BOOK SPOTLIGHT: Effortless by Marina Raydun

Effortless
By Marina Raydun
Genre: Literary Fiction/Women’s Fiction/Psychological Suspense 

Book Description: 


At 28, Helen longs to be effortless. Jamie looks it. Breaking a long-standing engagement, Helen at once knows what she has to do. She follows this enchanting stranger across the Atlantic, hoping to find more than temporary shelter and a distraction from her seemingly crumbling life when she gets there. Inevitably, the road for the two proves to be bumpier than Helen had ever imagined it could be. Along the way, she stumbles across unexpected discoveries about herself, as well as those in her life she's always thought she knew best. 

Author bio:

Born in the former Soviet Union, Marina Raydun grew up in Brooklyn, NY (where she still lives with her family). She holds a J.D. from New York Law School and a B.A. in history from Pace University. Marina’s published works of fiction include a compilation of novellas “One Year in Berlin/Foreign Bride,” as well as a suspense novel entitled “Joe After Maya.” Her other passions include singing and baking.

A brief excerpt from the book:

“Paralyzed. I'd stood utterly paralyzed until a bus sped by, bypassing my stop on account of too many lucky passengers already aboard, covering me in dirty puddle water. I did not come to until I realized that my bike had fallen to the ground, my grip having failed it. I’d needed that shower, I suppose. By the time I'd looked up from behind my soaking wet hair, my red umbrella now at my feet, he was gone….”


Follow the Author Online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMarinaRaydun
Twitter/Instagram: @Author_MRaydun
Website: http://marinaraydun.blogspot.com/
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1PIye27
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1IDlWrb

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BOOK SPOTLIGHT: The Turkish Connection by Rik Stone

The Turkish Connection
By Rik Stone
Genre: Thriller

Book Description

Mehmet battles to survive the murky Istanbul of 1951 on a daily basis while being forced to learn the skills of thievery and violence alongside the other street children. Evenings come and he curls up under a stinking jetty in a waterway off the Bosporus Strait, yearning to break free from the life inflicted on him by his drunken, womanizing father, little knowing that his rotting body lies at the bottom of those same waters.

Adulthood comes before Mehmet finds out that it wasn’t fate that had taken control of his life as a boy, but a very real nemesis. Is it too late? Can he yet turn things around and get his life back?

Author Bio

Rik Stone worked in the shipyards on a local river, spent time in the merchant navy, and then went on to work in quarries in South East England.

The time came he yearned for change and began studying. He worked through the lower level stuff and went on to gain a BSc. degree in mathematics and computing.

But he loved reading and because of it, fiction writing had always been his want. After an early retirement he was able to pursue the dream seriously and from that dream came his debut novel, Birth of an Assassin, the first in a series.

Available on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1DG9Siw

Website: http://rik-stone.com/          

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rik-Stone/602289653148840

Twitter: https://twitter.com/stone_rik

BOOK REVIEW & SPOTLIGHT: Whisper of Crows by Jameson Hesse

Whisper of Crows
By Jameson Hesse
Genre: Supernatural Thriller/Horror
Published Oct.2012

A supernatural thriller that questions the nature of reality, and explores the fine line between sanity and insanity. This novel does contains extreme violence, profanity, steamy sex.

Book Synopsis:

Kanaan James is a disturbed teenage boy obsessed with his childhood friend, Abigail Caulfield. A horrible car accident leaves Abigail stricken with amnesia and Kanaan, desperate for for her attention, convinces her they are soul mates, running from the law. In the midst of a passionate love affair, while hiding in an old abandoned house in the woods, Kanaan is forced to test the bounds of his own humanity.

My Review:

I’ve got a few things to say about Jameson Hesse’s new novel, WHISPER OF CROWS. Some great, some, unfortunately, not so great.  First, the great part: The novel is wildly imaginative, the characters exciting and well-developed, & the plot a nonstop barrage of twists and turns almost beyond comprehension.  I’m a huge fan of crime noir, and this page turner has plenty of that. And it’s very, very dark, which I also enjoyed.

