Review: Club Nexus

Club Nexus by E.J. Stevens

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Book Info: Genre: Urban Fantasy
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: Fans of Urban Fantasy, the Ivy Granger series
Book Available: December 3, 2013
Trigger Warnings: torture, murder, magical roofies, violence

Please Note: There will be a release-day giveaway on December 3 to celebrate the release of this book, which will go live at 12 a.m. Eastern standard time on December 3. You can enter to win at my blog.

My Thoughts: This novella comprises four short stories that interweave to provide various points of view. The one person we do not hear from is Ivy, but there is a short story featuring Jinx and another featuring Forneus, as well as a couple other people involved in Club Nexus. Since they are shorts, and they all address the same general period of time, I can't provide much information without spoiling things, but I really enjoyed this story, especially Forneus' section. Although that was bittersweet, but... well, I can't say more than that. I just felt bad for him.

Fans of the series, you won't want to miss this. Urban Fantasy fans, you need to check out Ivy Granger and this series.

Series Information: Ivy Granger, Psychic Detective series
Book 1: Shadow Sight, read and reviewed July 2012, review linked here where formatting allowed.
Book 1.5: Blood and Mistletoe, read and reviewed October 2012, review linked here where formatting allowed.
Book 2: Ghost Light, read and reviewed July 2013, review linked here where formatting allowed.
Book 2.5: Club Nexus, TBR 12/3/14
Book 3: Burning Bright, TBR June 17, 2014

Disclosure: I received an e-ARC from the author. No review was requested, but I am happy to provide my honest opinion. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: A demon, an Unseelie faerie, and a vampire walk into a bar...

This Ivy Granger ebook special contains short stories set in Club Nexus, the hidden haunt of Harborsmouth's paranormal underworld.

ICED

A bargain gone wrong leads a highborn Unseelie faerie to life as an enslaved bartender with a taste for revenge.

DUSTED

Being a highly skilled predator doesn't necessarily put you at the top of the food chain at Club Nexus. A southern vampire with a hankering for blood and wanton violence may have bit off more than he can chew.

DEMONIZED

The demon attorney we love to hate has his eye on a certain rockabilly human. Too bad she's brought a crossbow loaded with holy water dipped bolts for this night on the town.

JINXED

Just when Jinx needs a carefree girl's night out with Ivy, a smoking hot demon tries to buy her a drink. She really is the unluckiest human on the planet.



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Review: Tell My Sorrows to the Stones

Tell My Sorrows to the Stones by Christopher Golden

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Book Info: Genre: Short story anthology, dark fiction
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: those who like short stories that will haunt them
Trigger Warnings: attempted suicide, bullying, murder

My Thoughts: It's very difficult to review short-story anthologies, because there is such a variety of stories in each. It's a bit easier when it's all by the same author, as at least the styles more or less match.

Christopher Golden is a master of the craft of short stories. Not everyone can write short stories and novels, but Golden does both quite well. These short stories are all haunting, many horrific, all will stick with the reader. I think the best way to read this book would be to read each story and then stop to think about it for awhile, because they all give the reader something to think about.

Haunting, horrifying, beautiful... you don't want to miss this book.

Disclosure: I received an e-ARC from ChiZine Publishers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: A circus clown willing to give anything to be funny. A spectral gunslinger who must teach a young boy to defend the ones he loves. A lonely widower making a farewell tour of the places that meant the world to his late wife. A faded Hollywood actress out to deprive her ex-husband of his prize possession. A grieving mother who will wait by the railroad tracks for a ghostly train that always has room for one more. A young West Virginia miner whose only hope of survival is a bedtime story. These are just some of the characters to be found in Tell My Sorrows to the Stones, the new short story collection by Christopher Golden.



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Review: The 'Geisters

The 'Geisters by David Nickle

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Book Info: Genre: Dark fantasy
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: Fans of dark fantasy, strange ghost stories
Trigger Warnings: killing, murder, possible child molestation, spectral rape

My Thoughts: This is a very strange book. I'm not sure how to take it, actually, but it left me profoundly unsettled. The question or who or what the Insect is remains unanswered—was Ann just a profoundly disturbed individual, or was there another entity involved in everything that happened? What truth was there in any of the story? We're left with no set answers and a lot of unsettling questions at the end of the book. Fans of dark fantasy and ghost stories should enjoy this book. I know I did, even if I have to wonder at my own mental health for doing so.

