Wednesday, November 28, 2012

The Safety Expert - Reviewed By: Crystal Trent Dotson

The Safety Expert
By: Doug Richardson
Reviewed By: Crystal Trent Dotson

Ben Keller's family was murdered twelve years ago, though he has moved on and remarried, he tries to keep his life in control and safe. But when a dying inmate leaves a message for Ben, telling him who murdered his family, Ben's life begins to unravel. Ben begins to investigate Stew Raymo, and even goes undercover to his buisness, and Stew has started over, marrying an ex porn star and starting his own buisness, but he begins to get suspicious of Ben and starts his own investigation, now the games begin. Will Ben be able to save his marriage and buisness and get to Stew before Stew gets to him?

An Incredible read, this was an exciting, hair raising, page turning read. The characters are vivid and able to relate to, the dilemma that progresses through out the book will keep you on edge. I got lost in this book and would recommend it to everyone.

visit Doug Richardson's blog at www.dougrichardson.com

Monday, November 19, 2012

Ebony Arose Reviewed By: Crystal Trent Dotson

Ebony Arose
By: Vicky J. Siegrist
Reviewed By: Crystal Trent Dotson

I was grabbed by this book from the first page I read, Ebony is an eight year old that has been through more in her short life span than most people go through in a lifetime. She is living with her father and two brothers which think she is worthless and treat her like a piece of dirt from their shoes, but once she is able to runaway from her torture, she is determined to make her future better. She meets up with Mary and her husband Ben, who takes her in and makes her family, but when her father finds out she is staying there they come up with a plan to move her away, yet keep her safe. But what twists and turns her life soon takes, is more than any young lady should endure, with secrets reveiled in the worst way and being left at the alter, will poor Ebony ever be able to have a normal life??

This was a very compelling book, it kept me on edge and is full of true life happenings that we just dont see every day..

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Razor - Reviewed By: Crystal Trent Dotson

Razor
By: Margie Church

Reviewed By: Crystal Trent Dotson

Amy and Bryce have the perfect marriage, they aim to please each other and their sex life is wonderful, except that Amy wants to have a little more control in the bedroom, so she asks her best friend Raine to help her out since she is experienced in it. At first it is a hesitation, but when they all agree on it, it then becomes a fantasy of sorts, Bryce wants nothing more than to penetrate Raine, and Amy gets all turned on when around her bestfriend, so after Raine tries to calm Bryce in the bedroom , Amy decides that maybe all three of them should experience each other, but Raine is having problems dealing with Bryce and goes to her Master for advice, after torturing her in a good way she now see's things differently, so will she be up to having her bestfriend and her husband in bed , or will she keep her dominance and pass on losing her friend forever?

This is another Amazing book from Margie Church, Steamy and Sexy with all in between, 10 Stars for this book, I couldn't put it down and luckily for my hubby, I didn't !!!!

Friday, November 9, 2012

Hell's Phoenix - Reviewed By: Crystal Trent Dotson

Hell's Phoenix

By: Gracen Miller

Reviewed By: Crystal Trent Dotson

WOW, WOW, WOW, This is an amazing book, I loved Pandoras Box, with Hell's Phoenix being the second book in The Road to Hell Series, it definitely meets all expectations. It has new characters that are Hot and you can't help but like,and of course the characters from book one are still amazingly steamy and funny.



Nix is in Hell with Micah, and Hell has taken it's toll on him, he has turned to killing and even being intimate with Micah. Both Nix and Micah thought Zen had killed Madison, and Nix wanted revenge. He causes a Tsunami , but when it is fought against with magic, he senses that it's Mad's, so he convinces Micah she is still alive. Mad's is already planning on going to Hell to save Nix, but just hours before she was planning to leave, Micah's brother comes and gets her and takes her to Hell. Now not only is she in Hell, but she is attracted to both men and her demon wants out. Just when you think she is giving in to her deceitful husband, she does the unthinkable and sticks a dragon blade in his heart.



After returning to earth with a hunky dragon, the realization hits that Micah may not be dead and will come for her. And if not Micah,then his brothers, the other Kings of Hell will.



Amazing, Hot, Steamy,



Gracen is an extremely talented writer, she knows how to grab you and pull you in, and I'm glad to be one of her Hell Hounds !!

Never a dull moment and you will fall for each character as they all have a unique personality


Monday, November 5, 2012

Nopeming Sores - Reviewed By : Crystal Trent Dotson

Nopeming Shores
By: Margie Church
Reviewed By: Crystal Trent Dotson

Lily, loses her husband Gabe, in a horrible way, she is having a terrible time moving on, everywhere she looks or goes there are constant reminders of there love, all the while Gabe is a ghost watching as his wife falls apart. He tries to leave hints of his presence, but Lily thinks she's going crazy. They have one chance to be together for the last time, but will Lily think she's lost it and run away and never have the chance to say goodbye to Gabe, or will she believe her eyes and spend one final night with her husband?



This is an amazing book, I felt the characters pain and sadness, it was hard to put it down. Great Read !!

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

The Moon Stealers- Quest For The Silver Bough - Reviewed BY: Crystal Trent Dotson

The Moon Stealers

The Quest For The Silver Bough

By: Tim Flanagan

Reviewed By: Crystal Trent Dotson

Peter Crisp disappears after spending the night in a graveyard, a couple of his friends set out to find him, but when they discover strange engravings,they are sent on a wild adventure that puts them in Edinburgh Castle. All the while, Steven Knight is sent to investigate a meteorite, but discovers it contains a deadly bacteria. Now the kids don't only need to find Peter, but they also have to save the world.

This is a very entertaining book, I enjoyed it and so did my teenager. It's appropriate and the characters are tasteful, this is a book that anyone can enjoy! There's three more to this series, I can't wait for the next one.


Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Piece by a dear friend, who is more talented than he knows !