OK, now the critique: In my lowly opinion, the author’s use of verbiage could use some spit and polish. Some of this books content I found unnecessary to the plot as it interrupted the flow of the text, and more importantly, the dialogue.  And my biggest pet peeve, misspellings.  There were quite a few, and I found it tough after a period of time to overlook them.  Now don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed this book, and would happily give it a four to five star review, after this book gets a solid and comprehensive edit of both its content and it’s grammatical problems. 

I thank you, Mr. Hesse, for a thoroughly engaging thriller. Please find a competent editor and you’ve got an absolute winner!

Author Bio

Jameson Hesse is an American writer/filmmaker/musician. He grew up in a small town outside Harrisburg, PA. Jameson presently lives in Los Angeles with his sons. His critically acclaimed Novel, Whisper of Crows was released in 2012, and he has directed and acted in several short film and commercial projects.  Recently he released a short film in which he directed and acted in called Father Mud, which is currently the Official Selection of several film festivals around the world.  Jameson is currently directing the feature film Lazarus Rising. He also has several other film and book projects in various stages of development.

WHISPER OF CROWS BOOK TRAILER

Links:

www.jamesonhesse.com

https://twitter.com/JamesonHesse

https://www.facebook.com/WhisperOfCrows

Find Whisper of Crows on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1FOSD5c

COVER REVEAL: Dying for a Headline: Meredith Abbott's Adventures in England By Mary Devlin Lynch & Debbie Devlin Zook

Dying for a Headline: Meredith Abbott's Adventures in England

By Mary Devlin Lynch & Debbie Devlin Zook

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Meredith divorced the dark explosive movie star Antonio DeLeon and left Hollywood behind, moving to the idyllic English countryside with gentle Brit Timothy Treymour. Did she really think that Antonio would let her be happy without him?

Links:
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Devlinsbooks/212841642088873?fref=ts

Twitter: www.devlinsbooks.com

Goodreads (Mary Devlin Lynch): http://bit.ly/1PULUHi

Amazon (kindle):  http://bit.ly/1KiBfb6

COVER REVEAL: Coffee is Murder ~ Episode 9 in the McKinley Mystery Series By Carolyn Arnold

Coffee is Murder

Episode 9 in the McKinley Mystery Series

By Carolyn Arnold

Release date: May 27, 2015

Genre: Cozy mystery, private investigator

Description:

A cup a day won’t kill you, but a few might.

Their first case as private investigators have Sean, Sara, and Jimmy neck-deep in coffee beans trying to find a killer. With their client certain that her mother was poisoned through her coffee of the month club, it has them setting out to Williamsburg, Virginia. But instead of approaching matters from the traditional standpoint, Sean and Sara brew a robust plot and stir Jimmy into the blend, all to get close to their top suspect and grind out the truth.

Going undercover at Tasty Beans, the coffee company, the three of them work to expose the culprit before anyone else dies.

Available from:

Amazon: http://ow.ly/JIUWj

Amazon UK: http://ow.ly/JIWE1

Barnes & Noble: http://ow.ly/JJcvw

iTunes: http://ow.ly/JIV9C

Kobo: http://ow.ly/JIV5m

THE MCKINLEY MYSTERY SERIES ventures outside of the typical crime genre, lending itself to the cozy variety with no foul language or graphic violence. The series combines romance, mystery, humor, and adventure for a lighthearted, easy read. Each episode is a standalone read, meaning it’s not necessary to have read previous instalments.

About the author:

CAROLYN ARNOLD is the international bestselling and award-winning author of the Madison Knight, Brandon Fisher, and McKinley Mystery series. She is the only author, in her genre, with POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT.TM

Carolyn was born in a small town, but that doesn’t keep her from dreaming big. And on par with her large dreams is her overactive imagination that conjures up killers and cases to solve. She currently lives in a city near Toronto with her husband and two beagles, Max and Chelsea. She is also a member of Crime Writers of Canada.

