Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Book Release Day and Review: Political Suicide by Michael Palmer (Signed book Giveaway!)

Happy Publication Day Michael Palmer!
Michael Palmer’s 18th thriller, Political Suicide
Amazon Product Description:
     A massive cover-up gone awry
         A prominent physician accused of murder
              Uncovering the truth could put the entire country at risk
     Dr. Gary McHugh, known around Washington, D.C. as the “society doc,” calls his longtime friend Dr. Lou Welcome in a state of panic, certain he is about to be arrested for murder. McHugh was found in an alcoholic blackout in his wrecked car after visiting a patient of his, the powerful Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Elias Colston. Soon after McHugh leaves, Colston’s wife returns home to find her husband shot to death in their garage. McHugh has no recollection of committing the crime and no one who would possibly believe in his innocence, other than Lou. As more facts come to light, even Lou has serious doubts. But something about McHugh’s story nags at him and as he looks into matters, pieces of the puzzle don’t point to his friend’s guilt so definitively. 
     With the help of Sarah Cooper, an ambitious attorney with her own reasons for hating doctors, Lou finds himself at the center of a deadly, high-level conspiracy where the difference between right and wrong is a matter of interpretation, and the words “whatever it takes” have a chilling meaning. If Lou and Sarah don’t uncover the real reasons Colston is dead, they may not survive themselves, and the entire country could be at risk for attacks that could destroy the very fabric of national security.
Book Links:

Buy Links:
Kindle (preorder) or Print

My thoughts:
I'm a big Michael Palmer fan and was thrilled and honored to be asked to read his latest book, Political Suicide.  He creates characters that a reader can invest in, realistic settings that a reader can believe, and a plot that a keeps a reader on the edge of their seat.  This book is no exception.  You will be staying up late to turn the pages of this new thriller!


Giveaway: Signed Hardcover (sent from publisher)
Fill out the form below - US only - 18+

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Blog Tour: Guardian of the Abyss by Shannon Phoenix

This virtual book tour is presented by Bewitching Book Tours.
Click HERE to see the tour schedule.
Welcome to The Wormhole and my day on the tour.
It is my pleasure to feature Shannon Phoenix and
Guardian of the Abyss.
About the Author:
Shannon Phoenix always wrote stories. She watched the characters take on their lives within her mind, and began to write down what they were doing. She would write the stories and then let them go. But a few years ago, she got caught writing those stories. You know... those stories.
To her surprise, the person who found her stories loved her characters as much as Shannon did. She tentatively allowed others to read the stories, as well, and it was from that first foray into the scary world of letting others read her 'little tales' that Shannon Phoenix Books was born.

Shannon lives in New Hampshire with her husband John, her daughter, and their family cat, Song. Her full time job is parenting, her part time job is as a mother's helper to a family friend, and her passion is letting the characters in her mind out on paper--or keyboard, as the case may be.

Welcome to Shannon Phoenix Books. May you find the magic in your own life.
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B007WFAIBC



Shannon has joined us for a guest post ~ gotta love on your gargoyle!
Top 10 items to get for the gargoyle on your Christmas list:

1.      A box of chocolates. Indeed, you may not believe it, but gargoyles really like chocolate. Now that more of them have decided to take up the habit of eating, it has become in very high demand. So please your gargoyle friend--or lover--with a box of chocolates.

2.      A plush shammy in his favorite color. What gargoyle likes to get wet in the rain? None of them. So when they go hide out in the shed to stay out of the rain, ensure that they have a shammy on hand to dry off with. You can yell at them later for shirking their guard duty due to a bit of water. This, obviously, is of no use for wachter vogels. As water spouts, they prefer to be out in the rain. But the grotesques definitely prefer to ride out the storm indoors.

3.      Jewelry. No, of course they don't wear it, they're men. But they do love to put things in their hoards, and jewelry is a big favorite.

4.      Electronics. Skip the t-shirts and neckties since they can form those, themselves. Go with electronics. Gargoyles these days are becoming more and more tech savvy. However, you might want to get the waterproof versions, or put them into a plastic baggy. Since they live on rooftops, and all that.

