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Monday, November 2, 2015

Spotlight and Excerpt: The Crumbling Pageant by Patricia Burroughs + giveaway

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We're happy to be hosting Patricia Burrough's book blast today!


by Patricia Burroughs
Publisher: Story Spring Publishing
Pages: 607
Genre: Dark Young Adult Fantasy
The people of Ordinary England are unaware of a hidden magical England existing alongside--the world of the Magi. Their cathedrals are temples to the old gods. They are ruled not by poor mad George, but by the ailing King Pellinore of the House of Pendragon. The wars of the Magi, however, are no less deadly. The Furys are known for their extraordinary music, their powerful magic, and their historic role as kingmakers. But the Furys have their secrets as well, none so dangerous as the Dark daughter whose Shadow magic spills from her unchecked. Unless Persephone Fury's powers are concealed, she's marked as a target for those who would use and abuse her power. But these are desperate times, and this frightening daughter must make a good marriage. On the night of her debut, her world crumbles around her when she is abducted from the man she loves by the man she most loathes. Evil powers circle, calling her to the destiny foretold at the moment of her birth, drawing her to the source of her power, to the one place she can finally be free. That can only happen, though, if she embraces the Dark magic within her. Persephone is ruthless, devious, and clever, but when confronted with the truth, she must make horrifying choices. Can she defy destiny and seize her own fate?


Excerpt:
Inside this rustic cottage she heard nothing but— Her heart stopped. She was not alone. Whoever was with her was as still and watchful as she. Her fingers longed to flex in defence, but she kept them still. Was it someone she could overcome? With her magic tingling in her veins and her rage at what had been perpetrated upon her, she knew she could. She could overcome anyone who dared stand in her way. She allowed her eyes to open completely and, after a moment, saw beyond the feeble light from the small window and into the gloom of the dark corner. Another blink, and shape emerged. Long legs stretched forward. Elbows were planted on the arms of a chair. Long, pale fingers steepled and glittering black eyes stared over them at her. A predator, watching. Waiting. She shot up, the pain in her right shoulder tearing through her. “How dare you!” His wand flicked out, aimed at her heart, though beyond the movement of that one agile hand, the rest of his body remained as still and dangerously relaxed as before. “Quite easily,” he purred. Her purple gown, once a source of horror and then of wondrous pride, now was ripped open with a bandage and too much skin showing beneath it. She covered herself with both hands, enraged. “What sort of blackguard watches a young lady sleep?” she demanded, her heart pounding. “And… and…” She found herself unable to voice her shock and alarm at being faced with a wand again, much less the sort of man who would possess one. A shudder of revulsion rippled through her. “I’ve not been watching you sleep. I’ve been watching you awaken.” The wand twitched. “Consider carefully any move you make, because if I even suspect that you are about to attack me again, you will be chastened. Again.” Chastened? Was that what he called it? His voice was silky and menacing in the gloom. “Unless you’d like a wound in your left shoulder to match that on your right?” She drew back in fear, despite herself. “Ah, so we have an understanding.” He twirled his wand through his slender, nimble fingers and then back into his palm again.

Patricia Burroughs
About the Author:
website-Facebook-Twitter 
newsletter. 
Patricia Burroughs had insomnia throughout her entire teen years. This meant she read books in the middle of the night, and slept during class in the middle of the day. Unless, of course, she was hiding a novel inside a physics textbook. Who needed physics? She believed in magic. Eventually she turned her propensity for daydreaming and scheming into storytelling, which manifested in award-winning screenplays and books. She still can’t sleep at night, but now it’s her own characters keeping her awake.


Giveaway Details:
Patricia is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card!
Terms & Conditions: 
By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old. 
One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Amazon Gift Certificate 
This giveaway begins November 2 and ends November 2. 
Winners will be contacted via email on November 3. 
Winner has 48 hours to reply. 

Good luck everyone!
ENTER TO WIN!

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Sunday, November 1, 2015

Movie Review: The Last Witch Hunter (2015)

The Last Witch Hunter (2015)
Rating: PG-13 (for sequences of fantasy violence and frightening images)
Directed By: Breck Eisner
Written By: Cory Goodman, Matt Sazama, Burk Sharpless, Melissa Wallack, D.W. Harper
Cast: Vin Diesel, Elijah Wood,  Rose Leslie, Michael Caine   

In Theaters: Oct 23, 2015 WideGenre: Action & Adventure, Science Fiction & Fantasy
Runtime: 1 hr. 45 min.
Summit Entertainment. - Official Site
The modern world holds many secrets, but the most astounding secret of all is that witches still live amongst us; vicious supernatural creatures intent on unleashing the Black Death upon the world. Armies of witch hunters battled the unnatural enemy across the globe for centuries, including KAULDER, a valiant warrior who managed to slay the all-powerful QUEEN WITCH, decimating her followers in the process. In the moments right before her death, the QUEEN curses KAULDER with her own immortality, forever separating him from his beloved wife and daughter in the afterlife. Today KAULDER is the only one of his kind remaining, and has spent centuries hunting down rogue witches, all the while yearning for his long-lost loved ones. However, unbeknownst to KAULDER, the QUEEN WITCH is resurrected and seeks revenge on her killer causing an epic battle that will determine the survival of the human race. (C) Summit

Awkward is the word I would use for this movie. There wasn't any chemistry between the actors, in my opinion. The only actor I knew was going to be in it was Vin Diesel so I was shocked when Frodo showed up. But in all fairness I stopped seeing him as Frodo and he was the only one able to pull off his character. I don't know if it was the role or dialogue be it didn't show Vin in the best of light.

