hour into the inferno, his shirt threatened to melt into his skin. He’d barely noticed.  

His focus was Helena. Long after the attendees had gone home, she sat there, broken, looking lost and alone. A stark contrast to the deadly field operative she was.

Jaden couldn’t walk away, so he moved to the chair next to her. “There anyone I can call?”

She didn’t look at him. Only shook her head.

Jaden sighed sharply. “Talk to someone, then. A priest?”

Her gaze focused forward. She didn’t respond.

“Then take some time off. Hell, take as much time as you need. Your job will be waiting for you. ManTech can survive for a while without you.”

She glanced at him.

Damn, it was hard to look her in the eyes, see the pain there. Pain that was his fault. 

She shook her head again. “I need to keep busy. Work is all I have now.”

Right. She’d been orphaned as a child. A wrench tightened inside Jaden’s gut at remembering the details of her abusive past. There was no family to surround her. Tim had been everything to her. He was her love. Her redemption. Her life.

And now he was dead.

Freakin’ South American cartels.

Her chin came up. “And those bastards have to pay.”

The hollow look in her eyes was a knife to his chest. Something inside her was broken. Would she ever be the same?

Would he ever be the same after sending her fiancĂ© on the mission he should’ve taken himself?

Jaden knew all about losing someone close. The unspeakable pain. The darkness and anger that settled in the soul. The hopelessness. Everyone that had been close to him was dead. His operatives were all the family he had. And they were being killed. He was beginning to think he was cursed.
If she insisted on working, he’d keep a close eye on her.

GIVEAWAY INFO: 
Prize is 3 eBook copies (1 each to 3 winners) of 
“Caught in the Crosshair”. Contest is tour-wide, 
open internationally and ends Sept 28. 
Must be 18 years of age of older to enter. 





Book Barrage for Full Throttle, Excerpt and Giveaway

Full Throttle
by T. C. Archer
Contemporary Romantic Suspense
Categories: Action/Adventure, Mystery/Thriller, Sports-Themed
Publisher: Etopia Press
Release Date: July 6, 2013
Heat Level: Sensual
Word Count: 95,000

Available at:





Description:
Fast cars and a smokin' hot passion...

Rex intends to own and drive his own car, but that will cost him millions up front. Last season was a disaster, thanks to a nasty break up, but it taught him a lesson and helped sharpen his focus on what he needed to do: Win every race. And stay away from pretty girls. The last thing he needed was to learn that his new head mechanic, Jimmy James, was the gorgeous redhead pin-up walking around his pit like it was some kind of dance floor.

Gail "Jimmy" James is the first female NASCAR mechanic. As if competing in a man's world isn't tough enough, her bombshell figure bellies her genius IQ, and the pit is no place for either. Nothing Jimmy knew about Rex Henderson the driver prepared her for Rex Henderson the man. But Jimmy has no time to dwell on her feelings as strange mechanical problems curse Rex's car. Whether sabotage or her own mistakes, Jimmy must stay one step ahead of trouble if she's going to keep her job, and keep her driver alive...

About the Author:
T. C. Archer is comprised of award winning authors Evan Trevane and Shawn M. Casey. They live in the Northeast. Evan has a Ph.D. in electrical engineering, and Shawn is a small business owner. Their collaboration began on a lark with the post WWII film noir story The Pickle My Little Friend, and has evolved into over a dozen works, which includes their new series The Phenom League, and Daphne Du Maurier winner the romantic thriller For His Eyes Only.

