Review: Irish Rover by L.M. Pruitt

Irish Rover by L.M. Pruitt

Book 0.5

Cheating husband?

Call Frances "Frankie" Post, a private investigator with a trick or two up her sleeve.

In this flash fiction piece (approx. 1500 words) join Frankie as she spends the afternoon in Queens masquerading as a member of the "personal entertainment" business community. A note to cheating husbands - never use the joint checking account.

My thoughts:

This is a super short introduction to Pruitt's style and to Frankie Post.  I am already a Pruitt fan so this was a, "I want to read it so I have read all her stuff," read.  Fast few minutes of your day to get the feel for this wonderful author.

About the Author:

L.M. Pruitt has been reading and writing for as long as she can remember. A native of Florida with a love of New Orleans, she has the uncanny ability to find humor in most things and would probably kill a plastic plant. She is the author of the Jude Magdalyn Series as well as New Moon Rising, featuring Cari Gravier, and Taken, featuring Frankie Post. She is currently at work on the next book in the Moon Rising series, Harvest Moon Rising, due out April 2012. Ms. Pruitt makes her home in Florida with two cats--one smart, the other not so much.

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/LM-Pruitt/364776895104

Blog: http://www.lmpruitt.blogspot.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/lmpruitt

Don't Miss Book one - Taken

Taken: Book One

Cheating spouse? Stolen jewelry? Missing person?

Call Frances--Frankie--Post. A private detective with a trick of two up her sleeve and a few skeletons of her own.

What starts out as a simple missing person's case dumps Frankie and her lover Jack right in the crosshairs of a dangerous human trafficking organization. With lives on the line, bad blood and old wounds finally see the light of day. And Frankie and Jack are forced to realize: The past always catches up with you.

Always.

Click HERE to see my review of Taken.

Blog Tour: The Red Serpent Trilogy by Rishabh Jain (Giveaway too - U.S. only)

This virtual book tour is presented by Tribute Books. 

The official tour site is HERE.

Welcome to The Wormhole and my day on the tour!

It is my pleasure to feature:

Rishabh Jain and The Read Serpent Trilogy.

Rishabh Jain was born in the city of Kanpur, in India, in 1990. From a young age, he displayed remarkable traits of creativity and inventiveness. When a young boy of 8 or 9 years old, Rishabh left his father (himself an electrical engineer) shocked and speechless one day, when he managed to make an asymmetrical and unbalanced structure made of blocks, with which he was very fond of playing, stand stable for 2 to 3 minutes, blissfully unaware that the laws of physics and mechanics made it impossible.

Rishabh entered Pathways World School in 2003, an International Baccaulaureate School on the outskirts of New Delhi, in the 8th Grade. Here, his multidisciplinary talents and interests blossomed in the creative environment of an International Level School. He was awarded an Academic Merit Scholarship from Pathways World School, for the academic years 2004-05 and 2005-06 (his 9th & 10th Grades). Being an absolutely ardent fan of and enamored by theLord of the Rings trilogy, and the Harry Potter series, it was his dream to write a story of his own as a “Trilogy.” This was the inspiration from which he conceived the genesis and plot of this current book The Red Serpent Trilogy, and he finally realized his dream and completed the book in 2006 and was issued the copyright to the same in January of 2007.

Rishabh completed his High School (10th Grade) in 2006, with an award of Distinction from IGCSE, Cambridge. He participated in “Harvard Model Congress Asia” (a three-day student conference organized by Harvard University, where selected students were invited from around the world to take part in simulations of the United States Congress) in Bangkok, in September 2006. He also was a participant in Ryan International School’s Indian Model United Nations (INMUN) in 2006, which was a three-day simulation of the United Nations, wherein he received a Certificate of Achievement.

While studying for the International Baccaulaureate Diploma (11th & 12th Grades) in the same school, Rishabh participated in and won 1st prize in two competitions (one for extempore speaking and the other for debate) in VIVUM Bangalore (India). He also built a Bio-Gas plant during a Community Service Project in a village of Rajasthan near Rathambore National Park. Rishabh was democratically elected by the student body for a period of two years (2007 & 2008) as a member of the Student Council (consisting of a total of twelve members representing the whole school) — a most responsible and keenly contested and coveted position.

