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.

Thursday 28 April 2016

Gingerbread by Victor Davis

When Edgar challenges his friend Arainy to sneak into the candy factory and steal sweets, she resists, even though she desperately wants to prove herself. She knows the risks. She knows the Candy Man has caught Eddie before, but intrigue gets the better of her. This is not a children's bedtime story. It is a dark retelling of Peter Rabbit.

Note from the author: For years I've been keeping a dream journal. First, I've heard that writing down your dreams encourages them to come more clearly and frequently. Second, I've always hoped that out of all the nonsense, an occasional gem can be found. On January 1st, 2012, I woke up and scribbled a disturbing dream down in my journal. Months later, it formed the basis for this short story.
Review: Wow this short story is a well crafted, chilling read that stays with you long after you've finished it. It's creepy, with touches of fairy tale and sci fi elements that make it a truly unique read. I loved this!

✯★Frog Hollow (Witches of Sanctuary Book 1)★✯ by Savannah Blevins

✯★Frog Hollow (Witches of Sanctuary Book 1)★
by Savannah Blevins


✯Synopsis✯
It’s a sign. No one is safe. 

At just twenty-two years old, Wilhelmina Daniels inherits a house, a family of eclectic witches, and a death sentence on the same day. As revealed by Reid Thomas, her shy but smoldering neighbor, Wilhelmina is a descendent of the Innocent—a line of gifted women who are to be admired, feared, and above all else, protected. 

Death, mayhem, and The Haunted... 

The murder of Wilhelmina’s mother—the family matriarch—sends the small town’s rumor-mill into a frenzy. Suspicions fall on The Haunted, a rival force with dual personalities, one of them being Julien Cote. 

It's difficult to believe the charming boy has a sexual deviant with a hankering for violence lurking inside. 

Rumor has it Julien can seduce an angel out of her wings. Wilhelmina doesn't have wings, but if he calls her cheri d'amour one more time, she's liable to lose something of equal importance—her heart. But with Reid hailing from her clan, will she stay close to her own, or venture into the unknown? 

Even a powerful spell can’t seal Julien’s fate… 

Julien knows an incantation that just might help Wilhelmina to solve her mother's death, but when an unidentified stalker is spotted spying in her house, her family is certain it's Julien’s dangerous alter ego come out to play. 

Wilhelmina must decide—is risking her life worth the possible heartbreak of discovering the truth about Julien’s fate and her mother’s death? Or will she cast aside her desire for Julien and vow her love to Reid. 

Leaving her past forever buried in the murky depth of…Frog Hollow


★★AVAILABLE NOW★★

 
 
★★MEET THE AUTHOR★★

Savannah was born in Hyden, Kentucky. She received her M.S in Speech Language Pathology from The University of Mississippi in 2009. She's been writing since the early age of nine when she begged her parents for a type writer for Christmas.

She now lives in Corbin, Ky with her husband of eight years, John, and their two wonderful daughters, Delilah and Gracie.

When she isn't working, or running after her kids, she spends her free time traveling the country with her husband. There is nothing better than a day of football in the grove, a late night of basketball at Rupp Arena or slapping the glass to celebrate another Washington Capitals goal.

She is a strong believer that with enough hard work and determination you can accomplish anything.



Tuesday 26 April 2016

Tales of Blood and Sulphur: Apocalypse Minor (The Tales of Blood and Sulphur) by J.G. Clay

Eleven Tales steeped in Blood and reeking of Sulphur J.G Clay takes you on a journey through the voids of Reality and into dark places where demons, mutants and inter-dimensional creatures taunt, taint and corrupt Humanity. Survival is not guaranteed, sanity is not assured and death lurks in every corner. These are the Tales of Blood and Sulphur: Apocalypse Minor; eleven twisted tales of terror and mayhem..... There are cracks in the skin of Reality. Some are microscopic, others are as wide as a four-lane motorway. As the fault lines increase and widen, the door to our world shines like a beacon in the darkness, a warm and inviting sight to others beyond our understanding. When They cross over into our realm, The Tales begin...... A gambler taking one last desperate throw of the dice. A struggling writer making an unholy alliance. An eternal being fighting to stay alive in the financial capital of India. A man burdened with a terrible town secret. The Law Enforcers who must never cry. The End of Days live and direct from the rural heartland of England. The blood is warm, the sulphur is burning, the tales will be told, the Apocalypse Minor is imminent!
Review: Wow! This is a real dark twisted set of stories! I loved each and every one individually - I didn't think any of them let the collection down - but The Writer's Friend really stood out. If you want to be chilled to the bone, then this is for you!

Amber Alert by Sara Schoen

 

AMBER ALERT (Amber Alert Series #1)

**Mature Content Warning** Recommended for ages 17+ due to
violence and sensitive subject matter.
 
Anna was taken…
 
Taken from her home to live out a sick game that a guy has been
playing for the last ten years.
 
With no certainty that anyone is looking for her, and seemingly
hours away from home, she's forced to play housewife with a man that has had
twelve other 'wives'.
 
Each of them now dead…
 
With 12 rules and the obvious exits blocked, from the previous
girls attempts to flee. Is Anna’s only way out to play along and become a
'loving wife'? Or will she die during the chase?
 
Would anyone even know what happened to her?
 
Or would she be labeled as a runaway?
 
And where is she in the
first place?
 
