Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Review: Moving In by Ron Ripley

Moving In (Moving In Series Book 1) by Ron Ripley

“Iron…and…salt,” whispers the old man. The dead old man. “Hurry or it will be too late…”

To escape the stress of living in the city and the anxiety of his high pressure job, Brian Roy moves his family to the country. His wife loves the easy living, but Brian hates it…especially when weird things start happening in the house. When he discovers a dead body in the woods and a burial ground in his basement, Brian could never imagine the shocking history of the house or its former occupants that comes to light.

As his life starts to unravel, Brian isn’t so sure living in the country is going to be the oasis of peace he and his wife expected. Lately, his home has become a haunting den of hell.

**Spoilers**

Started the book with enthusiasm and walked away disappointed. To me, I wanted more about the characters, more about Brain and his wife, there was very little said or referenced about their relationship so I was not as invested as I wanted to be. The ghosts and their presence were a backdrop to one particular ghost who seemed more like a hoodlum thug than a paranormal entity. Nothing really scared me in the book, and when it ended I wasn’t overly understanding of why Brian would become a paranormal investigator. He had an experience and now it was over. I get it, I know the bridge. We got the character from point A to point B and he changed but while the journey was mildly interesting I wanted more depth and commitment from the author.

Buy it HERE








Wednesday, July 6, 2016

The Kiss - The Pivotal Scene in Any Romance

Little girl’s dreams are built around it. Boys brag about it, and it's the force driving every book I write. Romance all about the kiss, not just any kiss, ‘the kiss’.  Sounds like a pretty weak way to drive anything, but that is my focal point. The first kiss and then the renewal kiss. 

In any romance the basic bare bones plot is usually the same.  Boy meets girl, boy gets girl, boy loses girl, boy wins girl back.  Obviously there are a million variations of this but the core is the same. So for a writer to truly translate their vision we must have a focus.

In my latest erotic novella, the entire novel started out as a single moment. A passionate, unexpected, but wanted moment between two professional people. I focused on the single image rolling all of the possibilities in my head, why wouldn’t they be able to fulfill their desires? What was holding them back and what would make them so desperate to act? Where did the need to be in the others embrace stem from? What were the consequences if they acted on their desires? The answers to each of these are of course endless, but in the end You Never Could Be was born. The two people became Sara and Will.

Will finished his conversation, and hung up his phone, having booked himself on the next available flight. Highway assistance had solved their lug nut challenge, and they were back on the road to the airport. Sara saw the exit and glanced at him with a grin, her stomach churning. His phone beeped and he glanced at the screen with an audible sigh.
“Is everything okay?”
“Uh, yeah, it’s fine.”
“You don’t sound so convinced.”
“I’m not.” His focus went toward the window a deafening quiet lying between them once again.
“Are you going out of the same terminal?”
“Yeah, I think so, American.”
She grabbed her drive-through pass and headed to the terminal. The curb side thorough-way was closed. She pulled into the garage and found a space. Sara was unwilling to break the boundary of silence he’d put up, and wordlessly popped the hatch.
“Make sure you get a new tire. You shouldn’t be driving on the donut for longer than a day.” He came around the side, pulling his luggage from the back.
“I will.” She pulled her fingers against her hair. The tension was killing her, and she’d had enough. “Will…”
“They’re replacing me.” Her blood turned to ice.
“What?”
“The phone call, it was Regan. They decided to split the departments, and my position has been absorbed into the transition.” Unable to deal with the news without emotion, she turned away from him. “There are a couple of positions available in Phoenix. They are setting up interviews for me.”
“When?”
“I’ll announce it Monday. They want me to work through the transition so probably a few weeks.”
“I can’t believe this is happening. Will, you’ve been—“
“It’s okay Sara. It’s not personal. We knew with all the changes' stuff like this was going to happen.”
“Yeah, but not to us.”
She saw him take a deep breath before he closed the hatch. Her emotions rose to her chest and she wasn’t sure what to do. She did her best to gulp it back.
“Well at least, you’ll be around for the next few weeks, so I can still harass you when needed.” She meant for the statement to be light, but it came out like a final farewell. “You’ll have to come up with an excuse to come visit. I’m sure the group of us can come up with a plausible justification.”
“I’ll be around.”
“I know you will. You're always around when I…we need you.” His eyes bore through her, and her body involuntarily tightened. “You’d…uh…you’d better get moving or you’re going to miss your plane again.”
“Yeah, I think I would have a hard time using the flat tire excuse twice.”
“Have a safe trip.” She stepped into him, wrapping her arm loosely over his shoulder in a hug. Her heart raced at the solid heat of his body against hers. “Let me know if you need anything. Seriously, if you need anything just call.”
“You too.”
She nodded and went to step back, his hand lingering on her hip. She hesitated. He moved, and she took another step. He threw his laptop case over his shoulder and unfolded his luggage before waving good-bye.
Heaviness settled on her chest, forcing a deep sigh. Her mind felt thick, and she pulled herself away, getting in her truck. She lifted the handle when the smacking of hurried footsteps against concrete got her attention.
“Sara!”
She spun on her heel following his voice around the truck.
“Did you forget something?” He didn’t respond just kept walking, a startling determination in his eyes. She waited in open confusion. He kept coming and before she could react, his hand curled on the back of her neck. His mouth crushed hers with a heated demand and she had no choice but to give in. She opened beneath him, and his tongue diving into her mouth. He shifted his arm, wrapping it around her waist, resting on the small of her back. His mouth still dominating her attention, his overpowering torso pressed her against the truck. She was trapped, unable to escape his possessed siege of her mouth.
The kiss broke, and they both gasped for air. His eyes searched her face, his fingers kneading her neck. He wordlessly pulled at her lips, and her hands balled against his chest. She took another gasp of air, looking up into his heavy-lidded eyes. "Don't go.”

