Kindle Giveaway: Memphis Hoodoo Murders by Kathryn Rogers

Addie Jackson has witnessed people trying to kill her family her entire life, and now her grandparents’ attackers are hunting her. The Memphis police are never able to catch these crooks since the cops have been bewitched to stay away. Her grandparents, Pop and Grandma, habitually lie to Addie, but she is attentive enough to overhear the secrets they keep from her. In her predictive dreams, Addie regularly sees future events, which disturb her, but to her dismay, she has never been able to stop them from coming true. She often dreams of a dark character, who she is later shocked to discover is the Man, a devil from hoodoo legend.

Addie is disturbed to discover she is being stalked by a witch doctor named Hoodoo Helen. To make matters worse, the more secrets Addie uncovers, the more danger she finds. Addie presses Grandma for answers about the power behind the ring and pocket watch she often toys with, but Grandma remains tight-lipped. Knowing their deaths are imminent, Grandma makes a deal with the hoodoo devil to take care of Addie, and Addie is later horrified to discover that her beloved family has been murdered. John, a family friend, steps in to help Addie, and she soon realizes he knows more about her family’s tainted past than she ever has. Addie begins receiving cryptic letters from her deceased grandmother, which reveal a shocking family history revolving around slavery, time travel, and magic.

If Addie can survive jail, her cousin’s abduction, threats from a menacing gang, corrupt law enforcement, and hoodooed attacks, maybe she can finally dream of a future where she will be safe and free.

ENTER HERE

Book Review: When She Smiled by Ritoban Chakrabarti

When She Smiled

by Ritoban Chakrabarti

Paperback: 232 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 1 edition (December 4, 2014)

Kindle Edition
File Size: 1002 KB
Print Length: 234 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Ritoban Chakrabarti; 1 edition (November 30, 2014)
Publication Date: November 30, 2014
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.


Ratings: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★


My thoughts:

When She Smiled reminds me so much of my child hood. I was thinking the author must have been born in the 80's as I could truly relate to the things (wrestling, cartoons, gadgets, etc.) mentioned in this book. I had a good laugh reading Mrityunjoy's journey. I've seen reviews that some readers could not understand nor believe the characters' attitude towards life. I, myself, have been exposed to that kind of life, having strict parents and teachers (blogger is from the Philippines). Maybe if you are from the east, this is totally relatable. Mrityunjoy's struggle is real for me even the joy and pain of his first love with Akansha. 

It was beautifully written although I note the author tends to over-describe things. Often, when the description's too much, say like a place, I forget the last thing the character is doing. Other than that, I still enjoyed reading the story. Looking forward to reading more from this author.


About the book:

Mrityunjoy Roy is a fifteen year old Bengali who has spent the last ten years of his life growing up in Shimla. While his family is completely academically oriented, he wants something more. Finally he meets Akanksha in school, who turns his world upside down with her gorgeous looks and mind boggling smile. As fate would have it, she joins his Physics tuition, and thus begins the torrid year of puppy love, romance, heartbreak, tragedy, and self discovery. Set among the scenic Shivalik hills of Shimla when mobile phones and internet were non-existent, this is a story of how an average young teenager comes to terms with his destiny.

About the author:

Ritoban Chakrabarti is an entrepreneur who started his first internet marketing company right after college. Since then he has self-taught himself programming, designing, marketing, and management. His first novel, When She Smiled, a young adult romance, was first published on 30th November 2014.

He is an avid traveller, and believes in a life without boundaries.

Book Spotlight with Chapter 1: Passenger from Greece by Norma Jennings

Passenger from Greece

by Norma Jennings

Paperback: 300 pages
Publisher: 3L Publishing; First Edition edition (October 1, 2015)

Jamaican Author Norma Jennings
Explores International Romance and Mystery in New Caribbean Novel, Passenger from Greece

Plantation, FL – Jamaican author Norma Jennings announces the release of her latest romantic mystery novel, Passenger from Greece (ISBN 9780990574675). A cross-genre work of fiction that combines exotic locations and international romance, Passenger from Greece touches on the important political and criminal issues of drug trafficking in the Caribbean islands and the serious economic issues in Greece that fuel this trade.