Due to the peer recognition of his multidisciplinary talents in Creative Writing, English, Literature, and General Knowledge, and his unique ability to relate to people, Rishabh was also elected as the Editor of the Annual School Magazine Rewind. In June 2007, Rishabh participated in “GLOBAL YOUNG LEADERS CONFERENCE” (GYLC) in Washington & New York. This was a global conference, where approximately 200 international students from various countries around the globe were invited to attend. The conference lasted two weeks, with one in Washington and one in New York. He was awarded “Youth Leadership Award” in recognition of meritorious achievement in scholarship, leadership and citizenship.

Due to his exemplary performance in GYLC in 2007, he was invited to attend a week-long program, and as a special guest among a very few selected international students, attended the appointment and swearing-in ceremony of Barack Obama, the 44th President of the USA, in January 2009. After earning his International Baccaulaureate Diploma (11th & 12th Grades) in 2008, from among a large number of offers from various prestigious Universities, Rishabh entered the Mechanical Engineering program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he presently resides and is currently pursuing his engineering degree. Amid his grueling schedule of Engineering studies, Rishabh has almost completed a 2nd book, which is a space science fiction adventure & love story.


The Red Serpent Trilogy Book Summary (condensed)

The Red Serpent Trilogy presents a highly evolved vampire to fear: cold and callous, powerful and dangerous, possessed by mystic promises and destroyed only by silver. It is the year 2021 — the human world has degraded, its inhabitants unworthy of the supernatural gifts bestowed upon them. Compelled by ancient prophesy, an ancient vampire army takes the human race by force, sparing few lives. They await the second coming of their king, Anaxagoras, which will hurl the world into a final battle that will free the vampires from their infinite hiding. But by the hands of fate, there is one human who may save his entire race.

The Red Serpent Trilogy is a celestial fusion of science fiction and fantasy, unfolding conflicting intentions for the survival of both the human and vampire races. But in a world ruled by supernatural and mythological forces, there is only room for one race, and neither will go easily. The few survivors of the fatal vampire onslaught escape to an asteroid space station, Regnum, where they thrive as they keep an attentive watch on the vampires on the earth below. But unbeknown to himself or anyone else, Alex, half human half vampire, holds the keys to secrets that will help him realize his duties and cement his fate as either a human or a vampire.

The Red Serpent Trilogy Book Summary (full)

“The evils of the World in which Anaxagoras shall come will be caused by the unworthy people of the world. Our race shall come unto the Earth and bravely wage war with them . . .”

In 2021, the Vampires attacked Earth and decimated the human population. After a fierce and bloody battle, war commander John Howe led the forced evacuation of the humans to the gigantic orbiting space station Regnum, and the human refugees have been there ever since.

Then one day, General Howe’s orphan nephew, Alexander, uncovers a terrible secret about his past — and that he may be the subject of prophesy.

“Two decades later, a new kind of evil, a Falsifier, shall come unto the Earth . . .”

The boy’s world is turned upside down when Gareng, the Vampiric General, reveals his own family ties to Alexander. As the two grow closer, Gareng begins to question the wisdom of his people waging Vampiric war on the humans. But Gareng’s own son will stop at nothing to seize control and eliminate the humans once and for all . . .

“There will be a second coming of Anaxagoras, when the sun is blocked by the moon . . .”

After learning his true origins, Alexander finds himself in an impossible situation: he must choose whether his allegiance lies with his mother’s people, or with his father’s — and condemn the other to certain doom.

“In the End of Days, the Falsifier shall challenge Anaxagoras for the fate of the world...”

But migra is thicker than water, and as Alexander embraces his role as Falsifier, he begins to hope that there could be another way.

Can Alexander forge a peace between the two warring factions — could he and Gareng ever convince the Vampires to agree — or will prophecy reach its bloody final chapter as Earth is plunged again into unrelenting war?

Giveaway!

I have been granted permission to offer 

ONE paperback copy of The Red Serpent Trilogy 

to ONE random commenter US mailing address only.  

The rules are simple:

* Be 18+ in the U.S.A. 

* leave a comment on this blog that includes a valid email address.

Winner will be notified via email.

Giveaway runs September 21 - 25, 2012.  Good Luck and thanks for entering.