In my first romantic suspense series, ‘Trust Me’, we have two people, breathless and desperate to kiss each other but unable to act on their feelings. The two people became Rebecca and Eric, the scene wound up in a very different place than I imagined it and the consequences were shattering to both of them.

Eric sat for a moment, letting the advice settle in his gut before he rose from the table. He made is way down the hall and over to the kitchen. He popped a few quarters in the vending machine his mind heavy in thought.
Just promise me, if you find her you won't walk away…
Then the world literally stopped. I looked up and there she was smiling at me as she said hello.
I wish that were true…
He made his way back to the conference room, two sodas in hand. He rounded the corner and bumped into someone. He heard a gasp and he turned. Her blue eyes looked at him in terror.
"Beccs."
He'd scared her again.
Damn it what was she doing out here alone?
She was breathless and he watched her body begin to quake. Her eyes watering, she looked to him helpless. He grasped her hand and scanned his ID before he led her into an empty conference room. She propped herself against the wall and he shut the door. Her trembling worsened while tears slid down her cheeks.
He pulled her into his chest wrapping his arms around her protectively until the trembling passed. She clung to him and he pulled her tighter against him, kissing the top of her head.
After a few minutes she seemed to calm. He looked down at her, his hand grazing her hair. She met his gaze, her cheeks still wet with tears.
"Okay?" He gently wiped her tears away with his thumb.
A quiet desperation shone back at him and he drowned in her eyes. His heart refused to be ignored. The walls he'd so carefully built crumbled like ash. Eric leaned down pressing his lips against hers, his hands pushing into her hair. He covered her mouth and a rush of fire swept through him. Her lips were warm and sweet. She opened up to him and he pulled her closer to him devouring her mouth. They melted together into one enduring embrace.
She pull away, their lips parted, and his heart screamed in protest.
"We can't do this," she said in a breathless whisper. His forehead rested against hers, eyes closed, fighting the need to kiss her again. "Eric…"
"If it was anyone else…" his voice a deep growl talking his way back from her warmth, "Rebecca I--"
Her warm hand rested against his cheek and stabs of pain pushed at him like his heart was being ripped from his body. He tried to catch his breath. Her eyes were brimming with life, pain, and unquenchable warmth.
She rose up on her toes. His arms still wrapped around her, she kissed him once more. Full of emotion and regret, her lips fit within his. She broke away and lowered herself back to the ground. Unable to pull away from her eyes, he could see the strain and exhaustion she fought to hide. His hand grazed her hair and her eyes closed.
Like the screaming of an alarm, his cell phone rang. Her eyes opened looking at him with strength, hiding the pain and fear only he could see. Her shoulders squared, her back stiffened and her arms dropped from his chest.
Eric kept her resilient but anguished gaze. He dropped his arms from their protective position around her. She took a step back. His cell phone rang again. She took another step and turned toward the door. He struggled with not being able to touch her, or hold her. She glanced back but within seconds she disappeared. It was a torture beyond his imagination and it was killing him.
His phone rang again and he pulled it from his pocket.
"This is Detective Stiles."