Blissful Sigh
BY: Earl Clarence B. Gadin

No matter how bittersweet his every step, the man's smile never fades. Throughout the day his mask never wears off, least should darkness surround him and make him fall into the abyss. It wasn't his undertaking but he still took on the challenge and got engulfed in this endless misery.



Even after that, he still couldn't get a grip between his desires and his needs. What does he truly want to begin with? Does he want to be rich, famous and surrounded by physical luxury? He alone can answer the question, yet he simply continues to drift towards the dark, sadness corrupting his restless heart. Maybe all he needs is love and someone to be with him, an ironic prospect as it's the thought of loneliness that is dragging him down. He kept thinking how everything is lost, and everything he had seemed to slowly slip away



What is this positive force that kept withing his sight an image of a beam of light whenever he closed his eyes. Where comes from, the strength that kept him singing hymns that got him up and running. Only he knows, for he alone can see life in his own view. His life is but a spectacle and after every show people will rejoice, for he did great. That everything will end in a short but blissful sigh.

.

Deena Remiels " RELIC " Check out this Great Review !

Check out this Wonderful 5 star Review from Sarah Ballance !! I enjoyed this particular review, because she points out how there is more than one problem to be solved. I kind of like it when a book doesn't have just one issue to work on. It keeps you on your toes !!



I loved the plot layers throughout. So many romances have one problem to solve, and once the characters take care of tha...t issue the book is over. By contrast, RELIC features a lot of great threads ranging from the relic itself to a myriad of personal relationships to the part played by the villain, the latter of which works perfectly as a catalyst throughout the various facets of the plot. And through it all is the romance--first budding, then undeniable--between Serena and Raphael. You might think with all of those elements the story would become muddled, but every element is clear, cleverly entwined, and neatly resolved. The suspense is exciting and the romance is, er, exciting (*grin*) but tastefully written. Even the villain garnered a wee bit of sympathy for his plight--impressive work by the author considering his actions.

This is a great story, and one I thoroughly enjoyed. Five stars!

Friday, June 29, 2012

Tristan Michel : Bloodline of Passion - Reviewed By: Crystal Trent Dotson

Tristan Michel : Bloodline of Passion (Gastien Series)

By: Caddy Rowland

Reviewed By: Crystal Trent Dotson



Tristan doesn't want to be like his father, and tells Gastien he doesn't want to see him again. Tristan knows nothing could ever make him follow in his fathers footsteps. Soon after Tristan and his wife, Manon move to New York and Tristan becomes very successful but, he knows something is missing, a desire deep within that isn't being satisfied by his wife. While in Chicago he meets Billie, a luscious woman that gives him the thrill he's been longing for. He decides to divorce his wife and start a life with Billie, but little did he know that life with Billie would not be what he had hoped for.

This is the third book in this series, and it is breath taking. They was so many twists and surprises in it, it takes you on a ride and doesn't stop until the last page. I loved all three books and can't wait for the next one.



http://www.facebook.com/Gastien.Beauchamp

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Q&A with Writer Kristen James : with a sneak peek of the first chapter of Embers of Hope, and a chance to win a Kindle Copy of it !!


1. What made you want to be an Author?

My fourth grade teacher loved a short story I wrote about a girl finding a unicorn in the forest, and she had me read it to an assembly of parents and students. (I was wearing white mine paint for another part of the program. Hehe.) I decided soon afterward that I would be an author. Before long, I’d handwritten several “novels” and was saving for a typewriter. I typed three novels before getting a computer around my high school years.


2. Who or What is your biggest inspiration?

I must give credit to the movie Swiss Family Robinson. I rewrote it as The Island Tribe, with an all kid cast. I read a lot of books by Agatha Christie and also the Babysitter Club series before my aunt gave me a big box full of Harlequins. These were the old fashioned ones set around the world. I loved those books!

3. How many books have you wrote?

I have ten published books (novels and nonfiction) and several novellas and short stories, and then I’ve ghostwritten quite a few more. Along with full length books, I’ve written many ebooks, articles and blogs through freelance work. That’s taught me about writing clear and not adding fluff.

4. What kinds of themes do you have in your books?

I love a good romance in a women’s fiction book, meaning that I like to look at the heroine’s full life, with all kinds of real life issues, and not just a romance. I look for tough but caring men who have their own issues, hurts, past stories and hang ups, but who also have a lot of potential and love to give. My stories have a policeman, a firefighter, a cowboy and a lawyer who loves justice.
Many of my stories are about second chances. People have lost or been hurt in the past, but they find ways to grow as a person.

5. Do you read a different genre than you write?

I love sci-fi movies but I haven’t written that, and I love the Twilight Saga and The Hunger Games. I try to read different kind of writing and books to keep my imagination and creativity flowing.
On the flip side, I read everything by Kristen Hannah and Nicholas Sparks because I want to write novels like theirs – emotional reads that can touch a wide audience. I also love their writing.

6. Do you let friends or family ever preview your writing before it's complete?

My best friend Heather and my mother read my early books. Of course they said the stories were great! There wasn’t a lot of feedback involved, but they both encouraged me and believed I’d make it.

My husband is an awesome beta reader, and he’ll call me on weak characters, a scene or aspect of the book that doesn’t work, or a place where I need to add more information or development. He points out what I really need to know.

7. What is your fav. season?

Oh, boy. I love the short, early spring we get in February. The sun shines for a few weeks between winter and the long, long rainy real-spring of Oregon. I also love when it’s warming up and turning to summer, and then all summer long… and I love Christmastime too. So it’s hard to nail down just one favorite time of year!

8. Once your book is published, do you read it?

Yikes – I might read my published books all the way through only if I plan to edit or improve it. Otherwise I read parts here and there. It’s just too nerve wracking to read my own books! I know I’ll see something that I could write better now, and then I’ll be worrying about what readers are thinking. Or I might see something and feel it’s too personal – what if readers think I had that thought, emotion or experience, instead of my character? Of course, that’s probably what makes the story good, but it can be scary to think about.