Blog Tour Review: Written in Ashes by K. Hollan Van Zandt

Written in Ashes by

Amazon Product Description:
Who burned the Great Library of Alexandria? When the Roman Empire collapses in the 5th century, the city of Alexandria, Egypt is plagued with unrest. Paganism is declared punishable by death and the populace splinters in religious upheaval. Hannah, a beautiful Jewish shepherd girl is abducted from her home in the mountains of Sinai and sold as a slave in Alexandria to Alizar, an alchemist and successful vintner. Her rapturous singing voice destines her to become the most celebrated bard in the Great Library. Meanwhile, the city’s bishop, Cyril, rises in power as his priests roam the streets persecuting the pagans. But while most citizens submit, a small resistance fights for justice. Hypatia, the library’s charismatic headmistress, summons her allies to protect the world’s knowledge from the escalating violence. Risking his life, his family, and his hard-earned fortune, Alizar leads the conspiracy by secretly copying the library’s treasured manuscripts and smuggling them to safety. When Hannah becomes the bishop’s target, she is sequestered across the harbor in the Temple of Isis. But an ancient ceremonial rite between a monk and priestess inside the Pharos lighthouse ignites a forbidden passion. Torn between the men she loves, Hannah must undertake a quest to the lost oracles of Delfi and Amun-Ra to find the one thing powerful enough to protect the pagans: The Emerald Tablet. Meanwhile, the Christians siege the city, exile the Jews, and fight the dwindling pagan resistance as the Great Library crumbles. But not everything is lost. . .

My thoughts:
     Wow!  Fabulously written.  The characters are remarkable and wonderfully developed.  The storyline is intriguing and compelling.  The language is vivid and descriptive.
     As a librarian's assistant and book hoarder I was thrilled with the opportunity to read this story and learn more about the famed Library at Alexandria and its history.  I was impressed with the way the author weaved the story.
     I have long been a historical fiction fan, but have gotten away from it in recent years.  This wonderfully written book was a fantastic way to jump back into the genre.  
     This is not a light read, but it is a great read.  It makes the reader stop and reflect upon the words on the pages and what they mean.  A truly fascinating tale.

Blog Tour: Written in Ashes by K. Hollan Van Zandt

This virtual book tour is presented by Teddy Rose at Virtual Author Book Tours.
Tour information is HERE.

Welcome to The Wormhole and my day on the tour.

It is my pleasure today to promote:

Written in Ashes by K. Hollan Van Zandt

K. Hollan Van Zandt has always loved libraries, oceans, ancient history and migrating birds. Her mentor, novelist Tom Robbins, instilled in her an abiding love and respect for language. She lives in Southern California, and dreams of a home in Greece. This, her first novel, took ten years to complete

Who burned the Great Library of Alexandria? When the Roman Empire collapses in the 5th century, the city of Alexandria, Egypt is plagued with unrest. Paganism is declared punishable by death and the populace splinters in religious upheaval. Hannah, a beautiful Jewish shepherd girl is abducted from her home in the mountains of Sinai and sold as a slave in Alexandria to Alizar, an alchemist and successful vintner. Her rapturous singing voice destines her to become the most celebrated bard in the Great Library. Meanwhile, the city’s bishop, Cyril, rises in power as his priests roam the streets persecuting the pagans. But while most citizens submit, a small resistance fights for justice. Hypatia, the library’s charismatic headmistress, summons her allies to protect the world’s knowledge from the escalating violence. Risking his life, his family, and his hard-earned fortune, Alizar leads the conspiracy by secretly copying the library’s treasured manuscripts and smuggling them to safety. When Hannah becomes the bishop’s target, she is sequestered across the harbor in the Temple of Isis. But an ancient ceremonial rite between a monk and priestess inside the Pharos lighthouse ignites a forbidden passion. Torn between the men she loves, Hannah must undertake a quest to the lost oracles of Delfi and Amun-Ra to find the one thing powerful enough to protect the pagans: The Emerald Tablet. Meanwhile, the Christians siege the city, exile the Jews, and fight the dwindling pagan resistance as the Great Library crumbles. But not everything is lost. . .

You can pick up a copy HERE.
Review to post on September 20

Dead End Deal by Allen Wyler

Welcome to The Wormhole!

It is my pleasure to feature: Allen Wyler and Dead End Deal.

I hope you enjoy the interview:

? When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

Hard to say. It was an unscratched itch that my career choice of medicine kept me from alleviating. I seemed to be one of those unattainable desires until one day I figured what the hell, start to work on it. There was no epiphany moment.

? How many jobs did you have before you became a writer?

From high school through residency I was 100% goal-directed at medicine. Still am. Being a writer was done in parallel.

? How long does it take you to write a book?