So that was the beginning of the Trust Me series, or at least the kernel of inspiration.  Now that was not the first kiss, nor would it be the last, but it is a crucial part of the plot. First kisses as I stated are of monumental importance to me. They have to be perfect. They have to feel honest, real and natural. One of my pet peeves is to have a kiss feel rushed or awkward, or when as the reader I am saying – where the hell did that come from. There has to be a build up, tension and finally the explosion that lifts the characters story to the next level.

In Shockwave, the first kiss is the turning point in the novel. It is the place where the reader is finally satisfied by the flirt. Kate Weiss and Jack Tucker are from two different worlds, he is always in the spotlight and she is always behind it. In the beginning of the story Jack and Kate hate each other until Kate is attacked by a group of thugs.  From there, the flirt is on and in this scene the readers are given what they have been hoping for…

It took a little time, but they managed to make their way out and hail a cab back to the hotel. Stumbling into the hotel laughing, they managed to navigate their way to the elevators. They stepped in, and concurrently forgot the floor of their rooms.
“Twenty-three Three is sticking in my brain.” She leaned against the back of the elevator.
“Twenty-three Three it is,” Jack pushed the button and leaned against the wall next to her.
“You’d think they would put it on your key or something.”
“What’s your room number?” His brain flipped like a coin in mid-air.
“2509.” He looked at her with a smile. “Seriously?”
She reached forward, pushed the button for twenty-five. He laughed.
“What’s your room number, Tucker?”
“Ah…I…well…I have no fucking idea!”
“See!” She stepped back leaning next him. “So I don’t want to hear any sass out of you about my 23!”
“My sass will remain closed.” The heat of her body made his head spin more than it already was.
“That’s why!”
“Why what?”
“I finally understand why she calls you Sass. I didn’t see it before, but now I definitely agree that you are…”
Abruptly the doors opened and they turned to move out of the elevator. He realized they were on the wrong floor and pulled her back.
“What are you doing?”
“Twenty-five remember, not twenty-three.”
“Oh yeah,” She turned to him with a lopsided smile. It hit him like a hammer. He realized it was the first time he had ever really seen her smile.  It lit up her face, and he couldn’t help but smile back. “Do you know that saying?”
“What saying?”
“The whole, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas thing.”
“Yes, I am familiar with it.” The doors of the elevator opened again, and he gently turned her around moving her forward into the hallway.
“Well you need to make sure you understand that saying because well…” She rummaged through her pockets for her key. “I am breaking so many rules right now you wouldn’t believe.”
“Rules?” She stopped at her door leaning against it, key card in hand.
Jack watched her struggle to maintain her mental and physical balance.
“Yes, rules. Many, many rules.”
“What kind of rules?” Warmth enveloped him. Her scent and deep eyes drew him in, and he was powerless to resist.
“Important rules.” His palms rested on the door trapping her between his arms, and a deep sigh escaped her lips. “Very important rules.”
“Kate,” He breathed her in, just inches away from her lips, her emerald eyes shining brightly up at him.
“Yes?”
“Forget the rules.” He caressed her cheek with his thumb, his heart pounding against his chest. Jack let go of his fear, and covered her mouth with a passionate kiss.
He expected the moment of surprise. Then she kissed him back, her arms wrapping around his neck pulling him closer. After a hesitant but passion filled exploration of the other's lips, their touch parted, and he bit back a groan. He didn’t want to stop. He wanted to keep kissing her forever.

****

A little steamy, right-- Well all of that flirting tends to build up a little tension…and POW!

The kiss is a powerful weapon in the romantic suspense, more so than in other genres. The kiss is a prize, a reward for hard work and a job well done. You have managed to stay alive, here is your treat…you get the girl / guy!
Every writer has something that propels them forward, the kernel of truth they search out.

