Musing Mediterranean

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Beth Daigle will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

A trip to the Mediterranean—who wouldn’t be thrilled? Beth Daigle should be doing back flips as she prepares to escape her humdrum suburban life, but travel anxiety gets the best of her. This is a trip of a lifetime, something to look forward to, yet Beth is dreading it.

The daughter of an Italian mother and Greek father, Beth has always dreamed of visiting Greece and Italy. Her Type A husband, Tony, revels in planning every detail of their two-week vacation. The plan expands to include not only Beth and Tony’s two tween daughters, but Beth’s parents, sister, brother-in-law, niece and nephew.

As her family’s excitement mounts, so does Beth’s trepidation. She experiences serious anxiety about the flight itself, plus spending two solid weeks with her extended family.

Despite her worries, Beth manages the eight-hour plane ride to Rome, and the adventure begins.

If you’ve never experienced the beauty of the Mediterranean, or even if you have, Musing Mediterranean will take you there through Beth’s eyes, page by page.

MY REVIEW

Daigle is one of the few people willing to voice out loud that the attacks of Sept. 11 left her with a huge fear of flying. A fear that kept both her and her family from enjoying travel together. This is almost a diary-like story of her thoughts and feelings concerning the woes of those who would just as soon stay home rather than travel.

She does tackle her fears though and takes a wonderful trip with her family. The conversations this entails both with her friends and with her family make for interesting reading. Her descriptions of the places they visit make it almost a travelogue.

I found myself reading very quickly and rarely putting this down.

Read an Excerpt

AMALFI COAST

The moment we were all comfortably seated, we were inundated with food, in the best way possible. We didn’t order one thing; it was all brought to us. Whatever the chef was cooking was what was served, and we thoroughly enjoyed it.


Every plate was also a work of art: each was hand-painted, colorful, and artistic. And before we knew it, music filled the air when the owner’s niece took a microphone and asked all the patrons to join in on a sing-along.


The Italian blond beauty entertained us with her soothing voice, ethnic songs, and gregarious hospitality.


Her rousing renditions of both familiar and unfamiliar songs left us ready to sit back and enjoy the end of our memorable meal. Served family style, it was a meal that included five appetizers, five entrees, homemade wine, pear grappa, and five desserts. It was extravagant, yet unpretentious.


As desserts and limoncello came to the table, so did the owner–chef. Every bite that was served was natural and simply prepared, yet it was the most delicious food I’d ever eaten.



About the Author:

Beth Daigle is a lifelong New Englander residing north of Boston with her husband and daughters. Prior to settling into her role as a writer, Beth was a marketing professional whose favorite part of the job was writing. As a freelancer, Beth has enjoyed contributing to numerous lifestyle and home publications, yet she yearned for something more than a magazine article. Then along came Musing Mediterranean. Beth quickly became immersed in chronicling this travel event and articulating her perceptions of the places she visited, the people she met, the foods she enjoyed and the crazy moments she encountered. The idea that someone who may never travel to Greece, Italy or Turkey could appreciate this experience through Beth’s eyes became a driving force behind the story. Revealing her struggle with travel anxiety helped Beth move forward and embrace, once again, how very wonderful it is to travel the world.



“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.” St. Augustine.



Beth is a creative soul who finds joy in art, home design, gardening, reading, writing, a good laugh, and an even better television show.




Website: http://www.BethDaigle.com


Blog: http://www.3OlivesandaTwist.com


Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/3olivesandatwist


Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/3olivesandatwist


Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/olivesnatwist





Available at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1947966073?pf_rd_p=d1f45e03-8b73-4c9a-9beb-4819111bef9a&pf_rd_r=W3MJ4WHBPK1MTJC8KW6Y.










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The Bridesmaid's Checklist

Contemporary Romance

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.
K.T. Castle will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC and autographed copies of both books and some swag (stickers and bookmarks) (US only) to two randomly drawn winners via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

BCL is a Contemporary New Adult Romance that tells Kassandra's story.

Kassie is a single, independent woman that finds herself questioning her lifestyle after all of her best

friend get married and settle down.

Even if she’s the only unmarried girl in the pack she isn’t single anymore. Now that all her friends are married and all the wedding planning is over, she has a chance to concentrate in her relationship with Josh. Or so she thought, since her friends keep visiting her with a major life changing crisis.