Connect with T.C. Archer



Excerpt #7

Damn, Rex thought, it happened again. First he’d flirted with his head mechanic in the garage with a reporter hiding nearby, then he’d practically mauled her while another one watched. This was exactly what he feared would happen. Only he hadn’t figured himself for the idiot who would get caught with his pants down like Brent had.
Still no sign of Gail. Where was she? Emerson had always been there with the crew for first day practice laps. What was with the chick anyway? She came off as a NASCAR fanatic, then wimped out when they really needed her.
His gaze snagged on a tall blonde sitting on the pit wall beside Dillon’s car. Crystal. She wore a white halter, low-riding jeans, and Dillon’s mirrored sunglasses. Rex tried not to look at her as he drove by. Her hand under her blonde bangs shielded her face from the sun. Was she looking at him or the damned rabbit on the hood?
The white stripe at the end of pit row passed under his car. Rex accelerated onto the track between turn one and two. The car rocked violently as he drove from the flat warning strip onto the banked pavement of the curve. He fought the stiff steering while gathering the speed needed for centrifugal force to balance the car on the steep bank. Then the pavement flattened into the backstretch and he shifted into fourth.
“One-fifty,” Ricky said over the radio.
“The car feels loose,” Rex came back as he settled against the wall, still accelerating.
“The tires will warm up,” Duff’s voice crackled. “Lay off for a lap or two.”
Hell no, he wasn’t going to let up. He intended to open the sucker up.
Rex let off the gas to cruise at one-thirty. He wove left then right. The tires squealed and the sound diminished as the rubber heated up by turn three. Slight jerks from his rear end rocked the car, sending it high out of turn three into turn four.
“You’re high,” Ricky said. “Settle in lower.”
“There’s a vibration in the right rear,” Rex said. “Feels like I have a tire going down already.”
“I don’t see anything,” Ricky came back.
Rex glanced toward the spotter’s station at the top of the grandstands. Ricky didn’t have a clear view of the right rear, but his line of sight would be right down the side of the car where he could see any list front to back.
“Could be a flat spot on the tread.” Rex pulled out of turn four onto the front stretch.
“Tire temperature’s still low,” Duff said. “Take another lap and see if it smoothes out.”
“Roger.” Rex accelerated up against the wall.
“One-fifty. One-sixty,” Ricky called out.
The speed radar display Ricky consulted matched what Rex felt in the car’s vibration and the revs of the engine. Around the gentle dogleg in the front stretch and toward the start/finish line, Rex pushed his car faster in nervous anticipation of a rear end tire failure.
“One-seventy,” Ricky reported.
“How’s it feel, Rex?” Duff asked.
Rex didn’t answer until he had ducked into turn one doing one seventy-five. “Some vibration still, but not as loose.”
“Be careful, buddy,” Duff said. “That’s why they call these practice laps.”
No one finished in the top ten by milking a lap, even practice laps. A quick mental calculation indicated he only had time for five or six practice laps this session. If something was wrong with the car, he had to find out now. A pit to change tires would eat up one of those laps. If Gail screwed up some adjustment, he might not get back on the track for another hour, then only if Duff could barter time with one of the other drivers. Dammit. Where the hell was she? The rear end slid up the track on the exit of turn two and Rex eased off the gas enough to let the car straighten out on its own.
“Too loose?” Duff asked.
“I guess the tires have to heat up more,” Rex replied.
He ran up next to the back wall, holding the accelerator to the floorboards. The engine revs climbed.
“One-eighty,” Ricky said.
Exhilaration shot through Rex. The car felt great, despite the slight shimmy. No big deal. At one-eighty, he’d never had a new car that didn’t shake a little, especially at Daytona. Maybe it was the mystique of the track, or new season butterflies.
Turn three approached. Rex steered into the groove without letting off the gas. The shimmy worsened, but he kept power to the rear wheels and steered a little high on the turn. He swung high out of turn three and steered hard into four.
“Easy, you’re a little high,” Ricky warned.
But Rex already knew he had over-committed into turn four. The G forces climbed as he rounded the apex of the turn. The vibration quickened. He let off the gas, then realized his mistake. The car jerked to the right and drifted sideways. The Chevy slid up the banked curve in a four-wheel drift toward the wall. Tires squealed.
He fought the loss of control by steering into the drift. The tires gripped. He steered left to get into the groove for the straightaway, but it was too late. His trajectory would take him into the wall. He gripped the wheel as the pavement rushed under the car, tires on the verge of breaking lose, the wall looming closer, closer. Rex braced for impact as a bone-jarring thud crumpled the front fender and hood. Sparks flared off metal and wall. Engine coolant shot from under the hood and clouded the windshield. The car pivoted, slamming the rear quarter panel into the wall.
Rex tried to steer away from the wall, but the car continued to hammer and scrape the barrier. He yanked harder on the wheel. The car came off the wall for an instant, then the steering wheel shuddered and went limp.



