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Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Comic Review: Archie vs. Predator (2 of 4) Dark Horse Comics

ARCHIE VS. PREDATOR #2 (of 4)
Writer: Alex de Campi
Penciller: Fernando Ruiz
Inker: Rich Koslowski
Colorist: Jason Millet
Cover Artist: Dan Parent
Genre: Science-Fiction
May 20, 2015
Format: FC, 32 pages; Miniseries
Price: $3.99
UPC:7 61568 27991 7 00211
“A MASH-UP FOR THE AGES.”—USA TODAY

Archie and the gang head back to Riverdale, but the vicious extraterrestrial Predator is in hot pursuit! When the kids determine that Betty and Veronica are the targets, they devise a secret weapon—Jughead in drag!

* Variant covers by Dustin Nguyen (Batman Eternal, Adventure Time) and Robert Hack (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina)!

* IT’S OPEN SEASON ON ARCHIE!

Archie and the gang are back home in Riverdale in the United States, their friends Cheryl and Jason dead back where they had been in Issue #1. Except they do not know they are not safe, that something has followed them. A Predator. And anyone who holds knife or weapon is prey for the young alien hunter. 

The colors are great. The characters from Riverdale act as I always remember them acting in comics and on the animated TV shows. Though Sabrina the Teenage Witch is scarier in this comic than he ever was when I read her when younger. Still an interesting combination of the Archie comics’ humor and lightheartedness mixed with the Predator darkness and death. Somehow they do it well.

I give Archie vs. Predator (2 of 4) 4 sheep



Pamela K. Kinney

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Book Review: Shards of Hope (Psy/Changeling book 14) by Nalini Singh

Shards of Hope (Psy/Changeling book 14)
by Nalini Singh
Paranormal Romance
Release Date: 2 June 2015

Hardcover, 496 pages
Berkley Hardcover

Plot:
Awakening wounded in a darkened cell, their psychic abilities blocked, Aden and Zaira know they must escape. But when the lethal soldiers break free from their mysterious prison, they find themselves in a harsh, inhospitable landscape far from civilization. Their only hope for survival is to make it to the hidden home of a predatory changeling pack that doesn’t welcome outsiders.

And they must survive. A shadowy enemy has put a target on the back of the Arrow squad, an enemy that cannot be permitted to succeed in its deadly campaign. Aden will cross any line to keep his people safe for this new future, where even an assassin might have hope of a life beyond blood and death and pain. Zaira has no such hope. She knows she’s too damaged to return from the abyss. Her driving goal is to protect Aden, protect the only person who has ever come back for her no matter what. This time, even Aden’s passionate determination may not be enough—because the emotionless chill of Silence existed for a reason. For the violent, and the insane, and the irreparably broken…like Zaira.


This certainly is NOT a story for the first time Nalini reader! By book 14, if you're not all caught up on what's going on with the changelings and the Psynet then you better read up on all the previous drama. Because, it's getting really complex and you don't want to miss out on any of it!

Mrs. Singh writes some of the most diverse and colorful stories I've ever read, and I read a lot so that's saying something. Anguish and torture often make a prime-time showing in her worlds, the scary parts of the world must haunt her dreams. Singh has no problems at all laying out the underbelly of the darkness, you will never be bored reading her stories!

Shards of Hope takes on a very epic feel, almost stepping over into the Sci/Fi realm. This is heavy reading material at times and there is a lot more political intrigue going on. Layers of deception and misdirection are being thrown down, if you like deeply seeded plots and can handle the ins and outs of a societies political on goings, then you'll be in for a treat!

Almost as a secondary story is our leading man and woman, the Arrows trained to kill with cold and quick precision. They have been "conditioned" from birth to feel nothing or suffer extreme pain. But as their old world crumbles, the Arrows are trying to find their place in society. Aden was an awesome leading man, he has everything you would want to read about and some surprises that have yet to been seen. Backing him up, always, is his sword and shield maiden Zaira. Talk about damaged goods, this gal takes the cake!

Can these two leaders take their people to a place they've never been? No, not deep space nine! Can they find love and happiness without brutal beatings and harsh treatment? It's a long road down any recovery path, but you will root for them to make it!

What's coming next? I don't know but I can't wait to find out!

Getting 4 and 1/2 'don't touch my man!' Sheep






KD

About the author:
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I've been writing as long as I can remember and all of my stories always held a thread of romance (even when I was writing about a prince who could shoot lasers out of his eyes). I love creating unique characters, love giving them happy endings and I even love the voices in my head. There's no other job I would rather be doing. In September 2002, when I got the call that Silhouette Desire wanted to buy my first book, Desert Warrior, it was a dream come true. I hope to continue living the dream until I keel over of old age on my keyboard.


I was born in Fiji and raised in New Zealand. I also spent three years living and working in Japan, during which time I took the chance to travel around Asia. I’m back in New Zealand now, but I’m always plotting new trips. If you’d like to see some of my travel snapshots, have a look at the Travel Diary page (updated every month).

So far, I've worked as a lawyer, a librarian, a candy factory general hand, a bank temp and an English teacher and not necessarily in that order. Some might call that inconsistency but I call it grist for the writer's mill.