Helping her friends plan their wedding was no problem─dealing with unexpected personal situations is a whole other thing.

You can read how she helps Laura and Marisol to plan their weddings.




Read an excerpt...
This can’t be happening.

The person sitting at our table was definitely someone I knew. Someone I actually had been avoiding for quite some time.

“Well, well. Good morning, babe,” the beautiful blond said to me.

I knew this guy. I’d constantly met him at bars and pubs around the city. He was always well accompanied by attractive ladies, but that didn’t stop him from hitting on me. Persistently, he’d tried for the past couple years to get my number and into my panties.

This beautiful man and I had a history…well, not really. We had a history of not having a history. He was an artfully known womanizer in the circles we frequented. Knowing exactly what I’d be getting myself into if I ever decided to tap that drop-dead gorgeous body of his, I had no choice but to reject him over and over again.

One drunken night I almost caved in.

Laura couldn't be marrying this man.

“Oh, God. Not you. You’re a man whore!”

He stood as soon as the statement escaped my lips. He didn’t look offended. I guess he was used to my rejections by now. “Nice to see you, too,” the handsome man said. “I like knowing that you miss me.”

“Miss you? You wish! I can’t believe you’re marrying my best friend.” And I really didn’t.

“No offense, babe, but I’m not the one marrying Laura. I’m Ed’s friend. Name’s Josh, remember?”

Oh, right. Josh. For a moment there, I thought I had to talk Laura into canceling the wedding.

READ AN INTERVIEW here

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

K.T.  Castle  is  an  author/artist  on  a  quest  to  find  the  words,  forms,  and  colors  to materialize    the    worlds    and    people    of    her imagination.    She    never    saw 

   herself    as    an incurable romantic, but lately, that's what she finds herself  musing  about.  Love  is  found  everywhere, regardless  if  it  comes  from  a  nice  person,  an ass — mundane or even vampire. When  she's  not  busy with  work,  in  front  of  a computer  placing  many  thoughts  in  order,  she makes her best to be creative or relax with a good book and a snack. Some of her favorite characters are Sookie, Rule and Shaw, Bella, Edward, Clary, Jace, Wrath, Hollywood, Blaire, Woods, Ethan, the Sleeping Beauty, and Ariel.

Get to know her more on her social media pages.

Facebook: @KTCastle.author

Instagram: @k.t.castle

Google+: +K.T.Castle

Twitter: @KTCastle_author

Pinterest: KTCastle_author

Website: www.ktcastle.com/

Blog: https://ktcastle.wordpress.com/

 The book will be $0.99 during the tour.

The Bridesmaid’s Checklist Series

Laura’s Wedding

U.S.A.https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IOOBO0I
U.K.https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01IOOBO0I
Canadahttps://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01IOOBO0I
Australia https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B01IOOBO0I
Mexico https://www.amazon.com.mx/dp/B01IOOBO0I

Marisol’s Wedding

U.S.A.https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MT0ECVP
U.K. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01MT0ECVP
Canada https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01MT0ECVP
Australia https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B01MT0ECVP

Mexico https://www.amazon.com.mx/dp/B01MT0ECVP

Another Five Minutes

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Destiny Booze will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Romantic Suspense

Loving him is easy.

Fearing him is necessary.

Trusting him could be a deadly mistake.

Born deaf and living with an anxiety disorder, Brooke Hartley manages life in five-minute intervals. It’s all she can do to get out of bed each morning. She’s hidden inside her sister’s apartment for over a year.

Everything changes when Brooke’s sister goes missing. Her fragile world crashes. She is desperate to find her, and she’ll need help.

Haunted by a past he needs to forget, Scott Derrico keeps to himself until his gallery manager, Autumn Hartley, suddenly disappears. He is forced out of his isolation to help a woman that needs him with a terrifying intensity.

Scott tries to deny his attraction to Brooke. He doesn’t want to get emotionally involved but he craves her like nothing else. And, for her, he is a dark and sexy diversion to overcome her fear.

With a genuinely flawed and relatable heroine and a mysterious and protective hero, you won’t want this love story to end. You’ll beg…for another five minutes…

Read an Excerpt:
Brooke watched as Scott poured a double shot of liquor and drained it. He faced her long enough for her to see him say, “I’m sorry. It looks like we’ll have to wait to go see Zack.”

