This is the blog of Samie Sands, author of Lockdown. There will be many great books and projects reviewed here. For more, check out thelockdown.co.uk.

Wednesday 28 October 2015

Show Time by Phil Harvey

ShowTime
Future viewing audiences have become totally desensitized to violence and entirely dependent on sensation to escape their boring workaday lives—an addiction nurtured by the media with graphic portrayals of war and crime and with so-called reality programming. Now, TV execs in pursuit of the only things they care about—higher ratings and bigger paychecks—have created the ultimate reality show: Seven people, each bearing the scars of his or her past, are deposited on an island in the middle of Lake Superior. Given some bare necessities and the promise of $400,000 each if they can endure, the three women and four men risk death by starvation or freezing as the Great Lakes winter approaches. The island is wired for sound, and flying drones provide the video feed, so everything the contestants do and say is broadcast worldwide. Their seven-month ordeal is entirely unscripted, they can’t ask for help or they forfeit the prize, and as far as the network is concerned—the fewer survivors the better.
Harvey AuthorPhoto-1
PHIL HARVEY s fiction has appeared in fifteen literary magazines, including Phantasmagoria, which nominated one of his stories for a Pushcart Prize, and Antietam Review, which named another the winner of its annual contest. Most recently his work has appeared in The MacGuffin, Natural Bridge, and the Dos Passos Review.

Harvey nonfiction includes: Let Every Child Be Wanted, which drew praise from former President Jimmy Carter; Government Creep, which, as one reviewer noted, proves that government has invaded virtually every nook and cranny of our lives ; and The Government vs. Erotica, which Publishers Weekly and Booklist praised, the ALA Intellectual Freedom Roundtable nominated as the year s best book on intellectual freedom, and Media Coalition called a frightening, enlightening story. 

By day, Phil Harvey is president of DKT International, a nonprofit family planning and AIDS prevention organization, and president and majority shareholder of Adam & Eve, a mail-order business that sells sexually oriented books and films. He lives with his wife, Harriet Lesser, in Cabin John, Maryland.

Author Q and A

Q: Your three new books are collections of short stories in which characters touch something important in themselves or in others.

PH: The centerpiece of my fiction is always the individual. I like to put characters in demanding physical/psychological settings that force them to respond. Frankly this saves work and imagination because some responses are fore-ordained. Other ideas come from experience. Fly fishing. Sex. Upbringing. And so on. Some ideas even spring from other books. Really, the stories run the gambit. A few end in death, one in time travel, a few in redemption.
Show Timeengages with seven people and their idiosyncrasies, lust, belligerence, and desire to survive. How they are attracted to each other, how they fight with each other, how they sometimes undermine and then strengthen each other. They boil, they confer, they fight, they make love—but overall, they must survive.
For all my characters, life goes on but is changed.

Q: Tell us about Show Time. The novelchallenges seven reality show contestants with the possibility of starvation or freezing to death.

PH: My book explores the use of violence and death as entertainment. We already have real-world examples like the potential fatal violence that helps fuel the popularity of car racing. We like violence. It fascinates us. That’s why it leads the news every night. My idea is that policymakers someday will, perhaps without knowing it, encourage certain kinds of violence to keep people satisfied. Presidents like wars—even though they won’t admit it. Wars unify us. We always support the troops. So deliberate steps to encourage controlled violence are not so farfetched.

Q: Your fiction is occasionally threaded with darker impulses. Why delve into the shadow side?

PH: A wise writing instructor once said, “People don’t read nice. It puts them to sleep.”
I write dark-side fiction because that’s the only kind people read. I am not especially interested in venality, violence (which I really do not like), human weakness, etc. but these are essential elements of fiction. Of course we’re all fallible, and some of my fiction reflects this theme.
In Show Time, the producer arranges for a murder to happen on the show because her entire focus in life is on her ratings. Nothing else matters. We humans can get blinkered that way and occasionally take desperate measures to keep things on track. That’s true reality. But overall, I write in this vein because it is artistically satisfying and readers demand it.