5.      A pet cat. Don't get your gargoyle a dog. Too many gargoyles have been used as fire hydrants. Please don't do this to your friend. And remember that pet birds are also unwanted, for an equally foul and related reason. However, a pet cat can be brought to the roof and curl up and sleep on your gargoyle friend to keep him company.

6.      Several cartons of coffee. At first glance, this seems to be a strange offering. However, keep in mind that coffee is a strong bargaining tool for the gargoyles and werewolves with the goblins. With several cartons of coffee, your gargoyle pal can purchase a lot of magical items.

7.      A book of poetry. Your gargoyle might not be able to read, but he'll enjoy the patterns the words make, anyway. Some can, some can't. But all seem to enjoy watching the pages flutter in the breeze.

8.      Games. Well, wouldn't YOU get bored squatting on top of a building all day?

9.      Flavored chapstick. I think this one should explain itself. But I'll take a stab at it, anyway. When you're squatting all day on top of a building, the wind can really get to you after a while. And chaptstick is just more fun if it's flavored.

10.  An owl statuette. Last but not least, you should give your gargoyle an owl statuette. These little guys chase the pigeons away. I'm sure I don't need to tell you what pigeons doo. If you truly care about your gargoyle friend, you'll make sure he's got something to chase away the pigeons. Remember to keep moving them around or the pigeons will catch on... eventually.
  
Merry Christmas to our gargoyle friends! 

Guardian of the Abyss
Supernatural Singles
Shannon Phoenix

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Number of pages: 127
Word Count: 43,500

Book Description:
Buried at sea by the sorcerers who created him, Abaddon is unable to heal himself and unable to replenish his energy. He has lived here for longer than he can remember, with no hope of escape. Time is against him as the sea eats away at him, body and soul.

When her diving partner tries to kill her to take over her company, Sarah finds herself trapped beneath the waves and dying. Having brought light to Abaddon's dark existence at last, only she can grant him the courage to do what must be done to escape his watery prison.

Abaddon must sacrifice his wings to save her. Sarah must come to terms with being trapped with someone she has been raised to believe is a demon, and face the betrayal that nearly destroyed her and the company she built. Together, they must take on the ocean and their own fears. The consequence of failure is death.
Thanks for stopping by The Wormhole!
Happy Reading!

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Blog Tour: Returned ~ Book One by Keeley Smith (Giveaway too!)

This virtual book tour is presented by Bewitching Book Tours.
Click HERE for more schedule information.
Welcome to The Wormhole and my stop on the tour.
It is my pleasure to promo Keeley Smith and Returned.

About the Author:
Keeley Smith is the author of Returned, a new and exciting young adult fantasy about witches. Cora Hunt is a witch, she's been a witch since 1612, since the day her mother was murdered in the infamous Pendle Hill witch trials. Now Cora must learn to control her new power, but with this new power comes danger. Is she strong enough to survive to threat that comes with being the new witch in the village?

Keeley lives in the UK with her husband and rabbit. She has a BA Hons in English Literature and Language from the Open University. When she isn't writing and spending time with her "book friends" she also loves to read and keep fit, by keeping fit she means picking up chocolate and placing it in her mouth, then repeating the process. It's a very good workout!


Returned
Pendle Hill Trilogy Book One
Keeley Smith

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult

ASIN: B009YE6J94

Number of pages: 319
Word Count: 96,415

Cover Artist: Keeley Smith


Book Description:

17 year old Cora Hunt has one wish, to live the life of a normal teenager.

Her wish never comes true.

After her reluctant move to a sleepy village in the middle of Lancashire Cora's life is turned upside down when she discovers she is a witch, a very powerful witch. Cora is not just any old witch, she is the daughter of Alizon Device who was one of the most powerful witches of her time. 

Dealing with her new found powers is quite a challenge, but when the past she didn't know about unearths new complications in the form of Jack Thomas, her life becomes increasingly dangerous with each waking minute.

Jack also has a secret past, a past that clashes with Cora's.

A confrontation between the two results in a life or death situation. The brutal events of 1612 happened hundreds of years ago, but what Jack and Cora face is a definite déjà vu. The only question is, will their fate be the same as those who perished in 1612?

Returned Giveaway!

