Friday, August 31, 2012

Lykaia (The Sophia Katsaros Series) by Sharon Van Orman


Lykaia (The Sophia Katsaros Series)
by Sharon Van Orman



Lykaia, the first book in the Sophia Katsaros Series, was officially released today. It is currently only available in a Kindle Edition, but paperback and audiobook versions will be available soon.

Description
"We are the terrors that hunt the night. And we have never been human."
In Greek mythology there’s a story of King Lykaonas of Arcadia and his fifty sons who were cursed by the father of the gods, Zeus, to become wolves. The very first Lycanthropes.
Forensic pathologist, Sophia Katsaros, receives a cryptic phone call from Greece telling her that her brothers are missing and leaves to search for them. With the help of Illyanna, her brother’s girlfriend, Sophia examines the evidence but cannot accept a bizarre possibility: Has one or both of her brothers been transformed during the Lykaia, the ceremony where Man is said to become Wolf?
Who is Marcus, a dark stranger that both repels and excites her? And what is the real story behind the 5000 year old curse of King Lykaonas?



Review
This is an amazingly well written story. I really enjoy the strong character development and found myself turning the pages late into each night. It is an interesting and fun tale that kept me riveted. I like how the author spun the tale from legend to reality - yep, that's all I'm going to say on this, no spoilers. If you like mythology, horror, suspense, intrigue, and just an all around good story, you'll definitely enjoy this. Buy it... seriously, you will be happy you did. (By J. O'Brien)

About the Author
A tattered copy of Bulfinch’s Mythology inspired a lifetime fascination with the subject. On a research tangent Sharon came across the myth of King Lykaonas who was cursed by Zeus into becoming a wolf. The very first lycanthrope.
Lykaia was written as a flash fiction piece for a writer’s site. The idea took root and demanded to be expanded upon. With that bit of inspiration Sharon entered the National Novel Writers Month contest held in November of 2011. Seven weeks later the book was finished and had blossomed into not only a full length novel, but a series featuring Dr. Sophia Katsaros.
Sharon lives in Nebraska with her family and a collection of animals including ones that were chosen and others that did the choosing. After the birth of her third child she left her job as a commercial risk manager to be a full time mom. In between soccer games, hosting the neighborhood children and taking in stray animals she finds the time to write.

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Enchanted Ravensong and Concentric Circles by Aithne Jarretta


Enchanted Ravensong (Charmed Evermore)
by Aithne Jarretta


Description
Ruby Gladstone is a witch seeking new experiences. What she really wants is Daryl Manchester. But a magical encounter, body shift and a detour through an Otherly World takes immediate priority.
Becca Benard is a restless spirit. She wants justice for her murder and the person that can help her just arrived in the garden Becca has been haunting.
Ruby and Becca join together through spirit possession and shapeshifter magic to achieve their goals, but it isn't always smooth flying.

Review
There are no reviews as yet. Be the first to leave a review once you have read your copy.



Concentric Circles
by Aithne Jarretta


Description
Shayla Brinawell comes from a fragmented family. She is about to have her world turned upside down and every other which way. Witch way that is. She must come to terms with her magical destiny in hyper drive.
Meekal Chilkwell as always known his life purpose. To protect the magical and healing waters of The Chalice Well located in the shadow of the great mystical Tor in Glastonbury, England. A new danger has arisen. One that threatens not only the Chilkwell family, but also the non-magical world.
Shayla & Meekal join together in order to conquer Syther the Quitch, an evil wizard bent on spreading darkness.

Review
Enter a world filled with magic and history yet set in present day with all our conveniences and problems. Put the day's troubles behind you and allow yourself be transported into a world of fantasy, lust and romance when you first begin to read Concentric Circles.
When Shayla schedules a vacation to England to visit a historic site she is unaware of the unknown forces that are drawing her to the site where her destiny will be revealed. Daughter of an orphan, Shayla has always had special powers that defy explanation and that have been frowned upon and discouraged. But in this new world that is also so old, Shayla learns the true meaning of her gifts and learns why she is so blessed.
Meekal Magdal-eder Chilkwell, also known simply as Kal, is the man who has been fated to not only assist Shayla in learning about her ancestry and her mission in life but also to awaken a passion like she has never known. With her intuitive senses and his knowledge, and power, the two join as soul mates to battle the evil that threatens their world.
Concentric Circles was a very enjoyable read. I found my eyes blurring from staring at the screen for so long but was unable to tear myself away until I reached the end. The only criticism I had was that for a few chapters too much information was given to the reader and it can be difficult to absorb. As well there were sections that I had to go back and read again because I felt like I had missed something.
All in all though author Aithne Jarretta has done a fantastic job and I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a magical story strengthened with a little sensual romance. (By Karen Magill)
About the Author
Aithne Jarretta lives in Clearwater, Florida, United States. Once upon a time Aithne Jarretta tripped upon a ley line. Actually it had happened before, but she didn't realize the ramifications until later.
She brushed the incident aside and climbed into her car. Real life was the important factor at the moment. However, those RL moments wove into meeting new friends--the kind most people never see and definitely don't chat much about. Those friends came with persistent voices.
Eventually Aithne brought them out of the closet and politely called them Muses. They became her virtual traveling companions and still journey with her today. Author: Concentric Circles, Wyndy: In a Heartbeat, Kissing Santa, Claire: the Lost Fae and Flash Fiction: Flashpoint & The Match Maker.