Impossible to say because I always have about three concepts brewing either in the back of my mind, or more formally, on paper. And then there are always the rewrites, line edits etc before the book is actually done. Probably from concept to finished product, about a year and a half.

? What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

Not sure I have quirks. For me writing just hard work.

? Where do you get your ideas or inspiration for your characters?

From people I encounter in daily life. Being a physician gave me ample opportunity to see some real characters.

? How do you decide what you want to write about?

Of the concepts brewing, I select the one that seems to be the most developed and would have the most general appeal.

? What books have most influenced your life?

Marathon Man and Vertical Run were the two thrillers that cemented me into the genre.

? What are you reading right now?

Funny you should ask. It’s a sci-fi by Richard Morgan. I don’t read much sci-fi but this was recommended to me by a friend whose tastes are similar to mine, so I started this one. Really enjoying it.

? What do you like to do when you are not writing?

My wife and I have a beautiful Japanese style garden that requires a ton of attention. I’m also into digital photography and amateur radio. I’m very geeky.

? What is your favorite comfort food?

Buffalo Wings.

? What do you think makes a good story?

Tons of suspense in a story line that keeps moving like a freight train.

? Who would you consider your favorite author and why?

John Sandford. Love his style and characters. Read everything he’s done.

Fun random questions: 

• dogs or cats? Dogs. No question.
• Coffee or tea? Coffee.
• Dark or milk chocolate? Dark.
• Rocks or flowers? Flowers
• Night or day? Day
• Favorite color? Black for clothes. Silver for cars.
• Crayons or markers? Markers
• Pens or pencils? Fancy mechanical pencils. 

Dead End Deal by Allen Wyler

Amazon Product Description:

World renowned neurosurgeon Jon Ritter is on the verge of a medical breakthrough that will change the world. His groundbreaking surgical treatment, using transplanted non-human stem cells, is set to eradicate the scourge of Alzheimer’s disease and give hope to millions. But when the procedure is slated for testing, it all comes to an abrupt and terrifying halt. Ritter’s colleague is gunned down and Ritter himself is threatened by a radical anti-abortion group that not only claims responsibility, but promises more of the same. Faced with a dangerous reality but determined to succeed, Ritter turns to his long-time colleague, corporate biotech CEO Richard Stillman, for help. Together, they conspire to conduct a clandestine clinical trial in Seoul, Korea. But the danger is more determined, and more lethal, than Ritter could have imagined. After successful surgical trials, Ritter and his allies are thrown into a horrifying nightmare scenario: The trial patients have been murdered and Ritter is the number one suspect. Aided by his beautiful lab assistant, Yeonhee, Ritter flees the country, now the target of an international manhunt involving Interpol, the FBI, zealous fanatics and a coldly efficient assassin. Dead End Deal is a fast paced, heart-pounding, and sophisticated thriller. Penned by master neurosurgeon, Allen Wyler—who often draws from experience and actual events when writing—Dead End Deal is unmatched as a technical procedural. Its medical and scientific details can impress even the most seasoned medical practitioners. And yet, the fascinating expertise is seamlessly woven into a riveting plot, with enough action and surprises to engross even the most well-read thriller enthusiast. A smart, unique, page-turner, Dead End Deal delivers.

Buy links ~ click HERE and HERE

(Astor + Blue Publishing)

Blog Tour: Released: The Shapeshifter's Library Book One by Amber Polo (giveaway too!)

This virtual book tour is presented by ABG Reads Book Tours.

The entire tour schedule is below:

Sept 10 Hezzi D's Books & Cooks Review 

Sept 11 Bound To Astound Guest Post 

Sept 12 Aria's Dark Muse  Review

Sept 13 Nette's Bookshelf Excerpt

Sept 14 Hezzi D's Books & Cooks  Guest Post 

Sept 15 Books, Etc. Review 

           Sept 15 The Wormhole Review/Author Inteview

Sept 16 Truth, Beauty, Freedom & Books Review 

Sept 17 A Simple Love of Reading  Guest Post 

Welcome to The Wormhole and my day on the tour.

It is my pleasure to feature Amber Polo and 

Released: The Shapeshifter's Library Book One.