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Thursday, December 6, 2012

Blog Tour: Devil's Garden by Brady Christianson (Giveaway too!)

This blog tour is presented by Tribute Books.
Welcome to The Wormhole and my day on the tour.
It is my pleasure to feature:
Brady Christianson and The Devil's Garden.

Brady has stopped for a guest post:
The fog of war is a place where confusion rules, innocence dies and demons are born. Sometimes these demons come back to haunt a man and other times they simply come back to kill him. Few men would welcome the fight, which is to say, a proud and terrible few. The Devil’s Garden twists a Recon Marine’s worst nightmare into a deadly reality.
There is a saying in Recon: There is no life after Force. The lack of adrenaline and ensuing boredom will kill a warrior’s spirit. However, former Recon Marine Brandon Colson has a different kind of death to fear. After years spent in remote deserts and jungles on the other side of the planet dreaming of a quiet, civilian, family life, he finally has it. The problem is he has a large price on his head that even his family doesn’t know about: He is wanted by terrorists he worked to bring down.  With revenge in their hearts and murder on their minds, Colson’s enemies plan to revisit his sins upon him, his wife and his children. When a heavily armed squad of assassins arrives at his home in the middle of the night, he quickly dispatches the men, but knows the identity he buried deep in his past is no longer a secret. With his family in hiding, he makes it his personal mission to eliminate the threat to his family and reclaim the life he’s made.
The Devil’s Garden captures the irreconcilable thoughts and trepidation of a military man turned family man who must now fight to protect his family. As Colson’s crucial mission leads him to the Devil’s Garden of Florida, a forgotten wasteland of swamps, collapsed shacks, and lost souls, he finds that the midnight attack on his home was simply an omen of what is to come. With his fate in the balance until the last second, Colson must navigate a trail littered with bloodshed and revenge.