Disclosure: I received an e-book ARC from ChiZine in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: When Ann LeSage was a little girl, she had an invisible friend—a poltergeist, that spoke to her with flying knives and howling winds. She called it the Insect. And with a little professional help, she contained it. And the nightmare was over, at least for a time. But the nightmare never truly ended. As Ann grew from girl into young woman, the Insect grew with her. It became more than terrifying. It became a thing of murder. Now, as she embarks on a new life married to Michael Voors, a successful young lawyer, Ann believes that she finally has the Insect under control. But there are others vying to take that control away from her. They may not know exactly what they're dealing with, but they know they want it. They are the 'Geisters. And in pursuing their own perverse dream, they risk spawning the most terrible nightmare of all.



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Review: Annihilation: A Novel

Annihilation: A Novel by Jeff VanderMeer

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Book Info: Genre: Psychological thriller (Per publisher); Lovecraftian fiction (per me)
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: Fans of Lovecraftian stories, surreal or bizarro fiction
Book Available: February 4, 2014 in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook formats
Trigger Warnings: killing, mind control, murder, attempted murder

My Thoughts: An early reader of this book described it as, “A little Kubrick, a lot Lovecraft...” and who could resist that juicy plum? I'm not sure what genre to put this in, however. While it is dark fantasy, it is also very gritty and “real” in many places. Any elements of magical realism are subtle and maybe the result of an unreliable narrator. Or maybe not. Maybe these things really are happening. The problem is that everything seems almost dream-like in many places.

The Lovecraft comes about through the slow, creeping weirdness that gradually ramps up into more and more weirdness as the story continues. The plot is very surreal in many places. If a person isn't a fan of Lovecraftian fiction and/or bizarro or surreality, then they probably will not enjoy this story. However, if you take the time to focus and follow along, you will find yourself in a very interesting place. I, for one, will definitely be watching for the rest of this trilogy, to find out what happens, because it's just such a cool idea. I can't give you any details about the story as it would be very easily spoiled. But if you like Lovecraftian, surreal or bizarro fiction, then check this book out.

Series Information: The Southern Reach Trilogy
Book 1: Annihilation, available February 4, 2014
Book 2: Authority, available June, 2014
Book 3: Acceptance, available September, 2014

Disclosure: I received a paperback ARC from the Amazon Vine program in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: Area X has been cut off from the rest of the continent for decades. Nature has reclaimed the last vestiges of human civilization. The first expedition returned with reports of a pristine, Edenic landscape; all the members of the second expedition committed suicide; the third expedition died in a hail of gunfire as its members turned on one another; the members of the eleventh expedition returned as shadows of their former selves, and within months of their return, all had died of aggressive cancer.

This is the twelfth expedition.

Their group is made up of four women: an anthropologist; a surveyor; a psychologist, the de facto leader; and our narrator, a biologist. Their mission is to map the terrain and collect specimens; to record all their observations, scientific and otherwise, of their surroundings and of one another; and, above all, to avoid being contaminated by Area X itself.

They arrive expecting the unexpected, and Area X delivers—they discover a massive topographic anomaly and life forms that surpass understanding—but it’s the surprises that came across the border with them, and the secrets the expedition members are keeping from one another, that change everything.



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Review: Crosswind

Crosswind by Lynne Cantwell

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Book Info: Genre: Magical Realism
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: those interested in alternate spirituality, those who enjoyed the Pipe Woman Chronicles, or are interested in learning more about that world.
Trigger Warnings: Murder, attempted murder, chemical attacks

My Thoughts: Land, Sea, Sky is a continuation in the same world as the Pipe Woman Chronicles, taking place ten years later. It is not necessary to have read the Pipe Woman Chronicles to enjoy it, but you should anyway... because they are awesome. At any rate, Crosswind is mostly populated by new characters, although a few people from the Pipe Woman Chronicles do show up, so we meet Sue, Tess, and Darrell and their associated deities, as well as several other people with whom the main characters associate. Character development is very well done, providing information in an organic way and avoiding exposition and information dumps.

This series will be dealing with the fallout of the Second Coming (as people are calling the day the deities “came out”). Even with deities willing to show up and knock heads once in awhile, there are people who refuse to believe in them. And, of course, a new era of peace is less than welcome to those who have made their fortunes in war.

My only complaint is about the formatting on the ARC file, because the print was teeny-tiny and I had a really difficult time reading it. I plan to pick up a copy of this book in final format before the next one comes out so I can re-read it more comfortably.

All in all, yet another excellent book from this amazing writer. Fans of the Pipe Woman Chronicles, and those interested in alternate spirituality, as well as those dreaming of a better world should all enjoy this book.

Series Information: Land, Sea, Sky series
Prologue: Where Were You When, includes the shorts “Where Were You When”, “Change of Plans”, and “Prophecy”. Review linked here.
Book 1: Crosswind
The Pipe Woman Chronicles
Book 1: Seized, review linked here
Book 2: Fissured, review linked here
Book 3: Tapped, review linked here
Book 4: Gravid, review linked here
Book 5: Annealed, review linked here

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author's publicist in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: Storm's coming...