9. Do you add your own life experiences into your books?

I haven’t pulled something directly from my life and stuck it in a story, but I use my own emotions and experiences as a base. One of my characters lost her husband, and I have to draw on my very emotional loses to write about that. My characters might have experiences similar to mine, but I develop each character into a unique person and hope their story is unique as well.

10. Do you have a fav. quote?

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined." ~ Henry David Thoreau

This is on my desktop and it’s one of my life mottos. The other is, “Make life an adventure!” I came up with that one myself, as far as I know.

11. Do you have a fav. time of day you prefer to write?

It’s nice to get up and write, when the house is quiet and the day is fresh. But then a lot of people are online and it’s also a great time for networking. I usually do both. In the summer, when my kids are home from school, I sometimes end up writing late at night. I guess I don’t have a schedule like most people, and don’t even pay a lot of attention to the clock. When the next scene develops in my mind, I start writing.

12. When will you release another book?

I’m working on a sequel for Embers of Hope called More Than A Promise, and I hope to publish it in the first half of next year. Before that, I think I’ll have Lights, Camera, Conflict! out as my next nonfiction book.

13. What do you enjoy most about writing?

I love creating characters and their world, and then helping them grow. Maybe I most enjoy escaping into another world, much like I do when I read, but this one I can explore, change, and share with others.

I also love to hear from a reader that enjoyed one of my stories, or was helped by one of my nonfiction books.

You can visit Kristen James at www.writerkristenjames.com or at www.bookpromoting101.com.




Be sure to leave a comment below about what you thought of the first chapter, and you will be entered for a chance to win a Kindle copy of Embers of Hope !!