Claire Ashgrove’s favorite scene from Enslaved by Fear INHERITED DAMNATION Book #7 + giveaway


INHERITED DAMNATION is an 8 book paranormal romance series being released as one book every three weeks between January 27th and June 23rd, 2015. 

Damned at birth, eight immortal children of a high priestess are compelled to kill the one that holds their heart. They can never fall in love. Driven by the need to finally destroy their evil sire and break the curse, each struggles to balance their desire for innocence against the dark needs of their conflicted souls. 

The series contains mythos shared between the volumes, but each book stands on its own with a newly featured couple. 

The first four volumes – Cursed to Kill, Tormented by Darkness, Destined to Die, Bound by Blood, and Fated for Sacrifice are available now! 

Keep up with all things Inherited Damnation over on the


Claire’s Favorite Scene from Enslaved by Fear

Micah resisted the pull of anger. Brigid was three steps away from the fight she so obviously wanted. Another remark like the one she’d just made, and she’d have it.

“What am I after?” she asked with a disbelieving laugh. “You’re the one who’s plotted against me all afternoon. Why?”

“Plotted against you?” His voice rose, incredulous. “I didn’t do anything but bring you the scroll that fate would have you claim. You’re the one who touched it. You’re the one who almost attacked me earlier. You’ve been waspish since I walked through the door. Now tell me who has it in for whom.”

Forcing Brigid to admit her wrongs or even her wrong assumptions was never a wise thing. But damn it, she’d pushed too far, hit too many buttons today. He couldn’t maintain the game of indifference any longer.

On some instinctual level, he’d known his words would incite her further. Still, that gut awareness didn’t stop the momentary surprise he experienced when Brigid’s eyes flashed like wildfire. Nor did he anticipate the wave of energy that rolled off her long lean body and slammed into his chest. Not an attack, just the sheer force of her building fury.

She took a step forward. In her splayed palm, power gathered. “You bring that thing into my home and call me waspish? I’ll show you a sting, Micah.”

Micah eyed the building ball of energy. Two words would protect him from whatever she attempted. Another, the one he despised using, would terminate this argument in a heartbeat. But if he stopped her now, this inevitable battle would rear again. It had been coming for too long. Time to have it over and done with. If she meant to harm him, she better do so now, for he wouldn’t give her another opportunity.

Straightening his shoulders, he sank his weight into his heels. “You’re pissed off at me because I made you confront what you want. But you’re too afraid of your father to listen to that part of your soul.”

“I’m warning you, Micah, I’m not playing games.” Brigid cocked her arm, prepared to throw that pulsating ball of internal fire.

“Go ahead.” He nodded at her hand. “I don’t have any wards up. If you want to hurt me, now’s your chance. But make it good, Brigid. Make it hurt. Make it put me in my bed for a week, because I won’t give a coward a second shot.”

Her hand moved in slow motion, arcing forward from her shoulder. The small ball of yellow-orange gathered against her curled fingers beat a bright light. Intense heat washed over his skin, forcing him to close his eyes.

He braced for impact, knowing the energy she wielded so naturally would sear into his soul and scar him for life. Never before had he given a demon such opportunity. Never before had he issued a challenge he didn’t intend to override.

In the next instant, every ounce of Brigid’s strength slammed through her fist and into the side of his jaw.

Micah’s head snapped sideways. He staggered under the momentum of her strike, one knee nearly hitting the ground before he managed to put both legs under him once more. Stunned beyond all ability to reason, he whipped around to face her.

Holy shit, the woman knew how to throw a punch.


Enslaved by Fear
INHERITED DAMNATION Book #7
Add to your GoodReads Shelf
Buy links available on Author’s Website
For standing against her brother, Brigid McLaine is imprisoned within her home. All she wants is freedom and the ability to follow her dark nature. But captivity poses a greater threat in the form of her handsome guard, Micah Nelson. Day after day of confinement leads her down a treacherous path of desire she can no longer ignore.

When Micah befriended Brigid six years ago, he never imagined the woman who haunted his every fantasy would end up being the very same demon he's employed to guard. During the forced confinement, he comes to learn the softer, gentler side of the woman who is despised by her family--and he recognizes the fear that keeps her chained to her sire. As their bond strengthens and passion ignites, Micah struggles to convince Brigid to confront her fears and escape her incubus father's dark designs.

Yet with the sabbat of Litha so near, one of them must make a choice. Will Brigid find the ability to confront her sire once and for all and embrace the lightness in her heart--or will Micah find the courage to let go of the one thing he wants most? Brigid. 



The final INHERITED DAMNATION, Marked for Death will be coming on 6/23/15. Stay tuned!

Giveaway and series information after the page break

Monday, June 1, 2015

Book Review: Plush (Book 1: A Billionaire Romance) by K.B. Winters

Plush (Book 1: A Billionaire Romance)
by K.B. Winters
Romance
Pages: 91
Allison Rand is a hot little barista struggling to make rent. The sassy firecracker is not afraid to take chances - except when it comes to her heart. She moved from her sleepy small town beginnings, to chase her dreams in the City of Angels.