Q: In Beena’s Story an Indian woman is disfigured by acid, in Virgin Birth a surrogate mother is attacked, and Show Time explores personal and social violence. How do you address violence without becoming graphic?

PH: Writing that is too graphic turns people off. Different readers (and writers) have different limits; mine are probably about average. Some would say I’m too cautious but bodies run through and guts spilling out simply seem unnecessary and distracting. It comes down to a matter of style. A very clear case is the “cozy.”  There’s always a murder but never a body.

Q: These three new books include one that has a more erotic tone yet you don’t shy from sexual activity in stories that aren’t specifically erotic. Is there a line here, too?

PH: As to sex, I think I provided the appropriate amount of detail in Show Time and, very differently, in Vishnu Schist, Swimming Hole, and Devotional. Sex scenes can be sexy, even graphic as in Devotional, but clichés must be avoided like the plague. In Charlie Stuart’s Car got a little close to that, I think. I’ll let readers decide.

Q: How do you align your dark fiction with your Huffington Post article about the world getting better?

PH: The reality is that dark impulses, especially violence, will always be there. The world is getting better in part because we are learning to curb our natural violent instincts. We sublimate by watching violent sports. Boxing. Football. NASCAR. We punish. Murderers and rapists are jailed. And so on.
Backing this up must be the rule of law. People are capable of unspeakable horrors. And that includesnice, civilized people. See the enforcers of the Holocaust. See Uganda. See North Korea. The fact that the government has a monopoly on legal violence (wars, executions, etc.) is a good thing. The great majority of citizens want violence curbed, and only a governmental entity can do that consistently.
So, yes, humans will always love violence (see video games), and in the societies that function best, violence will be sublimated. Hence my novel Show Time. Hence my short story Hunting Dora.

Q: You support the rule of law but some of your stories demonstrate abuses of power. Should readers beware authority?

PH: No society can exist without rules that prevent people from harming others. But the government can be a poor purveyor of justice. Where’s the justice in the War on Drugs?  Where’s the justice in taking (by force) billions from hardworking taxpaying Americans and giving it to rich farmers and agricultural corporations?  And on and on.
The government is necessary for some things, and I appreciate that. An army. Rule of law. Enforceable contracts. But it is not such a stretch to depict the government as complicit (behind the scenes!) in a brutal scheme to satisfy Americans’ lust for violence as in Show Time. Readers should worry, because government’s perfidy is backed by government force. The worst perpetrators of violence have been governments. Stalin. Mao. Hitler. Pol Pot. Dystopian fiction is perhaps popular because in the digital age it seems more feasible. Big brother is watching.
On the other hand, people are generally very good about making decisions for their own lives. Over two centuries or so we’ve seen that life can be pretty successful and satisfying in democratic, free market societies. That’s why messy democracy is so terribly important.

Q: What’s the takeaway for readers of your fiction?

PH: I would hope they have journeyed to a place they would not have seen without the novel or one of the stories…that they experienced it and enjoyed being there, became engrossed, and had the pleasure of a good read. I always welcome emails with serious and thoughtful questions. I invite readers of Show Time to think about the complexities of violence. Perhaps this is worth considering: “War unites us. Love divides us.”

Q: It’s interesting that some of your stories revolve around activists. Your own efforts range from philanthropy to utilizing social marketing to distribute birth control, yet some of your characters view “do-gooders” with sharp cynicism.

PH: We compassionate humans so love to think highly of ourselves that we do “good” things without using the brains god gave us. For a decade the U.S. sent huge amounts of grain to India. Result: Indian farmers couldn’t make a living, Indian agriculture stagnated, Indians were generally worse off than they would have been without our “help.”
Doing stuff that feels good instead of stuff that will acutely help is something I really abhor. Feel-good giving is self-indulgent and occasionally cruel. It’s great to feel superior to that panhandler on the corner, so give him a dollar (and assure the future of panhandling) and think how morally superior you are. Whatever you do, don’t think about how you could actually be helpful. Not emotionally satisfying! 
So the cynics in my stories are right, only it’s not really cynicism. It’s clarity. It’s intellectual integrity. If you want to help people thenempower them to take control of their lives. And don’t expect gratitude. You’re doing your job; they’re doing theirs.