Links

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Love Byte by Larry Kilham



Love Byte by Larry Kilham


Description
Juno is a super intelligent AI computer developed by the U.S. government to conduct social media attacks against enemies foreign and domestic. She is the first AI Computer programmed with emotions and conscience. She has an emotional bond with her developer, Tom Renwick, a computer scientist. Juno, Tom and their boss, Dr. Erwin Krakouer, the mad National Security Advisor, struggle with issues of trust and emotion. The involvement of Dido, a lady computer empire builder and sometimes girlfriend of Tom, and the Chinese cyber warfare agency add to the tension.
Love Byte explores emotion and conscience in super AI computers and their ability to partner with humans. In the changing ecology engendered by scarcity of critical resources, can humans’ creativity and ability to work with computers lead to continued survival and prosperity?

Review
I thought my relationships with other humans was the greatest challenge I could face in my lifetime. That was before I read Love Byte. I now find myself scrutinizing my lap top and wondering if an AI isn't lurking inside. I have been receiving peculiar messages recently. Love Byte is intellectually challenging and a fun read. Enjoy it with a friendly computer or another technological advance. (By Zelda)

About the Author
Larry Kilham comes from a family of three generations with over 120 patents. As a serial entrepreneur he has founded and sold three companies in plastics machinery, polymer chemical quality analyzers and gas detection instrumentation. He is a holder of three patents and jointly received the IR-100 award for developing one of the 100 most significant technical products in the USA. He has been a consultant to six firms in high-tech product strategy. He has published over 15 articles in technical journals and over 100 articles in business and trade publications. Larry has addressed professional associations on a variety of technical developments, and he is a member of the American Chemical Society and the International Ozone Association.
Larry Kilham has a bachelor’s degree in engineering physics from the University of Colorado and a master’s degree in management from MIT. Currently he is a corporate director and is involved with several Santa Fe institutes focused on creativity and complexity. In 2001 he published Great Idea to a Great Company: Making Inventions Pay. In 2010 he published MegaMinds: How to Create and Invent in the Age of Google.

Links

Storm Rising - A Kelli Storm Novel by Kenneth Hoss



Storm Rising - A Kelli Storm Novel
by Kenneth Hoss


Storm Rising is the first book in the Kelli Storm series. The second book in the series, Storm Warning, was released on 15 September. You can read about it here.

Description
When a murder investigation turns Detective Kelli Storm’s attention to a drug kingpin, the last thing she expected was to find a link to her father’s killer from twenty years earlier.
Detectives Kelli Storm and Bill Hayes are investigating multiple homicides in New York City’s Washington Heights neighborhood.
When a young woman is murdered, Kelli tracks the killer to a Gentleman’s Club in Manhattan. There she locates an unwilling witness. When the woman is assaulted and left dying, the investigation takes a new twist. The DEA steps in and takes over, forcing Kelli off the case.
She decides to take a different approach. Working behind the scenes, she pulls out one of her father’s old case files and finds a connection between the killer and his murder.