When he turned back to pour another, Brooke put her laptop down, hurried to him, and covered the glass with her hand, shaking her head back and forth. She worried about him. The cops would be back to talk to him, and she didn’t want him to be drunk when they did.

She took his hand away from the glass and traced, S.O.B.E.R.

He gave her a humorless grin. “Do you really think you want me sober right now?”

It wasn’t so much his words as the look in his green eyes that scared her, and she backed away from him.

He advanced. “If you don’t want me to drink, you’re going to have to give me something else to do.”

Gulping, she retreated further, and her back bumped the wall behind her. In the next instant he was standing right in front of her. Grasping her face between his hands, he tilted her head up and kissed her.

Brooke spread her arms wide in surprise, and he came closer, trapping her to the wall. She had no time to object, and she didn’t want to. He kissed her hard, the anger she sensed earlier radiating out of him. It should have scared her, but it didn’t. She wanted more.




About the Author:



Destiny Booze is an interesting name, true? Destiny’s mom found her first name in a romance book. Her last name was a gift from the man she loves.

She writes novels with intense conflicts, ongoing suspense, romance, and happy endings. She grew up at a campground where she spent her summers working long hours mowing, cleaning bathrooms, lifeguarding, and leading activities.

Destiny resides in Botetourt County, Virginia where she strives to be the best wife, mother, and writer that she can be. Her family is always priority number one. Other things of great importance to her are friends and her readers!

Follow Destiny on Amazon, Facebook, Twitter @destinybooze, or her website www.destinybooze.com. Go to her website and sign up for her mailing list for updates on book releases and book giveaways.

BUY LINK:
https://www.amazon.com/Another-Five-Minutes-Destiny-Booze-ebook/dp/B07FLJ949F/ 


https://www.amazon.com/Destiny-Booze/e/B002BMHNNW/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Destiny-Booze/152893818389



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Single and Looking

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Belinda Austin will be awarding a $10 or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

AT FIRST, DAISY IGNORES HER CAT'S DATING ADVICE.

Daisy will turn 40 in eleven months and has never married. Her family figures Daisy is a loser because she is still in college trying to avoid paying off her student loans which have amassed over 22 years of a miseducation. And all Daisy has is a cat to keep her company. To make the crises worse, her cat begins talking to Daisy, when she is sober! The mess of Daisy's life is even kookier because the cat is cursing and smoking now and drinking more alcoholic beverages. Mm, there must be a connection to all this flowing alcohol, which may explain the bubbly in Daisy's brain. Her sisters and mother insist on setting Daisy up on six blind dates and all the men are named after liquor.

A heartwarming, LOL book that will make you smile.

Read an Excerpt:

Her heart stopped at the sound of claws coming down the hallway.

What is that rolling sound?

There was the sound of heavy breathing at the door followed by, “I brought you a bottle of wine, dearie,” the cat said, cackling like an old witch.

She tiptoed over to the door. “I suppose you have a poisoned apple, too, in that filthy paw of yours.”

“I didn’t bring a wormy apple. Would you like a nice unopened bottle of Pinot Noir instead?”

Daisy twisted a fist in her yellow Adult Cinderella nightgown. Her big toe stuck out of her slippers. She did not drink this early in the day or was even up on a Saturday morning, but her sisters had banged on the bedroom window. Aunt Davina slammed a picture of Jesus against the window and screamed, “Pray to God, Daisy, that The Man watching football from the clouds will toss you a husband as good as my John! Maybe you will catch a Matthew or a Peter!”

“I dated a Peter once and he was really a dick,” Daisy yelled back.

Given the day she was having, a morning drink could hit the I-feel-good-about-myself spot right on.

Daisy should act strong and tell the cat to go catch a mouse.

On the other hand, a stiff drink would calm the lizards jogging around her brain. The mind racing was due to her new mad-as-a-hatter relationship with her cat.

“Uh, a glass of wine would be good,” she squeaked.

About the Author:

Belinda Austin writes Women's Fiction, Romanic Comedy, Humor, Psychological Thrillers and Suspense. She has a degree in Applied Mathematics and once worked as a Software Engineer. She was born in the Los Angeles Area and is an award-winning author. She is a Zumbaholic.


Belinda, also, writes Science Fiction and Fantasy under the name of B. Austin. She writes Historical Fiction under the name of Belinda Vasquez Garcia, along with Middle Grade Fiction.