Q: What’s next for you?

My most promising novel is Just In Time, in which a Wall Street trader is deposited back in the Pleistocene era. The other, Indian Summer, follows a Peace Corps volunteer’s transformation fighting famine in India during the 1960s. I plan to write more short stories focused on the transformative powers of sex and alcohol.

As for myself, I will continue enjoying my married life, being a stepfather, and nurturing my very promising grandkids. And, of course, I’ll continue organizing projects that promote civil liberties through the DKT Liberty Project, work to end the War on Drugs, and debunk yahoos who ignore the reason and science behind immunization and the genetically modified crops that can relieve suffering worldwide.

Author Promo
Review: This book instantly consumes you with it's chilly atmosphere. The characters are well written, the plot is gripping and the author's writing style is very unique. I highly recommend this to horror and thriller fans...it'll keep you on your toes until the very last page!

The Orbs Of Wrath by Nic Weissman

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The Orb of Wrath combines fantasy, intrigue and adventure, while transports the reader into a world where almost nothing is what it seems. Plots, counterplots, mysteries, blossoming relationships, disappointments, betrayals, dangers and successes, are combined in this fun cocktail. 
Erion is a skilled looter who runs the kingdom of Bor with his "brother" Mithir, performing dangerous commissions for wealthy clients. Mithir helps with his long trained magical abilities. One day, when they are doing one of their assignments, they encounter another group of adventurers, with whom they are forced to cooperate. 
The plot runs in the World of Oris which consists of 12 kingdoms and includes elves clans, dangerous monsters, dwarf kings, rich desert emirs, strange beasts, hospital halflings, ferocious orcs, ingenious gnomes, powerful wizards, brave knights, merchants, terrible vampires, etc. Recommended for the permanent library of all fantasy readers. 
Do you dare to accompany Erion and his friends in their adventures?
Review: This is a well written fantasy novel, set in a complex world. A great start to what promises to be an epic story.

Tuesday 27 October 2015

The Hot Cauldron: New Free Horror Read

The Hot Cauldron: New Free Horror Read: Hi everyone, Just to let you know, the horror ebook anthologies are free on Smashwords until Halloween as a promotion. Here are the links a...

Get Yourself Some Halloween Freebies!

Would you like to celebrate Halloween with some free scary books, including short stories by some of the most horrifying authors around? Of course you would! All the anthologies listed below are currently free on Smashwords, all you need to do is enter the code shown at the checkout. Enjoy!

Cover PDF copy
Tales Of Horror On Halloween Night - https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/582554 - BH73T

Haunted Tales - Smashwords
Haunted Tales: stories from beyond the grave - https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/510330 - KL96C

df0543bfc626fa83a014d8cc1cdd5625e747f992
Swallowed by the Beast - https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/506468 - PJ27U

Monster ebook
Monster Attack https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/492874 - DG95R

Unleash Front
Unleash the Undead - https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/477526 - HA75R

Monday 26 October 2015

Power Play by Tiffany Snow

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THIS KIND OF BUSINESS CAN ONLY BE PERSONAL
Sage Reese lives for her job. More precisely, she lives for her debonair boss, Parker Andersen. Sage handles everything for Parker, even as she fantasizes about the one thing that isn't in her job description: him. But when a high-stakes account crosses the line from shady to deadly, a tough cop starts giving Sage the attention she wishes Parker would . . .

Detective Dean Ryker couldn't be more different from Parker. While Parker wears expensive suits like a second skin and drives a BMW, Ryker's uniform is leather jackets and jeans . . . and his ride of choice is a Harley. While Parker's sexiness is a reserved, slow burn, Ryker is completely upfront about what-and who-he's after. And Sage tops his list.