 
ABDUCTED (Amber Alert Series #2)

**Mature Content Warning** Recommended for ages 17+ due to
violence and sensitive subject matter.
 
Audrey Thomas had been raised by overprotective parents and is sick
of it…
 
After the kidnapping and recovery of her mother, Anna Cowles,
eighteen years ago, parents had a harsh awakening as they realized any child
could be taken for any reason.
 
New laws were set in place to protect children, but those same
children ignored the rules and went out of their way to get into trouble.
 
Audrey has always done what she wanted, no matter what the
consequences were…
 
But what happens when her choices lead her to being taken by the
one man people feared everyday for the last eighteen years, right up to his
execution.
 
Will she make it out like her mother did?
 
Or will she suffer the
fate of the previous twelve girls?
 
 
 
APPREHENDED (Amber Alert Series #3)

**Mature Content Warning** Recommended for ages 17+ due to
violence and sensitive subject matter.
 
There's a copycat on the loose…
 
He's playing the part of the notorious Steve Bennett, a serial
kidnapper and killer.
 
Twelve known girls have already been taken from all over the
country, but none have returned. With the orignial house of the mass kidnapper
and murderer destroyed, where is he hiding the girls?
 
Jessi Sparks is about to find out for herself…
 
This is the case she’s been waiting for, and she won't let it
slip through her fingers. She will risk everything to finally put an end to
mass kidnappings.
 
But will she be risking
her own life?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
"No! Andy...please!"
I was roughly shoved into the back of  a black car. The door slammed shut, the front door opened soon after and he got in. There was a click, as the car was locked. He threw the car into forward, and took off at an insane speed leaving everyone I knew and cared for behind.
I watched in terror as trees whizzed by, leaving the familiar surroundings behind as the road went from pavement to dirt and the buildings were replaced with large trees and fallen branches. I didn't know where we were going, but I wanted to go home. The locks wouldn’t budge; the child safety lock prevented my escape the moment he had locked me in this god-forsaken car. I had lost my phone in the struggle, and I was stuck in here.
 There were scratch marks and dark spots on the seat. It looked as though someone had tried to claw their way out and I couldn't blame them. Every hair on my neck were standing on end with fear blazing through me. My throat was sore from the screaming, but all the drivers had ignored my pleas for help. They simply kept driving without another sideways glance in my direction.
"Where are you taking me?" I asked again, my voice hoarse from the screams and crying. It was answered the same way, with silence that slowly crept in and made me shudder.
"Shut up!'
"Where are we going?"
"Be a good girl and take orders. Now shut up!"
I wished more than anything to be back at home and under my bed, away from him. The road turned to gravel as we came upon a rundown house, its shudders were falling of the hinges, but what caught me was the windows were boarded up. To prevent escape, I felt a shiver travel up my spine as the car came to a slow stop.
He got out of the car and didn’t unlock the doors until he was at the door. That small click would have brought me relief at any point in the car ride other than now. I pushed against the other side of the car as he reached one long hand in and grabbed me by my ankle and roughly yank me out of the car on to the gravel. A scream ripped through my throat as the gravel cut into my skin and my head hit the side of the car.
"Get up!" he ordered. My head was spinning from everything that had happened, but when I didn't move, he moved me.
His hand grabbed take a large chunk of my hair before he lifted me out of the car, ignoring my cries of pain. He roughly dragged me to the house, I couldn't get my feet to walk and fell often.
The door was solid, he had to slam his body against the wooden blockade and force it open. There was a creak as it slowly opened from his blows, and he threw me inside onto the hardwood floor. There was no carpet, anywhere It would be possible to hear every step from anywhere in the home. The house was bare to the bones, the walls held no photos or phones, rooms remained empty of furniture unless it was bolted to the ground. A new wave of fear ripped through me in realization that he had done this before, he had taken precautions for it.
 
 
 
Sara Schoen began
writing in middle school, but did not officially dedicate herself to writing
until high school when encouraged by her writing partner. Before then, Sara had
not thought about trying to publish her works because it seemed unlikely that
anyone would take a chance on someone so young. Despite her previous thoughts,
she published her first book, Amber Alert, at the age of nineteen, and began
rewriting and editing a spy series that she spent years writing when she was
younger. With a lot of hard work and determination, now that same series, which
is close to her heart, is a bestseller.
 
Sara is a Biology
Major with a minor in Environmental Science and a minor in Spanish at James
Madison University, and spends her time writing, studying, and ghost hunting.
While writing is a great hobby that turned into a passion to share with others,
school is her priority.
 
Throughout her
publishing journey, Sara has had an amazing support system from her family,
friends, and significant other, who were with her every step of the way. She
hopes to continue to write, and wants to inspire others to reach for their
dreams no matter how far they may seem. She truly believes that dreams can come
true at any age, if you put in effort and chase after what you want.
 
 
Social media links:
Twitter: @SaraNSchoen
Instagram:
@Stolen_Glances

 
 
Sara Schoen

Guarded Secrets Series
Suicide Mission (FREE): http://amzn.com/B011B1JMBY
Covert Operations: http://amzn.com/B0172DGCE0

Waking Up Blank: http://amzn.com/B00YTB0EZM


Sara Schoen and Taylor Henderson

The Dying Game: http://amzn.com/B00SU83M68

Deadly Hallows: http://amzn.com/B01BI3ZQA6

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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