When her best frappe friend offers her the job of a lifetime, she jumps in - with both feet. Right into the arms of Billionaire Cooper Brighton. He's tall, handsome, and totally out of her league - or so she thinks.

Billionaire playboy, and CEO of Brighton Enterprises, Cooper Brighton, was thrown into the business after tragedy strikes. He's adjusting as fast as he can, but his new position of power leaves him lonely and haunted by his own demons.

Allie and Cooper are both keeping secrets. As they continue to cross paths, will their secrets bring them closer together, or ultimately become the thing that tears them apart?


I have mixed feelings about this story, it's book so there's going to be more development as they series goes on. However, at this point I'm on the fence about reading any more.

Our main character Allison wants the reader to be sympathetic to her plight in life. She's been with bad men, didn't apply herself in school and wasted tons of money on many tattoos and drinking at the bars with her rough and rowdy bar crowd. I'm not trying to perch to the gal, but it's no wonder where she ended up in my opinion. Onward with the story, a customer at the coffee shop where she slings beans gets her a job as an IT person. However, on day one she's forced to work on a project and for a team she's never been trained to do.

The plot-line itself was lacking and not very believable. After Allison meets the billionaire Cooper, her hearts all a flutter and the angst begins. Cooper does not see her as more then a hump, as fact that her never once asks her anything about herself. Not family, friends, nothing. Granted, Allison tries to keep things professional and didn't give him a chance, but the guy sure finds time to drag her back to HIS office and have sex with her. During working hours on the clock no less.

Soon she's all the office gossiper and the haters gonna hate. But really, she dug her own reputation grave not even a week into the new position. I think there was just a real lack of investment in any of the characters, they seemed flimsy and un-relatable most of the time. I didn't care much about the characters and that's really a shame because I really wanted to!

While this was not my cup of high priced tea, it might be yours. Read other reviews and see what you think, at less then 100 pages you'll get just enough to know if it's a winner!

Getting 2 and 1/2 Sheep






KD

About the Author:
KB Winters is the author of the brand new Billionaire Romance Series, Plush. She has an addiction to caffeine and hard-bodied alpha males. The men in her books are very sexy, protective and sometimes bossy, her ladies are...well...bossier!
Living in sunny Southern California, this hopeless romantic writes every chance she gets!
You can connect with KB on Facebook and Twitter!

Tim Lees guest post: Ten Things You Should Know About the Gods

Ten Things You Should Know About the Gods


1. Gods are dangerous. If you haven’t read the instructions, don’t open the tin. It’s as simple as that.

2. Even if you have read the instructions: don’t open the tin. I mean, these are gods, OK? We’re not just talking about a bunch of horny old Greeks here, or a gang of drunken Vikings. Or that Big Guy from the Middle East. No. These are gods. They sit around for centuries, millennia, just soaking up the power, doing nothing very much, till some fool comes along and wakes them up. So think about that, will you?

3. Don’t prod them with a stick. Don’t call them names. Don’t do anything that isn’t exactly what the job requires. And if you’ve any sense, you won’t do that, either.

4. Oh yes. You know the other thing that’s dangerous? More dangerous than gods? Super, super, SUPER dangerous?

5. People.

6. They’ll get you in real trouble.

7. So let’s sum up. Firstly, do not on any account go to Iraq and dig up some primeval entity your boss is keen to get his hands on. In spite of what they told you, Iraq is still a war zone. You could die there. Or worse. Secondly, when said entity is relocated to Chicago by people who imagine they can drain its power to light the city... Stay out of the way. Do NOT, under any circumstances, agree to act as a consultant, advisor or general troubleshooter for the project. (The clue is in the name, on that last one: trouble. Understand?) And while you’re at it, you might think twice about getting back with your old girlfriend there, since she’s undergoing a few problems of her own, including a malicious ex who – oh, but what’s the use? You’re going to do it anyway, aren’t you?

8. Well. Don’t say you’ve not been warned, that’s all.

9. Chicago is the third most highly populated city in the USA, with 2.7 million residents. The question now is, who’s going to warn them?

10. Because someone needs to. Quickly, too.


Devil in the Wires: A Field Ops Novel
by Tim Lees
Kindle Edition, 272 pages
May 19th 2015
by Harper Voyager Impulse

"It's a perfect circle, Chris. The god receives his audience, the grid receives the power—and we light up Chicago."

After the perilous retrieval of a long-dormant god from Iraq, Chris Copeland—professional god hunter and company troubleshooter—is about ready to quit his job. But his employers at the Registry have other plans…plans to build a power facility on the shores of Lake Michigan. Adam Shailer, a rising star at the Registry, thinks he can cage the god, drain its energy, and power the city.

It's Chris's job to make sure nothing goes wrong. And at first, everything seems fine. Great, even. But when ecstatic devotees start leaving human sacrifices on the beach near the god-house, it quickly becomes clear that the god is not as contained as the Registry would have everyone believe. The devil's in the wires, and there's no turning back now.


About the Author:
Tim Lees is a British author now living in Chicago. He is a regular contributor to Interzone, Black Static, and other titles. He is the author of the much praised novel, "Frankenstein's Prescription."