Now, as Ryker digs deeper into the dark side of Parker's business, Sage finds herself caught between two men: the one she's always wanted-and the one who makes her feel wanted like never before . . .
Tiffany Snow
A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Tiffany Snow earned degrees in Education and History from the University of Missouri-Columbia, before launching a career in Information Technology. After over a decade in IT, she switched careers to what she always dreamed of doing - writing. Tiffany is the author of romantic suspense novels such as the Kathleen Turner Series, which includes No Turning Back, Turn to Me and Turning Point. Since she's drawn to character-driven books herself, that's what she loves to write, and the guy always gets his girl. She feeds her love of books with avid reading, yet she manages to spare time and considerable affection for trivia, eighties hair bands, the St. Louis Cardinals, and Elvis. She and her husband have two daughters and one dog.
Review: I really enjoyed this book! Author Tiffany Snow really knows how to build passion between characters that builds and builds until you just can't stop reading. The story was left on a cliffhanger and I cannot wait to find out where the story goes. I highly recommend this - it's a real page turner.

Tuesday 20 October 2015

The Fixer: The Naked Man by Jill Amy Rosenblatt

“Katerina—I need some help. Be a good girl and come over here and I’ll make it worth your while.” 

It’s an offer NYC college student Katerina Mills should refuse. But how can she? 

A desperate situation.... 

After ditching her cheating lover (and boss), she’s stuck in dead end temp jobs. Her dad just ditched her mom and his promise to pay Kat's college tuition bill. 

She has two weeks to come up with $14,000 or she's out of her apartment, out of school, and out of luck. 

A dangerous world.... 

Katerina falls into a job as a "fixer” for New York City's wealthy and privileged men. They have problems they need “fixed,” quick and on the QT, and they’re willing to pay. 

The rules are simple: collect the money, use your contacts, fix the problem. 

Kat's first job is easy: tail a shopaholic socialite wife. But who’s tailing Kat? 

Kat’s second job is not so easy: steal a VHS tape hidden in an antique chest. She can’t do it alone. To be a thief, she needs a thief: handsome, reclusive Alexander Winter to be exact. 

Kat soon learns the real rules for a fixer: there are no rules, there are no refunds. Get in. Get results. Get gone. 

As every step brings her closer to her goal and closer to danger, there’s one rule left for Katerina Mills to learn: once you’re in, there’s no getting out. 

Monday 19 October 2015

Written in Blood: HHAC Day 17: Carmilla Voiez

Written in Blood: HHAC Day 17: Carmilla Voiez: I was born in Bristol, South West England in the 1970's. Now I live by the sea in North East Scotland with a husband, two kids ...

Crystal's Chaotic Confessions : Forgotten by Samie Sands

Crystal's Chaotic Confessions : Forgotten by Samie Sands: Title: Forgotten Author: Samie Sands Genre: Sci-Fi / Horror The Lockdown has failed. The AM13 virus is spreading out of...

Bookish Madness: Promo Post Forgotten

Bookish Madness: Promo Post Forgotten:   About the Book Title: Forgotten Author: Samie Sands Genre: Sci-Fi / Horror The Lockdown has failed. The AM13 virus is sp...