Passenger from Greece explores the controversial and menacing issue of cocaine seizures and illicit drug trafficking in a classic tale of criminal behavior, love, and lust. The novel’s main character, Olivia Reid, is a young, feisty, yet innocent international flight attendant from the islands, who embarks on a dangerous adventure and a seductive affair that spans the Caribbean, New York City, and Crete. Eventually, as the flames of desire that consume Olivia are fanned by deception, lust and greed, she painfully finds her way back to her ancestral home.

While the book is at its core a cautionary tale about love-gone-wrong, it also touches on deception at the deepest family level. Passenger from Greece explores how familial relationships, flawed characters, secrets, and lies can destroy lives and create deeply felt wounds that go straight to the heart.

“I read about the rising tide of illegal drug cartels moving their products from more developed countries to the United States, while using the Caribbean as a conduit,” said Jennings. “My home is Jamaica, and I’m a former flight attendant, so I began to think about how I could use my personal background to spotlight issues surrounding the illicit drug trade, while also drawing in readers with a captivating story.”

Norma Jennings is an ex-international flight attendant and current corporate executive with a passion for writing. Now residing in Florida, she was born and raised in the Caribbean and has traveled and explored many countries, including those featured in Passenger from Greece. From an exotic multi-ethnic background of black, white, and East Indian descent, Jennings credits her strong and dynamic mother and grandmother, and a remarkably intelligent and adventurous father, as her main influences. Jennings earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Angelo State University and graduated from the Management Development Program at Harvard Graduate School. She has authored a previous novel, Daughter of the Caribbean, and is currently working on a historical romance set in Jamaica. Jennings has three grown children, and enjoys dual citizenship in both Jamaica and the United States. She visits her grandmother’s Caribbean home, Twickenham, as often as she can.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can you tell us a little bit about the storyline for Passenger from Greece?

A classic tale of love, lust, and criminal behavior, Passenger from Greece tells the story of Olivia Reid, a feisty, resourceful international flight attendant who falls in love with a handsome Greek olive oil tycoon. Olivia gets caught up in a seductive affair that spans the Caribbean, New York City, Crete, and ocean voyages on a yacht called The Adonis. 

2. The book opens with a movie-worthy crash. What did you base these opening scenes on? 

I was a flight attendant, and some of my dear colleagues were involved in a plane crash (a mere scheduling conflict kept me off that flight). I went back to them and asked them for descriptions of feelings, thoughts, and misery of crashing into a swamp, which really happened. They described the terror of first experiencing an aircraft crash, followed by the horror of being trapped in a swamp until rescue. So, when I set up a story about international romance and mystery, I thought, what would be more captivating than to introduce the characters to each other in such an intense and terrifying situation?

3. International drug trafficking is central to the plot. What compelled you to write about this topic? 

I had finished writing my first novel, Daughter of the Caribbean, and I was looking for another great story. I read about the Caribbean drug trafficking issues affecting my beloved Jamaica, where my family has an old sugarcane plantation called Twickenham. The headline-grabbing issues made me think about my next novel, which I wanted to be an international mystery. I also like to explore cultural issues and personal relationships about families and love, so I created a conflict that would impact two families in two different countries, each located in different parts of the world. 

4. The book addresses family relationships, infidelity, and mother/father influences. Why did you weave in these themes?

Motivations. I wanted to create flawed characters whose motives and desires were rooted in their familial relationships: a daughter’s desire to please her mother, a son’s desire to please his mother, and a grandmother betrayed by her spouse. I asked myself: What lessons could be learned? What understandings reached? How could I write relatable situations that would draw in readers? Based on the core foundation of any person’s experience, one always comes back to his/her family beliefs, morals, and values. 

