Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Leap Day!!!

Happy Leap Day!
I love that we get one extra day!  It gives me hope that I will get caught up soon!

Blog Tour: The God King by James West

This tour is presented by Enchanted Book Promotions.
You can see the entire tour schedule HERE.
Welcome to The Wormhole and my day on the tour.
It is with great pleasure that I feature James West and
The God King.  I hope you enjoy this interview!

? When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
When I was thirteen years old I read The Talisman, by Stephen King and Peter Straub, and that was when it hit me that I wanted to create different worlds and realities. That said, it was not until I went to college and took a creative writing class that I really started writing in earnest.

? How many jobs did you have before you became a writer?
I’m laughing here, because to make a list of the jobs I have had—and the two I still hold—would make me sound like someone who simply cannot hold a job. With that in mind, I just tend to be someone driven to make a living as a writer, so all the other jobs I have and have had, are geared toward making that happen. Also, I thank my lucky stars that I have a supportive wife who happens to be a scientist, which keeps me from being a starving artist!  

? How long does it take you to write a book?
In my head, it takes a few hours, and sometimes just a few moments. Putting it all together in written format, however, usually takes me a lot longer, like months. Some authors can crank out fiction at a prodigious rate, but I am not one of those. My intention for the future is to write two complete novels a year. My hope is more like six. So far, the former seems more likely.

? What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?
I don’t know if it is a quirk, let alone interesting, but usually soon after I start a new project I begin to despair that I am writing absolute gibberish. This feeling rarely fades before I have completed the final draft. And even after that, I usually have this lingering sense of disappointment that I failed to write the words needed to properly describe how I first saw the story in my head.

? Where do you get your ideas or inspiration for your characters?
Life. There is no way around it. I interact with so many different people that characters are easy to come by.   

? How do you decide what you want to write about?
Usually I have a basic concept in my head, but I will allow this idea to take shape and grow as the novel progresses. Usually by a quarter of the way through, I have decided where the story is going and why. Then I make notes of things I will need to change to make sure everything stays coherent. After those guideposts have been fully entrenched, I will actually let the story take over to some degree, which keeps it interesting to me and, hopefully, to my readers. 

? What books have most influenced your life?
Without question, The Talisman. I read and love a lot of different genres, but that book opened my eyes to the fantastical in a way that no other book has. After that, I would say The Eye of the World, by Robert Jordan, because his was the first true fantasy novel I ever read.

? What are you reading right now?
I am actually reading The Shining, by Stephen King, probably for the tenth time. Some people will watch their favorite movies over and over again, but I have weakness for re-reading books.

? What do you like to do when you are not writing?
I like studying history, because it gives me an idea where we are going. I know it has been said before, but there is nothing new under the sun, and history really does repeat itself. Depending on where a given society is at the moment, and of course your personal outlook, that can be scary or exciting. As for traditional hobbies, I have lived the majority of my life in a rural setting, so I enjoy all the usual outdoorsy stuff. I also have a woodshop, from which I used to make my living. I have since decided that it serves me better as a hobby, rather than a business.

? What is your favorite comfort food?
Tortilla chips and salsa. As far as I am concerned, that is not so much a comfort food as a staple.

? What do you think makes a good story?
For me it really depends on the genre, but in general I would say the characters and how I relate to them really bring a story together. I have read highly acclaimed works with beautiful prose and great storylines that did nothing for me, simply because I could not relate. Some few exceptional writers can bridge that gap, but only a few.   

? Who would you consider your favorite author and why?
I do not want to beat a dead horse, or irritate the literary purists, but Stephen King will always hold a special place in my heart. For me, he is one of those few authors who can write about something that means absolutely nothing to me yet draw me in, compel me to keep reading, and leave me feeling satisfied.

Fun random questions: 
  • Dogs or cats? Dogs, hands down. For all the cat lovers out there, I humbly apologize, but I think felines are the Devil’s own children.  
  • Coffee or tea? Iced tea, but with a goodly amount of that pink-packaged rat poison added for sweetness.
  • Dark or milk chocolate? I don’t want to sound like a heretic, but dark chocolate is like the de-evolution of a perfectly fine treat.
  • Rocks or flowers? A few flowers growing amongst carefully selected and arranged rocks works perfectly well for me.
  • Night or day? I don’t want to sound like a vampire, but I tend to like the night.
  • Favorite color? I like dark earth tones.
  • Crayons or markers? Neither. Crayons smear and markers bleed. Moreover, both smell kind of weird to me.
  • Pens or pencils? Pens. I tend to press too hard when I write, so I inevitably snap pencil lead. 
More about the author:

When James was thirteen years old he read The Talisman, by Stephen King, and a seed of an idea was planted that someday he, too, would create different worlds and realities.