.. Chapter One from Embers of Hope by Kristen James


Savanna stood at the counter of the rental agency, waiting to finish the paperwork for returning her moving truck. This so-called new beginning felt more like an ending right now. She’d spent the last few days driving from Texas back to her hometown of Eugene, Oregon, in the late August heat.
The trip itself wasn’t the worst experience of her life. After all, it wasn’t like she’d walked here, but emotion after emotion had skipped through her, sending her into nervous worry or dark sadness. Stress had caught up with her when she stuffed everything she owned into a small self-storage storage unit before coming here.
“Mama!”
Though tired, she smiled at the toddler propped on her hip. A warm breeze blew in through the open door and played with Aubrey’s short brown curls. At last, the man slid a paper across the counter for Savanna to sign. She thanked him and sat down in the small lobby to call Cassie’s house, anxious to talk to her friend.
She didn’t get Cassie, though. Someone else answered and said they’d send a ride, a man named Jason. She should have figured out another way to get to Cassie’s house, but that was an idle thought that wouldn’t go anywhere. It was a bit late for trying to cover things now. She hadn’t told anyone she was moving back. Everyone would assume she was just visiting and then returning to Texas.
Not only was she dirty and worn out, but her baby girl was yawning and rubbing her eyes. Savanna headed to the bathroom to freshen up, though she doubted it would revive either of them much. She splashed cold water on her face. Aubrey looked hot, too, so Savanna rubbed water on her short curls, making brown tuffs stand up all over her head. While she couldn’t imagine Aubrey with anything but her big brown eyes and brown hair, they always reminded her of Aubrey’s father, someone she didn’t want to think about anymore.
Aubrey wiggled from her arms and slid down, which left Savanna staring at herself in the mirror. Something about looking into her own eyes made her face the truth of the situation. A sob started up her throat. Determined to keep it in, she yanked a paper towel from the dispenser and held it over her mouth, but still the tears came. She felt so lost.
Aubrey whimpered.
“It’s fine, baby. I’m fine. I’m fine,” she said a few times too many and splashed more water on her face.
“Bobby Boo, up,” Aubrey said softly, too seriously, while watching her mama with dark brown eyes.
She wiped her smeared mascara with a wet paper towel, trying to smile. “Come on, kiddo. Let’s go outside.”
Her “Bobby Boo” smiled at that. Savanna hauled Aubrey up into her arms and grabbed the car seat and the strap to her suitcase. It didn’t look graceful as she pulled her suitcase, but it got them outside. The day’s heat was fading somewhat, leaving a tiredness in the air. She found a bench against the building where they could sit in the shade.
A pulsing headache started in her temple, so she closed her eyes but listened to Aubrey’s babbles. What a long, crazy week, but she’d made it through it all for Cassie. She’d been looking for a reason to come home to Oregon, so when she heard that Mike, Cassie’s husband, had died, she quit her job, packed up her apartment, and raced over from Texas.
All the packing and moving didn’t keep her busy enough to ignore the guilt. She had showed Cassie a fake front the last few years, pretending everything was perfect was it was falling apart. She’d neglected her best friend and the real parts of their lives, but now it seemed like a great time to renew their friendship and focus on someone else’s problems and needs. Maybe she could lose herself in that.
Aubrey climbed into Savanna’s lap and sang her rendition of “Baa, Baa, Black Sheep” for a minute and then laid her head on Savanna’s shoulder.
“Getting tired, Bobby Boo? That was a big trip, huh?” She pulled her baby close to hug her chubby little body and then rubbed her back until Aubrey dosed off. Hopefully, her daughter saw all this as a big adventure.
She wasn’t just worried for Cassie. She was also haunted once again by memories of the fire that had almost taken her life. It’d happened right here in Eugene, shortly before she moved to Texas.
Poor Cassie. Her husband had been a firefighter, and Savanna wondered if Mike was trying to save someone when he died. Savanna felt sick again, the same sickness she’d felt in that fire as she thought of dying. She couldn’t escape the torture of those memories today or the dread of facing all her old friends again. The truth would come out, whether or not she decided to tell it, because people always ask questions.
Why on earth did you stay there in Texas? Why didn’t you come home? Why didn’t you at least tell anyone?
A feeling jarred her into opening her eyes. Sure enough, someone was coming. A man with striking brown eyes walked her way, looking her over. She tried to say Jason to see if he were her ride, but she never heard herself speak. He had a strong face, a square jaw, and a body that looked like he worked out every day.
His eyes and mouth were familiar, but how could that be? The firefighter? His T-shirt fit snugly, and its forest-green color made his eyes look a deep, deep brown.
Since Aubrey still slept on her shoulder, she had to tilt her head back to look up at him as he stopped in front of her.
“Savanna Stauffer?” His low voice resonated in her ears. Yes, the same voice, and here she was, staring up at him like an idiot for a second time.
“Yes.” Oops, that was her first lie here. For a second she thought she should tell him her name wasn’t Stauffer anymore, but the words stayed inside her head. “This is Aubrey.”
His face had been so clear in her mind during the last two and a half years. This man had saved her life . . . and filled her dreams with his intense and focused eyes. Of course, there wasn’t any telling how many people he had pulled from burning buildings. It was silly to think that he’d remember her.
He offered his hand. “Jason Lancaster.”
She finally knew his name. Now she just needed to think of something, anything, to say. She managed to get her hand out there and found he had a firm handshake that ended quickly.
He studied her, up and down, with a quizzical face. Boy, it was a great day to be sweaty and dirty. He turned the same questioning look up at the building’s sign. “You rented a truck for the trip?”
She nodded but didn’t offer anything more.
“Didn’t want to tow your car?” He put his hands in the pockets of his jeans and rested a foot on the bench as if he planned to stay a few minutes.
“I sold it to pay for the truck.” She looked out at the road instead of him. “The engine needed work anyway.”
He seemed to notice her mood then. “Tammy asked me to come get you.”
“Tammy Clareborn? That’s who answered Cassie’s phone?” She was too tired to think straight but wondered if Tammy were still around and still friends with Cassie. Tammy hadn’t like Savanna all that much.
“I think that’s her last name. You know her?”
“We went to high school together.” Savanna sighed. “She was friends with Cassie, but we didn’t get along.” Tammy had called Savanna “Little Miss Pageant Queen” more than a few times. Savanna had never understood why it annoyed other people if she had big dreams. She had planned on going places, being someone. Funny how that one turned out.
“Are you all right?” Jason sat down next to her and sagged back against the bench.
“I’m sorry, just tired from driving over here . . . worrying about Cassie . . . wondering what I’m going to do.” The last part slipped out. “Sorry, I’m tired.” She gave an apologetic laugh.
“Then let’s get you to Cassie’s house.” He took her suitcase and Aubrey’s car seat from by her feet. In the process, he let his gaze linger on Aubrey. “Cute kid.”
Savanna stood and the movement woke Aubrey. Jason turned and started toward the parking lot, so she took long strides to catch up with him. “Jason?”
He slowed his pace.
“You don’t recognize me?” She switched Aubrey to the other hip. Why didn’t he say anything?
Jason glanced at her, right into her eyes, and looked like he read her mind. Then he glanced down at her hand on Aubrey’s back. When his brows creased, she remembered she’d taken off her wedding ring. A year ago, actually, when Eric asked her to give it back to him, ending their marriage before they even hit their first anniversary. .
Without answering, he turned and led the way toward the parking lot. She realized he was headed to a red jeep. Jason glanced back at her to say, “I hope this is okay. The wind’s not bad at all in the backseat.”
Savanna hesitated and then decided to give it a try. Aubrey’s car seat faced the back anyway, so the wind wouldn’t be directly on her. “Sure, I think it’ll be fine.” Jason lifted the car seat to put it in, so she offered, “I can do that.”
“That’s all right.” He buckled down the car seat base and then let her settle Aubrey into her seat. “Hi there, Aubrey. I’m Jason.”
“Gase?”
“Close enough, cutie. Want to go for a fun ride?”
Savanna almost caught his smile before he turned around. Instead she saw just the profile of it.
Soon they were driving, and a light breeze cooled them between stoplights. Despite her weariness and the circumstances, she felt invigorated. Her hair danced in the breeze. As they accelerated from a stop, Jason called out, “Aubrey, having fun back there?”
Little-girl squeals of delight answered back. It hit Savanna that she’d never ridden in a jeep either. She glanced at its owner, curious about him and what he must think about her. This sure was every girl’s dream: A tall, dark, and handsome man picked her up, and she was a sweaty mess. He glanced over, and she had the horrified thought that she’d actually said that out loud.
“So, how do you know Cassie?” she asked, and memories swamped back into her mind as she spoke. Cassie had mentioned Mike’s friend, Jason, during their phone calls, come to think of it. Cassie had shared about her life while Savanna had fabricated hers.
“We’ve been good friends a few years now, ever since she met Mike. He and I go way back.”
“Oh, right, because you’re both—” Firefighters. Why couldn’t she tell when to quit?
If his appearance said anything, they must have been close. She could see dark circles around his eyes, and he needed a shave, but that part looked good on him. “I still can’t believe it,” she said, referring to Mike. Maybe he needed to talk about it. She glanced over. Nope. His jaw muscles worked, and it made him look mad. Now she was sorry she’d spoken. When he didn’t answer, it confirmed her thoughts.