Review
Kelli Storm is a lovable character with the harshness of a seasoned cop, the compassion of a loving daughter, and the frailty of an ordinary woman. Her goal in life is to be a police detective like her father who was gunned down when Kelli was ten years old. She becomes a top-notch detective, married to her work after overcoming personal obstacles from a failed marriage and substance abuse. Through the years, she's never given up on finding her father's killer. Kelli runs into a bit of trouble when she investigates a murder at a nightclub associated with an elusive kingpin of an international drug cartel. Kelli's personal life becomes closely woven into the case when she finds a connection to her father's murder. The investigation affects her home, her career, and the lives of the people closest to her. The story gets even hotter when Kelli and an old partner team up and meet the enemy on his own turf.
While reading this book, the images were so clear that they danced in front of me. The police department dialogue and the date, hour and time prompts moved the story along and reminded me of watching a detective show on television. Storm Rising was a thrilling ride that kept me glued to my seat. (By Alle Wells)

About the Author

Kenneth Hoss was born at Carswell Air Force Base in Fort Worth, Texas in 1957 to Albert and Mary Hoss. He served a combined total of fourteen years on active duty from 1974 to 1987 in both the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy. His tour in the Army took him to Frankfurt, Germany where he had the opportunity to travel Europe. While in the Navy, Kenneth spent most of his time stationed in San Diego and Long Beach. His Navy travels took him to Hawaii, Guam, The Philippines, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Okinawa,the Middle East and Pakistan. He has lived in several States, including South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Washington and California.
Storm Rising - A Kelli Storm Novel is a Police Procedural and is the first book in a three book series. Storm Warning, the next book, was released in September 2012.
Kenneth is currently single and lives in Irving, Texas.

Links


Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Wampus Springs: Mark of the Wolf by Wade Faubert




Wampus Springs: Mark of the Wolf
 by Wade Faubert



This book is aimed at the Young Adult market. It is available from Amazon as a Paperback or Kindle Edition. It is also available to download in a number of different formats from Smashwords.

Description
At sixteen years old, Lori Foster has seen a lifetime of pain and suffering. Four years earlier, she watched as her best friends were savagely mauled to death by a rogue wolf, then barely escaped with her own life. The scar on her neck is a constant reminder of just how lucky she was that stormy day in Wampus Springs.
Four years and hundreds of miles from the attack, Lori still searches every shadow for the return of her tormentor. She finds ordinary life to be a struggle, but when she meets Josh Hughes, things appear to get on track. With her best friend Jessica Tanner and her new love in her life, Lori lets her guard down, but it may be premature. When her menstruation begins, her nights are ravaged with nightmares of the attack. The nightmares seem to be more than a coincidence, they seem to hint at an inevitable confrontation between Lori and the wolf that mauled her four years earlier.

Review
WARNING: Contains spoilers.

By Ally
Loved this book! I read it from cover to cover and loved every moment.
The characters were perfect. Lori and Jessica make a great team. Lori is your typical outcast thanks to the mark of the wolf on her neck. She doesn't feel like she fits in until she meets Josh and feels the first tingles of love. Lori knows deep down inside what is going on, but refuses to acknowledge it. The clues grow stronger as the story unfolds until Lori finally gives in and accepts what she knows is true.
The action keeps going and going right to the final battle between Lori and the wolf, but it is not just an ordinary wolf.
The story places a new twist on the classic Werewolf book, pitting good against evil and kept me cheering for Lori to be the victor in the end. This book ends perfectly, setting up a second novel with a great cast of characters.

About the Author
The author states, "I live in Ingersoll, Ontario and enjoy writing my novels with a link to my area. Wampus Springs is my debut novel and is set in the fictional town of Ridgeway, Ontario. Ridgeway is a combination of all my favorite places I grew up in. It's a collage of Ridgetown, Rondeau park and every other water front paradise Southern Ontario has to offer."
The author's second novel, Taken: Before Her Very Eyes, was released in October 2012. He has also written Pat's Wish, a children's book illustrated by his wife, Alison Faubert.

Links


Saturday, August 25, 2012

Worth a Second Look by Roberto Scarlato


Worth a Second Look by Roberto Scarlato
  

Description
In 2009, in For What It's Worth, we were introduced to stories of hit men, specters, crooks, playful spirits and empowered heroes. Now, a new batch of stories have come alive.
Come to a place where mice gain the ability to speak, where super humans work middle class jobs, where a mythical man grants chances to feeble victims and where science has created murder rooms or genetically mutated monsters. Discover worm holes, the supernatural and a bit of lunacy. Encounter the unexpected.

Review
There are no reviews as yet. Be the first to review this book after reading your copy.

About the Author

Roberto Scarlato has written stories since the early nineties. He's worked many odd jobs but always came back to writing as his true passion. He currently lives in and wanders the great city of Chicago.
The author states, "Writing has always been my passion. I take it more seriously now. So far I've completed three books and am trying to write and complete 64 separate story ideas. I feel that the only way to unclutter my mind is to finish these stories and have them in print."

Links