Life on Earth is much improved since the pagan gods' return. As conflict eases around the world, attention—and money—has turned to more humanitarian goals: improving the lives of the First Nations peoples and others who were repressed for thousands of years.

But the former ruling class—the military, religious, and corporate leaders who profited under the old system—are about to stage a last-ditch effort to bring their good times back.

The gods refuse to start a new war against those men, because that would make them no better than Their opponents. Instead, They have drafted three humans to help Them. Together, Tess, Sue and Darrell must find a way past their own flaws to ensure the gods' peace will not be destroyed.



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Review: Where Were You When: An Anthology

Where Were You When: An Anthology by Lynne Cantwell

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Book Info: Genre: Magical Realism
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: those interested in alternate spirituality, those who enjoyed the Pipe Woman Chronicles, or are interested in learning more about that world.

My Thoughts: This is an anthology of three short stories that take place ten years after the events of the Pipe Woman Chronicles, and preceding Crosswind. I was very happy and excited to realize that this world would continue to provide me with entertainment, at least for one more day... I will provide a short review of each of the three shorts:

“Where Were You When”: Tess remembers the events from the end of Annealed, and her first encounter with Morrigan, as well as what led to her decision to study journalism.

“Change of Plans”: Darrell has just completed the shamanic rituals necessary to be considered a full-blown medicine man. Then a rabbit leads him to meet Nanabush. He learns he will need to completely change his life in this brave, new world.

“Prophecy”: Sue, Moira and Heather are enjoying their Senior Skip Day. On a lark, they decide to have their fortunes told. Sue is drawn to Gaia.

I think this would be a great way for someone to learn a bit more about this series, if one isn't quite certain about picking up the books. The shorts introduce us to the main characters that will be in the Land, Sea, Sky series. The author has tentatively announce it to be a three-book series. I guess we'll find out soon enough. I love this world that Lynne Cantwell has created, and enjoyed this short anthology.

Series Information: Land, Sea, Sky is a continuation in the same world as the Pipe Woman Chronicles. It is not necessary to have read the Pipe Woman Chronicles to enjoy it, but you should anyway...
Prologue: Where Were You When, includes the shorts “Where Were You When”, “Change of Plans”, and “Prophecy”.
Book 1: Crosswind
The Pipe Woman Chronicles
Book 1: Seized, review linked here
Book 2: Fissured, review linked here
Book 3: Tapped, review linked here
Book 4: Gravid, review linked here
Book 5: Annealed, review linked here

Disclosure: I bought this short-story anthology for myself so I could read it before I read Crosswind. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: On the day when all the pagan gods and goddesses returned to Earth, three of Them—the Irish war goddess Morrigan, the Wiccan Earth goddess Gaia, and the Ojibwe culture hero Nanabush—marked three humans as their avatars. Soon, the gods will need them to protect the world They have created from those who profited during the days when Earth was ruled by greed and fear. But the three stories in this anthology tell how it all began.



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Review: Annealed

Annealed by Lynne Cantwell

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Book Info: Genre: Fantasy/Magical Realism
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: people who enjoy alternate spirituality, Native American mythology, good stories
Trigger Warnings: kidnapping, endangerment of pregnant woman

My Thoughts: So, this is it. The final book. The ultimate denouement. I read these five books over the course of two days—Saturday and Sunday—because I just could not put them down and stop reading for anything. What an amazing story has been laid out before me in these five books, and I wish, I wish, oh how I wish that reality would turn out like this book.

There will be people who will see these books as blasphemous. I pity those people. I pity their closed view of the world, the lack of wonder in their lives. I pity their rigid dogma and inability to see the amazing multiverse in which we live. And most of all, I pity the fact that they could not enjoy these books the way I was able to. I wish to express ineffable thanks to Kriss Morton, who recommended these books to me, and to the author, Lynne Cantwell, for providing me such a wonderful weekend. I feel like there is something missing now in my life.

Those who are open to this story, definitely read it. If you are interested in alternate spirituality, the multitude of divinity that is out there to choose from, the Native American ways (among others), then definitely, you want to read these books. An amazing tale.

Series Information: The Pipe Woman Chronicles
Book 1: Seized, review linked here
Book 2: Fissured, review linked here
Book 3: Tapped, review linked here
Book 4: Gravid, review linked here
Book 5: Annealed

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author's publicist in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: It’s zero hour…

Naomi has just two weeks to find a new home for Joseph's grandfather. The old Ute shaman is fighting for his life against a mysterious injection of toxin he received at the hands of the Norse Trickster god Loki. If Naomi is to defeat Loki once and for all, she must learn what it is he seeks under the old man's wickiup. 