He glanced at her through dark sunglasses, the wind teasing his hair. It looked like he glared at her, but she attributed it to his mood.
“So, are you planning to stay with Cassie a while?”
“As long as she needs me.”
“That’s good. She needs someone there with her.” He drummed the wheel. She rolled her neck and then settled back into the seat. Every time she blinked, her life changed. The unexpected trip home, and now him. He gave off a controlled energy, an intensity that yelled out of his silence.
Her old hometown slid past. She had missed Oregon’s green summers that weren’t too hot. She loved the hills, the tall evergreens and the clear, cold rivers. Eugene was a university town, but not like others she had visited. It was busy with business traffic, Oregon Duck fans, hippies and crowds of shoppers coming in from the surrounding hundred-mile radius.
“How is Cassie?” She was afraid to know but she also needed to prepare.
“She’s mad.” His voice sounded low, controlled.
“Mad?”
He sighed and brushed the hair back from his temple. “Mike and Cassie had a lot of plans. Now he’s gone. She blames the fire department. Me. Mostly me.”
His sudden honesty took Savanna by surprise. “Emotions are running wild right now,” she said, “Maybe she’s venting.”
“It’s my fault.”
When she couldn’t take the silence anymore, she whispered, “Why?”
Even with the engine noise and wind he heard her.
“I should have kept my mouth shut and let him make his own decisions. First, I lose my best friend, and then, Cassie’s friendship, too.” He sighed and rested his hand on the gearshift, touching her leg on accident. She jerked at his touch, enough for him to glance down and move it.
A minute later, he said, “I’ve heard a lot about you from Cassie. All this time, I didn’t realize I had seen you before. I don’t know if you remember that . . .”
“Yes, of course.” He remembered! So many other things sat on her tongue, ready to say, and yet she couldn’t speak. She couldn’t even turn and look at him. If he saw her face, he’d instantly know how many times she’d thought about him. That terrifying night came back every now and then, but mostly she saw his face looking down at her. She’d been so scared one second and then safe in his arms the next.
“How do you like Texas?” He politely saved her.
She shrugged. “It’s hot.”
Next he would ask about her husband, and she didn’t want to tell him about her fake “fairy tale” life that she ruined by wanting a baby, in her ex-husband’s words.
Jason never asked. Her mind went to the next thing to talk about, but she couldn’t ask him about his job.
They were quiet as they drove over the Willamette River and across Eugene to Cassie’s lavender-with-white-trim house. Wild flowers grew in the flowerbed, some of them lavender to match. A sign dangled under the mailbox with Fisher painted in pretty letters. A new picket fence lined the yard. You couldn’t find a more perfect starter home.
“Thanks for getting me,” she said, as they got out. After she pulled Aubrey from the car seat, Jason sat it next to the front door.
He responded with a short, “No problem,” and took her suitcase to the door as well. “I’d better go.”
“Cassie’s that upset at you?” Why did she say that? He probably just had somewhere he needed to be.
“I talked Mike out of quitting the department. She was mad even before he died. And she’s right. It’s my fault.”
Savanna tried to speak, to say it couldn’t be his fault, but the proper timing slipped by with her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth. He slid his hands into his pockets and watched her hold her little girl.
Searching for one good thing to say, she remembered the fire. “I always wished I could have thanked you. For pulling me from that fire, that is.” She barely finished before his eyes went hard. Jason nodded and walked back to the jeep.
“What the hell?” she murmured after him, but he didn’t hear. He drove off as the door opened behind her.
“Savanna.”
She turned at the voice. Tammy still had a mass of dark red curls, and she still looked like she disliked Savanna.
“Tammy, it’s been a long time.” She grabbed her bag with one hand while balancing Aubrey on her other hip and entered.
“I’ll go get Cassie. I need to get home to my family.” Tammy spoke in a hurry while she walked away.
Aubrey threw herself back and forth to get out of Savanna’s arms so she could run around. The suitcase and Aubrey both landed on the floor with a thud, and Aubrey took off to explore.
Savanna was about to chase her daughter when Tammy returned. Trying to smile, Savanna asked, “So do you have a family now, Tammy?”
Tammy gave her a frown and said goodbye. Savanna wanted to throw open the front door and say, “Hey Tammy, why did you always act like I was some spoiled rich kid? I grew up without a dad, did you know that?” But she didn’t. Cassie had said several years back that Tammy had to be jealous of Savanna’s looks, but Cassie was pretty too. She was tall and elegant, like Savanna’s mom.
Cassie’s house smelled of fresh flowers, and Savanna would rather think about something other than her old high school problems. Ceiling fans whirled quietly but effectually so that the house felt cool compared to the warmth outside. The home’s atmosphere wasn’t cool, though. Colors and happy patterns marked the place, like the bright watermelon rug under her feet. Savanna longed for a beautiful, welcoming place like this for her and Aubrey . . . and maybe a husband and father someday.
Savanna took in the living room, painted pastel blue, and saw Cassie had childproofed the place. She’d been serious about getting pregnant. A picture frame next to the door held two photos. One was Mike and Cassie’s first picture together. They grinned in a picture booth at the fair. The other was a shot from their wedding. Underneath the pictures, it read, “Michael James Fisher and Cassandra Grace Thompson . . . Forever.”
With fresh tears, Savanna noted that wedding pictures of Mike and Cassie plastered the inside of the house, along with a beautiful quilt hanging on one wall, and a few paintings of mountains and rivers.
“Savanna?”
She turned around and saw Cassie coming out, wearing gray sweats and a baggy T-shirt that had to be Mike’s. She had pulled her long, dark hair back in a messy ponytail, but what did Savanna expect? She was impressed Cassie was out of bed.
“Hey.” She hugged her friend, who looked like she might break down into sobs.
“Thank you for coming.” Cassie didn’t step away from their embrace. She still smelled like her lavender shampoo.
“Don’t even think about it,” Savanna replied, not wanting Cassie’s thanks. “How could I not come?”
They stood, hanging onto to each other for a long time, letting the tears fall. Sometimes you need that release.
“He didn’t have to die. He should have quit that job,” Cassie said, her voice breaking several times.
There wasn’t anything to say to that to make it better, so Savanna just listened and held her.
Finally Cassie stepped back, wiping her red, swollen eyes. “Eric must be busy with work.”
That took Savanna by surprise because her mind was focused on Cassie. She nodded blankly. She couldn’t tell Cassie she had lied to her all this time. Not yet.
Cassie glanced down at the large suitcase and asked, “You can stay a while?”
Just as Savanna started to answer, Aubrey squealed, “Mama!” She had a TV remote and bounced up and down with excitement. “Buttons!”
“She’s talking.” Cassie stayed put, watching Aubrey from across the room.
“A few words,” Savanna answered, noticing Cassie’s stiff posture.
Aubrey stumbled forward toward Cassie, who didn’t bend down to hug her or pick her up. Next, Aubrey ran for Savanna’s arms. “Bobby Boo, up!”
“Come on, I’ll show you to the guest room.” Cassie picked up the suitcase and led the way down the hall. Savanna stepped into the guest room behind Cassie, but it wasn’t a guest room. It was painted pastel yellow to coordinate with the rest of the house, and it had a balloon border three feet up from the floor.
“Oh, Cass.” Fresh tears slid down her face.
Cassie cried too. “It’s okay, please don’t cry.”
The irony of Cassie’s statement crushed Savanna even more, but Cassie turned away.
“Sorry it’s not pumped up yet,” Cassie said about the flat air mattress lying on the floor.
“No problem, I’ll do it.” Savanna jumped at the chance to do something and break the heavy mood.
“Okay, Miss Bobby Boo, want a drink?” Cassie took Aubrey’s hand and led the way to the kitchen to fill her sippy cup and get a snack, while Savanna got the bed ready. She heard Cassie talking and hoped her friend just needed to warm up to Aubrey. After playing for an hour, Aubrey tried out the bed and promptly fell asleep.
“Poor tired baby.” Savanna kissed Aubrey’s cheek and pulled a blanket over her. She joined Cassie in the living room while Aubrey took her nap. They sat in silence, but it had to be better than talking about Mike. Or why Eric didn’t come with her.
The house was full of reminders of Mike, from pictures on the walls, to his shoes still on the shoe rack, and even a to-do list on the kitchen counter with half the items crossed off. The worst was a handwritten sticky note on the fridge that said, “Might be late tonight. I’ll call. Love ya Cass. And someday you’ll make a great mother!”
Savanna wanted to tuck these things away so they wouldn’t hurt Cassie, but that wasn’t her place. It tugged at her heart, but it also made to think of her old home with Eric when they were married. Had all those little personal touches been there? It hadn’t seemed like a home to him at all.
The next day, Cassie’s parents came by. They’d be leaving after the funeral, and even though Cassie’s mom offered to stay, Cassie wouldn’t hear it. “Savanna will be here.”
Savanna felt like she stood on an Olympic podium while someone hung a gold medal around her neck . . . only she didn’t deserve the prize. She also noticed Cassie didn’t want help from others. It meant a lot that she’d let her guard down for Savanna.
People came and went, so Savanna greeted them and filled the hostess role. Her feet ached by day’s end, but even keeping busy didn’t keep her from thinking about the brooding firefighter and wondering if he had anyone with him. For some reason, she worried he was alone.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Lost In Your Time - Reviewed By: Crystal Trent Dotson