After a stint in the US Army, a year as a long-haul truck driver, and a couple as a log home builder, he enrolled at the University of Montana. There, he majored in Psychology and, by chance, took a creative writing course that allowed him to revisit that old seed of an idea of creating worlds. Words started to flow, and worlds were born.
After college, he started a small woodworking business with the express purpose of using it to fund his writing journey.
James lives in Montana with his wife and his bodyguard, a Mini-Schnauzer named Jonesy.
Book Title: The God King
Author: James West
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Publication Date: November 11th 2011
Format: Kindle
Book Synopsis:
Heroes are not born, they are forged in the fires of apocalypse…
n the heavens above, the three moons crash together, streaming fire and death in their wake; below, the seas rage as the roiling face of the world shatters. After Prince Varis Kilvar steals powers to transform himself into a god, chaos reigns from the king’s city of Ammathor to the forbidding walls of the Black Keep. At his heels marches a demonic army torn from the very bowels of the Thousand Hells, and the risen God King uses terror to stake his claim over all lands.
Betrayed and bound to Varis by powers he does not understand, mercenary Kian Valara is forced to masquerade as the world’s savior, while a beautiful Sister of Najihar prepares him for his last battle. Victory against a living god is far from certain, but vengeance? For Kian, when the battle rage falls upon his soul and the sword hilt is hot and alive against his palm, vengeance is never out of reach.

Monday, February 27, 2012

Blog Tour: Legend of the Inero Dragon by J.F. Jenkins (giveaway too!)

This blog tour is presented by http://www.patriciasparticularity.com/
The next stop on the tour is: Feb. 29th: Review and Giveaway @ Reflections of a Bookaholic 
You can read my reviews by clicking HERE and HERE.
Welcome to The Wormhole and my day on the tour.
It is my pleasure to feature a guest post from J.F. Jenkins about finding reliable editors and the publishing process.
Editing, Publishing, Oof!

The hardest part about writing a book is editing it yourself, and every book needs to have some editing done by the writer. However, you aren't going to catch it all, so it's important to have multiple sets of eyes comb over it too. The thing is, a lot of times these other eyes are painful to the ego. A good editor is going to tell you things that might hurt like what's not working with your story. I don't know how many times I've read a comment by an editor, rolled my eyes, and then said: “well they're stupid” but did the change anyway because I knew deep down they were right.

Still, if you want people to like your work and not spend time marveling over the grammar and spelling mistakes, then an editor is necessary. Both before and after finding your method of publishing. You want to submit your manuscript as edited as possible any time you seek out a publishing avenue. The hard part is finding good people who will edit for you.

Friends? They might not have the skills, but more often than not they don't have the time. A lot of time I ask for help and get the: yeah I'll do it. Three months later, it's still not done. You could easily hire someone to do it, but is that person reliable? Do they know their stuff? What kind of money are they even asking for? It can get expensive. This leaves a writer in a tough position. And ultimately it's a decision you, the author, need to make based on what's best for you and what you want to do. Because you'll come back to the editing scene after you figure out how you're going to publish.

An author wants to believe their work is perfect, but knows it's not. They want everyone to love the work they put into it. Unfortunately, in the publishing world there is a lot of heartbreak and rejection. Some of my books that I've had published through Astraea Press have been rejected by agents for various different reasons. Usually, it's “not the kind of story we're looking for”. And it happens. The publishing world is changing, and there are lots of ways you can go about getting your work published.

Once you do figure out what's best for you and your story, you get to go through more editing so you can get your work as perfect as possible. Most publishing houses now offer a staff who's willing to do editing, so that helps. If you're self-publishing? You'll need to hire someone, find a few good friends, or go through your manuscript so many times you're sick of it.

It's a long tiring process. I've shed many tears over it in the past. Especially when an editor has told me a complete overhaul is needed. They're not afraid to ask for it. But in the end, all of the work is worth it, because the better you feel about your book when it goes out, the more other people are probably going to like it too. It might not be completely perfect, but you'll get it as close to it as possible.

J.F. Jenkins lives in Minneapolis Minnesota with her husband, son, and two cats. She graduated from Bethel University in 2006 with a degree in Media Communication with minors in both writing and film. When she is not busy writing, she spends her free time playing games, reading, and spending time with her family.
I have the opportunity to offer both books 1 and 2 for giveaway here at The Wormhole!
Please fill out the form below:

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Review: Legend of the Inero Dragon by J.F. Jenkins (book 2 in the Dragons Saga)

Legend of the Inero Dragon by J.F. Jenkins

***I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review and participation in the virtual book tour.

Amazon Product Description:
Twin brothers Jason and Matthias Inero are the favorite sons of the great dragon lord of fire. More often than not they get whatever they want. Matt wants to do great things for his people while Jason wants to go off and explore the world. Both can have what they desire, but not until they take a bride and enter into adulthood.

Enter Kat and Gwen, two girls from very different backgrounds. Kat is happy to leave her home when the royal guard comes to bring her to loving arms of her childhood sweetheart, Matt. Gwen on the other hand is livid to be taken from her farm only to be thrust into Jason's life, and he's not to thrilled with the idea either. They have one year to find happiness with each other, or else they will be placed at the mercy of the ruthless dragon lord Lynx. Favorite or not, dragon law must be obeyed.