She has occasionally dreamt or her cat, Shakespeare, talking to her in English. She once had a cat named Whiskey who used to sit like a human in a chair for half an hour or more with an empty beer can on his head, which proves that life often emulates fiction.

Now available in ebook, paperback, and audiobook formats. 

Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Single-Looking-Daisy-Secret-Sisters-ebook/dp/B07DBB89FM


Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40217389-single-and-looking-daisy

Website: http://www.authorBelinda.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorBelindaAustin

Twitter: http://twitter.com/MagicProse

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baustinbooks/



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A Match For the Marquess

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Lillian Marek will be awarding a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Decisions, decisions…

Should Lady Anne Milhaven marry the wealthy and handsome young marquess, or should she resign herself to living out her life in poverty and disgrace, exiled from the world she was born to?

Should Philip Tremaine, the new Marquess of Penworth, redeem his honor and marry the proud and beautiful earl’s daughter whom he has unintentionally compromised, or should he prove himself as dissolute as his contemptible family?

They are not fools, but marriage is only the beginning. Now can they learn to work together and thwart the vile plots of their scheming relatives?

A Match for the Marquess is the prequel to the Victorian Adventures series.

Read an Excerpt:

“That’s enough from you, Anne,” Mrs. Craddock snapped. “I should not have bothered asking you. You’ve always been jealous of Corinne. Now go to your room, and the next time I see you, I want you to be wearing your cap. And what have you done to that dress? Put on one of the others. Remember what you owe to our charity.”

Penworth had had enough. His wife-to-be was not going to be disparaged in his hearing. And she certainly wasn’t going to put that hideous cap back on her head.

He stepped into the room and struck a dramatic pose with his arms outflung. “Beloved,” he exclaimed, “our troubles are at an end!”

“My lord?” Anne spoke uncertainly.

“I knew that once he saw you again, the earl would love you as I do. He has agreed to our marriage, and the wedding can take place at once.” Penworth stepped quickly to her side and drew her into his arms. “Oh my darling, tell me that you share my delight.”

Anne looked up at him, and he saw the shock in her eyes change to uncertainty and then to amusement. “Oh, my lord,” she said, “my joy is equal to your own.”

At that Philip gave a shout of laughter. She was indeed quick-witted, and he doubted that her aunt could recognize the sardonic note in her voice. He pulled her close and kissed her soundly.


About the Author: When she retired after too many years in journalism, Lillian Marek felt a longing for happy endings and stories where the good guys win and the bad guys get their just deserts. Having exhausted her libraryís supply of non-gory mystery stories, she started reading romance novels,
especially historical romance. This was so much fun that she thought sheíd like to try her hand at writing one. So she took her computer keyboard in hand, slipped back into the 19th century, and began.

She was right - writing romance novels is as much fun as reading them.


Website: http://www.lillianmarek.com


https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLillianMarek


https://twitter.com/lillianmarek




Buy links:

https://www.amazon.com/Match-Marquess-Manners-Victorian-Adventures-ebook/dp/B07D4QHVFJ/



https://books2read.com/u/4AYwBe






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Tail of the Dragon

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Connie di Marco will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

San Francisco astrologer Julia Bonatti never thought murder would be part of her practice, but now, Julia’s former boss and current client has asked for help. He has serious problems at his law firm. Three people have received death threats and the only common denominator between them is a case long settled -- the infamous Bank of San Francisco fire. Julia’s convinced a woman is behind the threats, perhaps even the widow of the man who died in that same fire, but no one wants to believe that astrology could provide a clue. Before Julia can help her client, two lawyers are dead and her own life is threatened. Can she unmask the killer before he (or she) takes another life?

Read an Excerpt:

The walls of the restaurant were red with dark wood wainscoting. Heavy drapes hid the private rooms from view. Without warning, the lights dimmed and two waiters entered carrying a birthday cake sizzling with little sparklers. My grandmother Gloria gasped. “Oh, no, you didn’t!” The waiters placed a single candle in the middle of the cake and began to sing happy birthday off key. We all joined in. Then we heard drums and a trumpet and cymbals as the lights dimmed even more. The dragon’s head was followed by a train of scaly cloth supported by men whose black clad legs and feet were visible under the body of the dragon. Three musicians followed the dragon as it danced around our table, the dragon’s head moving up and down and sideways, serenaded by clashing cymbals, drums and trumpet bursts. The noise was deafening in our small room. Gloria held her hands to her ears but she was laughing. The dim lighting, the sparklers and the clanging and banging of the instruments sent shivers up my spine. The dragon represents celebration but still, there was something sinister in the eyes and fangs of the huge papier-maché head. The men made three passes around our table and finally exited, the dragon’s head last, as the men danced backwards.