She has just one week before she must mediate between the Earth's pagan gods and goddesses and the Christian God. If her efforts fail, all of humankind will suffer the consequences.

And her baby is due any day.

In this, the fifth and final book of the Pipe Woman Chronicles, Naomi is in a race against the clock to balance the demands of her body, her family, and her friends—and she must do it while the whole world is watching.



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Review: Gravid

Gravid by Lynne Cantwell

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Book Info: Genre: Fantasy/Magical Realism
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: people who enjoy alternate spirituality, Native American mythology, good stories
Trigger Warnings: attempted murder, violence

My Thoughts: With so many things piling up on top of her all at once, Naomi has decided to just ignore everything and hope things work out for the best. I can relate! Of course, that is never the case, and many things she has been trying to avoid are forced upon her in the course of this book.

I'm very worried about Looks Far. I know he's old, but he's not that old. I hope he'll still be around for awhile!

The secret is out, of course, and the crazies are coming out of the woodwork, as are the protesters. I can't wait to see how this will all be wrapped up in the final installment! This has been a wild, and highly enjoyable ride, but it'll all be over soon. Of course, there's a new series coming out from this amazing author, so I have something new to look forward to, as do you!

Series Information: The Pipe Woman Chronicles
Book 1: Seized, review linked here
Book 2: Fissured, review linked here
Book 3: Tapped, review linked here
Book 4: Gravid
Book 5: Annealed

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author's publicist in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: Denial is not just a river in Egypt…

Naomi Witherspoon, back home in Denver after her “vacation” in South Dakota, has amassed a catalog of things she doesn’t want to think about. Her due date is just around the corner, but she has yet to buy a single diaper—let alone look for a bigger place for her, her boyfriend Joseph, and the baby. Speaking of housing problems, Joseph’s grandfather is in failing health and needs to move out of his wickiup, but the old man won’t budge. Naomi and Joseph may have found a replacement for their woo-woo teammate/nemesis Jack in TV reporter Antonia Greco—but Antonia comes with her own set of problems, not least of which is that she’s dating Naomi’s ex-fiancé, Brock. Meanwhile, Jack has escaped from the Mexican drug lord who owns him, and the thugs sent to find him aren’t above roughing people up.

Best of all, Naomi hasn’t shared any of this with her mother, who wants to sell her house in Indiana and move to Colorado.

If Naomi can negotiate this minefield, mediating an agreement between White Buffalo Calf Pipe Woman and Jehovah should be a piece of cake…



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Review: Tapped

Tapped by Lynne Cantwell

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Book Info: Genre: Fantasy/Magical Realism
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: people who enjoy alternate spirituality, Native American mythology, good stories

My Thoughts: Oh, wow, this is the best one yet! In addition to the Native American deities, and the Norse deities, now we've met a few Celtic deities! Very cool. We also visit South Dakota in the winter, which is a pretty bleak place, but beautiful in its own way. The Badlands of South Dakota are something to see. My dad rode in a “rough trail” horse race there one year, and I remember how lovely it was.

I can't really go into why I loved this book so much without providing spoilers. Hopefully people who know me will understand once they read it. All I can say is that the big discovery at the end had me laughing and cheering out loud.

I loved meeting the group in South Dakota. What a great bunch of people! I hope we'll go back there before the series ends. I'm pretty psyched up to read the next book in the series now, so I'll leave it at that. My recommendations for who will enjoy the book remains the same as in previous reviews. I really do highly recommend these books.

Series Information: The Pipe Woman Chronicles
Book 1: Seized, review linked here
Book 2: Fissured, review linked here
Book 3: Tapped
Book 4: Gravid
Book 5: Annealed

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author's publicist in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: Ah, winter in South Dakota…

Naomi’s caught some kind of bug, and she hasn’t seen Joseph in weeks. But she lets Shannon drag her on vacation: a road trip to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation to find Naomi’s father. There, they find more than they bargained for: a dream wolf, a mysterious walled compound that might or might not belong to Loki, and a lot of snow.

Shannon certainly knows how to show a friend a good time…



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Review: Fissured

Fissured by Lynne Cantwell

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Book Info: Genre: Fantasy/Magical Realism
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: people who enjoy alternate spirituality, Native American mythology, good stories
Trigger Warnings: sexual assault, a form of mental rape caused by altering people's emotions

My Thoughts: After saving Looks Far's campsite and deciding to set up her own mediation firm in the first book, this book finds Naomi rather frantically trying to do everything herself. She and Joseph are working through some relationship issues—it being rather difficult for two people who are accustomed to their own space to make room for one another—as well as their connections to the deities Coyote and White Buffalo Calf Pipe Woman. This book also deals with the very serious environmental issue of fracking, which is a form of drilling for natural gas that is done by dumping chemicals into the ground to basically melt the gas into the water table. This can lead to some really severe consequences for the area, such as fouling the water table, poisoning the land, and causing illnesses in the people around from the pollution in the air, soil, and water. Fracking, to be honest, makes strip-mining look like the height of environmental awareness. Horrible stuff.