Thursday 15 October 2015

See Me by Nicholas Sparks

Do you want to be in with the chance of winning Nicholas Sparks brand new novel ‘See Me’? Simply enter your name and email address into the form at thelockdown.co.uk/competitions and you’ll be entered into the prize draw. The winner will be selected at random today. Good luck!
9780751549980
See me just as I see you . . .
Colin Hancock is giving his second chance his best shot. With a history of violence and bad decisions behind him and the threat of prison dogging his every step, he’s determined to walk a straight line. To Colin, that means applying himself single-mindedly toward his teaching degree and avoiding everything that proved destructive in his earlier life. Reminding himself daily of his hard-earned lessons, the last thing he is looking for is a serious relationship.
Maria Sanchez, the hardworking daughter of Mexican immigrants, is the picture of conventional success. With a degree from Duke Law School and a job at a prestigious firm in Wilmington, she is a dark-haired beauty with a seemingly flawless professional track record. And yet Maria has a traumatic history of her own, one that compelled her to return to her hometown and left her questioning so much of what she once believed.
A chance encounter on a rain-swept road will alter the course of both Colin and Maria’s lives, challenging deeply held assumptions about each other and ultimately, themselves. As love unexpectedly takes hold between them, they dare to envision what a future together could possibly look like . . . until menacing reminders of events in Maria’s past begin to surface.
As a series of threatening incidents wreaks chaos in Maria’s life, Maria and Colin will be tested in increasingly terrifying ways. Will demons from their past destroy the tenuous relationship they’ve begun to build, or will their love protect them, even in the darkest hour?
Rich in emotion and fueled with suspense, SEE ME reminds us that love is sometimes forged in the crises that threaten to shatter us . . . and that those who see us for who we truly are may not always be the ones easiest to recognize.
Nicholas Sparks
Nicholas Sparks is one of the world's most beloved storytellers. All of his books have been New York Times bestsellers, with over 100 million copies sold worldwide, in more than 50 languages, including over 65 million copies in the United States alone.
Review: Wow! A romantic thriller like no other. This is another amazing book from the wonderful Nicholas Sparks. Maria and Colin have a steamy chemistry that sizzles despite their obvious differences - he's a bad boy, fighter with a dreadful past, whereas she is a straight laced lawyer who has always followed the rules. When a past case comes back to haunt her and her family (including the amazing Serena - you can't help but fall in love with her), Colin has to prove that he truly is worthy of her love. The surrounding characters in this book are just as well written as the protagonists, which makes the plot that much more gripping - a must read!

Wednesday 14 October 2015

Flesh Without Soul by Pochassic

Flesh Without Soul is the newest book in The Book Review Club – sign up for free books and gain readers and feedback for your book.
FleshWithoutSoulEMBEDcopy
What would you do to save the world? Eliminate racism? End Religious intolerance? Or simply destroy evil all together?

Michael Kerr, a recent drop out from his PHD program in bioengineering, is sure he can save the world. It’s a simple plan. Kill everyone on the planet who doesn’t believe in God. Problem is Michael’s unfaltering belief that he is the one and only true God. Now that his plan to cleanse the world has been unleashed all he needs to do is tie up a few loose ends. First save his sister Kara, who runs a small pizza joint in town, and second kill his other sister Jane, a Lt Commander in the Navy SEALS. As for the rest of the world, the zombie infection Michael released will kill every last human on Earth in six weeks, or less.

Then Paradise begins… One world united under one God… Michael, hallowed be His name.

From the exciting beginning as a commercial airliner is battered by a thunderstorm above Tokyo, to the unexpected ending in a small town nestled in the Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts, Flesh Without Soul, delivers a rarity in the crowded zombie genre, a story with a beginning, middle, and end. No sequels, no trilogies, no stringing you on forever. So sit back and sink your teeth into the zombie book you’ve been waiting for. 

AmazonAmazon UK and Goodreads.

Tuesday 13 October 2015

A Murder County by Brandon Daily

A Murder County is part of The Book Review Club – sign up for free books and gain readers and feedback for your book.

The nineteenth century looms just a few years away, bringing with it the belief in progress and a new world. But for Josiah Fuller, William Corvin, and the Rider in the Appalachian backwoods and small towns of the late nineteenth century, there is nothing but a world where bloodshed is paid for in blood, and violence is the ultimate law of the land.
When seventeen-year-old Josiah Fuller comes home to find his parents hanged and mutilated and the family house burned to the ground, he sets off to find the man responsible for their murders and avenge their deaths. His journey takes him through new towns and wildernesses he has not seen before. He meets people who show him the realities of living in a violent world, forcing Josiah to decide what is most important to him: vengeance or grace.

Years after running away from home as a young boy, William Corvin returns with his new bride to take over the family's coal mining operation. Though he is haunted by the violence of his past, he sets out to live a peaceful life and start a family there. However, Corvin's hopes of peace are challenged when a horrible act of violence causes him to revert back to the man he once was.

After being visited by an angel in a dream years earlier, the Rider has become a man with violence in his blood, believing himself to be appointed by God to collect the souls of sinners. He travels around on his horse, killing whoever he feels is deserving of God's wrath and vengeance. These three men move along their own individual paths, their stories intersecting with one another, continually searching for an understanding of the violent world in which they live and their own actions within that world.