There were some kick ass moments and a twist I didn't see coming at the end, but they should have left the love story out because that just didn't work...at all. I suggest leaving this one as a rental since all the good parts are in the trailer.

I will say that my husband liked it more than me, but my 14 year old daughter felt the same way as I did.

2 1/2 "witchy" Sheep






SharonS

Book Review: Hellscapes, Volume II by Stephen Zimmer

Hellscapes, Volume II
by Stephen Zimmer
132 pages
Return to the nightmarish, shadowy realms of Hell in the latest installment of the Hellscapes series by Stephen Zimmer. Six brand new, macabre tales of the infernal await you … but be sure to only visit these realms, you do not want to share the fates of the inhabitants that you will encounter!

Included in the pages of Hellscapes, Volume II:

In “The Cavern”, a man finds his way into a nightmare, subterranean world that leads to an even greater, and more devastating, revelation.

A woman finds herself stranded on a high, rocky ledge, along with many other men and women, surrounded by a frothing sea in “The Deep”. Shadows glide beneath the surface and soon she will discover what lurks within the depths.

A police officer takes pleasure in violently executing his duties and it appears to be open season in “The Riot” when he is part of an operation sent to crack down on a gathering of people protesting an economic summit nearby. But this is an operation that is going to take a very different kind of turn, one that opens his eyes to a new reality.

“Returning Home” tells the story of a man who has never had any qualms lying, cheating, or deceiving the women in his life. A reckoning day looms as he comes to understand that his actions have harmed the lives of many others, actions that in the realms of Hell take on forms of their own.

Having spun webs of intrigue and personal destruction at the heights of national politics throughout his life, a man finds webs of another sort to present grave danger when he finds himself lost within a strange wilderness in “The Politician”.

Many are drawn to “The Club” in the heart of the decaying, shadow-filled city of Malizia, hoping for some entertainment and release, or even safety from the monstrous dangers lurking in the darkness. One man struggling against amnesia finds his way to the seemingly popular establishment and its confines give him momentary hope; until he discovers the nature of this night club and those who run it.


This is Zimmer's second collection of Hellscape horror stories. Dante had his nine circles of hell. Depending on your crime you would find your soul tortured in one of them. Zimmer has his Hellscape, a world where the lost stumble in terror and confusion until they find their rightful place and begin to physically pay for crimes committed during their lives. Only once the pain starts do they realize why they are there and what eternity holds for them.

This is not for the faint of heart. The Hellscape holds all the monstrosities Zimmer could think of, and torture (there is no death in this place) comes in many forms, mostly likely the rendering of flesh. Each story is about a person who has committed injustices directly or indirectly against humanity. Be it political or social.

While there is a lot of gore, it isn't written like spatterpunk shock material. Zimmer is eloquent in ways you don't find in horror stories as much anymore. He slowly paints a vivid scene that becomes more horrific as the story builds.

Another solid read from Stephen Zimmer.




4 "burning" Sheep


SharonS


About the Author:
Award-winning author and filmmaker Stephen Zimmer is based out of Lexington, Kentucky. His works include the Rising Dawn Saga, the Fires in Eden Series, the Hellscapes and Chronicles of Ave short story collections, the Harvey and Solomon steampunk stories, and the Rayden Valkyrie Tales. Stephen currently resides in Lexington, Kentucky.

Winning the Internet this week...a wink to make you swoon

Pretty much say it all...

Sunday Swag: Ashlyn Chase


Sunday Swag Team!
Riverina Romantics 
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Featured Author: Ashlyn Chase

About the Author: 
Ashlyn Chase has been a registered nurse for 20 years. During those years, she wrote articles for professional journals and a thesis, but eventually, thank goodness, discovered the joy and freedom of writing fiction.

Ashlyn considers herself lucky. Her degree in behavioral sciences is a combination of psychology and sociology, so she has worked with and studied people most of her life. She never has to write out exhaustive character sketches to understand her characters or predict how they will behave.  That doesn't mean they don't surprise her. Sometimes they take her on grand unexpected journeys. For her, it gives "character driven novels" a whole new meaning.
Ashlyn has learned to go with the flow. To enjoy the journey is not only one of her writing goals, but also a challenge in life so she tries to follow where the story takes her. As such, she has lived in 17 different places over the years. At last, she's all settled down and comfy in New England.

trading cards, post card, signed bookplate, vampire first aid kit, awesome sticky note pad

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