Jack is a very strange character. I really wanted to hate him, because he's just obnoxious, but somehow the author manages to slip in enough hints about his life that the reader actually managed to maintain some sympathy for him. It rather amazed me that she was able to do this.

I'm really enjoying the way this series is unfolding. There are overarching issues that are continuing from book to book, but each book also has its own issue that is developed and dealt with in the course of the book itself. Very adroitly done—this author is a master of her craft. If you like books that provide a slightly different viewpoint on spirituality, then definitely check this series out.

Series Information: The Pipe Woman Chronicles
Book 1: Seized, review linked here
Book 2: Fissured
Book 3: Tapped
Book 4: Gravid
Book 5: Annealed

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author's publicist in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: Naomi’s having a bad week. She’s already overwhelmed by setting up her solo mediation practice and second-guessing her relationship with Joseph. An old acquaintance seems to be setting up shop down the road from their friend Charlie’s ranch. And Charlie has a new pal: a filmmaker who might be the Investigator—except that he doesn’t exactly believe in teamwork.

Then a jaguar attacks her in downtown Denver….



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@BriannaHawthorne #New Re-release of "Between Darkness and Light" by Brianna Hawthorne - new cover, new editing

A new cover for the the re-release of Brianna Hawthorne's Fantasy... 

Shi’ahn and her brother William find themselves transported into a realm beyond anything they could have imagined. Where they had once been powerful individuals, they are now almost inconsequential - at first. Soon though, they discover something monumental, and everything begins to change. Reality is not what it had seemed. As Shi’ahn and her brother follow where events are leading them, it becomes evident that both are destined for greater things.

Shi'ahn does have one advantage that is exceedingly rare - she can hear and manipulate the song of the Universe.

As Shi’ahn and William embark upon their new journey they must survive intrigue, danger, and their growing relationship with the foundations of the Universe itself.

This is the first book in the Universe Cycle.

Brianna Hawthorne has been a tree farm laborer, a choir director, a restaurant worker, a telemarketer (She lasted one day), a transportation planner, a small business computer support worker, a printing specialist, computer help desk technician, a firewall and server administrator, computer security manager, an emergency preparedness coordinator, and now, finally, an author. It's been one heck of a ride...

But the stresses of her profession and all the political. stuff it entailed eventually drove her to write. After many more years and frustrations, she ran away to the mountains where, aside from trips to the Island that inspired the creation of Shiral, she wishes to remain until the end of her days.

Before the responsibilities of parenthood overtook her, she loved to play role-playing games and being a weekend historian in the Society for Creative Anachronism. Now she concentrates on providing the healthiest home environment for her family as possible. She enjoys growing her own organic foods and herbs, and listening to a wide variety of music.

Facebook ~ Blog ~ Twitter ~ GoodReads

@AlexandriaPub #Cover_Reveal for the Alexandria Publishing Group's Winter Anthology

It is the time of year where the best feeling in the world is to give and the writers at the Alexandria Publishing group have a great gift to be unwrapped today! November has been a busy month for all of you writers with NaNoWriMo and for everyone who is finishing projects to launch in time for the holidays. Here at The APG, we  have our own project launching just in time for e-stock stuffing! But first...

...the unveiling...

We're proud to present the cover of the new release which has been created by the wonderful Renée Barratt:

The Alexandria Publishing Group is an eclectic group of writers, and we've pooled together our talents again this year to create another exciting Winter Anthology.

By Valerie Douglas - A Home for the Holidays - Family isn't always the one you were born to...

By D Kai Wilson-Viola - Low winter, Blood Moon - Merridian's last night in Edinburgh is meant to be a time to grieve...but when she finds herself running for her life in Holyrood park, a null magic area, all she knows is she's being chased by a big, angry werewolf...

By Denise McGee - Full Moon Christmas - When a reclusive werewolf finds a lost child too close to the full moon, he must fight the change or live with the knowledge that he killed an innocent.

By Mary-Ann Peden-Covellio - Cynophobia - One very small dog and two not-so-angelic girls give Santa Claus a Christmas he'd rather forget.

By Paul Kater - Our Ghostly Winter - A young boy learns that there is more between earth and heaven, and that it can take the shape of a snowman.

By Terry Simpson - The Gifts - 12 Gifts will change a young boy's life forever.

