Cover Grabby-hands Syndrome: Emma Hamm

Sometimes you run into a cover or series of covers that make you stop, bow down to the awesome and maybe drool and develop grabby-hands.

Today, I give you Bride of the Sea: A Little Mermaid Retelling (Otherworld Book 3)
They have earned my Grabby-hands stamp of approval.
Artist: Magdalena website 

Bride of the Sea: A Little Mermaid Retelling (Otherworld Book 3)

April 3, 2018

343 pages

The Little Mermaid meets Irish Mythology in this retelling of the beloved classic… 

A STANDALONE Otherworld Series Companion Novel

Once upon a time…

Saoirse dreams of land. Her father has other plans, and intends to marry her off as soon as possible. When a ship sinks near her home, she carries the only surviving sailor to a faerie blessed isle and plans her escape. Who better to help her than a man with few scruples and little cares in the world?

Manus dreams of the sea. He spent every coin in his pockets to get back on a ship but never expected the vessel to sink. When a merrow saves him, he realizes the chance meeting is an opportunity. She could make him rich and become his good luck charm, so the legends say. Now, he just needs to get off the isle she’s trapped him on.

They intend to use each other, but find their souls drawn together bit by bit. Can either leave the isle and the sea without losing their hearts in the bargain?

Mild Sexual Content
HEA - Complete story

About the Author:

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Emma Hamm grew up in a small town surrounded by trees and animals. She writes strong, confident, powerful women who aren't afraid to grow and make mistakes. Her books will always be a little bit feminist, and are geared towards empowering both men and women to be comfortable in their own skin.

Alpha Male Diner: Irish Vampires by Lauren Smith (The Bite of Winter book tour)

Irish Vampires

recipe by Lauren Smith

The Bite of Winter (Love Bites #1)

Ingredients:
* Two vampires height six foot three inches
* 1/2 cup of stubbornness
* One vampire should be light-haired and the other dark
* 1 tsp of vampire voodoo (they’ll convince you to do just about anything with their bewitiching eyes)
* 3 tablespoons immortality
* 2 cups of undeniable animal lust
* ¼ cup bloodlust
* 2 teaspoons loneliness

Seasoning:
* Irish accents like silk to the ears
* Two centuries of wondering the earth looking for their mates
* Determined to share a woman they love if they both perchance fall for the same woman
* A desire to find the meaning in their lives after losing the first mate they shared a hundred years ago

Mix the ingredients and seasonings in a king-size bed, carefully fold in the following:
* Animal Magnetism
* Jaw-dropping gorgeous
* Wicked smiles
* Sensual lips and naughty hands

This meal might cause an increased pulse, a light sweat and a need for release. Should you experience any of these symptoms, keep reading on to the last page.

The Bite of Winter (Love Bites #1)
by Lauren Smith
Paranormal, Erotic Romance
November 24, 2015
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Format: Digital eBook
ISBN: 978-1-61922-495-7
Zoey Blake is about as far down on her luck as she can get. A car crash took her parents, leaving her destitute and on the street. When she’s attacked by another homeless person, her lifeblood drains away as her fading vision is filled with the face of a handsome stranger.

Ian Kennedy, a century old Irish vampire, never could resist rescuing a stray. As a few drops of his blood heals Zoey’s wounds, he realizes she’s a sweet, tempting, flesh-and-blood woman. But there’s one problem. Connor, who made Ian promise decades ago: no more mortal lovers.

After another vampire murdered his soulmate, Connor O’Shea swore never to let a mortal woman pay the price for loving him. Until he feels Zoey’s skin and tastes her lips. She makes him want to break that vow.

Zoey finds herself caught in their web of seduction. But as Christmas draws near and her grief deepens, happiness seems far out of reach. And Ian and Connor join forces to prove their love is sacred, special…and forever.

Warning: This book contains two scorching-hot Irish vampires, one lady with plenty of pluck but zero luck, naughty lingerie, and enough Christmas cheer to redeem even the darkest creatures.

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Add The Bite of Winter to your Goodreads shelf!

About the Author:

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Amazon Best-Selling Author Lauren Smith is an attorney by day, author by night, who pens adventurous and edgy romance stories by the light of her smart phone flashlight app. She’s a native Oklahoman who lives with her three pets: a feisty chinchilla, sophisticated cat and dapper little schnauzer. She’s won multiple awards in several romance subgenres including being an Amazon.com Breakthrough Novel Award Quarter-Finalist and a Semi-Finalist for the Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Award.

Movie Review: The Hardy Bucks Movie

The Hardy Bucks Movie (18)

Directed by: Mike Cockayne
Starring: Martin Maloney, Chris Tordoff & Owen Colgan

For those of you stateside who have not heard of The Hardy Bucks, it is an Irish Mockumentary TV show similar to The Trailer Park Boys. It is set in a small town in the West of Ireland and follows the mis-adventures of five lads who drink, smoke, fight and dream of making it to the big smoke – Galway. The Hardy Bucks started out as a series of You Tube videos but after winning a competition called Storyland, ran by Ireland’s national broadcaster RTE, they got their own TV series. The boys have a very loyal fan base and have now hit the big screen.