I ask you, with the utmost sincerity, what is more honest than a kiss? You cannot fake a kiss, not a real one anyway. It has the power to sway opinions, cease and cause wars, make you faint, swoon and or gag. For me, the kiss is the first breath of love, it is an act of passion and most of all awareness.  There is no way to deny, retract or ignore a real kiss, not even if you want to.
The core of my writing is the kiss in all of its glorious forms, whether is it a first kiss or a kiss goodbye, it is always memorable. It is my job to make you remember why.











Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Unique Character in a Shadowy World - Homecoming By Scott Langrel




Finn McCoy is a paranormal handler. He handles things that ordinary paranormal investigators can't or won't, and he often ends up cleaning up behind them.
For fifteen years, McCoy has turned his back on his hometown of Shallow Springs, Virginia, and the dark secrets the town harbors. But now an evil, unstoppable force has been unleashed on the unsuspecting residents of the town, and McCoy finds himself the only thing standing between the town and total destruction.

Review
Homecoming, is a well-paced, well written suspense horror. The main character, Finn McCoy is down to earth and home-grown which makes him likeable. He and his beat up pick-up truck named Boo seem to make a perfect pair. Mr. McCoy even has a girlfriend he apparently picked up on a previous case, her name is Amanda and she seems to be the right temperament for a paranormal handler, smart and stubborn.

I enjoyed the way Langrel created and described McCoy’s world. Much like our own, but the a few more shadows and a little less light.  The story was uniquely presented, has a few twists and an overall happy ending for almost all (well someone has to die, it is after all a horror!). I didn’t find the book scary at all but then again it takes a lot to give me goosebumps.


Looking forward to reading the rest of the series. 

Buy it now HERE


Friday, July 1, 2016

You Never Could Be - Excerpt Read

 Blog Tour
A passion-fueled encounter in the corridor of a hotel convention room reveals two anguished hearts struggling to reconnect despite life’s difficulties. Will Carlisle, the eye candy of the office, is every woman’s dream, tall, handsome, and dashingly charming. Sara Rozek never guessed he has secretly wanted her for months now. When a bad day falls upon them and Will breaks the reins of his own restraint, she sees the burning passion in his eyes, and there is no denying the mutual attraction. Will and Sara’s start quickly runs awry, and Sara becomes convinced she was played for a fool. Will begs her to listen to him, but she turns away in fear. Can Will mend her broken heart, or will the passion they shared vanish forever?

Excerpt
They walked out of the meeting with a definite maybe. It was the best answer for now. Will complimented their hard work and said he was proud of the presentation they’d put forward.
They separated from Rick. Will’s flight departed in just under two hours. Sara pulled out of the parking lot in silence, letting the radio fill the void. Her eyes focused outside the truck. The abrupt shift in his demeanor was uncomfortable and Sara was in agony. She couldn’t stand the tension but didn’t know what to do.
The car jumped, and Sara pulled at the wheel to remain in control.
“Shit!”
She pulled off to the side of the road. Her temper flared, the culmination of the tension in the car and the disappointing results from the meeting.
She thrust the door open and walked alongside the truck, where she saw her shredded back tire.
Will came around the corner, meeting her at the back of the truck, and he immediately reached for the hatch. Lifting it, he removed his jacket while Sara removed the carpet. She pulled out the jack and the crow bar. He took them from her, putting the jack beneath the truck. He met her gaze, a raging testosterone fury firing in his eyes, and she stepped back. He raised the truck and removed the hubcap. She took it from him, watching as he began to loosen the lug nuts. He’d gotten three of five, but the last two weren’t cooperating. She watched him struggle with them, doing her best to remain silent, resisting the need to comment.
He continued to try and then bent over in frustration.
“I can call roadside assistance if you—" she began, and was met with a glare that stirred annoyance in her chest. “You’re going to miss your flight. At least let me call Rick to come and get you.”
He glanced over, his eyes squinting. Brow furrowed.
“What?” She asked.
“How much do you weigh?”
“Excuse me?” He laughed and she bristled “What’s so funny?”
“Nothing, I just…I need your help.”
“Um, okay what do you need me to do?”
“Come here.” His eyes brightened, and she moved. He took the hubcap from her hand and set it in the back of the truck. “The lug nuts are stuck.”
“I noticed.”
He gave her a sideways smirk before pushing his hand though his hair and loosening his tie.
“What’s your plan?”
“We are going to jump.”
“Jump?”
“Ah, yeah,” his shoulders fell before he positioned the lug wrench onto the stuck lug. He scratched at the back of his neck. His eyes focused on the meddlesome tire. “If we put enough weight on the lug, we should be able to pop it.”
“By jumping?”
“Yep.”
“Okay.”
“Put your hands out.” She complied and he grasped her elbows, locking the embrace. “Okay, now put your right foot on top of the crowbar, then your left.”
She followed his directions, using his arms to steady her balance on top of the piece of metal. She got her bearings and met his gaze.
“Now what?”
“I am going to jump onto it as well, and with any luck, the force will pop the nut.”
“You’re serious?”
“Absolutely.” His gaze held hers in a steady reassurance. “Ready?”
“No, but okay.”
He grinned, and she braced herself for the jolt. Will placed his left foot on the metal just between her ankles.
“Okay, one, two…” with a silent three, he lifted himself onto the bar and bounced. The lug didn’t move. He stepped down and tried again. After the third attempt, she began to giggle, which in turn made him laugh. They found themselves perched on top of the metal, holding onto each other for dear life. She felt herself drop, and his arms clutched her as they fell. She landed hard and realized she was on top of him.
“Oh my god, are you all right? I’m so sorry!” She shifted, getting off him. He sat up, his arms still around her. She found herself propped against him, looking down into his eyes.
“You guys need some help?” 