As their nation begins to prepare for war against a neighboring tribe, the brothers find themselves as key components in the battle plans. A dark prophet has had a vision of Inero victory, but at what cost? Both must decide where their loyalties lie and what they're willing to sacrifice – including each other – to achieve their goals.
My thoughts:
     Fantastic sequel to an equally wonderful first book!  Once again JF Jenkins has brought the reader fabulous, emotionally engaging characters!  The story is enthralling and entertaining.  The imagination and creativity of the story is thrilling.  Can't wait for more!
You don't want to miss this one!
You can buy a Kindle copy of this book by clicking HERE.
You can also stop back for the blog tour and enter to win an ecopy of both this book and the first book in the Dragon Saga series: Legend of the Oceina Dragon.

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Review: Legend of the Oceina Dragon by J.F. Jenkins

Legend of the Oceina Dragon: The Dragons Saga Book 1 by J.F. Jenkins

***I received this book in exchange for an honest review

Amazon Product Description:
Darien Oceina is the youngest son of the Great Dragon Lord of the Water. For years he's loved and cherished Tai Dawson from afar. Tai is a simple, ordinary girl who doesn't even know Darien exists. On his eighteenth birthday, he chooses her as his wife. But there’s one problem: She thinks his choice means she's going to be offered as a sacrifice to the Dragon Lord, but instead, she’s forced to move to his home, far away, to give up her life and be his bride.

When she first sees Darien after the ceremony, she doesn’t expect to feel anything but hatred toward him. The two are struggling with the complications of a new marriage when their nation is attacked by a rival dragon species. Together they learn to love one another while they struggle to stay one step ahead in a game where the prize is their survival.
My thoughts:
     This was my first dragon shifter story.  I was impressed.  I was fascinated by the imagination and creativity that went into creating the dragons, their powers, and their world.  
     The characters are fabulous.  Every young man should have a bit of Darien in them (although there were moments in the beginning where I worried he would be wishy washy - he's not)!  Tai is a great combination of independence, strength, stubborness, and vulnerability.  The author has created wonderfully developed characters that tug at your heart from the start.  
     The world she has built for them is complex and modern, but still holds to traditions and superstitions that seem outdated.  I can't imagine a world in which a girl can attend high school with honors courses in science, but still end up being the sacrifice to the dragon god.  Good thing that JF Jenkins could so she could bring us this great story.  
     The story is nicely paced and easy to follow.  It is filled with mystery and intrigue, as well as wonder, faith, love, betrayal, loyalty, sorrow and joy.  I found myself emotionally invested in the story early on and was sad to turn the last page.  
Don't miss out on reading this one!
You can buy a copy of this wonderful story by clicking HERE.
You can also stop back tomorrow for the blog tour here at The Wormhole and enter to win an ecopy of this and the next book in the Dragon Saga: Legend of the Inero Dragon.

Winners!

A Bunch of Winners here at The Wormhole!
They have already been contacted - Congratulations!
Tiffany P won an ecopy of Pride's Run by Cat Kalen
Nina C won an ecopy of Deadly Obsession by Kristine Cayne
bn100 won an ecopy of Vampire's Deadly Delight by Liv Rancourt
Francine A won the Follower Love Giveaway 
***she chose to win Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.

Friday, February 24, 2012

Review: Transcendent: Tales of the Paranormal

Transcendent: Tales of the Paranormal by Lani Woodland, Melonie Piper, Rita J. Webb, Wendy Swore, Melanie Marks, Heather McCubbin, and Evan Joseph

*** I received this book from one of the authors in exchange for an honest review.

Amazon Product Description:
Discover the secrets of a siren, fly with a hawk girl over the mountains of Montana, and flee supernatural party-crashers as the décor comes to life in this magical journey through paranormal stories. Along the way, watch for ghosts in a haunted house, or ride through the moonlight with a stranger. Save a comatose boy who has lost his soul, and don’t forget to bring your garlic and wolfsbane—you never know when the shadows will snag you. Transcendent includes eight stories of magic, love, death, and choice by some of the newest names in young adult fiction.
My thoughts:
This is a fantastic collection of short paranormal stories.  Each one stands alone as a great quick read.  I usually find myself choosing a favorite story or author when I read a collection such as this, but with this book I found that I enjoyed each story as much as the one before it. I thought that each story was my favorite until I read the next one.  Each story is one of dreams and desires, longing and loss, hope and expectation.  This is a great introduction into YA paranormal.
     The book begins with Seduction of a Siren by Lani Woodland and Melonie Piper.  The characters are great, the story is entertaining and creative, and the ending is clever.  I loved the message that there is more to someone than what meets the eye.
     The next story: Feather by Rita J. Webb, is an interesting tale of heritage and dreams.  I am shifter fan and this is a nicely done piece.  
     Spectre by Wendy Swore is next and is one of the the only non-romance type stories in the collection.  This one has a bit of the creepy, horror feel to it.  It's a little twisted from reality, with a tinge of Cinderella story gone scary.  
     Shadows of Promise by Heather McCubbin is sort of a romance, but truly this one is a ghost story.  The characters are well-done and the story is smooth and entertaining.  It wasn't what I expected as I started reading it.
     Pumpkin Thief by Evan Joseph is the best re-make of the legend I have read.  (Sounds odd, but I don't want to give too much away).  Completely enjoyed it.
     Strike by Wendy Swore and Rita J. Webb is next and will continue to entertain and enthrall.  This is clever, creative, and new in idea from the normal YA paranormal I read. 
     Ryan's Wish by Melanie Marks is a dark love story.  I enjoyed the read, but found myself saddened by lost love and desperate dreams - although buoyed by new hopes. 
     Kiss of Death by Lani Woodland and Melonie Piper is the final installment in this fabulous collection and is a wonderful story.  It is a little twist of fate, cheat death kind of a read.  
***all in all - I enjoyed each story completely and would recommend this to young readers, all lovers of YA, and any one who is looking for a well-written, fast read. 