By D Kai Wilson-Viola - Silent Fright - Jess knows that the boys are planning a big surprise and to go along with that, Jess decorates...but the lights attract more than just other survivors and for the first time in months, the walls are overrun with zombies.

We'll be back with you as soon as the new release is available. On behalf of all our writers and other artists we thank you for being with us, and we wish you a wonderful festive season. Till then from all our writers, artists and support staff may your holiday season from here on in be exciting and fun!

Just in case you missed last years, our Winter 2012 Anthology is still available from Smashwords and Amazon.

As soon as it is released we will let you all know so you can stuff everyone's e-stockings with some festive holiday joy for you and your friends and family! from all our writers, artists and support staff.

Official Launch Page:

bit.ly/APGWinter2013

Alexandria Publishing Group is a writers’ collective made up of individual authors with proven talent. Each has shown dedication and skill in creating and producing amazing books that compel and create a strong, solid reading platform.  Quality is a key and critical factor in inclusion on the group’s’ roster, alongside writers with a true passion for writing.

“I’ve always written,” says Kai, “and it really appeals to me to work with other indie authors and providers to pool our resources. Working as an editor with the group too, really means I can be sure that I’m investing in like-minded individuals and have the support I need for my own books. And while I can offer a lot as a writer, I’m also keen to help indies reach a broader audience.”

To discover more selections of some of the best indie books in print or e-books from the authors above and others in the APG please explore the rest of the website, subscribe to our newsletter, check out more from our authors, or join us over on our Facebook page!

Review: Seized

Seized by Lynne Cantwell

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Book Info: Genre: Fantasy/Magical Realism
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: Those interested in alternate spirituality, Native American history and mythology, those who enjoy well-told stories

My Thoughts: What a cool idea for a story! The general gist is that all the other gods and goddesses have decided Jehovah is just too uppity and want to take him down a peg. It's obvious that the author has done a great deal of research into the Native stories and tales, including creation and destruction myths, and woven them into this great story. There is even a special guest appearance by Loki, which ought to make some people quite happy.

This is a five-book series, so the pace is leisurely, allowing plenty of time to develop the characters and plot points without feeling rushed. The story flows smoothly, however, and is engrossing and entertaining. I'm so happy that my friend Kriss recommended these books to me. Looking forward to several more days' worth of terrific reading.

If you like learning about other aspects of spirituality, if you are interested in Native American stories and tales, and if you enjoy a well-told story (and won't be offended by the presentation of Jehovah as power-hungry and petulant), then you should definitely check out this excellent series.

Series Information: The Pipe Woman Chronicles
Book 1: Seized
Book 2: Fissured
Book 3: Tapped
Book 4: Gravid
Book 5: Annealed

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author's publicist in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: Naomi has a pretty sweet life. Respected as a skilled mediator, she has an almost uncanny knack for getting people on both sides of a dispute to agree. And her handsome boyfriend Brock has just proposed to her. But a white buffalo calf is bowing to her in her dreams. And who is the Native American man who has been following her around? Naomi doesn't know it, but things are about to change....



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@Asphalt_Warrior @JKSLitPublicity #Book #Review "Doctor Lovebeads" by Gary Reilly

Doctor Lovebeads review
Author: Gary Reilly
5 out of 5 stars

See also my book feature here.

Book Info: Genre: Literary Fiction/humorous
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: Anyone

My Thoughts: I'm running out of adjectives to describe how awesome these books are. In this one, Murph runs across a hippie commune in the mountains past Boulder and, as usual, breaks his vow to not become involved in his passengers' personal lives, leading him into a labyrinthine plan involving passing himself off as a hippie. It's pretty funny. As always, Murph is full of advice on many things. I don't want this review to be all quotes like a couple of my earlier ones, but I will give you this.

Murph on Fashion:

“The big house... reminded me of the types of structures you can still see in places like Center City: gingerbread houses, two-story affairs built back in the nineteenth century when people didn't have televisions and were forced to build interesting things out of wood. I have a theory that the outrageous fashions you see in pre-twentieth century culture came about as a result of the lack of television. I'm talking wild hats on women with lots of feathers, pelts, sequined dresses with long trains, as well as top hats on the men, with long-tailed coats. I figure that life in those days was so dull that people themselves became televisions. I'm still working on the theory. I include European royalty in this construct, but let's move on.”

I can't think of anyone who wouldn't like this book, honestly. It's funny and thought-provoking. Check it out.

Series Information: The Asphalt Warrior series, a proposed eleven-book series each featuring Murph, but which can be read as stand-alones.
Book 1 The Asphalt Warrior. review linked here
Book 2: Ticket to Hollywood. review linked here
Book 3: The Heart of Darkness Club. review linked here
Book 4: Home for the Holidays, review linked here
Book 5: Doctor Lovebeads

Disclosure: I received a copy from JKS Communications/NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: In Doctor Lovebeads, the fifth in novelist Gary Reilly's Asphalt Warrior series, Murph must go undercover to accomplish his mission. He lets his hair go untamed, dresses in muslin and sandals and arrives on the scene in a beat-up VW van called the Cosmic Wonderbus and Mobile Mercantile.