The novel examines the power and fragility of belief and conviction within humans, showing how one small act often leads to consequences that reach far beyond anyone's imagining.

Review: This book is dark, edgy and exciting! I've never read anything like it before. The author really captures the human spirit in unusual situations well. It isn't often that I can say my heart was pounding whilst reading a book, but this was certainly one of them. I loved the mysterious rider whose morals dictate everything he does. Outstanding, highly recommended! 

The Soldiers Wife by Pamela Hart

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It is 1915 and the world is being torn apart, but newlyweds Ruby and Jimmy Hawkins are sure their love will survive the trauma and tragedy of war. Sent away to fight in the desperate battles raging in Gallipoli, Jimmy plans for the future they promised each other and struggles to keep his dreams whole amidst the brutality of the trenches.
Back home in Sydney, Ruby reads his romantic letters, full of longing. But as weeks slip into months she is forced to forge her own life. A new job throws her into a man's world fraught with complications and as the lives of those around her begin to shatter, a powerful new attraction beckons. Realising she must change to truly find her way, Ruby discovers her own strength and independence - but will the price be her marriage?
An unforgettable love affair set during WW1 and inspired by the true story of the author's own family history, The Soldier's Wife is a heart-soaring saga of passion, loss and learning how to live when all you hold dear is threatened.
Pamela Hart
Pamela is an award-winning author for both adults and children. Writing under the name Pamela Freeman, she wrote the historical novel THE BLACK DRESS, which won the NSW Premier's History Prize for 2006 and is now in its third edition. Pamela is also well known for her fantasy novels for adults, published by Orbit worldwide: the CASTINGS TRILOGY and her Aurealis Award winning novel, EMBER AND ASH. She has a Doctorate of Creative Arts from the University of Technology, Sydney, where she has also lectured in creative writing. Pamela lives in Sydney with her husband and their son, and teaches face-to-face and online at the Australian Writers' Centre. THE SOLDIER'S WIFE is her 28th book.
Review: This novel is a beautifully written masterpiece! The fact that it's based on a true story makes it that much more compelling. In her time, Ruby is feisty, powerful, a force to be reckoned with and the effect that the war has on her life and marriage is devastating. However, the overall tone of the book is uplifting. Highly recommended!

Wednesday 7 October 2015

The Shadows by J.R. Ward

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Two brothers bound by more than blood fight to change a brutal destiny in the heart-wrenching new novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood by #1 New York Times bestselling author J. R. Ward.
Trez “Latimer” doesn’t really exist.  And not just because the identity was created so that a Shadow could function in the underbelly of the human world.  Sold by his parents to the Queen of the S’Hsibe as a child, Trez escaped the Territory and has been a pimp and an enforcer in Caldwell, NY for years- all the while on the run from a destiny of sexual servitude.  He’s never had anyone he could totally rely on... except for his brother, iAm.
iAm’s sole goal has always been to keep his brother from self-destructing- and he knows he’s failed.  It’s not until the Chosen Serena enters Trez’s life that the male begins to turn things around... but by then it’s too late.  The pledge to mate the Queen’s daughter comes due and there is nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, and no negotiating.
Trapped between his heart and a fate he never volunteered for, Trez must decide whether to endanger himself and others- or forever leave behind the female he’s in love with.  But then an unimaginable tragedy strikes and changes everything.  Staring out over an emotional abyss, Trez must find a reason to go on or risk losing himself and his soul forever.  And iAm, in the name of brotherly love, is faced with making the ultimate sacrifice...
jr
J. R. Ward lives in the South with her incredibly supportive husband and her beloved golden retriever. After graduating from law school, she began working in health care in Boston and spent many years as chief of staff for one of the premier academic medical centres in the nation. She is the author of the Black Dagger Brotherhood and Fallen Angels series.
Review: I like this series of books and thought that this one was a great addition to the overall story line. The fantasy world surrounding these well-written characters is detailed, epic and really exciting. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys the paranormal romance genre - this one is filled with love, lust and a hole lot of supernatural!