About the Author:

Connie di Marco is the author of the Zodiac Mysteries from Midnight Ink featuring San Francisco astrologer Julia Bonatti. The Tail of the Dragon, third in the series, will be released on August 8, 2018.



Writing as Connie Archer, she is also the author of the national bestselling Soup Lover’s Mysteries from Berkley Prime Crime. You can find her excerpts and recipes in The Cozy Cookbook and The Mystery Writers of America Cookbook. Connie is a member of MWA, Sisters in Crime and International Thriller Writers.



http://www.conniedimarco.com

https://www.facebook.com/zodiacmysteries/

http://www.Twitter.com/askzodia



Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Zodiac-Mystery-Connie-Marco/dp/0738751065/

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tail-of-the-dragon-connie-di-marco/1127149243


IndieBound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780738751061


Mysterious Galaxy: https://www.mystgalaxy.com/book/9780738751061




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Hostile Takeover & Island on Fire

Historical Thriller

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Sophie Schiller will be awarding a a travel size Exotic French noix de coco perfume and shower gel (US only) to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Click HERE to read an excerpt and sign up for the Giveaway

MY REVIEW

Very action-packed, easy to read historical fiction based on an actual volcanic eruption many years ago. Martinique is a region of France and both French and a form of Creole are spoken there. The description of the island of Martinique and its people is so lilting. It seems to be the art of the author to help you hear the dialect, see the broad fields and the people working so hard day to day. Hard to believe such a thing can exist in a book about a terrible disaster.  But, Sophie Schiller seems to capture the essence of the island people. Many of them still practicing voodoo just because it is what they have always heard from their ancestors, almost a religion. Some very naïve and some very astute, but so steeped in their history to make them blind in their own way. This story also involves a very realistic story of politics and the ability of the government to become an ostrich. Stick its head in the sand and hear only what they want to hear or believe what is most convenient.

While this is fiction it is based as I mentioned earlier on a very true event and seemed quite real to me. I even found myself Googling Martinique and looking up more about its history and its people. But don’t get the impression this is dry or rather academic. It is as I said, action-packed and fast moving. This may also be because Schiller was so good at developing and defining her characters; making them have real personalities and helping the reader to identify with them. This was definitely a page turner. I didn’t put it down very often. It wasn’t just the characters that seemed so real. The possible volcanic action and thoughts of destruction had me yelling at their government leaders to pay attention.    

***This book was provided to me free of charge in exchange for an honest review.

Urban Fantasy

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Cristelle Comby will be awarding a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click here to read an excerpt and enter the Giveaway Contest HERE

Quick on the Draw

QUICK ON THE DRAW by Susan Moody

     published by Severn House

MY REVIEW

Interesting easy to read book by author Susan Moody, also known as Susan Elizabeth Horwood and known as the Step-mother of Crown Princess Mary of Denmark. Moody has her own titles as does her step daughter, but Moody’s are more of the book type of titles.

This book, Quick on the Draw, is the third book with character Alex Quick, a former police detective as its star character. Alex has a very young and very handsome friend who calls upon her to help save him from his Uncle’s wrath. After holding a dinner party in a swanky apartment on loan from his uncle, Sandro finds some very expensive baubles missing. Well, maybe not baubles, more like an outrageously expensive ring and painting missing. He needs to get them back in the apartment before his uncle misses them. Even more so, one of his friends has sticky fingers and he wants to know which one it was. As a former cop, he feels Alex is his answer and begs her to help.

There is a lot to this story. I guess you could call them twists and turns but my best description would be that while this is not heavy reading there are enough things occurring that you do need to concentrate. You’ll notice I said this was easy to read and I would still describe it that way. It kept my attention well enough to move along quite quickly, no pun about the character’s name intended.

Much of this story takes place in Vienna and since Alex also has a background in art, the art conversation and scene descriptions are very enjoyable. The characters were well-defined. Alex was defined enough that I found I liked her very well and when a reader begins to like a character, well…they are usually hooked.

