Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Guest Blog: Hollow's End by Marianne Morea

UFI welcomes Marianne Morea Author of Hollow's End. Thanks for Joining us!!

The inspiration behind Hollow’s End

People always ask me about the inspiration for my stories, and I always answer that it comes from everyday life, from the people I meet and the places I go. My books to date have been mostly Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance. I love the idea of a ‘what if’ world. A world of magic and of things that go beyond what we can see and comprehend. I also love to laugh. Humor to me is the most powerful aphrodisiac around. I love to find humor in almost everything, even when life gets heavy. It’s the reason I try to make my readers laugh, even when my stories get dark.

With Hollow’s End the inspiration was a bit different. I still love the whole idea of ‘what if’, but in this case the question of what if came after the actual historic fact. The inspiration for Hollow’s End came from the story of Cornelius and Elizabeth Van Tassell. Cornelius was an American patriot fighting against the British during the Revolutionary War. At that time in 1777, tensions were high, and the American forces were starting to become a thorn in then Governor Tryon’s side. He gave the order to “Burn the Tarrytowns” and that included the hamlet of Sleepy Hollow. The Van Tassell home and lands were on the list to be burned, and Cornelius captured as a prisoner of war. On the night of November 17, 1777, one of the coldest of the year, the burning occurred at the hands of a hessian commander by the name of Andreas Emmerich. He was so vicious in his command, that he burned the house with the Van Tassell’s two year old daughter, Leah, still inside. As Elizabeth Van Tassel cried for her daughter, her husband Cornelius was dragged away as a prisoner of war tied to them back of one of his cattle. BUT, a soldier in Emmerich’s command, also a hessian, broke rank and rescued the child, reuniting her with her mother and bringing the two to safety in a root cellar to await help. Town legend then takes the story further, that when this same soldier was later killed, decapitated in a skirmish, the Van Tassells had him buried in a clandestine Christian burial and interred in an unmarked grave in the Old Dutch Burial ground. It was to repay kindness with kindness, but him being a mercenary on the side of the British, they couldn’t bury him outright in a patriot strong hold such as the Old Dutch Church. THAT, my readers and friend, is the inspiration for Hollow’s End. A wronged spirit in the graveyard, dishonored for centuries as being a harbinger of horror as the headless horseman…
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I'm a New Yorker, born and bred, and for the most part my stories and my characters embody the grit and complexity of the city. An avid traveler, I use my experiences from around the world in all my books. There isn't a place my characters live or travel to that I haven't been myself.

Like most authors, my love affair with the written word started as a child with the books I read. Even today, I love to read almost as much as I love to write. My favorite stories are the ones that transport me, that bring me to places and introduce me to characters that leave me breathless...the ones that spark the fire of my imagination, allowing me to dream in the world of 'what if?'

I've always been a scribbler, and from the time I could write my name I've been making up stories. So it was no surprise when I earned degrees in both Journalism and Fine Art, but after working in the trenches of Madison Avenue as a Graphic Artist, I decided to do what I love most full time. Write.

In the meantime I am also a founding member and former President of The Paranormal Romance Guild, a not-for-profit organization for readers and authors of the genre...and when I'm not 'bichok' (but in a chair hands on keyboard), I'm spending time with my husband and our three kids, traveling to exciting, romantic places ...for inspiration, of course!

Find Marianne and her books
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Hollow's End
The Legend #1

Amazon   BN   iTunes  
 The dark water of the Hudson River isn’t the only blackness looming in the distance of the quaint river town of Sleepy Hollow. Two hundred years of secrets and lies are bleeding into the present, and high school seniors, Hunter Morrissey and Rowen Corbett, find themselves linked with unseen forces shrouded in mystery and violence.

Truths, buried and long forgotten, have risen at a time when the veil between the living and the dead is at its thinnest. Only Hunter and Rowen hold the key to locking the past in the past, and setting old wrongs to right. Can justice be served? Can the two find a way to straddle both worlds and solve the mystery when they don’t understand the clues? Inspired by true historical events that surround the village of Sleepy Hollow and the famous legend that shares its name, this Young Adult Horror takes you on a journey full of history and suspense with a splash of romance and the paranormal.
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New Releases: 10/20-10/26


Tue Oct 22

 Allegiant (Divergent #3) by Veronica Roth
 The Dollhouse Asylum by Mary Gray 
 Indigo by Gina Linko
 Teardrop (Teardrop #1) by Lauren Kate

Happy Reading!!!

Monday, October 21, 2013

Edge Release Day Blast


Edge, a digital-first single-title romance line from Entangled Publishing, takes its lead from our popular Select imprint but gives its novels an edge in the marketplace by bringing great stories to readers at reasonable prices in a quick-and-easy way. Whether sexy or sweet, traditional romance or love and lust with a women’s fiction bent, at the center of every Edge book is heart. From Urban Fantasy to Contemporary Romance to Science Fiction Romance, Edge has a book for all romance readers—and right at their fingertips! As they say, all’s fair in love and war. To find out more about our titles, chat with authors, participate in special events, and to find out what books are coming next, visit the Entangled website, follow us on Twitter, and like our Facebook page.