Review: Mind Over Matter by SJ Clarke

Mind Over Matter by SJ Clarke

***I received this ebook in exchange for an honest review and participation in the blog tour.

Smashwords Product Description:
For three years, Rebecca McKenney grieved the loss of her daughter. Now, a vision showing Sabrina three years older, suggests her baby is still alive, and the FBI agent who gave up the search is the only one who can help find her. Rebecca once witnessed a psychic connection between Agent Cooper and her daughter. She only hopes their fragile bond remains – and that the coward has the decency to pursue it.

Special Agent Dan Cooper, haunted by a tragic mistake made early in the investigation, agrees to help Rebecca to ease his conscience, if nothing else. Together they fight inner demons, all too real bad guys, and an attraction neither wants to admit to. Each step closer to finding her daughter unearths widespread deception and an evil so vile it threatens to break Rebecca's spirit. The thought of having her daughter back in her arms is all that keeps her going. Until she learns the horrifying truth – her daughter is scheduled to die in mere days. 



My Thoughts:
Wow!  I loved this book.  A mother's worst nightmare is a kidnapped child.  As a single mother I was on the edge of my seat for the entire book.  Well-written with wonderful characters, a chilling plot, lost love, betrayal on a number of levels, and a little bit of romance too!


The author has created a world in which Rebecca has isolated herself and her grief.  A world where she struggles to stay focused on the present and not dwell too much on the past.  She has few friends, a lot of anger, some coping struggles, and a psychic connection that could either help her save her child or put her in the nuthouse.  We are given detailed descriptions of the town and the lifestyles of the people who live in it - which lends to the reader become submersed in the story from the very start.


The characters are realistic (Dan may be too good to be true, but realistic enough as we all want him to be real) and easy to invest in as you are instantly pulled into the story.  The characters are so well developed that they seem almost real and your heart goes out to those who are struggling.  Rebecca is courageous, stubborn, and willing to risk EVERYTHING for the life of her daughter.  The "bad guys" are delightfully nasty and unappealing - the kind of villain that a reader loves to hate.    


The mysterious group of people who hold Rebecca's daughter are a complex mix; ranging in age and power levels.  The identity of a few of them is shocking!  The levels of betrayal, misplaced trust and belief is staggering.  The story is both nicely planned and paced, seems to flow from the pages.


Well worth the read - parent or no - you don't want to miss out on this one.


You can buy a copy of this book at Smashwords for $5.50 by clicking HERE.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Blog Tour: Betrayal's Shadow by KH LeMoyne

This tour is presented by Enchanted Book Tours.

Welcome to The Wormhole and my day on the tour.
It is with great pleasure that I feature: 
KH LeMoyne's Betrayal's Shadow!
A former technology specialist, KH LeMoyne now writes romance fulltime with series in urban fantasy, high fantasy, and scifi/futuristic. She lives in Maryland with her wonderful husband and corgi. Much to her dismay, she rarely encounters supernatural beings other than on paper. Visit her website: http://www.khlemoyne.com/ or blog: http://fantasypoweredbylove.com/ 

Betrayal's Shadow by KH LeMoyne

Betrayal’s Shadow (The Guardians of Eden, Book #1) is an adult urban fantasy romance novel. 

Book Blurb:
What would you do to save your people from extinction?
What if your race held the key to mankind’s future?
One Guardian will risk hell to change the future.

Descended from the race of Guardians, Turen’s people have survived the last two hundred years, quarantined and isolated. Living in secrecy with no mates and no offspring, they fail to deliver on their ability to replenish and heal human souls through the birth of their Guardian children. Risking his life, Turen chooses capture at the hands of a comrade-turned-enemy to seek answers to change the future.

Mia Bowman has no knowledge of the secret Guardian race. Yet, her uncontrollable, nocturnal summons to Turen’s prison cell and her strong sense of justice leave her with little choice but to help him. She can heed his warning and stay clear of his people’s problems or she can ferret out the lies and unravel an ancient tale of murder and deceit. It will take an ultimate sacrifice to stop the unexpected evil and reverse a fatal ending to the Guardian line.

THE GUARDIANS OF EDEN:
A race of beings created in a Sanctum at the far edge of Eden. Co-existing with mankind, they safeguarded human souls and the promise of eternity—until a virus killed all over the age of eighteen. The surviving children fled to the Sanctum for protection, children raising children without the full legacy of their history and knowledge. Two hundred years of solitude have produced a race of semi-immortals fortified with powers and intellect but lacking the mates who will make them whole and allow them to fulfill their covenant with mankind.