This is a road trip movie which sees the lads head off to Poland to watch Ireland play Poznan in the Euros. They stop off in Amsterdam on route to Poland where French Toast and Eddie land themselves in trouble with gangsters after a night of partying which neither can remember the details of… The Viper meets two ladies and brings them back to his camper not realising their ‘profession’ and The Boo undertakes some research in the Red light District while Buzz and Salmon have their own little adventure there.

From the word go, this movie is laugh out loud funny. The thing we all need to remember is these guys are not professional actors and yet they play these characters like pros. The Irish humour is captured perfectly but they also go to places with their comedy that you would not normally see in an Irish movie. I think this movie will introduce them to a whole new audience who may not have seen them before. Personally I can’t wait for the next movie!

4 Sheep

Rita Scott from Following the Nerd
My name is Rita Scott and I was born in 1980. All my life I have been a massive horror movie fan and have been an avid follower of shows such as Buffy, The Walking Dead, American Horror Story, American Gothic, there are literally too many to mention. I am obsessed with Friends and live in hope of a movie. I love to write and I hope you enjoy my articles.

Movie Review: Grabbers

Grabbers
Release date: January 23, 2012 (initial release)
Director: Jon Wright
DVD release date: February 20, 2013
Running time: 94 minutes
Screenplay: Kevin Lehane

When an island off the coast of Ireland is invaded by bloodsucking aliens, the heroes discover that getting drunk is the only way to survive.

When I heard the premise of the new Movie Grabbers about a monster terrorizing an island off the west coast of Ireland, I nearly had a gromit. And I spent a blissful hour and a half on the island of Erin along with its residents as they battled a new life form that appears out of the sea.

Starring Richard Coyle (Human Traffic, Coupling), Ruth Bradley (Primeval, Doctor Who), Russell Tovey (Being Human, Doctor Who) and Bronagh Gallagher (The Commitments, Star Wars Phantom Menace), Grabbers is the first Irish monster movie and it doesn’t disappoint. What makes this movie so magical is the way it cleverly blends the Irish humour with monsters to create a sort of Father Ted meets Tremors movie. Usually Irish characters can come off as stereotypes and mockeries of the world but not so here.

Writer Kevin Lehane does a fantastic job of nailing the Irish humour with great characters that you fall in love with straight away. From Paddy (the star of the show for me), a fisherman who loves drink and finds the first monster and who holds the key to defeating them, to pub owners Brian (who has one of the best scenes in the movie involving a water pistol and a lot of drink and his wife Una (Gallagher) who thinks the monster assault is her surprise birthday party, Father Potts who doesn't fall quite as far as Father Jack on Craggy Island but you know he could, to Doctor Smith (Tovey) who strangely seems out of place here but portrays the actual only stereotype as an all-knowing, very posh English scientist trying to discover what this creature is and refusing to let Paddy name it since he found it. Coyle and Bradley are Garda officers O’Shea and Nolan respectively, trying to solve the mystery. They share some of the movie’s nicest human moments. O’Shea is a heavy drinker but has a good reason and it becomes key to his saving the island. Coyle could have easily let this slip into farce but you end up feeling for him and wanting him to get together with Nolan. Nolan is the good girl officer who doesn’t drink and ends up pie-faced. Even Dr Smith (a sly Doctor Who reference perhaps, given Tovey was rumoured to take over from David Tennant) gets in on the alcohol action with hilarious results. Ruth is completely different here to her characters of both Molly O’Sullivan, the first Irish companion in the Big Finish Doctor Who stories and Emily, the feisty Victorian lady in Primeval. She has a guarded innocence here, a lady that goes by the book until she has to get drunk to find out how much blood alcohol it takes to kill a Grabber. Problem is, she doesn't drink alcohol and the results are hilarious, especially in the church scene where they have to convince a skeptical crowd that they have to attend a lock in at the pub, something they are reluctant to do until they hear the drink is free.

You may have noticed that drink has featured a lot in the past few sentences. Well, that’s the crux of the movie and a brilliant idea that sticks its two fingers up to the rest of the world’s view that all Irish people are drunkards. If a sea monster invaded the land then trust them to end up on Irish shores where alcohol can kill them. And who better to fight giant mutant squid monsters allergic to alcohol than a crowd of Irish people pissed as farts? Brilliant idea, brilliantly conceived and played out in deadly seriousness sprinkled with little moments of true Irish craic and humour.

That’s not to say there isn't dark horror here; there is. From the opening scene of an unseen monster murdering a boat full of fishermen to the unfortunate Tadhg and Irene Murphy who answer the door to more than they bargained for and the tense beach scene where the monster attacks O’Shea and Nolan, the script bounces beautifully between humour and horror. The monster dangles an unlucky islander at the front door of the Murphys and Irene asks what he wants. Tadhg replies, ‘A dance, I think.’