Lost In Your Time

By: Elle Amberley

Reviewed By: Crystal Trent Dotson



I fell in love with Elle Amberley's writing with the first book I read of hers "No Place To Hide" though this is the sequel to it, it is a standalone book and it is even better, with even more challenges and a love story of it's own. It's so close to the challenges that we face, which brings the character to life, and makes it as if you are Natasha's friend and helping to see her through her journey. It is an incredible story. I can't wait to read more of Elle Amberley's writing.




Monday, June 25, 2012

Living Soul Review

.Living Soul
By: S.B. Niccum

Reviewed By: Crystal Trent Dotson

Living Soul is a Great read. Even though I didn't read the first book, I got up to speed quickly with this one. Tess has so much going on and you want to cry, laugh, scream and mostly you want more. This is a great book and I can't wait to read the next one!



www.sbniccum.com

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Judgement Of Souls By: Margarita Felices


Heres a Great Q & A With this Amazing Author. Be sure to check out her facebook page at http:/www.facebook.com/margarita.felices



Q: Tell us something about yourself, where you’re based, and how you came to be a writer?

A: I live in Cardiff. For all its modernisation, there are still remnants of old Victorian Cardiff. I love the castle in the centre of the city and the fact that you have the sea on one side and the mountains on the other side of Cardiff. I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. I’ve always loved to write. My teachers at school used to limit me to no more than ten pages. I wrote short stories for magazines, it paid my way through college.



Q: What genre do you generally write and have you considered other genres?

A: Supernatural stories, they are fun and you can let your imagination run riot. I wrote a romantic story once as a screenplay. I might re-write it as a novel one day, I liked the story.

Q: What have you had published to-date? Do you have a favourite of your books or characters?

A: My first novel Judgement of Souls has just been published as an eBook by www.bookstogonow.com and is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Goodreads. I love Rachel, my main character – she’s strong and independent, but I do admit to having a soft spot for Daniel, the club owner. I had a few short stories published in a few women’s magazines some years ago. I didn’t keep copies of the magazines but I do have the stories saved. I re-wrote one of them recently and sent it to BTGN as a short story


Q: Have you had any rejections? If so, how do you deal with them?

A: Lots and lots. Before I met Jenni at Bookstogonow, I sent the novel off to several agents in the UK and US. Rejection is all part of the profession, it’s tough each time you get a letter, but you have to put up with it because one day, you’ll get accepted. What isn’t easy is getting a rejection from a publisher who couldn’t be bothered to write you a letter back, just scribbled no thanks at the bottom of your letter! That’s harsh.


Q: Have you won or been shortlisted in any competitions and do you think they help with a writer’s success?