You can see my review of Betrayal's Shadow by clicking HERE.

Warrior Reborn is Book Two!  You HAVE to read this one too!
You can see my review by clicking HERE.

Amazon Product Description:
They are the Guardians of Eden—each created with a unique supernatural talent.

Having successfully hidden her abilities from humans for two hundred years, Briet quietly applies the gifts of cellular-level vision to help patients in need. Until she meets her human soul-mate, Jason Ballard.

Jason holds the reigns to the protocol Briet’s patients’ need for recovery. But can she trust a man all too human and grounded in his world to understand hers, much less believe her? When a deadly threat targets her patients, he is the only one she trusts to help stop an evil only the two of them can fight.

Jason has a perfect success rate for delivering of new drugs from test-to-market. Used to influencing people, rules and guidelines delineate every facet of his professional and personal life. The last thing he expects is to be tempted to waiver by the new spitfire doctor on his latest test team. Especially as she starts stirring up issues. Dangerous issues. Issues flagging jeopardy for the lives of the children in the test. Issues the drug manufacturer, his employer, would prefer be ignored. An unacceptable outcome, forcing Jason to walk a dangerous line between job and conscience as he plunges with Briet to ferret out the twisted scheme in time to save her patients.

Escalating to a final life-altering decision, Jason will risk every careful plan he’s ever made for the woman he learns to value more than life. For Jason and Briet, their final gamble will change destiny more than either could ever predict.

You can buy a copy of Betrayal's Shadow for $0.99 by clicking HERE.
You can buy a copy of Warrior Reborn for $0.99 by clicking HERE.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Audio Clip and Giveaway! Oath of Office by Michael Palmer

Oath of Office by Michael Palmer

Amazon Product Description:

Michael Palmer, the New York Times bestselling author of A Heartbeat Away and The Last Surgeon brings us a shocking new thriller at the crossroads of politics and medicine. 
What if a well respected doctor inexplicably goes on a murderous rampage?
When Dr. John Meacham goes on a shooting spree the office, his business partner, staff, and two patients are killed in the bloodbath.  Then Meacham turns the gun on himself.
The blame falls on Dr. Lou Welcome.  Welcome worked with Meacham years before as a counselor after John's medical license had been revoked for drug addiction.  Lou knew that John was an excellent doctor and deserved to be practicing medicine and fought hard for his license to be restored.  After hearing the news of the violent outburst, Lou is in shock like everyone else, but mostly he's incredulous.  And when he begins to look into it further, the terrifying evidence he finds takes him down a path to an unspeakable conspiracy that seems to lead directly to the White House and those in the highest positions of power.

I truly enjoyed this book.  You can see my review by clicking HERE.
The author was gracious enough to allow me to offer a FREE copy of this amazing story to one of my wonderful followers!  So... INTERNATIONAL Giveaway - fill out the form below.

Esther Bochner from Macmillan Audio has offered me the opportunity to share this great audio clip with you.
 

Blog Tour: Firelight of Maalda by Melissa Douthit (Giveaway too!)

Welcome to The Wormhole and my (tardy) day on the tour!
It is my pleasure to feature Melissa Douthit and The Firelight of Maalda!
This book tour is presented by Teddy Rose and Virtual Author Book Tours.
You can see more about the tour by clicking HERE.


About Melissa Douhit:
Melissa Douthit grew up in North County of San Diego, California. After graduating with a Computer Science degree in Southern California, and working for a summer at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in New Mexico, she moved to the Bay Area to work at NASA Ames Research Center for a year and then at Lawrence Livermore National Lab for another four years.
From there, she moved to Monterey, California, to work at the Naval Postgraduate School on a government project for two years. She currently lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, working with the Army Corps of Engineers on another government project. Since high school, she has been a voracious reader of books of all genres, with an emphasis in fantasy and science fiction. Her literary work is strongly influenced by her professional experience and includes many elements of her scientific background. You can find out more about Melissa on her website: http://melissadouthit.com

The Firelight of Maalda by Melissa Douthit


Publisher:Lucky Bat Books
February, 2012
Format: eBook
Series:The Legend of the Raie’Chaelia #2

Chalice and her group leave Barenthren to travel to Portalis.  There she and her friends discover the beautiful city, its people, its history, and its secret that has been kept hidden for thousands of years.  During their stay, they learn that Dar’Maalda has the firestone and that he plans to use it.

What is the firestone and what does Dar’Maalda plan to do with it?  What are the Naezzi?  What does the title, The Firelight of Maalda, really mean?  And … what is the secret of Portalis, the secret that has been guarded so jealously for so long – so jealously, that many have given their lives to protect it?

In The Firelight of Maalda, the second novel of the trilogy, The Legend of the Raie’Chaelia, you find out.  It is a tale of intrigue and wonder where two opposite worlds collide in an explosive journey that leads Chalice and her friends to the dark islands lurking just beyond the horizon of Ielieria, where the Firelight of Maalda sits … and waits.