Monday 5 October 2015

Nicholas Sparks #Competition

Do you want to be in with the chance of winning Nicholas Sparks brand new novel 'See Me'? Simply enter your name and email address into the form at thelockdown.co.uk/competitions and you'll be entered into the prize draw. The winner will be selected at random on October 15th. Good luck!
9780751549980
See me just as I see you . . .

Colin Hancock is giving his second chance his best shot. With a history of violence and bad decisions behind him and the threat of prison dogging his every step, he's determined to walk a straight line. To Colin, that means applying himself single-mindedly toward his teaching degree and avoiding everything that proved destructive in his earlier life. Reminding himself daily of his hard-earned lessons, the last thing he is looking for is a serious relationship.

Maria Sanchez, the hardworking daughter of Mexican immigrants, is the picture of conventional success. With a degree from Duke Law School and a job at a prestigious firm in Wilmington, she is a dark-haired beauty with a seemingly flawless professional track record. And yet Maria has a traumatic history of her own, one that compelled her to return to her hometown and left her questioning so much of what she once believed.

A chance encounter on a rain-swept road will alter the course of both Colin and Maria's lives, challenging deeply held assumptions about each other and ultimately, themselves. As love unexpectedly takes hold between them, they dare to envision what a future together could possibly look like . . . until menacing reminders of events in Maria's past begin to surface.

As a series of threatening incidents wreaks chaos in Maria's life, Maria and Colin will be tested in increasingly terrifying ways. Will demons from their past destroy the tenuous relationship they've begun to build, or will their love protect them, even in the darkest hour?

Rich in emotion and fueled with suspense, SEE ME reminds us that love is sometimes forged in the crises that threaten to shatter us . . . and that those who see us for who we truly are may not always be the ones easiest to recognize.

Thursday 1 October 2015

Instinct by Sherrilyn Kenyon

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Being a teen is never easy...
Zombies, demons, vampires, shapeshifters-another day in the life of sixteen-year-old Nick Gautier-and those are just his friends. But now that he's accepted the demon that lives inside him, he must learn to control it and temper the very emotions that threaten the lives of everyone he cares for. Something that's hard to do while trying to stay off the menus of those who want his head on a platter. And no one wants him more than the dark gods who created his race. Now that they know where he is, they will stop at nothing to reclaim him. And without knowing it, Nick has just embraced the one person he should never have trusted. The one person who will hand him over to his enemies to get back the life they lost.
Nick has finally accepted his fate, now he must learn to defy his destiny, and the dark, deadly forces that will stop at nothing to destroy everyone he loves so that they can again return to the world of man and own it, in the next Chronicles of Nick novel, Instinct, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Sherrilyn Kenyon.
The #1 New York Times bestselling author, Sherrilyn Kenyon, who is proud of her mixed Cherokee heritage, lives a life of extraordinary danger… as does any woman with three sons, a husband, a menagerie of pets and a collection of swords that all of the above have a major fixation with. But when not running interference (or dashing off to the emergency room), she’s found chained to her computer where she likes to play with all her imaginary friends. With more than thirty million copies of her books in print, in over one hundred countries, she certainly has a lot of friends to play with too.
Her books appear regularly at the coveted #1 bestselling spot. This extraordinary bestseller continues to top every genre she writes. Her current series include: The Dark-Hunters, The League, Chronicles of Nick and Beladors. Since 2004, she has placed more than 80 novels on the New York Times list in all formats including manga.
Her Lords of Avalon novels have been adapted by Marvel and her Dark-Hunter novels are now a New York Times bestselling manga published by St. Martins, and her Chronicles of Nick series is adapted by Yen Press. Her Dark-Hunters and Chronicles of Nick series are both soon to be major motion picture releases.
Review: I really enjoy this book series! Nick has a complex life of battling zombies and demons, etc in his high school, and as the stories progress, it unravels that there is a much bigger plot line building. One that I can't wait to discover! This book delves much deeper into Nick's character and gives the reader a bigger insight into his life - all surrounded by an intriguing mystery. I would love to see these books turned into films, I think they'd work amazingly on the big screen. Can't wait for the next!

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