Murph tries to pass himself off as an old love child in his confrontation with Brother Chakra. As the good Brother might say, It's a mind-blowing trip.

Review: Fire

Fire by Heather James

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Book Info: Genre: Fantasy
Reading Level: Young Adult
Recommended for: Fans of YA fantasy
Trigger Warnings: mind control, violence, fighting, attempted murder

My Thoughts: This was quite a good book, very engrossing. I found the idea of a world with all these different Realms to be a fascinating one, and would love to learn how it is the whole place developed. I found the character development to be fairly decent—we learn a bit about each person's personality through their actions and dialogue, although some of the more minor characters sort of blurred together. Hopefully more of them will be developed in subsequent books.

Jasmine made me crazy. I mean, her hair is turning purple, she has no idea what is going on, and she is constantly freaking out and assuming the worst. Monster. Bloodsucker. Everyone is going to recoil in revulsion. I mean, come on, insecure much? I had friends like this in high school—people who always expected the absolute worst in any situation—and have never found it to be a useful attitude. There were also some editing issues, mostly “your” and “you're” being mixed up. I will point out that the spelling and grammar in this is British English, so those not familiar with the patterns might find the wording peculiar in places.

Fans of young adult fantasy should enjoy this book. I know I'll be taking a look into picking up the second book and watching for subsequent volumes in the series as they come out.

Series Information: Elements of Power series
Book 1: Fire
Book 2: Water

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: Is control over the elements a gift, or a curse?

Roxy thinks that she is in control of everything: with flames flaring at her fingertips and an equally fiery attitude, what more could she need? But then she meets Brae, a prince from a rival Realm, who turns her assumptions of superiority upside down.

Jasmine has none of Roxy’s confidence or intensity. But she does have a secret—and Brae—and she’s not going to give either up willingly.



View all my reviews

@TeamFallen & @wjk8099 #Spotlight & #Sneak_Peek "Warrior Beautiful by Wendy Knight

Today I'm featuring Warrior Beautiful, including a book spotlight, a sneak peek, and a giveaway, so be sure to check it all out!

Warrior Beautiful (Riders of Paradesos, #1)

Author: Wendy Knight

Check out on Goodreads!

Purchase on Amazon and Barnes and Noble!

Synopsis: Working with the ex you secretly love to save the souls of the innocent is almost as bad as working with a mighty battle unicorn who would be thrilled to watch you plummet to your death.

Scout is used to pain. Her body has been broken, her heart has been broken, and the only thing keeping her together is her relationship with her younger sister. Lil Bit be-lieves in unicorns and terrifying monsters she calls soul stealers. But unicorns and monsters aren’t real…are they?

When Lil Bit falls prey to the mysterious disease sweeping the country, Scout has two options – believe the doctors who say it’s a pandemic or believe Lil Bit, who says it’s the soul stealers. She chooses her sister and goes looking for the unicorns who are supposed to save them. What she finds aren’t the cute pastel mythical creatures she expects. Battle unicorns are big and tough and full of attitude. Who knew?

Unicorns are real and so are the monsters. Soul stealers are reaping the souls of the innocent, and the unicorns are fighting to stop them. But to save the world, they need the help of humans – the enemy they’re dying to protect. And first to sign up for the fight is the ex-boyfriend Scout’s heart won’t stop loving, no matter how determined she is to hate him.

About the Author

Wendy Knight was born and raised in Utah by a wonderful family who spoiled her

rotten because she was the baby. Now she spends her time driving her husband crazy with her many eccentricities (no water after five, terror when faced with a live phone call, etcetera, etcetera). She also enjoys chasing her three adorable kids, playing tennis, watching football, reading, and hiking. Camping is also big: her family is slowly working toward a goal of seeing all the National Parks in the U.S.

You can usually find her with at least one Pepsi nearby, wearing ridiculously high heel for whatever the occasion may be. And if everything works out just right, she will also be writing.

Where to Stalk Wendy

Website/Goodreads/Amazon Author Page/Twitter/Facebook

SNEAK PEEK

“Do I have to avoid your rear feet like I do normal horses?

Will you randomly get the urge to kick me?” Scout glanced down

at Ashra’s giant hooves. They were sharp, unlike regular horse feet.

Made to do damage. She remembered watching Torz attack with

his hooves the… day? before. Definitely made for doing damage.