And an interview:
Please tell us about your current release.
My book is titled The Devil’s Garden. It will be available on Veteran’s Day, November 11, which is appropriate because the book is dedicated to the veterans of The War on Terror. The story is centered on two main characters who are military veterans, both of whom participated in such military campaigns.
The first is Brandon Colson, who is from the wilds of Kentucky and served as a Recon Marine. The other is Sam Collier who is from Atlanta, served in the Army’s Military Police in Iraq, and then later became a detective. The two men’s paths cross unexpectedly when heavily armed Muslim terrorists from Colson’s past come back to pay him a visit in the dead of the night. Following the aftermath at his residence, and subsequently at the local airport, Colson finds himself being interrogated by Collier while the authorities are trying to sort out and understand the night’s events. The problem is Colson isn’t talking because the event is directly connected to his past service.
Due to the circumstances, the two men are diametrically opposed at first. In fact, they don’t even like each other. Colson soon decides Detective Collier takes too much pleasure with interrogating prisoners and Collier quickly decides he doesn’t like Colson’s cocky, uncooperative attitude. Of course, Collier comes to the realization that if a man is going to swim with sharks, run with lions, or fight with those special forces Recon types, then they are going to have to possess a certain kind of confident swagger about them. On the other hand, it is only after Colson discovers the detective is an Iraqi War veteran that he begins to appreciate Collier’s potential as an ally. With the stage set, the two combat veterans quickly find themselves joined at the hip and fighting for their lives.
Can you tell us about the journey that led you to write your book?
I suppose the journey started when I was 17 years old and looking to join the military. I knew I wanted to serve in a specialized warfare unit like the Army Special Forces or the Navy Seals. So I did some research and talked to the recruiters. That was when I discovered the Marine Corps had this unit called “Reconnaissance.” To make a long story short, the Navy and the Army guaranteed me a spot in whatever specialized unit I wanted and offered me a hefty enlistment bonus. The Marines, on the other hand, guaranteed me nothing and I guess they decided to keep the bonus money. They only guaranteed that I would first have to prove myself against all the other Marines before I could even have a chance to try to become a Recon Marine. These words did little more than wave a red flag at a bull and dare it to charge. The Marines have a unique way of taking a young man’s pride and turning it into a work of art. Of course, I must admit not all art is pretty or pleasing.
So I went, I made it into Recon, I served and got out. After that it was the typical college, career, family scenario. Then a few years ago, a Department of Veterans Affairs laptop was stolen. It contained the names, addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth and social security numbers of every veteran who served this country since the Vietnam conflict. The “missing” laptop was not recovered until about a month later, which was an eternity for someone to copy the information and sell it. There is a market for such information. In fact, according to the news it is not uncommon for some military personnel to sell their identification cards to people off base in order to get some extra cash. Of course, most do so not knowing to what end their identification cards will be used. Although common sense would dictate that nothing good could come of it, there are still those who do it anyway even though the military has harsh penalties for such conduct.
Considering these events and weighing them against the fact that there are those in the military services whose identities are protected — and they are protected for good reasons — the potential for disaster becomes painfully apparent. Combine all of this with one slightly paranoid, socially gruff, former Recon Marine and the story almost wrote itself.
Can you tell us about the story behind your book cover?
The Devil’s Garden is not just the title of the book. It is also an actual place in the wilderness of south-central Florida. It is a large geographic area with an old name that no longer appears on any modern maps. For the book’s cover I tried to visualize what kind of garden the Devil would keep. Instead of the Devil tending a field of crops, I see him fanning a field of flames and watching in delight as they grow toward the sky. Hence, the book’s cover is a field of flames reaching upward for its title.
What approaches have you taken to marketing your book?
The book’s website is at www.thedevilsgarden.us . There you can read excerpts and order it directly from me. The book will also be available through online retailers and bookstores. We are sending out press releases and setting up book signing events. We are also using social networking as well as my own personal network of friends who are either still in the military or are veterans of the military services.
What book on the market does yours compare to? How is your book different?
The book could be compared on many levels to any popular action-packed mystery thriller that involves a highly-trained military operative or agent who is pitted against a powerful enemy. However, I wanted to introduce a hero unlike any other, who is much more simple and yet, much more complex at the same time. I wanted him to be exceedingly more colorful, realistic and human. As such, Colson is a man of many faults, with a unique flair that is only amplified by his intelligence and the confidence that is required to obtain the title of United States Marine. He is impulsive, compulsive, and confrontational and yet has the capacity to be loyal, loving, gentle and kind. Moreover, I believe the most significant defining difference is Colson’s pure, unadulterated killer instinct which is only balanced by his unwavering faith.
What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?
I cure writer’s block by target practicing with my knives. I can spend hours throwing them. Focusing on the target helps focus my thoughts. Not to mention the fact that it is both fun and effective.
Open your book to a random page and tell us what’s happening.
Page 151. Colson and Collier are patrolling through a forested area to the location where two fugitive Palestinian terrorists are hiding out. Colson is advising his new “hunting buddy” as to the dangers of the Floridian woods and wetlands such as the native predatory animals, poisonous snakes and spiders, as well as the dangers associated with booby traps when infiltrating a bomb maker’s lair. Needless to say, this is a matter of great concern to Collier who quickly decides he would have been better off not knowing.
Do you plan any subsequent books?
Yes. I do have a sequel in the works. In rough draft form, it is about a third of the way done.
Tell us what you’re reading at the moment and what you think of it.
I am nearly finished reading Biblica, which is a social and historical treatise on the many lands and cultures of the Bible. It is a wonderful and detailed work which only fuels my desire to take my family on a tour of the ancient world from Rome to Constantinople to Jerusalem to Cairo. I’d like my family to experience the lands of the exodus, the lands of promise, and the Kingdom of David, the paths of the Apostles John, Peter and Paul, but most importantly, to see where Jesus journeyed, preached, suffered, died and arose again into glory.

More About the Author: 
Brady Christianson is a former United States Marine Corps Recon Marine whose military service and Christian faith has shaped his writing.


Click HERE to go to the book/author website.

About the Book:
After years of enjoying the quiet, civilian life, former Recon Marine Brandon Colson still has a large price on his head. . . only his family doesn't know it. That is, until heavily armed terrorists break into his house and try to kill him and his family. After swiftly dispatching the would-be assassins, Colson realizes the ghosts from his past have somehow managed to come back to haunt him. His identity--a secret until now--has been mysteriously compromised. Something he did years ago has kept anger burning in the hearts of powerful Arab adversaries. With his family in hiding, Colson and local detective Sam Collier set out to locate and neutralize the remainder of the terrorist cell.