AUTHOR BIO:A love of books drew Amber Polo into a career as a librarian. A greater love turned her into a writer.The Shapeshifters’ Library series is an urban fantasy filled with books, librarians and dogs and a library everyone will love.The mystical side of Sedona, AZ became the paranormal setting for her first novelRomancing Rebecca. One day a plane flew past her office window and she turned her pen to her own airpark backyard and Flying Free was the result. In addition to her two novels and short romantic fiction, she is proud of her self-produced , Relaxation One Breath at a Time a CD that uses her voice to teach relaxation to calm your body and mind and/or help you fall asleep.Relaxing the Writer: Guidebook to the Writer’s High offers hundreds of tips to help writers and readers relax. ample her writing and see why Midwest Book Review called her work “quirky” and “profound” (is that After living in seven states, she happily calls a small town in Arizona home.

Amber Polo has stopped by for an interview:

What did you do before you became a full-time writer? 

I was a librarian, in both public and university libraries, and then became a yoga teacher. In some ways being an English major and then getting my MLS may have discouraged my own writing. Always being surrounded by wonderful books can discourage trying to write your own. I think my yoga practice became the wonderful transition to open my own creativity.

What’s your most interesting writing quirk?

It’s interesting that you use the word “quirk.” My writing’s often been called quirky. When I need to write a scene or get my characters out of trouble I pick up my AlphaSmart (sort of a wireless keyboard that doesn’t receive email or connect to the internet or offer distractions), put my hands on the keys, and the characters tell their story. Sometimes what they say is a complete surprise to me. 

Where did you get the idea for The Shapeshifters Library?

I have always been passionate about libraries and also learned a lot about dogs during the time I was active in training and showing. I loved writing fantasy and paranormal romance. Noticing all the shifter stories (cats, dragons, and lots of werewolves), I wondered why there were no dog shifter stories. Surely dogs were noble, caring creatures that in human form would be interesting and lots of fun. So, I put dogs, librarians, and fantasy together and out came dog-shifters. And added a few werewolves to provide conflict.

How long does it take you to write a book?

It seems like a full length novel takes a year - especially the first two of my fantasy series because there is so much to research and details to layer. I try to make sure there’s plenty of humor and book references. I’m hoping book 3 writes itself faster.

What are you reading? 

I love a good book in almost any genre. The Great Escape by Susan Elizabeth Phillips and Jennifer Weiner’s The Next Best Thing were two recent delightful escapes. I’m reading A Fistful of Collars by Spenser Quinn. Waiting for me are Jasper Forde’s The Woman Who Died A Lot (a bookish fantasy), 12.21 by Dustin Thomson, and The Portrait of Doreen Gray, a Chihuahua mystery by Esri Allbritten. I am also an audiobook addict.

What book, if any, do you read over and over again?

I seldom re-read a book. There are so many out there and as we all know - so little time.

Do you have any pets?

I don’t have any pets right now, but I recently went through old photos and scanned my favorite dog pictures and posted a slideshow on my website. It reminded me of living with five Old English Sheepdogs (at one time) The hero of Book One of The Shapeshifters Library is a dog-shifter (Old English Sheepdog/librarian) Most of the photos are of my dogs but there’s one cat picture of note showing how I trained a cat to jump through a hoop like a lion. I’d trained dogs and figured if lions could do it through flaming hoops my two kittens could make it through an embroidery hoop. And they did. 

Book Title: Released (The Shapeshifters’ Library Book One)
Author: Amber PoloPublisher: Blue Merle Publishing
Genre: Light Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance
Heat: Sweet
Length: 266 pages

Love dogs? Love books? Love libraries? 
Hate Book-burning werewolves?

Once long ago the Shipsfeather Academy was a training ground for an ancient race of dog-shifters whose mission was to protect the world’s knowledge. A powerful curse sealed these librarians in the basement of their building and gave the control of the town to a pack of book-burning werewolves. 

Librarian Liberty Cutter watches in horror as the town’s public library goes up in flames and plans to re-establish the library in the abandoned Shipsfeather Academy building. Chronus, the Old English Sheepdog headmaster of the academy and leader of the dog-shifters, knows he must make some changes to continue to keep his pack safe. But even if he could persuade Liberty to believe in a talking sheepdog, how far can she be trusted? And will she ever be able to care for him as a man. He has to try, because Liberty Cutter and her staff of zany librarians may hold the key to the dog-shifters’ freedom…and the future of the town.

Giveaway!

Open to U.S/Canada residents only: Prize pack to include:   Large canvas Shipsfeather Library book bag, 4 signed books by Amber Polo including The Shapeshifters’ Library Book 1: Released, Amber's Relaxation CD, 2 collectible dogs, a tuft of Arctic wolf fur.

a Rafflecopter giveaway