“If I want to kick you, it doesn’t matter where you stand,” Ashra

said. She unfurled her wing from her side and knocked Scout away

from her.

Scout heard Ashra’s snicker in her head, and if horses could

grin, Ashra was definitely doing it. “Watch it, you overgrown

bird.” Scout eyed her, thinking about shoving her back, but Ashra

was huge. It would be like trying to shove a barn over.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought.” Ashra whinnied, an actual horsy

sound, throwing her head around and stomping one hoof. Scout

was so shocked to hear such an animal-like sound coming from a

legendary unicorn that she tripped over her own feet and landed in

the dirt.

GIVEAWAY

**Must be 13 or older**

**Opened to U.S. Only**

**Winner has 48 hours to respond before a new winner will be chosen**

**Winner will win: an ecopy of Warrior International, a Warrior Beautiful keychain & a signed bookmark**

a Rafflecopter giveaway

TOUR SCHEDULE

NOV 18

Brooke's Blog (Book Spotlight + Book Soundtrack + Dream Cast)

Deal Sharing Aunt (Book Spotlight + Sneak Peek + Top Ten)

Mom With A Kindle (Book Spotlight + Sneak Peek)

Always Jo Art (Book Spotlight + Book Soundtrack + Dream Cast)

NOV 19

Paulettes Papers (Book Spotlight + Sneak Peek)

Moonlight Gleam (Guest Post)

NOV 20

Once Upon A Coffin (Book Review)

Diamond in Rough Coal (Book Review + Top Ten)

My Book Chatter (Book Spotlight + Sneak Peek)

NOV 21

An Author in Progress (Rebecca Lamoreaux) (Guest Post)

Robin Ambrose (Guest Post + Top Ten)

Paranormal Book Club (Book Spotlight + Sneak Peek + Author Interview)

Mom in Love with Fiction (Book Review)

NOV 22

Now is Gone (Book Spotlight + Sneak Peak)

Rose & Beps (Book Spotlight +Book Soundtrack + Dream Cast)

Indy Book Fairy (Book Spotlight + Sneak Peek)

Writing On the Sunny Side of the Street (Book Spotlight + Sneak Peek)

NOV 25

Shantal Hiatt Sessions (Book Spotlight + Book Soundtrack + Dream Cast)

Angela Corbett (Book Spotlight + Sneak Peek + Book Soundtrack + Dream Cast)

Racing to Read (Book Review)

Author Shelli Proffitt Howells (Book Review + Sneak Peek)

NOV 26

Lindzee Armstrong (Author) (Book Spotlight + Book Review + Sneak Peek)

Tammy's Tea Time (Book Review)

Jannat Bhat (Book Spotlight + Sneak Peek)

Jen Wylie (Book Review)

Blog Tour Set Up by TeamNerd Reviews

@Asphalt_Warrior @JKSLitPublicity #Book #Review "Home for the Holidays" by Gary Reilly

Home for the Holidays review
Author: Gary Reilly
5 out of 5 stars

See also my book feature here.

Book Info: Genre: Humorous literary fiction
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: Anyone

My Thoughts: Gary Reilly's books continue to delight me, and I continue to mourn that he was taken from the world before any of us knew about him. This book is a little different from the previous ones, in that Murphy actually spends most of the book visiting his family rather than driving a cab, but he still manages to delight the reader with his wonderfully piquant descriptions of his lifestyle, his thoughts on various things, and his views on working. Reilly is often quite surreal in this book, and I was very amused by that.

As I read these books, I become more and more drawn to the simple life that Murph leads. It's incredibly tantalizing.

I enjoyed “meeting” Murph's family in this book. He talks about his mother a lot, so it was fun to finally meet her, as well as his brother, and his three sisters and their passel of kids. While there are actually quite a lot of distant relatives in my family, the core of it has remained small, so I am always amused by the mass chaos of a large family gathering. As long as I'm not actually there...

So, another outstanding book in the Asphalt Warrior series. If you still haven't taken my advice to read these books, stop procrastinating already! These books are worth every penny spent and every minute taken to read them. Highly recommended.

Series Information: The Asphalt Warrior series, a proposed ten-book series each featuring Murph, but which can be read as stand-alones.
Book 1 The Asphalt Warrior. review linked here
Book 2: Ticket to Hollywood. review linked here
Book 3: The Heart of Darkness Club. review linked here
Book 4: Home for the Holidays
Book 5: Doctor Lovebeads

Disclosure: I received an ARC paperback of this book from JKS Communications in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: It’s Christmastime, and Murph leaves his cab behind to visit his family in Wichita where he finds himself reluctantly reconnecting with his siblings. Meanwhile, Murph takes it upon himself to save an old friend from making the biggest mistake of his life—accepting a job where suits and ties are everyday attire.