5. How are drug trafficking and cultural issues central to the plotlines and themes in your novels?  

The illicit drug trade is affecting my native homeland, Jamaica. I wanted to also dispel prejudice and ideas about Jamaicans and other Caribbean islanders. My books always deal with cultural differences though depictions of my own childhood experiences growing up at Twickenham with my grandmother, Sedith, who’s featured in both of my books. She was our family’s matriarch and had a tremendous influence on her children and grandchildren. I brought the stories she told and the lessons I learned in my own life to the pages of Passenger from Greece. 

6. Are you working on a new novel and, if so, what can you tell us about it?

I’ve made good progress on a third book, which is an action-packed historical fiction novel about the brutal colonization of Jamaica by the British, and the barbaric guerilla warfare staged by the Maroons (runaway slaves) against the planters. Raw sexual moments between planter and mulatto slave mistresses, and a sizzling romance between a rescued concubine and a young guerilla chief are weaved into the novel, as it chronicles how ferocious and unrelenting resistance by Maroon men and women led to the abolition of slavery on the island, and ultimately to the country’s independence.

Chapter 1

Amazon Buy Link

Book Review: Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Hush, Hush

by Becca Fitzpatrick

Paperback: 432 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers; Reprint edition (September 21, 2010)

Kindle Edition
File Size: 2742 KB
Print Length: 417 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (September 27, 2009)
Publication Date: October 13, 2009
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.

Ratings: ★ ★ ★  

My thoughts:


Hush, Hush is just an OK book for me. Patch and Nora's story seemed like an ordinary one. I was about to DNF the book but then I decided to read further because I wanted to know about Patch's history, being a fallen angel, also looking forward to that 'ancient battle' mentioned from the synopsis. Bad news, there's nothing there. The story just dragged on and on and then it abruptly ends without something more to think about. I mean, this is a series. It should give readers at least something a bit more interesting to make one anticipate the second book, right? Well, *sigh* as I said, nothing there.

Oh by the way, the story/romance felt Twilight-ish. It's probably the reason why it became popular. If you are into Twilight-ish read, pick up this book.


About the book:

For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along. 

With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment. 

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel. 

For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.

About the author:  

Becca Fitzpatrick's Hush, Hush saga, including Hush, Hush; Crescendo; Silence; and Finale, all debuted as New York Times best-sellers. She graduated college with a degree in health, which she promptly abandoned for storytelling. When not writing, she's most likely prowling sale racks for reject shoes, running, or traveling.

Kindle Giveaway: Memphis Hoodoo Murders by Kathryn Rogers

Addie Jackson has witnessed people trying to kill her family her entire life, and now her grandparents’ attackers are hunting her. The Memphis police are never able to catch these crooks since the cops have been bewitched to stay away. Her grandparents, Pop and Grandma, habitually lie to Addie, but she is attentive enough to overhear the secrets they keep from her. In her predictive dreams, Addie regularly sees future events, which disturb her, but to her dismay, she has never been able to stop them from coming true. She often dreams of a dark character, who she is later shocked to discover is the Man, a devil from hoodoo legend.

Addie is disturbed to discover she is being stalked by a witch doctor named Hoodoo Helen. To make matters worse, the more secrets Addie uncovers, the more danger she finds. Addie presses Grandma for answers about the power behind the ring and pocket watch she often toys with, but Grandma remains tight-lipped. Knowing their deaths are imminent, Grandma makes a deal with the hoodoo devil to take care of Addie, and Addie is later horrified to discover that her beloved family has been murdered. John, a family friend, steps in to help Addie, and she soon realizes he knows more about her family’s tainted past than she ever has. Addie begins receiving cryptic letters from her deceased grandmother, which reveal a shocking family history revolving around slavery, time travel, and magic.

If Addie can survive jail, her cousin’s abduction, threats from a menacing gang, corrupt law enforcement, and hoodooed attacks, maybe she can finally dream of a future where she will be safe and free.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!!!

Guest Author: Mike Phillips

Hello everyone, and thank you for reading my guest post. My name is Mike Phillips and my new book is Hazard of Shadows. I have been asked to talk about some of the more interesting characters in the book, the goblins. 