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Sunday, June 26, 2016

Blog Tour - You Never Could Be


Join us for reviews, reader fun, and giveaways!





My World  July 4
Andrew Jericho July 11
The Book Quarry July 13
Alpha Book Club July 20





Saturday, June 18, 2016

Cover Reveal - Rock Wedding by Nalini Singh

ROCK WEDDING by Nalini Singh
Releasing: July 19th

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh continues her Rock Kiss series with a hot, sweet, emotional contemporary romance about love and forgiveness…

After a lifetime of longing for a real family, Sarah Smith thought she’d finally found her home with rock star Abe Bellamy, even if she knew Abe didn’t love her the way she loved him. But their brief relationship, filled with tragedy and heartache, nearly destroyed her. Alone, emotions in turmoil, and already shaky self-esteem shattered, Sarah struggles to pick up the pieces in the wake of their divorce.

Abe knows he’s to blame for the end of his marriage. Caught in a web of painful memories, he pushed away the best thing in his life – the sexy, smart woman he adores – breaking them both in the process. Then fate throws him a second chance to get things right, to prove to Sarah that she means everything to him. Abe desperately wants that second chance at love...even if he knows he doesn’t deserve it.

But can he convince Sarah – now strong and independent without him – to risk her wounded heart one more time?




Friday, June 3, 2016

The Romance Reviews - Sizzling Summer Reads! #TRRparty



Join the party June 17th when You Never Could Be will be the featured title!
Play games, win prizes, have some summer fun!!


A passion-fueled encounter in the corridor of a hotel convention room reveals two anguished hearts struggling to reconnect despite life’s difficulties. Will Carlisle, the eye candy of the office, is every woman’s dream, tall, handsome, and dashingly charming. Sara Rozek never guessed he has secretly wanted her for months now. When a bad day falls upon them and Will breaks the reins of his own restraint, she sees the burning passion in his eyes, and there is no denying the mutual attraction. Will and Sara’s start quickly runs awry, and Sara becomes convinced she was played for a fool. Will begs her to listen to him, but she turns away in fear. Can Will mend her broken heart, or will the passion they shared vanish forever?