Susan Moody has several other books too. Check them out.

***This book was provided to me by NetGalley. All opinions are definitely my own.

If you've read this book and have an opinion, please either leave a comment below or send me a review to mkallenbookreviews@gmail.com

Please note if you do not want your review placed on a post.

Ruff Cut

RUFF CUT by Kasey Riley

           published by Alternate Elements

MY REVIEW

Although this might sound like a title for some of the new popular dog series, it isn’t. What it is, is a great book about a female sheriff in a small town handling all the problems small towns have …speeders, ranchers, lost kids and lost dogs. Well, maybe most small towns

don’t have to deal with lost dogs with diamonds sewn in their stomachs, but you get the idea. Several other incidents occur in the town, people are reporting strange cars with black tinted windows cruising around. Everyone thinks it’s suspicious. Sounds like where I grew up.

This is a fun read and I liked all the characters, well except the bad guys of course. Kasey Riley painted Sherriff Holloway as someone strong, an army vet with the same problems many vets have. She made her real and she did the same with the surrounding characters. I liked them all and found I was turning the pages as fast as I could.

Definitely worth reading.

***This book was given to me by NetGalley and all opinions are definitely my own.

Monsterland Reanimated

Young Adult Fiction/Thriller

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by 
Goddess Fish Promotions.  

Michael will be awarding a $50 Amazon or BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.  Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

BLURB
After Monsterland has imploded, the entire world is thrown into chaos. World leadership is gone, economies have collapsed, and communications are non-existent. Wyatt must go beyond the boundaries of his small town to reestablish contact with the outside world, and alert the government about a traitor-in-chief.

During his journey he discovers a new threat released from the bowels of the defunct theme park.

When an army of relentless mummies, a life-sucking ooze called The Glob, and a hybrid reanimated Behemoth rise from the depths of Monsterland, who will survive?

Read an Excerpt

A bright moon painted the desert’s surface pewter. Here and there, dark spots soiled the landscape like oil spills. Most of the bodies had been taken before the troops were ordered to leave. They carted away the corpses, bulldozing the zombies into mass graves, until radios chirped with urgent orders deploying the soldiers to the bigger threats that erupted in the main cities like a chain of angry volcanos.

Monsterland was extinguished, its carcass left for the vultures to pick, the exhibits silent as a tomb.

The dead president and his equally dead entourage were whisked away on Air Force One, along with the dark-clad special operatives that came and left like the brisk desert wind that now howled through the empty streets.

A gate screamed in the silence, slamming with a reverberating smash. The uneven gait of someone with a physical challenge filled the void. The scrape and plod of his limp echoed against the wall of mountains framing the theme park. His labored breathing huffed as he made his way down the streets.

A door creaked loudly as it was blown by the wind. He stopped, his distorted figure silhouetted in the pale moonlight, his body turning silver. He looked at the broken glass littering the pavement like diamonds, then up to the still, pre-dawn sky. He considered the sun peeking over the jagged horizon in the east, its golden light painting the dips and hollows of the hills. Soon the coming day would chase the darkness away.

Time was the enemy now. He had to move faster, or it would be too late. He picked up his pace, lurching along the winding road. A keening howl ricocheted through the streets, bouncing off the walls. It sounded like a … no, he thought, it couldn’t be. The werewolves were all dead. Destroyed by Vincent Konrad when he made their heads explode.

The old man paused, listening for it again, and was not disappointed when the animal whimpered. He gauged it to be inside the defunct vampire exhibit. He moved toward the entrance. The storefronts had been destroyed. A few body parts lay on the pavement, as if people had discarded them in a rush. He heard the scraping of paws on the street and a shiver went down his crooked spine.

For a great Interview with Michael, click HERE

MY REVIEW

Michael Okon previously wrote under the name Michael Philip Cash. His genres as Michael Okon have been suspense and terror. I think I would add the paranormal genre to this group.  This is a story about the world being turned upside down. An apocalypse theme; a theme of chaos,and the dead but not quite dead.  A groups of teens are left to survive amongst monsters, vampires, werewolves, zombies, mummies and even some gooey nasty thing. Obviously if you like horror and being scared to death, there is nothing you can’t find in this book.   

Blood and gore and zombies are not my thing. However, I can’t say this book is not well-written. Just because I might not enjoy a certain genre does not mean the author of the book is a bad writer. There is plenty of action here and great description (unfortunately so for those of us not crazy about gooey, globby things and blood and gore).