Click HERE to buy your own copy.  

Fill out the form below to enter to WIN your own copy.

Thanks for stopping by The Wormhole!
Happy Reading!

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Blog Tour: Touching Evil by Amber Garr (Giveaway)

This virtual book tour is presented by Bewitching Book Tours.
Click HERE to see the tour schedule.
Welcome to The Wormhole and my day on the tour.
It is my pleasure to feature: Amber Garr and Touching Evil.
Amber has stopped by for an interview:
 How many jobs did you have before you became a writer? I have a full time job that I will probably always have - I work as a marine biologist at a research institute.

 How long does it take you to write a book? I can usually finish the first draft in a month or two, followed by several more months of beta reading, editing, and more editing.

 Do you have a routine that you use to get into the right frame of mind to write? Music. I can’t function without music.

 Where do you get your ideas or inspiration for your characters? I’ll pull some characteristics from people in my life, but I always try make each one unique. That way people can’t accuse me of writing about them!

 How do you decide what you want to write about? I usually visualize the first scene or opening line. And once I have that, and start thinking about where to take the story, it will flow from there.

 What books have most influenced your life? I’ll use the ones that have influenced my writing - pretty much everything from Kelly Armstrong, Richelle Mead, Charlaine Harris, or Kim Harrison.

 What are you reading right now? Rising by Stephanie Judice

 What do you like to do when you are not writing? If I’m not dancing or choreographing, I like to read.

 What is your favorite comfort food? Sugary things (and they’re not allowed in the house!)

 What do you think makes a good story? Great characters.

Fun random questions:

• dogs or cats? both

• Coffee or tea? Iced tea

• Dark or milk chocolate? Milk chocolate

• Rocks or flowers? rocks

• Night or day? day

• Favorite color? blue

• Crayons or markers? markers

• Pens or pencils? pens


More about the author:
Amber Garr spends her days conducting scientific experiments and wondering if her next door neighbor is secretly a vampire.  Born in Pennsylvania, she lives in Florida with her husband and their furry kids.  Her childhood imaginary friend was a witch, Halloween is sacred, and she is certain that she has a supernatural sense of smell.  She writes both adult and young adult urban fantasies and when not obsessing over the unknown, she can be found dancing, reading, or enjoying a good movie.


Touching Evil
Book One of The Leila Marx Novels
Amber Garr
Genre: Urban FantasyNumber of pages: 326
Cover Artist: Amber Garr
Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/1z7SEGu0jwo
Book Description:
 Leila Marx is trying to put her life back together after her fiancé is murdered. Her book illustrating career has limited her social contact and nightmares have trapped her in the past. When a police acquaintance enlists her help with a difficult case, Leila is surprisingly thankful to have a purpose. Not only will this help to keep her mind focused, but she will be able to use her talents as a touch clairvoyant that are frequently dismissed by skeptics. Leila and Detective Garrick Pearson delve into the mystery behind a series of missing teenage girls and mummified corpses while fighting their own growing attraction to each other.
 
Conner Hoffman is an intriguing lawyer and striking half-demon who enters Leila’s life unexpectedly. Although her visions are terrifying, she is fascinated by his charm and his legacy. When it becomes evident that the murders are linked to a paranormal event, Conner introduces Leila to a world unbeknownst to ordinary society. She suddenly finds herself immersed in supernatural politics, sorcery, and danger as she becomes the killer’s next target. Staying alive will mean relying on friends, accepting the unbelievable, and trusting in her heart again.