The titular Grabbers are very well done and the effects are second to none. Paddy’s run in with them is particularly well done as is the final siege at the pub.

All round this is a movie we should be proud of; it does for Ireland what Tremors did for underground worm monsters; puts us right out there. Great layered performances that make you feel like you actually know these people, a cool story that rattles along nicely and afterwards you’ll want a pint – just in case you meet a Grabber on the way home.

Highly recommended.

4 Sheep

Guest Review: Owen Quinn from Following The Nerd

Feelin Lucky Giveaway Hop March 7-13th SIGN UPS

[Button Image by Jeni Darling Photography]

Let's ring in Saint Patricks Day in Style! Hunky men/women/ghouls/vamps/shifters/dogs/animal crackers whatever. All are welcome to take part in this Irish fest so grab a green beer and join us!

Welcome to the

~Feelin Lucky Giveaway Hop~

Co-Host Page!!!!!

This hop is hosted by

I Smell Sheep

and

Fictional Candy

Sign-ups can be found HERE.

Rules:

Hop is scheduled March 7-13th. Please have your post scheduled to post live by 12am on the 7th. We will be checking, and sites not complying will be removed.

If you email us with your actual post url on the first day of the hop, we will update the linky. We will also email you the linky code a few days before the hop starts.

Giveaway must be book related. If you can make it Irish or St Patrick’s Day related, even better! This can be as loosely interpreted as you like (green, gold, location, name, leprechauns!, etc)

There is no minimum or maximum on giveaway prize. Also, there is no content regulation. All that we do ask is please let us know if you are giving away a US or International Prize when signing up (i.e. Fictional Candy (INTL))

Blog Hop Button must be displayed on your home page and used in your giveaway post

All posts must use the linky so everyone entering can easily hop from blog to blog

The hop is open to bloggers and authors alike so don’t be shy!

Deadline for entering is March 1st

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP

**Each website is responsible for payment and shipping of their own giveaway

***One mandatory entry and up to 4 optional entries. No daily entries allowed.

Have fun, and tell your friends!

Hounded, hit the spot! Joygasim!

Hounded, by author Kevin Hearne, book one in new the series called The Iron Druid Chronicles. A wonderfully well written UF packed with Celtic lore, hunky men, action and witty dialog that will suck you in and keep you entertained! LOVED IT! :)

Plot:

Atticus O’Sullivan has been running for two thousand years and he’s a bit tired of it. After he stole a magical sword from the Tuatha Dé Danann (those who became the Sidhe or the Fae) in a first century battle, some of them were furious and gave chase, and some were secretly amused that a Druid had the cheek to defy them. As the centuries passed and Atticus remained an annoyingly long-lived fugitive, those who were furious only grew more so, while others began to aid him in secret.

Now he’s living in Tempe, Arizona, the very last of the Druids, far from where the Fae can easily find him. It’s a place where many paranormals have decided to hide from the troubles of the Old World—from an Icelandic vampire holding a grudge against Thor to a coven of Polish witches who ran from the German Blitzkrieg.

Unfortunately, the very angry Celtic god who wants that sword has tracked him down, and Atticus will need all his power, plus the help of a seductive goddess of death, a sexy bartender possessed by a Hindu witch, and some good, old-fashioned luck of the Irish to kick some arse and deliver himself from evil.

A manipulative group of witches has teamed up with a fierce enemy to kill our toe-curling honky druid protagonist, Atticus. The ultimate lesson in this story: Never trust a witch. Atticus has found a home in the Arizona desert and no one is going to make him pull up stakes again. Tired of running from dangerous Fae, Atticus and his trusty Irish Wolfhound take on the dangers lurking around his normally quiet suburban neighborhood. And Atticus is quite the fighter, you don't live to be over 2000 years old without having some serious powers to draw upon. Unfortunately his powers may not be enough to stop his enemies from taking what they want. I loved the whole thing, from beginning to end this book was a very tasty treat I plan to enjoy for months to come.

Hearne came so very close to mentioning the title of this blog I had to do a double take at the line: "I smelled the sheep scent on the night air.." Pretty cool indeed! Atticus's fun loving Irish neighbor Mrs. MacDonagh has quiet a few memorable lines but my favorite was this gem:

"A friend will help ya move, Katie, but a really good friend will help ya move a body."

Definitely my new motto! *evil laugh* The only thing missing was details in the romance department, I am such a sucker for an Irish hunk that I wanted all the juicy play by plays. Alas, I had to use my imagination for our yummy Irish druid. Hopefully upcoming books will satisfy me just a wee bit more. Aside from that, this book is chalked full of so many different characters from folklore you are sure to find a few you enjoy. Vamps, Werewolves, Thor (who apparently is a jerk), Fae, Sorceress, witches and lots more!

Book 2 Hexed will be out June 7th, and the final book Hammered comes out July 5th! I for one cannot wait!

Getting 4 and 1/2 Leif Lovin' Sheep

KD