Today I'm happy to be featuring Edge's October releases!!



Dark Angel by TJ Bennett

When young widow Catherine Briton is washed ashore, the sole survivor of a violent shipwreck, all she wants is to go home to London. But injured as she is, she can’t escape when a shadowy stranger rescues her and takes her to his castle—where she’s healed with suspicious, almost magical speed.

The more time Catherine spends in the castle, the more her curiosity rises where her fiercely handsome new “master,” Gerard, is concerned. As she begins to investigate, though, her discoveries only bring more questions. It seems Gerard isn't the only one on the island keeping secrets…

The small town is full of strange mysteries and townspeople who know more than they should about her. And when a hulking beast that stalks the nearby hills and valleys catches up to her, Catherine must figure out what’s going on before it’s too late.



Far Too Tempting by Lauren Blakely

Jane Black has written the break-up album of the century, earning her a Grammy, a huge legion of new fans, and the pressure to repeat her success. Sure, the heartbreak from her husband’s unconventional abandonment might have been her inspiration, but it hasn’t done her any favors in the dating department. So when Matthew Harrigan, the toughest music journalist out there, asks for an interview, Jane agrees—as long as her personal life is completely off-limits.

British, gorgeous, and way too tempting, Matthew’s the first guy Jane’s been attracted to since her husband. As she spends more time with him and their relationship heats up, though, so does her writer’s block. How can the queen of the break-up pen the perfect follow-up when she’s seriously in love?



Hunter's Moon by Lisa Kessler
Moon #2

Sasha’s future was stolen from her the moment she was bitten. Now she's on the run from the Nero Organization that transformed her from a human detective into a shape shifting jaguar assassin.

When a rogue bounty hunter threatens her younger sister, she'll be forced to fight, and with nowhere else to turn, Sasha will need to trust the one man who has every reason to want her dead.

Aren is a werewolf with a secret. While protecting his twin brother and Alpha of the Pack, he found his one mate for life. Sadly she's also the jaguar assassin who tried to kill them both. Now Aren is struggling between his animal nature to love and protect her, and his loyalty to the Pack.



Undying Embrace by Jessica Lee
Enclave #2

Arran MacLain is a vampire on a suicide mission, driven to kill his former partner who betrayed him and the Enclave they served. But two things stand in his way: Gabrielle, the human female who holds his heart, and the past that won’t let him go. If only death was enough to cleanse his soul.

Gabrielle Steven’s sister is missing. Her hunt for clues brings her face to face with the one vampire she can’t forget. Their missions combine and thrust them into the heart of evil. Will their passion be enough to overcome the pain from their past, or will their dark desires destroy them both?



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Sunday, October 20, 2013

Week in Review: 10/13-10/19


Books Ive Bought/received

* Darkness Splintered by Keri Arthur- Publisher

* Swamp Angel by Colleen Boyd- Publisher

* Discovery by Brina Courtney- eARC- Netgalley

* A Touch of Darkness by Tina Moss- Ecopy- Author 

Books I Read

Flamebound by Tessa Adams
Death, and the Girl He Loves by Darynda Jones
Forgotten in Darkness by Zoe Forward
Cursed by Lizzy Ford
A Touch of Darkness by Tina Moss

Reviews Posted

Wicked Misery by Tracey Martin
Autumn Bones by Jacqueline Carey

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* New Releases for the week. Was there anything you were looking forward to reading?

* Monday- Guest Blog and Giveaway for The Blood Destiny Series by Helen Harper

* Tuesday- Guest Blog and Giveaway for Darkness Rises by Dianne Duvall, Promo and Giveaway First Bite by Dani Harper

* Wednesday- Guest Blog and Giveaway for Waking Up Dead by Margo Bond Collins, Promo and Giveaway for Arielle: Immortal Quickening by Lilian Robers

* Thursday- Release Day Blitz and Giveaway for Discovery by Brina Courtney

* Friday- Guest Blog for Silent Oath by Paul Anthony Shortt

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 * I love comments so if you see something you like (or not) please comment away and let me know.

Winners: Wicked Misery giveaway

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Thank you to everyone who entered!!

The Winner chosen by Rafflecopter is.....
Congrats!! I have emailed winner who has 48 hours to respond with mailing address or I will pick another.

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Review: Wicked Misery by Tracey Martin

Wicked Misery
Release Date: October 8, 2013
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Miss Misery Book #1
ISBN:   1619218070
ISBN13: 9781619218079
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Review Copy Source: Author

It s all quasi-legal fun until somebody gets framed for murder.

Jessica Moore thrives on misery. Literally. Thanks to a goblin s curse, she gets a magical high from humanity s suffering. A shameful talent like that could bury a girl in guilt, so to atone, she uses her dark power to hunt murderers, rapists and other scumbags until one of them frames her for his crimes.

In desperation, Jessica seeks refuge with the one person she trusts to not turn her in a satyr named Lucen. Like every member of his race, Lucen uses his lusty magic to control Boston s human population, and Jessica isn t immune to his power. But the murder victims belonged to a rival race, and when they discover Lucen is harboring Jessica, dodging the cops becomes the least of her problems.