Pick a night and instead of a scary movie, read Okon’s book. Both it and the previous one, titled “Monsterland “ have great reviews so although zombies may not be my thing there are evidently lots of people that can identify with them. Check the “Monsterland” series out.

***This book was provided to me free of charge in exchange for an honest review. 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Michael Okon is an award-winning and best-selling author of multiple genres including paranormal, thriller, horror, action/adventure and self-help. He graduated from Long Island University with a degree in English, and then later received his MBA in business and finance. Coming from a family of writers, he has storytelling in his DNA. Michael has been

writing from as far back as he can remember, his inspiration being his love for films and their impact on his life. From the time he saw The Goonies, he was hooked on the idea of entertaining people through unforgettable characters.

Michael is a lifelong movie buff, a music playlist aficionado, and a sucker for self-help books. He lives on the North Shore of Long Island with his wife and children.

Website:

http://www.michaelokon.com/

Amazon Link:

https://www.amazon.com/Michael-Okon/e/B0752THRZV/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

iBooks Link:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/author/michael-okon/id1292020808?mt=11

Kobo Link:

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=MichaelOkon&fcsearchfield=Author

Barnes & Nobel Link:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/monsterland-michael-okon/1126998959?ean=9781614755944

SmashWords Link:

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/MichaelOkon

Email:

michaelokonbooks@gmail.com

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/IAmMichaelOkon

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/iammichaelokon/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/iammichaelokon

Snapchat:

https://www.snapchat.com/add/iammichaelokon

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Labors of an Epic Punk

YA Fantasy Myth-Retelling

Mac is an epic punk. No wonder: after his dad went off to fight in the Trojan War and never came back, Mac spent his childhood evading his mom's scumbag suitors—all one-hundred-and-eight of them. Of course, he turned out this way—a moody, friendless sixteen-year-old who blows off work, alienates everyone at school, and pulls pranks. But when he trains a flock of birds to defecate on the headmaster, Mac (short for Telemachus) goes too far. The administrators give him an ultimatum: prove that he's truly the son of Odysseus by doing something heroic—or get out. A school story that just so happens to take place 3,000 years ago, Labors of an Epic Punk is a tale of friendship and transformation, regret and redemption, and a reminder to us all that even heroes need to survive adolescence.

EXCERPT

No one on the field that morning had any idea that all Hades was about to break loose.

Well, one person did.

The stands were over-crammed with students, all chirping away about their summer travels, each one trying to out-fabulous the other. But Mac wasn’t talking to any of them. (No surprise there.)  Instead, he just stared at the empty stage in fist-clenching anticipation. For the entire morning, the entire summer, the entire two years he’d wasted at this gods-forsaken school, he’d been waiting for this moment. His moment of glory, of genius. The

moment when he’d finally and irretrievably cross The Line— that hard-to-define boundary between tolerable and intolerable. Between a week of detention and expulsion. All he needed was for Headmaster Gurgus to blow on that shell.

Just when he thought he couldn’t wait any longer without throwing up, Mac heard the band play the opening notes to “Yielding Never,” Pieridian Academy’s absurdly overblown fight song. The Opening Ceremonies were officially underway. From his seat high up in the stands, Mac watched intently as the members of the so-called Grand Procession marched onto Garthymedes Field: the entire faculty and staff, wearing shiny red gowns and smiles full of phony reverence; followed by the honored students, also in ritualistic red, condescendingly waving at the crowd; followed by a grotesque, nine-headed Hydra.

Lastly, waddling ten paces behind the Hydra, in all his roly-poly, four-hundred pound glory, was Headmaster Gurgus.

This is the most interesting interview I've ever posted. READ About authors who sound like real people and share real experiences with us.  CLICK HERE

Don't forget to come back for the great Giveaway.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:  Mark and Sheri Dursin will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

 For many years Mark, a high school English teacher, and Sheri, a freelance writer and

blogger, wrote independently. No matter the writing project—newspaper articles, retreat talks, college recommendation letters, fan-fiction, blog posts on spirituality or 80s pop songs—they tended to work alone. Separate rooms, separate computers. But raising their twin sons helped them discover an important truth: All Good Things Come in Twos.

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May 2: Long and Short Reviews YA
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May 23: Kit 'N Kabookle - review
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