A: They do inspire confidence. I did come runner-up in a script writing competition, but nothing came from it. But at least I’d been noticed!




Be sure to check back for all the New updates !!

Monday, February 13, 2012

Diary in The Attic - Reviewed By: Crystal Trent Dotson

By: Cindy L. Freeman
Reviewed By: Crystal Trent Dotson

Margaret Monroe is called to Corrine Meltons death bed, where she learns of a shocking secret, and when Corrines mother is found dead the same night, the police suspect Corrine. Now Margaret has to try and get into the house to unravel the secrets that went on behind closed doors.
Four Star Rating

I received a complimentary copy of Diary in the Attic as a member of the
Dorrance Publishing Book Review Team. Visit dorrancebookstore.com
to learn how you can become a member of the Book Review Team.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Easters Lilly - Reviewed By: Crystal Trent Dotson

By: Judy Serrano
Reviewed By: Crystal Trent Dotson

Lilly is a good girl, who usually obeys her parents, but when she meets up with Johnny, a drug dealer, her parents wants her to stay away from him. Lilly refuses, and goes away with Johnny, but then he's in a bad accident, and Lilly is now left alone and pregnant, Johnny's boss Diego, which is in the mob, wants to marry her. But after they are married and she gets her own bodyguard, which is Diego's brother Max, the marriage isn't what she expected. Diego isn't with her much and most of her time is spent with Max. When Lilly and Max begin to fall for each other, Diego decides he wants his wife. But how can Lilly leave Diego when she knows the power he has and the things he is capable of.

This book is exciting from start to finish, it's nothing that I thought it would be. It has sex, lies, and violence and full of twisted drama. I can't wait for part 2.

Friday, January 27, 2012

Toys In The Attic - Reviewed By: Crystal Trent Dotson

By: David Cleinman

Reviewed By: Crystal Trent Dotson



This is a Great book to say the least. Sara's character is beyond strong, after losing her mother, she endures both mental and physical abuse from her father, but when she hits her breaking point, she kills him. But her pain isn't over yet, she learns she is now pregnant with her fathers child. Will Sara be strong enough to overcome the pain she has encountered and be able to love her child, or will she give up on life it's self?



This is a very captivating story, it grabs you up and makes you wish you could save Sara. The abuse she goes through is painful and heart wrenching

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Wind-Scarred - Reviewed By: Crystal Trent Dotson

By: Sky Luke Corbelli
Reviewed By: Crystal Trent Dotson

This is an excellent read. Mr.Corbelli set the scene with a very creative setting with Sci-Fi, adventure, romance, and a bit of humor, with intriguing characters. It has twists and turns, that will keep you turning pages. This book is great for anyone who enjoys Sci-Fi and Fantasy.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Review & Excerpt for The Prophet By: K.J. Dahlen

FBI Agents, Sean and Rheta has been on the search for a serial killer known as the Prophet. When they finally get close to him, they discover a secret network called The Brotherhood. When the Prophet takes the agents sister hostage, they know they don't have much time to bring down The Prophet and The Brotherhood.


This is a exciting and well paced book. I enjoyed the different characters, the Author made it real and will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Here's a little taste of the book !!
It can be found on amazon.com

Good, now put your hands out in front of you,” he told her.
When she did what he asked, he quickly wrapped tape around her
wrists. He grabbed her by the front of her pajamas and pulled her
close to him. “You seem surprised to see me,” he commented.
“Surely you must have figured out I was coming back to get you.”
Rheta nodded. She had known one day they would have to
meet face-to-face, but Rheta had hoped she would be looking down
the barrel of her gun at him. For him to break into her home and catch
her unaware like that seemed almost disappointing.
“I would have waited for awhile, but you see Michael took
something that belongs to me and I want it back.” Zachariah told her.
“And you’re going to help me get it back.”
When Rheta frowned, Zachariah turned up his lips. The
gesture couldn’t be compared to a smile because the merriment didn’t
reach his eyes. In fact, Rheta could feel the heat from the rage
growing inside him getting even stronger. She knew this man was a
very dangerous adversary.
“Aren’t you the least bit curious as to what it was he took?
Or did he tell you already?” Zachariah wanted to know.
Rheta nodded and Zachariah raised his hand and ripped the
tape away from her mouth. Rheta groaned as the tape removed some
of the skin around her mouth. She looked at him and growled.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Lucifer and Lacious - Reviewed By: Crystal Trent Dotson

Slave Finds himself in hell, but doesn't remember who he is. Lucifer carves numbers in his head, which makes him somewhat special, but Slave wants to find out who he is and what his purpose is, but in order to do so he has to go deeper into hell.

This is a graphic book. It was a decent read, but could of been alot better. It seems as if the Author speed wrote and didn't take the time to make it Great.
I recieved this book from Dorrance Publishing as part of the Review Team, visit dorrancebookstore.com to find out how you can join the Review Team.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Code Blood - Reviewed By: Crystal Trent Dotson

By: Kurt Kamm

Reviewed By: Crystal Trent Dotson

Colt Lewis is a fire paramedic that goes on a mission to find the severed foot of a woman that died in his arms, but he finds more than a foot. He discovers body part dealers, a research student with the rarest blood inthe world and Markus the albinothat is after her. It all leads to death....but whose?



Very well written and satisfying novel. Kurt Kamm reaches in and takes his experience and research and turns it into a masterpiece of horror and unthinkable actions.

http://www.kurtkamm.com

Dreams Both Real and Strange - Reviewed By: Crystal Trent Dotson

By:K.W. McCabe
Reviewed By: Crystal Trent Dotson

These short stories are dark and magical, I enjoyed it even more than part one. I really liked Choice and Wraith.
Choice is dark yet it has light to it. Thomas is Lord Deaths servant, because of the choice he made, but when his daughter is faced with the same fate, it's up to Thomas to find a way to defeat Death himself.