You can win a copy of this story by filling out the form below:

You can buy a copy of this story by clicking HERE.

I am sorry to say that my review is delayed because I have been terribly busy with work, so please stop back on Feb. 25, 2012 when it posts!
Thanks for stopping by The Wormhole!
Happy Reading!

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Blog Tour: Serena Zane

This virtual book tour is presented by Bewitching Book Tours.
You can see the entire tour schedule by clicking HERE.
Welcome to The Wormhole and my day on the tour.
It is with great pleasure that I feature:
Serena Zane!

The Christmas Present
By Serena Zane

When you have dreams to escape your own life, you might wish for anything. It’s Christmas Eve, and Detective Stephanie Wills wants nothing more than someone who will love her, in spite of her family.
As she makes her New Year’s Resolution list, Stephanie sets out with good intentions that all seem to fall apart Christmas Day when she is called into work. Not wanting to, she must contact her family for help. The Christmas present hanging suspended from a beam at 5th Street Art Gallery was left by a vampire.

Book Trailer : http://youtu.be/puEuX3W8tAo

Books to go Now: http://www.bookstogonow.com/thechristmaspresent.html
Amazon Ebook: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006ASJQKQ
Amazon UK Ebook: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006ASJQKQ
Barnes&Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1036585889?ean=2940013502369
Serenazane.com: http://www.serenazane.com
All Romance: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thechristmaspresent-667496-172.html
Sweettale Books: http://sweettalebooks.com/christmasbooks.html


Excerpt The Christmas Present
Preview
Chapter 1
      Large white flakes of snow floated down. Stephanie Wills stood on her back porch.  Her finger trailed a path along the cold metal of the old wrought iron railing.  It was Christmas Eve, and she was alone.  The spot where her engagement ring had rested was bare.
Who needs men anyway?  Stephanie raised the champagne glass to her lips. Not me. Nope.  It had been the same all her life.  One guy after another had left.  Her damn family always chased them off, and Daniel was no different.  She had waited this time, until she had a ring on her finger, and a wedding date set.  It hadn’t done any good.
Stephanie’s brother had let the cat out of the bag, crashing in on their nice family dinner, looking like he’d been beaten and dragged through the dirt for a few hundred yards.  She guessed that wasn’t far from the truth.  Daniel had been fine with that part. It was when her brother yelled to secure the house, and her mother handed him a stake that things really started to turn.
The night ended with Daniel walking stunned from her parents home, after an all-out battle against a group of vampires.  He’d asked for his ring back, and Stephanie was too proud to deny him.  After all, who wanted to have a family of vampire hunters as their in-laws? A tear slipped down her cheek.  She sniffed and wiped angrily at the tear, taking a gulp of champagne.  Stephanie was giving up on men.
Christmas lights twinkled at her merrily.  Perhaps she shouldn’t give up on men entirely, after all.  They were so much fun to have around, most of the time.  Maybe she could make a list; a New Year’s Resolution list.  The New Year was just around the corner.  People came up with lists all the time.  Why not one for relationships?  Knowing just what she would put at the top of her list, she wanted to get started.
Stephanie stumbled back into the house, glared at the Christmas tree in the corner of her living room, and made her way to the desk.  Placing her glass on the desktop, she yanked open a drawer, pulled out a notepad, and rummaged around for a pen that would write.  After several unsuccessful tries, she growled and marched over to her police jacket hanging from her coat rack.  Stephanie pulled out the pen she knew worked, smiled at it, and sat down to write her list.
At the top, she scrawled Resolutions.
1)      No settling for less, go only for eternal bliss – no more losers
2)      Stay away from my family and all things supernatural
3)      Lose 10 pounds
There. Stephanie racked her brain.  She couldn’t come up with anything else right now, and her head was spinning.  Glaring at her champagne glass, she pushed it back on her desk and stood up.
Maybe a good movie would take her mind off things? Wondering what was on the television she wandered over and pushed the power button on the remote.  It’s A Wonderful Life flared on the screen and Stephanie grimaced.  It was going to be all Christmas movies tonight.  She flipped through the channels rapidly, and decided there wasn’t anything on that was going to make her feel any better.  Powering off the TV, she leaned her head back on the arm of the couch.  Perhaps she should just go to sleep.
Stephanie closed her eyes, and tried not to think of her fiancé, well, ex-fiancé.  It didn’t help. Her head started to spin more. Restless, she popped her eyes open, and got up.  Perhaps a good book would help.  Her bookshelf called to her, and Stephanie pulled out her favorite.  If she couldn’t find a man in real life then Nicholas would just have to do.  Opening the first page, she began to read about the exploits of her favorite character, Nicholas Garreth.



Moonlight in a Pickup Truck
Serena Zane

Genre: Sweet Romance
Short Story
Introductory Price: .99

One more night…is it worth the risk to lose everything for a chance at love? Placing your heart on the line is hard to do, especially when there is doubt that the love is returned in the same way. Her best friend is leaving for the Navy and this is her last opportunity to reveal her true feeling, but will she have the courage?