In folklore and literature, goblins have always been evil creatures. To this day, goblins are hiding in our closets and under our beds. They are wicked monsters that are no happier than when they are burning fields or robbing cradles. Living on the fringes of society as they must to avoid camera phones and governmental laboratories, goblins lead harsh lives. Once they have been won over, goblins are the best sort of friends. They may have terrible manners, they may say awful things, they may smell bad, but we can all be that way sometimes. In the end, my use of goblins helps us see the best in humanity.

Writing about goblins was a riot! Goblins live on the fringes of human society. They make their homes in junk yards, abandoned buildings, sewer systems, and anywhere else people try to avoid. Once they find a likely spot, the get to work. Goblins are clever with tools and machinery. They will use and repurpose anything they can get their hands on, so many of their dwellings look like they were designed by frat-boys. Not always the best of neighbors, goblins have to take security seriously. They construct elaborate pitfalls to keep themselves safe from enemies like collapsing tunnels, pongee pits, and mechanical traps. 

Goblins, like their human counterparts, each have a unique personality. They live in what they call crews, a sort of family, a lot like college dorm-mates. Each goblin has a special skill. One might be a bully (a most desirable skill in the goblin world). Another might be crafty at making traps. Some use sorcery or poison. Others are good at machinery. Some just eat a lot (another desirable skill). Goblins, in general, have a loose sense of morality. If it doesn’t hurt another member of the crew, with the obvious exception of fighting, then it’s usually okay. Fighting is always acceptable behavior, though if an enemy is around, a goblin is expected to stop fighting the other crew member and start fighting the enemy. Common sense rules like that are the cornerstone of goblin society. 

That brings us to the topic of goblin social structure. Goblin society is feudal. They organize in crews, bound by familial ties or friendship. These associations are loosely formed, and if a goblin wants to go it alone, no one holds a grudge. A crew may have two or three leaders at a time. It is not unusual for goblins to disagree, so sometimes they have no real leader at all. Though they fight with each other like crazy, but they are deeply loyal in times of trouble and would do anything for the other members of their crew. No female goblins appear in Hazard of Shadows, but that is a topic for another time.  

People have been asking how to make friends with goblins, so I thought I’d wrap things up by talking about that. Goblins are monsters, after all. To begin with, don’t look like a victim. They are predators. If you run they will chase you down. The secret to making friends with goblins is not to treat them like animals. They won’t be trained and can’t be suckered. Think of them as that particularly feisty aunt that always speaks her mind. So if you want to make a goblin your friend, it’s best to start with an act of kindness. Goblins have hard lives and even a small act of kindness means a lot to them. In the book, Mitch does a favor for a goblin without even knowing it. In turn, the goblin rescues Mitch from a pan dimensional, man-eating dumpster. Friends like that are hard to find!

Thank you so much for joining me. I hope you enjoy Hazard of Shadows and The World Below. Please visit me at mikephillipsfantasy.com.

About the author:

Mike Phillips is author of Hazard of Shadows, The World Below, Dawn of Ages, and Reign of the Nightmare Prince. His short stories have appeared in ParAbnormal Digest, Cemetery Moon, Sinister Tales, Beyond Centauri, the World of Myth, Mystic Signals and many others. Online, his work has appeared in Lorelei Signal, Kzine, Bewildering Stories, Midnight Times, and Fringe. He is best known for his Crow Witch and Patrick Donegal series. 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

"It's Monday! What are you reading?" is a fun meme started by J Kaye and was passed on to Sheila @ Book Journey six (6) years ago. And just last week, Sheila had decided it's time to pass it on to another blogger, now Kathryn @ Book Date will continue this very special task... Nice to meet you Kathryn! 

Books Reviewed

AISURU

by Anma Natsu

BOOK REVIEW (5-star)

For the last eight years, Sakura Takeshi has been counting down the time till her life ended. Though she survived the attack that left her an orphan, it's always been borrowed time as her damaged body continued to break down.