Excerpt
“Sara.” The voice broke her out of her thoughts and she refocused on the present. “What is going on?”
“Nothing.”
Scarlet appeared as if out of thin air, standing patiently in front of her. “You’re lying.”
“No I’m—”
“Come on, Sara, you know I can see right through you. What’s up?”
She turned away but felt an arm looped through hers. Scarlet pulled her along and promptly seated her on a stool at the bar.
“What can I get you ladies?”
“Two—”
“Patron with a lime, two.” Sara glanced at her friend’s shocked expression before looking into the crowd.
“Okay Jose, spill. What’s going on? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Their shots arrived and Sara downed hers before Scarlet handed over the money.
“Another.”
“Hold that,” Scarlet said.
Sara met her friend’s gaze, annoyance bubbling in her throat.
“Not until you tell me what’s going on.”
Sara looked away, breathing through the tightening in her chest. “Will’s here.”
“What? You’re kidding, you saw him?”
I did a lot more than see him.
“What happened?”
Sara motioned to the bartender, avoiding a response.
“You believe them, don’t you? Sara, we talked about this, there is no proof. You can’t believe a rumor.”
“It’s not just a rumor.”
“How do you know?”
“Because it happened to me!” She lifted herself out of her seat as the blood rushed to her head. “What they are saying happened in California. That is what happened to me here. How can I not think it’s true?”
“That’s not what happened though, Sara. Not from what you told me, anyway.”
“How can I be sure? Maybe I just got swept up in the whole scenario. The idea of a man like him wanting me for more than just…”
“Stop it. I’m not going to sit here and allow you to destroy something based on a rumor.”
“He was fired, Scarlet!”
“We don’t know for sure the reason, and there is no evidence to say that’s why.”
“We don’t know it wasn’t.”
“Then how do you explain him being here?”
“I don’t know, I—“
“Did you ever think that maybe he’s here to talk to you?”
“I don’t want to talk to him, Scarlet.” The tightening in her chest turned to raw pain. “I can’t—“
“Too bad.” Will’s voice rang through her body and she spun on her heel in surprise. “Because we’re going to talk, and you’re going to listen to me, whether you like it or not.”
“I’m not doing this.” She darted away from the bar.
His hand caught her wrist, preventing her escape. “Sara—“
“Just leave me alone!”

“No!” He moved closer, his body casting a low shadow around her. “Not until you listen.”

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Movie Review – Pride, Prejudice and Zombies

Five sisters in 19th century England must cope with the pressures to marry while protecting themselves from a growing population of zombies.

Based on the Jane Austen masterpiece as retold by Seth Grahame-Smith , Pride, Prejudice and Zombies the movie boasts to be just like the classic Jane Austen tale, Pride and Prejudice, only with some brain eating zombies thrown into the mix. I found this intriguing and was actually interested in watching the film.

While Pride, Prejudice and Zombies bombed at the box office I none-the-less rented it as soon as it was released On-Demand.

Starring the lovely Lily James, who most recently appeared in the live action
version of Cinderella, and is well known for her role as Lady Rose MacClare on BBC’s Downton Abbey. James shed her blonde tresses and glass slippers for auburn locks and a carefully hidden dagger to portray Elizabeth Bennet.

Also starring Sam Riley as Mr. Darcy, who has a listing of credits but PPZ seems to be his first leading romantic role.

First let me just correct myself. Sorry, Sam, this may have been a leading role but it was certainly not romantic.

So let’s begin. I was disappointed in Pride, Prejudice and Zombies not because it took a beautiful classic tale and threw zombies in the mix, heck no, that’s what I was excited about! But because the results were gawd awful. I could redeem Pride, Prejudice and Zombies if it swayed in either direction but it did not. It was a horrid romance and a pansy horror.

The premise has such potential. The mix of the romance and the horror should have been more enticing. Alas anything salvageable was completely lost in the poorly choreographed fight scenes and dispassionate Victorian speeches.
I was hoping for at the very least a humorous showing of entertainment but the funniest scene was Elizabeth killing Darcy’s zombie flies at the bedside of her sister, Mary.

One of the things I do not understand is why they made such drastic changes to the story. It would have been better suited to keep the main romantic story and mix in the zombies for fun and thrills.

I give the movie a single star for the attempt, but alas a failing in the end.


Look out for my review of the Supernatural Horror Novel Moving In by Ron Ripley


To escape the stress of living in the city and the anxiety of his high pressure job, Brian Roy moves his family to the country. His wife loves the easy living, but Brian hates it…especially when weird things start happening in the house. When he discovers a dead body in the woods and a burial ground in his basement, Brian could never imagine the shocking history of the house or its former occupants that comes to light. 

As his life starts to unravel, Brian isn’t so sure living in the country is going to be the oasis of peace he and his wife expected. Lately, his home has become a haunting den of hell. 