Website: https://carolynarnold.net

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Carolyn_Arnold

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCarolynArnold

BOOK SPOTLIGHT: The Experiment of Dreams by Brandon Zenner

The Experiment of Dreams
By Brandon Zenner
Genre: Psychological Thriller

Synopsis:

A shocking psychological thriller: Benjamin Walker's lifelong career of testing experimental drugs and medicines, as well as participating in fascinating sleep-related studies, has come to an end. A new and lucrative job opportunity is offered to Ben, working on a project named Lucy, a machine capable of reading and recording a person's dreams in intimate detail. All is finally going well for Ben . . . until strange dreams of a town named Drapery Falls begin to plague him, and memories once hidden begin to reveal themselves. The doctors and staff onboard team Lucy are not who Ben thinks they are, and Mr. Kalispell will stop at nothing to keep Ben's emerging memories buried for good. Ben is put on a collision course that will bring him to the brink of total insanity, and perhaps even death. At the heart of it all, Ben's worst enemy is his own mind, and he must confront his past in order to save his future. The twist and turns in The Experiment of Dreams will keep you guessing, down to the very last line.

Author Bio:

Brandon Zenner was born and raised in Red Bank New Jersey, only a short distance from the shore. His short fiction has been published in both print and online publications, the first being PLAZM 28, submitted when Brandon was just 19 years old. In 2014 Brandon published his first full-length novel, "The Experiment of Dreams," as a Kindle ebook. The paperback novel followed a year later. His second full-length novel is well on its way.

Throughout his early years writing, Brandon's favorite practice was to open a dictionary to any random page and aimlessly select the first word that this finger touched. He would then feverishly write a short story using his Smith-Corona typewriter. Using a mechanical typewriter, without the aid of auto correct, taught the importance of grammar and spelling (as well as patience and aggravation).


Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brandon.zenner?ref=bookmarks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SlapstickII

Website: http://www.BrandonZenner.com

Amazon (Author): http://www.amazon.com/author/brandonzenner

Amazon (Book): http://www.amazon.com/Experiment-Dreams-Brandon-Zenner-ebook/dp/B00IOY7FJ8/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

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BOOK SPOTLIGHT: An Ordinary Magic by Jason Thibeault

An Ordinary Magic

By Jason Thibeault

Genre: Literary Fiction, Magical Realism

Book Description:

A new sorcerer has moved into La Croix, upsetting the tranquility of the other otherwise idyllic Caribbean fishing village. But Panon, the town’s priest, can’t afford to waste time wondering about the newcomer. He needs to concentrate on fixing his relationship with his son, Jaime, who has been called by Dela Luamba, a powerful spirit, to join the church. The problem? Jaime doesn’t believe in magic or the spirits anymore. To protect his son from a potentially terrible punishment, Panon must hide the truth from Dela while he tries to make everything right. But when Panon trades for a bit of magic guaranteed to help Jaime believe again, everything goes horribly wrong, turning Panon’s world upside down. Drawn into an epic struggle of good versus evil with the mysterious sorcerer, Panon, Jaime, and the whole town must battle the walking dead, malicious spirits, and potent Voodoo. It’s up to Panon to discover the only power capable of saving his son…and redeeming himself. An Ordinary Magic is a fast-paced, entertaining, and thought-provoking work of literary magic realism.

Author bio:

Jason received his B.A. in English, with an emphasis in Creative Writing, from the University of California, Irvine where he wrote An Ordinary Magic for his senior thesis as part of the Campuswide Honors Program. After a year in Europe during which he spent some time working with HarperCollins, London, Jason returned to get his M.A. in English, with distinction, at California State University, Northridge. Jason is currently the author of the middle-reader chapter series Marmalade and a co-author on the marketing thought-leadership book, Recommend This!. He lives in Gilbert, AZ with his family.