She told herself she was ready, that she had come to terms with dying before she reached 19. Then she found Kazuki lying wounded in her garden. His arrival opens the door for her whole world to change, but is it too late for her to learn to live, or to love, when there are only months left in her life?

Set in Hakodate, Japan, Aisuru is a young adult fantasy romance that will appeal to readers who enjoy shōjo manga and Japanese light novels, have a fondness for magical realism, and who would like more young adult stories that are just a bit different from the norm. 

BLIND DATE, CHECK MATE
by Veronica Blade

BOOK REVIEW (4-star)

Should a woman who’s unable to forget her first love give “happily ever after” one more try?

Shelby Winters’ one great love went sour. If she can’t feel that way about a guy again, why bother? When Shelby’s best friend sets her up on a blind date with Logan, the guy who broke her heart, he pursues her relentlessly, forcing her to make a choice: give her heart what it’s always desired and risk total devastation or shut Logan out and lose her only shot at happiness. To Shelby, it’s a lose-lose situation. Or is it?

Currently Reading

WHEN SHE SMILED
by Ritoban Chakrabarti 

Mrityunjoy Roy is a fifteen year old Bengali who has spent the last ten years of his life growing up in Shimla. While his family is completely academically oriented, he wants something more. 

Finally he meets Akanksha in school, who turns his world upside down with her gorgeous looks and mind boggling smile. 

As fate would have it, she joins his tuition, and thus begins the torrid year of puppy love, romance, heartbreak, tragedy, and self discovery. 

Set among the scenic Shivalik hills of Shimla when mobile phones and internet were non-existent, this is a story of how an average young teenager comes to terms with his destiny.

THE CALL OF THE WILD WEREWOLF
by Jack London and Carl Waters

Deciding to leave his easy life in Santa Clara Valley, Buck Miller, the son of a wealthy judge and raisin farmer, pursues gold riches in the Klondike. Before he reaches his destination, Buck is kidnapped by vampires, turned into a werewolf, and forced to work as the vampire's sled dog.

Now, in an unfamiliar place and in an unfamiliar body, Buck must learn to survive more than just the brutal weather. With attacks from vicious werewolves and abuse from his masters, will Buck be able to regain his humanity or will he spend the rest of his days living as a wolf?

WARNING!!!

This a mashup story. It combines Jack London's classic, The Call of the Wild, with the werewolf mythology in my Merlin's Hoods world.

It is in the same vein as Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith's mashup novel, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Instead of adding zombies, I've added werewolves and vampires.

Mashup stories are a creative novelty. The idea is to create a new story by adding as few words to the original story as possible. So, most of the words in this story are Jack London's.

I love werewolves and the protagonist, Buck Miller, is a powerful werewolf in my Merlin's Hood world. This is his origin story.

HUSH, HUSH
by Becca Fitzpatrick

Romance was not part of Nora Grey's plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how hard her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch comes along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Patch draws Nora to him against her better judgment.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is and seems to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For she is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost Nora her life.

How about you? What book/s do you plan to read this week? Happy Monday!

Book Spotlight with Chapter 1: Memphis Hoodoo Murders by Kathryn Rogers

Memphis Hoodoo Murders

by Kathryn Rogers

Paperback: 360 pages
Publisher: Sartoris Literary Group (August 13, 2015)

Kindle Edition
File Size: 546 KB
Print Length: 360 pages
Publisher: Sartoris Literary Group (August 15, 2015)
Publication Date: August 15, 2015
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.

About the book:

Addie Jackson has witnessed people trying to kill her family her entire life, and now her grandparents’ attackers are hunting her. The Memphis police are never able to catch these crooks since the cops have been bewitched to stay away. Her grandparents, Pop and Grandma, habitually lie to Addie, but she is attentive enough to overhear the secrets they keep from her. In her predictive dreams, Addie regularly sees future events, which disturb her, but to her dismay, she has never been able to stop them from coming true. She often dreams of a dark character, who she is later shocked to discover is the Man, a devil from hoodoo legend. 