With only five days to find the real killer, Jessica faces a danger far more serious than the brewing magical war. The danger of succumbing to Lucen s molten seduction.

Warning: Contains a heroine with a lust for misery, creepy murders, and creepier goblins, satyrs so hot you'd sell your soul for one, and scaly sewer rats masquerading as dragons. Who said magic was all sparkles and tiaras?

What a fun new series. There was a little bit of romance, a whole lot of supernatural with danger and drama in between. Jessica has what she believes is a goblins curse where she thrives on misery. She uses her 'curse' to hunt down the dregs of society but one night she ends up framed for murder.  Jessica had dreams of being a part of something else but ended up with this curse that she can not stand. WICKED MISERY follows her as she learns more about who she is while trying to keep herself out of custody and searching for the real killer. 

When Jessica turns to Lucen for help she has no idea what will happen. She thinks it is Lucen's gifts that make her want him but you can tell she likes him for other reasons as well. They dance around each other constantly and there were points I wanted to hit both of them over the head and be like, hey get over yourself. The plot was pretty fun to follow. There was a particular action part of the book that got a little confusing because I felt like we were thrown into the situation out of nowhere but other than that I enjoyed every other part of the story. There are many paranormal creatures introduced in WICKED MISERY. They are not looked well upon by normal humans but I liked what they have made of the slice of world they live in. Walking the streets with Jessica was never boring. 

WICKED MISERY was a pretty descent start to a new fun and fast paced Urban Fantasy series. I look forward to seeing what happens next and what might happen between Jessica and Lucen in book 2. 

I gave it 3.5/5 stars

Friday, October 18, 2013

Guest Blog: Silent Oath by Paul Anthony Shortt

UFI welcomes Paul Anthony Shortt Author of The Locked Within Trilogy. Thanks for Joining us!!

The Book Setting (300-400 words)

Setting is key to fantasy genres. For the Locked Within Trilogy I wanted something that felt close to the real world, but still fantastic enough to accommodate the mystical elements I needed. The first hints of the hidden world are uncovered by Nathan Shepherd in Locked Within. In Silent Oath, he encounters mythical beasts, shapshifters, and even ancient gods.

Many stories feature reincarnation, but for this series, I wanted to try something a little different. Rather than be the purview of great heroes or a mark of the Chosen One, in the world of Silent Oath, reincarnation is commonplace. So much so, that the majority of mortals aware of the supernatural can remember several past lives. Those who can are known as reborn, and can draw upon the strength, knowledge, and skills of their previous selves. This allows them to re-learn skills from life to life, and often results in people living lives similar to those they have lived before, so warriors become warrors, and artists become artists.

Opposing the reborn and their protective conclaves is the Council of Chains. Their origins lie in the time of the Roman Empire, and in the mystery surrounding what happens to the soul after death, the one thing no reborn has ever remembered. While the reborn believe that the true essence of a person returns in each life, the Council of Chains believe that only memories and impressions are left, that the true soul is lost forever upon death. As such, they seek out paths to immortality, as vampires, revenants, and worse. The true nature of Lord Dorian's immortality is hinted at in Silent Oath.

The ongoing conflict between these two groups forms the central background to the New York of the books. Years before the first book in the series, a war between the Council of Chains and the Reborn Conclave of New York ended with the reborn driven out of the city. Nathan Shepherd has been fighting to protect the innocent people of the city in the Conclave's absence. In Silent Oath, he enevours to form a conclave of his own, so that the Council will no longer have free reign to prey upon the populace.

The challenges Nathan will face will be hard, and he must face an enemy who has hunted him throughout his previous lifetimes, and win back the heart of a lost lover, if he is to succeed.
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A child at heart who turned to writing and roleplaying games when there simply weren't enough action figures to play out the stories he wanted, Paul Anthony Shortt has been writing all his life. Growing up surrounded by music, film and theatre gave him a deep love of all forms of storytelling, each teaching him something new he could use. When not playing with the people in his head, he enjoys cooking and regular meet-ups with his gaming group.

Paul lives in Ireland with his wife Jen and their dogs, Pepper and Jasper. Their first child, Conor William Henry Shortt, was born on July 11th, 2011. He passed away three days later, but brought love and joy into their lives and those of their friends. The following year, Jen gave birth to twins, Amy and Erica.

Paul's first novel, Locked Within, was released on November 6th, 2012, by WiDo Publishing. Silent Oath is the second book in this urban fantasy trilogy.

Find Paul and his books
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Silent Oath
Locked Within Trilogy #2

Amazon
 In this second of the Locked Within trilogy, hope has returned to New York City. Nathan Shepherd leads a small band of dedicated fighters against the Council of Chains and the city's supernatural masters. But it's not enough. Because from the shadows of Nathan's former lives comes an old enemy, one who knows terrible secrets that Nathan has not yet remembered, secrets that could undo everything he has fought for.

Nathan's only chance to uncover the memories of his previous existence, and to conquer these new forces of evil, lies in Elena DeSantis. A woman he has fought beside in past lifetimes. A woman he has loved.

Together, Nathan and Elena are the only future their city has.
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