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Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Book Review - Father Of Lies By S.E. England

Supernatural Horror

Blurb- Ruby is the most violently disturbed patient ever admitted to Drummersgate Asylum, high on the bleak moors of northern England. With no improvement after two years, Dr. Jack McGowan finally decides to take a risk and hypnotizes her. With terrifying consequences. 

A horrific dark force is now unleashed on the entire medical team, as each in turn attempts to unlock Ruby's shocking and sinister past. Who is this girl? And how did she manage to survive such unimaginable evil? Set in a desolate ex-mining village, where secrets are tightly kept and intruders hounded out, their questions soon lead to a haunted mill, the heart of darkness...and The Father of Lies. 

Let start with the good. Very authentic, the story was imaginative and researched. I really enjoyed the descriptions of the physical reactions and emotions of the victims of the spiritual attacks. Made me able to feel the terror of the victim. Love it.  The descriptions and overall feel of the story was spooky and engulfing.

That being said, I struggled to finish the book. There are several reason not all of which I will detail. A few weeks ago I went to see Batman versus Superman, not a great film but entertaining. While discussing the movie afterwards, my 11-year-old son and I decided the movie would have been 110% better if they would have just rearranged the flow of the story.  That is how I feel about Father of Lies.

I can be flexible with a nonlinear style of writing, that is until I start getting confused. Using flashback as a way to uncover the past, the truth, piece by piece is a tricky decision for a writer. If overused, in my opinion, it will strangle and kill the piece distracting from the central theme. Unfortunately, I think in this case the authors use of these plot vehicles were not beneficial.

I struggled in identifying the main character. I literally did not know whose story the author was telling. Once I would settle on a character, the author unfortunately would sweep the character away and then only refer to them. Telling me what happened instead of showing. This tactic rarely allowed me to connect to the characters at all.

Lastly, the overuse of exclamations and the constant recounting of events is distracting, insulting, and does not serve the story.

At 75% completion, I was frustrated and ready for the story to end. When I read the last page I was rather disappointed as nothing was resolved and there is a sequel.

In conclusion I didn’t hate the book, I just didn’t love it. Some editing and rearranging would have kept me longer and maybe even convinced me to read the sequel. (2.5 STARS out of 5)




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Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Summer Television Forecast: Sunny with a Chance of…Netflix & Hulu

First, if you've been in media black-out let me get you up to speed.  Good, bad or even ugly, Netflix is hot, hot, hot and not cooling anytime soon. Sweaty summer days and sultry nights are meant for streaming.  With Daredevil Season 2 and House of Cards Season 4 already on deck, Sense8 Season 2 due any day and the premiere of Marvel’s Luke Cage just around the corner there is plenty to binge watch with the AC on full blast and that is just the beginning. Look for my official list of what you should be watching on Netflix later this week!

So many amazing shows on network TV this season you may need to catch up. Summer is your time to get in ‘the know’ before fall. Some winners this year are, The Catch, SuperGirl, Limitless, and my absolute favorite, Blindspot!

Summer Networks 2016 brings us the final seasons for Bones and Person of Interest, so don't miss out. To be honest the rest of the network offerings are reality based – I don’t do reality.

Cable, aka HBO and Showtime, summer programming has just begun with the premieres of the epic Games of Thrones and darkly thrilling Penny Dreadful already underway.  

It is slim pickens this summer my friends but here’s what looks good so far. I will put all of these to the three-episode test, so be on the lookout for my reviews!!

Preacher - After a supernatural event at his church a preacher enlists the help of a vampire to find God.



Guilt - Revolves around an American student in London whose roommate is murdered.

The Ranch - Set in the present day on a Colorado ranch, THE RANCH stars Ashton Kutcher as Colt, a failed semi-pro football player who returns home to run the family ranching business with his older brother Jameson “Rooster” (Danny Masterson) and father Beau (Sam Elliott), whom he hasn’t seen in 15 years. Debra Winger stars as Colt’s and Rooster’s mother, Maggie, who runs the local town bar.



The Path - A man who converts to a controversial following suffers from a crisis of faith.




These are the picks, peeps. We will see who comes out on top.
Have a suggestion for a show you'd like to put to the test? Drop me a line @ writesromine@gmail.com or leave a comment!