Addie is disturbed to discover she is being stalked by a witch doctor named Hoodoo Helen. To make matters worse, the more secrets Addie uncovers, the more danger she finds. Addie presses Grandma for answers about the power behind the ring and pocket watch she often toys with, but Grandma remains tight-lipped. Knowing their deaths are imminent, Grandma makes a deal with the hoodoo devil to take care of Addie, and Addie is later horrified to discover that her beloved family has been murdered. John, a family friend, steps in to help Addie, and she soon realizes he knows more about her family’s tainted past than she ever has. Addie begins receiving cryptic letters from her deceased grandmother, which reveal a shocking family history revolving around slavery, time travel, and magic. 

If Addie can survive jail, her cousin’s abduction, threats from a menacing gang, corrupt law enforcement, and hoodooed attacks, maybe she can finally dream of a future where she will be safe and free. 

About the Author:

Kathryn Rogers is a Memphis native with an affinity for local BBQ and blues rock-n-roll. As a licensed therapist, she holds her Masters in Counseling and Psychology, and as a licensed educator, she holds her Bachelors in Education. Her experience providing counseling services to the community prepared her to expound upon the psychological issues her characters wrestle with in her stories. She currently lives in Jackson, Mississippi with her husband, playful preschooler, and rambunctious Labrador Retrievers. 

Readers can connect with Kathryn on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.

Chapter 1:

Amazon Buy Links

Paperback / Kindle Edition

Book Review: Blind Date, Checkmate by Veronica Blade

Blind Date, Checkmate

by Veronica Blade

Paperback: 118 pages
Publisher: Crush Publishing (December 24, 2011)

Kindle Edition
File Size: 2140 KB
Print Length: 118 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Crush Publishing Ink (December 24, 2011)
Publication Date: December 24, 2011
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.


Ratings: ★ ★ ★ ★  

Note: I received a review copy of this book free from the author, Veronica Blade. The review posted below is based on my personal thoughts while reading the book.

My thoughts:

It's always nice to read this kind of story, first love, first heartbreak... second chance romance. I immensely enjoyed reading Shelby and Logan's journey to finding each other again after so many years of no contact.The author was able to deliver a believable sweet love story with TOTALLY relatable characters. 

My only complain is that the book is short... I was not satisfied with ending the story too soon. Sorry, that's just me. I'm starting to think short stories just don't usually work for me.

About the book:

Should a woman who’s unable to forget her first love give “happily ever after” one more try?

Shelby Winters’ one great love went sour. If she can’t feel that way about a guy again, why bother? When Shelby’s best friend sets her up on a blind date with Logan, the guy who broke her heart, he pursues her relentlessly, forcing her to make a choice: give her heart what it’s always desired and risk total devastation or shut Logan out and lose her only shot at happiness. To Shelby, it’s a lose-lose situation. Or is it?

About the author:

Veronica Blade lives in Southern California with her husband and children. By day she runs the family business, but each night she slips away to spin her tales. She writes stories about young adults to relive her own childhood and to live vicariously through her characters. Except her heroes and heroines lead far more interesting lives — and they are always way hotter.

Book Spotlight with Chapter 1: House Divided by Peter G. Pollak

House Divided

by Peter G. Pollak

Paperback: 412 pages
Publisher: Expendable Man Publishing (January 30, 2015)

Kindle Edition
File Size: 1288 KB
Print Length: 414 pages
Publisher: Expendable Man Publishing (February 2, 2015)
Publication Date: February 2, 2015
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.

About the book:

In House Divided, Peter G. Pollak’s 88,000-word thriller, Leonard and Alison Robbins disagree how big a mistake their college student daughter is making by joining the radical Students for Palestinian Justice (SPJ). Alison believes Courtney needs to be allowed to make her own decisions, but retired CIA agent Leonard Robbins, who heads up a counterterrorism task force, fears she’s being used. Neither, however, foresee the real danger. Anti-Israeli terrorists are recruiting SPJ members to bomb Jewish organizations. Can Robbins’ task force find and stop the terrorists before they claim more innocent victims? Will Courtney Robbins figure out the truth about SPJ before it’s too late? House Divided is the story of a war no family should have to fight.