Wraith picks up where it left off in part one, he has Anne locked in a cell and is trying his best not to feed on her, so the curse can be broken. But Anne is weak, both her and Wraith is hoping for her mother to save her, but it may be to late for Anne.

http://kwmccabe.blogspot.com

Monday, January 9, 2012

Disturbed By: Kevin O"Brien Review & Giveaway

Check out my Review and leave me a comment about it and let me know you "liked" his fanpage and you will have a chance of winning his book !!

By: Kevin O brien

Reviewed By : Crystal Trent Dotson

Molly is trying to fit into her new neighborhood and Family. She just married Jeff, which has two children and an ex wife.

Molly is carefully following all the cul-de-sac murders ,but it's begining to hit to close to home, with deaths , accidents , and threatening phone calls , Molly's world starts to turn upside down. No one is who she thinks they are, and she has to figure out who her real friends are , before she ends up murdered.

This is a fantastic book , it's got such a twist to it. I haven't reada book this exciting and thrilling in a while. Great Book!

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Turner Set For Release of second book in "Whisper" series

It’s hard to pigeonhole author Pete Turner’s work in the novel Whisper a Scream. Is it horror, thriller or religious? Is it a detective yarn, an Appalachian literary endeavor or an action piece?

In reality, it’s a little bit of all that, but if Turner has to paint himself into a corner, he’d do so by describing his work as “Christian horror.” Or as he put it, it’s a horror story told from a Christian perspective, and he’s currently gearing up to promote the book’s sequel, Whisper from the Woods.

Pete Turner is a Hazard native and graduate of Hazard High School. He currently works for the Buckhorn Children’s Center and lives in the Buckhorn community, but his background is a bit more varied. He attended college in Oklahoma and earned a masters degree at Eastern Kentucky University. He’s been a writer since grade school and even performed in a Christian rock band for a time, and his life bears somewhat of a resemblance to his Whisper protagonist, Solomon Noche.

Solomon Noche isn’t your typical sleuth, if he can be defined as one at all. Firstly, he isn’t a detective, though he gets plenty of opportunities to solve mysteries. Secondly, he isn’t solving a bank robbery or jewelry store heist. Noche’s antagonists are much more sinister in the biblical sense of the word.

Noche first turns up in Whisper a Scream, the first outing of Turner’s genre-mashing literary debut.

Whisper a Scream was originally published in August 2010 under the Green Hat Publishing label. The story lingered there for a little less than a year before Turner noted that a writer friend of his on Facebook suggested sending the story, which delves into serious themes of reality and faith, to an editor for another look.

“She read the book and liked it really well, and felt like the story was really great and just needed a little work,” Turner explained.

That was ultimately a good move, Turner admitted, because it forced him to jump back into the story, correct some mistakes that made it into print, and actually add to the original narrative. He noted that he added an entire subplot that serves to tie the story together.

“I really re-wrote pretty much paragraph for paragraph,” he said, noting that while the book underwent a massive editing process, the initial story remains intact.

By February 2011, he had signed a two-book deal with Treasureline Publishing to revive Whisper A Scream and ultimately publish its sequel, Whisper from the Woods, which is due out on Friday, January 13. He is also currently working on the third book in the trilogy.

Since signing with Treasureline, Turner has been seeing some better success and response to his writing.

“The second version of the first book came out May 19 under Treasureline. It sold pretty well,” Turner noted. “And then by September or so, it really took off with some really good reviews on Amazon.”

By late October, Whisper A Scream was being ranked in the top of the pack on Amazon’s reader reviews in categories such as occult horror and religious fiction.

Tuner described the book’s newfound success as sort of the “second leg of a tour,” which is an apt analogy considering Turner’s past musical history.

Turner first found himself delving into writing in grade school, and has always been a fan of the horror genre. So when he began writing Solomon Noche’s story, “it just kind of became two books,” he said.

And while Turner is enjoying the renewed interest of his first book, he is more excited about the upcoming release of his second foray into publishing.

As Whisper a Scream deals with some of heavy themes of life and death and good and evil, its sequel will stick to those same sorts of themes, Turner notes, as Noche this time helps track down a serial killer.

Turner said he viewed a serial killer who performs child sacrifices as an interesting change for an antagonist based in Eastern Kentucky, especially for a small town like the fictional Retselville, which is loosely based on the Perry County community of Buckhorn and named for his father, Lester. ( Retsel is “Lester” spelled backwards.)

“I got kind of stuck on the idea of a serial killer in the mountains,” he said. “You would think people would know there is a serial killer in their hometown.”

While Turner says his books are firmly entrenched in the horror genre, there is also an intentional Christian message that she says is an effort to overcome some misinformation in what he referred to as the “secular media.”

“Hollywood in general, or secular media if you call it that, they have a lot of misinformation,” Turner said. “I believe that demons and angels are real. And a lot of people don’t want to believe in it. They tend to believe in God, but they don’t want to believe in the devil anymore, and I don’t know how you have good without evil.”

“It’s basically a horror novel,” he added. “Both of them are horror novels with a Christian message to it.”

Turner said he had originally hoped for a Halloween release for his second novel, but that date was eventually pushed back to the January date, which after checking a calendar and seeing what day it would fall upon, Turner admitted he then had no opposition to a Friday the 13th release date.

“I think … that would be the perfect time for a horror book to come out,” he remarked.

Turner added that he does plan to participate in local book signings upon his book’s upcoming release, but thus far no dates have been confirmed.

Whisper a Scream can currently be found online in print and in electronic form at amazon.com and other outlets, and locally at the Barnes & Noble bookstore on the campus of Hazard Community and Technical College. He added that Whisper from the Woods can also be found online upon its release.





Read more: Hazard Herald (KY) - Turner set for release of second book in ‘Whisper’ series