Links:

Twitter: www.twitter.com/_jasonthibeault

Facebook: www.facebook.com/thejasonthibeault

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Jason-Thibeault/e/B003UQFBK0/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4025688.Jason_Thibeault

COVER REVEAL: OFF BALANCE ~ Book I of Ballet Theatre Chronicles by Terez Mertes Rose

Off Balance, Book 1 of Ballet Theatre Chronicles

By Terez Mertes Rose

Genre: Women’s fiction (with YA crossover), performing arts related

Book Description:

Alice thinks she’s accepted the loss of her ballet career, injury having forced her to trade in pointe shoes onstage for spreadsheets upstairs. That is, until the day Alice's boss asks her to befriend Lana, a pretty new company member he’s got his eye on. Lana represents all Alice has lost, not just as a ballet dancer, but as a motherless daughter. It’s pain she’s kept hidden, even from herself, as every good ballet dancer knows to do.

Lana, lonely and unmoored, desperately needs some help, and her mother, back home, vows eternal support. But when Lana begins to profit from Alice’s advice and help, her mother’s constant attention curdles into something more sinister.

Together, both women must embark on a journey of painful rediscoveries, not just about career opportunities won and lost, but the mothers they thought they knew.

OFF BALANCE takes the reader beyond the glitter of the stage to expose the sweat and struggle, amid the mandate to sustain the illusion at all cost.

Available on Amazon!  http://amzn.to/1bEGmmY

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13853310.Terez_Mertes_Rose

In the Dark

by Chris Patchell

Thriller/Suspense

Book Description:

Marissa Rooney stands in her daughter’s empty dorm room, a half-used vial of insulin clutched in her trembling hand. Brooke has been missing for days. Her roommate hasn’t seen her since that night in the bar. And if Marissa has Brooke’s insulin, it means that Brooke does not.

The investigation takes a sudden and deadly turn when the police discover the body of another college student who went missing a few weeks before Brooke. Desperate to find her daughter, Marissa fears time is running out.

But she isn’t alone in her terror. A phantom from Marissa’s past is lurking in the shadows, waiting in the night, and holding her family captive…

In the dark.

About Bio:

When Chris Patchell isn’t hiking in the Cascade Mountains or hanging out with family and friends, she is working at her hi-tech job or writing gritty suspense novels. Why suspense? Chris blames her obsession with the dark on two things: watching Stephen King movies as a kid and spending ridiculous amounts of time commuting in Seattle traffic. Learn more about Chris and her books at www.chrispatchell.com or follow her on Facebook.

Visit Kindle Scout where you can read a sample of In the Dark and vote for the book: https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/1GYYM8TIHNARB

Flash

By Donna Ball

Genre: Mystery/suspense (dog mystery)

Publication Date: May 1, 2015

Publisher: Blue Merle Publishing

Don’t miss the first book in an exciting new dog mystery series

Almost two years ago the sleepy little community of Dogleg Island was the scene of one of the most brutal crimes in Florida history.  The only eye witnesses were a border collie  puppy and a police officer. Since that time Flash has grown from a puppy into a vital part of the Dogleg Island Police Department, and has  lived happily with the two people who rescued him on that horrible night: Deputy Sheriff Ryan Grady and Police Chief Aggie Malone.  

Now the trial of the century is about to begin.  The defendant, accused of slaughtering  his parents in their beach home, maintains his innocence.  Aggie and Ryan, the top witnesses for the prosecution,are convinced he is lying.  But only Flash knows the truth.

And with another murder to solve, a tangle of conflicting evidence to sort out, and a brutal storm on the way, the truth may come too late... for all of them.

Author Bio 

Donna Ball is the author of over a hundred novels under several different pseudonyms in a variety of genres that include romance, mystery, suspense, paranormal, western adventure, historical and women’s fiction. Recent popular series include the Ladybug Farm series by Berkley Books and the Raine Stockton Dog Mystery series. Donna is an avid dog lover and her dogs have won numerous titles for agility, obedience and canine musical freestyle. She divides her time between the Blue Ridge mountains and the east coast of Florida, and lives with a variety of four-footed companions. You can contact her at http://www.donnaball.net, or follow her on Facebook at Donna Ball

Links:

Website: http://www.DonnaBall.net

Facebook: Donna Ball Author Page

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DonnaABall

Amazon link for Flash: http://www.amazon.com/Flash-Donna-Ball/dp/0985774894