Chapter 1

Amazon Buy Links

Paperback / Kindle Edition

Book Spotlight: Annie's Defiance: A Paranormal Romance Novella by Nicole Pouchet

Annie's Defiance: A Paranormal Romance Novella 

(Elemental Myths Book 3)

Kindle Edition
File Size: 889 KB
Print Length: 86 pages
Author/Publisher: Nicole Pouchet (August 25, 2015)
Publication Date: August 25, 2015
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.

Blurb

D.C. lawyer, Annie Birch, believes her life is one logical assessment after another. That changes, however, on the day she accidentally teleports during a high-profile negotiation. Knowing her new power must be a side effect after miraculously getting healed by the Incan Mother Earth goddess doesn’t help matters. Annie has already seen how emerging powers like hers also come with psycho villains that are bent on destroying her, as well as the corporeal world.

The icing on the cupcake of her ridiculous day is two gorgeous men who show up on her doorstep, both vying for her attention. Now, her choices involve much more than her oft-neglected libido. Annie is tasked to play a role in the Incan prophecy, which she prefers to watch from the sidelines. Will she stick to her safe, legal path? Or will she defy all logic to experience the decidedly more fun adventures being thrust her way?

About the Author

Nicole Pouchet is a memoirist and a paranormal romance novelist. Books from her Elemental Myths paranormal romance series have enjoyed spots on Amazon’s Bestseller lists. Layla’s Gale, A Paranormal Romance won second prize in the 2013 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest.

Still amazed to be an adult, Nicole has managed to center her life around raising her two small sons and being true to her family (including husband and friends). She resides in Leesburg, Virginia where she owns a marketing agency. Happiest near the water, Nicole spends her free hours plotting her next escape, writing, and staring at the ceiling.

Website / Twitter / Facebook

Excerpt

Amazon Buy Link

Guest Author: Peter G. Pollak

Parents everywhere know the feeling of anxiety when they send their offspring off to college. Is she or he ready to handle a competitive, challenging environment, and what if your child falls under the sway of some charismatic individual or group?

In House Divided, my fifth novel, the parents of Courtney Robbins become concerned when their daughter reports that she’s joined the NYU chapter of Students for Palestinian Justice, a radical group with suspected terrorist connections. What makes her decision even more troubling for the father, a retired CIA agent, is the President of the United States has asked him to head a counter-terrorism task force after a college student bombed the Washington, D.C. headquarters of a prominent Jewish organization, killing herself and five others.

Can a sixty-plus year old wheelchair-bound father prevent his daughter from becoming the next victim of the terrorists’ game plan?

Here’s what some people have said about House Divided:

Adele Brinkley, owner of With Pen in Hand editorial services, wrote: “I must say that you tell one terrific story. Your use of dialogue to tell the majority of the story still amazes me. You also did a great job with characterization, plot, the outcome, and the wrap up. I am truly impressed.” 

Author Nathan Van Coops: “Peter G. Pollak gives us a thriller that hits close to home in House Divided. Writing from an obvious depth of knowledge of the political forces involved in the Israel-Palestine conflict, he presents us with a plausible and terrifying glimpse of what could happen when the fallout of Middle East tension lands on American shores.” 

House Divided, a 90,000-word thriller, was released February 2, 2015, under my own label, Expendable Man Publishing. It is available both in paperback and digital format from Amazon. 

About the book:

Leonard and Alison Robbins disagree about how big a mistake their college student daughter is making by joining the radical Students for Palestinian Justice (SPJ). 

Alison believes Courtney needs to be allowed to make her own decisions, but retired CIA agent Leonard, who heads up a counterterrorism task force, fears she’s in over her head. Neither, however, foresees the real danger their daughter faces. 

Anti-Israeli terrorists are recruiting SPJ members to bomb Jewish organizations and they have their sights on Courtney. 

If Courtney doesn’t see the truth in time, it will be up to her parents to stop the terrorists before their daughter becomes their latest victim.