Available now thru: Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble.com, and Bookstogonow.com
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00606B9PI
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/books/e/294001323874
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00606B9PI
http://www.bookstogonow.com/moonlightinapickutruck.html

Excerpt Moonlight in a Pickup Truck
How many times have I had dreams starring the man seated across from me in just such a scenario?  Imagining him running his fingers over my bare flesh, I shiver in anticipation, feeling somewhat silly knowing nothing was actually going to happen, my face heated.  God, I really need to stop reading those romance novels. 
            I turn looking out the window again, hoping he doesn’t see desire written over my blushing face.  The last thing I needed was the embarrassment of being turned down.  If he didn’t know, then there was no chance of rejection, and my self-esteem could remain intact.
He’d stopped talking.  The silence seemed to stretch between us, and the tension in the cab rose so every nerve ending in my body was on full alert. 
What now?  I’ll die if he stays quiet much longer.  There’s movement from behind me. 
His hand, oh God, his hand is turning my face towards him.  His strong fingers gripping my chin, drawing my face around, I kept my eyes closed.  My cheeks were still burning.  I didn’t want him to see.
Please, no.  I want to shrink under this seat right now.  My brain wanted me to turn into a puddle on the floor, but my body wanted him.  I wanted him more than anything at that moment in time.  Saying a silent prayer, I hoped against hope that he wouldn’t stop touching me.  
What’s his thumb doing? Stroking my cheek. I moaned, agonizing, please God, let him want me too. 
I open my eyes knowing he’s going to see how much I want him.  Taking a chance, I let the desire I felt for him burn through my gaze.
 Looking at me like he’s never seen me before, the blue in his eyes appears as banked embers of fire coming to life.  Passion flared in their depths.  He leaned forward in the seat and drew me towards his body, that wonderful, muscular body that I yearned to touch.
            The coarse seat cover under my thin skirt, scratches my leg as I move towards him.  My palms sweaty, they clutched the edges of my flask trying not to let it drop.  One of his hands moved and took it from me, placing it on the dashboard.  How I wish now I had taken up those exercise classes.  I wanted to be beautiful for him.  Everything’s faded from my vision except his eyes, those beautiful eyes.  That look made me feel as though I was the most beautiful thing he’d seen. 
            I’m drowning. 
Please Lord, say he wants me, I don’t think I can take it if he turns away now.  What will happen?  Can I just go on as before?  A friend?  No, I can't, not after tonight.  He’s going away.  I might never see him again.  My breath, that’s right breathe.  I’m too close to him, my head’s spinning.  Please, please kiss me; I can’t take this much longer.  He’s just staring, his thumb stroking my cheek, what’s he looking at?  Surely he can’t want me?  Can he?  I hope, no, I won’t hope.  It’ll crush me, if . . . He’s leaning closer.  I can’t breathe.  Please.

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Blog Tour: Death by Chocolate (YA Paranormal Anthology)

This virtual book tour is presented by Bewitching Book Tours.
You can see the entire tour schedule by clicking HERE.
You can see my review by clicking HERE.
Welcome to The Wormhole and my day on the tour.
It is my pleasure to feature Death by Chocolate and a guest post from author Lucy Swing!
My name is Lucy Swing and I am a YA Paranormal/ Romance author. I was originally born in Argentine, from Italian descent, and moved to the Sunny state of Florida when I was 17.

Thanks to my mother, who reads as much as me – if not more, I became a fanatic of books. I first remember enjoying everything that was stamped with R.L. Stine (Fear Street and Goosebumps) Then I went on to the likes of Danielle Steel and Nora Roberts, thanks to my mom. But I am happy to say that I have finally found MY genre and that is, of course, YA.
I am an absolute book hoarder and must always have a book at arms distance. Music is my muse, and there is always a soundtrack that plays along my life.
I have just finished my first book, "Feathermore" (first of many!) and I am also a part of "Death by Chocolate," an anthology consisting of 6 fantastic YA short stories with a chocolaty twist. Death by Chocolate was released on February 14th, 2012!
I live in Naples, FL with my husband, our two wild children and two even wilder pups!

Beverly, thank you so much for having me here today!
Working on Death by Chocolate was a really amazing experience, but what was best about it is that, as the chocoholic that I am, I used this story as an excuse to try every single type of chocolate.
Although I did not use it in my story, my favorites were the chocolate truffles. I made two types of these, the ganache ones and a cake based one. In my opinion, I liked the cake ones better as they were not too heavy on the chocolate. I can eat chocolate all day long, but I hate it when I need to have a glass of milk or water to wash it down.
If you are a baker like me, then you will really enjoy these two amazing truffle recipes.
Ganache Chocolate Truffles Recipe