GIVEAWAY INFO: 
Prizes are GRAND PRIZE: Autographed print copy of “Full Throttle”;
 2 RUNNERS-UP: eBook copy each of “Full Throttle”. 
Contest is tour-wide, open internationally and ends Sept 28. 
Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. 


Thursday, September 26, 2013

My Review of The Scholar by May Nicole Abbey

The Scholar

by May Nicole Abbey



A leap through time. A choice to make. A destiny to change.

Dismissed by her professors, ridiculed by her classmates, Serena Metcalfe is determined to prove the existence of the Samu Aqaru, the powerful stone of the ancient pharaohs – even if it means travelling through time. But her study of Egyptology did not prepare her for the dangers and passions of the real Egypt of 2361 BC. Crocodile attacks, kidnapping, betrayal, murder…and a pharaoh who believes she is a goddess and wants her as his queen. But Serena isn’t about to give herself to a king – not when finding the precious Stone could mean saving the man she loves.

Irresistible playboy Shepseskaf, fated for an early death, and his loyal yet ruthless cousin Pepisenkaura were once the closest of friends, but the right to the throne of Egypt and their rivalry for Serena threaten to transform them into bitter and eternal enemies. Only Serena knows the tragic destiny that awaits, and only Serena can rewrite history…by following her heart.

Caroline Gregory and Shawnette Nielson were born in Southern California to a tight-knit family.  Caroline earned her Bachelor of Arts in English from Brigham Young University in 1999. Now a stay at home mom, she resides in Oklahoma with her husband and four young sons.

Shawnette has a wide range of life experiences to draw from as she writes. From gymnastics, wrestling, construction and farming, she now lives in Arizona with her husband and three kids, and experiences new adventures through her stories.

 Caroline and Shawnette, though hundreds of miles away, collaborate daily on their stories over the phone in the wee hours of the morning.


twitter:  @maynicoleabbey
The author is willing to donate an ebook to one of the people who comment on my blog, so comment away. 

My 5 Star Review

I received this book from the authors for an honest review.

The sisters have done it again. Bringing us an unique, gripping and exciting tale from Ancient Egypt. Their lively descriptions of the rich history of Egypt coming alive through a young woman's life who "flew" back in time and share her experiences. The plot line interesting, mesmerizing as you venture with her to the Great Nile, seeing the Pharaoh for the first time, Giza in all its splendor. Images only captured in pictures and books became real, and alive and I could almost smell the Cassia oil from the vibrant, playboy Shepseskaf, seducer and protector, and best friend. A scent perfect for him. Strong, woody but yet sweet, getting under your skin, as he did with her.
Serena Metcalfe was head-strong, determined and willing to lay everything aside to get her doctorate and the recognition she deserved. But when she met this handsome prince, she was confronted with more than just her loyalties. Faith, hope and trust became the center of the story line as interesting twists gave you a better look at life and the believes of these ancient people.
To them she was Isis personified, with her light skin and fiery hair she stood out. Her love, tenderness and care always in the forefront as she fights the odds, seemingly indestructible. She is confronted with her own vainness, her scars a constant reminder with beauty was all around her and Shep accepted her as she was. A beautiful love story grew in the midst of distrust, abduction and murder always seeking the elusive Stone, Samu Aqaru. Will she find it?
Well get the book and find out, my lips are sealed. **smile**
A wonderful journey with all its ups and downs that keep you glued to the pages of the book as you learn more about the people, the country and the man.
The many other characters were believable and strong, each playing their part in the book to make it memorable. Each creating a better understanding of the times and how vastly we differ from them. The harshness of the desert and the ugliness of betrayal not concealed to think that this was make-believe. Filled with action and adventure with a good dash of romance The Scholar was an enjoyable read.
Thanks to Shawnette and Caroline for the opportunity to read another of their books.

Book Review: Juror Number Ten by Caroline Taylor

Genre: Thriller/romantic suspense Bio:  Caroline Taylor is a novelist and short-story writer who grew up in the mountain west and traveled...