Short Excerpt

What does one wear when they commit the first felony of their life? I probably spent two hours going through my closest trying to find something criminal. It had to be black. Yes, definitely black. I finally settled on a turtleneck, spandex workout pants, and the only pair of black sneakers I’d ever owned. They were left over from my waitressing days and I was pleasantly surprised to see that they were still in good shape, even if they did smell a little like grease.
I just finished pulling my hair back into a low bun, like spy girls do in the movies, when the doorbell rang. Conner was here and my heart fluttered instantly. Last night had been a lot of fun and I really enjoyed my evening with Garrick, but this was the first time any man had been to my house who wasn’t a part of the police force since Russ was killed. This was also the first time I’d ever had a half demon in the house, at least as far as I knew. After another quick glance in the mirror, I bounced over to the door.
And as soon as I opened it I realized how much of a dork I must have looked like.
There was Conner, in a regular pair of jeans and a college sweatshirt doing all that he could not to laugh at me. I glared up at him.
“What? No one told me what to wear so I had to improvise.” He started laughing but then choked it back down when I tried to close the door on him. His foot shot out and blocked my attempt.
“I’m sorry. You look good. Really.” He smiled fully at me and then bowed his head as he put his hands together in a prayer-like position. “May I have permission to enter my ninja warrior princess?” 
I could see his shoulders shake with amusement again and I refused to be embarrassed. With an exaggerated sigh, I walked back into my bedroom, leaving Conner to let himself in. I decided that he should wallow in uncomfortable silence for a while, although when I came back into the living room and saw him flipping through some of my illustrations, I realized he was unfazed.
“These are really good. You’re quite talented.” I stood there, leaning against the wall for a few seconds trying to judge if he was being serious or not. Just as I started to give him the benefit of the doubt, he arched an eyebrow my way and said, “A much better artist than fashionista.”
I threw the sweatshirt I had in my hands at him and stomped over to the kitchen. His laugh consumed the room and I was surprised to find a smile on my face as I opened the refrigerator.
“Should we take snacks?” I asked. We were going to drive to a spot close to the house and wait until it was clear. I’d been told that it might take several hours and I didn’t want the cambion getting hungry while we waited.
“Sure, if you want. Maybe some water would be good.” It was obvious that he enjoyed my lack of stake-out abilities. 
I grabbed one of my reusable grocery bags and filled it up with water, crackers, and Twizzlers. All of the essentials. I briefly considered grabbing a bottle of wine to control my anxiety, but decided against it in the end.
“So, are we ready to go?” I asked as I hoisted the bag on my shoulder and grabbed the sweatshirt back. He studied me for a moment and then pulled an object from his back pocket.
“Not until you put this on,” he said as he tossed something small and black at me. It was a ski mask, one of those ones that covered everything except for your eyes. I pulled it over my head and batted my lashes.
“Am I ready now?”
He laughed and took the snack bag off my shoulder. “Yes, Leila. I think you’re ready for a life of crime.” 


1 Signed paperback copy of Touching Evil with SWAG (US Only)
2 ebook copies via coupons (INT)


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Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Blog Tour: Wildewood: Revenge by B. A. Morton

This virtual book tour is presented by Bewitching Book Tours.
Click HERE to see the tour schedule.
Welcome to The Wormhole and my day on the tour.
It is my pleasure to feature:
 B.A. Morton and Wildwood: Revenge.

About the Author:
B.A Morton lives and writes in rural Northumberland near the Scottish Border and is working on Redemption Book two, in the Wildewood Chronicles. She also writes romantic crime fiction.
www.goodreads.com/author/show/5405833.B_A_Morton

Wildewood-Revenge
The Wildewood Chronicles Book One
B.A Morton

Wildwood: Revenge by B.A. Morton
Genre: Historical/Fantasy/Romance
Publisher: Taylor Street Publishing

Number of pages: 310
Word Count: 105,000

Book Description:
A knight. A witch. A Secret.

When Grace, a twenty first century heroine, is accidently transported through a time portal into the clutches of an impoverished medieval knight with one eye on her ransom, we are treated to a brilliant evocation of medieval England which heaves with corruption and intrigue.

The remote and beautiful wilderness of ancient Northumberland rings out with the sound of clashing swords, the hiss of arrows, thundering hooves and the chink of coin bags changing hands in shady deals.

It is all there: a spirited and sensual romance, an action-packed adventure story, hidden treasure, revengeful and devious barons and corpulent and corrupt clergy.

Beset on all sides by danger and deception, with only their wits and a small band of loyal followers to assist them, Grace and Miles of Wildewood find their lives inexplicably entwined as they battle for justice, honour and love.
Be sure to check out the rest of the tour!
Thanks for stopping by - Happy Reading!