INGREDIENTS
Basic Truffle ingredients
·         8oz of semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate well chopped into small pieces
·         ½ cup of heavy whipping cream
·         1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
Optional base flavorings:
·         Mint leaves (1 bunch, stems removed, chopped, about 1 cup)
·         Cinnamon and cardamom (1 cinnamon stick, 2 cardamom pods)
·         Amaretto (1-2 tablespoons)
·         Almond extract (1 teaspoon)
Truffle Coating
·         Cocoa Powder
·         Finely chopped walnuts
·         Finely Chopped almonds
·         Shredded and chopped coconut
METHOD
1.       In a small, heavy saucepan bring the heavy whipping cream to a simmer (this may take a while, be sure to stir and scrape down the sides with a rubber spatula every few minutes)
If you are using one of the recommended flavors, stir it in with the cream (and ignore vanilla in step 3.) If adding mint or other solids, after the cream simmers, remove from heat and let seep for an hour. Then strain away solids and return to a simmer and proceed with recipe.
2.       Place chocolate in a separate bowl. Pour the cream over it, add vanilla and allow to stand for a few minutes. Then stir until smooth.
3.       Allow it to cool, and then place in the refrigerator for two hours. Remove and with a teaspoon roll out balls of the ganache. Roll in your hands quickly, as it will melt from the heat of your hands. Place in a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and leave in the refrigerator overnight.
4.       Roll in cocoa powder, coconut or nuts and serve.
NOTE: You can also melt white and dark chocolate and dip them. Refrigerate
Makes about 30-40 truffles.

Cake Based Truffles
Red Velvet Cake Truffles are simply balls of delicious red velvet cake mixed with real cream cheese frosting. The truffles are then dipped in candy coating, for a moist, sweet, and tangy cake bite in candy form!
This recipe is very versatile. You can use other flavors of cake, frosting, or candy coating with great success. Be warned that the red cake tends to show through the white coating, so if you want perfectly white candies, you will probably need to dip these truffles twice.
Ingredients:
·                        1 box red velvet cake mix, and ingredients to make the cake
·                        1 can (16 oz) prepared cream cheese frosting
·                        1 lb candy coating, white or dark chocolate
·                        Sprinkles or small candies to decorate (optional)
NOTE: You can use chocolate, yellow or any type of cake. When I do the chocolate cake truffles, I use chocolate frosting for step 3.
Preparation:
1. Prepare and bake the red velvet cake mix according to the directions of the package for a 9x13 cake. Once baked, allow the cake to cool completely.
2. Crumble the cake into a large bowl and work it with your hands until it is in small pieces. If desired, reserve a few spoonfuls of crumbs to use as decorative toppings on the finished truffles.
3. Spoon three-fourths of the frosting into the bowl and stir with a rubber spatula until the mixture is well-combined. It should be very moist and hold together if you squeeze a ball of cake between your fingers, but not too wet or greasy. If the cake mixture is still a bit dry, add more frosting to get it to the desired consistency.
4. Using a small cookie or candy scoop, scoop out small balls of cake and roll between your palms until they are round. Place the cakes balls on a baking sheet covered with aluminum foil, and refrigerate them while you prepare the candy coating.
5. Place the candy coating in a medium microwave-safe bowl and microwave it until melted, stirring after every 45 seconds to prevent overheating.
6. Using dipping tools or a fork, submerge a cake ball in the melted candy coating. Remove it from the coating and drag the bottom across the lip of the bowl to remove excess coating. Replace the dipped truffle on the foil-covered baking sheet. If desired, top it with a sprinkle of cake crumbs, small candies, or other decorations while the coating is still wet. Repeat with remaining cake balls.
7. Refrigerate the truffles to set the coating completely, about 20 minutes. These cake truffles are best served at room temperature, and can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Author Bios

 Stacey Wallace Benefiel is the author of the Zellie Wells trilogy, the Day of Sacrifice series and The Toilet Business, a collection of essays. She lives in an orange house in BeavertonOR with her husband and their two young children. For more information about Stacey and her other works, please visit her website: http://staceywallacebenefiel.com

Cheryl Carvajal goes by the name Shakespeare at her two blogs: http://creativeartsanonymous.blogspot.com/ and http://notwritinganythinganymore.blogspot.com/ You can also contact her by email at shakespeare824@hotmail.com Over the last decade she has ventured into YA writing. She has three degrees in English, teaches Zumba and works on her writing with help from her husband who is president of Bainbridge CollegeGeorgia.

Nikki Jefford is a third generation Alaskan now residing in the not-so-tropical San Juan  Islands with her husband, Sébastien, and their Westie, Cosmo. She is the author of Entangled. Visit Nikki at www.nikkijefford.blogspot.com

Lucy Swing is a mother of two and a wife to a Firefighter/Paramedic. She is the author of the upcoming paranormal YA romance novel "Feathermore". She is a Goodreads author and you can find out more about her writing endeavours on her website http://www.LucySwing.com

Kira is a magic junkie and loves writing YA paranormal romances. Some of her heroes include: Jack the Pumpkin King, Willy Wonka, Larry David, Princess Jasmine, the vampire Lestat, Andy and her Maltese Costanza. You can email her at kirakatwritingservices@gmail.com and you can find out more about Kira on her website http://kirasaito.blogspot.com/

Suz Korb loves comedy. She also loves magic. She loves, loves to inject these key elements into her paranormal stories. She also loves, loves, loves cereal and eats way too much of it whilst novel writing. She’s an expat of the USA now living in England, a mother of two and the author of The Bedeviled Trilogy. To find out more about Suz Korb’s books visit her website at www.suzkorb.com